Meanwhile, the musket detachment responsible for covering the assault and expanding the gains followed close behind the grenadiers into the breach. Their objective was even clearer—push deep behind the earthen wall, crush any Sauron counterattack they might organize, and especially strike at their long-range firepower, the Fire Shooter Guards.
"Detachment! Forward! Scatter those musketeers!"
One hundred and fifty musketeers formed a tight line and pressed through the blasted passage into the depths of the Sauron position. They soon encountered the Fire Shooter Guards under Luo Yao, who had rushed over after hearing the news. This force, made up of surrendered Broomflower soldiers, was equipped with captured Flintlock Rifles and was trying to form ranks for a counterattack under their officers' urging.
The two sides opened fire at a distance of less than thirty paces.
"Bang bang bang—!!"
Gunshots cracked, and white smoke spread everywhere. Carnford's musketeers were superbly trained; their first volley alone dropped more than twenty enemies. But the Fire Shooter Guards had also finished reloading and began to return fire, lead balls whistling over and past the Carnford soldiers.
"Don't stop! Advance! Fix bayonets!"
The Carnford officers roared, the first to lock gleaming bayonets onto their muzzles. The musketeers let out battle cries and did not bother with the cumbersome task of reloading. With bright bayonets leveled, they launched a desperate charge at the Sauron musketeers!
"Kill—!!"
Faced with a formation of bayonets charging at them like a forest of steel, the Fire Shooter Guards' fighting spirit collapsed in an instant! They could still hold on in an exchange of fire, but before such a ferocious cold-steel charge, their deep-rooted terror of the Carnford Army's bayonet formations was completely unleashed.
"They're charging!"
"Run!"
"Get out of the way!"
No one knew who shouted first, but the entire formation