Chapter 108: Twelfth Episode: Chapter 8 (2/2)

According to the prediction of this temporary cannon unit commander, even if the cannons were able to let the enemy’s army sustain a large damage, but due to the restriction of the separation between the firing times, the enemy’s cavalry unit or infantry army group would definitely come until the front of the base. When the fight began, it was the time for this cannon unit commander to be relieved of his duty. Torry ordered his gunners to be prepared to halt the battle at any moment. It was not that this little jerk wanted to be a deserter, but rather, it was simply because he did not give the precious war resources to the Deiss for free.

Torry was not like the other commanders who were full of confidence when waging war against their enemy. He was accustomed to thinking of the worst case scenario when he faced a problem. Once they were surrounded by the enemy or that the enemy had broken the defensive line, sacrificing him and the gunners were the trivial thing. Getting his precious technicians and cannons snatched away was the most unacceptable thing.

”Wait!” Torry grabbed the person who was right in front of him in a sudden movement. The Major Gunner took one glance at him and recognized this guy whose face was painted black, ”Hey! My Sir Technical Director! Why are you still here? Didn’t I order for your member to retreat? Why aren’t you together with the retreating unit?”

This Cannon Technical Director wiped his face that was covered with fire powder, ”Sir Viscount, what if your cannons have problems during the war? How can it be allowed if there’s not even one technician to help you out? Just treat me as a volunteer! I will never leave you and the cannons behind!”

Torry grabbed this Technical Director who was about to run away again, but this time he only gave this volunteer a standard army salutation.

Kirk Dexton the swordsman sat up on the army bed in difficulty. This was an extremely normal action, yet the Corporal was already sweating a lot because of this. Little Kirk did not forget the warrior that was pinned to death on the tree bark by countless weapons. He took the sword that was by his bed and used the tip of his sword to get his army suit that was full of blood.

Walking out of the tent in a stagger, Kirk was shocked by the scenery in front of him! At the border of the forest, numerous enemy were bustling around like ants. They formed a huge attack formation. But, most terrifying of all, more enemy seemed to be walking out of the forest. That Blackwood that was covered in the blood of his comrades was just like a devil spurting venom. It was quietly preparing for death to come.

Kirk stopped a running soldier who was carrying a whole bunch of arrows that had been soaked in gasoline. He noticed the still-bleeding injury of the Corporal with a disbelief expression.

”Brother, you should rest!”

”No! Brother, I want to know where the Battle Group is preparing for battle!”

Oscar and Murat finally went back to their base. The warriors at the frontline all kneeled on one knee when the Commander walked past them. Oscar stopped in the middle of the frontline. He turned his horse around and faced the enemy’s base.

”You don’t have to be so nervous. Even though this is the first war that you are commanding in, please believe in me. We will win!” Murat did not mind consoling this young man who was trembling slightly.

”Who said I am nervous?” Oscar looked at Murat strangely.

”Your hands are shaking!” Murat said as if Oscar was pretending to be strong.

Oscar looked at his hands that were holding tightly to the rein. ”Ola! You got it wrong. My stomach is hurting again. I want to go take a poo, but I can’t take off my pants here, so… I am taking it in!”

Murat finally laughed. At last, even Oscar laughed out loud. Even though they were facing a battle that was about to break out, but this young man, just like any Andrew’s disciple, faced the enemy’s huge base with a laugh. There was no fear!

Oscar turned Rayshure around. He faced the 5000 warriors that guarded the central base.

”As your highest commanding officer, as usual, I am about to say some words that elevate your spirit and encourage the fighting will!” Oscar yelled using the strength in his whole body. He watched in satisfaction the 5000 pairs of ears stood up in attention.

”But! The enemy is right in front of us. I don’t even want to describe their army! I believe you must ask this one question in your hearts: Can we stop the invasion by the enemy?”

”Warriors! I do not want to use such things like money and status to confuse your vision and affect your fighting will. I just want you to imagine. When the survival amongst you tell your son and grandson about the tragic war story of the defensive war at Saijo Mountain in the future, you can be proud and look into your children’s eyes. You can tell them with pride that as the father that you are, you once defeated the strongest invader in the Empire. You once prevented your home from being destroyed by the enemy! Then… If that is the case, even for me, I will welcome the enemy’s fight with the highest of spirits. Even if I were to die in a foreign land, I would be able to close my eyes in harmony!”

The warriors raised their weapons respectively. They placed the icy blade close to their chests.

”How is it?” Oscar asked in a small voice to Murat by his side.

The Major General wiped his eyes that were puffed red due to the excitement, ”Your Highness, it’s excellent! But, your warriors are still waiting. You still need to say one more sentence!”

Oscar smiled. He withdrew the machete that reflected the bright sunlight and snow in a sudden movement.

”All hail Titan!”

”All hail Titan!” Countless blades pointed towards the sky. Amidst the deafening cheers, Saijo Mountain became the iron forest made by weaponry.

The sound of horns that signified attack was heard from the Deiss base, but the loud sound was reflected back by the more passionate yell in front of Saijo Mountain.

The enemy was advancing. Out of the expectations of the Titan generals, the Deiss who was aiming to finish the war as quickly as possible did not send out their most elite Teutonic knights. Instead, they arranged into four infantry formations and headed on into the battlefield.

There were clouds in the sky. The clouds were moving from the west to east, with the northwest wind suddenly becoming strong. The army flag was flapping around while the war horses were shivering. The cheers on Saijo Mountain stopped. Instead, orders for the soldiers with respect to Deiss were heard. The First Independent Brigade pulled back the fighting units from the frontline. At the shout of the flagman, the archers arranged themselves on the frontline.

Deiss walked calmly toward the battlefield, causing a tidy sound of footsteps on the snowy ground. The pace of the invaders was strangely calm. The people of Titan looked in despise at these green-eyed people with light golden hair. They must have done the sort of thing like fooling around in their neighbor’s home for a lot of times. Until now, they had already forgotten the feeling of embarrassment!

Finally, the orders from both sides stopped. Saijo Mountain had finished its final arrangement against the enemy. The Deiss also appeared at the best attack position on the battlefield. The wind seemed to have weakened at this moment. It was a piece of silence between the sky and earth.

Torry stood on the tall lookout. This little jerk kept sniggering at the enemy that came closer and closer to Saijo Mountain. Just now, the first thousand men unit of the Deiss had already entered the effective range of the fortress cannons. Torry thought in his heart: These green-eyed bastards must wonder what the use of these black rocks on the snowy ground was for.

”Your Highness! That is the volcanic ash from Pinehill Peak. It is the item necessary for measuring the firing range in snowy ground. Luckily I brought them from home.”

At this moment, Oscar was also on the lookout at the peak. He looked at the excited old fellow strangely.

”Hey! Aren’t you over excited? The enemy’s nine infantry formation have already come into range. Don’t you think you should do something now?”

Torry shook his head. ”Wait for a bit! Wait! I set the first synchronized firing point at the place 1000 meters away from the frontline. That is behind those rocks. Your Highness, just wait for a bit, alright? At this distance, if we are lucky, we can let the Deiss’ Corps stay here forever!”

1000 meters! The mesmerizing and hopeful 1000 meters!

When the last thousand man unit of Deiss passed the 1000 meters range while the Titan warriors at the front raised their bows and shields habitually, a fierce howl was heard coming from one of the cannon holes on Saijo Mountain. Many soldiers in the First Independent Brigade had not seen the power of cannons before. They turned in fright, looking at the mountain, only to see that a bright spark accompanied by snow fog flew from the mountain.

The invaders who were closest to the Titan stared in confusion at the light mist rising from the mountain. Suddenly, the sound of whistling of the wind was heard from above their heads, accompanied by a loud rumbling. Titan’s ground shook aggressively under the feet of the invaders! The people from the back screamed terribly. Numerous destroyed limbs were flying toward the air along with the deafening explosions. Soon, the flesh and blood heavily slammed towards the people that were overwhelmed with fear.

This was something that could not be understood by the Deiss warriors. Without even starting the fight, the team had already sustained a horrifying attack. The soldiers stuck together in fear. They were exchanging words and looking all around! What was this all about? Could it be that Titan requested for a god that could control thunder and fire?

The military officers who had not received any orders from the back tried their best to yell their slogans and control the formation. They were the strongest warriors of the Kingdom. Once they received the orders to attack, then nothing could stop them from advancing! The rumbling stopped. The people of Deiss were advancing in panic. Maybe… Maybe this was a way for the Titan to scare them!

Torry nodded. He was very satisfied by the first fire. This round of firing did not only send a whole fleet of Deiss home but also proved his firing simulation.

”Then… Fire!”

Looking at the smoke and snow fog that were continuously rising from the mountain, the Deiss warriors who had an experience before fearfully stuck in a group and raised their shield. However, the rumbling of the explosion once again destroyed their hope to live! The four thousand-man unit near the Titan frontline experienced the first cannon attacks in the military history in Westland. The ammunition flew all over the place, and so did flesh and blood. The bloody red smoke and shaking human bodies, like a kite, were shot into the air.

”What is this? What is this?!” Marshal Veron Blundindt crazily tore his shirt apart. ”Who saw it? What sort of weapon is the Titan using? This must be a weapon!”

The military officers on his left shook his head. They did not want to admit this. When the terrible rumbling rang, they were taking steps back.

”It should be… Sukhoi’s family secret weapon!” Colonel Opal was extremely pale. It had only been two hours and he had seen too many inexplicable things. ”Marshal, I am sorry! DeKTer’s information is blank on this. I… I do not know what that thing is!”

The Deiss Infantry Army Group was still moving forward on the battlefield. The Titan warriors had relaxed their bow and put down their weapons. Between the firing of cannons, they could clearly see the terrible situation of the enemy. Actually, they could no longer be called as the enemy. They were simply pitiful people who were in a panic.

A Deiss Colonel was moving in between the formation. Just now, he had already become the highest commanding officer of the Kingdom’s First Infantry Corps. By his side, the Corps leader’s skull was cut in half by a weapon which trajectory could not be identified at all, shot from the direction of the Titans. His brain fluid and blood spurted on the Colonel. This Colonel stared in disbelief at the Corps leader who lied on the ground. The Corps leader was a Paladin that was capable of killing off a whole unit by himself. But…

”Retreat! Retreat…” The Colonel began to yell desperately.

Deiss warriors searched for the source of sound. They knew this was not the voice of the Corps leader. If they followed this voice and left the battlefield, then it was highly probable for them to be punished strictly by the army’s law.

”1 minute and 21 seconds!” Torry yelled after he counted until number ‘81’ in his heart. ”Cannon 4, good job! You have a new record there!”

The gunner at Cannon 4 waved hands at the commanding officers on the lookout. Following that, the cannons that had been properly loaded just now once again roared arrogantly!

This ammunition accurately hit the Colonel’s body. Just like a fully expanded bag, the Colonel’s body exploded in a sudden movement before spreading toward all direction. Among the miserable scream, along with this Corps leader that was newly appointed, another warrior fell.

”Stop the firing!” Torry yelled out the order without hesitation. Even though his cannons had not reached the cooling requirement, he must obey the order of the Chief Commander of the Battle General Gondol Abassia.

”Arrows, prepare!” A Titan military officer yelled at the unit arranging at the frontline in a loud voice. ”At 45 degrees, to the front! Release arrows!”

At the border of Saijo Mountain behind the hardwood fences and hidden holes, the trembling sounds of bows were heard. Titan’s archers even were not able to look at the enemy. Deiss’s invaders did not have any formation now. They were just like bed bugs moving their bodies that were overwhelmed with fear and shock.

Numerous arrows made a thick dark cloud in the sunny winter noon. The clouds stopped for a while at the limit of the sky and then formed a dense rain due to gravity. The rain fell on the panicking people. When coming close to the target, the water droplet suddenly turned into whistling iron weapons.

Deiss’ First Infantry Army Group’s sufferings were endless. Only a small majority of people saw the clouds hovering above their heads. They raised their shield and slowly moved forward from the falling of the rain!

”Arrows, ten degrees! From left and right! Shoot!”

Along with the order of the officer, a thicker cloud was released from the Titan's frontline base, but this synchronized shooting had an aim. There was a choice. The rain of arrows falling from left and right successfully forced the Deiss Infantry into the middle.

”It seems… That Marshal had completely given up his First Infantry Army Group!” Abassia said lightly to General Endorph beside him.

”Now? Fire the cannons? Ignite the isolating trench! Cut off their backing route completely?” General Endorph frowned. Giving a Corp up. How much courage and power of will was needed to do that?

”No!” Abassia shook his head. He looked at Viscount Sukhoi who was standing like a big hero on the lookout, ”No worries. Our cannon unit commander is a smart one!”

”Hahahahah! Your Highness! Did you see that? Those guys actually gathered again. Cannons 2 until 8! Fire!”

Smoke and fire rose again from Saijo Mountain!

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”Hum… Hum!”

The retreating horn! This was the sound of the horn that signaled a retreat! The soldiers who could not face this anymore finally caught a string of life. They threw anything that could affect their movements, such as weapons, armors and war flags. That was seen as life as those fierce Yaran warriors!

”How many… How many have returned?” Marshal Veron pursed his lips. He actually did not want to hear about that data.

Colonel Opal took a glance at the First Infantry Corps that quickly returned. ”Three divisions or four divisions? I am not sure! I don’t want to face this!”

”I give my orders!”

The Marshal’s messenger immediately came forward.

”The units responsible to round over and attack must set out now. The Teutonic Knights give up the central battlefield. Divide yourselves into two and get close to the Titan’s frontline from the left and right wings of Saijo Mountain.”

After getting the orders of the Marshal, the messenger quickly left the forest.

”Scared?’ Veron turned to the military officers standing by his left. They were the main generals of the Fourth Corps of the Kingdom.

”Yes! Scared to the point of shivering! Scared to the point of death!” The Corps leader of the Fourth Corps replied honestly, but anyone could see that a fire of will was burning in the eyes of this General.

”But, Sir Marshal, the First Corp’s defeat is worth it. He made the enemy reveal their deadly weaknesses. I already calculated the firing interval and effective damage range of those weapons. If I am ordered to set out, I will return the fear that was implied on our comrades back to them in tenfold or twentyfold!”

”How do you plan to attack?” Veron looked at this brave and intelligent general in satisfaction.

”With the mobility of the Teutonic Knights as cover, we will quickly pass through the battlefield. Even if the enemy’s weapon is able to bring large damage to us, my warriors will still be able to tear their base apart.”

The Marshal nodded, but he knew that the Teutonic Knight’s advancing speed would leave the Infantry Army Group behind. Coordination between the cavalry and infantry was not easy!

”Good luck!” The Marshal saluted to the Corps leader of the Kingdom’s Fourth Infantry Corps.

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”Did you realize the problem?” Oscar turned to his old friend.

”Yeah!” Torry came back to his senses after his initial excitement. He was not able to cause the enemy’s whole corps to stay at the base frontline. Instead, he let one-third of them go. ”The reaction speed of the gunners cannot keep up with the changes in the battlefield. Adjusting the angle of firing of cannons takes energy. This way, the enemy has enough time to go out of my firing range.”

Oscar nodded. This was a problem that could not be solved. The weight of fortress cannons and its base made this highly offensive weapon unable to move easily. Without taking the interval between firing, this was the most serious problem faced by the cannon unit on a battlefield.

”Will we win?” Colonel Opal moved his body uneasily on his warhorse. He already figured out that the First Infantry Army Group would encounter a strong resistance, yet the Titan did not suffer any damage at all in the first attack. They simply used that fire spewing weapon that was loud to easily attain victory.

‘Cannon… Cannons?” The knowledgeable Colonel Opal heard of this weapon that the Engel and Hoillanders were studying together before. But… No information showed that the Titan were also developing such terrifying weapon that was highly offensive.

”Cannons?” Marshal Veron repeated this unfamiliar word, but he laughed lightly, ”Your Highness! We will win! If the Titan continue to take the form of defense and rely on that weapon, victory will surely be ours!”

At 2:59 p.m., the 31st day of third month Church Calendar Year 797. The sunlight slowly deviated to the western sky. The Deiss was preparing for their second round of attack. Meanwhile, the Titan was replenishing the weight-carrying carriage, food supply carriage and so on to the frontline. They replenished everything that could be used to stop cavalry unit.

The battlefield at Saijo Mountain resumed its silence. It seemed that… Only the ammunition hole that had black soil and the terrifying corpses on the snowy ground told calmly of a hot-blooded legend to the people.