Courtyard House: Report enemy agents at the start, and you'll take off immediately.

Page 427

“It’s time to change tactics,” Ralph said in a deep voice. “We can’t act blindly like before.”

“I agree,” the red witch nodded. “Now we need a more thorough and careful battle plan.”

“Alright, everyone take a break,” Zhao De clapped his hands. “We’ll work together to come up with a new plan before the first rays of sunlight come out tomorrow morning.”

Despite their unease, everyone understood that remaining calm and vigilant was paramount. Soon, the camp fell silent again, broken only by the occasional cough or sigh. Meanwhile, in the darkness not far away, a pair of eerie green eyes were fixed intently on the camp…

“I hope we can get through this crisis safely,” Ralph muttered to himself, then turned to check on the guards. “You all need to be more vigilant; no one can let their guard down tonight.”

"Don't worry, Captain, we'll hold out until the very last moment," a young guard replied firmly.

Zhao De returned to his tent but did not rest immediately. He sat down and began to carefully consider the news brought back by the elven hunters and the various situations he might face tomorrow. Just then, the tent flap was gently lifted, and Liu Ruyan walked in.

"Aren't you asleep yet?" she asked softly, her gaze gentle yet tinged with worry.

“Yes,” Zhao De raised his head and forced a smile, “things are more complicated than we imagined. We can’t just go to sleep without thinking about anything.”

Liu Ruyan nodded and sat down opposite him. "You've done your best, don't be too hard on yourself," she comforted him.

"Yes, thank you," Zhao De said gratefully, but his expression quickly turned serious again. "What do you think we should do tomorrow?"

"We need more information, especially about exactly how many mages they have," Liu Ruyan analyzed seriously. "The presence of mages could bring great uncertainty to the battlefield. We must find a way to effectively restrain these forces."

Chapter 1248 Successfully Escaped

Chapter 1248 Successfully Escaped

As they were talking, a soft footstep sounded outside the door. The Red Witch and Ralph entered the tent, their faces also filled with heaviness and contemplation.

"You guys are still awake too?" Zhao De asked, getting up.

“How can anyone sleep peacefully under such tension?” the red-clad witch sighed, then looked at Liu Ruyan and Zhao De, “Let’s discuss tomorrow’s operation.”

The group quickly sat around the table and lit an oil lamp. The dim, warm light instantly gave the simple tent a homey feel.

"The elven hunter said the enemy is well-equipped and seems to have several mages helping with the defense," Ralph said bluntly. "This means that a head-on confrontation would be extremely disadvantageous for us."

"Then what about going around to the enemy's rear? To distract them?" Liu Ruyan suggested.

"This is indeed a feasible plan, but the risks are very high, and the consequences of failure would be unimaginable," the red-clad witch warned everyone.

A moment of silence fell, and everyone lowered their heads in deep thought.

“I think we can use the cover of night to send out a few elite squads to infiltrate the enemy camp and scout out their specific deployment locations, sentry patrol routes, and other details.” Suddenly, Zhao De, who had been silent all along, slowly spoke up.

“Yes, this way we can reduce unnecessary casualties and increase our chances of winning.” Ralph nodded in agreement.

“However, we need to select the most reliable people to carry out the mission,” the red witch added. “After all, this is not a simple reconnaissance mission; if we’re not careful, we could expose our whereabouts and cause the entire army to be wiped out.”

Four pairs of eyes simultaneously turned to the figure of the elven hunter—despite his exhaustion, he remained highly alert.

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the treetops, bringing a long-awaited vitality to the silent forest. However, for this team, welcoming the dawn was not an easy or pleasant task.

"Is everyone ready?" Zhao De called out, looking around at the assembly point.

Everyone answered in unison: "Ready!"

Zhao De nodded and turned to the team members who were about to carry out the reconnaissance mission: "Be careful, safety first. Just get the intelligence we need, and don't act rashly!"

Everyone nodded firmly to indicate they understood. Then they disappeared into the vast forest, leaving behind only a hopeful yet slightly apprehensive gaze that followed them for a long time…

The sun gradually rose higher overhead, and the weather grew increasingly hot. The personnel responsible for guarding the camp did not let their guard down despite the heat; on the contrary, they became even more cautious. Suddenly, several dark dots appeared in the distance, rapidly approaching—it was the small scout team that had just gone out to investigate!

The lead elven hunter looked anxious and shouted before even getting close, "Quick...get ready! The enemy has started to assemble their forces and move towards us! They're moving very fast! They'll probably be here very soon!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked and quickly sprang into action according to the previously agreed-upon plan. Some grabbed their weapons and prepared to go; others ran to wake their sleeping comrades; still others hurriedly packed important supplies in preparation for a possible relocation...

A tense atmosphere hung in the air, and everyone's heart pounded. A major battle seemed imminent, and whether they could escape safely from this unfamiliar land remained uncertain…

Chapter 1249 Reconnaissance of Enemy Situation

Chapter 1249 Reconnaissance of Enemy Situation

Just then, an unknown bird flew by, casting a long shadow in the sunlight...

"Hurry up!" Zhao De shouted. "All non-combat personnel, immediately evacuate to the designated safe zone and await further instructions! The rest of you, stay with me to defend against the enemy's attack!"

"Follow the captain's command!" A chorus of resounding replies rang out, and people quickly dispersed to get busy as instructed.

Liu Ruyan gripped her comrade's hand tightly, whispered a few words of encouragement, and then resolutely turned and ran towards the front lines. Her figure quickly disappeared into the crowd…

The air was thick with tension and anticipation; everyone was on edge, ready to face the impending storm.

"Everyone stay calm and proceed according to the original plan!" Zhao De's voice was firm. He waved his hand, and several soldiers immediately stepped forward to quickly load the supplies onto the wagons.

Ralph patrolled the edge of the camp, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, not missing a single place where danger might be lurking. "Strengthen vigilance! Everyone, take cover!" His shouts echoed throughout the camp.

The red-clad witch began chanting, a wand in her hand, the surrounding air seemingly enveloped in her magic. A wisp of eerie blue light swirled around her, offering the soldiers a sense of security. "I will provide magical cover as much as possible; you must proceed with extreme caution," she said in a low, powerful voice.

The elven hunter quickly assembled a small team, preparing to infiltrate deep into the forest to scout out the enemy. "We must find them before they do and locate a suitable battleground!" he told his men. "Everyone must be on high alert."

Meanwhile, not far from the front lines, a man dressed in black robes rode a black steed. His eyes were deep and cold, and a dozen or so similarly dressed people were gathered around him. These people all had longswords and various kinds of wands hanging at their waists, clearly highly trained mages.

The man in black robes stroked his chin and asked in a low voice, "What's the situation ahead?"

A subordinate quickly replied, "The enemy is already preparing to retreat, it seems they have detected our approach. But according to our scouts, their forces are scattered, we can take this opportunity to break through their lines in one fell swoop."

"Hmph, it seems these people aren't entirely spineless after all," the man in black sneered. "Order the troops to speed up their march and reach the designated position within one hour."

Another attendant chimed in, "However... sir, I've heard that Zhao De is no ordinary man. He defeated one of our elite teams with fewer troops during the Northern Campaign."

Upon hearing this, the man in black robes' expression turned serious. "Then we need to be even more careful. Remember: do not be careless, but do not be afraid of the enemy either. After all, strength is the key to ultimately deciding everything."

Just as the enemy was preparing to launch their attack, Zhao De and Liu Ruyan were also making final tactical adjustments. "We need a more comprehensive battle plan to deal with the upcoming major battle," Liu Ruyan said anxiously.

“That’s right.” Zhao De nodded. “According to current intelligence, the enemy doesn’t seem to intend to give us a chance to regroup. We’d better take advantage of the terrain here to launch a counterattack.”

Chapter 1250 Quickly Adjusting the Formation

Chapter 1250 Quickly Adjusting the Formation

Just then, the elven hunter returned. "It's bad!" he reported, panting. "They're less than three kilometers away! And there are more of them than we thought... at least a hundred! Including several powerful mages!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions immediately turned serious; the situation was far worse than anticipated. But complaining or backing down was useless at this moment; only by facing the difficulties head-on could they possibly win a glimmer of hope.

Suddenly, an invisible pressure seemed to spread through the air, sending chills down everyone's spines—a feeling unique to magicians before casting spells.

"Quick! Prepare for battle!" Ralph shouted, and everyone instinctively gripped their weapons. The red witch quickened her incantation, and rings of mysterious power gradually coalesced...

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps sounded, and a messenger came running, his face as pale as a ghost. "Report...Reporting to the General! The enemy has used a teleportation array to appear on our left flank!"

These words stunned everyone present: this was a nightmare scenario! They knew that once those high-level spellcasters completed their setup, the entire battlefield would likely become a living hell…

Zhao De took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down and think of a solution. "Listen to me—" he solemnly addressed his anxious companions, "No matter what, we must go all out today! For survival, for victory, we must fight with everything we have!"

Just as Zhao De finished speaking, a violent tremor struck, as if the entire earth was shaking. The soldiers' faces were filled with terror, but then they saw black smoke rising in the distance, followed by dazzling magical lights illuminating the night sky.

"Prepare for battle!" Ralph's voice echoed through the camp, and the soldiers quickly adjusted their formation, tensely awaiting the impending attack.

The red witch's gaze hardened, and her wand emitted a powerful, eerie blue light. "Everyone, focus! I will do everything in my power to protect you!" Her voice was steady and strong, as if injecting a powerful boost into the soldiers' morale.

The elven hunter stood at the front of the group, his eyes fixed on the forest ahead. "Everyone, get ready. We'll move at my command!" he whispered, then turned to his teammates beside him and said, "Remember, we are their eyes and ears. Stay alert."

At the same time, the man in black robes rode his horse to an open area, coldly surveying the battlefield before him. A hint of contempt flashed in his eyes, as if he had already foreseen the victory to come.

"The enemy has indeed come." Liu Ruyan clenched her fists, her eyes gleaming with unyielding spirit. "Brother Zhao, how do we fight?"

Zhao De took a deep breath, his gaze fixed firmly on the distance. "We must use the terrain to our advantage and buy as much time as possible. Let Ralph and the Red Witch hold off their attacks, while you and the Elf Hunter lead a group to flank the enemy and launch an attack. This will distract them as much as possible and buy us more time to retreat."

“But…” Liu Ruyan was a little worried, “If there are too many enemies, can we succeed?”

Zhao De smiled slightly and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, I've already arranged for spies. As long as we can withstand the initial wave of attacks, reinforcements will arrive in time. Trust me, we will definitely win!"

Chapter 1251 Unparalleled Loyalty

Chapter 1251 Unparalleled Loyalty.

Just as the two were discussing their plan, the enemy launched a fierce attack. Several enormous fireballs rained down from the sky, crashing into the camp. Ralph ordered his soldiers to quickly take cover and retaliate with arrows and magic. The red witch brandished her wand, conjuring a sturdy magical shield that barely withstood the first wave of attacks.

"Quickly, proceed according to plan!" Zhao De shouted, then led the charge to the front lines. Liu Ruyan led her squad around the enemy's main attack direction, quietly entering the depths of the jungle. The Elf Hunter, meanwhile, led several agile warriors through the trees, searching for the best sniping positions.

As the battle continued, the enemy's numbers were gradually revealed, indeed no fewer than two hundred, including more than a dozen high-level mages. Zhao De was secretly astonished, and at the same time felt the pressure increase. However, he quickly adjusted his mindset, putting all distractions out of his mind and concentrating on dealing with the crisis before him.

"Captain, we've spotted a weak point on the enemy's flank!" a soldier excitedly reported to Liu Ruyan. Liu Ruyan nodded, quickly organized her team, and prepared to launch a surprise attack. "Alright, let's move out immediately!"

Just as they were about to strike, a deafening explosion suddenly rang out. It turned out that several enemy mages had cast a combined spell, plunging the entire battlefield into a thick darkness. The surroundings instantly became pitch black, with only the sounds of clashing weapons and screams echoing through the air.

"Everyone be careful, don't get separated!" Liu Ruyan shouted a warning, only to find that the people around her were disappearing one by one. She gritted her teeth, gripped her long sword tightly, and prepared to face any unknown danger at any moment.

Suddenly, a bright light flashed from not far away, followed by someone shouting, "There's a light source over here! Everyone, follow quickly!" Liu Ruyan immediately recognized Zhao De's voice and hurriedly ran towards the light.

When she finally emerged from the darkness, she found Zhao De standing atop ruins, holding a lantern made of magic. Behind him, Ralph and the Red Witch were desperately maintaining their shields, fighting a fierce battle against the enemy. "Well, have you found the right moment?" Zhao De asked Liu Ruyan while struggling to defend himself.

"We've found a gap in their defenses; we can break through there!" Liu Ruyan replied, her tone filled with determination.

Just then, a shout came from the other end: "Help me! There are enemies lying in ambush here!" The voice was urgent.

"Let's go, we'll go support him!" Zhao De decisively gave the order, then turned to Liu Ruyan and the remaining soldiers, "You take this opportunity to attack from the flank, remember to move quickly and stealthily! Understand?"

"Understood!" Liu Ruyan nodded and led her team to retreat quickly, leaving Zhao De alone to face the increasingly powerful enemy offensive.