Chapter 506: Chapter 506: Deployment

Steward Loki led the members of the Night Owl Commerce Association back to the Floating Airship. The massive vessel slowly ascended, eventually turning into a black dot on the horizon and disappearing behind the clouds.

The temporary harbor ground was left with only the Duke and his companions, along with the Slave Creature Legion before him, resembling a frozen sea of black.

Over fifty thousand pairs of cold, inhuman eyes quietly watched him, waiting for the singular command.

The Duke had them temporarily stationed here, with five Level 2 slave creatures overseeing them. The captains of the squads and platoons were each responsible for their own subordinates.

Since there were many ordinary people around, he specifically warned them not to intimidate or harm any of the bystanders.

These slave creatures bore the Slave Mark, ensuring they would not disobey the Duke’s orders.

In fact, they were quite experienced, most of them aware that they could not casually harm humans.

Even without their Control Talisman, they dared not act recklessly.

This stemmed from an instinctive fear of the Wizards, and the constraining power at the core of the Slave Mark.

In the war room of the castle, in front of a giant sand table marked with the geography of Maple Hill County and its surroundings.

“Everyone,” the Duke began straightforwardly, pointing to the border line on the sand table between Maple Hill County and Silver County, “The threat of the insect swarm is imminent. We must immediately construct a deep defensive system. This Slave Creature Legion will be the core of our defense.”

Although Silver County hadn’t fallen yet, its defensive power was unlikely to withstand the swarms spreading from Besm County, so they had to plan ahead.

Given that the only detected signs of the Insect Race were from the direction of Besm County, the border line with Silver County had become the focal point of the defense.

“The main force will consist of ten thousand Rock Armor Heavy Army and five thousand crystal-backed lizards,” the Duke’s finger traced over the key passes and open terrains along the border, “They will rely on the terrain to establish forward positions. The Heavy Army will withstand the impact, while the crystal lizards provide long-range fire coverage. The goal isn’t annihilation, but to delay and deplete the Insect Race’s vanguard units to the maximum extent.”

Earl Hardy immediately added, “I will dispatch two thousand soldiers and guards equipped with heavy crossbows and catapults to assist in the defense of these passes and provide flank cover and engineering support for the Slave Creature Legion.”

Given the weak combat power of ordinary humans, they could only offer auxiliary support on the front lines.

Earl Hardy and his men, familiar with the geography of Maple Hill County, could collaborate with the slave creatures to build defensive works before the insect swarm arrived.

“In the complex terrain of hills and forest regions behind the border defense line,” the Duke pointed at the sand table, “deploy the Shadow Hunting Dogs, Blade-winged Demons, and some spore launchers. They will split into smaller units to carry out continuous harassment and ambushes, eliminating the Insect Race’s reconnaissance units and isolated squads, and disrupting the formation of primary nests, hindering the Insect Race’s development speed.”

The deployment plan was clear and determined, concentrating all forces at critical points to leverage the terrain, forming an impregnable barrier.

Earl Hardy, looking at the sand table where the heavy forces were concentrated at several passes, said in a grave tone, “In this way, although our defense line is shortened, its thickness and strength will far exceed that of a dispersed deployment. As long as the passes hold, Maple Hill County will remain unscathed.”

“Precisely,” the Duke nodded, “The logistics supply line must also be realigned around these passes to ensure everything’s foolproof.”

This strategy was dictated by the terrain of Maple Hill County. By holding these key passes, they could sharply reduce the number of Insect Race entries into Maple Hill County.

Even if some bugs slipped in from remote areas, they wouldn’t pose a significant threat.

The individual strength of these insects wasn’t great; their destructive power came purely from their vast numbers.

The flickering candlelight in the war room cast shadows over the sand table, and the Duke’s voice echoed within the room.

With the deployment set, the cold machine of war began to operate along its predetermined trajectory.

In the ensuing days, the border line between Maple Hill County and Silver County became a strange land where clamor and deathly silence coexisted.

The critical passes, originally just trade routes, had now completely changed in appearance.

The Rock Armor Heavy Army, like stone fortresses rising from the depths of the earth, their massive bodies were the best walls.

These giant beasts, averaging two and a half meters in height, had skin with a gray-brown rock-like texture, covered in natural earth-cracked patterns.

They stood silently at the forefront of the passes, their sturdy limbs like stone pillars, deeply embedded in the ground.

With the collaboration of Earl Hardy’s engineers and their own strength, simple yet practical earthworks were rapidly constructed. Trenches were deepened and widened, and thick earthen walls piled up in the rear with gun ports reserved behind them.

The crystal-backed lizards lurked within these works behind the Rock Armor Heavy Army, or on the ridges to either side. Their bodies were relatively slender, covered in dense scales shimmering with a faint energy glow.

Most eye-catching was their dorsal spines, stretching like a crystal cluster from their spine to the tip of their long tails.

At the moment, these crystal spines were slowly pulsating as they breathed, seemingly accumulating energy.

With their cold vertical pupils locked onto the open ground ahead, they awaited the command to unleash deadly energy beams.

Earl Hardy’s soldiers, wearing heavy leather armor, chanted as they secured the bases of crossbows that required multiple people to lift onto the pre-set positions, while massive catapults were assembled further up the slopes.

They gazed at this silent, inhuman army before them, their expressions mixed with awe and unease.

The bustling of human soldiers contrasted sharply with the deathly silence of the Slave Creature Legion.

Behind the main defense line, across the vast and rugged hills and sparse forests, another force quietly dispersed.

The Shadow Hunting Dogs merged seamlessly into the environment of every corner like true shadows.

Their bodies, like leopards, moved silently. Their dark grey fur was nearly impossible to detect in the dim-lighted woods.

Moving in small groups, using their extraordinary sense of smell and hearing, they prowled through the shadows of trees and rocks, searching for any vibrations or scents foreign to this territory.

In the sky, the Blade-winged Demons formed a sparse patrol network.

They had humanoid torsos with bat-like membranous wings, the edge of their wings gleaming with a metallic coldness, capable of easily slicing through armor.

These Blade-winged Demons soared high, with their sharp compound eyes scanning the earth, occasionally emitting brief and piercing calls to communicate with each other.

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