Defeat the entire world with the power of one dragon!

Chapter 513 The First Battle: A Meat Grinder-like Fierce Battle, Earth Manipulation Device

Lane Plateau, Twilight Plains, South Side.

Lorthorn frontline positions.

The soil and rocks undulated like water with a low hum, and the figures of engineers and accompanying mages moved between the gradually forming walls.

They no longer needed to wield tools or chant lengthy incantations; most of the basic labor was replaced by the metal constructs that stood majestically in the center of the position.

It resembles a giant spider crawling on the ground, with a body diameter exceeding three hundred meters.

Eight long metal limbs, inscribed with runes, pierced deep into the earth. With rhythmic tremors, the ground leveled, compacted, and bulged on its own, forming a breastwork tens of meters high, a angular turret platform, and even protective runes that shimmered with light were directly etched onto the surface of the fortifications.

In just a few days, the prototype of a fortress with a basic defense system has been erected.

This is not a project that an ordinary team of spellcasters or alchemists could complete in a short time.

Its origin lies in that war machine known as the Earth Manipulator, which has an even more descriptive name in the Lorthorn army.

—Sculpted Earth Spider.

It is one of the technological achievements passed down for thousands of years in the Kingdom of Lorthen. It can transform any land into an impregnable fortress in a very short time, making attackers pay a bloody price, but it is difficult to shake it in the slightest.

South of the position, the headquarters of Lorthern's Northern Expeditionary Army was located in a temporary fortress backed by low hills.

In the center of the command hall, a huge magic sand table floated in mid-air.

The miniature terrain, created by light and shadow, is dominated by two main colors.

The blue dots, scattered like stars, are steadily spreading northward, forming layers of defensive lines; while on the north side of the plain, the red dots representing the Aura Legion have converged into a surging crimson sea, silent yet incredibly oppressive.

Beside the sand table, a middle-aged general wearing heavy silver-gray plate armor stood with his hands behind his back.

His face was resolute, with prominent cheekbones. His gray-blue eyes were like tempered sword blades, and when his gaze swept across the sand table, it seemed to be able to cut through the illusory light and shadow, and see directly into the essence of the battlefield.

General Varesia Asef, Commander-in-Chief of the Lorthorn Northern Expeditionary Army.

Unlike Rodrigo, the Shield of Theo, Varese excels at large-scale operations and overwhelming advances. He is tough, decisive, and highly respected in the military, and is known as the "Iron-Fisted General."

Moreover, he was not only an outstanding commander.

Iron-Fisted General himself is a warrior who has entered the legendary realm for many years, a high-level legend, whose sword has been stained with the blood of countless powerful enemies.

“Father…General.”

A young staff officer strode forward and reported in a low voice.

His eyebrows and eyes were six or seven parts similar to Varese's, but the features were still somewhat immature.

At this moment, he straightened his back, his tone filled with undisguised pride.

"At the current pace, the front-line positions will be fully completed in two days at most, with fortresses, bunkers, golem platforms, rune artillery emplacements... all fortifications will be in place. At that time, our army will be able to attack or defend as needed."

He paused, then a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Those savage monster legions haven't even dug a few decent trenches yet. Faced with our fortress complex, they'll only be like waves crashing against a cliff, destined to be smashed to pieces."

Varesia did not respond immediately.

He slowly turned his head, his cold gaze fixed on the staff officer's face, devoid of any approval.

"Barbaric? Foolish?"

Varecia spoke slowly, "Is this your assessment of the Kingdom of Aura?"

The young staff officer trembled slightly under the pressure of that gaze, but still insisted, "Reporting to the General! Yes! Before the steel and magic of Lorthorn, they are nothing but a bunch of beasts acting on instinct. Our army will surely win this battle!"

"Definite victory?"

Varesia repeated the two words, then suddenly took a step forward, the clanging of armor echoing loudly.

“Then let me ask you: if the Auras are truly so incompetent, how have they managed to develop to their current state in just over a hundred years? How have they managed to subdue Theo? And how are they now able to stand against us, Lorthen, on this plain?”

The staff officer opened his mouth, his face turning pale.

“Every victory of Aura is built on the bones of the enemy; none of them are purely due to luck.” Varesia’s voice grew increasingly stern.

"The lower-ranking soldiers can believe the propaganda and underestimate the enemy to bolster their courage."

"But you are a staff officer, and your judgment will affect military orders! If even you think the enemy is stupid and weak, then who is truly stupid?"

He stared intently at his son, the young officer he had been grooming.

“We, Lortheron, have stood for a thousand years not by arrogantly despising our opponents.”

"On the contrary, we study every enemy, respect all their advantages, and then find a way to break them and crush them. My father, your grandfather, said something to me back in military school that I still remember."

"Now, I'm giving it to you."

"The most fatal mistake on the battlefield is not the inferiority of manpower or the disparity of equipment, but underestimating your enemy."

The young staff officer's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, his lips were pressed together until they turned white, and finally he lowered his head deeply: "General... I was wrong, your subordinate... will never make this mistake again."

"Remember this mistake."

Varesia withdrew his gaze and reprimanded him expressionlessly, "If you ever stand in a command position in the future, every mistake you make will cost the lives of thousands of soldiers."

He stopped looking at his son, turned around and faced the sand table again, pointing his finger at the vast red ocean.

“The Aura don’t build fortifications, not because they don’t understand them, but because they are very clear about where our advantage lies.”

Varesia's eyes sharpened as he said, "I'm 90% confident that the Aura Legion won't sit idly by and wait for us to establish our positions. Even against an ancient kingdom like ours, they will still choose to take the initiative and attack at any cost to disrupt our rhythm."

He has studied almost all the important battles on Aura's path to rise.

Especially the command style of that Iron Prince.

It was a cold and sharp dragon, full of wisdom.

He must have understood that once Lorthen's war machine and defense system were fully deployed, forming a continuous chain of fortresses and a network of firepower, Aura would have little chance left.

Therefore, taking the initiative and disrupting Lorthene's rhythm with an attack became the inevitable choice.

At that moment, as if to confirm his judgment.

"Report!"

A messenger staggered into the hall, his voice urgent.

"General! The Aura Legion has moved! The vanguard consists of a large number of lightly armored monsters, the center features ogres and trolls in heavy armor, the flanks are being deployed with large numbers of cavalry, and aerial units are taking off simultaneously!"

"They had a clear objective and rushed straight at our front lines! They were extremely fast!"

The air in the command hall was heavy, and all the officers' eyes were instantly focused on Varesia.

The iron-fisted general showed no surprise, simply nodded, and then issued his orders.

"Pass the order."

"All frontline troops, immediately cease construction of unfinished fortifications, utilize existing shelters, and transition to a defensive posture!"

"Order the heavy artillery positions to concentrate firepower to cover the enemy's charge path, prioritizing attacks on heavily armored units such as ogres and trolls!"

"All battle golems move forward to fill the gaps in the defensive line. Mage groups, prepare area-of-effect spells and await command!"

"Notify all legendary units to take their positions according to the pre-arranged plan and prepare to engage the enemy! Pay special attention to areas where the Aura Dragon may appear!"

A series of orders were issued in rapid succession, without the slightest hesitation.

Finally, he took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.

"Want to disrupt my rhythm? Then try it and see who can truly stand until the end."

In the middle of the twilight plain, in an open area.

On the horizon, the first thing to surge in is a grayish-brown tide.

Countless gnolls, lizardmen, kobolds... they howled and charged at Lorthorn's newly formed front lines, brandishing their weapons and claws.

These low-level monsters are the most readily consumed resources of the Aura Legion.

Their mission was simple: to draw enemy fire with their lives, discover weaknesses in the defensive line, and create opportunities for the main force in the rear.

Lorthorn's position remained silent, like a sleeping behemoth.

Until the surging tide gradually approached and reached a certain range.

Bang! Boom! Bang! Boom!
A dull, thunderous roar suddenly erupted.

Behind the position, the heavy magic cannons spewed out intense light from their muzzles.

Alchemical shells, trailing fiery exhaust, traced parabolic arcs and slammed into the charging monster horde, instantly hurling dirt and flesh into the air. Immediately afterward, rapid-fire ballistae and rune towers positioned behind the breastworks began to roar, a storm of metal and arcane rays weaving a web of death that reaped lives in droves.

The chanting of the accompanying mages also came together.

Flame Storm, Chain Lightning, and Rain of Ice Blades were successively constructed, unleashing a dazzling yet deadly light along the path of the charge.

The Ola forwards were being decimated at an alarming rate, with corpses piling up in layers.

However, the surviving monsters seemed oblivious, continuing their charge over the limbs and remains of their companions, their roars growing even more frenzied.

This scene turned many new recruits who were fighting Aura for the first time pale and broke out in a cold sweat.

But this is just the prelude.

Woo! Woo! Woo!
A deep, desolate bugle call echoed from the depths of the Aura army's ranks, briefly drowning out the battlefield's clamor.

The earth began to truly tremble.

The footsteps, several times heavier than before, shook the soil of the plain.

Ogres appeared. These giants, averaging over four meters tall, were clad in heavy armor and resembled mobile miniature fortresses.

Wielding massive maces, battle axes, or spiked clubs comparable to battering rams, they unleashed deafening battle roars and accelerated with a pace that cracked the ground. Close behind them were trolls of almost equal stature, whose regenerative abilities were astonishing. They charged through attacks, and even if limbs were severed, as long as they were not continuously damaged by fire or strong acid, the wounds would heal quickly.

From both flanks, the sound of iron hooves approached like rolling thunder.

The cavalry charge began, their upper bodies clad in armor, their muscular hooves kicking up clouds of dust; mixed among them were various lions and giant wolves, forming a torrent.

The sky then darkened.

The griffin's sharp cry pierced the sky, and a dark cloud of various flying monsters swept in from above the Lorthen position.

A large army was pressing in, but Lorthen's defenses responded in an orderly manner.

Long-range firepower began to be directed into the air, and dense anti-air arrows and anti-air spells illuminated the sky.

The engines of the war golems lit up, ready to meet the onslaught of heavily armored units, while deep within the position, the buzzing of the Earth Spider suddenly rose a notch.

Rumble!
The battlefield landscape changed drastically!

In front of and on the flanks of the Aura Legion's charge, the earth was suddenly torn open by cracks that were tens of meters wide and bottomless!

The gnolls at the front of the charge couldn't stop in time and fell with a scream.

Those who react quickly try to climb onto the rock face or jump over it, but the cracks that have just appeared begin to close rapidly, crushing and swallowing those who cannot escape in time.

It's not just cracks.

Sharp spikes erupted from the ground, piercing the feet of the charging ogres; the flat ground suddenly bulged, forming steep hills covered with jagged rocks, like natural chevaux-de-frise, cutting through and slowing the troll formation; the once hard ground instantly turned to sand, causing the cavalry's hooves to sink into it, greatly reducing their speed...

The earth seemed to come alive, furiously attacking every Aura warrior who stepped on it.

One by one, the golems that were waiting in the wings rushed out from behind the cover and, taking advantage of the change in terrain, launched a counterattack against the chaotic Aura Legion.

In an instant, Ola's forwards and central forces suffered heavy losses, and their offensive momentum stalled.

However, this suppression did not last long.

Buzz!
Beams of light descended, illuminating key points on the front lines of Lorthern's position.

Artillery positions, command posts, and other locations were given special attention.

As the beam of light dissipated, figures clad in translucent spiritual armor and wielding illusory weapons materialized into reality.

Ignoring physical obstacles, they flickered and appeared, launching a fierce attack on the surrounding Lortheran soldiers and equipment the instant they appeared.

Aura Sanctuary, the heroic spirits descend!
Meanwhile, across the battlefield, from the corpses of the recently fallen Aura soldiers, faint streaks of light quietly rose and converged into the sky.

Those are the souls of the fallen, being collected by the Sanctuary, awaiting reshaping into new heroic spirits.

"It's Aura's Templar Legion! Mages, concentrate and disrupt them! Don't let them gain a foothold!"

The frontline commander shouted hoarsely, his face grave.

Lorthen's magical satellites also possess teleportation capabilities, but each teleportation of flesh and blood requires enormous energy and stringent protection, resulting in huge consumption. They are usually only used for key tactical raids and could never be used like Aura, which can deploy troops almost infinitely on the front lines.

The Sanctuary is not an ordinary magical satellite, but a strategic weapon of Aura.

Its existence means that the Kingdom of Aura can recruit soldiers almost indefinitely.

The morale of both sides will be severely affected.

Imagine how devastating it would be to morale if you fought so hard to kill an enemy, only to see it charging at you again in a different form shortly afterward.

Conversely, when Aura soldiers witness their comrades dying and then resurrecting, the frenzy of their fighting becomes unimaginable.

As the Holy Spirits created chaos within the defensive line, the Aura Legion's offensive, disrupted by the Earth Manipulation Device, gradually stabilized and even became more ferocious, charging across the land despite casualties.

It was as if, for these soldiers, death was merely a formality—a return to the sanctuary, a brief rest before another battle.

"For the great Red Emperor!!!"

A furious roar exploded from the sky.

Everyone looked up and saw a meteor burning with dark red flames streak across the sky and fall toward the center of the battlefield.

boom!
With a loud crash, it slammed heavily onto a newly risen rocky hill!
The stones rained down like rain, and dust billowed into the sky.

In the deep pit, a figure as majestic as a mountain slowly straightened up.

His body was like an iron tower, with a pair of curved giant horns on his forehead, and his whole body was covered with red dragon scales. Dark red flames flowed and burned on his body, and a pair of broad dragon wings suddenly spread out behind him, stirring up scorching waves of air.

Aura's Fang, the Gluttonous Demon, is one of the sharpest fangs under the Red Emperor.

The moment he landed, his burning giant eye locked onto the distant Earth Manipulation Device, which was still humming and continuously altering the terrain.

Without any unnecessary movements, the Gluttonous Demon stomped the ground and charged away.

Wherever it passed, the ground cracked and waves of flame surged.

The Earth Manipulation Device also sensed this uninvited guest.

As the Glutton charged forward, the ground surged as if alive, with countless layers of earth and rocks piling up and instantly forming a thick hill tens of meters high, intending to seal him within it.

But as soon as the hill took shape, a dull, thunderous impact came from within, and spiderweb-like cracks quickly appeared on its surface.

collapse!
The mountain exploded, and amidst the rain of flying stones, the Gluttonous Demon charged out once more, its dragon scales now cracked in several places, but the flames burned even brighter.

He was getting closer and closer to the ground control device.

"Stop him!" Several Lorthern legends responded and sprang forth from different directions, unleashing their domains to intercept him.

Lorthorn already had a numerical advantage in the number of legends gathered here, and now they have formed an encirclement.

At the same time, within the Lorthorn position, a faint golden light rose from every soldier, converging in countless strands towards their own legend.

The oath of command over all troops takes effect, and the morale of the entire army is solidified and empowered the strong!
With the blessing of the military formation, Lorthen's legendary aura surged, and his attack power and domain strength increased visibly. The Gluttony Demon was immediately under greater pressure, roaring repeatedly and adding new wounds to his body.

However, the Aura Legion also possesses the might of a military formation.

Amidst the battle roars of countless Aura warriors, a fierce aura soared into the sky, condensing and churning in mid-air before finally transforming into a phantom battle spirit tens of meters tall.
This is a military formation from Rebos, where morale is transformed into an independent fighting spirit.

Its effect differs from the Lorthorn army formation, but both rely primarily on morale.

Battle spirits have no fixed form.

It sometimes appears as a muscular ogre, sometimes as a centaur with its four hooves treading the air, and sometimes as a giant wolf with a wolf's head and a human body... but all its forms bear distinct dragon-like characteristics.

Aura War Spirit roared to the sky, then pounced on the legendary Lordethon who was besieging the Gluttony Demon.

With its giant claws slashing and sharp teeth tearing, though it had no physical form, each attack shook the domain.

Almost at the same time the battle spirit took shape, a golden light suddenly shone brightly high in the sky.

A dashing centaur warrior stands proudly with all four hooves off the ground.

She has healthy, wheat-colored skin, and golden patterns flow across her lithe body. In her hand, a giant longbow, almost as tall as her, is drawn to its full extent, and on the bowstring, an arrow formed purely of energy is emitting a dazzling golden light.

Elvie, the Edge of Aura.

Her gaze pierced through the chaotic battlefield, locking firmly onto the giant metal spider.

The surrounding air currents were still, all the noise seemed to have faded away, and only the target kept growing larger in my eyes.

“Through it.”

A whisper-like sound escaped from his lips.

The arrow leaves the bowstring silently.

The air in the arrow's path was torn apart in the next instant, leaving a straight vacuum vortex that shot straight at the ground control device at a speed exceeding the speed of sound.

The timing of this arrow was extremely tricky.

The legendary Lorthorn, who was besieging the Gluttonous Demon, had no time to spare, while the legendary who remained to defend, though alert, was too late to intercept the swift arrow.

However, the commanders at headquarters did not panic.

They were confident in the defenses of the Earth Manipulation System.

Sure enough, just as the arrow was about to hit, a solid, amber-like yellow light shield lit up on the Earth Control Instrument layer, with countless runes flowing on it, thick and stable.

boom! ! !
The golden and earthy yellow light clashed, unleashing a visible ring-shaped shockwave that caused the surrounding ground to sink, scattered lightning-like energy to scatter wildly, and the air to become scorching and distorted.

The light faded, and the Earth Manipulation Device remained undamaged.

The earthen-yellow light shield rippled slightly before returning to normal.

Elvie frowned slightly.

Her arrow was imbued with a great deal of her own power, and it also had multiple effects such as physical penetration, energy penetration, and rune disintegration. It was so powerful that it failed to even break through the outermost protective shield.
This level of defense is far stronger than expected.

But before she could think of a solution, a calm, deep voice suddenly rang in her mind.

“Stare at it.”

Elvie was slightly taken aback, but then complied without hesitation.

Her eyes changed in an instant.

His pupils contracted and elongated, transforming into cold, vertical pupils. The world in his field of vision seemed to be stripped of color and noise, leaving only the metal construct and the ever-flowing, earthy-yellow light covering its surface.

On the light shield, several red dots that kept flashing and moving suddenly appeared.

Weakness? Intermittently weak points in the energy nodes?

Elvie instantly understood.

Yes, Your Majesty!
The great Red Emperor is observing the battlefield through her eyes and providing important insights.

There is no time to hesitate.

Elvie took a deep breath, her energy surging once more. Her four hooves drew a rapid arc in the air as she spun around, drawing the giant bow once more.

This time, the golden light on the bowstring was compressed to the extreme, and the golden glint at the tip of the arrow was condensed to a tangible form, as if it could pierce through everything.

On the other side of the battlefield, Gluttony raised its head and roared, its body engulfed in crimson flames that soared into the sky.

With a single punch, he shattered the domain of a legendary Lorthorn, sending him flying backward like a meteor, crashing through half of the breastwork.

The Gluttony Demon's overwhelming power attracted the attention of the legend of Lorthorn.

This is the moment!

"For Your Majesty!"

Elvie whispered to herself, and the bowstring twanged.

The golden light was faster, thinner, and sharper than before, disappearing almost the instant it left the bowstring, leaving only an empty trail in the air to reveal its path.

puff.

The earthen-yellow light shield on the surface of the Earth Manipulator suddenly trembled, and a hole the size of a thumb appeared at the location where a red dot was flashing.

The energy of the light shield around the hole became violently disordered, emitting fine, turbulent energy streams in all directions.

Tsk tsk tsk!

Elvie moved with lightning speed, rapidly changing direction in mid-air, drawing her bow, and releasing her arrow in one fluid motion.

Nine golden streaks of light, almost one after another, were incredibly precise, piercing into the newly opened hole or shooting towards the other flashing red dots around it.

The buzzing of the ground control device suddenly became shrill, the light shield flickered violently, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared in many places.

Its main armor also showed signs of penetration, and at the same time, the movements of one of its mechanical limbs became stiff, and a crack in the ground that was closing stopped halfway.

"efficient!"

Elvie's spirits lifted, and her gaze locked onto the Earth Manipulator.

"retreat!"

The invaluable war machine no longer attempted to maintain control of the battlefield. Its eight long limbs retracted abruptly, the soil beneath its torso churned, and its massive metal body began to sink, attempting to escape the battlefield by burrowing into the deep earth.

At the same time, without the continuous intervention of the ground control system, the drastic changes in the battlefield terrain came to an abrupt halt.

The churning rift valley stopped expanding, the raised rock spikes ceased growing, and the sandy ground gradually became solid again.

"Charge!!! For Aura! For His Majesty!!!"

A battle roar, as powerful as a landslide and a tsunami, erupted from the Aura Legion.

The colossal beast's battle spirit roared to the sky, its form expanding once more and becoming even more solid.

The main force, which had been severely hampered by the terrain, surged like a torrent into Lortheron's front lines, which had lost the protection of the earth!
The ogre's giant hammer smashed through the runic wall, the trolls braved the rain of arrows to leap over obstacles, the centaur cavalry sliced ​​through the gap in the defenses like hot knives, and the flying units in the sky also took the opportunity to swoop down, coordinating with the heroic spirits from within...

Lorthorn's soldiers are well-trained, the golems are powerful, and the legendary warriors still hold the advantage.

But the Aura Legion disregarded casualties and launched relentless, frenzied attacks, putting immense pressure on every fortress and artillery position.

The corpses piled up into new steps, and the soil was soaked with blood.

The warriors of Aura climbed these fleshy steps, layer by layer, overwhelming Lorthen's defenses.

The battle entered its most intense phase.

The Phoenix and the Amethyst Dragon Lion appeared one after the other. The former unleashed a rebirth fire that incinerated all things, while the latter roared and rampaged across the battlefield, smashing the golems to pieces.

But more legends from Lorthorn's side also emerged.

For every Aura Legend that appears, at least three Lor'theon will appear, all well-equipped, maintaining a numerical and level advantage.

The legendary Aura members were all wounded and their auras were unstable, but their resilience was astonishing, and they were never truly seriously injured.

The casualty figures for both sides were rising at an alarming rate, especially for the Aura side, where the corpses of low-level monsters almost covered every inch of the ground in front of their positions.

As the sun sets, it paints the clouds on the horizon and the vast plains a shocking crimson.

When the last remaining Lor'then fortress was smashed to pieces by the ogres, the Aura Legion finally and completely flattened this frontline position.

Ruins, scorched earth, wreckage.

The unfinished fortress collapsed, soaking in a pool of dark red, viscous blood.

The corpses of Aura soldiers piled up like mountains, especially the gnolls and war lizardmen who charged at the front, who suffered heavy casualties.

Lorthorn suffered relatively minor losses, but a large number of expensive golems, heavy artillery, and unfinished fortifications were destroyed.

The battles at the legendary level have gradually come to a halt.

On Aura's side, the Gluttonous Demon was covered in blood, its scales were shattered in many places, and its breathing was heavy; Elvie was pale, and her hand holding the bow trembled slightly; the Phoenix had already undergone a rebirth and its size had shrunk; the Amethyst Dragon Lion had several deep wounds that revealed the bone.

The Lorthorn legends were in relatively good condition, but all of them looked solemn, and none of them showed any joy.

They besieged them for a long time, but failed to kill or seriously injure any of the Aura Legends.

These monsters have ridiculously high health.

Woo!
The deep sound of horns came again from behind the Aura army.

After a fierce battle, the Aura Legion is exhausted and unable to continue its advance.

Upon receiving the signal, the Aura warriors began to take turns providing cover as they retreated, leaving behind countless corpses and ruins. The remaining forces of Lorthern were also exhausted and did not pursue rashly. Instead, they seized the time to reorganize, rescue the wounded, and be wary of a counterattack.

As dusk completely engulfed the plains, this fierce first frontal battle temporarily came to an end.

Late at night, at the headquarters of the Northern Expeditionary Army.

The magic lamp cast a halo of light, illuminating Varesia's hard facial features.

He stood before an open, latest battle report, his gaze grave.

"Preliminary statistics show that our army has suffered approximately 8,200 casualties, including those killed or seriously wounded and rendered incapacitated. Professionals account for about 30% of these casualties. Nineteen high-level golems were lost, thirty-eight hurricane heavy artillery pieces were destroyed, and more than half of all engineering equipment was lost..."

"All fortifications at the front line have been destroyed, and the reserves of magical materials have suffered severe losses."

"The Earth Manipulation Instrument Layer Shield is damaged, and the energy circuit is partially overloaded, but the core structure is intact. It has retreated deep into the earth's veins to repair itself and is expected to restore basic functions within three days and be redeployed."

"Aura's side..."

The reporting officer paused, then continued, "Based on battlefield traces and spell estimates, the total number of casualties... should be between 120,000 and 150,000. More than 90% of these casualties are low-level monsters such as gnolls, war lizardmen, and kobolds, while the casualties of important units such as ogres, trolls, and centaurs are around 6,000."

"Among its lord units, it has been confirmed that a level 20 peak Serpent Leopard Lord has died, and his soul has been taken by the Holy Temple."

"All of its legendary units are confirmed to be wounded, but none have died or lost their combat capability."

"One of our army's legends was severely injured by the Gluttony Demon, and his domain was seriously damaged. He needs time to recover; the rest have suffered minor injuries and are in stable condition."

In terms of the exchange ratio, Lorthern undoubtedly gained a significant advantage, inflicting astonishing damage on Aura with relatively little cost.

But Varesia did not smile.

He turned and walked to the observation window, looking out at the plain shrouded in night. A cold wind blew in through the window, carrying the smell of burnt food and blood.

"120,000... The vast majority of them, in Aura's eyes, are merely recyclable consumables."

The iron-fisted general spoke slowly in a deep voice, "Moreover, they have a sanctuary. Some of the souls of the monsters who died today will be recovered, reshaped into heroic spirits, and thrown back into the battlefield."

“Every one of our casualties is real.”

He turned around and glanced at the generals with their various expressions.

"The Aura Legion has retreated, but we have not won; this was a mutually destructive test."

"Order the entire army to strengthen vigilance and repair the front-line positions."

"Aura wants to use his life to close the gap? Fine."

Varecia's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he said, "I want to see how many lives they can throw into this meat grinder. Let them come, again and again, until they bleed their last drop."

At this moment, an officer couldn't help but speak, his tone filled with worry.

"General, if the Earth Manipulation Device is used frequently on the front lines, won't it attract too much attention and draw the personal attention of that Red Emperor?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the command room froze slightly.

The story of the Red Emperor bringing a satellite to the sky decades ago is still told on the Romanian plains and even spreads widely throughout the Atlanta region.

Varesia was silent for a moment, then let out a short, cold laugh.

"Pay attention? I'm certain that after today's battle, regardless of how often we use it afterward, the Lord of Aura has already taken notice of the Earth Manipulator."

"But so what?"

He looked around at everyone and said, "If he wants to destroy or seize, let him come at us. We have deployed more than just machines on the battlefield."

He had already taken into account the possibility of the Red Emperor's intervention and prepared corresponding countermeasures.

As Varesia had predicted, the days that followed turned into a brutal tug-of-war and attrition.

After the Earth Manipulator was repaired and reappeared, Lorthen's defenses were rebuilt, reinforced, and even pushed forward at an even faster pace.

The Aura Legion launched a series of ferocious offensives, sometimes a frontal assault, sometimes a flanking maneuver, sometimes a night raid... each time leaving behind countless corpses.

They occasionally manage to destroy parts of newly built fortifications, briefly forcing Lortherne to retreat.

However, they have been unable to fundamentally stop the Lorthen defense line, which is advancing inch by inch towards Aura's controlled territory.

Lorthorn's war machine and profound resources are gradually revealing their power.

Despite their advantage, they remained patient, snowballing their small lead and gradually dragging Aura into their preferred rhythm, forcing the Aura army to retreat time and time again.

The overlord of this kingdom is advancing step by step, and his momentum has become unstoppable.

at the same time.

On the edge of the Lane Plateau, atop a steep mountain.

"After my eyes evolved, they can work in conjunction with the throne."

Red Iron Dragon gazed toward the direction of the Ryan Plateau.

In previous battles, he discovered that by sharing the vision of his familiars beneath the Dragon Throne, he could utilize some of the effects of his True Sight.

Discovering the target's weaknesses is just a small attempt.

As for the ground control device.
He had no doubt that Lorthorn was waiting for him to lose his temper and had set a trap for him. However, he also had a surprise for Lorthorn.

(End of this chapter)