Following Lieutenant General Fako's combat orders, the Seventh Legion's troops began advancing rapidly, closing in on the small coastal town ahead in an encircling formation.
After reaching a point roughly one kilometer from the trenches, artillery vehicles raised their barrels at the command of officers at every level and began bombarding the circular trench line ahead.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Powerful tremors and deafening explosions echoed endlessly across the battlefield.
At that moment, inside a temporary underground command post behind Starfall Town, John felt the vibrations overhead and listened to the scout report the casualty situation at the front-line trenches. Yet his expression did not change. He continued gazing calmly at the placid stretch of sea within his field of vision.
In truth, when he had arranged for Marda to dig those circular trenches, he had already prepared himself for casualties.
Because from the very beginning, he had never intended for that suicide unit of fewer than four hundred men to hold back the Allied Forces' assault.
The true purpose of those soldiers stationed in the trenches was only one.
They were bait meant to draw the Allied Forces to the designated location.
Only then could he ensure that, after witnessing casualties in the trenches, Frank, the enemy commander, would believe John had run out of options.
Then, once Frank let down his guard, he would lead his troops in the final encirclement.
Of course, John knew as well.
Given Frank's personality, he would never be content with that alone.
While attempting to wipe out the Imperial Ground Army forces, Frank would certainly try every possible means to eliminate—or even capture—John and the 1st Magic Battalion under his command.
Against Mage Soldiers capable of supersonic flight with Mage Packs, even if the enemy carried Magic Interference Devices that could restrict their