The wolf cavalry that burst forth from the flanks barely had time to showcase their strength before clashing head-on with Ye Zhan's cavalry. In mere moments, they were thrown into disarray. Against the heavily armored horsemen, they stood no chance—they didn't even know where to begin.
Though considered elite among the Gnoll tribe, their weapons, while finely crafted by their standards, paled in comparison when matched against their opponents.
The cavalry under Ye Zhan were not ordinary soldiers. They were handpicked elites from the Ye Tribe, fully equipped with silver-grade weapons and armor purchased at great cost from the City of Gods. Next to them, the wolf riders' dwarven-forged weapons looked crude and weak.
The battlefield at night belonged to Ye Zhan. His superior command and preparation ensured that the wolf cavalry was swiftly routed before they could make an impact.
Su Xingyu had to admit that the Werewolf tribe had exceeded expectations. They were far stronger than the previous barbarian tribes he'd fought—armed with monstrous giant wolves, backed by a full-fledged magic-wielding priesthood, and boasting a complete military structure.
But these weren't the most surprising aspects.
What truly impressed Su Xingyu was their will to fight. Even after suffering immense casualties, the Gnolls showed no signs of faltering. Their morale, their unity—it was a rare sight.
Still, Su Xingyu knew his forces had the upper hand.
And now, the outcome was clear.
"The winner has been decided," he said quietly.
With night blanketing the battlefield, the warriors of the Night Tribe moved like shadows blessed by the divine. Their strength surged, and their strikes became deadlier. Ironically, what should have been the perfect time for the jackals to launch their counterattack had become the moment their fate was sealed.
With the wolf cavalry broken, Ye Zhan led tens of thousands of horsemen around the flanks. Harvey scrambled to respond, but it was too late. The jackal forces were already overwhelmed and unable to reposition.
The cavalry charged through two defensive lines in quick succession, crumbling the already fragile formation of the Gnolls.
Spotting the enemy's command position, Ye Zhan surged forward. His long sword glowed, slicing arcs through the air, each swing felling foes in his path.
"It's over," Harvey muttered, his voice hoarse. His knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed.
He couldn't understand it.
Why did their strength falter after nightfall? Why did the enemy grow stronger?
The answer was now obvious.
Their enemies weren't just soldiers. They were warriors of the night, blessed by some unknown force.
Even in their frenzied state, the Gnolls were steadily pushed back.
"Almost time," Su Xingyu whispered.
He hadn't intended to subdue the Gnolls—at first. But after witnessing their tenacity, he changed his mind.
Maybe they could be used as auxiliary troops, a fierce vanguard willing to bleed.
Suddenly, the sky dimmed even further. The moon vanished behind a thick shroud of clouds, and an oppressive darkness fell upon the land like a curtain drawn across the battlefield.
Something ancient had turned its gaze here.
Every creature on the field froze. Even the most frenzied warriors instinctively bowed under the crushing presence.
A heavy silence smothered the field.
The Night Tribe warriors trembled with excitement, their eyes glowing with fervor. If not for Su Xingyu's earlier command, they would have dropped to their knees in worship.
The werewolves, unable to grasp what was happening, felt their bodies bowing of their own accord, a primal instinct compelling them to kneel.
"Submit, or perish."
The voice echoed not aloud but directly within their minds. Calm, unadorned—but radiating absolute authority.
Harvey's eyes widened as a realization struck.
"So that's it... this is why their strength increases in the dark..."
It all made sense now.
But knowing the reason didn't change the outcome.
The war was already lost.
Once, he might have fought to the last breath, unwilling to bow to any force.
But now, seeing his tribe decimated, their morale broken, Harvey made a choice.
"We surrender."
His voice was low, but it carried across the still battlefield.
There was no shame in surviving—for his people, at least.
The words had barely left his mouth when the dark vortex above vanished. A thunderclap cracked through the heavens, and gentle rain began to fall.
Raindrops spattered across the bloodied battlefield, washing over warriors from both sides.
"Here! Look here!"
A wounded werewolf clutched his arm in disbelief as his wound began to heal before his eyes. Gasps and cries echoed around him.
One by one, others noticed the same. Injuries mended, pain faded. The rain brought restoration.
The warriors of the Night Tribe, however, remained composed. They knew what this was.
"Farewell to our God!"
"Farewell, God!"
"Farewell, God!"
Their shouts rang across the battlefield.
Some among them, long held back by bottlenecks, suddenly felt their strength surge. With divine aid, they broke through, ascending to new heights in power.
War had always been the forge where heroes were made—but it was also the cruelest crucible.
This battlefield, soaked in blood and blessed by gods, was a place of glory and death.
Su Xingyu listened to the cries of devotion and triumph around him. He covered his face with one hand and sighed.
So embarrassing.
"Must they always shout like this?"
"Patriarch, Patriarch!" Several excited tribesmen ran up to him. "We've won again!"
"Mm." Su Xingyu straightened up, flashing a confident smile. "It's just the Gnolls. They were doomed the moment we set out."
He turned to his officers. "Round up the survivors. I want every one of them accounted for."
"Yes, Patriarch!"
Harvey and his remaining generals led the remaining jackals into surrender. Though some resisted, the tide had turned. There was no path forward but submission.
The battle had ended in a decisive victory.
The Night Tribe had lost three thousand warriors—but they had killed twenty-four thousand jackals. A kill ratio of eight to one.
While not quite matching their legendary victory of thirty thousand versus two hundred thousand during the night battle on the fragmented plane, this fight had far more weight.
The Gnolls were no goblins.
Unlike those weak green creatures, the jackals were organized, armed, and hardened. They were worthy opponents.
Defeating them was a feat of true power.
Now, with the Gnoll Tribe subdued, Su Xingyu stood as the unchallenged ruler of the Black Soil Plains.
Just as he had predicted, the system acknowledged his conquest.
And the rewards were nothing short of extraordinary.
[System prompt: All powerful forces defeated. The Black Soil Plains have been unified. You are now its sole ruler.]
[Rewards: Golden Treasure Chest x1, Growth Artifact: Dark Curtain, Special Barracks Blueprint: Dark Knight, Special Barracks Blueprint: Dark Warrior, World Origin: +10,000.]