Chapter 490 Before the Decisive Battle
Mitna Lachen, the Immortal Bastion.
The dimensional barrier between life and death isolates almost all forces.
Mordekaiser has the ability to project his thoughts into reality, but Amystan has no ability to actively contact him across dimensions.
So now Modkaiser doesn't know about Amistan's death, and doesn't know that the Leader has discovered his attack plan.
But it doesn't matter.
He doesn't worry about that now.
Because Modkaiser knew that his plan had reached the final step and it was too late to stop it.
His messengers were already in place, and sacrificial ceremonies were already prepared in various places. No matter what the Wind Leader did or discovered, it would not be possible to stop his coming.
So, Mordekaiser slowly stepped onto the towering walls of the Immortal Bastion and overlooked the millions of monsters.
The never-ending wind of the underworld swept across the wasteland, and the cries of souls rose and fell, converging into an evil chorus.
Looking out from here, you can only see a dark light of death covering the sky and an endless sea of the dead.
"Kneel down!" Modkaiser waved Nightfall slightly, and waves rose in the sea.
The dead souls fell to their knees like a human wave, row after row, wave after wave. In an instant, millions of people bowed their heads and worshiped, and the entire underworld knelt at the feet of Mordekaiser.
They are the most loyal servants and the warriors who are most unafraid of sacrifice.
Who could stop such an army?
No one!
The plane channels will open simultaneously all over the world. Even the goddess Janna cannot protect all her believers.
Without the goddess's blessing, humans are just a group of lambs to be slaughtered. Their weak flesh and blood bodies are absolutely unable to stop this endless tide of death.
"The end is near!" Mordekaiser's eyes were filled with surging soul fire: "Everyone must submit to the Lord of Life and Death!"
…
Frosthaven, Freljord.
This polar industrial city, built with support from the Leader Program, is only now beginning to take shape.
Only a few factories had been built in the planned industrial zone, and only two roads had been paved. The entire city looked like a large construction site.
But in the center of this nascent city, the huge Hextech flying gate was already facing the bitter polar wind and snow, emitting brilliant magical light.
Leaders always spare no expense, and prioritize building expensive Hexgates wherever they go.
The purpose of this is to build a Hextech teleportation network covering Runeterra as soon as possible, so that the armed forces of the Leader can achieve global mobility and mobile deployment at critical moments.
Now it comes in handy.
Avarosa, Winter's Claw, and the people living in Frost Harbor, all gathered under the Hextech flying gate that was ready to go at this time under the emergency call of the broadcast.
"What? Udyr! You want us to go to Silver City and work for those Debon people?" Sejuani asked loudly.
“This is not for the people of Germany, Sejuani,” Ashe said. “This is for Runeterra, for all of humanity.”
“Damn all of humanity!” Sejuani yelled, “I knew those Zaun guys had bad intentions. They sent us food and built houses, so it turns out they just wanted us to be mercenaries and pay off our debts with our lives!”
Her words resonated among the crowd.
It was difficult for these Freljordians to understand why they had to travel thousands of miles to fight for a group of Germans they didn't know.
In the past, even relatives from the next tribe could be their sworn enemies.
But now, Ashe and Udyr want to tell them that the Zaun people far away can also be their brothers.
This is a very puzzling thing.
“Why should we help the Debon people?” Sejuani asked, “Just for a few grains of food?”
"Sejuani." Ashe tried to explain: "If Mordekaiser successfully returns, all of Runeterra will fall. The Freljord will not be spared..."
"It's alarmist..." Sejuani actually believed it. She knew that the Wind Leader would not lie.
But she still refused to accept it. In her opinion, Modkaiser was still a problem for the southerners. If there was to be a war, the southerners should be allowed to fight first.
“Alright, alright.” Udyr finally spoke: “Sejuani, it’s okay if you don’t want to.”
"Inviting the tribal warriors of Avarosa and Winter's Claw to join the defense of Secret Silver City is just my and Comrade Ashe's personal idea. There is no such order from the organization, and no one is forcing you to help."
"Huh?" Sejuani was slightly stunned.
The Leader did not ask them to go to the battlefield? Then who was the Leader mobilizing?
Besides the warriors of Avarosa and Winter's Claw, are there any other soldiers available in Frost Harbor?
Udyr did not answer.
He looked directly at the crowd present: "Leaders, step out."
Without hesitation or questioning, a group of people soon stood up.
Among them were some tribal warriors and ice mages from Avarosa and Winter's Claw.
But there are even more inconspicuous mortal furnace owners and Zaun workers sent by the Wind Leader to help build Frost Harbor.
"This..." Sejuani was a little dazed: "Udyr, are you crazy? Can these people fight?"
Although these furnace owners and workers have good physical fitness and know how to wield swords and shoot guns, they can be considered good soldiers in the South.
But in the Freljord, where the competition for survival is fierce, they are not even real warriors.
Just mortals.
Didn’t you just say how powerful Mordekaiser is, and that the enemy has a terrifying army of undead that is endless in number?
"That's right," Udyr said. "The number of enemies is endless, and the defense of Mithril City is the weakest."
"That's why we need to mobilize all our forces. Including them."
Sejuani: "..."
"Aren't you afraid of death?" She looked at the furnace owners again.
Especially those Zaun workers: "Aren't you all Zaun people? Demacia was attacked, what are you doing?"
"We are the leaders." This was their only answer.
As they spoke, the leaders spontaneously lined up and walked quickly past her.
"..." Sejuani was speechless.
The Iceborn Warriors, Frost Priests, and Tribal Shamans present also quietly looked at the mortals walking in front.
The atmosphere became very subtle.
The Freljord people always respect warriors. Bravery and fearlessness are universal values pursued by all tribes on the ice field.
In the past, they usually played the role of warriors. Mortals were only fit to be slaves, protected and enslaved by the strong.
But this time...
"Sejuani, take care of the house." Udyr only gave this last instruction and turned to join the team mainly composed of mortals.
Then came Ashe, Tryndamere...
"Warmother Ashe, wait for us!" Finally, Avarosa's warriors also took their steps.
Countless figures passed by Sejuani and left her behind.
She turned back to look at her fellow tribesmen.
"Warmother Sejuani?" The warriors of Winter Claw also looked at her.
Sejuani was inexplicably hesitant.
“Me! Me! And me!” At this time, Olaf finally couldn’t hold back and left the Winter Claw’s team: “Hahahaha… take me with you if you want to die!”
"A warrior of Lockefa will never be a coward!"
"..." Sejuani was silent for a while.
Finally, she turned over and rode on her war pig: "Let's go! Let's get on too!"
…
Bilgewater.
Since the decisive battle of Barue, the leader's naval fleet has finally been deployed in full force once again.
Sarah Fortune stood on the bow of her flagship, the Jannah, and looked out at the vast ocean.
She knew her nemesis was there.
He is back.
"Planck..." Sarah clenched her fists secretly.
According to the intelligence sent by Levi, the messenger of God who is about to attack Bilgewater is none other than her old rival Gangplank.
Like Zaun, Bilgewater had long been built by the Wind Leaders into a landmark of public security with "Bluebird surveillance cameras" everywhere. Gangplank was an undead and there was no way he could be active in Bilgewater.
So, Sarah quickly thought of the group of Planck remnants at sea who had not yet been completely eliminated.
She judged that Planck would definitely gather his remnants and launch an attack on Porto Alegre from the sea.
That's why Shana led her army out to sea, hoping to stop the enemy at sea.
Otherwise, once Gangplank and his crew landed in Bilgewater, it would be like a super-enhanced version of the Harrowing, bringing irreparable pain and damage to Bilgewater.
"I won't let you succeed, Planck!" Sarah looked forward with a firm gaze.
She had finally realized her dream and watched Bilgewater emerge from the long dark age into the dawn. She would never allow Gangplank to take it away from her.
But at the same time, she also knew that she was facing more than just Gangplank this time. Gangplank was now just a pawn of the devil.
This time, even the leader’s naval fleet may not be able to stop the enemy.
"Illaoi." Sarah couldn't help but look at her old friend who was trying her best to perform a magic trick. "Did Nagakabouros answer our prayers?"
“He responded,” Illaoi said.
"Then is He willing to help?"
“……” There was a moment of silence.
Sarah understood . Naga Kaporos was the movement itself. The movement itself certainly didn't want to "move" itself and interfere with itself.
“But my Lord hates those who are dead,” Illaoi said, “When the critical moment comes, He will still take action.”
"Just like in the old Haunting Night..."
The Snake Mother is the god of movement and life, and the dead are exactly what she dislikes the most.
In the past, whenever Bilgewater was about to be swallowed by the black fog of the undead during the Harrowing Night, Nagakabouros would use his divine power at the last moment to disperse the undead that he hated.
In other words, Nagakabouros will always protect Bigang at the last moment.
This seemed to be a sure thing, but Sarah knew: "By this 'final moment', Bilgewater is almost destroyed!"
This "Hallowed Night" will be more terrifying than any previous Hallowed Night.
In the past, the Port of Beirut could be rebuilt again and again from the ruins after the Haunting Night. What about this time?
"Before Nagakabouros takes action, we don't know how many comrades will sacrifice!" Sarah said gritting her teeth.
“This has nothing to do with my Lord.” Illaoi said calmly, “Nagakabouros is not a benevolent guardian god.”
"If you need a merciful savior, you'd better look to Janna."
“…” Sarah was speechless.
Because Levi had already reminded her that Janna would not come to help the people of Bigang this time.
The goddess Janna herself needs to deal with Mordekaiser, and has no time to play the role of savior around the world.
That’s not all.
In order to concentrate their forces to deal with this unprecedented war between the true gods and Mordekaiser, Goddess Janna will not only not show up to help them, but will also take back the divine power from their believers.
Yes--
The "divine power lending business" of Goddess Gana, which gives people a sense of security and belonging, has now been temporarily suspended.
At this moment, except for the most basic thread of faith and the bluebird incarnation that maintained internal communications within the organization, Sarah could no longer borrow any divine power from Janna to cast any magic.
She could no longer control the storm, nor could she control the drones and rockets through the air currents.
The invincible fleet built by the Leader with the features of "precision-guided weapons" and "beyond visual range combat" was suddenly greatly reduced in combat effectiveness.
All of this made Sarah anxious.
Nagakabouros is unreliable, Janna is unreliable, and even half of her invincible fleet is destroyed...
Who else can she rely on?
"Commander Sarah! Look!" Sarah was thinking this when she heard the sailors shouting excitedly.
Sarah turned around and looked behind her, in the direction of Bilgewater.
All I saw were rows of sails and flags covering the sky on the sea. I didn't know when countless ships had appeared.
Those ordinary fishing boats, cruise ships, whaling ships, armed merchant ships...
At this time, they all proudly stood up with their sails, flying the blue bird flag of the leader, bravely and fearlessly sailed out of the coast of Port of Piraeus, and followed the leader's naval fleet in groups.
The maritime militia that helped the Leader win the battle of Ionia seems to have reappeared today.
"This..." Sarah was stunned.
Her nose suddenly felt sore for no reason, but she still gritted her teeth and said, "Nonsense!"
Although those civilian ships were equipped with artillery and rockets to prevent sea beasts, their firepower and ship performance were still far from comparable to those of regular warships.
These fishermen and sailors were not regular soldiers, but had served as temporary sailors in the Battle of Balue.
The reason why the Leader dared to mobilize these civilians to go to the battlefield that time was because he had the power of the goddess Gana at his disposal, and could use rockets as missiles and civilian ships as missile frigates.
To the people of Bilgewater, who had an absolute advantage in weapons, that naval battle could not even be considered a battle, but rather an armed parade organized by the Leader.
Fishermen only need to drive the boat, assemble drones and carry rockets to destroy the enemy dozens of kilometers away.
But now, the leader can no longer borrow divine power at will.
Civilian ships are just civilian ships, fishermen are just fishermen, rockets are just rockets that miss nine out of ten times, and drones are just uncontrollable toys that can’t even fly.
The enemy is no longer the Noxian naval fleet, but the ghost captain Gangplank and Mordekaiser's undead army.
If civilian ships are allowed to go to the battlefield at this time, no one can guarantee the safety of these civilian sailors.
So, Sarah did not mobilize these "maritime militias" at all this time.
but……
"They're here after all," Sarah murmured.
She wanted to persuade these sailors who had set sail spontaneously to return.
But countless pieces of information have been transmitted to the onboard radio of the Goddess Gana through the invisible radio waves.
The radio communication equipment invented by Zaun brought together the voices of these mortals.
Even without divine power, they are still united:
"Yu-023, requesting to join the fleet!"
"Fishing Transport No. 004, requesting to join the fleet!"
"Yuleng 012, requesting to join the fleet!"
"Ocean Princess, requesting to join the fleet! "
"Baru Sailor, requesting to join the fleet!"
“…”
Sarah received these summonses.
She immediately responded: "Danger, return!"
The civilian ships responded in unison: "We are also leaders, comrade."
"No, you are civilians!" Sarah replied.
She knew that it was not easy for a person to become a true leader.
Although Hong Kong was liberated earlier and has a strong progressive atmosphere, most people are just faithless masses and shallow followers, rather than devout leaders.
According to Sarah's experience, civilian ships are definitely mostly populated by non-leaders.
But at this time, someone answered: "No, Comrade Sarah."
"From the moment we collectively decided to set sail to join the war, we have truly become leaders."
As they spoke, they used the only divine power they could use now, the Thread of Faith.
Sarah looked at the sea in astonishment, and saw dozens of crystal threads of faith being pulled out from the fishing boat, reaching high into the sky like pillars supporting the sky.
One ship lit up their thread of faith, then the second, the third...
A forest of fluorescent light grew on the sea surface. This was the flame ignited by the faith of her comrades.
"..." Sarah was speechless.
But she still tried to remind them: "Our enemies are stronger than ever. This time, Goddess Janna can't protect you."
There was a brief silence.
Then, someone answered, “This time, it is our turn to protect Goddess Janna.”
"You're going to die!" Sarah responded.
"I know."
"It doesn't matter."
"I understand..." Countless radio waves came.
They all expressed one thing firmly: "Even if we die, we don't want Planck to come back!"
