Chapter 477 - 385: Arrival of the Hill Giant Tribe and the Eternal Giant Turtle’s Crisis
Chapter 477: Chapter 385: Arrival of the Hill Giant Tribe and the Eternal Giant Turtle’s Crisis
Raylo’s brow was slightly furrowed. He had been wrestling for days with the problem of where to establish a long-term settlement for the more than three hundred newly arrived Hill Giants.
The sheer size of the Giants meant they needed a vast, open area—one that would be convenient for them to live in without disrupting the daily lives of the other peoples in his territory.
Raylo drew another circle on the map, but ultimately shook his head and tossed the feather pen aside.
Raylo thought for a moment and decided to hand this difficult decision over to his Scribe, Evan. ’Let him have the headache!’
’All I’ll have to do then is give my approval.’
He had just picked up the black tea at his side, which Avril had brought in a moment before. It carried a faint scent of mint.
Just then, a knock came at the study door.
"Come in."
A travel-worn Pegasus Knight strode into the room.
"Lord, an urgent military report from Commander Bolin!"
Raylo set down his teacup, his expression calm.
"Speak."
"Yes, Lord!"
The Knight said, "The Jade Swamp’s Demon Legion has once again launched a full-scale assault on the Black Water River. At present, at least two divisions of Swamp Demons have reached the riverbanks and are locked in fierce battle with the Eternal Giant Turtle’s Black Water Legion."
The Knight paused, then added, "Our scouting Pegasus Knights have ventured deep into the Jade Swamp for reconnaissance multiple times. Vast numbers of ’Demon Serpent’s Fangs’ are still massing from the swamp’s depths, and more Swamp Magical Beasts are moving toward the Black Water River. The scale is far greater than ever before."
A brief silence fell over the study.
Raylo rapidly processed the information in his mind, connecting the dots.
’So it has come to this.’
The moment that Catastrophe Level Thunderboltous Demon Serpent Avatar descended into the heart of the Jade Swamp, this war became inevitable.
The Black Water River, controlled by the Eternal Giant Turtle, was like a giant lock throttling the very lifeblood of the Jade Swamp: its supply of moisture.
For an ecosystem founded on wetlands and swamps, this was a fatal chokehold, severing its very roots.
In the past, the Jade Swamp might have been able to endure it. But now, with a Catastrophe Level "master" in command, it possessed both the confidence and the Power to shatter that lock.
Not to mention the Eternal Giant Turtle’s deal with the Necromancer Modi Caesar.
The two Bone Fortresses slated to be built along the river had also touched the Jade Swamp’s Reversed Scale.
The Eternal Giant Turtle was his ally, so Raylo had no reason to stand idly by.
’If the lips perish, the teeth will grow cold.’
However, Raylo did not want to engage the entire Jade Swamp in a decisive, head-on battle—not now, and especially not with a Catastrophe Level Avatar holding the field.
Black Stone Territory was in a period of rapid growth, and the new Hill Giants still needed time to train and integrate. The cost of an all-out war at this moment was simply too high.
’I must support my ally effectively without making us the enemy’s main target.’
His thoughts raced, and in an instant, Raylo came to a decision.
’The strategy will be the same as when I last aided the Eternal Giant Turtle. I must take action, but the intensity has to be controlled.’
"Return at once and take my orders to Bolin."
"Yes, Lord!"
The Pegasus Knight tensed.
"Order him to cease passive defense, effective immediately," Raylo said. "I will dispatch Alex with the Moonlight Knight Order and the Griffin Knights as reinforcements. Have him lead his men into the Jade Swamp to conduct a purge!"
Raylo continued, "Tell Bolin that the core of this operation is not occupation, but raiding and harassment. Destroy the Swamp Demons’ nests, settlements, and outposts."
"Tell Bolin to create as much chaos as he can. Draw the attention of the Jade Swamp and relieve the pressure on the Black Water River!"
"Yes, Lord!"
The Knight rose, saluted, and swiftly exited the study.
Raylo walked to the window and pushed it open. Cool air immediately rushed in, clearing his tangled thoughts.
He tilted his head back and called out toward the top of the castle.
Seconds later, Sun’s enormous head appeared at the window.
"Sun," Raylo said.
"Go to the Black Water River and deliver a message to the Eternal Giant Turtle for me."
He continued, "A Catastrophe Level Demon Serpent Avatar has descended in the center of the Jade Swamp. Tell him to be careful."
Sun nodded and let out a draconic roar.
Then, with a mighty beat of its Dragon Wings that kicked up a gale, its massive body shot back into the sky and sped away to the east.
Raylo slowly retracted his gaze.
He was confident the Eternal Giant Turtle knew this was no time to stick its neck out. When it was time to retreat into its shell, it would do so.
This was the perfect time to let that Necromancer, Modi Caesar, take the brunt of the assault.
Raylo believed that as a member of the tortoise family, the Eternal Giant Turtle would understand this logic.