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New Calendar 341, autumn, Double Aura border.
Red Iron Cavalry of the Aura Kingdom, led by Ranger General Elvie, relied on the roar of heavy rain to seize the important land on the border of the Theo Kingdom - Iron Wall Fortress in a lightning-fast raid.
This raid was so swift and violent that it tore a ferocious gap in the defense line that Theo had been operating for many years.
The tense confrontation between the two countries that had lasted for many years was shattered by this heavy hammer and turned into the flames of all-out war.
When the news came back to Aura Royal Court, Red Iron Dragon Emperor was standing on a high platform, overlooking the country spread out among the wilderness and mountains, the wind carrying the chill of late autumn passing over his thick scales.
His blood relative, Iron Dragon Sorog, reported the frontline battle reports and the reactions of the surrounding countries in a low voice.
After a moment of silence, Garos slowly turned his huge head, and the figure of Sorog was reflected in the deep black vertical pupils.
"Two-Ao War?"
He repeated the word with a hint of playfulness in his tone.
"Yes."
Sorog lowered his head slightly, "Romania and its surrounding countries now use this name to refer to our war with Theo, because both countries have a national title. There are similar "AO" syllables, geographically bordering the north and the south, and the grievances are deep. Based on the relative position, they call us North Aura and Theo as South Xiao."
"This conflict is called "Two-Ao War"."
Garos let out a slight snort, which was regarded as a non-committal response to this title.
He was more concerned with substance. "Say what you think."
Iron Dragon nodded slightly.
"Our territory is vast and the borders are long, resulting in a large gap between defense nodes. The supply and troop mobilization in various places are also limited by the terrain." Sorog stated his plan, and the tip of his claws drew rough lines on the stone platform. "Capturing Iron Wall Fortress is a key wedge."
"I plan to let the troops take root here and build it into our outpost and fortress deep into the territory of Theo."
He paused to ensure that the emperor understood the strategic intention. "With Iron Wall Fortress as the core, hoard heavy troops and consolidate the city defense. At the same time, dispatch multiple lords to lead the army to Verdant River Valley, Norman Pass, Drywind Hills, Palmer Heights and other strategic locations."
"In this way, we can use Iron Wall Fortress as the axis to launch multiple fronts and build a fortified offensive front facing Theo in depth, forcing Theo to divide its troops and be exhausted to deal with it."
Garos listened quietly and finally nodded.
"Just let it go."
he said.
Sorog said no more, kicked off the ground with his powerful hind legs, spread his huge wings, and stirred up the airflow on the high platform.
His figure quickly rose into the sky and turned into a gradually shrinking black spot in the sky, flying towards the front line.
Garos did not follow to the battlefield.
Kingdom-level warfare has its own set rhythm.
Legendary Realm Strong players are like nuclear weapons, they will not be easily thrown onto the chessboard in the early stages.
The number of the Theo Kingdom Legendary Realm strong ones is dominant, and there are also high-level strong ones among them. The Aura side is famous for the strength of the Legendary Realm individuals, especially Red Iron Dragon Emperor, whose record is outstanding and shocking.
The hemp stalk beats the wolf and is afraid of both ends.
It is normal to be wary of each other and test each other.
Garos returned to the back mountain of Royal Court.
There are mountains of high-concentration Black Oil, crystals and gems of various colors piled up there.
He needs time to swallow these energy-rich substances, infiltrate his body with Black Oil, repeatedly sharpen his claws and scales in silence, and adjust his state to the peak to cope with the higher-level duel that is bound to come.
This war has just begun.
Time is ticking, passing quietly amidst the increasingly thick smoke at the border.
After Elvie's Red Iron Cavalry completed the surprise attack mission, Aura Kingdom's war machine was fully activated.
Troops belonging to the "Star-Splitting Hammer", "Iron Will", "Eye of Annihilation" and other legions were stationed continuously along the breakthrough point of Iron Wall Fortress.
These legions were eventually mixed and organized in the fortress, under the unified command of Glutton Demon Kalu.
Red Iron Cavalry will retire after success.
This elite mobile force will not stick to one city. They are like ghosts, ready to show their sharp fangs again at any weak point in the battle line.
Immediately afterwards, with Iron Wall Fortress as the center, a large number of engineers and slaves began to work day and night.
They strengthened the city walls, dug trenches, set up magic traps, and built barracks and warehouses, trying to turn the captured fortress into an unconquerable offensive fortress.
At the same time.
Amethyst Dragon Lion, Eight-Snake Leopard, Golden-Plumed Griffin, Immortal Bird.
These four powerful lords respectively led their most capable legions, like four sharp arrows, heading towards the planned Verdant River Valley, Norman Pass, Drywind Hills, and Palmer Heights.
The flames of war instantly ignited across the long border.
In order to deal with Theo's possible multi-point counterattack, Sacred Spirit Deer lord, Iron Dragon Laetitia, Blue Dragon Zolaya The four lords E and Gold Dragon Alberto were deployed at several key defense nodes on Aura's own borders to ensure the stability of the rear.
On the other side, Theo Kingdom also responded very quickly.
There were no useless diplomatic protests, nor was there an impulsive attempt to immediately assemble an army to counterattack Iron Wall Fortress.
On the one hand, they mobilized the elite knights, mages and huge Alchemy Golem troops and rushed to the border; on the other hand, they quickly assembled their forces on Ashen Plains, a relatively open terrain south of Iron Wall Fortress, and built a series of barracks, trenches and towers, constructing a solid defense line named "Unbreakable Wall" with the intention of blocking the main passage of the Aura Legion going south.
At the same time, Theo did not blindly defend passively.
They also chose to take the initiative, directing their troops at Shadowy Forest, Rusted Valley, Dragonfang Pass, Ironspine and other important places on the Aura border, using offense instead of defense to contain Aura's troops.
After the first month of troop projection, tentative contacts and tactical deployment, the shape of the war quickly solidified.
Iron Wall Fortress, Verdant River Valley, Norman Pass, Drywind Hills, Palmer Heights, Ashen Plains, Shadowy Forest, Rusted Valley, Dragonfang Pass, Ironspine.
Around these ten strategic points, a fierce tug-of-war unfolded.
Every important place has been turned into a flesh-and-blood mill.
Theo Kingdom relies on its more mature and complete military command system, well-trained officer corps, and strong alchemy industry strength to have an advantage in organization and equipment, while Aura Kingdom relies on the generally stronger individual qualities of its dependent races, the powerful combat effectiveness of its lord units, and its own alchemy armament to not fall behind at all.
The battle lines moved repeatedly, positions were gained and lost, and positions were lost and regained.
Both sides paid a heavy price, but no one could achieve a decisive breakthrough.
Legendary Realm The strong men are still watching behind the scenes, looking for an opportunity to win with one blow or have to intervene.
Stalemate has become the main theme.
Two months passed by this kind of consumption, and late autumn turned into early winter.
Ashen Plains Theo Frontline Command.
Fine powdered snow began to fall from the leaden sky, mixing with the lingering gun smoke and scorched earth smell on Ashen Plains, and inhaling the smell of ice and fire in the lungs.
Watchtower.
A tall and straight figure was like a javelin nailed there, letting the chilling wind pull at his deep Blue Dragon general's cloak.
Rodrigo·Crown, the commander-in-chief of this battle Theo Kingdom, the holder of the title "Theo's Shield".
His light gray eyes peered through the falling snow, staring at the scarred battle line in the distance.
From time to time there were exploding fires and faint sounds of fighting, but overall a cruel balance was maintained.
Rodrigo was born from Crown family, who is known for his loyalty and military ability.
This family has been in charge of war for Theo Royal House for generations and is known as the "Shield of the Kingdom".
Rodrigo himself is one of the best.
Eaglebeak Canyon defended the outnumbered Legendary Realm, efficiently quelled the rebellion of the great lord, and his outstanding performance in First Lothern Civil War created his reputation and that of Divine Authority.
He is not Legendary Realm, but he has the authority to mobilize the power of the Legendary Realm.
After standing in the cold wind for about a quarter of an hour, Rodrigo wrapped his clothes tightly, turned around and walked down the observation tower, returning to the warm but solemn atmosphere of the command room.
The huge sand table almost filled the center of the room.
It was densely filled with red and blue chess pieces representing the strength of both sides, intersecting around the ten important points, presenting a suffocating stalemate.
The war has lasted three months.
Every movement of the small flag on the sand table is the disappearance of hundreds of lives.
Rodrigo stood upright, the communication crystal suspended beside him flashing with light, transmitting real-time information from the front line into his ears.
"Report! The Seventh Knights successfully repelled the third air assault of the Golden-Plumed Griffin Legion at Drywind Hills, but the anti-aircraft gun array was severely damaged and needs to be replenished."
"Norman Pass is calling for urgent help! Eight-Headed Calamity and his troops have broken through the outer defense line and are storming the second barrier. The defenders are under great pressure!"
"Dragonfang Pass battle report: When our army attacked Dragonfang Pass, it encountered a high-speed raid by Red Iron Cavalry on its flanks. The casualties exceeded 40%. The position shrunk and we are in urgent need of reinforcements and supplies!"
"Verdant River Valley There were seven small-scale firefights today, with casualties on each side and no change in the battle lines."
Listening to this news, Rodrigo's face was as calm as water, except for the line of his jaw that was slightly tense.
Adjutant Torres handed a parchment report he had just compiled into his hands, his voice lowered.
"In the past week, the entire army has counted more than 8,700 casualties, of which 4,200 were confirmed dead. Sir, at this consumption rate, our reserve soldiers and material reserves..."
He didn't say any more, but the meaning was already clear.
Rodrigo took the report, quickly scanned the numbers, and then gently placed them on the edge of the sand table.
"Where are the enemy casualty estimates?"
he asked, his voice steady.
"Based on observations and intelligence collection from various fronts, Aura Legion's weekly casualties are estimated to be around 10,000."
"That sounds like a good number"
Torres paused briefly and added, "However, most of their casualties were servants or low-level soldiers such as Gnoll, Kobold, and Lizardfolk."
"Ogre, Troll, centaurs, Minotaur and other backbone forces, as well as those elite guards directly under the lord, the casualty ratio is much lower."
"And... their soldiers are very resilient."
"Many injuries that require evacuation for us humans can be easily treated and even rely on self-healing capabilities, and they can return to the battlefield in a few days."
The physiological gap between monsters and humans gradually became obvious in this long war of attrition.
What's even more deadly is that it's severe winter.
Wind, snow and low temperature are severe tests on the morale and physical condition of human soldiers, but monsters from the wilderness are much more tolerant of this.
"They are exchanging the lives of those bastards in the wilderness for the lives of our soldiers."
Rodrigo's eyes were extremely sharp, "But we, currently, have to accept this exchange."
Using precious human soldiers to exchange lives for those Kobold and Gnoll that grow as quickly as weeds is a loss-making deal in the eyes of any commander.
Torres was silent for a moment.
He asked in a low voice, "Commander, more than one frontline general asked... how long will this see-saw continue? The soldiers are very tired, many troops cannot get a complete rest and rotation, and the pressure on the evacuation of wounded soldiers is increasing."
Rodrigo did not answer immediately.
He turned his attention to the sand table again and stared at it carefully.
Ten strategic points are circled with red marks, supply lines extend like spider webs, and many places are marked as high-risk.
"Aura's intention is obvious," he finally spoke, tapping his finger on Iron Wall Fortress and several other attack points. "Use Iron Wall Fortress as a solid fulcrum to attack in all directions, while using the dangerous terrain of the wilderness to solidify the defense. The purpose is to force us to continuously divide our troops and fight them at various points, exhausting our lives."
"This is a conspiracy, we have to deal with it, otherwise the defense line will be broken bit by bit."
"Behind them... there is a masterful planner."
Rodrigo raised his eyes and looked towards the direction on the sand table that symbolized the hinterland of the Aura Kingdom, as if he could see through the wall and see the indifferent vertical pupils of Iron Dragon.
According to existing intelligence, he knew very well that Red Iron Dragon Emperor had given full military command of the Aura Kingdom to his blood relatives.
Iron Dragon Regent, War Prince of the Aura Kingdom.
And his performance is also worthy of Red Iron Dragon Emperor's favor.
Rodrigo withdrew his gaze and his tone became decisive. "Send an order to summon all the generals and hold an emergency military meeting here. At the same time, contact the royal capital with the highest encryption level. I need to apply for permission from His Majesty."
"Yes, Commander!"
Soon after, the headquarters.
Both sides of the long table were filled with the Theo Kingdom generals on the front line.
Their faces were stained by the weather of long battles, and their eyes were solemn. The room was filled with the smell of pipe tobacco and the faint smell of rust from leather armor and steel.
Rodrigo is standing in the main position.
Behind him is a huge dynamic map of Ashen Plains and the surrounding war zones displayed with magic projection. The light spots move slowly on it, representing each unit.
"Everyone," he said bluntly, omitting all greetings, "The war has reached the end of the third month."
"We repeatedly fought with the Aura Legion in ten strategic locations, paying the price of more than 67,000 casualties."
"We held the main line of defense and did not allow the enemy to make a strategic breakthrough, but similarly, we failed to recapture Iron Wall Fortress and failed to give the enemy any annihilating blow."
He paused and glanced at the faces of each general.
"The war situation has reached a stalemate, and the stalemate is slowly draining our blood."
An old general with fresh scars on his face, the commander of the Third Corps, said solemnly, "Commander, it's not that the soldiers don't work hard."
"Those monsters... are far more ferocious than ordinary soldiers individually. Their lords often need to dispatch high-level Alchemy Golem, or gather multiple warriors of the same level to barely contend."
"Consumption head on, our flesh and blood bodies really... can't afford it."
Aura Kingdom may not be as good as Theo in terms of the number of top-level Legendary Realm, but it has a head-scratching advantage in terms of the middle and high-level, those powerful lords and their core dependents.
Theo's Alchemy Golem and equipment are more advanced.
However, when facing those monsters with thick skin and terrifying strength, it is often necessary to pay a high price to achieve victory.
It's as if their more developed alchemy industry is just some kind of miraculous skill.
"This is exactly the crux of the problem and why we can't go on like this."
Rodrigo nodded in agreement, then changed the subject, "So, from today on, we will change our strategy and no longer fight according to their rules."
He turned sideways and motioned to a white-haired mage standing in the corner of the conference room to come forward.
"Please allow me to re-introduce to you the pinnacle crystallization of our country's alchemical engineering "Heavenly Eye" strategy Magic Satellite."
"Master Elwin, please explain its complete strategic functions to you."
The representative of the court mage, Spellcaster Elwin, stepped forward holding a staff inlaid with amethyst.
He is old, but his eyes are still as sharp as an eagle.
With a tap of the staff, a complex and precise three-dimensional magic diagram Magic Array composed of countless luminous runes and lines appeared in the air.
"As all colleagues know, Heavenly Eye has been providing us with vital battlefield surveillance, communication relay and weather forecast support."
"But its capabilities are far more than that."
He tapped the staff again, and the magic Magic Array diagram began to change, showing various pictures.
"Heavenly Eye is equipped with three sets of strategic-level magic Magic Array series."
Elwin explains it one by one.
"First, Beyond-Visual-Range Precision Delivery Array."
"It can lock any precise coordinates on the front line from behind, with an error of no more than ten meters, and deliver organized troops, equipment or supplies directly from space orbit to the target location, completely ignoring the intermediate terrain and enemy forces."
"With the level of Aura's alchemical industry, there is absolutely no way to stop our Satellite from being delivered."
There was a burst of suppressed exclamations and whispers in the conference room, and several younger generals looked shocked.
"Second, Healing Rain Array."
"It can project a high concentration of life and energy light rain to a designated area, greatly improving the wound healing speed and physical recovery ability of our soldiers, and can strengthen the combat capabilities of designated generals or troops in a short time."
"The third, and most aggressive, Orbital Precision Strike Array."
"By converging and guiding energy in space, it can carry out devastating bombardments against point or small-area targets on the ground."
The room fell into a brief silence, except for the slight buzzing sound from the magic Magic Array diagram.
Some senior generals seemed to have known about it for a long time, their expressions were solemn but unchanged; others could not hide their shock.
Obviously, not everyone is clearly aware of all the strategic effects of Satellite on our side. The vast majority of Theo people only know that Satellite has reconnaissance effects, including grassroots soldiers and some junior generals.
"If it's so powerful, why wasn't it used before?"
A cavalry general from the Western Province couldn't help but ask, his tone filled with confusion and a hint of complaint.
Elwin's eyes turn to Rodrigo.
Rodrigo took the question and said in a calm voice, "Because the cost is high and it means a strategic upgrade."