Chapter 1677 Ryker's Breakthrough
Chapter 1677: Ryker’s Breakthrough Chapter 1677: Ryker’s Breakthrough Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation There were many who had gone mad from killing.
However, while the demon race boasted an army of 60 million, they were mostly saint realm demon beasts. In contrast, Braydon Neal’s new recruits were all in the life and death realm. Despite the numerical difference, the demon army was vastly inferior in quality.
Braydon stood in the starry sky, gazing calmly at the battlefield with his deep eyes. He spoke evenly, “The 81st, 82nd, 83rd…
112th legions and others are showing scattered cooperation and lack trust among comrades.
Focus on training after the battle.” He continued, “The 88th legion will be rewarded with superior-grade Life and Death Path Pills after the battle!” On any battlefield, certain units always stood out. One such unit was the 88th legion—Ryker Schatzman’s legion. Among its 100,000 soldiers were veterans with blood-soaked hair and cold swords, shouting defiantly into the starry sky about the prosperity of the human race and the invincibility of the Northern Army.
In a short time, Ryker had unified their spirits. Despite being in the life and death realm, they wielded the Northern Army Sword Formation. The formation’s first step wasn’t about technique or cultivation; it was about trust. Two soldiers formed a team, trusting each other. Three could form a formation and hold their ground for a long time.
Braydon observed it all. Ryker, the top general under Luke Yates, though seemingly simple, commanded a formidable 13th legion. His regimental commanders were formidable adversaries.
Ryker exuded immense pressure. In the life and death thirteen realms, he had reached his peak, just a step away from the eternal realm. Covered in blood, he laughed defiantly at the heavens, “Haha, excellent!
Brothers of the 88th Legion, fear not!
In our homeland, there’s an underworld that specializes in gathering the deceased!
“Today, if you fall, I will fall with you.
In the underworld, I’ll gather millions of our old comrades from the Northern Army and defy the king of hell himself!” Ryker’s bravado was fully stoked by the the little fool. The soldiers of the 88th legion, all seasoned veterans, echoed his rallying cry: “The human race will triumph, and the Northern Army will not falter!” “Attack!” roared Ryker, his eyes burning with the fervor of battle, yet he remained attentive to his troops’ well-being. In any army, fearlessness was a prerequisite after countless battles. For him, dying without regrets was a given.
Such an army was a potent weapon on any battlefield, a blade that could pierce deep into the heart of the enemy’s ranks. Ignoring the other legions, Ryker led his soldiers straight into the core of the demon army.
“Commander, we’re surrounded!” cried out someone amidst the chaos.
“Surrounded?” Ryker snapped out of his battle trance, realizing that black spiders were swarming everywhere. His troops had ventured too far ahead, and the coordinating forces had not followed suit. It was a dire situation.
The demon army’s numbers were overwhelming. If they unleashed their full might without regard for losses, they would likely overwhelm Ryker’s forces.
“Attack!” Ryker’s eyes gleamed like lightning.
“Sword Formation!
Even if we die today, we make our mark here!” A thorn amidst the demon ranks, Ryker had no intention of breaking free from the encirclement. Escaping blindly would only hasten their demise. Surrounded on all sides, with the demon forces closing in, staying put and awaiting reinforcements seemed the only viable strategy.
His troops trusted in their commander’s judgment.
“Braydon!” Luke Yates had been eager to intervene and rescue Ryker.
Shaking his head, Braydon replied firmly, “You mustn’t intervene.
Fifteen million life and death realm cultivators against sixty million saint realm demons—if they can’t handle this, it would be a disgrace!” If anyone were to rescue Ryker, it would be Tanner Lynn and the others, all battle-hardened veterans. Survivors of this ordeal would surely harbor deeper loyalty to the Northern Army and a stronger sense of belonging. For Braydon, this battle demanded greater resource allocation and strategic investment in their future.
He aimed to assist these life and death realm warriors in breaking through to the eternal realm and extending their lives.
Half an hour had passed since the war erupted. The soldiers of the new army were gradually adapting to the battlefield, coordinating their efforts to mount a counterattack. The once formidable 60 million-strong demon army was steadily being decimated.
Amidst the chaos, a group of soldiers drenched in blood valiantly held their ground against the retreating demon forces—it was the 88th legion. Ryker, with blood-red eyes driven mad by the slaughter, had personally killed over 100,000 demons with his blade. His body battered, his aura in disarray, he stood at the heart of the conflict.
“He’s on the verge of a breakthrough!” Braydon observed with surprise as Ryker’s aura surged.
Boom!
A terrifying energy emanated from Ryker, repelling nearby spider demon beasts. The life and death energies within him reached their pinnacle, merging into perfection. They were on the brink of eternal unity.
Behind him, the embryonic form of an eternal path materialized—a testament to Ryker’s advancement into the eternal realm. Under this eternal power, all life seemed insignificant.
Ryker’s onslaught intensified. Each strike was relentless, his palm crushing a white spider beasts of the life and death realm.
With this ferocious slaughter, the Northern Army secured victory. The first clash between the two forces had concluded.
Commanders began regrouping their troops, preparing to withdraw to the Meteor Sea defense line. Meanwhile, they had to assess the toll of the battle.
Luther Carden approached Braydon with the casualty report in hand.
“The casualty figures are in,” he stated quietly.
Braydon, facing away, clenched his left hand tightly.
Luther hesitated briefly before delivering the grim news.
“216,000 dead.
Over a million injured.” Despite their cultivation in the life and death realm, the battle had claimed over 200,000 lives.
Although the demon forces were numerous, over 90% of them were only saint realm entities. Faced with life and death realm cultivators, they could be killed like dogs.
However, some soldiers of the Northern Army inevitably paid with their lives under the relentless siege of the Zergs.
“The fallen will receive dignified burials, and the survivors will be well cared for,” Braydon murmured solemnly.
“Yes, sir!” Luther acknowledged, taking personal charge of the matter. As Second Master overseeing the Northern Army military supplies, he would ensure that all legions received proper treatment.
Those who enlisted in the Northern Army coveted the Life and Death Path Pills the most, and Luther wasted no time in distributing a batch from the military warehouse. A total of 15 million pills were allocated, sufficient for each legion’s needs.
Luther approached Ryker, presenting him with a storage ring.
“The commander acknowledges the exceptional performance of the 88th legion under your command, Ryker.
Before the battle, you achieved a breakthrough to the eternal realm.
As a reward, your legion is granted 500,000 Life and Death Path Pills.” “Thank you, Second Master!” Ryker, still stained with blood, wore a foolish grin of gratitude.
He spoke earnestly, “Thank you, Commander!” “These pills are tokens of merit earned through demon beast kills.
Distribute them among your troops and use them for healing purposes,” Luther instructed, gesturing for the commanders who had received their allocations to disperse.
Other commanders looked on with envy at Ryker’s commendation.