Deep within Bai Cheng, Song Zining stood upon the city wall, continuously observing the troop movements of the dark races beyond the horizon.
Having completed a full round of inspecting the entire city, Qian Ye appeared beside him and asked, “Shall we summon the Valhalla? It’s still not too late.”
Shaking his head gently, Song Zining replied decisively, “The true power of Valhalla is in deterrence, not in display. Their uncertainty regarding Valhalla’s location generates the greatest degree of fearfulness. This noble Duke opposing us will never willingly send his warship into an engagement. To him, it serves more critically as an escape vehicle; if ever damaged in battle, he will be doomed beyond hope.”
Nudging in affirmation, Qian Ye agreed to this analysis.
With precision, Song Zining pointed towards the ever-circulating nightborne cargo ships far in the distance, explaining, “I have been observing throughout the entire night long and discovered these are advanced new cargo transports whose large quantity clearly exceeds what a Duke alone has power to command. It seems at long last the dark races have come together to drive us off the continent! Brace yourself; now, real trials are only just beginning.”
Understanding completely as to their established battle rhythm, Bai Cheng battles generally remained under watch by Qian Ye alone, seldom drawing him directly into confrontation. His task remained the elimination of enemy top-ranked warriors, including the formidable Ducal might of Rommel.
Yet directing all battlefield strategies remained Song Zining’s primary role, who would personally ensure the suppression of lesser-tier warriors as well. With the capabilities of World’s Prosperity and Thirty飘叶’s innate traits enabling this, ordinary darkrace warriors could barely even locate Song Zining inside his spatial domain — essentially untouchable amidst a battlefield crowd unless suddenly ambushed unexpectedly alongside a peer-level darkness-wielder.
Presently, the dark forces’ night-bound encampment completed installation of power towers and constructed temporary industrial workshops sustained by that power, with heavy cargo vehicles perpetually shuttling between. A harshly mournful steam whistle pierced the skies as the heavy main gates of the camp gradually creaked open under steam propulsion, releasing streams upon streams of steel behemoths rolling steadily forth in deployment with their heavy cannon artillery dragging behind, seemingly endless in abundance.
A narrowed eyed Song Zining abruptly pivoted his stance with a commanding roar, “Signal! Disperse and conceal all heavy artillery pieces immediately; personnel excepting foremost front-line battle personnel, seek immediate sheltering cover in bunkers!” Aide officers swiftly carried through their urgent instructions upon immediate compliance orders.
“Not able to endure confrontation?” Qian Ye inquired.
“Ammodot supply running perilously low,” sighed Song Zining reluctantly. Despite all pre-battle preparations ensuring surplus supplies and gunpowder abundance beforehand, wartime consumptions surpassed astronomical figures. In prior battles previously, Shadowfire itself had strategically leveraged its material reserves and ammunition stores effectively to attain lopsidedly favorable casualty exchanges against the numerically stronger night-borne. Now though, against an overwhelming heavy artillery force from Rommel, preservation of dwindling resources and human capability remained their sole strategic option currently viable.
Rommel’s artillery batteries arrived bearing even larger caliber weaponry coupled together with longer maximum effective shooting ranges. Originally developed explicitly towards repelling Indolumed stronghold’s siege on the floating continent, urgent mobilization of rearward transport ensured they arrived precisely for countering humanity’s famed resilience within static fortifications. Upon dissemination of intelligence indicating Bai Cheng’s current battlefield intensity, logistics units promptly redirected their full attention toward neutralizing the resistance caused by Song Zining’s force concentrated at this very sector.
Hundereds heavy guns now deployed beyond Bai Cheng’s retaliatory artillery bombardment reach — Song Zining’s earlier logistics mastery alone ensured this current artillery advantage, yet attaining additional top-tier heavy artillery remained realistically implausible now.
Moments followed: afar distant flame erupted first; thereafter scattered points illuminated ominously, akin falling celestial fires drifting skyward earthward descent as unique aerial howls sang above heralded death descending rapidly towards Bai Cheng, triggering citywide gunfire sounds of marksmen hastily mobilized to intercept in desperate last defense efforts.
Swift reaction overtook hesitation — Song Zining grabbed sizable caliber sharpshooting rifle, unloading three consecutive shots mid air followed directly by launching sizable fireballs with perfect timing coordination. Warriors of such caliber possessed refined bodily controls enabling comparable power outputs utilizing basic firearm munition weaponry mimicking native AuraGun outputs with accuracy precision; however, such rifles maintained reasonable range characteristics albeit somewhat restricted fire rates — even Song himself managed only successfully destroying precisely three descending enemy mortar projectiles before timing considerations inevitably restricted full defensive success.
Likewise taking immediate response, Qian Ye deployed Shinhwagun dual pistols, firing eight continuous precision barrages skybound in single-handed rapid sequence; with each gunshot’s report came accompanying mid-air explosion as enemy artillery pieces annihilated from direct hits. Completing full engagement pattern cycle, only briefly did Qian Ye’s stamina momentarily deplete instantly recovering thereafter albeit somewhat slowed awaiting thermal disspaiton completion following rapid discharge sequence — weapon’s limitations enforced strict cooling delay cycles following every five shot salvos restricting overall intercept capability.
Further intervention attempts arose collectively from remaining aces, yet still approximately twenty percent of bombardment descended unchecked within city boundary regions. Devastating impact consequences materialized instantaneously upon every ground-striking ordnance: earthquakes like shock waves, clouds obscuring skies completely as smoke shrouded Bai Cheng beneath thick cover — initial impact aftershocks barely dissipated as skies screamed anew; second bombardment phase commenced but obscured visibility dramatically reduced interception efficiencies — nearly halved descending salvoes penetrated air defenses successfully within dense smoke cloud coverage. Even tallest bastions collapsed directly in center explosion impact regions sending massive leaning tower wreckage crumbling destructively amidst remaining defensive structures.
Duke Rommel relentlessly persisted without sparing a single crucial second respiration opportunity — barrage salvo followed immediately after another continuously resembling endless meteor showers descending relentlessly upon Bai Cheng. Surrounding each colossal howitzer formation, loading crew members scrambled around, continuously shifting energy lattice glow patterns along metal casing exteriors gradually raising barrel temperatures dangerously while individual crew members visibly exhausted. Despite all suffering and struggle from the harsh work, gunners maintained continuous maximum output firing pace relentlessly under encouragement by disciplinary force whipmasters.
On countless separate positions throughout heavy bombardment formations arose horrifying cries and wail sounds—fueled both from personnel mishandling super-hot barrels resulting horrific burns, but as well as staggering loaders dizzily staggering dangerously between dangerous machinery obstacles before suffering brutal whip lashing penalties resulting fatally crushed beneath artillery pieces’ crushing weight while standing position immobile.
Gunners continuously collapsed onto exhausted states sequentially replaced by new recruits dragged unwillingly into action upon their predecessors incapacitation or deaths—explosions also occurred occasionally as overworked cannons self-destructed catastrophically leaving deep craters amidst scorched wreckage remains scattering lifeless limb remnants. Meanwhile interception attempts by Bai Cheng weakened gradually — both Qian Ye alongside Song Mingting stood section of the wall recently entirely submerged underneath relentless barrage forcing them to dispersively retreat towards opposite ends seeking cover respectively as survival priority remained supreme momentarily.
Within the defensive structures, mid-range warriors lost ability to maintain continuous offense while ordinary battle mercernaries instead remained trapped sheltering praying desperately hoping misfortune avoided targeting their hiding location’s specific rooftop exposure vulnerability.
Deafening rumble became reality itself’s only audible characteristic as blazing conflagrations emerged everywhere cloaking cityscape entirely under thick smoke cover obscuring all visibility making comprehension outside surroundings impossible. Every structured establishment collapsed one by one under merciless persistent destructive impacts — even heavily stone-fortified edifices proving structurally insufficient against such extreme artillery punishment endured thus.
Bombardment never ended seemingly mimically end-of-days itself had manifested in reality’s heartland battlefield environment.
Unknown length later the thunderstorm bombardment ceased abruptly, yet all individuals retained only continuous loud highpitch ringings deafening all potential alternative audible sensations entirely surrounding silence broken only by one’s mental processing thoughts alone.
Walls formerly defending Bai Cheng no longer remained, only rubble and fragmented remnants lay scattered across the ground, no vestige of once cohesive structural linearity identifiable; previous pristine orderly white-palette urban structures reduced entirely towards sooted war torn ruins across extensive scorched landscapes.
Soil covered battlefield exfiltration efforts began slowly; individual mercenaries crawled up from earth cover shaken off burnt dirt particulates, scanning body integrity for injury signs methodically.
A certain elderly frontline veteran cautiously peened his head beyond the wall’s remnants toward nightborne lines instantly startled beyond his physical capability as opposing vanguard appeared frighteningly closer distance less than a mere hundred meter standoff remaining!
Roared battle cry attempts failed miserably — auditory incapacitation still persisted through earlier cannon fire aftershocks, desperately attempting signaling concealed heavy machinegun posts within cover for supporting fire support but to complete silence reception only greeted attempts desperately vocalizing. Turning back revealed visual imagery sending his inner confidence crumbling rapidly — former safe bunker shelter reduced completely obliterated replaced solely through massive multi-hit cratered wasteland; original team member remains reduced irretrievably incorporated into ground remains, their existence completely vanished untraceble under destruction layer.
The veteran spun himself around, grasped his AuralRifle with determined conviction taking aim precisely with steady hands, locked targeting focus, initiated aura circuit pattern, and pulled trigger release decisively! A crimson trail flashed forward as an aristocratic vampires’ upper torso exploded blood splatters mid-air separating shoulder and arms flying upwards while the torso itself collapsed without resistance. Without wasting a second verifying impact success he immediately adjusted crosshairs against next target – targeting a spider魔 aristocrat instead.
Yet within instants enemy forces arrived directly upon immediate positioning proximity — the ancient rifle cast aside instinctively grabbed combat close-quarter knife instead engaging first-hand combat directly into surging dark tide onslaught — yet inevitably he disappeared swallowed completely underneath their overpowering numerical onslaught.
Comparable individual scale conflict played at every single front segment; nightforce surged upon Bai Cheng similar like ocean crashing against cliffs — infiltration commenced immediately within city borders as each small rivulet symbolized critical breaking point breach location in previously cohesive defense lines.
Outer perimeter defenses utterly collapsed; every alleyway every ruined mansion transformed instantly battlefields unpredictable ambush rifle bullet threats arising continuously without warning from unexpected positional advantage.
A spider魔 viscount transformed full creature manifestation, leaping over ruins directly scaled building outer faces towards rooftop position, slaughtering hidden sharp shooter snipers there instantly — however sudden roof collapse occurred, sending his monstrous body midair mid explosion force sending airborne trajectory abruptly skybound mid explosion force; actually having triggered large concealed explosive trap previously set specifically by that exact spot sniper post’s defenders who themselves fought laying atop multiple tonnage’s weight hidden explosives caches willingly risking death against nightbound foe.
Now Bai Cheng transformed towards ruinous battlefield, ironically darkrace forces recognized these shattered remains granted actually superior defense cover than original city walls originally afforded; every known conventional knowledge nullified within this environment completely. Noting no track, scent nullifid by pervasive chemical powder smokes rendering their usual superior tracking abilities useless against opposing force ambush tactics.
However neutral territory’s contracted soldiers excelled precisely within environments like these — their battlefield experience cultivated within similarly harsh conflict zones where settlements endlessly demolished / reconstructed, where existence often meant sharing ruins as night sleeping grounds, understanding intrinsic urban jungle warfare concepts innately instinctual without instruction, making each an unparalleled city fighting expert at his own individual scale.
Fresh endless influx darksoldiers flowed into the Baicheng ruins, despite city-centered battle dragging out with equal intensity. Numerically overpowering nightborn force gradually overcame resistance, tipping balance decisively their advantage accumulation progressing steadily hour by hour.
Within distant airborne location suspended above city battlefield, Duke Rommel already exited command ship exterior deck, watching city ruin war raging below air-suspension capabilities allowing panoramic battlefield perspective observation vantage position. First attack wave already almost entirety breached inner wall positions, highest numerical accumulations clustered exactly upon wall’s original location ruins.
Exactly at this crucial battle moment, sudden bursts flame erupted unexpectedly from beneath ground; simultaneously, thick streams petroleum oil gushes from underground outlets instantly vaporized turning into vertical flame jet pillars. Instantaneously, a great wall of fire emerged separating outer darkness troops mass reinforcements from interior battling remnants while engulfing thousands into instantaneous destruction within blazing inferno trap.
Seeing this, Rommel narrowed his gaze tightly; clearly now interior Bai Cheng combat intensity sharply increased exponentially simultaneously — simultaneous battle erupting throughout entire ruined cities’ every last location segment could all been seen from aerial overview. At this unique viewing perspective it rapidly became evident two critical specific city districts demonstrated rapidly decreasing nightrace concentrations within their boundaries significantly above and beyond elsewhere.
Rommel could barely glimpse at extreme difficulty two faint figures weaving relentlessly within smoke-covered battlefield landscapes — wherever those individuals appeared, nightrace troops dropped lifelessly in massive quantity.
Without further confirmation necessary, Qian Ye and Song Zining took battle into their own hands directly — a stark indication that within Bai Cheng defense situation reached most critical emergency stage. Despite recognizing this critical shift, worry and contemplation upon Rommel’s facial expression further deepened even still — the resistance level maintained remained stubbornly intense against established expectations. Considering this battle continued extended duration — realistically by now mercenaries should’ve suffered significant losses weakening counterattack ability; however defensive firepower resistance output maintained its potency far longer than logically possible based on prior assumptions.
“I wish we possessed additional transport capability ferrying additional bomb supply reinforcements here…” fleeting wish crossed Rommel’s mind subconsciously, yet discarded instantly — fully aware of the existing massive heavy gun deployments alongside ammo supplies already mobilized towards maximum feasible level achievable.
Additionally pressing multiple other battlefield sectors demanded equal if not greater strategic considerations alongside resource allocation decisions, perhaps even more desperately than currently occupied operations. The simple reason he acquired substantial supplies previously directed for these operations was because the higher command desired swift battle resolution here quickly freeing up his elite forces for urgent dispatches reinforcing more pressured sections upon alternative battlefield frontiers — Bai Cheng remaining analytically the weakest and therefore supposedly quickest to capture amongst targeted strategic objectives based entirely upon theoretical strength comparisons paper documentation provided detailed breakdown metrics supporting this conclusion.
At this moment an aid appeared, reporting, “Milord, Deputy Grand Duke Prater has returned.”
Eyes gleamed cold brilliance, expression icy determination evident — Rommel ordered, “Grant him immediate entry, now.”
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