Chapter 56: Defensive Battle in the Interception City
  “Now then, how will the Principality’s lot move?”
  
  Behind the large Disaurs species positioned in the center of the Aberrations, surrounded by 11-12 meter tall magician-type Huge Skeletons acting as their kin, the undead knight Gaius muttered from within the cockpit of the “Mechanical Magi” Algol.
  
  The black Aberration knight he was piloting had a biological impression despite being covered in armor. A single crimson eye gleamed from behind the menacing helmet integrated with the faceguard.
  
  Nearby, a “Mechanical Doll” Revenant, resembling a ghost clad in rags with no legs, floated. Kreis, the undead within the knight, responded to his master’s question while in deep thought.
  
  “Likely, they will gradually retreat after blunting the initial momentum… They will attempt to extend the battle lines, aim to wear us down and stall us, and then retreat towards the capital.”
  
  “It’s not like they have the military strength to withstand it completely either. After engaging in a battle to reduce our strength and attract attention, they will lure us to the rendezvous point with reinforcements…”
  
  Discerning the Principality’s prudent actions, would they engage or ignore them and crush the surrounding cities and towns? While he was pondering, among the two wings he had mobilized, the left wing, slightly ahead, entered into combat.
  
  Aiming at the smaller Fang Lizard Aberrations and interspersed Goblin Soldiers approaching with roars, the front row of riflemen, deployed in squads laterally, took a knee and extended their gun barrels from above their heads. Along with the rear row, they aimed their single-shot muskets.
  
  “”Fire!!””
  
  At the command of each squad leader, the muzzles erupted in flames. On the other side, lead bullets pierced some of the Aberrations that approached while scattering midway, blowing away surrounding flesh with the force of their caliber.
  
  “””Guuu…gh, Aaagh…u”””
  “”Geghh…Ehh…””
  
  The vanguards that collapsed with groans became obstacles, slowing down the following forces somewhat… However, the enemy forces did not stop, stepping over their dying comrades.
  
  “Tsk, advance! Riflemen, fall back!”
  “We’re heading to the front too!”
  
  Immediately after the spearmen captains’ orders echoed, and those holding iron spears advanced from the gaps created in the formation, a swarm of smaller Aberrations initiated close combat.
  
  “””Gwooooaaaagh!!”””
  “””Uooooh!!”””
  
  The roaring spearmen thrust their spearheads, piercing the lizard Aberrations that tried to bite them. Seizing the opportunity, several Goblin Soldiers that had slipped in thrust their piercing swords into the spearmen’s chests.
  
  The Goblin Soldiers grinned, splattered with the gushing blood… However, in the next moment, an iron spear that had slipped through pierced their skulls, and this time, they were the ones to d*e.
  
  As if to accelerate the attrition warfare, smaller Aberrations split left and right here and there, and skeletal mages in the rear came into view, holding their staves enveloped in a pale phosphorescent light.
  
  “Ha, I won’t let you!”
  “Take this!”
  
  Archers rained down crossbow bolts from the city walls, targeting the glowing magic light. Although many of the skeletal mages crumbled as their skulls and humeri were shattered by the arrowheads, the surviving skeletal mages unleashed magic bullets.
  
  “”Guboagh””
  “A hole in my stomach, no way…Gahagh”
  
  “The ranks are in disarray!”
  “D*mn it, those Goblin bastards are getting cocky!”
  
  The riflemen, who had quickly moved to the rear right of the spearmen to provide support fire, responded immediately, suppressing the suddenly emboldened Aberrations with gunfire… However, two Glow Vipers, medium-sized snake-like Aberrations about 8 meters long, mixed in with the smaller species and closed the distance in an attempt to break the stalemate.
  
  Meanwhile, a similar battle was unfolding on the opposite side where the enemy’s right wing was being held back. The mages in the rear, who had been kept in reserve, were constructing resonance magic with multiple mages and firing giant fireballs at the Bigfoot, medium-sized ape Aberrations, that had approached the front lines.
  
  “Ugaaaaagh—-gh, Aaagh…u…”
  “Uugh, Aaagh…”
  
  Two giant apes, several times larger than humans, were severely wounded and engulfed in flames. They swung their powerful arms, flinging the surrounding smaller Aberrations away before collapsing from exhaustion. In the midst of this, the unit commander at the front line shouted at his soldiers.
  
  “Alright, we’ll retreat after holding on a little longer, hang in there!”
  “””Uooooh!!”””
  
  While each unit on both wings fought hard in cooperation with the archer units stationed on the city walls, Dorel, the regiment commander, had the giant knight units take up positions for magic fire towards the larger Aberrations that had advanced from the front with a time lag.
  
  The magical phosphorescence, maintained by the mages responsible for power control during the activation phase, flickered between the outstretched palms of each knight centered around the Clawsolas.
  
  “Is it about time, Regiment Commander?”
  “Don’t be hasty, we’ll wait until they’re close enough.”
  
  The unshaven knight was not looking at the approaching horde of dinosaur Disaurs, but at the Huge Skeletons, the magician-type giant skeletons, that were stealthily approaching.
  
  Within the known range, they could handle magic bullets and magic barriers, so they were considered large Aberration species that should be treated with caution, even considering their poor magical efficiency.
  
  “I want to reduce their numbers here… Oh, it’s time, fire!”
  “”Understood!!””
  
  In response to the pilots of the knights, the accompanying mages unleashed the installed magic, firing powerful flame bullets and lightning strikes at the large Aberrations that were about to enter close combat range.
  
  Immediately, magical light surged among the opposing enemy forces, and geometric barriers were deployed by the huge skeletons clad in cloaks.
  
  Still, it was difficult to completely block all the attacks unleashed from a relatively close range. With a dry cracking sound, the barriers shattered, and the penetrating magic struck the abdomens and limbs of several Disaurs, inflicting deep wounds.