Origin Paradise!

Compared to the trainees themselves, the guard force was the main force of this support, with a total of tens of thousands of people, all of whom were well-trained and carried a large amount of military equipment that did not require the council or the fortress to be responsible for.

The Obsidian Council's decision to send its students was partly for training purposes. In the context of a national war, mobilizing the power of local nobles was essential. Students who could enroll were usually of high caliber, and it was foreseeable that the nobles behind them would provide support and assistance if they were unwilling to let their children die on the battlefield.

The old priest looked around and went through first.

Green mingled among a group of students and guards, subtly giving off the air of a second-in-command.

The Ashes Duchess went directly to someone's side and whispered, "Our mentor suggested that we cooperate, with you as the main hunter and me as the assistant. Every time we hunt down a hostile Gold Saint, he will take the time to give me some extra help."

Jiang He nodded slightly. As a noblewoman of gold, she was naturally not a burden. As for the alchemy master's private instruction, if it was the kind of "true teaching" that lasted for several hours in the classroom, its value would certainly not be comparable to the secret recipe, but it would definitely not be cheap either.

Seeing that the other party agreed, Duchess Ash hesitated for a moment, then took out a perfect-grade revolver and six alchemical explosive bullets of the same quality.

"As a greeting gift, your mental weapon will most likely be a revolver. Get used to it beforehand."

"You're welcome." Jiang He reached out and took it.

Duchess of Ash: "..."

Shouldn't you say thank you?

When it was the turn of the two to advance, Jiang He stepped across the light screen. The strategic significance of this routine long-distance teleportation was self-evident. The transportation costs and non-combat casualties recovered during the process were enough to offset the huge cost investment.

The moment my foot touched the ground, a gust of wind howled in.

Jiang He felt as if she were standing in the sky.

The Rust Iron Fortress reached a height of three hundred meters and, under the observation of the All-Seeing Eye, was divided into three parts. The lower base was completely solid, giving it an unprecedented sense of weight, like a giant weight pressing down on the ground.

The central section is the internal military camp, with rest areas, entertainment areas, and meeting areas everywhere. The upper section is clearly responsible for defense, with various military equipment arranged in order. The entire fortress has a rusty color and is constructed entirely of shape memory metal.

At this very moment, the Holy City Legion stationed here, with a total of 210,000 men across seven legions, had almost no empty payrolls. The legion commanders were standing in front of the Abyss Gate, negotiating with two Gold Mentors, while everyone stood in what appeared to be a plaza.

Jiang He arrived at the city wall. The light below was as dim as an abyss. In front of him was an endless plain and forest, with black trees growing to an eerie degree, covering an area of ​​tens of thousands of miles.

Beside her, the Ash Duchess was fully armed, with the Blade of Betrayal hanging at her waist. She had changed into a set of rubber combat suits, smooth on the surface but full of special toughness. It was a universal supreme-grade armor, and was also a treasure of inheritance in the eyes of the great nobles.

"Ahead lies the legendary Forest of No Light, and on the horizon is the Theocracy's Redemption Fortress. I've actually been here before. Walk far to the left, and you can see the ocean. It's said that a long time ago, the Rusty Iron Fortress was called Vancouver..."

Who is Amber Ashes?!

From the crowd, First Army Commander Myles shouted.

No one answered, but the students all looked toward the young figure on the city wall.

First Legion Commander Myles strode out and came straight behind the enemy. His size looked like a wall, and he was surrounded by the smell of gunpowder.

Myles's expression was cold as he said, "I heard you can repair the extraction tower and even bring a pregnant woman on a train back to life?"

"So what if it is?" Jiang He turned around.

“Then come with me.” Myles reached out and grabbed the other’s collar. “It would be a waste for someone as talented as you to go to the Dark Forest. There are countless disabled but brave soldiers in the logistics department waiting for you to save them.”

Still no answer.

Jiang He stood still, motionless.

Myles frowned and increased the pressure on his hand, causing a series of tearing sounds to come from the other person's well-made school uniform.

Jiang He calmly said, "Every ability comes at a price, and the miracle of restoring the extraction tower is no exception."

Upon hearing this, Myles was enraged and said, "Are you saying that my soldiers, who have fought and suffered for the Empire, are not as good as a pregnant woman?"

Jiang He was too lazy to argue. Ultimately, the Time Ring was his life-saving mechanism skill. It was fine to use it occasionally, but in a battlefield surrounded by a large number of Gold Saints, he naturally couldn't use it casually. After all, the Ninth Angel of the End Society—the Sinner of the Spear—was also a Gold Saint who took one of his lives.

"What on earth do you mean!"

"One is responsible for one's own life and death."

“Gentlemen, there is no superior-subordinate relationship between you.” Duchess Ash stepped in to smooth things over. When it came to relationships, she naturally sided with her junior. Amber had chosen a mentor, so his only direct superior was Akateli, and he did not need to obey the fortress legion commander’s orders.

"You think this is an academy?!"

Myles grinned maliciously and glanced at the Ash Duchess, then suddenly punched someone in the cheek. The power of the Gravity Abyss within him was activated, and a white glow surrounded his fist.

The students watching all turned pale.

Duchess Ash couldn't help but grip the long sword at her waist, drawing it three inches from its sheath, her gaze chilling.

But before anyone could react, Jiang He calmly opened the Rift of Time. His arm vanished in an instant, and the afterimage swung even faster, striking the opponent's side of the neck.

boom!

Myleston immediately felt himself lose his balance. The immense force sweeping through his body contained destructive power. His neck bones shattered into powder, and his body flew hundreds of meters away, crashing into the metal wall and leaving behind marks on the ground as if cut by a fierce wind.

Their incredible speed demonstrated an absolute advantage.

The Ashes Duchess was initially bewildered, then looked helpless, and finally put her longsword back in. Compared to when she was in Carmel, her strength seemed to have increased significantly.

A few gasps of surprise rose from the crowd of students. Bullying a silver-level student and repelling a gold-level student were two completely different things. Perhaps not wanting to escalate the conflict with the garrison, everyone tacitly refrained from making any comments to avoid getting into trouble.

The gravel fell with a clatter.

Myles struggled to his feet from the ruins, his eyes blazing with barely contained fury. He stared intently at someone, ready to unleash his full power in his half-demon form.

Upon seeing this, the two gold-level mentors quickly stepped in to stop them.

The medical instructor earnestly advised, "Commander, the cadets are watching. This war requires close cooperation between our two sides. It would be too disastrous to start fighting to the death right from the beginning."

The old priest quickly chimed in, "If the cooperation breaks down, the casualties among the legion's soldiers will only be greater, and your good intentions will become a disaster. We must not do that."

Both men spoke loudly, making sure the surrounding trainees and soldiers could hear them clearly. This was to give the legion commander a way out; stopping now wasn't out of cowardice, but rather to consider the bigger picture.

Myles snorted coldly and, in full view of everyone, shook off the two men and left without looking back.

Beside the wall, Duchess Ash whispered, "She didn't say a harsh word. It seems she really holds a grudge against you."

Jiang He casually said, "He probably didn't come for the soldiers."

"How so?" Duchess Ash turned her head and gazed intently.

"The golden medical mentor is right in front of me, a genuine master, much more reliable than the rumors suggest?"

……

After a half-hour visit.

All trainees arrived at the conference area in the middle level of the fortress, where the Grand Legion Commander's secretary introduced the situation.

"Between the two fortresses lies a dark forest."

"From left to right, there are three war zones: the first, second, and third war zones, each led by two legions. The war has already begun from the moment you arrived."

"Everyone needs to be in combat formation by dusk at the latest, which is also a requirement of the Council and the Academy."

The secretary adjusted her glasses; she appeared to be around thirty years old, impeccably dressed, and had a refined and gentle demeanor.

"Next, I will focus on introducing the battlefield environment."

"In the western part of the Dark Forest lies an ocean of hatred, while in the east are the Bloodhowl Mountains, dotted with active volcanoes that could erupt at any moment. Both are forbidden lands for living beings."

"Actually, the Dark Forest is just as impressive; it also has another name—the Lazy Forest."

"Once you enter the forest, don't expect your sin energy to recover automatically. Unless you use a potion, the inertia of your energy will leave you speechless."

"Furthermore, all perception abilities at or below the Undying level will become inert and ineffective. Every step you take forward could lead to encounters with the enemies of the Theocracy."

"Finally, the plants in the Dark Forest heal themselves very quickly, not because they are lazy and unable to grow, but because they become inert and infinitely close to their original state."

The secretary then smiled mysteriously and said, "The biggest problem is that the original Dark Forest included fortress areas of both sides. Of course, you don't need to consider this."

Most of the participants were digesting the precautions for combat, while a small number of them looked suspicious.

The medical mentor's expression was not good. In fact, every now and then, the Holy Kingdom and the Empire would break out into war. The attack on Carmel City was just the fuse. One of the real purposes of the war was to limit the spread of the Dark Forest.

Whether soldiers or cadets, they are all expendable resources in war, and such fundamental inside information must never be widely disseminated.

This secretary is practically playing with fire and getting burned.

After sharing some combat experience, the secretary clapped his hands and laughed, "Then let's adjourn the meeting. I wish you all a pleasant death."

A moment of silence.

The trainees even thought they were hallucinating.

The medical mentor immediately retorted angrily, "Watch your words! Just because the Grand Legion Commander has been out of the public eye for over a decade doesn't mean no one in the Empire can deal with you!"

The secretary didn't refute, but instead smiled and apologized: "Sorry, I'm used to being a bit unreliable. Well then... for the sake of the empire!"

The medical mentor stormed out of the room.

The meeting ended in an awkward atmosphere.

The secretary squinted, her eyes gleaming as she watched the two S-class figures walking side by side through the crowd.

Not long after, Myles, then commander of the First Army Corps, walked in through the side door. He was calm and had a stack of reports in his hand. The embarrassment he had just suffered in front of everyone seemed to have no effect on him at all.

"My lord, some information about Amber Ashes has come out. Abyss has been reinstated." Myles said, flipping through the report, "The target's pure physique is roughly equivalent to an ordinary Gold Saint who specializes in physical cultivation, and he is one of the very top-tier individuals."

"Strength, in particular, is more about striking power than physical strength."

"The most crucial thing is his speed. When using the power of the Abyss Demon, his speed can rival some of the strongest in history. Whether he has other speed abilities is unknown."

"Based on the extent of my injuries and the circumstances at the time, Abyss Ghost's overall assessment is that the target's initial combat strength is sufficient to contend with a Gold Saint. Considering the rumored spatial teleportation ability, hunting down a Gold Saint is not unrealistic."

Myles touched the side of his neck and sighed, "You really can die if you're not careful. You only realize this when you're face to face. This guy's life level is actually only at the level of an A-level student."

The secretary shrugged and laughed, "Being able to kill Emperor Yuan Gui and trick him into handing over the Imperial Sword certainly shows he has some skill."

Myles bowed his head and said, "By the Emperor, you will eventually obtain the Imperial Sword."

In the blink of an eye, the lights in the conference room seemed to dim.

The secretary remained expressionless. "Obtained? The Imperial Sword was originally mine, a relic left by my father. It's laughable that anyone can touch it. Ramanf deserves to die the most, followed by Amber. I will never forget this humiliation."

"An empire without an emperor, huh."

"I need to find out more about Amber's spatial abilities. I won't make a move until I can kill her with one blow."

The secretary looked solemn. Facing such a young man with unlimited potential who had already begun to show his talent, he had to admit that he did feel some pressure.

Spatial ability means mobility. If you act rashly and let the opponent escape, just think about the constant harassment that will give anyone a headache. Most importantly, if your purpose is exposed, you may lose the Imperial Sword forever.

As if remembering something, Myles asked tentatively, "My lord, Duchess Sylvia of Ashes, her father's family was the Tommen of the Regency Empire, and her mother's family inherited the position of Grand Judge of the Holy See's Court. She seems to have a very good relationship with Amber."

“I know,” the secretary waved his hand and said, “There’s no need to worry. Sylvia won’t live more than a few days.”

Before the all-out war seven years ago, the Empire and the Theocracy enjoyed a honeymoon period due to the rapid development of the End Society. However, as the royal family declined to the point of being sidelined, the two sides could only form an alliance through marriage between the Grand Justice family and the Tommen family.

“Understood,” Miles replied.

Chapter 417 How Swift It Was!

In the afternoon.

The trainees integrated into the Rust Iron Fortress and began to split up to carry out their respective tasks.

Duchess Ash rejected many applications to join the team. She wasn't cruel enough to use these silver juniors as bait; in a battle against gold-level opponents, the aftershocks alone could kill them.

"Nobody's contacting you?"

The two took the elevator down from the upper level of the fortress. When Duchess Ash learned that no one had ever looked for Amber, she looked somewhat surprised.

"Yes and no."

Jiang He didn't take it seriously. There were some particularly persistent people, but they would behave themselves after being subjected to the Judgment Demon Eye. It wouldn't kill them, but they would inevitably have to spend a few days in the infirmary.

With a thud, the elevator came to a stop.

The metal door opened, and the two were directly on the ground. A hundred meters ahead lay the Dark Forest.

The black trees are tall and twisted, their thick trunks intertwined with roots, and their branches stretch out in all directions like the withered arms of the dead. Occasionally, a few weak rays of light struggle down, forming sparse patches of light on the ground covered with fallen leaves and humus, making the surroundings even darker.

A fierce wind swept through the forest, alternating between high-pitched and whistling sounds. Branches and leaves rubbed against each other, making a rustling sound, as if countless lurking demons were spying within.

The stench that permeated the surroundings did not originate from rotting leaves. The bodies of people who died in the forest decomposed extremely slowly, and the stench, which had lingered for decades, still made people frown today.

The entire dark forest was gloomy, oppressive, eerie, and gloomy.

Jiang He was the first to step onto the forest floor, where the humus seemed to cling to the soles of his shoes like a muddy swamp.

[Warning: You have been affected by an unknown force, resulting in a significant decrease in your perception. This area is closed to those with perception abilities below the level of Immortal.]

[Warning: You have been affected by an unknown factor; your energy regeneration rate has dropped to zero... Your level and abnormal resistance saving throws have failed.]

[Warning: You have encountered an unknown influence; this area is now closed to all flight capabilities below the level of non-meteorite.]