Decapitation operation

Gavin stood before the temporary command post on the north bank, the latest timetable from headquarters spread across the table.

When he had first taken charge of Egret Bay, every order he issued required repeated questions about the Second Legion's position, followed by confirmation of when the engineers and cavalry could link up.

Now all that information had been consolidated into a single Echo Record.

The First Legion had completed its counterattack preparations, the Second Legion held the shallows, the Third Legion had cleared the rear routes, and the outer cavalry had secured the side roads.

Blackpine's three combat groups had each moved into position near a command source.

Thousands of men were scattered across Egret Bay, all waiting for the same moment to attack.

Fresh Gillsplitter Beasts were already approaching the shallows, yet the battle line remained in place.

Aldrick stood atop the river embankment and saw new ripples appear on the southern stretch of water.

Several Holy Silver Resonance Spikes vibrated simultaneously, and low-frequency echoes came from the southeast and southwest in succession. The Gillsplitter Beasts in the main channel changed direction, while new packs continued pouring into Egret Bay from the tributaries.

"Nine hundred and seventy in total." The observer had barely finished reporting the number when another cluster of gray-white backs appeared in the southern tributary.

A new record was immediately delivered to Aldrick. "Over a thousand—"

The Second Legion's front line began firing, and several blood-gilled Gillsplitter Beasts charged onto the shallows. The First Legion's counterattack formation was already assembled, and several battalion officers waited for his order.

Aldrick watched the beasts still gathering. "Ask headquarters whether the First Legion should counterattack early."

The instruction came back immediately. "Hold position. Wait for Blackpine to cut off the commands."

Aldrick glanced at the river and