Chapter 46: The Battle at the Eastern Frontier
The eastern sky was tinged with the fiery hues of dawn as Lukas and his elite troops stood poised on the frontlines, the cold wind carrying the scent of conflict from the Drevyn forces stationed beyond the hills. The air was thick with tension, as both sides prepared for a battle that could determine the fate of the kingdom's eastern border.
Lukas glanced at Marcus, who had taken command of the right flank, and then at Zane, who was positioned with a smaller contingent to the left. The Veridan forces were outnumbered, but their cultivation levels gave them an advantage in terms of raw power and discipline. Still, Lukas knew the Drevyn forces wouldn't fall easily.
"Remember the plan," Lukas called out to his troops. "This isn't a battle of attrition. We strike fast, cripple their supply lines, and force them into retreat before they can regroup."
The men around him murmured their agreement, their eyes hard with determination. These soldiers had trained relentlessly under Lukas, Marcus, and Zane, and they had become more than just soldiers. They were a cohesive, elite fighting unit, forged by both battle and Ether cultivation.
Lukas drew his saber, the familiar weight of the blade grounding him as he activated his system, his mind instantly filled with strategic calculations. The battlefield spread out before him in an array of possible moves and countermoves, each one unfolding in real-time thanks to the system's **Battlefield Interface**.
[New Quest Objective: Overwhelm the Enemy's Supply Lines]
Bonus Reward: Ether Storage Upgrade.
"Advance!" Lukas's voice cut through the silence, and his elite forces surged forward, their movements swift and precise as they charged across the battlefield.
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The initial clash was brutal. The Veridan forces hit the Drevyn lines with incredible force, the air crackling with Ether-infused attacks. Spears met shields, swords clashed, and the ground shook as both sides fought with everything they had. But despite the Drevyn forces' numbers, Lukas's soldiers were able to push through their frontlines, breaking their formation with well-coordinated strikes.
Lukas cut down two Drevyn soldiers with swift, deadly precision, his saber glowing with Ether as he moved through the battlefield. His training, combined with his cultivation at Level 9, made him a force to be reckoned with. Each strike was calculated, each movement deliberate.
As the Veridan forces pressed their advantage, Lukas spotted the Drevyn commanders rallying their troops at the rear, attempting to regroup. If they managed to re-establish their defensive lines, the battle would become a prolonged siege, something Lukas wanted to avoid at all costs.
"Marcus, Zane!" Lukas shouted, cutting down another opponent as he fought his way to the front. "We need to hit their command center now!"
Marcus, wielding a massive Ether-enhanced greatsword, was already leading a squad toward the Drevyn supply lines. His strikes were powerful enough to send shockwaves through the battlefield, forcing the enemy into retreat wherever he fought. "I'm already on it!" he called back, his voice filled with grim determination.
Zane, with his dual short swords flashing in the morning light, was methodically dismantling the enemy's defenses on the left flank, his movements quick and precise. "We'll cut through their lines like a blade through silk," he said, his tone as calm as ever, despite the chaos around him.
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As the battle raged on, Lukas noticed something unsettling. The Drevyn forces, though initially disorganized, were beginning to fight with renewed vigor. Their commanders had managed to hold key strategic positions, and reinforcements were arriving at an alarming rate. More troubling, Lukas sensed a strange fluctuation of Ether in the air, something far stronger than what he had expected.
Suddenly, a massive surge of Ether erupted from the Drevyn's command center, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Lukas stumbled as the energy hit him, his vision momentarily blurring. When he regained focus, he saw it—a towering figure, cloaked in black, surrounded by a dark, crackling aura of Ether.
The system pinged a warning in his mind, its cold, mechanical voice cutting through the haze of battle.
[Danger Detected: High-level Ether Manipulator Approaching. Estimated Cultivation: Advanced]
Lukas's heart raced. This was no ordinary commander. Whoever this figure was, their Ether manipulation was far beyond what he had anticipated.
The dark figure stepped forward, and with a wave of their hand, a shockwave of Ether blasted through the ranks of the Veridan forces, scattering soldiers and sending them sprawling to the ground. Lukas watched in horror as the figure raised their hand again, preparing another attack.
"Retreat!" Lukas shouted, his voice hoarse. "Fall back to the defensive lines!"
But it was too late. The dark figure unleashed another wave of energy, and Lukas felt the impact before he even saw it. He was thrown backward, his body slamming into the dirt as the world spun around him. The force of the attack had left him winded, and for a moment, he struggled to regain his bearings.
Through the dust and chaos, Lukas saw Marcus and Zane rallying their troops, trying to hold the line. But the Drevyn forces were pressing forward with renewed fury, their morale bolstered by the presence of the dark figure.
Lukas staggered to his feet, his body aching from the impact. His mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan. This wasn't just a battle for the border anymore—this was a fight for survival.
The system's interface flickered in his mind, offering a series of options and calculations. But there was no time to plan. He had to act.
"Zane! Marcus!" Lukas shouted, his voice raw. "We need to regroup and focus on that commander! He's the key!"
Marcus, his greatsword gleaming with Ether, nodded grimly. "Understood."
Zane, his expression uncharacteristically tense, met Lukas's gaze. "We'll hold the line as long as we can."
Lukas's grip tightened on his saber as he watched the dark figure advance. His mind was already calculating the risks, the potential strategies—but there was no easy solution. This battle was about to reach a new level of danger, one that would push him and his forces to their limits.
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As the Drevyn forces pressed their attack, Lukas activated the Ether Conduits in his body, channeling a surge of energy into his limbs. His body burned with renewed strength as he charged toward the dark figure, his saber blazing with Ether.
The figure turned, its eyes glowing with malice, and for the first time, Lukas saw the true danger he was facing. This was no ordinary commander—this was someone tied to the deeper conspiracy he had been investigating. Someone with connections to the advisor in the court.
The system hummed in the back of Lukas's mind, offering strategies, options, and possible outcomes. But in that moment, Lukas knew there was only one course of action.
He had to win this battle—at any cost.