The Oracle Paths

Chapter 1200  The Battlefield Beckons

Jake locked eyes with Will for a solemn moment before swearing,

"As soon as we're done with this Ordeal, I swear I'll sort all this mess out. None of you should have to lose your spark like this. And honestly, just be yourselves around me, even when things suck or the news is bad. I can handle it, I'm not made of glass."

Before any awkwardness could settle in and one of them started tripping over apologies or forcing a smile, he threw out as he resumed walking toward his camp, "So... why don't you tell me whose teeth I need to make them swallow when we get back..."

His companions' faces lit up instantly, though their eyes held a hint of cold bitterness. It was a topic they didn't have to force themselves to keep the conversation flowing.

As they walked, Jake listened intently, only occasionally interrupting to ask for details. Gradually, his expression darkened as a clearer picture formed in his mind of the enemies and traitors he needed to eliminate upon his return.

Pyrrakles, the Myrmidian who'd tried to dethrone him by declaring himself Imperator, was scum he'd known about even before this Ordeal began. But there were others Will had only mentioned in passing who were just as problematic, if not more so in some ways.

Take Vasilis, for instance—the supremacist vampire who'd captured many of Laudarkvik's civilians under their protection, turning them into a breeding stock of blood bags. He posed a problem on multiple levels. He belonged to the Yelmaer clan, the same as Seren—the vampire woman with already questionable values from the same faction as Wyatt. Jake had personally 'reprogrammed' the young woman's attitude, but he couldn't say the same for the rest of her clan.

Their clan held a highly speciesist worldview, seeing other species as livestock as long as their blood was consumable. This Vasilis was a real issue because, besides being a Vampire Progenitor already 1,200 years old before even joining B842 and receiving his Oracle Device, he was just the spearhead used by his clan. Behind him lurked countless other Vampire Ancestors pulling strings from the shadows.

To make matters worse, among all the clans that had followed Wyatt and his Griffith clan to form an alliance with the Myrtharian Nerds, many had adopted an ambiguous wait-and-see attitude. In reality, while Wyatt's intentions were probably sincere, those of these old vampires were likely far less benevolent. Without Phirune and his Velseyel clan—who boasted an army of high-level mages and mage-knights even before participating in their first Ordeal—the situation would probably have spiraled out of control.

And above all, it was because of these vampires in the first place that the traitor Pyrrakles had found the courage to brave his fifth, sixth, and seventh Ordeals without taking a break. Without the threat of being reduced to slavery and livestock, they'd never have taken such risks without waiting for Jake's return. The repeated invasions of Space Digestors had only started years later.

And above all, it was because of these vampires in the first place that the traitor Pyrrakles had found the courage to brave his fifth, sixth, and seventh Ordeals without taking a break. Without the threat of being reduced to slavery and livestock, they'd never have taken such risks without waiting for Jake's return. The repeated invasions of Space Digestors had only started years later.

Those were the two names that came up most often, but Will and the others had mentioned many more: Grimwald Dracul and Xaverie Zangruth—the parents of Aisling; Kenway and the werebeings under his leadership—who'd become aggressive and self-serving since the death of his brother Lysander during their attempt at the fifth Ordeal; Caphriel, the holy priestess of Aurae and a born Trojan Digestor—suspected of having instigated at least part of this tragic escalation; and finally, Peter Brady and his drug trafficking aimed at vampires, including the blood and blood essence of many Myrtharian Nerds...

Regarding that last point, there was a rumor that even his own blood was being sold at an exorbitant price... When did he get his hands on it? Jake couldn't help but frown, racking his brain to no avail.

In the end, he decided to shelve it for now. Without realizing it, they were already standing in front of his command pavilion.

"We'll pick up this conversation later..." Jake declared meaningfully. "For now..."

He took a deep breath, then bellowed with a majestic roar that echoed like a thunderclap, "SOLDIERS, GEAR UP! YOU'VE GOT TWO MINUTES!"

No strategy, no preparation! This war was just a charade, and dragging it out any longer would only waste everyone's time.

The other generals waiting eagerly in the pavilion watched as their jaws practically hit the floor upon hearing his order, the most surprised among them jumping or choking on their drinks. The weary soldiers from the night march who were trying to snatch a few minutes of sleep leaped from their futons in panic, their bloodshot eyes bulging as if they might pop out of their sockets.

"What the hell is going on?! Are we under attack?!"

You could hear the bewildered shouts of many groggy soldiers, along with grunts and pants from barbarians scrambling to put their armor back on or find their boots. The army under Cho Min Ho's control was no exception, buzzing like a beehive invaded by a honey-hungry bear as they reformed the ranks.

Cho Min Ho and the Players under his command did nothing to stop it. Inwardly, several even snickered. Can't keep it together any longer? Even if you hurry, it won't change a thing. You're already in checkmate.

"What should we do? Do we follow orders?" Great General Firentz asked, his expression probing.

"Do as he says," Cho Min Ho waved dismissively, as if none of it concerned him.

"Aren't you worried this might undermine your authority?" the renowned Master Soulmancer pressed in the same inquisitive tone.

The stand-in Soulmancer King finally locked his deep brown eyes onto him, and the new commander-in-chief of the Protectors shuddered, sweat streaming down his face. Right then, he felt his very soul fading away.

How terrifying! These Soulmancer Kings are both monstrous... he thought, taking a quick breath to steady himself. He wanted nothing more to do with their affairs. He'd just follow orders and focus on staying alive.

Awkwardly clearing his throat and unable to hold the young man's gaze, he lowered his eyes and coughed, "I overstepped my bounds. Please forgive me."

"Obey the orders," Cho Min Ho repeated, his gaze already drifting away from the overly curious Master Soulmancer.

The other generals, who had been on high alert, stopped hesitating and dashed out of the pavilion to bark orders. Two minutes later, an army at least a billion strong of Underworld Barbarians and Players was prepped for battle. The tents and campfires had been hurriedly cleared and dismantled to make room, and the vast camp now looked like a ghost town after a tornado's passage.

If not for the warriors nervously forming ranks, one might have thought it was the battlefield after the war had ended and the bodies had been taken away. Too bad for them, the deadly showdown hadn't even begun yet.

Another key detail: Jake hadn't bothered to lower his voice. The massive army of the Radiant Conclave camped a few kilometers away had also been roused. While the Dusken Throne's army was already in formation, you could still hear and see them panicking and running in all directions, their own generals scrambling to restore order.

"Whoa! If we attacked them now, we'd wreak some serious havoc," Esya exclaimed, pretending to make binoculars with her fingers for a better look.

"That's what we'd do if our goal was to wipe them out," Will shook his head. "And it's not like the Radiant Conclave doesn't have Saints among them. It could be a trap."

The younger sister pouted, looking miffed but refrained from pushing it. Enya remained stoic, while Crunch and Lord Phenix kept their chins up, gazes lost in the distance as if posing for their own statues.

As for Jake, instead of inspecting their enemies or the newly assembled army, he wore a half-amused, half-exasperated smirk, contemplating what remained of his own squad with a disillusioned air.

Sank-Uk had been promoted and taken command of a regiment, Crunch and Lord Phenix had no intention of playing babysitter, and Meribelle had joined the Soulmancers, leaving only Ekho and the nervous Soul Clones of Claire, of which she was a part. Exchanging a glance with her, he displayed an odd expression.

Another gray area: he noticed that Amy, Lee Yoon, Senet, and Ari were absent from the squad led by Lysandra. Coincidence or not, those four were all members of the King's Idol Alliance. Like the majority of Players and leaders of their faction, they were nowhere to be found.