However, this commotion was far too small to create the waves that the prime minister envisioned. The negotiations were held in a place between the two armies, a space too large for arrows or other attacks to cross, thus designating it as a neutral spot. The soldiers that were closer to the frontlines could hear and see what was happening, but that was limited to less than a hundred people. The Imperial Council's army had more than five hundred thousand soldiers! A hundred people was nothing at all. To sway an army that large required an equally large commotion. That was the job Commander Fai was tasked with.
A terrible scream came from the empire's side, shattering the silence. It was a deep, guttural sound that gave everyone the shivers. They could feel the agony behind it! And as if on cue, hundreds, if not thousands, of other people screamed in unison from across the vast army. It was horrifying! Everyone glanced over to see the perpetrators clutched over, digging their nails into flesh and drawing blood. Their skin had adopted a colorful golden rash, which made everyone wince. It was obviously poison! Word travelled quickly and soon the entire army was a sea of murmurs. With what transpired at the negotiations, they concluded that the Alzar Kingdom was the culprit! Everyone was furious! The kingdom's peace declaration was just a farce meant to lower their guard. They felt ashamed of their naivety as their hatred was reaffirmed. The kingdom was truly evil incarnate! It could not be reasoned with!
Naturally, Elizabeth caught wind of this and grimaced. "Was this your idea, General Petra?" she accused with a tone full of hostility. It might have been strategic, but it was underhanded. She did not approve of it whatsoever.
"The security around their food and supplies is exceptional. None of our soldiers could get anywhere close to it. I wish we were behind this," the general replied.
"You mean to say…"
"We weren't responsible."
Elizabeth felt her gut twist. "They couldn't have-"
"We're disappointed in you, Princess Elizabeth and the Alzar Kingdom! To use the Golden Spider Toad poison on our citizens is unacceptable!" someone shouted with a booming voice, which was magically being projected across the city again.
Golden Spider Toad poison, or its more well-known name, the Golden Strangle, was one of the ten deadliest poisons in the world, famed for its high lethality and suffering. Contracted by consuming a colorful toad from the western rainforests of the empire, it would manifest as a yellow, almost golden-like, rash around the limbs. These patches of skin would become highly sensitive to touch, translating any sensation into extreme pain. Even a light breeze could bring unimaginable torment! These rashes would continue to spread, paralyzing the body, until it reached the throat. It would then swell that area and strangle the host to death, hence its name.
Although many people failed to recognize the name, the symptoms were for all to see. How cruel and despicable could the kingdom be? The soldiers' hatred transformed into killing intent as the combined aura of several hundred thousand soldiers erupted in a climatic explosion! The kingdom was blasted back by the fearsome aura as their soldiers recoiled in fear. The dichotomy between the two scenes was incredible to see. One second, the Imperial Council's army was still frightened and wary of what the Alzar Kingdom or the Featherwind Sect could do. They were totally suppressed by the Alzar Kingdom's powerful spirit. However, the next second, that very same frightened cub transformed into a mighty tiger, roaring into the skies and bearing their fangs! The role of prey and predator swapped in the blink of an eye! The council's army began stomping their feet and clanging their weapons in unison, creating massive shockwaves and echoes that shook the entire battlefield. Everyone was rearing for a fight!
Prime Minister Pon-Wai's plan had worked splendidly. Of course, he did not actually use the potent Golden Spider Toad poison to harm his own soldiers. Such a poison was hard to come by, even for the Imperial Council's vast connections. Using it on thousands of people was out of the question. He never needed to though. He only needed something similar, but nonlethal, to frame the Alzar Kingdom. One small spark could reignite the entire forest. Individually, the soldiers might be afraid of the Featherwind Sect. After all, their display of power had broken free of the mortal world and touched upon the level of a heavenly retribution. However, the power of the crowd was stronger than that! They only needed a push from behind and the collective force of thousands could move mountains!
"Our people could never forget that Empress Mei was murdered by King Harth, that Emperor Lianghu was murdered by Princess Elizabeth, and that even the Imperial Princesses were taken hostage!" the voice continued. "Soldiers and people of Yongtein, do not fall for their cheap tricks! Their only desire is our complete annihilation! For the sake of your friends and family, we must stand up! We will not let them trample our hopes and dreams! We will destroy the Alzar Kingdom here and today!" Several hundred thousand roars came from the army's side, loud enough to shake the heavens themselves. That was right. This was not a simple battle, but one that decided the fate of the Xingyuu Empire! They had to win here!
"We've been had," General Petra clicked her tongue.
"I'll go and explain that-"
"That the Imperial Council framed us? Don't be naïve, Your Highness." She gazed at the sea of soldiers ready to rip them apart. "It's far too late for that."
Elizabeth could not find anything to rebut.
"Hear my command! All forces are to take battle formations! Escort the delegates and build the frontlines! Instruct the Featherwind Sect to use their large-scale strategic spells! We'll attack them before they have a chance to react!"
"Understood!" her subordinates shouted.
Both armies prepared for the second day of fighting as they deployed their formations. Structure was gradually being built. Thankfully, General Petra had already anticipated that the negotiations would end in failure, so her army was one step faster. She gained the initiative! The difference in leadership was obvious with a glance though, considering the council had to command almost triple their numbers, this was unsurprising. Likewise, that disparity in speed and efficiency was ultimately meaningless in the face of overwhelming numbers. The kingdom faced an uphill battle, especially now that their enemies were remotivated. General Petra looked up at the Featherwind Sect's flying ship. They were the key to overcoming these odds!
Whoosh! As if on cue, a figure darted off the ship and landed between the two armies. Elder Argo had made his arrival! Naturally, the armies were terrified at the sight of a giant falcon showing up. Although the Featherwind Sect had made their appearance many times prior, that was in the sky, at a distance too far to appreciate scale. No one knew how massive they were until now! He immediately unleashed his full power and sent a massive aura out that dominated the battlefield briefly. This was enough to convince everyone that he was a monster in every sense of the word. Elder Argo manifested a ghostly doppelganger behind him, which hinted at what he planned to do. The generals panicked and hastily ordered an attack, but the wide negotiation space worked to the bird's advantage. Furthermore, Elder Terus's perception-altering spells added to the confusion. He could not be stopped! Elder Argo waved his wing, and his doppelganger followed. The Featherwind Sect's pinnacle technique activated!
That iconic bird wing appeared and attacked the Imperial Council's army again, except the execution was different compared to before. Previously, every usage of his Demon Wind Requiem was a vertical slash from above, akin to a heavenly cleaver. This ensured his safety and maximized his range, which was exactly what a bird of prey was supposed to do. However, he was currently doing the exact opposite. He was on the ground and unleashing his Demon Wind Requiem as a horizontal slash! By having it at precisely the height of a normal human soldier, the result was as expected. It was like reaping wheat. There was no sound, no resistance, and not even a sign that there was something there. Whether it was flesh or metal, it was the same. Shing! The bird wing passed through thousands of people in an instant. They had no time to react, much less feel pain. Before they knew it, their limbs had already detached, their life forfeit. Boom! The shockwave and wind pressure followed, blasting thousands of body parts into the air, and decorating the battlefield in a fine red mist. It was horrifying to see!