Gale asked, "Would a normal commander use such a dense array of Alchemical Weapons at the start of a battle?"

The mercenary leaders shook their heads.

The cost of Alchemical Weapons dictated they be used at crucial moments and key locations on the battlefield. To scatter Alchemical Weapons about right from the beginning of the battle... that was unheard of.

Gale continued, "What you've seen is exactly what Yan Xing wants you to see. I know Yan Xing very well; he's a very cunning man. If you fear his Alchemical Weapons, then his scheme has succeeded. He will have protected his wealth and will later mock our stupidity. I can assure you that Yan Xing does not have many Alchemical Weapons. He just wants to scare us, to make us too frightened to attack again."

The mercenary leaders all nodded in agreement. What Gale said made sense. The barrage just now was nothing but a bluff from the Envoy Mansion. Thinking about the riches inside, the mercenaries' morale surged once again.

The leaders dispersed to gather their subordinates, ready to launch another attack on Yan Xing's Envoy Mansion.

The assembling mercenaries were clearly visible to the high-altitude reconnaissance drones.

"Chui Chui, prepare to bombard the assembling mercenaries. Deal with this batch of enemies quickly; I don't have time to play attack and defense games with them here," Yan Xing ordered Chui Chui, then said to Li Jiya standing beside him, "Miss Li Jiya, please wait here a moment while I take care of these thieves."

"Be careful, Sir Yan Xing," Li Jiya said, giving Yan Xing a curtsy before watching him leave the tent.

His cherished steed, Feiying, descended from the sky. Yan Xing leaped onto its back, drawing the Sword of Glory from its scabbard.

He cried out, "Gryphon Knights, prepare to attack!"

Every Gryphon Knight of the Eternal Domain mounted their Battle Griffins; all the griffons were highly excited by the prospect of battle. The knights drew their double-barreled cavalry guns, designed for aerial combat, as griffon screeches filled the air.

Then, the cannon fire roared to life once more; the Envoy Mansion's batteries laid down suppressive fire on the approaching mercenaries. A cloud-like spread of projectiles swept over the residential area in front of the Envoy Mansion, accurately pounding the assembled mercenaries.

The cannonballs were unstoppable, piercing through any obstruction they encountered. Flesh and blood were no different from stone against such an attack, and low-level Magical defenses offered little more protection than cloth robes. The mercenaries, ignorant of artillery, didn't realize the foolishness of assembling within the cannons' range.

They were subjected to a dense bombardment raining down from the heavens, and many did not even understand what was happening before their bodies were torn in two. The recently boosted morale instantly collapsed under this bombardment. They no longer dared to dream of wealth, only wanting to flee as quickly as possible.

Then, another volley of cannon fire descended. Some were killed; others were left permanently disabled. Blood splattered and limbs scattered, turning the small assembly area into a scene of hellish terror in an instant.

The mercenaries screamed as they ran. Yet, cannonballs continued to rain down like a torrent.

Gale watched the horrible scene before him in a daze, unable to comprehend the kind of opponent he was facing. What kind of weapon is Yan Xing using? How can it strike from such a distance?

While Gale was stunned, a cannonball struck the Magical shield he had deployed. The resonant, bell-like clang of the impact demonstrated the projectile's formidable power. His Magical shield shattered, Gale dared not linger. He fled with the other mercenaries, trying to get away from Yan Xing's Envoy Mansion.

However, a barrage of cannonballs landed in front of them, blocking their path. And as the terrified mercenaries halted, another barrage rained down on them from above.

In Yan Xing's mental space, Chui Chui faced the Deep Space Whisperer grimoire. One hand rested on a keyboard, the other moved a mouse. The grimoire, open like a computer screen, displayed the battlefield as captured by a high-altitude reconnaissance drone. Using the mouse, Chui Chui selected the cannons positioned within the Envoy Mansion and directed their fire at the mercenaries at the far end of the residential area. She divided the cannons into several groups based on their position and angle. Some cannons blockaded the mercenaries' escape routes, while others targeted those who had halted or clumped together.

Actual warfare here resembled a real-time strategy game.

Chui Chui even yawned from boredom and said to Yan Xing, "Master, are these mercenaries stupid? The more I bombard them, the more they clump together. If they spread out and kept charging forward, these solid shots really wouldn't hurt that many of them."

Yan Xing led the Griffons into the air from the main building of the Envoy Mansion, forming an attack formation.

Hearing Chui Chui's complaint, Yan Xing said, "Fear of unknown weapons instinctively drives people to band together for safety, but once they understand these weapons, they'll quickly find ways to counter them. You need to collect data on these weapons in actual combat and accelerate the development of next-generation armaments. I saw Magic that could block the cannonballs; our weapons still lack sufficient power."

Chui Chui replied, "Yes, Master. The Alchemy Laboratory is using our current equipment and Alchemy to create a production line for metallic bullets. Producing metallic bullets will consume large quantities of copper and lead, so please monitor our reserves, Master. Furthermore, since the bullet production line will have limited capacity, I suggest we first replicate M1891-style rifles to reduce the army's ammunition consumption in combat..."

Yan Xing wasn't listening closely to Chui Chui; after all, this was hardly the time to discuss technical matters.

"You handle the development of the weapons. We've reached enemy airspace. Guide the aerial combat."

"Yes, Master." Chui Chui changed into an air force officer's uniform, and over a dozen screens unfolded layer by layer before her.

The artillery bombardment program was left running in the background as Chui Chui switched to aerial reconnaissance mode.

"Master, there are thirteen Griffons circling at low altitude at coordinates 69:34:78; twenty-one Griffons are stationed on the ground at coordinates 12:89:45; and seven Griffons are on high-altitude standby at coordinates 98:57:32. The high-altitude Griffons have spotted you and are signaling their companions."

As Chui Chui spoke, even more detailed data appeared on the lenses of Yan Xing's protective goggles. Yan Xing looked up towards the high-altitude Griffons. All seven were highlighted with red targeting boxes on his display, and he saw a Magical signal flare explode in the sky.

The low-flying Griffons formed a defensive screen to cover the Griffons taking off from the ground. Meanwhile, the high-altitude Griffons dove to engage Yan Xing's Griffon Troop.

Yan Xing was slightly outnumbered, but the enemy Griffons were split into three groups in different states: attacking, defending, and taking off. My priority should be the largest group, the one that hasn't taken off yet, he decided.

Yan Xing glanced at the diving enemy Griffons. Data on their speed, estimated engagement time, and more flashed across his vision. He then assessed the Griffons still taking off. Required runway distance, takeoff time, time to reach combat readiness—all displayed in meticulous detail. Chui Chui also presented possible tactics for the defending Griffons, offering several offensive options for Yan Xing's forces, complete with projected outcomes and friendly casualty estimates.

Yan Xing selected a plan. Chui Chui quickly broke it down into detailed assignments, distributing them to each Gryphon Knight's tactical display.

With data-driven tactics applied to aerial combat, Yan Xing's Griffons swiftly divided into six teams. Such detailed subdivision and execution of combat roles were unimaginable for the air forces of the Magic World. Air combat in the Magic World relied more on pre-rehearsed tactics and individual pilot experience. They generally avoided dispersed formations to prevent communication breakdowns and being overwhelmed by superior enemy numbers. Once aerial units were locked in a melee, tactical flexibility became even harder to achieve. It was either defeat the enemy or be defeated.

At such times, they relied more on the Griffons' own predatory instincts and grasp of the immediate combat situation. Griffons that had flown together for a long time developed a synergy, allowing them to execute highly intricate tactical maneuvers. However, this Griffon synergy was purely tactical; strategy was beyond their comprehension.

Yan Xing's Griffon Troop broke formation, splitting into multiple small squads. This sudden change stunned the mercenary Gryphon Knights who were preparing to engage them.

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