Chapter 166 - 165

bite!The spearheads clashed, and Jarvan staggered two steps. As he prepared to defend, he saw Xin Zhao bypass him and thrust his spear into the face of the unsuspecting Lightshield fortress soldier.Even with Ryan's timely magical parry, the soldier still grunted and flew backward. If his two companions hadn't used their bodies to block his impact, he would have been sent flying out of the formation.The soldier got up, glanced at Xin Zhao, and without hesitation stepped back, leaving the ranks."mean!"Jarvan's face was contorted with rage as he swung his halberd with all his might, only to be blocked once again by Xin Zhao."Do you think we're playing house? Or is the magical protection giving you some kind of illusion?"Clad in black armor, Xin Zhao appeared exceptionally cold and aloof. He used his spear to block the halberd, his weathered face displaying unwavering resolve."What kind of general can't be responsible for his soldiers?"For every enemy soldier he kills, one less soldier might die on his side—that's his path!He gripped his spear tightly, as if recalling some past event, and thrust the spear with even greater force.The gun moved like a nimble snake, swift as the wind, and as swift as lightning.Ding! Ding! Ding!Jarvan's face was contorted with rage as he swung his halberd repeatedly. Though he was forced to retreat, he didn't miss a single shot.He was confident that his fighting talent was no less than Xin Zhao's, but he was still too inexperienced, while Xin Zhao was a veteran of countless battles and was in his prime.Jarvan was well aware of the gap between the two of them.bite!Jarvan swung his halberd again to parry, and staggered slightly.Instead of drawing his gun, Xin Zhao quickly withdrew it and turned to the right.bite!The silver-white spear clashed with the black spear in his hand, and the spear in his hand actually bent the white spear."ah!!"No matter how hard the Lightshield Bulwark soldiers tried, they couldn't budge their guns an inch.laugh!The black gun moved as fast as a black dragon, and before the soldier could react, it had already pierced his neck.Had it not been for the magical light, the soldier would have been killed on the spot.bite!!!The clanging of steel clashing rang out again, and Jarvan stepped forward with his halberd, engaging Xin Zhao in combat once more."Cough cough."The eliminated soldier gasped for breath, silently and consciously stepping back to avoid his teammates. He wasn't discouraged, because he had achieved his goal.Xin Zhao had already charged into the Lightshield Bulwark lines, facing an attack from both sides.He remained fearless, wielding his spear with impenetrable skill, giving his opponent no chance whatsoever.In no time, more than ten members of Lightshield Bulwark had been eliminated."Haven't you noticed yet?"Xin Zhao snorted coldly, dodging the spear thrusting from behind, and then clashed his spear with Jarvan's halberd."What do you want to say?" Jarvan said coldly.Since the other party doesn't want to fight him one-on-one, he should be prepared to be surrounded and killed.No matter how strong the opponent is, can they withstand a hundred elite soldiers?"You should have a companion normally, someone who will protect you on both sides."Xin Zhao remained calm as he thrust his spear into a soldier's eye socket, eliminating him from the fight."What exactly are you trying to say?" Jarvan asked, somewhat annoyed. " Garen is indeed often by my side, but I'm not as weak as you might think.""You may have strong command abilities, but on a high-level battlefield, you can't even afford to be distracted. Haven't you noticed that your troops are becoming disorganized?"Xin Zhao thrust out his spear, like a war god on the battlefield, once again forcing back the surging crowd."Disconnected?" Jarvan was startled.During a brief lull in the fighting, he glanced back at the battlefield and was astonished to find that Xin Zhao was right.Due to Xin Zhao's advance, the Trifarix Legion and Xin Zhao were separated.Because of this, Lightshield Bulwark was forced to split into two parts.One group was preoccupied with dealing with the Trifarian Legion, while another group was working with him to suppress Xin Zhao."As long as we can take you down, the sacrifice is worthwhile!" Jarvan said solemnly.Xin Zhao's strength is definitely the best among the Trifarian Legion. As long as he takes down the opponent, he can not only relieve the pressure, but also deal a huge blow to the morale of the enemy."Hahaha, I'd like to see how you're going to defeat me.""war!!!"Xin Zhao laughed heartily and once again fought with those surrounding him.Meanwhile, on the battlefield in the rear, Trifarix successfully used its numerical advantage to completely divide the battlefield.With nearly half of Lightshield Bulwark's personnel trapped inside, their defeat was inevitable.On the high platform, Draven looked down at the situation with confusion:"Why do I feel like we didn't use our full strength?"He had worked with the Trifarian Legion and even joined them, so he was well aware of the Legion's strength.The current situation is already terrifying, as Trifarian Legion has not lost a single member, but this advantage is almost entirely due to Xin Zhao, while Trifarian Legion has only demonstrated a portion of its strength."All battles are merely means to an end. Soldiers gain merit, generals gain glory, politicians gain benefits, and the country becomes strong as a result."Morgana glanced at Ryan beside her and said those words.This is the sentence she believes best describes the Noxus of the past.Therefore, everyone in the empire knew perfectly well that if the expansion stopped, the empire would fall apart.However, the sudden emergence of Trifarix changed the situation, making the transformation of the empire possible.Draven crossed his arms, his mustache twitching slightly, and said with obvious displeasure:"It's that scheming stuff again. People who play tactics have dirty minds!"As he finished speaking, Draven gave an awkward smile, meeting the gazes of the other two."Haha, I wasn't talking about you guys."As time went on, Lightshield Bulwark's soldiers were gradually decimated, while Xin Zhao grew stronger and stronger in the midst of the battle.Jarvan, his face flushed, ignored the cracked hand on his hand and charged forward again.Watching Xin Zhao darting left and right through the crowd, he was momentarily reminded of Darius in the wilderness that day.He was unstoppable, just like always, and he could only watch as his companions fell one by one around him.Why? Why is it that even replacing the regular guards with Lightshield Bulwark still can't stop these monsters?" Demacia!!!"He gritted his teeth and launched another attack. He swung his halberd down fiercely, trying his best to block Xin Zhao's offensive.Jarvan knew in his heart that they had lost this time, and lost miserably.There was no insurmountable gap between Trifarian Legion and Lightshield Bulwark; in his view, their combat strength was almost equal.However, the opposing general, Xin Zhao, single-handedly turned the tide of the battle.But he lacked the ability to do that.What should have been a closely contested battle devolved into a gradual erosion.Once again parried by the spear, Jarvan vaguely recalled a name.Garen!It seemed that Garen was always by his side in every war he participated in.The opponent was like Demacia's sword, leading the Dauntless Vanguard straight into the enemy lines, disrupting the enemy's formation.Was Garen back then similar to Xin Zhao now?Jarvan's heart was heavy, and the rhythm of his halberd swings became even more disordered.Seeing this, Xin Zhao did not take the opportunity to attack him, but instead began to eliminate the others.At the same time, images of individual power changing the course of the battle flashed through Jarvan's mind.There's Demacia, Noxus, and even Frejord.He had to admit that no matter how superb his command was, it was merely icing on the cake.The real factor that can change the course of a battle is individual power.If Kayle had defeated Council President Trefari back then...If he can defeat Xin Zhao nowA feeling of resentment welled up in Jarvan's heart, almost making him want to commit suicide.Why? Why isn't he the one who possesses the power?!His eyes were bloodshot, and he even began to disregard his teammates around him, rushing forward to fight Xin Zhao desperately.But Xin Zhao instead drew his gun and deflected them, taking out the Lightshield Bulwark members one by one.With his strength and speed, the Lightshield Bulwark soldiers had no chance to resist and were taken down one by one.Jarvan, whose body was gradually becoming exhausted, was no longer as fast or strong as before. He could only watch helplessly as his soldiers were eliminated one by one, his heart filled with resentment at his own incompetence.If he were a little stronger.If he can be stronger than Xin ZhaoIf he can easily crush Xin Zhao and Trifarian Legion.With the last Lightshield Bulwark soldier eliminated, only Jarvan remained standing on the field.clang!The spear struck Jarvan's golden helmet, sending it flying high before landing softly in front of the eliminated Lightshield Bulwark members.Jarvan stood slumped, gun in hand; had he not been supporting himself with the gun, he would have fallen to the ground long ago.His long hair was disheveled and he no longer had the vigor he once had.You lost!Xin Zhao remained expressionless, pointing the gun tip at Jarvan's neck.He was just a hair's breadth away from losing his life.Jarvan could almost feel the sharpness of the gun tip. He gave a self-deprecating laugh, his expression tinged with melancholy.He closed his eyes and charged straight at the tip of the spear.laugh!The water burst open at his neck, and Jarvan could feel the pain of the gun tip piercing his skin, but it didn't penetrate even a little.He looked pleadingly at Xin Zhao, and said dejectedly:"What is the point of a defeated general living?"Xin Zhao holstered his gun behind his back and calmly looked at Jarvan:"In this battle, a total of 23 soldiers were eliminated while protecting you, and you only managed to save 5 soldiers from my gun."Not a single mistake, not a single song, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single 6-9 book, not a single bar, take a look!Upon hearing this, Jarvan glanced back at the soldiers of Lightshield Bulwark, his eyes filled with hidden pain.As he turned around, Xin Zhao had already quickly walked back to the Trifarian Legion's queue.At this moment, the Trifarian Legion had already formed their ranks, ready to welcome their commander.As Xin Zhao approached, all the members of the battle group stood at attention and shouted in unison:" Noxus!!!"Just now, in a similar situation involving a hundred people, they...With a casualty ratio of 5 to 100, they completely annihilated Demacia's elite Lightshield Bulwark force.Xin Zhao marched to the front of the battle group, raised his spear high, and shouted loudly towards the battle group:" Noxus!!! Trifarian Legion!!!"The moment he finished speaking, all the soldiers in the battle group raised their weapons and shouted in unison:" Noxus!!! Trifarian Legion!!!"" Noxus!!! Trifarian Legion!!!"The sound was so loud that it not only filled the sky above Arena, but could even be heard by the Noxus people below who were not present.At that moment, the Noxus fans, whose seats were filled with people, all stood up and cheered in their own way.For a moment, the deafening noise drowned out everything.Seeing this, Morgana's lips curled slightly, and she gently raised her fair arm.Buzz!Black gas converged from all directions, gathering in the sky above Arena, transforming from chaos into form.The black mist condensed into a shape, and a mark with the shadow of a book appeared in mid-air.Everyone in Immortal Bastion knows that mark, even the failed Lightshield Bulwark.Trifarian Legion.The name of today's victor.Xin Zhao and the Trifarian Legion have won their gladiatorial combat, and this moment is well worth enjoying.On the other side, Demacia Although Lightshield Bulwark suffered no casualties, it experienced a complete defeat.Even though they were enemies, and even though they had just been defeated by them, they still looked at each other with respect.The Trifarian Legion defeated them through sheer strength.The winner should enjoy everything.Jarvan stood at the front of the line, listening to the cheers and shouts around him.He had to admit to himself that even though he and this group were enemies.But if you are a soldier and can serve in such a country, it is truly a blessing.However, their Demacia is not bad either.onlyHis expression was slightly complicated. He glanced at the most dazzling Xin Zhao, then at the three people on the high platform, and sighed deeply.Strength, individual powerThinking of this, a longing appeared in his eyes—a yearning for power.The duel ends, the victor is greeted with cheers, and the loser is forced to leave the stage.This was a competition in which no one was injured or killed, but the meaning it symbolized was completely different.As Jarvan and Lightshield Bulwark walked back to their base, they could already hear the whispers of the people around them.The Trifarian Legion insignia that just floated up has already revealed everything.Both sides represent their respective countries and are their most powerful elite forces.But they were undoubtedly defeated.They lost not only face, but Demacia was also made unable to hold her head up high.Jarvan clenched his fists and strode forward. He was in a state of turmoil and didn't want to stay any longer."Today's battle was my fault, gentlemen, I am deeply sorry for this!"Back at camp, facing the neatly arranged Lightshield Bulwark below, he closed his eyes in anguish and bowed deeply.The loser loses everything.They failed to bring Demacia the glory it deserved.Thump!At that moment, all members of Lightshield Bulwark, under Jarvan's incredulous gaze, knelt on one knee and shouted in unison:"We are willing to fight to the death for Demacia, to die exhausted in the battle against Noxus. Your Highness, please grant our request!""What are you doing? Stand up!" Jarvan shouted angrily.He knew perfectly well what the soldiers were thinking: if they died here, then some of the lost glory could be recovered.The most humiliating thing for a soldier is not being less skilled than others, but being less skilled and still having his life spared.He knew that he and his companions had lost all their glory, but he didn't approve of the decision at all.It was his lack of strength, not the fault of his soldiers!"Your Highness, I wish to grant your request!"The warriors of Lightshield Bulwark below remained kneeling on one knee, their shouts growing even more resolute.Jarvan stared intently at the people below, his fists clenched tightly, blood flowing again from his previously unhealed palms.Tick-tock tick-tockBlood dripped from his fists to the ground."Good! Good! Good!"His face was contorted with rage and pain, and the pent-up frustration in his heart made his body tremble involuntarily.It's always the same; every time, someone else takes the blame for his mistakes.This gladiatorial battle ended in defeat.He was captured last timeHis past command mistakesDemacia, Lightshield Bulwark, Laurent Old General, Garen.Everyone will step forward to take responsibility when he fails, even though it's clearly because he's less skilled and weaker.This was the first time he had ever desperately wanted to possess great power, even if it was magic, even if it was forbidden power.If we can restore glory to Demacia, we can win every war.He's willing to bear all the consequences!Jarvan suppressed his complicated emotions, knowing that the most urgent task was to appease the people in front of him.His sharp gaze swept over everyone below, and he shouted sternly:"I don't object to you going to your deaths, but before you go, you all need to think it through carefully.""Before you made your decision, did you think about your parents and children in Demacia? Did you think about how your actions would change the relationship between the two countries? Did you think about whether this was an outcome Noxus would like to see?"The soldier wanted to reclaim his glory, but he knew conventional methods and orders were useless, so he could only say against his will:"The ruthless Noxus is going to save us today? Just to humiliate us?""No! It's just that they don't want to fight Demacia either. They're not confident of victory, and we don't want everyone to die in vain.""If the two countries really go to war, tens of thousands of innocent people will be implicated and die a horrible death on the battlefield. And all of this is because you want to die."The more Jarvan spoke, the more resolute he became.His stern gaze swept over the soldiers below, causing all those who felt his gaze to involuntarily lower their heads."Stand up, soldiers! Defeat is only temporary. Strive to become stronger, and we'll win again next time!""Of course, if anyone still wants to go to Arena to die, I will not stop them!"Jarvan knew he couldn't persuade everyone below. In his view, Lightshield Bulwark's soldiers could choose to die, but not like reckless brutes.If anyone were to choose to die, he would write down all their names.Even if he transforms into a demon in the future, he will still reclaim the glory they deserve!"Your Highness."Under Jarvan's increasingly imposing gaze, someone finally couldn't bear it any longer and stood up with a look of shame on their face.With one person taking the lead, more and more people slowly stood up.Finally, although the hundred Lightshield Bulwark members still bowed their heads, they all stood up. Their eyes and expressions were extremely complex, as if they were all deep in thought.Jarvan breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.He leaned on the halberd that had been driven into the ground, and turned around wearily and with difficulty, aiming his gaze at the direction of Arena in the sky.He gazed at Arena in the sky with a complicated expression, as if recalling the events of the day.After a long while, his expression took on a slightly self-deprecating tone.anywayLightshield Bulwark has lost!Jarvan Lightshield has lost!