Ch.51Green Hell (1)

Upon arriving at the western battlefield, Durin immediately set his plans in motion on two tracks.

The first was the deployment of the Southern Army.

These troops had shown excellent results in guerrilla and mobile warfare, making them highly suitable for this battlefield. One might wonder if people who had lived in mountainous terrain could perform well in swamplands, but they wouldn’t be directly engaging on the front lines.

They would serve as the intercepting force against the Celestial Army should they break through the swamps, while also providing reassurance to the nobles of the Western Continent. The mere fact that the Demon King’s elite forces were guarding the rear could significantly alter the outcome of the battle, making their presence indispensable.

To return to the original point about guerrilla warfare, these troops would serve as instructors for the disorganized Western Army. One might question whether this was possible during such an urgent war, but it was precisely because of the Western region’s close relationship with the local inhabitants that it could work.

There was plenty of manpower. Unlike other legions filled with pure demons and magical beasts, this region had many cases of magical beasts that had taken human form, providing ample personnel to push to the front lines.

In a war of attrition, an army familiar with the Central Army’s standard procedures and basic combat doctrine would be immensely helpful. A unit that retreats in an orderly fashion becomes a significant burden for the opposing force. The Celestial forces, as an expeditionary army, would taste hell, unable to properly escape from the terrible terrain.

Once these dispatched units from the central region settled in the west and began fulfilling their roles, Durin would no longer need to remain at the command post here.

Azakiel’s gaze was likely fixed on him constantly. Since a breakthrough would ultimately be determined by a confrontation between higher beings, he would be looking for a suitable battlefield.

The enemy would endlessly devise strategies to draw Durin into terrain favorable to the Celestials and force the expenditure of soldiers.

But that made them even better prey.

Durin was planning to appear on the front lines from now on to provoke them. He prepared to endlessly torment the Celestials while maintaining an appropriate distance, seeming like he might or might not come out to their advantageous battlefield.

“Your Excellency. General Verdia reports that the first phase of training has been completed.”

After prioritizing tasks and completing all the paperwork, the deputy commander of the Western Army entered the tent.

“Would you like to verify?”

“Let’s go right away.”

He rose at the deputy’s suggestion. Stepping outside the tent, the blue sky welcomed him.

The jungle terrain was filled with the cries of ferocious magical beasts and a desolate wind. In the middle of it all, a massive clearing created by deforestation served as the gathering point for the Western Army.

“Forward!”

“You can’t even march in step, you idiots! Can’t you even walk properly?”

“You incompetent bastards! You’re not even worthy of the Demon King’s Army! Repeat after me! I am a worm!”

Under Verdia’s direct command, the Western Army was transforming into a proper legion. Each time her thunderous shouts fell, local Western Army soldiers rolled on the ground. Those who failed to follow properly were mercilessly trampled.

Even if there were fatalities during punishment, the training continued.

“Those who die from such kicks were never soldiers to begin with! Is there anyone here who thinks this is too harsh?”

“No, ma’am!”

They pushed to the limit, needing to raise combat effectiveness in a short time. Even if they couldn’t meet the average standards required by the Central Legion, they at least tried to meet the minimum threshold. In truth, if they reached the level of the Central warlords, they could be considered useful soldiers, but that wasn’t enough to satisfy Verdia’s high standards.

“Your Excellency! You’ve arrived!”

Verdia, who had been absorbed in training, spotted Durin emerging outside.

She hurriedly paid her respects. Some trainees jumped up in surprise, but they had no right to speak. The immediate beating that followed pushed the soldiers back into the training grounds.

“Verdia. Report on the training progress.”

“Yes, Your Excellency! As you can see, we’re proceeding strictly according to Central Army education procedures, and so far, a total of ten thousand have reached the final training stage.”

“More than I expected.”

“There are so many volunteers that we’ve had to distribute them to other garrisons for training. We could produce soldiers within three days at the earliest.”

“Don’t rush. The tempering should at least reach the intermediate level. I’ll jump into the front lines myself, so all of you focus on your respective roles.”

“I’ll follow your orders!”

Verdia bowed deeply. Once again, a few who thoughtlessly stood up were beaten.

Durin glanced at them briefly before moving forward.

At the entrance to the dense jungle, the pressure was already considerable.

When people think of death, they often imagine barren wastelands devoid of life, but excessive vitality can also turn the world into a hellish pit. The swamps of the Western Continent were such a place. Even touched by demonic hands, untamable magical beasts and vegetation created an endless labyrinth.

“From now on, you must be accompanied by a guide.”

“Is individual action prohibited?”

“I humbly report that the western swamps are a maw that devours even archangels. Please follow the action guidelines.”

“I recall reading about this in the archives. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Heeding their warnings, Durin checked his equipment.

Several swords to pioneer through the jungle terrain, a spear to measure the depth of the swamps, and a magic stone to detect the demonic energy spread throughout the garrison. With these, it was time to navigate through the tangled battlefield.

“The reconnaissance platoon has completed equipment inspection and combat readiness check.”

“Good. Begin reconnaissance.”

They marched into the gaping green maw.

#

The reason angels and demons fought in terrain where even noble beings could hardly guarantee their survival was simple.

Securing a safe supply route to the continent. Once they completely seized the swamp terrain, they would essentially gain a barrier fully protected against external attacks.

After having angel garrisons there for ages, considerable areas had been pioneered, allowing more than fifty thousand troops to maneuver there. With various angelic facilities accompanying them, they could quickly strike out if the Demon King’s Castle were to be embroiled in civil war again or if there was division in national policy.

They could either surrender the Western Continent in an instant or destroy the border fortresses that had been firmly guarding the borders.

Either outcome would be a significant blow to the Demon King’s Castle, making it imperative to defend this region at all costs.

“Your Excellency. The swampland is divided into three regions, with the enemy and us each occupying one, while the central area has become the battlefield.”

With the terrain suitable for stationing troops split in half, they were engaged in local battles to occupy paths favorable for transporting troops. The more advantageous paths one secured, the more diverse the attack directions became, making it increasingly difficult for the defending side, hence their critical importance.

“The two central passages you see over there are routes firmly held by our Demon King’s Army, while the path circling to the north is currently held by the angels.”

“Should we consider ourselves at an advantage?”

“No, sir. The central path is straight, making both attack and defense easy, whereas the northern route is somewhat easier for the attacking side. It’s an area constantly shrouded in fog, making it impossible to observe, so we could be ambushed at any time.”

“That place would be difficult to recapture even if we wanted to.”

“One warlord who acted rashly last time was completely annihilated.”

It was indeed difficult. They had to advance one step at a time like in a territory-claiming game, but the terrain variables were too significant.

The relatively safe areas essentially required rotating-style combat, which both sides seemed to avoid, and they were obsessed with pioneering new paths to create variables.

“Rather than facing angels who shoot divine power from the center, it would be better for us to also be able to launch ambush attacks like on the northern path.”

“That’s why both sides are desperate for the southern path. This area is more forest than swamp, making troop movement relatively easier, but various magical beasts and natives live there, making pioneering difficult.”

“We could face backlash if we carelessly intrude on their territory.”

“They’re powerful enough to have annihilated an angel detachment.”

A considerable force indeed. Durin noted this as he surveyed the surrounding terrain.

In this damned chessboard of a battlefield, luck was needed to gain the upper hand. For Durin, who preferred to settle matters with the power of his legion, this was practically the worst place. Of course, even in failure, there was a possibility of breaking even and defending, but in this time-sensitive war, defeat meant delay, which could lead to the worst-case scenario.

BOOM-

CRASH!

In the distance, the sound of divine power and demonic energy colliding echoed.

The swamp was indiscriminately swallowing up forces as it was designed to do. It was a fierce land where the final victor could not be guaranteed.

This would be Durin’s greatest challenge and trial.

He smiled as he gazed at the hellish battlefield that fate had arranged.