20 Seize the Beach - Part 2
The beach which had become the landing zone of the amphibious force was situated precisely on Eerie Island's southern coast, stretching for five miles from west to east. It's the only point within the island where an army of thousands could land.
The 8th Marine Battalion was tasked to capture the beach's western side, the 6th Marine Battalion was in the center along with Cordelia and her command staff, while the 19th Infantry Battalion was in the east, guarding the force's right flank and trying to seize the area at the same time.
Since the landing was launched, the most intense fight was always located in the center, especially more so after the invaders mounted a counter-attack that heavily focused on this area. As a consequence, the 6th Marine Battalion took the heaviest brunt and the number of casualties they have suffered was at least doubled than two other units.
In order to assassinate Cordelia, the invaders had employed a feigned retreat to lure the amphibious force into pursuing them inland, creating a gap as the result, which was then exploited by a small elite team to broke through the natives' line and advanced directly into Cordelia's position.
After realizing the enemy's plan, Cordelia herself has to admit that it was a very great tactic. Even now, the invaders' Diamond-class rankers within the heart of the island were still constantly launching spell attacks that were passing by above the beach, directed at the amphibious force's Diamond-class protector, preventing that person from supporting and helping the landing party, as well as, interfering with the counter-attack.
Fortunately, thanks to many unexpected variables and factors, it appears the plan itself has become a total failure.
Not only they have failed in assassinating Cordelia due to fatal complacency, but one of their Titanium-class Devil General was also killed, along with a dozen Gold and few Platinum-class rankers.
This was quite a damaging blow!
Before that, the enemy already lost many troops from both the harassment of other natives Diamond-class rankers and long-range bombardments. Their forces' overall size gradually and slowly diminished as the battle continues to rage.
Furthermore, on the beach currently…
Four natives Titanium-class rankers were facing face-to-face with the remaining Devil Generals. Based on numbers alone, the confrontation between the two opposing sides would hardly be called fair.
However, there was no such thing as fair in warfare. All means and methods that can win battles were necessary and free to utilize.
With that notion in mind, Cordelia together with Jordan, Zenith, and the baldy from the Association steeled their hearts as they prepare to enter the fray.
All four of them were extremely serious and full of vigilance. Their group might have an advantage in quantity, but the strength of three Devil Generals was slightly higher. Even though each of them possessed Titanium-class cultivation, Zenith, Jordan, and the baldy were merely at intermediate stage, while Cordelia was the only one whose strength already at peak stage, the same as their three opponents.
Generally, there were few instances where a lower-level ranker managed to defeat a much stronger enemy. Unfortunately, those occurrences were pretty much rare and truly difficult to achieve, almost impossible in fact. Most who have succeeded only manage to do it because of either luck or fluke.
The difference of power between each cultivation realm was big, wide, and tall, not something that can be easily jumped over.
Especially when it comes to Titanium-class and beyond.
At this level, the gap between even one sub-stage was already too wide. A peak stage Titanium-class overpowering someone at intermediate stage in a one-on-one duel was a definite outcome. Therefore, even though they were more numerous, Cordelia and her colleagues could not lower their guard at all.
Winning one-on-one duel against even a single Devil General was extremely difficult, even for Cordelia. That's why direct head-to-head confrontation needs to be avoided unless if it's really necessary. The only strategy that could give them the highest chance of defeating the enemy was basically engaging and besieging by using numbers.
JTF-10, Violet Global Security, and the Association still have a few Titanium-class rankers attached to the second wave of the amphibious force, which hasn't commence their landing yet but was about to. The four would only need to engage the Devil Generals long enough until those rankers from the second wave found their way to the shore.
Besides, there were still many assets that can support them littering all over the beach. Although the native ordinary troops couldn't possibly harm the Devil Generals in any way, at least they can still distract or even annoy the enemies with their disruptive firepower.
Boom!!!
Ratatata!!!
Gunfires, as well as, explosions ensued as the marines of the 6th Battalion were in the middle of engaging the enemy group.
Different from the three Devil Generals, who were all still standing tall uninterrupted amidst the blazing gunfires, their hooded subordinates seemingly found themselves difficult facing the natives' numerous rounds. Some of them were ducking on the ground, while others were trying to dodge by moving around but failed miserably because the bullets' velocity was faster than their own speed.
Even though the bullets weren't able to kill them outright, the damages it caused upon their bodies cannot be ignored at all. The wounds, while small, can affect their combat performances negatively to certain degrees.
But at this time, all of a sudden…
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Cordelia along with her comrades charging forward and heading straight towards the Devil Generals, using the situation when the enemies were under heavy suppression.
Jordan and the baldy pairing up together to confront one of the Devil Generals, the one with a red bright horn on his head. While Zenith moved alone to deal with the blue horned one. Just like him, Cordelia was also acting all alone to engage another Devil General with the most impressive physique, whom she perceived as the one who led the counter-attack.
Their plan wasn't to win their respective duel, but instead, they opted to lock the enemies in a long battle with the purpose of buying as much time as they can get until the second wave arrived.
As a response to these sudden movements, the Devil Generals also made their moves while bringing their ferocious might!
Direct confrontation was a favorite course of action to these battle-hardened devils and they specialize in doing it. They did not falter even for a bit in the face of their opponents' challenge.
Clank!
Zenith was the first one who makes contact with the enemy. His weapon, a magic spear with exquisite design and flexible structure, clashed with the blue horned devil's giant hammer, creating a mild shock-wave that rippled throughout the surrounding area.
This magic spear was his most beloved weapon, it has accompanied him in almost every battle he has fought.
He found this weapon a few years ago, when Violet Global Security, then still a small mercenary group, venturing into an ancient vestige within Heavenly Tower. The expedition was led by none other than their mistress, the Amethyst Queen.
Back then, the vestige was filled with myriads of traps, deadly formation arrays, killing fields, and other dangers, making the venture incredibly arduous for the expedition team. At one point, Zenith unintentionally got separated from the rest of the team, and unknowingly found himself inside a secret chamber that housed a sarcophagus of a powerful ancient ranker.
It was precisely at that moment, the spear, named [Breaking Dawn] according to the inscription written on its body, emerged from inside the sarcophagus and immediately floated around Zenith. It also recognized him as the new owner, making him the only person who can wield it.
[Breaking Dawn] was classified as a high-grade magic weapon. In this world, the classification of items, weapons, and armors falls into eight grades of quality; ordinary, entry, medium, high, top, supreme, mythical, and divine.
They were classified based on how much magic properties they imbued with, the quality of their materials, the difficulty of the creation process, and last but not least, their functions. Also, due to these factors, the higher their qualities the rarer they became.
Magic weapons and items were tremendously rare and scarce, even within Heavenly Tower. In fact, the circulation of even entry-grade magic weapons or items can already be said very limited and their prices were expensive. The supply simply couldn't meet the demand as almost every magic weapon exists today or in the future would be sought after by rankers from all myriads of worlds.
Zenith was nearly shocked to death when he first realized that [Breaking Dawn] was actually a high-grade magic spear. A weapon with that quality wasn't something that everyone can have and he was truly jubilant because of it.
However, after a later discussion with the Amethyst Queen, she revealed to him that the spear still possessed some hidden prowess.
It seems the spear's true quality was perhaps higher than high-grade, and that can be obtained if the hidden prowess was unleashed. But she doesn't know how to unlock it, she even speculated the only one that can unlock it was the master himself.
Unfortunately, Zenith had no clue how to do it, even now the answer was still a mystery.
A moment after the first clash, the blue horned devil quickly resumed his offensive against Zenith. The ferocity of his attacks was truly overwhelming!
Clank!
Clank!
Clank!
CLANK!!!
"Ugh!" Zenith grunted. He was pushed back for several steps.
The difference between their level, combined with the inherent natural strength that the devil possessed made resisting the blows absolutely hard for him. And what makes the matter even worst, the blue horned devil does not give Zenith even a bit of time to rest.
Seeing his opponent approaching again, Zenith prepares to unleash his entire prowess.
This was a duel where a single mistake could cost him greatly. Thus, he must be extremely cautious and focused.
Meanwhile, another duel was happening concurrently nearby.
Zing!
Cordelia's curved blade shone immensely with green colored light while she swung it toward her opponent, the strongest Devil General on the beach.
The devil, who has a pair of menacing double black horns, did not merely sit down and wait. He too swung his massive barbed mace, which was even bigger than Cordelia's body, with the purpose of challenging her strike.
However, just as both of their weapons about to clash, Cordelia suddenly retracted her blade before ducking her body for a bit!
The devil's barbed mace then passed above her head, missing her completely.
Not wanting to waste the moment, Cordelia quickly runs forward using her famous agility, which renowned across Arguna and the surrounding nations, to close the distance between her and the devil.
"!!!" The black horned devil was caught in surprise. He did not expect this sudden action at all. Not to mention, this woman's speed was too fast!
He actually wanted to react, but his huge physique slowing him down, making him unable to follow Cordelia's movement.
Once she has gotten no more than one step from the devil, Cordelia lets out a smirk. Her weapon, radiating a green colored light once again, found itself aimed straightly at the opponent's exposed neck!
"Falcon Raze!" Shouting while doing a slicing movement, Cordelia digs the devil's outer defense, penetrating his bulky black armor with her strongest combat technique.
Puchi!
"Gaghkkhhhhh!!!" An extremely painful howl escaped from the black horned devil's mouth. He can't help but to kneel on the ground and drop his mace.
A blade was embedded deep within his neck and the wound it caused was so gruesome and very disgusting to look at, it keeps sprouting dark blood non-stop.
Cordelia shivering as she kept holding on the blade. She didn't think her strike would succeed at all. After all, she acknowledged that her opponent was much more experienced in combat than she was, he might have myriads of countermeasures in his possession to handle her strike. But it seems he can't match her in speed.
The black horned devil's huge towering body was proven to be a disadvantage in this duel. Moreover, he carries a humongous mace as well, that thing reduced his speed further, and in the end, also decreased his reaction time.
"!!!"
"!!!"
Aware that their group leader has been heavily wounded, the other two Devil Generals, both still locked in combat against their respective opponents, were visibly shocked.
The group leader was among the strongest Devil Generals in all of the Nether World's military. For him to be almost defeated easily by a young human ranker was an incredibly shocking matter!
Based on the damage around his neck, there's no doubt he has been rendered useless now, unable to do any more fighting for the rest of this war.
Taking an advantage when their opponents were briefly distracted, Zenith, Jordan, and the baldy immediately intensified their attacks. Exerting their pressures heavily to the point that the three were able to slowly push the enemies back.
The tide of this engagement has turned favorably for the natives' force.
Cordelia was still gazing at her opponent up close. By now, all he could do was breathing heavily, trying to catch every air he could breathe in while resisting the most painful feeling he ever felt.
And then, she removed her blade from the devil's neck before making up a mind to decapitate him. In this war, there would be no prisoner of war. Every invader, whether soldiers or rankers, will be executed on spot. This point has been approved by all parties during the briefing before the operation began.
Besides, a high-level ranker such as this devil in front of her has a dignity that can't be corrupted easily. He will not surrender just because of some sugar coat words. And thus, as Cordelia raised her blade once more, the black horned devil merely looked at her stoically and his gaze filled with nothing other than a complete disregard.
Slice!
With a fast and quick swing, the devil's head was cleanly separated from the rest of his body. Another peak stage Titanium-class Devil General has died, just like that.
""""UOUHHH!!!""""
Cheers from marines and soldiers thunderously rang throughout the beach!
They have just witnessed a legendary battle between high-level rankers and furthermore, the victor, in the end, was their commander herself, who looked very heroic and gallant as she bravely dueled against a terrifying devil and defeated him.
As a result, their morales has risen to the max.
Cordelia did not spend her time idling, she hurriedly joined up with Zenith, combining their strength to battle the blue horned devil, who had a gloomy face from watching another of his comrade got killed.
Realizing that the situation has gone very bad for their side, both he and the red horned devil break off from their duels and trying their hardest to fall back into safety. The surviving hooded vampires also followed them suit and began to retreat hectically to the north in an effort to leave this cursed beach.
"Hold! Don't follow them!" Cordelia's stern voice booming in the air. Stopping the allied force from pursuing the retreating enemies.
"This isn't right, General. We almost got them under our grasps. We should continue pursuing them at once!" The baldy voiced his complaint, but his tone no longer had the arrogance flavor from before. He had seen Cordelia killed two Titanium-class devils easily, those feats have gained his acknowledgment.
Jordan shook his head and replied, "The General's order is correct. The casualties on our side are exceptionally numerous, there are still many wounded and injured soldiers as well. Consolidating our forces now is better than uselessly pursuing the enemies."
Zenith didn't speak, nobody knows what's on his mind.
The baldy was staring alternating to those three and lets out a sigh.
"Alright! Let's stop for a moment to have some rest. I'll give the command to our troops to secure the beach quick. After we've consolidated our forces and the second wave have also landed, then we can begin to advance inland, is that clear?" Cordelia decisively said. Judging from her tone, she doesn't take no for answer.
"Roger that." Jordan complied instantly. He was Cordelia's second-in-command and he trusted her greatly, as such he would always takes her side no matter what.
"Tch... Fine." The baldy clicked his tongue. He can do nothing other than following the order.
Zenith still keeping silent and merely nodded.
Not long, with the help of the second wave who have completed their landing, the amphibious force managed to secure the entirety of the beach. They faced almost zero enemy resistance as most of the hostile troops have retreated from the beach and nearby areas.
And with that, the battle has come to an end.
