Chapter 112: Chapter 111: Legendary Banner

The Wilderness grew cooler as autumn set in, but a feverish energy gripped High Cliff Castle. The entire populace mobilized, preparing for the impending war.

Levi considered that the blacksmith shop and slave camp at the foot of the hill had taken a great deal of time and effort to build.

In the end, Levi decided to set the battlefield to the east of the hill, near the river. The area was entirely farmland reclaimed by the slaves.

The terrain here formed a gentle upward slope. If he positioned the Warriors at the highest point, they could effectively suppress the enemy cavalry’s charge and exhaust their horses.

Besides, the Lord had no intention of wasting the natural fertilizer that would soon be delivered right to his doorstep.

Along the river to the left of the designated battlefield lay a patch of marshland where the reeds and wild grass grew half as tall as a man.

Levi brought the slave leader, Old Neil, over. He had Old Neil use the Land Fertility Technique by the river every day until sunset, causing the wild grass and reeds to grow at a jaw-dropping pace.

It quickly grew into a green wall along the riverbank. If you didn’t know better, you might have mistaken it for a dense thicket of trees.

It might not be able to hide an army of a hundred thousand, but concealing a few hundred men would be easy.

One by one, carts camouflaged with green weeds were dragged into the reeds by chanting Giants, disappearing without a trace.

The Jackal Wolfman Cavalry split into eight five-man teams. In shifts of four teams, the forty riders patrolled the perimeter of High Cliff Castle twenty-four hours a day, watching for any disturbance.

Even the dead of night was no different from day for the Jackal Wolfmen. With their keen sense of smell, they could detect the slightest movement from kilometers away.

Meanwhile, a new round of discussion was unfolding in the Lord’s hall.

"Zat, how is the training coming along for our new Beastman brothers?" Levi asked, turning his gaze toward the army leader.

"Boss, aside from some awkwardness with battle formations, they’re ready for combat," Zat replied. He wore Inner Chain Armor under a suit of Chain Plate Armor and an imposing Horned Helmet. His ferocious appearance alone was enough to intimidate most people.

To be ready for a war that could erupt at any moment, all of High Cliff Castle’s leaders wore two layers of armor. They could don the final layer with the little time they would have to prepare.

The Beastman Tribe that joined High Cliff Castle had a population of seven to eight hundred, with just over a hundred able-bodied adults among them.

Levi immediately recruited one hundred and fifty of them into the Burning Corps’ Beastman Guard Team. This brought the number of these future heavy-armored shock troops to a round two hundred.

However, compared to the veteran warriors, who were all Tier Five Soldiers, these new recruits were mostly Tier Two, with only a few having reached the rank of Tier Three Soldier.

Still, this was more than enough for the Lord. These Beastmen might not match High Cliff Castle’s veterans, but their fundamental strength was high. Compared to average soldiers, they were still exceptionally elite Warriors.

"Alright. Let Muto command them as a separate unit for now. We’ll integrate them with the veteran Warriors once their strength catches up."

"Yes, Chief," Muto said with a salute.

"Orak, have you made any sense of the Magic on the Stone Slabs?"

"My apologies, my Lord. I remain clueless," Orak said, placing a hand on his chest with a look of regret. "I suspect the Magic on these Stone Slabs doesn’t align with my Elemental Magic."

"If it’s not working, then forget it," the Lord said with a nod.

The arrival of the senior Shaman, Orak, had filled a significant gap in High Cliff Castle’s knowledge of Magic.

It had taught the Lord that Casters were also categorized by Elements.

For example, someone with a Talent for the Fire Element could learn Magic like the Fireball Technique and Ring of Flames, but couldn’t learn Magic of other Attributes, such as Water Cannon or the Misty Skill.

Orak explained that his Elemental Attribute was of a special blood lineage, which was why his three Witchcraft spells were all blood-related.

"Although your Witchcraft is focused on self-enhancement, your experience as a Shaman is clearly substantial. You will serve as the leader of High Cliff Castle’s Casting Team."

"As you wish, my Lord," Orak replied with a faint smile.

Sitting at the far end of the table, Sam seethed with envy and jealousy. ’I was here first! I was High Cliff Castle’s first Shaman! But now this newcomer, this heretical Shaman, is suddenly ranked so far above me.’

He desperately wanted to speak up and argue his case, but after his recent attempt to flee, he knew speaking out of turn would only earn him a harsh reprimand.

What infuriated him most was that Old Neil, that Kobold slave, was seated even further up the table than he was.

Old Neil, who had been listening intently, suddenly felt a chill on his back. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Sam staring at him. Baring his teeth in what could be called a friendly smile, Old Neil turned forward again.

’He felt a deep-seated contempt for the human who had taught him Magic.’

’Though he was only a Kobold, he utterly despised such a turncoat.’

"Lower the Warriors’ training intensity for the next few days. Make sure they eat and drink well to keep up their stamina," Levi ordered, rapidly finalizing his plans.

"Hog will continue to lead the patrols. Muto will train the new recruits."

"Yes, sir!" the High Cliff Castle leaders answered in unison.

Baisitina watched Levi, her face radiant and her sapphire-blue eyes reflecting his image. It was incredibly fortunate for any group to have a spiritual core—someone who, even by sitting still and doing nothing, could draw everyone to orbit around him.

Levi was undoubtedly that person. As long as he was present, High Cliff Castle’s proud and fierce warriors would naturally unite.

"Don’t I have anything to do?" Zat asked, scratching the back of his bald head.

"You’re in charge of maintaining order," Levi said, rapping his knuckles on the table and fixing his heavy gaze on Sam. "If you find anyone deliberately disrupting the peace in High Cliff Castle, execute them on the spot! I’m giving you the authority to mobilize the Burning Corps’ Guard Team, but you are to maintain stability."

Feeling the Lord’s unconcealed killing intent, Sam flinched, a cold dread prickling his scalp.

"Got it, Boss."

"I don’t meddle during peacetime, but our opponents this time are the real deal. I want every single one of you to give this your absolute focus!" Levi roared.

"Sir!"

The seated leaders of High Cliff Castle shot to their feet in unison, the sound of their boots clicking together crisp and clear.

Once they were seated again, the great hall fell silent. Everyone looked down and focused on the food before them, the only sound being the clatter of cutlery.

"Um... I have a suggestion," Baisitina said, looking toward the Lord beside her and timidly raising a small, fair hand.

"What is it?" the Lord asked.

Everyone, who had been focused on their food, quickly looked up again.

"High Cliff Castle isn’t the tiny group it used to be. Using a name as our banner feels a bit inappropriate now, so... how about we create a new one?" Baisitina looked around at everyone, making a grand gesture with her small hands. "You know, like one of those Legendary banners from the Epic chronicles, the kind that are remembered for a thousand years!"