Just then—
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM—!!"
Within the Sauron Army's formation, the great drum that signaled the all-out assault thundered once more, its unquestionable resolve drowning out the clamor of the battlefield.
To the beat of the drums, the Sauron infantry erupted in a collective roar like mountains collapsing and seas surging. The sound waves swept through the valley like a tangible shockwave!
Final formations complete, the dense black ranks began to move forward as one. The true bloody onslaught was about to begin!
Harald's attention was utterly drawn to that pre-battle roar, the confusion in his eyes instantly replaced by icy killing intent.
No matter why the enemy was so tenacious, before their absolute numerical advantage and the ferocity of the Sauron warriors, everything would be crushed to dust. He no longer dwelled on that unsolvable question and instead focused on the destruction before him.
He had to ensure that this first assault displayed the spirit of the Sauron. It had to be carried out at any cost. The Carnford People had to witness their resolve to smash jade and stone alike.
Any hesitation or retreat would only feed the enemy's arrogance, turning this anticipated quick battle into a brutal war of attrition—and that was the very thing he least wished to see.
"Svein!" Harald's voice suddenly turned sharp.
"Your servant is here!" Svein's heart tightened, and he immediately bowed.
Harald's gaze never left his own ranks advancing slowly forward, yet the words that left his lips sent even the battle-hardened Svein through with a chill.
"You will go in person. Lead the Supervisory team. Watch the first wave of attackers like a hawk. Relay this to every commander of a thousand and commander of a hundred in the vanguard: in today's battle, there is advance and no retreat.