Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 216 - 210: Nu River Defense Line

At dusk on the eleventh day, as the army crested the final mountain ridge, a vast, boundless plain unfolded before them all.

Upon the plain, two massive military formations, stretching for dozens of miles, faced each other from a distance. Between them flowed a wide river—the very same Nu River they had looped far around to meet again.

To the east lay the camp of the Fiery Sun Kingdom. Golden Fiery Sun banners snapped in the wind, and a dense spread of tents covered the land like an anthill. Countless soldiers swarmed through it like ants, and a grim, heavy aura washed over the newcomers.

To the west was the camp of the Thunder Dragon Duchy, its deep blue Thunder Dragon banners fluttering in the wind. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

The encampment stretched for several kilometers. Tens of thousands of soldiers were arrayed on the West Shore, and a dozen floating bridges had been built across the Nu River. The Thunder Dragon Duchy’s army was using these bridges in an attempt to seize the riverbank and establish a forward base.

The two sides had been locked in a bloody struggle along the Nu River Defense Line for months, with neither making any substantial progress.

Aiden Duke intended to capitalize on the assassination attempt against the Fiery Sun King to settle the conflict in one decisive battle and seize the Nu River Defense Line once and for all.

Viewed from high above, the dozen hastily constructed floating bridges on the murky river resembled fragile stitches, barely connecting the two banks of the Nu River.

Each bridge was its own separate meat grinder, where soldiers from both sides collided, hacked at each other, and fell from the narrow walkway.

One side roared as they tried to charge across to the opposite bank, while the other desperately blocked them with their own bodies, all while trying to destroy the bridges under a hail of arrows.

The shouts of battle, the clash of weapons, and the screams of those falling into the water were almost unceasing.

In the sky, the battle was just as brutal.

Thousands of Pegasus Knights formed a layer of white clouds. They were nimble and agile, constantly diving in small squads to hurl Alchemy Fire Oil Bombs at the riverbank and the floating bridges.

On the Thunder Dragon Duchy’s side, five hundred Iron Feathered Eagle Knights tenaciously guarded the airspace above the bridges. The Iron Feathered Eagles they rode were Tier Two Magical Beasts, their feathers harder than steel and their talons capable of easily tearing through the flesh of a Pegasus.

Though vastly outnumbered, the Iron Feathered Eagle Knights relied on the ferocity of their mounts to hold a death grip on the critical airspace. They were like black swords, relentlessly piercing and tearing through the seemingly endless white clouds of their enemy.

Farther back from the riverbank, countless soldiers raced against time under the cover of arrow fire. They drove massive wooden stakes into the riverbed, attempting to erect new floating bridges and open a path for the main army to follow.

At this moment, the fiercest fighting was on Floating Bridge Number Three, located on the central front.

Here, a hundred-man squadron directly under the command of the Thunder Dragon Knight Order faced off against their rivals: the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s most renowned Fiery Sun Knight Order.

The most elite forces of the two nations were locked in the most primitive form of combat on this floating bridge, which was less than five meters wide.

"Hold the line! For the glory of the Duchy!"

A Thunder Dragon Knight roared, his Heavy Sword having just split open an enemy’s chest plate, when a Long Spear thrust from the side pierced through his shoulder blade.

He did not retreat. Instead, he let the Long Spear remain embedded in his body and used his free left hand to seize the spear’s shaft, creating a fleeting opportunity for the comrade behind him.

A flash of a sword, and the Fiery Sun Knight’s head flew into the air.

Blood sprayed across their faces, making it impossible to distinguish friend from foe.

The Knights were packed onto the narrow bridge with no room to charge and no space to dodge. There was only the most direct clash of Power and skill.

Shields were shattered, Armor was pierced, and broken weapons and mangled corpses were constantly pushed off the floating bridge, plunging into the cold river below.

The floating bridge groaned under the immense force of the clashing armies, sounding as if it could fall apart at any moment.

Directly overhead, dozens of Pegasus Knights and Iron Feathered Eagle Knights were also locked in a frenzied dogfight. From time to time, a Knight and their mount would plummet screaming from the sky, hitting the river with a massive splash.

Night fell quietly, but the war showed no signs of stopping.

Torches were lit one by one, forming two flickering dragons of fire on opposite banks.

Magical flares streaked into the sky, trailing blinding light and illuminating the entire battlefield as if it were day. The cold river water reflected the magical radiance, revealing faces twisted by a crazed fervor.

The battle raged on.

Raylo’s gaze swept over the sprawling camp below, settling on the distant Nu River, which glowed crimson under the light of fire and Magic.

Shortly after their arrival, a commotion clearly broke out in the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s camp on the east bank.

A force of several thousand soldiers detached from the main camp and moved south along the riverbank, rapidly establishing a new flank defense. They had obviously noticed the arrival of his reinforcements.

The enemy’s reaction was swift. Like a beast that had scented blood, they immediately bared their fangs.

The Storm Griffin King let out a low cry in response, lowering its altitude to circle above the site where the camp was about to be established.

Under Ed’s command, the soldiers were methodically selecting a campsite, digging trenches, and setting up cheval de frise, their movements practiced and efficient.

Just then, a member of the Personal Guard riding a Storm Griffin caught up from behind, steadying his mount beside Raylo.

"My Lord."

The Personal Guard’s voice rang out.

"Lord Luke has ordered the entire army to make camp on the spot, light fires, and rest. In two hours, there will be a military council in the Commander-in-Chief’s tent."

"Understood."

Raylo nodded, his gaze once again turning to the distant Nu River.

"Relay my orders: heighten our alert status. The Scouts are to extend their perimeter by another five kilometers."

"Yes, my Lord!"

The Personal Guard acknowledged the order and departed.

Raylo urged Baofeng to descend slowly.

Wisps of smoke were already rising from the camp. The aroma of food, mixed with the scent of earth and grass, finally managed to dispel some of the stench of blood from the battlefield.

「Two hours passed in a flash.」

When Raylo arrived at the Commander-in-Chief’s tent, the area outside was already crowded with the Personal Guards of the various Lords, and the atmosphere was solemn.

He pushed aside the heavy curtain flap, and a wave of hot air, thick with the smell of tobacco, Leather, and strong tea, washed over him.

The tent was brightly lit. A dozen or so Lords were arranged on either side; they were the core of this army of tens of thousands.

The Vice Commander of the Thunder Dragon Knight Order, "Iron Blood" Luke, stood before a massive sand table. His frame was like an iron tower.

On the sand table, the terrain of both banks of the Nu River was precisely recreated. Flags representing the two armies were interlocked in a jagged line, especially at the locations of the dozen floating bridges, where the red and blue flags were almost completely entangled.

Raylo’s arrival drew everyone’s attention.

"Raylo, have a seat."

Luke said.

Raylo nodded to the others and took his seat.

Luke wasted no time on pleasantries. He tapped his finger on the sand table, making a dull thud.

"Gentlemen, I’m sure you’re all aware of the situation. The Fiery Sun Kingdom has detected our arrival and has reinforced its flank defenses."

His gaze swept over everyone present.

"The Duke’s intentions are clear. We are not here to be spectators. We must immediately press forward, apply sufficient pressure on the Fiery Sun Kingdom’s main position, and create an opportunity for the main force’s all-out river crossing."