Chapter 346: Organizing the Second Attack after the Embarrassing Retreat
The paladins fled out of the oak forest, all pale and frightened. They recounted the tragic scenes in the jungle, where the magic traps were endless and hard to guard against.
"It's so tragic. Master Carthage, the discipline priest, was burned to death. We watched helplessly but were powerless to save him... Woo, Woo, Woo! They are simply devils..." A paladin burst into tears, his voice trembling.
"My companion was hanged to death!" Another paladin gritted his teeth, his eyes full of pain and anger.
"Three people in our group were burned to death, and one was swallowed by quicksand. It was so tragic..." another paladin lamented, his body still shaking uncontrollably.
The Paladins were in a very bad situation this time, and they all complained bitterly. The few groups that escaped at the back were even more miserable, with their armor torn and weapons dropped, completely lacking their former majesty.
After counting, 154 paladins and 13 chaplains were missing, which was a huge loss. It took a lot of resources and effort to train them to become talents. Who wouldn't feel sad when they sacrificed their lives without killing an enemy?
Fortunately, they made a prompt decision and ran back, otherwise everyone might have been left in this mysterious jungle full of traps and became wronged souls in this land of death.
The general was a burly man with a broad back and strong waist. His bronze face was covered with dust and sweat. His thick eyebrows were tightly furrowed like two sharp swords. His resolute eyes revealed deep anxiety and uneasiness. He said:
"Master White Robe Priest, we have suffered such a heavy blow this time, and the losses are huge. What do you think we should do next? Should we continue to attack, or retreat temporarily and wait for the next step? This magic trap is too dangerous, and many of our brothers have died in it. If we continue to attack like this, I am afraid we will suffer heavy casualties and even be wiped out!"
The white-robed priest was tall and slender, his white robe fluttering slightly in the wind. He had a thin face and deep and firm eyes, like the twinkling stars in the night sky. The wrinkles on his forehead seemed to record the vicissitudes and wisdom of the years. He held the staff tightly in both hands and answered calmly but forcefully:
"General Luo Lan, we are carrying out a sacred mission entrusted by the Lord. How can we retreat so easily because of this setback? The Lord is watching us, testing our loyalty and courage. If we retreat at this time, we will lose face and our followers' faith in us will be shaken. But blindly charging forward is not a wise move. It will only cause more lives to be lost in vain. We need to think calmly and find a way out."
General Luo Lan's face was filled with worry, and he said anxiously, "But, Reverend Priest, this trap is extremely powerful and has many variations. We have paid a heavy price for every attempt. Just in this exploration, so many brave warriors have fallen. I really can't bear to watch my brothers die in vain. We must weigh the pros and cons and not let more lives become victims of this meaningless adventure."
The white-robed priest closed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Don't be impulsive, child. The Lord will guide us to victory. I suggest driving the mounts to explore the way first, and organizing the heavy infantry warriors to follow behind. If you encounter any traps, try to bypass them and don't stop along the way. I believe that the Lord will bless us and enable us to overcome these difficulties and obstacles."
The general hesitated for a moment and said with some concern: "Master Priest, will this work? What if the mount also triggers the trap? Wouldn't it be another loss in vain? Moreover, heavy infantry moves relatively slowly. Can they avoid traps in time in this complex jungle? I am worried that doing this will not only fail to solve the problem, but will make the situation worse."
The white-robed priest held the staff tightly in both hands and said with bright eyes: "This may not be a perfect plan, but at the moment, it is the most feasible way we can think of. If we don't try, we can only be trapped here and will never be able to complete the mission given to us by the Lord. The Lord will give us strength and courage to help us overcome difficulties."
Another general took a deep breath and seemed to have made up his mind. He said, "Okay, Mr. Secretary, since you insist so much, I will arrange it according to your instructions. But I hope God can bless us and make this operation go smoothly."
General Roland nodded helplessly and said, "Good idea, thank you, Secretary, let's arrange it this way..." The general hurriedly turned around to make arrangements.
After the other generals completed the arrangements and deployments according to the white-robed priest's instructions, they hurried back to the white-robed priest, their expressions still solemn.
The general wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "My Lord Pastor, everything has been arranged, but I am still uneasy. I don't know how many unknown dangers are hidden in this mysterious jungle. Can we really get through it smoothly?"
The white-robed priest raised his staff and looked firmly into the depths of the jungle. He said slowly, "General, the Lord will guide us and grant us strength. When we have faith in our hearts, any difficulty can be overcome."
The general frowned and said worriedly: "But if we suffer another heavy loss, how can I explain to the families of these soldiers? They all followed us for their faith and mission."
The white-robed priest patted the general on the shoulder and said in a steady and powerful voice: "Don't let fear take over your heart, my General Luo Lan. Everything we do is for glory and justice. As long as we have firm faith, the Lord will bless us."
The general took a deep breath, nodded, and said, "I hope so, Secretary. Then, we must always remain vigilant to deal with various situations that may arise."
The white-robed priest nodded slightly: "Don't worry, generals. Let us pray together and hope that the Lord's protection will help us escape danger."
Tens of thousands of fully armed and majestic soldiers stood in neat rows. In front of them were thousands of huge military wolves with hair standing up like steel needles.
These wolves were originally the army's powerful warhorses, but at this moment they were ruthlessly driven to the front of the team, becoming the vanguard to test the danger.
Each wolf seemed somewhat reluctant, even with tears in their eyes, as if they knew the difficulties and obstacles they were about to face. However, military orders were as strong as mountains, and they had to obey the command and step towards the mysterious and dangerous jungle.
Following closely behind the wargs were 20,000 heavy infantrymen wearing heavy armor, holding giant shields and sharp spears. They had resolute faces and their eyes revealed a determination to not fear death. For them, dying on the battlefield was not the end, but the road to heaven.
Everyone has a devout faith in the Lord in their hearts, hoping to ascend to heaven as a martyr and open up a safe passage for their comrades behind them.
At this tense moment, the soldiers silently prayed to the Lord in their hearts, asking for his care and protection. At the same time, some peregrine falcons from the church were hovering in the sky, their sharp eyes scanning every move below, ready to report any abnormal situation to the commander at any time.
When all the preparations were completed, a loud trumpet sounded, and 20,000 heavy infantrymen recited sacred scriptures in unison, and their voices resounded through the sky.
Inspired by the scriptures, they drove the wolves away and marched into the depths of the jungle without hesitation. Behind them, a group of brave and fearless paladins followed closely, their swords flashing coldly, ready to deal with any crisis that might arise at any time.