Chapter 232: Chapter 187: Preparations Before the Expedition

The fused bodies of humans and insects twisted grotesquely, with bones exposed and empty eyes, yet their hands still gripped shattered Knight’s Swords and Shields.

“These are called corpse worms,” he said calmly, “They are formed from infected human cadavers, retaining the combat instincts they had in life and can even use weapons and defensive postures.

The parasite corpse worms inside them make them nearly impossible to kill completely. Even if cut in half, they will try to crawl towards you.

More importantly, they are contagious. If you are accidentally parasitized by these worms, you too will become a mindless walking dead. That’s why you must be fully armored.”

Whispers filled the room, even the battle-hardened knights couldn’t help but frown.

“I suspect that the unified command of the corpse worms comes from the mental link of the Nest, just like a queen bee controls the swarm. It is not a scattered enemy, but an entire army with tactics and coordination.”

“So, we only have one goal, and that is to destroy the heart of the Nest, which is the central system of everything.”

He scanned the room, his eyes sharp, his tone suddenly changing, “I won’t deceive you about how dangerous it is.

An entire squad, led by an Extraordinary Knight and twenty Elite Knights, was wiped out, only one returned.”

This statement poured like a cold wave into everyone’s hearts.

After a moment of silence, some young knights gulped and tightened their grip on their Longswords.

But more people straightened their spines in silence.

This was not their first time facing a terrifying enemy; they were no longer the abandoned knights of the fledgling Red Tide Territory.

They were the Red Tide Knights, following Louis through blood and corpses to victory at Qingyu Ridge.

Duke Edmund, standing not far away, watched quietly with a hint of surprise and admiration in his eyes.

He initially thought this young man was just bold and occasionally strategic, yet he had not expected him to piece together such a complete and reasonable enemy profile from mere fragments of information.

The Duke’s lips curled almost imperceptibly, “Truly, a commander-in-chief’s talent.”

Near him, Eduardo, who had come to watch the commotion, listened to his brother vividly describing the structure of the ’Nest’ and the ’Core’. He frowned slightly.

“Like a beehive, with collective thinking, creating soldiers by converting bodies…” It seemed to trigger a familiar memory, “I think I’ve seen this design somewhere.”

Eduardo lowered his eyelids, took a gentle breath, and murmured softly, “That missing Grand Mage… could he also be involved?”

He suddenly looked up and approached the high platform, “When do you plan to set out?”

“At noon,” replied Louis.

Eduardo nodded slightly, a faint smile curling his lips, “Then I’ll join too, since I have nothing better to do recently.”

“You?” Louis hesitated slightly.

“Don’t forget, I’m also an Extraordinary Knight,” Eduardo shrugged.

“Alright,” Louis thought for half a second, nodding, “Then you stay, and we will set out together.”

Louis then unfurled the map again on the high platform, beginning to lay out the tactical plans.

“Concerning the weaknesses of the Nest, here are my speculations.” His gaze swept the crowd below, but his tone was unwavering:

“First, the Nest has no long-range attack capability. It is too large, too slow, and structured not to support remote strikes outside the corpse worms.

As long as we maintain mobility, it can only stare helplessly.

Second, the central Core of the Nest is exceptionally fragile. It is encased in the deepest flesh sac, the core of the entire insect swarm’s mental link.

Once destroyed, it might cause the entire corpse worm system to collapse, become chaotic, or even bite each other.

Third, it cannot move. The Nest is a sedentary parasite, deeply relying on the current terrain to maintain its structure.

Once we confirm the coordinates, we can surround and advance, gradually compressing its combat radius.”

He paused here, fingers tapping the central area of the map outlined with ink lines.

“Thus, our action plan is ’lure, divide, penetrate, and destroy’.” He flipped the map to reveal a detailed tactical diagram.

“Official Knights, in groups of five. Your mission is not a decisive battle but to create chaos.

Continuously draw the attention of corpse worms on the periphery, lead them to diverge, avoid hard combat; no matter how fast the corpse worms, they cannot catch up to your warhorses. Do not get embroiled in battles; preserving yourselves is the priority.”

The knights nodded below the stage; this was the tactic they regularly trained in, more than familiar.

“Next, Elite Knights will be divided into two groups.”

Louis turned to point at the arrows surrounded by two red lines: “The first group, the squad from Frost Halberd City, is responsible for the flame blockade.

Each of you is equipped with three jars of flame petroleum, a new high-temperature distilled oil, which, once ignited, can burn through corpse worms.

Your goal is to lay a line of fire around the Nest to block the large-scale return of the corpse worms, creating the ’illusion of encirclement,’ forcing them to move their elite to the outskirts, thus opening the central gap.”

“The second group, the squad from Red Tide Territory, will raid the core.” His finger heavily pointed to the deepest part of the map.

Louis retrieved a wooden box wrapped in black cloth from under the table and popped it open.

The bright red explosive stirred a cold light under the sun, like a heart full of deadly energy.

“This is a Red Platinum Magic Explosion Bullet, an alchemical achievement of Red Tide Territory.

Containing compressed high-temperature Magic Essence, once exploded, it creates a superheated blast and shockwave within a three-meter radius. Even steel would melt, let alone the flesh-construction of core sacs.

Each assault knight will carry two and be equipped with short-barrel Power Cannon Tubes for launching.

You will infiltrate through the gaps in the corpse worms, striking the core as quickly as possible, then immediately retreat upon completing the task.”

He closed up the map, his gaze swept across the room, his voice firm:

“This isn’t a reckless gamble but a paced, coordinated, and hopeful hunting operation; of course, the most important thing is to complete the task while securing yourselves.”

Concluding the last tactical map, Louis put down his pen, his gaze sweeping over each knight present.

They said nothing, yet all looked up at him, their expressions solemn and focused.

The air was filled with solemnity.

Duke Edmund, seated nearby, had been quietly observing.

However, now his fingers couldn’t help but tap the armrest of his chair.

The emotions in his heart were hard to calm.

“Such a complete tactical system, from battlefield structure, enemy analysis to division and cooperation… even I couldn’t think of a better response plan.

Originally thought he was still a young newcomer, if just rashly charging, I would wrest back military power when necessary… but now it seems…”

He smiled slightly, his eyes filled with appreciation and relief.

This son-in-law could already stand on his own.

Thus, the Duke clapped first without hesitation.

The applause wasn’t loud, yet it sounded like a trumpet being blown.

The knights were stunned for a moment, then joined in clapping.

The applause, initially sporadic, turned into a uniform sound; the clang of armor echoed like mountain winds sweeping snow through the training ground.

Some knights already had a light in their eyes, that long-lost willingness to die for a worthy lord.

Louis did not move, only raised a hand, palm down, slowly pressing downwards.

The applause stopped, as if the entire air had also gathered its edge, forming a force about to Burst.

He gazed at the audience, his voice not loud, yet carrying steady sharpness:

“I know, you all are battle-hardened knights, have killed real enemies, and have seen comrades bleed dry.

But this enemy is different. They feel no fear, no anger, no pain, and will not surrender.

Whereas we have will, honor, a need to protect companions.”

He paused, eyes piercing: “So we are not going to our deaths; we are hunting a monster, severing its lifeline, protecting all lives in the Northern Territory.

But do not underestimate them, nor retreat. Among us, some may be injured, some… may fall in darkness.

But remember, we are the Northern Knights, the Shield standing between this land and the Abyss.

We do not fight for death; we fight for the living.”

Louis paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across the ranks, “Now return to camp and prepare.”

Then, in unison, they nodded and clapped, their applause growing from scattered to synchronized.

Within the applause, some knights had an expression filled with the light of willingness, the willingness to die with honor for a cause they believed in.

Louis paused once more, his eyes scanning the entire unit: “Now return to camp and make preparations.” As agreement erupted from his knights, Duke Edmund, standing not far off, watched quietly, a hint of surprise yet also a measure of admiration in his eyes.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep