Chương 134: Conflicting Mana Reaction (Part 2)

Li Qinwu asked, "So what you're saying is... as a creature of the Dark attribute, I'm currently submerged in a sea of dense Light mana, which is what's causing all these symptoms?" West-Hayden nodded.

"Precisely. When the local concentration of a specific mana spikes to abnormal levels, every other free-floating element in the area gets pushed out. But a creature of the Dark attribute submerged in that Light mana can't just shed the Dark mana locked inside its own physical frame. Your internal energy is trapped, forcing it to react violently with the surrounding Light mana."

"The reaction manifests on the skin first. That intense burning sensation you feel? That's your surface Dark mana reacting with the ambient Light mana, driving up your localized body temperature."

"As the reaction intensifies, the burning turns into an unbearable itch. Next comes blinding pain. Eventually, with every breath you take, you'll be inhaling concentrated Light mana directly into your system. It will severely scorch your respiratory mucous membranes until you choke to death. And once you're dead? The Dark mana remaining in your corpses will continue to react until your bodies are thoroughly cooked through." A chill ran straight down Li Qinwu's spine.

This form of attack was nothing short of an indiscriminate genocidal sweep against every Dark-attribute entity in the region!

"Who's responsible for this?" He hoped West-Hayden might have an answer—and the ghostly mentor certainly did not disappoint.

"To the best of my knowledge, the only organization capable of elevating ambient Light mana across such a vast territory is the Choir of the Church of the Goddess of Life."

"If memory serves, the current choir's Holy Saint is a girl named Vivienne. She wields a holy artifact known as the Teardrop of Purity. When a choir of a hundred priests incants in unison, they can channel the artifact to drastically spike regional Light mana levels. It is the Church's ultimate trump card against demonic entities!" He extended a ghostly finger, pointing due west—straight toward the position where Count Fischer's primary host was entrenched.

"In my current spectral state, I can observe the subtle shifts in mana tides. I can see a dense, surging vortex of Light mana gathering over there. From my perspective, that position is glowing as brilliantly as a fallen sun. The Holy Saint and her choir must be stationed right at the heart of it!" Li Qinwu's eyes narrowed into slits. Dammit. These bastards really have an endless supply of tricks up their sleeves.

Just as he was about to pop the champagne and celebrate a near-certain victory, they dropped a massive weapon of mass destruction on his head. Talk about a headache! Wiping another sleeve of sweat from his brow, Li Qinwu looked at West-Hayden's ethereal form. The guy was a walking encyclopedia; if not for him, Li Qinwu wouldn't even know what hit them.

"West-Hayden, what do you suggest we do?" Li Qinwu asked earnestly. West-Hayden pondered for a moment before speaking.

"My advice? Run. The Choir's effective area of mana elevation only extends roughly twenty miles. Once you clear that radius, you'll be completely safe. A grand collective spell like this is incredibly cumbersome to maintain—it takes days of preparation, so it's impossible for them to chase you while casting." Li Qinwu shook his head immediately. He didn't see it that way. Retreating twenty miles today, then another twenty miles tomorrow... wouldn't he eventually be backed all the way into Alliance territory?

Besides, the new goblin recruits were all bedridden and physically incapacitated. Retreating meant abandoning them to die. Those precious populations represented the core wealth and labor of his Alliance—how could he possibly leave them behind? On top of that, all the stockpile of supplies inside the city couldn't be moved on short notice. Abandoning the spoils of war was out of the question. Li Qinwu took a deep breath, looking straight into West-Hayden's eyes.

"West-Hayden, I think there's another way. We charge over there and wipe out this so-called Choir!" Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"My regime has already drawn the attention of the human elite. If I can't use Poloia's resources to snowball our strength right now, what happens when the Kingdom of Sarthos gathers a massive grand army to invade the Demon Forest? With their sheer volume, I won't stand a chance. Retreat is not an option."

"And that Choir... they sound like a critical asset to the Church. Wiping them out ought to make the Church of Life bleed!" He grinned, his smile laced with pure malice. The conflict between the Goddess of Life and the goblin race was fundamentally irreconcilable. Opportunities to eliminate such high-value enemy assets didn't come around often. West-Hayden looked at Li Qinwu with a mix of wonder and surprise.

"Are you truly just a goblin? Confronted with a crisis like this, your first instinct isn't to flee, but to eradicate the threat once and for all. Tsk, tsk... I really can't figure you out." Li Qinwu ignored the wraith's musings. Having secured the crucial intel he needed, he turned on his heel to deploy his forces. West-Hayden called out behind him: "Have your soldiers smear thick mud across their bodies! The Water and Earth mana in the moisture and clay can briefly buffer against the Light mana.

But it's only a temporary fix. You must eliminate the Choir quickly, or as the Light mana concentration continues to climb, even the natural elemental energy in the mud will be displaced." Li Qinwu paused briefly, nodding in acknowledgment. Reaching the surface, he immediately ordered every able-bodied Hobgoblin to start mixing mud, slathering it over the incapacitated recruits to keep them alive. He then summoned all unit officers for an emergency briefing, laying out the exact nature of the threat.

Upon learning that the blistering heat and agonizing itching were the result of an enemy spell, the officers boiled with rage—though a palpable wave of dread settled over them as well. If the enemy stood before them wielding steel and blades, they wouldn't flinch for a second. They would charge forward and drive their bayonets straight through their chests. But against an invisible, intangible, ambient threat that ate away at them every second? That truly unnerved them.

Noticing the flickers of fear across their faces, Li Qinwu slammed his palm down onto the table with a deafening crash, barking furiously:"Dammit! What kind of look is that on your faces, huh?! Are you scared?!"

"Every single one of you standing here is a tough bastard who marched with me all the way from the Alliance lands! You've slain enemies more than ten times your number! You are the decorated officers of the Punishment Army—an existence that strikes terror into the hearts of our foes! And now? Now you're showing fear?!" Every officer in the room instantly snapped their spines straight. Ignoring the fierce itching on their skin, they locked their gazes onto Li Qinwu with absolute, unyielding resolve.

"Boss! We are not afraid!!" Li Qinwu nodded in satisfaction.

"That's what I want to see! Keep that fire in your chest! You are the warriors of the Punishment Army. No matter what enemy stands before us, you charge forward and drive your lead balls and cold steel right into their flesh! The Punishment Army is invincible!!" Li Qinwu let out a thunderous roar. The officers, their blood boiling with adrenaline, shouted in unison: " The Punishment Army is invincible!!" They roared the slogan three times in a row, the electric atmosphere surging to a fever pitch.

Li Qinwu turned, pointing his hand sharply toward the west.

"Warriors! The enemy Choir is right over there! Shielded at the very heart of the main human army!"

"I want every single one of you to charge into their positions with me, tear through their defensive lines, and reach that Choir! Smash their skulls, shatter their bones, rip open their throats, and put every last one of them to the sword! Leave not a single survivor!!" His expression twisted into a fierce, wild snarl as he bellowed:"Those lapdogs of the Goddess of Life deployed an anti-intelligent-species weapon against us! An indiscriminate slaughter aimed at our very existence!"

"Every single pregnant beast in our pens has miscarried! Those unborn young were murdered by their wicked magic before they could even catch a glimpse of this world!"

"First it was the embryos. Next it was the recruits. And next, it will be us! Tell me—are you angry?!" The goblins' breathing turned heavy and ragged, their faces contorted in furious rage. Having followed Li Qinwu for so long, they had forged a deep sense of collective pride and honor. This was the moment Li Qinwu's investment paid off in full. Every officer roared at the top of their lungs: "Kill them! Kill every single one of them!!" Li Qinwu unsheathed his massive greatsword, shouting to the crowd: "Everyone!

Blades out!" The officers drew their swords in unison—several of which were ornate, gleaming blades personally bestowed by Li Qinwu as battle honors. Without even realizing it, so many within the Punishment Army had earned their glory on the battlefield. Li Qinwu raised his greatsword into the air. While the others paused for a fraction of a second, Gobu-Gong's mind worked lightning fast—he immediately crossed his own blade over Li Qinwu's steel.

The rest caught on instantly, raising their weapons until every single blade collided in a tight, gleaming ring of cold iron. Li Qinwu swept his resolute gaze across the circle, meeting the eyes of every single officer present.

"United in purpose, our strength can shatter mountains! Clad in iron and steel, we are unstoppable! Even if the enemy before us is a god, we will force them to bow!"

"From this day forward, under the witness of you all, I officially announce: the 10th Company of the Punishment Army is formally elevated to the 10th Guard Company! Every single one of you is now a proud officer of the Guard!"

"Officers of the 10th Guard Company, hear my command! Assemble your units and gear up! Tonight, the entire army sallies forth to eradicate all enemies!"