Chapter 308: Giants Have Long Legs

Slowly, the city of Marimgar began to wake up for the battle.

Everyone knew that it was coming, they just hadn’t expected it for another eight or ten hours, at the very least. So, while there was a lot of chaos as everyone prepared the last minute details, there was no panic or disorder.

Everyone knew their roles, and they had all received the deployment orders telling them where to be before the battle started.

As the next hour progressed, teams began to deploy to the field, and scout reports continued to roll in about the army’s movement. They clearly knew where Marimgar was, they were following the river directly toward the city walls. But only the ground teams could scout them, as the speeders would be too easily spotted.

Fortunately, the physical conditioning of the scouts was good enough that they were able to keep up with the Giant Army, though it was much more of a relay race for them than a steady jog for the much larger Giants.

If their legs were close to two metres long, they too could move that fast. But with the size disadvantage, dropping scouts along the route with radios was a much more reliable way to ensure that the Giants didn’t do anything that might take the city by surprise.

"{ They’re beginning to spread out. I think that they’ve spotted the light on the horizon, and they’re moving to surround the city. No, they’re separating by Clan. They’re not intending to fight as a cohesive group, but as five or six separate ones based on what type of Giant they are. }"

Kalli updated the notes as the message came in, and considered her options.

It didn’t change too much, the Giants were all strong, she assumed. But if they were fighting separately, that meant their techniques were different enough that they would cause issues for their allies.

That was something that the defenders could exploit.

"{ Forward teams, once you engage, I need reports on their magical affinity and fighting style. I will immediately adjust the reinforcements. Watch Towers, use the target lock function on the defensive laser turrets. We can use that to ensure that the city’s defensive cannons do not miss.

Marimgar Air Defence Batteries, fire at will the moment that the Giants reach our perimeter.

All scouts, call off escort at the thirteen kilometre mark. Do not get close enough to risk friendly fire from the city’s cannons.

All units brace for incoming attackers. }"

The very mundane and normal orders helped settle everyone’s mind. They could and would have done the same thing on their own, but hearing someone say it made it official, and that was worth far more than a few simple words should have been.

The Air Defence Batteries were the first sign that the battle had begun.

The Giants were still kilometres away from the front lines of the defenders when they came into sight, and the guns opened fire, tearing up the countryside and the front Ranks of the Giants at the same time.

Caught by surprise, hundreds died in the first ten seconds.

Then, the barriers came up. Frost, stone, swirling sand. And the light of the Pulse Cannons detonated against them, slowing the assault for a moment. But the Giants could do the mental math as well as anyone.

They needed to approach the defensive lines as fast as possible, or they would be torn apart by the city’s cannons.

If they waited, and let the cannons burn through their mana to hold the shields, there would be nothing left in reserve to fight the humans. It was a trick that the Frost Giants had seen before, and they were at a full run as they approached the closest defensive tower.

It was the one nearest the ocean, where Sanchez and Esmeralda were supposed to be holding the line with a flight suit team.

Instead, there was a new unit in the front, while Sanchez and his team were in the Sergeant’s armoured personnel carrier, waiting for the call. Or, holding position until the call, anyhow.

They were already beginning to fire the Pulse Cannon on the roof, working as a team to reduce the mana load without slowing their rate of fire. That would help weaken the defensive magic of the Frost Giants as they approached, as the Flight Suit team was currently out over the ocean, looking to get behind the lines, where they could do more damage.

Just like last time.

Only, the Frost Giants weren’t going to fall for the same trick so easily, and when they arrived, there were mages in the back, held in reserve to protect the back lines with defensive barriers.

And this time, they had not been randomly summoned to the area.

With time to prepare, they had a much more effective combat force, and the humans could only get at one flank, since there were Sand Tribe Giants on their left. The desert tribes were good with the cold, as well as the heat, so they had been chosen as a buffer between the Frost Giants and the Hill Giants.

Having reinforcements was supposed to make the battle easier for the Giants, but it was only providing the city of Marimgar with a target rich environment. At least until they made it into combat.

The night sky lit up with the glow of Plasma Cannons, while the Pulse Cannons of the city’s vehicles and heavy troops drew patterns through the air as the gunners panned the rifles back and forth, looking for a weak spot in the defences.

"Five hundred metres. Impact!"

The front lines at the Frost Giant end of the line unleashed their skills, desperately trying to stop the Giants, and the Air Defence Cannons stopped advancing, able only to target the rear ranks of the Giants safely.

Now, the Heroes had to fight.

In front of Sanchez conflicting orders were shouted as five different former city leaders vied for overall command of the area, unwilling to listen to Kalli’s orders now that the battle had actually started.

The one who had been placed in charge was one of the troublemakers, but one that actually had tactical skills, a former military officer who had seen combat before the awakening.

His orders were solid, thoughtful, and defensive of his troops.

But the same could not be said for many of the others, who were beginning to panic as the Frost Giants were not falling fast enough to be stopped before they reached melee range.

Sanchez turned to Esmeralda. "Wait for the line to collapse, then send in the undead. There are a few good men there I wish to rescue."

"Got it Sergeant. We won’t let them take too many of our heroes, even if they make Reggie look smart."

Sanchez laughed at her retort. Reggie was actually very smart. He was just Yara’s favourite punching bag, and teasing him had become a popular pastime among the ladies of Marimgar.