He followed an officer’s pace, heading towards the command room. The space inside was far from spacious, and with many hybrids having unusual physical shapes, all he could see was a mass of large backs blocking the front, impossible to endure was the mix of body odor and sweat in the room.
Unexpectedly, Lindong had just stepped half a foot inside and immediately covered her mouth and nose, turning her eyes white from the stench.
She decisively retreated from the operations command room, looking to Ethan for help with fluttering eyes, much like a student asking their deskmate to help take notes before skipping class.
After a moment of eye contact, she clasped her hands, her gaze sincere.
This place simply isn’t suitable to stay.
She was not adept at Wind Element Magic and couldn’t filter the air automatically like Ethan.
She was also unlike Kane, who, it seemed evident, had issues with his sense of smell and should probably go to the capital’s hospital for a check-up.
But in reality, Ethan stood at the rear, only able to see the giant forms of their backs; an excited voice came through from the cracks in the human wall. This cramped command room, along with the intermittent reporting, awoke in Ethan a powerful sense of familiarity.
Indeed, at this moment, a hybrid officer was reporting to the Warlord about the battle situation.
"The addition of Elemental Shapers is very detrimental to us; under my command, more than ten units have already been completely destroyed."
Ethan suspected that perhaps a strategic map was still spread flat on the desk, and the speaking officer was bent over, pointing here and there on the map.
"No matter, as long as we find a way to sever them from the natural elements, everything will be alright."
"The Elemental Shapers..."
"They have constructed a magic network, the methods given by the gods have failed, are we being abandoned?"
This passage was spoken separately by three officers, and the command room suddenly fell silent, the negative emotions of impending defeat spread through the room.
In fact, before Ethan and the other two entered, they had already gleaned clues from the reactions of the garrison.
When that gigantic Fireball descended from the clouds, their eyes were filled with terror.
This was something they could not comprehend.
Elemental Shapers were not rare in this world; they may know the spells to manipulate the natural elements, but their bodies are frail. In battling Elemental Shapers, as long as one can withstand the initial casualties and disrupt their formations, they become lambs to the slaughter.
The hybrids had won many battles using such tactics, but this time, they faced the unknown.
On the battlefield, not a shadow of the Elemental Shapers could be seen; only a slight opening appeared in the sky, followed by Fireballs falling like meteors upon them.
The Magic’s power was far more intense than any Elemental Magic they knew, even warriors specially trained to counter Elemental Magic were instantly burned to ashes.
They also suffered massive lightning strikes.
This was a fight against the unknown, their forces were rapidly diminishing. If such a situation continued, failure was inevitable.
Would the invincible followers of Kaisaros truly lose their most specialized war?
Ethan listened at the rear to the hybrids’ whispered discussions.
What happened next conflicted with the scenes he was familiar with; he heard a muffled sound of bones twisting, and the hybrids’ discussions came to a halt, leaving the command room in utter silence.
The unlucky officer who questioned whether the gods had abandoned them had already fallen in a pool of blood.
"Incompetent, foolish, and daring to question the authority of the gods."
The Warlord listed the hybrids’ crimes. His stern gaze swept over every officer whose expressions fluctuated, "If anyone dares to speak such disrespectful words again, this will be your fate. Now, who can offer counsel for this war?"
What greeted him was a prolonged silence.
"If not, return to your units, this will be the final battle. Win this war, and you’ll go down in history."
Clearly, the Warlord’s motivational tactics had little effect; the command room remained oppressive. From the hybrids’ expressions, it was apparent they harbored indignation that dared not be spoken against the Warlord’s decision. His previous brutal actions had only further diminished morale.
Ethan couldn’t help but sigh; this was a typical demonstration of what not to do during war.
Though the hybrids lacked intelligence, they formed the main frontline force of Kaisaros’ troops, and those who stood in the front row to directly report the war situation to the Warlord undoubtedly held significant standing among the hybrids.
Executing an officer in front of so many people would undoubtedly leave the remaining officers feeling constantly on edge.
Worse, besides offering a dose of icy-cold motivational words, the Warlord failed to present any constructive suggestions to change the tide of battle. The most update n0vels are published on N0veI.Fiɾe.net
The officers scattered like wild beasts, except for the unfortunate one whose neck had been broken.
His nearly four-meter-tall body fell to the ground like a torn rag; even those familiar with him among the hybrids hesitated for a long time but ultimately never summoned the courage to carry the unlucky soul out of the command center for a proper burial.
The officer who had urgently pressed the three of them for the meeting had left them forever.
Ethan found the scene brimming with black humor.
Seeing the sweaty crowd rush outside, Lindong, who had been lazing by the door, suddenly ran back into the room. She was nearly clinging to Ethan, but this time, she was not simply seeking Ethan’s physical presence, but also his automatic wind-element air filter.