All preparations had already been completed at this moment, including the readiness of the two-thousand-man army. They were currently assembled in front of the palace, awaiting Armad’s arrival.
Most of the soldiers were mounted on horses, while approximately five hundred of them floated in the air, a characteristic trait of the Core formation stage who could fly at a basic level, though not as gracefully as Deva.
Nineteen men stood suspended in the skies, unmistakably Deva, able to remain airborne without constant movement, unlike the Core formation stage which required continuous motion to stay aloft.
As Armad emerged from the palace, accompanied by about five hundred civilians, his soldiers noticed his presence but were more focused on the civilians with him. Rumors circulated: was Armad truly intending to employ civilians in the upcoming battle?
Many of the soldiers considered it abhorrent, preferring to face defeat with dignity rather than resorting to untrained commoners lacking in cultivation.
Using cultivation-less commoners was deemed as disgraceful as the mythical fall of the black vessel.
The nineteen Deva exchanged glances, silently communicating with their leader, Sulaini Wilberforce, who was a close relative of Armad’s deceased mother. Having cared for Armad since childhood, Sulaini had protected him from numerous threats and plots over the years.
A striking instance occurred during their journey to this city. Sulaini’s mere presence deterred enemies from harming the prince, their resolve weakening whenever they recalled him.
The majority of the Deva followed not out of loyalty to Armad, but due to their long-standing allegiance to Sulaini, who had led them for years.
As they gazed at him, Sulaini let out a resigned sigh. He refused to comply with their wishes, despite understanding their intentions. They urged him to advise Armad against engaging in battle with the commoners to avoid humiliation.
Some suggested that Armad could leverage his title as the prince of Wilberforce to send the Wild people home. It was widely known that even the Wild people and neighboring free states dreaded the name of Wilberforce. The mere mention of it could lead to punishment not only for the offender but also for their ancestors and acquaintances, regardless of distance or relationship.
Nevertheless, Sulaini stood firm. He asserted that Armad would not resort to such tactics, as it was expressly forbidden by the agreement he had signed before their arrival. Utilizing the Wilberforce name to vanquish adversaries would tarnish Armad’s reputation in the eyes of the King and jeopardize their quest for independence.
Ultimately, employing the power of his name to defend against his enemies would hinder Armad’s chances of gaining the independence they had all strived for from the King.
In such a scenario, the King would be justified in withholding any offer of independence, as the prince would have demonstrated an inability to stand independently without relying on the power of the Wilberforce name.
The underlying logic was that a man who couldn’t stand on his own without invoking the Wilberforce name didn’t merit his empire. Such an individual would be better served returning to the empire that had provided him shelter and support.
This rationale guided Sulaini’s decision not to advise Armad to leverage his privilege against the Wild people.
Despite the lack of unity among the Wild people, Sulaini had conducted thorough research on the opposing group. He discovered that among them were at least twenty-two Deva. However, Sulaini remained undaunted, understanding that those who became Deva in the wilderness couldn’t compare to civilized Deva, especially a Wilberforce.
The discrepancy was vast. Sulaini believed that even facing the enemy without victory could still ensure the prince’s safety. However, he and his fellow Deva were cognizant that the stakes extended beyond Armad at this moment – few dared to harm him, fearing Arion’s retribution – but also encompassed the fate of the city itself.
If the city were to be destroyed, would the prince receive another opportunity? They knew the answer. Even the Senate wouldn’t endorse granting him another city.
They understood that the priority was not just rescuing the prince but also safeguarding the city’s inhabitants and affirming the prince’s ability to defend his subjects independently.
The display of prowess in this battle would catalyze attracting newcomers, residents, and investors to the city, thereby fostering its development.
Meanwhile, Armad arrived at Sulaini’s side with his civilian army. Sulaini and his company of Deva descended and positioned themselves before him, but Armad regarded them with disapproval.
“Why are you all gathered here?” he inquired, though he didn’t wait for a response. “Do you not consider the possibility of infiltration while you are assembled?”
Respectfully bowing to his master, Sulaini replied, “I have stationed guards and spies, Your Highness, and have deployed charms to alert us to any enemy incursions. Currently, they are approximately six hours away. There is no cause for concern, Your Highness, as we have measures in place to notify us of their exact location and numbers as soon as they breach the limit.”
Armad nodded as he absorbed Sulaini’s assurances. While Sulaini’s dedication was not unfamiliar to him, he was adamant about ensuring the success of the impending battle.
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Throughout this exchange, A’i stood in the immediate vicinity behind Armad, having regained consciousness and prepared to defend her city.
He gestured towards the group of civilians behind him.
“I need you to gather fifty loyal Core formation stage cultivators from your ranks,” Armad instructed Sulaini. “They don’t have to be exclusively at the province Core formation stage; even the origin of the stage will suffice.”
Sulaini acquiesced with a nod. Though he was curious about the purpose, he refrained from asking, knowing his master’s reticence. Instead, he carefully selected fifty men from his contingent, assembling them promptly.
Behind Armad, the civilian group spontaneously organized into ten cohorts of fifty men each, while Armad subdivided the fifty Core formation stage into ten groups of five individuals each.
Each quintet of the Core formation stage was paired with one of the civilian groups, forming a symbiotic relationship.
Armad distributed water-filled bottles from his bag, allocating ten to each Core formation stage, along with instructions on their usage and timing.
Although he elucidated the method of deployment, he deliberately withheld details about the bottles’ effects, preferring the Core formation stage and civilians to discover them firsthand.
Despite their bewildered expressions, Armad hurriedly led them towards the wall, eager to await the imminent arrival of the Wild people, slated to appear in six hours.
With preparations complete, the warriors departed after securing the palace gates.
Meanwhile, approximately 70 kilometers from the city, a formidable army of around nine thousand men marched leisurely. Mounted predominantly on horses and clad in black armor, they were unmistakably the Wild people, distinguished by their vibrant face paint.
Some adorned their faces with mud, while over five thousand rode on horseback. A strikingly large contingent of about three thousand men floated high above them, accompanied by approximately twenty-two Deva, seemingly detached from the events below.
Despite their apparent diversity, they moved as a cohesive unit, although their differences were immediately apparent upon closer inspection.
Their journey continued for more than four hours until the sprawling city came into view on the horizon.
Surprisingly, they encountered individuals along the way but refrained from their customary acts of violence and plunder. They appeared transformed, displaying a demeanor markedly different from their usual barbaric behavior.
They conducted themselves with a calmness reminiscent of a well-trained army. Upon reaching the city, the Deva descended and ordered the setup of tents, signaling their intent to camp there. Subsequently, each Deva retreated into a tent accompanied by notable figures from their respective groups.
Following these individual discussions, they convened in a larger tent, with every Deva present.
It was peculiar how the Wild people, typically lacking in leadership or order, unanimously selected an elderly man among them as their leader.
Seated at the head of the table, the elderly man was as bald as a vulture, with a mustache longer than his shaggy beard.
He was at the province Deva level, yet he proudly adorned his face with mud, showcasing his cultural identity and embracing his reputation as a wild person, consequences be damned.
Seated at the table, he smiled at the other Deva, but his expression lacked warmth, resembling that of a lifeless creature.
“We’re here,” he declared. “And whatever we gain from this job is just the beginning. I’m sure none of you have encountered a venture as lucrative as this. The payment we received is just the start; what we’ll find inside the city will surpass it. And I doubt any of us have any objections to that.”
The presence of two women among the Deva was striking, their painted faces identifying them as Wild people.
They all voiced their agreement, some pounding their chests and laughing gleefully.
Though they were handsomely compensated, it was amusing to realize that their sights were already set on the city, regardless of payment.
Originally, the Wild people refrained from raiding the city due to its association with Wilberforce. However, with immunity lifted, they knew it was only a matter of time before they seized it.
The prospect of someone offering to fund their plunder of the city was a welcome opportunity, indeed.
The atmosphere in the tent brimmed with jubilation, a celebration worthy of their impending conquest.
“I believe it’s time to delegate tasks,” the man continued. “Three Deva and myself will approach from the front, while five will flank from the left and another five from the right. The remainder of our forces will remain on standby for unforeseen events. Capturing the prince shouldn’t pose much of a challenge; neither he nor his men will offer significant resistance. However, our main obstacle is Sulaini. We’ll need approximately four Deva to keep him occupied.”
“Sustaining engagement with him for about an hour will suffice to raze the city and seize the prince. We’ll proceed to plunder and ravage the city, sparing no one unfortunate enough to cross our path. The palace will be razed, and the city sacked. Just one hour will grant us that opportunity. What are your thoughts?” he asked, painting a grim picture of their intended actions with sadistic glee.
The Deva erupted in cheers, familiar with the plans but buoyed by this final briefing.
“Who among us will face Sulaini?” he inquired once the noise subsided. “I’ll lead the charge, and any other four who believe they are up to the task should join me in engaging him. The rest of our brethren can seize and subdue the prince. Any other individuals accompanying him can be dispatched, but the prince must be captured alive, as we have received no orders to kill him.”
He tugged at his beard, his gaze distant and contemplative.
“Once everyone is dispatched, order the demolition of the palace. The number of casualties won’t hinder us; in fact, it may lead us to more spoils. Remember the man who promised us a thousand Ayrid per head? Remind your subordinates that today is not the time for mercy; no captives shall be taken.”
“Our objective is to eradicate all life in the city and obliterate it. I advocate for the destruction of the city, just as we’ll do with the palace. There are businesses there that we must pillage so thoroughly that the city will remain desolate and undesirable for investment in the next decade.”
The men erupted in cheers and whistles, their excitement palpable. Nothing enticed the Wild people more than indiscriminate bloodshed and the plundering of others’ belongings without restraint.