Just as the command center was embroiled in disputes, a communications soldier rushed in to report:
"The Griffon Scout Squad has spotted a golden dragon circling the battlefield before entering that high valley. It is approximately 148 meters long and is likely the same one that previously attacked the Imperial Dragon."
The staff officers immediately fell silent.
The Chief of Staff spoke, "Prepare for an offensive in one hour's time. It will be a two-pronged assault: General Paine will lead the traditional infantry legions and artillery alongside the Griffon Knights and battle dragons in a frontal attack. General Hessman will command the newest infantry assault vehicle corps combined with infantry legions striking from the north, bypassing the enemy's defenses to strike their rear."
Once the highest-ranking staff officer had given his orders, no one else could decide anything further. They immediately began executing the commands.
Soon, many transport ships arrived at the temporary port constructed by the engineers.
The hull doors opened, and a new type of weapon never before seen rolled down the steel ramps and onto this battlefield.
It was strikingly similar to an improved version of the Ground III.
However, it differed in certain details. For instance, while the Ground III used four wheels for propulsion, the infantry assault vehicles had tracks instead. Because the Ground III retained its original grappling claws and leaping functions, but the infantry assault vehicles lacked those capabilities, they required the highly adaptable tracks to rapidly traverse complex terrain.
Moreover, the infantry assault vehicles possessed offensive capabilities, with rotating 360-degree small artillery turrets equipped with bowguns that could be manned from the interior.
But these were minor points - the true purpose Ryton's military designed these weapons was to rapidly deploy infantry to penetrate enemy lines. Soldiers could ride in the assault vehicles to charge deep behind enemy territory, disrupting current static defensive positions and advancing the theaters of war.
"Let's see how effective they are."
The officers watched excitedly as one new weapon after another disembarked from the transport ships.
This was an experiment. If successful, it could potentially alter the complex situation on the Disputed Plains. Ryton might even compel the allied forces to withdraw from occupying this unclaimed territory.
Additionally, if this battle succeeded in securing Pillar Mountain and the Oakenburg region, it would solve Ryton's problems with minerals, food, sea access, finance, and population. Ryton could become a great power rivaling the Natterian Empire and achieve full autonomy.
After the infantry assault vehicles entered their prepared positions, maintenance began. Uranium rods and bowgun bolts were loaded, and the alchemist engineers performed final checks on components.
The remaining Ryton soldiers distributed ammunition, while the Griffons and battle dragons rested at the landing zones and dragon training grounds in preparation.
The artillery crews and scouts anxiously watched the skies, fearful that dragon might attack at this critical juncture. Fortunately, no draconic shadows lurked within the black ashen clouds drifting apart to reveal curling pillars of smoke.
At precisely 9 AM on the 4th of September, Ryton's military launched the first wave of the offensive!
The battle dragons led the charge, flying out in an arrowhead formation and relentlessly bombarding the ground with high-powered magical barrages. Swarms of Griffon knights flanked out from both wings.
The ground forces then advanced, but quickly split into two groups after a short distance. One proceeded with the original plan of a frontal assault on Valley, while the other took a detour through the Bodland Grove, feigning an advance straight toward Pillar Mountain to lure Raphael into overextending himself.
One hundred infantry assault vehicles circumvented to the north to pierce directly into the heart of Valley.
"Master, the enemy approaches!" A blood wyvern alerted Raphael, waking him from studying maps and strategizing.
"Those dwarves again!" Raphael snarled, spotting the incoming battle dragons in the distance, numbering at least a dozen.
He turned to the rat dragon Henry and Milmos, issuing orders: "Ground defense is up to you two. If it becomes untenable, you may withdraw to Pillar Mountain without needing approval."
"Yes, sir!"
The red and gold dragons then took flight toward the aerial battlefield.
"The dragon is here!"
Abandoning the arrowhead, the Ryton dragons reorganized into tight four-dragon squads and immediately initiated crossing fire spell attacks against Raphael and Arnold.
"You take that squad," Raphael told the golden dragon before charging the group of eight on the right flank.
"Roar!!"
Crimson dragon opened his jaws, preparing to unleash his dragon's breath. This movement caused the two opposing squads to flinch, mistakenly believing the fearsome golden flames were about to erupt. Their excessive evasive maneuvers led to collisions from the loss of formation.
However, what emerged was a radiant breath - a linear devastating beam that struck one of the momentarily disorganized Ryton dragons. Its midsection was pierced through, spattering draconic blood and charred scales.
Raphael seized the opportunity to accelerate toward the injured dragon!
"Attack!"
Realizing his intent, the remaining seven dragons reacted by regrouping their formation and focusing spell attacks to intercept him.
But Raphael would never let any opportunity for attrition slip away!
He reared back and let out a tremendous roar, his spell immunity manifesting as a hexagonal pattern rippling across his entire body. Ignoring the bombardment of ice spikes, lightning orbs, and dark blasts, he relentlessly closed the distance to the injured straggling human dragon.
This Ryton dragon was attempting to flee, feeling only the constant drainage of blood, its secondary heart and major blood vessels torn apart, flight speed gradually decreasing - while the roaring winds of pursuit closed in behind!
Zzzzzzt!!
A thunderous electric bellow made it whip its head around in shock, but Raphael's crimson form had already vanished!
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The wounded Ryton dragon looked up in terror to find the red dragon hovering above, eyeing it with a dead creature's gaze. His right claw gathered an orange-yellow lightning spear that he then plunged downward!
The thunder exploded within its body in an instant! The dragon's vertical pupils immediately dimmed as it plummeted, strength sapped.
Raphael had no time to revel in his success, immediately dodging left and right to avoid numerous lightning bolts and stray strikes crisscrossing him as multicolored spells intermingled in the airspace.
He reinforced his spell immunity once more and began grappling with the remaining seven battle dragons.
...
On the other side, Arnold had already gained a decided advantage.
The battle dragons' tactics were based on human military analysts' assessments of Raphael's prowess. This unschooled red dragon, however, was an utilitarian who had never learned the profound mysteries of draconic magic - only basic functional and aggressive spells.
Arnold was different. As a descendant of Draconic Sage, the secrets of magic flowed through his claws with effortless grace.
The battle dragons launched another volley of 6th-level spells, but they were immediately absorbed into the rotating, multi-colored conical vortex hovering above Arnold's head, leaving only pure residual mana to be deflected by his arcane barrier.
"What is that?"
A sense of futility began creeping over the Ryton dragons.
Arnold chuckled inwardly.
"This is a draconic spell - the Elemental Cone. I can imbue it with corresponding elemental magics to drain the elemental energies from your spells. Originally just a minor alchemical purification technique, I never expected it to prove so useful."
Original dragons did not limit themselves solely to elemental magic when battling, employing many bizarre and wondrous abilities as well.
"Try spells above 6th level."
The Ryton dragons, unwilling to concede, unleashed a Dark Meteor Swarm - a hail of darkness-infused comets raining down on the unperturbed golden dragon.
Arnold immediately countered with "Shadow Planar Wave", infusing it into the Elemental Cone. Its spinning vertices transformed jet black, absorbing the dark elemental essence from the incoming meteor swarm. The resultant scattered ambient magic dissipated harmlessly against his outer barrier like raindrops on an umbrella.
The golden dragon then retaliated!
"Cosmic Mirage!"
"Stellar Gravity!"
His golden vertical pupils suddenly deepened to a profound azure blue, containing the entire vast cosmos within.
As the Ryton dragons floundered in confusion over their next move, they were stunned to see the ashen clouds dispersing from the sky, bathing them in brilliant sunshine.
The abrupt change in weather even startled the advancing Ryton ground forces, unsure what the meteorological shift signified.
Then, the celestial vault seemed to open, the cloud and atmospheric layers parting to reveal a breathtaking azure star river that outshone the daylight and hovered before the eyes of all below.
"What…can draconic magic really be this unrestrained?"
General Paine, commanding the infantry assault vehicles, gaped upward in amazement before ordering his troops to slow their advance. He ordered his troops to slow their pace and used a communications orb to inform the rear forces and allied northern armies of the situation.
"What? You can't see it?" Paine frowned, learning that the base along the riverbank, the Fels Town command center, and Hessman's clustered armies had not detected any anomalies in this area, still covered under dark clouds.
"An illusion? Or some sort of veil?"
Puzzled, Paine halted communications and ordered his forces to resume their full speed assault while warily observing the heavens.
The reactions of the aerial battle dragons were even more dramatic, being the targets of Arnold's draconic magic.
They felt the star river drawing ever closer, threatening to swallow them into the boundless wonders of the cosmos itself.
Then the stars began to align into a single linear path aimed directly at them.
"Watch out! Evade!"
The battle dragons sensed imminent danger and attempted to flee, but a cascading gravitational force originating from the stellar sequence was already bearing down on them!
The crushing tidal waves of gravitic energy surged relentlessly, allowing the Ryton dragons no respite. All their defenses and aerial maneuvers proved futile against this invisible juggernaut - their bones and sinews were systematically pulverized amid agonized roars.
"No! This will decimate our entire force!"
Maintaining a shred of lucidity through the torment, the lead Ryton dragon charged forward, shielding three comrades with its body in an attempt to absorb some of the impact force. Another elder dragon reacted similarly, joining the leader to buy their kin a chance at survival and preserve their dwindling strength.
The impact force was immense. Another elder dragon reacted similarly, cooperating with the lead dragon to buy their comrades a chance at survival and preserve some of their strength.
The cosmic mirage gradually dissipated, once again enshrouding the Ryton ground forces in black clouds.
BOOM! BOOM!
Two massive forms plummeted from the sky, cratering the earth.
Those two Ryton dragons, willing to protect their companions, had borne the brunt of the gravitational onslaught - their bodies torn asunder into several gruesome chunks by the overwhelming force.
But two bloodied, trembling survivors remained airborne, having evaded death.
Arnold could not help but feel grudging respect.
"Willingly sacrificing yourselves for your comrades - admirable! You deserve honor!"
His original plan had been to adopt a defensive posture with the Elemental Cone and arcane barriers, weathering their attacks to lull them into complacency. Then he would unleash two devastating killing strikes in quick succession to down them. Distributing the stellar gravity across four dragons would prevent outright annihilation.
Afterwards, he could mop up the flightless survivors - rendered mere mundane beasts - with minor spells.
But he never expected the human dragons to possess such strategic foresight, preferring the immediate loss of two over the potential downing of four later on.
For that would not only obstruct the ground battalions' advance, but also leave them vulnerable to Arnold's aerial bombardment, derailing the entire offensive. Now the golden dragon could focus his arcane barrages skyward, sparing the terrestrial forces.
The two remaining Ryton dragons wasted no time retreating, wings straining with every agonizing flap to avoid grounding.
"Lightning Serpent!"
Arnold unleashed this draconic spell - an agile, serpentine chain of electrical energy that began pursuing the fleeing enemies, arcing tendrils of lightning converging from all angles.
On the ground, General Paine immediately called for reinforcements from command.
Two reserve dragons were promptly dispatched.
Arnold attempted to give chase for a while until the tardy arrival of Griffon squadrons drove him back with concentrated bowgun fire. Unlike the battle-hardened Raphael, he lacked the audacity to plunge into the thick of it - his speed couldn't even match the battle dragons at their prime.
"Perhaps I should attack the humans inst-ARGH!"
The golden dragon barely entertained that notion before hundreds of lightning bolts rained down, the Griffons having split into over a dozen squads attempting close-range strafing runs. The ground artillery crews and distant reinforcement battle dragons opened fire as well.
The uranium-powered energy weapons did not channel magic or elemental forces - instead releasing a unique uranium-based energy the draconic species had never utilized, and thus possessed no magical defenses against.
Arnold attempted to use the Elemental Cone to absorb the lightning elemental component of the bolts, but quickly realized it was merely an outer casing - akin to outfitting a ship with an icebreaking ram. The uranium blasts themselves were the true payload.
"Argh, it stings!"
Lacking Raphael's thick, battle-hardened hide, the concentrated barrage left Arnold's scales smarting.
Unable to risk an aerial offensive against the ground forces while surrounded and overwhelmed by sheer numbers, the golden dragon became embroiled in a stalemate as he focused solely on fending off the swarming airborne assailants.
On the other front, Raphael too found himself hard-pressed.
He had been locked in pitched battle against the seven dragons and the subsequently arrived Griffon battalions for some time now. Their unremitting attacks had found their marks repeatedly, his outward appearance scorched and roughened like he had been coal-rolled.
But the Ryton forces fared no better.
Unlike their previous ambush, Raphael came prepared this time - stubbornly clinging to the high ground's superior positioning. Their spells and uranium rounds had to arc down, making it easier for the red dragon to evade.
Yet one should not underestimate "easier to evade." It afforded Raphael ample opportunities to maintain an aggressive posture. The battle dragons dared not linger too long, constantly repositioning - which drastically reduced their spell frequency.
Moreover, Raphael's elevated vantage point granted an unobstructed overall view, never needing to worry about blind spots or being flanked, enabling him to fight unrestrained.
ROARRR!!
Another gout of dragonfire rained down, incinerating more Griffon riders.
"I don't think he's even trying to down us. He seems intent on whittling away at the Griffons!" one battle dragon alerted his comrades.
"But without their support, we may not be able to contain him," the squadron leader admitted grimly.
Whenever they attempted to encircle from the rear, Raphael's radiant breath would force them back. And due to the severe altitude differential - unlike at the Kiel military port - they could not simply evade, compelled to remain low.
This passive stance left them reliant on the Griffons to bottle Raphael up. Otherwise the demon dragon could accelerate past them to strike the ground forces directly.
For now, the Griffons could delay his departure long enough for the battle dragons to reattempt higher altitudes and rein him in.
"It all comes down to the ground battle's outcome," the Ryton dragon thought grimly.