Sakurajima.
Kyushu Island.
Nagasaki Fortress.
BOOM!
The pre-laid Magic Crystal Cannons roared furiously, directly targeting the battle formations of the allied forces led by the four heroes of the alien races.
THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP!
Accompanied by tragic tolls and the screams of the Green Orcs, Blood Elves, Elves, and Undead below, countless soldiers were reduced to ashes.
"It's a Magic Crystal Cannon!"
The Elven hero Anruo touched his chin in surprise and began to look at Nagasaki Fortress with a more serious gaze.
"Possessing defensive weapons of this caliber proves that this fortress is far from an ordinary, trashy one..."
The Undead hero Kel'Thuzad chuckled sinisterly:
"But I believe that even with this level of defense, it will at most only prolong their dying struggle."
"Do they really think that Magic Crystal Cannons alone can keep us out? That's underestimating us too much!"
"I'll put it out there..."
"Even if their firepower were ten times fiercer, I'm confident I can take down everyone inside!"
The Blood Elf hero Dracula also laughed perversely:
"That's right! I feel the same way..."
"After all, everyone knows that Magic Crystal Cannons consume a huge amount of energy crystals."
"They can't maintain such continuous firepower forever. The expenditure of energy will eventually run out..."
"Even if we resort to the most brute-force method, using our lives to deplete their cannonballs one by one, it will still be a profitable trade for us!"
"And I'm quite eager to see what they'll say when they're at their wit's end!"
The Orc hero Musaro immediately grew displeased:
"It's of no consequence to you two races, of course..."
"One has an inexhaustible supply of cheap, infinitely summonable skeletons, and the other has inferior blood thralls that can be replicated endlessly. Naturally, their deaths are of no concern."
"But every warrior of our tribe is an elite among elites. They absolutely cannot be used as cannon fodder in this kind of battle!"
"If we're to charge headfirst into the Magic Crystal Cannons, then you two go ahead."
Anruo, along with the other first commander, frowned at Kel'Thuzad and Dracula's suggestion.
Honestly, he cherished the lives of his kin.
Even more so than Musaro.
After all, the Green Orcs represented by Musaro were numerous. Even a large number of casualties would be inconsequential.
What he called "elites" was merely his own perception and a boast of not wanting his people to die in vain.
Compared to many other races, the Green Orcs, apart from their slightly superior strength, had rather lackluster attributes in other aspects. They were a race that primarily fought with numbers.
The Elves, known for their consistently elite approach, certainly couldn't accept such sacrifices from their kin...
Otherwise, they'd be depleting their own reserves!
The initial losses to the Magic Crystal Cannons had already pained him greatly. To expect him to wager further in a gamble with no apparent hope of breakthrough was out of the question!
Seeing that the first commander, Anruo, also looked troubled, Kel'Thuzad exchanged a glance with Dracula. After a brief consultation, he chuckled heartily and said in a feigned tone of generosity:
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Since both of you have reasons not to engage, then Dracula and I will take on this task..."
"Leave the initial frontal assault pressure and the role of drawing enemy fire to us!"
"We will do our best to deplete the fortress's defensive strength and resource reserves as much as possible before the final assault..."
"Then, when they start showing weaknesses, become overwhelmed, or run out of resources, our main forces will launch the final attack together..."
"What do you say, my friends?"
Anruo and Musaro were both taken aback. They hadn't expected these two tricksters to be so agreeable. After exchanging glances, they both nodded.
However, at this moment, Dracula also chuckled cunningly:
"However, considering the sacrifices and contributions we two will make during the initial assault..."
"When our four families launch the final assault on the fortress itself, your two families will need to initiate the frontal assault."
"And we will flank and attack from the sides, creating a multi-dimensional offensive."
"You won't refuse this, will you?"
Damn these old foxes! They weren't being that generous after all.
Anruo and Musaro cursed them silently in their hearts.
No wonder they had spoken so beautifully at first; they had been waiting for this very moment!
Indeed, one could never easily trust such cunning races...
Blood Elves, Undead, Demons, Elves...
Not a single one of them was trustworthy!
Although the additional condition proposed by Dracula made Anruo and Musaro very unhappy, they had no choice but to accept it given the circumstances.
After all, someone had to undertake the initial attrition and reconnaissance. Their own legions couldn't afford to waste their main forces on such endeavors.
It was probably fine to let the Undead skeletons and the Blood Elf thralls test the waters.
As for the subsequent final assault, since they had already secured their benefits, they could decide then.
At worst, if things went south, they could feign an attack from the front and slip away in the chaos.
Having made up their minds, Anruo and Musaro put on expressions of indignant helplessness and reluctantly nodded.
Seeing that they had agreed to his and Kel'Thuzad's additional conditions, Dracula laughed triumphantly:
"Excellent! Excellent! You two are truly straightforward people. Then it's settled..."
"Old Kel, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and call your brothers out to work!"
Kel'Thuzad was also extremely pleased, feeling as though his plan had succeeded, and that Anruo and Musaro had been tricked, resulting in a great profit for him.
Unbeknownst to Kel'Thuzad and Dracula, in secret, Anruo and Musaro, who appeared to have been outmaneuvered, were already planning how to turn the tables on them.
"Charge! My little ones, clear the way for our brothers behind!"
Kel'Thuzad and Dracula shouted excitedly.
As they called out, a large swarm of creatures emerged from the fully formed spatial rift.
As Kel'Thuzad and Dracula had said, these were all the most inferior skeleton warriors and unarmed blood thralls.
Although their combat power seemed truly weak, they seemed sufficient to wear down the fortress before them...