Chapter 161

Chapter 161

I squinted my eyes, and after a flash of light, the previously quiet underground storage area gradually came alive.

Large numbers of crystal people began struggling to break free from the frames holding them.

I adjusted the switch on my mask and coughed a few times to test the volume.

The more physically powerful crystal people had already broken free from their frames, while large numbers of the old, weak, and injured ones were still fighting to get loose.

I took a deep breath. Youngest Princess and the old servant quickly covered their ears.

"Everyone, listen up! Head to level one to get your weapons and armor! Then assemble on the surface!"

The massive sound wave echoed through the underground space, with layer after layer of reverb carrying my orders throughout all three levels of the underground storage area.

The noisy crystal people froze for a moment, then turned as one toward the exits, and the entire underground area erupted into chaos.

Large numbers of agile crystal people rushed forward — they must have been skilled warriors in their previous lives.

Some crystal people began chanting spells and took to the air — they must have been magic users before.

A small number vanished entirely. I had to focus hard just to catch a glimpse of them — they were sprinting across the ceiling in areas where no one else was going.

Those ones... what the hell! How are there crystal people this powerful? They're practically on par with the third-level guardians on the front line!

Suddenly, there was a massive boom, and a huge hole was blown through the ceiling.

We scrambled to find cover.

Looking up, I saw that because the exit was too narrow and crowded, some of the stronger ones had simply blasted their own way through the ceiling.

Large numbers of crystal people poured through the hole up to the level above.

"They're... they're actually moving in their own way? This..." The old servant stared at the scene in front of her, completely dumbfounded.

I watched it all with satisfaction, then glanced back at Youngest Princess and the old servant and said, "Let's head up too."

"Okay." Youngest Princess nodded, her eyes clear and calm.

"How is this possible... this can't be right..." The old servant was clutching her own head, muttering something under her breath.

I hesitated, then asked, "Is something wrong?"

"Everything is wrong!" the old servant shouted.

"Even when you modify commands, you still have to spell out every single action and step in detail. So why can you get them to reach the same result in their own way? It was the same command! How is that even possible?"

"I have no idea." I shrugged. "Maybe that's just what translation magic does."

That's how they taught it at Maple Magic Academy, anyway.

Magic can do anything.

It seemed that thousands of years ago, magic couldn't do everything. I had no idea what had changed in between.

"This isn't magic at all!" the old servant shouted.

......

Some time later. An open area at a certain distance outside the energy center.

We stood on high ground, looking down at the massive crystal army spread across the open space below — so many that you couldn't see where they ended.

They were now fully armed. Spear units, archer units, high-speed curved blade squads, siege equipment teams — all kinds of different weapon formations arranged in neat rows, with a few lantern-carrying crystal people in each column.

The scattered points of light stretched all the way to the edge of our vision, like an ocean glittering under a sky full of stars.

Because the storage area had been packed with military supplies, we spent some time dividing the crystal people into units and arming them to make the most of the army's strength.

Large numbers of crystal people who weren't physically strong enough were left behind in the storage area — a million was simply too many to bring.

In the end, the number of crystal people assembled here and ready to attack the energy center came to roughly seven hundred thousand, all fighters whose combat ability was above average.

Also, with the old servant's guidance, I discovered that the mask was far more advanced than I'd realized. It didn't just let you freely adjust the volume — it could also direct sound with precision.

It had originally been designed for battlefield commanders to issue orders, capable of delivering sound precisely to a designated area.

It wouldn't cause confusion or disrupt the crystal army with crossed signals.

"We really do look like generals leading troops into battle, haha!" Youngest Princess said, clearly excited.

The old servant looked at the purifier army ahead and at Youngest Princess standing there with her hands on her hips, and felt a sudden wave of disorientation.

It was like being thrown back in time — back to when Youngest Princess had led the rebel army to besiege Salt Fortress.

The endless rebel forces had stretched to the horizon, and the Queen had stood with her on the city walls, Salt Fortress like a tiny boat adrift in the ocean.

And then, the final battle between the two princesses...

The old servant sighed silently. "I never imagined the same battle would play out again after all these years."

Only this time, she was standing on Youngest Princess's side.

"Anything else to add?" I turned to look at the other two.

"What's there to say? It's just a tower. We charge in and take it!"

Youngest Princess was full of energy as she looked out over the army.

"Exactly. We don't need much of a plan. Even if the front line falls, it doesn't matter. With this army, we have more than enough to sweep away every obstacle and get the Queen out."

"Save her? She'd have to be worth saving first!"

"Of course she is. The Queen is the most selfless and noble person in this world. You'll understand the moment you meet her."

"Ha? What are you even—"

"Either way, our goal is the same," I cut off their argument and said:

"Take the energy tower, enter the Runic Array core, and clear the Shadow corruption. Any objections?"

"None."

"No objections..."

We stopped arguing and answered one after another.

"Good. Then..."

I scanned the area around us, made sure nothing had been overlooked, took a deep breath, and gave the order:

"Hold formation and move out! Target — the energy center!"

The massive sound echoed above the open ground.

The crystal army paused for just a moment, then turned as one toward the energy center.

Nearly a million troops turning at the same time sent a wave of killing intent rolling all the way toward the energy center.

Then the great army surged forward, filling the earth and sky.

......

"Ranged units, prepare to intercept! Shield units, prepare to defend!"

Once we were within range of the energy tower, I waited for the right moment and gave the order.

Waves of golden light flashed across the outer wall of the energy tower as large numbers of ranged weapons appeared on its surface and began pouring fire into the approaching mass of enemies.

Bolt throwers, magic cannons, enchanted arrows, magic missiles...

A dense storm of ranged attacks, glowing with all kinds of light, came flying toward us.

At the same moment, large numbers of crystal ranged units began returning fire while the defensive units started chanting their protection spells.

Then sections of the energy tower's outer wall opened inward, and swarms of small mechanical puppets came pouring out.

A dense army of puppets filled the sky, flying straight toward the crystal forces.

They were covered in black stains, with pairs of mechanical wings, weaving nimbly through the air in flickers of faint light, their bows firing constantly down into the enemy troops below.

The dark night sky was torn apart in an instant by the flames of war.