Chapter 250: 250

The concept of this formation was for any army to become one—not to the extent of sharing thoughts but to the extent where the mana in everyone partaking runs in the same route. At the same time, the army would be able to use themselves as runes to achieve different effects.

For example, when the formation is deployed, and a rune for healing is drawn, for an extended period, you would have an undying army that can still fight as long as their head isn’t taken off. The mana energy everyone is sharing would push the healing effect of the rune to its highest, meaning a soldier who lost an arm could immediately get a new one by paying the price of lesser energy.

The most important requirement for this formation is the generals, who are the focal points of the energy build-up. While they are the focal points and most important, they are also the ones in the most danger.

Remembering a scene from the past, Erik frowned. Out of desperation, when the formation was conceived, there was no time to test its credibility. Everyone just wanted to see another sunrise, so they used the formation.

Erik was no stranger to gore, but the scene of another being’s blood and flesh being squeezed together with a sudden pop sound and shower of blood everywhere can be hard to take in.

The huge amount of energy built up had a huge requirement on the constitution of those at the focal point. If the general is unable to bear the strain from the energy, the pop will happen.

If the number of soldiers is limited to reduce the energy build-up, another problem arises: the mental burden on the general. If even a moment of weakness is shown, the energy will twist the bodies of everyone in the formation, like squeezing cloth to drain it of water.

At the time of life and death, all elves seemed to have become geniuses as ideas were being thrown out to solve the problem until one was decided upon.

This solution involved the general at the focal point bonding with an artifact. Artifacts are called what they are for a reason which is why it is required to share the energy with the general to reduce the strain. At the same time when the formation is applied, the artifact is placed at the center where every soldier will fight hard to ensure it remains untouched.

The Humanity Kingdom wasn’t lacking in artifacts, so all Erik had to do was assign a perfect one for the general to bond with and have them perform the ritual of bonding.

It was during the training for the formation that Erik found he had thought too easily of the formation. A new problem emerged when the training began: the strain of energy wasn’t the issue; rather, the formation couldn’t even start.

Erik was taken aback by this, as he had no idea what went wrong. He had double-checked that they had met every requirement and that the army was in sync, but the formation still wasn’t activating.

At the Humanity Kingdom barracks, shouts of soldiers training could be heard. Men half-naked and women in bras could be seen with serious expressions on their faces as they trained.

Erik sat in a tent with a huge block of ice hanging from the top, while a maid used a magical paper fan to blow gusts of wind across the ice. Erik himself was half-naked, sitting under the sun. Since he began the training of his men, Erik noticed an increase in temperature, which was unusual for this time of year.

It felt as if the sun itself had eyes and was casting its scorching gaze upon them. Erik thought of the sun god worshiped by the people of the Sun Kingdom. He had every reason to believe that the sun god was watching them. Initially, the heat was unbearable, and they could hardly get any training done. In desperation, Erik, who had never prayed to any god before, took a knee in his tent and prayed to the sun god for relief.

Surprisingly, it was effective as the heat lessened, but that was the extent of the improvement. Crepuscular, in his realm, watched Erik’s training with interest. He understood what they were trying to achieve but noticed something was stopping them. As for the heat, he had already suppressed it as much as he could.

A chuckle escaped Crepuscular’s mouth as he remembered Erik sweating and praying half-naked. “Hahaha, it seems the arrogant king has his limits,” Crepuscular said, laughing. Then, looking into the distance, he requested his brother, “Help them.”

Erik and his men noticed the sky darkening with heavy clouds gathering. One soldier immediately screamed in happiness, “Rain is coming!” A roar of cheers erupted as everyone saw the dark clouds, eagerly anticipating the cold drops of rain.

Soon, a heavy downpour followed, raining all over the western continent that had been heated up for a while. Erik, in his tent, heard the sound of rain. He stood up and walked out to see his generals and soldiers running around in the rain like children, laughing and smiling.

Erik looked up at the sky with a smile on his face and said aloud, hoping to be heard, “The gods of this world aren’t that bad after all.” Saying that, he looked back at his army, who were smiling and joyful. He felt an emotion rising within him that made him want to join them.

The emotion was so strong that he took a step before stopping, looking at the army with an unfocused gaze. He stood like that for a while before saying, “I see.”

Erik finally understood why the formation wasn’t working. It all came down to the emotions and will of the soldiers. When the formation was created, his world was in the midst of a world-ending war. Everyone had one thing in mind: survival. So when the formation appeared, it was quickly embraced by the elves, and no problems were faced.

The same couldn’t be said for now. The situation was different. His army wasn’t facing a world-ending attack, and monstrosities of different sizes and shapes weren’t rushing at them to kill and maul their bodies. They weren’t of one mind.

Even though Erik made it clear what Silas had done to them and was going to do to them to unite them in purpose, the fear and desperation necessary to fully engage the formation were not present. The soldiers were well-trained and disciplined, but they lacked the visceral drive that only an existential threat could provide.

As the rain continued to pour, Erik stood in contemplation, watching his soldiers revel in the momentary respite from their grueling training. He realized that the problem wasn’t in the mechanics of the formation or the synchronization of his troops, but in their collective mindset. They needed to feel the urgency and danger that the formation was designed to counter.

Erik, losing his joy, immediately gathered his generals and key advisors in his tent, the cool air from the ice block providing a stark contrast to the humid heat outside. He shared his realization with them, explaining that the soldiers needed a deeper, more personal understanding of the threat they were facing.

“We need to create a simulation,” Erik declared, his voice steady and commanding. “A scenario where the soldiers can experience the fear and urgency of a real battle. They must feel the weight of their lives hanging in the balance.”

The generals exchanged glances, some nodding in agreement while others looked skeptical. One of the older generals, a seasoned warrior named Thrain, stepped forward. “What you suggest, Your Majesty, is risky. Simulations can help, but they can also break morale if not handled carefully.”

“I understand the risks,” Erik replied. “But without this, the formation will never work. We need to make them believe, to truly feel the stakes.”

The generals weren’t in complete agreement with Erik’s advice as they strongly believed that the sudden input of fear would destabilize the peace they have now. Erik, curious why they thought so, asked, “Can you explain why you disagree?”

The head general, Roland, spoke, his gaze deep as he bowed to Erik. “Your Majesty, you have made it clear that this formation needs everyone to be of one mind, which is factually impossible as we all are different. The way I see and understand things isn’t how my partner would.”

“The simulation may awaken a lot of strong-willed soldiers who understand what they are facing, but that can’t be said for the rest, in whom it may instill fear, which ultimately will lead to the formation not forming.”

For the next few days, Erik sat in his tent, disturbed as he thought of ways to activate the formation. His stressed emotions became known to the generals and soldiers, who were immediately affected by that too.

The shouts from the training no longer had vigor behind them. Erik knew the effect he was having but could do nothing about it. He knew that without the formation, he would only lead his men to their deaths.

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