War (VIII)

Earl Robert, the commander of the allied forces, watched the battle in the air with bated breath.

The staff officer suggested in a low voice, "Sir, should we use the Dragon Slayer Ballista to support the North Wind Eagle Guard? Those Wyvern shouldn't be able to withstand our crossbow bolts."

"No, you must remain on guard."

Robert's tone was somewhat serious.

While the North Wind Eagle Guard was undoubtedly his most important force, his mind was now filled with doubts: that Red Dragon, the leader of the Ember Nest, had not appeared since the start of this war! Anyone with a brain could figure out that the existence that could cultivate such a legion could not possibly be an ordinary young Red Dragon.

Robert could only pray silently, hoping that the gods would bless his Dragon Slayer Ballista so that it would be effective against the Red Dragon.

"We must wait until the Red Dragon appears."

Sweat dripped from Robert's forehead. He didn't know when it had started, but the air in the Trill Valley was no longer as fresh as usual; it had become somewhat hot and dry.

"Yes, sir."

The staff officer left dejectedly.

High in the sky and on the ground, tens of thousands of humans and monsters clashed and fought each other in a chaotic melee.

The Bugbear club, splattering brains everywhere. But several archers behind the spearman drew their bows and riddled the tall, strong Bugbear with arrows. Wyvern swooped down from the sky, impaling the archers with its sharp, poisonous stinger. However, the North Wind Eagle Guard swooped down from behind, piercing the Wyvern's most vulnerable spot—its neck—with their lances. "I will crush you!"

Dolo once again took the lead, wielding his heavy, Bloodfire Battle Axe and hacking away.

This Hobgoblin has already tasted the sweetness of victory on the battlefield, and he knows very well how terrifying a weapon of war he is now.

But this time, instead of splitting the enemy as expected, his axe was blocked by a heavy shield, and it took him a lot of effort to pull it out.

"Stand up for order!"

Before them stood seven Fighter clad in heavy silver armor. They were the "Crown Oath" Paladin of the Bosk Family, and the man leading them, surrounded by Guardian Light, was none other than the renowned "White Lion Knight" Tarick —the one who single-handedly blocked Dolo's slash.

They came specifically to provide support to the central army.

"Brutal monster, we will grant you Purification!"

At Tarick's command, several Paladin surrounded Dolo.

"Warding Bond!"

Several Paladin raised their silver swords, and radiant chains linked together on their bodies. Every attack they suffered was distributed among them, and the seven of them advanced and retreated together as one.

"Damn turtle shell."

Dolo swung his battle axe again and again, but each time he struck the Paladin's shield.

As the radiant chains flickered slightly, the power of each attack was divided into seven parts, allowing the Paladin to easily block it and launch a counterattack with their silver swords after blocking it.

Dolo wanted to change his approach and break through without confronting these troublesome Paladin.

However, Tarick saw through his thoughts at a glance.

"Compelled Duel!"

The silver sword gleamed as Dolo was forcibly dragged into a duel with the holy Paladin. He could neither leave nor break through their defenses. Instead, the Paladin were able to launch an all-around attack thanks to their numerical advantage.

For a time Dolo was at a disadvantage, and his body was covered in wounds.

"Dolo, let me help you!"

The Lizardmen leader Ake, charged in on his Terrestrial Dragon Beast, sending several Paladin flying.

But the Paladin quickly rose and formed a tight formation once more, like an impenetrable silver fortress.

The old Lizardmen Koda, a lizardman, followed closely behind, waving his wooden staff.

[Heat Metal]

The shield in the hands of a Paladin turned red-hot, and his hands were charred black and made a sizzling sound. He couldn't help but throw the shield away, wanting to retreat to the rear for the time being.

The old shaman narrowed his eyes, and his wooden staff shimmered with an almost imperceptible emerald green aura.

Entangle

Tangled weeds and vines sprouted from the ground, binding the lone Paladin tightly.

"Prepare to die!"

Dolo and Ake seized the opportunity and charged forward.

The surrounding Paladin tried to block with their shields, but it was too late.

The Paladin was first pierced in the shoulder by Bone Spear, then his head was cleaved in two by a massive axe that swung down from mid-air. Even with the protective chains still around his body, and without the shield's protection, his flesh and blood could not withstand the heavy blow of the axe.

"Beware of the opponent's spellcaster!"

"Defend formation!"

"Tarick shouted."

The remaining Paladin formed a tight formation again, confronting Dolo and his retinue not far away. Many more soldiers were sent to provide cover around them, and even the spellcasters of the allied forces rushed over.

Mithril Bulwark

[Protection Array]

The Paladin, now fewer in number, became even more cautious, surrounding themselves with several protective spells, making it difficult for even Dolo to find an opportunity to attack.

Dolo, panting heavily, stared at his enemy, his bloodshot eyes filled with a murderous desire.

"Koda, can you still cast that kind of spell?"

"My mastery of natural power is not yet at that level, and they have too many protective spells on them."

The Lizardmen shook his head helplessly.

"Damn turtle shell."

Dolo gritted his teeth and cursed angrily before riding his Terrestrial Dragon Beast forward once more.

However, the silver barrier formed by the Paladin blocked his way time and time again, preventing him from advancing an inch.

With the loss of Dolo as a breakthrough point, the Embers of the Burned Legion's advance slowed down considerably, no longer as unstoppable as before, following closely behind the Hobgoblin Commander.

However, the "Eagle's Claw" were the most elite army in the Lakman Kingdom. After several attacks, they gradually adapted to the fierce battles with the monsters.

Spurred by the successive deaths of their comrades, the soldiers loyal to the Duke went berserk and managed to hold the basic defensive line with their bare hands, resulting in a stalemate.

The battle lines advanced back and forth, focusing on key strategic points.

One moment the Ogre roared and smashed through a group of humans, seizing a key high ground, and the next, archers riddled them with bullets, leading their spearmen and shieldmen to retake the position. But soon, Chimera descended from the sky, bringing fire to the allied soldiers.

Death happens constantly.

Blood gushed through the Trill Valley, watering the wild grass.

This massive battlefield was like a black hole, greedily devouring the lives of both sides in the war.

Due to his absolute distrust of the players' discipline, Keosius did not place them on the most important frontal battlefield, but instead put them on the flanks.

Therefore, the side of the Ember Nest consisted of one thousand players led by Mezhuolash and five hundred Tiefling Fighter.

The allied forces consisted of 3,000 reinforcements from the Bosk Family, which were not elite troops.

Compared to the fierce and deadly main battlefront, the right-wing battlefield was somewhat calmer, but the situation was no better, and its level of chaos was even worse.

Just as Tiefling and the Allied Forces were lining up and cautiously probing each other's strength, the players charged forward like wild horses.

After all, they never care about military discipline.

"Charge!"

"WHAAAA!"

"Watch my performance!"

"For the Horde! No, for the Ember Nest!"

Leading the charge was the guy with the ID "Freedom Wings," who had now readily accepted his title of "Holy Light Bro," charging naked at the forefront of the battlefield.

Freedom Wings's profession is the Earth Druid embraces nature, which fits his character perfectly. He is also accompanied by several owls, which are his summoned animal friends.

Wild Shape!

"Roar!"

Holy Light Bro lay on the ground in an eye-catching pose, transforming into a burly brown bear. With a roar, he charged straight towards the front line.

The allied forces were stunned for a moment when they saw the players charging in recklessly without any strategy. Then they immediately reacted and began to fire a barrage of arrows.

"How come there are so many arrows!"

"Give me a shield! Give me a shield!"

"Barbarian, block this for me!"

"Cleric, please cast a Sanctuary! I can't hold on much longer."

After several rounds of arrow rain, the players suffered heavy casualties.

The most tragic one was Holy Light Bro, who turned into a bear. He was the biggest and most conspicuous, and had the most arrows in his body. Although he had turned into a brown bear, he now looked like a large hedgehog.

Only when his health points reached zero did he revert to a naked corpse riddled with arrows, still shrouded in a thin layer of holy light.

"No— Holy Light Bro— "

"Can we tolerate this?"

"How dare a bunch of NPCs act so recklessly here!"

The players quickly launched a counterattack, led by the players of the [Church of the Machine God], who were mostly Artificer and had already created many strange and wonderful gadgets.

"Guardian Mech activated."

As the cold, mechanical sound rang out, a tall, dark figure appeared in the player's ranks.

"Holy crap, what's this?"

"How come someone has built a Gundam?"

"Damn, that's so cool! I want one too!"

The four-meter-tall Arcane Armor stood on the battlefield. Its iron components looked somewhat crudely made, but they could not hide the romance of the mecha. The pilot inside was none other than "Steel Frenzy," the leader of the Church of the Machine God.

This is the [Arcane Armor] characteristic of the Artificer subclass Armorer. The one Steel Frenzy is wearing is the Guardian Model, suitable for charging into battle.

"Make way, make way, let me have it!"

Steel Frenzy drove his mechs wildly, laughing with unbridled joy.

He had spent all his savings and even misappropriated funds from the Storm Armory to build this armor. Now he finally had a chance to show his skills, which made him extremely excited.

To possess a mecha without showing off is like wearing fine clothes in the dark!

The allied archers immediately noticed the strange-looking iron lump and began to hurl various arrows at it.

"You want to fight a Gundam with a bow and arrow?"

Steel Frenzy sneered.

"Protective Force Field!"

The Guardian Armor raised its left arm, and driven by magical runes, a transparent force field barrier appeared in front of it, easily blocking the incoming arrows.

The players behind them followed the advance of the Steel Frenzy, until they reached the gun-shield soldier.

The allied forces had never seen anything like it before. Faced with the ever-approaching Guardian armor, they could only launch a chaotic and desperate attack, completely at a loss.

"My lord, times have changed!"

"Thunder Battle Fist!"

Steel Frenzy roared and swung his right fist. Flames erupted from the thruster behind his arm, and arcs of electricity crackled around his fist.

"Boom!"

With a thunderous roar, the allied shields were dented with an exaggerated fist-sized dent, and the soldiers behind them were killed instantly by a single punch.

The surrounding soldiers covered their ears in pain, their bodies still wreathed in numbing arcs of electricity.

"Three hundred!"

"Three hundred! Three hundred!"

The Steel Frenzy laughed wildly, like a wolf invading a flock of sheep, relentlessly smashing through the Allied lines, each punch flattening an Allied soldier. The screen kept refreshing with "Contribution +300," filling him with immense satisfaction.

"I'm going to enjoy this fries to the fullest!"

The Battlefield Wheelchair Man followed behind the Steel Frenzy, holding the "Steel Sprayer," and fired a shot at its head.

As gunfire roared, a dense barrage of metal bullets shot out, and the tightly packed Allied soldiers fell in droves, lying on the ground groaning in agony.

"Holy crap, four in one shot!"

"Is it that strong?"

The Battlefield Wheelchair Man stared wide-eyed at the updated information on the panel, his excitement palpable.

This gun held a place in his heart comparable to the Type-2 Submachine Gun.

"The Artificer was so much fun to fight!"

"I'm thinking of changing jobs, anyone want to join me?"

"Can you even read blueprints? You're just blindly spinning them out like that."

"Charge! Charge!"

The Steel Frenzy had brutally torn a hole in the enemy's formation, and players surged forward one after another, pouring into the breach in the defense.

"To Faction Contribution!"

"For the Dragon Maid!"

Sorcerer unleash blazing fireballs, Druid summon bizarre beasts, Bard play magical melodies, and Rogue stealthily lie on the ground firing sneak arrows.

"Mage, don't cast darkness spells! I can't see them!"

"Wild Sorcerer, don't go in yet!"

"Are you fucking throwing fireballs at your own feet with Wild Magic Surge?"

"The Bard a Faerie Fire."

The players charged forward with screams, unleashing their diverse skills, colorful lights flying everywhere, and strange and wonderful weapons scattered all around.

The allied forces had never encountered a legion composed of such professionals before. Faced with the players' unreasonable tactics, they were helpless and fled in disarray.

The Tiefling in the distance had planned their tactics, but when they saw the players rushing over, they were at a loss for what to do.

"Captain, we..."

Damakos stepped forward and inquired.

Mezhuolash put on his helmet, raised his sword, and said calmly, "Then let's follow them in their attack and enjoy the spoils. Let's not worry about the lives of these Starfallers."

"They are immortal, but we are not."

"Prepare for the attack."

His skills in exploiting players have become increasingly adept.

"Yes, Captain."

The Tiefling also charged through the gaps created by the players, but they maintained a tight formation and carried out their attacks more systematically.

Players also realized that Tiefling had joined the battle.

"Holy crap, an NPC is stealing my monster!"

That was their only idea.

A 4,000-word chapter, squeeze it in a bit more.