A mage's journey begins with a battle mage.

Chapter 122 The Shadow of Mahabray

Mahablay, a land of heroes.

Legend has it that countless heroes have emerged from this place, and it is said to be the birthplace of countless gods, where the legends of countless people began.

However, Mahablay has now become a haven for demons and the fallen.

"Aren't we there yet?"

General Brutus gazed into the distance, seemingly anticipating something.

"General, they've arrived!"

On the distant horizon, a convoy of hundreds of people slowly approached.

"We've finally arrived."

Brutus let out a deep breath.

The leader of the reinforcements sent by the Mage Alliance has finally arrived.

the other side.

"Are all the nobles of Mahabrai useless? They can't do anything right!"

Looking at the occupied area marked in real time on the magic map, Jiang Shuzhou was speechless.

The Mahabre region comprises one marquessland, three earlsland, and dozens of viscountland.

Unlike the Mage Alliance, the individual strength of the nobles in the Ovi Empire varies greatly. As a frontier region, Mahabre's nobles are relatively weak.

"They have no ability, yet they're so arrogant. I really don't know how they survive."

Jiang Shuzhou found this very hard to understand. In his view, someone who was not strong enough but controlled a territory was just easy prey.

Nobody's going to take a bite out of this?

"My lord, this is because of the covenant."

"An alliance?"

"Yes, my lord, the so-called alliance..."

Then, Hayes, a native of the Empire, began to explain to Jiang Shuzhou.

Compared to the Mage Alliance, the social mobility in the Ovi Empire is pitifully low.

Take the Walton family as an example. As a family that has produced high-level alchemists, they are now reduced to the same level as low-level alchemists because their successor is neither a mage nor an alchemist.

If their next generation continues in this manner, they will likely be demoted to ordinary nobles and lose all absolute power within their territories.

The Ovi Empire was completely different. They believed in bloodline theory, and if your bloodline was not pure, you were nothing more than a dog of the nobles.

Of course, if you are a Saint or a Legend, then it's a different story.

At that time, you will naturally have a bunch of lost legendary families to choose from, and you can pick whichever noble bloodline you want to be.

The reason the empire dared to do this was mainly because of the so-called alliance.

This thing is the guardian of the knights' oaths and an extension of the empire's will.

He is more like a man-made god, a god belonging exclusively to the empire.

However, unlike other gods who require faith, He only needs an oath.

The rules were changed across all imperial territories, allowing nobles to wield power and influence within their domains through the power of the covenants.

At the same time, the covenant also enables the transfer of power.

"Goodness, thank goodness I'm not bound by any alliance."

Hayes's words made Jiang Shuzhou feel uneasy. This empire was too oppressive.

It's no wonder Hayes wanted to run away; after all, nobody wants to stay in a place like that.

"By the way, Hayes, are you now bound by the alliance?"

"My lord, I am bound only to you."

Is this how you show loyalty? Not bad, kid, it's time you improved.

"Good. Now, in my capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Mage Alliance's forces stationed in Mahabray, I appoint you as the Deputy Commander, responsible for carrying out the strategic tasks I have set and for the daily command and training of the army."

"Yes, my lord!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Soon, Jiang Shuzhou and the others arrived at the camp.

"Master Navis, you must be tired after traveling so far?"

"I'm not tired. Why would I be tired from riding in a carriage? If I'm tired, it's mentally."

Brutus's smile froze. How could he continue?

"Alright, I appreciate General Brutus's kindness, but the most pressing issue is the situation in Mahabre."

Jiang Shuzhou took the initiative and seized control of the conversation.

"Let's go, General Brutus, and see how the nobles of Mahabray behave!"

In fact, Jiang Shuzhou had known about Mahabre's situation for a long time, but his real intention was not what he wanted. He wanted the power to speak, not what about Mahabre's aristocracy.

Who cares?

"Mahabray... haha, he's doing alright, just a few minor issues."

Looking at Brutus's sincere smile, Jiang Shuzhou felt something was off.

That smile didn't seem fake. The situation was so bad, how could he possibly smile?

"No wonder."

When Jiang Shuzhou saw the diagram that was completely different from the one he had, he understood.

So you're even betraying your own people?

Regarding the issue of providing false information.

"The imperial nobles of Mahablay immediately dispatched troops to suppress the rebellion. Although they were unable to close the Abyss Gate immediately due to various reasons, they effectively slowed the spread of the occupied area."

"We believe..."

General Brutus was explaining the battlefield situation to Jiang Shuzhou in detail, but Jiang Shuzhou didn't want to listen to a single word.

War is all about intelligence. If even the most basic intelligence is wrong, what's the point of saying anything else?

"General Brutus, the leader of the All Saints' Alliance reinforcements has arrived."

The speaker was one of Brutus' lieutenants.

What happened to these slaves?

According to the treaty signed by the three parties, they should now unite to fight the great enemy, first suppress the demonic pollution, and prohibit attacks on each other.

However, one rule for each is that direct mutual attacks are prohibited, but it doesn't say that you can't cheat others.

Such things as remaining steadfast in the face of friendly forces in distress, or driving the enemy to face each other and making them fight each other, and so on.

Believers in God? You'll never leave alive!

"It seems this war is going to be quite interesting," Jiang Shuzhou said.

"War is not a game, so how can it be fun?"

Brutus retorted.

"War is a political game."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"An evil mage!"

"Slaves of the gods!"

"Gentlemen, gentlemen, please don't do this. We all have the same goal now."

Same goal?

I don't think so, do I?

"Ha, what good can these evil mages possibly do?"

"I advise you to be more careful with your words and actions, and don't let this madman who believes in the god of justice label you as evil because of some trivial matter."

"Don't let yourself get attacked one day."

Compared to Joan of Arc, Jiang Shuzhou is better at labeling people; he even gave an example to make his point more convincing.

"You...you're slandering me!"

"Is that so? Then do you dare to deploy a detection field on the others present?"

Anyway, Jiang Shuzhou wasn't afraid. His camp was on the side of order, at most leaning slightly towards evil.

However, none of the nobles present had done anything good.

"I...I..."

Joan of Arc was speechless.

Before she came, the bishop personally instructed her not to release the detection formation on those nobles, otherwise there might be big problems.

"Ha, hypocrisy!"

Jiang Shuzhou's words left Joan of Arc speechless and unable to refute.

"So, do you dare to release it?"

For some inexplicable reason, Joan of Arc dared to retort to Jiang Shuzhou.

"Of course I dare to say that."

Jiang Shuzhou was not bound by dogma, and he didn't care as long as the nobles around him were not chaotic and evil.

"you!"

Joan of Arc was now completely speechless.

"Alright, everyone, let's talk about the situation."

The situation? Let's talk again when you replace that map with a real one.