Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 165 The Fallen Swordsman: Amidst the Smoke and Mist of Flowing Frost

Just as the roar of grenade launchers echoed across the battlefield, drawing almost all attention—

A particularly sharp and high-pitched bugle call pierced through the clamor of the battlefield and soared into the sky!
The sentry on the Skyfrost City watchtower immediately sounded a piercing alarm: "Southeast! In the air! A large number of flying units! The orc air force is coming!"

In fact, even without the sentries sounding the alarm, everyone could see the dark, heavy cloud formations.

A dense array of black dots suddenly appeared on the horizon and expanded rapidly! An air force formation of over three hundred bipedal dragons hurtled towards the battlefield like arrows released from a bow.

The enemy's objective was so clear and undisguised; it was aimed directly at the Han Hai Territory's firepower positions within Tian Shuang City.

These bipedal dragons had clearly been accelerating for some time. When they came into view, their huge wings were flapping at an extremely high frequency, and the sound of the wind they generated could be faintly heard hundreds of meters away.

On the backs of these massive flying war beasts, orc spearmen roared with excitement, their bronze skin gleaming in the morning sunlight, their rough battle axes and spears ready to be used.

Well, the rule for flying cavalry is that wyverns must wear armor, but the cavalrymen do not, in order to protect the wyverns while reducing their load.

On the one hand, wyverns are more valuable than orc warriors, and on the other hand, if an orc warrior dies from a wyvern, it's fine; he can just fly back. But if the wyvern is injured, the orc warrior can't get back on his own!
"Intercept them! Intercept them now!" Charles roared, his eyes bloodshot.

Amidst a series of commands, the ballistae and archers on the city walls hurriedly adjusted their directions, and even the magic corps diverted some of their firepower to the sky.

Arrows, arcane missiles, and fireballs completed the first line of defense in a chaotic manner.

It has some effect, but not much!
Regarding air force confrontation, the general experience on the mainland is that either it is an air-to-air battle, with both sides engaging in an aerial combat, or at least five times the number of ground long-range forces as the enemy's air force, in order to have any hope of stopping the enemy's offensive momentum.

Now, with the immense pressure of the enemy's ground offensive, Skyfrost City has very limited space available for air attacks.

For these wyverns, which not only have hard scales but also armor on their vital parts, the damage is there, but clearly not enough.

Of the first rank of twelve dragons, only two were shot down. The remaining dragon riders let out strange howls, swept across the city wall in a wide arc, and swooped down towards the newly exposed position like a high-speed raptor!
A massive shadow hurtled across the city, and terrified screams echoed from the inner city.

"It's over!"

The old mage of Skyfrost City, who had just shot down a two-legged wyvern rider with a barrage of arcane missiles, could only watch helplessly as the wyvern riders, like dark clouds, pressed down on the inner city before he could launch a second attack. His face drained of all color.

On the orc side, General Bloodhowl clenched his fist heavily and exclaimed, "It's done!"

There is a consensus among everyone.

Squishy heroes like mages, despite their ferocious attacks, are destined for slaughter and rout once melee units get close. Therefore, General Bloodhowl is willing to trade his precious air force for casualties.

Normally, on large-scale battlefields in the Starry Continent, mage corps need to use vehicle formations to enhance mobility and knightly orders as cover.

However, as an independently organized force, the Han Hai Ling team was clearly lacking in cover.

In the critical moment, it was actually Liu Shuang who reacted the fastest.

The little girl grabbed the lance, which was taller than her, and nimbly mounted "Big White's" pure white back: "Come with me!"

The unicorn seemed to sense its master's urgency and strode forward with all its might, trying to chase after those annoying "little flying insects" in the sky.

Liushuang's idea was simple: since ranged attacks couldn't take down the flying dragons, then melee attacks would be used to tank damage for Hanhai's reinforcements. In some ways, this was the fastest and most effective solution.

However, the cavalry, which had just begun to accelerate, was significantly different from the air force, which was already at full speed. Despite the unicorns exerting all their strength under the urging of the young lord, they could only watch as the dragons changed course and swept into the inner city.

The entire heart of Skyfrost City seemed to be gripped tightly by this sudden aerial claw.

Even the warriors on both sides, still locked in battle atop the city walls, would involuntarily crane their necks and look back during a lull in the fighting.

Then, they witnessed a spectacular display of fireworks that they would never forget.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Contrary to what everyone in Tianshuang City thought, the support forces of Hanhai Territory did not neglect air defense; on the contrary, they had raised their air defense to the highest level.

The reasoning is quite simple. First, the Han Hai Territory has no air force and can only defend on the ground.

If you're going to defend hard, you need to have the attitude of defending hard!

Just like heavy infantry facing off against archers, they have to put on three or four layers of armor first, otherwise it would be disrespectful to their opponent.

Secondly, the modern warfare on Earth has an extremely thorough understanding of the power of air forces.

To put it bluntly, if the goal is destruction rather than occupation, the Air Force could do all the work on its own.

In this situation, the group led by Makaga was equipped with a three-dimensional, powerful, high-burst, and high-output anti-aircraft weapon array.

Four 14.5mm dual-purpose machine guns.

Six heavy sniper rifles with continuous fire.

Twelve shoulder-mounted man-portable air defense missiles, with a standard configuration of three missiles each.

Four large, repeating shotguns for close-range coverage interception.

In addition, each person was equipped with an automatic rifle.

That's not all, there are still twelve automatic grenade launchers on the ground.

This weapon's ammunition system includes both high-explosive and airburst grenades, which can create a large fragmentation kill zone in the air.

If it weren't for the weight requirement, Chen Mo probably wouldn't hesitate to equip his team with a few more Metal Hurricane close-in weapon systems.

With this defensive formation in place, let alone wyverns, it's hard to say whether even a real dragon could get through.

It is worth noting that the sniper squad of Han Hai is equipped with special segmented armor-piercing rounds, which have an armor-piercing capability that is 20% stronger than that of normal high length-to-diameter ratio tungsten core armor-piercing rounds. In previous experiments, even the frontal armor equipped by the human race for the griffon riders could not withstand it.

There's no need to compare the armor of the orc wyverns.

Just as the lead wyvern let out a joyful roar and began to switch from maneuvering and dodging to diving, and the orc knight on its back held his javelin, ready to deliver the final blow, a long, dark shadow trailing a fiery white tail met the charging orc warrior at a speed too fast for the naked eye to see.

Yes, anti-aircraft missiles are coming!

Boom! ! !

A massive fireball exploded in mid-air! The deafening explosion was deafening!
A decisive first strike! 1-0!

The ferocious bipedal dragon's mournful cry was even muffled by its deformed mouth, and the knight on its back was instantly taken from consciousness by the engulfing explosion, plummeting to the ground.

Then came the overwhelming barrage of automatic rifle grenades.

One airburst grenade can control a circular airspace with a diameter of ten meters. Twelve grenades can fire 120 grenades in ten seconds, theoretically creating a fire coverage area that is 500 meters long and over 100 meters wide with slight gaps.

Of course, it's impossible to be that precise in practice, but it doesn't matter. Just fire continuously at areas with many flying dragons.

There are also anti-aircraft machine guns behind them.

For the support troops of the Vast Ocean Territory, ammunition depletion is a major problem that cannot be avoided.

For example, the automatic grenade launcher equipped by the Eastern Xia has a theoretical rate of fire of six to seven rounds per second.

However, taking into account the weapon's heat dissipation in the desert environment, the wear and tear of important components, the overall ammunition reserves, and the strength of the enemy, the speed was reduced to one round per second using a speed regulator.

After all, you can't expect a shooter to remember to let go of the trigger when facing an enemy.

However, unlike anti-aircraft machine guns and automatic rifles, these bullets can now be produced in Han Hai Ling's own military factories.

Although the output is not that abundant, being able to produce it yourself and relying entirely on the altar for supplies are two completely different concepts!

It's much more convenient to use now.

The sound of the rapidly spinning metal storm being ignited was continuous, and thick tongues of fire spewed out wildly, forming a dense network of crossfire in the air!
The bullets easily tore through the dragon's tough scales and flesh, pierced the orc knight's simple armor, and instantly played a symphony of death in the air!

At close range, in addition to automatic rifles, there are four large-caliber shotguns, each shot firing dozens of steel balls in quick succession, responsible for finishing off enemies at close range without needing to aim!
The leader of this group of bipedal wyverns was hit by a missile along the way, passed through a barrage of grenades, and was hit by dozens of bullets and shotgun shells of various types. When it crashed into the ground due to inertia, it exploded like an implosion, bursting open a bloody mess.

The following dragon cavalry had no time to react or make any effective evasive maneuvers. They were too fast, and the anti-aircraft fire network of the Vast Ocean Territory was too dense and fierce!
This is not a confrontation at all; it is a one-sided massacre!

True high-level battles always end unexpectedly.

In less than five minutes, the once-aggressive orc wyvern assault force was reduced to countless burning and falling wreckage, scattered across large areas of the inner and outer city, right before the utterly shocked eyes of the Skyfrost City defenders.

Skyfrost City seemed to be experiencing a downpour of dragon remains and orc corpses.

A small number of survivors managed to escape the initial attack, turning around in terror and fleeing. Some of the lucky ones managed to escape the pursuit and disappeared into the distant sky.

There were probably only seven or eight heads.

When the last bipedal dragon that managed to break through the barrage of fire was hit by a missile, trailing thick black smoke, it wailed and crashed erratically into a distant building with a deafening roar, and then the sky finally became quiet for a while.

Yes, the land is quiet now. The orcs who were besieging the city retreated without hesitation, resolutely and decisively, even abandoning their main camp.

Only the lingering smoke, the pungent smell of blood, and the slowly falling ashes testified to the fierce and brutal siege battle that had just taken place.

At this moment, the cavalry of Skyfrost City, who were trying to cover the reinforcements from the Vast Ocean Territory, finally arrived.

They seemed to be frozen in place, standing motionless dozens of meters away, staring blankly at the vast battlefield still reeking of gunpowder smoke.

The scene before them was beyond their comprehension—the remains of dragons were scattered everywhere, some still emitting thick black smoke; the corpses of orc air riders lay on the ground in various contorted positions, almost none of them intact.

Well, here and there, hands are hands, feet are feet...

A strange smell filled the air—the smell of gunpowder, the smell of blood, and the aroma of roasting meat…

The deafening noise gradually subsided from reality, but it seemed to still be stirring in my mind. I could only vaguely hear Kaga's rambling from not far away.

"Report ammunition depletion!"

"You bunch of idiots...you're such a fucking waste of ammunition!"

"Thirty-five percent of heavy machine gun ammunition has been used, nine man-portable missiles have been used, and we've run out of grenades and high-explosive shells? What about airbursts?"

"...Damn it, a bunch of spendthrifts, can't they be more frugal!"

"Was it easy for the lord to accumulate this little bit of wealth?!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The orcs are gone, and this time they've left completely!

Although the battle at Tianshuang City lasted only two days, the defending troops were already exhausted.

As the orcs retreated, the warriors erupted in a frenzied cheer of relief at having survived the orcish attack.

The sound started sporadically, but then spread rapidly throughout the city like wildfire.

The officers and commoners of the entire Skyfrost City followed this young Lord of Flowing Frost to the East Gate for various reasons, but one thing was certain: they were all "direct descendants" of the old lord in various senses. Even if others accepted surrender, they themselves would not dare to.

Who knows if we'll face retribution?

Take Old Scribe, for example. This kind of servant didn't commit suicide to accompany the old lord, Earl of Liuyun, when he died. That's because there was still the nominal young lord around. If the young lord were gone, he would have no choice but to die and serve any other force.

Everything they had in the clouds—power, glory, land, property, fame, and even their families—had vanished into thin air.

Before the Emerald Duchy reclaimed its former territory in Cloudlands, they were a group of savages who had lost their homeland.

As for when the duchy will be able to attack.

Based on the Emerald Kingdom's performance over the past two years, there's a greater chance that Green Pine will suddenly have a change of heart and retreat south.

Regardless of their ulterior motives, at least at this moment, their fates are intertwined with that of Skyfrost City.

Watching the orcs' banners disappear into the distance and their tents fall, many warriors collapsed, exhausted, into pools of blood atop the city walls. How could they not be ecstatic to have won this battle!
When Liushuang returned riding his unicorn, he was once again met with devout worship and thunderous cheers.

The sunlight shone on her small face, which was covered in soot, making her amber eyes appear exceptionally bright.

The young lord tried her best to straighten her back and maintain her lordly dignity, but her somewhat unfocused eyes fully revealed her confusion.

She had always known that Chen Mo had some strange little weapons, such as guns, grenades, and drones... but Fanxing's upbringing taught her that strength was the key!
She practiced desperately to make herself stronger. Well, she knew from their last meeting that Chen Mo was still that weakling, someone she could easily pin to the ground with one hand.

However, this battle with the orcs plunged her into a state of confusion.

She suddenly realized that she seemed to know nothing about the young lord.

Did he really use this power to help himself just because of... those few pills from back then?
Liu Shuang felt she needed some guidance, so she quickly returned to the temporary command post, where the core members, led by the old clerk and Xia Er, were busy handling the finishing touches.

The moment they saw Liu Shuang, everyone jumped up as if sprang to their feet, and a chorus of enthusiastic greetings erupted.

It seems that things are a little different from before.

Liu Shuang didn't think too much about it and directly asked her question.

"I...I thought before that although Chen Mo gave me a lot of good things, it was...it was a gift exchange between friends. A little more or a little less, a little more expensive or a little cheaper, it's all normal."

"But this time... what they gave seems too expensive, I feel like I owe them a lot."

"what should I do?"

Well, at this moment, a resounding victory made this young girl, who was not yet very experienced, realize her own vulnerability and the deepening dependence on the Vast Ocean Territory beneath the surface.

Liushuang, who had begun to vaguely develop a lord's mindset, started to feel a little uneasy.

How to do?
The officers below each had their own answers, but there was one answer that was almost a consensus, though they dared not say it aloud.

The best solution is to marry your own lord into the marriage, thus forming a mutually beneficial relationship!

This is no joke. In the simple consciousness of the Starry Continent, Chen Mo is strong, but his political status is still relatively weak. He doesn't even have a title recognized by the continent.

Now, Liu Shuang, having personally led the charge and raised the banner, should theoretically inherit Liu Yun's earldom and the position of Lord of Clouds and Mist.

If the marriage is completed, then Chen Mo's offspring will naturally possess the rank of an earl and the title of the first heir to the Cloud Mist Territory.

Although this title is useless when it's not needed, if you have the strength to reclaim some lost territory, then it becomes a standard legitimacy!

Although the concept of legal system may seem useless, its significance can only be truly understood by those who are deeply involved in the overall situation.

To put it simply, people without a legal system have to spend more money recruiting warriors than others.

There was once a notorious Night Shadow assassin on the mainland, known for being ruthless and only caring about the reward. But even such a person would ask for an exorbitant price far exceeding the normal reward if asked to assassinate the leader of a legitimate and lawful force.

In his words, doing things has its price, doing bad things has its price, and if you do something so bad that it's oozing pus, then you have to pay the price that I can never do any other normal business again, and that I have to face the price of those hot-blooded teenagers with crazy minds coming to seek revenge!
even……

The old scribe thought further ahead; his own Liushuang had the title of princess, but she was also in the line of succession to the Jadeite Duchy.

If I remember correctly, according to the last census, the order of succession should be number 666.

Well, the reason I'm mentioning last time is because the order of succession is constantly decreasing. A war, a plague, or even a noble infighting could raise the order of succession by ten or twenty places.

If the Emerald Duchy were to disappear, and the previous heirs were to lose their inheritance rights for various reasons...

Or, everyone has the right to inherit, but our lord can restore the kingdom... well, sorry, no matter what your line of succession is, you can all stand aside and cool off!
The old clerk quickly exchanged glances with the others, and finally it was the old man who spoke.

"My lord, the Han Hai reinforcements played a crucial role in saving Skyfrost City this time."

"The orcs are powerful, and there will be fierce battles in the future. For the sake of the tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Skyfrost City, and for the future of Cloud Mist Territory, this old minister believes that the lord should go to the Vast Sea as soon as possible. Firstly, to express the gratitude of the people of Skyfrost to the Vast Sea, and secondly, to see what we can do for the Vast Sea."

"Simply accepting favors is not a long-term solution!" the old clerk said earnestly.

"Ah, do I have to go by myself?" Liu Shuang seemed a little unsure of herself, and felt a sudden pang of anxiety for no reason.

“Yes!” The old clerk nodded: “To express sincerity, there is nothing better than a personal visit, and to adopt a…respectful attitude.”

"Please forgive my rudeness, my lord, but at this time, the Vast Ocean can do without the Clouds and Mist, but the Clouds and Mist absolutely cannot do without the Vast Ocean!"

Liu Shuang understood what he meant.

She gently bit her lower lip, her gaze sweeping over the expressions of the generals around her, seeing only nods.

Since everyone says so, let's go. Anyway, it seems that I don't have anything else to do here except fight.

The young lord frowned slightly, feeling both apprehensive and expectant.

　Push books, push books.

　　Mushrooms have grown in this underground city!
　　The portal is below.

　　Yes, this is currently the top fantasy novel, so I'll just copy the recommendation text exactly!

　　"A magical stolen soul, the power of a brave warrior, and a classic opening of suffering as catalyst!"

　　"Such a savior... Holy crap, how did the mushroom fall in there!?"

　　Tsk tsk, I'm all better now, and I'm qualified to recommend these books that have achieved amazing results and received rave reviews!
　　

(End of this chapter)