72. Retreat to Celestial Dragon City

The battle grew ever fiercer. The elven light-armored crossbowmen, previously withdrawn to the rear, rushed forward at the command; the berserker infantry arriving as reinforcements could only clear the path ahead for the crossbow carts. The commander leading the demon island troops, witnessing nearly ten thousand soldiers lost upon landing, hastily ordered an immediate retreat back to the ships. Chaos erupted both ashore and afloat. At this moment, two hundred crossbow carts had reached the shoreline and unleashed a barrage upon nearly a hundred demon island warships. The tremendous whistling of enchanted arrows split the air, and every ship struck by these fire arrows instantly burst into flames. Mo Fei’s fire arrows were not mere projectiles—they carried area-effect fire magic. Upon impact, they ignited raging fire within a ten-meter radius, setting the sea ablaze.

“Signal our warships to join the battle and finish them swiftly!” came the command.

A crossbow bolt fitted with a whistling device shot skyward, emitting a piercing call that drowned out even the roar of the fire arrows. Soon, the Death Empire’s seven colossal warships appeared, swift enough to join the fray and seize their share of the spoils.

The demon island fleet fell into utter disarray. The surviving ships tried to turn and flee beyond the crossbow carts’ range, but flames erupted everywhere—east and west alike. After ramming and sinking a few burning vessels, the demon island ships finally broke free of the shoreline barrage, only to find themselves confronted by warships far larger than their own. The hundred massive crossbows lining the hulls spelled their doom; despairing, they closed their eyes.

“Who would’ve guessed the young master’s arrows worked so well! Quick, load the rest onto our warships, and everyone else prepare to march for the Flying Dragon Empire!” Kain felt an effortless triumph in this battle, though he was nonetheless astonished that the demon island warriors, fierce as they were, survived even the thunderous magical attacks with only heavy injuries.

All remaining enchanted arrows were loaded onto the giant ships, and Kain ordered them to sail directly to support the Flying Dragon Empire. Though their fleet was reduced, careful deployment would still prove useful.

Two hundred smaller warships of the Doma Empire were assigned to guard the docks, while the ten thousand heavy cavalry returned from the Goldstone Empire remained to assist Doma in defending the coast. Kain led his victorious army swiftly overland toward the Flying Dragon Empire.

At this time, the Flying Dragon Empire was in dire straits. Though obstacles had been laid to hinder landings, the demon island warriors still secured the beachhead.

Watching the relentless influx of enemy troops, the dwarf general could only hold them on the shoreline, preventing further advance. But this was mere temporary respite; once enough soldiers landed, their overwhelming force would launch an assault.

Seeing the reinforcements sent by various empires, the dwarf general sighed. These soldiers, bold and unrestrained within their own realms, turned pale at the sight of demon island warriors. Multiple counterattacks during the landings yielded little; except for the Death Empire’s crossbowmen, none of the infantry dared move forward.

As enemy numbers swelled behind the defensive barriers, the dwarf general realized why the Death Empire had once intimidated the continent with only a single city. The soldiers of each empire could frighten their own people with their uniforms, but in true battle, if the opponent was stronger, defeat and rout were all too likely.

That night, a small detachment of berserker cavalry emerged from the dwarf general’s tent, mounted their magical beasts, and galloped away into the darkness.

Late at night, Mo Fei sat beneath a torchlight, reading the intelligence brought by the berserker cavalry from the dwarf general, his mind awash in emotion and melancholy.

“Your Majesty, I am ordered to command the Flying Dragon Empire’s allied forces. Yet, aside from the Flying Dragon Empire’s soldiers, who fight to the death for their homeland, the rest of the empires fear the demon island warriors like wolves. They obey orders but dare not advance, serving only as flank guards. Their poor coordination has left our wings exposed. Since the enemy began their landing, our army has been forced to retreat again and again. Now, the coastal cities of Dragon Roar, Dragon Song, Dragon Head, and many towns have fallen. Our forces cling to the treacherous terrain of the Heavenly Dragon Mountains, barely holding back the enemy. Of the Flying Dragon Empire’s two hundred thousand soldiers, nearly half have fallen. My own crossbowmen have lost a third. The allied soldiers from the other empires, aside from a small squad slain for disobedience, have suffered no losses—they simply refuse to engage, holding fast behind the lines. I am powerless and have failed Your Majesty’s trust. I await your judgment.”

“Unbelievable! In just a few days, three major cities and countless towns lost, and the allied soldiers—aside from the punished squad—have not suffered a single casualty…”

Mo Fei stared at the dwarf general’s letter and the intelligence on demon island forces, unable to make sense of the situation.

The officers of the expeditionary army gathered in Mo Fei’s tent. Mo Fei pored over the maps sent by the Flying Dragon Empire, lost in thought.

After a long silence, Mo Fei made his decision: Since the enemy could not be stopped from landing, only the imperial capital could be defended. The demon island troops, chasing the coastal defenders, were likely aiming for the capital as well. Being invaders with an overextended line and no base, they would eventually be forced to withdraw, just as had happened a century before, despite their overwhelming advantage.

“Orders!” Mo Fei addressed the assembled officers. “We are to move toward the Flying Dragon Empire’s capital, Heavenly Dragon City, and assist in its defense. Also, send word to General Hilai to bring his forces closer to the capital.”

After a moment’s thought, Mo Fei added, “In my name, order the allied forces to cover General Hilai and the Flying Dragon Empire’s defenders as they retreat. Any who disobey—execute!”

If they would not obey, Mo Fei would show no mercy.

Without rest, the cavalry who had brought the dwarf general’s intelligence took the orders and sped out of Mo Fei’s camp.

That night, Mo Fei’s force of nearly seventy thousand marched without pause, skirting a nearby town and heading for Heavenly Dragon City.

…

At dawn, the dwarf general received Mo Fei’s order to retreat and hastily summoned the officers of each empire to his camp.

“By imperial command, the entire force is to withdraw to Heavenly Dragon City…”

As soon as the dwarf general announced Mo Fei’s order, the officers from the various empires smiled in relief. Their reaction made the dwarf general feel as if he had swallowed a fly.

“By imperial command, the allied forces are to cover the Flying Dragon Empire’s soldiers as they withdraw. Any who disobey—execute!” The dwarf general, knowing Mo Fei’s orders would be enforced, only dared to specify that the Flying Dragon Empire’s troops should withdraw first, omitting mention of his own.

As expected, his words set off an uproar. One officer stepped forward and said, “We came to support the Flying Dragon Empire, and now you want us to cover their retreat? General, are you serious?”

“The Flying Dragon Empire has only sixty thousand soldiers left, including twenty thousand wounded. If they don’t go first, do you expect yourselves to flee ahead of them?”

The dwarf general was furious. These men were swift to flee in battle, but only in retreat. Asking them to cover the withdrawal was hopeless; if they reached Heavenly Dragon City before him, they would surely perish. He knew his own lord all too well.

“Let me remind you, this order is not mine—it comes directly from the imperial sovereign. If anyone dares defy it…”

“That sovereign is yours—the Death Empire’s emperor—not ours. We’ll arrange our own retreat. As for your emperor’s orders, deal with them yourself!”

With that, the officer left without so much as a glance. The other officers hesitated briefly, then followed him out.

The dwarf general was left alone with the officers of the Flying Dragon Empire and Dragon Rock Empire. He sighed deeply.