“Nad,” Lind turned around, his tone leaving no room for argument, “I need the Earl’s intelligence network to be fully operational, especially the composition of the Sass-Oc alliance, its main attack direction, and its logistical routes, particularly the detailed parameters of their new equipment. Also, help me contact Viscount Lilens; I need his caravans to conduct some ‘supply transfers’ at specific times.”
"Understood!" Nad's eyes flashed, and she immediately agreed. She understood that Linde was about to start the game of chess, and this time, the chessboard was the battlefield of the entire continent of Til!
Linde's gaze turned to the window again, as if piercing through the thick steel sky and the vast distance, and he saw the rolling black mountains of Blackrock Territory, and the billowing dust of an army about to besiege the city.
“Come on,” he muttered to himself, his voice as cold as tempered ice, “let me see whether your fire of greed burns brighter, or my… steel stars are harder!”
Inside the command center of Rock Fortress in Blackrock Territory.
On the enormous sand table, a model of black mountains representing Blackrock Territory stood silently. Several small flags representing the enemy army were slowly approaching from the east and south, like a swarm of ants.
Leonis was dressed in gleaming silver knight armor, with the holy emblem shining brightly on her chest, and her azure eyes burned with the will to protect.
She pointed to the "Anvil Canyon," the widest point of the canyon leading south to Blackrock Fortress, on the sand table:
"This is the most likely point of attack for the main cavalry of the Sass Empire. Although the entrance to the canyon is narrow, the interior is relatively open, which is suitable for cavalry to launch a charge. I suggest that we set up 'Rock Wall' heavy infantry squares on the high ground on both sides of the canyon entrance, and use them in conjunction with Crystal Skeleton Ballistae for saturation coverage."
Multiple chevaux-de-frise and traps were set up in the middle of the canyon to slow them down. At the end, my Paladin Order and the main force of the Rock Guard would meet them head-on, using the terrain to strangle them!
Her voice was resolute, with the courage of a knight, and her fingers drew solid defensive lines on the sand table.
Alice didn't look at the sand table; several pale blue screens floated in front of her, displaying complex runes and energy models.
"Their greatest threat is the new siege weapons that the Principality of Ork may deploy, as well as the jamming or hacking devices that the Empire of Sass may have hidden against the Crystal Remains."
Her grey-blue eyes were focused and calm. "I have re-optimized the rune array of the Blackrock Fortress core shield, enhancing its anti-interference capabilities."
Meanwhile, the 'spatial anchors' left by Linde have been deployed at several key nodes, capable of guiding small-scale spatial distortions if necessary. However… the energy consumption is enormous, so it can only be used as a last resort.
Master Della stroked his beard, looking at the miniature castle model on the sand table representing the core area of Blackrock Territory:
"The fortifications and ammunition reserves are sufficient, and the first batch of adamantite reinforcements provided by our dwarven allies has already been used on key parts of the fortress. But the biggest problem is... manpower."
Although the Rock Guard is elite, its numbers are ultimately limited. Facing the main force of the two allied armies, even with the advantage of terrain, a prolonged war of attrition would be unsustainable…
He didn't finish speaking, but his worry was obvious.
Just then, the communication array in the center of the command room lit up with a soft white light, and Linde's voice came clearly through the magic network node, calm and undisturbed, yet carrying the power to soothe all anxiety:
"The defense plan is feasible; proceed according to Leonis's deployment. Alice, the shield and spatial anchor are our trump cards; do not use them unless absolutely necessary. Master Dela, regarding troop strength... there is no need to worry."
He paused, as if confirming something.
"Our first batch of 'reinforcements' is in place. They need no food or water, are unafraid of casualties, and are precise and efficient. Let them... go and greet the 'vanguard' of our guests."
As soon as he finished speaking, the light from the communication array went out.
The group exchanged bewildered glances. "Reinforcements"? Where did these reinforcements come from? Unfazed by casualties? Precise and efficient?
Meanwhile, on the southern border of Blackrock Territory, thirty miles outside the entrance to Iron Anvil Canyon.
Three thousand elite heavy cavalrymen of the "Red Scorpion" vanguard legion of the Sass Empire rolled across the plains like a crimson tide.
The heavy hooves thundered across the earth, raising clouds of dust that blotted out the sun.
The knights were clad in dark red scale armor, their eyes beneath their helmets filled with bloodlust and arrogance.
The tall, imposing legion commander, holding a lance, gazed at the faint outline of the black mountain range in the distance, a cruel smile spreading across his face.
"Speed up! Reach the canyon mouth and set up camp before sunset! Tomorrow, let those country bumpkins from Blackrock Territory see what the real imperial iron hooves are like! Loot all their crystal remains! Slaughter all their men!"
He roared, his voice echoing through the ranks, stirring up a frenzied cheer.
At that moment, a sudden change occurred!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Without warning, the ground in front of the cavalry's charge suddenly exploded! It wasn't a magical fireball, nor a cannonball explosion, but rather as if it had been torn apart from the inside by an invisible, immense force!
Soil mixed with rocks shot skyward! Instantly forming more than a dozen enormous rift valleys, each several meters wide and seemingly bottomless! The edges of the rift valleys were smooth as mirrors, radiating a scorching heat and lingering spatial fluctuations!
The hundreds of heavy cavalrymen at the forefront had no time to react; they and their horses screamed as they plunged into the bottomless, dark ravine! The screams abruptly ceased!
"Whoa—!"
"Stop! Stop!"
"What's going on?!"
The entire charging formation was thrown into chaos instantly! The cavalrymen at the rear tightened their reins in terror, their horses rearing up and neighing in fear. This sudden, terrifying obstacle had abruptly choked the crimson torrent!
"Enemy attack?! Magic? Or... a trap?" The legion commander was both shocked and furious, and shouted angrily.
His answer came from something that rose silently, like a ghost, from the edge of those dozen or so huge rift valleys.
Those were not human soldiers, not even living beings!
They are nearly three meters tall, covered in dark gray armor that gleams with a cold metallic luster, with dark blue geometric patterns flowing across the surface of the armor.
It has no head; above its torso is a massive, one-eyed composite sensor that glows with a deep red light. Its arms are not flesh and blood, but two enormous mechanical claws covered in sharp serrations and energy-cutting blades!
The heavy metal body stomped on the rocks at the edge of the rift, making a dull "thud" sound, yet it was unusually stable.
Like steel butchers crawling out of the cracks of hell, their crimson "one-eyed" gazes coldly fixed on the chaotic and terrified cavalry legion below.
A full fifty units!
"What...what kind of monster is that?!" a cavalryman screamed in terror.
"Fire! Crossbow bolts! Javelins! Shoot!" The legion commander, though alarmed, remained calm and immediately gave the order.
Whoosh! A barrage of arrows and javelins rained down on the steel giants.
However, a truly despairing scene unfolded!
Ding ding dong! Puff puff puff!
Arrows that hit the armor were either deflected or left only a white mark before their kinetic energy was absorbed by the dark blue patterns.
The heavy javelin could pierce a little, but it couldn't penetrate the ridiculously thick armor at all! The mechanical claw simply swung it casually, swatting away arrows aimed at vital points.
The red light from the "one-eyed" eye suddenly became blinding!
Buzz—!
The armor plates on the chests of the fifty steel giants slid open simultaneously, revealing honeycomb-shaped energy emission ports inside! Blinding white light instantly converged!
The next second, fifty beams of blazing white light, each as thick as an arm and radiating terrifying heat and energy fluctuations, shot with unparalleled precision into the cavalry formation below. These beams were aimed at the officers, flag bearers, and elite squads gathered together, all clad in the most ornate armor and carrying command flags.
*Sizzle!* *Boom!*
There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a sickeningly loud melting sound and a small-scale secondary explosion! Targets hit by the beam, whether human or horse, whether in steel armor or flesh and blood, were instantly pierced and vaporized! Leaving only a bottomless hole with molten edges and wisps of smoke in place!
Precise! Efficient! Ruthless!
A single volley of fire instantly vaporized over thirty officers and hundreds of elite cavalry! The entire Red Scorpion Vanguard Legion's command system collapsed instantly! The lower-ranking centurions and deputies suffered heavy casualties!
"A monster...a monster!!"
"An unkillable steel monster!"
"Retreat! Retreat now!"
Fear spread like a plague! The surviving cavalrymen were terrified, no longer caring about military orders or honor, they turned their horses around and fled frantically! Neither Blackrock Territory nor Crystal Remains could be as terrifying as these steel demons that crawled out of the ground and could fire beams of death!
Fifty "Earthshaker" heavy battle golems did not pursue.
They simply stood silently at the edge of the rift, their deep red "one-eyed" gaze indifferently at the receding red tide.
The cold, metallic body gleamed with a deathly light in the setting sun, like the first steel tombstone erected for Blackrock Territory.
Their very existence is the most terrifying declaration.
On a secluded hill a few miles from the battlefield, Lyra Ryan put down her elven farsighted glasses. Her face was slightly pale, but her gray-blue eyes burned with an unprecedented light.
She quickly sketched the outlines of those steel giants in her sketchbook, her pen trembling slightly with excitement.
"A claw that cleaves the earth, a fiery gaze... Neither alive nor dead, a guardian of steel..."
She sang softly, recording this breathtaking scene.
She knew that the "reinforcements" Lord Linde spoke of had already thrown the first boulder, announcing their existence, to the entire world.
But the prelude to the war had only just begun.
The mountains of Blackrock Territory will become a massive furnace for burying greed and ambition.
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