Ashen Dragon

"Full speed ahead!"

"For the Ashen Empire!"

"Within ten days, storm August and destroy the Thrace Kingdom!"

The soldiers of the Ashen Empire shouted slogans, singing resounding battle songs, advancing on the vast Thrace Great Plain.

Beside them, steam tanks and armored vehicles sped along. Above them, airship fleets covered the sky.

The military staff had already developed a complete set of tactical strategies, dividing the Empire army into two routes,

With Duke Delor as the commander of the Eastern Front Army, consisting of six armored divisions, two air force divisions, twelve mechanized infantry divisions, totaling 230,000 troops. They would cross the Farrell Mountains to attack from the east of Thrace.

With Duke Arturo as the commander of the Western Front Army, consisting of eight armored divisions, three air force divisions, nine mechanized infantry divisions, totaling 270,000 troops. They would cross the Helmod River, advancing deep into the plains from the west of Thrace.

Both commanding dukes were promoted on the battlefield, experienced and celebrated for their achievements.

Duke Delor excelled in multi-domain coordination warfare, pioneering the "3D Canyon Warfare" in the conquest of the High Mountain Kingdom, combining air force and special operations teams, once annihilating the dwarf city defense army's main forces at a loss ratio of 1:23.

Duke Arturo is renowned for his "Armored Blitzkrieg" theory, setting a record of leading forward 80 kilometers per day in the Battle of North Aiselle. His operational characteristic is precise fuel logistics support system, maintaining high intensity attacks for up to two weeks.

These two strategic front armies launched offensives to August from both the east and west, forcing the enemy to extend frontline, fighting on dual fronts.

From the map, the Empire's assault resembled the pincers of a giant crab, fiercely clawing at the enemy's throat—August, the City of Sunrise.

Moreover, due to the highly mechanized Empire army, their advancement speed far exceeded ordinary armies, catching the Thrace People off guard, struggling to cope.

Meanwhile, the Empire's Wyvern Legion would bomb various cities of the Thrace Kingdom, instilling fear in them.

Additionally, millions of players accepted Cassius's release of [War Mission: Conquer Thrace], flooding into the Thrace Region, operating outside the Empire's regular establishment, initiating indiscriminate assaults.

After swallowing countless Gold Coins, the Empire's army underwent an era-transcending development in just a few years, beyond the imagination of any enemy—even the Three Great Kingdoms were no exception.

...

"Boom!"

Artillery fire tore through the sky, launching debris and dust high, tinting the morning mist of the countryside blood red.

The Imperial Artillery Corps's volleys formed a continuous wall of lightning, the barrels of three hundred self-propelled artillery pieces raised simultaneously under hydraulic device drive, like a mechanical behemoth unveiling steel fangs.

In the distant positions, the Thrace defenders suffered heavy casualties, often with scorched limbs flying everywhere.

Thrace noble officer Kane Awen grabbed the artillery commander's collar, hoisting him up forcefully, roaring desperately amidst the cannon fire, with a fierce visage, saliva flying.

"Where are our artillery? Didn't His Majesty Wilhelm buy you two hundred heavy cannons? Did you embezzle them? Fight back!"

The artillery commander hurriedly explained, "Sir, they are too far away, we simply can't reach them; once we fire, our artillery positions would be exposed, with unimaginable consequences..."

"Damn worthless!"

Kane threw him to the ground, pointed his gun at his head, shouting fiercely, "The Kingdom bought you the most advanced artillery! Why can't you fight back? Fire!

Coward! Weakling! If you don't dare to fire, I'll execute you first, then command for you!"

With the gun aimed at his head, the artillery commander turned pale in fear, powerless to answer, "Yes, sir..."

Under the officer's order, the artillery of Thrace Kingdom began aiming towards the Empire positions, loading ammunition, fumbling with those clumsy, outdated heavy cannons discarded by the Empire years ago.

Ironically, according to the Klaubow Armament Group's salesman, these were claimed to be the Empire's most advanced artillery, the most cutting-edge products.

The artillery commander gazed at the Empire army occupying sky and land in the distance, showing despair, but still resolutely raised his hand.

"Fire!"

"Boom—"

With an order, the artillery fire roared.

Blazes erupted from the dark barrels, shells shot forth rapidly, tracing arcs through the sky.

But soon, the shells fired by Thrace artillery powerlessly fell on the slopes, creating one irregular violent explosion after another, launching debris and dust high.

Too far.

These artillery fires simply couldn't hit the Empire forces over ten miles away, long out of these "antiques"' effective range.

However, the distant Empire Scout keenly captured the artillery fire's light, within just two minutes, the precise coordinates of Thrace artillery positions fell into the hands of Imperial Artillery Corps Legion Commander Bighead.

This seasoned ogre revealed a sinister smile, disdainfully said, "Foolish Thrace People, unable to understand hiding artillery positions, unworthy even to use our discarded trash."

"Haha, they should return to the primitive era wielding spears and stones."

Bighead waved his hand, casually commanded, "Tsk tsk, destroy that scrap metal."