Ashen Dragon

When the light column emitted by the "Annihilation Throat" collided with the outer layer of the light barrier, there was no explosion, only a crisp sound similar to broken glass.

Augustus' proud "Divine-Gifted Coating"—the golden light film produced by the day and night prayers of dozens of Angel Divine Descendants and thousands of Sun Priests—peeled off and shattered like a broken eggshell, gradually disintegrating.

Immediately, the internal structure of the light barrier was ruthlessly damaged and destroyed by this light column. At the center of the impact point, space twisted and crumpled like wrinkled parchment.

Eventually, even the sky let out a mournful howl. The light barrier was torn apart by the bombardment of the Magic-guided Railgun, creating a gap nearly a hundred meters wide.

"By Amanata above..."

"What, what kind of weapon is this? How can it have such power? Could it also harness the strength of the Divine?"

The officers and soldiers within August City were shocked and panicked. For the first time in a hundred years, they witnessed this holy barrier being breached.

However, they had no time for surprise or disbelief—because an even more fierce assault from the Empire was about to commence.

"All troops, hear my command—charge!"

"For the Empire!"

"For His Majesty Cassius!"

The Green-Footed Dragon-Serpent Horn blasted, and cheers from the Empire's positions echoed across the sky, shattering the clouds.

"Hum—"

Accompanied by the roar of engines, the Armored Corps of the Ashen Empire immediately launched their assault, flooding towards the gap like a formidable steel torrent.

Following the armored units, the Empire's infantry marched swiftly, their weapons glistening, and bright muzzle flashes erupted, as dense bullets poured out like a storm.

"Swoosh—"

A piercing shriek resounded as hundreds of Bipedal Wyverns equipped with "Heavenly Fire" armor swooped through the gap. Each carried cruel weapons such as White Phosphorus Bombs and Solidified Gasoline Bombs.

"Boom! Boom!"

Without the barrier's protection, countless bombs sliced through the night sky and rained down, repeatedly shaking the city walls and turning the Thrace positions into a Purgatory filled with phosphorus flames and gasoline.

The steel railings melted into red rivulets, the fiercely adhesive burning agent splattered onto soldiers, flames crawled and spread like living creatures, and milky white deadly smoke permeated the walls.

"No, no—"

"Great Lord of Eternal Radiance! Save me!"

Thrace soldiers wailed and struggled in the sea of flames, frantically praying to their Divine, but it was all futile.

Noble officers hid within the city towers and fortresses, waving their ornate sabers, angrily shouting: "You cowards! Counterattack! Give me a counterattack! Don't let them come up!"

Sun God Crossbows on the walls released glowing arrows that shot down the Bipedal Wyverns in flight, but soon, without protection, they suffered devastating attacks.

However, several shells inscribed with tracking arrays came howling in, destroying these precious Sun God Crossbows along with the soldiers operating them.

On the ground, a giant armor swung its Powerful Punch, smashing Steel Golems blocking the gap into scrap iron. Immediately after, the Steam Tanks surged into the gap, recklessly driving across the land before the city walls, continually bombarding them.

Under the impact of the armor-piercing bullets from the tanks, charred holes appeared on the walls of August City, countless stones fell, and the entire wall became riddled with scars, teetering on the brink of collapse.

Empire machine gunners sat atop armored vehicles, aimed their muzzles at the Thrace soldiers on the walls, and furiously pulled the trigger.

"Rat-a-tat-tat—"

Tongues of fire surged from the muzzles, dense bullets rained down on the defending soldiers, causing them to fall en masse.

Meanwhile, these ordinary Thrace soldiers clutched imported double-barreled rifles from the Empire, laboriously loading the cartridges, often knocked down by machine gun bullets before they could even raise their barrels, falling silent.

"Boom—"

At the officer's command, the steel gates slowly lifted again, allowing Thrace Kingdom's elite Heavy Infantry to stream out in succession, numbering five to six thousand.

With the left hand holding a Heavy Shield carved with the Sun God's Holy Emblem, and the right hand gripping a Silver Spear nearly ten meters long, their strides were uniform.

Their golden, regal heavy armor shone brightly under the light emitted by the Sun God Tower, resembling a golden fortress from afar.

This army, known as the "Radiant Legion", is a renowned, battle-hardened force, having wiped out the Giant Tribe left behind in the North, adept at fighting against massive enemies.

Leading the Nobles Warrior raised his spear, waved the Thrace flag decorated with the Sun and feathers, and shouted loudly: "For Thrace! For the Lord of Eternal Radiance!"

"For Thrace!"

This battle cry echoed through the sky, yet was easily overpowered by the louder roar and artillery fire from afar.

Steam Tanks surrounded from different directions, their turrets rapidly rotating, aiming their barrels at the Radiant Legion, then simultaneously fired.

"Boom!"

In an instant, hundreds of shells trailing thick smoke screamed towards the Radiant Legion.

The Nobles hastily raised their golden Giant Shields, hoarsely shouting: "In the name of the Sun God's subjects—block them!"

Suddenly, the patterns on the golden Giant Shields lit up sharply, and Light Shields appeared in the air like magical walls, blocking those shells.

Unbeknownst to them, this was merely a probe from the Imperial Armored Corps. Accompanied by the roar of artillery fire, the Steam Tanks launched a synchronized salvo again—this time, firing armor-piercing bullets specially designed to target holy and radiant attributes magic.