The black sun hangs high

Chapter 430 Moving forward
After the cannons pointing straight to the sky began to emit a continuous thud and vibration, other weapons set up nearby, including the revolver rifles carried by the soldiers, also joined in the anti-aircraft fire.

The Dawn Division soldiers who had previously feigned panic have now completely calmed down. They quickly and skillfully retreated to the vicinity of the heavy vehicles, carrying their weapons.

In this flat, unobstructed area, these heavy, sturdy armed vehicles equipped with additional protective devices became the soldiers' most important cover.

With the support of abundant firepower from the surrounding area, a significant number of experienced marksmen began to reload their revolver rifles.

Soon, they finished loading the high-powered crystal bullets. At the same time, a specially formed archer team composed of mage apprentices was also ready to fire. The revolver rifles used by these mage gunners were slightly different from those of ordinary infantrymen. Their barrels were longer and narrower, and they were equipped with sights that could be finely adjusted. The revolver magazines were filled with special magical bullets generated by the "magic arrow" trick.

If a professional officer from the Kingdom of Walter were to arrive here at this moment, he would be surprised to find that he could see many familiar figures in this army that had been reorganized by the Dawn Society itself.

Yes, within the Dawn Society's army, everything from the soldiers' behavior and habits to their equipment, the composition of the ranks, and the wartime discipline they practice can be found in the army of the Kingdom of Votel.

Elite units, especially the Jaeger Corps, are important case studies for the Dawn Society to learn from.

Just as Meyer had told Hugh before the outbreak of that great war, he learned a great deal during that dangerous military career.

Although he was not a true military strategist, nor did he receive systematic training in military academies, as a scholar who had personally experienced and learned on the battlefield and in the army, Mayer was still able to summarize a great deal of experience.

These experiences are entirely different from the battlefield knowledge and skills possessed by soldiers and officers.

In terms of shooting, hand-to-hand combat, magic casting on the battlefield, and various survival skills, five Mayers combined might not be able to match a single soldier. However, these are not the things he truly needs to learn and understand.

As the founder and leader of the Dawn Society, what Mayer had to do was to organize a rough, vague framework based on what he had seen with his own eyes.

What he needed to know was not how to aim and shoot, but rather to figure out as much as possible what aspects the Dawn Society's teams should focus on, what directions they should develop in, and what mistakes they should avoid making.

Mayer did this part of the work very well.

In fact, this is one of the main reasons why his hair has been falling out so quickly in the past period of time.

Fortunately, Mayer's judgment on the general direction was basically accurate, and the members responsible for implementing and promoting the development of the Akatsuki army were also doing their best to fulfill their duties.

Now, their hard work and dedication have paid off.

On this muddy plain, the new crystal cannons, pointing skyward, continuously vibrated and hummed, while a slightly pungent magical mist drifted around the soldiers operating the weapons.

The warm smoke irritated the eyes and nose of every weapons operator, causing them to constantly tear up and cough.

But even though they looked ferocious and extremely disheveled, not one of them stopped firing or reloading because of these external interferences.

Because they had already clearly seen the destructive effect of the artillery fire on those strange giant birds.

It is no exaggeration to say that the debris and flesh that fell from the sky had even covered the magical barrier built by the Dawn Society mages.

The carcasses of the giant birds of Yasaru, the blood-red magical blades falling from the sky, the debris from the artillery barrage...

Things like these should have seriously obstructed the gunners' vision, but now, aiming has become somewhat less important.

They knew very well that, under the current circumstances, as long as they could keep firing, they could effectively suppress these dangerous birds.

The Dawn Society's response shocked everyone, including the Black Sun Society members riding on the backs of giant birds.

They were far too reliant on the gods and power they followed, so their understanding of new weapons was very superficial, especially the crystal cannon. Their understanding of it was even stuck before the outbreak of that great war!

Faced with the magical clouds and deadly crystalline shrapnel exploding before them, their pride and confidence were crushed into dust like stones before a hammer.

This was completely different from what they had imagined.

But even more unexpected things were yet to come.

When these Black Sun Society mages tried to use rituals to control and command the chaotic flocks of Azhar birds, they discovered that the violent magical fluctuations caused by the bombardment had severely interfered with the operation of their rituals.

In this chaotic situation, the frightened and injured Yasaru flock began to tilt in an unruly direction.

In the minds of the Black Sun Society members, the Azhar Giant Bird, while not a particularly powerful or terrifying clan, was at least a ferocious predator led by the Moon Eagle.

However, they did not know that in that distant era, the giant bird Yasaru was nothing more than a expendable resource on the fierce battlefield.

This is not only because their actual combat power is limited, but also because, when faced with extreme danger and threats, the Yasharu Giant Bird often reveals its worst side.

That is out of control.

This is a serious loss of control caused by cowardice and a bullying nature.

The rituals left behind by the Moon Eagle can only be used to summon and command the Azhars in ordinary circumstances. This kind of command is completely different from true control, and it does not have strong binding power.

In fact, this flaw was already exposed on the night of the Watchtower incident, but very few people paid attention to it. On that crucial night, the Black Sun Society members were all focused on Hugh, Kerzlov, and the powerful deity that might be summoned.

So now, they have to pay the price for their many mistakes. In the concealed "crawler" convoy, a soldier at the back of a carriage carefully approached the reserved firing window, through which he could see the battle taking place behind him.

He was stunned, for he saw those ugly, strange birds that had been so orderly now flying around in the air. Some of them were trying to escape the battlefield, some were running around like headless flies, and many were charging toward the ground.

Or rather, it was a suicidal charge.

Faced with the deadly barrage woven by the Kalvan heavy machine guns and anti-air crystal cannons, any form of protection or charge became meaningless. Although the crimson magic on the Yasharu giant birds was enough to withstand the impact of the heavy machine gun bullets, once this magical protection was torn apart by the magical explosion of the crystal cannons, they became completely vulnerable targets.

It's even easier to hit than those silly wild ducks among the reeds.

Not to mention the mage archers who occupied advantageous positions and launched attacks from the flanks. With precise sniping, their magically crafted arrows were enough to kill the giant birds still under the control of the Black Sun Society mages. This continuous death naturally turned into a larger-scale riot and collapse.

"Hey, what did you see?"

"How are our people? With such a commotion, most of those birds should be dead by now, right?"

"Stop fucking staring! Say something! Can't you even speak properly?"

Seeing their companion's stunned expression, the others squeezed next to the soldier became anxious. They asked him several times in hushed tones but received no response. In their haste, they reached out and pushed him aside, trying to squeeze in to see for themselves. But just then, the vehicle they were in suddenly shook slightly, and the officer who had been silent in the carriage coughed loudly.

"Get back to your positions! Get ready to go! Hurry up!"

The order from superiors silenced everyone, including the soldier who was still immersed in the shock of the scene. He reluctantly left the firing window and returned to his seat in the carriage with the others, tightly gripping the soft rope hanging from the roof.

Almost instantly, the convoy removed its camouflage and began to move forward, and from that moment on, these modified new vehicles displayed their true speed.

The term "crawler" actually refers to their excellent ability to overcome harsh terrain. When advancing at full speed, they are by no means inferior to most mainstream vehicles on the battlefield today.

The main reason they need to take cover when facing the advancing flock of Yasaru birds is because of the mission they are carrying.

Based on the intelligence provided by Virin and others, the Dawn Society has basically confirmed that there is an extremely well-hidden crystal artillery position in an area east of the Saint Steel army's front line. Its location is very clever, and it is very likely that it has been connected to other strongholds in the rear by steam railway. If this artillery position exists, then any attack launched against the front line may be suddenly met with a fatal artillery bombardment from the flank at a critical moment.

Furthermore, the Kingdom of Saint Steel could continuously transport more troops and supplies to the front lines via those railways.

Therefore, this convoy full of soldiers needed to seize the gaps in the Black Sun Society's battlefield communications, coordinate with the forward outposts that had already been taken over, and, under the cover of precise artillery fire, remove this insidious thorn as quickly as possible.

If conditions permit, the assault team will also need to find a way to control the steam railway temporarily built by the Kingdom of Saint Steel and the potential trains. There are a great deal of unknown factors involved, and even with the Dawn Sword providing a lot of intelligence, it is impossible to be 100% certain.

Therefore, for these soldiers who participated in the raid, the journey ahead was destined to be fraught with danger.

Now, the convoy's progress indicates that the prerequisites for launching the raid have been met.

The influencing factors, including the Yasharu Legion and most of the Black Sun Society's forward outposts, have been successfully delayed or eliminated. Next, this volunteer team, which has the characteristics of a suicide squad, will be able to successfully cross the muddy plain that should have been completely under the surveillance of the Black Sun Society, and launch an attack on the predetermined target in an extremely stealthy manner, thanks to the characteristics of the "Crawler" vehicle.

"Comrades, from this moment on, we are officially on our way home!"

Throughout all the carriages, a rather weathered voice reached the ears of every member through a connected magical ritual. This time, the speaker did not use the common language, but rather Saint Steele with a heavy local accent.

The trilled tongue, so familiar to the Saint Steeles, and the slightly indistinct pronunciation made every soldier who heard it smile. Yes, everyone involved in this operation was a Saint Steele.

They were either members of that miners' regiment, refugees who had fled their homes during the previous war, or staunch opponents of the Black Sun Society who had deserted from the original Saint Steel army...

For them, the simple word "going home" has extremely important meaning.

“They say that the eternal flame of life has been extinguished, and the loving Mother of the North has departed… That’s all bullshit. I bet the people who say those things are not true North people.”

Let's prove them wrong with the weapons in our hands!

May the vast snowfields and the cold winds of the North bless us!

"For our homeland, for our country... for all the oppressed who struggle under the black sun... Forward!"

As the vehicle jolted, Commander Boris's voice, now nearing fifty, gradually faded away.

Explosions and gunfire continued to erupt in the sky behind them.

The Black Sun Society mages in charge of commanding the Asharu bird flock were aware of the seriousness of the situation, but at this moment, they had no choice but to do their best to gather the flock and continue the attack.

Under the repeated charges and magical bombardments of the giant birds, the barrier erected by the Dawn Society mages finally crumbled, and the battle immediately entered a more bloody phase. Under the cover of numerous lost spells, some of the giant birds successfully landed beside the vehicles and engaged in fierce combat with the brave Dawn Society soldiers.

The blood here was incredibly rich, yet this was merely a small corner of the entire "Operation Watch".

In many other directions, fierce direct conflicts have also erupted. Under the witness of that black sun, the breeding ground that once created countless negative emotions and nourishment for the soul has once again appeared on the land of Vaan.

(End of this chapter)