Chapter 156: The Battle of Jal Or The Massacre Of Jal
The Bernard Empire's troops have arrived at their next destination. Jal, the third largest city in Latvia, is now their target. Outside the city, large cannons have been placed on farmland and helicopters are resting. The soldiers have set up a temporary camp.
An officer approached Hans and said, "Lieutenant General, they have not accepted our offer."
Hans then looked at Eric. Eric took a deep breath and said, "I can't do anything about it. The Lord of Jal is the brother of Caspian's personal maid Nia. So he will never join us. We will have to fight for it. But I beg you, try to do as little damage to the civilians as possible."
Hans held out his cigarette and said, "Prince, this is a war... and I cannot guarantee it. People will die in the fight... that's normal... ours and theirs... that's the reality."
Hans looked at his soldiers and ordered, "Order the cannons to attack first! Crush their walls!"
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The Lord of Jal, Dorr, sat in his castle, terrified. He was a looser type who had taken advantage of his sister's power to rise to this position. He had no qualifications of his own.
"Have we been able to contact the capital?" Dorr asked his commander.
"Yes, sir. We have been able to contact the capital. They said help would be coming soon."
"Of course, help must come soon... These barbarians are attacking us. And that bastard prince! He thinks he can attack us and take us over!"
The panic in Dorr's words was clear. He knew that if help did not come, things would be very bad for them.
"We must prepare our troops," Dorr said. "Prepare for battle."
•••••••••••••••
A young officer named Morr stood on the wall. He looked down at the Bernard Empire army in surprise.
"What the— What are they?!" he asked.
"I don't know," his companion said.
They looked up at the Bernard Empire army in front of them, who were surrounding them on all sides.
"They say they come from a country called the Bernard Empire."
"I've never heard of such a country. Are they from another continent?" Morr asked.
"I don't know about that. But it seems our navy has really been defeated," his companion said.
Just then they heard their commanding officer shout, "Ready the cannons quickly!"
The soldiers began to prepare the 30-pounder cannons on the walls. Archers and wizards also took up positions on the walls to defend the city.
But their enemies were not approaching them.
Just then they heard several roars and saw several lines of fire rushing towards them.
"Mages, quickly prepare the barrier!" the commander shouted.
But it was too late. The Bernard Empire's artillery shells struck with devastating force. The explosions were deafening, the shockwaves throwing Morr to the ground. The world around him blurred as the ancient walls of Jal, which had stood for centuries, began to crumble.
Morr struggled to his feet, his ears ringing. He saw a large section of the wall collapse, taking dozens of soldiers with it. Their screams echoed as they were buried beneath the rubble.
Before he could react, Morr saw the enemy advancing—iron beasts rolling forward, their cannons blazing. He grabbed his bow, determined to fight, but a new sound filled the air. A loud sound of cutting the air. He saw a flying creature coming. Which was creating the air.
Morr had never seen anything like it. Fear gripped him as the helicopters unleashed a barrage of machine gun fire. The remaining soldiers on the walls were cut down in an instant. The helicopters then flew swiftly into the city.
There was no air force to protect the city. Because the army had taken all the air forces in the city to attack other countries.
...
Tanks had broken through the main gate of the city.
Soldiers were advancing with cover behind the tanks and armoured vehicles.
The soldiers spread in different directions. The tanks and armoured vehicles advanced along the main road. They continue to kill anyone who tries to resist them.
♦♦♦
The city of Jal has now become a terrifying scene. Cannon fire and helicopter gunfire are breaking down the city walls. The citizens of the city are fleeing in panic, their eyes filled with fear.
"W,what's going on?"
'Is it thunder?──...but the sky is…'
"Clear as day. Then it shouldn't be a thunder."
"Where are they attacking us from? I didn't see anything!"
Doror, who is sitting in the castle, has only one thought on his mind—how he will survive this situation.
"What can we do?" Doror's commander asked.
"Activated the shield," Doror said, but his voice lacked confidence.
___________
Black smoke billowed into the sky as the city burned. The streets were littered with the bodies of the dead and dying. The people of Jal witnessed horrors they could never have imagined—flying creatures roaring like dragons, steel beasts rolling through the streets, and an enemy army that seemed unstoppable.
The unknown flying creatures—helicopters—soared overhead, their rotors creating powerful gusts that tore through the city. The pressure was so intense that roofs were ripped from buildings, and windows shattered. The ground shook as tanks rolled through the streets, their treads crushing everything in their path.
Residents stared in horror at the steel boxes—tanks—that rumbled through the city. "What the hell!?" one resident shouted as the ground trembled beneath their feet.
Children cried the elderly prayed, and the people of Jal prepared to flee. The cobblestone streets cracked under the weight of the advancing army. Furniture toppled, dishes fell from shelves, and the city descended into chaos.
The Bernard Empire's soldiers marched forward, their boots striking the ground in unison. They sang a haunting, heroic melody, their voices rising above the cacophony of destruction. The percussion of their march echoed like the sound of steel plates striking each other, a grim reminder of their relentless advance.
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A brave group of Jal's defenders launched a surprise attack, ambushing the Bernard soldiers from the cover of buildings. It was a courageous move, but futile. The Bernard soldiers responded with ruthless efficiency. Machine guns mounted on their vehicles roared to life, cutting down the defenders in seconds.
"My hand, my hand!" one soldier screamed as he fell.
"Ahh! Don't come near!" another cried, his voice filled with terror.
The Bernard soldiers showed no mercy. Their bullets tore through flesh and bone, and their tanks rolled over the fallen without hesitation. The defenders were no match for the empire's advanced weaponry.
As the Bernard Empire's forces pressed deeper into the city, they faced a contingent of heavy cavalry knights. Mounted on powerful steeds and clad in gleaming armour. Their banners fluttered in the smoky air. They moved with precision, their formation unbroken as they closed the distance.
For a moment it seemed they might turn the tide. They charge, a testament to their training and discipline. But the armored vehicles and tanks of the Bernard Empire, which were steadily advancing through the city, focused their attention on the approaching cavalry.
The machine guns mounted on the vehicles roared to life, their barrels glowing red-hot as they unleashed a torrent of bullets. The cavalry never stood a chance. The bullets tore through their armour as though it were paper, and their horses fell screaming to the ground. The once-proud knights were cut down in seconds, their bodies littering the streets.
The tanks, meanwhile, unleashed their cannons with devastating effect. The explosions ripped through the cavalry, sending men and horses flying in all directions. The ground shook with the force of the blasts, and the air was filled with the screams of the dying.
By the time the smoke cleared, the cavalry forces were no more. Their banners lay trampled in the dirt, and their bodies were scattered across the battlefield. The Bernard Empire's forces advanced without pause, their march unbroken.
In the capital—
Caspian sat beneath the great fountain, his eyes closed. The water flowed in a gentle rhythm around him, its gentle murmur a stark contrast to the storm brewing in his mind.
His broad shoulders were relaxed, his hands resting on his knees.
Then Nile came here
"Your Majesty, the Bernard Empire is advancing very quickly. They are attacking Jal. We have received a request for help."
Caspian's eyes opened, his sharp gaze fixed on the Nile. The momentary calm was shattered as his anger grew. He stood up suddenly. Without a word, he turned and slammed his fist into the stone wall near the foot of the fountain. The stone shattered with a violent impact. The ground beneath the stone shook, and for a moment the water in the fountain surged violently.
"These barbarians!" Caspian roared. "Do they think we are weak? Do they think we will roll over and let them take what is ours?"
Nile remained calm, though his eyes stared at the cracked stone walls. He had seen Caspian's temper before, but it never failed to remind him of the king's row power. "Your Majesty, we must act quickly. Jal is a strategic city, and its fall would be a significant blow to our defenses."
Caspian clenched his fists, his knuckles white. "Gather our army quickly," he ordered. "I must teach them a lesson. Assemble our forces near the Ru River. We will meet them there and crush them before they can advance further."
Nile nodded. "And what of Jal, Your Majesty? The city is under siege, and its defences are crumbling. The Lord of Jal has sent desperate pleas for aid."
"Tell our shadows in Jal to do as much damage as possible to the Bernard Empire,"