Chapter 486: The Great Battle Begins
Chapter 486: The Great Battle Begins
An Earth Ghost General from the forbidden land.
In terms of strength, it could withstand two human fourth-tier powerhouses head-on.
A Heaven Ghost General, on the other hand, could take on four human fourth-tier powerhouses.
Without prior preparation...
Facing such a formidable foe, the human army could only retreat for now.
To be precise...
In battles of this level, numerical superiority no longer mattered.
When fourth-tier powerhouses clash, their skills alone could level mountains and redirect rivers, reshape landscapes.
A single order-level skill could wipe out an entire city with its devastating power.
Against enemies of this caliber, it had to be generals versus generals, soldiers versus soldiers.
You couldn't simply send a group of second or third-tier soldiers charging at them.
Doing so would just be sending them to their deaths with no effect whatsoever.
Not long ago...
Liuli City in the S-4 region was recaptured after the appearance of the Earth Ghost General.
Such a key strategic location...
After much deliberation by the higher-ups, it was decided that tomorrow would mark the true siege battle!
Moreover, fourth-tier powerhouses would personally oversee the battle. Should an Earth Ghost General or Heaven Ghost General appear, these fourth-tier powerhouses would engage them directly.
As for the siege battle, it would be left to the third-tier powerhouses.
According to the map...
The S-4 region was essentially a vast plain.
And Liuli City stood as a major city in the middle of this plain.
For this operation...
The higher-ups decided to utilize an airdrop tactic!
That's right!
Each nation's squad members would be air-dropped directly into Liuli City!
Before that, the various allied forces would destroy the city's aerial defenses.
Afterward, the siege would be left to the national squads!
Additionally...
The higher-ups' intentions were clear!
They wanted the third- and fourth-year reservists to take part in this battle to hone their combat abilities!
Naturally, Ling Zhan's ninth squad would be among them.
In response...
The fourth-year members were indifferent.
After all, they had been on the battlefield for over a year and were veterans compared to the third-year members.
Given the situation...
They faced the upcoming battle calmly, having learned to handle such matters with ease.
On the other hand, many of the third-year students were both excited and nervous.
Some even harbored a certain level of fear.
This was entirely understandable.
After all, they would be participating in a life-and-death battle tomorrow!
On the front lines, the enemy would show no mercy.
Especially those hideous, grotesque ghost slaves, who killed humans with unimaginable cruelty, showing no restraint.
The battlefield tomorrow would surely be filled with smoke and echoes of wretched screams.
Yet...
Ling Zhan felt no tension, his heart remaining calm.
This would be his first battle.
But instead of anxiety, he felt a faint sense of anticipation.
Don't forget...
Although Takamagahara was one of the four forbidden lands, it was still, at its core, a resource-rich wildland.
In other words...
The ghost slaves here, if slain, would grant experience points.
They would also drop various items.
If not for that, many adventurers wouldn't bother coming to the front lines to kill enemies.
Many adventurers had made a fortune by slaying these low-level ghost slaves.
However, comparatively...
This place was much more dangerous than typical resource maps.
The probability of death was also significantly higher.
High rewards, high risks!!
Tomorrow, adventurers would be at the forefront.
They would face the first wave of ghost slaves.
Ground warfare had little to do with Ling Zhan and the ninth squad.
Their task was simple.
They would be airdropped into Liuli City!
Then, they would seize control of the city!
There, they would wipe out the three million ghost slaves!
Yes!
Three million ghost slaves!
Doesn't that sound like an overwhelming number!?
After all, a force of millions would fill the plains, a sight that could send chills down anyone's spine.
In Ling Zhan's previous world...
Something like this would have been unthinkable.
But here...
Armies of millions of ghost slaves were commonplace.
Monsters from forbidden lands seemed endless, no matter how many were killed.
Hmm...
Even from a high vantage point in the sky...
It would be an awe-inspiring, albeit terrifying, sight.
"Everyone, go get some rest and make the necessary preparations according to my instructions."
"Tomorrow, follow my commands."
"This is important, and I hope no one lets their emotions get the better of them at such a critical moment, disregarding my orders."
"If that happens..."
"You'll have to face the consequences!"
Ling Zhan said coldly.
He didn't name names.
But his words were clearly a warning to those fourth-year members who had previously disrespected him.
Those fourth-years, who had been indirectly warned, all nodded solemnly.
...
...
The night passed without incident.
Everyone prepared as instructed by Ling Zhan.
The next morning...
Just as the sky began to lighten...
The various camps of the Hundred Ghosts Fortress were bustling with activity.
You could see...
Huge magical airships were transporting supplies to the S-4 region.
And ships as well.
As mentioned before...
Spatial channels had limitations.
For transporting supplies, airships, planes, and ships were still necessary.
Of course...
Each supply convoy was guarded by several third-tier powerhouses at level 90 or higher.
Here...
Logistics was just as important as the battle!
Ling Zhan and his squad had already boarded a magical airship.
Each of them donned their highest-grade armor and weapons.
After all...
On such a dangerous front-line battlefield, if they hesitated to wear their best gear, they might not live to regret it.
The magical airship didn't take a direct route to S-4.
Instead, it circled around and approached from the northern gate of Liuli City.
The various elite squads from other nations didn't have time to meet one another—they had already boarded their respective airships and spread out to their assigned duties.
At that moment...
As they approached the skies above the S-4 region...
Everyone could see the battle on the plains below had already begun!
The hired adventurer armies charged forward, meeting the overwhelming black mass of the first wave of ghost slaves head-on!!