Chapter 572: Crusade Preparations

"You honor us with your presence, my queen."

The moment I walked out of the portal, four figures immediately bowed before me.

Two with blond hair, one with green hair, and the last one with silver hair.

Queen Sylvana, Arwen, Leaf, and Vespera.

"Hello everyone!" I greeted them with a warm smile as the portal behind me closed. "No need for the formalities. We're one big happy family."

"!!!" Sylvana shivered slightly when I approached her and sealed her lips with a kiss. She didn't dare to break away, and I took the chance to enjoy her luscious lips for a few seconds before I let her go.

Leaf broke into a wide, excited grin, glancing at the elven queen before jumping at me and wrapping her arms and legs around my body in an energetic hug.

"Yay! Morgana is here!" she cheered, burying her face in my neck and inhaling deeply.

Ever since Leaf took her revenge on Sylvana, her approach became very... intimate. She is always happy, cheerful, and very touchy.

I just patted her head while she clung to me like a koala.

"Hey there," I said with a smile.

Vespera and Arwen shook their heads with knowing smiles on their faces.

Of course, I approached them and gave them both a quick peck on the lips as well.

"It's nice to see you again, my queen," Vespera said, her silver eyes warm.

She was the only one among the four who didn't know about my identity as the new goddess. I forbade everyone from telling her. I wanted to see her reaction when she used the golden lewd key and visited my temple, hoping to find a holy, majestic goddess, and saw me instead.

I'm sure it's going to be fun.

"I've called you all here today," I continued as I walked past them and sat down on a small throne that was prepared for me, "to prepare for the upcoming crusade."

Before me was a stone table with a sand map of the elven kingdom and its surroundings, a magical device created by the elves to help with strategy.

The four elves followed me and stood around the table, their expressions serious.

"Sylvana, what about the human army that is still holding the borders?" I asked, directly cutting to the chase.

"Still there, my queen," Sylvana answered, her voice steady. "They are fortifying their positions. They haven't made any hostile moves yet. General Fenris reported that they seem to be preparing for a long siege."

"Their focus should be on the crusade," Arwen added. "The king would not risk fighting on two fronts. They are likely there to keep the elves occupied, to prevent them from interfering with their main army."

"She is right," Vespera said, her mind working like a strategist. "Divide and conquer. It's a classic human tactic. They want us pinned down here while they march south to face you."

"I agree," I said, my fingers tracing the lines on the sand map. "And we'll play along for now. Keep an eye on them, but don't engage. We can't afford to weaken our forces before the real fight begins."

"As you wish, my queen," Sylvana said, her voice tight. She was not happy about not being able to crush the humans, but she knew I was right.

"Oh, do any of you know what this is?" I asked, projecting a small illusionary image of the teleportation platform the Gray Knights were building.

I'm pretty sure it's a teleportation platform, but I wanted to confirm and seek their opinions.

The four elves leaned in, their eyes wide with curiosity and a hint of alarm.

"It looks like... a portal of sorts," Leaf said, her head tilted to the side as she studied it.

"It's a teleportation platform," Sylvana said, her voice grim. "I have seen one before. It's a one-way portal to transport supplies or armies."

I looked at her, a little impressed. I didn't expect her to know about something like this.

"You have?"

"Yes," Sylvana said, her gaze distant. "We tried to study it, to replicate it. But the knowledge required to build one is... immense. The humans should not have it. Unless..."

"Unless their goddess gave it to them," Vespera finished, her expression darkening. "Uriel is helping them."

"Hmpf, that pigeon hasn't helped anyone in centuries," I scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "This is human ingenuity. And a very dangerous one at that."

"I don't think so, my queen," Sylvana said, her expression thoughtful. "If it were human ingenuity, we should have been able to replicate it. The principle behind it is not that complex for us mages. But there is something... missing. A key component. A power source. A divine spark."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her words. A divine spark? That's... interesting. That would explain why they need a paladin to activate it. It needs faith. A connection to a divine being.

"So you're saying it's a joint effort?" I asked. "Human engineering and divine power?"

"It's the only logical explanation," Sylvana said. "The humans provide the structure, the physical vessel. And their goddess provides the... soul."

I leaned back on my throne, a thoughtful look on my face. This changes things. If the portal requires a divine spark to function, then hijacking it would be much more difficult. I can't just... tap into it. I would need to... replace the spark with my own.

"So, what's the plan, my queen?" Vespera asked, her expression serious. "Do we destroy it?"

"No," I said, a predatory smile spreading across my face. "We let them build it. We let them activate it. And then... we take it from them."

"But how?" Sylvana asked, her brow furrowed with confusion. "If it's powered by their goddess, how can we take it?"

I looked at her, my eyes glowing with a dark, mischievous light.

"Leave that to me."

The elven queen kept staring at me in silence for a few seconds before the realization hit her.

I, too, have divine power.

Hijacking the teleportation portal will be easy with Herma's help, but it would be more satisfying to crush their faith while doing it.

"Alright then," I said, clapping my hands together, breaking the silence. "Let's move on to the main event. The crusade."

I stood up and walked over to the sand map, my gaze sweeping over the assembled elves.

"The human army will march south," I said, my finger tracing the path the Holy Knights would take. "They will try to establish a forward base here, in the plains, using their little portal to bring in supplies."

I paused, my finger tapping on a specific spot on the map.

"This is the most likely location. It's a strategic point, with easy access to water and resources. It's also a defensible position, with hills to the north and a river to the south."

I looked up at the elves, reading their expressions and allowing them a few moments to take in the information.

"How many are they?" Arwen suddenly said, her eyes narrowing. "How many men are they sending?"

"Still unknown," I admitted. "But I'm expecting a massive force. The humans are zealous, but they are not stupid. They will send enough men to overwhelm us through sheer numbers."

"We should expect from 15,000 to 25,000," Sylvana said, her expression grim. "The Kingdom of Vandor has a standing army of over a hundred thousand, but most of them belong to different noble houses, all of them loyal to their lords, not to the king. A crusade is different. They will be fueled by religious zeal and commanded by the church. They will be unified under one banner."

"And let's not forget their paladins and inquisitors," Vespera added. "Those are the real threat. A single paladin can turn the tide of a battle. An inquisitor can break the will of an entire army."

"I am aware," I said, my expression unreadable. "Which is why I am joining the fight."

I could see the flicker of surprise in their eyes. They expected me to send them, my generals, my children, to fight this war for me. They didn't expect me to lead it myself.

"I will personally lead the army," I said, my voice leaving no room for argument. "This is not just a battle for territory. This is a battle for faith. For the very soul of this continent. And I will be the one to shatter their old, stagnant beliefs and forge a new order in their ashes."

The four elves exchanged glances, a mixture of awe and determination on their faces.

"Now, here's what we'll do," I continued, my finger moving back to the map. "Sylvana, I want you and your rangers to shadow the Gray Knights. I want to know their every move. Their patrols, their supply lines, their weaknesses. I want a complete profile of their leaders, their tactics, their morale. Everything."

"As you wish, my queen," Sylvana said, her eyes gleaming with a predatory light.

"Vespera," I said, my gaze shifting to the dark elf, "you join the scouts and focus on the terrain. I want to know every hill, every valley, every river between here and the human lands. We need to choose the battlefield. We will not let them dictate the terms of this engagement."

"I will have a detailed map ready for you within the week," Vespera promised.

"Arwen," I said, turning to my lovely steward. "Go back to my land and take charge of the logistics. My sister will help you."

I was going to give this task to Vicky, but then she might do something... crazy. So it's better to send the calm and collected Arwen.

"As you command, my Queen," Arwen said, bowing her head.

"And Leaf," I said, a small smile playing on my lips as I looked at the energetic wood elf, who was still clinging to my arm.

"Yes, Morgana?" she asked, her green eyes wide with excitement.

"You go with Arwen and focus on making potions," I said, my tone serious. "I want every alchemist in the kingdom working day and night. I want anti-poison potions, healing potions, stamina potions... and some more... explosive ones. A lot of them."

"Ooh! A fun potion!" Leaf's face lit up. "I'm on it! I'll make the best potions ever! You'll see! They'll go BOOM and everything!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm.

I already have a stockpile of potions brought from the breeding shop, but I want to have more... a lot more.

Moreover, this will be a great chance to force my children to adapt and learn potion making by using war as a motivation.

"I'm sure you will," I said, patting her head.

"Now, any questions?" I asked, looking at the four of them.

"..." They all shook their heads.

"Then go," I said. "And let our enemies regret the day they decided to challenge us."

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