While the Cloudtal Consortium was plotting, Sage sent off a ssage and then returned to building defenses. With the ti crunch they were facing he even diverted a few of the Hoplites and had them quickly start digging. It would look like they were just starting the mine in advance, but in actuality, Sage just wanted a private room where the Cloudtal Consortium couldnt spy on them. The human cultivators continued to carve stone blocks and Sage was refining them with simple array symbols. It was crude, but quick. When the Hoplites finished the private chamber, he let the stones accumulate so he could use the room.
Inside, he brought out his largest Formation Machine and started swapping out the formation plates. He set it all to varying degrees of illusion arrays. He didnt want anyone to find out about the Formation Machine so he didnt use it to its full potential. Instead he just created a large outer array of obscuring mist. Inside that was a bewildering array to make people lose their sense of direction, and the last layer was an illusion that made a person think theyd walked completely through the array and had arrived at the other side from where they entered. Most would then turn back around and head back into the array, thinking the bewildering array had caused them to walk right past the center where they were heading to. Instead, theyd just turn around and walk right back out of the array.
The Cloudtal Consortium had already retreated a dozen miles from the mine, splitting their forces into eight different groups to create a large periter. Unfortunately for the Jade Horde, the Fierce Tigers arrived an hour later and the Cloudtal Consortium even attempted to battle with them. It was all a show, but from the Jade Hordes position, it was hard to tell. Whitestaff inford Sage of the developnt and he imdiately understood what was going on. The battle had been far too quick and neither side had any casualties.
One of the n in an orange and black striped outfit rode up upon the back of a huge tiger. It looked quite similar to a normal tiger save for being the size of an oxen and the tigers lower legs had spikes all over them. Hundred Spike Tigers. They were the Fierce Tiger rcenary Teams signature mount and their claim to fa. The Beast was quite powerful and only their limited number held the Fierce Tigers back from taking over a county. A Hundred Spike Tiger was born at the fourth rank and reached the fifth rank at maturity.
From the looks of things, the Fierce Tigers were serious. They had arrived with two dozen Hundred Spike Tigers. Considering they only had a total of 100, it was quite a large investnt of strength on their part. The man that had separated from the main force had a bald head and a long beard braided into a single plait. The Hundred Spike Tiger he rode was a bit larger than the others and it slowly walked towards the Hoplite shield wall, looking down at them all. Then the Tiger ca to a stop and the man just sat there, staring towards the hole in the ground that hed been inford was where Ling Sheng was hiding.
Sage ca out from the underground, giving a big wave to the man on the tiger. He walked up towards the back of the Hoplites and then hopped onto a large rock, Greetings! I didnt know the Fierce Tigers were coming to visit! You should have told earlier so I could have a better welco prepared for you. Im quite amazed that the Cloudtal Consortium didnt bother you, they want this land and its surprising they would let soone else co to make an offer.
He reached up and rubbed his head, Oh, Im sorry. I dont actually know why youre here, I was just guessing. Please forgive , Brother Tiger.
Sage made sure to speak loud enough that the Cloudtal Consortium could hear him. Even a dozen miles away, it was very likely they were eavesdropping with a technique of so sort. He just wanted to make it obvious that he saw through their silly plan. Of course, he still had to deal with the Fierce Tigers, first.
There you are. My Brothers said you offended them at the Kang Clan gathering. Since the Jade Horde is so new, we are willing to let you off. This mine is a good enough gift to et the requirent. Just hand it over and well let you off this ti. You should be more cautious in the future and treat your betters with more respect.
How funny you are, Brother Tiger! Did you co up with that joke, or did those three from the Kang Clan gathering co up with it? Haha, now co on down off that tiger and co over here. I need to finish building the wall, but I can take a break to greet you. Co, lets drink so wine.
The man on the tiger was not pleased. His overbearing and arrogant attitude had shifted to a sort of furious annoyance. It was obvious he was making demands. There were a dozen Hundred Spike Tigers here! Didnt this idiot know that he was supposed to be afraid and intimidated?
It seems you dont know whats good for you. Then well have to do this the hard way.
The Hundred Spike Tiger turned around and walked back to the rest of the Fierce Tigers. Of the five hundred that had arrived, most of them were riding horses. A hundred were on the backs of various types of tigers, lions, or even giant wolves, but they all paled in comparison to the dozen Hundred Spike Tigers. When the man rejoined his n, he bellowed out so orders and the five hundred man cavalry team ford ranks. They spread out, encircling the mine and pulling out their weapons.
Sage just smiled and stepped back. The Hoplites stayed in formation, their tight ranks and interlocked shields making them look like an impenetrable wall. On the other hand, the Fierce Tigers were all mounted, but their lines were loose and undisciplined. Each of the Hoplites had a spear poking out over the top of their shield. The Fierce Tigers were not only riding different types of mounts, they also had completely different weapons. Even the almost 400 of them riding horses were vastly different. There were a few scattered groups that all used the sa weapon, but even those small squads werent enough to make up for the huge disparity. Even so, Sage pointed out the unified looking squads to Whitestaff and she passed down the orders to the Hoplites to be wary of them.
The bald man who led them gave an order and the Fierce Tigers prepared to charge. It was at this point that Sage waved his hand and activated the array formations. The initial array was a protective wall, creating a shield just behind the rows of Hoplites. They could step forward to attack, or step back and be protected by the shield. The shield it created wasnt an absolute defense, but it was a semi-permanent array. It would act upon any energy attacks like a thick layer of water, slowing them down and dissipating energy. The Formation Machine wasnt nearly as powerful, and he didnt want it to get burned out, which is why he set it to rely be a sensory effect.
The Fierce Tigers started their charge, rushing towards the mine from every direction. Black smoke suddenly rolled out from behind the Hoplites and rushed towards the Fierce Tigers like a wave. A few of them faltered, but most stayed strong and continued their rush even as their faces grew a little pale. The wave of smoke didnt seem to do anything, but then the light flickered and many of the horsen suddenly disappeared. The Fierce Tigers werent attacking from every direction, they were actually all attacking directly from the front. There was a frontage twenty five n wide and about twenty deep. The complete encirclent was an illusion to hide their true assault.
The black smoke had exposed them. To make matters worse, the black smoke was followed by a blue mist, one that towered up into the sky and completely obscured their vision. The many Fierce Tigers started looking even more uneasy, but their confidence was again bolstered when their leader activated a talisman and the blue smoke was pushed back, clearing a ten foot periter around them as they charged forward. Many of them were already starting to regret the attack they were making, but it was too late.
He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount.
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