[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-black-dragon-necromancer":3,"chapter-black-dragon-necromancer-black-dragon-necromancer-chapter-105":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Black Dragon Necromancer",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2312865,4521,"Chapter 105: Strategic Planning Conference","black-dragon-necromancer-chapter-105",105,"\u003Cp>“Gentlemen, the one-month rest period has ended.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice from the Throne rang out again, steady yet sharp as a blade just before its sheath is drawn, echoing through the hall now returned to solemn silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the wounded have returned to duty or been properly settled. Each legion’s manpower shortages have been fully replenished. Now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping like a physical force over every face lining both sides of the long table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is time to point the sword’s edge toward new battlefields. Morax, you will command the Dragon Beasts Legion to the front lines of Deep Realm 1872, where you will join the Allied Main Force. Irog and Vex will serve as your deputies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned toward the two newly elevated Legends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shalut, Gisk. Each of you will lead three fully organized legions. Do not follow the main force. Your mission: penetrate the flanking transport nodes, mountain passes, and strategic chokepoints within that realm. There, build fortresses, control the routes, and become the wedges upon which we will root ourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, his gaze settled on the Thorn Deer and the Drow Elf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vilanse, Verna. You will accompany me. We will proceed to Deep Realm 64, where the fighting is dire and our presence is needed to make our stance known.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having issued the orders, he leaned back slightly, granting a brief silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do any of you have objections to this deployment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I, Gisk, have objections!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warguard’s voice, coarse and jarring, shattered the hall’s stillness. He rose, armor scraping loudly, his golden eyes unflinching as they locked onto the Throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord Duke, your arrangement this time differs greatly from your original promise.” He grinned, revealing rows of sharp white fangs, his tone as hard as a hammer striking an anvil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My worth is earned on battlefields where blades draw blood and arrows hunt souls! Hiding behind the front lines, digging in mud and stone, building castles like turtle shells? That’s the work of engineers and clerks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hand rested on the hilt of his engraved dagger; the other opened wide, as if displaying his empty yet blood-soaked palms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Locking a hunter like me inside a fortress is the greatest waste of a blade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord Duke.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shalut’s voice rose, low but heavy as a great axe. He did not rise, only fixed his gaze steadily toward the Throne, one hand still gripping the haft of his battle-axe leaned against his chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As commander of this campaign, I must raise a question with you. Our casualties have been catastrophic—countless warriors bled out beneath Agrik City. The living await their rewards; the dead, their families await compensation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused slightly, letting each word sink into the silent air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where, then, are the battlefield honors and casualty stipends you promised before the war?” His question was direct, precise, his gaze steady. “This is a commander’s vow to his soldiers—the foundation of army morale. I require a clear answer before I can speak to the entire force.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your two questions, in essence, can be answered together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice from the Throne rose, steady, drawing the two seemingly separate concerns into a single strategic framework.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The primary objective of this campaign into the Deep Realms is not to engage any power in direct combat. What we may encounter will be merely mopping-up operations against residual demons—tasks easily handled by the Harpy aerial patrols and the Centaur fast-recon squads.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shifted his tone, turning to the core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our true, our only critical mission: to establish fortresses at every transport node, terrain pass, and strategic nexus—fortresses that cannot be easily dislodged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I care not how many scattered settlements or demon nests dot the wastelands. So long as we hold these key nodes, the entire region is, in practical terms, truly ours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze swept over Gisk, then settled on Shalut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We are not here to plunder—we are here to root. To build new order, new homes upon this purified wasteland. And as for the rewards and stipends you both seek—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised his voice slightly, as if proclaiming a fundamental state policy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They will be paid in land: arable fields, mining rights, and trade charters from this new territory. The families of the fallen will receive homes and compensation plots within the new city-states.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your soldiers who crave land—those who have earned their gold through sweat and blood—will find it in fertile river valleys, sturdy fortresses, and thriving markets, all secured by unbreakable defenses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah—?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Irog spat two streams of sulfurous smoke streaked with sparks from his nostrils, shifting his massive frame in his seat, his scaled tail scraping against the stone floor with a grating screech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sakavi, your words sound suspiciously like you’re trying to weasel out of your promises!” His molten-gold pupils narrowed dangerously, his voice booming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You might fool those pig-headed brutes with distant promises of land. But I, Irog—my promised, tangible fiefdom and treasure—when will you deliver them, into my hands, for real?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned forward, his immense shadow looming over the Throne, his tone dripping with mockery and suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, you and I both know the state of the Deep Realm’s corruption! It’s seeped into the earth’s veins—harder to purge than the most stubborn curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time your purification tricks produce clean, arable soil? Ha! By then, your soldiers waiting for their meals will have already drummed their own bones into rhythm in the barracks!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vex's cold voice rang out, like ice shards clashing. He did not stir as Irog had, only lifting his neck slightly, his scales shimmering with a deep blue light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sakavi, there is a fundamental issue you seem to have deliberately avoided: mortal beings cannot endure prolonged exposure to the Deep Realm’s environment.” His tone was calm, yet precise as a surgeon’s scalpel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even with the highest-grade protective magics, garrison troops must strictly adhere to a three-month rotation cycle. Otherwise, the Deep’s corruption becomes irreversible—flesh mutates, wills decay, and they ultimately become mindless demon puppets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze swept over all non-dragon commanders, then returned to the Throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even we dragons dare not remain in a single Deep Realm for more than a year. That is when scales begin to dull and souls suffer irreversible corruption.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused slightly, posing the piercing question: “Then, how do you intend for your planned garrison troops—ogres, minotaurs, and other races—to root themselves and construct countless fortresses in an environment where even we must tread with caution?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seeing how deeply you all care about this… I am reassured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sakavi’s voice betrayed no irritation at the questioning, only a calm that suggested he had anticipated this moment. He adjusted his posture slightly on the Throne, more relaxed, like a hunter whose prey had finally stepped into the trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since the issue has been laid bare, I shall provide a clear answer.” He paused slightly, as if weighing each word, his molten-gold pupils slowly sweeping over Irog and Vex, then extending toward the wider void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But before that—” His tone suddenly carried a hint of triumph, tossing back a seemingly unrelated question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I ask you all: who, do you know, is the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in this Deep Realm war?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Divine Knight of the Light Church, Kalesia Vangen,” Verna’s voice replied calmly, stepping in to catch Sakavi’s question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fingertip tapped lightly against an invisible scroll, her tone as if stating verified intelligence:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to the Shadow Intelligence Bureau’s latest assessment, this commander was dispatched directly by the Pantheon. This means the struggle for this realm is not merely a contest between mortal powers and the Deep—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused slightly, her gaze sweeping the room, making her next assertion feel irrefutable:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Multiple deities have turned their eyes upon this battlefield.” Her voice lowered, “And we, in such a grand game, currently play the role of… expendable, replaceable pawns.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Accurate. But one correction is needed—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sakavi’s dragon eyes flashed with sharp light, seizing Verna’s thread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We are not expendable—provided we occupy the correct position.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned forward, as if unveiling an invisible strategic map to all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Allied Force is vast. Relying solely on the Norasien Port supply line for the long term will be unsustainable. They will have no choice but to shift toward sourcing supplies directly within the Deep Realm—whether food, magical materials, or workshops to repair equipment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He deliberately paused, making his next deduction sharper and more forceful:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If, at that moment, a ‘friendly’ force already firmly controls the key routes and has established stable, productive outposts and trade networks…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sakavi’s voice rose slightly, “Can you imagine how the Allied Force—eager to push the front lines—would choose between ‘buying ready-made supplies’ and ‘expending precious troops and time to seize and cultivate a foreign wasteland’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze swept over Irog and Vex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember: every inch the Allied Force advances on the front lines yields far greater gains—divine favor, territory, rare Deep Realm resources—than the cost of purchasing supplies from us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For us, it is massive profit; for them, merely a trivial lubricant to keep their victory machine turning. Our task is to become the irreplaceable gears.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does the Duke intend to leverage the Allied Force to solve the fundamental problem of realm purification? Or to compel them to provide the scarce resources needed for purification?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morax’s voice rose, cool and cautious as silver dragon scales. He did not directly refute, but laid out his concerns through questioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Forgive me for saying so—” He lifted his head slightly, his moonlit scales glimmering quietly in the hall’s dim light, “Any attempt to negotiate on equal terms—or even haggle—with a power vastly superior to oneself is like walking a tightrope over a bottomless abyss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze swept over Sakavi, then returned to the table, as if staring at cracks yet to form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relying on others to resolve one’s own predicament, and anchoring survival upon their ‘needs’—this imbalance and uncertainty will inevitably evolve into an uncontrollable crisis. Dancing with the emissaries of gods requires only a single misstep to invite annihilation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are correct. But trading with a power vastly superior does not rely on cleverness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sakavi’s voice was calm, yet weighed like a thousand anchors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We must become an indispensable part of their plan. For the Allied Force, which must fight deep within the Deep, continuous, stable supply is an unavoidable dead end; and purifying the corrupted land is a task they must complete to establish a foothold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused slightly, driving his next words like wedges into every mind:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if the only viable supply route, the only area already partially purified and suitable for forward bases, is firmly in our hands…” His gaze swept over each person present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then it will not be us begging for a share—but every force wishing to enter this battlefield who must first knock on our door.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We do not bargain. We offer only one solution. That is the qualification to trade with dragons or gods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is undoubtedly a high-stakes gamble. But as ancient trees know, in weakness, even breathing is a sin. No one willingly gives up what they hold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vilanse’s voice rose like wind through deep forests—low and grounded. She lifted her head slightly, the faint glow between her thorned antlers pulsing with her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We must build our fortresses and purify the first fertile land before the Allied supply lines truly strain. This is the only language that can prove to every greedy gaze: we are not pebbles to be swept aside—we are ironwood, rooted here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze swept over each person present, finally settling on Sakavi, her eyes blazing with unshakable resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Time is as urgent as an arrow loosed from the bow. But fortunately, we are still, nominally, part of the Allied Force. This identity is our first and last armor—we can use it to buy time. I require vast resources to purify land in a short span.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vilanse, you may proceed with land purification without restraint.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sakavi’s voice cut through the last hesitation, like a hammer striking an anvil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All special materials, rare mediums, and leverage needed to negotiate with the Nature Cult—prepare them. I will provide them.” His promise was brief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sakavi’s gaze swept once more across both sides of the table, confirming no further substantive objections, then issued his final decree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since no one has objections—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rose, his shadow engulfing half the council hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Begin preparations at once!”\u003C\u002Fp>",2061,"2026-06-20T13:10:04.638Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","725d6da53b046678100b179edff0cb218b2f6fb79a7e49a2f0ff3087614d2ed0","black-dragon-necromancer-chapter-106","black-dragon-necromancer-chapter-104",145,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fblack-dragon-necromancer-cover.jpg"]