𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗𝟔: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫 (5)
As Oswald fought against the forces of Chaos, the 3rd and 4th Field Armies once again emerged victorious at Donostia and Perpignan, securing a path forward into the southern regions of the Democratic Republic.
Of course, the Republic recognized that this breach could not be allowed, and they fiercely resisted, even resorting to the use of magic cannons in a desperate defense.
As a result, the casualties of the 3rd and 4th Field Armies were significant. It was recorded as one of the battles with the highest number of casualties in all the previous battles.
“Casualties?”
“We have lost around 80,000 soldiers, with approximately 120,000 wounded.”
“That’s two corps wiped out.”
Although it was an outdated weapon, its destructive power was still considerable. With hundreds of such weapons deployed against them, it was only natural that the casualties would be high.
The 3rd Field Army, which had advanced to Donostia, decided to remain there to recover the bodies of their fallen comrades, tend to the wounded, and await reinforcements or support troops. In their current state, advancing further would be difficult due to the enemy’s strengthened defenses in the rear.
“With the Elondil Empire’s advance, those who received a large supply of magic stones have deployed an incredible number of magic cannons.”
In Bilbao, a northern port city west of Donostia, 100,000 troops and 800 magic cannons were stationed. In Vitoria City to the southwest, 100,000 elven troops, 200 magic cannons, and 30 magic guns were deployed. The elven troops, armed with magic sticks, were primarily users of Fireball and Explosion, making them formidable opponents.
Finally, in Pamplona, 100,000 troops and 500 magic cannons were stationed. All three of these locations were mountainous, which limited the number of troops that could be moved at once.
“Is there no other way than for the 4th Field Army to defeat Barcelona and advance?”
The problem was that the situation of the 4th Field Army was not much different. While the enemy forces facing the 3rd Field Army were divided into three locations, the enemy forces facing the 4th Field Army were all concentrated in Barcelona City.
Of course, the path of advance was wider, so launching an offensive was not particularly difficult, but the number of troops defending Barcelona was simply too great.
Currently, Barcelona was garrisoned by a massive army of 400,000 conscripts and 1,000 magic cannons, with an additional 100,000 elven troops and 30 magic guns. The elven magic guns, in particular, were weapons capable of unleashing magic ranging from 5th-circle to 7th-circle magic, making them a force to be reckoned with.
As such, the 4th Field Army judged it difficult to defeat Barcelona on its own and had requested support from the navy. Barcelona was also a port city, so they judged that they could adequately deal with the enemy if they launched a two-pronged offensive from land and sea.
However, the Elondil Empire was well aware of their own strength and used that strength to launch a preemptive attack.
Using large-scale teleportation magic, 30,000 elven troops arrived on the outskirts of Perpignan and used 10 magic cannons to unleash 7th-circle Blizzard magic across the entire city.
The raging magic instantly killed the citizens of Perpignan, as well as the 4th Field Army soldiers stationed there.
Over 80,000 soldiers perished in the blizzard that lasted for almost an hour, and another 100,000 suffered frostbite, rendering them unable to fight.
“Charge! Forward!”
Following this, 30,000 elven troops unleashed their magic using magic sticks, and in an instant, the 4th Field Army’s defensive line collapsed.
“Deploy the Tiger tank unit!”
Soon, the Tiger tanks took the lead, and the Imperial forces, who had been pushed back helplessly, were finally able to stop the elven troops.
“Damn pointy-eared bastards! I’ll kill every single one of you!!”
The tank commander cursed the enemy and opened fire with a machine gun. Thanks to the enchanted bullets, they pierced through the elven soldiers’ shield magic.
“Load an Explosion shell!”
The gunner quickly loaded an Explosion shell and fired it.
Boom! Crash! Bang!
A powerful fiery explosion erupted among the elves, engulfing dozens of them.
“Now’s our chance. Charge!”
The Tiger tank driver pressed the accelerator and moved forward, the tank commander mowing down the elves with his machine gun and the gunner crushing them with high-explosive shells.
In an instant, the tide of battle turned, and the Imperial forces began to push back the elves. The infantry, who had been preparing, then joined the fray.
“Damn pointy-eared bastards!”
Tatatatatat! Tatatatatat!
Bullets rained down from all sides, and the elves were swept away. Despite inflicting heavy casualties on the 4th Field Army with their surprise attack, they still had 120,000 troops remaining. They quickly outmaneuvered the enemy using transport trucks and formed an encirclement, attacking the enemy from both the front and the rear.
Isolated in the heart of Perpignan City, the elves were forced to endure the relentless barrage of tank fire from the front and infantry fire from the rear.
However, as they were all homunculi devoid of fear and greed, they did not retreat even when surrounded and diligently carried out the orders given to them.
“Dammit! We’re the ones who encircled them, so why are we getting pushed back?”
But that respite was short-lived. Having exhausted all the magic power from the magic stones, the elves could no longer unleash long-range attacks and soon drew their swords and charged.
“You primitive pointy-eared bastards!!”
Tatatatatatatat!
The Imperial infantry mercilessly mowed down the charging elves with their World machine guns. Only after wiping out all the elves did the battle finally come to an end.
“Report the casualties.”
“100,000 killed, 130,000 seriously wounded, leaving us with only 70,000 troops available.”
“Damn it! How many elves were there?”
“Only 30,000. . .”
“Ha. . .”
230,000 troops had fallen to just 30,000 elves. The Empire of Sorcery, the Empire of Sorcery, their strength was not to be taken lightly.
“For now, withdraw the army to Toulouse.”
“So, are we giving up on Perpignan?”
“We don’t have the troops to hold Perpignan right now. We also have too many wounded, so we’ll join up with the Military District and stand by.”
“Sir, you may be held responsible for the defeat.”
“We grew complacent after achieving easy victories and lost or incapacitated 230,000 soldiers. . . I must bear responsibility.”
Half a year after engaging in battle with the Democratic Republic, the Empire experienced its first defeat, not directly at the hands of the Republic, but rather due to the Elondil Empire, an additional belligerent. Regardless, a defeat was a defeat.
Subsequently, Republic reconnaissance units informed the Republic government that the Imperial forces had retreated from Perpignan, and the Republic promptly dispatched an additional 200,000 troops to Barcelona and ordered the 400,000 troops stationed in Barcelona to advance on Perpignan.
In addition, an army of 500,000 elves entered Republic territory via Madrid. They too were scheduled to be deployed to the battlefield as soon as their organization was complete.
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