How many times have I told you!"
"We can't charge like this!"
"Don't you know how to calculate the exchange ratio? Efficiency! Efficiency! The efficiency is too low!"
"Once you're all dead, how long will it take to send another regiment? If you can't hold out for another day, even if you all fight to the death, His Highness the Red Angel's reinforcements won't arrive in time!"
"Honor is not everything. If you cannot wait for reinforcements, you will not only fail to obtain the honor you crave, but you will also become sinners of the empire!"
"What we need now is to take the central highlands and then advance deeper into the storm area. We don't need to occupy the nearshore areas, just the coastal areas..."
"No! We only need to take the outer part of the coastline, which is three kilometers away, and the outcome of the war will be clear."
"Therefore, the remaining company, apart from the reserves, must be divided into two parts: one company to launch a slow frontal assault, and at the same time, at least one platoon to launch a rapid assault from the side through the abandoned trenches, carrying the weapons I recommended to you a week ago."
"The main force of the Storm's Guardian Army is tied down to our east by His Majesty's personal troops. Only by disrupting the air currents with my new weapons can the artillery be effective!"
"Now you want the company to split into two parts and charge from the left and right, but then, without artillery support, they can only be wiped out in the first charge and then sent on to the second."
"If we follow my plan, allowing the artillery companies to charge forward while ensuring alternating fire—yes, one artillery platoon fires a round and then charges forward, followed by another platoon firing a second round—we can at least hold out until reinforcements arrive..."
...
Nios Steiano gazed at the billowing dust kicked up by the charging troops as they marched across the land. He watched as the backs of his allies in black uniforms receded into the distance, and one after another, the newly formed Solomon Empire taxi soldiers fell on the road to victory. The dark, oppressive counterattack wave grew weaker and weaker, and his cold, desolate chest began to burn. A resentment and unwillingness that he could not swallow were stuck in his throat, and the bitter defeat that was about to come was like a fishbone stuck in his throat.
His opinion was rejected, and the commander took the most reckless approach, attempting to break up the Storm Guard by exchanging blood for blood.
However, just as Neos had predicted, or rather, as he had calculated, the charge ended in failure.
The last trace of friendly forces vanished, and the "master of prophecy," adept at innovation and learning, suddenly collapsed, sitting on a mound of earth. He looked around blankly, only to find himself facing the remaining artillery platoon, mostly composed of his apprentices and fellow disciples—other "secret seekers."
Soldiers and scholars ultimately have different ways of thinking. In the end, Neos cannot expect everyone to think rationally like him at all times.
Or rather, not everyone is as heartless as him.
The main force of the 312th Regiment was wiped out. Even if the remaining artillery platoon and a few security personnel were all sent up to drive these former scholars to charge, it would only increase the losses and lead his unit to complete annihilation.
On the trench, Neos watched as the Storm Guardians, seemingly about to step over the corpses of their fallen comrades and tentatively launch a counterattack inland, quickly calmed down, as if what he had just lost was merely a group of iron golems in human skin, a group of unsuitable consumables that he could not easily control.
This composure, which was not understood by his companions, was precisely what Neos needed.
Without a doubt, the 312th Regiment failed, but not yet. If his calculations were correct, then only one demigod among the opposing Storm Guardians would still have the strength to play a role.
With the "Black Emperor" Solomon holding a favorable position across the entire front, still possessing most of his strength and brimming with spiritual energy, he could easily escape. Furthermore, the Storm Demigod, under pressure from the overall situation, would abandon his pursuit of him and turn his attention to the immobile artillery platoon.
If he had abandoned the position first, the entire artillery platoon would have died in the Stormbringers' retaliatory action, and not a single one would have survived to later appear before a military court to accuse him of "cowardice."
Of course, he doesn't trust most people, or rather, he doesn't trust anyone who is incapable of independent and complete rational thinking and is easily swayed by emotions.
The unknown storm demigod on the other side is a case in point.
Therefore, before leaving, he would use some special means to ensure that the situation was under his control.
"Deputy Commander..."
A familiar voice interrupted Neos's thoughts, which were nearing their end.
The "Master of Prophecy" turned his head and met the bewildered gaze of a sergeant. After a frantic search of his memories, the lieutenant's face matched a name that Neos remembered.
"Mano, is there anything you want to tell me?"
"Deputy Commander, what should we do next?"
The young man named Mano came from an unknown baronial family within the empire. He was the baron's second son, who did not have the right to inherit the throne.
Like many noble children who were denied inheritance, his choice was quite ordinary: to pledge allegiance to a certain god and become a member of the army.
The only commendable thing is that, unlike most fools who couldn't see the situation clearly and chose the Six Gods' Guardian Army, he joined the Solomon Empire early on. In his early twenties, as a mid-ranking extraordinary individual, he squeezed into the officer rank and was only one step away from obtaining a real title.
"Mano, I don't want to deceive you. Now, the commander's wrong decision has brought us to the brink of death. Even if no one opposes me now and I use the new weapon that I have been advocating, you will not be blessed with victory."
As expected of a scholar after decades of academic work, even amidst the chaos and despair of the battlefield, Neos Stiano still spoke with refined manners.
"So what should we do?"
It is unknown who first raised the question, which suddenly awakened the soldier who had been in silence and melancholy, bringing his hidden anxiety and panic to the forefront.
The empire had just been established, and apart from the original Duchy of Solomon surrounding the empire's center, most of the newly subservient territories and peoples of the "Black Emperor" had not yet fully accepted the new faith proposed by the emperor.
In this irrational world, faith is just as important as military logistics. An army lacking faith will find it difficult to fight against fanatical believers.
Moreover, faith often means aid, it means divine favor; a small miracle can sway the outcome of a battle.
"We have two choices." Neos remained expressionless, hiding all his emotions deep within his metal-sculpted shell. "First, abandon the position, flee to safety, and then prepare the most suitable reason to await the Imperial Court, personally established by His Majesty, to come and punish us, the remnants of our army; second, take up arms and charge once more, like the company that was sent away by its commander."
He slowly turned his neck, casting his gaze evenly on the faces of each of his subordinates.
"You have less than forty seconds to think. In these forty seconds, you can recall the territories the Empire has conquered, think about where in the world the Six Gods were forced to by the Empire's iron cavalry, and then think about whether the officials in your hometown were benevolent, as well as the Empire's countless laws."
"I think you will find the answer in these."
Everyone temporarily put aside their anxiety, forced themselves to calm down, and thought according to the advice of the deputy commander, Neos Steiano.
We must eliminate problems one by one, from the grand war situation to the minutiae of personal gains and losses.
In the end, everyone realized that they had no choice from the very beginning.
The empire's strict laws fundamentally dictate that anyone who defies the emperor's will or fails to carry out His Majesty's orders is guilty of a grave crime, and cowardly deserters naturally violate these two bottom lines as well.
Escape is merely a delay of death; the Imperial Court will deliver its verdict to their faces sooner or later, unless they flee to the outer realms, far beyond the corners of the world.
They would be hanged, and their families would become the legal and free sacrifices for the next blood sacrifice by the local nobles.
As for the second option, which seems like an immediate death no matter how you look at it, at least you only have to pay with one life.
Most people are selfless when it comes to their families, and Neos soon received the answer from his subordinates after discussion: they feared the Empire more than their enemies.
The surviving remnants of the legion immediately went into a silent state of preparation. The new weapons that had been sealed in lead boxes were finally taken out. A monster with the combined characteristics of two extraordinary creatures roared and stretched out tentacles and fangs in all directions. It would take ten people to barely fight against it.
Using the sacred chains that had been pre-attached to the monster, the artillery platoon forcibly dragged it into a cylindrical cannon whose surface was engraved with mysterious symbols and patterns. The cannon, with its simple overall structure, was automatically aimed at the distance under the control of the "astromage".
Everything was proceeding smoothly. The artillery platoon's gunners had been equipped with lighter gear, while only the lowest-ranking porters were still carrying heavy iron swords.
Suddenly, an untimely voice rang out.
"And you, Deputy Commander, you..."
He was an artilleryman who was terrified of death. He was a "craftsman" who didn't need to join the army and could have enjoyed a safe and worry-free logistical job in the rear.
As Neos's gaze fell upon him, the "craftsman's" legs went weak, and he knelt down on the ground in one breath.
He suddenly remembered that the usually amiable deputy commander in front of him was also a demigod, even higher in rank than the commander. However, due to issues such as aptitude and loyalty, he was always on the fringes.
However, he did not receive any punishment or reprimand. The offended "prophet" simply raised the corners of his mouth slightly and made a relatively gentle smile.
"Of course I will charge forward with you."
"Alright, stop standing there, we have two minutes to prepare."
He waved away the artillerymen and continued to write and draw on the unfamiliar scroll that he had pulled from his sleeve—a scroll that no one in the camp had ever seen before—trying to make the dim eight-pointed star pattern on the parchment more vivid.
...
"...Neos Steano, do you admit to the above evidence confirming your crimes of desertion and summoning demons?"
Neos had considered the possibility of being brought before the Imperial Court, but the fact that a "Duke of Entropy" would act as his judge was truly unexpected.
He misjudged his importance in the eyes of the empire.
"Your Honor, I am willing to accept the charges against me by the Imperial Court."
"So..."
"However, there are still some things that you might consider to be blasphemous excuses that need to be presented."
After being interrupted, the Duke of Entropy looked down at the young demigod who looked haggard from being imprisoned for a long time with displeasure. After a brief consideration, he finally agreed to Neos's request.
After all, He was also curious about what exactly happened at the end of that inconspicuous, remote battlefield.
Why would a great demon loyal to the "Lord of the Abyss" descend upon the northeastern region of the continent, far from the "Abyss"?
"Your request is approved."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Neos bowed slightly, the shackles on his body making a crisp sound. "As you and the court saw in the evidence, at the end of the battle, in order to prevent the position under the responsibility of my 312th Regiment from falling, I suggested to the Regiment Commander that we use the new weapon I developed, namely the modified Obnis Water Monster. Under my control, it can briefly influence the Storm Demigod, helping me to seize control of the air currents and disable the Storm Lord's Guardian Army's air superiority."
"I had suggested making good use of artillery and using alternating fire support to minimize losses, but as you have learned from the later investigation report, my regimental commander did not adopt the suggestion. His last charge destroyed the 312th Regiment's structure, and I could no longer hold the position."
"Therefore, in the face of the next wave of the Storm Guardians' charge, I have to activate another of my studies, a study that I had shelved and stopped before the establishment of the Empire, that is, before the Imperial Constitution came into effect."
"A secret technique that allows direct contact with the Demon Lord in the Abyss, summoning a great demon into reality through a blood sacrifice."
"My suicidal charge and that of my remaining subordinates drew the attention of the Storm Guardians and successfully summoned the Great Demon, holding out until reinforcements under His Highness the 'Red Angel' arrived."
Nios stared straight up without fear, seemingly unaffected by the suffocating majesty of the "Duke of Entropy."
"Your Highness, according to the Imperial Constitution, the use of blasphemous weapons, which are prohibited by law, only requires a sentence of twenty to thirty years, depending on the circumstances. However, the private development of blasphemous weapons is punishable by death."
"His Majesty has stated that blasphemous research conducted before the Imperial Constitution came into effect will not be prosecuted by the Imperial Court, so your and the court's previous judgment against me was clearly ill-considered..."
"Enough!"
Neos's defense was logically clear and impeccable, but he placed too much emphasis on logic and facts, neglecting the role of intangible things such as emotions. In this area that he could not understand and abhorred, he angered the judge, a "Duke of Entropy".
With a stern and austere face, the Duke, dressed in an asymmetrical and ornate suit, raised his hand high, his thin lips about to part, ready to unleash his displeasure and anger upon the "guilty one".
But before He could even lower His raised hand, a completely different expression had already silently replaced His original anger.
Under the stunned and bewildered gazes of the entire courtroom, the "Duke of Entropy" paused for a few seconds before calmly accepting Neos's explanation and signing the document approving the third trial.
Even Neos himself couldn't understand what caused the "Duke of Entropy" to suddenly change his attitude.
He obediently followed the soldier back to the cell marked with the same number as his body.
The cold, steel and stone cage was still damp and unpleasant, but that didn't cause any ripples in Neos's usually calm, dark brown eyes.
A second person appeared in the cell.
A blond, golden-bearded priest with clear eyes sat in the only seat in the cell, the spot Neos usually chose for meditation, and his gaze fell upon him.
Only then did Neos's belated unease scream out, and a strange fear suddenly intruded upon him.
A shackle in my mind suddenly collapsed, and countless fragments of memory burst forth, breaking through the invisible barrier, just like long-suppressed emotions being released.
Familiar scenes appeared one after another, and as his memories resurfaced, he recalled that since he had been in prison for a week, the priest had already appeared in every corner of his monotonous life.
"It's you?"
The simply dressed priest did not respond. His light-colored pupils turned a deep gold as he scrutinized Neos, and only spoke after a long while.
"I've come to invite you."
"invite?"
"Why did you invite me?"
"Join me, to help me achieve my dreams, or something else?"
Different questions were raised one after another, but the priest ignored none of them.
He simply presented Neos with a choice for his own sake.
It was a sphere that seemed to contain the Milky Way, with molecules colliding randomly inside; it was a potion with a dreamlike quality; it was a short list; and it was a mask with missing symbols.
...The blasphemous stone tablet... When Neos noticed a few words on the list, neither the two angelic-level attributes or potions nor the mask of unknown meaning mattered anymore.
His mouth was constantly drooling with greed, and his voice became hoarse.
What do you need me to do?
"choose."
The priest's answer was very simple. He guided Neos to focus on the mask on the table. It was only then that Neos noticed that the incomplete patterns on the mask seemed to resemble the symbolic symbols of the "Secret Seeker" and the "Knowledgeable One".
He covered the surface of the mask with his hand.
...
The brass-like orange color slowly spreads, symbolizing the perfect triangle that makes up for the imperfection.