Cataclysm King

Chapter 542: The Current Stalemate in the Eastern Wasteland
The place of the battle was not too far from the Shadow Fang Fortress, and the annihilation of the "Twin-tailed Scorpion Mercenary Group" was most likely noticed by the Simon family.

Ji Xun and the other two followed the Alliance Army's mechanical corps led by Katarina and evacuated quickly.

When encountering a mountain, go through the mountain; when encountering a forest, go into the forest; change the mountain road to the water road.

After walking for several hours in the complex underground river channel, we finally arrived at a huge underground cave group.

In the dark dungeon, a group of people walked on the gravel river beach.

The hissing sound of the steam boiler valve and the sound of steel friction are particularly clear.

This is not the headquarters of the Alliance Army, but a temporary combat command center.

When passing some intersections, Ji Xun also saw some red dots that were hidden very secretly.

That's a mechanical bat.

This mechanical sentinel has no life characteristics and is very hidden.

When encountering an unrecognizable signal, an alarm will be sounded immediately, giving the command center behind enough time to prepare.

And along the way, these mechanical sentinels are hidden everywhere.

It's safe enough here.

The other mechanical warriors had already gone deep into the dungeon, leaving Katarina with only six hunter god armors and several top card masters as guards.

A few people also started chatting.

Ji Xun also asked, "Why did you come here in person?"

Catalina is the commander-in-chief of the Allied Forces. Logically, she should be staying at the headquarters instead of taking the guerrillas into danger personally.

Catalina said: "The Alliance Army has been targeted. So in order to give the base time to move, I came here."

As she spoke, she did not hide anything and revealed the secret plan of the Alliance Army: "After all, I am the commander of the Alliance Army. Not only am I being watched by the people of the Southern Continent, but the Orlan Royal Court has also been looking for trouble. Staying in the headquarters mechanical city will only increase the risk of exposure to the headquarters, which is meaningless. Fighting guerrilla warfare is safer. In addition, the Alliance Army is preparing to launch an ambush against the eighth-level card master of the Simon family recently, and we need a sufficient 'bait'."

"."

Ji Xun, Chu Jiu and Nan Jing understood instantly after hearing it.

The current situation of the Allied forces is indeed not optimistic.

As the commander-in-chief, Catalina's current situation is indeed very dangerous.

But there was no fear or retreat on her face. She was as brave and fearless as her nickname, the White Jade Lion.

Catalina looked at Ji Xun and the other two and breathed a sigh of relief from the bottom of her heart. She said, "It's just right that you're here."

Needless to say, Ji Xun is not an outsider either.

As for the Rebel Dragon Army, they have always been an ally and will certainly not stand idly by.

The presence of three top masters greatly makes up for the lack of top combat power in the alliance army.

As she spoke, she glanced at Ji Xun and chuckled, "I feel like you've gotten stronger again. Have you advanced?"

"Ah."

Ji Xun nodded.

Catalina listened with a hint of anticipation in her eyes and said, "Oh? So, you have comprehended the 'Field of All Things'?"

Without waiting for an answer, she understood Ji Xun's look and said to herself, "That's right. You've always been promoted very quickly."

"."

Ji Xun smiled and agreed.

As they walked, Catalina told her plan again, saying, "According to intelligence, one of the two eighth-level mercenaries stationed at Shadow Fang Fortress is the leader of the 'Dragon Wing Viper Mercenary Group' recruited by the Simon family, 'Poison Scythe' Zolas. He is good at poison and his body is not too strong. We plan to ambush and kill this guy. Once we succeed, at least for a short period of time, those people in the southern continent will be much more obedient."

The intelligence was very detailed, and I put a lot of effort into it as soon as I heard it.

The Allied Forces are no longer without any foundation in the Old World as they once were, and are now considered a major force.

At least if we don’t count the ninth-level green dragon, it is not much weaker than Duke Simon’s Mansion.

"."

Ji Xun also understood.

The previous ambush was not only to welcome them, but also to deliberately reveal the location of the main force using themselves as bait, in order to ambush and kill the top masters of the Simon family.

But an eighth-level dragonborn is not so easy to kill.

Ji Xun asked curiously, "Are you sure?"

Katarina's eyes flickered as she said sternly, "30% kill, 70% seriously injure."

"."

From the tone, Ji Xun could already sense the determination.

Even if the three of them don't come, this plan will definitely be implemented.

The commander-in-chief of the Allied forces was ready to win this crucial battle even at the cost of a heavy price.

This would give the Union Army a respite for a long time to come.

Katarina said: "We will temporarily command all thirty God Hunter armors, as well as some special magic equipment. According to the results of the deduction by the General Staff, it is still possible to achieve a situation where both sides suffer losses."

Then, she added in an uncertain tone, "But no one in our allies has ever fought against an eighth-level card master, so we don't have an accurate concept of the combat effectiveness of a dragonborn card master, and we don't know how long the mechanical armor of the God Hunter Armor can hold up in a battle of that intensity. If it doesn't work, I will transfer another 20 God Hunter Armors from the headquarters. But in this case, the cost may not be worth it."

Ji Xun listened and pondered for a while, then said, "Thirty God Hunter Armors are enough. As long as the tactics are coordinated properly, it is fully capable of supporting a battle of that magnitude."

He was very familiar with the various parameters of the Huntsman Armor, and after thinking about it, he came up with a positive answer.

Catalina was delighted: "Really?"

She told him about her plan because she also wanted to seek advice.

After all, Ji Xun has been to the Southern Continent and should be more aware of the strength of an eighth-level card master.

Ji Xun said in a positive tone: "Well. As for tactical arrangements, I do have some suggestions. I have heard of the "Poison Scythe" Zolas before in the southern continent. He is a poisonous sub-dragon. His body is weak, so as long as the toxin resistance is sufficient, his methods are not too threatening. The most troublesome thing for the mechanical army is that he can fly. If we can keep him, it will be no problem to kill him."

He knew the enemy's origin and the parameters of the God Hunter Armor, so the judgment he made was basically accurate.

However, when this was said, not only Catalina, but also several staff officers around her were stunned: What?
The details of the intelligence were easy to understand, after all, Ji Xun had just returned from the Southern Continent.

But what about that nonchalant and confident tone?
You know, Donghuang has only come into contact with card masters above level 6 in recent years, and there are higher realms, and level 8 is already a top master. The spells of card masters at that level can easily corrode high-level mechanical armor.

How come this guy can be killed for anything he says?
The staff officers were reluctant to speak, but just looked at him with a strange look.

Because of their close relationship, Katarina was not polite and said bluntly: "You guy, why do I feel that you look down on the eighth-level card master at all?"

She was very familiar with Ji Xun's character. He would never speak out unless he was sure of the matter.

To say this is the real grasp.

Katarina knew very well that Ji Xun's [JOKER] sequence had always had combat power beyond the higher levels, and she had also seen with her own eyes his exaggerated record of a sixth-level being able to kill a seventh-level one.

But the eighth level is already the realm of top-level card masters, and there is a huge gap between each major level.

According to the intelligence currently obtained by the Alliance Army, the combat power of a seventh-level card master is normally only one-tenth of that of an eighth-level card master, and the difference in terms of laws is even greater.

She thought that even if Ji Xun was stronger, he would not despise the eighth level.

Could it be that Princess Augustus and the High Priest Nan?
As Catalina spoke, she glanced at Chujiu and Nanjing, who had been standing beside Ji Xun without saying a word.

Although she couldn't sense the two people's aura, she could tell that they must be very strong.

However, before she could think about it, she suddenly heard a secret message in her ear: "I have entered the eighth level."

"what?"

Catalina was stunned at first, thinking she had heard it wrong.

Eighth level?

Isn't it level seven?
But then, an expression of astonishment and joy appeared on that beautiful face.

Ji Xun tilted his head to look at her, they looked at each other and smiled slightly.

The moment their eyes met, Catalina realized that what she had just heard was not an illusion, but real.

This guy is level eight.
Even with her current state of mind, she couldn't help but take a breath, and her heart was filled with turbulent waves.

No wonder Ji Xun ignored the eighth-level card master. It turns out that he has reached a level that is beyond the reach of others.

Catalina was shocked and surprised. She suppressed the surprise in her eyes and raised her lips slightly with joy. She murmured to herself, "You are such a great surprise every time we meet."

A few people were chatting and there was no time to elaborate when their vision suddenly opened up.

A brightly lit mechanical camp came into view.

This is a camp right next to an underground river. The interconnected underground river is the best retreat route.

There were probably two to three thousand people in the camp.

Mechanical shields and various steel frames formed simple but solid fortifications, and huge steam boilers provided a steady supply of energy to the camp.

Hundreds of large-caliber magic cannons stood on high places, and various black-tech sensing devices were like awakened hounds, automatically aiming and pointing at Ji Xunzhe and his group who had just returned to the camp.

After identifying the person's identity, the magic cannon fell into dormancy again.

The most eye-catching thing is the seven or eight hundred mechanical armors neatly arranged in the camp.

The Mechanical Legion requires a large number of logistical personnel, and most of the people in the camp are mechanics responsible for the repair and maintenance of armor.

Some mechanical armors were damaged during the previous battles, so the mechanics immediately sent them to the repair workshop to replace parts and repair the damage.

When Ji Xun and the other two saw the domineering mechanical armor army in front of them, their expressions all brightened.

Before my eyes, it seemed as if I was seeing a microcosm of future wars.

War is actually a battle of consumables. Both people and resources are consumables.

Card masters are like trees in the forest, the bigger they are, the longer they need to grow. If a high-level card master is lost, it will take many years to train him again, and it will require resources that are picked from thousands of miles away and piled up.

But if a mechanical armor is lost, a brand new one can be produced on the assembly line within a few days; even if it is just damaged, it can be repaired and put back on the battlefield immediately.

However, most mechanical armors do not require high quality from the mechanics who operate them, and a first or second level card master is enough.

If we really want to fight a protracted war, the same number of traditional card masters will definitely not be able to outlast the mechanics.

These seven or eight hundred mechanical armors are enough to consume several times or even dozens of times the number of enemies. This is just a temporary command center of the Allied Forces. The number of mechanical armors in the entire Allied Forces is several times greater.

Catalina saw the surprise of the three people and explained: "Thanks to the support from the New World Mechanical City, otherwise it might take several years for our alliance army to have so many armors. What we lack most now is time."

Ji Xun and the other two also nodded.

Not only the steam machinery, they also saw the iron will of the Union Army to survive in the cracks.

Catalina said, "Let's go to the camp. But the conditions here are a bit shabby, sorry to bother you."

There weren't so many rules in the wartime camp.

Besides, Ji Xun and the other two came to see Catalina this time to discuss a top-secret matter, so of course everything should be kept simple.

The three entered the camp, and before anyone knew it, they went straight into Catalina's commander's tent.

Catalina knew that Ji Xun and the others came here for important matters, so she didn't ask anyone else to follow.

But although it looked like there were four of them in the tent, there were actually five.

Ji Xun and the other two sensed very clearly that there was a stealthy seventh-level assassin following Katarina from the very beginning.

Looks like a personal bodyguard.

Entering the tent, Catalina also noticed the momentary concern on Ji Xun's face and took the initiative to say, "He is the captain of my personal guard."

She then explained the reason and said, "The Silver Moon Cult has been trying to infiltrate the Allied Command, so no one can meet with visitors alone. Including me, the commander-in-chief."

While speaking, she pointed to the ancient relics in the tent that were used to prevent religious pollution, shrugged her shoulders and showed a helpless smile.

"."

Ji Xun listened and expressed his understanding.

The Alliance Army is an elite army, and it would be unreliable without those rules.

The stealthy assassin is not only to protect safety, but also to guard against certain potential threats of religious contamination.

But what was discussed this time must not be known to others.

Ji Xun tilted his head, and Nan Jing beside him immediately understood. He flipped the card in his hand and whispered, "Spell: Dream God's Illusion."

The spell was cast instantly, leaving no time for the person to react.

An invisible wave spread throughout the tent, and suddenly, behind Catalina's shadow, a female guard wearing an assassin's tights appeared.

She just stood there blankly, as if she was half asleep.

Fearing misunderstanding, Nan Jing explained: "I just put her into hibernation."

"Ah."

Katerina nodded.

Of course she knew that Nan Jing had no ill intentions.

But she was greatly surprised to see that her personal bodyguard was controlled like this.

This is the most powerful seventh-level assassin in the Allied Forces, and yet he went into hibernation without any resistance?
hiss.
She glanced at Nan Jing and was extremely shocked: How powerful is this Nan priest?
Looking at Chujiu who was silent, and Ji Xun who had already been confirmed to advance to the eighth level, Katarina's expression revealed a complicated look.

She did not hide her thoughts and praised: "Priest Nan is so powerful!"

"Ms. Carter, you are so kind."

Nan Jing nodded in response without further explanation.

Seeing this, Catalina didn't say much and asked everyone to sit down.

No one here is a stranger, so the reception is not that formal.

She also took off her military jacket and hung it on the clothes rack, then she sat next to the three men in a white shirt, chatting like a friend.

Ji Xun asked, "By the way, Miss Carter, what did you say about the situation at the Oran Royal Court?"

Catalina smiled slightly, as if she found the title "Miss Carter" very interesting. She responded, "The reason why our base on Union Street was found by the people from the Southern Continent so quickly is actually because those guys from the Oran Royal Court are secretly making trouble. They want to force us to submit to King Arthur. They did this a long time ago, but I never agreed. Now King Arthur probably has no patience to wait any longer, and his actions have become more and more frequent recently."

"."

Ji Xun wasn't surprised to hear that.

Before, when the Lionheart family was in the East Wilderness Federal Government, they were already the "first warlord". Their military strength was stronger than that of several other families, and they had enough elite troops and resources.

With the support of the alliance army formed from the Old Continent and the technical equipment from the New World Mechanical City, their strength cannot be underestimated.

Of course, the Oran Royal Court will not easily give up such a powerful force.

Ji Xun asked again: "What is the current situation in the East Desert?"

Hearing this question, Catalina frowned and her tone suddenly became very deep: "It's very troublesome."

After a moment of silence, she elaborated, "The Silver Moon Sect has almost completely controlled the people of the East Wilderness. And it should be the illusion method of the Moon Goddess that you mentioned before, Ji Xun. They have also trained a lot of seventh-level card masters. With the resources of the whole country, the number of mechanical legions is also very large. But after all, there is a world rift blocking us. Although our alliance army has some minor troubles, the problem is not big. The Iris Legion of the Red Dragon Kingdom is the one that caused big trouble. It is said that the ninth-level Grand Marshal Andre tried to behead him, but he didn't find anyone, and the legion of hundreds of thousands of people was deadlocked near the Innocence City."

Having said that, she described the situation in Eastern Wasteland in detail.

The current situation in Donghuang is very special.

Because of the Silver Moon Sect, the entire Eastern Wilderness has now become a kingdom of God.

This put the previously invading Iris Legion into a dilemma.

They invaded the Eastern Wilds before for the rich mineral resources and population, as well as the advancement ceremony of the great marshal.

Now almost everyone in the Eastern Wasteland is a Silver Moon believer, and they dare not keep any captives.

Once the Iris Legion attacked the city, they had no choice but to massacre the city, killing everyone and leaving it a ghost town.

Otherwise, there will be endless troubles.

However, this massacre also led to fierce resistance and heavy casualties.

Moreover, without slaves to serve as miners, those mines could not be mined even if they were occupied.

In this way, neither population nor resources can be obtained, and the cost-effectiveness of invasion becomes lower and lower.

Those mercenaries who came for money gradually began to consider retreating.

The Iris Legion's hundreds of thousands of troops gradually became insufficient after they captured several cities.

Dragonborn are just not easily contaminated, not completely immune to contamination.

The more powerful the god, the stronger the pollution of faith.

The people of the Southern Continent did not dare to stay in those occupied ghost towns for a long time, so they could only shrink their defense lines.

But as soon as the battle line was shortened, the Oran royal court launched a counterattack.

Even if nothing else is said about the Eastern Wilderness, there is no shortage of population.

The massacre did not have much impact.

Moreover, the retreat of the Iris Corps also gave the Orlan Royal Court Mechanical Factory room to survive, and mechanical armor was manufactured in batches.
The gap in combat power between the two sides' legions is getting smaller and smaller.

The most important thing is that the southern continent is now in chaos and the Red Dragon Kingdom is unable to take care of itself. Not only does the Iris Legion not have any reinforcements, but the king also wants to recruit them back.

"This is the current situation. The Iris Corps still controls Innocence City and several nearby military fortresses, but they no longer have the ability to attack. However, they still have the power to decapitate, so the Oran Royal Court has not made any major moves at the moment."

After a long while, Katarina finished describing the situation in the Eastern Wasteland with a very solemn expression.

Ji Xun and the other two fell into deep thought after listening to this.

Although I knew something before, after hearing the detailed information from Catalina, I feel the situation is becoming more and more pessimistic.

Catalina added: "Based on the current situation, the rise of the Orlan Royal Court and the Silver Moon Sect is no longer able to stop them. Even if the decapitation operation of the people from the Southern Continent succeeds, I'm afraid it won't change anything."

This is the horror of excessive theocracy. It makes no difference who is the king; as long as there is faith, nothing will change.

As she spoke, she glanced at Chujiu out of the corner of her eye.

She knew that this man was a member of the Augustus royal family, and that he most likely came here to target King Oran.

The allied forces are completely helpless about the situation in Eastern Wilderness and can only place their hopes on this person.

Catalina asked directly: "Your Majesty Chujiu, what do you think?"

Chujiu spoke for the first time: "Well. Even if the beheading is successful, the Moon Goddess Arachne will support a new king. Moreover, His Kingdom of Faith has already become powerful, and that Ninth-Rank Marshal Andrew may not be able to kill Him."

Catalina heard a hint of doubt on her beautiful face, but when she looked at the expressions of the three people, she realized that they were not as worried as she thought.

She asked expectantly, "Do you have any ideas?"

Ji Xun didn't say anything.

This matter should be discussed on the ninth day of the first lunar month.

After all, one of them is the commander-in-chief of the Allied Forces and the other is a member of the Augustus royal family.

This kind of conversation is not just casual chatting between friends, but an alliance cooperation that concerns the life and death of millions of people.

"Ah."

Chujiu nodded and said, "I came here to deal with this matter this time."

Katerina Jing showed a hint of surprise for a moment: "Oh?"

She really couldn't think of any way to solve the current problems in Eastern Wilderness.

Chujiu added: "The Moon Goddess Arachne was originally a last resort for Talen to deal with the Seven Lords of the Calamity at the end of the time. The ancestors of the Nan family also left a backup plan to deal with the pollution of faith."

After hearing this, Catalina really started to look forward to it.

Yup!

Just because they can't solve it doesn't mean their predecessors three thousand years ago couldn't solve it.

Catalina suddenly realized that the three people came to see her for this reason, so she took the initiative to ask, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Chujiu still had that calm expression on his face. He took out the [Imperial Conferment Manual] and gave a brief explanation.

After hearing this, Catalina's expression finally turned strange. She said, "You mean to say that you want to crown me as queen?"

She never expected that the solution would start like this.

(End of this chapter)