The Curtain Rises on the Battle

Under the command of the dwarf general, the coastal defenses of the Dragon Empire gradually grew more coordinated. With the arrival of reinforcements from the various imperial armies, the once vulnerable defensive line was now bolstered, no longer as riddled with gaps as when the Dragon Empire first stood alone.

Soon, the three hundred crossbow chariots and fifteen thousand dwarf crossbowmen requisitioned from the Death Empire finally arrived at the Dragon Empire in the final hour. The addition of these three hundred crossbow chariots made the Dragon Empire’s defenses stronger than ever, even granting them the ability to counterattack. Yet, a hundred years had passed—who could say whether the dreadful Demon Isle had not grown even more powerful? The empires that had survived that bitter war a century ago still felt uneasy about the impending conflict.

They did not know that a hundred years before, they had fought disunited, which allowed Demon Isle to defeat them one by one. Now, however, the continent was unified under the military command of the Death Empire. Under this unified command, coordination between the various imperial troops and the efficiency of a single command had made their collective strength greater than ever—only the lingering terror from the first war prevented them from shaking off their inner fears.

About forty days passed after the Dragon Empire and the Doma Empire set up their defenses, yet there was no sign of Demon Isle. The various empires began to relax, thinking perhaps Demon Isle had not yet recovered. But Mo Fei knew better: he had only disrupted their plans and bought time to gather strength. To retreat now would invite disaster. Thus, he issued strict orders that both defensive lines remain on full alert, allowing for no relaxation or negligence.

In the field, the empires found it difficult to control their own armies, so they could only allow Mo Fei to make his deployments as he saw fit.

As expected, it wasn’t long before tense news arrived from the Doma Empire. Small boats sent to sea had sighted a vast fleet sailing from the direction of Demon Isle—estimated to arrive in about ten days, though their exact landing point was unknown.

According to the sea scouts, Demon Isle had dispatched nearly a thousand warships, each only slightly smaller than the colossal vessels of the Death Empire. While the Death Empire’s ships could carry three thousand fully armed soldiers, those of Demon Isle, though somewhat smaller, could still carry at least fifteen hundred warriors each.

This meant Demon Isle would be fielding a force of at least 1.5 million. Meanwhile, the Doma Empire had at most sixty thousand soldiers, and the Dragon Empire’s defensive line had only a little over three hundred thousand troops.

The situation suddenly became dire. Mo Fei issued a third order to all the empires, demanding immediate reinforcement of the Dragon Empire and the shipment of strategic supplies to accompany their armies. In the Doma Empire, Mo Fei trusted that, with enchanted arrows and the support of seven warships, Kane could repel the Demon Isle landing force.

Mo Fei’s confidence stemmed from his belief that Demon Isle’s true target was the Dragon Empire, not the Doma Empire. The Doma Empire was not a strategic stronghold, but if Demon Isle could gain control of the Dragon Empire through the help of traitors, they would have a foothold on the continent.

Thus, the Dragon Empire became Demon Isle’s primary objective.

All at once, the empires began another round of mobilization. This time, there was no holding back; the matter was now one of survival. If the Dragon Empire could hold, then sending more troops was a small price to pay.

As reinforcements and supplies flowed toward the Dragon Empire, Kane maintained strict surveillance over every potential landing site along the Doma Empire’s coast. His main force was concentrated at the empire’s largest port, where a landing would lead directly to open plains—ideal for massed troop assaults.

At last, the boats sent to sea hurried back with news that brought both relief and worry: of the more than a thousand Demon Isle warships, fewer than a hundred were headed toward the Doma Empire. Kane’s concern, however, was that the majority were sailing for the Dragon Empire, and reports from the morning revealed that his lord had already set out with nearly sixty thousand troops to reinforce the Dragon Empire.

Mo Fei’s judgment proved flawless—Demon Isle was determined to seize the Dragon Empire. Even with reinforcements from the swiftest Dragon Rock Empire troops, the defenders were still outnumbered three to one by Demon Isle, and if the enemy’s full capacity was considered, the ratio could reach six to one. The Dragon Empire stood on the brink of disaster.

Receiving Kane’s urgent message and seeing the disproportionate forces, Mo Fei could no longer remain idle. He pressed the other empires to hasten their reinforcements toward the Dragon Empire, then issued orders to the Death Empire to rearm the forty thousand berserkers previously disbanded, assigning them to defend the capital. The three thousand heavy cavalry and remaining crossbow chariots stationed in the capital were ordered to march night and day in support of the Dragon Empire’s frontline.

Mo Fei’s orders were executed with remarkable efficiency. While reinforcements from other empires were still en route, three thousand heavy cavalry, accompanied by two thousand lightly armored elven archers, six hundred crossbow chariots, and ten thousand newly formed berserker infantry, arrived at the City of Death.

After issuing brief instructions to the various battalion leaders who had marched with the army, he had nearly ten thousand enchanted arrows loaded onto the crossbow chariots. This force, the most formidable on the continent, set out in grand array for the Dragon Empire.

By now, the hundred Demon Isle warships had already approached the seas off the Doma Empire.

“Pass down the orders: crossbow chariots prepare fire arrows. When the ships come within range, take aim, but wait to burn their ships until their infantry have begun landing. Not a single one of these men is to be allowed to escape. We must finish here quickly and then go to the Dragon Empire to support my lord.”

Several berserker guards responded and hurried out to relay the commands.

The enemy drew ever closer. Kane concentrated all available forces at the port; elsewhere, only observation posts remained.

Perhaps emboldened by their victory a century ago, Demon Isle held the continent’s warriors in contempt. They sent no vanguard; nearly a hundred warships advanced in a straight line across the sea, pressing in menacingly. As they drew near, the warships lowered landing craft, and boat after boat surged toward the docks and shoreline.

According to Kane’s plan, the close-combat infantry Mo Fei had stationed at the port turned and ran as soon as the enemy’s landing craft approached, making a loud show of retreat.

The Demon Isle soldiers, emboldened, jeered and laughed uproariously. The commanders aboard the warships, seeing this, ordered their vessels even closer to the dock.

The timing was nearly perfect; the first wave of landers had almost ten thousand men ashore. Watching the steady stream of Demon Isle soldiers disembarking, Kane gave the order: “Crossbowmen forward, crossbow chariots load area-attack enchanted arrows; eliminate the enemies on shore, advance at once!”

The Demon Isle soldiers who had stormed the docks were not entirely fools—they gathered before advancing, wary though reassured by their enemy’s apparent weakness. Their basic tactics were sound, which actually made the crossbow chariots’ attack easier.

The nearly ten thousand Demon Isle soldiers who had landed quickly assembled and charged forward. Before they entered range of the crossbowmen, the crossbow chariots unleashed their attack.

In an instant, black clouds gathered above the massed Demon Isle soldiers. Before they could react, thunder roared and countless bolts of lightning swept down. Two hundred crossbow chariots fired in unison, enveloping the entire first wave of Demon Isle troops in a storm of enchanted arrows.

When the clouds lifted, the imperial veterans witnessed a scene beyond their imagining. The enchanted arrow barrage had only severely wounded the Demon Isle soldiers—few had been killed outright.

The wounded Demon Isle warriors, driven to frenzy, ignored their injuries and charged again with bloodcurdling cries.

“Elven archers forward, fire!” Kane ordered at once.

The archers unleashed their first volley and quickly fell back. “Heavy cavalry, forward, fire!”

The heavy cavalry, equipped with massive crossbows, loosed a storm of bolts as the Demon Isle soldiers closed in. Few were left standing after the hail of arrows. “Heavy cavalry, charge!”

Reloading as they advanced, the armored war beasts of the heavy cavalry swept through the survivors like a storm, their riders’ crossbows firing again and again.

“Elven archers, advance and clear the field! Crossbow chariots forward, load fire arrows! Target—the enemy ships at sea. Once in range, commence free fire at will!”