Chapter 120: Battlefield Against the Natural Disaster

From the moment they arrived at the first hub city and joined forces with the first wave of reinforcements to build defenses against the onslaught of the Abyss Tide, it took less than five days for the army to be forced to abandon their lines, retreating three times in a row.

There was no choice; if they didn’t retreat, it would be disastrous. As previously mentioned, Abyss Beasts don’t get tired. They can launch an endless assault twenty-four hours a day without care for casualties, but the coalition army cannot do the same.

Humans, let alone the beastmen known for their physical prowess, couldn’t possibly fight for hours on end without food, water, or sleep. Especially the Mage Corps, which caused the most significant damage to the Abyss Beasts, had to fall back for a breather once their magical power ran low.

Otherwise, without firepower suppression, no matter the number of soldiers, they would eventually be overwhelmed by the tireless tide of Abyss Beasts.

Especially those flying in the sky, so massive they seemed unbelievable, referred to by the Winged People as Abyss Worms. Even if the strongest among them tried to hold them back, just one breaking through the army’s lines would be a devastating blow.

Duke Bertlem’s army had already suffered significant losses because of this. Those forces he had personally trained, representing the core of the Southern Army of the United Kingdom, were being depleted at an alarming rate.

Other nations’ armies also faced heavy losses. Though the Winged People had fought against the Abyss for years, they were mainly dealing with hundreds or at most thousands of Abyss Beasts back then. But this wave of attack saw over a hundred thousand on the battlefield facing the United Kingdom.

If things continued like this, they would likely crumble in no time.

The objective of battle had changed from initially stopping the Abyss Tide to buying time for civilian evacuation in the rear.

Countries in the central regions of the Wasteland, including Bolt Kingdom and Nobos Ironblood Empire, were quickly evacuating their citizens to more northern areas.

Everyone knew the severe consequences of allowing the Abyss Beasts to devour everything. Thus, the evacuation operations, organized collaboratively, were impressively efficient, not just helping others, but also to slow down the spread of the Abyss powers as much as possible.

Bertlem rubbed his stiff forehead and turned to his personal guard behind him.

“What’s the status of the rear support?”

His close guard was a young soldier in his twenties. Although his time in the army was short, he was meticulous and efficient, and after a few observations, Bertlem promoted him directly to his current position.

This Duke and Southern Army commander was known for not just promoting family but using talent, regardless of who it was.

“According to the report from three hours ago, the urgent support from the royal capital has passed Wangyuan City and is expected to arrive in three to five days. However, support from the Eastern and Western armies is still in the country and will likely take months. As for the North, you know… it’ll be quite difficult to send reinforcements.”

Seeing Bertlem’s face darken, the guard said helplessly.

“General, they should be traveling light and rushing as fast as they can. Our army isn’t like those monsters; they can’t just charge ahead without resting. Haste makes waste.”

“Tsk…”

As someone who had personally raised this guard, Bertlem couldn’t disagree with what he said, but regardless of the difficulties, waiting for those reinforcements to arrive at their current speed might mean that these countries, and even the northern regions of the Wasteland, including the Kingdom of Kwei, would be completely overrun.

“Tell those guys that ordinary troops don’t matter, but the Mage Corps and elite forces must push themselves. Even if they have to detach from the main army and wear out their mounts, they need to arrive in the shortest time possible!”

Wearing the splendid armor symbolizing his marshal status, but having no outstanding personal strength, the strategy-oriented general took a few steps and added,

“If they whine and find excuses, just say that His Majesty has entrusted me with full authority over this war. Any shirking of responsibility will be considered defiance of royal orders!”

“Yes, milord!”

Just as the guard was about to turn to relay the orders, a series of prominent warning signals and gigantic alarms suddenly exploded in the sky, causing both of their expressions to shift.

“Here they come again, it’s not even been ten minutes since the last wave! Those damn monsters!”

As Bertlem and his guard rushed into the command room below, it had already entered an urgent wartime state.

Numerous soldiers from the kingdom hurried back and forth, holding weapons or documents, their faces displaying undeniable fatigue.

This was unavoidable; even Bertlem, since entering the battlefield against the Abyss, hadn’t slept a proper sleep.

Fighting, holding the line, retreating, and constructing new defenses—similar events had occurred several times within just a few days. Not to mention the soldiers, even those high-ranking commanders who hadn’t set foot on the battlefield were feeling overwhelmed and increasingly dejected by the consecutive defeats.

That’s why Bertlem was incredibly anxious.

Right now, they might barely hold on, but if morale or casualties dropped below a certain threshold, it would be a complete rout.

“Everyone get into position immediately! Order the Sixth Corps for the first rotation, followed by the Third, then the Second Corps. How’s the recovery of the Mage forces?!”

A staff officer with notes stepped forward to report.

“General, the first batch of mages has nearly recovered their magical power; fighting isn’t an issue. But the Third Corps has just withstood the fiercest wave of assault; many wounded haven’t even finished treatment. Would the second rotation be a bit…”

“Shut it! Do you want the First and Fourth Corps, barely hanging on, to take the brunt of that? Their higher-ups are almost gone! Sending them in without adjustments is just sending food to the Abyss Beasts! Close your mouth and take care of it!”

“Yes, yes…”

The situation Bertlem described was all too clear to the staff officers. Though they were worried, they had to follow the general’s method for rotations.

Since each nation’s military structure and races were different, mixing them without training would only hold each other back. Therefore, the current arrangement was that everyone was responsible for defending a segment of the area, maintaining communication and cooperating in combat or retreat.

The local forces in the Wasteland were too weak. The Nobos Ironblood Empire on the other side might hold up better, but in this Bolt Kingdom, sending up a ragtag army to the battlefield was just like sending them to their deaths.

Thus, they were assigned to assist with civilian evacuations, while the Joint Kingdom’s army took sole responsibility for that defensive line.

However, they held a very obvious advantage.

The area where the United Kingdom’s army was stationed, previously known as the “Forest of Disasters,” had now become the front line against the Abyss, said to have recently witnessed a significant miracle.

   

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