Chapter 485 - 389: The Emergence of the "Heart of the Giant Beast" and the "Green Ghost
Chapter 485: Chapter 389: The Emergence of the "Heart of the Giant Beast" and the "Green Ghost
"Duke, General Gaius, everyone, perhaps we’ve overlooked one thing: the origin of the Heart of the Giant Beast,"
Raylo said.
"It was once the heart of the Modo Giant Beast, the Guardian Magical Beast of the Lizardfolk."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the few generals and Lords in the tent who knew of this ancient history and had heard of the Modo Giant Beast changed slightly.
Raylo continued his analysis without pausing.
"If anyone in the swamp could have been the first to sense the emergence of the Heart of the Giant Beast, it would have been the former servants of the Modo Giant Beast."
"The Lizardfolk of the Jade Swamp are in an awkward position. Their power is second only to the Snake-men, yet because they lack a Catastrophe Level being of their own, they are forced to swear allegiance to the Nine-headed Demon Serpent and do its bidding. More than anyone, they desire to change this situation. They long for a god of their own."
His gaze swept across everyone in the tent, his tone firm.
"Now, their chance is here. They aren’t performing some meaningless ritual. They are welcoming their ’god’—or, the *power* of their ’god’—back."
Raylo’s words caused quite a stir.
The expressions on the faces of the Lords, who had initially been somewhat dismissive, now grew solemn.
Aiden Duke fell silent for a moment, a flicker of approval in his pale gold eyes.
He looked at Raylo and asked in a deep voice.
"You’re certain the Heart of the Giant Beast is emerging there?"
"Nine times out of ten,"
Raylo replied.
"Good."
Aiden Duke was decisive.
"Relay my order! Send four Thunder Eagle Knights for a close-range reconnaissance of that Mire Lake. I want to know exactly what’s happening there!"
With the order given, the four Thunder Eagle Knights shot off like two bolts of lightning and vanished over the horizon.
The wait was agonizing.
Throughout the afternoon, the atmosphere inside the main tent was heavy and oppressive.
At dusk, a nimble figure finally landed in the camp, carrying the smell of dampness and blood.
They brought back intelligence that was enough for the Duke to make his decision.
"Reporting, Your Grace!"
The returning Thunder Eagle Knight knelt on one knee, his voice ragged from the high-speed flight.
"The target area is now host to a Lizardman Battle Group of at least ten thousand! At the edge of the Mire Lake, we sensed the distinct aura of at least one Domain Level Powerhouse. Their defenses are extremely tight; we couldn’t get any closer!"
A Lizardman Battle Group of ten thousand!
Guarded by a Domain Level Powerhouse!
Aiden Duke shot to his feet, a stunning light blazing in his eyes.
He strode to the sand table, his massive hand slamming down on the spot marking the Mire Lake.
"That’s the place,"
he said.
The Duke walked outside the tent and gazed at the swamp, which was stained blood-red by the sunset.
"Relay my command!"
The Duke’s voice, like rolling thunder, echoed through the entire military camp, which stretched for several kilometers.
"The entire army will break camp!"
The earth trembled rhythmically under tens of thousands of iron hooves. Wheels rumbled, and the clatter of armor plates was incessant.
「Nightfall.」
The grand army did not halt its advance.
A long dragon of torches snaked along the edge of the dark green swamp. It drove back the darkness, but not the ever-thickening stench of damp rot in the air.
No one spoke. There was only the sound of heavy breathing and the squelching of the Knights’ boots as they trudged through the mud and water.
Raylo rode on the broad back of Baofeng. The Griffin King’s tawny Iron Feathers glinted with a cold, metallic sheen in the firelight.
Beside him, Moonlight’s pale gold, slitted pupils vigilantly scanned the dark depths of the swamp.
Since entering the Jade Swamp, the normally lazy Moonlight had become much more alert and vigilant.
After an all-night march, as the first light of dawn broke on the horizon and chased away the last vestiges of night, the grand army finally reached its destination.
The view before them suddenly opened up.
A vast Mire Lake, several kilometers across, unfolded before them.
The lake water was murky, a bizarre dark brown, with large patches of rotting aquatic plants floating on its surface.
On the western shore of the lake, a dense mass of figures, like a swarm of ants, was gathered. It was the Lizardfolk.
But the situation was even more grim than the scout had reported.
The single Lizardman Battle Group of ten thousand had now become two.
At least twenty thousand Lizardman Warriors, armed with Bone Spears and Stone Weapons, were crammed together in a disorderly mass.
They had no tents, simply sitting haphazardly in the mud. Their hissing whispers merged into a disconcerting cacophony.
"Looks like we have a tough fight ahead of us."
General Gaius urged his horse to Aiden Duke’s side, his voice low.
Aiden Duke said, his face impassive.
"We’ve come prepared, have we not?"
Finally, Aiden Duke’s gaze locked onto a patch of dry high ground south of the Mire Lake, an area clearly elevated above its surroundings.
Its terrain offered a commanding view of the entire lake and was easily defended but difficult to assault.
"Give the order. The entire army is to move to the southern high ground and make camp there."
The Duke’s order was swiftly carried out. The massive army slowly wheeled around and advanced toward the high ground.
For the Knights, who had marched all night through the damp, muddy swamp, the solid, dry earth beneath their feet was practically paradise.
They gulped in the morning air as muddy water dripped from the seams of their armor, leaving dark splotches on the dry ground.
With little need for urging, the soldiers began to pitch camp with remarkable efficiency.
Cheval de frise and tents were erected with speed.
Soon, plumes of cooking smoke began to rise as campfires were lit.
Large chunks of dried Magical Beast Meat skewered on iron spits SIZZLED over the flames. Grease dripped into the fire, kicking up showers of sparks, and the rich aroma of meat began to spread throughout the camp.
Large iron pots were placed over the campfires, and the men began to cook a meat stew.
The exhaustion from the forced all-night march finally began to ease amidst the comforting sights and smells of a camp settling in for a meal.