Not long after.
"Rumble, rumble, rumble!"
The sound of tank treads crushing the earth came from afar, alarming everyone stationed in the fortress.
"Take up your battle positions and wipe out these heretics who dare invade our world!"
The noble immediately rose from his chair and loudly issued orders to all the soldiers.
"Yes!"
The soldiers who had been resting with their eyes closed swiftly opened them, climbed up from the ground, and hurried to their respective battle positions. Their movements were incredibly nimble and utterly orderly.
These men were clearly rigorously trained soldiers, nothing like the cannon fodder of the Planetary Defence Force. Once the soldiers had taken their positions, all manner of heavy weapons had been readied and could open fire at any moment.
The soldiers stared fixedly toward the source of the tank treads crushing the ground, ready to deal a heavy blow to the approaching heretics.
Before these soldiers even caught sight of the Star Army, several thick shells flew in from the distance, whistling as they smashed into the fortress's outer walls.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Violent explosions erupted outside the fortress, deafeningly loud. Some of the less sturdy walls collapsed under this barrage of shells. The falling walls threw dust into the sky, crushing and injuring countless soldiers.
"Ahhh!"
"Help!"
The soldiers struck by the collapsed walls let out agonized screams.
Some were pinned beneath the rubble, unable to move; others were gravely wounded, blood flowing without stop. Their pained cries echoed through the air, stirring pity in those who heard them.
Yet the situation was far from encouraging. The noble commander looked at the chaos before him, his heart burning with anxiety. He knew that if he could not quickly stabilize the troops' morale, this battle would become exceptionally difficult.
So he raised his