Chapter 316: Strategic Push (Time Skip)
When Will arrived back at the fort, he saw several injured bodies lying around the fort.
He recognized several of the injured, but there was one in particular that drew his attention. Earl von Mueller was desperately clinging to his injured son, ordering a healer to rush over immediately.
"Welcome back. How did it go with Camille?" Elder Thaddeus greeted Will.
"She's fine, King Roland had a daughter…but what happened here?" asked Will.
"Last night a traitor turned off our array, just before the demons raided our fort. The Earl's son and his supply team were the first to be attacked," Elder Thaddeus explained.
"Master Will," exclaimed Crown Prince Lukas running up to Will. "Master, this was the second time our supply shipment was attacked."
"Don't worry. See to it that our supply route is protected. Do you know yet the number of injured and dead?" Will wondered.
"Three dead, 37 injured," said the prince sadly.
By morning the dead were buried and the injured were healed. The soldiers were in a somber mood from the last night's sabotage and attack.
Also in a somber mood, we're the Fermion nobles. Without an heir, the kingdom's line of succession was unclear.
And with neither Will nor Earl Francis declaring themselves the heir apparent, the line of succession needed clarity.
At midday, the decision was made to build forts up and down the Icer border along the Dukedom of Kro and the Kingdom of Zhekid.
Operation Wolf Fangs, as it was called, would send four armies, across the land and they'd regroup at a single point.
The armies would clear out demons in the two sovereignties with lightning speed in a series of small battles. The aim was to conquer the demons' armies by forcing them to divide their army.
With any luck, the four armies would regroup on the Rhaziesian Empire border by next winter.
The four armies were the northern, mid-northern, mid-southern, and southern.
The northern flank followed the coastline, the mid-northern army followed the Dukedom of Kro and the Kingdom of Zhekid's border, the mid-southern army traveled through the Kingdom of Zhekid, and the southern flank followed along the Kingdom of Zhekid's boundary.
The northern flank was responsible for safeguarding the supply lines.
The middle armies were expected to encounter the most demonic forces.
The southern flank was expected to encounter fewer demons. They would be responsible for arriving in the Rhaziesian Empire first and safeguarding the regrouping base.
Each Allied Commander was given command of an army. The Supreme Allied Commander took command of the mid-southern army, the Allied Infantry Commander was responsible for the mid-northern army.
The Allied Intelligence Commander was responsible for the southern flank, and Will was given command over the northern flank.
Will's army consisted of the Fermion Army, a small cohort of Rhaziesian soldiers, Great Eastern Imperial soldiers, and thousands of mercenaries.
Will quickly appointed General vont Smith as Vice Commander and
In mid-fall, operation Wolf Fang began. The Allied Army troops went on the offensive.
Fermion muskets rang out early that working, picking off nearby demons. The mages the demons back far enough the army could get into formation.
The fighting lasted two days, but eventually, the army broke through the demons' front and was able to push the demons' backs.
That victory gave them the space needed for the armies to move out.
For the next year, the four armies moved across the Dukedom of Kro and the Kingdom of Zhekid.
As expected, the mid-north and south armies face heavy fighting. The demons entrenched themselves inside the Dukedom of Kro and the Kingdom of Zhekid.
On more than one occasion Will's southern army was called to provide reinforcements to seize an enemy fort or provide relief support.
Heavy casualties were reported each time.
Unlike early campaigns, the closer they came to the Rhaziesian Empire the more difficult the battles became.
Battles were lost. Armies retreated. It was a series of two steps forward, and one foot back.
The middle northern and southern armies were losing soldiers faster than they could be replaced. The war was chaotic and felt disorganized at times.
Will's southern army moved along the coastline. The supply line traveled by boat, to the closest fort. And once unloaded in the fort, was shipped to the other three armies.
At their best speed, his army was able to travel 10 kilometers a day. The more Will fought the more he felt like Sisyphus trying to roll a boulder uphill only for it to roll down again.
And he knew once they arrived in the Rhaziesian Empire their enemies would only be more powerful.
While the armies were gaining ground on the map, it felt like they were losing more than they were gaining.
After a year and a half of fighting the demon forces in the Dukedom of Kro and the Zhekid Kingdom were on the verge of collapse.
Desperate, the demons forced hoards upon hordes of human slaves, goblins, and orcs to fight the Allied Army.
After 18 months, the Allied Army regrouped and forced their way forward, threatening to encircle the remaining demons in the Kingdom of Zhekid.
That spring, the Allied Army celebrated liberating the Dukedom and the Kingdom.
The next day, the Allied Army held a memorial day to honor those who gave their lives for freedom.
Along the Rhaziesian Empire's border with the Dukedom of Kro and the Kingdom of Zhekid over 140 forts were constructed. Additionally, the land was dug to give the catapults a better aim.
In Fort Fang, the Allied Army commanders, sovereigns, and nobles came to discuss the next operation.
"The army should dismember," announced a noble from Zhekid.
"How can we call it quits now? We must clear the demons from this continent!" said a noble from Rhaziesia.
"The demons shall never be satisfied on Terra. They shall continue to amass troops and attack. We must wipe them out," said a noble from the Dukedom of Kro.
"How can we dismember? So many troops gave their lives to eradicate the demon. If we stop now, what happens to their legacy?" asked an imperial noble.
"How many more lives must we lose to defeat these before we claim victory?" asked another imperial noble.
"We humans have suffered so much. Where are our allies? Where are elves, dwarves, beastmen, and dragons? Hasn't our race suffered enough?" asked another imperial noble.
"Quitting is a trait of weakness. I say we finish what we started!" said a Fermion noble.
"If this war doesn't end soon, our great Kingdom of Fermion might not have any men left," said another Fermion noble.
"Fight!"
"Leave!"
"Fight."
"Leave.
The noble argued back and forth on the best policy.
***
Meanwhile, the dwarves, elves, and beastmen pushed further southward to the Allied Army.
Unbeknownst to the humans, the demon troops had already begun to retreat from the mountain region.
Now the largest northern city belonged in demi-human hands. When the north was liberated, the elves, dwarves, and beastmen began to defensively strengthen their new territory.
"Now that we are victorious, we should coordinate with the humans," Queen Sylvania of Yllamoira.
"I doubt those weak humans have made any progress," argued Ferocious Bear.
"I agree. Most likely they are still far away," Gorilla Clan leader.
"There is one human who is a friend to us Dwarves. I would be a bad trade partner not to check in on Will," said King Flameworn.
"I agree. Will is also a member of our clan. As clan leader I am responsible for my kin," Sage Wolf agreed.
"You all are so strange!" Ferocious Bear said disappointedly.
"A friend of Dwarves is a friend of mine," King Luvraem Axemaster.
"Then it's decided, we shall contact Will. He shall act as our representative to the humans," agreed the Sea Witch.
"Is this the human friend with the Shadow Leopard spirit animal?" asked the Leopard Clan leader.
Queen Sylvania of Yllamoira, Sea Witch, Savage Wolf, Ferocious Bear, Heavenly Eagle, and Swift Tiger all nodded affirmatively.
"Then my daughter shall travel as our clan's representative," said the Leopard Clan leader.
"I'll go as well," said Kallista.
"As shall I," said Vaal.
"What's the point in visiting a weak human?" asked the Gorilla Clan chief.
"He is very strong. Much stronger than you. And his master is a wise sage. To them you are an infant," Swift Tiger laughed.
"He's that strong. Then, I'll send my son," smiled the Gorilla Clan leader.
"Then it's settled. All those who desire shall send one clan representative," said the wise Goat Clan elder.
"How do they reach the humans?" Savage Bear smirked.
"Simple. The Orca Clan has their ships stored in their storage rings. Once they get to the ocean, they board and set sail," explained the Goat elder, to the angry Bearman.
"Argh," Ferocious Bear grumbled after hearing the Goat elder ruin his moment.
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