The Adventures of an Overpowered Knight in Another World Chapter 747- Divine Paladin Takes the Field (3)

She pointed toward several sections of the map.

"The First and Sixth Divisions are maintaining the primary defensive line. The Second, Fourth, and Fifth Divisions are rotating between the eastern and western fronts. The Third Division has suffered the greatest casualties and has been reorganized into smaller support units."

She continued explaining the current situation with the war.

"We have already abandoned these areas. Every position we establish is eventually overwhelmed."

Reinhardt carefully listened to everything, eventually asking.

"Are their numbers that high?"

"Yes, but that is just a part of it." Erza nodded.

"But the greater problem is the terrain itself. The enemy deployed a new Abomination."

Abominations are creatures like the Abyss Nests and Baccarat, too huge and couldn’t be classified in the current hierarchy of the demons.

"We have named it the Blightheart Colossus. It resembles an enormous mass of roots, organs, and mineral growths. It does not move quickly, but wherever it passes, the surrounding land begins to get corrupted by the demonic energy. The soil we have previously purified using the World Tree’s branches is slowly being corrupted once again."

In this protracted war, the most troublesome thing would be to have no ground to fight on. This was the territory of the demons. The only reason the Dawnbringers were able to come this far and survive was because they had purified the land and could stand on it without getting poisoned by the oversaturated demonic particles.

Erza continued.

"Although the corruption can be purified, it is temporary. After a while, the land returns to being corrupted once again. The creature appears to be connected to the earth through thousands of underground tendrils. Unless we kill the abomination itself, the spreading corruption would not stop."

She then pointed toward a series of markers.

"We have attempted three attacks. The first attack was forced back by the corrupted terrain. The second attack failed due to the ambush from the Organization, the burrowing Abominations, and the release of plague. For the third attack, we tried to sneak where the creature was using smaller elite teams, only to discover that the entire region around it had been prepared as a trap."

Brutus clenched his fists.

"We lost one hero during that attempt."

Reinhardt’s eyes remained on the map. The fall of one of the heroes was indeed a devastating blow for the Dawnbringers. However, he did not blame them. After all, desperate situations call for desperate measures.

Erza continued.

"The Blightheart Colossus is proving too great of a trouble. Demons are using it to steadily reduce the amount of territory we can fight on."

Every day, the safe zone was becoming smaller. Every day, their formations were compressed further.

"If we allow the situation to persist, soon the entire expeditionary force would be forced into a small area. Then it would become easier for the Heavenly Kings to strike all of us at once."

The atmosphere inside the tent grew heavy again.

Reinhardt quietly studied the map. The enemy was not merely trying to defeat the Dawnbringers in open battle. They were suffocating them. Corrupting the land. Destroying their escape routes. Forcing every division into an increasingly smaller area until there was nowhere left to maneuver.

He had to say, it was systematic, patient, and deliberate.

But more than that, from the demons’ plan, he sensed something. A vague familiarity.

At this time, Erza spoke in a resolute voice.

"We can continue holding for several more days. Perhaps longer now that you and Saintess Vanessa have returned. But unless we destroy the Blightheart Colossus and break the enemy’s encirclement..."

Her eyes met Reinhardt’s.

"...this battlefield will eventually become our grave."

Reinhardt remained silent for a moment. Then, he slowly rested one hand on his chestplate near his heart and the other on his sword. A salute that every knight was familiar with.

"The Eighth Rule of Steel. Burn brighter than the night. When the Forces of Darkness rise, a knight becomes the flame that refuses to die."

He lifted his gaze and spoke in a voice that reached everyone.

"As long as even one flame remains, the darkness has not won."

The oppressive atmosphere inside the tent loosened at those words.

Reinhardt glanced across the gathered heroes and knights before offering them a reassuring smile.

"Do not worry about the Blightheart Colossus. I have a way to restrain its corruption."

Hearing this, Erza’s eyes widened slightly.

"You can stop the spread?"

"Yes." Reinhardt nodded and gave a few instructions. "Assign a dedicated team to eliminate it the moment it enters the battlefield. Choose knights with high mobility and strong resistance to corruption."

Erza nodded.

"I will arrange it."

Reinhardt then looked around the table. Everyone had been waiting for what came next. His return had restored their hope. But hope alone would not win the battle.

Reinhardt took a deep breath and spoke with sincerity.

"First, thank you. For enduring until now. For protecting the wounded and for keeping the expedition alive despite everything thrown against you."

His expression became solemn.

"You have all done more than enough. From this point onward, we stop enduring."

No one spoke. A subtle pressure filled the command tent. The heroes present all had a glint in their eyes.

Then, Reinhardt finally spoke the words they were waiting for.

"We will win."

"Hahaha..."

Brutus gave a rowdy laugh and excitedly patted Reinhardt. The latter rolled his eyes at him, his lips twitching.

This guy really did not hold back. Was he trying to nail him down on the ground?

Reinhardt looked at the map and gathered everyone’s attention on it.

"In every battle until now, the demons have held the initiative. They chose when to attack, where to strike. They even prepared the terrain and forced us to respond. That ends now."

He pressed a finger to show his determination.

What followed after was a long and detailed discussion. Reinhardt came up with several plans to flip the situation and win this war in one go. Many of the plans were so shocking that one could not help but feel surprise.

After all, the method he was speaking of was completely different from the ones they had been employing up until now.

The further he explained, the stranger the expressions around the table became.

Sigurd stared at the map.

"You intend to do all of that in a single battle?"

Gareth frowned.

"Can the divisions even move into those positions without being detected?"

Brutus folded his arms.

"And what happens if one part arrives late?"

Erza also studied the plan, giving her own remarks.

"The margin for error is extremely small."

"It is." Reinhardt did not deny it. "But if it works..."

"Their entire formation collapses," Erza finished his sentence.

Silence returned to the tent. Though this time, it was not born from despair. It was anticipation.

The plan carried considerable risk. However, the return was too great. Furthermore, this was their greatest opportunity to flip the board.

Some of the knights couldn’t help but question, their voices filled with anticipation.

"Commander... can this really be done?"

Reinhardt looked toward him.

"Don’t worry, the plan will definitely work. This time, humanity will trap the demons and deal with them all at once."

After that, the discussion continued deep into the night. Reinhardt provided them with several necessary items. Every aspect of the plan was properly examined, and every team and unit received a role.

By the time Reinhardt stepped out of the command tent, it was already midnight. The encampment was abuzz with knights already moving according to his orders.

Of course, they were still exhausted. Weeks of continuous battle had pushed most of the knights to their limits.

After observing every knight in the encampment, Reinhardt stopped at an isolated corner of the camp. Then he raised his hand and slowly let the power within him surge out.

Divine Energy released from him like a tsunami.

"[Radiant Renewal]."

Golden light spread beneath his feet. At first, it resembled a small ripple. Then it expanded. Across the nearby tents, medical stations, then further and further.

Before long, the night sky was gradually filled with glowing motes. Looking from afar, it appeared like a vast golden sea.

The spectacle was magnificent and breathtaking.

Of course, the main purpose of these lights was not for admiring. The motes of light falling down transformed into radiant dandelions. When they landed upon the weary bodies of the knights, the wounds on them closed at a visible rate.

Poison, lacerations, burns... any affliction vanished swiftly. Broken bones mended. Even the exhaustion accumulated over countless battles and sleepless nights faded as if washed away by warm sunlight.

Even those without injuries felt their bodies lighten. The mana within them flowed more smoothly.

Furthermore, the skill also had a phenomenal effect. The gloom hanging over the camp was swept aside. Like darkness meeting dawn. Anything negative was swiftly dispelled by the light.

"My wounds..."

"They are gone."

"I can move again."

"My strength has returned."

Reinhardt could hear the surprise in their voices.