I play a Evil God in Otome Game

The Imperial Army increased its numbers to around 250,000, while the Aurelion Republic quickly amassed up to 500,000 soldiers. Thousands of volunteers were conscripted, and volunteer troops were raised.

The battle was to take place on the river in the northwest part of Sarden. The Aurelions controlled the large bridge, the only crossing point over the river.

The Imperial Army, following strategic decisions, had assembled with a strong, unified strategy rather than a scattered formation. Unlike their enemy, the Empire wanted to avoid unnecessary loss of soldiers; in short, every single soldier was valuable.

The Empire aimed to preserve its army for future battles. As a result, heavy funds were allocated, and military equipment was sent to the army in massive quantities. The total cost was so great that it could have turned a small barony into a minor kingdom.

In contrast, the Republic had no concerns about population. Some of their soldiers didn't even have armor. Yet they continued recruiting inexperienced civilians into the army without hesitation.

At this pace, they could raise nearly a million troops within a month. In response, the Empire was preparing the Death Legion, increasing their total number of troops to 600,000. For now, however, the river posed the biggest challenge. The opposite side of the river was fortified with sharp, massive stakes.

The time had come for trench warfare to begin. The Imperial heavy artillery was lined up to commence the attack. Cannons over 10 meters tall were deployed and prepared.

On the other side of the river, Aurelion's heavy artillery was positioned. Despite being called "heavy artillery," they were actually medium-grade Lorenzo-B3 cannons that were 20 years old.

In contrast, the Morgana elite cannons were six times superior to the enemy's. So much so that, with the necessary magical enhancements, they could fire shells up to five kilometers near Sarden.

"Artillery!" George commanded from the rear. Simon and Bernard stood beside him. George raised his sword and shouted, "Fire!"

The deafening roar of dozens of cannons echoed as they bombarded the enemy base on the other side of the river. The Imperial artillery didn't stop, quickly reloading for another volley.

"They're coming!"

Another wave of cannon fire caused an explosion in the enemy camp, producing a loud blast. George watched the explosion with admiration and then smiled. "Is the zeppelin ready?"

"Hmm, yes," Bernard replied curiously, glancing at the fire rising from the enemy side. He then pointed to the sky.

"Look, there it is." Following Bernard's warning, Simon and George looked up, their breaths taken away in awe. Not just them, but the entire Imperial army stood stunned.

The zeppelin was unlike any ordinary airship. It was sleeker and more magnificent, painted in the black, white, and red colors representing the Empire.

Hundreds of small cannons were mounted along its sides, and even from a distance, the faint buzzing sound of the zeppelin could be heard. The Empire's flag waved proudly atop the massive airship.

The most striking feature was the swarm of smaller airships surrounding the zeppelin. Though small, they were formidable and terrifying.

"My God..." George muttered, holding his breath. He had heard of the zeppelin a few times but had never seen it in person, as it was a project kept secret among a select few.

The war zeppelin was unparalleled, a universally accepted fact. The colossal machine practically screamed danger.

"Can this thing win us the war?" George asked Simon curiously. Simon smiled. He was more familiar with the zeppelin project than George, knowing its secrets.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"The zeppelin uses a once-useless mineral resource as fuel, enabling it to fly. Do you know the best part?" Simon said with amusement, turning to George. "This beast has a weapon powerful enough to destroy a city wall with ease. Truly breathtaking."

George initially looked skeptical but accepted it after a moment of thought. He would see the zeppelin's power for himself soon enough.

The smaller weapons of the zeppelin slowly turned toward the far side of the river. The zeppelin was equipped with dozens of cannons, but these were no ordinary weapons.

Powered by high-grade mana crystals, the cannons fired mana beams. The entire armament relied on explosive energy.

Thousands of valuable mana crystals were stored in the zeppelin's weapons compartment. Inside the cannons, empty crystals absorbed mana to charge their firing power.

The mana from the fully charged crystals created an energy surge in the empty crystal, which then caused a rapid explosion, charging the cannons.

As the charged mana traveled through the barrel, it transformed into a beam. If the zeppelin weren't so valuable, Morrigan would have built 100 of them at once, but unfortunately, it wasn't feasible.

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The reason for the zeppelin's immense value was its unique, durable steel, designed to withstand internal explosions. Producing this steel was extremely challenging, which was why only one war zeppelin and 20 smaller war airships existed.

The zeppelin's targeting system turned heavily toward the enemy's disorganized frontline and middle defenses.

After five minutes of charging, the zeppelin was ready to fire. Everyone held their breath, watching intently.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Purple beams shot out from the zeppelin, bombarding the ground below. The terrain was obliterated, and a portion of the Republican army suffered heavy casualties. Most notably, their artillery units were destroyed.

The bright purple beams dazzled the eyes until the zeppelin ceased fire and began its cooling phase. The Imperial army erupted into cheers.

As the smoke cleared, the aftermath was revealed. The result was more devastating than expected. The ground was completely scorched, leaving nothing of the Republican army behind.

With the river defenses eliminated, George swiftly gave his orders. "Mages! Freeze the river immediately!"

Responding to George's command, the mages sprang into action. For half an hour, they froze the river, creating a passable surface for the soldiers before retreating in exhaustion.

"Move! Cross the river quickly and set up camps!"

Logistics officers rushed forward, deploying patrols and artillery beyond the scorched ground. George narrowed his eyes as he watched the zeppelin slowly head toward Sarden.

"We need to act quickly and break through the defensive lines. If the zeppelin reaches there without us, we're in trouble."

"Even so, the zeppelin won't arrive for at least a week. If we're fast, we can establish two defensive lines within four days," Simon said hesitantly.

After hours of swift progress, the river was crossed. Now, the only task remaining was to break through the defense line. The war council convened quickly in the military tent.

"What should we do now? Should we charge head-on? That would be advantageous for us. They'll already be shocked by how quickly we crossed the river," Simon said calmly. Bernard hesitantly shared his opinion. "Even so, they outnumber us. Even if we attack with a swift pincer maneuver, the odds of success are low. If we confront them head-on, we'll suffer significant losses."

"Instead, we could lure them into a trap by feigning an attack," George said thoughtfully. Seeing Simon and Bernard looking at him curiously, he quickly explained his strategy.

George pointed at the map, indicating the defense line. "First, we send in our infantry. Then, as they swiftly retreat, the remaining cavalry will move in and quickly eliminate their infantry."

"That's a good plan, but can our infantry retreat quickly enough?" Simon asked with concern. George stayed silent. Bernard, however, intervened with a smile on his lips. "This is a good plan, but I think we should use the artillery instead of the cavalry."

"Artillery instead of cavalry?" George smiled and gestured for Bernard to continue. Bernard quickly elaborated. "As the infantry retreats, they should pull back in two directions. Meanwhile, the artillery will fire from the center, and our archers will harass the enemy's flanks with volleys of arrows."

"Alright, does anyone else have a suggestion?" George asked. Simon shook his head and offered his own idea. "Let's launch a nighttime assault. The darkness will prevent the enemy from spotting our artillery at a distance."

"Very well. If there's nothing else, our plan is set. We'll prepare to commence the operation in one day," George said seriously. After deciding on the general course of action, the war council moved on to discuss another pressing issue.

"We've stabilized the territories we've captured," George said in a low voice. "However, guerrilla fighters continue to harass our supply lines. They must be eliminated."

"Unfortunately, that seems almost impossible," Simon said with frustration. "The Aurelions keep joining the guerrilla forces. Even if we wipe them out, they'll continue to grow."

"That's why I propose this," George cleared his throat and spoke firmly. "We will order public executions of guerrilla members and establish psychological dominance. At least until the war is over."

"That will only enrage them further," Bernard said with a sigh. "Offering amnesty or, at the very least, sparing those who surrender could reduce the hostility of the populace."

"But the hatred has already reached an irreversible level," Simon interjected. "As much as I oppose extreme policies, we have no other option right now. Instilling fear is our best course of action."

Bernard said nothing further and fell silent. George then furrowed his brow. "If we can break the defense line quickly, perhaps a small detachment of Paladins can hunt down the guerrilla forces?"

"I believe Urien is capable enough," Simon stated seriously. George was momentarily surprised by Simon's confidence. "Are you sure? He's still young. I'm worried he might be too emotional."

Despite George's concerns, Simon looked at him resolutely. "Urien has grown and is capable enough for this task. Yes, he's still young, but missions like this will give him valuable experience."

Seeing Simon's firm stance, George said nothing more. He then announced his decision. "Then it's settled. Guerrilla members will be publicly executed, and a detachment of Paladins, led by Urien, will eliminate the guerrilla forces."

Simon and Bernard did not object. George then politely dismissed them. As the war council dispersed, time passed swiftly. Two days later, after the sun had set, the army began its march toward the defense line...