Chapter 498 - 235: Storming the Royal City
Chapter 498: Chapter 235: Storming the Royal City
Tallo knew that General Tros couldn’t possibly mistake the sound of a Magic Crystal Cannon.
In fact, few of the Beastmen who had fled from the central front would ever mistake that sound.
The Tiger Race’s Elite Army originally numbered around 70,000. Ten thousand were lost to the Magic Crystal Cannons, and another 10,000 died in the battles that followed. Combined with other losses on the central front, their forces had dwindled to 30,000 troops here in the Tiger Race Royal City. Then, following Prince Trilman’s most recent defeat, only 10,000 were left in the Royal City.
You could say that nearly all the Tiger Race armies lost on the central front were connected to the Magic Crystal Cannons in some way. And these were the absolute finest troops of the entire Tiger Race Royal Court, both in terms of equipment and the quality of the soldiers.
One could only say that, aside from being incredibly expensive, the strategy of using hundreds of Magic Crystal Cannons was devastatingly effective.
Right now, Prince Tallo had no time to mourn the warriors who had fallen on the central front. His heart was filled with frantic urgency.
The Tiger Race Royal City was nothing like the Centaur King City, which was magnificently built and protected by a Magic Barrier.
The Tiger Race Royal City was only a few decades old. The gates of the Beastman Royal City weren’t made of any sturdy magical materials; at best, they were inscribed with a few extra runes. They would never withstand a bombardment from Magic Crystal Cannons.
Tallo set General Tros down from his grasp.
"The Royal City’s First Army will go to the East City Gate to reinforce Prince Trilman! Get all the Tiger Race soldiers outside the walls into the city!" Tallo commanded.
After speaking, Tallo kicked General Tros.
General Tros, thinking of his wife and daughter in Tallo’s hands, nodded hastily.
"Yes, yes, yes! Go quickly, go quickly!" General Tros said.
"From now on, His Highness the Regent King will be fully in charge of everything. It has nothing to do with me."
Tros’s meaning was clear: he was letting Tallo take the lead. If Tallo succeeded, Tros could share in the glory; if he failed, Tros wouldn’t be the main one to blame, giving himself an out.
Tallo looked at Tros with disgust. ’How did a man like this become a Tiger Race general?’ he thought. ’I heard he was a formidable figure in his youth.’
It was no wonder Tallo felt such contempt. With their very existence on the line, playing political games was simply suicidal.
However, the fact that the general had so readily handed over command of his legion was indeed advantageous for Tallo’s next moves.
"The Royal Family is facing a great disaster. The entire Royal City is now under a state of emergency.
"In the name of the Regent King, from this moment on, I am in command! No one is to mobilize troops without my direct order!" Tallo declared.
Hearing this, several officers exchanged uncertain glances. The Royal City’s Defense Army was composed almost entirely of men loyal to the Senate, which put them in a difficult position.
However, the Tiger Race army was not rotten to the core. Everyone understood the principle of taking extraordinary measures in extraordinary times.
"Yes, Your Highness the Regent King!" the officers shouted in unison.
"Defense Regiments One through Three, go reinforce the East City Gate now! Defense Regiment Four, go to East City, South City, and West City and mobilize all fighting-age males! Assemble them all, regardless of their status—every single fighting-age male," Tallo ordered.
East City, South City, and West City were the districts where the commoners lived.
North City was the district of the powerful and wealthy. Even in a situation like this, Tallo was reluctant to touch them.
"I will personally lead a team to North City to conscript soldiers. After you reach the East City Gate, you will follow Prince Trilman’s orders."
"Yes, Your Highness the Regent King!"
...
Tonight, the Royal City was in a race against time. Both the Human Race and the Tiger Race were fighting for every second.
It had to be said, the army in the Tiger Race Royal City was truly worthy of being called an Elite Army.
After receiving Tallo’s orders, they moved with lightning speed from the top down. Within a mere ten minutes, the First Defense Army had already departed from its barracks and was rushing toward the East City Gate.
The legions that received their orders each marched out of their barracks, acting according to the commands Tallo had given them.
"By order of His Highness the Regent King! The whole city is to face the enemy! To the East Gate!"
"By order of His Highness the Regent King...!"
Warriors ran through the streets and alleys, shouting the calls to arms. The residents of the Royal City already knew their Royal Court was at war with the Human Race—this was nothing new to them. It had happened once before, thirty years ago, and this was merely a repeat of history.
But judging by the commotion, did it mean the Human Race was about to breach the Tiger Race Royal City?
The residents of the Royal City were always more patriotic than the Tiger Race People from other places. Many Tiger Race males had already grabbed their weapons and were waiting to see what was happening outside.
Now, hearing the orders from His Highness the Regent King, the residents of the Royal City immediately streamed out of their homes.
The Tiger Race Royal City was not as magnificent as the Centaur King City, and its population was only just over 70,000, with a small portion living outside the walls.
But when this force was mobilized, the sight was spectacular!
"Defend the Royal City! Exterminate the Human Race!"
"Defend the Royal City...!"
The Tiger Race residents, wielding swords and knives, poured out from every street and alley, from every direction. For a moment, the streets of the entire Royal City were dotted with innumerable points of light...
If Louis III were to witness this scene, he would surely exclaim that this moment was just like that one so long ago.
Thirty years ago in Barishik, was the scene not exactly the same?
...
"Magic Crystal Cannon! The Magic Crystal Cannons are coming again!"
"Idiot, get out of the way!"
At that moment, the Tiger Race army fighting outside the city was still trying to evade the Human Race’s Magic Crystal Cannons.
Prince Trilman stared blankly as a Magic Crystal Cannon shot across the sky, leaving a brilliant trail behind it before smashing viciously into the gates of the Tiger Race Royal City.
Prince Trilman now understood, just a little, why the Tiger Race Warriors who had retreated from the central front were so terrified of the Magic Crystal Cannons.