The Imperial Army's front line stretched for two miles. Over fifty thousand Free Folk Legion soldiers, clad in mismatched armor and wielding various weapons, were lined up as neatly as possible, and the fighting spirit burning in their eyes was fiercer than ever before.
At the forefront of the left flank, the three commanders of the Stormcrow Company rode on warhorses. Daario Naharis had specifically worn a gold-trimmed leather armor today, and two scimitars gleamed at his waist.
"Look at this formation," he said, grinning as he looked across the field. "It's much more exciting than the skirmishes we took on in the Disputed Lands."
Ben Plumm glared at him. "Cut the sarcasm. The New Ghiscari aren't those third-rate Mercenaries."
"Bald" Perro rubbed his smooth scalp. "I heard that old man Lorac drove the slaves to the rear, keeping weapons from them, afraid they might defect."
"A smart move," Daario shrugged. "But it also shows he doesn't have many cards to play."
Opposite them, the New Ghis army formation was already arrayed.
At the very front were ten thousand New Ghis Core Soldiers. They wore pitch-black iron armor, helmets decorated with Harpies, and carried long spears and massive square shields.
Behind them were thirty thousand Free Folk troops, slightly inferior in equipment but greater in number. Further back were tens of thousands of ragged slaves chained together, driven by overseers wielding leather whips, responsible for transporting arrows and stones.
In front of the formation, astride a tall black warhorse, sat the Commander-in-Chief of New Ghis, Lorac. Nearing fifty, he was a serious and cautious man.
"General," the Adjutant rode closer. "The scouts report no sign of the Great Dragon."
Lorac narrowed his eyes. "If Viserys hasn't arrived, the enemy wouldn't choose to confront us head-on; that wouldn't benefit them."
"But our spies lost track of Volantis three days ago."
"Then assume he has arrived and prepare," Lorac interrupted. "Order all units to maintain formation and not let the charge of those Free Folk Irregular Army disrupt our rhythm. Our goal is to slowly wear them down, and once they are exhausted, crush them in one fell swoop."
The sound of horns echoed.
The Imperial Army moved first. The Free Folk Legion erupted in earth-shattering shouts, surging toward the New Ghis line like a tide. These people, who had been slaves only recently, were now fighting to defend their new lives.
Arrows from New Ghis rained down like precipitation. A swath of Free Folk at the front fell, but those behind stepped over their comrades' corpses and pressed on. The vanguards of the two armies finally collided, and shouts and screams instantly filled the entire plain.
The Mercenaries of the Stormcrow Company and the Second Sons Company cut in from the flank, trying to tear open the defenses of the New Ghis Free Folk troops. Daario led the charge, wielding his twin blades and cutting down several enemies. But the resistance of the New Ghiscari was fierce, and their line remained very stable.
Just as the two sides became entangled.
Two black dots in the distant sky were rapidly growing larger.
One was shining gold, the other a deep black. They quickly approached the battlefield, casting shadows that enveloped the sky above the fighting.
"The Gods..." a New Ghis Free Folk muttered, the spear in his hand trembling slightly.
Lorac's expression turned grim. Viserys had indeed come.
Ghidorah swooped down first.
She did not attack the front line where the fighting was ongoing, but instead dove straight toward the rear of the New Ghis army, targeting the Large Siege Weapons and, most importantly, the Command Post.
The left head spat out Frost Breath. The blue cold current swept across, instantly freezing dozens of soldiers below into ice statues. The right head turned the other way and spewed scorching Dragonfire. The flames ignited the Free Folk below.
Lorac roared his command: "Scorpion Crossbows, aim for the golden one."
Twenty Scorpion Crossbows positioned at the rear adjusted their angles, and massive bolts whistled as they shot toward the sky. These bolts were specifically designed to penetrate Dragon Scales.
Ghidorah's central head rotated slightly, and six golden eyes locked onto the incoming bolts.
A sweeping Golden Ray erupted, instantly vaporizing the twenty bolts. But the ray continued forward, striking the soldiers operating the Scorpion Crossbows.
The result was the same. They all vanished silently within the Golden Ray.
A bizarre blank area appeared on the battlefield; the ground was smooth as a mirror, exhibiting a glassy sheen.
Lorac witnessed the legendary scene firsthand. His hand trembled, not from fear, but from rage—that his meticulously prepared attack was so utterly defenseless against the power of the Great Dragon.
"General," the Adjutant grabbed his arm. "We must retreat."
"No," Lorac shook off the Adjutant's hand, his eyes calm. "Ghiscari never retreat. Order the army to advance on all fronts. The goal is to inflict maximum casualties on the enemy forces."
Having said that, he himself rode his black horse and charged toward the battlefield.
After seeing the bolts destroyed before they even touched Ghidorah, he knew nothing now could harm her. And judging by Viserys's previous actions, he wouldn't spare him; it was better to die on the battlefield and not insult the honor of his House.
Just then, Black Flame joined the battle.
Unlike Ghidorah, this black dragon did not attack the Large Siege Weapons in the rear. It went directly to the front line of the engagement, then swooped, breathed fire, pulled up, and swooped again. With every dive, the dark red Dragonfire was like the scythe swung by the Grim Reaper, carving burning furrows through the New Ghis formation.
Lorac also died in a blast of fire.
But the army's charge did not stop. They stepped over the burning areas, crossed the charred bodies of their comrades, their eyes fixed only on what lay ahead.
Viserys saw the enemy's madness and controlled Ghidorah to the front, constantly spewing fire, cold ice, and Golden Light to eliminate the enemy.
The battle turned into a Massacre.
The Imperial Army also pressed forward on all fronts. Aided by the Great Dragons and utilizing their numerical superiority, the Free Folk Legion gradually overwhelmed the remaining resisting enemies. The fighting lasted until the very last moment, resulting in almost no captives.
When the last New Ghis soldier fell, the sun had already set.
Corpses covered the Salt Plain, and the air was thick with the smell of blood and char. The surviving Imperial Soldiers did not cheer; their eyes held nothing but blood and fire. This was a War without Victory.
book àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (luffy1898)