Chapter 977: Rapid Annihilation! Leave None Alive!

Soon after the Flame Empire's airships departed, a large number of refugees from the Eternal Night Empire arrived at the Flame Empire's border.

At this time, the Flame Empire's border was heavily guarded by numerous local garrison troops.

In recent weeks, due to the war in the Eternal Night Empire, the City of Friendship no longer displayed the bustling, fiery scene it once had.

Aside from the Flame Empire's own airships, very few Eternal Night Empire airships could be seen arriving.

The Flame Empire's trade had also been severely affected; domestic goods could only be consumed internally.

Fortunately, the northern dozen or so provinces of the Flame Empire had substantial populations and strong consumption capacity—they had simply not been fully developed yet, so there would be no major surplus buildup.

During this period, a certain number of Eternal Night Empire civilians escaped across the border each day.

After receiving orders from the fox maiden Sister Qing Ling, the Flame Empire accepted these refugees.

After all, the friendship between the Flame Empire and the Eternal Night Empire still stood, and now the Flame Empire had mountains of grain—housing a few refugees was no burden.

Today's number of refugees was especially large.

At least a hundred thousand!

"Why so many refugees today?"

At the border, a soldier muttered to himself.

"Should we take them in, with so many?"

Another soldier asked.

"Take them in—we're short on manpower everywhere, and the harvest is coming. Put them to work as temporary laborers; let them earn food and shelter with their own labor. It'll solve our manpower shortage."

The commander of this border garrison said.

"Clear a path—let them through."

Immediately, the border troops opened a wide passage, and the Eternal Night Empire refugees poured in.

"Why are so many of you fleeing?"

The commander asked one of the refugees.

"Demons—those demons are terrifying! They burn, kill, loot, and rape women—we had no choice but to flee!"

One refugee said.

"Demons?"

The commander frowned, then understood—the refugee was referring to the army rampaging through the Eternal Night Empire.

"Run! The demons are coming!"

At that moment, a refugee screamed, triggering mass panic.

In the distance, a black line appeared—it was a cavalry unit charging swiftly.

Seeing this, the commander raised his hand and said: "Spearmen forward, archers ready—widen the central passage."

Among the border troops, a line of spearmen formed, planting thick shields in front and thrusting spears through dedicated gaps in the shields.

Behind them, countless archers had already planted spare arrows in the ground, their longbows drawn taut.

These bows were all enchanted bows.

Of course, they differed somewhat from the enchanted bows of elite units—lower-grade materials, simpler enchantments, allowing faster production.

But even the worst of them were far superior to enchanted bows from other empires.

The Eternal Night Empire refugees hastened their pace and soon all crossed into Flame Empire territory.

At that moment, the charging cavalry halted five hundred meters away.

It was a cavalry force of at least ten thousand—while the Flame Empire's border force in this sector numbered only a few thousand.

The Flame Empire's border was too long to station heavy troops along every stretch.

"Halt! This is Flame Empire territory! Take one more step, and you will be killed on sight!"

Facing a cavalry force far larger than his own, the commander showed no fear.

The Flame Empire's strength gave every soldier a completely different demeanor.

"Commander, what do we do? Continue the pursuit? There are many fine captives among those refugees."

A deputy commander in the cavalry unit asked.

"Strange—how is there another empire east of the Eternal Night Empire?"

The legion commander pondered this.

"The Eternal Night Empire is so powerful that neighboring nations must be weak. Though this force has only a few thousand, they won't withstand our charge. Let's crush them outright, then chase down those refugees—our men have fought long enough; they deserve a reward."

The deputy said.

"Hmm…"

The legion commander had not finished speaking when his expression suddenly changed.

For he saw, from the sky, a vast number of airships descending through the clouds.

As soon as the airships descended, a dense hail of crossbow bolts rained down upon them.

"Take cover!"

The legion commander shouted.

But it was too late.

"Boom!"

A dense barrage of crossbow bolts, laced with explosive flame, struck the ten-thousand-strong cavalry legion.

Within seconds, the entire ten-thousand-strong cavalry legion was annihilated.

The airships overhead showed no intention of landing; they swiftly ascended into the clouds and vanished.

"It's our air fleet!"

On the ground, the border troops drew a deep breath.

These border troops are mostly reserve forces, and this unit has never been to battle before.

But now, they had seen with their own eyes how a powerful cavalry corps was slaughtered to the last man within seconds, and each of them felt stunned.

They now had a clearer understanding of their own nation's strength.

A deep sense of honor rose in every warrior's heart.

Their nation's immense power filled them with pride!

The airship fleet continued deeper.

Not long after, they arrived outside a small city.

At this moment, thousands of warriors were attacking the city.

The city's armed forces were actually few in number.

Because most of the armed forces had been drawn away.

Under normal circumstances, in a purely religious war, the enemy nation's army would not care about such a small city.

But now, these thousands of warriors were fighting with exceptional fervor.

"Push harder! Once we take this city, women are yours for the taking, wealth is yours to plunder—when you return home, you'll all become millionaires!"

Behind these thousands of warriors, a general shouted words of encouragement.