Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Overwhelming Firepower
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-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Red Dragon Legion had divided into multiple ranks for sequential volleys and stood ready, but to seize the initiative, the first, second, and third ranks all pulled their triggers at once.
The battlefield quickly began to fill with smoke.
For the dozen or so seconds it took the Red Dragon Legion to prepare their next volley,
"Gaaah!"
"Ugh... my leg... my leg..."
"Arrrghhh!"
screams erupted from the Kingdom Army infantry who had endured the volley of thousands.
Shields shattered into pieces and rolled across the ground, while soldiers clutched their wounds and groaned in agony.
The Lorentz rounds fired by the Red Dragon Legion easily pierced helmets and greaves that the shields hadn't covered. Some of the unlucky first-rank Kingdom soldiers died on the spot, and those hit in arms or legs—parts not shielded—collapsed,
"Kuhuk... cough!"
"Kaaa..."
but the soldiers who had taken shots to their shields fared even worse than those with limbs pierced.
Wooden shields couldn't fully stop the rounds, and the bullets that retained energy even after impact reached the armor beyond.
The thick plate armor of the Kingdom Army barely got penetrated, but the armor that absorbed the hits was dented to a lethal degree, crushing soldiers' ribs and organs.
They had to endure horrific pain—enough to make some envy the instantly slain.
The Kingdom soldiers charging at the front couldn't help but falter at the sight,
"Don't stop! Keep running! Charge!"
"Tend to the wounded and raise those shields! Anyone who drops theirs is dead!"
"Don't scatter!"
"U... ugh?"
Exposed to the deafening volley without earplugs, the soldiers could barely hear the officers' frantic shouts.
"I'll take the lead! Follow me!"
Brave officers grabbed shields and stepped forward to rally the men. The soldiers, terrified, tried to advance bit by bit in response, but
"Th-they're coming! They're here!"
"We're... all gonna die!"
"No, no, no, no..."
La Leon's routed survivors waiting in the rear plunged into full panic at the sound of gunfire. They threw down their weapons, clamped their hands over their ears, and huddled on the ground.
-Neighhh!
"Wh-what is that!"
"Calm down, calm!"
The cavalry wheeling to the flank took hits too.
The roar of thousands of guns firing in unison was no small sound even from afar, and the Kingdom Army's horses—unaccustomed to such blasts—reared up, throwing riders, or bucked wildly.
All this unfolded from the Red Dragon Legion's first volley alone, but
-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
the merciless Red Dragon Legion commenced their full sequential fire.
Rounds poured toward the infantry every five to ten seconds, turning the Kingdom Army into hell on earth in an instant.
"Ugh... uuu..."
"Kaaa..."
Brave chargers became bullet sponges and fell. Officers at the front were riddled with holes.
Even those mustering final courage wilted at the scene.
"Wh-where'd they go? What... where?!"
"Enemy! It's the enemy!"
"Huh? Wait... gaaah!"
Moreover, the sequential volleys blanketed the field in thick gunsmoke, obscuring the Kingdom Army's vision.
They faced not just the terror of allies vanishing, but friendly fire from poor friend-foe identification.
Even when ten tried charging, only one or two would remain after stumbling through the smoke. Repeatedly.
The already demoralized Kingdom Army lost their minds, wildly swinging at vague silhouettes ahead.
-BOOM!
Of course, the Red Dragon Legion—pinpointing enemies via Victor's minimap and tactical map—fired steadily even in the blinding smoke.
They were prepared for bayonet charges too, but saw no need to close with a Kingdom Army already carving itself up.
-Tweet! TWEEEEET!
"Stop! Halt! Please, stop!"
Officers including Jordi issued cease orders to the infantry to end the slaughter, but horns and voices drowned in the ceaseless gunfire.
Even if heard, the near-deaf infantry wouldn't have registered them.
In contrast, the Red Dragon Legion—ears plugged yet hearing Victor's orders—advanced slowly, methodically, in tight formation.
"...We have to do this! Let's go!"
"We can't forget their sacrifice!"
After a tortuous flank march, the Kingdom cavalry—guessing the horror in the smoke—struck what should have been the vulnerable Red Dragon Legion's flank and rear.
The Legion, planning to showcase rifle power without siege guns, had hidden gun carriages deep within their lines.
Flank and rear infantry had formed hollow squares awaiting the cavalry, who charged blind to its meaning,
-RAT-TAT-TAT!
"Aaagh!"
"Ugh!"
and were effortlessly repelled.
Horse armor and plate on riders offered zero protection,
"You madmen!"
"Stop, cease... gaaah!
And.
As during maneuvers, Kingdom horses reacted violently to frontal blasts, refusing the charge.
Rearing or bucking was routine; some dragged fallen riders at full gallop, fleeing the field.
They never reached the squares—most fell short.
"Enough! Break off the charge!"
The mauled cavalry tried withdrawing,
-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
but Red Dragon fire didn't relent,
"For Empress Luise Zeinburg!"
"For Dragonia's glory!"
and they couldn't escape the Empire's medium and dragon cavalry wedge-driving from the flank.
Empire medium cavalry and dragon cavalry thoroughly trampled the disintegrating Kingdom cavalry, then swung toward the flank of Kingdom infantry milling in the field center.
"Charge!"
"Behold the Red Dragon Legion's might!"
Medium cavalry dodged ongoing friendly fire to loop rear and charge,
"Fire!"
-BOOM!
while dragon cavalry dismounted amid the panicked infantry, fired point-blank, amplifying chaos.
The Kingdom Army couldn't withstand the Red Dragon Legion's relentless fire at safe distance.
"Die! Die!"
"Eek... argh!"
-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Uncontrollable, the Kingdom Army turned blades on each other amid Legion fire, numbers plummeting.
"M-mercy!"
"Hiiik..."
"Surrender! We surrender! Please!"
Especially the rear—La Leon's broken men hit by medium cavalry—utterly crushed, offered no resistance.
They'd lost from the first shots.
Medium cavalry pierced them, reaching the command tent all too easily.
Jordi, slumped before it, staring blankly,
"...We'll surrender. Please, stop."
declared surrender in a voice hoarse from shouting retreats.
The baton slipped from his hand, clattering to the ground.
The stunned officers beside him nodded, ending the Adense clash: 10,000 Red Dragon vs. 13,000 Kingdom—overwhelming Legion victory.
"Kingdom Army: ~5,000 dead, ~5,000 wounded. ~2,000 surrendered. Few cavalry fled to Serona."
"1st Infantry Regiment: 98 wounded. 2 dead."
"2nd Infantry Regiment: 82 wounded, 1 dead. No further casualties after initial enemy archer fire."
"Medium Cavalry: 7 dead, 32 wounded. Dragon Cavalry: no casualties or wounds—enemy offered no counter."
Hearing the reports, Victor
"...Well done. Reorganize by morning. March on Serona this afternoon."
smiled faintly for the first time, taking the reports.
Volker grew irritable upon hearing the Red Dragon Legion had marched at dawn. The 5th Army rushed preparations toward the opposite Serona Fortress, but it only reminded him why they'd failed for months. Each siege failure swelled his worries; his tent always reeked of tobacco smoke. After repeated failures. Stationed beyond arrow and stone range, probing with brief sieges for openings—Volker awaited only Red Dragon defeat news, "...What? La Leon, Adense fallen?" -Thud! trembling as he flung the shocking report.
"...It was really possible."
"Guns and siege guns that powerful...?"
Anxiety spread like wildfire. Officers, awed by Red Dragon feats, murmured.
"Minimal losses too. They could reach Serona directly."
"...Shut up."
"...Pardon?"
"Shut it!"
To Florian's worried words, Volker exploded, rising. Red Dragon's massive gains in days left him meritless, anxiety-wracked. If they took Serona too, he'd bear blame for dawdling despite their attack. Gauging their march speed mentally, "Today, we take Serona Fortress." he resolved to seize it in a day.
"...Impossible."
"Trebuchets and rams yielded nothing."
"If we had Red Dragon siege guns..."
"You cowards!"
He dreaded imperial punishment and lost power over death. And now, with Victor's legion smashing toward Serona. Arrival before his success? He knew what'd follow. Mind made up, officers' protests sounded like excuses, "No more delays! If you're so scared, I'll lead from the front!"
"...! Absolutely not!"
"If you get hurt..."
"No objections!"
Obsessed with preempting Red Dragon glory, he made irrational calls. Such outbursts before; after futile remonstrations, officers gave up. He led all forces, "Today, we topple that fortress! Charge!" personally commanding from the fore at Serona siege. Targeting the south wall roiled by stragglers. Short-term, it worked. Troops fretted his exposure but charged, inspired by his lead.
"...We must breach!"
Past successes via this method. Volker knew his recklessness, wielded it as weapon. Adorned in ornate armor, cigar clenched, sword swinging, he ceaselessly directed ceaselessly.