105: clearance

"Clear Sky Protocol, activate!"

Spirit Eye's voice, clear and precise, reached every combat unit through the all-domain communication network.

The fifty thousand sky-watcher robots, previously on standby at the rear of the battlefield, instantly lit up the wide-area reconnaissance Magic Formation arrays on their backs, emitting a low, pleasant hum.

Like a disturbed swarm of bees, they suddenly ascended, rushing towards the Peak of the Storm, which was enveloped in a storm, with astonishing speed.

At the same time!

The Empire's First Mage Corps, composed of elite mages from the original Seven Kingdoms, began chanting on the pre-constructed joint spellcasting platform.

Surging magic power gathered around them, the gems at the top of their staffs shone with dazzling brilliance, echoing the energy fluctuations of the sky-watcher swarm in the sky.

"High-density life and energy signatures detected, located in the cloud zone mid-to-upper part of the mountain. Confirmed as Peregrine Falcon Clan main force and Storm Beak Eagle nests."

Spirit Eye's real-time intelligence was transmitted synchronously.

"Sky-watcher swarm, execute Plan A: Electronic jamming, suppress shaman communication; mental shock, disrupt flying units."

The order was given.

Thousands of sky-watchers at the forefront simultaneously released wide-range, low-intensity mental interference waves.

Invisible ripples spread like water, instantly disrupting the previously orderly elemental flow around the mountain and a certain primitive communication method relied upon by the Peregrine Falcon Clan.

Several old Peregrine Falcon shamans, who were guiding storm magic, trembled violently.

The magic backlash caused them to spit blood, and the storm encircling the mountain momentarily stalled.

"Enemy attack! In the sky! Those iron mosquitoes are here again!"

A Peregrine Falcon sentry let out a sharp warning.

"For the clan's sky! Tear them apart!"

Chieftain Alende, the Peregrine Falcon Clan Chief, a powerful warrior adorned with magnificent feathers and wielding a lightning spear, roared and was the first to ascend.

Behind him,

Tens of thousands of bipedal cavalry, riding fierce war eagles, shot up from their nests and platforms like arrows from a bow.

They attempted to overwhelm the sky-watcher swarm by utilizing their numerical and terrain advantages.

The sky was instantly covered with intertwining figures.

Peregrine Falcon flying cavalry threw poisoned short spears, and war eagles extended sharp claws, attempting to engage the sky-watchers in the close-quarters combat they excelled at.

However,

The sky-watchers did not entangle with them at all.

Relying on their ultra-high mobility and teleportation ability, the sky-watchers drew strange zigzag lines in the air, easily evading attacks.

The magic guns on their arms fired frequently, precisely and lethally; each silent ray could turn a war eagle or a flying cavalry into a falling fireball.

"Disperse! Don't gather together! They're too fast!"

A Peregrine Falcon squad leader shouted hoarsely.

But!

It was too late!

The sky-watchers' unique area-of-effect mental shock erupted again.

Although the intensity was not enough to directly kill these Peregrine Falcon warriors, who were not weak in mental strength,

It was enough to plunge them and their mounts into a brief state of dizziness and confusion.

Once their formation was disrupted,

The efficiency of the magic ray's harvesting increased exponentially.

"Bastards! Fight us head-on if you dare!"

Chieftain Alende roared, throwing his lightning spear, which transformed into a true bolt of lightning, instantly blowing up a sky-watcher that was too slow to dodge.

But more sky-watchers swarmed around him like maggots to a bone, and dense rays left scorch marks on his thick feather armor.

Just then,

A louder, more piercing eagle cry came from deep within the clouds.

Three Storm Beak Eagles, whose bodies were comparable to small airships, tore through the clouds and swooped down! Their massive wings flapped, creating strong air currents, and their sharp beaks gleamed with a metallic luster, capable of easily tearing through steel.

"It's the Beak Eagles! Our guardians have come!"

The orcs on the ground let out a cheer.

These giant eagles were indeed powerful!

Their tough feathers had considerable resistance to magic rays, and their immense strength and speed posed a serious threat to the sky-watchers.

One sky-watcher was slightly slow to dodge and was directly caught by a giant Beak Eagle's talons, instantly crushed into fragments.

"Target: Storm Beak Eagles. Threat level: High. Execute Plan B."

Spirit Eye's voice remained calm.

Some sky-watchers began to consciously guide the Beak Eagles to specific airspace.

On the ground,

The Empire's First Mage Corps' joint spellcasting was complete!

"Magic focus complete! Spatial anchoring complete!"

"Joint spell—Dimensional Wind Blade Array, fire!"

With the chief mage's command.

The space in front of the Mage Corps twisted, and countless translucent wind blades, as thin as cicada wings yet shimmering with dangerous spatial fluctuations, appeared out of thin air.

They formed a death net covering half the sky, rushing towards the three guided Storm Beak Eagles at supersonic speed!

These wind blades were not purely wind elemental; rather, they contained subtle spatial fissures, possessing extremely terrifying cutting power.

"Screech—!"

The Beak Eagles let out terrified and pained wails.

Their tough feathers and skin were like paper in the face of the Dimensional Wind Blades, instantly shredded into pieces, with feathers and blood rain filling the sky.

In just a few breaths,

The three behemoths, comparable to Level 5 beings, were reduced to incomplete corpses.

They plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily onto the rocks.

This scene,

Completely shattered the Peregrine Falcon Clan's last will to resist.

Their proud air superiority was utterly annihilated under the precise strikes of the Empire's combination of steel and magic.

"No... impossible..."

Alende watched his fallen guardians, his eyes bloodshot and filled with despair.

"Eighty-five percent of aerial threats cleared. Remaining enemy units' morale has collapsed, beginning to scatter," Spirit Eye reported.

Brian's holographic image reappeared in the frontline command post.

"Very good."

He nodded with satisfaction,

"Now, the sky belongs to the Empire."

His gaze turned to Franco and Adrian.

"General Franco, Marshal Adrian."

"Your subordinate is here!" both responded solemnly.

"The final stage has been cleared for you."

Brian's voice carried an undeniable authority,

"Now, let the Empire's human warriors claim this final glory! I await your victory report in the Imperial Capital."

Franco's face flushed with ecstasy and battle intent, and he thumped his chest fiercely:

"Your Majesty, rest assured! If I can't take this wretched mountain, I, old Franco, will bring my head to you!"

Adrian's eyes blazed:

"As per Your Majesty's command! The Empire shall be victorious!"

The human war drums!

Finally, at this moment!

At the foot of the Peak of the Storm, they boomed!

How will the orcs, deprived of aerial protection, face the final assault from the ground, supported by both steel and faith?

The true general offensive has begun!