CHAPTER 490: CHAPTER 355 HIGHLAND CITY MEETING_1

The war that took place on the Wildwind Highlands ended unexpectedly for everyone.

The previously defensive Eternal Domain suddenly attacked the Wildwind Principality. On the first day, they encircled the principality’s main forces and broke through the important fortress of Riftfort.

Even without completely annihilating the main forces of the Wildwind Principality, they split their troops and occupied the principality’s capital, Storm City.

In the end, it only took two days to conclude the battle.

Duke Anderson led the surviving troops on a retreat to the northwest, seeking refuge in Highland City under the protection of the Orcs.

Along the way, he gathered the defending forces from various forts, ultimately commanding over ten thousand soldiers.

The Duchy’s Army, encircled at the Outpost Fort battlefield, ultimately chose to surrender to the Eternal Domain.

Thus, the half-year-long war on the Wildwind Highlands came to an end.

Of the five most important cities on the highlands, Eternal City and Storm City fell under the control of the Eternal Domain, while Frostleaf City and Nuta City were in the hands of their allies, the Snow Elves and the Kingdom of Silvermane.

The Barbaric Orcs retained only Highland City, their territory significantly reduced to merely a few frontier forts serving as strategic barriers before the city.

This war in the Wildwind Highlands ended with a comprehensive victory for the Thunderous Swamp Alliance.

As for the Cloudtower Alliance, not only was the Wildwind Principality reduced to a government-in-exile, but a large number of Alchemical Weapons, equipment, and technologies lent to the principality by Cloud Tower had also fallen into the hands of the Eternal Domain.

Simultaneously, the war had a significant impact on the world’s geopolitical situation.

People realized that the Thunderous Swamp Alliance was not as weak as they had imagined, and Cloud Tower was not as strong as they had assumed.

Rumors were rife: six Tower Mages had been assassinated by the Eternal Domain, among whom was a Master Level Mage who had elementalized his body.

The morale of the Thunderous Swamp camp skyrocketed.

Meanwhile, the Cloudtower Alliance was filled with apprehension.

To reverse the alliance’s decline and recover lost territories as swiftly as possible, Anderson, now in Highland City, immediately sent out invitations for a war council to allied nations and noble territories.

Together, they would discuss strategies for the next stage of the war.

Highland City was suddenly teeming with influential figures.

Emperor Morton of the Gryphon Heart Empire and the Orc Chieftain Isaiah both arrived in Highland City, with most other leaders of noble territories also attending in person.

Cloud Tower sent a member of their council of elders.

This demonstrated how seriously they regarded the war in the Wildwind Highlands; they all wanted to know exactly what had happened at Outpost Fort and wondered if the same could happen to them.

As the organizer of the Cloudtower Alliance and someone who had personally experienced the war in the Wildwind Highlands, Anderson, despite having lost his own territory and army, still received the respect due him at the meeting.

At the head of the conference table sat Elwin, an elder from Cloud Tower. His body had undergone fire elementalization, resulting in red skin and flame-blue hair and beard. He was clothed in a white magic robe signifying his status as an elder of Cloud Tower.

Seated to Elwin’s left were the young Emperor Morton of the Gryphon Heart Empire and Orc Chieftain Isaiah.

Anderson seated himself beside the Emperor of the Gryphon Heart Empire.

Other allies took their places according to their respective statuses on either side of the long conference table.

The meeting hall reflected the rough style of the Orcs, with walls adorned with bone artworks symbolizing bravery, and fully armed, strong Ogres serving as guards around the room.

However, the atmosphere in the meeting was somewhat tense.

After all, the alliance had suffered a severe setback.

Considering Elder Elwin’s grim expression, perhaps the news of the six Tower Mages dying in Storm City was true.

As the host, Orc Chieftain Isaiah was the first to break the silence, asking Anderson, "As an enemy who fought on the Wildwind Highlands for a long time, I am well aware of the strength of the Wildwind Principality’s army.

Yet such a formidable force was so easily annihilated by the Eternal Domain.

I believe everyone in this room wants to know what exactly happened on the Outpost Fort battlefield.

And is Highland City still worth defending?"

For Anderson, Highland City was his only hope of reclaiming his lost territory. If the Orcs abandoned Highland City, retaking it would be incredibly difficult.

Anderson had chosen Highland City for this meeting partly to bolster the alliance’s resolve, emphasizing the necessity of holding onto the city.

He stood up and addressed those in attendance, "In recent days, some of our soldiers who escaped from Outpost Fort have returned and recounted the details of the battle there.

The main reason for our defeat was the Eternal Domain’s deployment of numerous Alchemical Weapons against which we currently have no means of contending.

Airships, Divine Beasts, Griffons; these were rendered helpless before such weapons capable of tracking their targets.

On the ground, they deployed thousands of steel Alchemical War Chariots, against which our weapons could inflict no effective damage.

Our disadvantage in weaponry was the primary cause of our defeat."

By stating in front of so many people that their weapons were inferior, Anderson undeniably slighted Cloud Tower in public.

After all, all the Alchemical Weapons used by the Wildwind Principality’s army were provided by Cloud Tower.

To say their weapons were inferior was tantamount to saying Cloud Tower’s Alchemy was inferior to that of Thunderous Swamp, wasn’t it?

Elder Elwin said, "Anderson, do not attribute the defeat caused by your incompetence to the weapons.

Do you have any idea what kind of losses your disgraceful abandonment of Storm City caused Cloud Tower?"

Anderson immediately bowed to Elder Elwin. "I apologize, Elder Elwin. I had no intention of offending Cloud Tower.

With the principality’s main forces surrounded by the Eternal Domain, the troops within Storm City were insufficient to defend such a large city. Withdrawing to conserve our strength was my only choice."