The moment the orders were officially issued, all of Jinna's tension and unease vanished. A soldier's instincts gradually took command. She took a light breath and relayed the orders to the entire Dragon Rider squadron, while her hands steadily gripped the control levers before her, feeling the strength and coldness conveyed by the steel machine. Her heart was utterly calm.
One inverted-cone-shaped anti-gravity aircraft after another swiftly traced elegant arcs through the clouds, breaking away from their previous patrol routes and swooping toward the blazing battlefield below.
Wind direction and speed had been calculated. Altitude and velocity were within expected ranges. Bombing angle and distance had been confirmed several times. The bombardier held a finger above a Rune Trigger at the center of the console, silently counting down.
"Release the bomb safeties—unlock the Safety Locks—drop!"
There was no sign of Cecil's nighttime offensive slowing. Deafening artillery fire exploded incessantly above the city walls. This was a brutal trial Winterwolf Fortress had never faced since its construction, a scene of war Typhon had not witnessed since its founding. Even the valiant imperial soldiers and proud Battle Mages were shaken by such an overwhelming assault—but no matter what, the defensive line held. Winterwolf Fortress's sturdy shield and walls withstood the test. At least for the moment, Cecil's "heavenly fire" could not get through.
Perrin Winterhold watched the flow of magic across the shield above the western wall and relaxed slightly. "The magical circulation has stabilized again... It seems the Magic Power Focus held."
"But simply defending ourselves is not enough," Andesa said. "Winterhold Count, do you remember what we discussed? We must find a way to break the current deadlock and regain..."
She suddenly stopped halfway through her sentence. A faint humming sound, nearly impossible to distinguish beneath the thunderous artillery