Chapter 670 The Damned World of Gods
In front of the low parapet, the surrounding rocks were filled with arrows and javelin debris, and every inch of land was covered with charred marks. Some of the large and small pits were filled with blood, minced meat, and human and even horse organs. Some were highly carbonized and emitted wisps of blue smoke. The smell of burnt flesh and skin filled the air.
The dead and wounded soldiers, dressed differently and with different faces, were lying in heaps on this land. Some were pushed into deep pits to be pecked by the falling ravens, while others were carried to the gaps and piled up in front of the broken low walls.
The coagulated blood stuck to the broken corpses and formed lumps, forming a bloody and terrifying human flesh wall.
Phew!
A spear stabbed into a still trembling body, stirring it. The foreign soldier who raised his hand to call for help, eager to survive, finally vomited blood, his pupils dilated, his body gradually stopped twitching, and his limbs became limp.
Caesar drew back his spear, bringing out a gushing stream of blood.
The strong smell of blood rushed into his nose, and he frowned with some disgust. He picked up a piece of rag from a nearby corpse, wiped the blood off the tip of the spear, then climbed up the parapet and looked into the distance ahead.
At this time, Alexander was returning from the battlefield ahead with his fellow cavalrymen.
These well-trained knights were all in high spirits, talking and laughing on the road, as if they had just had a relaxing outing.
But behind them, on the Cilician plain, were the bodies of foreign warriors lying in disorder.
According to rough estimates, there were at least 5,000 casualties.
After the meeting, Caesar and Alexander reconciled the accounts and found that the losses on the Roman side were almost negligible.
Because the total number of casualties of cavalry and infantry added up to less than 100, the casualty ratio reached an astonishing 1 to 50.
Alexander looked back at the Persian army that was trying to gather their defeated soldiers, and the contempt in his eyes became even stronger.
In his view, the Persian army was a paper tiger that was strong on the outside but weak on the inside.
Although their numbers were several times that of the Roman side, they were severely crushed by the Romans in terms of the quality of their soldiers and the level of their generals.
What's even more ridiculous is that these Persians didn't even realize it and dared to rely on their large numbers to form a loose formation in front of him and Caesar.
Of course, Alexander chose to seize this opportunity, using the Macedonian phalanx to withstand the frontal pressure and his companion cavalry to break through the flank, thus teaching the opponent a severe lesson.
Therefore, with just one charge, he and several thousand of his fellow cavalrymen disrupted the formation of the Persian army, and then chased and killed tens of thousands of opponents.
"We still had over a hundred casualties when facing these rubbish. It seems we need to strengthen our training in the future."
Alexander shook his head, obviously not satisfied with the result.
Caesar patted Alexander on the shoulder and spoke to comfort him:
"It's not bad. After all, not all the opponents are pushovers."
As he spoke, he raised his head and looked towards the center of the Persian army. The group of soldiers in black clothes and armor gathered around Darius III had a more solemn look in their eyes.
——The Undead Army!
It was this prestigious royal elite that had just resisted the charge of Alexander and his [Companion Cavalry].
Only then did the Persian army have the opportunity to gather the defeated soldiers and stabilize their formation.
Otherwise, the casualties of the Persian army would probably have doubled or tripled.
“Woo~~!”
Accompanied by the majestic sound of trumpets, the Persian army reorganized its formation and once again charged towards the defense line where the Roman legions were located.
After the defeat in the first battle, their attack became much more cautious.
Next, it’s time for a head-on confrontation.
Caesar sighed secretly, called on his Roman soldiers to assemble in battle formation, and observed the enemy situation through the battlements.
As the ground shook, the Medes were the first to come up.
The Medes had narrow cuffs and a knee-length corset embroidered with exotic oriental patterns. Under the gorgeous clothes, they wore linen or scale armor similar to the Greek style.
They held two or three short spears, 1.5-1.8 meters long, which could be used for both throwing and close combat. They were accustomed to using Defoe shields with notches on both sides to protect themselves.
In addition, some of them had short swords on their waists. These soldiers generally wore turbans that only exposed their faces. Their equipment was inferior. Some wealthier Median soldiers would wear grassland-style semicircular helmets in their headdresses to make up for the lack of head protection.
The Scythians who followed closely behind wore pointed hats with ear and cheek guards, and some nobles were equipped with helmets purchased or captured from Greece, wearing spiked leather armor, tights and scale armor. They had battle axes on their waists and leather quivers made of enemy scalps slung across their shoulders, looking fierce and vicious.
Naturally, among these victims were many subjects of the Roman Empire.
What a bunch of uncivilized beasts.
Caesar frowned in disgust, but still restrained his men and forbade them to launch an attack prematurely.
Hiss, hiss, hiss!
At the same time, the attacking Persian army could no longer hold back, and the accompanying archers drew their bows and fired a wave of long-range shots.
The Medes and Sakas scattered on the front line also bent their bows and cooperated, releasing a rain of arrows as dense as drumbeats, forming a continuous covering fire attack.
"Raise your shield! Defend!"
As Caesar gave orders to the herald, the Roman heavy infantry in the battlements skillfully formed a shield wall to deal with the arrows that were as dense as locusts.
After several rounds of attacks, the rain of arrows caused minimal damage to the heavy infantry, but the arrowheads that fell on the shields still increased the weight of the shields, or penetrated through the gaps and pierced the arms and thighs of a few unlucky guys, bringing bursts of blood and wailing, and bringing considerable psychological pressure to the shield bearers.
By the time the wounded were dragged to the rear for treatment, the enemy had already approached the front.
The Medes and Sakas who started the close combat quickly advanced after putting away their strong bows. Their ranks were stretched out by the narrow mountain road, so they could not use their numbers to their advantage and their formation was scattered. At medium distance, they threw a few waves of short spears according to their habit, and then used another one for hand-to-hand combat.
As a result, these vassal armies of the Persian Empire seriously underestimated the Romans' smelting and technological levels.
When most soldiers were still wearing lighter linen armor or scale breastplates, the Romans had already equipped themselves with magical weapons in large quantities by relying on the black technology left by the Mecha gods.
They wore bell-shaped bronze breastplates, and each of them held a large shield covered with bronze and bordered in his left hand, and raised a spear in his right hand, stabbing from top to bottom at the Persians' eyes or necks that were not protected by helmets. When the comrades in the first row fought with the enemy, the two rows of well-trained Roman soldiers behind would take the opportunity to stab a spear into the gaps in the Persian shield wall and brutally finish off the enemy.
Even though there were sporadic swords and spears that fell on the Romans' bronze armor, the activated dense spells and the triggered defensive techniques were enough to make the opponents' limbs numb and stagger to the ground.
All of them are alchemical armor?
The Medes and Saka who were leading the way were stunned. In a trance, another batch of soldiers were taken away.
Thanks to the advance preparations, the Romans chose a terrain where one man could block the passage of ten thousand, and deployed the famous Macedonian phalanx.
A shield wall composed of wide shields was impenetrable, and the spears stacked in between were stabbed out one after another.
The small shields and short spears of the Thracians and Medes in the Persian army were no match for this rotating killing machine, and large numbers of soldiers fell before the shields of the Greek spear phalanx.
"No mercy! No prisoners!"
Caesar, who was in charge of commanding the infantry, saw that the time was ripe and gave an order in a cold voice. The well-equipped Roman soldiers behind him raised their spears and penetrated the Persian vassal army in front.
When the Persian soldiers at the front row were stabbed to death like cutting melons and vegetables, the Roman soldiers in the second row used the spikes at the bottom of their guns to finish off the fallen enemies.
As casualties continued to increase, the Persian vassal troops that were ordered to attack began to retreat, while the Roman army crossed the parapets, maintained the phalanx formation, and slowly advanced forward while roaring:
"No mercy! No prisoners!"
The sound of sharp blades piercing flesh was endless, and the ground was littered with enemy limbs and weapons.
Even if a Roman soldier fell down due to exhaustion or being shot by an arrow, the soldiers in the back row would immediately step forward to fill the vacant position, and other members would step over their unfortunately fallen comrades and hand them over to the follow-up medical team for treatment.
After just a few dozen breaths, this wave of counterattack caused the Persian vanguard, which had stretched out its front line, to lose thousands of men, forcing them to retreat urgently and reorganize their formation.
After repelling the enemy's second round of offensive, Caesar decided to quit and ordered his soldiers to clean up the battlefield, strip the enemy of their armor, harvest the spoils, and then retreat back to the defense line.
Victory again!
The Roman soldiers cheered deafeningly and became more and more relaxed.
However, Alexander and Caesar, who were looking out from the parapet, could not help but frown and their pupils were filled with deep worry.
This is just the beginning, and a small victory cannot reverse the overall situation.
Moreover, this world contains many powerful individuals such as heroes, spellcasters, and gods.
Once they appear, they are likely to shake the entire war situation.
Even if you use tactics and military strategies, you cannot shake the gap in life levels.
At this time, Caesar and Alexander, who were standing on a high place observing the enemy situation, suddenly discovered that there seemed to be some changes in the Persian army.
On a nine-story high platform built of square bricks, piled with fragrant wood, firewood and animal fats, the bodies of the dead in battle were thrown into the blazing holy fire. In the purification of the flame of light, their sins were washed away, their bodies turned to ashes, and their spirits returned to the arms of the true God Ahura.
“ashem vohu…yata ahu…”
Thousands of Zoroastrian priests in white robes crossed their hands in front of their chests, while nearby female waiters threw spices into the flames, twisted their limbs, and performed wild and flamboyant dances.
"What are they talking about?"
Alexander frowned slightly, looking a little confused.
"Zoroastrian prayer!"
Caesar's pupils contracted sharply, his face froze, and he uttered the answer in a dry voice.
"There is only one possibility in this situation... the Persians are serious about it!"
At the same time, as if to confirm what he said, the undead army, each with a silver mask on their face, holding scimitars and round shields, and dressed in black and armor, lined up in an orderly manner. Under the influence of the war dance and the illumination of the holy fire, their bloodthirstiness and madness continued to rise, as if they were evil spirits crawling out of hell, like a tangible red and black tide of magic power, like bloody smoke rolling into the sky, crushing down with an overwhelming force, almost suffocating people.
Moo~ Moo~
In front of these black-armored soldiers, war elephants with dense spells engraved on their skin, steel shields erected on their backs, carrying dozens of mystics holding magic lamps and moving forward with heavy steps.
Boom boom boom boom!
Arrows and curse bullets, like a meteor rain, hit the narrow position in front of the low wall, causing violent tremors. The surrounding rocks collapsed and shattered, and the rocks flew through the air, making sharp whimpers and crackling on the shields set up along the line.
Some fragments were even so powerful that they penetrated the gaps in wooden shields or formations and pierced into the human body, bringing out clouds of blood mist and flying limbs, followed by screams and groans.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Caesar quickly drew his sword and roared:
"The magician chants one to three bars of divine words, and 500 meters ahead, curse bullets are fired in succession!"
On top of the low hill, a group of magicians accompanying the army sang the name of the main god, cooperated with the priests, sacrificed magic power, and cast large-scale ritual spells.
"Great God of all gods, father of all fathers, Bacchus (God of Wine), flames are your true form, lightning is your roar! God's power, arise! Enemies, must be destroyed!"
Boom boom...
The sky was covered with dark clouds and strong winds were blowing. Dense and continuous thunder like tree branches broke through the clouds. Hundreds of dazzling blue-white arcs of light struck in all directions.
In the blink of an eye, Persian war elephants and many Persian spellcasters were pierced by lightning.
They didn't even have time to scream before they were all turned into ashes.
But soon, the Persian spellcaster in mid-air reacted.
They raised their specially made magic lamps, chanted the words of God at high speed, and launched a counterattack:
"Our Lord of Light, Mithra, the father of all flames, flames are light. With this flame spirit, dispel darkness and purify impurities!"
The flames gushing out from the pot mouth formed a golden light film, which covered the advancing Persian army while burning fiercely, blocking the bombardment of lightning arcs.
The Persian mystics even had time to cast spells on ordinary Roman soldiers.
Boom boom boom boom!
Red and black spell bullets and magic beams bombarded the low parapets continuously, blowing the Roman soldiers hiding behind them into pieces along with the walls.
As expected, the difference in numbers was too great, the spellcaster was completely suppressed, and he could probably not be relied upon at the moment.
Caesar looked at the Persian elite who were approaching, a trace of gloom flashed in his eyes, and he could only speak again and give the order:
"Priests, prepare the suppression spell, recite the magic-breaking prayer, archers, line up at a 75-degree upward shooting position, and javelin throwers, prepare. Venus above, may the gods bless you!"
"Apollo of Light, Diana of the Hunt, the two great gods above, grant us protection and inflict death and injury on our enemies!"
The priests accompanying the army chanted blessings and provided protection for the archers.
As the heavy cedar bow was pulled open, the enchanted secret arrows flashed with a cold light.
Hiss, hiss, hiss!
The bowstrings vibrated, and hundreds of arrows broke through the air and fell, whimpering with sharp wind sounds, piercing through the Persian elephant soldiers who posed a greater threat to the defense line.
In an instant, several soldiers standing on the elephant saddles were pierced through the chest and skull, fell to the ground, and were then trampled into meat paste by the elephant's hooves.
However, more arrows were blocked by the raised round shields and the sweeping elephant trunks. The damage caused by a wave of arrows actually caused very limited damage to the Persian army.
"Second round, the chanting of divine words begins, activate the inscription, and release!"
"Take turns one by one, don't stop!"
Caesar tried his best to remain calm and give orders in an orderly manner, but his brows were becoming more and more furrowed.
At this time, the war elephants advancing forward were all pricked like hedgehogs, but because of their thick skin and flesh, their movements were not affected at all. The vague pain made these honest and slow-witted monsters roar angrily, their eyes bloodshot, and their long trunks rolled up nearby millstone-sized stones and smashed them towards the Roman army's defense line.
Boom boom boom boom!
The huge rocks that hit their heads fell to the ground with a loud roar, and archers fell down in groups, with their flesh and blood stuck to the rocks.
Without the suppression and harassment of the archers, the Persian mystics and Persian elephant soldiers frantically fired at the Roman army's positions.
Whistling curse bullets, falling rocks and thrown arrows fell one after another, and the Roman legion, which was suppressed, suffered heavy losses.
Seeing that his own line was showing signs of collapse, Alexander gritted his teeth, drew the sword at his waist, and slashed forward fiercely.
"Moo!"
Two flying-hoofed thunder bulls pulled an ancient bronze chariot and rushed out of the magic circle.
"Wedge formation, follow me and charge!"
Alexander jumped onto the inheritance left to him by his dead father Zeus, used himself as the spearhead, and led his fellow cavalrymen to charge into the enemy camp.
The fierce lightning containing divine power shot out in all directions, unstoppable.
In an instant, the tough skin of dozens of war elephants was torn and their skulls were pierced. The remaining war elephants were also frightened and confused, some charged frantically, and some fell to the ground wailing.
The undead soldiers who were using it as cover nearby and the archers and mystics on the elephant saddles were not careful for a moment and many were crushed and trampled, turning into a pool of flesh and blood.
The remaining Persian soldiers were pushed back by the charge of their fellow cavalry.
At this point, the third round of attack and defense ended.
The Romans saved their precarious front at an almost tragic cost and gained a brief respite.
Caesar and Alexander, covered in dust and dirt, looked at each other, with a hint of bitterness in their eyes.
After so many tactical tricks to gain the advantage, the gap was instantly narrowed once the high-end military force came into play. No wonder the Persians didn't care much about the casualties of the vassal army and ordinary people, nor did they pay much attention to the cultivation of strategies and tactics.
This damn world of gods!
(End of this chapter)
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