One month later, news about Rody continuously returned to the rear. The troops at Saint Song Fortress learned that Logistics Sergeant Rody not only avoided capture by orcs and demons but also kept creating miracles.
The Grand Marshal, with the entire army ready and morale high, ordered a strike against the orcs for a decisive battle. Despite warnings from the church emissaries, the Grand Marshal, citing 'A Hundred-Year Holy War, Resisting Invasion', decided to engage in a decisive battle with the orc army. This move not only gained the support of nineteen countries but also the commitment of all soldiers. Selected from recommendations of over eighty countries, 500,000 elite troops, led by fifty generals and under the direct command of the Grand Alliance Marshal, Ferdinand, engaged in a final battle with the orcs at the site of the Fifth Station ruins.
With advantages in numbers, equipment, morale, and command, the human alliance defeated the orc army of 170,000 and 50,000 demons.
This battle was a bloodshed that lasted nine days and eight nights.
The human alliance pushed the front line forward by 259 kilometers. General Quentin's Iron Blood Knight Order and the elite student spearhead squad advanced to the location where Rody's team had previously annihilated an orc patrol.
Over 100,000 orcs died, and the battered orc remnants, led by the eighth Marshal under the Lionheart Throne, Leon Axeking, retreated. But the Blood-Axe savages and Shaman Kings, even after the end of the war, still refused to give up pursuing and hunting Rody's squad deep in the Land of Evil. Over 40,000 demons perished, and the remaining few, under the command of the demon general Ambadaruye, fled into the Evil Forest, swearing to kill Rody, the human alliance's rescue target, and their wondrous child.
The Grand Alliance achieved a great victory, though at the cost of over 200,000 soldiers' lives. For the first time in the history of warfare between humans and beast tribes, the humans emerged entirely victorious, decisively defeating the combined forces of orcs and demons on the battlefield.
The splendid victory of mankind made all the kings ecstatic. The Grand Marshal gained countless honorary titles overnight: Iron Blood Marshal, Invincible Marshal, Justice Iron Fist, etc.
Even the great Pope planned a personal audience with Marshal Ferdinand, intending to bestow upon him the title of 'Holy Warrior'. Despite all these honors, the Grand Marshal was not very moved. He often sat silently, contemplating the magical map. In his mind, winning this victory was natural. His side fought with high spirits, vowing to fight to the death, with all the elites participating, national support, kings delegating authority, soldiers committing themselves, and vastly outnumbering the combined forces of orcs and demons.
Another factor was that the orcs had traveled a long distance through the Land of Evil to engage in this distant battle. Their soldiers were fatigued and scattered, not at all prepared for a major confrontation. Many of their stronger warriors were still in pursuit of Sergeant Rody, but the war had already erupted.
They and the demons thought the Grand Marshal would obey the divine orders, cease fire, and sign a treaty.
However, the human alliance's spearhead vanguard secretly moved first, and the entire army surged forward only when the war began. By the time the awakening orcs and demons realized the human surprise attack, it was already too late.
Another reason that made the Grand Marshal resolutely defy the divine orders and rebel was this:
Rody, from behind the orc lines, constantly conveyed a message: the orcs were not ready and lacked the strength for a decisive battle.
Consider this: even Rody's elite squad could not be easily tracked down, demonstrating the orc army's unfamiliarity and discomfort with the Evil Forest, as well as their lack of numbers and strong warriors. The Hundred-Year Holy War had caught the orcs and demons unprepared. Their negotiations with the divine about troop withdrawals and treaties lacked sincerity and were probably meant only to buy time.
So, when Rody said, 'We are right beside you, everywhere. Want to capture us? Come on, I’d love to play this game with you!', the Grand Marshal understood what Rody was trying to tell him.
Though it was just an implication, the Grand Marshal, who had experienced many battles, could discern the intelligence in Rody's words. He understood that Rody was indicating the severe shortage of orc forces; they couldn't even handle a small squad, and it was as easy as playing a game.
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Moreover, Rody had pointed out several times that only tens of thousands of orcs were surrounding them, and the attack on the Fifth Station's Holy Shield Camp was also by ten thousand orcs. While these might be easily overlooked by ordinary people, to a battle-hardened Grand Marshal, almost every word carried intelligence. He knew that Rody wouldn’t report pointless or useless information to the rear.
Rody and his squad, like an eye, had insight into the military strength of the orcs and demons.
They wore down the orc patrol and scout teams. The orcs, having lost many wolf riders and scouts and always wanting to eliminate or capture Rody, the military genius stabbing them in the back, eventually fell under the Grand Marshal's iron hooves without success.
Although humans achieved a great victory and the war was nearing its end, they couldn't possibly launch an expedition deep into the Evil Forest. Long-distance combat in the forest had a far greater impact on humans, who couldn't operate without logistical supplies, compared to the orcs and demons who didn't need them. Although the human alliance still had tens of thousands of elite troops, they were the precious forces of various nations. Once the threat of orc and demon invasion was reduced, the kings would be reluctant to send soldiers into the Land of Evil for an expedition. After the great war, the soldiers were exhausted, wounded soldiers needed treatment, and various issues related to the casualties were laid out before Grand Marshal Ferdinand. However, his only concern was how to rescue Rody and his elite squad.
Because of the leaked intelligence and the great defeat of the orcs, all the orc elites would inevitably come out in full force to kill or capture Rody and his squad.
The demons also harbored intentions to eliminate Rody, and even the divine in the heavens might have secret plans to erase him.
The divine would not allow humans to break free and become independent, just as the demons would not easily let the orcs break away and become autonomous. The orcs gaining a military genius like Rody would be akin to a tiger growing wings, something the demons absolutely did not want to see. Similarly, the divine did not want Rody to return alive to human territories and become a second Marshal Ferdinand, or even a military god surpassing him, leading humans on an expedition against the orcs...
How to rescue Rody and, once rescued, how to keep him safe were the most troubling issues for the Grand Marshal at the moment.
In contrast, Rody, far away at a distance of two thousand kilometers, was having a cheerful conversation with Chris and others.
They were already aware of the human victory.
Even as soon as the human forces directly defeated the orc army, the orc elites turned around to hunt him down, as ordered by the Lionheart King, with the orcs vowing to capture Rody at all costs.
Now, flying dragons and giant bats passing overhead would use magic to transmit various offers.
If Rody surrendered, the orcs would appoint him as a lord and king, and the Lionheart King would confer upon him the title of the ninth Marshal, equal in status to the eight Axe Kings of immense power.
"Comrades, I know you all want to go back, but what do I want to say?" Rody clapped his hands and said, "If you continue to follow me, you'll never be able to return. To tell you the truth, I’ve offended a very terrifying power, or maybe a group, whose strength is unimaginably vast among humans. I cannot contend with them. They will never let me live, not ever. Although there are some powerful beings opposed to this group, working to thwart their schemes, they can't show themselves openly or guarantee my safety at all times. So, you all must leave, especially at this dangerous moment!"
"Do you know why Rody can’t use magic or battle aura? As a child, he was known as the genius of Koro." Chris nodded and said, "When he was one year old, he was fed the Forbidden Magic-Martial."
"The Forbidden Magic-Martial?" The group gasped in shock.
"In our historical countries like Mestudanian and Felick, all infants who might be a hope for the nation are poisoned with the Forbidden Magic-Martial, though the world does not know this," Chris spoke softly. "That's what happened to Rody and me. And many others, born with high talents, were ruined by them."
"Who did it? Could it be..." Jesse didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone could guess, turning pale with fear.
"So, dear comrades, we have come this far, to this moment," Rody took a deep breath and said, "It's time for us to part ways. If you go back now, you will become heroes of the world, sons-in-law to kings, knights and generals celebrated in history."
"I am like Rody, our paths are different from yours," Chris said with a slight smile. "But I am glad to have walked this journey with you all."
"Boss, are you thinking of abandoning us?" Stanley jumped out and yelled, "What nonsense are you talking about? You're so smart, how can you say something so stupid? When did we ever say we wanted to leave? No, on the contrary, we want to follow you, no matter where you go, to the ends of the earth! Didn't you promise to always lead us to victory after victory, have you forgotten that?"
"No matter what enemy, we can trample them underfoot!" Lopek spoke with conviction, unlike his usual brash self.
"Boss, do you know what I want to say to you and Chris? I've kept these words in my heart and never spoken them out loud!" Kerry, standing out with his one arm, said, "I am a genius, I truly believe I am a genius! But, there are many kinds of geniuses, like me and like you! You are the genius among geniuses, understand? Geniuses like us should follow behind you, because only you can make us all into real geniuses!"
"Kerry, if you keep following me, next time it might not just be your left arm that’s broken," Rody said sternly, staring at him.
"I'm happy because I lost an arm to follow you," Kerry replied, looking back intently at Rody, suddenly smiling, "Boss, you owe me an arm! You have to compensate me with more honors!"
"I think no one here would disagree with what I'm saying. In a word, we follow you, no matter where you go!" Jesse's statement was simple.
"Right... we follow you!" Not just the hundred plus elite students, but also the mercenaries and griffin cavalry.
"Rody, listen to me," Big-bearded Malu said with tears streaming down his face, "I've already died once, I have no further desires in life. I am extremely honored to have met a young hero like you. Maybe you're worried about hurting us, and you don’t understand that we are anxious at heart, unable to follow you. How many heroic deeds can one person accomplish in a lifetime? We mercenaries know best, spending our days drinking boringly, venting with women, then dying unknown at the jaws of a monster, on some road, in some grove, on some hill, forgotten by people, our bones gnawed by wild dogs, passersby unconcerned about the dead mercenary... You don't know how much ordinary people long to become heroes! How much they wish to be remembered by the world after their death. And here, only you can make our deaths meaningful and regret-free. Please, let us stay! We too want to be heroes!"