On the Elro Plains, a massive army was moving at a speed comparable to a high-speed train, clocking in at 200 kilometers per hour. As they advanced, dust and sand were thrown up into the air, and a fierce wind howled around them. The terrifying killing intent that enveloped an area of hundreds of miles was so intense that it could even alter the weather.
The composition of this army was incredibly complex. The main body consisted of several hundred thousand cavalry units, each knight resplendent in shining armor, riding predominantly pegasus mounts. There was even a legion of pure mages, all mounted on flying mounts, clad in standard mage robes and wielding magic staves. Among them were also towering giants, encased in armor several inches thick, resembling robots more than living beings. In addition to these, there were a variety of other units, including numerous special forces teams and unique military units, totaling dozens of different types.
Among these smaller units, the Guardian Knight Order stood out the most. They were in the absolute central position, each Guardian Knight not only clad in golden armor but also riding golden griffins. Regardless of the Guardian Knights' own strength, the combat power of these golden griffins alone averaged between Level 3 and Level 4 lord-class.
Such a force was clearly assembled for a war of annihilation, capable of not just conquering any ordinary kingdom but powerful enough to challenge and destroy a near-imperial-level superpower. With such a formidable lineup, the empire had clearly spared no expense this time.
At the forefront of this troop, the core group alone consisted of several hundred individuals, including Western Duchy Grand Duke Kofiepol, Eastern Duchy Grand Duke Blakely, the empire's Chief Knight Kroft, the Formless Sword Saint, the Black Barbarian King, and others. The rest were top-tier powerhouses from the eastern, western, and southern territories, as well as elite warriors, most of whom possessed Level 6 overlord strength.
Such a military force, even for the empire, represented a significant mobilization of resources and effort, not usually deployed lightly, highlighting the determination behind this operation. There's no doubt that faced with such a military might, even the current Chaos Forest would feel a significant threat.
Kofiepol was fully confident this time, unlike Bachor's repeated failures and diminishing forces, he had gathered all possible strength and made thorough preparations before launching this assault.
"Your Grace! There's an unusual presence ahead! According to our magic division's reconnaissance, it appears to be an elite force from Darkness City, heading our way."
Kofiepol laughed, "How many are there?"
A magician responded, "Approximately between 120,000 to 150,000."
Kofiepol's laughter grew, "Hahaha, they dare to probe us with just that many? Well then, let's give them a warm welcome, shall we? Show them what true power is!"
Duke Blakely had already begun issuing orders: "Inform the entire army to prepare for battle and be on alert for an enemy attack!"
The magical messenger quickly disseminated the duke's commands through communication spells, ensuring every unit commander in the vast army, spread over tens of miles, received the orders clearly and promptly.
In the blink of an eye, the massive army of over a million halted as if a paused machine. They efficiently reorganized their formation: the Guardian Knights at the forefront, the duchy knight army surrounding them for protection, the armored giants forming a circle, and the mage legion shielded in the center. With intense magical fluctuations, hundreds of thousands of elite mages cast spells simultaneously. A super-strong protective barrier enveloped the area, safeguarding all imperial combat units within.
Just then, dense specks appeared in the distance. The Darkness Three Dragons and the four new Dragon Kings, leading the abyssal dragon legion, the royal guard legion, and the elite aerial army of Darkness City, totaling over a hundred thousand troops, loomed into view.
The disparity in numbers between the two sides was staggering, reaching more than tenfold. In terms of quality, Darkness City's forces, with their strongest unit being the dragon legion, were at a disadvantage. Despite the might of the abyssal dragons, which numbered only around a hundred and fifty, the opposing Guardian Knights alone numbered six thousand.
How could such a battle be fought? The difference was vast, and the two forces were not even on the same level.
Yet, the forces of Darkness City seemed oblivious to the empire's formidable lineup and foundation, continuing their approach. Dark clouds loomed overhead, with crimson lightning flickering, signaling a potent attack brewing.
Long Yi roared, "Attack!"
"Charge! Kill! Maim!"
"Take down these imperial dogs!"
The abyssal dragons unleashed their abyssal lightning, the royal guards fired beams from their beholder eyes, and several elite mage groups released their long-prepared spells all at once.
In an instant, the sky darkened as countless fearsome attacks descended upon the imperial army's shield. Long Yi and the troops of Darkness City were stunned to see such a vast and fierce assault, which could have spelled doom for even a Level 6 monarch, barely leaving room for resistance.
To the shock of Long Yi and the troops of Darkness City, such massive and fierce attacks, which could have spelled doom for even a Level 6 monarch, seemed to have no effect on the shield. Despite the barrage, the shield showed no signs of damage or weakening, highlighting its incredible defensive strength. After all, this was a barrier created by hundreds of thousands of elite mages, enhanced by various empire formations and treasures, reaching a skill level above S-grade.
"Seven monarchs?"
"Seven Dragon Kings?"
Both dukes and the lead knight noted the seven leading dragons at the forefront of the Darkness City forces, each radiating the pressure and aura of a monarch, clearly indicating the presence of seven monarch-class units.
"The Demon King is indeed growing too fast!"
"Darkness City's strength has increased since last time!"
"According to intelligence, Darkness City is allied with the elves, but the Elven King isn't present in this force. It seems Darkness City has yet to deploy all its military strength."
The group quickly assessed the situation. It was clear that the current force alone could not shake the Empire's army, but the transformation from three to seven Dragon Kings in Darkness City was truly shocking. The rapid growth of Darkness City was terrifying.
The Hero Sato Satoru chuckled, "Good, very good. This is indeed the most powerful Demon King force I've encountered so far. Only such a Demon King is worth my effort!"
Darkness City's forces launched several long-range attacks in succession, but failed to inflict effective damage, not even managing to breach the shield.
Long Yi, with a grim expression, immediately ordered, "Retreat!"
Darkness City's forces turned to leave, planning to regroup. However, retreating proved much more difficult than arriving. If Darkness City could attack the empire's forces, the empire could certainly retaliate. Over a hundred thousand mages, averaging around Level 3 in strength, began chanting in unison. A terrifying magical fluctuation, unlike anything seen before, enveloped a hundred-mile radius of the plains.
The next moment, thousands upon thousands of fiery meteors streaked through the dark clouds and fell upon Darkness City's troops. Each meteor's impact was comparable to a small nuclear explosion. In the blink of an eye, the once peaceful grassland was utterly devastated, with Darkness City's forces suffering tens of thousands of casualties despite their immediate defensive measures. This level of casualties in an initial clash was unprecedented, highlighting the immense power of this magic. The strength of this spell was primarily due to the sheer number of casters. The combined might of a hundred thousand elite mages was comparable to a full-force strike from a top-tier mythic magical unit.
"They're trying to flee!"
"Hmph, thinking of escaping now? Too late!"
Duke Kofiepol loudly commanded, "Chase them down! We can't let them return to the Chaos Forest. Not one shall escape today!"
"Kill, kill, kill!"
The empire's forces surged forward with overwhelming momentum. The vast gap in strength between the two sides was evident. In the face of the Empire's profound strength, even the elite forces of Darkness City seemed insignificant, greatly boosting the confidence of the imperial soldiers. Most of the empire's forces were capable of flight, matching the mobility of their adversaries. Their defeat seemed certain."