New Calendar Year 341, Autumn, the border of the Two Auras.
The Crimson Iron Cavalry of the Aura Kingdom, led by the Ranger General Elvie, took advantage of the roaring rainstorm to seize the strategic Iron Wall Fortress on the border of the Xio Kingdom in a lightning raid.
This raid was incredibly swift, tearing a hideous rift in the defensive line that Xio had maintained for many years.
The long-standing tense standoff between the two nations had its shell shattered by this heavy blow, erupting into the flames of total war.
When the news reached the Aura Royal Court, the Red Iron Dragon Emperor was standing atop a high platform, overlooking his kingdom as it stretched across the wilderness and mountains, the late autumn wind carrying a chill across his heavy scales.
His blood relative, Iron Dragon Sorog, reported the frontline battle reports and the reactions of the surrounding nations in a low voice.
After a moment of silence, Galos slowly turned his massive head, his deep black vertical pupils reflecting Sorog's figure.
"The War of the Two Auras?"
He repeated the term, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
"Yes."
Sorog lowered his head slightly. "Romania and its surrounding nations now use this name to refer to our war with Xio. Because both countries have a similar 'Ao' syllable in their names, share a border to the north and south, and have deep-seated grievances, they call us Northern Aura and Xio Southern Aura based on our relative positions."
"This conflict is thus called the 'War of the Two Auras'."
Galos let out a soft snort, a noncommittal response to the name.
He was more concerned with the substance: "Tell me your thoughts."
The Iron Dragon nodded slightly.
"Our territory is vast and our borders are long, resulting in significant gaps between defensive nodes. Supplies and troop movements in various regions are also limited by the terrain." Sorog stated his plan, his claws tracing rough lines on the stone platform. "Taking the Iron Wall Fortress is a crucial wedge."
"I intend to have the troops take root here, turning it into our outpost and fortress deep within Xio's territory."
He paused to ensure the Emperor understood the strategic intent. "With the Iron Wall Fortress as the core, we will amass heavy troops and consolidate city defenses. Simultaneously, we will dispatch several lords to lead armies toward strategic locations such as the Verdant River Valley, Norman Pass, Dry Wind Hills, and Palmer Highlands."
"In this way, we can use the Iron Wall Fortress as an axis to open multiple fronts and build an offensive line deep into Xio's territory, forcing Xio to split its forces and struggle to respond."
Galos listened quietly and finally nodded.
"Go ahead and do it."
He said.
Sorog said no more. His powerful hind legs pushed off the ground, and his massive wings unfurled, stirring the air on the platform.
His figure quickly ascended, becoming a shrinking black dot in the sky as he flew toward the front lines.
Galos did not follow him to the battlefield.
A war on a national scale has its established rhythm.
Legendary powerhouses are like nuclear weapons; they aren't easily thrown onto the chessboard in the opening stages.
The Xio Kingdom has a superior number of Legendary powerhouses, including Advanced ones, while the Aura side is known for the individual prowess of its Legends, especially the Red Iron Dragon Emperor, whose combat record is illustrious and terrifying.
Both sides were equally wary of each other.
Mutual wariness and probing are the norms.
Galos returned to the mountain behind the royal court.
There were mountains of high-concentration black oil, crystals, and various gems piled there.
He needed time to devour these energy-rich substances, soak his body in black oil, and repeatedly sharpen his claws and scales in silence, adjusting his condition to its Peak to prepare for the inevitable higher-level confrontation.
This war has only just begun.
Time ticked away quietly amidst the thickening smoke of war on the border.
Following the completion of the surprise mission by Elvie's Crimson Iron Cavalry, the Aura Kingdom's war machine went into full operation.
Troops belonging to legions such as the 'Star Shattering Hammer', 'Iron Will', and 'Eye of Annihilation' poured in through the breach at the Iron Wall Fortress.
These legions were eventually integrated within the fortress under the unified command of the Gluttony Demon Karu.
The Crimson Iron Cavalry then withdrew after their success.
This elite mobile force would not hold a single city; like ghosts, they were ready to reveal their sharp fangs at any weak point along the battle line at any time.
Immediately after, centered around the Iron Wall Fortress, a large number of engineers and slaves began working day and night.
They reinforced the walls, dug trenches, set magic traps, and built barracks and warehouses, attempting to turn the seized fortress into an impregnable offensive bastion.
Simultaneously.
The Amethyst Dragon Lion, the Eight-Headed Serpent Leopard, the Golden-Feathered Griffin, and the Phoenix.
These four powerful lords each led their most battle-hardened legions, like four arrows shot from a bow, toward the planned Verdant River Valley, Norman Pass, Dry Wind Hills, and Palmer Highlands.
The fires of war were instantly ignited at multiple points along the long border.
To counter potential multi-point counterattacks from Xio, the four lords—the Holy Spirit Deer Lord, Iron Dragon Letizia, Zoraya, and Alberto—were deployed at several key defensive nodes on Aura's own border to ensure rear stability.
On the other side, the Xio Kingdom's reaction was also swift.
There were no useless diplomatic protests, nor was there any impulsive immediate gathering of a large army to counterattack the Iron Wall Fortress.
They mobilized elite knight orders, mage corps, and a massive alchemical golem force, rushing them to the border. Meanwhile, they quickly gathered troops on the relatively open Ashen Plain south of the Iron Wall Fortress, building continuous camps, trenches, and towers to construct a solid defensive line named the 'impenetrable wall,' intending to block the main route for the Aura legions moving south.
At the same time, Xio did not merely defend passively.
They also chose to take the initiative, directing their forces toward key locations on the Aura border such as the Shadowy Dense Forest, Rust Valley, Dragons Fang Pass, and the Iron Ridge, using offense as defense to pin down Aura's troops.
After an initial month of troop deployment, probing contacts, and tactical arrangements, the form of the war quickly solidified.
The Iron Wall Fortress, Verdant River Valley, Norman Pass, Dry Wind Hills, Palmer Highlands, Ashen Plain, Shadowy Dense Forest, Rust Valley, Dragons Fang Pass, and the Iron Ridge.
Around these ten strategic points, a brutal tug-of-war unfolded.
Every strategic location turned into a meat grinder.
The Xio Kingdom held the advantage in organization and equipment, thanks to a more mature and complete military command system, a well-trained officer corps, and strong alchemical industrial strength. Meanwhile, the Aura Kingdom was by no means inferior, relying on the generally superior individual qualities of its dependent races, the formidable combat power of its lord units, and its own alchemical armaments.
The battle lines shifted repeatedly; positions were lost and regained, then lost and regained again.
Both sides paid a heavy price, but neither could achieve a decisive Breakthrough.
The Legendary powerhouses continued to watch coldly from behind the scenes, looking for the moment to strike a winning blow or the time when they would be forced to intervene.
Stalemate became the main theme.
Two months slipped away in this attrition, as late autumn turned into early winter.
The Xio frontline headquarters on the Ashen Plain.
Fine snowflakes began to fall from the leaden sky, mixing with the lingering smoke and the scent of scorched earth on the Ashen Plain. Inhaling it tasted of ice shards and fire.
The watchtower.
A tall, upright figure stood like a javelin nailed there, letting the chilly wind tug at his deep blue general's greatcoat.
Rodrigo Crown, the commander-in-chief for the Xio Kingdom in this war and holder of the title 'Shield of Xio'.
His pale gray eyes peered through the falling snow, staring at the scarred battle line in the distance.
Fires from explosions flared up there from time to time, and faint sounds of fighting drifted over, but overall, a cruel balance was maintained.
Rodrigo came from the Crown Family, known for their loyalty and military talent.
This Family had wielded weapons for the Xio royal Family for generations and was hailed as the 'Shield of the Kingdom'.
Rodrigo himself was the best among them.
His Legendary defense against overwhelming odds at Eagle Beak Canyon, his decisiveness in efficiently suppressing the rebellion of the Great Lords, and his outstanding performance in the First Lossern Civil War had forged his reputation and authority.
He was not a Legend, yet he possessed the authority to mobilize Legendary forces.
After standing in the cold wind for about fifteen minutes, Rodrigo wrapped his robes tighter, turned, and walked down the watchtower, returning to the warm but somber atmosphere of the command room.
A massive sand table took up almost the entire center of the room.
It was densely packed with red and blue pieces representing the forces of both sides, interlocking around the ten strategic locations in a stifling stalemate.
The war had lasted for three months.
Behind every movement of a small flag on the sand table was the passing of hundreds or thousands of lives.
Rodrigo stood straight, the communication crystal floating at his side constantly flashing with faint light, feeding real-time information from the front lines into his ears.
"Report! The Seventh Knight Order successfully repelled the third aerial assault of the Gold Feathered Griffin Legion at the Dry Wind Hills, but the anti-aircraft gun arrays have suffered heavy losses and need replenishment."
"Norman Pass requests urgent backup! The Eight-Headed Scourge and its troops have breached the outer defenses and are assaulting the second barrier. The garrison is under extreme pressure!"
"Battle report from Dragons Fang Pass: While our legion was attacking Dragons Fang Pass, our flank was hit by a high-speed raid from the Crimson Iron Cavalry. Casualties exceed forty percent. Our positions have contracted, and we urgently need reinforcements and supplies!"
"Seven small-scale skirmishes occurred today in the Verdant River Valley. Casualties on both sides, with no change to the front line."
Listening to the news, Rodrigo's expression remained as calm as water, with only his jawline tightening slightly.
His adjutant, Torres, handed him a freshly summarized parchment report, his voice lowered even further.
"Over the past week, total casualties for the army are over 8,700, with 4,200 confirmed dead. Sir, at this rate of attrition, our reserves and supplies..."
He didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.
Rodrigo took the report, his eyes quickly scanning the numbers before gently placing it on the edge of the sand table.
"And the estimate for enemy casualties?"
He asked, his voice steady.
"Based on observations from various fronts and intelligence summaries, the weekly casualties for the Aura Legion are estimated at around 10,000."
"That sounds like a good number."
Torres paused briefly and added, "However, the vast majority of their casualties are servants or low-tier troops like Gnolls, Kobolds, and Lizardfolk."
"The casualties among their backbone forces like Ogres, Trolls, Centaurs, and Minotaurs, as well as the elite guards directly under the lords, are much lower."
"Furthermore... their soldiers have strong recovery capabilities."
"Many injuries that would require evacuation for us humans can be handled simply or even healed through their natural regeneration, allowing them to return to the battlefield in a few days."
The physiological gap between monsters and humans gradually became a glaring disparity in this long war of attrition.
Even more lethal was the fact that it was the height of winter.
Snow and low temperatures were a severe test for the morale and physical condition of human soldiers, while those monsters from the wilderness were far more tolerant of such conditions.
"They are using the lives of those wilderness dregs to trade for the lives of our warriors."
Rodrigo's gaze was incredibly sharp. "And we currently have no choice but to accept this trade."
Trading the lives of precious human soldiers for Kobolds and Gnolls who bred as quickly as weeds was a losing proposition in the eyes of any commander.
Torres was silent for a moment.
He asked in a low voice, "Commander, more than one frontline general is asking... how long will this stalemate last? The soldiers are exhausted, many units aren't getting proper rest rotations, and the pressure of evacuating the wounded is mounting."
Rodrigo did not answer immediately.
He turned his gaze back to the sand table, staring intently.
Ten strategic points were circled in red, with supply lines stretching out like spiderwebs, many marked as high-risk.
"Aura's intention is clear," he finally spoke, his finger tapping on the Iron Wall Fortress and several other sortie points. "Using the Iron Wall Fortress as a solid pivot, they strike in all directions while utilizing the treacherous terrain of the wilderness to stabilize their defense. Their goal is to force us to constantly split our forces, grinding us down at every point and keeping us running ragged."
"This is an open ploy that we have to respond to, otherwise the defense line will be broken piece by piece."
"Behind them... is a brilliant strategist."
Rodrigo looked up toward the direction on the sand table representing the heart of the Aura Kingdom, as if he could pierce through the walls and see the cold vertical pupils of the Iron Dragon.
Based on existing intelligence, he knew very well that the Red Iron Dragon Emperor had delegated full military command of the Aura Kingdom to his blood relative.
The Iron Dragon Regent, the War Prince of the Aura Kingdom.
And his performance was indeed worthy of the Red Iron Dragon Emperor's favor.
Rodrigo withdrew his gaze, his tone becoming decisive. "Issue orders: summon all generals for an emergency military meeting here. Also, contact the royal capital at the highest encryption level; I need to request authorization from His Majesty."
"Yes, Commander!"
Shortly after, at the headquarters.
Both sides of the long table were filled with the Xio Kingdom's frontline generals.
Their faces bore the weathering of long-term campaigning, their eyes solemn. The room was filled with the smell of pipes and the faint scent of rust from leather armor and steel.
Rodrigo stood at the head of the table.
Behind him was a massive dynamic map of the Ashen Plain and surrounding theater projected by magic, with light points moving slowly across it, representing various units.
"Gentlemen," he skipped all pleasantries and said bluntly, "the war has reached the end of its third month."
"We have been locked in a back-and-forth struggle with the Aura Legion at ten strategic locations, at a cost of over 67,000 casualties."
"We have held the main defense lines and haven't allowed the enemy to achieve a strategic Breakthrough. However, we have also failed to retake the Iron Wall Fortress or deal the enemy any annihilating blow."
He paused, his gaze scanning the face of every general.
"The situation has fallen into a stalemate, and this stalemate is slowly draining our lifeblood."
An old general with a fresh scar on his face, the commander of the Third Legion, said deeply, "Commander, it's not that the soldiers aren't fighting hard."
"Those monsters... their individual ferocity far exceeds that of ordinary soldiers. Their lords often require the deployment of Advanced alchemical golems or the gathering of several combatants of the same Rank to barely contend with them."
"In a direct war of attrition, our flesh and blood... simply cannot afford it."
The Aura Kingdom might not match Xio in the number of top-tier Legendary individuals, but in the mid-to-high tiers, with those powerful lords and their core Dependents, they possessed a headache-inducing advantage.
Xio's alchemical golems and equipment were more Advanced.
However, when facing those thick-skinned monsters with terrifying strength, it often required a significant price to achieve results.
It was as if their more developed alchemy industry was merely some sort of clever trick.
"That is exactly the crux of the problem, and the reason why we cannot go on like this."
Rodrigo nodded in agreement, then changed the subject. "Therefore, starting today, we will change our strategy and no longer play by their rules."
He stepped aside and gestured for a white-haired mage standing in the corner of the meeting room to come forward.
"Allow me to reintroduce to everyone the Peak crystallization of our nation's alchemical engineering—the 'Heavenly Eye' strategic magical satellite."
"Great Master Alvin, please explain its full strategic functions to everyone."
Representing the court mages, Caster Alvin stepped forward, holding a staff inlaid with an Amethyst.
He was old, but his eyes were still as sharp as an eagle's.
With a tap of his staff, a complex and precise three-dimensional magic circle composed of countless glowing runes and lines appeared in the air.
"As you all know, the Heavenly Eye has been providing us with vital battlefield surveillance, communication relay, and weather forecasting support."
"But its capabilities go far beyond that."
He tapped his staff again, and the magic circle began to change, displaying various images.
"The Heavenly Eye is equipped with three sets of strategic-grade magic arrays."
Alvin explained one by one.
"First, the Beyond-Visual-Range Precision Deployment Array."
"It can lock onto any precise coordinate on the front line from the rear, with an error of no more than ten meters. It can deploy organized units, equipment, or supplies directly from space orbit to the target location, completely ignoring intervening terrain and enemy blockades."
"With the level of Aura's alchemy industry, they are completely unable to stop our satellite deployments."
A suppressed gasp and whispers rippled through the meeting room, with several younger generals showing shock on their faces.
"Second, the Rain of Holy Healing Array."
"It can project a high concentration of life and energy light-rain onto a designated area, significantly increasing the wound healing speed and stamina recovery of our soldiers. It can also strengthen the combat capabilities of specific generals or units for a short time."
"Third, and the most aggressive, the Orbital Precision Strike Array."
"By gathering and guiding energy from space, it carries out devastating bombardments on point-like or small-area targets on the ground."
The room fell into a brief silence, broken only by the slight hum of the magic circle.
Some high-ranking generals seemed to have known this for a while, their expressions solemn but unchanged; others could not hide their astonishment.
Clearly, not everyone was fully aware of the satellite's complete strategic effects. Most Xio people only knew the satellite had reconnaissance capabilities, including Rank-and-file soldiers and some Elementary generals.
"If it's so powerful, why wasn't it used before?"
A cavalry general from the western provinces couldn't help but ask, his tone filled with confusion and a hint of reproach.
Alvin's gaze turned toward Rodrigo.
Rodrigo took over the question, his voice steady. "Because the cost is high, and it signifies a strategic escalation."