They had no defensive capabilities, and their only redeeming qualities were their flying skills and carrying capacity.
A single member of the Lion-Tiger tribe weighed at least five or six hundred pounds, and with armor and weapons, the total could easily exceed half a ton.
Such immense carrying capacity, combined with the specialized flight maneuvers of the bats, made them the perfect choice for an evacuation.
But this time was different.
The first thing Luo Li had to consider was how to break through the demon army's blockade and fly from the southern end of the battlefield to the north.
This was essentially equivalent to flying right through the demon elites.
While the bats possessed exceptional flight skills, they couldn't withstand a concentrated assault.
Furthermore, the feathered serpent tribe was stationed there.
Even if the dragons could keep the feathered serpents occupied, sending flying bats with almost no combat power or defense through the demon army was suicide.
The casualties would undoubtedly be catastrophic.
If Luo Li did that, she would be using the most unsuitable force at the most inappropriate time.
As a commander, one had to account for the timing, the terrain, and the people.
Currently, neither the timing nor the terrain was on her side, so she had to be even more cautious, calculating the gains and losses of every single step.
Aerial forces were the most precious assets in any era, and wasting them so recklessly was the height of folly.
Therefore, she had to take a risk.
She would use the smallest possible price to gamble for the greatest opportunity!
Two airships, at a hundred thousand gold coins each.
That was equivalent to a billion!
But so what?
This was already considered the smallest possible price.
"Furthermore, the defensive capabilities of the skysoar dragon are plain for all to see. While they are not as powerful as great dragons, they are still exceptionally strong."
"If we can minimize the casualties of the skysoar dragon this time, the combat effectiveness of the Dragon Knight Corps will remain unaffected."
"Do you understand?"
"I... I understand."
It was only at this moment that Lancelot finally grasped the depth of his lady's foresight.
While he was still worrying about the immediate situation, this young lady had already planned out the entire board.
From the very beginning, she wasn't just thinking about a simple rescue, but the entire series of events that would follow.
"Dominica."
"Yes..."
Dominica had been unsettled ever since she heard her lady's plan earlier.
She hadn't even been paying attention to the conversation between the two, remaining silent with her head bowed.
Luo Li understood what she was thinking, but while she understood, she couldn't afford to dwell on it.
After all, what needed to be done had to be done.
"After I leave, take the army and march directly toward the evacuation point to the southwest. You may discard any unnecessary weight along the way, including heavy armor and other equipment."
"But Your Highness, the loss to the knight corps would be..."
"Equipment can be remade, but lives cannot be replaced!"
"Yes."
"Once you retreat to this position—this gentle slope—have the rock dragons among the dragons dig a trench and establish a defensive position. Hold it until the warships from the mainland arrive. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
Looking at the dejected Dominica, Luo Li sighed helplessly, stepped forward, and patted her on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, Dominica. I will definitely come back alive. The knights... I'm leaving them in your hands."
"Your Highness..."
Dominica looked up sharply, wanting to say something more, but the words died in her throat when she saw the unwavering determination in the girl's eyes.
After giving Dominica's shoulder two gentle pats, Luo Li took a deep breath and turned to begin her preparations.
After all, she was about to head deep into the enemy's rear.
Her appearance would inevitably draw the Demon Emperor's attention toward her.
In other words, this would reduce the pressure on the main force's retreat.
However, a bitter struggle was guaranteed.
And this journey... was truly fraught with hardship, with life and death hanging in the balance.
She couldn't afford not to prepare thoroughly.
She spread out some paper, quickly wrote several letters, and handed them to Dominica.
"Dominica, if I don't return, deliver these letters to everyone according to the names written on them. Make sure you don't give them to the wrong person, alright?"
"...Understood."
With tears already welling in her eyes, Dominica took the letters with a choked sob.
The way she held them made it look like she was receiving a final will—bah!
Nonsense!
Even if she really got lost on this demon island, she could still find a way out in her demonized state!
"Also, this letter must be read aloud to the Pope personally, no matter what. Do you understand?"
"Your Highness, I..."
"Alright, alright, stop crying. You're a dignified Temple knight, why are you crying like a little girl?"
"But... but I am a girl!"
Well... she did have a point. Luo Li found herself speechless.
"I know. My Dominica is a girl, and it's perfectly fine for girls to cry, okay?"
Dominica blinked, her face suddenly turning red, and then, under Luo Li's stunned gaze, she bolted away.
She left behind a final flag.
"I will definitely wait for you to come back!"
"Ugh... if you're going to leave, just leave... don't raise flags for me."
Watching the girl disappear into the distance, Luo Li opened her mouth to speak but ended up sighing helplessly.
"Forget it, I'll deal with her later. Lancelot, you know the general plan now. I'll go over the specific details."
"Please proceed, Your Highness."
Lancelot also knew he couldn't stop this stubborn girl.
He could only silently swear in his heart to protect the Saintess and ensure her safe return, even if it cost him his life.
Luo Li, unaware of Lancelot's inner thoughts, focused on explaining the tactical situation of the upcoming battle.
"Crossing through the demon army won't be easy. On the contrary, we will definitely face heavy resistance."
"I intend to use the two airships to descend simultaneously and deliver a devastating blow to the demons in this sector."
Luo Li pointed to the map where they were currently located.
In truth, while the plan had been announced, executing it would still take time.
This was a real battlefield, lacking the instantaneous transitions of the modern era.
Any plan required a significant amount of time to adapt to unless it had been prepared in advance.
Fortunately, the forces in this war were mostly elites who could execute orders well even with last-minute changes.
"Following the bombardment, that section of the demon army will inevitably fall into chaos. At that point, the Dragon King will clear a path for us and intercept the feathered serpent tribe."
"You and I will take two thousand skysoar dragons and three great dragons to charge directly into the demon army's rear."
"Alright, those are the details. Go and prepare."
"As you command!"
Lancelot gave a crisp response and turned to make the arrangements.
He needed to coordinate with Mr. Momo first before proceeding with the plan.
Meanwhile, Luo Li began packing her gear.
Dry rations, all the protective gear she could carry, a communication stone, and a compass.
She packed everything she might need and threw it into her storage space.
Preparation complete!
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