Magic Industrial Age.

Chapter 620, Section 618: Destroy the defenses, advance!

It should be said that the generational gap between similar magical weapons is an almost insurmountable chasm.

In terms of aircraft, a first-generation fighter jet is at best a flying metal lump;
Second-generation fighter jets, on the other hand, began to focus on design, power, and alchemical enchantment, combining speed, agility, handling, and magical shields.

The increase in combat power is not small!
Then came the third and fourth generations, which were collections of all sorts of cutting-edge technologies that were previously unimaginable.

Hypersonic speed, triple shields, tactical missiles, beyond-visual-range strikes, hovering in the void, radar scanning, holographic vision, magic eye lock-on, ballistic calculation, and so on have all been developed.

At this point, using a fourth-generation fighter against a first-generation fighter would be a so-called "dimensional reduction attack," pure bullying!

Just like a powerful being facing mortals, it's only a matter of time before they are all defeated and killed.

The same principle applies to floating cities.

Although both Lion City and Silver Top are floating cities, the difference in their technological sophistication is like heaven and earth.

Julius Martin, the chief architect of Lion City, once convened an in-depth discussion with many legendary mages and Scourge mechanical mages from the Flower Territory.
The direction of our discussion is the difference between the two floating cities!
Although there are many speculations about the Silver Top, the language used is full of uncertain words such as "maybe," "more or less," "it seems," "should," and "I think,"
However, the submitted report still has great reference value.

For example, many mages unanimously believe that the strongest point of the Silver Top is that it has built a complete ecological cycle system, thus achieving a certain degree of self-sufficiency.

This is the foundation upon which they are able to travel through the stars!

Otherwise, basic needs like eating, drinking, relieving oneself, clothing, housing, transportation, population growth, and environmental pollution will all become enormous and unsolvable problems.

In this respect, Lion City has not yet started, and is heavily reliant on external material supplies.

Even when navigating within a plane, it is necessary to land and resupply periodically.

Take flight speed for example. Lion City is at most an aerial flight platform. Its huge size means it can't go fast even if it wants to.

According to the design, the normal cruising speed is only 70 kilometers per hour.

If pushed to the limit, it can accelerate to 120 kilometers per hour with full power.

Any faster, and the massive city might fall apart.

As for the Silver Top floating city, although its speed has not been demonstrated, it is clear that to travel in the boundless astral plane, it must have the ability to distort space on a large scale and perform point-to-point teleportation.

The technological gap between them was so vast that even the mechanical mages of Flower Territory couldn't fathom how many generations of difference they represented.

And this, in turn, involves the energy issue!

Lion City, through the linkage of multiple mage towers and the interconnected mana pools, can fly, but its energy supply is barely sufficient.

The Nesser Core of the Silver Top is the essence of the fallen Prime Material Plane. It is like a perpetual motion machine with almost inexhaustible energy.

In addition, it has advantages such as a fish-scale-shaped high-energy magic barrier shield, multiple arcane towers combined with devastating war magic, temporary sacrificial platforms, and mental projection pods.

The difference between the two is like the difference between a fishing boat and an ironclad warship.

To be honest, when the report was delivered to Loy, he was furious.

It's truly a treasure you've poured your heart and soul into creating, yet it's been belittled to the point of being worthless. If you were in that situation, you wouldn't be happy either.

However, good leaders always face their shortcomings squarely and then find ways to solve them.

Loy's solution was to differentiate himself from competitors.

It means that I don't need to be better than you in everything, but as long as I surpass you in one aspect, I can catch you off guard.

This idea was greatly developed after the long-range missile project was successfully completed, and a series of mature operational plans were formed.

Even today, it is still vividly displayed.

The magic eyes that Lion City possessed were directly integrated into the near-orbit magic eye network system that spanned Herka.
Hundreds of demonic eyes operated at full power, not even bothering to conceal themselves, and instead manifested their presence from the void.

Each demonic eye cast its gaze upon the floating continent, able to penetrate most obscure elements and take in the entire scene.

Then Deep Blue's supercomputing capabilities come into play, importing various data to perform precise decimeter-level impact point calculations and missile mission allocation.

Once all this data was transmitted to each missile, the current spectacular scene was achieved.

Lion City resembled a hedgehog, with countless flames and smoke rising as missiles, trailing brilliant tail flames, traced arcs and landed on the battlefield.

Its landing point was so precise that the range of the aftershocks was even calculated, and the shockwave stopped before it reached the front line of the battlefield.

For the Prayer Legion, the number of friendly fire incidents is extremely small.

However, for Arcane TC City, factories, and various buildings, it would be a devastating blow.

Although Roy disliked massacres and had no particular grudges against the common people of Netheril, he couldn't afford to hold back in this war where it was either you die or I live.

All he has to do is use every means possible to win the final victory!
While the Arcane Tower of Netheril is highly integrated and can even create independent spaces within it, mortals still live on the vast land.

And that's how cities came to be!

And this abundant labor force certainly needed to be utilized, so various magic energy factories, workshops, farmlands, orchards, livestock farms, water conservancy facilities, and so on came into being...

None of these had the powerful defensive field of the Arcane Tower, and under the precise strike of the missiles, they were all reduced to ruins.

In warfare, sometimes in addition to ground offensives, air superiority can be used to conduct bombing behind enemy lines and strike multiple targets.

This single wave caused devastating damage.

But this is not over yet!
After the first round of bombardment, before the aftershocks had even subsided, the Near-Orbit Magic Eye Network began a full-scale scan, with data transmitted through the Tower Spirit.

Deep Blue then calculated and finally locked onto the undamaged target, continuing preparations for the second round of bombing.

Of course, by then, the Arcane Council finally realized what was happening.

Previously, they had held the Lion in contempt; they knew better than anyone the extent of the development of the magical civilization in the Herka plane.

Even if a floating city were to appear, in their eyes it would be as fragile as an ant.

But it was this dismissive attitude that caused them to suffer a great loss.

Once they realized what was happening, they immediately mobilized their magical energy to launch a ranged attack.

Thus, before the second round of missiles could be launched, a devastating blue-white ultra-high-energy laser beam shot across the sky.

Along its path, everything that fell apart—whether it was an unfortunate fighter jet, a drone that hadn't reacted in time, or a Holy Spirit prayer blocking its way—exploded in mid-air and scattered on the ground.

The devastating war magic, [Apocalypse], remains as terrifying as ever.

However, suddenly, huge magic mirrors appeared all around Lion City. They were oval-shaped with gold edges and silver patterns, shining brightly.

The laser hit its target precisely, but was deflected by the convex mirror and shot back into the sky, causing chaos and turmoil in the stellar realm.

Faintly, the voice of a king of the abyss could be heard cursing.

At this moment, a ball of flame fell from the sky. It looked inconspicuous, swaying and flickering, as if it could be blown out at any moment.

But wherever the flames passed, whatever they touched was instantly consumed with a roar.

What it burns is not matter, but elemental power, resulting in secondary burning damage from terrifying high temperatures.

This is a devastating war magic, [Sparkling Flame]!
The flame looked slow, but it was actually unstoppable. After the blue and white laser missed its target, it ignited the magic mirror and continued to advance.

But at that very moment, a strange missile took off, exploded, and a sticky powder spread outwards, completely engulfing the ball of fire.

At this moment, the once invincible [Spark] seemed to have lost its vitality, its speed slowing down and its burning efficiency decreasing.

Until, like a candle flame in the wind, it was extinguished with a single breath!
This is a specially manufactured element annihilation missile, but its effect is rather limited. It can create a vacuum environment where no elements exist for a short period of time.

In actual combat, it is almost useless and does not cause any damage.

However, [Spark] is the perfect match for the [Ignition Flame], which allows the power of the burning element to survive.

Then a massive amount of magical energy gathered, flowing at high speed to form magical blades.

Then, with the Mysterious Palace at its core, a violent vortex forms, cutting through everything.

However, although the storm formed by the magic blades was terrifying, it couldn't reach the location of Lion City.

Therefore, under the control of the Grand Arcanist, the magic blade was swung out, forming a fierce gale that swept across the land.

This is a devastating war magic that follows [Sparkling Flame], an attack pattern derived from [Blade Waterfall].

The defensive force field of Lion City finally took effect.

Once it was raised, it resembled a curtain of water descending from the sky, with colorful light rising and colliding with the magic blade, canceling each other out and obliterating each other.

It should be said that the attack power of [Blade Waterfall] surpasses the combined wisdom of all the mages in Flower Territory.

This [Water Curtain of Time Barrier] is proving difficult to withstand, but Lion City is not lacking in powerful individuals.

One by one, legendary powerhouses unleashed their battle aura, transforming it into combat techniques that tore the sky apart, or they surged with magical power, transforming it into obstructive magic, shattering these magical blades one by one.

It's a long story, but in reality, the archmages were incredibly fast, accurate, and ruthless.

Three devastating spells rained down in quick succession; even a true god would die if he wasn't careful!
But Lion City managed to intercept them!
This is somewhat unbelievable; many great beings even felt that their eyes were playing tricks on them.

Ultimately, this wasn't due to Lion City's superior capabilities, but rather the result of comprehensive information gathering and targeted preparation.

The Silver Dome had used several different war magic spells more than once, and Herka's side had already studied them, with the Flower Territory being the most prominent example.

More than one targeted approach has been prepared.

At this moment, the archmages' expressions were quite grim. In their minds, three destructive war spells would be a way to bully the weak and wipe them out in one fell swoop.

They simply couldn't believe this outcome!
However, the only consolation was that the Lion Floating City had retreated.

Seemingly frightened, the massive floating city suddenly came to a stop, and after a few breaths, it resumed full power and retreated sharply. However, before the archmages could even rejoice, the second wave of missile strikes had already taken off, trailing fiery exhausts, and began their targeted bombardment.

This time, the targets were all the arcane towers that formed the defensive force field. They bombarded them relentlessly from multiple angles and in stages, exhausting their mana and attempting to destroy them.

It should be said that as the arcane towers were removed one by one, the fish-scale-shaped high-energy magic shield that was powerful enough to cover the entire floating continent could no longer hold up.

However, when distributed among each arcane tower, its defensive capabilities are still terrifyingly strong.

Even a concentrated barrage of artillery shells would hardly destroy it in one go.

However, when the bombardment continues without pause, the damage to the Arcane Tower increases dramatically.

The earth was plowed over and over again, to the point that even the foundation of the Arcane Tower was damaged.

Unfortunately, the archmages hadn't anticipated such a dense barrage of attacks when the design was first conceived.

Finally, the arcane tower could no longer hold on, its magical energy flickered and malfunctioned, and the defensive force field completely collapsed.

Then, under the impact of the explosion, it was torn to pieces and blasted into the sky.

Flames roared again, the scattered white-scaled grass becoming the best fuel for combustion. The high temperature distorted the air, as if it wanted to engulf everything.

When the first arcane tower falls, it triggers a chain reaction, like dominoes falling.

And so, there was a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth...

When Lion City retreated from the floating continent and was out of range of most destructive war magic, the Archmages of the Arcane Council had to devote more of their energy and magic power to rescue it.

Rolling dark clouds gathered in the sky, so thick they seemed to crush the earth, blocking out the sunlight and plunging the battlefield into darkness.

Thunder spread through the dark clouds, transforming into terrifying, branch-like currents that illuminated the heavens and earth, accompanied by crackling sounds.

Clusters of spherical lightning rolled, possessing a strong suction effect, and crackling with electric sparks, capable of annihilating any enemy.

Devastating war magic, [Thunderstorm]!
It may not have the highest single-target damage, but it definitely has the widest range, the largest scale, and the highest energy consumption!

Relying on its almost unreasonable shielding effect, it finally managed to stop the missile bombardment.

The falling missile was struck by lightning, and the shockwave from the secondary explosion was enough to clear away part of the dark clouds, but the next second, it closed again under the impetus of magical energy.

The archmages finally found an effective way to defend against missiles, but Lion City's defenses were even faster.

As some missile silos were shut down, the airports scattered around the city quickly became busy.

Under the control tower's direction, one fourth-generation fighter jet after another took to the runway.

Ground crew waved flags, which soared into the sky amidst the howling winds they generated.

With fourth-generation fighters as the main force, and a small number of fifth-generation fighters leading the charge, they formed an assault formation.
With a dazzling acceleration and spin, it made a right-angle turn and, amidst a triple defensive force field, disappeared into the dark clouds.

The thunder was still terrifying, and the lightning still roared, but thanks to the fighter jet's high maneuverability and defensive force field, it failed to cause much damage.

Some missile silos were not shut down, and after the missiles were moved, they emitted blue-white flames.

Amidst the rising steam, rows of golden-red mechs soared into the sky.

At the peak of thrust, the thruster bursts into a series of flames.

Then, adjusting their posture, twisting their bodies, accelerating, and with a deafening roar, like falling meteorites, they went in their respective directions.

It should be said that Luo Yi's plan to enhance his strength with mechs was a failure!
The development and iteration of mechs also takes time. At present, a mech that can further enhance the combat power of Roy and Red Dragon Virgil has not yet been born!

Even if you pile up materials and use all sorts of cutting-edge technology to create a unique Holy Dragon Mech, it's all for naught.

After bathing in the origin of the universe, completing the unification of sacred skills, and becoming kings, Loy and the red dragon Virgil have transcended the realm that mortals should have.

They are even comparable to most powerful deities, so ordinary amplification methods are naturally ineffective.

However, the technology used in the mecha was not wasted!

After evolving and iterating to the fifth generation, the shortcomings of fighter jets became apparent; ultimately, their design philosophy had become somewhat limited.

While they are comparable to natural disasters, they are somewhat beyond the reach of those who wish to advance further and participate in battles of legendary or higher rank.

On the contrary, mechs, which are designed to simulate the human body, using steel and bones and controlled by strong individuals, have come out on top and are quite powerful.

When the Flower Lord's Royal Guard was engaged in fierce battle on the 138th floor of the Abyss, facing a lack of legendary powerhouses and the rampage of lesser demon lords, it was the mechs that stepped up to the rescue.

It can be said that they truly raised the upper limit of combat power for mortals.

At this moment, more than twenty mechs, each with a clearly defined role, headed towards their respective objectives.

Then, as they approached at high speed, another series of special missiles were launched.

These missiles, launched in groups of four, had their trajectories and impact points calculated in advance. The annihilation coating, reflecting light, was incredibly conspicuous.

However, it showed extremely high resistance to thunder and lightning.

The crackling lightning seemed unable to find its target; although it unleashed terrifying power, it did not cause much damage.

The missiles' extremely high speeds prevented the thunderstorm from dealing sustained damage before they plunged into the dark clouds.
In the blink of an eye, it crashed to the ground.

A thunderous shockwave came, but due to a special design, it cleared an area without causing an explosion.

Instead, magical lights flickered and connected, eventually forming huge teleportation portals.

Four long-range space gate tactical missiles landed at General Fak Wood's command post.
In that critical moment, the thought that popped into his mind was, "How could such a wise and mighty general like me die from accidental injury?"

But the explosion he feared didn't happen. Instead, amidst a flash of magical light, the Land King he had been longing for rushed out.

The powerful engine roared like a giant's bellow, the tracks turned and rolled across the earth, and it charged onto the battlefield.

Behind them came a second, a third, a fourth...

And many more heavy troop carriers, field artillery tractors, mage regiments, transport convoys, engineering battalions, mechanical repair battalions, medical battalions, and so on!
Right in front of Fak Wood, on a heavily armored personnel carrier, machine gunners mounted six-barreled Gatling guns, closely following the magic tank.

He also saw that the Imperial Guard soldiers, dressed in black exoskeletons, were already armed to the teeth.

Field artillery was deployed around the camp, and the artillerymen quickly set up their positions and unloaded boxes of shells.

A new command post was erected, various wireless equipment was installed, and more than a dozen communications officers were on standby.

The most conspicuous figure was the general who commanded the front lines, sitting there with his eyes slightly closed, as if waiting.

There were also medical tents with red crosses hanging from them, where priests and medical officers were setting up various potions and instruments.

Even more outrageous, Fak Wood actually saw the cooks' team. On the tense battlefield, they actually set up stoves and pots, as if they wanted to make sure the soldiers could have a hot meal.

The commotion here eventually caught the attention of the Arcane Council.

A powerful armored warrior burst through the air, its terrifying speed creating a whistling sound.

Legendary arcane mages command thousands of unmanned combat aircraft, which transform into spinning arrows that tear through space.

Their goal was clear: to destroy the large portal.

But at that very moment, four mechs crashed violently into the sky.

With the thrusters at full power, the jets of flame were several meters long, and the high-speed spinning serrated greatsword hummed as it crashed into the armored warrior.

The next second, they passed each other, and the powerful armored warrior was already covered with two near-fatal wounds.

The legendary arcane mage, on the other hand, was subjected to artillery fire. The ten-meter-tall mechs held cannons that were at least a hundred meters long, making them look extremely dangerous.

They were firing shotgun shells!
Countless specially designed bullets rained down, carrying terrifying kinetic energy and even forming streaks of light, which exploded in succession upon hitting the unmanned aerial vehicle.

The legendary arcane mage had plenty of drones, yet a large area was still wiped out.

Defeat is only a matter of time!

The same scene occurred in more than one place; missiles launched from Lion City created five portals.

They are not simply distributed on the periphery, but rather, after careful calculation by Deep Blue, they land in the areas targeted by missiles.

There were even two that were located less than a hundred miles from the Mysterious Palace.

At this moment, the Arcane Council's carefully constructed defensive line...
The combined forces of the Prayer Legion and the Church, which had united the four great empires, attacked the defensive line that had been difficult to breach for a long time, and it was actually broken just like that.

At this moment, not only the warriors on the front lines, but even the Abyss Kings, Hell Lords, and lurking evil gods from beyond the plane felt as if they were being blinded by the light.

It's not that the Arcane Council wasn't powerful enough; it's just that the strength and methods displayed by the Flower Territory were almost unreasonable.

Although the battle was ongoing, at this moment, invisible fluctuations were still sweeping across the battlefield.

With the Lion King fully activated, Loy connected with every soldier in the Flower Territory, and his extremely authoritative voice resounded in everyone's ears.

"Advance! Advance! Advance! Crush every enemy that stands in your way!"

"I, Roy, the Lion King, am with you!"

"Fight!"

"Kill, kill, kill!"

At this moment, all the soldiers of Flower Territory were ignited with fighting spirit; the surge of adrenaline made them forget fear and the threat of death.

With bloodshot eyes, it roared!
At that moment, the Imperial Guard advanced several times faster, crushing any enemies they encountered like clay chickens and earthenware dogs.

(End of this chapter)