Chapter 396
"Settlement casualties from bombardment?"
"Estimated forty to fifty dead, sixty to eighty wounded. They pulled back defenders from the eastern section after we created the first breach, so our later volleys hit mostly empty fortifications."
"Smart tactical response," Elric acknowledged. "Their commander recognized we’d focus fire on the weak point and withdrew forces rather than waste lives defending a position being destroyed by artillery."
"Should we shift fire to other sections, sir? Force them to defend everywhere simultaneously?"
Elric considered, then shook his head.
"No. Concentrated fire on one section creates guaranteed breaches. Scattered fire across multiple sections creates partial damage everywhere but guaranteed breaches nowhere. We stay focused. Four more volleys on eastern wall, then we’ve accomplished our objective."
Volley Twenty-Seven launched.
Major Aldrich spoke up. "Sir, the eastern wall is effectively destroyed. Additional bombardment at this point is hitting rubble. Should we shift to central gates for remaining volleys?"
"Good thinking. Yes—redirect final three volleys to central gates. Test their strength, see if we can breach them before infantry assault."
"Artillery, redirect!" Sergeant Borun’s voice carried across the bombardment line. "Final three volleys target central gates! Let’s see if we can break through!"
Volley Twenty-Eight. Twenty-Nine. Thirty.
The final three volleys hammered the central gates with concentrated force. Six stones per volley, eighteen total impacts on the reinforced structure.
The gates groaned. Cracked. But held.
Thrak’s engineering was solid. The gates absorbed punishment that would have shattered lesser construction.
After thirty volleys and forty-five minutes of bombardment, Sergeant Borun gave the cease-fire order.
Twenty catapults fell silent.
The battlefield was transformed. Where Third Line’s eastern fortifications had stood intact at dawn, now existed a landscape of rubble, craters, and breaches.
Artillery Bombardment Final Results:
Duration: 45 minutes (30 volleys)Eastern wall: 3 major breaches (10-15 feet wide each), 2 minor breaches (6-8 feet wide), structural integrity destroyedCentral gates: Heavily damaged but intactWestern wall: Minor damage onlySettlement casualties: 47 dead, 73 woundedHuman casualties: 0 (artillery operated from safe distance)Strategic result: Eastern fortifications destroyed, multiple assault routes created
Elric surveyed the damage with professional satisfaction.
"Eastern wall is broken. Infantry can assault through multiple entry points. Central gates damaged but require ram assault. Western wall intact but less defended due to eastern crisis."
He turned to his assembled commanders.
"Phase Two complete. Phase Three begins—main assault. Heavy infantry advances on eastern breaches, light infantry supports with ram assault on central gates, cavalry remains in reserve for pursuit."
Major Aldrich raised a concern. "Sir, the eastern section is too easy now. Destroyed fortifications, multiple breaches—it’s tactically obvious assault route. Perfect location for ambush or traps."
"Agreed. Which is why we advance cautiously. Engineers probe for traps. Expendable forward elements trigger any ambushes before main force commits." Elric’s tactical caution was showing. "The settlement commander is competent. Yesterday’s contamination ambush proved they think strategically. We assume every yard between here and those walls is trapped."
He raised his voice to address all forces.
"Heavy infantry, advance to within one hundred yards of eastern wall, but HALT at that distance. Engineers and trap detection specialists will probe the final hundred yards for pitfalls, explosives, and magical traps. No one advances through the breaches until engineers confirm safe passage."
"What about the heroes, sir?" Lieutenant Thorne asked quietly.
Elric glanced at the Four Heroes standing ready behind him.
"They deploy when the enemy reveals its defensive capabilities. Let the initial assault develop. Let the settlement commander show us her tactics and hidden forces. Then we strike with heroes when we can achieve maximum impact with perfect intelligence."
Gattychan’s hand tightened on his sword, but he said nothing. He’d agreed to follow Elric’s tactical plan.
"All forces advance! Heavy infantry to eastern breaches! Light infantry to central gates! Artillery provides suppression fire on remaining defensive positions! MOVE OUT!"
Horns blew. Drums beat.
Twenty-three hundred soldiers began advancing in coordinated formations toward Third Line’s shattered defenses.
Eight hundred heavy infantry soldiers advanced in three phalanx formations toward the eastern wall breaches. Each phalanx consisted of soldiers with tower shields in front ranks, spears and swords in rear ranks, moving in disciplined lockstep.
Phalanx One targeted the largest breach—fifteen feet wide. Phalanx Two aimed for the second breach—ten feet wide. Phalanx Three approached the third breach—eight feet wide.
Behind them, six hundred light infantry provided support, ready to exploit any breakthrough.
At the central gates, four hundred soldiers advanced with a battering ram—a massive oak log capped with iron, carried by twenty soldiers and reinforced with protective housing against arrow fire.
Two hundred cavalry remained in reserve four hundred yards back, ready to pursue any retreating defenders.
The advance was methodical, professional, intimidating.
From Third Line, Lyra watched the human army approach like a tide of steel and death.
"They’re coming. All defenders to secondary positions. Let them come through the breaches—we defend from prepared positions behind the wall, not on the wall itself."
"What about the trap?" Thrak asked through the network.
"Patience. Let them advance. The engineers will probe for traps, but they won’t find this one. We placed it too well."
Seventy yards from the eastern wall, Elric’s engineer teams began their cautious advance.
Twenty engineers moved ahead of the main infantry, equipped with long poles for probing ground, magical detection crystals for sensing curse magic, and holy water for identifying demonic contamination.
They probed methodically. Every few feet, they’d thrust their poles into the ground, testing for hollow spaces that might indicate pitfalls. They’d sprinkle holy water, watching for reactions that would indicate demonic traps. They’d hold up detection crystals, checking for magical signatures.
Professional, thorough, careful.
They detected and marked three minor traps—small pit traps that would have broken a soldier’s ankle, not killed but injured. The engineers flagged them with markers so infantry could avoid them.
They found a concealed caltrops area—spiked metal scattered to injure feet and slow advance. They cleared it.
They detected a weak curse that would have caused minor pain and discomfort. Battlefield priests dispelled it with holy magic.