CH 28

Morning sunlight illuminates the plains of Tigervania. 

In the morning sun, the Beastvania King Lycan II raised the tip of his spear and roars like a beast. 

It’s the opening signal for the beginning of the battle. 

The surrounding soldiers, just like the king, raise their spears and swords high to the sky and cheer. They are trying to boost morale before the battle. 

And then… 

The battle, later known as the Battle of Tigervania, began with an assault by Beastvania forces. 

“Groaar! Trample down those puny human armies!” 

Under the command of King Lycan II, the first to go into battle are 20,000 soldiers of the Rabbit, Fox, and Tiger tribes. 

Rushing down from the top of the hill where the main camp was located, they are heading toward the trench positions of the Yamato Empire at full speed. 

Then, the other tribes followed their lead and began to cheer, pointing their weapons at the Yamato Imperial Army. 

Each tribes used various different weapons and armors… No, there was no uniformity in the army Beastvania Army, even those within the same tribe vary quite a bit. 

Some with swords, some with spears, some with axes. 

Plate armor, chainmail, leather armor, or shirtless. 

If anything, their assault is more like a horde of barbarians than an army. 

Fighting against these barbarians is the Yamato Imperial Army. 

Unlike the Beastvania army, which looks like nothing more than a bunch of bandits if it were smaller in size, everyone here wears military uniforms and is uniformly equipped. 

It is a formation worthy of being called a modern army. 

“Oh, they’re on the move. Then, let’s do the same here.” 

“Copy that, open fire. Repeat, open fire.” 

Above the gates of Tigervania. 

There, having set up a tea table, Eryutheia observed the front line stretching across the plain while sipping tea elegantly with her maids. 

When she confirms that the Beastvania army has begun its attack, she immediately gives the order to attack, and her adjutant maid, Ayame communicates the order to the corresponding officers. 

Orders are quickly transmitted to all troops using either wired or wireless communication equipment. 

We will then promptly begin our attack.

“Target, the center of enemy lines, fire.” 

The first to open fire was the artillery division positioned in the rear of the trench lines. The two divisions each deployed an artillery regiment equipped with light howitzers and field guns, firing dozens of shells simultaneously. 

The artillery shells flew with an eerie wind noise. 

“What the hell is happening…?” 

The sound of artillery reaching the Beastvania army several kilometers away, and then the sound of flying shells. 

Realizing that something was flying, although they could not visually confirm it, the Beastvania soldiers looked up at the sky. 

Then it exploded before their eyes. 

Either by shrapnel shells from field guns, or maybe by explosive rounds from a howitzer. The shells burst in the air, scattering countless metal fragments and assailing the Beastvania Army’s ranks. 

“What the hell is this attack! Is this some kind of attack magic? How could those furless apes have strengthened their magic so much!?” 

“W-we are supposed to have an overwhelming victory! ―Guhaah!” 

The Rabbit Tribe and Fox Tribe soldiers, who had never been bombarded before, fell one by one and screamed before they knew what was going on. 

What’s more, the bombardment was not limited to once or twice. It’s an unending rain of steel. 

“Not like this! This is not what I heard! Hey, what are we supposed to do? Should we push forward or retreat? ―Humpyaah!” 

The Rabbit Tribe Chief was blown away as he fumbled under the bombardment… 

“This is… not something we can possibly win. Hah, so much for that high and mighty lion. Fox Tribe forces, retreat immediately. We’re retreating.” 

By the time they were faced with their first few shots, the Fox Tribe Chiefs immediately realized they were defeated and began to flee. 

Artillery strikes are an unknown attack to these beastkins. 

Beastkin, Human, possibly Elves. 

These intelligent life forms called ‘Humankind’ are extremely vulnerable to a situation where “their friends are dying from an unexplained attack.” 

If they had understood that this was an artillery attack, and knew how to deal with it, they would have been able to maintain some chain of command. 

This is especially true in the Beastvania army, where morale was originally high due to the fact that they were fighting a different race. 

But not only do they not know how to deal with it, but they also don’t know what is attacking them and based on what principle. 

If one were to compare this fear, it would be similar to the feeling of being in a dark wilderness where one cannot see anything and your friends are being killed by someone or something. 

Without being able to understand anything, not being able to resist, and slowly falling to their deaths. 

Could you stand that kind of fear? 

With enough bombardment, the chain of command of the Rabbit Tribe and Fox Tribe in the front line collapses and they are reduced to nothing more than a disorderly mob. 

“T-this is the same magic attack as before!” 

“Shields, use your shields to defend!” 

However, there are some who have experienced ‘bombardment’ in Beastvania. 

It’s the Tiger Tribe who lost their city due to the artillery bombardment…There’s also the Ieneko tribe who has also experienced bombardment, but they have not come to this battlefield because their tribe is on the verge of extinction. 

Those who were chased out of the city by the bombardment that day, took up their swords and spears to retake their hometown. 

Either that, or desperately trying to clear their name for the stigma of having their city taken from them, they were advancing to the front lines of the Beastvania army. 

Undaunted by the constant bombardment that rained down on them, they charged straight into their hometown of Tigervania. 

Originally, the Tiger Tribe army numbered 5,000. 

Repeated bombardments created a mountain of corpses, reducing their number to less than half as they broke through the bombardment. They reach a few hundred meters away from the trench positions of the Yamato Empire. 

“Alright, we’ve broken through the magic attack! We are not done yet!” 

They’re on the verge of a breakthrough! 

Yes, As soon as they thought that, their march ends here. 

The battle is ruthless. 

“They’re just like a moth to a flame…” 

“Hey, take it seriously, the Führer is in the rear. If you let one of them break through… the Imperial Guard will get you.” 

“I know that.” 

First trench line of the Yamato Imperial Army. 

There, the Machine Gun Battalion armed with heavy machine guns was waiting for the beastkin army’s assault. 

The 7,7mm rounds fired at a rate of 500 rounds per minute from the newest heavy machine gun with ammunition belt-loading mechanism killed the Tiger tribe soldiers one after another. 

In addition, small light machine guns that use 6,5mm rounds are also firing at full power. 

Their intense barrage of assault fire, easily crushed the Tiger Tribe’s assault. 

“Aaah… Our hometown, the city of Tigervania… is there…” 

The Tiger Tribe continued marching forward, trying desperately to cross the death line. 

They all died in a hail of bullets without ever touching the first trench line. With their stolen hometown in front of them. 

“Nooo! What the hell is this, Sir Bear!” 

“I-I don’t know kuma… Your Majesty! Shouldn’t we order them to withdraw!?” 

“No, we can’t retreat! I, Lycan II, the Lion Tribe Chief and King of the Beastkin Kingdom of Beastvania, admit defeat!? Impossible!” 

The soldiers of the Tiger and Rabbit tribes, who were in the lead, were crushed by the overwhelming amount of iron. 

The Fox Tribe is already leaving the battlefield. 

Within an hour of the start of the bombardment attack. 

In no time at all, he loses 20,000 men, leaving Sir Bear in a cold sweat. And Lycan II, who was about to go half mad. 

While they cannot give effective orders, the Yamato Empire’s attacks are now directed at the rearguard units. They continue to inflict heavy blows on the Beastvania forces. 

They are able to withstand it because of their 100,000-strong army, however… 

“Grrrr! …There’s no retreat! Attack! Show what the beastkin are made of!” 

“Y-your Majesty, that’s impossible kuma!” 

“How can we beastkin lose to those furless apes! We must break through with our invincible beastkin spirit!” 

The King then gives the order, “Anyone who retreats will be killed by the lion tribe army.” It’s practically an anti-retreat force. 

All they have left is willpower. They cannot admit defeat. They must win at all costs. 

Despite being under one-sided bombardment, the Beastvania army does not take a step back. 

“…They are quite tenacious, then prepare to dispatch the Imperial Guard. Let’s get the idea of modern warfare into their brains.” 

The Führer stepped out of the city gates and boarded a Type 3 Light Tank of the Imperial Guard Armored Battalion. 

She commands, “All tanks, forward.”