In the following half month, a strange stalemate formed on the Wolfheart battlefield.
The devils, who had captured four cities early on, should have erected a new batch of Mist-Storage Towers, preparing to engulf Wolfheart and then advance into Dawn. But the reality was that they were repeatedly frustrated by the First Army's mobile forces. Except for Sunken Pond Bay by the sea, the other three cities failed to build Mist-Storage Towers.
Subjected to repeated attacks by sky knights, the noble subjects who were originally responsible for transporting the Red Mist also showed signs of wavering, which forced the devils to divert some of their forces to supervise and control the normal operation of the bloodline. Coupled with the forward expansion of the defense line, the shortage of manpower has become increasingly obvious.
The First Army, with the idea that every shot fired was a gain, did not insist on launching an attack on the four cities. The devils patrolling the outermost perimeter of the defense line were also their hunting targets. Several steam trucks quickly arrived at the designated positions, then put down the fortress cannons, fired two rounds at the gathering place of the devils, and then loaded up and evacuated. This kind of small-scale battle happened almost several times a day.
Under the double attack of biplanes and artillery units, the devils did not passively defend either. They had organized many attacks. When the vanguard troops attacked Cage Mountain, a mixed force of human devils was organized in the rear, taking the opportunity to destroy the roads near Cage Mountain and using black powder in the process.
However, at this time, the North-South Artery had been opened, and the cement produced by the Kingdom of Dawn could be transferred to the front line at any time. The simple roads that were blown up could often be restored to their original state overnight with the cooperation of Lian and the engineering team. Although the low temperature and wind and snow greatly prolonged the cement setting time, in the final analysis, it was only a cost-effectiveness issue. If the stable gravel surface layer was damaged, it would be repaired—after the completion of the Artery project, a large number of idle construction teams gathered in the Cage Mountain area, and the First Army was not short of manpower in this regard at all.
As the tug-of-war continued, the devils' offensive became slower and slower, completely losing the momentum of the initial full-line pressure, and the front lines of both sides solidified for a time.
……
"Lord..."
Haikezuode raised his head, looked at Xiyaxis who wanted to speak but stopped, and slowly closed his eyes again, "Speak."
From the other party's expression, it could be seen that this must not be good news. However, there had been too many bad news recently, and it had no interest in expressing its anger and disappointment.
"Tuotuoluoke personally led a team to attack the human command post located on Cage Mountain, and finally died heroically on the front line." Xiyaxis bowed his head and said, "...He fulfilled his promise."
It fulfilled its promise, but failed to complete its mission. Haikezuode did not react much to this result that had been expected for a long time. It didn't even want to ask its subordinates about the specific situation when they died in battle—when fighting the Union, the fall of every High-Ranked Ascender meant that the challenger had an unusual background, and collecting its intelligence was a necessary task. But fighting humans now, a little carelessness would result in death under those strange firearms. It could completely imagine the scene its subordinates encountered in the end.
Tuotuoluoke personally leading the team meant that it was the last combat-ready force of the Western Front Army. It gained glory, but it was meaningless to the clan. If this subordinate had been converted from a Hell Lord, only good at charging and fighting but not good at manipulating magic stones, it would be better to convert it into a High-Ranked Parasitic Eye Guard, which might be more useful.
But the Lord of the Celestial Dome could not say these words in front of another subordinate.
What's more, the current situation is not Tuotuoluoke's problem alone.
Even the most courageous and resourceful general would be useless without enough troops under his command.
It was itself who ordered the immediate attack.
And what limited the number of the Western Front Army... was the King.
No, no, the King had already given it enough support. The most hateful thing was Bloody and Facade. If the former could transfer more Horned Ones, if the latter could provide a sufficient amount of Symbiotes in accordance with the agreement, the results should be completely different—
Haikezuode couldn't help but clench the newly grown palm with fleshy buds tightly.
But... would it really be completely different?
The next moment, a lingering thought emerged in its mind.
If the number was doubled again, the Western Front Army could indeed occupy the entire Wolfheart, but what about Dawn and Graycastle next? How many more people would it need to add?
"Everyone..." The Lord of the Celestial Dome couldn't help but blurt out.
"Lord?" Xiyaxis asked in confusion, "What did you say?"
"Nothing." It shook its head. That's right, E’siluke had already given the answer.
"Give up those cities where the Godstone mines have been mined, give most of the land to the Sky-Sea World, and then put all the troops into the Realm of the Dawn. Not ten times the existing plan, but all of them—including the existing and the newborn, one after another, until humans are destroyed."
This was the conclusion reached by that subordinate that it valued most.
At that time, all the Great Lords thought it was just an unrealistic fantasy. Now it seems that it can somewhat understand E’siluke's thoughts at that time.
After hesitating for a long time, Haikezuode made a decision.
It took a deep look at the motionless Nightmare Great Lord, got up and walked out of the Ephemeral Pool.
"Lord, where are you going?"
"The top of the Tower of Genesis." The Lord of the Celestial Dome said in a deep voice, "I'm going to ask the King to convene a Saint Seat Meeting!"
……
The tumbling sea of mist and the Tower of Genesis filled with giant eyes gradually appeared in front of it—seeing this scene, it breathed a sigh of relief. The Saint Seat Meeting is generally issued by the King. This kind of proactive application is not only a transgression, but also attracts the dissatisfaction of other Great Lords, after all, not everyone is willing to enter this realm of consciousness where the King controls everything.
If it was before, Haikezuode also had an instinctive resistance to entering the Sovereign Saint Seat, but it now has no better choice. Only through this method can it tell its thoughts to the King and all the Great Lords.
Fortunately, the King did not reject its application.
About a quarter of an hour later, the other Great Lords appeared one after another on the cantilevered seats.
"It's you again... Haikezuode." Bloody said hoarsely, "I don't know what's so good about the Western Front that needs to bother the King to open the Saint Seat. Could it be that the things you are going to report next are more important than Nightmare getting lost in the realm of consciousness?"
"That's right, you only reported to the King separately when Wakiris lost consciousness," Facade then echoed, "But now you are convening the Saint Seat Meeting with such a show of importance. Don't tell everyone that your Celestial Dome City is about to be conquered by those bugs—I have worked so hard to transfer a large amount of resources and fully cultivate Symbiotes for you."
This guy... is again subtly shirk his responsibility. Haikezuode glanced at it coldly. The promised five times the Symbiotes, but only about half of them have been sent so far. There is indeed a reason for the strengthening of the Sky-Sea World offensive, but it is also a fact that the agreed number has not been reached. If it were before, it would never miss this opportunity to attack the other party.
It's just that Haikezuode can't even muster any interest in verbal disputes now.
"Enough." The King's voice entered everyone's minds, "I think the Lord of the Celestial Dome must have his own reasons for applying for the Saint Seat Meeting. It's not too late for you to express your opinions after listening."
"Also..." The eyes on the Tower of Genesis looked at Haikezuode together, "Nightmare's loss is not your fault, and I have also agreed to send the Silent Disaster to assist you in the battle, so I hope your report is not just clichés such as complaining and asking for troops, otherwise it is just wasting each other's time."
Haikezuode immediately felt great pressure.
It swallowed and replied with a stiff head, "Respected King, what I want to talk about is indeed the Western Front's aid situation, but it's not just one or two troops or more Horned Ones, but..."
The Lord of the Celestial Dome paused, and looked into the King's bottomless eyes, "—God-made God."