Chapter 404 - 281: Transporting Supplies

Unlike the attacks on Kolon and Black Stone Castle, the Demons were scattered across the plains like snowflakes, rendering large-scale siege weapons entirely unnecessary.

Thus, once all the reinforcements had gathered, the battle erupted like a cataclysm of thunder and fire.

Several thousand Griffin Knights were the first to take to the skies. These Golden Armor Knights intended to first reclaim dominance of the air.

This was crucial, as it determined whether they could re-establish a line of communication with White Bone Fortress, with which they had long lost contact.

The enemy’s only air power was a swarm of Flomos. Although they outnumbered the Griffin Knights several times over and practically blotted out the sky, they were clearly inferior in both equipment and quality.

Every Griffin Knight was unquestionably a master of Archery. Taking to the air first, they had yet to even close in on the enemy. By simply drawing the Wind Magic-enchanted Bow and Arrows in their hands, they sent their foes plummeting to the ground one after another, like dumplings being dropped into a pot.

The Griffin Knights, being a perfectly structured legion, consisted not only of Combat Qi Knights but were also supported by a dozen or so Fire Element Mages clad in red, hooded robes.

These Fire Element Mages were Casters meticulously trained by the Court Mage Group. While they were not like the Mages from the Mage Towers, who were versed in all kinds of Magic and possessed vast knowledge...

...they had dedicated themselves single-mindedly to studying one school of Magic for over a decade. In terms of sheer destructive power, they were by no means weak.

Riding on their Griffins, they chanted their Spells with undivided focus. Dozens of enormous Fireballs materialized and, in the next instant, smashed into the densest concentrations of Flomos.

The Wizards on the Demon side were not without the desire to intervene, but with both forces high in the sky, all they could do was stare helplessly, utterly powerless to act.

A dozen or so Fireballs crashed into the swarm, exploding violently and bursting into countless smaller flames. These flames clung to their victims like maggots on rotting bone; once touched, they would instantly combust and were impossible to extinguish.

The Flomos in the sky became living torches one by one. They swatted at the flames engulfing their bodies to no avail, wailing as they spiraled down from the sky.

A battlefield is a contest of hard power. The moment the Demons lost their numerical advantage, they were instantly put on the back foot, their previous arrogance and bloodlust gone.

Watching from a distant hillside, Levi was awestruck. He could almost smell the nauseating stench of scorched flesh.

’The Fireball Technique of these Mages is nothing like the Small Fireball Technique from my previous life. The difference between the two is probably greater than that between a gecko and a tiger.’

’Honestly, if High Cliff Castle had to face this legion of Griffin Knights, I really can’t think of any good way to deal with them. I’m confident my band of Barbarians could put up a fight, but the problem is, the enemy isn’t stupid. They wouldn’t just throw away their aerial advantage to come down and brawl with my Barbarians on the ground. Ground units and flying units are inherently mismatched to begin with.’

The more the Lord watched, the more he drooled with envy, secretly scheming about where he could go to trick a group of flying troops into joining High Cliff Castle once he returned.

’After all, these things are just like the Black Hawk helicopters from my previous life. Once I’ve Mastered them, I’ll have air superiority. At that point, fuel will be for more than just growing mold. But right now, I haven’t even seen a single feather from a flying creature, so it’s all still just a pipe dream.’

The battle continued until noon when the sun hung high in the sky. The Demons, finally unable to bear their losses, began a slow retreat, ceding the skies above White Bone Fortress.

From then on, the Griffin Knights could travel back and forth between the two forces, bringing each side the urgent news they needed from the other.

...

"What?! You’re telling me, a renowned Marquis, to be a goddamn Grain Transport Officer?!"

Inside the tent, Levi’s bellow was so loud it nearly tore a hole in the fabric.

"It was Duke Fulina who personally requested you by name." Fujero couldn’t help but dig a finger in his ear, a wry smile on his face. "The Duchess believes that transporting supplies is a matter to be taken with the utmost seriousness. She would not be at ease entrusting it to anyone else. Only the Lion Hunter Knight who breached Kolon and captured Admiral Cross alive is worthy of this great responsibility."

The Griffin Knights had brought back much news from White Bone Fortress, the most important of which was this: they had been out of food for days. During this time, they had even resorted to taking off the leather belts from their waists to stew into soup, and the leaves on the trees within the city had been picked clean.

If the reinforcements hadn’t arrived, all the soldiers in White Bone Fortress would likely have launched a final, desperate charge to die as martyrs for their country.

Therefore, the most urgent task now was to deliver supplies to these starving defenders.

The Griffin Knights had only reclaimed air superiority over the path between White Bone Fortress and the main army; the fortress itself was still besieged by a sea of Demons.

So, while they held back the majority of the Demons at the front, someone needed to take the opportunity to transport the supplies into White Bone Fortress.

"Lord, you need not feel burdened by this. In truth, transporting the grain is not as dangerous as you might think. General Tuka will deal with the Demons blocking the path to White Bone Fortress. You are only responsible for getting the supplies inside." Fujero scratched his head, and a few flakes of dandruff fell from his scalp.

With hundreds of thousands of men on the march, water was already an issue. Aside from the few at the very top of the command chain, no one could afford the luxury of using water to wash their hair.

It wasn’t that Levi thought the job was dangerous; it was more that he felt it was beneath him. What was his status? And now he was being told to act as a Grain Transport Officer. It was, to say the least, frustrating.

But then he remembered that the famous Zhong Family Emperor, Yuan Mishi, had also started out by managing army provisions. At that thought, his interest was instantly piqued.