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Chapter 475: Grand Arcanist - Cronorman
Crack!
A brilliant, razor-sharp blade cleaved through a particularly unusual dretch.
The gray-brown dretch shrieked as it was split in two.
Under the sunlight, its blood evaporated, and its skin and bones turned to ash.
Its twisted, grotesque body vanished, leaving behind a transparent soul fragment the size of half a palm.
Over twenty dretches fell helplessly.
They had attempted to flee the Abyssal Rift and move to other regions.
Bay Territory naturally wouldn't allow such an occurrence.
Feeling a faint aura approach her, Elio instinctively took a step back.
A faint red mark on her body grew warm, as though urging her to accept the power.
She merely cast it a disdainful glance before turning away indifferently, the greed surging within her failing to stir her heart in the slightest.
It seemed Elio was using this eerie power to temper her willpower.
Watching this unfold, Sun Sheng's eyes revealed a hint of disbelief.
He had immediately recognized Elio's identity, deducing her race, and had assumed Bay Territory was unaware of her demonic heritage.
Yet, to his astonishment, Bay Territory not only accepted a significant number of demon-kin but was rumored to be welcoming even more.
Sun Sheng's initial concern had been the potential instability of these demon-kin, given their ties to demonic power and their susceptibility to corruption.
But to his surprise, after arriving in Bay Territory, these demon-kin had shed their previous "volatile" and "dangerous" demeanor, becoming exceptionally "well-behaved."
Well, they had no choice but to behave!
Bay Territory never restricted their growth in strength.
It only dictated the methods by which they could enhance their power.
"Power controlled by one's own hands belongs to oneself; those controlled by power are mere beasts."
"Willpower is the most crucial attribute. Without adequate willpower, you cannot participate in combat."
"The territory lacks not in combat strength but in soldiers who strictly follow orders!"
"Your talents are exceptional—perfect for serving as instructors..."
Elio's "advice" to her kin was what shocked Sun Sheng the most.
He could never have imagined that a demon-kin could grasp concepts so profoundly that most Professionals failed to comprehend.
Noticing his gaze, Elio smiled and greeted him:
"How are those trainee Paladins progressing? Are they diligent?"
"If they're not listening, let me know. I'll be sure to reprimand them properly."
Feeling somewhat awkward, Sun Sheng thought of the inquisitive and enthusiastic trainees. They were unlike any Paladins he had known.
True Paladins should be solemn and steadfast, a trusted pillar for their comrades, and agents of the Goddess's will.
The Paladin trainees from Bay Territory had excellent talent, which pleased Sun Sheng immensely.
However, they seemed solely focused on learning weaponry and armor techniques, honing combat skills, or mastering the Holy Light.
They showed no interest in studying the Goddess's "will" or spreading her radiance.
This was a difficult concept for Sun Sheng to accept.
Yet these trainees were astonishingly quick learners, mastering combat skills and the Holy Light at an incredible pace.
Even their proficiency in healing techniques was impressive.
They were exemplary students who gave their instructor no cause for concern.
What left Sun Sheng speechless was the Goddess's response. Instead of showing disapproval, she bestowed "blessings" upon them.
Reflecting on this, Sun Sheng forced a smile and remarked wryly:
"They're learning exceptionally fast. Their abilities are outstanding, and they're very focused."
Even if they're not entirely "obedient."
Nodding without further comment, Elio headed toward the nearby outpost.
She needed to return to Scarlet Pass to report on the dretches attempting to flee.
Nearby, additional fortified outposts were rapidly being constructed.
With the might of nearly ten thousand elite adventurers, Bay Territory had effectively contained the Abyssal Rift and the dretch horde emerging from it.
Soldiers trained rigorously in other territories would soon use these dretches for combat exercises, gaining valuable experience.
To ensure absolute safety, Matthew had not only stationed 500 heavy infantry but also deployed a batch of soon-to-be-retired guardian and sentry golems.
Should anything unexpected occur, these constructs would be the first line of defense, buying precious time.
After securing Scarlet Pass, Matthew led 2,000 cavalry toward Scarlet Fortress.
The remaining soldiers were to stay on high alert, awaiting further orders.
Three hours later.
Matthew returned to Scarlet Fortress.
However, the once-majestic fortress was now unrecognizable.
Piles of rubble stretched across the landscape, swarming with countless orc soldiers.
Their eyes glowed red as they roared mindlessly, resembling savage beasts.
To Matthew, it seemed these orcs were already dead—mere animated corpses.
"Could it be that they've already…"
Contemplating this, Matthew and Yaya flew into the sky for a better view.
Inside the fortress's keep, parts of the castle had remained intact despite breaches and were under siege by the orcs.
Matthew refrained from acting rashly, carefully observing the battlefield with Yaya.
"The attacking orcs still number 450,000. Their numbers are staggering…"
Yaya blinked, scanning the surroundings before expressing her concern:
"Even if we intervene, it doesn't seem like we'd make much of a difference!"
Indeed.
The remnants of the Third and Eighth Legions defending the keep numbered over 80,000.
Compared to their peak strength of 300,000, they had suffered massive losses.
Despite their heavy casualties, their defensive advantage and smaller perimeter allowed them to hold the line against the orcs.
Adding a few thousand troops from Bay Territory wouldn't shift the tide significantly.
However, this didn't mean Matthew planned to do nothing.
He prepared to cast a communication spell to contact those inside the fortress.
To his surprise, as the spell began to activate, it suddenly dissipated.
The spell had failed!
Matthew widened his eyes in shock and was about to try again when a voice startled him and Yaya.
"Under Gruush's divine power, your spells will not succeed!"
Matthew held back Yaya, who instinctively prepared to strike, and turned to face the floating figure beside him, exclaiming in disbelief:
"Grand Arcanist Cronorman?"
"Yes, it's me!"
With snow-white hair and beard yet a face devoid of wrinkles, Grand Arcanist Cronorman studied Matthew and Yaya with great curiosity.
He seemed genuinely intrigued by the pair!