Interception and Blockade (5k*2)
After the first wave of one hundred dragons completed their heavy thermobaric bomb volleys, the second wave of dragons approached, armed with bombs. They carried two smaller bombs on their bellies, filled not with thermobaric fuel, but with conventional high explosives.
Guided by the dragon-backed observers, the dragons skimmed low over the ravaged battlefield. They sought out areas where resistance still lingered or where fleeing soldiers were gathered, and unleashed their deadly finishing blows.
High-explosive shells exploded among the remnants of the goblin ranks, sending blood and flesh flying. The goblins, who had long since lost their will to fight, cried out and abandoned their armor, fleeing for their lives. This panic spread like a plague, quickly engulfing the troops in the rear who had not yet engaged in battle.
The entire battlefront, spanning forty kilometers in width, was instantly reduced to utter chaos. The command structure, organization, and order of the goblin forces were completely shattered, and the battlefield situation was utterly devastated.
Seeing that the attack had far exceeded expectations and achieved the tactical objective of bombing, Su Ming decisively issued the order for a general offensive.
"Dragon Scale Corps, all personnel, attack!"
From the rear, the roar of the dragon elder shook the heavens. Five hundred dragons, like a flood bursting its banks, followed the second wave of bombardment and charged fiercely into the collapsing enemy ranks!
Although these Dragon Scale Corps members had not received bombing training, their assigned task was "melee combat." All the dragons swooped down like meteors, crashing directly into the dispersing torrent of goblins!
With overwhelming power and speed, the dragons easily caught up with the fleeing Dragon Claw, tearing them to shreds like hot knives cutting butter, or simply trampling them into a pile with their feet.
When faced with scattered elite squads, the dragons only need to unleash a few breaths of scorching dragon breath to turn the resisters into charred remains amidst their screams.
Defeated soldiers, stripped of their organization and morale, are as vulnerable as fish to be slaughtered before the dragon. Even the few strong individuals mixed in are nothing more than a few insignificant bones in this "fish meat."
On the battlefield, the most primal slaughter unfolded!
****
The command center received rapid feedback on the situation on the main battlefield.
The Dragon Claw Regiment, which launched the initial attack and successfully tore through the enemy's defenses, withdrew safely after completing its bombing mission without suffering any losses. Subsequent waves of dragons maintained a strong suppressive force and controlled the battlefield.
After completing their first attack, the dragons reloaded their bombs and took to the air again to return to the battlefield. This time, the bombs they carried were much smaller, making the dragons more agile in the air and allowing them to stay aloft for longer periods.
Whenever observers spot a large horde of goblins gathering, or when a goblin officer-like figure steps forward to try and rally the fleeing troops and regroup, the dragons swoop down and generously "bestow" bombs and scorching dragon breath upon them.
As long as the goblins are prevented from forming an organized resistance group, they will no longer be able to cause any significant disturbance on this vast battlefield.
Su Ming's tense nerves finally relaxed slightly.
This batch of aerial bombs deployed in combat was not equipped with guidance systems. They were entirely manufactured in the alien world, with everything from the internal explosive charge to the external metal body being manufactured and assembled at the Ruby Production Base.
On the one hand, the current combat scenario doesn't require complicating the issue. At this distance, the visual aiming and throwing skills of the observers and the dragon are sufficient to achieve an effective hit.
On the other hand, it is also to enhance the resilience and adaptability of tactics. Precision guidance technology is certainly good, but combat must also be able to be carried out without guidance.
Just like the troops in Su Ming's hometown, even without all information equipment, they still possess combat capabilities using only abacuses. Frontline soldiers, even without launching devices, can use AA batteries and wires to launch rockets and visually strike the enemy.
Developing technology, but not being limited or bound by technology itself—this is wisdom derived from tradition.
****
As the tide of defeat spread deeper into the territory, the goblin troops deployed behind the front lines received urgent mobilization orders and hastily retreated, converging and regrouping in the nearest stronghold cities.
Some previously protected supply distribution points were exposed like rocks after the tide receded, as the surrounding guard troops withdrew.
As the battle entered its second phase, Bowers ' Second Battalion of the Dragon Claw Regiment officially broke into the rear area of the battle lines.
They located a fleeing goblin horde, and the dragons descended from the sky, turning most of them into cold corpses.
Each of the dragons participating in the assault carried four additional necromancers on its back, in addition to the observers who were originally paired with the dragons. They leaped off the dragons' backs, chanting spells to revive the fallen goblin corpses and transform them into loyal undead servants.
"There's a warehouse ahead, seize it immediately!" Bowers decisively ordered.
A combat team consisting of five giant dragons broke away from the main force and swiftly rushed towards their target. A dozen necromancers, commanding newly transformed goblin undead, followed closely behind, surging towards the supply depot.
In the midst of the chaos, some daring goblins were rummaging through the warehouse, searching for valuables.
Mixed among them were routed soldiers, conscripted laborers, and even local goblin civilians.
But when the enormous dragon shadow appeared, accompanied by a chilling roar, everyone Soul·Scatter and fled in panic.
The dragons began circling the warehouse's perimeter, clearing out any moving targets within their line of sight. Meanwhile, the necromancers led their somewhat clumsy but fearless goblin undead into the warehouse, dragging out and killing the goblins huddled among the piles of goods, who then joined the undead army.
The supply depot was quickly brought under control. The combat team leader reported the success to Bowers via communicator.
By this time, the main force of the Second Battalion, led by Bowers, had already left like a surging torrent, rushing towards the next coordinate without stopping. Along the goblin's long front line, there were dozens of such supply distribution points.
"Set up camp and defend!" Bowers ordered. "If physical strength permits, we can launch a sweeping operation to eliminate any remaining enemy forces in the surrounding area!"
"Understood!" the team leader replied.
Bowers hung up the communication and continued to split up small teams, rushing towards the new supply depot.
****
In the chaos and turmoil of the goblin rear command post, someone finally remembered the precious supplies piled up at the front lines. They quickly concluded that these supplies were destined to be lost.
The command then issued a new order: immediately burn these supplies.
However, the entire battlefield was already in complete chaos, and many troops, driven by panic, had already retreated on their own without waiting for orders.
The troops, especially those undertaking auxiliary tasks, immediately staged a frantic "retreat." Those heavy transport teams still en route abandoned the goods loaded on the backs of their Kodo Beast, cut the ropes pulling the carts, and just wanted to ride these strong pack animals to escape this deadly place as quickly as possible.
Orders to destroy supplies were drowned out by the chaotic communications on the battlefield.
The goblin's rear command did not give up and did its best to convey the order to burn the supplies. For locations that were no longer under effective command, they could only temporarily draw personnel from the main force nearby that could still maintain contact to carry out the destruction mission.
Under this chaotic and inefficient command, a few supply points were indeed successfully ignited. But most others were quickly captured and controlled one after another by the assault force led by Bowers.
War, that greedy beast, is devouring resources at an alarming rate.
****
The Third Battalion of the Dragon Claw Regiment, under the command of Zijin.
As the infiltration force in this operation, they carried out a deep flanking maneuver, penetrating to within fifty kilometers of the goblin forces' rear. This area is a transportation hub in the East of the Ridge region, connecting the front line with two larger stronghold cities in the rear.
Within this area, which extends approximately twenty kilometers in length, there are three main passageways.
The first road winds its way through a low-lying valley abandoned due to a river changing course. Its terrain is low-lying, and the dragons used their claws to dig open the banks of a nearby small lake. The accumulated lake water surged out, submerging the roadbed in the valley and turning the entire road into a muddy swamp.
The second road traversed a relatively flat and open area. If only the road surface were blocked, the fleeing goblin troops could easily bypass it through the fields on both sides. Therefore, Zijin used the high-precision terrain data transmitted back by drones to find the narrowest bottleneck area in this route and set up a blockade.
Even so, the area to be intercepted was still five kilometers wide. One hundred dragons were divided into three battle groups and began to patrol and guard this airspace in shifts, ruthlessly crushing any fleeing troops that tried to cross.
The third path led through a treacherous mountain pass. Zijin and Zhimeng flew to the pass, and the former immediately cast a wide-range terrain spell. Powerful Magic Power surged forth, tearing through rock layers and shattering the roadbed, quickly destroying the road within a radius of several kilometers.
The once-accessible area has become riddled with ravines, forcing teams to either take a detour or climb rugged, difficult slopes to pass through.
Zhimeng unloaded the magic array materials she carried and set up a bewildering magic array nearby. As the invisible magical fluctuations gradually spread, any low-intelligence creatures that stepped into this area, whether they were Kodo Beast or other low-intelligence pack beasts, would fall into an uncontrollable state of frenzy and panic.
The man and the dragon had a very clear objective: the goblins could be allowed to pass with difficulty and escape, but all the camel-like beasts had to be left behind!
****
On the main battlefield, the support mage force of the Final Bone Mad Machines had arrived. Accompanied by magical chants, a large number of hideous undead creatures rose from the ground and joined the battle in an endless stream. They brought more refined killing power and a chilling sense of oppression that felt almost tangible.
The efficiency of battlefield cleanup skyrocketed instantly, followed by even more undead creatures joining the army. Combined with the dragons' elite pick-offs and formation disruption, the necromancer's ability to snowball on the battlefield became unstoppable.
As the battle situation became clearer and more stable, some necromancers were even reassigned to organize the reception and confinement of prisoners on the edge of the battlefield.
As the battle progressed, the main force of the ground group finally arrived. After unloading some supplies, they turned to the left side of the battlefield without stopping and continued their rumbling advance in the predetermined direction.
Their target was the goblin's most prominent fortress on the East of the Ridge front – Sharp Gorge City. As a bridgehead at the forefront of the dragon's border, Sharp Gorge City had complete defensive facilities, with its walls densely covered with a large number of heavy weapons designed specifically to fight dragons.
Normally, the Sharp Gorge City is garrisoned by about 30,000 elite goblin troops, making it quite well-defended.
However, in preparation for this large-scale operation, the goblin commander redeployed the elite main force from the Sharp Gorge City and temporarily stationed a second-line force of about 10,000 men to fill the defense gap.
But as the tide of war turned, the goblin force that had originally been stationed in Sharp Gorge City was leading about 20,000 remnants of the defeated army on the battlefield, and was hastily retreating towards the fortress along the transportation lines.
Unbeknownst to the goblins, a group of hunters had already arrived, blocking their way home— the Dragon Claw Regiment First Battalion led by Katharine!
Because of its relatively remote location, it took them some time to reach the interception point. However, before the goblins arrived, they still had plenty of time to set up a temporary landing site in a secluded valley beside the transportation route.
All the dragons landed, their massive bodies huddled together in the relatively narrow valley, taking the opportunity to rest.
Katharine herself led a small squad of mages, concealed in the shadows of the dense forest near the road. She raised her binoculars, observing the goblin horde approaching in disarray, swarming toward the pre-arranged ambush like a swarm of startled ants.
Although their formation was chaotic, this retreating goblin force did not lose its organization and structure. They were simply terrified by the horrific sight of their comrades being mercilessly slaughtered, and fearful of being overtaken by the dragon from behind, which led them to rush frantically without regard for their own safety.
"Commander, a small squad of goblin sentries is approaching our area," a squad leader on guard duty whispered a warning.
Katharine held up her palm and made a throat-slitting gesture in front of her neck. The squad leader understood and, with a few team members, silently disappeared into the woods.
A moment later, the goblin sentinels collapsed not far away, turning into a pile of still-warm corpses. The necromancer, of course, wouldn't waste these resources; a low incantation rang out, "awakening" them and bringing them back.
Afterwards, Katharine and her men remained hidden in the shadows, patiently waiting for the enemy's main force to react.
Among the goblin army, Commander Xiuya received a report: the sentry squad sent to scout the right flank had not sent back a signal indicating that everything was safe, as agreed.
Upon hearing Xiuya Tooth sighed wearily. This direction led to their own territory, so sending out sentries was somewhat of a routine matter.
All the soldiers are now eager to return to their fortified stronghold as soon as possible—the terrifying scene of the earth collapsing and dragons rampaging on the battlefield not long ago has truly chilled every goblin to the bone.
This sentry, rather than being worried about them encountering problems, seemed to simply not want to wait for the main force and took the initiative to go ahead.
Xiuya waved his hand irritably; he had no time to concern himself with such trivial matters. "Send another sentry to check," he ordered helplessly.
"Then... should the main force stop and wait?" the adjutant asked hesitantly.
"Keep going! Don't delay!" Xiuya said decisively.
When they fled the battlefield, they had already abandoned all their heavy weapons. If they were to encounter another overwhelming swarm of dragons like they had just faced, they wouldn't even have a chance to mount a proper counterattack.
Now, only the fortress of Sharp Gorge City standing ahead is their only hope. Reaching there, and relying on the city's well-stocked armory, this exhausted and defeated army may have a chance to fully arm themselves, regroup, and survive!
****
Katharine was quite surprised to see that the goblin army did not stop advancing. It seemed that these enemies, so eager to escape, had already neglected even the most basic battlefield awareness.
Katharine's original plan was to play a delaying tactic, waiting for the ground attack cluster of the Final Bone Mad Machines to get closer and form a pincer attack.
After all, her troops, on their long-distance retreat, carried only essential personal supplies and did not bring any of those cumbersome and powerful aerial bombs.
Therefore, defeating this goblin army was not difficult, but the enemy's organization was still intact and numbered as many as 20,000. Katharine did not want unnecessary casualties on her side, so she adhered to the principle of caution and chose to play it safe.
Unexpectedly, the goblins insisted on offering themselves up, blindly rushing into the line of fire. Katharine sighed helplessly and decided to accept their kindness.
Soon, she discovered that the goblins hadn't been so careless as to completely lie down. A second sentry squad had been dispatched and was advancing in a line along the ridgeline on the side where they were hiding.
However, upon closer inspection, one would find that these sentries were distracted. They showed no intention of seriously investigating, as if they had been reluctantly driven from the flat and comfortable road, their movements full of perfunctory laziness.
Katharine drew the ancient magic book "Green Bamboo Slips and Rue Book Wrappers" from her waist, chanted softly, and an invisible illusion light quietly enveloped the sentry. The goblins, oblivious to their surroundings, brushed past the dragon lurking in the valley.
A young dragon, intrigued, couldn't resist extending its massive Dragon Claw to poke at the nearby "little green men." An older dragon beside it immediately pressed its claws down firmly, glaring at him with majesty.
The young dragon had no choice but to sheepishly retract its claws, lower its massive body again, and remain silent, its scales undulating slightly with suppressed breathing.
As the goblin squad leader walked, he cursed and swore, spitting as he recounted the dishonest behavior of the previous sentry: they must have already made their escape and were probably enjoying a comfortable lunch in the Sharp Gorge City.
His team members were equally disgruntled, complaining that by the time they arrived, all the good stuff would have been devoured, and they would only get scraps that wouldn't even fill their stomachs.
And so, the group of sentries, completely unaware of the danger, crossed the area and then sent a signal to the main force behind them, indicating that "all is well and safe."