Volume 4 Chapter 168

Volume 4 + Chapter 168: A Thousand-Li Lightning Raid

“Captain,” Xia Yi said, “there is now an important order that I must convey to every Dragon Clan member of the Anti–Vampire Clan Special Operations Unit.”

“Please speak, Your Highness,” the captain replied, looking at Xia Yi with full attention.

“Gather all the soldiers. Every last one of them.”

“Understood!”

The captain acknowledged the order and had all members of the Anti–Vampire Clan Special Operations Unit assemble. They quickly formed ranks and stood before Xia Yi.

“Your Highness, what exactly is going on?!” Elly asked anxiously. “Didn’t the Elven general say we only needed to wait in the rear and wouldn’t have to fight? Why are so many enemies appearing now?!”

Elly was not the only one confused, every Dragon Clan soldier present shared the same doubts.

“We’ve been used,” Xia Yi replied calmly.

The moment those words fell, the expressions of all the Dragon Clan members changed. Shock rippled across their faces.

“Used? By the Elves?” Elly pressed.

“Yes. From the very beginning, Kennedy placed us here with ulterior motives. The appearance of these Vampire Clan troops is no coincidence, it was inevitable,” Xia Yi explained. “If my deduction is correct, our standby position lies directly along the only route by which Vampire Clan reinforcements can return to the checkpoint. As long as we remained here, we were guaranteed to encounter them.”

“So the Elven general knew this from the start, and deliberately arranged for us to be stationed here?” Elly finally understood.

“Kennedy exploited the long-standing prestige of the Elves in international affairs, drawing us into his scheme and turning us into his pawns.”

“Then what he said about being one hundred percent certain of taking the Vampire Clan checkpoint, was that a lie too?!” the captain asked angrily.

“It wasn’t entirely a lie,” Xia Yi said. “It was a calculated half-truth. The Elven army truly can take the Holy Crimson Empire’s border checkpoint, on the condition that we, the Dragon Clan, block all Vampire Clan reinforcements in the rear, allowing the Elves to fight without fear of being attacked from behind.”

“Then why do this at all?” Elly demanded. “Your Highness, wouldn’t it have been better for him to just tell us the truth and cooperate openly from the start?”

“Because that way, Kennedy can claim the greatest credit for capturing the checkpoint entirely for the Elves,” Xia Yi said bluntly. “If we had cooperated openly from the beginning, the ownership of the checkpoint could not belong to the Elves alone. But by using this method, he can later say that the appearance of the Vampire Clan reinforcements was an accident, and that we Dragons merely fulfilled our originally agreed-upon duty.”

“That’s outrageous!!” Elly fumed. “Isn’t he afraid that if we refuse to fight and withdraw, his whole plan will collapse?!”

“If we choose not to fight, the Vampire Clan army will break through to the Elves’ rear,” Xia Yi explained. “With both front and rear under attack, the Vampire Clan would win this battle. Once his intentions are exposed, there will never be a second chance to assault the checkpoint. That would further lead to the collapse of the Anti–Vampire Clan Alliance and eliminate any hope of defeating the Vampire Clan’s Ancestor God.”

“Right now, both the checkpoint defenders and these Vampire Clan reinforcements are in dire straits, their morale low. But if they manage to converge, that situation changes completely. With morale restored, the Vampire Clan army’s combat power will rise dramatically.”

“So this is outright coercion!” the captain snapped. “He’s forcing us to fight and die for him!”

Not just the captain, every Dragon Clan soldier present was now seething with anger.

Who would willingly allow themselves to be manipulated by the Elves?

“That damned Elven general must be insane!” Elly said through clenched teeth. “What kind of objective is worth placing such a reckless gamble on? If he fails, he’ll go down in history as a criminal!”

Xia Yi did not know the full reason behind Kennedy’s actions, but one thing was clear, if this plan succeeded, Kennedy, the one pulling the strings, would be the greatest beneficiary.

Perhaps that alone was enough to make him willing to gamble everything.

“So do we really have no choice but to be toyed with by the Elves?” Elly asked bitterly. “Fighting won’t do, not fighting won’t do either, are we just supposed to swallow this?!”

“How could that be?” Xia Yi smiled faintly. “The Dragon Clan has never submitted beneath another race. This may be an opportunity for Kennedy, but for us Dragons, it is also an opportunity. Everything he has painstakingly arranged… isn’t it also clearing a path for us?”

“…!”

The captain’s expression changed instantly, excitement spreading across his face.

The other Dragon Clan soldiers also began to grasp Xia Yi’s intent.

“Your Highness… have you already made up your mind?” the captain asked.

“Since Kennedy wants to play dirty, then we won’t hold back,” Xia Yi declared. “The Elven army and the Vampire Clan defenders have been locked in battle all day. That means both sides’ strength has been heavily depleted. Right now, we can use our speed and mobility as Dragons to launch a lightning raid, sweep the main battlefield, and seize the checkpoint!”

Elly still looked uncertain. “But, Your Highness… if the Elves haven’t won yet, that’s one thing. But if they already have, ”

“Soldier Elly,” the captain interrupted, “with things spelled out this clearly, how can you still not understand? If they treat us as tools, why should we bother talking about benevolence or honor with them?”

Elly suddenly realized the truth.

So did the other Dragon Clan soldiers.

“As long as we seize the checkpoint,” Xia Yi continued, “once the Vampire Clan reinforcements see that it has fallen, their morale will collapse, and they will be easy to defeat. What do you all think?”

“Excellent, Your Highness! We support you!” the Dragon Clan soldiers shouted in unison, their spirits soaring.

“This will be a difficult operation,” Xia Yi said. “Given our limited numbers, we must divide into two groups. One group will strike the main battlefield in a surprise assault. The other will delay the Vampire Clan reinforcements, there is no need for a decisive battle. Use the Dragon Clan’s advantages, fight while retreating, and buy us time. That is all that’s required.”

“Your Highness, leave the task of stopping the Vampire Clan reinforcements to me!” the captain volunteered, raising his hand.

“Are you certain? This will be extremely dangerous.”

“I am certain,” the captain said firmly. “I will stake my life on this. Until you successfully seize the checkpoint, I will not allow the Vampire Clan reinforcements to reach it.”

His eyes burned with unwavering battle intent.

“Since Her Majesty the Queen entrusted me to accompany you on this campaign against the Vampire Clan, then I must become the blade that cuts away every obstacle before you.”

“Very well. Then I leave it to you, Captain.”

Xia Yi nodded. No further words were needed, trust was the greatest recognition a commander could give.

Soon, the forces were divided. The captain led the majority of the Dragon Clan soldiers to intercept the enemy, while Xia Yi would lead the remaining troops on a thousand-li lightning raid, heading straight for the checkpoint.

The young Silver Dragon Princess looked at every Dragon Clan soldier before her and smiled.

“Next, let us give that foolish, overconfident Elven general a small taste of Dragon Clan shock.”

[https://ko-fi.com/golden_dragon]