บท 69: The rescue
**Alex POV**
Alex landed at the last airbase, needing to be refueled as the soldiers quickly tended to the aircraft. As Alex surveyed the environment, it was just plain desert. Legend had stated it was a vast desert, a hard place to create cities, with a large density of Mana in the center. It had been dangerous for people, but over the years, the Mana dissipated. Despite this, most battles were still avoided in that place, forcing the southern front to split.
Additionally, building train tracks was impossible since there was no solid foundation. Transportation had to rely on trucks and aircraft, as fighting the sand would cause heavy knights or tanks without proper equipment to sink. The Military Research and Development branch even had to invent a new type of tracks.
"Your Majesty, the aircrafts are fueled and ready for departure," reported the commander to Alex.
"Alright, let's get going and have the music ready to be sung," Alex ordered. As he boarded the helicopter, the air fleet immediately headed for their destination.
---
**14th Infantry Division**
"Sir, our numbers are dwindling," said an officer, his voice filled with concern. They were in their makeshift battlements, the original ones laced with explosives that had been detonated after the enemy overran their defensive walls. Now, the soldiers were fighting for every street. With no armored vehicles, they had resorted to urban combat, creating kill zones just to delay the inevitable.
"The remaining battalion of soldiers were able to escape. That leaves us with 5,000 soldiers. Make sure everyone can escape through the boats and leave 2,000 to hold them off," the officer instructed. The boats could accommodate 3,000 men, so the remaining 2,000, along with him, would fight until the last man while destroying their equipment.
"But Sir!" an officer began to protest, but he was quickly silenced.
"I can't let my children die before me, so the elder brothers and I are going to give you a chance to escape. Go, continue to serve the emperor. Stand and fight!" he said, and the officers left while some stayed to command the remaining units.
---
**In the Streets**
"I need another belt! I'm running out!" a machine gunner shouted, but there was no response. When he turned, he saw his comrades fighting, so he decided to fire his remaining bullets.
"For the Emperor and the Empire!" he yelled as his gun clicked empty. He drew his pistol and combat knife, noticing his squadmates retreating to the sewers while placing mines and charges at their former position.
"Damn you, die!" a soldier hissed as he wrestled with a titan. He had run out of ammunition and hadn't reloaded, but he equipped his bayonet and fought the titan, feeling the difference in strength.
As the fight dragged on, he remembered what they were taught in basic training: "STAND AND FIGHT!!" He willed himself to continue, and some particles of Mana started to cover him, giving him the energy to push forward. After pushing the enemy out, he grabbed his knife, detached it from the rifle, and stabbed the titan repeatedly—throat, chest, lungs—ensuring the enemy couldn't survive.
"Soldiers, retreat to the final line and form a rearguard!" the commanding officers ordered as the soldiers retreated from their positions, lacing them with traps. Some squads were ordered to hold off the enemy.
---
**Alex POV**
As they were 10km away from the city, Alex heard the sound of gunfire and battle cries below. He saw the soldiers firing at a huge horde and turned to the commander.
"Commander, play it. Time to set the mood," Alex ordered. The commander turned to a music player, and soon, the speakers attached to the helicopter and other units started playing what would soon be called the terror to the enemies of the empire: *The Ride of the Valkyries*.
This music was produced by an orchestra that played at the Imperial Military Academy, and the officers immediately fell in love with it. It was used during attacks or defenses, but primarily by the air force in special raids.
Soon, the attack helicopters began changing formation, taking the front while soldiers loaded their guns and aimed them out of the helicopter.
As they approached, the attack helicopters began firing machine guns and missiles, strafing the walls and soldiers outside of the walls.
"For now, concentrate fire outside the walls. We have soldiers inside, and only a few transport helicopters will fire inside," Alex instructed. He then dropped down into the city. As he landed, he caused a small crater, drew his sword, and one of his pistols from its holster.
"AAAAAARRRRRR!" he heard a group of titans charging towards him. He charged headfirst, firing 9 bullets, hitting the titans' legs, heads, chests, and arms. As they got closer, Alex swung his sword, forming an arc and cutting down the bodies caught within.
He kicked one titan in the chest, causing its legs to cave in, and fired his pistol at its head, blowing it up like a watermelon.
He then turned his attention to the remaining 100 titans. Some backed off, and some tried to run away, but Alex increased his speed. To the titans, he disappeared for a moment, and soon they either found their heads on the ground or couldn't feel their lower halves.
Drenched in the blood and sweat of the enemy, Alex began sprinting towards the battlements, where he saw the Draconian soldiers with more vigor and determination, as they saw reinforcements fighting back the enemy.
**BOOM**
Alex summoned fire-element swords around him, which accurately hit the backs of the enemy. Soon, they exploded like a chain reaction. The marshal, seeing the emperor entering the battlefield, shouted for a charge.
"Charge for the Emperor and the Empire!!" he yelled, raising his officer's sword and cutting down the first enemy he saw. He jumped off from the palisades, firing his pistol while the soldiers followed suit.
One soldier, who later became an artist, immortalized this scene in a famous artwork titled *Charge of the Empire*.
---
**Alex POV**
Seeing the battle turning in their favor, Alex immediately communicated with the commander.
"Make sure no one escapes. Kill all enemies, even if they surrender," he ordered through the radio.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the commander replied.
---
**A Few Minutes Later**
Alex's eyes glowed red, and soon a bright red aura formed into a dragon. The dragon immediately left Alex, soared over the battlefield, and breathed crimson flames that matched its eyes.
Soon, the battle became silent as the bodies of both parties lay sprawled outside the city. The men collected the bodies, removing their dog tags. Those who were unrecognizable were still placed in body bags. The soldiers' weapons were counted to ensure none were missing, and luckily, only a dozen combat knives were unaccounted for. Information was sent to Assassin X to recover them, to give them to the soldiers' families as a sign of their will to fight.
Alex saw the rows of body bags; only 100 were already too much for a transport helicopter, so he ordered them to be placed on the boats that had been planned for the escape. Two Chinook helicopters lifted a large boat with half the number of dead soldiers inside, with a few soldiers who had survived to keep them safe for the journey.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for saving my men," the commander bowed deeply to Alex, who patted him on the back.
"You're not the only one trapped, but I heard they sent a unit to save them. Let's go; your men need to reorganize and rest," Alex said. But before any protest could be spoken, he added, "This is a direct order. I have ordered the 4th Legion to be moved off the line, so just rest, my friend. I have plans for awards for you and your soldiers, and you will be joining the final offensive once you're ready," he said. The last part excited the commander, so he left Alex alone and moved to the helicopter.
**To be continued...**
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