Chapter 222

Chapter 222: Bitter Battle in the Sea of Trees

As Midi underwent his unprecedented Extraordinary Awakening within the Dragon’s Blood White Crystal Pool, finally forging the unstoppable Dragon Sealing Sword within his body, an equally intense battle raged through the Sea of Three Towers.

"What’s our current status?"

"Twelve of fifteen outer fortifications have fallen."

"Main forces regrouped with over 40% casualties confirmed."

"Reinforcements suffered multiple ambushes en route. Their arrival will be delayed three days, with 20% losses expected."

"Vanguard ship squadron losses exceed 60%. Replacement ships arrived but lack pilots – our aerial forces are critically depleted."

In the Dragon Horn Hall of the Lightning Fire Wing tribe, Dragonkin elders and Hawk Brigade generals stood grim-faced around the central sand table, exchanging battlefield updates. Every report painted darker prospects for the once-dominant mercenary group that had rivaled even the Delos Empire. The staggering casualties among both personnel and Midi’s prized Hawk Wings unit defied comprehension.

Only the collapsing boundaries of the small realm saved them – as pure magic faded from the Sea of Three Towers, Belmar’s conventional troops finally reinforced the frontline. Without these reinforcements, their original magic-adapted warriors would’ve been slaughtered long ago.

Their enemy defied all military logic – the Exiles. These magical entities felt no fatigue, fear, or pain. Unlike mindless automatons bound to magic arrays, the Exiles possessed true intelligence, learning from each battle while requiring neither food nor breath – sustained purely by magic.

Clad in heavy knight armor, Exile forces wielded diverse armaments from swords to siege axes, all sharing one devastating advantage: flight. Though inferior to the legendary Lord of Light City’s aerial mastery, this flying capability devastated Arad’s ground-bound armies.

Consider the tactical nightmares:

– Bypassing defenses to strike granaries, armories, and command centers deep behind lines

– Neutralizing fortress advantages through vertical assaults

– Launching lightning raids across thousands of miles within hours

– Escaping unfavorable engagements at will

The Hawk Brigade’s acting commander, magic scholar Kelvin, initially deployed their famed Hawk Wings squadron for aerial counterattacks. Yet these ships that dominated Imperial forces proved useless against Exiles.

The problem wasn’t Kelvin’s leadership. Exiles flew with precision no Undead wyvern could match under Necromancer control. Worse – every Exile warrior had undergone first awakening.

The chasm between level 50 and 51 defied numerical comparison. Post-awakening warriors wielded magic with magnitudes greater purity and control, unleashing skills transformed in both power and complexity. Higher-level Awakened could chain basic skills into devastating Composite Skills or learn entirely new abilities.

Imagine:

– Level 20: Toddler stumbling through first steps

– Level 50: Clumsy adolescent

– Level 51: Battle-hardened adult

No amount of courage bridges that gap. If defeating Awakened were easy, why would Midi and the Delos Empire war over Sky City’s Awakening Ground?

By conservative estimates, one level 51 Awakened equals 100 level 50 warriors. Against self-sustaining flying entities like Exiles? The disparity grows catastrophic.

Facing such enemies, how could the already fragile Vanguard ships possibly resist?

The number of crashed Vanguard ships had already surpassed a hundred. If not for replacements from the alchemical factory and new pilots, the Hawk Wings air force might have been erased from existence.

Even with full reinforcements from Deep Rock Island and Belmar, the battle situation now teetered on the brink of collapse.

"What if we try the blame-shifting tactic again?" Dickson blurted out while staring at the cross-marked sand table, cunning flashing in his eyes. "Let’s make it big this time. Our main troops are waiting nearby, ready to strike the final blow."

The Sea of Three Towers wasn’t solely defended by the struggling Hawk Brigade.

Though the Delos Empire’s army had lost their undead automatons and even commander Wiseman Newton, they still clung stubbornly to their positions. Their control over nearby Faero Bay allowed smoother troop deployment than the Hawk Brigade’s.

But larger troop strength meant bigger targets.

Kelvin’s initial scheme to lure Exiles toward Imperial forces worked shockingly well. Both sides clashed fiercely – battlefields ran red while multiple Imperial teams got wiped out.

The Exiles simply sought to destroy all movement in the Sea of Three Towers. They didn’t care whether they chased Hawk Brigade warriors into Imperial fortifications – slaughter remained their only goal.

Soon, "blame-shifting" became the Hawk Brigade’s favorite tactic.

But after several uses, the Imperial army grew wise. They intercepted attempts and even counter-attacked, turning Hawk Brigade territories into smoke-filled battlefields.

The tactic shifted from harming enemies to harming both sides. Old foes Belmar and the Empire reluctantly agreed to abandon it, each defending their own territories.

Dickson’s suggestion now revealed their desperate situation.

Retreat from the Sky City conflict in shame.

Fight to total annihilation.

Or try every desperate trick until "that person" returned.

"Blame-shifting won’t work," Kelvin shook his head, maintaining calm despite his inner sigh. "The Empire’s new commander outmatches me strategically. A three-way battle would crush us."

When would Midi Asreks return? A full week had passed since the Floating City battle against that Cold Flame-eyed foe…

As the magic scholar pondered, urgent bells suddenly rang through the Palace of Dragon Horn.

The highest-level tribal alarm – enemies had penetrated their core undetected.

"Exiles! To arms!" Kelvin’s eyes flashed with cold glow as he gripped his staff and rushed out.

The attack came with typical Exile swiftness. Before warriors could form up, fifty glowing Exiles already loomed over Lightning Fire Wing tribe.

Three teams crashed down like artillery shells, pulverizing buildings and warriors alike. Rising unharmed from craters, they drew blades for melee combat.

Twenty archers and magic-users occupied high points, raining death from above.

The first awakened Exiles’ overwhelming firepower forced Dragonkin and humans into retreat. Neither Kelvin nor the mighty Dragonkin warrior Tanius could stem the tide.

Fifty Exiles equivalent to five thousand troops instantly suppressed the entire region!