In the land of evil.

Everyone was resting wearily. Stanley and Lopek were on guard duty in the distance, while Jesse and Kaili, who had just returned from their shift, were so exhausted that they fell asleep on the ground without even changing their clothes dampened by the dew.

Rody was in a low tent, studying the magical map for tomorrow's marching route. Now, besides the hundred student companions, they also had over thirty volunteer mercenaries and a few griffin riders. Although their combat strength was far inferior to the elite students, being accustomed to traveling through the Evil Forest, they could keep up with the marching speed. Especially in these life-and-death trials, their potential had burst forth under the threat of death, each meeting Rody's minimum requirements.

Chris suddenly crawled in, first touching Rody's forehead and then observing his face color, whispering, "You did it on purpose, didn't you?"

"What?" Rody glanced at him.

"I mean letting that guy stab you through the chest. It was deliberate!" Chris hummed softly. "I was confused at the time and didn't think it through, but now you can't fool me anymore!"

"Very smart." Rody smiled faintly. "I did let him stab me on purpose."

"Why?" Chris didn't understand.

"He couldn't kill me. Not just a sneak attack by an Earth Warrior, even a Sky Warrior couldn't kill me!" Rody smiled mysteriously. "I want the soldiers in the rear to feel ashamed, angry, and disgraced. This stab can gain their support, their trust. You can say I'm calculating or unscrupulous. Actually, I have my difficulties, which you know some of, but there's more you don't know. I must have absolute support from the rear. Without the support of passionate soldiers, I would surely have no place to be buried in the future. Besides, those assassins indeed wanted to kill me and did strike a fatal blow; I just didn't dodge it... This way, the orcs, demons, gods, humans, soldiers in the rear, and spies will all understand my strength through this stab."

"You want to appear weak?" Chris suddenly realized. "Now I understand."

"A person with a military genius mind, if also a strongman, would inevitably provoke fear. But if he has a fatal flaw, not strong enough, not knowing magic or combat qi, many people would feel much more at ease," Rody nodded. "I need to show them a weakness, make them think they can kill me anytime or easily control me."

"Rody, you... have you thought about everyone?" Chris suddenly punched Rody's pillow, angrily saying, "What if this stab had seriously injured you? What would everyone do? We need your leadership. Also, have you thought about your mother? She must be waiting at home for your safe return!"

"I wouldn't do anything I'm not sure about. Besides, before those guys even approached, I knew they would make trouble like this." Rody smiled, not angry, and countered, "Did you cry? I remember you seemed to cry."

"No," Chris denied immediately, saying, "A real man doesn't cry, only bleeds. How could I possibly cry!"

"But I saw you crying!" Rody affirmed.

"You were losing too much blood then, your vision was blurred! If you were gone, I wouldn't have you as my biggest competitor anymore. I would only laugh happily, how could I possibly cry!" Chris smiled casually, implying that he was actually hoping for Rody's demise. Rody looked at him skeptically, but Chris remained calm, letting him stare all he wanted.

"Your illusion magic can make humans look like orcs, and turn ancient camels into Kodo beasts, fooling the orc guards," Rody said lightly.

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"Now you know how powerful my natural magic is! Make sure to give me credit for this!" Chris boasted proudly.

"Can your illusion magic turn a woman into a man?" Rody seemed to ask casually. Chris was startled and quickly waved his hand, saying, "Although theoretically possible, I've never tried it."

"Are you really a man?" Rody tried hard to read something from Chris's face, but Chris appeared very natural.

"Haven't I bathed with you?" Chris laughed. "Do you think a woman would undress in front of a strange man? Besides, it's not just me with fair skin. You don't have elf blood, but isn't your skin also good? Sergeant Rody, if there's nothing else, I'm going to rest!"

"Although your chest is flat and doesn't look like a woman's, I don't fully trust what my eyes see," Rody humphed. "Eyes often create illusions, especially under illusion magic. I find you very suspicious!"

"Do you want to see again? My magical power is severely drained now, so even if there was an illusion before, it couldn't be maintained," Chris asked, laughing.

"No need to see, I want to touch!" Rody didn't trust his eyes, especially knowing the other person was skilled in illusion magic. Only through the most real touch would he completely believe that the other person was a man.

"You pervert!" Chris, hearing this, angrily punched Rody and left.

"This temper, really hard to say..." Rody actually didn't want to touch Chris's chest, especially if he was really a man, that would be awkward. But Rody, being naturally suspicious, although it was a bit embarrassing to propose, wanted to test Chris's reaction. Chris came from Mesbutania, Rody's homeland, and bore no malice towards him, instead offering help at every turn. Rody speculated that Chris might be a relative from his mother's side; otherwise, why would he be so kind to him?

This attempt, though it angered Chris, left Rody still harboring a sliver of doubt.

However, it's quite normal for men of elven descent to be handsome, so it wouldn't be surprising if Chris really was a man.

Rody couldn't afford to think too much about it; pondering over it was futile. He couldn't just pull down Chris's pants to verify, and besides, Chris had his dignity. Doubting him was an insult, and it was natural for him to be angry.

The next day, Chris seemed to have cooled off.

That was his way; quick to anger, quick to calm down. Rody sent Jesse and the others on griffin rides for cautious reconnaissance. Those without mounts rode the Kodo beasts slowly on the road. No one knew how Rody had tamed these Kodo beasts, but he went alone, and before everyone had killed the guards, he emerged leading the Kodo beasts, which obediently followed him as if he had raised them.

It was precisely because of Rody's miraculousness that everyone admired him so much.

When the human assassins grievously wounded Rody with a sword and declared him guilty of war crimes, everyone unhesitatingly killed those who were mistakenly thought to be reinforcements. They scorned the divine blessings and promised official positions spouted by the assassins.

The reason everyone willingly followed Rody was that he made them feel immensely proud, showcasing human intelligence and strength.

Anyone who tried to smear their leader with underhanded tactics would have to step over their dead bodies first.

A man could die on the battlefield fighting orcs and demons but not under the assassination and betrayal of his own kind. Thus, Stanley and others were extremely aggrieved. Seeing the human assassins stab Rody in the chest felt like their own hearts were pierced and shattered. When Rody made the orcs tremble in fear, when he led them to raid orc camps, when they sent the orcs' ears back to the rear as war trophies, humans sent such 'reinforcements', such a 'return gift'...

After that stab, everyone swore never to accept any orders from the rear again. They would only follow Rody, even if it meant dying in this Evil Forest.

"Comrades, we can only rely on ourselves now," Rody stood on the back of a Kodo beast, speaking aloud, "We have no more food supplies, no reinforcements, assassinations and persecution from the rear spies have chilled our warriors' hearts, countless enemies lurk around us, and we navigate through perilous terrain with difficulty. It seems we have nothing left... But let me tell you what we still have. We have unending hot blood, soaring ambitions, endless wisdom, unity stronger than steel, a readiness to sacrifice, and brothers, follow me, I will lead you to the most honorable, proudest, and most glorious victory!"

"Long live victory!" Hearing this, everyone's blood boiled, they raised their weapons high, roaring passionately.

"If you can hear this, please don't send any more reinforcements. We are already scarred, both physically and spiritually, and we can't withstand a second assassination." Chris secretly connected to the magical one-way communication device and whispered softly, "We are warriors, ready to die in battle, ready to drain the blood from our bodies. We are men as tough as iron, even if the orcs boil us in their huge pots, chew on our bodies, and cut off our heads as trophies, we will not cry... But when the reinforcements sent from the rear stabbed Sergeant Rody in the chest and then declared him guilty, we couldn't help our tears and wept bitterly... We are willing to drench the land of evil with our blood, not our tears."

In the Sanctus Fortress, at the lowest level of the magical tower, in the highest command room, the one-armed Grand Marshal, upon hearing Chris's tearful plea, smashed everything around him like a mad lion, roaring thunderously, his eyes filled with tears.

The generals also stood in solemn silence, fully understanding what that feeling was like. They were soldiers, and those in high positions knew best what things chill a soldier's heart the most: betrayal and abandonment. When soldiers triumph, they need a heroic return, cheered and applauded by the people. When soldiers find themselves in dire straits, isolated and alone, they need relentless, unconditional rescue.

At such a time, if they let a traitor stab them in the chest, that heartache is indeed the most painful and bitter blow in the world.

"Let us die in battle!" Chris's voice, full of sorrow, made everyone's heart ache. His voice, full of emotion, made even the toughest of men unable to hold back their tears: "Please, let us die under the orcs' battle-axes! We hope to die like heroes... Our mothers would not want to see their sons brought to a military court for trial, to be beheaded in front of thousands... Goodbye, mother, we are not deserters, we are not war criminals, we are your brave sons who fought the enemy..."

"Goodbye, mother..."