Landing

On the second day of the general offensive, Katharine adjusted the attack plan. The original plan was to attack both Ridge Heat and Ridge Summer, two stronghold cities at the same time, but it was reduced to attacking only Ridge Heat.

Therefore, half of their main force did not advance. They were dispatched to the surrounding areas to consolidate the newly occupied territories. The extra auxiliary troops were also assigned to build roads and other logistical facilities.

These occupied areas will not be relinquished; therefore, serious infrastructure and defense work needs to be done on them.

The attacking troops adopted a completely different approach to attacking Ridge Heat City compared to yesterday.

The terrifying, devastating firepower preparations of the Long-Range Fire Battalion battalion did not materialize. Instead, the bombing dragon squadron took off directly. This time, from a safe distance and at a higher altitude, they dropped glider-wing bombs toward the city, then hastily turned their massive bodies around and withdrew.

On the ground, the goblin's alchemical ballistae immediately roared and fired into the sky. The human-controlled rockets, trailing erratic flames, rose into the air like a swarm of bees, rushing towards the gliding circular bombs.

Without rockets to destroy the goblin positions beforehand, the defenders' anti-aircraft fire remained intact. In addition, the longer glide distance of the bombs meant that most of the bombs exploded in mid-air, bursting into colorful fireballs.

The shattered shells, along with twisted screws and broken metal pipe fragments, rained down on the city wall like hailstones.

Seeing the stalemate in the battle, the defending generals of Ridge Heat City secretly wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads.

"This... it doesn't seem as scary as those deserters described," the city guard commander muttered to himself, gazing at the not-so-horrific battle scene in the sky.

In the frontline command center, Katharine observed the "harmonious" situation, resembling Ultraman fighting monsters, and nodded in satisfaction. "Very good, keep it that way, let's rebuild some confidence on the other side!"

"Yes, if we had wiped out all the goblins here in one go, it would have ruined Chairman Su's plans," the strategist said thankfully.

A few glide bombs still managed to penetrate the goblin-woven interception network, crashing erratically into the city. One of them hit the goblin's largest ammunition depot, sending up a thick plume of black smoke.

Everyone immediately turned their attention to this area with tension.

As the smoke slowly dissipated, everyone saw that although a large section of the warehouse's outer wall had been blown down, revealing shocking damage and scorching, the expected earth-shattering secondary explosion had not occurred.

A group of goblins rushed forward and extinguished the remaining fire.

The goblins, the dragons in the sky, and the necromancer observers all breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

"Thank goodness it didn't explode!" ×3, everyone said in unison.

****

The explosives the dragons threw today were all "spoils of war" seized from the goblin warehouses during the recent series of battles. The members of the Final Bone Mad Machines simply removed their original detonators, repackaged them, and replaced them with new ground-touch fuses, without putting in any further effort.

Anyway, as long as it can be thrown safely and will most likely explode upon landing, that's fine.

On the ground, a goblin general carefully examined the impact points, identifying the familiar characteristics of the inferior explosives that belonged to his own side, as well as the enemy's crude recycling methods.

The city guard commander was overjoyed and immediately reported the good news to King Nilunke at the Goldglint Fortress in the rear.

With the destruction of the East of the Ridge War Zone Command, command of the operation once again returned to the hands of this goblin king.

"Oh?" A long-lost hint of joy finally flashed across Nilunke's face. "The Dragon and Machine Allied Forces —their offensive power has been greatly reduced!? They're running out of ammunition!"

He carefully reviewed the battle reports from the front lines again, and finally became certain: those weapons, with terrifying power and astonishing speed...

The rockets, which were so accurate as to seem to have eyes, were clearly exhausted yesterday!

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!" Nilunke couldn't help but clap his hands three times, his excitement overflowing. "The old general has indeed lived up to my expectations; his judgment and strategy were correct!"

Immediately, he recalled the tragic sacrifice of the veteran. The shockwave from the bomb Miao Xin "threw" had shattered his internal organs as it reflected off the cave walls.

The entire goblin officer command at the front line thus endured the agony of death.

King Nilunke coughed lightly, then quickly adopted a sorrowful expression, feigning grief as he lamented, "General Badger—truly a pillar of the nation!"

The ministers standing to the side bowed and echoed in unison.

The command post, which had been shrouded in despair, suddenly saw Dawn of hope, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.

Yesterday, the enemy's extravagant spending of expensive weapons, like that of spendthrift sons, completely shattered their will to resist. But these damned Dragon Race allies, after only one day of arrogance, revealed their exhaustion and weaknesses!

The goblin leadership immediately reorganized: support troops were rapidly mobilized, reserves were urgently replenished, and logistical supply lines were put into full operation. Some elite forces that were originally deployed further back were also ordered to move forward, ready to be deployed to the battlefield at any time to provide support.

If they can keep going like this for a few months, until the dragons' strength and resources are completely exhausted, that will be the time for them to launch a desperate counterattack!

At noon, even better "good news" arrived: after a prolonged siege and with the dragons' bombardment visibly thinning out, the enemy was forced to halt their attack.

A vast swarm of colossal dragons descended outside Ridge Heat City, beyond the effective range of goblin ranged weapons. They panted, their weary gazes fixed ahead—on the still stubbornly standing city walls and the enemy whose losses were far less than expected.

After a full morning of fierce fighting, only about half of the goblin's position had been damaged. As the engineers raced against time to repair the damage, many of the bombed-out weapons were gradually being restored to function and posed a threat again.

The goblin officers on the city wall, witnessing this scene, burst into uncontrollable cheers.

This is proof of the goblins' resilience and indomitable spirit!

On Katharine's side, everyone in command was just as pleased. Reports from intelligence personnel deep within the goblin territory indicated that there were multiple signs of enemy troops being redeployed to the front lines.

Their plan and performance today achieved their goal!

Katharine immediately reported the news to Su Ming.

"I told you it would be absolutely effective," Su Ming said. "We can't just keep putting pressure on them."

He was no stranger to this tactic. Just like competitive games on Earth, arranging for AI opponents to play alongside players was an essential method to enhance the player experience and increase the efficiency of winning!

"Let the frontline troops eat and rest for an hour before launching another attack," Katharine ordered, going all out with the act. "Then withdraw all the frontline troops in two hours."

"Received!" everyone replied.

"Then the goblins of Ridge Heat City will be overjoyed," an advisor said.

"Let them be." Katharine's lips curled into a cold smile. "Anyway, the course of the battle has nothing to do with them anymore!"

****

At Goldglint Fortress, a brief period of celebration ensued amidst a series of good news from Ridge Heat City.

Unfortunately, their good fortune didn't last long. In the afternoon, they received new intelligence: the Blue Dragon of Snow Wing Island suddenly swarmed out and launched a full-scale annihilation of the goblin warships in the surrounding waters!

Snow Wing Island is isolated on the vast sea at the northernmost tip of the dragon territory, and is a summer resort that the Blue Dragon visit every year.

It stands in stark contrast to Green Thorn Port, which is controlled by goblins, across a turbulent sea about two hundred kilometers away.

During this period, the Blue Dragon and the goblin navy, which attempted to block the trade routes in Dragon Valley, were constantly engaged in minor clashes, and the tense standoff never ceased.

But today, the Blue Dragon and some Red Dragon that came from the homeland suddenly gathered together, like rolling thunderclouds, and pounced on the goblin warships sailing on the sea.

On the vast sea, billowing black smoke billowed from the decks of the goblin warships as rockets, trailing irregular, sickly tongues of fire, rose crookedly into the air. Many rockets were frozen by the icy breath exhaled by the Blue Dragon before they could even find their targets, falling helplessly into the churning waves like stiff, dead fish.

Meanwhile, the dragons have unveiled a brand new weapon today – napalm!

Even if these bombs are unfortunately intercepted and exploded in mid-air, they will turn into a thick, burning rain of death, pouring down on the deck and clinging tightly to the masts, sails, and all exposed objects, burning wildly.

But if it is hit directly, the consequences will be even worse; half of the warship will instantly become a floating crematorium!

The spellcasters on board, tasked with damage control, were powerless against the sticky, explosive, and inextinguishable flames, whether they were desperately trying to cool them with frost or stirring up strong winds to disperse them.

They are far more vicious and troublesome than the pure flames of Red Dragon!

Shortly after the battle began, a fleet of three goblin warships sank into the deep sea amidst flames and explosions. The dragons also paid the price; many of their wings and scales were riddled with holes from crossbow bolts and scorched marks.

They landed on a floating platform made of huge logs on the sea, their heavy bodies making the raft creak. All the dragons opened their mouths wide, greedily swallowing food and gulping down fresh water to replenish the energy consumed in the fierce battle.

Elder Lan Lin of the Blue Dragon was the commander of this operation. After replenishing her food and catching her breath, her cold dragon eyes swept across the wrecked sea surface, and she let out another low roar, leading the Blue Dragon Clan to charge fearlessly towards the next group of prey!

Flames raged between the sea and sky, and smoke obscured the sun. But this time, King Nilunke was no longer as terrified as before. His past experiences had matured him and given him confidence.

King Nilunke swiftly ordered the goblin navy to maintain formation, provide mutual cover, and retreat in an orderly manner.

The goblin high command knew the dragons' fighting patterns: these behemoths relied on their physical strength to fight, and their first wave of attacks was always the most ferocious, like a raging storm.

However, their stamina will then decline, and a counterattack launched at this point will surely inflict heavy damage.

This is a characteristic and weakness that flying creatures cannot change. In contrast, the goblins, who fight from boats, have much better endurance!

Sure enough, a new battle report soon arrived: in the second wave of fierce fighting, more dragons began to be wounded, their scales shattered and blood gushing out! One Red Dragon was even successfully killed by dense anti-aircraft fire, its massive body wailing as it plunged into the cold sea!

Even the massive wooden raft platform, where the dragon relied on to breathe and rest, was reduced to floating charcoal in one section by the bombardment of incendiary bombs.

"Excellent!" King Nilunke's eyes flashed with a sharp light, carrying a ruthless decisiveness that cut off all hesitation. With what he considered his most dashing gesture, he abruptly waved his hand, "Order! The entire army to counterattack!"

****

But this young and impetuous king clearly underestimated the dragons' determination and resilience. They did indeed appear much weaker in their subsequent attacks, and their overwhelming momentum was no longer as fierce.

However, they showed no signs of retreating and continued their attack despite the intense anti-aircraft fire.

Napalm bombs are extremely lethal; a well-placed one can cause severe damage. Thanks to the dragon's persistence, the goblin navy suffered rapidly, with warships catching fire or sinking one after another.

Ultimately, it was the goblin fleet that couldn't hold out any longer and retreated in disarray towards Green Thorn Port.

The dragons, having also suffered heavy losses, did not pursue. They carried the cold remains of their companions and flew heavily back to Snow Wing Island.

"All ships retreat to the Green Thorn Port defense perimeter! Damaged warships must immediately return to port and undergo emergency repairs at all costs!" King Nilunke ordered, though his face showed little sign of dejection.

The goblin officers quickly summarized the results of the naval battle: although their side had sunk eight warships and suffered heavy damage to many others, the dragons had also paid a heavy price.

Battle footage confirms that at least four dragons have fallen, and many others have been severely damaged, with their scales and wings shattered!

"Strange—" an officer stared at the nautical chart, his brow furrowed, "Where is that giant ship over there? Why is it still nowhere to be seen?"

Logically speaking, with the Pansy's despair-inducing combat power, the goblin navy should have no chance of winning against it. However, this giant ship, which is like a sea fortress, has not appeared in the outside world since it entered Sapphire Port.

"The Pansy warship is confirmed to still be anchored in Sapphire Port," the intelligence officer immediately reported. "Our informants in the port have personally witnessed that the giant ship is covered in scaffolding, undergoing large-scale modifications."

According to the goblin intelligence network's pervasive reconnaissance, combined with the widespread rumors circulating in the port area, this giant ship suffered extremely serious damage in the bloody battle between Shining Island and the Temple of Light's navy.

The fact that the Final Bone Mad Machines were scrambling to purchase massive amounts of magic crystals and alchemical materials during this period also confirmed that their core warship was undergoing a long period of repair.

The goblins were not surprised at all; such powerful weapons of war, coupled with huge maintenance and repair costs, were perfectly reasonable!

"Is the information reliable?" Nilunke leaned forward slightly.

"Absolutely reliable!" the intelligence officer stated confidently. "A violent explosion also occurred in Sapphire Port today. The upper structure of the Pansy Harbor was engulfed in flames, which burned for several hours before being extinguished. The plume of black smoke could be seen rising from far away from the port!"

"Hahaha!" King Nilunke suddenly burst into loud laughter, tapping the jeweled armrest of his throne with his fingers, his tone laced with contempt, "What Final Bone Mad Machines, what Bone King! They're nothing but paper tigers!"

"Your Majesty!" a minister immediately stepped forward and said excitedly, "Today's fierce attack on our navy by the dragons must be a retaliatory act born of their humiliation and frustration after their offensive was thwarted on the East of the Ridge battlefield!"

"Exactly!" another minister hurriedly echoed, "Their warships were simply not repaired, so they forced the dragon fleet to launch a hasty attack in an attempt to save face!"

An officer in the corner opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to remind someone of something—given the methods the Final Bone Mad Machines had previously displayed, it was clear he shouldn't be in such a sorry state.

But looking around at his colleagues, who were caught up in the atmosphere of victory, he couldn't find any concrete evidence to refute them, and ultimately swallowed his words.

"Your Majesty, this is the perfect opportunity for us to launch a counterattack on Snow Wing Island!" another minister excitedly proposed. "The dragon has been severely weakened by this fierce battle and will need at least several days to recover! We should seize this chance and eradicate this malignant tumor in one fell swoop!"

Upon hearing this, Nilunke's eyes gleamed. If they could capture Snow Wing Island and drive the dragons back to land, the empire's naval defenses would be greatly expanded!

More importantly, they can take advantage of the situation and implement a strict maritime embargo, which will inevitably exacerbate the already strained supply of combat materials to the enemy!

"Order Green Thorn Port! Repair all damaged warships day and night, at all costs!" King Nilunke abruptly stood up. "Immediately assemble all available elite troops in the vicinity. At dawn the day after tomorrow, launch a landing operation against Snow Wing Island!"

An advisor hurriedly unfolded a defense map, his face showing difficulty. "Your Majesty, the elite army forces near Green Thorn Port— "

They have all been transferred to the East of the Ridge front.

"Then we'll move them from this area!" Nilunke without hesitation, waving his hand. "Order the Fifth Guard Legion..."

Sixth Legion, proceed to Green Thorn Port immediately!

Goldglint Fortress is only 100 kilometers from Green Thorn Port. If it is dispatched immediately, it can indeed make it in time for the planned landing operation.

As the location of the goblin high command and command center, Goldglint Fortress was originally surrounded by ten Royal Guard legions. However, with the stalemate in the East of the Ridge war, most of the elite troops had already been withdrawn. Just this morning, the 7th to 10th Royal Guard legions also broke camp and headed to the vicinity of the East of the Ridge war zone to provide support.

But a stagnant defense was pointless, and even the officer in the corner had no objection to drawing his own guards to fight. The remaining four guard regiments each had 20,000 elite goblin warriors. Perhaps this size wasn't decisive enough for a direct confrontation, but it was more than enough to guard against a sneak attack.

After all, this is the heart of Gray Ridge, and it's hard to imagine that the enemy could silently project a force powerful enough to rival these guards here.

"Yes, sir!" The ministers and officers in the hall responded in unison and quickly began issuing mobilization orders.

****

Snow Wing Island.

As night fell as dark as ink, Lan Lin led the last wave of dozens of giant dragons, dragging their heavy bodies back to the island.

Upon landing on the takeoff and landing field, these giant dragons, who had been engaged in fierce battles all day, almost collapsed on the damp ground, their legs giving way.

A makeshift dock had been built on the edge of the island, and a supply ship was quickly unloading supplies. The auxiliary troops who had arrived with the ship quickly dispersed, carrying medicine boxes and stretchers, and began to treat the wounded dragons.

The air was thick with the stench of blood, the salty smell of the sea, and the bitter aroma of alchemical drugs.

Large quantities of food and water barrels were rolled and carried by the soldiers and distributed to the exhausted and devastated dragons.

The night grew deeper. When all the complicated matters were settled, the auxiliary troops returned to their temporary camp to rest, and the exhausted dragons curled up their massive bodies and fell into a deep sleep.

The question of which dragon began is shrouded in darkness, where intermittent, suppressed sobs can be heard. The cold, stiff bodies of four companions lie silently at the edge of the camp. Most of the living dragons are wounded; their once beautiful, glossy scales are now covered with scratches and charred marks, and their broad wings are riddled with holes and tears.

A massive, white warship, resembling a ghost ship, cut through the inky waves and approached the island.

Lan Lin raised her head and struggled to stand up. Sure enough, not long after, four figures, two men and two women, gracefully descended from the sky. The two leading figures were none other than Su Ming and Zijin.

After landing, Su Ming's gaze slowly swept over the sorrowful camp. He didn't say much, but simply nodded slightly, and together with Zijin, they silently walked towards the four corpses of the fallen dragons, bowing deeply in respect.

Lan Lin silently stood by, waiting for the brief mourning ceremony to end before speaking in a hoarse voice, "When you return tomorrow night, please take them back to the Land of Ancestral Spirits burial ground."

Zijin nodded.

Afterwards, Lan Lin led Su Ming and Zijin aside and began reporting on military affairs, "Mission complete. The waters surrounding Green Thorn Port have been cleared!"

She used her tail to sketch a rough nautical chart on the ground, then drew a passageway, "Go through here, and no ship will see you!"

This bustling sea area is not only home to goblin warships, but also a large number of merchant ships. During the day, the dragon launched a massive, indiscriminate attack that not only destroyed the warships, but also served as a deterrent strike against any merchant ships that dared to approach.

The dragon's frenzied display caused the merchant ships to accelerate and flee for their lives. They dared not approach until they were certain the fighting had subsided.

This is the real purpose of today's attack!

"You've suffered!" Su Ming said calmly. "Now, it's time for the goblins to pay the price they deserve!"

"Is there still room on this ship?" Lan Lin looked up. "I want to see for myself."

Su Ming carefully examined her. Although the Blue Dragon elder was covered in scratches and had several scales curled up, she did not have any serious injuries that could be fatal.

As for the Pansy, although it was already at its maximum capacity, the destination was just around the corner, so it was advisable to temporarily resume operations.

"Sure," Su Ming agreed.

"Wait two minutes, I need to give some instructions," Lan Lin said, turning and heading towards the camp to find some other dragonkin to give instructions to.

****

It's midnight, and the temperature has risen below the dew point. A moist sea breeze sweeps across the shore, and fine water droplets begin to condense on the edges of plant leaves.

Zijin plucked a leaf covered in night dew. "Su Ming, we Dragon Race call this moment 'Time Freeze'."

"When the dew begins to condense?" Su Ming asked.

"Exactly."

The timekeeping details in the Taya Plane differ subtly from those on Earth. Midnight and noon are not the exact hours, but rather intermediate time intervals.

If we understand it using Earth's 24-hour system, then 11:30 to 12:30 is an independent time period, and the remaining hours are arranged accordingly. In their daily lives, these two time periods are not marked with numbers, but are given unique names.

"This time, the dwarves call the melting time," Ruixiuli explained. "If they encounter a metal that is difficult to smelt, they will throw it into the furnace and heat it throughout the night."

"The Gravel Scale Tribe call the middle of the night 'noon,'" Jielusi's voice rang out softly. "The hottest time of day is called 'sleep'—in the desert, day and night are reversed."

"You're from the Gravel Scale Desert?" Ruixiuli asked, somewhat surprised. Miejin glanced at Jielusi.

"What, didn't I say that?" Jielusi replied, "Many humans live there too."

Lan Lin returned at this moment, and everyone nodded to each other.

Su Ming took a deep breath of the salty, cool air. "Everyone return to the Pansy to rest! The operation will officially begin at 5:00 AM, six hours from now!"

Everyone slowly rose into the air, chasing after the huge White Ghost ship on the sea.

****

But the "rest well" was for others; Su Ming's own duty was to keep watch on the night shift tonight.

After completing a comprehensive pre-battle inspection and confirming by Pansy scans that the airspace and waters ahead were safe, the Su Ming issued a command and gave the order to "full speed at sea".

The weather was fine today, with sunlight falling like shattered diamonds, and the sea breeze carrying the sound of crashing waves, all enveloped in a dreamlike, hazy glow.

Under the deep darkness of night, this colossal ship, fully loaded with a heavy load reaching its maximum draft, resolutely cut through the inky waves and sped forward.

Several hours later, the Pansy's track crossed the meridian where Green Thorn Port was located. This place was still tens of kilometers away from the harbor, and only with a high-powered telescope could one barely catch a glimpse of the goblin Lighthouse's tiny, swaying, dim yellow light.

The temperature continued to drop in the early morning, and a thin mist rose from the sea, like an invisible veil slowly being drawn down, making the surroundings hazy and reducing visibility.

Fortunately, guided by modern radar, the Pansy had no fear of losing its course. It sailed steadily forward, and soon, three clear and stable dots of light appeared on the radar screen.

As the distance to the permanent breakpoint closed, the radar signal became increasingly clear, and the observer's report rang out from the bridge, "Target confirmed! It's Long Feather, Split Feather, Wind Feather!"

These three ships were supply ships acquired from the Temple of Light during the Battle of Shining Island. The Feather Race repaired them and altered their appearance, giving them a complete makeover.

They set off a month ago, stopping at the halfling Red Luo Port along the way, fully loaded with the necessary supplies.

They then entered the area as ordinary merchant ships and waited nearby.

As the magical communication signal was sent, the three supply ships responded, their heavy anchors were raised by the winches, and all three ships set sail for their destination.

Pansy, shrouded in a thin mist, soon caught up with them.

The four ships successfully rendezvoused, and the Clock Hand struck four in the morning. Su Ming issued the order, "All personnel, prepare for battle!"

As if awakened, all the crew members of the Pansy jumped up from their berths. They collected breakfast from the temporary distribution points scattered throughout the cabins, quickly swallowed the simple but warm meals, and then rushed to their respective battle stations.

Members assigned to maintenance tasks began conducting final checks and preparations on ammunition boxes, artillery machinery, and various key equipment.

The three Feather Race supply ships that followed were also bustling with activity.

Four thousand elite Feather Race warriors arrived with the ship. They were awakened and began to carefully inspect their sharp scimitars, adjust the bowstrings of their powerful bows, and tidy their close-fitting armor.

As members took their places one after another, various departments sent reports to the dispatch center saying "ready."

Before, the dark outline of the coastline, resembling the spine of a giant beast, finally began to emerge faintly amidst the flowing gray-white mist and the deep night.

"Five kilometers from Qianfu Beach, water depth twenty-five meters!" The sonar operator's calm voice pierced the tense atmosphere on the bridge.

"Proceed at half speed!" Su Ming ordered. "Continue scanning with sonar and closely monitor the seabed conditions!"

As morning approached, the temperature was about to reach its lowest point of the day. The fog gradually thickened, and at the stern, several crew members threw several magical buoys, emitting a steady glow, into the cold, churning seawater.

These points of light will guide the Feather Race supply ships, which are following behind and lack advanced detection capabilities, to safe routes in the fog.

"Construction Department! Execute the third form - transformation!" Su Ming ordered.

The crew members, who had been waiting in various parts of the ship, acted swiftly upon hearing the news. Following the pre-set plan, they manipulated the massive hull of the Pansy to reshape it.

A portion of the outward-extended deck was rapidly dismantled, and the structural members were brought together to form a long, narrow pier!

On either side of the bow, two thick pillars also rise high, section by section. A large number of thick steel cables are pulled up and fixed to them by the crew, while one end is tied to the pier, suspending the pier in mid-air.

As the pier extended, the Pansy's foreleg jutted out significantly, with dense steel cables on both sides suspending it securely above the waves, making the already massive ship appear as if it had gained an extra sharp blade. This new jutted section pierced the thick fog, pointing directly at the dark beach ahead.

Pansy - Saw Form, Complete!

I've recently added a lot of illustrations, such as for today's chapter, and chapters 156 and 157. I've also added seven or eight illustrations to volumes one and two. It seems the images aren't displaying properly on the PC?