[Outside Xiapi City]
Ever since Cao's army attacked, this was the second time Xiapi had opened its gates.
The first time was when Lu Bu died.
During these past few days, the bet between Diao Chan and Cao Cao had already spread throughout the whole city.
The exit of the city was crowded with people, whether commoners or the outside reinforcements who had just arrived in Xiapi these past days.
As long as their Pokémon had some strength, almost all of them had come here.
For today's battle, practically everyone was sweating with worry.
If they lost, either Lady Diao Chan would be forced to submit to the Cao bandit, or the Cao bandit would massacre the city.
If they won, they might remain unharmed or might still face the pressure of Cao's army.
After all, the large army was in the enemy's hands. Whether they fought or not would ultimately be up to the enemy.
Morality? In this damned world, morality was the least valuable thing.
But for the common people, they still hoped Xiapi's side would win.
That way there would at least be more hope of survival.
Right now the warlords everywhere were rising, and some of them still cared about saving face.
At the city gate, seeing the nine chosen warriors not showing up for a long time, some bored people couldn't help chatting.
"Sigh! This feels hopeless. Cao's army has merged so many troops. Needing to win five out of nine battles, how is that easy?"
"Neighbor, don't worry. Lady Diao Chan will protect us!"
As soon as he said that, a burly man beside him patted his shoulder and comforted him:
"Even if we really lose, when the time comes I'll give up leaving the city and give my spot to you. Just don't forget to take your son with you."
"Old Wang, you're really good. Being your neighbor is my blessing."
The burly man surnamed Wang said, "It's my duty."
Compared to these still somewhat optimistic residents, the reinforcements looked much more despairing.
Their strength was greater, and so they knew more.
Defeat Cao's army?
As if it were that simple.
After arriving in Xiapi City, they realized the situation here was even harder than they imagined.
Leaving aside Lu Bu's death, even among the fierce generals by his side, fewer than one in ten survived.
Of the few who lived, many had already surrendered to Cao Cao's camp.
This time the people being sent to fight were almost all these reinforcements.
They had witnessed the assessments of those few people with their own eyes.
Not a single one could reach the level of a famous general.
Which meant that as long as the other side sent out five famous generals, they would win for sure.
But Cao's army had far more than five famous generals.
Let alone people on the level of Liu, Guan, Zhang. Even Zhang Liao was an unshakable existence to them.
In their eyes, more than half the residents here were already as good as dead.
Seeing that most people on-site did not think highly of this contest, Diao Chan, standing at the center of the city wall, couldn't help frowning.
Morale was a mysterious thing. Invisible and formless, yet truly present.
Whether in a war or even a tug-of-war.
Without morale, it was nearly impossible to win any form of battle.
If they truly couldn't win this time, then boosting morale was pointless anyway.
But now it was different.
Diao Chan had personally seen Ho-Oh and another unknown legendary Pokémon beside Axel, as well as that Gyarados that seemed to have inherited a spatial divine authority.
With those Pokémon exerting pressure, victory was very possible.
Thinking this, Diao Chan narrowed her eyes slightly, suddenly picked up the large drum beside her on the battlement, and struck it with force.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The drumbeats seemed to shake the heartstrings. Everyone couldn't help looking toward the city wall.
Under the rapid beating of the drum, Diao Chan's clothing ribbons seemed to float.
And with the White Gardevoir standing at her side, the psychic aura she stirred up looked like a heavenly goddess descending, personally cheering for Xiapi.
The official beside her, Lord Wang, at once read the atmosphere and stepped forward, raising his voice, "Everyone in the city, rest assured."
"This time we have an extremely powerful reinforcement, even stronger than a famous general."
"During the assessment I used three Pokémon in their forties, and that person used just one Pokémon to defeat me with ease."
"With that master's support, our morale will soar, and we will surely seize victory in this contest!"
When he said this, Lord Wang raised his chin proudly, his eyes full of defiance.
As though as long as Axel appeared, everything could be suppressed.
Stronger than a famous general?
Hearing Lord Wang's words, everyone present couldn't help brightening their eyes.
If such a person truly existed, then the battle situation might indeed change.
"Lord Wang, where is that hero now?"
Lord Wang clasped his hands behind his back calmly, "I've already sent the registrar to invite him."
"Several righteous participants went with him. Soon everyone can cheer for them together."
———
"Gyarados, fly a bit higher," Axel looked helplessly at the nine men lying behind him, not knowing how they were so fragile.
Over ten minutes passed and not one had woken up.
If the residents saw nine competitors knocked out, plus a registrar being delivered, they would probably be scared to tears.
For the sake of Xiapi's residents' hearts, Axel planned to have Gyarados fly higher and simply avoid them.
Once he won the battle, the people wouldn't even have time to worry.
But just as Axel rode Gyarados into the air above the city, planning to quickly fly past, he suddenly heard a dense, rainlike burst of drumbeats.
In addition, there was Lord Wang's impassioned voice.
"Everyone, do you see?"
"Now flying above us is Lady Diao Chan's friend, the legendary Pokémon trainer Mister Axel."
Axel: "..."
'Why are they putting on a welcome ceremony now?'
Gyarados was stunned too. Its big head turned back, looking at Axel for a decision.
Leaving directly at this moment seemed inappropriate.
Axel nodded helplessly, signaling Gyarados to fly down and meet them.
He could ignore Lord Wang and let him embarrass himself alone.
But Diao Chan was still beating the drum. He couldn't disrespect her.
A spatial rift flashed, and Gyarados brought Axel and the others to the front of the city gate, showing off a little.
Lord Wang cleared his throat, about to stir up the mood further, when he suddenly noticed something wrong.
'Why are all the participants except Axel lying down?'
Everyone else was dumbfounded as well.
The drum in Diao Chan's hands stopped abruptly. Her beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.
Her vision went dark, and she almost fell to the ground.
The reinforcements instinctively took a step back, suddenly feeling that Axel might be an undercover agent.
The commoners were frozen too, and that Wang man even began crying directly.
"My son, you're so miserable!"
Axel blinked, awkwardly scratching his head.
"Well... actually the issue isn't big. The Cao army's contestants were already taken care of by me yesterday."
Everyone: "???"
'Indiscriminate attack?'
'You're basically the same as Cao's army. You came to take the city too, didn't you!'
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