"Today’s fight is mine to lead. Everyone else stays back and provides support."
Magnus’s tone left no room for doubt. "Emily, Sophia, pick out the 500 toughest won we’ve got. Get them ready now. Everyone else stays at the grain depot."
"Liana, arm those 500. I want each to have one tal Crystal and at least two rifle magazines. Don’t hold back on the supplies."
"Charlotte, take the infantry vehicle convoy, hide them on both sides of the residential complex, and wait for my signal."
"Sophia, take a squad and sweep Ashbrook Town again. Target their scouts. I want every single set of enemy eyes dealt with."
"Chloe, Isabel, Abigail, Emma, Ashton - follow today. Each of you handles a hundred fighters."
"Grace, you’re with . You’re fast. I need you relaying orders non-stop. You’re the comms officer today."
As Magnus fired off his commands, the won of the Ice Regint moved instantly. This wasn’t just survival anymore - today could cent their position. Their chance to show what they were worth.
With everything set, Magnus and Grace were the first out the grain depot gates, taking the sa path they’d used to ambush Springvale forces the day before. A squad was still keeping watch on the hilltop up ahead.
After half an hour up rugged trail, Magnus found the team. Rebecca Grant led them and had been there all night.
"What’s the latest? Any movent?" Magnus asked as he and Grace arrived.
"Commander," Rebecca said sharply, "We’ve been watching them since last night. Around five this morning, they sent over thirty scouts our way. We took them out - all silent kills. By seven, they pushed a thousand into the hills to search, so we pulled back around the ridge. Just got back. Looks like they’re getting ready to move."
Magnus gave a slight nod. "Good work. Now, head back to the underground depot. I’ve got the watch from here."
"But Sir, we’re good to keep going!"
"Go. Get so real sleep."
Seeing his tone left no room for argunt, Rebecca hesitated then nodded, handed over her binoculars, and led her squad down the hill.
Once they were gone, Magnus raised the binoculars, scanning the Springvale forces. Busloads of soldiers were unloading fast, forming ranks like they were bracing for combat.
Ahead, on the highway, field officers barked orders. Groupings of soldiers moved with purpose, others cleaning out infected stragglers around the flanks.
They’re going to attack?
"Magnus..." Grace clutched his arm, nerves creeping into her voice. "Are they really gunning for Ridgebreak Battalion? What if they’ve tead up with them... coming for us together?"
Magnus lowered his binoculars and gave Grace a light tap on the arm, signaling her to stay calm. "Nah. With how things are now, there’s no way Springvale’s troops will trust the Ridgebreak Battalion. Not unless they pull out of Ridgehaven City. Otherwise, this fight is happening."
Sure enough, just after Magnus said that, Springvale’s formation broke up. Two patrol jeeps moved ahead to scout while the rest of the soldiers jogged back to their vehicles and boarded.
Ten minutes later, Cliff’s caravan started rolling forward.
"Let’s go. We’ll stick close to their convoy," said Magnus, pulling Grace up and huddling behind a slender tree. "We’ll move along the mountainside. Use a tal Crystal now - just in case."
Grace nodded faintly, glancing at Magnus for a second like she wanted to speak but bit her lip instead. Silently, she took the tal Crystal he offered, focused her energy, and crushed it in her palm.
They followed Baxter’s force at a cautious pace. Ten minutes in, gunfire cracked up ahead where the scouting jeeps had gone. No need to guess - they ran into enemy contact.
Magnus and Grace picked up speed. Springvale imdiately sent two more jeeps forward past the main convoy to reinforce the front.
The two sides weren’t that far apart - less than ten kiloters. The gunshots grew louder. Baxter’s convoy halted, soldiers jumped off, forming squads of ten. Infantry fighting vehicles led the way, providing cover while the troops jogged forward behind them.
Magnus quickened his pace with Grace in tow, aiming for higher ground. He needed to be where he could see it all.
"Magnus! Look - they’re already in combat!"
Ten minutes later, they reached a low peak. Grace, almost breathless, pulled on his arm with excitent, binoculars up. Magnus followed her gaze, eyes narrowing, fully focused.
Springvale had tried to catch Ridgebreak off guard, but Ridgebreak had co ready. Mortars fired in volleys. Shoulder-mounted rocket launchers lit up the sky, shells raining down on Springvale’s troops.
The road was blown to pieces. Infantry vehicles rerouted down the slope while tanks stayed in place, blasting from a distance. The soldiers spread in a fan formation, pressing forward under fire.
Explosions echoed nonstop. Bullet fire cracked through the air. The sharp stink of sulfur filled the battlefield.
Then ca the charge horn.
To the right of the highway, one of Baxter’s field commanders yanked off his helt, ears probably ringing from the blasts. Shouting over the chaos, he waved his arm, "First and second squads - use your tal Crystals now! Spread out and follow ! Take the bullets for the rest of our brothers!"
To the left, another officer gave similar orders. Two more squads shattered their crystals, roaring as they charged straight at the enemy lines.
Blades t bullets. They’d reached close combat.
Magnus stood atop the ridge, eyes lit with a wild gleam. This kind of large-scale battle - even in his past life, he’d never witnessed anything like it firsthand.
Next to him, Grace clung to his arm, bouncing on her toes, tremors running through her fra. It was hard to tell if she was scared or just overwheld.
Twenty-eight thousand surged forward as one, toward a line of ten thousand well-ard, ready soldiers.
That massive wave of n, that thunderous montum - it was a scene most people would never see in their lives.
But Magnus? He was standing right there, watching it for real. Way more real than any battlefield scene in a movie.
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