Chapter 463 The Power of the Satellite, the Emperor Raises His Head High
“Each time the strategic array of the Sky Eye satellite is activated, it requires astronomical amounts of magic crystals and rare materials, and it will cause irreversible etching damage to the Sky Eye's rune substrate, shortening its lifespan.”
Theo's Shield explained.
"More importantly, when the Sky Eye initiates its attack, support, or delivery functions, it must be fully manifested from the parallel dimensional rift used for concealment into the material space."
"This means it will expose itself to the eyes of the Kingdom of Aura."
“Once we use these features, it means we’re revealing our hand, and a battle at the legendary level will be inevitable.”
Rodrigo looked around at everyone. "I had hoped to gain the upper hand in conventional warfare, first forcing out Aura's legendary units to set the pace, and then having our legendary units calmly respond."
He paused for a moment, and the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"But the reality of the past three months has taught me that if we continue to exhaust ourselves like this, before we can even force out the legend of Aura, the flesh and blood of our frontline legions and the loyal soldiers of our Kingdom of Theo will be depleted first."
"Moreover, the Tianyan satellite is protected by a spatial barrier, so even if it is exposed, it is indestructible."
The old general with the scar on his face suddenly stood up: "Commander, do you mean... we should proactively upgrade?"
“Yes,” Rodrigo said firmly. “I will request the highest authorization from His Majesty the King to activate the strategic functions of the Sky Eye satellite. We will use our space advantage to strike at Aura’s weaknesses and reverse the passive situation on the ground.”
He turned around and pointed to several key locations on the dynamic map.
"First, we will use beyond-visual-range delivery to organize elite assault teams and teleport them directly to the rear of Aura to strike their three main supply lines. Once these are destroyed, no matter how fierce the monsters on the front lines are, their combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced."
"Secondly, in critical defensive or offensive battles, activate the Rain of Healing to enhance our army's sustained combat capability and survivability. Imagine when our soldiers fight with increasing ferocity under the Rain of Healing, while the enemy can only rely on their physical strength to withstand the attack, the exchange ratio on the battlefield will be reversed."
“Finally,” his finger landed heavily on the light spot representing the Iron Wall Fortress, “when the Aura frontline legions are weakened by insufficient supplies and increased casualties, we will use the most costly and powerful orbital strike, in conjunction with the main ground forces, to launch a general offensive and severely damage Aura’s defenses.”
The adjutant, Torres, couldn't help but interject: "In that case, the legend of Aura will definitely have to make a move."
"Then let them come!"
Rodrigo's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying a ruthless tone, "This is exactly the situation I wanted to see."
“We have legends, more of them, and we are better prepared.”
"If the war is destined to escalate to the legendary level, then at least the timing of the escalation should be in our favor, rather than after our army has been completely depleted."
"We must take back the timing and rhythm of the war!"
The order was issued swiftly.
The entire command center, like a clockwork mechanism, began to operate at high speed.
Two hours later, the highest order from the capital city of Theo arrived via a multi-encrypted communication array.
His Majesty the King approved Rodrigo's plan, granting him the highest authority to use all the strategic functions of the Sky Eye during wartime.
"Savage creature of the wilderness, feel the impact of the crystallization of alchemical industry!"
The young generals were in high spirits.
Within the Kingdom of Aura, at the Blackrock Canyon Supply Hub.
This is the most important intersection and transit point of the three main supply lines, located in a rift valley in the relatively inland area.
The natural caves and man-made warehouses on both sides of the canyon were piled high with military supplies such as grain, cured meat, barrels of black oil, alchemical arrows, spare weapons and armor, and sealed healing ointments.
The one in charge of guarding this place is a troll general known for his bravery under the command of the Shattered Star Hammer Legion.
He had just finished gnawing on a half-charred kodo hind leg and casually tossed the thick leg bone into the campfire beside him, sending sparks flying.
The feeling of fullness brought him laziness, but he felt more restless inside.
He longed to wield his spiked hammer on a real battlefield, to hear the sound of enemy armor and bones shattering, rather than to guard silent chests and barrels here.
However, he was also well aware of the importance of his mission and could not slack off.
"For His Majesty the Emperor..."
The troll warlord muttered something under his breath, as if to encourage himself.
He grabbed the warhammer leaning against the rock, preparing for yet another routine patrol.
Although I felt the possibility of an attack from the rear was unlikely, it was my duty.
Just as his massive body straightened up...
Without warning, a beam of light, as pure as a solidified galaxy, suddenly descended upon the open space in the center of the canyon, between the warehouse area and the barracks.
It appeared so suddenly.
Without any warning of magical fluctuations or the distorted light and shadows common in portals, it simply and quietly descended from the sky.
The troll's fighting instincts caused all his muscles to tense instantly, and a deafening roar burst from his throat.
"Enemy attack—! All personnel, prepare for battle!!!"
However, everything happened too fast.
In one-third of a second, a pale blue pillar of light took shape, with light and shadow flowing inside; in two-thirds of a second, the light reached its peak, almost blinding; and in one second, the pillar of light vanished silently, just as it had appeared.
On the previously empty ground now stands a fully equipped army, ready to go.
Five hundred Theo soldiers, their armor gleaming and their weapons shining, stood in a tight assault formation.
They wore lightweight composite armor that allowed for rapid movement, with the sword and shield emblem of the Kingdom of Theo uniformly painted on their chests. Each of them had cold and focused eyes, radiating a killing intent that could only be honed through real bloody battles.
This is no ordinary unit; it is a true elite force.
What shocked the troll general even more were the twelve colossal steel figures lined up in front of the soldiers' formation.
Heavy Alchemy Golem of the Kingdom of Theo!
They are generally over eight meters tall, with a shell made of dark steel that gleams with an enchanted sheen. Their left arm is a giant, high-speed rotating chainsaw sword with jagged, menacing serrations, while their right arm is a multi-barreled explosive projectile launcher.
On the cold, metallic face, the lenses in the eyes were turning from dark to red, emitting a low hum as they started.
The entire process, from the appearance of the beam of light to the landing of the troops, took less than a second.
The troll warrior's brain couldn't even process this unbelievable sight.
What kind of magic is this? Large-scale group teleportation?
No, any large-scale teleportation requires complex magic arrays and a long period of magical induction, how could it possibly... fall from the sky?!
This scene was beyond the comprehension of many lower-ranking soldiers, and even some leaders.
"Attack as planned!"
The human commander gave a short order in the common language of the continent, instantly breaking the deathly silence of the canyon.
The next second, a sonata of destruction suddenly began.
Within the chest cavities of the twelve golems, the alchemical engines emitted beast-like roars.
The four at the front took heavy steps, their steel feet crushing the frozen ground, and charged straight toward the nearest warehouse door.
The ogre guards standing there roared and raised their weapons to meet the attack.
The chainsaw sword swept across, its steel serrations tearing through armor and flesh, crushing bones. The ogre's screams abruptly ceased, turning into a rain of blood and bits of flesh.
The other four golems raised their right arms, and the cannons rotated at high speed to preheat.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions erupted in the barracks area.
Some Aura soldiers were engulfed by the flames and shockwaves of the explosion before they even had time to put on their armor and grab their weapons.
The howls of the jackals, the screams of the kobolds, and the hisses of the war lizardmen mingled together.
At the same time, five hundred elite human soldiers quickly split into ten squads of fifty men each.
Under the cover of the remaining four golems, they rushed toward different key points of the supply depot.
The troll warlord snapped out of his shock, overwhelmed by rage and shame.
"Kill all these human insects! For Aura!!"
He let out a deafening roar, wielding a giant spiked hammer as tall as an adult human, and charged with a speed disproportionate to his massive size toward the nearest golem that was clearing obstacles at the warehouse entrance with a chainsaw sword.
The golem seemed to sense the threat and abandoned its efforts to eliminate the remaining guards.
With a terrifying hum, the chainsaw arm cleaved down from above at the troll general's head.
"You lump of iron! You're asking for it!"
The troll warrior neither dodged nor evaded, his muscles bulging as he swung his spiked hammer upwards with all his might, the sharp metal spikes on the hammerhead creating a fierce gust of wind in the air.
Clang!
A deafening metallic explosion, far louder than any sound before, echoed through the canyon, making people's eardrums ache.
Sparks flew everywhere like festive fireworks.
The golem's chainsaw sword was struck with tremendous force and bounced upwards, causing several of the most important drive shafts to twist visibly and the saw teeth to stop rotating.
On the troll warlord's spiked mace, three of the thickest spikes were broken off.
The golem staggered backward, trying to regain its balance.
Just as the troll warrior was about to press his advantage, he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye that two other golems had already turned their cannons around to his side and rear.
A dangerous glint gathered inside the cannon barrel.
He let out a low growl and his massive body rolled to the side with astonishing agility.
Whoosh—Boom!
A high-explosive bullet grazed his shoulder armor and exploded on the rock wall behind him, sending debris flying and leaving a huge crater.
"Ignore these lumps of metal! Stop those humans! They're setting up explosives!"
As the troll general rolled to his feet, he roared at the somewhat disorganized defenders.
More Aura soldiers, recovering from the initial attack, charged towards the human squad, howling.
Gnolls hurled iron spears, kobold warlocks threw scorching fireballs, and several ogres brandished heavy weapons, attempting to break through the golem's barrage of fire.
However, the human soldiers were well-trained and coordinated perfectly.
Under the cover of the golems, they continued to throw alchemical Molotov cocktails and trigger-activated magical grenades, advancing as they fought. Soon after, the human commando team had completed its main mission.
"Target number one, demolition setup complete!"
"Arsenal Two, ignite!"
"Ignite the black oil zone!"
The report was relayed between human squads via some form of magical communication.
Then, a deafening roar erupted!
First came the series of explosions in the black oil warehouse area.
The first muffled thud overturned the stack of oil drums, followed by a second and a third. The leaking black oil was ignited, and orange-red flames mixed with thick smoke shot into the sky like an angry dragon, instantly turning half of the canyon blood red, and a scorching wave swept out.
Almost simultaneously, a loud bang came from the direction of the armory.
The area where alchemical explosives and magical arrows were stored exploded, with multicolored magical flames leaping wildly in the air. Occasionally, unexploded magical arrows whistled and flew haphazardly, causing secondary damage indiscriminately.
The troll warlord's heart sank to the bottom.
As far as the eye could see, more than half of the warehouse area was engulfed in flames, with thick smoke obscuring the sky.
The barracks were ravaged by the golem's artillery fire, resulting in heavy casualties.
Meanwhile, the human assault team, having completed their sabotage mission, began rapidly regrouping and converging on the open space in the center of the canyon. The twelve golems, fighting and retreating, also moved closer to them.
The human commander stood at the core, holding a rhombus-shaped crystal that shimmered with blue light.
"Stop them! We can't let them get away like this!"
The troll warlord, his eyes bloodshot, charged forward again, his spiked hammer swung like a windmill.
But it was too late.
The human commander raised the crystal high, and a thin but clear blue beam shot out from the top of the crystal, pointing straight at the gray sky.
Almost at the same instant the beam of light was emitted.
Above the canyon, the pure, pale blue beam of light descended silently once more, enveloping all the remaining human soldiers and alchemical golems.
The troll warrior roared in resentment and hurled his spiked hammer with all his might toward the center of the pillar of light.
The heavy warhammer spun, crashing down on the pillar of light with a whooshing sound.
Clang! A muffled sound.
When the spiked hammer touched the edge of the beam of light, it seemed to have struck an invisible but incredibly tough force field shield. It was violently bounced back and crashed onto the frozen ground with a thud, creating a shallow crater.
The scene inside the beam of light distorted slightly, and then, like a light that had been turned off, it instantly went out and disappeared.
Also vanished were Theo's commando team and their remaining alchemical golems.
Only the bodies of a dozen or so confirmed dead human soldiers, a few pieces of broken metal fragments from golems, and the mess of explosion marks, the corpses of Aura defenders, and the burning warehouse remained on the spot.
Humanity has also paid a price.
However, the damage they caused here is incalculable.
The troll general, panting heavily, looked up at the sky above the canyon, where snow and dust were drifting.
There was nothing there.
But he knew that just now, in that unseen, extremely high place, an eye had seen everything that had happened here, and a hand had easily pressed down from hundreds of miles away. Then, an elite force crossed mountains and rivers, turned his supply depot upside down in minutes, and then calmly left.
He summoned a terrified goblin sorcerer, his voice hoarse with anger and shame.
"Immediately, use the fastest means of communication to report in detail everything that happened here—the blue light, the human army that suddenly appeared and disappeared—to General Gluttony Karu and the rear command!"
"Notify all rear supply depots, outposts, and workshops to raise the alert level to the highest level!"
"This is not ordinary infiltration; this is a method we have never seen before."
The attack on Blackrock Canyon was just the beginning.
This night was destined to be anything but peaceful.
At almost the same time, two other important supply depots and supply lines in the heart of the Kingdom of Aura were attacked by the same blue beams of light from the sky, resulting in heavy losses.
The defenders did not mount much of an effective counterattack against the elusive enemy.
When the news reached the front lines, the Aura Legion was furious.
The next day, in retaliation for the attack on their supply lines, they launched an even more intense offensive from multiple directions, attempting to retaliate in kind.
But this time, Theo's defense showed an unprecedented resilience, and even began to fight back.
At Norman Pass, the Yamata no Suzaku personally oversaw the battle, and his monsters surged towards Theo's position like a tidal wave.
Just when the defenders were under the greatest pressure, countless soft golden rays of light suddenly fell from the sky, like a warm rain of light, precisely covering Theo's defenders' positions.
As the light rain touched their bodies, the soldiers felt their fatigue quickly subside and their wounds heal rapidly.
The high-ranking generals who fought against the Yamata no Orochi were infused with intense energy, causing their attributes to surge.
Morale soared, and the commander seized the opportunity to launch a counter-offensive, forcefully pushing back the monster legion that had stormed the ramparts.
The Yamata no Suzaku sacrificed several of its snake tentacles to escape the encirclement of the human warriors.
In Rusty Valley, as the Iron Dragon Leticia breathed dragon fire from the air, coordinating with ground troops to clear out Theo's outer strongholds, a teleportation beam directly transported a mixed force consisting of five golems and two hundred heavy infantrymen to the relatively weak flank and rear of the valley.
The sudden appearance of this force immediately created enormous chaos from within, nearly causing the loss of a key pass.
Leticia had to go back and clean the backyard.
Similar scenes have played out in multiple war zones.
The Kingdom of Theo no longer seeks to engage in a bloody tug-of-war with the Aura Legion on every inch of its land.
Using the reconnaissance and delivery capabilities of the Sky Eye, they would sometimes penetrate deep behind enemy lines to strike key targets, sometimes apply the Rain of Healing to stabilize key defenses, and sometimes send elite small units to harass the flanks and cause damage.
The rhythm of the war was disrupted.
The Kingdom of Aura, which prides itself on the strength of its individuals and the advantage of its lords, is beginning to find itself in trouble in the face of unpredictable attacks and the opponent's suddenly enhanced defensive resilience.
Their supply lines became insecure, and their offensive at the front suffered repeated setbacks.
On the other side, Theo's army's casualty rate began to decline significantly, while the Aura Legion's casualties began to rise sharply.
In the winter of the year 341 of the New Calendar, the war situation shifted dramatically with the activation of the Sky Eye satellite of the Kingdom of Theo.
Afterwards, as time went by, the Kingdom of Aura gradually shifted to a defensive posture on most fronts, and its losses continued to increase. The year 343 of the New Calendar had arrived.
In the same year, war reignited between Repos and Lorseen, which then swept across the entire Romanian plains.
The Second Romanian War, a war even more intense than the First Civil War, has begun in full force.
By this time, the battle between the two Olympic champions had been going on for nearly two years.
The blazing sun replaced the winter snow, shining on the ash plains.
Rodrigo, the Shield of Theo, calmly observed the sand table, where several human legends were already on standby, waiting for the perfect moment to deliver the decisive blow.
at the same time.
Kingdom of Aura, Crimson Flame City, Back Mountain.
The setbacks at the front did not affect Emperor Red Iron Dragon's mentality.
Day after day, he honed his claws and scales, only occasionally gazing up at the vast sky during breaks in his training.
The magical satellites of the Kingdom of Theo gave them a huge advantage on the front lines.
However, this is not without cost.
Aside from the wear and tear, each use of a satellite makes its coordinates in space clearer.
(End of this chapter)
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