Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 286 The Twilight of the Metal Storm Knight

The shotgun shell disintegrates in mid-air, instantly releasing thousands of tiny alloy pellets that form a huge, covering kill cone.

Driven by the explosive force of gunpowder, these high-speed projectiles ignored most of the knights' armor and body defenses, easily penetrating armor plates, leather, muscles, and bones.

The sounds of bullets piercing flesh blended together, simultaneously eliciting the mournful neighing of warhorses and the screams of humans. Cavalrymen charging headlong into battle fell in droves, the battlefield resembling a sparse wheat field swept across by invisible giant scythes, quickly creating gaping holes.

The cavalry formation, once like a carpet scalded with holes, has now become like mulberry leaves gnawed by silkworms.

The area-of-effect damage of airburst shrapnel is devastating. The speed and mass advantage that cavalry charges are known for become their greatest weakness in the face of this area-of-effect weapon.

The faster they charged and the more orderly their formation, the heavier the casualties they suffered.

At this point, the cavalry group of Zircon Territory was already stunned.

In the past, they had encountered ranged attacks during their charges; it was common for cavalry to charge into archer positions or mage positions.

They had charged through a hail of arrows and forced their way through formations under the dual magical baptism of frost and fire. But none of the enemies they had ever faced had unleashed such a frenzied, dense, and relentless barrage of fire.

Or rather, with a shrewd commander like the Marquis of Monroe capable of delivering that level of firepower to an enemy, the Marquis would never have allowed them to charge into such a foolish, suicidal attack.

However, there are always unexpected events! This time, the blow came so wildly and fiercely.

These cavalrymen of the Purple Zircon Legion were there to utterly destroy everything in their path, slaughter civilians, plunder property, and commit abduction and rape! In the instant they knocked the spurs off their horses with their heels, their minds were filled with thoughts of gold, silver, beautiful women, fame, and titles within reach!
They haven't collapsed yet, not because of their strong will, but because their minds are blank and they are just instinctively following the knight commander in charge.

Leading the group was Mio, the chief knight of Zircon Territory, the undisputed strongest warrior in Zircon Territory, and a sixth-tier commanding knight.

The knight, who was also visibly terrified, was hit by the aftershocks of at least two cannonballs, but his formidable strength and excellent protection meant that he only lost two warhorses.

Each time a warhorse collapsed with a mournful cry, the great knight would unleash astonishing power, leaping dozens of steps through the air and landing directly on the horse of another charging cavalryman. Without hesitation, he would throw the knight off the horse, shouting loudly as he continued to lead the charge.

A bright purple suit of armor is the most striking feature of the Mio Knight.

The third warhorse seemed to have suffered a minor injury, and it ran even more wildly, but its direction was somewhat erratic.

When they charged into a range of less than one kilometer from the enemy lines, the machine gun on the tank turret opened fire.

Mio's pupils suddenly contracted. His combat instincts, honed through years of life-and-death battles, made him almost instinctively turn his body to the side, using his right shoulder armor, which was a deep purple and imbued with the strongest protective magic, to shield him.

At the same time, with a loud shout, bright purple psionic energy surged out like flames, forming a solid light shield against the shoulder armor.

The oncoming bullet belt was like a scorching whip, swaying slightly as it lashed the Great Knight, scattering specks of purple light. The bullets that missed or were deflected created a brief no-man's-land on the Great Knight's sides and behind.

The warhorse fell again amidst the barrage of bullets. Mio Knight leaped several times, but there were no more warhorses available for him to take over.

Very few cavalrymen were able to follow him to this position; the nearest cavalryman was more than two hundred meters behind.

Mio let out a roar, stomped his foot on the ground, creating a deep crater, and sprinted forward using pure physical strength and bursts of battle aura.

The chief knight had a firm belief: charge in!

As long as you charge in, charge into the enemy ranks, these cowards who only hide in the distance and project their attacks will be just like those effeminate mages who panic as soon as they get close, crying and running away in all directions!
That's right! In every war in the past, the bravest have always emerged victorious!
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The centaur heavy snipers opened fire; at least eight squads had their eyes on the gleaming purple behemoth.

Despite their agility and swift movements, such a dense volley of sniper fire inevitably resulted in some hits.

A multi-stage armor-piercing sniper bullet pierced through the protective aura, then through the magic scroll's defenses, and finally penetrated the waist armor, tearing off a large piece of purple armor and the flesh beneath, leaving a deep, searing groove that revealed the bone.

Mio roared again, his psionic energy surging wildly out, almost enveloping him in a large purple sphere of light.

He is burning his future, and his life.

This reckless outburst will not only shatter his future as a professional, but may even cause him to fall from his current level, and will also greatly shorten his lifespan. However, the enemy does not intend to give him the chance to go back and calculate his remaining lifespan, and is prepared to end the Great Knight's life right here.

Two seconds later, at a distance of 400 meters, the Great Knight's right ankle, which had been completely unprotected by armor, was pierced by a heavy sniper shot, and he staggered and fell to his knees.

With his mobility greatly reduced, Mio Knight could no longer hide.

Just as he was putting the life-saving medicine into his mouth, two rockets hit his face one after the other.

Amidst the towering flames and dust, the purple orb of light, like a dazzling soap bubble, was punctured and vanished with the wind.

Mio instinctively raised his bloodied arms to protect his head, his left leg pushing back into the mud, mustering his last bit of spiritual energy to meet the storm of rifle bullets, heavy machine gun bullets, anti-aircraft machine gun bullets, and sniper rifle bullets...

There are also surface-to-surface missiles.

It's time to fire at the stationary target!
The entire tank battle group was terrified when this guy charged so close to the tanks.

Well, skeletons are an exception!

So even though the enemy appeared to have lost the ability to move, the fire support team, in a state of emergency, did not hesitate to unleash all available firepower.

Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, after what seemed like milliseconds, the last magical defense of the Dominator Knights was shattered.

A few milliseconds later, the "All Things" level armor cracked inch by inch, turning into handfuls of metal fragments.

His body, stripped of all protection, appeared so vulnerable before modern firearms. Bullets gleefully tore through Mio's tough skin, ruthlessly ripped away his strong muscles, and effortlessly shattered his well-forged bones.

First, they shredded the arms that were blocking his way until they disappeared without a trace. Then, like countless tiny pile drivers, they hammered the deformed steel helmet into the great knight's skull, again and again.

What was he thinking in that instant?
The babbling brooks of my hometown? The old lady next door hawking her wares on the street?
Is it the mother who always had a gentle smile and hummed lullabies in my memory? Or is it the father who came and went in a hurry, whom I could only see once or twice a month, and whose expression was always extremely serious?
And that... uncle with the ridiculous mustache who would pretend to teach his mother martial arts every time he finished "chatting" in the room.

From the time Mio was twelve, that uncle with the mustache stopped daring to "chat" with his mother first. Because after discussing those topics that were "only for adults, children should leave," the uncle would always become unsteady on his feet, and at that point, he could no longer beat the exceptionally talented Mio!

Mio hit hard! He already had a vague idea of ​​what this guy was doing to his mother.

The man with the mustache was forced to practice with Mio first.

But every time after practice, when he went to chat with his mother, she would be very dissatisfied, so much so that for a long time afterward, he didn't have a sparring partner!
But it doesn't matter, Mio is a true genius.

At the age of thirteen, he was sent by his father to join the city defense army as a squad leader. Half a year later, he was exceptionally selected to join the city lord's direct guard. A year and a half later, he became the youngest marquis's personal guard.

Then comes becoming a knight, a great knight, and the chief great knight.

They captured Jinhan City, launched a surprise attack on Xinpo River, razed Yunwu Territory, and pressed their troops towards Tiebei Pass...

His numerous achievements have forged his illustrious reputation!
In the future, you will become a second-tier professional, be granted the title of Earl, become a subordinate ruler of the Zircon Territory, and possess your own city-state and subjects...

The future of the Great Knight Mio should have been one of reaching the pinnacle of an inspiring and legendary life, becoming a hero in the epic tales told by bards!

But now, am I going to die here?

Why did I come to this dilapidated city in the small desert?
His consciousness gradually blurred as the scorching metal jets mercilessly tore at his increasingly gaping skull. His once thick hair disappeared unnoticed under the heat. Finally, the great knight could no longer maintain his defensive stance and collapsed to the ground with a thud. In the instant he fell, he seemed to remember something.

The head, riddled with holes and almost unrecognizable, struggled with its last ounce of strength, veering southwest—the direction of Zircon Territory, his homeland.

His arm, now empty, flared weakly in the air, as if trying to grasp something. The deafening roar of the battlefield completely drowned out his final murmur.

Of course, it's also possible that no sound was made at all.

After the battlefield was cleaned up, a small number of bone fragments were found among the hundreds of kilograms of steel on the ground.

After the Grand Knights of Mio were halted and subsequently overwhelmed by artillery fire, the Zircon Territory's Purple Zircon Cavalry group seemed to have had its spine snapped.

They had already endured several rounds of artillery bombardment, with the cavalry at the front even facing a hail of machine gun fire with their bare hands. Those skeleton soldiers, who had never been taken seriously by the knights before, were now steadily firing deadly metal bullets with a seemingly ridiculous yet precise motion, causing the cavalrymen who had barely made it across the line of fire to let out desperate screams.

Forty tanks, one hundred and sixty anti-aircraft and heavy machine guns, two hundred and forty skeleton soldiers capable of long-range attacks, and behind them, those dumbfounded infantrymen holding long spears, mouths agape, eyes like pairs of copper bells.

It's impossible to get through; there's no way we can get through.

The Zircon Legion's previous frenzied advance was due to their commanders being at the forefront.

They were the general's personal guard, sharing both glory and ruin. Most of them followed him risking their lives because they believed that wealth and glory awaited them under the command of this future lord.

Although some fanatical warriors tried to rush forward to save their leader, the vast majority of the cavalry had already begun a disastrous escape.

Of course, on this battlefield, whether you charge or flee, your fate may not make much difference.

It all depends on fate.

Unfortunately, Death is working overtime today.

The engine of the Type 59 roared again, the tracks that had been stagnant for a long time began to roll forward, the gun barrel slowly rose, and the shells were switched back to high-explosive shells.

Shotgun shells are useful, but their range is insufficient. High-explosive shells, combined with the unique 17-degree elevation angle of the Type 59, can achieve a range of up to 14 kilometers.

This is 1959!
The Zircon Territory infantry, who had been following behind the cavalry and slowly marching into the battlefield while maintaining their formation, witnessed the near annihilation of the cavalry ahead and erupted into a huge, uncontrollable commotion.

The infantry formation is very thick. Under normal circumstances, the cavalry cuts into the enemy formation and tries to disperse the enemy's ranged attack forces such as archers or mages, while the thick infantry formation comes up to reap the rewards on the battlefield.

The problem now is that our cavalry not only failed to break up the enemy, but were also broken up head-on by the enemy, whose terrifying war "golems" are coming straight at us.

Professionals have excellent eyesight; even from a considerable distance from the battlefield, most of the infantry front-line soldiers can clearly see the brutal massacre taking place.

The infantry in the front row stopped and began to retreat in panic, while the rear row continued to surge forward in a noisy throng, and the troops were suddenly jammed like the morning rush hour in a metropolis.

Amidst the chaos, the Fourth Knight, the first to react, rushed to the central banner with a pale face. Disregarding noble etiquette, he recklessly and offensively placed his hands on the Marquis of Monroe's saddle, shaking it vigorously and shouting loudly.

"My lord, my lord, the troops await your orders!"

"Wake up!"

Marquis Monroe slowly turned his face as if in a dream, his wide, bloodshot eyes clearly reflecting the Fourth Knight's face, which was completely distorted and pale with fear.

The seasoned and shrewd marquis was terrified by what he saw.

Whether it was the fall of Skyfrost City or the ambush of the undead army, although the losses and casualties were huge, they were still within Marquis Monroe's understanding.

It's a war model that everyone can understand.

However, this battle between cavalry and tanks has completely deviated from the most exaggerated scope that the Marquis could have imagined.

The Marquis had seen it all. The firepower density the enemy had just displayed required at least a thousand first-tier mages, along with tens of thousands of low-tier mages, to launch such a comprehensive attack. It was a strategic-level defense system that would require the combined strength of a great nation to build.

Now, right before his eyes, the vast ocean of this desolate land was truly unfolding before him.

What is this? This is a meticulously planned conspiracy.

Why did the Misty Moon Divine Court suddenly loosen its restrictions on Green Pine? There must be some forces within the Misty Moon involved!
Yes, Rainbow City, they want to attack Green Pine and frame Blue Sky Holy City!
This is a power struggle within the Mist Moon, and I've just been dragged into it! I must go back immediately and inform His Holiness the Bishop of everything that has happened here.

Awakened from his nightmarish thoughts by his men, Marquis Monroe mustered all his strength and let out a hoarse, somewhat distorted roar.

"retreat!"

"Retreat immediately!"

"The central army should disregard its formation and retreat at full speed to the rear guard's defensive line!"

"Have the vanguard halt, form ranks on the spot, and stop them!"

"Mage squad, destroy the terrain! Quickly—!!!"

One has to admire the reaction of a seasoned general. At that moment, Marquis Monroe, just like Iona had done before, did not hesitate to give the order for a full retreat.

Although countless thoughts may have crossed my mind in that instant—was this kind of enemy attack too costly and unsustainable? Did it require the support of a magic array and couldn't be sustained at long range? Could air force penetrate the enemy's lines? If several high knights provided mutual cover, could they break through the enemy's formation...?

But in just a moment, the Marquis of Monroe decisively put all his wild thoughts to the back of his mind.

Run! Run! Run as far as you can!

In the future, we must thoroughly understand every detail of the vast desert; otherwise, we must never set foot in the desert again!
Such formidable strength! No wonder my second knight disappeared after his visit!
The Marquis turned his horse around and began the retreat. Although the artillery of the Vast Ocean Territory had already begun extended firing, it was still almost impossible to attack a high-level professional, especially one with multiple magical protections.

Zircon's side began a frantic retreat, while the Vast Ocean army pursued them at full speed.

As Monroe's warhorse crossed the highest sand dune and was about to disappear into the army's ranks, the gray-haired old marquess seemed to suddenly remember something. He made a sharp turn, charged up the southern sand dune like a madman, dismounted, and frantically searched for something in the gravel.

The Marquis had a good memory and found the location in just over ten seconds. With a few quick scratches, he grasped the two crimson stone pieces with his hands, one on the left and one on the right.

He let out a long breath, turned around, and mounted his horse again.

Although Zircon's guards quickly surrounded them, this reverse driving was simply too conspicuous.

Several beams of light, like meteors from the heavens, shot down from afar, exploding upon impact and instantly binding Marquis Monroe and his horse tightly. The warhorse let out a long neigh and fell backward to the ground.

Following closely behind were dense arrays of infantry guns, rockets, and ground-attack missiles.

Another stationary target!

The guards stood in layers in front of the Marquis, but they still couldn't stop his desperate screams.

(End of this chapter)