The Decisive Battle’s True Mastermind

The battlefield was a canvas painted in crimson, with blood staining the Gobi Desert. Dismembered limbs lay scattered across the desolate ground, while agonizing screams echoed, sharp enough to pierce the heart.

Warhorses galloped, their iron hooves thundering against the earth.

Members of the Winged Race soared through the sky on pristine white wings, their long blades carving arcs of silver light. Blood blossomed in macabre beauty. All these sights wove together, forming a tragic and brutal tableau.

Duke Ma’se moved like a phantom, utilizing an array of uncanny footwork and combat techniques to weave between the air and the ground.

With every elusive flicker, several members of the Winged Race would find their wings severed, plummeting to the earth below. Each fall was marked by a vibrant splash of blood, blooming like a grotesque flower.

At last, a noticeably older member of the Winged Race, a middle-aged man, gave a powerful beat of his wings and flashed towards Duke Ma’se.

In an instant, he materialized directly behind Duke Ma’se. A chilling glint flickered in his eyes, and the thin sword in his hand gleamed silver as he thrust it straight at his target.

Just after felling another member of the Winged Race, Duke Ma’se was suddenly struck by a primal sense of dread, his hairs standing on end.

Years of battle instinct kicked in, and he instinctively dodged sideways, his body twisting unnaturally in mid-air to narrowly evade the Winged assailant’s thrust.

Gazing at the middle-aged Winged man before him, Duke Ma’se’s face twisted into a sneer.

“Heh, Lu Qier,” he scoffed, “It seems your ambush skills have improved since we last met.”

The middle-aged Winged man hovered before Duke Ma’se, his wings spread wide, his expression serene.

“As long as it means killing you, I will use any means necessary.”

“Hmph!” Duke Ma’se snorted, a cold sound. “Do you truly believe such petty tricks can kill me?”

Lu Qier’s expression remained perfectly calm. “I told you, I will use any method, no matter what, if it means eliminating you. Once you are dead, the Human Race’s Southwest Border defenses will be easily breached.”

Hearing Lu Qier’s words, Duke Ma’se’s face darkened considerably.

Indeed, the Human Race currently boasted fifty thousand troops along the Southwest Border — a full twenty thousand more than the attacking Winged forces.

However, the disparity in individual combat prowess was simply too vast. The weaker Human soldiers were outmatched by Winged warriors at a ratio of one to three.

While numbers could compensate for this to some extent, the gap in high-tier combatants represented a fatal weakness for humanity.

The entire Southwest Border had only Duke Ma’se as its sole peak combatant. Below him, several capable Marquises and Counts were present, but their strength barely exceeded that of ordinary soldiers.

In stark contrast, the Winged Race, though lacking any single combatant stronger than Duke Ma’se, possessed five individuals who were only marginally weaker than him.

Furthermore, there were many others who, while not quite at that level, were still exceptionally powerful. This meant that if Duke Ma’se were to fall, the Human Race would lose its paramount combatant.

The Winged Race’s high-tier forces would then be unleashed, making Lu Qier’s claim of an effortless breakthrough frighteningly plausible.

Without another word, Duke Ma’se leaped into action.

He planted a foot firmly on his warhorse’s back, then, with both hands gripping his long blade, he slashed directly towards Lu Qier.

A streak of silver light flickered brilliantly in the air.

A single, devastating strike!

Lu Qier watched the incoming blade, his expression unwavering. He neither dodged nor retreated, his face remaining as calm as ever.

But just as the blade’s gleam was about to cleave into Lu Qier’s body,

Clang!!!

A sharp clang of metal rang out. A silver long blade had intercepted Duke Ma’se’s attack.

Gazing at the face of the Winged man before him, Duke Ma’se’s expression hardened. He immediately retreated, executing an unnatural pause in mid-air before flipping gracefully to land back on his horse.

“Lu Kaer,” he said, his eyes narrowing. “I didn’t expect you to be here as well. Does the Winged Race intend to initiate a decisive battle?”

Duke Ma’se’s gaze sharpened as he looked at the two Winged men hovering in the air, their appearances strikingly similar.

“We merely wish to keep you here.”

Lu Qier’s voice was flat as he looked down at Duke Ma’se.

“Of course,” Lu Kaer added with a light chuckle, his gaze fixed on Duke Ma’se below, “if you die here, a decisive battle wouldn’t be out of the question.”

At this, Duke Ma’se let out a cold snort, his tone laced with derision.

“You wish to keep me here? You must still be living in a dream!”

“Heh.” Lu Kaer chuckled softly at Duke Ma’se’s words, offering no verbal reply.

However, a new figure from the Winged Race suddenly materialized beside them.

Upon seeing the newly appeared figure, Duke Ma’se’s usually composed expression underwent a drastic change. He blurted out in disbelief, “How is this possible? How can you be here? Weren’t you supposed to be at the Beast Race border?!”

As he spoke, a terrible realization seemed to dawn on Duke Ma’se, his face contorting into an expression of extreme dread.

“Could it be that you and the Beast Race…”

Though the rest of his sentence remained unspoken, the implication was chillingly clear: the Winged Race and the Beast Race were not merely allied to some extent, as Lisa Kael had speculated, but had fully joined forces.

They had even redeployed their border generals to this location.

“No, no, no,” Lu Kaer said, shaking his head with a smile. “Even if we joined forces, our border garrisons wouldn’t be withdrawn. In fact, this offensive was not initiated by either the Winged Race or the Beast Race.”

“What?!” A look of horror flashed across Duke Ma’se’s face. “Could it be that—”

Seeing Duke Ma’se’s expression, the curve of Lu Kaer’s lips deepened. He chuckled lightly and said, “Indeed, it is exactly as you’re thinking. Speaking of which, the time is about right. Your Queen may have already received the news.”

At this revelation, Duke Ma’se’s complexion grew even grimmer.

‘Indeed, only the Dragon Race possessed the power to compel the Winged Race and the Beast Race to abandon their mutual vigilance, forcing them to commit their full military might against the Human Race.’

****

Meanwhile, at the Southeast Border, Duke Kael’s forces.

Within the border fortress, Duke Kael sat in the main seat, listening to his subordinate’s report. His face was a mask of extreme displeasure.

“So that’s it! So that’s it!” Duke Kael exclaimed, his voice tight. “I’ve been wondering how sworn enemies like the Winged Race and the Beast Race could possibly reach an agreement to attack us together. Before, I rationalized it as an overwhelming shared interest, but now it’s clear: the Dragon Race has intervened!”

He slumped in his chair, a question echoing in his mind: ‘The Dragon Race, the Beast Race, the Winged Race—three races attacking the Human Race simultaneously. Can we truly withstand this?’

After a moment, Duke Kael let out a bitter laugh and shook his head. “What’s the point of dwelling on such thoughts? Now, we can only place our faith in Her Majesty the Queen. As for me, I can only do my utmost to resist the Beast Race’s advance and buy us some time.”

“Guards! Bring my battle armor!”

Rising to his feet with a thunderous roar, a fierce glint of battle intent ignited in Duke Kael’s eyes.

‘That old fellow, Duke Ma’se, must be facing the same situation now, right? Hahahaha, this time, I will definitely hold out longer than him!’

‘Perhaps this will be our final competition!’

Soon, a person entered, carrying a set of black armor. Duke Kael donned the black armor, a large saber secured at his waist.

He drew the saber, its broad blade gleaming with a cold, sharp light. A fervent intensity burned in Duke Kael’s eyes.

Come on!!!