Tagoma southwest junction, Golden Grain City periphery.
It was a cloudy day, drizzle was falling, and occasionally small lightning flashes passed through the cumulus clouds, illuminating Ferrum·Solaxus's strong body.
This is the third time it has attacked Golden Grain City.
A strong wind swept outside the city, the magic barrier rose, and the billowing black flames fell, making a loud roar.
The outer wall of Golden Grain City trembled slightly during the collision, stone powder floated in the air, hundreds of Wyvern flew around Nether Dragon, and the arrow clusters dropped formed an iron rain.
The defenders shouted to assemble, set their bows and arrows at the windows of the fort, and fired at the harassing Wyvern Cavalry soldiers. The mages who arrived one after another jointly cast spells, and the sergeants tried their best to turn the heavy bed slaves.
The counterattack finally started. One Wyvern was pierced by a huge crossbow and immediately fell downwards. The other two were swept by wind blades. The damaged membrane wings could not support them and they could only roar towards the city wall.
Nether Dragon suddenly approached, spinning in the air, like a long black river, and swooped down together with the falling Wyvern.
It was twelve meters long, and the scales covering its body were harder than steel. When it suddenly fell, it was like a comet falling from the sky. A fortress collapsed under its power. Nether Dragon destroyed the sergeants and bed slaves inside with its huge force.
"Giant Dragon! Giant Dragon! Giant Dragon!"
The Wildland Warriors in mid-air slapped the saddle with their weapons, shouting and cheering wildly, and their Wyvern also screamed in conjunction.
Golden Grain City's alarm bell became more urgent, and more defenders climbed onto the city wall. However, at this time, Nether Dragon had already turned around. From a distance, he looked coldly at the Tagoma soldiers on the city wall and led his family members to retreat.
It's gone.
The soldiers watched blankly as the figure disappeared, looked at each other, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Vanguard Army camp.
Ferrum folded its membrane wings and landed, knocking off the arrow clusters on his body, and walked quickly towards the group leader's tent.
"Let Jelierion and Hidorivi come to see me, and bring the warlocks here to isolate the magic power and sensory detection."
This was the third day after he broke camp from Deerhunting Town. Juvenile Dragon's Vanguard Army had completed the rendezvous, cleared the outposts and fortifications outside Golden Grain City, and were preparing to attack the city.
But at this time, Ferrum only had 900 Wyvern Cavalry and less than 4,000 Dire Wolf Cavalry. The main force was still behind, chasing Long Yi's shadow with the soles of his feet. It would take some time to launch a full-scale attack.
Nether Dragon was pacing in the big tent, thinking slowly.
He has already tested the enemy's strength. Golden Grain City is a large city, but it is not a military town used to defend against enemies. Although there are some defense projects and magic facilities on the city wall, the defenders are surprisingly few, and they seem to have been out of battle formation for a long time.
With every attack, Ferrum could feel the panic of the soldiers in the wind.
This means that he does not need the entire army to attack, he only needs a supplementary attack force to cooperate with the Giant Dragons to destroy the defenses on the city wall to capture the city.
"Golden Grain City..."
Ferrum whispered to himself, thinking of the summoned birds that quietly rose into the sky in the camp these days.
In fact, with Wyvern Cavalry's ability, he could have easily shot them down, just like when Sand City shot down the summoned creature Falcon that came to explore on the front line, Nether Dragon did not order to stop it.
He even deliberately let the Juvenile Dragons take turns to appear above the city wall.
With the help of magical communication, Tagoma Southwest Region's troops should get the news soon.
If Golden Grain City asks for reinforcements, the reinforcements that can be obtained are, first, the troops from Beoranz Lineage, the hinterland behind Southern Territories, but the distance is too far and they are beyond reach in a short time, and the other is the neighboring Agate City.
Strategic goals, Agate City.
While Ferrum was repeatedly applying external pressure, someone was also constantly exerting pressure on him from the inside. Under such circumstances, Ferrum did not think that Agate City's army could stand still and sit still.
"Ferrum, we are here."
Not long after, Jelierion stepped in. His figure was as huge as Ferrum, and his gnarled muscles seemed to be able to stretch out his scales. He was followed by the relatively small Hidorivi.
The Lesser Dragons used magic power to build a large tent at the head of the regiment for Giant Dragon to walk in, but the huge tent was empty, with only Ferrum standing, and there was not a single guard or attendant.
"Come."
Seeing their arrival, Ferrum became friendly and grabbed Hidorivi directly, dragging him to the center of the tent and looking at the unfolded terrain map.
"There is something I didn't explain in War Council before. I was worried that people would talk too much and Juvenile Dragon would leak information in their chats. Now is the time. I have a task for you to complete."
"What?"
Hidorivi could hear the importance of the mission from Ferrum's tone, not to mention that Nether Dragon was now holding his shoulders tightly.
"So far in the first phase of the war, the family has gained an advantage. For us, Golden Grain City seems to be within easy reach, but at the same time, we are also facing great dangers."
Ferrum released his claw toes and pointed on the terrain map. "This danger is our main marching force."
"What dangers are there to the main force?" Jelierion asked.
"The main force's advance is too slow."
Hidorivi calmed down, thought for a moment, and answered for Ferrum: "Now that Vanguard Army appears under Golden Grain City, our position has been fully exposed, and our marching route can also be speculated."
"If Westerlands's enemies are smart enough, they may not come to support Golden Grain City and be surrounded by us for reinforcements. Instead, they can directly attack Giant Dragon's main force. Our troops will be stretched during the rush. If they are attacked, it will be difficult to organize effective combat power and will be easily cut off."
"If this happens, the army will be in danger, and we may even be surrounded by Golden Grain City."
"Well said."
Ferrum nodded deeply. He is worthy of being the tester of whether Hidorivi and Juvenile Dragon are strong or not. However, strength is not Hidorivi's most outstanding specialty. His leadership ability, tactical vision and vigilance were once praised and shined by Veloa. Ferrum also saw this in the two battles.
"This is why I summoned you here."
Ferrum said, "Before this, I have sent four Juvenile Dragon back in succession to urge the army to speed up. Barloz has reorganized a 5,000-man Warband to get out first in order to quickly join us, but there are still 20,000 people falling behind."
"The 20,000 soldiers are burdened by supplies and baggage. They are the largest, the slowest, and the most dangerous. According to reports from the rear army, they need sunset to enter the Deerhunting Town territory."
Ferrum said, "The task I give you is to return to the rear immediately, reorganize the troops lightly, and advance at full speed. However, you do not need to take the route Deerhunting Town. Instead, turn northeast and enter Blackrock Plateau."
"Blackrock Plateau?"
Hidorivi was silent for a while. "Tagoma people call Blackrock Plateau a dangerous place, and it may be difficult for the army to pass."
"Accessible."
Ferrum said firmly, "Blackrock Plateau is regarded as Agate City South's natural defense. Zane mentioned this geographical location in the intelligence. I also started to pay attention to it a long time ago. When I was at Deerhunting Town a few days ago, I asked the town mayor for a local map and asked the local villagers in detail."
"They told me Blackrock Plateau that there is a dangerous road that can only accommodate up to four people abreast. Most people will never consider it. Only hunters, adventurers and travelers who are not afraid of death will try to cross it. I sent In Tas and a team of Wyvern to survey that road, which confirmed that it is indeed passable."
Ferrum continued, "Tagoma people regard Blackrock Plateau as sinister because of the rugged mountain roads and rampant Aberrant Monster, but Giant Dragon is not afraid. When Jelierion goes to lead the troops, our rear army will have one Archaic Species and five Juvenile Dragon. The combined power of the dragons is enough to frighten the strange mountain monsters."
"Climb over Blackrock Plateau and attack Agate City?"
Hidorivi said, "This is going to take a long time."
"That's why I asked you to regroup with light equipment. Carts, siege engines and other baggage can't cross the mountain road, so they simply gave up. Let the soldiers carry dry food and water on their own, enter Blackrock Plateau at full speed, and then start to move slowly. At that time, the army will no longer have to pursue speed. Shorten the ranks of each army, rest and advance section by section, and wait for our news."
"A surprising trade-off, but... doable."
Hidorivi thought for a long time, then raised his eyes and looked at Ferrum: "Is this the strategy you arranged early in the morning? Is this our real tactic?"
"Yes, including some little tricks that are difficult to tell, all to lure Agate City's army to leave the city. Next, I will summon Afterglow and let her leave the team alone to monitor Agate City's movements. If Agate City's enemies are really attracted to us, then the army can launch an attack from Blackrock Plateau."
"But we abandoned our supplies. What if the enemy doesn't move? How will Golden Grain City's troops be arranged?"
Jelierion asked.
Hidorivi glanced at his brother and shook his head gently.
"Have you not seen it yet? We must not only attack Agate City, but also Golden Grain City. This is my real goal. We must establish the greatest results and the most damage in the early stages of the war. Once we capture this With two cities, we can in turn isolate Westerlands from Tagoma, surrender and destroy all Westerlands's enemies, and cut off one of Tagoma's arms."
Ferrum said, "As soon as five thousand Warband arrive, Kेलaili and I will begin to attack the city. If things go well, after occupying Golden Grain City, I will bring Dragon Corps to join you, and Dragon Corps will serve as the abandoned siege equipment."
"Go ahead, In Tas's scout team is waiting for you at Blackrock Plateau. He will tell you more details. The entire army of 20,000 people will be entrusted to you."
"Even if Agate City really stands still, what we get from Golden Grain City will be enough to supply the army."
Hidorivi responded softly and lowered his head, "For the sake of the family, I will definitely fulfill my mission."
"We're leaving."
Jelierion nodded in greeting and turned to leave.