Chapter 192

Seeing Igneel's deranged expression turn from madness to utter dejection, Metalicana and the others guessed that something terrible must have happened, but they didn't know how to ask. Just then, Grandiere, who was standing to the side, said calmly, "He's gone?"

Igneel didn't answer her question, but simply nodded vigorously, tacitly acknowledging the fact. Seeing Igneel and his companion's actions, Metalicana and the other two were even more bewildered. However, their bewilderment didn't last long, as their subsequent conversation effectively cleared up their confusion.

"That bastard, he didn't even say goodbye to his wife before leaving, making her worry about him!"

"Brother Sordil was afraid you'd worry, that's why he didn't greet you!"

"Hmph! You seem to know him quite well! By the way, he taught you that hand gesture you just made, didn't he?"

"That's right!"

Can you tell me what that means?

"My friend Sordil told me that when he makes that gesture to someone, he wants to tell them that no matter where they are, he is looking after them and cares about them."

"Haha! This brat actually made that gesture to you, but not to me. Looks like he likes you more than he likes me!"

Seeing the slightly eerie, aunt-like smile on Grandiere's face, Igneel suddenly realized that the topic seemed to have unknowingly veered off course, and in a rather jarring way. For his own safety, and for his good brother's marital happiness, Igneel hurriedly explained, "Grandiere, please don't misunderstand! My brother Sordil and I have only a pure brotherly bond, nothing like what you're imagining!"

Grandiere at Igneel with a black line on his forehead, then laughed and scolded, "I was just talking about brotherhood, what are you thinking?"

After the misunderstanding, which was so beautiful it was almost blinding, was cleared up, Igneel breathed a sigh of relief, completely ignoring the strange looks from Grandiere and the others.

Just as Sordil was almost mistaken for a gay man (using the term Hu Yifei used to describe Zeng Xiaolian) because of Igneel, the culprit Sordil had already arrived at the southern front and begun the second performance of his battlefield debut. Unlike the high ground assault in his first performance, this time he was going to conduct a canyon ambush.

When Sordil arrived at his destination via the Teleportation Array, his five parents had already led Fostadu and other members of the Dragon Clan Secret Realm into the ambush position.

"Old man Hadessta, how's the situation?"

Upon seeing his son, the Great Marshal, arrive, Hadessta wore a relieved smile. He pointed to the canyon entrance and said, "The enemy has all entered the canyon, and Radel and his men are already prepared at the canyon entrance."

Looking down at the canyon covered with withered grass and fallen leaves, and the enemy soldiers lying haphazardly resting in the canyon, Sordil felt more confident about his plan.

"Dad, are the Fire Dragon Assault Team and the combat troops responsible for the encirclement and kill in place?"

"Everyone is in position, just waiting for your command!"

"Alright! In that case, I will contact Father Radel immediately and have them seal off the canyon. Once the canyon is completely sealed off, Father Hadessta, you should immediately lead your troops to attack the enemy forces below."

Hadessta nodded, then sent someone to relay Sordil's orders to all the combat personnel, while he himself stood guard over the Sordil's radio station. A quarter of an hour later, Sordil, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, opened his eyes and said to Hadessta, "Old man Hadessta, launch an attack on the enemy forces in the canyon in thirty seconds!"

"Clear!"

While Sordil was busy on both the northern and southern fronts, the Dragunov Legion, under the command of Oddek, also began its operations on the central front. However, compared to the more complex terrain of the northern and southern fronts, which allowed for ambushes and surprise attacks, the terrain of the central front was far less favorable. At this moment, the army of Ishgar and the members of the Western Continent stood in a silent standoff on a vast, unobstructed grassland.

Under other circumstances, seeing such a vast grassland would have put Oddek in a good mood, but now he felt nothing but a headache.

"So... Oddek, what should we do now?"

Oddek glanced at Belserion behind him, then shook his head slightly, indicating that he also had no good way to repel the enemy. Seeing that even his strategist was helpless, Belserion completely gave up hope of defeating the enemy and could only continue the stalemate.

As the last second passed through his mind, Radel immediately gave the order to the earth dragons behind him to move out.

"Brothers, let's get to it and seal off the canyon entrance!"

Upon receiving the attack order, dozens of earth-elemental dragons, lying in ambush beneath the canyon floor, unleashed their combined power. In an instant, a thick, majestic rock wall rose from the ground, perfectly filling the gap in the canyon. Hadessta, who had been watching the canyon entrance, immediately noticed the change and ordered his troops to attack.

"Listen up, everyone! The Fire Dragon Assault Team is to immediately launch a breath attack, igniting the trees below to disrupt the enemy. Once the Fire Dragon Assault Team has finished its attack, follow-up troops will immediately launch their own attack, aiming to eliminate half of the enemy before they can react!"

As soon as Hadessta finished speaking, a squadron of red dragons began to unleash their breath on the canyon below. Instantly, flames erupted within the canyon, and agonizing roars echoed from within. However, Hadessta and his forces wouldn't let the cries of the dragons deter them. The Fire Dragon Assault Team swiftly retreated, and reinforcements immediately took their positions, launching a new wave of attacks. In an instant, the multicolored breaths filled the canyon below, leaving no gaps.

A violent tremor reverberated across the land, and a massive, terrifying mushroom cloud burst forth from the canyon, soaring into the vast sky. The shouts from within the canyon were completely drowned out by the thunderous explosion. The shockwaves from the explosion lingered for a full quarter of an hour before gradually subsiding. The countless plumes of dust that had been drifting in the sky found a new home and fell silent, allowing the surrounding visibility to return.

What appeared before them was no longer a canyon, but a dark, bottomless abyss. Hadessta and the others cautiously approached the abyss, carefully searching for any remaining enemy troops. Just then, countless breaths erupted from the bottom of the abyss, bombarding the search party.

"All members, scatter immediately and take cover from the attack!"

Upon receiving the order, the search party, which had been gathered together, immediately dispersed to avoid enemy artillery fire.

"Boom"

"Boom"

Most of the breath attacks missed the search party, instead slamming into the ground and creating large craters. A few unlucky individuals were hit, but suffered only minor cuts and were not in life-threatening danger. Once the enemy bombardment ceased, Hadessta shouted to the troops, "Forward troops, launch a counterattack immediately! Rear guards, seal off the perimeter and ensure no one escapes!"

As the order was given, a new round of artillery fire began, colorful breaths streaking across the sky and falling into the abyss, creating a second mushroom cloud. Meanwhile, the rearguard took to the skies, weaving a Heavenly Net to ensure no enemy soldier could escape. At the same time, medical teams evacuated the wounded from the battlefield and delivered them to the attending physician, Sordil.

After the second round of shelling ended, the forward troops continued to advance. The enemy counterattack arrived as expected, but this time the firepower was much weaker. However, Hadessta did not rashly order his troops to charge forward; instead, he rationally chose to continue the slow advance, gradually tightening the encirclement.