After regrouping, the Ausser Army quickly formed a new defensive line on the spot.
Sentinel Legion Soldiers stood in formation, and the Cannon was aimed at Gabella.
Freemen Cavalry returned to the flanks, vigilantly watching the enemy's movements, while the allied forces of various countries formed reserves in the rear. The entire formation stood ready, awaiting further instructions.
Siegfried's reinforcements successfully joined forces with MacDonald's main force, and the addition of 5,000 fresh troops made Gabella's army complete again.
By this time, the sun was already setting in the west, and the Dalos Plains were littered with corpses and broken equipment. According to a rough count, Aldor's side had suffered approximately 1,500 casualties.
On Gabella's side, after a brief discussion between MacDonald and Siegfried, MacDonald ordered a reorganization: the Fire Crossbow troops retreated to the rear of the central army to regroup, the infantry phalanx filled the previous gaps, and the cavalry were stationed on both flanks to provide protection.
Gabella The soldiers moved swiftly, and the previous panic and disarray had been suppressed by discipline—after all, they were an army that had defeated the Papacy, and even in defeat, they still retained their elite strength.
On the front lines of the standoff, both sides are reassessing their opponent.
A Gabella Fire Crossbow officer looked at the still-orderly ranks of the Ausser Army, his previous contempt replaced by solemnity: "Their ranks have never faltered. They maintained their formation even after being bombed by Thunder Hammer. They are more difficult to deal with than the Holy See's paladins."
His deputy gripped his longsword tightly, growling in shame and indignation, "We've been suppressed by a bunch of mortals! If word gets out, we'll lose all face!"
Meanwhile, the Aldor army was also in turmoil, with generals and officers whispering among themselves: "Those fireballs were really powerful, they almost overturned our gun carriages. So this is the legendary magical weapon? It really can go against our Cannon."
Sir Colin observed Gabella's new formation through his telescope and sighed to Arthur, "I underestimated their resilience. It seems the threat of magic must be reassessed."
Arthur nodded in agreement, but added, "Our tactics and the quality of our soldiers still give us the advantage. Although their reinforcements have arrived, they are not many in number. If war breaks out, we still have a chance of winning."
Just then, Gabella's army made a new move.
MacDonald waved his command flag, and the Gabella army began to slowly move backward. The Fire Crossbow soldiers maintained their crossbow-raising aiming posture, stopping to guard every five steps. The infantry squares provided alternating echelon cover, with the front ranks of soldiers always facing the Ausser Army, while the cavalry formed a barrier on the flanks and rear to prevent pursuit.
The entire retreat was as precise as the gears of a clock, without the slightest sign of collapse.
"Are they retreating?" Sir Colin raised his binoculars again. "The formation is intact, the weapons are still in place, it's definitely not a rout."
Gabella's army retreated to Ausser Army Once outside Cannon's range, its speed increased slightly, but it still maintained its complete formation.
Out of caution regarding the unknown power of magic, Sir Colin did not order a pursuit.
As the Gabella army disappeared on the distant horizon, the Ausser Army began to build fortifications, and campfires lit up one after another in the twilight.
Arthur personally led cavalry to scout and discovered that Gabella's army had not gone far and was camped in a valley a few miles away, clearly indicating that the enemy had not given up.
MacDonald was standing in front of the tent, looking in the direction of Dalos Plains, his expression very serious.
The rapid outbreak of the battle was beyond his expectations.
Old Marshal wasn't surprised that the Aldors knew about Gabella's actions, since the mobilization of tens of thousands of people was not easy to hide. However, he didn't expect them to be so bold as to launch a preemptive strike right under his nose.
In fact, Gabella is currently in a very passive position, as many of the planned troops have not yet arrived.
What worries MacDonald even more is the Aldor's powerful weapons of war. At the start of the war, he thought he could quickly subdue the enemy with the " Fire Crossbow " and " Thunder Hammer," but now it seems he was too naive.
As his interactions with the Arcane Society grew closer, MacDonald, who had witnessed the wonders of magic, was astonished to discover that ordinary people could create such powerful weapons without relying on magic.
Wait... Fire Crossbow? Thunder Hammer?
The weapons in the hands of the Aldor people... those handheld spears that emitted dazzling flashes of light, and the thick metal tubes that spewed flames and made a sound like thunder— the scene from the daytime flashed through Old Marshal's mind again.
He seemed to have a vague idea, but then shook his head to dispel it.
It's probably just a coincidence...
...
The standoff between Aldor and Gabella lasted all day.
By the early morning of the third day, the Ausser Army once again took the initiative and advanced towards the Gabella camp.
" Aldor attack!" After scouts along the way reported this, alarm horns sounded in Gabella's camp.
The Imperial army quickly completed its formation. Fire Dragon Legion crossbowmen stood ready in the front, while Thunder Hammer ballistae in the safe rear were aimed at the Ausser Army. Forty thousand infantrymen formed a square, and three thousand cavalrymen joined Siegfried's reinforcements on the flanks, forming a tight and seamless formation.
Approaching Gabella's camp, the Ausser Army deployed in its classic formation: over thirty cannons in front, followed by three columns of infantry, their matchlocks sizzling as they were lit in advance, followed by 15,000 soldiers from vassal states in square formations, and 5,000 Freemen Cavalry stationed on the flanks.
"Fire!" As soon as Colin gave the order, Ausser Army shells roared out and slammed into Gabella's formation. MacDonald immediately ordered a counterattack, and fireballs and Fire Crossbow arrows flew towards Ausser Army.
Ausser Army infantry advanced under artillery cover, with front-line soldiers fixing bayonets and preparing for a bayonet charge after a volley of fire.
But at that moment, chaotic shouts of battle suddenly came from behind...
Someone looked back... and to hell, the Freemen Cavalry who were supposed to cover their right flank had turned their horses around and charged toward their own artillery position with swords drawn!
"Traitor!" an artillery commander roared, drawing his sword, but before he could organize any resistance, he was immediately cut down by a saber.
Freemen Cavalry rampaged through the artillery positions, hacking and slashing indiscriminately, instantly throwing the Ausser Army's rear into chaos.
The Freemen Cavalry on the left wing responded immediately, forming a pincer movement with the right wing, and rushed towards the reserve troops of the auxiliary forces who were still unaware of the situation.
The auxiliary troops recruited from the oasis countries had come to the battlefield hoping to gain some advantage, but they never expected this situation to occur. They were thrown into chaos and were routed by the Freemen Cavalry. Some fled, while others surrendered.
In the midst of Gabella's army, MacDonald's eyes flashed with the ecstatic joy of a successful scheme: "Counterattack! Infantry, advance! Cavalry, charge!"
Gabella's army surged towards the Ausser Army infantry, caught in the middle and unable to advance or retreat.
Fortunately, Sir Colin broke through the encirclement under the desperate cover of his guards and rejoined the main infantry force.
The arrival of the commander gave the Ausser Army infantry a sense of direction, and they immediately regrouped to defend against the enemy coming from all directions.
"Take back our Cannon first! Quickly, before they start destroying it!"
Enraged, Sir Colin gritted his teeth and gave the order!