Chapter 487: Preparations

This is the first plan I have proposed: I will launch a direct assault on the Utopia organization within the Ash Barrens alongside the dragons. At that moment, I expect the dragons to assist me in breaking through the legions of Utopia that will inevitably attempt to block our path. Once we have breached their core territory, the rest will be left for me to complete.

Within the void conference chamber formed by the power of the Lady of Night, Wang Yu, seated at the head of the Church of Night’s meeting table, laid out his intended course of action—the plan for the upcoming battle against the Utopia organization.

This...

For a moment, aside from those among the dragonkin who had previously communicated with Wang Yu in private, the others were at a loss. No matter how one looked at it, the plan their Archbishop described sounded far too reckless and detached from reality.

Although it may sound strange, this is precisely what I must do, and it will not change for any reason. All I ask of you is to protect yourselves.

The Utopia organization will not simply sit there and wait for us to attack. To put it simply, with a mobility that far surpasses the Five-Race Alliance, they could launch a blanket strike across the continent similar to the last one, effectively diluting the intensity of our offensive on the Ash Barrens.

Wang Yu spoke matter-of-factly. From beginning to end, he had never relied on the Church of Night as an organization; the label of a hands-off leader was not just a figure of speech, but an accurate description of his nature. The sole purpose of this meeting, held before his assault on Utopia, was merely to provide notification—nothing more.

What do you think, Captain Alastair? Would you like to say a few words?

Below, Sharl poked Edward beside him. Although the gesture had no real effect in this space, the intent was clear.

No need. Just as Wang Yu said, we should simply do what we are meant to do. Guarding our kingdom is the task we must complete. He is not seeking the opinions of the rest of the Church of Night; he is merely mentioning it in passing. Who knows how strong he has become by now?

Edward ignored Sharl’s mischievous nickname and replied casually, offering no opinion or agreement with Wang Yu at this moment. Both he and Sharl understood that there was no necessity for it.

Archbishop Wang Yu, do you truly intend to attack the Utopia organization solely with the dragons? The power they possess may be even more terrifying than what they have shown so far. If we were to join the assault, we could provide some effective assistance.

A dwarf in the conference room voiced his opinion, expressing a hope that some members of the Church of Night could join the operation against Utopia to provide their Archbishop with some support.

No, that is unnecessary. Not all the dragons will be accompanying me to the Ash Barrens; the rest will remain to garrison Alastair. It should be significantly safer there than elsewhere on the continent. Although there is a chance it might be targeted by Utopia, it will be safer than anywhere else regardless. Those present here may head to Alastair if you wish.

As for your suggestion to join the battle against Utopia, you might want to compare the current strength of the Church of Night and the Five-Race Alliance—excluding the dragons—against them. They will be responsible for half of this battle, and can the forces the Church of Night can muster even compare to that half?

With calm words, he declined the dwarf’s suggestion. Wang Yu simply prompted the dwarf, who was likely acting out of genuine concern, to consider the true extent of the Church of Night’s current strength.

Clearly, once the dragons were excluded, the Church of Night—even after a long period of rapid growth—could not be considered a vast organization. Compared to the Five-Race Alliance, it was incomparable; the disparity in strength was as vast as heaven and earth. This was the reason the other members remained silent; they knew Wang Yu was right.

As for questioning their Archbishop’s strength? Who else could break three of Utopia’s towers single-handedly? Such a person likely did not exist.

There is one piece of information I should tell you all, though I am not sure if it counts as good news. As you have likely discovered, the concentration of void energy in the material world across the continent is rising on a large scale as Utopia constructs its second special environment.

For Utopia, this brings both benefits and certain side effects: they will lose the ability to alter the forms of matter and void at will. As the boundaries between the void and the material world blur through this fusion, the powers we wield will be able to act upon Utopia more effectively. Even those who are not mages will be able to inflict damage.

Wang Yu shared this news—which was, in reality, merely a theory relayed to him by Avia—with the members of the Church of Night present. This was a vital piece of intelligence for the war that was about to erupt: they could safely "stack" their output without worrying too much about their attacks being easily ignored or evaded by Utopia.

The meeting did not last long; Wang Yu ended it after briefly explaining the details of his first plan. Within the void, in the space occupied by Wang Yu, Avia was already waiting.

Finished talking to them?

the girl asked.

Yes, I have. There is no need to count on them for the battle against Utopia; they only need to protect themselves.

Wang Yu replied, taking from the girl the data she had spent much time researching and had only just fully summarized.

Ah, if that is the case, it makes perfect sense—whether it be mages, sorcerers, or knights, and of course, the differences between these general directions and my own.

After briefly contemplating Avia’s summary of power systems, including void affinity, he found that even though he was not deeply versed in them, the logic held up perfectly when deduced through his own knowledge.

So, it seems knowing too much is not necessarily a good thing for mages. If they draw too much power from the void, they will bring out the madness and corruption inherent in the depths of the void, ultimately leading to their own destruction. Is the current path of the mages actually a form of protective measure?

With keen interest, he evaluated the profession of mages using the girl’s theory. Wang Yu realized he had indeed misunderstood the profession earlier; their power was not, in fact, borrowed from the void.

Indeed. After all, not every mage is as fortunate as I am, able to explore this vast and madness-filled realm of the void at close range without restraint.

Avia responded with a smile, tapping her own head. On the other person’s soul, that spiritual protection originating from Wang Yu remained ever-present.

Then the profession of knights is based on stacking materiality to gain the power to influence other matter. This includes internal cultivation and knightly secret arts; they are all the same. In essence, they are similar to me, but as for the power of the chariot...

Wang Yu scratched his head, discussing his relationship with the knight profession. Just as he was about to explain the difference between himself and the profession, his words were interrupted by Avia.

You are cheating.

The girl waved her hand, her expression playful, causing the corners of Wang Yu’s mouth to lift slightly.

An argument that cannot be refuted.

He did not contradict the girl’s words. Wang Yu himself felt that this was exactly the case. He was an anomaly, a very special existence, and had been so since the moment he appeared in this world.

Cheating is cheating, but regardless, Wang Yu, you are the most important existence to me.

Avia’s next sentence left Wang Yu stunned. Good heavens, what kind of cheesy line was that? It seemed the previous remark was just a setup for this one. Well, he couldn't laugh at the girl; they were both much the same, though Wang Yu was a bit more direct than she was.

Thanks, I feel the same.

Wang Yu scratched his head, grabbed Avia’s hand, crouched down, and gently touched his forehead against hers, responding earnestly.

The world was so wonderful, yet those bastards from the Utopia organization were still jumping out to stir up trouble. Wang Yu had no desire to know what they were trying to do, what lofty ideals they held, how much they had prepared, or how heavy the responsibilities they bore were. He didn't care at all; in the end, it was none of his business.

What Utopia was doing severely affected him, so it was simple: Wang Yu was going to smash Utopia to pieces. It might seem like there were many twists and turns, but for a guy who didn't belong to this world in the first place, it was quite straightforward.

Utopia was right there. Although they were a bit hard to find, as long as they wanted to continue their plan, they were visible and tangible to Wang Yu. What else was there to say? Just get it done.

As for whether he could win, it was the same old story: Wang Yu believed he could. The strength he continuously accumulated was for the purpose of carving a path through with violence when necessary.

Do you think what we are doing now is what you call "planting a flag"?

Avia pinched the bridge of Wang Yu’s nose. He didn't know when this quiet girl had started becoming occasionally whimsical.

Uh, do you still believe in that? If I think it won't work, and then I do the opposite, wouldn't I fall into a paradox?

He raised an eyebrow. Wang Yu had never believed in such things, and as he spoke, he prepared to do the opposite.

No, even if it is fake, it is not allowed.

As it turned out, the moment he wanted to say something, his cheeks were pressed by Avia’s two hands, forbidding him from uttering the sentence that contradicted what he had said before.

Haha, alright, alright.

Watching the girl’s puffed-up cheeks, Wang Yu truly found it amusing. He laughed, agreed, and stood up, walking with the girl toward the Lady of Night, who was sitting on a rocking chair, fiddling with a notebook in her hands.

For the upcoming war in the Ash Barrens, Wang Yu and Avia did not need to worry about mental attacks, but the dragons still had to be protected. This part of the task had to be entrusted to the Lady of Night, a deity, and besides, the divine arts of the night were strategically quite powerful as well.