Gathering Clouds

Golden Autumn Island.

The strike force Su Ming had dispatched had finally found the Divine Covenant Faction's "material" training base. It covered an extensive area, surrounded by high walls and watchtowers and bristling with various spiked defenses. Inside were training grounds for physical conditioning, combat and other disciplines.

The base was not far from the coast, and Miao Xin picked off its outer defenses with the 100 mm naval gun. Wave after wave of shells swept across the area, sending brick and stone flying. Buildings collapsed in clusters, and the defending troops were killed or wounded, their morale plummeting.

The enormous sign over the base entrance, engraved with "Light's Blessing and Merciful Radiance," was pulverized.

"Instructor Red Pig, please let us attack directly!" the Feather Race commander said eagerly. "Don't waste these precious alchemical weapons!"

Apart from the main building, the target area had already been flattened. If the bombardment continued, there was no telling whether any enemies would be left in the base.

Miao Xin turned to look inside the cabin and saw that, after all her spending, she had finally used up half the 100 mm shells.

"All right, go ahead," Miao Xin agreed. "If you run into stubborn enemies, call for fire support!"

The Feather Race commander looked as though he had been granted a reprieve. He hurried out of the cabin and waved vigorously to his troops. Thousands of Feather Race soldiers waiting aboard the warships immediately took flight in a dark mass and swooped forward.

The sounds of the one-sided slaughter shook the sky. Before long, the Feather Race had completely suppressed the Light's Blessing and Merciful Radiance base. They were about to advance on the main building when enemies inside poked their heads out trembling and raised their hands above their heads in surrender.