CHAPTER 382: CHAPTER 334 GRAND MILITARY PARADE_1

The next morning, bright sunshine enveloped Bloodcrown City.

Thanks to geothermal heat, the city was filled with lush greenery. Meanwhile, the nearby peaks of Bloodcrown Mountain were already covered in snow.

Griffons circled in the sky, their cries sounding ethereal in the fine weather.

Fully armed Southern Camp Militia had cordoned off the entire Thunderous North-South Avenue, which ran through Bloodcrown City.

The Thunderous North-South Avenue intersected with the East-West Avenue in the middle of Bloodcrown City.

A large square was located there, upon which a viewing platform for the parade had been constructed.

All Clan Leaders of the Thunderous Swamp were invited to ascend the viewing platform.

Yan Xing, important officials from the Eternal Domain, and high-status Clan Leaders from the Swamp Tribe sat together on the central stage.

To Yan Xing’s left were Olaf, Duan’er, and Li Zhua.

To his right were Red Eye, Green Tail, and Long Jaw.

After the sound equipment placed at various high points around the square was ready, Yan Xing stood up and took the microphone handed to him by an attendant.

"Respected Clan Leaders of the Thunderous Swamp, residents and guests of Bloodcrown City," he began.

"Today is a very special day.

"Werewolves and Lizardmen of the Swamp sit together, while all tribal leaders of the Thunderous Swamp gather in this city.

"We all share a common wish: for the Swamp Tribe to truly rise, to be recognized by the world as an acknowledged civilization.

"No longer will we be pointed at, from the front or from behind, and hear them say: ’Look! Swamp barbarians! Beasts who only know how to roll in mud!’

"Respect comes from strength.

"Civilization stems from awakening.

"The rise of the Swamp requires the entire Swamp to unite. Internal conflict will only cause us to sink deeper into the mire, leading to our eventual extinction.

"I am not resorting to scare tactics.

"If you knew what is currently happening in the outside world, you would understand that a world-sweeping change is unfolding.

"The Swamp cannot shelter a fragmented Swamp Tribe.

"To survive, to ensure our continuation, and to become a dominant race after the great upheaval, we must seize this opportunity.

"The Eternal Werewolf Tribe, a force possessing formidable military power and abundant wealth, is willing to bear the heavy responsibility of leading the Swamp Tribe. I, too, am willing to fulfill the duty entrusted to me by the Thunderous Swamp and become the Sole Ruler of the Swamp Tribe!"

None of the Werewolf and Lizardmen Clan Leaders attending the Eternal Domain’s military parade had anticipated this. They hadn’t expected Yan Xing, in his opening remarks, to declare outright that the Eternal Domain intended to lead the Thunderous Swamp. He even proclaimed himself its Sole Ruler!

This was too presumptuous! Had he consulted everyone’s opinion? Had he considered their feelings? Who elected you? Who appointed you?!

However, at this moment, not a single Clan Leader dared to step forward and ’uphold justice.’

After all, Yan Xing still carried the intimidating prestige from quelling the Heize Werewolf rebellion. Opposing him now? Wouldn’t that be courting death?

We’ll discuss this issue thoroughly once the general assembly of Clan Leaders begins.

When Yan Xing concluded his speech, apart from the fervent applause from his own loyalists, the others reacted with lukewarm, perfunctory claps.

Yan Xing was unconcerned by this response.

Eventually, most of these Clan Leaders will just be figureheads. Within the Thunderous Swamp, apart from myself, there’s no need for these grassroots authorities.

Once the opening remarks concluded, Yan Xing announced the commencement of the military parade.

A solemn and grand symphonic march began to play.

A Great Army arranged in square formations marched from north to south, passing through the central square of Bloodcrown City in succession.

This military parade was a world apart from the shabby one Yan Xing had held in the Eternal Domain during the assembly of Werewolf Clan Leaders from the southern fringe of the Thunderous Swamp.

The Eternal Domain’s main forces had abandoned the First and Second Order troops.

The Second Order militia, serving as the Eternal Domain’s reserve forces, were retained in small numbers. They were responsible for maintaining order in the human-inhabited areas of the Eternal Domain.

First Order Werewolves, like human farmers, formed the basic population.

Second Order Great Werewolves were incorporated into the Southern Camp, serving as a military supplement to the Eternal Domain’s main forces.

Their primary duties included garrisoning, patrolling, and logistical support.

Thus, the first to pass through the central square of Bloodcrown City was the Werewolf Sharpshooter formation.

The Werewolf Sharpshooters wore Eternal Domain Army jungle combat uniforms. They were equipped with a rifle Yan Xing had named the Sparrow Hunting Rifle, a local adaptation of the Mosin-Nagant.

To demonstrate the power of this weapon to the Swamp Tribe Clan Leaders, many of whom were seeing a firearm for the first time, a Werewolf Sharpshooter conducted a live-fire demonstration at a target range set up in the square.

He loaded five bullets at once and fired them all within ten seconds, leaving five bullet holes in a set of metal armor 30 meters away.

When the on-site commentator announced that the rifle’s effective combat range was 400 meters, with a maximum firing distance of up to 1,000 meters, the Swamp Tribe Clan Leaders suddenly felt their own slingshots were rather lacking.

As the Werewolf Sharpshooter formation arrived directly before the viewing platform, all the sharpshooters simultaneously fixed bayonets to their Sparrow Hunting Rifles and performed a series of bayonet drills.

Their shouts of ’HUAH!’ were fierce, brimming with killing intent.

After the Werewolf Sharpshooter formation marched past, they were followed by the Werewolf Heavy Crossbowmen formation.

The Werewolf Heavy Crossbowmen were armed with 72mm Rabbit-Hunting Infantry Cannons. Each cannon, disassembled into components, was carried by its respective gun crew.

While passing the viewing platform, the Werewolf Heavy Crossbowmen demonstrated the rapid assembly and aiming of an infantry cannon.

After the Werewolf Heavy Crossbowmen disassembled the infantry cannon and moved forward, the Werewolf Warrior formation arrived.

Yan Xing had not retained the Fifth Order Werewolf Warrior troop type. After all, with a small expenditure of God-given gold coins, they could all be trained into the more powerful Sixth Order Werewolf Warriors.