A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 2324 - 1563: Advance

Not long after, a piece of information quickly spread across the entire continent.

The Princess of the Magic Tool Country, "Magic Brave Hero" Princess Fureya, responded to the summons of the Hero from the Summoning Country, following the call of Judge Duanmu Huai, forming a united force against the Demon King’s Army!

Their ultimate goal is to completely crush the Demon Clan!

Inevitably, this news shocked the entire continent.

Previously, the Demon King’s Army and humans had clashed many times, but usually, humans would assemble a large army to hold back the Demon King’s Army at the front lines, while the heroes formed small squads to sneak to the rear and battle the Demon King to the death. After the Demon King was defeated, his army would retreat.

For hundreds of years, this was basically the routine.

But now, they actually plan to invade the Demon Territory?

This news caused quite a stir, with some praising their courage and others considering it a foolish move. After all, history has clearly shown that heroes can defeat the Demon King, so why go to such lengths? It’s known that human soldiers don’t grow out of the ground; assembling a large army to attack the Demon Clan would mean weakening the forces defending the nation.

Is this really a good idea?

Of course, no matter what the world says, it doesn’t affect the preparations of both parties. The Summoning Country needs no further explanation; the King is just a shadow of Duanmu Huai, only needing to act according to his commands. Meanwhile, in the Magic Tool Country, under Princess Nolan’s coordination, they dispatched a military force as well.

Regarding troop allocation, Nolan agreed with Duanmu Huai’s idea that "quality is more important than quantity." Though having more soldiers increases the chances of victory, the logistical supply demands can be astronomical. Thus, both parties ultimately agreed to set the number at eight thousand. The remaining forces will stay behind, ready to advance and occupy cities after the vanguard capture targets.

As for how to achieve this... it’s not difficult for Duanmu Huai.

"Boom—Boom—!"

The gigantic Divine Machinery advanced on the ground, mercilessly flattening everything in its path as it moved forward.

"Wow..."

Standing on the balcony, looking at the scene before her, Princess Nolan widened her eyes in astonishment.

"Is this the weapon from an isekai world? I never expected it to be so powerful... With such a weapon, we indeed don’t need too many forces to defeat the enemy."

Speaking of which, Princess Nolan turned her head, looking at Duanmu Huai beside her.

"However, being too large and easily spotted is also a flaw." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"That’s not an issue."

Duanmu Huai shook his head.

"Even if they are prepared in advance, they cannot resist our offensive; I think you should be very clear on this point. And don’t forget..."

As Duanmu Huai spoke, he gazed at Princess Nolan.

"...what you should be doing."

"Of course, Great Judge."

Princess Nolan smiled softly. Although this Union Army was nominally organized by Duanmu Huai and Fureya, the true commander was Nolan. Duanmu Huai and Fureya, despite being heroes, served more as shock troops in Nolan’s strategic plan.

"However, Great Judge, recently these Subhuman races are fleeing at the sight of us; this is also a problem."

"I don’t consider this a major issue."

Duanmu Huai shook his head. Following Nolan’s plan, they advanced from the western frontline inward, featuring Duanmu Huai and Fureya as heroes, supplemented by the large-scale destructive weapons brought by Duanmu Huai, achieving victory after victory. Even the Demon King’s Army was scarcely seen, but this was also expected; two of the Four Heavenly Kings were dead, and the White Wings, serving as the Demon Clan’s ears and central hub for information transmission, were wiped out by Duanmu Huai.

As a result, the situation for the Demon King’s Army shifted from promising to precarious. Facing the aggressive United Army, the Demon Clan gathered their forces, abandoned their external territories, leaving the Subhuman races that were loyal to the Demon Clan to confront the Human Allied Forces’ iron hooves.

In handling these Subhumans, Duanmu Huai and Nolan had differing opinions. Nolan hoped to sweet-talk the opposition, then use tactics to subdue and capture them, thereby preserving the maximum viable strength of the Subhumans. As slaves and assets, Subhumans are very valuable and welcomed in the rear; whether it’s to smooth over relations or to sell them to raise military funds, they’re an excellent choice.

Thus, Nolan hoped to preserve as many Subhumans as possible.

But Duanmu Huai rejected Nolan’s suggestion, his stance more explicit: explaining to these Subhuman races that they must either surrender obediently or die. Even upon surrender, it wouldn’t be consequence-free; they must accept the slave imprint.

So, it’s either become slaves or die; these are the only options for the Subhuman race.

Initially, those Subhuman races naturally refused, even those who hadn’t aligned with the Demon Clan. Despite desperately explaining to Duanmu Huai that they didn’t wish to participate in the war between humans and demons, only hoping to find a place to live peacefully, Duanmu Huai remained unmoved.

"Slave, or enemy, choose."

When Duanmu Huai gave this choice, it was obvious there was no room for negotiation anymore.

"..........."

Recalling the previous battles, Nolan looked at Duanmu Huai with a somewhat complicated expression. She considered herself a cold-blooded pragmatist who didn’t mind employing any means to achieve her goals. However, Duanmu Huai had taught Nolan a lesson, that in the face of absolute strength, any cunning was meaningless.

What she could do was more like filling in the gaps, rather than presiding over the entire situation as before.

Take the approach to dealing with the Subhuman Race as an example. Initially, those Subhuman Race members were "not free, rather die," and they genuinely attacked with a suicidal mindset. Yet their attacks were futile, as the flames ejected from the sprayers of Divine Machinery could easily destroy their villages, dismantling their defenses. The raging thunderstorms could instantly turn those galloping on the ground into charcoal.

That scene was so cold that even Princess Nolan, who never cared about human lives, couldn’t help but feel shocked. The warfare she knew was brutal and merciless; a stage where people would follow emotions and turn into beasts, slaughtering each other. However, in front of Duanmu Huai, the battlefield seemed more like an emotionless processing platform, devoid of sentiment, utterly meaningless, filled only with death—destruction.

Merely recalling how trivial and insignificant life was in that moment, Princess Nolan felt a stirring flame of excitement and delight within her heart. For the first time, she realized life was so meaningless, so lowly, so fragile, so easily shattered... including her own existence.

After the initial Subhuman Race used their lives and blood to prove the terror and dread of the Tribunal, the subsequent Subhumans finally understood. Even if Princess Nolan didn’t deploy strategies, they began pondering whether to submit as slaves or resist directly and be slaughtered by the Tribunal.

Clearly, this decision was easy to make.

"Ah, the report from the front has come back."

At this moment, a carrier pigeon flew from the distance, landing on the balcony rail. Princess Nolan reached out to take the message from the pigeon and quickly read through it.

Then, her eyes sparkled.

"Great Judge, scouts have detected a tribe of Lizardmen up ahead. They seem unwilling to surrender and intend to fight us till the end."

"Lizardmen, ah, they don’t have a chance to surrender."

Duanmu Huai certainly knew what Lizardmen were. According to the Tribunal’s standards, these walking big lizards were pure aliens, the kind that must be eradicated. Even if they wanted to submit, Duanmu Huai would not give them the opportunity.

"So, it’s another battle then?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Nolan immediately grew excited, while Duanmu Huai glanced at the thrilled Princess Nolan.

"You seem very excited?"

"Of course, Great Judge. Watching so many lives perish meaninglessly excites me deeply, because it makes me feel as if I too am a part of it—fragile, insignificant, easily destroyed, subject to annihilation at any moment......"

As she spoke, Princess Nolan gazed at Duanmu Huai. Her cheeks flushed, like a girl confessing to her beloved.

"Can you understand that feeling? That powerless desperation, being casually manipulated without the ability to resist... just like how you treat me......"

"I just think both you and your sister might have some serious issues."

Looking at the excited, flushed Princess Nolan before him, Duanmu Huai rolled his eyes helplessly. Though Fureya disguised herself well externally, Duanmu Huai had long seen through her, knowing her personality was quite twisted. As her sister, Nolan wasn’t much different.

On the surface, she appeared as a clever and wise princess, but in reality... simply listening to her words revealed there was something ’off’ about her.

Hmm, these tendencies shouldn’t have been activated by me.

However, watching the expectant gaze of Princess Nolan fixed on him, Duanmu Huai understood what she wanted.

So, Duanmu Huai reached out and grabbed her.

"————!"

Nolan let out a gasp, but it sounded more like anticipation. She stared into the forest below, fantasizing about the battlefield ahead, as if it embodied herself, being mercilessly... completely conquered, ruled, trampled, and subdued.

The slender legs dangled off the ground, swaying abruptly, and the black leather shoes fell to the floor due to the intense motion. Revealing what was inside, wrapped in elegant white silk, a piece as delicate and artful as a masterpiece.

It fiercely arched, then stretched out, instinctively swaying, resisting, struggling......

Then suddenly, it straightened sharply, as if reaching its limit.

The high-pitched sound it emitted was drowned out, completely disappearing into the high sky amidst the rumbling of turning gears.