Rudra stood idly on the massive walls constructed by the Aurelius clan around their disc as he watched the unfolding battle between the dwarves and the forces of the sovereign Kane with great interest.
He was impressed by the machines deployed by the dwarves in this fight, he had always believed that there must be some way that the fighter jets deployed by humans on earth could be remodelled into a more resilient form for combat in Sigma, but such a construction which met the armour requirements was usually very bulky and not very manoeuvrable.
The earthen fighter jets, while fast, could be destroyed fairly easily.
In a world where flying horses that could fly at twice the speed of sound and colossal beasts like dragons existed, their practicality was limited if they could not even withstand minor damages to their wings and other structures.
His vision however was made a reality today by the dwarves who flew in very aerodynamic yet very stable fighter jet like planes that had rotating armour piercing arrow machines mounted upon them.
With omniscient eyes, although not a technical man, Rudra quickly figured out the key elements of the design as he made a mental note to pass it onto fatty Kalash the next time he met him.
Such a device if produced by the elites could improve their battle capabilities mid-air significantly.
However despite the seemingly overwhelming advantage that the dwarves seemed to have at the moment, Rudra realised that the fight was going to be decided not by the millions of masses fighting at the direction of their superiors, but rather the handful of God level fighters on both sides and mainly the three monarchs involved.
Rudra had some knowledge about Kane from his time roaming free in the universe, but he had no idea about the other god Memphidos.
His techniques were weird and his choice of mount being 4 giants was peculiar.
Rudra immediately disliked the guy but also understood that he was a potentially dangerous threat that needed to be monitored.
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( Meanwhile on the dwarven battlefront )
"Unveil the Cyclone Carvers and the Magma Mortars," The forger king commanded, his voice echoing through the fortress.
The words had barely left the Forger King's lips when the earth quaked anew. Concealed hatches slid open around the fortress, revealing an array of lethal mechanisms hidden within the dwarven stronghold.
First were the Cyclone Carvers. These were a marvel of engineering, dwarf-crafted machines that whipped up miniature cyclones filled with shards of razor-sharp metal. They whirled their way towards the enemy lines, a deadly, swirling vortex that tore through flesh and bone. Their screeching howls echoed across the battlefield, each one a grim symphony of destruction.
Then came the Magma Mortars. These monstrous contraptions, situated on raised platforms, hurled molten rocks towards the enemy. Each shot glowed with a terrifying light, tracing a fiery arc across the sky. When they landed, they exploded in a rain of molten lava, setting the ground aflame and causing enemies to scream in agony as they were consumed by the fiery death.
The morale of Kane's army seemed to be plunging and the sovereign sensed the distaste of his frontline troops for being used as cannon fodder as he was forced to intervene at this moment to keep the flow of attack going.
Kane dismounted gracefully from his mount, his boots sinking into the charred earth as he raised his spear and charged straight at one of the Magma Mortars, his movement a blur in the sight of mortal soldiers as a second later with a mighty heave, he drove his spear into the machine, shattering the Mortar into a thousand pieces.
With the destruction of the first Mortar, Kane's forces found a renewed surge of adrenaline. Rallying behind their sovereign, they pushed forward with greater force, their courage kindling despite the deadly rain of the metal shards and the molten lava.
At the same time, the Human Sovereign turned his attention to the metal golems. Each as tall as a ten-story building and as formidable as a small fortress, the golems were a formidable obstacle that his frontlines were struggling to destroy.
But Kane, a tier8 monarch, was undeterred. With a series of calculated attacks, he incapacitated several golems, clearing the path for his soldiers to charge through.
Back in the aerial battlefield, the dwarves continued their assault. The sound of their fighter jets was a constant drone, punctuated by the staccato of their machine arrow guns. But even as they soared and darted, the dark faction's own aerial units retaliated, resulting in deadly dogfights in the skies above.
Back in the fortress, the Forger King witnessed all this with a hardened resolve.
His gaze moved from one end of the battlefield to another. As he constantly thought about the next move to be deployed and the strategic approach to be undertaken.
As the enemy crossed the 300 metres mark, The forger king decided to deploy his own personal creations for them to face as the last line of defence before the dogfight began
"It's time for the Iron Hornets and the Mirror Shields," he announced as listening to his command there was a ripple of excitement amongst his underlings- these machines were yet to be tested in a real battle, and anticipation hung heavy in the air.
The ground shook once again, this time with a different rhythm. Out from concealed pits around the fortress, a swarm of metallic shapes took flight. They buzzed in the air, their sleek bodies glinting in the dying light of the day.
These were the Iron Hornets, dwarf-crafted drones shaped like giant hornets. With their wings a blur, they swarmed towards the enemy lines, their stingers armed with explosive payloads.
With a synchronised precision that belied their appearance, the Iron Hornets attacked. Each stinger strike was like a targeted missile, finding its mark with unerring accuracy. They danced through the air, their buzzing a terrifying chorus to the cries of pain from their victims.
Simultaneously, the Mirror Shields came to life. These were tall, movable structures with a shiny, reflective surface on one side. Positioned strategically around the fortress, they were rotated to face the advancing enemy.
As the hostile forces released their energy attacks, the Mirror Shields absorbed the incoming force, their surfaces gleaming brightly for a moment. Then, with a blinding flash, they reflected the energy back, sending the deadly spells right back towards the attackers. The battlefield was awash with these deadly lights, illuminating the grim spectacle in a spectral glow.
The Mirror Shields were more than mere reflectors, though. When the advancing forces came too close, the Shields released a blinding flash of light, disorienting the soldiers and giving the dwarves a chance to retaliate.
The battlefield roared anew as these new weapons were unleashed, adding another layer to the deadly dance of war as the dark forces staggered under the relentless assault.
But this was the last trick under the hat for the dwarves. When the enemy forces eventually breached the 100 metres mark all their long ranged weapons would be rendered useless while the fight would spill into the narrow passages of the fortress.
They had the upper hand for now, but the real fight was yet to begin.
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/// A/N - Chapter 17/20, that's it for the day ///