The continent of Felander is vast, its territories sprawling across immense distances.
From the shores of the Eastern Sea to the central Blessed Plains, even the Winged Man, maintaining their swift flight daily, required over a month to arrive alongside other allied races at the Blessed Plains.
Indeed, in terms of sheer distance, only the Merfolk of the Western Coast could rival the Winged Man's arduous journey.
Fortunately, the path was unhindered by magical beasts or hostile races.
And why would it be otherwise? A celestial legion of ten thousand Winged Man, soaring through the skies, formed an endless, boundless formation, resembling an immense, ominous cloud advancing relentlessly—an awe-inspiring sight!
Moreover, each member of this Winged legion wielded a bow. At a single command, ten thousand arrows would rain down in unison—a terrifying spectacle no force could withstand.
Along the journey, Jarius led the Winged legion to effortlessly eradicate several reckless magical beasts.
Further showcasing the formidable combat prowess of his forces. This bolstered his confidence in the impending war.
Upon arriving above the Blessed Plains, Jarius beheld a vast expanse where nearly a million troops from various races had already encamped.
Organized by their clans, they established their camps across the plains.
Jarius observed:
Towering Minotaurs, brandishing heavy stone axes, unleashed their seemingly inexhaustible brute strength within their camps.
Diminutive yet stout Dwarven warriors, each armed with bronze weapons, were forging equipment right in their encampments.
Swift and agile Centaur cavalry, bare-chested with braided hair, demonstrated peerless archery, establishing them as one of Felander's most formidable cavalry forces.
There were also Troll clans, once loyal to the Titans but now in rebellion, their numbers vast. In modern Felander, apart from the Goblins, the Trolls boasted the largest population.
The Merfolk, gifted with innate water-based magic, were few in number. They had journeyed from the distant Western Coast to join the fight, reportedly inspired by a legendary romance between a Goblin prince and a Merfolk princess.
Jarius, however, doubted the Merfolk princess would truly love a Goblin prince.
The Gnomes, steadfast allies of the Goblins, were present primarily to lend moral support. Yet, the Gnomes were far from feeble, possessing a wealth of inherited magical professions.
Naive but curious Fairies also joined, divided into elemental categories such as Wind Fairies and Light Fairies, accompanied by their guardian, a Great Forest Fairy.
Fairies, with their long lifespans and residence in enchanted forests, wielded formidable magical power.
In ancient times, before the rise of diverse power systems, their strength was unrivaled, even by the Goblins, who avoided provoking them.
The Goblin King, Amigel, tacitly approved of the Fairies' presence, trusting that the Great Forest Fairy.
A legendary powerhouse—would keep the mischievous sprites in check.
Then there were the Treants, known as the "tanks of antiquity," numbering a few hundred. Where they took root, they formed an impregnable wall. Moreover, they shared a longstanding alliance with certain Troll clans.
Additionally, there were the Goblin-tamed Dire Wolves, as well as Kobolds and Boarfolk, once vassals of the ancient dragons.
Countless other intelligent races, many of whose lineages might not endure into the future, were also present, their names unfamiliar to Jarius.
Yet, dominating the landscape were the endless encampments of the Goblin armies.
In this era, the Goblin legions were the epitome of elite forces.
Clad in iron armor and wielding sharpened blades, within a mere decade, one in ten Goblins bore iron weaponry and armor—a testament to the contributions of pre-era humans emerging from their sanctuaries.
Steam-powered steel weapons, exuding an aura of indomitable might, were positioned outside their camps.
Even a cursory glance from Jarius revealed several that posed a lethal threat to him.
This sight filled him with both envy and admiration, prompting silent resolve:
"The second chapter is nigh—this is the era of the Goblins. My Winged Man are not yet strong enough, but our time will come!"
Across the Blessed Plains, Jarius's gaze encompassed hundreds of intelligent races.
Some, like the Trolls, fielded tens of thousands of warriors, though certain factions among them still served the Titan Giants.
Others, like the Fairies, numbered only a few hundred, singing ethereal songs in their camps, utterly unperturbed by the looming war, as if they had come merely to spectate.
Wagons laden with grain and supplies arrived ceaselessly, delivered by the Goblins from all corners of the land.
When Jarius's Winged army descended upon the skies above the Blessed Plains, their vast formation resembled a rolling sea of clouds, obscuring the sun's light.
Their arrival was unmistakable.
Across the plains, nearly every race took notice of this immense aerial legion, armed with longbows and bronze swords.
The Winged Man had risen to prominence on the continent only in the past decade, and many races were unfamiliar with them.
Seeing this colossal skyborne force, murmurs of confusion arose.
"Is it not said that the Eaglefolk Court disdains allying with us to oppose their revered masters, the Thunder Titan Giants?"
"This aerial legion bears a striking resemblance to the Eaglefolk. Could their king be duplicitous?"
At this, knowledgeable members of various races scoffed.
"Your information is outdated. Those soaring above are our allies, the Winged Man. Though they resemble the Eaglefolk, they are entirely distinct!"
"My clan elder once said that the Eaglefolk are nothing compared to the Winged Man. I recall his words: 'One Winged equals five Eagles!'"
"One Winged equals five Eagles? By the gods, the Winged Man could challenge the Eaglefolk, Griffins, Twin-Headed Wyverns, and Horned Eagles for dominion of the skies!"
"With them here, we need not fear aerial threats!"
At that moment.
From the Goblin encampment, a squad of Goblin professionals ascended into the sky to meet Jarius.
Clad in armor and wielding greatswords or chain-hammers, they were enveloped in currents of wind magic, enabling flight.
Jarius sensed that none of these Goblin professionals had reached the legendary realm, suggesting they belonged to a transcendent profession capable of flight.
From his knowledge, most Goblin transcendents, including the Goblin King, were Knights.
This squad likely consisted of "Sky Knights," an advanced specialization of the Wind Knight profession.
It may seem improbable.
But in ancient times, the diverse Knight professions developed by the Goblins were indeed among the origins of the "Knight" archetype.
The four elemental Knight disciplines—Wind Knights, Earth Knights, Water Knights, and Fire Knights—were pioneered by the Goblins, laying the foundation for their widespread adoption across the world.