Chapter 1074 944: Total War · Four Battlefields

"Fire!"

The Hilus commander, dressed in a fiery red uniform, hoarsely swung down the gleaming saber in his hand with all his might.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!....

Sanctioned by Aiven, the urgently outfitted 77 rifles and the "Sole" rifles made by Hilus themselves.

Shot hot bullets from behind bunkers, trenches, rocks, sandbags, trees... everything that could serve as cover, wildly sweeping towards the hillside.

This place is the 120-kilometer-long Winterthur Mountain Range, a natural boundary between the Hilus Empire and the Sak Empire, and after the war broke out, the Sak Empire launched its full-scale assault on this land front.

Their strategic goal is to reach the Hilus capital, St. Cruz Dome Palace, before any external forces can intervene, to completely take down this "former Sea Hegemon" which lost its throne thirty years ago.

Nevertheless, the defending side, Hilus Empire, still holds the advantage.

Behind the brave infantry, the cannoneers unleashed the firepower of the mountain artillery, revered as "the king of the battlefield," recklessly pouring fire onto the advancing Sak army.

Rumble!

The terrifying sound of thunder swept the entire battlefield.

Smoke and fire from explosions mixed with blistering shrapnel swept like a whirlwind across the uneven, pockmarked mountainside.

The assaulting Sak army immediately rolled and crawled away from the craters like waves hitting rocks, yet the piercing whistling sound densely poured over them.

Of course, as the Sak Empire clamored for revenge, they would not just stand still and take a beating.

"Counterattack, bomb!"

Woo woo woo...

The nimble small airships, directly ignoring the mountain terrain, zoomed over the heads of infantry, unleashing their massive payload of bombs onto the Hilus positions.

Meanwhile...

A group of large "mechanical spiders," composed of bearings, gears, springs, cylinders, pistons, crank connecting rods... rushed forward emitting white steam, advancing fiercely towards the Hilus positions from behind their infantry.

The [High-Pressure Steam Gun] mounted on the vehicles launched rapid fire, matching in both power and firing rate with the 77 rifles.

Thirty years ago, the "Dawn Church," leading the Sak Empire's religious realm, was far more enlightened than the "Eternal Flame Original Sect," only a few years behind Tulip in the Steam Industrial Revolution.

Their numbers and creativity of [Steam Masters], engineers, and relevant road Extraordinary, were not to be underestimated.

The all-terrain [Gear Beasts: Mechanical Spiders], with abundant spherical gears, were extremely agile in mountain warfare, practically moving like flying leaps.

Late starters quickly overtook the infantry, easily leaving them far behind.

But at this moment...

A shell accurately landed on the leading "mechanical spider," turning this agile but armorless mechanical device into a heap of scrap metal with a booming impact.

"Ha, well done, Trande!"

On the Hilus artillery position, the cannoneer who fired that shot was a young man with cornflower blue eyes and tawny blonde hair, still looking boyish.

After being praised by the officer, he even bashfully blushed like a little girl.

However, the artillery officer believed that after a few battles, this young man is bound to grow into an excellent cannoneer or even an officer.

The battlefield is the world's most brutal and efficient melting pot.

Yet unexpectedly...

Bang!

A bomb dropped from an airship landed right beside the artillery position overhead.

"Uh..."

The young man with exceptional talent as a gunner groaned softly.

Yet a piece of shrapnel hit him squarely between his eyebrows, opening yet another black hole of an "eye" between his two blue ones.

Undoubtedly, he collapsed straight down, dead.

The artillery officer climbed up from the ground in embarrassment, angrily spitting out a mouthful of bloody spittle:

"Anti-aircraft artillery, shoot down that damn airship for me!"

This scene was precisely captured overhead by the [Mind Network] and transmitted to a mysterious place shrouded in a gentle white light.

Inside the "Cloud Conference Room" spanning across the entire Material World, was a spacious and solemn large-scale outdoor amphitheater.

A group of imposing men and women have completely filled the room.

Most of them are dressed in military uniforms with swords at their waists, and many are even wearing dazzling crowns.

Over the years, the upgraded and modified Mind Network has achieved full coverage of the Material World and easily brought the high-levels of the Monarch's Shield together.

"Your Majesty Galliot! Everyone present here should be well aware that the war originated from a poorly orchestrated plot by the International Democratic Alliance.

In accordance with the defensive and offensive alliance of the Monarch's Shield, I urge you to send assistance to the Hilus Empire to jointly attack the Sak Empire, which has been controlled by the pro-democracy faction."

Although Emperor Oderich I of Hilus had long since taken over the reins, it was evident that major military and national affairs were still dictated by Empress Dowager Teresa, who had long ruled the empire and had a large following.

Sitting at the head of the conference room were Aiven and Liweina, both in military uniforms.

In this gradually expanding and escalating war, Aiven naturally assumed the role of Commander-in-Chief of the Monarch's Shield, with Liweina as deputy.

Having led the Tulip Alliance to victory in the War of Overlord thirty years ago, completed the industrial revolution first, and successfully established an international currency system, their prestige was immensely high, with no competitors within the alliance.

Faced with the request for aid from Empress Dowager Teresa, before Aiven could speak, a middle-aged king in the conference room had already stood up and bowed to Aiven:

"Your Majesty Galliot, the Atlant Kingdom requests to join the battle!

Our 'Giant Horn Cape' can attack the 'Saint Lawrence Territory' by land and sea, rendering the Sak's New Continent garrison unable to provide support to the mainland."

Initially, the International Democratic Alliance surrounded the kingdom with the strategy of using duchies and marquisates, successfully capturing the Atlant Kingdom, known for its piracy genes, in a single battle!

The surging wave of Public Opinion Frenzy forced the kingdom's high-ranking officials, with their extraordinary powers, into exile overseas, barely surviving in their last colony, 'Giant Horn Cape'.

At least, they still had a Titled Knight: Bloodthirsty Frenzy, which barely allowed them to maintain this small foothold, at least to ... eat codfish to their fill.

However.

Listen!

Woo, woo, woo...

The ancestors of Atlant were obviously weeping.

Thus, ever since inheriting the throne from the cleanly departed old father Haral II, who lost the kingdom's lands with swift clarity, he never ceased thinking about how to restore the Atlant Royal Family's rightful lineage.

This war was indeed a rare opportunity, and perhaps with the alliance's assistance, the revival of the Atlant Kingdom could be realized!

At this moment, the duchy's Intelligence Chief, Bess, approached Aiven and whispered a few words to him.

Aiven nodded:

"Let him in."

In the next moment, amidst the bewildered gazes of everyone present, a voice sounded in the Cloud Conference Room:

"Fellow citizens, years ago, our forebears suffered under the oppression of kings and nobles. It was their brave resistance that led to our current democracy and freedom...

But let us not forget that the Golden Palm is a nation of immigrants, and we have countless compatriots still living under the brutal rule of the feudal monarchy....

It is time to liberate this dark world and completely sweep the feudal monarchy into the trash heap of history.

We support the Sak people's venture of vengeance, and in my capacity as the Federal Prime Minister, I declare that the Golden Palm Federation is declaring war on Hilus, war against the evil Monarch's Shield nations!"

This was followed by nationwide broadcasts by the Lowland Republic, Atlant Republic....

The battle between the two great empires had just begun, and the member states of the International Democratic Alliance declared war on the evil Monarch's Shield in support of Sak's righteous revenge.

Clap! Clap!

Aiven clapped his hands, swept over the room with authority, and solemnly declared:

"Everyone has heard the declaration of war broadcast. War is not what we desire, but we have no choice but to fight!

Next, I will make the appointments. His Majesty Malvan IV from the Heimar Kingdom is appointed as the Eastern Line Commander on the Source Continent...."

In this full-scale war that involved the majority of the world's principal nations, four major battlefronts were arrayed.

On the Source Continent's Eastern Line, the Heimar Kingdom would face a coalition of small nations within its influence zone, with the three 'recalcitrant' countries: Tramo Duchy, Taiz Principality, and Hodeida Duchy leading.

On the Source Continent's Western Line, the Tulip Alliance, Hilus Empire contended with the Lowlands, Sak Empire.

On the Source Continent's Northern Line, the Tulip Alliance clashed against the Atlant Republic, Lowland Republic.

But these were not the main theaters; the decisive battleground affecting the future destiny of the Monarch's Shield and the International Democratic Alliance was in the New Continent's overseas front.

The most powerful south-north battle between the Golden Palm Federation and Galliot Duchy...