He possessed an aristocratic bearing that betrayed no emotion, facing the cataclysmic artillery fire with apparent indifference. The vast death and bloodshed seemed to go unnoticed, a faint, cold smile gracing his lips.
"Your Highness Swain is truly sparing no expense. These 'iron turtles' deliver far more damage than a typical mage, and their range is considerable."
The female mage accompanying the troops stood behind Botu, admiring his captivating demeanor. The legion commander's noble bearing was vastly different from that of the pampered young lords who climbed the social ladder through family connections, a sentiment she seemed to strongly imply about Xiao Xun.
In the female mage's eyes, Botu exuded a calm confidence forged from excellent education and extensive battlefield experience, mingled with a hint of playful cynicism.
Innumerable skeleton soldiers surged toward the border line like a tide, only to be pulverized into dust by the powerful artillery. They retreated from the defenses, then charged forward again, unceasingly.
Aircraft roared through the sky towards the Scourge Legion's encampment, and a single shell landed, inflicting heavy casualties upon puppeteers and necromancers. The uncontrolled skeleton soldiers, like marionettes with severed strings, instantly collapsed to the ground.
Massive artillery and tanks had established an impenetrable wall of death twenty meters in front of the border line's forward positions.
Botu stood beside Xiao Xun, "I don't think our presence here is of much use. In just one month, you have developed such a spectacular torrent of steel."
Xiao Xun looked at the orcs before him and asked in surprise, "You know the term 'torrent of steel'? Who taught you that?"
Botu smiled and said nothing. Xiao Xun knew that these were merely the Scourge Legion's most disposable puppet armies; their true trump cards were yet to be revealed.
Their actions were clearly intended to force Xiao Xun to reveal his hand prematurely.
Delvana was greatly interested in the tanks Xiao Xun had brought. If she wasn't commanding the front lines, she would have loved to climb inside one and fire a few rounds just for the thrill.
Xiao Xun had his own unique perspective on warfare. He constructed a net of interlocking fire only twenty meters in front of the border line, not advancing further even though his firing range extended beyond that.
He neither lured the enemy deep into his territory nor allowed them to trap him.
On the Scourge Legion's side, Zhenhun frowned as he studied the strategic depth map, "What's the background of the opposing commander? We deliberately showed him a weakness, yet he didn't press his advantage. Could he have read military treatises? And to bring so many tanks and aircraft... it's too bizarre. Could he be some kind of infiltrator from another dimension?"
The Scourge Legion's chief of staff said, "Marshal, I don't think so. If he were truly a dimensional traveler capable of developing such weaponry, he would surely have developed even more devastating weapons. However, from the information I have, they haven't prioritized researching such things. Every step of their manufacturing process and craftsmanship is done by the Gnomes. Therefore, I suspect that if there is a dimensional traveler, it's among the Gnomes."
Another person slammed the table, "We were fighting smoothly, and suddenly this guy shows up and messes up all our plans. How are we supposed to report this to our superiors?"
Zhenhun slammed the table in return, "Enough. Since the other side knows how to fight, we'll show them what real war is!"
The chief of staff suggested, "In my opinion, we should directly deploy our future technology and crush them. That way, we avoid unforeseen complications. If they manage to invent some extraordinary technology, it will be much harder to win."
The person who had spoken earlier also nodded, "I agree with the chief of staff's view. If necessary, I'll contact the Hidden Assassins for a decapitation strike to eliminate their commander first. What do you think?"
Zhenhun had indeed dispatched a Hidden Assassin squad before, but despite the great commotion they caused, they failed to kill the enemy commander. This was unprecedented since the Hidden Assassin squad was formed.
He asked the person who had spoken earlier, "How much background information do you have on their commander?"
The chief of staff replied, "According to our intelligence personnel, this person is named Swain. He is known as a peerless strategist in their country and is the fiancé of Empress Celesia of Saint Romani. He only appeared in the last two years; no one knows where he was before that. His emergence caused considerable dissatisfaction within the imperial court. However, before their High Priest died, he passed on the Staff of Succession and his twelve apostles to Swain. It was also Swain who defeated Horton, and the main force currently engaging us is Horton's former Phoenix Army, now under his command."
Zhenhun clasped his hands, resting his chin on the back of them, "Magic is practiced by almost everyone on this continent. Such a mysterious person, who could defeat Horton, what kind of mage is he?"
Everyone fell silent. Zhenhun continued his questioning, "The Scourge Legion has failed several times in Midoya, all due to this person. After so much time, you still don't have his detailed information? What are you good for?"
Although Zhenhun's tone was calm, everyone present knew he was furious.
At that moment, a messenger ran in, "My Lord, an envoy requests an audience outside."
Zhenhun didn't even lift his eyelids, still gazing at the map before him, "Whose envoy is it?"
"The envoy of Hell, Lapos."
A figure in a black robe entered uninvited. Zhenhun stood up, his brow furrowed. Historical experience told him that encountering Lapos usually boded no good.
But today was an exception. "Zhenhun, why the long face? Don't you welcome me?"
"I believe no one on this continent welcomes you. I am very busy; state your business quickly!"
Lapos didn't walk, but rather floated. "Lord Leader has witnessed Saint Romani's epoch-making weaponry and equipment, so he sent me to bring you some support."
Zhenhun looked at him, "What support?"
"Lord Leader's little pet, the Frost Dragon. And the 'Battlefield Mincer' for long-range attacks."
Zhenhun took a deep breath, "Is it necessary to make such a fuss?"
Beneath Lapos's featureless black robe, a cold voice echoed, "Lord Leader said the agreed-upon time is fast approaching. If Saint Romani is not conquered entirely before the Demon God's descent, then the Scourge Legion will have no reason to exist anymore."
Zhenhun slammed the table, "What about the Demon Legion and the Undead Legion? What are they doing now?"
"That is none of your concern. You cannot shift the blame onto your comrades just because your own front line is not doing well, can you?" He then glanced at the people beside Zhenhun, "If there is nothing for me to relay to Lord Leader, I shall take my leave."
Zhenhun replied irritably, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out!"
The Scourge Legion required no sleep, no food, no rest. They could fight in continuous waves, but Xiao Xun's side could not.
He stood on the defensive tower, holding a telescope and gazing at the sky illuminated by artillery fire in the distance. He said to Delvana, "If it continues like this, when will it end?"
Delvana replied in a flat tone, "When our food and ammunition are depleted, our day of death should arrive."
Xiao Xun knew this well. "Our tanks and aircraft are using specially made shells. Unlike the magical cannons, their consumption rate is relatively high. Although they are produced on an assembly line, we are producing them slower than we are firing them. Eventually, they will be exhausted."
He gripped the railing tightly, then released it and slapped it hard, saying to Baiyang behind him, "Pass my order: all pilots to assemble for a meeting."
In the vast conference room, Xiao Xun sat at the head of the table, with Delvana to his left and Vincent to his right. The Twelve Star Envoys were behind him. Below sat the pilots who had received the order, all sitting upright, awaiting Xiao Xun's command.