Defying the Fate of Beheading

Chapter 899 - 458: The Temptation of a Separate Page in the Family Register (Part 2)

For example, independent units such as logistics, intelligence, and reconnaissance.As for the Cursebound Legion... it consists of 12 armies.

Any one army can independently conquer a medium-sized country and contend directly with a major power’s main forces.

This left them suffocating for a moment.

But they soon relaxed.

Because they realized, at least at this stage, Ense was on their side.

Some people even started realizing something rather frightening.

That it’s best not to entertain the idea of having Ense take the front and constantly sacrifice.

Better not even think about it.

Unlike other countries.

The recognition Ense people have for Louis is incredibly high.

So high that many have become fanatics internally.

Just think, if the Enses truly fell one by one, then transitioned into legion members...

Damn it.

It might indeed weaken their living forces, but their undying strength would also soar.

What a joke.

If they did end up burying their large forces, once the Seven Calamities were dealt with, they might just turn around and get rid of the backstabbers entirely.

The Cursebound Legion is already terrifying.

This is still with the Ense’s losses not being severe and no large-scale joining of the Cursebound Legion.

Think from another perspective.

Now laid before you is the entire continent plunging into crisis, and your country is eyed by powerful enemies.

Your general stands before you at this time, saying he will lead the charge against those damned scraps of the Demon King Army.

If you win, you achieve fame and write a new page in your lineage.

If you lose, you needn’t meet at the Martyrs’ Cemetery, but rather fight another lifetime as the Cursebound Legion.

Damn it.

Do you know how tempting this is?

Now the ones most eager to engage in full-scale war with the Demon King Army aren’t Louis, but the Imperial Soldiers underneath him.

Our Grand General, what are you hesitating for?

We, your subordinates, firmly stand with your camp, unafraid of war, and even less afraid of sacrifice. Grand General, you just need to issue the war order, and leave the rest to us!

—Even though most from the committee haven’t interacted with the Ense military, they’d bet that this sentiment is overwhelmingly common among the soldiers.

Forget it, it’s better to cooperate honestly instead of thinking about restricting them.

Besides...

Could the Cursebound Legion achieved by Ense be something we can’t duplicate?

This doesn’t even count as betraying our own country.

I’ve fought for my country until the last drop of blood, surely I can’t be required to remain loyal even after death?

Actually, it’s not impossible.

If our country could produce someone like that great individual, they would certainly agree to it.

But that’s not the case...

Moreover, think about it from another angle.

Given Lord Louis’ current situation, it is clear that he is no longer confined to the Ense Empire.

Many prominent figures are even convinced that after dealing with the myriad issues on Star Continent, Lord Louis probably won’t stay long before heading to the Stellar Realm.

What they need to worry about isn’t really now, it’s the post-war period.

Right now, they still have the courage to confront the Seven Calamities; it’s the result of various forces barely reaching a consensus under Louis’ guidance.

Having hope for the future is one thing, how nations coexist post-war is an entirely different matter.

Some of the more radical members have bluntly stated.

"While it’s true that the Cursebound Legion is currently the main combat force against the Seven Calamities, have you idiots thought about how we will respond to the new world order following the calming of the Calamities?"

"Could you think a bit? That individual’s stance is clear: after resolving the Seven Calamities, he will linger in the human realm for a while."

"He differs from gods who ascend through belief; he harvests power from other worlds, making it highly likely that the collective will of the Stars won’t reject his lingering in the human realm."

"Although he’s likely to step into the Stellar Realm thereafter, during the period post-war before that individual enters the Stellar Realm, the Cursebound Legion is the most unstable factor."

"If the Cursebound Legion plans to partake in the Star Continent’s Epoch Dominator war, we’re done for."

"It’s no longer about whether the Cursebound Legion will grow stronger; your focus now should be on how to restrain them from getting involved."

"Right now, the least of our worries is the Giant Demon Empire. Their members already form the backbone of the Cursebound Legion."

"Next, Tunisia isn’t a concern. They were the first human nation to join the Cursebound Legion."

"Lokeshi fare well too. Although the Cursebound Legion had little to do with Lokeshi before, during the Love God’s Dark Aspect battle, a vast number of Lokeshi died, even adding several demigods to the Cursebound Legion."

"These three parties are now closely linked with Ense. Even if future relations fall apart, at least as comrades-in-arms in the Cursebound Legion, it won’t be easy to turn foes, and there’s room for easing tensions."

"But what about us? How will we place ourselves then?"

Strategists of various factions are filled with righteous indignation over this.

As the situation becomes clearer, the Cursebound Legion appears even more dangerous than that great individual himself.

Because it’s evident that the great individual has no interest in participating in the continental domination.

But the Cursebound Legion is hard to predict.

People have their self-interests.

Although those legion members strictly obey Lord Louis, facing outsiders is a whole different matter.

So the intention of some advisors is quite apparent.

Since the participants have a high chance of dying in battle, it’s better to be upfront with the other side:

"Brothers, we have a collaboration with Ense.

If you die in battle, there’s a chance to directly resurrect in the Soldier Realm as a member of the Cursebound Legion.

Of course, this doesn’t affect your family receiving their pension; we won’t let heroes bleed and then cry."

Now I plan to lead the charge; do you plan to join our ranks?"

It would invigorate the soldiers immensely!

If our soldiers win a glorious battle, they could also dilute the main composition of the Cursebound Legion, which includes Ense soldiers.

Playing this to the end might just mean forming a small "Star Alliance" within the Soldier Realm, with all parties having their representatives to somewhat curb others from going insane.

Of course.

Because of that great individual’s stance, Ense will undoubtedly still hold significant advantage.

But it won’t be the utterly powerless situation it was before.

Perhaps in the end, everyone reaches an accord to form a "Brotherhood Alliance."

The Cursebound Legion is already so powerful that the committee members naturally don’t doubt the strength granted to these death row convicts by Louis.

The convicts’ eyes also shine brightly.

In fact, those directly sentenced to death are either tough characters.

If weaker, most couldn’t persist until being sent to Louis, as they’d be executed beforehand.

What’s the point of keeping death row inmates in prison?

Wasting rice!

So the ordinary death row inmates were actually cleaned up during the first experiment round.

Now those standing here are those with some skills, a special group with delayed sentencing.

Political prisoners, rebels, Evil God Cultists, extraordinary criminals...

Their skill trees, in some sense, are quite impressive.

And now, upon hearing that Louis would bless them and then send them to die...

Hiss.

Those who originally held little hope for this death mission now have a blazing flame in their hearts.

They’re not restricted in their actions.

Or rather...in front of Louis, restricting them or not makes no difference.

This group of smart people naturally won’t cause trouble.

Originally there was a slim chance of survival, causing trouble would take even that away.

Now seeing that slim chance morph into a "great" chance, they’re genuinely excited.

Some even directly say:

"Your Majesty Louis, if by luck we survive, is there a chance for us to become a member of the Cursebound Legion?"

"Not allowed."

Louis calmly delivers the verdict.

For whatever reason, those who walked the path of death row are often ruthless beyond redemption.

He isn’t interested in individually determining whether these people were wronged.

So he simply cuts off their fantasy.

Then, a political prisoner speaks up:

"Your Majesty, if we miraculously survive, will we be banished to the nameless land?"

"Yes, your remaining lives will be spent in the wild, lawless land. It’s a punishment for your past actions. Just because you journey to the Golden Land doesn’t cleanse your sins."

Upon hearing Louis’ words, the political prisoner lets out a loud laugh:

"Indeed, most of what we’ve done can’t be atoned for even if we died a thousand times. So what I want to ask isn’t that."

The political prisoner steps forward.

Someone from the committee wants to stop him, but is halted by Louis.

He crawls forward, reaching Louis with a nearly pious posture.

Kneeling on one knee, he quietly asks:

"Your Majesty, if, by chance, we survive, and in the unexplored lands unwillingly explored by others, we establish a city, would you reclaim the power granted to us?"