Chapter 1358: Chapter 72: Damn Gods World (Part 2)
By the time the wounded were dragged back for treatment, the enemy had already approached the front lines.
The Medes and Sakians, who began close combat, quickly advanced after putting away their strong bows. Their ranks were invisibly stretched by the narrow mountain path, preventing them from utilizing their numerical advantage, causing their formation to scatter. At mid-range, they habitually threw several waves of short spears before using another for melees.
As a result, these vassal troops of the Persian Empire severely underestimated the Romans’ metallurgical and technological levels.
While most soldiers were still wearing lighter linen armor or scale armor, the Romans had already mass-produced magic-guided arms thanks to the black technology left by the Mechanical God Clan.
They were clad in bell-shaped bronze breastplates, each holding a large, bronze-faced shield in their left hand and raising a spear with their right hand, stabbing downward at the Persians’ eyes or the necks unprotected by helmets. When the first row of comrades engaged the enemy, the two rear rows of well-trained Roman soldiers would seize the opportunity to jab a spear through the gaps in the Persians’ shield wall, completing the finishing blow ruthlessly.
Even if there were scattered knives and long spears, when they landed on the Romans’ bronze armor, the activated dense runes, and the drawn defensive charm would forcefully shock their opponents, causing them to stumble to the ground.
All this, thanks to alchemy armor?
The Medes and Sakians leading the way were stunned, in a daze, as more and more soldiers were taken away.
With foresight, the Roman side chose a terrain where one man could hold off a thousand and adopted the famous Macedonian Phalanx.
A shield wall formed by large shields was impenetrable, with layered long spears continuously thrusting forward.
Amidst the Persian army, the small shields and short spears of the Thracians and Medians could not compete with this rotating killing machine, leaving many soldiers falling before the Greek spear formation’s shields.
“No mercy! No prisoners!”
Caesar, commanding the infantry, saw the moment was ripe, gave the cold order, and the well-equipped Roman soldiers behind him thrust their spears through the front lines’ Persian vassal troops.
And as the Persian soldiers at the front line were slaughtered like mowing grass, the second row of Roman soldiers would use the spiky base of the spear to finish off the fallen enemies.
As casualties mounted, the Persian vassal troops ordered to attack began to retreat, while the Roman army crossed the parapets, maintained the phalanx formation, and advanced slowly while shouting:
“No mercy! No prisoners!”
The sound of blades cutting into flesh was endless, with the ground strewn with enemy limbs and weapons.
Even if a Roman warrior fell from exhaustion or an arrow, the rear warriors immediately filled the gap, and other members stepped over the unfortunate comrades, leaving them to the following medical teams.
In a mere few dozen breaths, this counterattack wave forced the extended Persian vanguard to sacrifice thousands, necessitating an urgent retreat and reformation.
Having repelled the enemy’s second assault, Caesar, seeing it was adequate, ordered the soldiers to clear the battlefield, strip the enemy of their clothing and armor, and gather spoils before retreating back to the defensive line.
The Roman soldiers let out deafening cheers, their spirits growing increasingly relaxed.
However, peering out from atop the wall, Alexander and Caesar could not help but furrow their brows, their pupils reflecting deep concern.
This was just the beginning, and such minor victories were not enough to change the overall situation.
Moreover, this world harbored many powerful entities such as heroes, spellcasters, and deities.
Once they appeared, they could very likely shake the entire war’s structure.
Even if one maneuvered with tactics and strategies, it was impossible to bridge the gap in life levels.
At this moment, standing high, observing the enemy, Caesar and Alexander suddenly realized some movement within the Persian army.
Atop a high platform built of tiered square bricks, piled with fragrant wood firewood and animal fat, corpses of fallen soldiers were thrown into the blazing sacred flame, their sins cleansed in the Flame of Light, their bodies turned to ashes, and their spirits returned to the embrace of the True God Ahura.
“ashem vohu…yata ahu…”
Thousands of white-robed priests of the Fire Worship crossed their hands over their chests, while the female attendants nearby threw spices into the flames, their bodies twisting wildly in frenzied dances.
“What are they saying?”
Alexander furrowed his brow slightly, his expression somewhat puzzled.
“The Fire Worship’s main prayer!”
Caesar’s pupils constricted sharply, his face rigid, barely squeezing out an answer.
“For such a situation to occur, there is only one possibility… The Persians are getting serious!”
At the same time, as if to confirm his words, one by one, undead army soldiers, faces masked in silver, holding scimitars and round shields, clad in black clothing and armor, filed out. Under the influence of the war dance and the sacred flame’s illumination, the bloodthirst and madness on their bodies surged, like fiends climbing from Hell. The tangible crimson-black magic tide and the towering blood-colored smoke surged with an overwhelming force, almost suffocating.
And in front of these black-armored soldiers, war elephants with fine runes etched into their skin, stood steel barriers on their backs, carrying dozens of secret mages holding divine lamps forward with heavy strides.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Arrows and cursed bullets rained down like meteors, crashing onto the narrow battlefield at the low wall, creating intense tremors. Surrounding rocks shattered, and fragmented stones roared in the air, producing sharp wails, crashing onto the shields erected along the line.
Some well-honed shrapnel pierced through the wooden shields or gaps in the formation, embedding themselves in bodies, bringing sprays of blood mist and flying limbs, followed by screams and groans.