Because of the defeat on Ursula Plain, the entire Gabella Empire was united in its strong demand for revenge.
Located at the heart of the continent, connecting east and west, Gabella's unique geographical location made it a veritable battleground, fostering a national character that revered military might.
Fortunately for this country, successive emperors were able to strike a relatively perfect balance between conquering the east and west and recuperating, allowing the raging flames of militarism to shine brightly in the furnace of reason, without burning the entire country.
The defeat on Ursula Plain ignited this fire; the empire had not suffered such a crushing defeat in over a century.
While vowing revenge, another voice was also very loud: the responsibility of military commanders such as Woven Ruiz should be investigated. These old nobles relied on their family background to seize high positions in the army, but their abilities did not match their positions. They brought defeat and disgrace to the empire and deserved severe punishment.
Emperor Antonio Griffin temporarily suppressed these voices, stating that now was not the time to assign blame, and that the most important thing was to unite and defeat the Papacy.
Just as Gabella was preparing for the new army, the high-ranking officers of the Papacy's army were also engaged in a heated debate.
In a border city of the Gabella Empire, the Papacy's army had just entered the city.
Inside the castle hall of the city's former lord, candlelight flickered, illuminating the tense faces of the Papal army generals.
They won, but what to do after the victory is a question with many different opinions.
One faction believes that the Papacy should take advantage of its military might to continue its advance into Gabella, strike at its capital, and completely overthrow this country that defied God's will, depose Emperor Antonio Griffin, install a puppet ruler, or... the Papacy could directly control the country.
Another faction argued that the army should consolidate its control over the Gabella border region, which is not far from the Papacy's traditional sphere of influence and is easily accessible for supplies. This would allow them to wait patiently for the Gabellas to launch attacks to reclaim their lost territory, then repeatedly thwart their attempts, continuously bleeding the Gabella Empire dry until it finally succumbs to its pressure and sues for peace, once again recognizing the Papacy's religious authority.
With the offensive and defensive factions locked in a stalemate, everyone turned their attention to the silent old general Webster, hoping to gain his support.
After the defeat at Horn Bay, Webster and his men were redeemed by the Papacy and immediately threw themselves into military action against Gabella.
As a defeated general, Webster felt responsible for the loss of Horn Bay, and when suggested that he continue as commander of the army attacking Gabella, Webster firmly refused.
He was then appointed as the deputy to the new commander-in-chief, Selvan Hammond, and was given advice and strategies by his side, drawing upon his extensive war experience.
While everyone was arguing, Webster didn't participate. Instead, he stood in front of a huge map and carefully planned his next move. When he noticed that everyone was looking at him, Webster sighed.
He then stated his opinion: "I do not advocate going deeper; it's too far! Many elephants in the War Elephant Legion are already showing signs of poor health, and going further into the Empire's territory will only worsen the situation."
The pro-peace faction gained the support of another veteran general, and they all showed relieved smiles.
But Anthony Edwards, the youngest cardinal priest and the core figure of the offensive faction, slammed his fist on the table, stood up angrily, and his voice echoed like thunder in the hall: "We have achieved a glorious victory on Ursula Plain, a golden opportunity given to us by the Father! Are we to give up this once-in-a-lifetime chance because of the weakness of a few war elephants? We must press our advantage, strike at the heart of the Gabella Empire, and make their emperor kneel before the banner of the Papacy!"
His words resonated with the attackers, who chanted, "Marching! Marching! For the glory of the Lord of Light!"
Webster, whose hair had turned much whiter since returning from Horn Bay, slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with piercing intensity. His voice, though not as booming as Anthony Edwards's, was filled with undeniable authority: " Anthony, your enthusiasm is admirable, but your recklessness could cost us our victory. War elephants are our most powerful weapon, and now they are sick due to the unfamiliar environment. Continuing deeper into enemy territory will only result in their needless sacrifice. If we march to the capital, we may suffer the consequence of losing all our war elephants. Their growth and training cycles are very long; it could be many years before they regain their strength. But if we stay on the border, we can have the war elephants take turns fighting, sending the sick ones to the rear to recuperate. This will ensure we always maintain this powerful force."
Those who advocated for peace nodded in agreement, whispering among themselves about the preciousness and irreplaceable value of the war elephants.
The debate between the two factions intensified, their words clashing like swords. The offensive faction accused the appeasement faction of being timid and missing a crucial opportunity; the appeasement faction countered that the advance faction was reckless and impractical. Inside the castle hall, the atmosphere was so tense it seemed as if a conflict could erupt at any moment, with both sides fighting for their positions and neither willing to back down an inch.
Commander-in-Chief Servan Hammond was in a real bind. In the end, he adopted a compromise: first consolidate control of the Gabella border and wait for the enemy to attack. If he could achieve another decisive victory in the next battle, he would lead his army straight to the capital of the empire.
Two weeks later, the Papacy's army and Gabella's army clashed again in a major battle.
This army did not come from the capital. The new army that the emperor ordered MacDonald to form, as well as the Blazing Dragon Legion, which would serve as important support, were still in preparation. This army came from various territories along the possible attack directions of the Papal army and was spontaneously formed by the lords.
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Although they were troops of local lords, their strength and weaponry were not far inferior to the imperial army, making them a formidable force for any nation outside of Gabella. The lords swore to reclaim the glory of the empire.
Unfortunately, the Gabella army suffered another crushing defeat under the might of the Papal war elephants.
The elephants charged into the Gabella ranks, trampling the plate-armored knights and turning them into indescribable heaps of metal and flesh. Their terrifying power quickly shattered the will to fight among the surrounding soldiers, who scattered aimlessly across the battlefield. Other Papal forces seized the opportunity to ambush and kill, often capturing entire groups of enemies.
In short, the Vatican has once again achieved a glorious victory.
Commander-in-Chief Selvan Hammond fulfilled his promise to the Invaders—to launch an offensive deep into the Gabella Empire.