1889 The Chase
At that time, they could only run around the world like a fireman.
Defeating one normal squad after another wouldn't be a problem, but doing so consumed too much time.
In terms of mission duration, it was too late.
It would be best to find the enemy's main force and devise a way to inflict significant damage!
However, Fang Heng didn't expect that his pursuit would last for over half an hour, even reaching the border between the Enkama Empire and the Jones Kingdom.
Passing through a canyon resembling a gourd, the Jones Kingdom's territory lay behind the plains.
Fang Heng, high in the air, observed the three buildings ahead.
Large war fortresses were constructed by the Jones Kingdom.
The three fortresses stood at the edge of the plain.
Two of these fortresses were built against the mountains, boasting formidable defense abilities.
After circling high above for observation, Fang Heng descended to the ground.
Following the scattered retreat of the Holy Court, they took shelter in one of the war fortresses.
It seemed the Holy Court had established a close collaboration with the Jones Kingdom.
The Holy Court team directly took refuge within the fortress.
This was troublesome...
Initially aiming to locate the Holy Court's main force and attempt to complete the mission through them, Fang Heng didn't find the main force but encountered the Jones Kingdom's war fortresses instead.
"Should I consider assaulting the fortresses?" he thought.
However, these three military fortresses had exceptionally high strength, and capturing them posed a significant challenge.
Furthermore, these belonged to the Jones Kingdom. Would capturing them contribute to the mission's completion rate?
As Fang Heng contemplated, a game notification appeared.
[Hint: Gan City, the territory of the Enkama Empire, is under attack. Players, please be cautious.]
[Hint: Mission completion rate reduced to -5%. The estimated remaining mission time is 56 minutes.]
Soon after, Fang Heng received a message from Li Qingran on the survival radio.
Li Qingran said, "Fang Heng, the Holy Court didn't pursue Shaq Town. We've formed a team to head for Gan City for rescue. We encountered a scattered Holy Court team on the way, causing some delay. How's the situation on your end?]
Fang Heng frowned, immediately replying via the survival radio.
Fang Heng replied, "I'm alright. I followed the Holy Court's defeated army into the border of the Jones Kingdom. They've returned to the Jones Kingdom's war fortress, and I haven't found the Holy Court's main force."
Li Qingran said, "Understood. We've noticed the Holy Court's troops are quite disorganized. They might aim to create chaos and put pressure on the frontlines. The Enkama Empire's interior seems vulnerable. One of the remaining legions is already providing reinforcements in the hinterland. The other legion guards the Imperial City and won't leave easily."
Fang Heng looked at the information feedback provided by Li Qingran, and a pondered struck him.
While chasing the Holy Court's routed army back, he had seen at least three Holy Court teams intruding into the Empire's hinterland to offer support.
The number of these teams wasn't significant. They formed smaller-sized squads.
This strategy offered flexibility.
It seemed the Federation had dispatched scattered assault teams to swiftly breach the Enkama Empire's interior, creating chaos. The actual large-scale forces were likely hidden among these units.
Perhaps their goal was to create chaos, identify weaknesses, and deliver a decisive blow afterward.
There might even be a grander scheme at play!
Fang Heng immediately warned Li Qingran to be cautious if encountering the Holy Court's main forces. Then, he stowed away the survival radio and reconsidered the fortress before him.
Initially hoping to locate the enemy's main forces, Fang Heng discovered himself outwitted instead.
Chasing back to search for the main forces now would consume too much time.
He couldn't afford to spend another hour or more going back and forth.
How about... Fang Heng pondered, turning to glance behind him.
The canyon...
Remembering the canyon he had previously traversed, Fang Heng's eyelids twitched, and suddenly, an idea dawned on him.
"Let's use that move!"
Fang Heng leaped skyward once more, assuming his bat form and flying toward the canyon area.
The two entrances to the canyon were originally a defensible area, challenging to assault.
Previously, the Enkama Empire had defenses set up at one side of the canyon's exterior.
However, nearly a decade of tranquility had led the guards of the Enkama Empire to relax their vigilance. Coupled with the urgent reassignment of a significant portion of guard forces to the frontlines, the remaining guards had limited defensive capabilities.
Amidst various unfavorable factors, the guard area at the canyon's mouth was effortlessly overrun by the unexpected arrival of the Holy Court army, leaving only debris in its wake.
Reverting to his human form, Fang Heng stood at the entrance to the ruins.
Excellent. This canyon segment wasn't the sole link between the Jones Kingdom and the Enkama Empire.
However, circumventing it would entail a significant time investment.
The Holy Court's team dispatched to assault the hinterland would probably opt for this passage!
Fang Heng ventured into the canyon to investigate.
Just as he had foreseen, the internal passage resembled a winding gourd shape, perfectly capable of concealing a multitude of zombie creatures.
Ideal for an ambush.
"This is it!"
Fang Heng surveyed his surroundings, leaping onto a massive rock.
Now, it was a waiting game.
Before long, magical arrays began to materialize on the ground around Fang Heng.
[Hint: Player's zombie clone (Normal Form) has been resurrected...]
[Hint: The player's zombie clone (Vine Form) has been resurrected...]
The zombie clones steadily resurrected, gathering in the canyon and forming a loose assembly behind Fang Heng.
Under Fang Heng's control, the zombie clones, shaking and unsteady, stealthily hid within the gourd-like area of the canyon.
Fang Heng glanced back at the canyon entrance.
New tactic: intercept the line!
Whether it was the reinforcement lines or the retreating participants...
Intercept!
Sweep!
...
Within the military fortress, the Jones Kingdom had resolved to collaborate with the Holy Court, temporarily allocating a substantial section inside the fortress, including the teleportation passage, to the Holy Court.
Meanwhile, Bishop Kotter, following orders from the Holy Court's higher-ups, remained within the fortress, guarded by a contingent of Holy Court soldiers, keenly monitoring the unfolding battle.
At present, the Holy Court's knightly reinforcements were continuously descending from the advanced game world into the military fortress through the teleportation passage.
However, due to spatial fluctuations, the teleportation passage could only be activated intermittently, not in a continuous fashion.
Once again, the teleportation passage emanated a dark golden light.
Urbe, the Holy Court's Captain, received the mission and was the first to ride his Holy Warhorse out of the portal.
"Kotter."
"Ah, Urbe. It's been a while."
Kotter identified Urbe and nodded. He checked the list in his hand and continued, "Your team comprises entirely of honorary knights known for their skill in ambush missions. Your duty this time is to infiltrate the heart of the Enkama Empire and cause as much havoc as possible. In the event of encountering the enemy's main force, retreat immediately."
