Chapter 534.5: Pre-emptive Drill
The Bay forces' deployment caused quite a commotion, drawing plenty of attention.
A number of lords felt that the Bay was making a mountain out of a molehill.
"It's not like we haven't experienced the Mad Dragon's Disarray before. Last time was only 50 years ago, and it didn't amount to much."
"Haha, I was just 18 back then, and I remember slaying a bunch of kobolds."
"Tsk, tsk, if you ask me, the Bay is up to something else entirely."
"Oh? What do you mean? Are they putting on a show for us?"
"Most likely. They just want to flaunt their strength and send us a warning…"
"That does make sense. Now that they're struggling with the blockade, they have to show their fangs. Otherwise, it won't just be pirates popping up…"
"Haha, you're probably right…"
"Still, to be fair, the Bay's soldiers are impressive."
"A whole army of professional soldiers, equipped with tens of thousands of enchanted weapons and gear. Tsk, tsk, tsk…"
"Such vast resources must have drained the Bay's coffers. Even the Ser family must be feeling the strain."
"In my opinion, the Bay's goals go beyond simply sweeping out dragon-blood creatures. Deploying nearly 30,000 troops isn't just about a cleanup."
"Could it be? They're trying to hide something? Did they find something valuable in the Dark Forest?"
"What else could that eerie place offer besides countless trolls?"
"Who knows? The Bay does have a true dragon. Maybe they really have discovered a new mineral vein…"
"True, the Dark Forest is quite resource-rich. I've heard much of the Bay's steel is self-produced…"
"Whatever their plans, we don't care. All we know is the Bay got scared out of their wits by the Mad Dragon's Disarray!"
"Haha, I think so too…"
"Well then, let's spread the word…"
"…"
Laughter echoed throughout a certain aristocratic club's conference room in Sevinton.
Within days, news of the Bay's seemingly excessive response to the Mad Dragon's Disarray had spread across much of the Netheril Empire.
It wasn't just the nobility who talked; many common folk also heard about it.
Most people, as usual, followed the crowd, mocking the Bay's actions.
Some claimed they were using it as a pretext to raise funds.
Others said they were clearing out kobolds.
Still others believed the Bay was simply scared.
In short, people weighed down by their own struggles loved to see someone else having a worse time.
It made their own burdens seem more bearable.
By mocking the Bay, they could feel a little less hopeless about their own dire situations.
They lowered their resistance and ambitions, silently resigning themselves once again.
Nevertheless, thanks to the lords' commentary, the Bay's name spread widely throughout the Netheril Empire, reaching various territories and communities.
Who didn't enjoy making a jest at the "cowardly territory's" expense?
Outside the territory, the gossip couldn't disturb the Bay's military operations.
The troops were organized into various combat units.
Each was assigned a commander, a mission, and objectives, carrying out their tasks swiftly.
Thus, the Bay saw a true wave of purges unfold.
Alongside the various dragon-blood creatures, kobolds, gnolls, trolls, and wandering barbarians—all sources of instability—met bloody fates in the sweeping action.
Most kobolds were captured.
Their bounty for capture far exceeded that for killing them.
This strategy aimed to rapidly expand the kobold population within the territory.
With their numbers growing, the contributions made by the kobolds became more and more evident.
Gnolls were typically slain.
Their decent strength made them perfect for honing the soldiers' combat skills.
Although physically capable, the gnolls' equipment and overall combat effectiveness fell far short of the Bay soldiers.
Their resistance provided satisfying practice without causing significant casualties.
As a result, the gnolls' unfortunate circumstances led to heavy losses in this sweep.
Of course, the various magical creatures encountered later also posed significant challenges for the Bay troops.
No creature goes down without a fight.
Even a mosquito will draw blood before being swatted.
How much more dangerous are magical creatures with fangs and claws?
Casualties were inevitable. However, thanks to thorough preparations, the Bay minimized their losses.
At the same time, the spoils of battle continuously boosted the troops' morale.
The rewards from defeating enemies.
The value of certain magical plants and creatures.
The unexpected discovery of new metal veins or magical resource points.
The influx of new recruits, along with the fires of battle and the sweep, gradually enhanced the Bay's military strength.
Soldiers who experienced real combat quickly integrated their training into their combat repertoire, using it as fuel for growth.
For those who couldn't adapt, the Bay didn't force the issue. After all, there were plenty of roles within the territory where their skills could still shine.
The soldiers' actions caused quite a stir.
The newly formed propaganda broadcasting team naturally seized this opportunity to amplify the message even further.
Certain regiments and brigades eradicated countless gnolls, destroying numerous gnoll camps.
Some units captured dozens of troll remnants, earning bounties of three to four thousand gold coins.
Some soldiers fought valiantly, achieving notable merits and rewards, and received promotions in rank.
A wealth of victory reports.
They not only became topics of conversation among the populace during meals,
but also significantly boosted their confidence in and sense of belonging to the Bay Territory.
Especially for newly arrived refugees, knowing that the Bay Territory had a powerful army gave them an unparalleled sense of security.
They settled in and adapted to life in the Bay Territory much faster.
At this point, Butler Ralph realized something.
Although the military campaigns consumed a considerable amount of resources, the benefits gained far outweighed the costs.
Beyond the regular troops of the Bay Territory,
the elite forces had their own distinct missions.
Some participated in hunting down dragon-blooded creatures.
Some were tasked with capturing large dragon-blooded beasts.
Others focused on clearing the territory of magical creature threats.
With greater strength and superior equipment, these elite troops naturally achieved outstanding results.
Even certain dangerous creatures of the Underworld
seemed to sense the attitude of the Bay Territory and its elite soldiers. Some chose to flee, while others retreated deeper underground.
Those without such awareness, or too foolish to act accordingly, became bounties and trophies for the elite soldiers of the Bay.
Meanwhile, the well-trained Thunder Squad was deployed entirely to the Catachan Plane.
Observing their excited faces, Matthew couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
Establishing a strategic operations staff seemed like a task that should be prioritized.
However, this didn't mean Matthew intended to relinquish command of the Thunder Squad.
For now, this formidable and unique unit would remain under his direct control.
The Corrupted Jungle.
A faint stench lingered in the air.
Even the seasoned Catachan hunters had to cautiously hold their breath.
The jungle's numerous deadly pathogens had various ways to infiltrate their bodies.
The less harmful ones would leave after sating themselves.
The deadly ones required no explanation; they thrived on rich, decomposing corpses.
However, compared to the previously unreliable "traditional methods,"
the gas masks provided by the Bay Territory effectively resolved this issue.
Their earlier habits were simply ingrained.
But when the lead Catachan hunter suddenly and fearfully signaled for them to halt,
Gater quickly caught on and calmly said:
"Enemy traces detected. Spread out and conceal yourselves."
The Catachan hunter glanced at the sturdy figures behind Gater and couldn't help but feel a bit awed.
Although the Thunder Warriors were shrouded in cloaks, their imposing builds and formidable aura left the hunter deeply impressed.
The Thunder Warriors swiftly set up various traps in the surrounding area.
Gater didn't expect these traps to cause significant harm to the exceedingly dangerous Catachan demons.
However, the commotion triggered by these traps would be enough to alert everyone to their situation.
After ensuring that the soldiers were all concealed, Gater approached Sera and Matthew to report the current status.
Stroking his chin, Matthew exchanged a look with the particularly quiet Sera and spoke with a determined tone:
"Unless absolutely necessary, I won't intervene. This is to train the soldiers' combat abilities…"
"Of course, if any unplanned Catachan demons show up, Yaya and I will temporarily hold them off to buy you time."
Hearing this, Sera felt considerable pressure but didn't let it unsettle her. She smiled confidently.
The faint rustling sound resembled the brushing of fallen leaves.
A shifting mound of dirt slowly moved toward the strongest scent of blood.
Buried beneath the earth, the Catachan demon carefully concealed any traces that might give it away.
It took nearly two hours to cover the distance of just over 100 meters to the source of the blood scent.
Several large, plump pigs lay motionless.
Their bellies had been split open, and the gaping wounds emitted an irresistible allure to the Catachan demon.
Yet even without detecting an enemy presence, the demon still approached the exposed meat cautiously.
Sera, aware of the demon's location, decided not to strike immediately.
She quietly gave instructions to her attendant.
Soon after, the reinforcements from the Thunder Squad had already circled around to flank their target.
"No sign of other Catachan demons."
Hearing this report, Gater's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
A broad smile spread across his weathered face.
"Attack!"
Before the Catachan demon could sink its teeth into the hanging pork,
the dragon-hunting crossbows, already locked and loaded, fired their bolts.
Whoosh!
The spinning bolts cut through the soil, precisely striking the Catachan demon's back.
The specially designed bolts, enhanced by a new round of improvements, released flashes of lightning the instant they penetrated the demon's defenses.
"Roar…!"
Agonizing pain, coupled with the faint sense of danger, compelled the Catachan demon to let out a shrill howl.
Undoubtedly, this terrifying creature wasn't crying out in distress but issuing a call for help to other nearby Catachan demons.
Unfortunately, it was already too late.
Unfurling a large soundproof barrier scroll, Sera gestured for the soldiers to launch their attack.
The enormous Catachan demon struggled to rise from beneath the earth.
Soil sprayed in all directions, and uprooted plants were scattered far and wide.
The massive, twisted figure of the Catachan demon came into full view before the Thunder Warriors.
A towering body, 13 meters in length.
Dozens of scythe-like sharp claws.
A tail tipped with a venomous stinger, poised to strike.
Its thick, black-brown armor gave off an intimidating aura, leaving onlookers unsure of where to begin.
Despite facing such a fearsome monster, the soldiers—barely reaching its claw's height—showed no signs of fear. If anything, they looked more excited.
Swish!
The moment the Catachan demon raised its claws in a show of strength,
two more heavy bolts flew at it from behind.
By the time the demon sensed danger, its massive body couldn't react in time to dodge.
Crack!
The silver-tipped bolts struck true, driving into the demon's back with apparent ease.
As lightning crackled around the bolts, and realizing they couldn't fully penetrate the demon's defenses, they exploded with a brilliant flash.
"Roar…!"
The deafening roar that followed was three or four times louder than before, reverberating within the large soundproof barrier.
Two enormous wounds now marred the Catachan demon's back.
Fresh, bright-red blood flowed freely, accompanied by wisps of smoke.
The bolts, wreathed in electrical arcs, had disintegrated at the rear, leaving nothing but scattered splinters.
However, their razor-sharp tips had been driven deep into the demon's body by the explosive impact.
Without spotting any enemies, the formidable Catachan demon instinctively turned toward the source of the dragon-hunting crossbow's shots.
Enraged, the demon unleashed a terrifying burst of strength.
Its massive frame smashed through nearby trees, charging directly toward the source of the attack.
Clearly, this creature was not only powerful but vengeful as well.
The Thunder Warriors, fully prepared, had no intention of remaining hidden any longer.
With a roar like thunder, the Catachan demon collided head-on with a surge of lightning.
Although its dark, plated armor provided some defense, it was no match for Gater's vengeful strike.
The unlucky Catachan demon was immediately left dazed.
Fixing its gaze on the approaching Gater, fear flickered in its eyes.
This never-before-seen lightning brought intense pain and overwhelming pressure.
While such injuries wouldn't hinder the Catachan demon's fighting capability,
its above-average intelligence detected a trap and sensed danger.
Fight or flee?
The Catachan demon chose the latter.
With a swift turn, its venomous tail, sharp as a blade, lashed out.
Gater halted his advance, smirking at the retreating demon:
"The more you fear death, the faster you meet it."