CHAPTER 557 THE PREDICAMENT

"It appears I'll need to return to Evian City and take command there. No matter what, we must defend

the city before the reinforcements arrive," Lance decided. With their current circumstances, the only

solution to keeping Evian City safe was to rush back to the city and become commander there.

Otherwise, the city would perish within two days under the fierce attack of the whole thirty thousand

troops of the Timber Deity Empire. They would need at least four or five days before the reinforcements

from other cities could arrive. Lance needed to buy more time for them. The current state of Evian City

was akin to that of a fat chunk of meat that was half chewed and swallowed by the Timber Deity

Empire. If the Crimson Dragon Army failed to defend it, then the Holy Dragon Empire would lose the

battle between the two empires. What was worse was that it would mean utter defeat for the Holy

Dragon Empire even though its remaining troops were more than those of the Timber Deity Empire.

"Should we order the army at the Deity Unicorn Valley to retreat?" Isis inquired quickly.

"No. Keep fighting! Withdrawing our army now would only make the army more afraid and cause

further trouble. And even if we could, it would be too late to rush back and rescue Evian City. Let's not

be passive and do all that we can while we're still here. If we succeed in guarding the city and breaking

the Deity Unicorn Valley's defenses, then we have a chance at destroying the Timber Deity Empire's

plans," Lance explained and shook his head decisively.

The Timber Deity Empire ordered thirty thousand troops to secretly attack the Holy Dragon Empire

while the Crimson Dragon Army's forces were locked in the combat at the Deity Unicorn Valley. After

successfully breaking through the three passes behind the Crimson Dragon Army at lightning speed,

the thirty thousand troops were to attack Evian City. This left the Crimson Dragon Army in quite a

predicament. However, this attack of the Timber Deity Empire proved to be a double-edged sword.

While taking over Evian City would ultimately help them win the battle against the Holy Dragon Empire,

the thirty thousand troops would end up trapped within the Crimson Dragon Army's guarded territory if

the latter could successfully guard the city. If that happened, only one thing awaited the Timber Deity

empire—death.

If the Crimson Dragon Army could manage to defend the city, it could possibly end the war between the

two empires. Therefore, both the Timber Deity Empire and the Crimson Dragon Army would spare no

expense for the ultimate victory.

A look of worry was painted all over Isis' delicate face as she listened to her father explaining the battle

plan. Her uncertainty was justified. The Timber Deity Empire already had the upper hand whereas the

Crimson Dragon Army had to defend Evian City and break through the Deity Unicorn Valley's defenses

at the same time. The tension was felt by all. One wrong move could cause the entire Crimson Dragon

Army to topple into defeat.

"Isis, you stay here and take command. I'll return to Evian City along with several of the Elite

Commanders and Frontline Commanders," Lance ordered her.

"Yes, father." Isis nodded in understanding and approval.

With that, Lance appointed several of the Elite Commanders and Frontline Commanders to ready for

their departure towards Evian City.

"Father!" Isis called out abruptly as she rushed towards Lance.

"Is there anything else, Isis?" Lance turned around and asked her.

"Well, I was thinking… what if Rocky and Sabina would go to Evian City and help you?" Isis proposed,

slightly hesitant.

"Rocky? Are you sure he'd still be willing to work for me?" Once he heard that name, memories of the

past flooded Lance's mind. His relationship with Rocky was…complicated. A misunderstanding had

occurred between them involving his daughter. It came to the point where he had to take back the

Crimson Dragon Token and even demoted him to the logistics camp. Any other man who was

discerning and generous wouldn't forgive such a wrong punishment.

Lance was fully aware that his daughter took Silver Wind to the logistics camp to persuade Rocky to go

back and work for her father again. But he turned down her offer. It would be quite a challenge to

change his mind.

"He should at least be informed of our current predicament," Isis insisted. She knew what her father

was thinking. She was aware that Rocky was wrongfully accused because of her. She felt bad for what

he had to go through because of her.

"Do what you think is best," Lance relented. With nothing left to say, Lance found a vast and open area

where he opened his Magic Spiritual Space. From it, he summoned his spirit-manipulated beast known

as Roaring-thunder Dragon.

Once it appeared, the dragon let out a terrifying roar. Its gigantic body blocked out the sun in the sky

which made the soldiers present drop their jaws in awe.

Alongside several commanders, Lance mounted his beast and flew out towards Evian City.

Once they left, Isis turned around to get back to command the army. Coincidentally, Marin was walking

towards her.

"Marin, go to the logistics camp and inform Rocky and Sabina of the emergency in Evian City. We

desperately need their help," Isis commanded.

"I will. But, will Rocky agree to…" The worried Marin let the words dangle on her tongue.

Isis didn't need her to finish and had known what she meant. She replied, "Tell Rocky that I am begging

him for help. If all goes well, I'll owe him a big favor."

"Isis…" This shocked Marin. She always knew that her cousin treated men like dirt. But now, with her

becoming more dependent on Rocky, she didn't know what to say.

Of course, Isis wasn't the only one who grew a liking towards Rocky. Marin admitted that even she fell

in love with Rocky at one point. It was a feeling that was hard to suppress.

"I'll see to it immediately." Marin said nothing more. Her cousin had made up her mind. Summoning her

war beast, Verdanim, she mounted it and flew away. This material belongs to .

As soon as Lance and the other commanders were on their way out of the Deity Unicorn Valley, a

dragon-shaped spirit-manipulated beast appeared before them. It was nearly the same in size as the

dragon they rode. Its skin was tinged with orange and yellow and it moved at an amazing speed. It

exuded the same aura as Lance's dragon. He suspected that both of them were beasts of the same

star-level. An army of thousands of soldiers and a few warriors of the Heavenly Stage awaited from the

ground below.

Riding on the back of the dragon-shaped spirit-manipulated beast was a delicate figure languidly

leaning back with a noble, cool demeanor and arrogant temperament. Each move she made exuded a

powerful aura. Although she didn't smile, her face alone was enough to charm even the most stubborn

man.

Once Lance laid eyes on her, he immediately knew who she was: the Commander in Chief and

princess of the Timber Deity Empire, Alyssa Mu.