Everyone Is A Lord: My Talent Is A Little Too Strong

Leo Ray first nodded to everyone before looking around. Except for the battlefield smoke that hadn't completely dissipated, the Fortress had indeed returned to calm.

He then remembered something and asked, "What about Jess and the other Ancient Dark Elves?"

"My Lord, after the Rainforest Grand Army besieged here, the Absolute Defense Barrier couldn't hold for long. General Jess and others repeatedly charged outside the city to attract the enemy's attention, and almost all Ancient Dark Elf soldiers perished, including General Jess himself."

Crisis lowered her eyebrows, reporting to Leo Ray: "Thanks to the Ancient Dark Elves' efforts, the Fortress could hold on until Grey Elder and others returned."

"So that's how it is. It seems they were the greatest contributors in this battle."

Leo Ray looked solemnly at the messy battlefield again.

Fortunately, Jess and the others' life essence are still in the Ancient Mine, meaning given time, they can reappear.

Thinking of this, Leo Ray composed himself and queried Grey Elder and others: "Dear elder, how did you retreat the Rainforest Fortress Alliance's Grand Army?"

"Your Majesty, even us old ministers were caught off guard. The story starts with us heading to Lina's hometown."

Grey Elder first shared a smile with Yonir and Lina, then saluted Leo Ray and began his account.

Through Grey Elder's detailed description, Leo Ray learned that when sent to near Lina's hometown by Ice Stone City, the group immediately set off for her hometown.

As a member of the Rainforest Fortress Alliance, Lina's Mandela Clan was weak, but it held an elder seat in the alliance, soon understanding the current situation from the tribe left behind.

Loris and others, after returning to the Rainforest Fortress Alliance, quickly gathered a Grand Army centered around Lions, Leopard-men, Bear-men, Centaurs, and Water Elves, attacking the Fortress.

This included several of Lina's same-clan Legions, most Mandalas excel in using the Force of Nature, especially in healing and purification, serving as indispensable support.

"You mean Loris, Thomas, Old Susan, and others initiated an attack on our side after safely returning?"

Hearing this, Leo Ray showed apparent surprise and disbelief.

"Exactly, Your Majesty, we were puzzled when hearing this news. The enemy had no reason to act this way."

Grey Elder knitted his white eyebrows and continued: "After discussion, we believe the reason could only be one."

"You mean Loris and others have been secretly replaced, right? The ones ordering are impostors, which explains it."

Leo Ray gently rubbed his chin, speculating, "But the other members of the Rainforest Fortress Alliance are unaware of the agreement we reached with the real Loris and others, so following the impostor's orders to attack us isn't surprising."

"As expected, Your Majesty saw through it instantly."

Yonir carried on: "Even with this suspicion, we lacked any evidence. Fortunately, Lina cleverly found the enemy's flaw, confirming our guess."

"Heh heh, My Lord, I'm not as remarkable as Yonir Grandpa claims."

Lina coyly scratched her head, smiling widely: "I just discovered the enemy's inconsistency when the leader's envoy ordered our tribe's full mobilization."

"But surely, My Lord already knows my tribe has a unique trait, requiring long sleep periods in caves. Hence, we alternate to handle emergencies, never fully deploying."

"Forcing a break from sleep incurs severe magic backlash."

Listening to Lina, Leo Ray thoughtfully nodded.

As the girl mentioned, her tribe indeed has a unique habit, requiring long hibernation-like energy absorption.

Lina doesn't need this due to her cultivation of the Dead Spirits Beast Taming Technique, achieving this in similar ways during training.

Loris, leading the Rainforest Fortress Alliance, would know this trait and not order full deployment. An imposter, however, wouldn't know, given Lina's tribe's limited strength and obscurity.

Having organized his thoughts, Leo Ray curiously asked again: "What happened after?"

"Your Majesty, once confirming the enemy's identity issue, we didn't publicize but sought the real rainforest leader's traces, mixing into Lina's tribe's supply team, returning near Fortress neighbors via the teleportation gate."

Yonir's old eyes unfocused, describing scenes of that time: "If the rainforest leader was swapped, the place most likely was during the journey from the Shadow Market back to the rainforest border Fortress. Searching all along should reveal some clues."

"The rainforest leader's party boasts remarkable strength and resources, veteran of battles, incomparable to Dragonborn Queens. Even if Witch Demons all dispatched, achieving this seamlessly is hard."

Yonir gently stroked his white beard: "Only one method enables Witch Demons to succeed."

"Illusion Technique?"

Leo Ray swiftly grasped the crux of the matter, nodding slightly: "As long as the genuine rainforest leader's party was trapped in the Illusion Realm, stealth from Witch Demons is logical."

"Your Majesty's insight is divine."

Grey Elder praised Leo Ray and continued: "Indeed, upon leaving the rainforest border Fortress, I sought traces of Illusion Technique where the rainforest leader might pass, as even the finest illusion can only trap targets within the Illusion Realm, revealing clues outside."

"Sure enough, near a Dense Forest edge, we found Illusion traces—mist enshrouded trees, exuding an enigmatic aura."

"The enemy disguised Illusion mist as morning fog, including faint tree-leaf dew. Yet, on moonless nights, morning fog is absurd, defying logic."

Grey Elder nodded towards Leo Ray, continuing: "Confirming the Illusion mist, just as we planned the next step, an outbreak occurred."

"Suddenly, silhouettes emerged from nearby forests—many Witch Demons and Dead Spirits Soldiers swiftly encircled us."

"At that moment, we realized, with late hindsight, we had unknowingly stepped into a trap, clearly outmatched."

Hearing Grey Elder's solitary recount, Leo Ray pondered: "With Illusion Technique deployed, surrounding ambushes are expected."

He then curiously asked, "Dear elder, how did you break through, unraveling the enemy's scheme?"

"Your Majesty, what followed took even us by surprise."

Grey Elder's wrinkled face hinted at a mysterious smile, continuing his tale.