Chapter 282: The Might of the Empire Army
On the Elro Plains, a massive army was moving at a speed comparable to a high-speed train, clocking in at 200 kilometers per hour. As they advanced, dust and sand were thrown up into the air, and a fierce wind howled around them. The terrifying killing intent that enveloped an area of hundreds of miles was so intense that it could even alter the weather.Neew updates at novel/bin(.)com
The composition of this army was incredibly complex. The main body consisted of several hundred thousand cavalry units, each knight resplendent in shining armor, riding predominantly pegasus mounts. There was even a legion of pure mages, all mounted on flying mounts, clad in standard mage robes and wielding magic staves. Among them were also towering giants, encased in armor several inches thick, resembling robots more than living beings. In addition to these, there were a variety of other units, including numerous special forces teams and unique military units, totaling dozens of different types.
Among these smaller units, the Guardian Knight Order stood out the most. They were in the absolute central position, each Guardian Knight not only clad in golden armor but also riding golden griffins. Regardless of the Guardian Knights' own strength, the combat power of these golden griffins alone averaged between Level 3 and Level 4 lord-class.
Such a force was clearly assembled for a war of annihilation, capable of not just conquering any ordinary kingdom but powerful enough to challenge and destroy a near-imperial-level superpower. With such a formidable lineup, the empire had clearly spared no expense this time.
At the forefront of this troop, the core group alone consisted of several hundred individuals, including Western Duchy Grand Duke Kofiepol, Eastern Duchy Grand Duke Blakely, the empire's Chief Knight Kroft, the Formless Sword Saint, the Black Barbarian King, and others. The rest were top-tier powerhouses from the eastern, western, and southern territories, as well as elite warriors, most of whom possessed Level 6 overlord strength.
Such a military force, even for the empire, represented a significant mobilization of resources and effort, not usually deployed lightly, highlighting the determination behind this operation. There's no doubt that faced with such a military might, even the current Chaos Forest would feel a significant threat.
Kofiepol was fully confident this time, unlike Bachor's repeated failures and diminishing forces, he had gathered all possible strength and made thorough preparations before launching this assault.
"Your Grace! There's an unusual presence ahead! According to our magic division's reconnaissance, it appears to be an elite force from Darkness City, heading our way."
Kofiepol laughed, "How many are there?"
A magician responded, "Approximately between 120,000 to 150,000."
Kofiepol's laughter grew, "Hahaha, they dare to probe us with just that many? Well then, let's give them a warm welcome, shall we? Show them what true power is!"
Duke Blakely had already begun issuing orders: "Inform the entire army to prepare for battle and be on alert for an enemy attack!"
The magical messenger quickly disseminated the duke's commands through communication spells, ensuring every unit commander in the vast army, spread over tens of miles, received the orders clearly and promptly.
"The Demon King is indeed growing too fast!"
"Darkness City's strength has increased since last time!"
"According to intelligence, Darkness City is allied with the elves, but the Elven King isn't present in this force. It seems Darkness City has yet to deploy all its military strength."
The group quickly assessed the situation. It was clear that the current force alone could not shake the Empire's army, but the transformation from three to seven Dragon Kings in Darkness City was truly shocking. The rapid growth of Darkness City was terrifying.
The Hero Sato Satoru chuckled, "Good, very good. This is indeed the most powerful Demon King force I've encountered so far. Only such a Demon King is worth my effort!"
Darkness City's forces launched several long-range attacks in succession, but failed to inflict effective damage, not even managing to breach the shield.
Long Yi, with a grim expression, immediately ordered, "Retreat!"
Darkness City's forces turned to leave, planning to regroup. However, retreating proved much more difficult than arriving. If Darkness City could attack the empire's forces, the empire could certainly retaliate. Over a hundred thousand mages, averaging around Level 3 in strength, began chanting in unison. A terrifying magical fluctuation, unlike anything seen before, enveloped a hundred-mile radius of the plains.
The next moment, thousands upon thousands of fiery meteors streaked through the dark clouds and fell upon Darkness City's troops. Each meteor's impact was comparable to a small nuclear explosion. In the blink of an eye, the once peaceful grassland was utterly devastated, with Darkness City's forces suffering tens of thousands of casualties despite their immediate defensive measures. This level of casualties in an initial clash was unprecedented, highlighting the immense power of this magic. The strength of this spell was primarily due to the sheer number of casters. The combined might of a hundred thousand elite mages was comparable to a full-force strike from a top-tier mythic magical unit.
"They're trying to flee!"
"Hmph, thinking of escaping now? Too late!"
Duke Kofiepol loudly commanded, "Chase them down! We can't let them return to the Chaos Forest. Not one shall escape today!"
"Kill, kill, kill!"
The empire's forces surged forward with overwhelming momentum. The vast gap in strength between the two sides was evident. In the face of the Empire's profound strength, even the elite forces of Darkness City seemed insignificant, greatly boosting the confidence of the imperial soldiers. Most of the empire's forces were capable of flight, matching the mobility of their adversaries. Their defeat seemed certain."