CHAPTER 421: CHAPTER 359: SHOWDOWN_1

Under circumstances where high-altitude dominance was unattainable, Anderson knew that his military intentions were easily discovered by Eternal Domain’s high-altitude reconnaissance forces, and small elite groups were also actively operating within his control zone.

Therefore, the army of Wildwind Principality did not employ multifaceted attacks this time. They launched no feints, nor did they use a combination of main and diversionary offensives.

They concentrated their efforts at a single point for a breakthrough, intending to crack the surface with a pinpoint assault and create a gap in Eternal Domain’s defense line.

Above them, one airship led the charge with four trailing behind.

On the ground, they focused the use of heavy alchemical golems.

The heavy Magic bombardment equipment was pushed as far forward as possible to shorten the range for the deployment of large-scale Magic.

The spies who had entered Eternal Domain’s control zone ahead of time tried every means to locate the positions of heavy artillery firepower points, hoping to take out this vital strategic asset.

The battle erupted, beginning as usual with a Magic "scorched earth" bombardment.

Heavy golems drew the fire, cleared obstacles, and covered the infantry as they charged forward.

Significant improvements were made to the temporary shelters constructed by accompanying Mages. Instead of being wide and sturdy, they aimed to create as many small pits as possible that could only accommodate a few people each.

Anderson had noticed the downside of building large, sturdy shelters in the first two battles.

In an assault, what was needed was the bravery of soldiers to charge.

However, with the presence of sturdy shelters, troops would huddle behind them when faced with enemy fire.

This created a herd effect.

Everyone wanted to hide in a safe place, naturally influencing each other not to dare risk death by advancing.

The more people there were, the less courageous they were to charge.

Gathering troops would attract Dive Bomber and heavy artillery targeting.

As a result, a sharp attack could not be launched, and the casualties were heavy in the end.

Dispersed small pits offered many advantages.

Spreading the soldiers out would distribute the enemy’s fire, thereby creating more opportunities to advance.

Small pits provided a measure of defense, but hiding in them was still risky, which spurred one’s own soldiers to find ways to eliminate the enemy.

On the entire battlefield, the army of Wildwind Principality concentrated on breaking through one location.

However, the attacking forces were much more scattered than in the previous two instances.

This scene gave Yan Xing, who had just arrived on the battlefield, quite a shock...

While heavy Magic continued to bombard, ground troops reached the edge of the bombardment zone and began their assault.

Infantry-artillery coordination?

The heavy alchemical golems were put to use in concentrated numbers, clearing obstacles to charge Eternal Domain’s positions, with the infantry closely following behind.

A tank cluster charge with infantry-tank coordination?

The infantry line extended, with individual soldiers spread out as much as possible, and they even dug foxholes.

A skirmish line?

In an instant, Wildwind Principality’s troops broke through a gap in the middle of the first trench.

Anderson, Anderson, you’re incredible.

Given a little time, could you invent blitzkrieg?

If I weren’t blessed with knowledge of real-world war examples, you’d probably be wiping the floor with me.

However... although Wildwind Principality’s army has a high "aptitude" for war, they’re ultimately feeling their way across the river, only able to react to situations as they arise.

The defenses Yan Xing placed around Outpost Fort were not something that could be taken down by breaking through a single trench.

Independent defensive positions and echeloned firepower were enough to utterly disorient the Duchy Soldiers, who were experiencing trench warfare for the first time.

Knowing that Olaf had organized a group of Werewolf Warriors for a counterattack, Yan Xing shifted his attention to the imminent air battle.

Compared to the increasingly firearm-based warfare on the ground, the air had conversely become an arena for a standoff reminiscent of the age of cold weaponry.

Mages on both sides released barriers in the air, blocking the enemy’s aerial forces from breaking through, while flying units hovered above their own airspace.

Yan Xing jumped out from the open hatch of the airborne fortress, landing perfectly on the back of his beloved Griffon, Flying Shadow.

After a clash of metal, he and the saddle were securely fastened, and Flying Shadow instantly accelerated toward the airships, which were approaching at a steady speed.

Yan Xing’s move prompted both sides’ aerial clusters to launch a charge.

The airships also activated the air Magic circles on their hulls to expel air streams backward, continually accelerating the vessels.

The air battle broke out in an instant.

Fighters fired bullets that trailed light in the air; Divine Beasts flitted through the battlefield with ghostly agility.

Griffons emitted battle cries, and Magic exploded in colorful brilliance in the sky.

Yet, none of them were the main actors in this war.

Even Yan Xing, who was slaughtering left and right in the air, seemed somewhat inconspicuous compared to the airships and airborne fortresses.

The two large airborne vehicles drew closer to each other, as if to determine who was the true sovereign of the skies.

In terms of size, the airship was much larger than the airborne fortress.

The football-shaped vessel was nearly a hundred meters in length from front to back, with the hanging pod below comparable in size to the airborne fortress but wider and thicker.

The airship had a greater payload capability, allowing it to carry more weapons and personnel, and to be layered with thicker armor.

Therefore, Yan Xing dared not allow the airship to reach the airspace above his own positions.

The airborne fortress, by contrast, was much smaller.

Limited space and payload capacity meant that every gram of weight on the airborne fortress was very precious.

Defense, firepower, and functionality all had to make compromises to achieve better adaptability.

Regarding dominance on the aerial battlefield, the airship also proved stronger than the airborne fortress.

The Mages accompanying the airship and the Magic devices inside provided powerful Magic support for their own aerial forces.