Beneath the Red Dragon

Chapter 372 - 143: Speculation (2)

When Chiron followed the plan to crush the Beastman Tribe and set off on the path of support, the battle at the Golden City was also nearing its end.

In these days, the curved wall built with defensive artillery shooting was repeatedly breached by the joint forces of the Beastman Kingdom and Shahua Fishman. Yet, most of the time, it was the army of the Dragon Group that proactively retreated.

Every time the Beastman artillery roared, the Blue Dragon Akzhi would command the corps to retreat behind the defense line to evade the dense artillery and giant crossbow bombardment. Then, they would launch a counterattack when the Beastmen and Fishmen poured into the walled city, engaging the opposing army in fierce combat.

The Bloodthirsty Evil Wolf Corps led by the Jackal-Wolf Man Chiliarch Yougu and the Mixed Mad Warrior Corps led by Barbarian Jib were like demons clad in steel armor. Even the most elite Beastman Legion could not break through the vault built by these Steel Warriors, nor block their assault.

In the walled city, unable to fully deploy their forces, the Beastmen and Fishmen became like fish on a chopping board, with blood and gore soaking into every piece of land within the city.

The Elf Archer Corps and the Mixed Firearms Corps inflicted significant losses on the Beastmen, even those protected by casters.

After repelling the Beastman and Fishman forces, the breached city was restored under the leadership of the Elf Druid Corps and War Tree-men before the next assault could be organized, using the forest to close up the gaps one by one.

This cycle of entanglement consumed the Beastmen’s arms and supplies, and this hastily constructed walled city unbelievably held out for nearly half a month.

The colossal figure of the Blue Dragon Akzhi stood on the partially destroyed western wall, observing the extensively shattered wall, with debris forming a thick layer on the ground.

The blood and flesh had coagulated with the debris, formed into solid, blood-soaked ground by the countless footsteps of the warriors.

Even after numerous repairs, the walled city was now collapsing everywhere, beyond repair, and in need of reconstruction.

Its defense was already insufficient to withstand the next attack.

The Bronze Dragon Alina descended from the sky next to the Blue Dragon and was not only responsible for governing the territory but also sometimes needed to execute plans.

For example, intercepting Beastman supply ships at sea and raiding their rear positions at night with the Flying Dragon Corps, which had visibly thinned the Bronze Dragon.

"Akhzi, it’s time to retreat. We’ve prepared, and Centaur Chiron has also arrived with the cavalry corps. They’ll intercept the pursuing army, allowing us to retreat smoothly to the next defense line."

The Blue Dragon nodded, taking one last look at this once-prosperous city. Then it spread its wings and gave the order: "The entire army retreats in sequence according to plan, into each line of defense."

All the Legion Warriors promptly executed the order. Through this war, these warriors developed a strict obedience culture and habit.

The Steel Warriors, bathed in blood and bone, silently withdrew from the battlefield, which had left a deep impression on them. After prolonged strain, the Steel Corps also lost many strong and brave soldiers.

The surviving warriors did not even have time to pray and mourn the fallen Heroic Spirits. They had to plunge into the next battle, leaving behind the bodies of their comrades, silently praying in their hearts for these brave and loyal souls to find the direction of the Giant Dragon Hall amongst the mountains.

Faen was among the corps, systematically retreating with the army. He looked up at the city’s western wall, almost reduced to a single wall, where hundreds of archers and firearms soldiers stood vigilantly, preventing the Beastmen and Fishmen from re-initiating an attack, providing cover for the army’s retreat.

The squad around Faen had been almost entirely replaced. In such intense, prolonged entanglement, even the reserve corps suffered significant losses.

Those who survived could now be called veterans. These veterans’ reserve corps were preparing, under the command center’s planning, to be established as a formal Legion - the First Legion, the regular corps of the Dragon Group Territory without an exclusive title.

Due to his commendable performance and battle achievements, Faen was personally greeted by the Blue Dragon Akzhi and promoted to the Centurion of the First Legion, the captain of the first company.

He will lead his company to garrison a fortress checkpoint, becoming a key node in the territorial defense system.

Faen stepped out of this dilapidated city, unable to resist looking back. The letter in his arms contained the last marks of his fallen comrades here, intensifying his hatred toward the Beastmen and Fishmen.

Once a Holy Knight, now Captain Faen, his weakened power, under such intense hatred, began to rise again.

However, his prayers were no longer directed to the former Sun God Pello, so his power was no longer the light of justice but rather the fiery wrath of vengeance akin to a Red Dragon.

The Golden City near the coast, the main base of the Beastman Army, where the Beastman Prince Gahn was now sitting in a spacious tent.

In the center, under his personal guard, was a giant beast in a massive iron cage, serving as the focus of the Beastman Army’s encirclement and most rigorous protection.

The tent’s flap was lifted, startling the Beastman Prince, who was poring over a map of Dragon Group Territory at a table, Gahn looked up to see his enthusiastic adjutant, the powerful Beastman Warrior Cole.