Master the Abyss, starting from an apprentice priest.

Chapter 441: Twenty Days of the Expedition

"Blackgravel Fortress", "Los Angeles City" and "Storm City".

Albert gave the directions of the three expeditions. Luo Xiu sat upright on the main seat, closed his eyes and listened, thinking about other things in his mind.

Before embarking on the Holy Expedition, Lord Gawain had met with Albert and Luo Xiu, and they had agreed at that time on several fortresses and important cities that the Red Maple City Expeditionary Force would capture before reaching Fafnir City.

There are seven fortresses and three important towns.

Caveri Fortress is one, and Latama City is also one. The other two fortresses that were originally considered as the expeditionary force's capture targets have also been captured by the expeditionary force of Snod Fortress led by General Lansas of "Winter".

Now their only targets were four fortresses and two towns.

The "Black Gravel Fortress" is one of them. Capturing this fortress is equivalent to opening the door to Fafnir Territory and even the deeper part of the Dark Principality.

As for "Los Angeles City" and "Storm City", they are not the expeditionary force's primary targets, they are resource cities.

Capturing them would help the expeditionary force replenish its supplies and better project military power deeper into Fafnir territory.

While thinking about this, Luo Xiu heard Albert say:

“Now, we have successfully captured the city of Latama, but we have also paid a considerable price—our ‘Knight of the Throne’ Shar, and ‘Knight of the Throne’ Harzat under the command of General Lansas of ‘Winter’ have sacrificed their lives for the Supreme on the battlefield.

A 'priest' of the church, Fran Demier, also died in the disaster. In addition to them, 36 'royal knights', 7 'deacons', 238 'war knights', 42 clergymen, and 23,000 soldiers also paid their lives for this.

We have sacrificed too much to defeat our common enemy and realize our ultimate aspirations."

"..."

After a pause, Albert continued:

"But we don't have more time to reminisce or grieve. We must carry on with our burdens—"

"Now, there are three options before us."

"'Black Gravel Fortress' - we need to reach Fafnir City in the shortest possible time, so we must capture this fortress. This fortress is guarded by two executioners - the two executioners of [Red Lotus] and [Nothingness]. We can choose to capture it first to block the important hub for the black army of Fafnir to enter and exit."

"'Los Angeles City' - that is a grain storage city that can be captured before reaching Black Gravel Fortress. Los Angeles City is currently guarded by two executioners. We can rest here for a while and replenish our military supplies."

"'Storm City' - that is an important recruiting city for the Dark Army in Fafnir Territory, and also a hub for exchanging supplies between several cities in Fafnir Territory. There are three executioners stationed there, and the number of soldiers stationed there should be more than 100,000. It is somewhat difficult to capture Storm City, but if we can successfully capture it, our march will be unimpeded before we finally reach Fafnir City."

"Well, now." Albert glanced at the people sitting at the bottom, then looked at Luo Xiu, Lansas and Huberte on the other three seats, and said:

"I want to hear your opinions."

"..."

"Storm City."

The first voice came from Lansas of 'Winter'.

His usual gentle smile appeared on his face, but his eyes were cold as he said:
"I just want to kill as many of these rebels as I can. Since Storm City is one of the several lairs where they recruit their minions, there is no reason why we shouldn't destroy it first."

"Okay, I understand." Albert nodded.

He immediately looked towards Luo Xiu and asked:
"So, what do you think, Luo Xiu?"

When Albert asked him, Luo Xiu was thinking the same thing.

In his past life memories, he had once embarked on the Judgment Expedition as a "Descender" and had also arrived at the outskirts of Storm City with the expeditionary force.

It was a fortified city, with walls no less extensive than those of Latama, and with two acropolises.

Unlike Lansas's considerations, his main consideration was that although Storm City was not located on the expeditionary route and was not a major city that must be captured first, if they targeted Black Gravel Fortress first, they would easily be attacked by the garrisons of Storm City, Black Gravel Fortress and another fortress.

There were no reinforcements from the border of the empire heading to Fafnir nearby, which was undoubtedly a dangerous situation. Of course, it was also necessary to consider whether the garrisoned troops in Storm City had the ability to march long distances. Because in Luo Xiu's impression, two of the three garrisoned executioners and their corps were slow-moving giants.

"Black Gravel Fortress."

Luo Xiu then said.

He finally made this choice mainly for another reason -

There is not much time left for him, or for the Church of Sina and Bishop Fabion.

When he saw Bishop Fabion for the last time, he estimated that Bishop Fabion had only three months left. He had to kill the Lord of Blood Sacrifice before then and bring back a method to remove the Grey Blood Curse for Bishop Fabion.

That deadline should be at the end of April or the beginning of May. Now it is March 3, only a little more than a month away from the final deadline.

It would take too long to first capture Storm City and then go back to capture Los Angeles City and Black Gravel Fortress one by one, and Luo Xiu was not willing to do that.

To be honest, if they were really caught in a pincer attack, Luo Xiu wouldn't be afraid of them now - among the expeditionary force, there was one person with the 'sixth-fold destiny', one person with the 'quasi-sixth-fold destiny', three people with the 'fifth-fold destiny', plus a group of players who were at the peak of both combat power and activity. There was really nothing to be afraid of.

"I only hope to reach and capture Fafnir City as quickly as possible, and conquer the main city of Fafnir Rochester before the Chief Executioner can react.

I don't want to delay any further, because Lord Gawain and another 'Knight of Heaven' are currently fighting with Fafnir. Before Fafnir returns to Fafnir City, this is an opportunity that we must take seriously so that we can capture the main city at the lowest cost."

"..."

Luo Xiu said this with a calm expression and a flat voice.

Albert was also listening carefully to all this. He knew why Luo Xiu was so eager to capture Fafnir City.

He looked at Lansas. The general of 'Winter' did not show any dissatisfaction because of the bishop's different opinion, but there was a slight gleam in his eyes.

"So, what do you think, Her Excellency 'Saint Deacon' Hubbard?"

Albert then looked towards Hubert and asked.

Hubert didn't think too much and quickly replied:

"I agree with Luo Xiu. 'If possible, give priority to capturing Fafnir City.' This is also the decree that Archbishop Sid asked me to convey."

The two saints of the Holy See Church, the Holy Deacon and the Bishop, both advocated capturing the Black Gravel Fortress first.

At the same time, the high-ranking people with "triple destiny" and "quadruple destiny" sitting at the bottom were also discussing enthusiastically. In general, most people wanted to capture Black Gravel Fortress first, while those who attacked Storm City were in the middle, and those who attacked Los Angeles City were the least.

Now everyone was eager to fight, and the voice of conquering Losander City to rest for a while was the lowest. And the "Chief Executioner" of Fafnir Territory, the "Dragon of Destruction" Fafnir, whom the bishop mentioned earlier, had not returned to Fafnir City yet, which was indeed an opportunity that could not be ignored.

Albert nodded, and he finally made a decision:
"Then, our next expedition target is Black Gravel Fortress. We will completely open the gate leading to the deeper interior of Fafnir Territory."

"Lansas. I need you and your winter knights to form the vanguard and scouts. The threat from Storm City may still not be ignored. I know you are eager to fight to prove yourself, and I will give you such an opportunity."

"Yeah." Lansas still had a gentle smile on his face. He looked at Albert and said:
"I accept."

"I will scout them. If they do attack, I will kill them."

"Thank you very much, dear 'Chief'."

……

The meeting finally decided to make "Black Gravel Fortress" the next target of the expeditionary force.

Albert accepted Luo Xiu's suggestion to reach Fafnir as quickly as possible and capture the city. The expeditionary force will set off tomorrow, March 3th.

Afterwards, Albert, Luo Xiu, Lansas and Hubert, several high-ranking people, drew up a specific marching plan. In addition, considering the possible threat from the "Hidden Sage" Hoffman, they entrusted the Golden Kingdom's new ally, the "Golden Sword Saint" Klein Fesela, to prepare adequate precautions against him.

In addition to these, the meeting discussed and decided on some details. When the expeditionary force continues on its journey, experts from the Fesera family and the Florence family of the "Golden Country" will move in to assist the expeditionary force in conducting a post-war inventory of the city of Latama and rebuilding it into a rear garrison city that can provide assistance and shelter.

That’s all the strategy meeting talked about.

……

Before setting off on a new expedition,
Luo Xiu had already returned to the church's headquarters and presided over the final ceremony to send off the souls of the clergy who died in the Battle of Latama.

In a large open space that was specially cleared for use as a sacrificial site, the bodies of Fran Demir and a group of clergy who died in the battle were placed in clean white coffins, and their bodies were covered with soft silk woven with sun patterns.

The city of Latama, which originally belonged to the Dark Principality, did not have the belief in [Glory]. However, in the center of the sacrifice site, there was still a statue of the Great Sun Sumo God - it was the statue of the pillar god that the clergy of the church took with them on the sacred expedition, carrying their faith.

One hundred and thirty-two torches with golden flames have been lit in the center, corresponding to the number of one hundred and thirty-two martyrs.

All the clergy were present. They stood solemnly behind the bishop, and Bishop Luo Xiu was holding the golden scepter in his hand and raising it high to the sky.

He uttered the holy, Sanskrit prayer:

"—I will worship the fire, I will burn, I will dedicate myself to the light."

"——The pure, pure, white essence."

"—Let the flame of the Holy Torch burn!"

"——..."

Om-!
Ring after ring of brilliant golden light burst out from the tip of the scepter in Luo Xiu's hand and spread out, filling the entire space with the spiritual aura of [Glory].

The spirituality belonging to [Glory] began to flow rhythmically.

They circled in the sky and gradually split into 132 golden rays of light, rushing towards the 132 holy torches.

——Wow!

The burning sacred fire suddenly burst out with brilliant and bright light.

The clergy standing around, with their hands placed in front of their chests to form an equilateral triangle, also began to pray at the same time.

They all looked sad, working with their "bishop" to guide the souls of their former comrades back home.

Luo Xiu raised the scepter in his hand again, and his clear voice made the next sacred blessing:

"—I will remember, I will pass on, I will witness the rise."

"——The endless, indestructible, eternal will."

“—Let the Holy Spirit return home!”

"——..."

hum-

The holy flames burning in all the holy torches began to flicker violently at the same time.

Then—they went out, all at once.

The remaining flame condensed into amber and began to rise and sink, rising and sinking non-stop.

And a moment later - sixty-three beams of light shot up into the sky from the holy torch!

The golden light, like a jewel, surged into the sky, then fell like a curtain, and finally covered the bodies of the 132 martyred clergy.

From the bodies of the priests, the flames then flickered and ignited again - burning their bodies bit by bit, until they were completely consumed, allowing their souls to break free from their shackles and ascend to the eternal heaven.

Until there was nothing left in those stone coffins.

Only the pure white stone surface was reflecting the bright golden light that was constantly circling in the air.

The 'priest' Fran Demier, who was originally from the secret chamber, this magnificent priest, and those martyred clergymen have truly 'returned home'.

This is the "soul-sending ceremony".

This is something that the clergy of the church must do before they actually embark on a new expedition.

A necessary ritual that must never be omitted, neglected or ignored.

……

According to the historical records of "Trial War"——

On March 768, 3 of the Apocalypse Calendar, the expeditionary force set out from Latama City and headed for the Black Gravel Fortress.

At the end of the same month, on March 3, the main force of the expeditionary force led by "Thunder General" Albert Perez and "Red Maple City Bishop" Luo Xiu Carlos arrived at the Black Gravel Fortress. On the same day, the expeditionary force captured the Black Gravel Fortress.

"Bishop" Ross Carlos killed the Red Lotus executioner Gao Qiaos, and the other executioner escaped.

At the beginning of the next month, on April 4, the combined forces of Storm City, Lole Fortress, and Gotrad Fortress surrounded Blackgravel Fortress, with a total of six executioners at the gates of the city.

One of them was killed by Fesera, the "Golden Sword Saint" Klein, the second was killed by the "Bishop" Luo Xiu, the second was killed by the "Thunder General" Albert, and the first was killed by the "Winter General" Lansas. The defeated soldiers then fled in all directions.

"Hidden Sage" Hoffman attacked the expeditionary force after its victory, but was repelled by "Golden Sword Master" Klein.

On April 768, 4 of the Apocalyptic Calendar, the expeditionary force launched a surprise attack on the Gotrade Fortress and captured it.

On the same day, April 4, 'Winter General' Lansas led the Winter Knights to launch a surprise attack on the Lore Fortress, captured it, and beheaded its executioner, [Ku Tu] Executioner Zelas Mills.

On April 4, the expeditionary force arrived at the city of Esco.

On the same day, the city of Esco was captured, "Thunder General" Albert killed the [Lost] Executioner Jodriai, "Holy Deacon" Hubert killed the [Red Lotus] Executioner Ackerman, and another executioner escaped.

On April 4, the expeditionary force arrived at the Fire Sword Fortress.

The next day, the Fire Sword Fortress was captured, and "Bishop" Rossu Carlos killed the executioner of [Bitter Tea], Jolus.

After capturing the Fire Sword Fortress, the "Hidden Sage" Hoffman attacked again, but was repelled by the "Golden Sword Master" Klein.

On April 4, the expeditionary force arrived at Roches.

On the same day, the city of Roches was captured, "Bishop" Ross Carlos killed the [Void] Executioner Brenden, "Thunder General" Albert killed the [Supreme] Order Killer Zack, "General Winter" killed the [Supreme] Order Killer Sorol, and "Holy Deacon" Hubert killed the [Lost] Executioner Richmond.

April 768, 4 in the Tianqi calendar.
——The expeditionary force arrived at the city of Fafnir.

……

(End of this chapter)