Chapter 78: Everything Was Just Bridal Finery for Me

I’ve Met Many Geniuses, But They All Call Me a Genius

"Ugh!!!!!"

When Deswen was beaten unconscious and dragged away, it genuinely terrified Evelos who stood nearby. As Jonas looked over, Evelos frantically waved both hands.

"No no no, I'll tell you any intelligence you want, I've already surrendered. You can't do this to me." He had absolutely no doubt about this man's ruthlessness - Jonas was practically a demon.

Jonas patted his cheek. "Don't worry, I won't..."

Jonas had Deswen hung on the city walls, with the newly surrendered troops gathered below. Seeing the mutilated body missing more than half its mass, everyone could feel Deswen's despair in that moment.

Jonas walked before the assembled soldiers. "You will be incorporated into Thunderkeep Legion's Third Force. I trust you've all witnessed last night's events and the scene here today. I guarantee everything I've promised will come to pass. Will you pledge your loyalty?"

Perhaps it was the immense pressure from Deswen's fate, or perhaps the impact of last night's events - someone responded immediately. It was the same man who had spoken with the soldiers the previous night. He struck his chest with a clenched fist.

"I pledge my loyalty!"

Following his lead, the remaining soldiers immediately shouted: "I pledge my loyalty!" "I pledge my loyalty!"...

After scanning the crowd and confirming there were no traitors with negative loyalty values, Jonas declared: "Thunderkeep shall be your second home! Tomorrow, Thunderkeep marches to attack Destiny's stronghold - Qinghe Capital. There await your wives, children and families... as well as Destiny's garrison forces. You witnessed my capabilities yesterday. I'd prefer not to demonstrate that magic again. I'll lead you to attack Destiny's base. Persuade your comrades there to join Thunderkeep - we offer a brighter future, better living conditions... Otherwise, their fate will mirror his."

He pointed at Deswen's body hanging on the wall. "I show no mercy to enemies."

After a moment of silence, voices erupted from the ranks: "Yes sir!" "Yes sir!"...

Jonas smiled faintly. Controlling Destiny's stronghold would allow him to harvest tremendous resources while seizing control of Destiny Army's lifeline. When Deslar saw Deswen's arm, combined with the pincer attacks from Atticus and Retifus, he'd have no choice but to assault Thunderkeep. That would be Jonas' opportunity to decapitate Destiny Army's leadership and take full control.

It was about time Giant Spirit City changed ownership too. Everything Destiny Army had fought for would simply become bridal finery for his own ascension.

Meanwhile...

At Giant Spirit City, the battle raged fiercely. Though Destiny Army repelled wave after wave of attacks, Deslar found no joy in it. Without supply lines from their rear bases, their defeat was only a matter of time.

"Still no word from Deswen?" he asked his subordinate.

"None, my lord."

Though battle reports took time, Deslar felt the same ominous premonition as last time. Despite never meeting Jonas, this man kept shattering his expectations at every turn.

"Report!"

"Speak!"

"A delivery from the direction of Tars City!"

"What's inside?"

"We've inspected it - just an arm and a bloodstained letter. No other threats."

"What did you say? Bring it here."

Deslar's unease intensified. When he opened the delivered chest, his face turned ashen and he staggered back two steps. He recognized that arm better than anyone - it belonged to his younger brother Deswen. As commander of the Second Army, if even Deswen's arm had been severed, the fate of his forces was unimaginable.

"This... this... ARGH—!"

After a guttural roar, Deslar forced himself to calm down. "When was this delivered?" he asked the soldier.

"One hour ago."

"What?!"

Accounting for delivery time, this meant the Second Army had already fallen to Jonas yesterday. Impossible! A force of over 60,000 couldn't possibly be defeated so quickly!

Deslar swallowed hard, hands trembling as he lifted the arm for closer inspection. This was no trick - it was undoubtedly his brother's limb.

"How could this be?! Damn damn DAMN! Jonas again?! That worthless noble trash, how dare he?! ARGH—!"

Seeing their normally composed leader suddenly erupt in madness, the surrounding soldiers instinctively stepped back.

After a prolonged bout of cursing and venting, Deslar wiped tears from his eyes and smashed his fist on the war table. It took considerable time before he regained composure.

He glared at the map. Jonas sent this arm precisely to provoke irrational decisions. He couldn't take the bait, he couldn't!

ARGH—!

He dumped a bucket of water over his head to force calm. Studying the map: if the Second Army had fallen, Thunderkeep would have cut off Destiny's supply lines from their stronghold. Now Giant Spirit City faced encirclement from three fronts - Atticus, Retifus, and Tars City. To them, Destiny Army and Giant Spirit City represented prime spoils.

Though Giant Spirit City had formidable walls, attrition without supplies meant certain doom. But why send the arm now? Not just to taunt - more likely to lure them out, letting Atticus take the city uncontested. Without Giant Spirit City, how could they face Bostaya's main forces?

With both options unacceptable, what path remained? Deslar felt utterly paralyzed. How could everything he'd built be dismantled by some backwater lord's son? How could a minor noble defeat two of his armies?!

"JONAS!!!!"

"Summon the legion commanders! Emergency meeting! Destiny Army's survival is at stake!"