...…
Shin told the rest to try challenging the fallen Dragon Knight Army a few more tis, seeing if they could learn more about their battle formations, and ca up with counterasures that they could use against those.
The next few attempts went a little smoother compared to the previous ones as they were able to break through the outer layer of the army. But unfortunately, they were stacked in the middle and unable to advance further.
In the end, they were forced to retreat once again, knowing that it was only going to be dangerous for them if they insisted on going further.
They indeed failed three more tis and felt disappointed. But it didn't an that they gained nothing from it. Shin learned quite a lot from the strategies the opposing side was using. He also learned how to counter most of them despite having a limited number.
But at the sa ti, Shin also learned that the variety of battle formations the army could use was endless. He already morized the formations that they were using and none of them were repeated even a single ti.
This was the main reason why he couldn't think of a good counterasure against them. Even if he tried to lure the opposing side towards a trap, none of his tricks seed to work since they were using a different battle formation every ti.
It seed like they had a corresponding battle formation in all kinds of situations.
"So, what is the plan?" asked Arthur as he sat beside Shin.
The others were also looking at him since he was the main shot caller of this team. They were waiting for his instructions.
Shin knew that they now had no choice but to retreat further and tried challenging these guys later when their reinforcents arrived.
Though, he still was not sure where they could get them.
The nature of this quest was very unique and they couldn't just invite anything. The penalty for character deletion was pretty harsh. Forget about the fact that they needed so people that they could trust, looking for people who could ask for help was already a problem.
Their current problem required a large number of people, so the solution that he could think of was to ask the guys guarding the portal on the other side of the towering wall of ice.
'Owen and Chaotic Luck are perfect for the areas that we are lacking right now,' Shin fell in deep thought, trying to consider the possibilities that could happen if he summoned the two to help them.
The defense on the portal was going to weaken greatly if Owen and Chaotic Luck left, so he needed to at least find soone who would fill the role that they had.
After contemplating for a long ti, Shin could only think of two people. The first one was Shiella who was obviously out of the question since she needed to oversee everything on the other side, especially keeping an eye on the Corrupted Cult.
This left him with the other person which was David. Or most commonly known in the virtual world as Khing, the forr number player in every ga.
It was also a good idea if joined them in this Empire Quest since his strength was definitely going to be a big help to them.
Unfortunately, what they needed the most right now was not strength, but numbers. An overwhelming number to be exact.
The Fallen Dragon Knight Army was powerful and their numbers were quite high. But they were not as large as the other armies that the group had faced, so Shin thought that it was not the main issue that needed to be solved.
He still believed that the strength that the current team had was more than enough to handle those fallen knights. He only needed the right number of people to match the opposing side so that he could counter the combat formations that were giving them real trouble.
After thinking for a few monts, Shin finally contacted Shiella and David before asking them about their current situation and also proposing his idea.
The two fell into deep thought and tried to see if Shin's suggestion was going to affect their overall plan. They were also considering other options that could solve their problems.
But after thinking for quite so ti, they also ca up with the sa conclusion as him. They agreed that the easiest and safest choice that they have was to call Owen and Chaotic Luck over and leave the teleportation portal to David.
Though, it also ant that Shiella had to deal with the issue concerning the Saint Heaven Kingdom and the Corrupted Cult alone. But it was way better than risking the Empire Quest by asking for so outsider's help.
After discussing a little longer with the two, Shin finally ended the call and inford the others of the adjustnts to their original plans.
...
"That's everything for now. Let's rest a little more while we are waiting for Owen and Chaotic Luck," he said before going back to rest.
Shiella and David needed more ti to finish all of the arrangents that they needed before proceeding with everything, so they still had a lot of free ti they could spend.
But before he could fully relax his body, he suddenly rembered sothing and quickly turned back to the others. "Ah! We also can explore the surrounding areas a little more when we are done resting and regroup with those two."
"It is also a good opportunity to get familiar with the new formation that we are going to have when they join us. We can perfect our team that way."
"We also need to restock our supply of potions since we already spent a lot of them earlier. We can harvest all of the herbs that we are going to see along the way as usual."
The others agreed without question before finding a good spot to rest. And as usual, Cloe sat on the empty space beside Shin and leaned her head on his shoulders.
Shin didn't mind it at all since he was already used to it, but the other people who were unfamiliar with them couldn't help but look at them with weird gazes.
"Tsk! Tsk! Taking advantage of the situation again, huh?" Arthur clicked his tongue repeatedly when he saw the scene.
Cloe glared at him for a mont before sticking her tongue out on him. "Mind your own business!"
He was already used to them being this close, but he still couldn't stand them being used to those actions despite not being in an official relationship. Though, he was also fully aware that it was still his brother's fault. 'Just how long is this guy going to be stubborn.'
'Don't tell he still thinking about the words that Auntie Claudia had told him before?' thought Arthur to himself as he rembered when he overheard Shin being scolded by Cloe's mother before.
At that ti, Arthur was sure that Shin took all of those painful words personally and kept them inside his chest. The guy didn't say anything and also did not want anyone to learn about it, which was why he kept it a secret.
Arthur looked at Shin for quite sothing before taking a deep breath and shaking his head. 'Ah! Whatever! I will talk to him about it so other ti!'
************
In the anti, sowhere within the Frozen Kingdom, another battle was taking place with Shin and the others knowing.
Sha!
Diablo picked up his dagger, pulling it from the chest of another player lying on the ground. "Tsk! I already know it, but I still don't expect that they are going to send this many people when they are busy dealing with the matters on their side."
This was the thirteenth wave of enemies that he dealt with, and all of them were first-class sweepers from the Pandemonium Descendants.
"This is really troubleso," he muttered with a little annoyance. He could just solve this problem if he left this place right now.
Unfortunately, he couldn't do that since he knew that sooner or later, the Pandemonium Troupe would make their move.
It was a perfect ti to weaken their forces. And if he managed to capture one or two of them, then it would greatly affect their future plans.
He was sure that this place was related to the quest that the Troupe was doing, so the success of the people from the other group was very important to them.
He was here to interrupt the quest and make the Dragon God and the rest fail. But these pursuers were giving him so trouble which was why he couldn't focus on his plans.
And since it was already like this, then all he could do was to keep killing these small fries and forced a troupe mber to make their move.
There was also a high chance for the Pandemonium Troupe to make contact with the other party to propose a collaboration for clearing their respective quests.
Diablo was not sure if the Dragon God and the others would accept the offer since he was aware of the previous conflicts that happened between the two groups. But everything could be possible as long as the benefits were decent enough for the ceasefire.
And given his knowledge about the leader of the troupe, he was sure that that cunning guy would propose sothing that the other side could not refuse.
"Or if it even doesn't work, then that guy will definitely use force. And that is a perfect ti for to strike," he muttered to himself as he swept his gaze at the surroundings, making sure that he didn't miss anyone.
When he was about to leave, he suddenly received a call that made him frown deeply. "Tsk! Why is this greedy guy calling at a ti like this?"
"Oy! I didn't for any information this ti, why are you contacting right now? It is very unusual for you," he said imdiately after answering the call.
"Hey-ho~! Don't be like that, our dear custor! Don't you know how we value you over our custors?" answered the voice from the other side of the line.
"Tsk! Stop with flattery and just them what you want. And make it quick, I am currently busy," said Diablo with a little annoyance.
The information rchant chuckled a little before continuing. "Straightforward as usual, this is what I want about you, Mr. Diablo."
"But don't worry! I am sure that you are going to like this information that I am going to give you. It concerns that thing that you are currently occupied with."
He then paused for a mont as if he was purposely teasing Diablo. "But before that, how about we talk about the price first?"
'Tsk! I knew it,' thought Diablo to himself but still said. "Continue! I will pay the sa amount as usual."
"Ho-ho! It is really nice doing business with you. But unfortunately, it is still not enough. I at least need a double since this is a piece of important information that I've got from the inside," said the greedy rchant, trying to bargain.
Diablo squinted his eyes when he those words. But it was not due to the price of the information, but because of where it ca from.
He was only asking for information regarding the Pandemonium Descendants and the matters related to them
He was familiar with them and he knew that the classified information about their quests and actions was strictly controlled. It was impossible for it to leak, unless soone purposely did it.
Diablo was very suspicious this ti. 'I am only predicting their moves by looking at the movents of the Troupe and their Sweepers, which are very hard to hide. That is the main reason why this greedy guy is able to keep track of them.'
'But for their plans to have leaked like this? I can't help but feel that this is a trap,' he added to his thoughts but still continued. "I understand, but I need the credibility of this information."
"If it turns out to be wrong information, then you need to give a refund and triple the usual as compensation," he added as a warning. He knew how this guy loved money and he would do anything just to earn them.
This information rchant was even afraid of losing a single cent when doing a transaction.
And just like he was expecting, the greedy rchant hesitated for a mont before accepting his offer.
Though, the guy still agreed to him. But also added a condition of his own in the end. "Alright, but I also need you to promise that my business is not going to be affected after everything is over!"
"Deal!" answered Diablo. "Then tell everything about this and don't leave a single detail behind."
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