Southern Frontier of the Royal Capital, Grayrock Fortress.
This fortress was situated on a pass south of the capital, built from massive blocks of gray granite, with walls so thick that three carriages could run side by side atop them.
Two hundred years ago, the White Horse Kingdom erected this fortress to secure the southern passage to the capital. Over those two centuries, it had blocked southern invasions by Magical Creatures, halted rebel advances from the north, and even repelled a small-scale Orc raid.
Now it was in the hands of Demons.
Several Demon guards stood on the city wall, led by a horned demon with dark red skin and two curved ram horns spiraling upward from his forehead.
His name was Bargol, the garrison commander of Grayrock Fortress, a veteran who had clawed his way through the Abyss for two hundred years.
Bargol rested his hands on the parapet, gazing down at the wilderness before the fortress.
The wilderness was empty, only wind rolling withered grass across it, with occasional crows landing in abandoned farmlands to peck for food.
A succubus beside him leaned against the parapet, her tail swishing idly. "So boring."
"You want to go north?" Bargol asked in a low voice.
The succubus pouted. "I didn't say that."
"Then shut up."
Bargol's gaze returned to the wilderness.
The southern frontier was too quiet, unnervingly so.
According to intelligence, there should be an army from the Slime Kingdom to the south, a sizable one at that. But two days had passed without a single scout sighting.
Either the intelligence was wrong, or that army simply didn't dare to come.
Bargol leaned towards the latter.
He had seen Slimes.
There were similar oozes in the Abyss, the lowest of Magical Creatures, so weak even a minor demon could crush them underfoot. Even if the Slimes of this plane were special, he didn't think they could be that much stronger.
Bargol turned around, leaning his back against the parapet, looking at the other Demons on the wall.
Grayrock Fortress housed two thousand Demons, mostly imps and horned demons, mixed with a small number of succubi and hellhounds.
The fortress originally had barracks, an armory, and stables, but Demons never lived in buildings. They tore off the barracks roofs, pushed down the walls, then erected crude tents on the ruins, or simply lay on the ground.
Several imps were fighting over a piece of dried meat they'd dug up from somewhere.
Finally, a slightly larger imp snatched the meat, swallowed it whole, only to be pounced on by the others, his belly ripped open with claws, and the meat dug back out.
Bargol watched this scene without any reaction.
In the Abyss, weak demons deserved to be culled; it was the most natural thing.
Bargol said nothing.
He walked back to the wall, continuing to stare at the wilderness.
The sky gradually darkened, wind picked up over the wilderness, rustling the dry grass.
Bargol's eyes glowed with a dark red light in the twilight. He stood in the darkness, motionless, like a stone statue.
Then, he heard a sound.
Like countless footsteps treading on soil.
*Rustle.*
*Rustle, rustle.*
"They're coming."
But something felt off. The commotion seemed far too large.
......
Two miles south of Grayrock Fortress.
The three great legions of the Slime Kingdom were assembling under the cover of night.
Dense formations spread across the wilderness, stretching from the foothills in the east to the riverbank in the west.
Torches were strictly controlled, only one for every ten soldiers. Orange-yellow lights flickered like fireflies in the night, barely illuminating the legions' outlines.
The Magical Creature Legion occupied the center, holding the broadest front. The Restoration Army was on the left, the Merchant Alliance army on the right. The three legions formed a triangular formation, like a trident, its tip pointed directly at Grayrock Fortress.
Nolan stood on a gentle slope, from where he could overlook the entire army.
He had seen many armies, especially the regular forces of the White Horse Kingdom.
Those armies, in his view, were already impressive—neat ranks, uniform armor, spear tips gleaming in the sunlight.
But compared to the sight before him, those were nothing.
The Magical Creature Legion.
Elemental Giants carrying stone hammers and cannons taller than a man, giant boars clad in thick ice armor, dragon beasts circling in the air, their wingbeats creating a buzzing hum.
Dwarves pushed heavy ballista carts, Slimes crouched on them, adjusting the bowstrings.
Swamp lizards lay on the ground, several Slimes smearing enchanted ointment onto their scales, polishing each scale until it shone.
Nolan's gaze swept over these Magical Creatures, then settled further away.
Slimes.
Slimes everywhere.
Pink, blue, green, yellow, orange.
Large ones as big as carriages, small ones only fist-sized, some floating like balloons.
They bounced, rolled, piled on top of each other, like clusters of colorful jelly moving through the night.
"Stunned?"
A voice sounded behind him.
Nolan turned to see Samuel walking up.
Nolan nodded. "More terrifying than I imagined."
He suddenly felt grateful he hadn't chosen to oppose the Slime Kingdom; otherwise, the Merchant Alliance's fate would have been far worse.
If those still-whining opposition members could see this scene, it would surely shut them all up.
But that wasn't what Nolan was focused on.
He was focused on how these soldiers stood together.
Magical Creatures and humans standing in the same formation.
He grew up in the Merchant Alliance, traveled to many places, seen many races. Humans trading with dwarves, elves dealing with humans—these weren't strange.
But in those interactions, there was always a layer between them, an invisible membrane that kept them from getting too close.
Here, that membrane was gone.
Magical Creatures, Slimes, humans, dwarves, Lizardfolk. They wore different armor, wielded different weapons, spoke different languages, even their breathing rhythms were different.
But now they stood together, shoulder to shoulder, shield against shield, like water in a river. No matter which tributary they came from, they ultimately mixed together, indistinguishable.
"Incredible."
That was Samuel's assessment of this legion.
This archmage had lived for decades, seen the Dwarf Warbands of the Forge Mountain Kingdom, seen the Gryphon Knights of human kingdoms. Those armies were more orderly, more dazzling than the current Slime Legion.
But no army had ever made Magical Creatures and humans stand in the same formation, made Slimes and dwarves share the same shield.
This wasn't an army.
This was a kingdom.
A kingdom composed of different races.
Nolan was about to say something when he felt the shadow at his feet twitch.
"Making a fuss over nothing."
Nilly leisurely emerged from the shadows, hands behind her back, almost saying "country bumpkin."
"Coming down, make way."
Nolan and Samuel stepped aside, turning to look back.
Chen Yu's main body had arrived.
He wore his small crown, his round gel body draped with a red cloak that fluttered with each of his bounces.
When everyone in the legion saw him, their eyes lit up.
The Magical Creatures lowered their heads, human soldiers straightened up, Slimes made gurgling cheers, *splat-splatting* into each other.
"The King is here! The King is here!"
Behind Chen Yu were Princess Louisa and Galvin.
Louisa wore light chest armor today, a dark blue surcoat over chainmail, her staff hanging at her horse's side.
Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail, revealing her slender neck.
"This day has finally come," she said softly, gazing at the familiar yet distant Grayrock Fortress.
Beside her, Galvin didn't respond to Louisa's words. He simply faced Chen Yu, right fist pressed against his breastplate, kneeling on one knee.
"Your Majesty, the Magical Creature Legion is ready. Siege engines in position, vanguard in position, flanking forces in position, awaiting only your command."
Chen Yu wiggled his gel happily.
As expected of Galvin, still so reliable.
Of course, he meant in Arthur's absence.
Another noteworthy point: Galvin was currently the Army Commander of the Magical Creature Legion, sharing the rank with Yano.
Chen Yu turned to face the legion below the slope.
Everyone's gaze focused on his pale green gel. He stood at the highest point of the gentle slope, red cloak hanging behind him, the crown glowing with a warm gold in the firelight.
Chen Yu took a deep breath, gurgling and bubbling. This action made his gel body swell up, appearing larger.
"Everyone's here," he said.
His voice wasn't loud, but through the resonance of the Gel Network, it spread throughout the entire legion, reaching every soldier's ears as if whispered right beside them.
"We've waited too long for this day."
"The Demons have occupied our land, killed our people, and now want to turn the entire north into the Abyss."
"I don't accept that."
"Do you accept it?"
"No!"
A deafening roar erupted from the military formation.
Peachy responded with a hungry roar, Slime Knights beat their weapons against shields, Poison-stinger Wasps collectively buzzed.
Human soldiers raised their spears high, spear tips forming a forest of steel in the firelight.
Chen Yu waited for the roars to subside slightly, then raised a gel hand.
"Slime Corps."
Golden light shone before the Slime Knight Regiment.
Big Brother Slime stood at the very front of the Slime Corps, Slime Knight Regiment, and Slime Artillery Regiment, his little face serious and earnest, chest puffed out, his golden body radiating dazzling light under the firelight.
"King!" he shouted, raising his small short sword.
Behind him, thousands of Slimes shouted in unison.
"King! King! King!"
The voices rose and fell, some high-pitched, some soft and sticky, some carrying gurgling watery sounds.
"Poison-stinger Wasp Legion."
A louder buzzing came from the air.
Beet flew at the forefront of the Poison-stinger Wasp legion, emitting a sharp buzz.
The wasp swarm behind him responded simultaneously, their buzzing merging into one, like a giant gong being struck.
"Dragon Cavalry Regiment."
Sekashi stood beside his snow eagle companion. The snow eagle had its wings folded, white feathers glowing with a warm yellow in the firelight.
Sekashi tried hard to imitate others, tightening his face, trying to look serious.
Semiaya stood beside him, raising her long spear.
"Holy War Crusade."
Casimir stepped out from the ranks.
The vampire bishop wore white robes today. He pressed his right hand to his chest, bowing deeply to Chen Yu.
"Xirik is undying, the Holy War unceasing. Hail to the great Majesty, hail to the Slime God."
Lya stood behind him, mimicking Casimir by pressing a hand to her chest, bowing her head slightly.
Rem perched on her shoulder. Though this Holy Light Slime was a bit worried about going to the battlefield, she tried hard to make her body shine brighter.
"Ancient Tree Warband."
The earth trembled slightly.
The silver oak, Fardoern, stood at the rear of the legion, its crown towering into the darkness of the night sky, silver leaves shimmering like countless pieces of foil in the firelight.
It emitted a respectful hum.
The Treant Warband behind it responded simultaneously, their hums like distant thunder.
"Restoration Army."
Louisa mounted her horse.
Knight Raven and Knight Alice stood side by side behind her. Raven held the legion banner high, the blue-background flag unfurling in the wind, the Restoration emblem fluttering loudly.
The knights of the Restoration Army simultaneously drew their swords, offering their King the most silent salute.
"Merchant Alliance Army."
Nolan stepped forward. His gaze swept over every soldier of the Merchant Alliance Army, over those wearing different armor, wielding different weapons, hailing from different city-states, and over those Demons.
Then he raised his right hand, clenched into a fist.
"For the Kingdom!" All soldiers and mages shouted in unison.
Chen Yu looked upon all this with satisfaction.
Unknowingly, the Slime Kingdom had come so far.
He recalled the battle at Storm Fortress.
If he had possessed such a legion back then, he could have probably just steamrolled through.
The Border Corps had completely become a thing of the past. They had marched towards the future and were now facing a new enemy.
"Hey, hey, Your Majesty, what about us?"
Nilly's voice interrupted his thoughts.
She stood with hands on her hips, her face full of displeasure.
"Your Majesty, how could you forget us?"
Behind her, more assassins emerged from the shadows. Stone Descendants walked out from the darkness.
Gargoyles crouched on both sides of the gentle slope, wings folded, their eyes glowing with an eerie green light in the dark, also staring at him.
Chen Yu looked at Nilly, then at the assassins and Gargoyles behind her.
"Alright, Stone Descendants."
Nilly immediately puffed out her chest.
"Present!"
The assassins behind her simultaneously stood at attention.
Chen Yu said no more, simply raising a gel hand, pointing in the direction of Grayrock Fortress.
"Attack."
"Got it."
Nilly grinned.
.......
Royal Capital, Bedchamber Palace.
Casaric stood before the altar, calmly watching as Demons endured the pain of being scorched by solar Holy Light, using their souls to nourish the golden fragments floating in mid-air.
Morrigan's shadow clung to the wall, swaying restlessly, bringing up matters from the front lines.
"Just now, the third defensive line in the east has been breached by the Orcs."
Casaric didn't respond, his gaze still fixed on the sun's remains.
"The west will fall soon too," Morrigan continued. "The Orc legion's numbers exceed our estimates. The north is slightly better, but not by much."
"As for the south..." Morrigan paused. "The Slime Legion has broken through Grayrock Fortress. Bargol is dead."
Only then did Casaric react.
"Bargol," he repeated the name, voice low. "That horned demon?"
"It was him."
"Useless," Casaric said flatly.
Morrigan chuckled dryly. "Those Slimes are not so simple. Perhaps in less than two or three days, they will be right at the capital's walls, faster than the Orc horde."
"Two days? Enough."
Casaric waved a hand. The twelve golden fragments began to rotate, pulling golden trails through the air. The trails intertwined, then ethereal souls forcibly pulled these fragments into a ring.
He focused on forging the crown, ignoring Morrigan.
Morrigan watched this, saying nothing.
Before extracting the sun's remains, Casaric had been somewhat polite to him, at least discussing matters.
But now, this Greater Demon looked at him more and more like a tool, not even deigning to look him in the eye.
A useful tool, but still a tool.
If not for the need for a religious sect in the Trial of Kingship, and if he still held the Xirik Church, perhaps this Greater Demon wouldn't even bother speaking to him.
Once the crown was forged and the Trial of Kingship passed, this need would disappear.
By then, would Casaric still keep him?
Morrigan's shadow rippled slightly. He still said nothing, quietly leaving.
....
Two days later.
The last fortress of the southern frontier lay thirty miles south of the capital, named Stonegate Fortress.
The entire fortress was built of white stone, its gate a single slab of marble carved with the emblem of the sun.
People of the White Horse Kingdom called this fortress "the Pearl of the Southern Frontier," for it was white, elegant, like a pearl set upon a crown.
Now the pearl was painted black.
Demons had smeared profane symbols on the white marble with blood and filth. The sun god emblem on the gate was chiseled away, replaced with a crude relief of a demon's head.
Then, it welcomed the Slime Legion.
The Poison-stinger Wasp Legion arrived first.
Beet led the swarm diving down from the clouds like a flying blade.
Demons looked up, not even seeing what was attacking before stingers pierced their eye sockets and throats, or they were corroded by vampire clan magic.
The Dragon Cavalry followed close behind the swarm.
Snow eagles skimmed low. Sekashi waved his staff, frost gushing from its tip, freezing Demons on the wall into ice statues.
Semiaya leapt from her snow eagle's back, her spear piercing a horned demon's chest. Using the momentum, she flipped, landing on the wall, then began sweeping through.
A large group of Dragon Cavalry followed closely behind.
Then came the Magical Creature Legion.
The Elemental Giants blasted open the gate with cannons. Peachy charged in first, smashing blocking Demons aside.
Dwarves pushed ballista carts forward. Slimes used ballista bolts to pin Demons to the walls.
This battle ended hastily, without even the Goblin Ripper firing. Slime Knights climbed the walls, stepping on Demon corpses, planting the flag of the Slime Kingdom.
The Slime Corps began cleaning the battlefield. Chen Yu bounced onto the wall, looking north.
From here, the capital's walls were clearly visible.
Torches on the walls formed a continuous line, like an orange-yellow snake lying atop the battlements. Further away, the palace dome was just a black silhouette in the night.
They had finally arrived.
The White Horse Royal Capital was right before their eyes.