Volume 3: Artifacts Chapter 79: The Elves in Chaos
Emerald Forest.
The fire burned around the Emerald Court, and the fire belt cut off the huge elven city from the forest. The smoke and dust produced by the burning blew into the city, and the residents who went out after dawn found themselves completely surrounded by acrid smog.
The royal court patrolmen read out the royal decree on each street with loudspeakers.
Wang Ling publicly acknowledged the existence of the headhunters and stated that they had appeared near the royal court. The forest elves had reached a critical moment of life and death.
King Sanye and the elders are commanding the Royal Court Patrol to build city defenses to resist the attack of the Headhunters, but the troops are seriously insufficient. Emerald Lake issued a wartime mobilization, requiring all adult elves to immediately go to the nearby Royal Court Patrol Recruitment Office to register, and then go home and wait for the conscription order.
…
The forest elves could never have imagined that there were only some rumors about the headhunters yesterday, but they would be close to the royal court this morning. Looking at the thick smoke covering the sky above the city and the royal court patrols blocking the streets and entering a wartime state, the transition from peace to doomsday made it difficult for many residents to adapt.
The riot broke out in the port area. Non-elven residents and merchants rushed to the docks, wanting to board ships and leave the city that might be captured by the headhunters. However, the royal patrols requisitioned all ships according to the law of Emerald Lake, and more and more people who wanted to leave gathered at the docks. Those who wanted to escape but couldn't began to vent their emotions, and the royal patrols immediately carried out suppression, but the pressure from the headhunters made most of the patrols concentrated on the outskirts of the city. The shortage of law enforcement forces did not curb the riots, but instead spread rapidly.
On the other hand, the burning of the forest stimulated the forest protection organization that had been suppressed. They gathered and ran to Emerald Lake to protest. The feelings for the forest made more elves stand on the side of the forest protection organization. Some elders also put pressure on the Three-Leaf King, demanding that the fire be extinguished immediately.
Otherwise we will be truly abandoned by the Elf God!
Dean Vidal has not left since he came to Emerald Lake from Emerald Magic Academy. In the tree palace by the lake, he accompanied his nephew King Sanye to withstand pressure from all sides.
Faced with the elders who rushed into the palace and asked King Sanye to order the forest fire to be extinguished.
Dean Vidal said: "It was me who asked King Sanye to burn the forest around the royal court. I will bear all the consequences and responsibilities!"
Dean Bidar has a unique status. The elders and King Sanye are all students of Emerald Magic Academy, so they all respect the old dean very much. The leading elder saluted Dean Bidar: "Dear Dean. We all know that burning the forest is helpful to stop the headhunters, but we are forest elves, and the forest is the home given to us by the Elf Lord. Destroying the forest to build a city has caused dissatisfaction among some forest elves, and this burning of the forest will arouse the emotions of more forest elves.
Forest elves are not afraid of death, and we are all willing to fight in the forest to prove who is the master of the forest."
Dean Bidar looked at the Three-Leaf King on the throne, and then said to the elders: "The forest will not disappear because of a fire. As long as there is time, the burned trees will grow back again. But if the Emerald King's Court is captured, the forest elves may become extinct.
Elders, there are still many compatriots in the forest waiting for us to rescue. The remaining royal patrols simply do not have the ability to fight the headhunters in the forest. It takes time for us to recruit troops and formulate countermeasures. Even if we migrate the whole tribe, it will take time to find a place willing to accept so many forest elves, and it will take time to transport them in batches.
The headhunters have already appeared near the royal court. They may have discovered this place and are gathering troops to attack the royal court. The royal court has no defense system facing the forest. If the headhunters rush into the city, you know what the consequences will be! "
Elders: "We all understand these principles. But... those ignorant people outside don't understand. They afraid..."
"Do you think we are playing a game now?" King Sanye, who had been silent, could not help but scold loudly: "Do you think we have the capital to try and make mistakes? I have said long ago that the emergence of the headhunters is a scientific issue. They were once wiped out by our ancestors, which has proved that their emergence is not to replace the forest elves.
Since you know that the people are ignorant, you should not follow their ignorance. What you should do is to persuade them not to affect the normal operation of Emerald Lake."
The anger of the Three-Leaf King made the elders retreat, but they did not give in.
Dean Vidal immediately mediated: "There is one thing. The Emerald Magic Academy is still investigating. King Sanye and I didn't want to tell the public too early to prevent panic. Now we can only tell you so that you can understand the danger the forest elves are facing."
The elders asked, “What’s going on?”
Dean Vidal looked at King Sanye, and after getting his tacit approval, he said, "Just yesterday, a wounded angel landed at the Emerald Magic Academy. He told me... his companions were hunted by the headhunters..."
Aren’t angels’ companions just angels?
The elders all opened their mouths wide, and their faces became very ugly.
Angels are being hunted, the strength of the headhunters has made a qualitative leap, and the forest elves are about to face... a murderous race whose strength may be equal to or slightly inferior to the five ancient civilizations.
What a disaster!
"How could an angel appear in the Emerald Forest? And how could he be hunted by the headhunters?"
Dean Vidal said: "The academy is still investigating the specific situation. Maybe the situation is not as bad as we think. In short, as His Majesty just said, we have no capital to make mistakes. Only internal unity can survive this disaster.
I'll leave the outside affairs to you elders, His Majesty and I have more important matters to discuss."
The sudden increase in the strength of the headhunters made the elders dare not mention the issue of extinguishing the forest fire. If the forest elves were really going to be exterminated, what did it matter what the fire looked like?
The elders leave the palace.
King Sanye let out a long breath and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "I'm really scared now. We collapsed ."
Dean Vidal also sighed: "The development of the times and the collision of civilizations have caused many forest elves to fall into confusion. On one side is our own tradition, and on the other side is the colorful human civilization, which will definitely cause a lot of discomfort. These contradictions are usually hidden under prosperity, and they will all be exposed when disaster strikes.
At this time, Your Majesty, you must make a decisive decision and execute it firmly. Even if the path you choose is full of twists and turns and hardships, it is more likely to lead the forest elves out of despair than hesitating and wavering. "
King Sanye said: "Uncle Bidar, your wisdom has always been a beacon to guide me. I will also do my best to fulfill my responsibilities with my life.
Regarding Miss Starry Sky, the grassland elf who suddenly came to the Emerald Royal Court and suddenly visited the Emerald Magic Academy, are you sure she is the Moonlight Queen Clear Sky? "
"I'm sure!" Dean Vidal said confidently, "Although I have never seen the Queen of Clear Sky, I knew she was the first time I saw her. She did not deliberately hide her identity. With her kingly aura and terrifying strength, I can't think of another grassland elf like her.
When I came here, Professor Makatina revealed to me that her student, Dale Molixiang, might be Princess Dale of the Golden Shield Empire. Now Princess Dale has been escorted out of the Emerald Forest, and she said she would persuade her sister, Princess Agatha, to provide us with assistance as soon as possible. "
How could the princess of the Golden Shield Empire study anonymously at the Emerald Magic Academy?
This Dai'er...seems like she was the first one to discover the existence of the headhunters.
Is there any connection between them?
King Sanye couldn't figure it out, but he was sure that the Emerald Forest was being targeted by the Golden Shield Empire this time.
I don’t know whether it is a good thing or a bad thing.
But no matter what the purpose of the Golden Shield Empire is, the Emerald Royal Court does not have much bargaining power when facing the oppressive Headhunters.
"Queen Clear Sky is willing to help us eliminate the headhunters?"
"Yes!" Dean Vidal replied, "Her subordinates are now interrogating the captured angels. If the angels are willing to reveal information about the headhunters, it should help us win this war. In addition, facing the strengthened headhunters, the military force of Queen Clear Sky will also help us break into the lair of the Hunting Queen.
She also brought a black dragon and two shadow clan members with her."
First came the Headhunters, then the Angels, then the Princess of the Golden Shield Empire, the Queen of the Moonlight Court, the Dragons, and the Shadows.
King Sanye realized that he was not only facing pressure from the headhunters, but was also caught in the vortex of world conflict.
The air was filled with the pungent smell of the burning fire, making it difficult for him to breathe normally.
The danger facing the forest elves does not only exist in the forest, but also in the form of vicious beasts waiting to feast on them overseas.
The Three-Leaf King looked at Dean Bidar. The mental and physical exhaustion was a great burden for the old elf. He did not express his concerns, but comforted him: "Uncle Bidar, you have been busy all day, you should go back to the academy and rest.
I have issued a mobilization order, and a new patrol army will be formed soon. We will take advantage of the fire to build a city defense on the edge of the city, which will be enough to resist the headhunters and wait for help to arrive.
Whether the headhunters can be eliminated in the end requires the efforts of the academy and your wisdom. You must take good care of yourself."
Dean Vidal was almost exhausted from being busy with the affairs of the headhunters for days. He knew that it would not be of much use for him to stay in Emerald Lake, and the most important thing was to find a way to eliminate the headhunters.
So Dean Vidal returned to the Emerald Magic Academy.
During the day, the Emerald Magic Academy was also shrouded in a layer of gray smoke. The continuous forest fires could be clearly seen from high above. Such a scene was a huge psychological shock to all the forest elves.
Especially when you see various birds flying in panic and helplessness, and then being plunged into the sea of fire by the smoke, you can imagine how many animals died in the fire.
The young elf couldn't help crying secretly.
Qingkong stood on the terrace of the room and looked at the castle that had been armed into a military fortress. The Emerald King's Court attached great importance to this academy and sent several patrols and several batches of supplies at night. More than ten airships of various types surrounded the academy to form an air support platform.
"Miss Xingkong, the dean is back."
Hearing the sound, Qingkong turned around and saw Professor Makatina standing at the door. Her eyes were red, probably because she hadn't slept all night, which might also be related to the smoke and dust.
Qingkong asked: "Where is the dean?"
Makatina replied: "In Library No. 1."
Library No. 1 is the place to cast spells in search of the Magic Spring.
Qingkong was about to follow Professor Makatina to Library No. 1 when an elf on the academy wall shouted, "Headhunters! It's the Headhunters! They're flying over here!"
The alarm bell rang in the clock tower, and the academy prepared for the battle in a panic.
Qingkong reached out and took out a monocular telescope, pointing it in the direction of the patrol's warning.
The smoke and dust raised by the fire made the vision very blurry, but Qingkong still saw a group of black spots approaching the college quickly from a distance.
The flying ones are giant mantises whose bodies are made up of leaves. They have well-developed compound eyes, exaggeratedly strong mandibles, and a pair of very lethal sickle feet.
On the back of the giant mantis ride the little men, who are different kinds of hunters, including melee and spellcasting units.
Facing the approach of the headhunters, the academy immediately sent two airships forward to form a blocking assault unit. The small number of Pegasus and Griffins could only be used for reconnaissance, so most of them were recalled to the academy's defense range, and a few were sent to perform aerial reconnaissance in other directions.
The magical power of the academy's protective shield is enhanced.
A signal arrow rose straight into the sky with a whistle, and exploded into a colorful firework when it reached a very high altitude.
On towers all over the castle, alchemically crafted black crows with sharp beaks were released, and soon formed a flowing dark cloud, waiting for the order to attack.
The atmosphere of war was instantly tense, and the patrolmen's hounds barked non-stop. The patrolmen calmed their hounds and released their owls. The visual connection allowed the patrolmen to see the flying hunters more clearly and in three dimensions. They either drew their bows and arrows or raised their muskets, waiting for the order to shoot.
The academy mages cast buff magic together to give the patrolmen different auras. The patrolmen's commanders at all levels used marking skills to guide the patrolmen to shoot at their targets.
The wind blew, lifting the elves' long hair.
Magic power gathers at the tip of the arrow and the muzzle of the gun, waiting for the moment of activation.
What he saw made Qingkong sigh at the strength of the individual soldiers of the forest elves. As elite patrol soldiers of the royal court, each elf soldier has a certain ability to cast spells and can use eagle eyes and spells to perform long-range precision sniping.
The strength of close combat is also good. The specially trained hounds have extremely high obedience and combat effectiveness. The elves and hounds can skillfully use a variety of tactics to kill the enemy.
Ranged, melee, and magic, the forest elves are all-round warriors, which is why they were active in every period of ancient wars.
It’s just that a long period of peace and comfort has buried the potential of the forest elves. If they can survive this disaster, they will surely be able to truly awaken the hidden part of them!
As gunshots rang out, the royal court patrolmen took the lead in shooting and shooting arrows at the hunters who came into range.
A small-scale offensive and defensive battle began.
Qingkong did not continue to watch the battle. She turned to Professor Makatina and said, "Take me to see Dean Vidal!"
