Magic Industrial Age.

Chapter 532, Section 530: A Narrow Victory (Part 2)

The battlefield of Verdun.

Behind the imperial lines, everyone was busy as soon as the order was given.

At the artillery position, boxes of shells were moved aside, the dimensional bag was opened, and new boxes were taken out.

These boxes are all unique; some are emitting cold air; some are filled with a lot of foam cushioning; and some are placed upside down with the bullets facing down.

The same applies to the tanks awaiting deployment.

The heavy ammunition was carried away, and new special shells were placed in various locations. Even the ammunition belts of the heavy machine guns were replaced.

Even though they were all experienced, it was still quite a busy time.

Meanwhile, at the front lines of the battlefield, in the trenches, the Imperial soldiers received new bullets.

Further back, at a military airfield, the defeated Imperial air force squadrons were not to be outdone.
The red baron angrily loaded the new ammunition belt into the heavy machine gun and quickly made adjustments.

The other pilots were also busy with their own tasks, and after putting on their flight suits, they sat down in the cockpit.

A short while later, they maneuvered the aircraft, gliding a distance on the runway before taking off into the sky.

Unlike before, this time, as they traversed the battlefield, each aircraft carried an additional person.

A fourth-tier Calamity expert clung tightly to the fighter jet, his swirling battle aura resisting the gale, while he squinted at the approaching battlefield.

This time, the pilots are no longer fighting alone!

At this moment, on the battlefield, the Hell Legion had already begun its attack from a distance of several hundred meters.

Baba's arrows were all imbued with magic, and when they struck the ground, they exploded with a bang.

As a result, the area within three meters in front of the arrow, forming a fan shape, was completely engulfed in flames.

In the sky, the flying units, the Terrorfiends, also made their move, unleashing beams of magma from their Hellfire Tree Wands that ravaged the land.

The Empire's stronghold, the second line of defense at Verdun, which had only recently been captured and had not been well repaired, was destroyed once again.

The hidden Imperial soldiers experienced the same helplessness that only Allied soldiers felt. Although they tried their best to pull the trigger before they died, it was more like a final act of venting.

The empire was losing ground, almost visibly.

However, the empire's counterattack came just as abruptly.

boom!
A loud bang was heard as one of the cannons in the artillery position opened fire. It was unclear which conspicuous artilleryman couldn't resist and launched the first attack.

The lone shell crossed the front lines and rapidly approached the location of the demon legion.
However, a crimson ray flashed by, destroying the shell in mid-air.

With so many hordeo flying in mid-air, how could we not intercept them?

However, to their surprise, when the shell exploded, it didn't send out shrapnel, but a dazzling burst of light.

The light was so dazzling, like a small sun rising again in a short time, radiating extreme light and heat.

However, it only lasted for a short time, about three or four seconds, before dimming, as if no damage had been caused.

In fact, it did not cause any harm to humans, but it terrified the dinosaurs in the sky, who wanted to retreat.

Even the hellish aura in the sky was swept away in large quantities.

The reason is simple: what was sealed there was a ball of holy light!
In fact, the Empire has been researching this for a long time. It seems that magic and cannonballs are not mutually exclusive. If they can be effectively integrated, it is not impossible for one plus one to be greater than two!

In the end, however, it was not promoted.

There are many reasons, but the biggest problem is cost. Shells are consumables, and what's needed is high quality at a low price.

Furthermore, the power of the cannonballs is already quite formidable, capable of solving 99% of the problems. Adding more superfluous elemental damage is less effective than firing another shot.

However, when the Battle of the Marne broke out, the Allied forces really disregarded their reputation and resorted to all sorts of underhanded tactics.

When they bring out abyssal demons, hellish devils, and even the ghosts of the underworld, the empire will naturally be wary.

They've learned their lesson and will definitely need to find a way to deal with it.

As for what is most effective in dealing with these evil species?
It's the church, of course!
Although the Habsburg Empire was not accepted by the Church of the Sun God, it had the Church of the Seven Gods!

Even if the Seven Gods have to guard against the Church of the Sun and cannot take the initiative, they can still find a group of priests to do the hard labor.

Thus, the top-secret "Destroy Evil Plan" came into being, and the Church of the Seven Gods contributed countless pastors at all levels.

And this is one of the results: sealing the cannonballs of the divine spell 'Holy Light Exorcism'.

They have their own name: tracer bullets!

This was the first one, and certainly not the last; it followed almost immediately after. The deafening roar continued for a long time.

One shell after another rose into the sky, tracing arcs as they hurtled towards the Hell Legion.

The horde demons attacked almost instinctively. At first, they were able to block them, but the lava rays detonated the cannonballs, which then burst into holy light in mid-air.

However, as too much of the hellish power was expelled and large holes were burned into the black smoke that filled the sky, they became somewhat exhausted.

The arrival of the flight squadron truly threw them into a panic.

This time, the flight squadron used only holy water bombs, which, when they hit the devil, created large holes.

The devil's own superhuman regenerative abilities were rendered ineffective by the corrosive effects of the holy water.

Of course, it's not that they don't want to retaliate, but those fourth-tier natural disasters are not to be underestimated.

Without obstacles of equal caliber, they can now act with impunity.

A series of battle qi slashes swept across the sky, demonstrating absolute suppression based on rank.

Even though these are all demons, infamous evil species in the multiverse, they were still beaten and screamed when faced with beings more powerful than themselves.

The situation only eased after the Hell Legion also dispatched a number of high-ranking demons.

At this point, the aerial battlefield had completely devolved into a chaotic melee.

The horde and the magical flying machines clashed, while high-ranking demons fought for their lives against powerful beings of the Cataclysm.
At the crossroads, the aircraft will also target high-level demons, and the powerful beings of the natural disaster will also slay the terrifying demons.

In an instant, magic flew wildly, battle aura surged, and bursts of smoke and blood mist would occasionally erupt. Corpses would fall to the ground, and various parts would fly everywhere.

Higher in the sky, turbulent fluctuations of elemental power were already emanating, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down, like a raging flood.

There, several lesser demon lords and imperial legends were already locked in battle.

The most conspicuous demon lord was a succubus queen, who brandished a leather whip that burst into bursts of fire, and whose clothing was scantily clad, or even naked.

To say that she perfectly fits human aesthetic standards wouldn't be an exaggeration; for example, she's overly tall, standing at a full two meters.

For example, it has wings, but not the sacred wings of an angel; instead, it has a pair of bat wings that look injured and have several holes.

For example, someone with an aggressive appearance might seem like a difficult person to get along with.

Even so, its inherent top-tier allure continues to radiate charm to the outside world at all times.

Even legendary powerhouses must undergo round after round of tests of willpower; a slight misstep can lead to distraction.

Fighting her is an ordeal; not only do you have to be careful of her whip and magic, but you also have to constantly remind yourself not to kneel at her feet.

Even so, there were still legendary mages who would occasionally cast protective spells like 'Mechanical Mind' to help strengthen his will.

Of course, on the Empire's side, His Majesty Saint Hayes is equally terrifyingly strong.

Even when fighting a lesser demon lord, he maintained a dominant stance.

With one hand wielding a Western sword that unleashes a storm of fighting spirit, and the other hand employing a pistol technique that appears and disappears like a ghost, the combination of the two is so powerful that even demons cannot withstand it.

In terms of sheer numbers, the Hell Legion has brought far more this time. So, this one is usually fighting two or even three demon lords at once, making him incredibly powerful!
However, the strong are the strong, and it is not easy to see these legends fight to the death.

The ground battlefield is what truly determines the course of a war.

The appearance of tracer bullets finally curbed the invincible momentum of the hell army, but this was not a direct hit; its main effect was to dispel the power of hell.

But what truly determines the outcome of the ground battle is the magic tank.

Then, one after another, magic-powered tanks burst out of their cover and began to speed forward amidst the roar of their engines.

Even from a great distance, a tank commander fired a shot without hesitation.

This cannonball, a conventional one, struck Oseimo's double defenses directly.

As it turns out, the cannonball attack that the muscular demon couldn't withstand, the Ose demon couldn't withstand either.

Their defensive line was instantly breached by the blast.

The difference is that the devil is more cunning than the demon.

Even the muscular and extremely powerful Osemite couldn't withstand it, let alone the other demons.

They chose to dodge quickly and then erected magical shields.

As long as you avoid the core area of ​​the explosion and are protected by shields, although you may be blown to pieces by the shockwave, the casualties will not be so exaggerated.

This is purely a matter of strength. There's no way around it; these demons are all proficient in both melee and magic, each at least mid-level, with rich combat experience, and their strength is beyond doubt.

However, the second shot from the magic tank caused them to suffer heavy losses.

Although this explosion also produced a burst of light, it was different from a 'traceer bullet'.
Instead, it explodes, scattering sparks in all directions, which, when they land on the demon, produce a crackling, corrosive sound.

This is the divine spell 'Divine Blessing Light'!
Its original purpose was to heal injuries on a large scale, and it still works now. However, when it falls on a demon, the conflict between the divine energy and the power of hell can make a group of demons wish they were dead.

The feeling was like a mortal being burned in a fire.

Of course, the holy water cannonballs used yesterday were also indispensable; their power was considerable, but the quantity was much smaller.

Imperial soldiers followed the tanks again.

They worked in small groups, using magic tanks as cover, suppressing the demons' attacks with heavy machine guns, and then reaping lives with rifle bursts.

They've really mastered the art of combined arms warfare, and their advance speed is incredibly fast.

However, despite being suppressed, the Hell Legion still displayed extreme tenacity at this moment.

After they dispersed, they did not retreat, but instead tried to maneuver around the tanks, constantly searching for their weaknesses.

Or they could directly attack the infantry behind the tanks.

Their spells are often instantaneous, and even from a distance, after avoiding the tanks, they can still inflict damage on Imperial soldiers.

Of course, if they were discovered by Imperial soldiers first, they would also be torn to shreds by bullets.

As for the magic tanks, these demons, after paying a heavy price, have also found an effective way to deal with them.

One of them is a dark magic called 'Soul Howl', which can directly attack the soul, causing unbearable pain and loss of control over the body.

This isn't actually a deadly spell, but rather something the devils use to torture people, making them wish they were dead.

However, here, it had a very special effect: if the crew members did not have a special way to protect their souls, or if their souls were strong enough, they would lose their ability to move.

Without mobility, a tank will shut down, and a stopped tank, even one weighing up to sixty tons, can be destroyed.

Another method is a magic called 'Dark Shockwave', which can create a resonant frequency to damage enemies.

This magic is quite rare; even among demons, few have awakened this type of spell.

Surprisingly, this magic, when applied to the magic tank, caused extremely subtle vibrations.

The damage to the tank itself is not significant, but it has a strong damaging effect on the lapis lazuli stones and engraved magic runes inside.

With these magic runes destroyed, the magic tank will naturally experience various problems.

Some malfunctioned, some could not fire their main guns, and some even stopped in place.

This gave the devils an opportunity to concentrate their attacks and cause destruction.

Ultimately, both of these methods of destruction stem from the tank's insufficient magical defense.

By this point, both sides had found each other's weaknesses and could inflict heavy casualties, thus entering a sustained stranglehold phase.

Back and forth, chase and slash, find an opportunity for a fatal blow, fight to the death.

At this point, it all comes down to who can withstand the pressure first!

On this battlefield, for the first time, magic tanks suffered massive losses and destruction.

Although each time it takes the lives of countless demons, the losses are also quite staggering.

This battle raged from morning till evening, leaving both sides exhausted, yet they had no choice but to continue committing troops.

Until an unexpected turning point occurred.

Erich Hopner, one of the tank soldiers trained by the Empire, became the commander of a tank because of his outstanding performance and daring personality.

This child, from a wealthy family, was well-off due to the development of the magic energy industry and had received a complete education.

His loyalty to the empire is beyond question, and he is also extremely eager to fight.

His crew was also carefully selected by him; they were all the best of the best.

Their combined strength unleashed formidable power, crushing and killing countless demons.

Even a wounded high-ranking demon fell from the sky, and he seized the opportunity to blast him to death with a single shot.

The piercing screams terrified the other devil squads, causing them to intentionally or unintentionally avoid fighting the tank.

However, the young tank commander was not satisfied; he wanted to end the war.

So, intentionally or unintentionally, he began to rush forward, breaking through the devil's defenses and reaching the front line, where he also saw the spatial rift.

Then, without hesitation, he switched to the 'space-bridging bomb' and fired a shot.

It's hard to describe the splendor of that shot!

When the shell exploded, the massive spatial rift suddenly tightened, driving countless demons mad.

It includes not only demons on the ground, but also high-ranking demons in the air and lesser demon lords above the sea of ​​clouds.

This is cutting off their escape route!

How could they not be anxious?
At this moment, both sides, who had been fighting fiercely all day and were already exhausted, were forced to increase the intensity of their battle.

This time, countless magic-powered tanks seemed to have found an opportunity and began to charge the defensive line. After closing the distance, they unleashed a 'space-bridging bomb'.

Meanwhile, the Hell Legion almost immediately chose to shrink their defensive line.

They had an extreme sense of order, but ultimately they were fighting for their own interests. After resisting for a period of time, they finally chose to retreat in an orderly manner.

Just as the sun was about to disappear below the horizon, the last lesser demon lord departed, taking most of the higher-ranking demons with him.

By this time, the group of magic tanks had approached, and one spatial closure bullet after another was fired, finally closing the spatial rift leading to the second level of hell.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Grand Duke Disbart, the ruler of Dis City, never emerged from the Iron Tower, nor did he ever show his face.

As for the remaining demons, they could no longer maintain their formation and scattered in all directions, each fleeing for their own lives.

Ultimately, the devil's order is based on extreme pressure and the threat of death, not on adherence to beliefs.

Therefore, once the threat of death was gone, they instantly collapsed.

However, the Empire didn't have much strength left to pursue them. They fired a few symbolic shots and that was the end of it.

As the last glimmer of dawn faded and the world sank into darkness, the battle ended.

In this battle, the Imperial Magic-Mechanical Mixed Army Group, in its final form as the Hell Demon Legion, narrowly won!
But no one can deny that Verdun's third line of defense has been breached once again.

Further ahead lies the last line of defense, the location of Verdun.

If Verdun is captured, Luttia will be within easy reach.

And this protracted battle for supremacy in the Old World is about to come to an end.

As long as we take down the last line of defense!
Take Verdun!
Perhaps this will be a sleepless night for countless people.

At this moment, the flower-lined area and the screening room fell silent, then erupted into a cacophony of noise.

Only Virgil, the red dragon, looked on incredulously: "They lost? They lost? Aren't these Hell Legions a bit too cowardly?"

Luo Yi patted him on the shoulder and said, "After all, it's not our own war, so we can't make those high and mighty demon lords fight to the death."

Therefore, this result is not surprising.

Virgil the Red Dragon turned his head and said, "So, you know what kind of targeted shells the Empire has?"

Holy light dispels evil, and there's even divine protection?

"I don't know!"

"Then how can you be so sure?"

"Because I have a brain, and more importantly, because I have never seen through the true nature of the empire."

Virgil the Red Dragon didn't quite understand what Roy was trying to say, but he didn't think much of it. He just shook his head and put everything behind him, instead remembering something else.

"Thank goodness, I didn't make a bet with you. I told you, no one can take away the Red Dragon's wealth!"

With that, the old man raised his head high, as if he had made a million dollars, and left.

Luo Yi went to the terrace, looked up at the dark sky, took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly.

The question is whether the allied forces can survive this ordeal.

Who knows, that fat Carlisle might already be on his way. Should we give them some advice?
Forget it, there are no secrets in the world. If I say I won't get involved, then I won't!

PS: I was writing this chapter until almost 3 a.m. last night, I just couldn't keep going, so I revised it this morning before posting it.

This counts as two chapters, one is like making up for yesterday's missed chapter, and the other is today's!
(End of this chapter)