[Twenty] General White Wolf’s Dilemma
71

White Wolf slightly nodded, his gaze darkening, recalling the moment he had faced Stron. “I have had a confrontation with Stron,” his voice was low and powerful, “I am naturally aware of his abilities. His combat skills are extraordinarily precise, long surpassing those of an ordinary priest.”

Ghost Soldier C stood in the corner, hands clasped, his expression uneasy. His voice carried a trace of anxiety: “General, are we to simply exhaust ourselves here against Stron? If we continue entangling with them, ultimately our entire force will be annihilated. Please think carefully. In the long run, there may be no way to survive.”

White Wolf’s brows furrowed tightly, clearly feeling deeply troubled by this situation. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes, and he murmured softly to himself: “Of course I know Stron is not easy to deal with.” He paused for a moment, his gaze fixed in the distance as if seeking some breakthrough. “However, if we do not restrain Stron, he will inevitably take his Demon-Slaying Army to Switzerland to join forces with the Maria Group. Once they converge, the main forces on the side of the leader and the mages will be caught in a pincer attack.”

He slowly turned to the ghost soldiers, his gaze becoming sharp and resolute. “You are right, we cannot sit idly and wait for death, but we also cannot act rashly. I need to calmly consider a strategy and make the most appropriate decision.” He paused, his tone firm: “Go rest now. Do not let emotions affect your judgment.”

72

Nightfall descended, and the intersections on the west side of Florence were shrouded in dead silence. A gentle breeze stirred, and the ancient buildings lining the streets cast long shadows under the dim lights. In the distance, the formations of the Iron-Blooded Guard gradually appeared. The dragons ridden by the Dragon Knights circled in the air, the flapping of their wings stirring gusts of wind.

The Marine sentry squad stared tensely into the distance. Suddenly, one squad leader grabbed the radio equipment and called out urgently: “Report, Colonel! A unit in unusual attire is approaching from the front!” His words were filled with uncertainty and vigilance.

Through the radio came the voice of Colonel Rinaldo, calm and authoritative: “What kind of unit are they? Could it be reinforcements for the vampires?”

“Colonel, they are armed with spears and shields, their formation orderly, like a medieval Roman army,” Squad Leader A said, his voice low, tinged with doubt and tension.

Rinaldo furrowed his brow, his tone carrying a hint of puzzlement: “This is strange! If they were troops from the Vatican side, how could they be using spears and shields? Continue observation. Be sure to ascertain their intent and report back as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Colonel!” Squad Leader A turned and left, his steps hurried and urgent.

Standing to the side, Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Fisch paused for a moment in thought, then suddenly spoke in a low voice: “Colonel, could it be the rumored Iron-Blooded Guard?”

Rinaldo looked back at him in puzzlement, his brows tightly furrowed: “Iron-Blooded Guard? What is that?”

Fisch slightly nodded, his expression somewhat serious as he explained: “I once heard from an old priest that, according to legend, there is a vampire princess named Maria. She rules over a group of kind-hearted vampires, and this army is her guard.”

Rinaldo could not help but let out a light laugh, tinged with sarcasm: “Vampires can also be kind-hearted? Staff Officer, you are truly a joke.”

Fisch’s expression remained serious, his gaze sharp as a sword: “Colonel, I would rather believe the story of the old priest. Think about it—if it really were a reinforcement unit of vampires, how could they not notice the heavily fortified defenses at every entrance and recklessly charge in? That would defy logic.”

Rinaldo took a deep breath and responded in a low voice: “All’s fair in war. We must maintain vigilance. If their intentions are hostile, we will strike first.”

Fisch thought for a moment and suggested: “Colonel, how about this: once they arrive, I will be the one to approach them and inquire about their intentions.”

Rinaldo slightly nodded, his gaze stern: “Very well, but you must be careful. If anything seems off, withdraw immediately.”

Before long, the Iron-Blooded Guard finally arrived at the intersection. The unit led by the Dragon Knight marched with steady steps, the sound of hooves heavy and firm. The Marine squad members immediately tensed, holding their long spears steadily, watching the approaching force cautiously.

Lieutenant Colonel Fisch stepped out from behind cover, his posture upright and his gaze sharp. He stopped in the middle of the road, stood firm, and loudly asked: “May I ask if you are the Iron-Blooded Guard? I am Marine Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Fisch.”

A soldier ahead, C, waved in response: “Yes! We just came from headquarters. Our mission is to support the Italian government and sweep up the Anderson terror group.”

Fisch slightly nodded, relaxing his gaze a little. He then raised his hand and gestured to the troops behind him, signaling everyone to lower their alert. “Welcome,” he said, walking toward them with an elegant demeanor. His steps were steady, as if he had complete confidence in the upcoming discussion.

Colonel Rinaldo, accompanied by several officers, then approached. Upon seeing the Dragon Knight, Rinaldo extended his right hand and smiled: “I am Rinaldo, commander of the Marine Alpha Unit, representing General Duccio in welcoming you.”

The Dragon Knight leapt down from a massive flying dragon. His agile posture drew the attention of all Marine officers and soldiers. With a light jump, the flying dragon immediately became the focus of everyone’s gaze. The Dragon Knight approached Rinaldo, shook his hand, his gaze resolute: “Colonel, I am the Captain of the Guard of Princess Maria. By order of the princess, I lead the elite of my unit to support the Italian government and sweep up the aberrations of the Anderson Group.”

Rinaldo slightly smiled, a trace of relief flashing in his eyes: “With your support, our chances of dealing with this elusive vampire group have increased.”

The Dragon Knight nodded lightly, his tone clear and resonant: “The main assault against this vampire group will be carried out by my unit. You hold your positions and leave the enemy no chance to escape.”

Rinaldo took a deep breath and replied firmly: “Understood. I will report to the general shortly.”

The Dragon Knight’s unit immediately split into four routes, quickly entering their respective responsibility zones, moving swiftly and orderly. Rinaldo watched their backs and could not help but marvel: “They are well-trained, disciplined—truly impressive.”

Fisch stood to the side, his gaze filled with approval: “Colonel, with them as the main force, we can be somewhat reassured.”

At the same time, the Black Bat unit generals, Black Bear and White Wolf, were leading their ghost soldiers in intense combat against Stron the priest’s Demon-Slaying Army and the Dragon Knight’s Iron-Blooded Guard. After several nights of fierce fighting, both sides suffered heavy casualties. Although Generals White Wolf and Black Bear were exhausted and overwhelmed by the situation, they still had not received withdrawal orders from Archmage Rufe, and therefore could only endure, hesitating to act recklessly.