Chapter 1268: Total War!

But what is the price?

The price is… unpredictable risk.

Once they fail, there will be no turning back.

They might achieve a great victory, but they might also be utterly defeated.

This means that countless compatriots might be completely annihilated in this battle, and the centuries of perseverance might be destroyed in an instant.

The last spark of the Divine Kingdom might be extinguished.

The persistence of a millennium will turn to ashes under the flames, erasing all past efforts.

Everything they fought for, endured, and even distorted might lose its meaning.

Is it really worth it?

“Legion Commander, are you… serious?”

Julia spoke with difficulty, her voice carrying a tremor even she hadn’t noticed.

Are we really going to do this?

“…”

The Legion Commander finally turned around completely, his towering figure casting a massive shadow in the dim light, enveloping Julia entirely.

The gaze from beneath his helmet landed on her like a tangible weight, carrying a depth that seemed to perceive everything, and… a hint of indescribable exhaustion and determination.

The Legion Commander sighed softly, a sigh long and heavy, as if it bore the weight of a millennium.

He slowly closed his eyes, then nodded slowly and resolutely.

“The entire army, attack.”

He opened his eyes, his gaze calm and dignified, solemnly declaring, “Everyone in the legion will march with you.”

Then, the Legion Commander’s voice turned serious, asking, “Deputy Commander Julia, are all these questions because you’re afraid?”

“Are you afraid of death?”

“Worrying about failure even before the battle begins, are you… trying to retreat?”

!!!

The confusion and hesitation in Julia’s expression faded, replaced by an ignited, almost burning determination.

She widened her eyes, glaring at the Legion Commander.

“In this world, there is only one thing I will ever fear, and that is losing my master’s favor.”

Her voice suddenly rose, with a resolute firmness that echoed in the Divine Hall.

“Besides that, I have no fear.”

“Death has never been a punishment for us, but a necessary path to return to our master’s embrace!”

After declaring, she straightened her posture, tightened her expression, and bowed solemnly, stating in a deep voice, “…I will complete the mission!”

Julia abandoned all the anxiety and doubt in her heart, transforming into the Heroic Spirit Warrior who once executed orders without reservation.

All for my master.

And after receiving the order, she looked at the Legion Commander and asked, “What about you? Why am I the one leading the army? Why don’t you lead us personally?”

Although Julia was known as the vice Legion Commander famed for her wits, she wasn’t adept at timely control on the battlefield.

For such an important all-out war, with enemies recognized as so formidable, if you, as the Legion Commander, don’t oversee personally, where is the legion’s morale?

What are our chances of victory?

When we are ready to stake everything… what are you prepared to do?

Julia didn’t believe the Legion Commander would choose to retreat; there was certainly a reason unknown to her behind this.

“Me? I…”

The Legion Commander’s expression slightly shifted, his voice pausing ever so slightly.

Murmuring to himself as if this simple question touched some hidden corner deep within his heart.

He remained silent, slowly let out a sigh, turned around once more, and faced the damaged statue.

At that moment, his back appeared incomparably majestic, but also incomparably lonely, even somewhat desolate, somewhat pitiable.

The Legion Commander kneeled on one knee, lifted his scarred hand, and gently touched a profound crack at the statue’s base, his actions imbued with a near-reverent sorrow.

As if touching a wound that can never heal, a scar etched in the Divine Kingdom and on his heart.

“I will stay here.”

His voice sank but carried a steadfastness as immovable as a mountain, and… a faint trace of an expectation seemingly waited for centuries.

“I will not leave here.”

“Last time, I chose the wrong battlefield, missing the final opportunity.”

On the day when the Divine Kingdom perished, he made the wrong decision, charged out of the Divine Kingdom, and fought a desperate battle with the enemy.

He won the battle, but also missed the most crucial war.

That made him regret for a thousand years.

Every day and night, that regret burned his soul.

The Legion Commander wanted countless times to return to that moment to rewrite the wrong choice.

And now… the opportunity to choose was once again before him.

“This time, I won’t be wrong again.”

The Legion Commander’s eyes turned sharp, implicitly carrying a bit of madness and almost expectant anticipation.

“I will be here, waiting for him.”

His voice paused slightly, as if sensing something, and finally, he clearly uttered that name.

“Waiting for… Herbert’s arrival.”

!!?

Julia’s pupils contracted suddenly, feeling a wave of absurdity.

How could it be him?

Is it really that “Desecrator” Herbert?

She already knew from the informant’s intelligence that Herbert was the true lord of Elda, the actual ruler.

But Julia also knew that Herbert’s real rank was only Legendary, not advanced to Epic.

The strongest in the entire Elda Territory was that Crimson Giant Dragon with Epic strength, that was the real threat!

But why does the Legion Commander stay to wait for Herbert alone?

The Legion Commander believes that when the legion’s main force attacks Elda, Herbert will not hold fast to his territory, enjoying the dragon’s protection… but will instead venture alone into the mist, directly into the core heartland of the Heroic Spirit Legion?