Steampunk Era: Mad Abield

Hearing that support troops had come from the western defensive line, Rhodes and his companions were assigned to the second line of defense, an area with high ground that was not in the most difficult position of the defensive line. Lord Link was not pleased; he led his team forward towards the frontlines and left Rhodes with his cousin behind.

"You guys stay here and pick off high-value targets," he said before leading his team down from the high ground.

Rhodes and his cousin then prepared their guns with long-range scopes. On their first shot after zeroing, Rhodes and Sudel picked a Chaos Sorcerer about four hundred yards away, who was not very tall and hid behind the defensive lines.

Rhodes took the first shot, the bullet was a bit high, clipping the horn on the sorcerer’s helmet. While the Chaos Sorcerer was still dazed, Rhodes saw the bullet pierce through his helmet.

"Your muzzle was lifted too high. We’re on high ground; there’s no need to aim that high," Sudel, his cousin, pointed out. Rhodes instantly realized his mistake. For their second target, he chose a gnome who was carrying a jar towards a catapult, located in a carefully selected dip in the terrain, quite distant at about six hundred yards. Rhodes informed his cousin and they both shot together.

With a three-second countdown, Rhodes saw through the scope that one bullet struck the gnome’s neck while another hit the jar in his hands.

Then, a green fog burst out directly from the jar.

"They plan to use catapults to hurl plague jars? Genius idea, should we call for artillery support?" Rhodes was about to look for an observer when he heard the boom of a cannon, and then saw an explosion on the left side of the dip.

"They are adjusting fire," Sudel had just finished saying when Rhodes saw the second shell land in the center of the dip. After a few seconds, a series of artillery strikes reduced the catapults in the dip to pieces, and the personnel suffered heavy casualties. The jars, too, shattered all over the place.