Surprise Attack

During Ange's time in the canyon, in addition to daily maintenance of the catapults, he persisted in training and meditation, enhancing his combat abilities and control over qi force. Three days had passed since the last battle with the Foul Spirits. The Grand Duchy of Tan'anster had dispatched two new Cavalry Regiments and one Infantry Regiment, along with an Archer Regiment, to provide support.

According to the reconnaissance reports from the scouts dispatched by Commander Meredith, the area outside the canyon was a vast plain, and the Foul Spirits' main base was located on the Kewenhua Grand Plains in the eastern part of the Maple Sugar Plane. This plain was named by Professor Kewenhua of the Tan'anster Geographical Survey Institute.

After the reinforcements arrived at the canyon, Meredith remained in charge of combat command. As the combat commander for the eastern region of the Maple Sugar Plane, Meredith immediately ordered the defense line to be pushed outwards from the canyon after receiving the new reinforcements. Ange's Logistics Regiment quickly responded to the allied commander's order and advanced the defensive fortifications. All members of the Logistics Regiment were deployed, and it took them a day to push the defense line to the edge of the Kewenhua Grand Plains, where they began constructing new fortifications on the spot. The Cavalry Regiments patrolled the perimeter of the defense line to ensure safety.

Meanwhile, Commander Meredith continued to monitor the Foul Spirits' movements, formulating detailed combat plans in preparation for a full-scale assault on the Foul Spirits' main base on the Kewenhua Grand Plains at an opportune moment. The entire allied army was making thorough preparations for the upcoming battle, and everyone knew that this would be a decisive and important engagement.

Gewalong, the eastern regional commander of the Foul Spirits, silently surveyed the other Foul Spirit commanders present after analyzing the report from his subordinate general Dawuyura. The conference room was filled with an atmosphere of anger and dissatisfaction. The Foul Spirits denounced the humans' shamelessness, believing that humans dared not engage them, the great Holy Race, in a head-on confrontation, resorting instead to despicable harassment tactics.

Gewalong raised his hand, signaling for silence. The Foul Spirit commanders present immediately ceased their clamor and turned to Gewalong, awaiting his instructions. Gewalong calmly stated, "Since Dawuyura reports that the humans are wavering between advancing and retreating, we cannot stand idly by. We must show the humans a thing or two, letting them understand that in the face of absolute strength, all their tricks and schemes are nothing but mere trifles."

His voice was deep and powerful, filled with authority. Gewalong continued, "We will concentrate our forces and launch a powerful counterattack to completely collapse the human defense line. Notify all units to prepare and stand by at any time. Dawuyura, you will personally lead the elite troops to find the weak points in the human defense line and deliver a fatal blow."

The Foul Spirit commanders nodded one after another, their eyes flashing with ferocity. After the meeting, they acted swiftly, deploying their troops to prepare for a strong counterattack against the humans. Gewalong stood before the battle map, coldly gazing at the marked human defense line, having already formulated a detailed operational plan in his mind. He knew that this counterattack would be a crucial step in the battle between the Foul Spirits and the humans, and victory had to be achieved in one fell swoop to make the humans fully realize their insignificance and powerlessness.

Soon, the Foul Spirit army rapidly assembled and challenged the Grand Duchy's allied forces. The two sides engaged in a standoff at the edge of the Kewenhua Grand Plains, the atmosphere on the battlefield tense. The dark mass of the Foul Spirit army spread out like a tide, imposing and overwhelming.

Meredith stood on the allied command platform, his gaze fixed on the opposing Foul Spirit army. Although he had received support from the newly arrived reinforcements, seeing such a massive enemy force, a hint of pressure inevitably arose in his heart. He deeply understood the difficulty and importance of this battle, where every decision could determine the outcome of the entire war.

Meredith took a deep breath, composing himself, then turned to his adjutant and generals beside him and said firmly, "Gentlemen, this is the strongest enemy we have faced, and it is a battle we must win. No matter how ferocious they are, we cannot retreat. Commanders, return to your positions and ensure every soldier is ready to face the coming battle."

Meredith soon ordered the catapults to attack first. Huge stones flew from the allied positions, streaking across the sky and smashing towards the Foul Spirit army. However, Gewalong had long foreseen the humans' intentions and quickly ordered his entire army to retreat. Due to the limited range, the stones fell on empty ground, causing no damage to the Foul Spirits.

Seeing this, the Foul Spirits erupted in laughter, their mocking voices echoing across the plain, sounding particularly jarring. Meredith sighed inwardly upon seeing the ineffective catapult attack. He understood that this type of long-range bombardment could only be carried out once and would only be effective when the enemy was caught off guard.

Meredith quickly adjusted his strategy, knowing he had to change tactics to deal with such vigilant enemies. He said to the generals beside him, "We must use speed and flexibility to launch a more direct and effective attack. Although the catapults were unsuccessful, we still have other means."

He ordered the archers to prepare for the next wave of ranged attacks, while simultaneously ordering the infantry and cavalry to prepare for a charge. Meredith knew that this battle required everyone's effort and encouraged the soldiers to maintain firm belief and courage, facing the formidable enemy without flinching.

Just as the allied forces were adjusting their formation for a new round of attacks, Gewalong was also closely observing the human movements. His gaze was cold, and he already had a plan to counter them. He quietly said to the Foul Spirit generals beside him, "The humans are indeed vulnerable. We will wait for them to reveal a weakness and then deliver a fatal blow."

The tense atmosphere on the battlefield intensified, with both sides accumulating strength, waiting for the optimal moment to attack. The wisdom and decisiveness of commanders Meredith and Gewalong would determine the course of this battle, and the fate of both sides would be decided on this plain.

While the two sides were in a standoff, Dawuyura led a thousand Foul Spirits and quietly appeared on the cliff faces on both sides of the canyon. The Foul Spirits hid behind the rocks above, overlooking the canyon below, their eyes gleaming with cunning and cruelty.

Dawuyura stood at the edge of the cliff, coldly watching the human forces in the canyon. The allied forces at the bottom of the valley appeared so small and helpless, as if they could become prey to the Foul Spirits' claws at any moment. A cold smile appeared on Dawuyura's lips, and he was full of confidence in his Foul Spirit warriors.

"Lie low and wait for the opportunity," Dawuyura commanded in a low voice. He knew that a surprise attack would inflict the greatest blow on the humans, and he only needed to wait for the perfect moment.

The Foul Spirit warriors quickly dispersed, finding hidden positions and silently lurking in the shadows of the cliffs. Dawuyura's gaze was sharp, closely monitoring the movements of the allied forces below. He had already outlined his next course of action—when the humans' attention was drawn to the Foul Spirit army in front, he would lead his troops in a surprise attack from above, delivering a fatal blow to the allied forces.

In the allied camp at the bottom of the valley, the soldiers had not yet sensed the danger above and were still nervously preparing for the upcoming battle. Meredith continued to observe the enemy situation from the command platform, contemplating how to deal with the current predicament.

Seeing the human catapults begin to retreat, Gewalong immediately ordered the Foul Spirit legion to advance once more. The Foul Spirits, seeing that the catapult attacks had stopped, became bolder, advancing rapidly and menacingly towards the allied positions.

The vanguard of the Foul Spirits soon entered the range of the Archer Regiment. The commander of the Archer Regiment keenly noticed this and decisively gave the order: "Fire!"

In an instant, a volley of arrows was unleashed, a dark rain of arrows flying from the allied positions towards the Foul Spirit legion. The arrows traced beautiful arcs in the air, emitting sharp whistling sounds as they quickly descended upon the Foul Spirits. However, the Foul Spirits, relying on their tough flesh and heavy armor, fearlessly met the arrow rain. They believed that human arrows could not penetrate their sturdy defenses.

Arrows struck the Foul Spirits, some bouncing off their armor, while others pierced their flesh. For these strong creatures, they were merely superficial wounds. The Foul Spirits roared and continued their advance, showing no sign of slowing down. The archers, seeing this, felt a pang of anxiety but did not give up, continuing to shoot at the enemy.

Seeing that ordinary arrows could not inflict substantial damage on the Foul Spirits, the commander of the Archer Regiment decisively ordered the use of enchanted arrows. The soldiers acted quickly, nocking arrows with the sharpness property onto their bowstrings. These enchanted arrows, imbued with magic, shimmered with power.

Soon, a new volley of arrows flew towards the Foul Spirit legion. This time, the sharpness property arrows easily pierced the Foul Spirits' armor and flesh. Foul Spirits began to fall one after another under the arrow rain, emitting pained roars. Gewalong, seeing his troops being weakened, was enraged. He immediately ordered his entire army to accelerate their advance, attempting to crush the human defense line with sheer numbers.

Meredith observed the increasing number of Foul Spirits approaching, and the situation became more urgent. He decisively ordered the Cavalry Regiment, which was on standby in the canyon, to charge. The cavalry, at the sound of the horn, surged forward, their hooves thundering like thunder, charging at the Foul Spirit legion with unparalleled momentum. Before the Foul Spirits could fully react, they were routed by the swift cavalry charge, many falling under the hooves and spears.

The powerful impact of the cavalry threw the Foul Spirit formations into disarray. Meredith pressed his advantage, ordering the Infantry Regiment to follow closely with a pressing tactic, giving the enemy no chance to breathe. The archers provided precise strikes. Occasionally, cavalry or infantry soldiers would signal to the archers on the defense line.

Meanwhile, the Logistics Regiment escorted the catapults back from the front line. Although the catapults had not achieved their intended effect in the initial attack, they were still strategic assets that needed protection and maintenance.

Ange followed the Logistics Regiment, his heart filled with shock and tension. The battle he had just witnessed made him deeply aware of the ferocity and tenacity of the Foul Spirits; the enemies kept coming like a tide, seemingly endless.

Just then, Dawuyura, who had been lurking on the canyon cliffs, saw his opportunity. A cunning glint flashed in his eyes, and he immediately ordered his thousand Foul Spirits to launch a surprise attack from above.

The Foul Spirits descended the cliff face using vines, moving with the agility of phantoms in the darkness. The soldiers of the Logistics Regiment were stunned by the sudden attack. Many did not have time to react before the Foul Spirits tore them apart, blood splattering everywhere, screams echoing through the canyon.

The Foul Spirits let out terrifying roars and ferociously pounced on the unprepared humans. The soldiers of the Logistics Regiment had not fully recovered before they were killed by the Foul Spirits. The scene became chaotic and bloody, and the once orderly retreat line instantly collapsed.

The moment the Foul Spirits appeared, Ange immediately became alert. He quickly drew his weapon, ready to fight. However, before he could even warn his comrades around him, the Foul Spirits had already pounced. He watched helplessly as his companions fell one by one, his heart filled with anger and sorrow.

The Foul Spirits madly attacked the Logistics Regiment, their sharp claws and fangs tearing at the humans' bodies. The soldiers of the Logistics Regiment had almost no power to fight back and soon fell one after another. The catapults were also severely damaged in the chaos, their large wooden structures torn apart by the Foul Spirits' strength, debris flying everywhere.

Ange swung his hand axe, engaging in close combat with the Foul Spirits. Every swing carried his inner anger and fear, but the Foul Spirits' flesh was exceptionally tough, and the hand axe could not easily take them down. Ange's arm shield constantly blocked the Foul Spirits' attacks, and each impact made him feel the indescribable, immense power.

The Foul Spirits' claws were like iron hooks, each strike filled with deadly threat. Ange resisted with all his might, his arm shield emitting dull thuds, conveying the opponent's formidable strength. With every clash, Ange felt his body tremble, deeply realizing the power gap between himself and these Foul Spirits.

The Foul Spirits' attacks came wave after wave, and Ange's arms gradually grew sore, but he did not retreat an inch. He knew he could not take a step back. Gritting his teeth, he continued to swing his hand axe, looking for every possible counterattack opportunity.

As a Foul Spirit lunged at him, Ange quickly sidestepped, his hand axe following through with a powerful downward swing, striking the Foul Spirit's neck. This attack was unexpectedly successful. The Foul Spirit's head was deeply embedded in the axe blade, letting out a scream and falling to the ground. However, more Foul Spirits followed closely, charging at Ange.

Ange quickly adjusted his fighting stance, raising his arm shield to block a sweeping attack from a Foul Spirit. His body was forced back several steps by the powerful impact. He gasped for breath, feeling his stamina gradually draining, but he knew he could not fall. A strong will to fight surged within him.

Ange soon discovered that the Foul Spirits' weakness was their neck. He shouted to his comrades around him, "Attack their necks, that's their weakness!" His voice carried through the chaotic battlefield, pointing the way for his teammates.

Ange's stamina was gradually depleted in the fierce battle, and his movements began to become heavy. Despite this, he stubbornly swung his hand axe, not giving the Foul Spirits any opening. His gaze swept across the battlefield, noticing his comrade Rika struggling to fend off several Foul Spirits.

Enbei had unfortunately died in the first wave of the Foul Spirits' attack. His body lay quietly not far away. The brutality of the battlefield weighed heavily on Ange's heart. He knew he couldn't let more comrades fall and had to support Rika as quickly as possible.

Ange quickly rushed towards Rika, their hand axe carving sharp arcs through the air, repelling the Foul Spirits along the way. When they reached Rika's side, the two stood back-to-back, forming a solid defensive circle to jointly resist the Foul Spirits' attacks.

"Rika, attack their necks!" Ange reminded again, simultaneously blocking a Foul Spirit's claw with their arm shield. The hand axe swung out swiftly, accurately striking the Foul Spirit's neck and killing it.

Upon hearing Ange's instruction, Rika immediately adjusted their attack strategy. They aimed their longsword at the necks of the Foul Spirits, each strike becoming more precise. One Foul Spirit attempted to pounce on Rika but was impaled through the throat with a sword, falling to the ground and convulsing.

The two fought back-to-back with remarkable synergy and seamless coordination. Despite the intense battle, they tenaciously held their ground. The Foul Spirits' assaults came wave after wave, but Ange and Rika's teamwork made it difficult for them to break through.

Ange's stamina was continuously depleting, but they gritted their teeth and continued to swing their hand axe. They knew that as long as they persisted, reinforcements would arrive, and they would see the dawn of victory. Their resilience and courage also inspired the surrounding comrades, who worked together to jointly resist the Foul Spirits' onslaught.