The iron hooves of the Orcish Heavy Cavalry drew closer and closer, and the earth trembled faintly beneath them.
Just as the cavalry's front line came within two hundred paces of the Northwest Legion's forward position, Paul decisively gave the order: "The entire army, change formation!"
In an instant, the entire Northwest Legion's formation began moving like a precision machine. The well-trained infantrymen moved swiftly, the soldiers in the front ranks splitting apart to either side while those in the rear rapidly filled the gaps.
In just fifteen seconds, the original linear formation had transformed into eight orderly hollow squares.
Each side of every square consisted of three rows of soldiers, with all the muskets pointed outward. The steel forest of bayonets glittered with deadly light beneath the sun. Inside the squares, officers and standard-bearers stood in the center, directing the troops and ready to respond to threats from any direction.
At the same time, the artillerymen seized their final opportunity and unleashed a furious barrage. The gun captains shouted themselves hoarse: "Load grapeshot! Rapid fire!"
Dozens of cannons spat tongues of flame in succession, and thousands of lead pellets poured down like a torrential rain upon the Orcish cavalry at point-blank range. The cavalrymen and horses at the very front were shredded, while the cavalry behind them were swept down in droves by flying fragments.
"Fire!" The artillerymen displayed astonishing reloading speed. Before the Orcish cavalry could recover from the first barrage, another deadly volley of grapeshot was already screaming toward them. This time, the firing distance was even shorter, and the killing effect was even more horrifying. Several gaps were instantly torn into the Orcish cavalry's charging line.
After completing those two deadly volleys, the artillerymen immediately sprang into action. They left the heavy cannons where they stood