This single Skyshaker Bomb killed nearly a thousand Heavenly Dragon Empire soldiers and wounded over two thousand more, half of whom lost the ability to fight.
For the Heavenly Dragon Empire, the casualties were catastrophic; but for the Sea Dragon Empire, it was barely a drizzle. Several golden-armored generals stared in disbelief at the scene before them.
One Skyshaker Bomb should've killed at least three thousand and seriously wounded over five thousand, but now only a thousand or so were dead and two thousand wounded—a far cry from expectations.
"What's going on? How did the Heavenly Dragon Empire's soldiers know to dodge so quickly when the Skyshaker Bomb launched? And why are they spread so far apart? Did someone leak our secret weapon?" one general said.
"That's impossible. They just got lucky. We've seen what the Skyshaker Bomb can do—it's sure to terrify them. This is our best chance. Keep firing and blow them all to pieces," another said.
"Keep firing the Skyshaker Bombs! Blast every last Heavenly Dragon Empire wretch to hell!" the general barked.
Deafening explosions echoed across the battlefield once again, shaking the thousands-meter-wide war zone.
After the first Skyshaker Bomb, Heavenly Dragon Empire soldiers learned from experience. As soon as they saw the fireball's trajectory, they scattered. Each blast still killed hundreds to a thousand, but the number of wounded dropped sharply.
The wounded dropped from over two thousand to just over a thousand. By the fifth Skyshaker Bomb, deaths had dropped from a thousand to less than seven or eight hundred, with about a thousand wounded—leaving the Sea Dragon Empire generals speechless.
General Roland Lowell and the other generals were shocked by the enemy's Skyshaker Bombs. Even though Evan Chu and Selena had warned him about their power, seeing and hearing it firsthand was another matter—the impact was far greater.
Thankfully, Selena gave us a countermeasure before she left. If we'd recklessly attacked, at least ten thousand would be dead by now, and total casualties would be in the tens of thousands.
If the army hadn't withdrawn, with crowds everywhere, casualties would be incalculable. Evan Chu and Selena really have saved the empire again.
General, it's a good thing you ordered us to pull back. Otherwise, who knows how many brothers would've died. Your foresight saved the empire from disaster," said a general beside Roland Lowell.
Roland Lowell felt a bit embarrassed—this wasn't his credit at all, it was entirely Evan Chu and Selena's idea. The empire is lucky to have people like them.
No one expected the enemy to have such terrifying firearms. By the time I got the news, it was almost too late—otherwise, casualties would've been much lower," Roland said helplessly, watching the two hundred thousand below who might be wiped out. Anyone would feel bitter seeing this.
As supreme commander, his responsibility was even greater. Without Evan Chu and Selena's warning, he might've become the Heavenly Dragon Empire's eternal sinner. Thinking of this made Roland Lowell shudder.
After Gavin Wei finished absorbing starlight, he hadn't seen Evan Chu since, which made him anxious—and Selena was missing too.
After asking Roland Lowell, he learned the two had gone on a secret mission and wouldn't return for two days, telling him not to worry.
Seeing the countless dead and wounded soldiers below the walls was heartbreaking, especially those who couldn't die but kept howling and rolling on the ground. Gavin felt even worse for them.
The Sea Dragon Empire kept firing Skyshaker Bombs, always aiming at the densest crowds, but the effect was limited.
By now, many uninjured Heavenly Dragon Empire soldiers had already charged in, clashing swords with the Sea Dragon Empire troops.
Those skilled in martial techniques unleashed their skills without hesitation, burning through their Stellar Power, thinking: kill one to break even, two for profit, three and they could die without regret.
They fought with total abandon, attacking without defense—if you slashed me, I'd hack you back, even if it meant mutual destruction.
Soon, hundreds of thousands of Heavenly Dragon Empire soldiers crashed into the enemy ranks. At this point, the Skyshaker Bombs were basically useless, something the Sea Dragon Empire hadn't anticipated.
Now, firing Skyshaker Bombs could only kill a few hundred stragglers. Everyone knew how precious the bombs were—wasting one on a few hundred would likely get the general who gave the order executed by Feiqing Yun on the spot.
Seeing the Heavenly Dragon Empire soldiers fighting like they had nothing to lose, the Sea Dragon generals were at their wits' end. These men fought with a death-wish—the most terrifying, most frenzied kind. Their morale soared, and their two hundred thousand could slaughter thirty or even forty thousand of the enemy.
The Skyshaker Bombs had basically failed, an unacceptable outcome. One general barked: "Surround and slaughter all two hundred thousand! Advance only, no retreat—anyone who disobeys, kill without mercy!"