Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 288 Frost's Pincer Attack: A Barrage of Barrages Encircling the Vast Sea

While a full-scale counterattack was launched on the eastern front, Tian Shuang City on the western front also took the lead in launching an attack.

After occupying Skyfrost City, Marquis Monroe had already made very sophisticated arrangements. In addition to leaving a garrison to maintain order inside the city, he also stationed two field armies outside the city, forming a defensive triangle that supported each other.

However, if you can't beat them, you still can't beat them.

The troops inside the city were dealt with by a surprise attack from the Second Brigade of the Vast Sea led by Sharl, while the troops outside the city were picked off one by one by the elven air cavalry.

In some ways, these elven air cavalry are even more ferocious than the current army of the Vast Ocean Territory.

These are high-level long-lived creatures from the Silvermoon Forest. They are highly mobile and have an extremely long range. In an encounter battle, even the elite firearms units of the First Brigade might not be able to handle them.

The garrison troops used to attack zircons were easily captured.

After quickly clearing the area inside and outside Tianshuang City, the Second Brigade of Hanhai launched an attack.

They first cut off the supply line from "Kerty's Territory" to "Razor Corridor".

Following closely behind, led by the Elven Air Force, two battalions of firearms units and one battalion of melee weapons units were mixed together and pursued Zircon's main force along the Razor Corridor.

Within the Han Hai military system, there is a very misleading term, such as the troops that go into battle here being referred to as the "spearmen battalion" and the "sword and shield battalion".

Of course, this gun is a musket.

This is the best combination that the Vast Ocean Territory has tested in numerous wars.

The main selection criteria for the riflemen units responsible for controlling firearms are high loyalty, good discipline, and a certain level of education and tactical knowledge. In terms of individual combat ability, the requirements are not high, and some company and platoon leaders are only at the level of trainee soldiers.

In this fantastical starry world, while firearms cannot achieve equality for everyone, those below the first job advancement level can still achieve relative equality. Therefore, the command of a gunnery battalion is not entirely linked to individual strength.

The sword and shield troops responsible for controlling cold weapons are a standard elite professional team. In most cases, they idly accompany the firearms troops, and they may not even break a sweat during a battle.

However, once the riflemen are in danger, that's when they'll risk their lives.

In this world where overwhelming force exists, the losses a high-level professional can inflict upon charging into a musketeer unit or artillery unit are terrifying.

Therefore, whether encountering a small group of strong warriors lying in ambush or a large group of elite enemy troops launching a surprise attack, once the enemy gets close enough to the danger range of the spearmen, these sword and shield soldiers must step forward and risk their lives to create distance for the spearmen, so that they can launch another attack and gain enough space and time.

The spearmen battalion and the swordsman battalion were essentially a combination of mages and squires.

However, this time during the eastward advance, even the spearmen didn't get to fight.

This elf group, known as the "Frostguard" but actually the "Redemption Legion," harbored a burning resentment and desperately wanted to prove their worth. So they vented all their dissatisfaction and hatred towards the Silvermoon Forest Ancestral Court and Eona on the unfortunate zircon soldiers.

In Elder Lilan's words, "We must prove to those arrogant fellows in the Silvermoon Forest Ancestral Court that we are not afraid to wage war against humanity out of cowardice, and that we can kill far more of our human enemies than they can!"

Thus, the desolate cliffs and sparse woodlands of the Razorfen Downs were met with a rain of arrows from the elves, carrying the aura of death and destruction.

To ensure the safety of the rear, the Marquis of Monroe placed a large number of watchtowers and fortresses along the Razor Corridor. Each watchtower typically consisted of two or three watchtowers, forming a defensive perimeter to closely monitor the movement of the Razor Corridor. Meanwhile, small fortresses, at the level of a hundred-man squadron, were set up at strategic high ground and key transportation locations.

But whether it's a sentry post or a defensive fortress, it's all a matter of a single enchanted bow strike against the elves!
For a small number of enemies, the moment the arrow lands, even if the enemy dodges the firing point, [Root Entanglement] will be triggered instantly. Violent magical vines will grow wildly from the point of impact, tightly binding and strangling the surrounding life forms until they die!

The thorns on the vines of high-level magic archers can even be injected with biological toxins, making them disappear even faster and more silently.

From a distance, the outpost appears to be covered by a sudden, gentle layer of greenery, which then cuts off human disturbance and returns to the tranquility of nature.

To deal with larger defensive fortresses, the elves employed even more dazzling and violent methods.

Dense bursts of fire arrows rained down on the fortress like a meteor shower. Flames climbed the walls, and heatwaves rolled through the walls. Caught off guard, the enemies were set ablaze, turning into screaming human torches.

These enhanced guided arrows can even adjust their direction at the tip and automatically target enemies.

The battle quickly turned into a one-sided massacre. The fortress's resistance crumbled rapidly under the all-encompassing, relentless barrage of swirling magical arrows. The surviving soldiers either huddled in corners trembling or tried to escape in other directions, only to be pinned to the ground one by one by arrows raining down from the sky.

Usually, two to three volleys of arrows are enough to take down the defenses of a full squadron of 120 men.

Next, Angus would typically lead a squad of muscular male elven warriors to leap off the back of the dragon, quickly finish off the enemy, extinguish the still-burning flames to prevent the spoils from being damaged, and then mount their mounts and ride away.

The elves must race against time; as for cleaning up the scene and collecting the spoils, that's for the Skyfrost City troops to handle!
Thus, for the Second Brigade of Tianshuang, a meticulously prepared and highly anticipated offensive battle almost turned into an armed parade.

The most outrageous thing is that Shar thought that no matter how powerful the elves were, the dragons would eventually get tired of flying, and if our warriors ran fast, they might be able to get a fight or two.

But he soon realized that he had been too naive.

When the dragon could no longer fly, those shameless elves actually gave it the Fountain of Life!
Although it was a journey of atonement, Eona still brought them a sufficient amount of elven specialties, so the dragons of the "Frostguard" could fly farther and longer than other dragons.

During non-combat flight time, these elves actually took turns resting. As long as the lead dragon controlled the direction, the elves behind would take a nap on the dragon's back.

When the dragons were finally too tired to continue, the refreshed elf troops landed, carried the dragons on their shoulders, and continued their advance.

Despite carrying hundreds of kilograms of dragons, the elves still moved much faster than the infantry of the Vast Ocean, leaving them far behind.

This is absolutely outrageous!
The troops from the Han Hai Territory had come all the way here, but they couldn't even find a warm corpse to pick up!

For the next period of time, the main force of Zircon Territory was trapped in this long and winding Razor Corridor. On one side was the vast desert, and on the other side was the majestic Flag Mountain. The Starry Sky Group and the Elven Archer Force at both ends were like two giant iron hammers, forging back and forth.

The remaining less than 30,000 soldiers and about 20,000 auxiliary soldiers and laborers were beaten into an increasingly flattened lump.

The numerous sentry posts and the South Camp base left by the Marquis of Monroe at Qishan Pass became their last refuge for survival.

It was also their final prison!

It must be said that the army led by Marquis Monroe was indeed one of the best in the Central Kingdoms. The fact that they were able to defeat the Emerald Duchy so badly was not solely due to the material assistance from the Misty Moon Divine Court.

But fighting spirit cannot change the outcome of a battle.

The enemy was steadily advancing day by day, food and water were dwindling, the will to resist was weakening inch by inch, and capable soldiers were dying one after another.

Fortunately, they still had a large camp that could barely supply them with provisions and provide cover.

The defense of this base is handled by Galen, the Ninth Knight of Zircon Territory.

Although his individual combat prowess wasn't among the top of the knights under the Marquis of Monroe, Galen was widely recognized as the most level-headed. It was for this reason that the Marquis entrusted him with the crucial task of securing the rear and protecting the army's lifeline.

But at this moment, the young knight was also plunged into deep confusion.

The front lines have been defeated, and the fleeing soldiers are retreating in droves. The enemy's legendary steel monsters are not pursuing fast, but they are fighting very steadily, giving the Zircon Army no chance to retaliate or struggle. They can only be driven and squeezed towards this camp base.

The rear was also defeated. Outposts and fortresses quickly faded on the map. No survivors could escape. Galen personally mobilized mages to unleash a barrage of reconnaissance spells before he finally spotted the legendary high-ranking elven archers.

Both sides are just rumors, what should we do?
As the battle lines were being compressed day by day, Galen was also racking his brains for a way to break the deadlock.

Hold on to the death, hoping that the Green Pine Kingdom will send reinforcements as soon as possible to break through the transportation lines and rescue this army that is on the verge of collapse.
But is reinforcement really willing to come along this long road? Or rather, even if the kingdom does send troops, given the strength of the enemy, can they really make it across?
Or they could head south and flee into the desert.

However, this meant that tens of thousands of infantrymen would have to cross hundreds of kilometers of desert under conditions of food and water shortages and enemy pursuit, hoping to escape to the foot of Liuli Mountain.

Galen knew perfectly well that if he did this, perhaps only a few high-ranking warriors and lucky ones would have a slim chance of survival; the vast majority of the other warriors would become skeletons in the desert. There was also an even more insane, all-or-nothing tactic.

Charge into Qishan Pass and enter Bailu Plain!

There are vast plains there, and numerous orc tribes, from which food and supplies can be plundered.

Of course, there were more orcs there.

Although the orcs are fierce, it now seems that the enemies of the Vast Ocean are clearly more ferocious.

If the humans in the vast sea dare to pursue us, it will turn into a three-way melee. Perhaps our troops can hold out a little longer until reinforcements arrive, or if some other turning point occurs.

Galen drew on the map again and again with trembling hands, but he could never make up his mind.

The shadow cast by the orcs for centuries has loomed over humanity. Once the orcs of White Deer Plains are mobilized, the warriors of Zircon Territory under my command will probably not even have the chance to surrender.

How to do?
What to do?
After struggling through another day and taking in another batch of defeated soldiers from the front lines, Galen anxiously summoned his generals time and time again, but no one could provide an answer.

A sense of despondency spread throughout the army.

Galen endured another day of this torment, and then a force helped him eliminate an option.

The orcs have arrived.

To say that the orcs were unaware of the chaos in the south would be a gross underestimation of these war beasts. In fact, the orcs of White Deer Plains knew about it the moment the first Zircon Territory soldiers stepped onto the Razor Corridor.

However, after observing for a short while, the beastmen went back to bed to sleep.

For hundreds of years, no large-scale human army has dared to enter Qishan Pass and set foot on Bailu Plain. The orcs are well aware of this and have no worries.

There is no need for defense.

As for the attack, after gaining a general understanding of the origins and objectives of this human force, the orcs quickly lost interest.

The previous great battle between General Goldenmane and the Green Pine Kingdom had left a deep impression on the orcs with the hardness and toughness of the Zircon army. At a time when most of the orc tribes were holed up in their houses "hibernating," the orcs had no intention of going out to have a bloody battle with the enemy.

Let the humans fight like dogs.

The canine orcs expressed great indignation at this, saying that it was clearly humans killing each other, so what did it have to do with them!

In the days that followed, the orcs treated this dramatic battle in the south as a bit of fun, but soon, the orc scouts on the top of Flag Mountain discovered the Zircon Territory army's collapse and retreat.

The news was sent back to Bailu Plain, immediately arousing great interest among certain cold-resistant clans.

For example, the boar warriors and frost wolf riders, who are tough and accustomed to moving in the snow and ice, immediately charged out with howls after briefly confirming the reliability of the information.

The defeated human soldiers are practically "two-legged sheep"! How could we not take advantage of such a huge opportunity?

"Wow! The ancestral gods have blessed us! Warriors, follow me!"

The chieftain of the boar-orc tribe, who was the first to launch an attack, brandished a huge spiked club and roared, spittle flying everywhere.

"Anyone who can lift an axe, come with me! We'll plunder their grain! We'll take their weapons! We'll abduct their women! Let these weak, pitiful two-legged sheep know who the true masters of this land are!"

Soon, several orc tribes responded.

Soon, tens of thousands of orc warriors converged from all directions of Flag Mountain Pass. Riding enormous frostwolf mounts, wielding crude battle axes and flails, and letting out bloodthirsty howls, they charged out of the pass and began their attack on the defensive lines set up there.

Alright, now Galen is surrounded on three sides.

No, it's all four sides.

The scouts reported that the southern desert border had been completely sealed off by the enemy, and countless undead creatures lay buried beneath that stretch of yellow sand.

A warhorse was tentatively released, and the next second, the calm sand instantly boiled over. Hundreds of pale, skeletal hands burst forth from the sand, dragging the warhorse down in an instant, leaving only a short, mournful whimper.

Upon witnessing this scene, Galen finally gave up all hope.

"Fine... then I'll die here."

"For the Marquis, for the glory of Zircon Territory."

The orc army roared and charged repeatedly toward the human defenses. The zircon warriors, driven to the brink of despair and with no way out, were also inspired by the last bit of bloodlust and ferocity in their bones. Relying on the ruins of the camp and the rudimentary fortifications, they used spears, swords and flesh and blood to repel the enemy's attacks time and time again.

But the defensive line continued to shrink back step by step, irreversibly, leaving every inch of land soaked in the blood of soldiers from both sides.

In the first week of March, the air was filled with the damp scent of earth, and the first thunder of spring was about to rumble. The Knight of Gallen knew that he was about to face the final moment of his life.

To the north, the orcs have successfully breached half of the outer camp and occupied several key high grounds. They are launching wave after wave of attacks from their superior positions, and the defenders' lines could collapse at any moment.

Meanwhile, to the east, the war golems from the Vast Ocean Territory had already climbed the high ground. Their ferocious yet elegant forms left Galen, who was seeing them in person for the first time, somewhat mesmerized.

For the vast majority of Zirconian soldiers on the battlefield, the arrival of tanks meant the coming of death.

The terrifying memory of being chased back like livestock instantly overwhelmed their reason. An irresistible fear gripped their hearts.

The defensive line that had just been desperately resisting the orcs' attack crumbled in an instant. Soldiers let out all sorts of meaningless, desperate howls, running around like headless flies, or instinctively huddling in the center of the camp, the seemingly safest corner.

Galen took a deep breath and drew his sword.

come on!

Charge towards the orcs; if you can kill even one, then your death will have at least a little meaning!

Just as he was about to charge forward, his ankles buckled and his muscles tensed, an unexpected yet incredibly familiar voice, amplified by some kind of loudspeaker, clearly resounded throughout the chaotic battlefield and entered his ears.

That was the loudspeaker from the Vast Ocean, broadcasting the shout of Eri, the second knight of Zircon Territory.

"I am Knight Commander Eri, all Zircon Warriors, heed my command, all of you fall to the ground!"

"Get down!"

The sound of cannons rang out.

Dozens of tank shells, along with rockets from the accompanying centaur troops, turned the orc position into a sea of ​​fire almost instantly.

The steel behemoth rumbled forward, its attack heading north!

The Zircon Territory warriors lying on the ground suddenly became a group of spectators who were ignored by everyone.

They felt the earth tremble beneath them, and watched as dense flames danced among the orcish hordes. In their terrified and bewildered eyes, they saw orcish fur, flesh, bones, and shattered armor—a crimson rain of destruction.

(End of this chapter)