With the shattering of the Heavenly Dou Formation, the soldiers of the Azure Kingdom began to retreat in despair, pulling back their lines.
The bloodthirsty Kyrik elite soldiers, like ravenous wolves, tore into them, relentlessly pursuing and pressing their advantage.
The generals leading Kyrik's elite wore cruel smiles on their faces.
Attacking Ironkeep had cost them vast amounts of manpower and resources, with over 200,000 elite troops dispatched and tens of thousands already lost.
If not for the Crimson Dragon corps joining the battle, even capturing this strategic stronghold would have resulted in heavy losses, leaving them with nothing more than a Pyrrhic victory.
Fortunately, with the Crimson Dragons paving the way as the sharpest spearhead, they broke through the fortress's defenses and shattered the morale of the Azure Kingdom's soldiers.
Once Ironkeep was captured, they could directly threaten the major cities of the Azure Kingdom, even storming the capital itself!
This promised imasurable glory and the chance for riches and honors!
"Charge with ! Slay the generals, seize the banners, and rout the enemy!"
So of Kyrik's generals roared, already envisioning the splendor and wealth beckoning them from atop Ironkeep.
The soldiers following them howled almost madly, their eyes filled with fervor and greed.
Why else had they joined the army, if not to win wealth and status?
And now, glory was within reach!
Break through Ironkeep, conquer the Azure Kingdom!
They would beco Kyrik's greatest heroes, their lives forever sheltered by their military accomplishnts!
Thinking of this, even the most exhausted Kyrik soldiers seed invigorated, frantically swinging their weapons and charging like the wind.
From a distance, Kyrik's army appeared as an iron tide, crashing into the already teetering Ironkeep.
As Kyrik's morale soared, the spirits of the Azure Kingdom's forces plumted further into despair.
Even those standing on Ironkeep's sturdy walls could feel them shaking.
The relentless attacks from the Crimson Dragons, swooping down from above, made Ironkeep feel like it was on a fault line, causing violent tremors that made it hard to stand firm.
Quickly, the soldiers of the Azure Kingdom were forced to retreat, with Ironkeep nearly overrun from all directions.
In the air, the female general Grace, who had been attacking Stanley, noticed the shift in the battle below. A smile blossod on her face like a flower.
"Stanley, your army is in disarray and defeat. Why continue to resist?"
"With your abilities, if you were to join Kyrik, despite having killed many of our people in the past, His Majesty's magnanimity might allow you a place and more opportunities to shine."
"A wise general knows when to adapt. Azure Kingdom is no match for Kyrik, and now with the Azure royal family fallen, why pursue self-destruction?"
Grace held Stanley in high regard. As his longti adversary, she felt a certain admiration for him.
Of course, more importantly, this old adversary was about to be defeated by her!
As Grace spoke, the four deputies beside her also wore satisfied smiles. This fearso figure in Kyrik's history was on the brink of an unprecedented defeat!
Stanley glanced at the increasingly arrogant Grace and her companions, his magical aura slightly chaotic. After another clash with them, he quickly distanced himself.
The situation on the battlefield below Ironkeep was dire, with defeat looming, and he felt it keenly. But he had no better option and could only hold his ground and wait.
He believed that Leslie and Owen, upon learning of the situation, would send reinforcents. They would understand the importance of Ironkeep.
Stanley's resolute expression did not escape Grace's notice, and she coldly smiled, saying: "General Stanley is waiting for reinforcents, isn't he? Unfortunately, according to our spies, there are no signs of troop movents in the Azure Kingdom, which ans you have been abandoned. You and the soldiers here have been forsaken by Leslie!"
"The empress you so loyally protect treats you this way-why do you persist?"
Grace spoke persuasively.
In this campaign against the Azure Kingdom, Kyrik had made extensive preparations and had placed many spies within the Azure Kingdom, so even within the army itself.
Yet, up until now, there had been no signs of the Azure Kingdom's army mobilizing, indicating that Leslie truly had abandoned Ironkeep.
"Silence! Leslie will send reinforcents-they will co!"
Stanley stared intently at Grace. He knew she had likely placed many spies, and her intelligence might be accurate.
The army might truly not be mobilizing.
But he knew Leslie. Though she seed cold-blooded and ruthless, she had deep plans and ambition.
Having finally beco the empress of the Azure Kingdom, she would never allow any territory to be lost.
She would find a way to send aid!
Ironkeep would not be handed over!
As for why reinforcents had yet to arrive, he didn't know, but he believed that as long as they held on, help would co!
"Reinforcents will co?"
"At this point, General Stanley is still dreaming? Leslie sees you as nothing more than cannon fodder. You have great influence in the army, and she is using you to eliminate a threat!"
Grace continued, "Besides, even if reinforcents do co, what can they do against my Crimson Dragon corps? They are nothing but a fragile resistance!"
As she spoke, her tone grew significantly more serious.
"General Stanley, I'll give you one last chance. Even if you won't think of yourself, won't you consider the soldiers who have fought alongside you?"
Seeing that Stanley remained unmoved, Grace imdiately pointed to the soldiers of the
Azure Kingdom below.
She knew that Stanley wasn't afraid of death, but he was a general who cared deeply for his subordinates.
Sure enough, after hearing Grace's words, Stanley couldn't help but glance at the battlefield
below.
Due to their continued retreat, the soldiers of the Azure Kingdom were suffering heavy
casualties.
Many exhausted and injured soldiers were easily cut down by the pursuing Kyrik soldiers, turning the blood-soaked ground into a large crimson mire.
"As long as you sincerely surrender, I will spare your life and the lives of these soldiers!"
Grace smiled slightly and waved her hand, releasing a magical wave that caused the dozen or so pursuing Crimson Dragons to receive so command.
They hovered in mid-air and ceased their attack.
Without the powerful pressure from the Crimson Dragons, the soldiers of the Azure Kingdom, who were on the brink of collapse, had a brief mont to catch their breath.
"Their lives are now entirely in your hands, General Stanley."
Grace smiled and slowly stepped forward, extending her hand toward Stanley.
"We should have been the best of friends. Why fight to the death here? Let bygones be
bygones, what do you say?"
As she spoke, she deliberately spread her voice across the battlefield using magical waves.
For a mont, many soldiers of the Azure Kingdom looked up at Stanley.
To the soldiers of the Azure Kingdom, Stanley's orders were more important than those of
Empress Leslie; they trusted General Stanley more deeply.
Among these elite soldiers, General Stanley was their spirit and soul!
Should they fight to the last breath or surrender?
Under the gaze of countless eyes, Stanley suddenly laughed aloud,
"Kyrik's ambition is insatiable. How many of our people did they slaughter? Such national
and personal grievances cannot be erased by a few words! You want us to surrender? Our ancestors would never allow it!"
Stanley's voice, imbued with powerful magical waves, spread to every corner of the
battlefield.
"Everyone, we are not just soldiers of the Azure Kingdom; we protect countless families
behind us. Fight to the death and never retreat! Fight to the death and never surrender!"
"Reinforcents will co!"
"Victory belongs to the Azure Kingdom!"
His voice, full of a tragic and resolute spirit, spread like wildfire. In an instant, the
demoralized soldiers of the Azure Kingdom seed to ignite.
"Fight to the death!"
"Swear to live and die with Ironkeep!"
For a mont, their fierce shouts echoed to the skies.
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