On the edge of the Redstone Desert, the battle that had just ended left behind a scene of devastation.
The multinational coalition, centered around Sentinel Legion, stood in neat formation, with the Aldor flag flying alongside those of the newly conquered oasis nations, while the Granite Duchy army opposite them was already in complete disarray.
As the core fighting force of this coalition, the Sentinel Legion, rebuilt during the war with the orcs, is no longer the unit that relied on cold weapons and traditional tactics. They have received systematic training in Northwest Bay and have completed their transformation into a quasi-firearms unit.
The soldiers are able to obey orders and maintain perfect formation, and they cannot leave their positions without authorization in the face of any dangerous situation. The weapons training is meticulous, and the soldiers start by learning how to disassemble, load, ignite, and aim the firearm. They practice the loading, raising, and firing processes repeatedly until they can complete the entire sequence of actions within thirty seconds.
The Cannon unit must master the coordination of ranging, calibration, and loading. Each Cannon is equipped with five soldiers with clear division of labor. From aiming to firing, it only takes two minutes. The accuracy is repeatedly calibrated and can effectively hit dense formations at a distance of a kilometer.
In terms of tactics, the Legion is proficient in linear tactics and infantry-artillery coordination. A basic combat unit consists of three ranks of soldiers. After the first rank finishes firing, it quickly retreats to reload, and the second rank immediately follows up with fire to form continuous fire suppression. After the battle begins, the Cannon troops first bombard the enemy's dense formations, while the infantry ranks advance towards the enemy in a wide formation, gradually encircling the enemy's flanks.
Sentinel Legion has specifically practiced tactics for rapidly setting up cannons and adjusting formations among sand dunes to ensure combat effectiveness in complex terrain. The rigorous training day after day has given Sentinel Legion the strength to overwhelm traditional armies.
When Granite Duchy refused to return to Aldor, war inevitably broke out. The Allied forces seized the initiative from the outset. At Sir Cole's command, more than ten Cannons roared into action, solid shot whistling as it pounded Granite Duchy's dense formation, instantly tearing open gaps in flesh and blood. The once orderly ranks were blasted into chaos, with screams and the cracking of weapons mingling together.
The Sentinel Legion infantry advanced slowly in neat rows. "Ready—Fire!" Soldiers pulled the triggers, unleashing a barrage of lead bullets that simultaneously covered the enemy's front and flanks. Granite Duchy's soldiers, mostly armed with spears and scimitars, were no match for such firepower. Soldiers fell one after another, and those in the rear who tried to raise their shields for defense were easily pierced by the metal bullets, their morale plummeting instantly.
A few stubborn officers tried to call for a regrouping, but as soon as a small group of soldiers managed to gather, the Allied cannons aimed again, and a new round of bombardment completely shattered the remaining formation. Soon after, Granite Duchy's army collapsed entirely; soldiers abandoned their weapons and fled in all directions. The Allied forces maintained their advance, with firearms firing in rotation, giving the enemy no chance to regroup.
Traditional armies were no match for the new tactics of the Ausser Army. Granite Duchy's army was littered with corpses, and abandoned weapons and armor were scattered everywhere, while the Allied army's ranks remained orderly, and the enemy did not even inflict much effective casualties on the Allied forces.
The cleanup of the battlefield was nearing its end. The allied soldiers tallied their spoils and collected supplies. One soldier found a body in the remnants of Granite Duchy's central army, dressed in magnificent armor and wearing a jeweled badge on his chest, a symbol of the duchy's ruler. It was identified as the Grand Duke of the Great Stone, who had refused to surrender.
The allied forces successfully entered Granite Duchy's capital and raised the Aldor banner on the city gates. However, the young heir of the Grand Duke of Granite and a group of core nobles were nowhere to be found. According to the investigation, they had fled to the southeast. Sir Colin sent Sentinel Legion general Arthur with a light cavalry to pursue the remnants of the duchy and then began to look for a new heir to the duchy.
But half a month later, Arthur led his cavalry back, weary from their journey. With a grave expression, he went straight to the Allied Command headquarters to report to Sir Colin: "There is urgent news. The Gabella Empire is gathering troops on the border, intending to help the Granite Duchy restore its kingdom! It's possible they've taken in those defeated rebels."
Sir Colin, who was reviewing various files of the duchy, looked up sharply upon hearing this: "Is this news reliable?"
"Absolutely reliable!" Arthur confirmed decisively. "During our pursuit, we captured a Gabella spy and found a letter on him. Passing caravans also provided information that Gabella's Fire Dragon Legion has been moved north, and a large number of infantry are gathering at the border, clearly targeting our operation to occupy Granite Duchy."
"The spy confessed that Gabella had long been in cahoots with Granite Duchy, promising to provide military support. Now that Granite Duchy has been occupied by us, they are using this as an excuse to send troops to drive us out of the Redstone Desert."
Sir Colin's face instantly darkened. He walked to the sand table, his gaze sweeping over the border between Redstone Desert and Gabella. "Damn Gabella people, they've already taken half of this land that originally belonged to Aldor, and now they're trying to stop us from taking the other half back from the orcs. They don't want to see us control the trade routes to the interior, and they don't want Aldor's power to return to its former glory."
Upon hearing this, the generals in the command headquarters all showed solemn expressions. The joy of victory was overshadowed by this sudden news— the Gabella Empire was a powerful nation with formidable military strength. It was said that even the once invincible Holy See of Light had been defeated in the war against Gabella and forced to submit to them.
The officers gathered around the sand table, sharing their opinions and discussing the matter. They concluded that since the other side had already decided to use force, their side should take the initiative.
"Instead of passively defending, it's better to strike first!"
"Catch the Gabella people off guard before their army is fully assembled!"
After listening to everyone's opinions, Sir Colin finally nodded heavily and said in a deep voice, "That's right. The orc invasion has taught us a painful lesson. Passive defense will only lead to a predicament. Only by taking the initiative can we disrupt the enemy's plans, just like Marquis Glaeman took the initiative to attack the grasslands!"
He immediately ordered: "Send messengers to the various garrisons and the surrendered city-states, complete the troop assembly within three days, and carry sufficient food and ammunition to continue the eastward march!"
"Maintain vigilance along the way. If you encounter Gabella's outposts, crush them immediately. Don't give them any chance to breathe!"
Sir Colin's tone was very firm: "We must seize key locations before Gabella's army completes its assembly, laying the foundation for the decisive battle to come!"
One by one, messengers rode swiftly out of the capital, and the news quickly spread throughout the allied forces.
This marked the beginning of the first clash between the two continental powers.