Chapter 150 - 142: This Range Isn’t Right
Chapter 150: Chapter 142: This Range Isn’t Right
In stark contrast to the boisterous Beastmen, the human forces operated with quiet discipline. A Non-commissioned Officer gave an order, and the soldiers reacted instantly, never needing an Officer to repeat himself.
Although Robson had acquired this batch of Magic Crossbows at no cost, getting one from Lord Robson was no easy feat.
Robson had assigned most of his Magic Crossbows to the true elites of the first regiment. In turn, the missions this regiment undertook were the most critical and the most dangerous.
"Cannon Platform 1 has lowered the red flag. They are ready."
"Cannon Platform 3..."
As the army mobilized, an aide-de-camp continuously relayed messages from all fronts to Robson.
The small-scale military reforms Robson had previously implemented were now showing their effect.
Previously, Robson had wondered if these common soldiers could even understand his commands. Now, it seemed, that worry had been entirely unnecessary.
The entire army’s morale was exceptionally high. They barely needed any additional orders from Robson; as long as the word was passed down, they could execute it perfectly on their own.
Before the battle had even begun, some Officers were already volunteering for the front lines, to the point that Robson had to cool the army’s fervor.
The dozens of Gold Coins per week were, for them, too great a temptation.
"Understood. Have the second regiment man the walls. The third, fourth, and fifth regiments are on standby.
Notify the Magic Crystal Cannon Platforms. Until my main cannon fires, have them all target the middle of the bridge. No need to constantly shift targets," Robson commanded.
"As you command, my lord."
.....
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Four shots from the Magic Crystal Cannons flew from the distance, becoming glowing blue Energy Balls in midair. It was only when they were silhouetted against the sun that their own brilliance was slightly dimmed.
The Energy Balls traced a beautiful arc through the sky, plummeting from their apex. From a distance, they looked like meteors streaking in from a faraway place.
When the meteors struck the bridge’s surface, three thunderous booms erupted, followed by a violent tremor across the deck.
After the secondary explosions of the Energy Balls, the aftershocks faded to reveal several massive craters gaping in the bridge.
"General, Master Vini says that if we continue to let the enemy attack at will, our bridge won’t last until nightfall.
Right now, Master Vini is struggling to hold it together." A Gray Dwarven Mage clad in a peculiar Mage Robe walked up to Dor to report. He wiped the sweat from his forehead after speaking—one could imagine the Mage had run all the way here.
Ever since that Beastman came and transferred away most of General Dor’s army, the general could barely even afford to keep mounted messengers.
"What’s going on? Haven’t they left yet? Go ask Loki what they’re doing!" Dor demanded, frowning.
As if in answer, the shrieks of several griffins echoed from the camp to the rear.
Dor looked back and breathed a sigh of relief. It was his Griffin Cavalry—the first squadron, by the looks of it.
General Dor was currently forced to split up his Griffin Cavalry. With the number of Thunderhawks dwindling, Dor had to detach two griffin squadrons for scouting missions.
"Don’t worry, the Griffin Corps has already launched its attack. The enemy’s Magic Crystal Cannons will be silenced soon enough.
Go tell Aurora to move out immediately and support the Griffin Corps. I intend to have my dinner on the far bank tonight!"
And as if the Griffin Cavalry had truly made a difference, the sound of the Magic Crystal Cannons on the opposite side did indeed quiet down significantly.
General Dor gradually regained his composure.
’A mere mob of human soldiers thought they could halt the advance of General Dor? Utterly laughable!’
...
"Enemy attack! The enemy’s here! Get ready! Look sharp!"
"Hey! Soldier! Get a good grip on your Magic Crossbow!"
"He wins one shooting competition by three points and it really goes to his head..."
Watching Michelle barking orders in front of him, Kemier clutched his crossbow and chuckled.
This officer, Michelle, was a friend Kemier had known since their time at Qimo Castle.
"What do you know? Do you have any idea how many kills he has to his name?
’Let me tell you, that guy is a killing machine. His archery is nothing short of miraculous,’ Mibia explained to Kemier, all while loading a bolt."
"Of course I know," Kemier said, shaking his head. "Those Beastmen heads in his tent... to be honest, they’re still pretty terrifying."
He was just teasing, of course. In reality, Kemier’s admiration for his friend was anything but ordinary.
Michelle had saved his life more than a few times in past battles.
"They’re here! See it? That big thing in the sky!
The combat merits for one of those... if we shoot them down, this week’s Gold Coins are in the bag!" Mibia’s breath hitched as he raised the Magic Crossbow in his hands.
"’I feel like it’s still a bit off. They need to be closer,’ Kemier estimated. He tried his best to sound calm, but at the thought of those Gold Coins, he couldn’t help but get excited."
Kemier had practiced with the weapon in his hands many times and had a good feel for its range. In his eyes, at least, it wasn’t yet time to fire.
"’Just wait, let them get closer...’ Mibia readied the Magic Crossbow in his hands, trying to aim at the distant, approaching Griffin Knight."
Suddenly, a sigh erupted beside them—one filled with a bit of regret, but also a hint of mockery.
’Who’s making noise at a time like this?’
Mibia glanced over, puzzled, but his confusion immediately vanished. Michelle had his Magic Crossbow shouldered; he had just fired a bolt and missed.
"Ha! Guess he’s not so great after all."
"The boss’s hand is a little stiff. No, that’s not it—the weather’s bad today, wouldn’t you say?"
Hearing the taunts from his brothers-in-arms, Michelle felt a flush of shame and anger. He wanted to smash the Magic Crossbow on the ground, but thought better of it and set it down gently. Instead, he drew a bow from his back.
This bow had been a personal reward from that noble lord. Michelle had tested it himself; it was in a completely different league from the junk he had used in the past.
Michelle had always treated it as a precious treasure and was reluctant to use it.
’But in a situation like this, if I don’t show off a trick or two, I’ll probably lose all my credibility.’
"What are you looking at? Get back to your positions! If a single one of those flying bastards gets through, we’ll all be in for it!" Michelle roared.
Seeing that their officer was genuinely angry, the surrounding soldiers sheepishly dispersed.
They hadn’t really dispersed, of course; they hadn’t even left their positions while watching the spectacle. They were ready to jump back into the fight at any moment—most of them still had their index fingers on their Magic Crossbows.
After chasing off the gawking Soldiers, Michelle focused his mind.
’Damn it! So you can fly, huh?! Well, I’m best at shooting things that fly!’
Michelle nocked an arrow on his exquisite bow, took aim at a distant griffin flying toward him, and set his angle, calculating the lead.
He relaxed his index finger, and the arrow shot forth with a piercing whistle.