CHAPTER 517: CHAPTER 368 THE USES OF THE AIR FORCE_2

Chui Chui was clad in a magic-guided armor, serving as the intelligence officer in the team.

A drone, carrying a projector, cast an image of the battlefield. In the image, an Elf army was completely surrounded by Orcs within a plain area only five kilometers in diameter. The Elves and Orcs were engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat. Smoke from explosions spread across the skies of the entire battlefield, interspersed with the light and shadow created by various Magic bursts. The wreckage of tanks and Large Alchemy Golems scattered everywhere, while the sky was filled with the silhouettes of Rocs, Pegasus, fighter planes, Divine Beasts, and gargoyles. The fighting was much more brutal than in other places.

Yan Xing said to his teammates, "According to the contact we’ve established with the Elves, King Elrado and his Guard Division are surrounded by Orcs in the Seklin Region. Our mission is to protect King Elrado and pull him out of the encirclement. Limited information confirms the presence of Cloud Tower Mages active in the war, their aim to assassinate King Elrado and cause massive chaos in Snowland. We are highly likely to encounter Cloud Tower Mages during this operation, and these are Mages trained by Anderson. Everyone needs to be cautious on the battlefield, complete the mission, and protect yourselves. Now, Chui Chui will handle the tactical deployment."

Chui Chui stepped forward, using a light pen to point at various spots on the image as she first briefed the team members on the terrain of the battle zone. "This short video was captured by our reconnaissance drones three hours ago. By the time our fleet arrives at the battlefield, the situation will undoubtedly be worse. This is King Elrado’s command post. Naisike and Donna will enter the battlefield first to confirm King Elrado is still alive and to ascertain his exact location. Once King Elrado is found, Master, I, Hibel, and Olaf will enter the battlefield. Arlanda and Harrington are responsible for providing long-range and magical support, covering us as we escort King Elrado to the aircraft. Is everything clear?"

"Clear!"

「 」

The aircraft group, after a long journey from the Eternal Domain, finally arrived at the desolate battlefield. The Orcs had obviously not anticipated that the Eternal Domain would use aircraft in such a manner, providing large-scale support to the surrounded Elves. After all, departing from the Eternal Domain, the aircraft had to fly west across the entire Wildwind Highlands, then hundreds of kilometers further west to reach this location. Could aircraft from the Eternal Domain fly that far?And still be capable of combat after such a long journey?

The fighter jets from the Eternal Domain answered the Orcs with their actions, proving they could indeed fly the distance and still fight.

In fact, the warplanes providing support from the Eternal Domain didn’t need to worry about energy for a return trip. When their energy neared depletion, they could fly north to land at an Elf-constructed airport at the foot of the northern border mountains. After refueling there, they could return to the Eternal Domain. Once reloaded with ammunition and supplies, they could continue to support the Elves trapped in the desolate lands.

The intervention of the Eternal Domain’s air fleet rapidly changed the aerial combat situation. Faced with this fresh force and its fierce firepower, the Orcs had no choice but to voluntarily relinquish control over parts of the airspace, redirecting their strength to provide air cover for their own ground troops.

Fighter jets and Armored Gryphons cleared the path, and transport planes moved in. Suddenly, the sky was filled with parachute flowers resembling dandelions, as the beleaguered Elf soldiers finally received the ammunition, food, and energy they desperately needed. And from this sky filled with fighting machines, they saw the hope of survival.

Our allies haven’t abandoned us! Lord Yan Xing has come to our aid!

With the resupply completed, the Elves gradually regained their combat strength; some undamaged war vehicles and military trucks were restarted. Although still encircled by Orcs, the Elves’ operational range had significantly expanded. Under aerial cover, nearby Elves coordinated, regrouping and moving towards the center. The tide of battle was slowly turning in their favor.

The air support from the Eternal Domain disrupted the Orcs’ plan to annihilate the Elves; no one could have anticipated that supplies could be delivered to ground troops in such a manner. They had been schooled by the Eternal Domain once again.

The scattered Elves continued to gather, resisting as they retreated north.

The Orcs knew that annihilating the main Elf border forces under such large-scale air support from the Eternal Domain would be difficult. They could only order the Orcs fighting in the Seklin Region to accelerate their efforts: Find Erelado, kill him! Without Erelado, controlling Snowland would be far more difficult for the Eternal Domain. With help from the Underground City, the Eternal Domain was likely to fall into an endless security war in Snowland, constantly being depleted amid the icy terrain.

The transport plane Yan Xing was aboard hovered over the battlefield. A large number of fighter jets and aerial fortresses guarded the nearby airspace, blocking the approach of Orc air forces.

On the ground, Orcs had already breached the defenses of the Elf Guard Division. Groups of Malevolent Wolf Cavalry wielding Charged Magic Guns charged and weaved across the battlefield, leaving no place safe.

The hatch on the belly of the transport plane opened; Yan Xing and other squad members stood on the edge, waiting.

The rogue Naisike and scout Donna had already entered the ground battlefield. They moved through the combat zones, fighting and searching for any sign of Erelado.

Chui Chui also controlled more than a dozen drones, skimming over the battlefield. But the dust and extreme chaos on the battlefield impaired the drones’ searching capabilities.

Is Erelado dead?Why hasn’t he sent any signal despite seeing the Eternal Domain’s aircraft in the sky?

Yan Xing stood at the hatch, looking down at the battlefield below. Everywhere, figures of Elves in green military coats fought Orcs. It was impossible to tell which one was Erelado.

At this moment, Erelado was grateful he was wearing a coat identical to the soldiers’, which had allowed him to escape the encirclement of the Tower Mages. He cautiously navigated the battlefield, using burned-out vehicles and tanks for cover to avoid the Orcs’ search. Only five Elf Guards remained by his side. The other Elf Guards had either died in battle or been scattered.

He had completely lost control of his army. He had no idea how many Elves were still out there on this wild plain.He regretted not listening to Yan Xing’s advice, undertaking such a risky military operation. He had paid a painful price for it.It was even highly possible that this would be his final resting place.

Erelado looked up at the Eternal Domain’s fighter jets soaring in the sky, bravely battling the Orc air units. Columns of black smoke from crashing planes and white smoke from missiles painted a stark pattern across the sky. One side of an aerial fortress ejected a long jet of flame, casings raining down in sheets.

Erelado considered sending a distress signal to the Eternal Territory Air Force, but he doubted they could rescue him from the Tower Mages. A signal would only help the Tower Mages find him faster.

Lord Yan Xing, I have failed your trust.

Just then, a squad of Malevolent Wolf Cavalry spotted them. The Big-eared monsters riding wolves let out strange cries, charging at this isolated group of Elves and firing their Charged Magic Guns wildly. Their excited expressions showed they clearly didn’t realize what kind of Elves they had encountered.

Facing the sudden skirmish, the Elf Guards simultaneously cast Magic, eliminating the group of Malevolent Wolf Cavalry with a volley of fireballs. However, the magical fluctuations also revealed their position.

The ground undulated—first came intense vibrations, then a huge rock golem leapt out from underground. A male Mage, his body clearly undergoing earth elemental transformation, stood atop the rock golem’s shoulder. On the other side, amidst a burst of crackling electric sparks, a female Mage, her body transformed by lightning elementalization, emerged from within. At the same time, five Tower Mages flew in from different directions, surrounding Erelado and his guards beside a burnt-out truck.

From his elevated position, the male Mage spoke arrogantly to Erelado, "King Erelado, if you surrender, your life can be spared. With the support of Cloud Tower, you can still be the Elf King of Snowland."

Erelado drew an alchemical longbow and stepped forward from the protection of his guards, facing the Tower Mages. "This defeat is my own, and your victory is just that—a single victory.

"I have found the right path for the Elves, and my successors will certainly continue steadfastly upon it.

"The ultimate victor, in fact, was determined from the very beginning.

"The Elves shall one day tread this land again..."