Chapter 383: Chapter 334: Grand Military Parade_2
Werewolf Warriors, due to their great strength, carried an abundance of equipment. Bulletproof Shields could be used to temporarily construct cover, firefighting axes were used in close combat, and Sparrow Hunting Rifles allowed them to engage in ranged attacks alongside Werewolf marksmen. Given the complex and ever-changing nature of magic wars, Yan Xing had always maintained a considerable number of Werewolf Warriors in the Eternal Domain’s forces as ballast on the battlefield. After demonstrating a set of shield combination defense and offensive tactics, the Werewolf Warriors promptly passed by the reviewing stand.
They were closely followed by the Werewolf Raiders. Riding the unique Chocobos of the Eternal Domain, Werewolf Raiders were equipped with a Heavy Cavalry Saber and a Sparrow Hunting Lance. There were still many gaps in the Eternal Domain’s industry, making it impossible to produce combat-ready tanks at the moment. Therefore, the Werewolf Raiders served as the primary mobility force of the Eternal Domain’s army. If Chui Chui’s development of Chocobo armor went smoothly, this Cavalry could advance even further. The Werewolf Raiders quickly exited the scene.
What followed was a large convoy of trucks. Inside the trucks stood human soldiers, pulling smoothbore cannons and rocket launchers behind them. In the recent war at Heize City, smoothbore cannons saw their final battle. Apart from a portion that would remain temporarily as heavy firepower for city defense in Frostleaf City, the majority of the smoothbore cannons were to be sent back to the smelter. The rocket launchers shone brightly in this conflict. Long range, fierce firepower, easy operation... They were tailor-made for dealing with large enemy clusters, raining down punishment. Yan Xing had already approved mass production of rocket launchers. However, rocket production severely limited the use of this weapon. Firing hundreds or thousands of rockets in one go was thrilling, but the Eternal Domain’s weapon production capacity could not sustain such consumption.
The industrial base is still weak. Yan Xing thought. When I manage to secure more funds, I’ll still need to purchase more machine tools from the real world.
Yan Xing, looking fondly at the treasures he had accumulated these days, found his thoughts drifting elsewhere. He was completely unaware of the eerie silence blanketing the entire venue.
Perhaps most Swamp Tribe Clan Leaders were still unaware of the power of these firearms, but they could tell that all were Alchemical Weapons. Using Alchemy to generate pressure to shoot bullets or shells. This... what a waste!
The Swamp Tribe Clan Leaders had known that Alchemy was highly developed in the Eternal Domain, with alchemical equipment visible everywhere in the territory. But they had not foreseen that the Eternal Domain would use Alchemy to create such powerful weapons and distribute them to every soldier.After the display units had passed, the main force of the Eternal Domain formally paraded in tight formations. At a rough estimate, their number was in the tens of thousands. All armed with Alchemical Weapons. Such a grand scale of deployment was astonishing.
The Heize Werewolves lost, and it’s no wonder. Most of the Swamp Tribe Clan Leaders, like Ironhead, had assumed that the Southern Camp Militia under Duan’er’s command were the main forces of the Eternal Domain. Now they had finally seen the real military might of the Eternal Domain. Who in the swamp could withstand such an army armed with Alchemical Weapons?
The main force of the Eternal Domain’s army marched silently past the quiet reviewing stand, heading toward Eternal City. Following them were the Heize Werewolf prisoners. Escorted by Werewolf Raiders on either side of the road, nearly 40,000 disheartened Heize Werewolves paraded before the eyes of the Swamp Tribe Clan Leaders. It was as if to tell these leaders: Those who dare to defy Lord Yan Xing will meet this fate. As the saying goes, "Once people exceed ten thousand, they appear boundless and limitless." The procession of Heize Werewolf prisoners took a long time to finally cross the central square, being escorted toward Eternal City.
Then came the flyover of the Eternal Territory Air Force. The Gryphon Knights of the Eternal Domain formed four V-formations, flying over the central square along Thunderous Boulevard. Following them were the Elf Pegasus Knights, who had also participated in the battle at Heize City, arranged in two V-formations right behind the Griffons.
Lastly, just when everyone thought the military parade was over, a tremendous, continuous roar came from the northern sky. The Swamp Tribe Clan Leaders all lifted their heads to see what was making such a loud growling noise. But the high walls of the Lord’s Mansion on the edge of the square blocked the Clan Leaders’ view. The roaring grew louder and louder. It seemed as though an extremely powerful flying magical beast was approaching. The Clan Leaders looked towards Yan Xing on the main platform with terror. They found him still sitting there, calm and composed.
Suddenly, a gigantic figure shrouded the sky above the square. Seeing the Beak Eagle Transport Planes skim past at an ultra-low altitude, most of the Swamp Tribe Clan Leaders immediately cast defense magic, while some of the more timid even tumbled off the viewing platform. The scene descended into chaos.
The voice of the on-site commentator came from the speakers all around.
"Respected Clan Leaders,
"The objects now passing over the central square are the Beak Eagle Transport Planes from the Eternal Territory Air Force.
"The Beak Eagle is an aerial platform self-designed and manufactured by the Eternal Territory, with a maximum payload of 6.9 tons and a maximum flight distance of 3,600 kilometers when fully loaded.
"Depending on functional needs, Beak Eagles can be modified into civilian airliners, bombers, and air combat command centers.
"In the battle to exterminate the Heize Werewolf rebels, the Beak Eagles perfectly accomplished the tasks of airlifting and bombing the enemy, playing a crucial role in the victory.
"I believe future models of the Beak Eagle will definitely become the backbone for defending the Thunderous Swamp’s airspace and will surely make the connection between the Thunderous Swamp and the outside world even more convenient.
"..."
Following the commentator’s briefing, one Beak Eagle after another flew over the central square. That sense of awe made the Swamp Tribe Clan Leaders remain in a daze for a long time, even after the commentator announced the end of the military parade. Some Clan Leaders who had fallen to the ground never stood back up. The passage of tens of thousands of the Eternal Domain’s main forces did not have as strong a deterrent effect as these few Beak Eagles.
When Yan Xing stood up and announced that the first Thunderous Swamp All-Clan Leaders Assembly was officially open, he asked the Clan Leaders to go to the conference hall. Whether they were Werewolf Clan Leaders or Lizardman Clan Leaders, they entered the conference hall opposite the Lord’s Mansion one by one, as if on a pilgrimage, with their tails between their legs.
In Yan Xing’s plans for the future territory, Frostleaf City would be the political center of the Thunderous Swamp, where the Swamp Council would be established to deal exclusively with the internal affairs of the Swamp Tribe. As for Yan Xing’s vision for the ideal territory of the Eternal Domain, it encompassed the entire Wildwind Highlands. This area was the strategic intersection of the Human, Beastfolk, and Elf races—three dominant mainstream races—making it of high strategic importance. The terrain of the Wildwind Highlands was easy to defend yet difficult to attack. As long as one controlled Storm City, Highland City, and Frostleaf City, the Wildwind Highlands could be an independent kingdom. Regarding transportation issues: Modern road-building technology, the Eternal Domain’s future vehicle manufacturing technology, an air traffic network, and potential future maritime transport could all guarantee smooth communication and exchange between the Wildwind Highlands and the outside world.
To realize his territorial goals, Yan Xing first needed to deal with Marquis Anderson, who was supported by Cloud Tower. To strategically win the war against Marquis Anderson, and future wars as well, the Eternal Domain needed to tap into all the potential of the Thunderous Swamp. War was not just a competition of technology and weapons; it was also a contest of population. The Eternal Domain’s current number of subjects seemed large, but in truth, it was not enough to fill the battlefields. The current total population of Werewolves and Lizardmen in the Thunderous Swamp was about one million. This was not much compared to the larger races, but it held an absolute advantage in the Wildwind Highlands. Previously, the scattered strength of the Swamp Tribe meant they could only cower in the swamp. Yan Xing had convened this all-Clan Leader assembly of the Thunderous Swamp to coalesce this strength and form the foundation to counter all external threats.
The conference hall of Frostleaf City was a circular, stepped arena with ordinary Clan Leader seats on the surrounding stairs. In the center, there were two ring-shaped conference tables. The outer circle had twenty-eight legislative seats, while the inner circle contained six seats for permanent members. In the northernmost part of the legislative area was a raised platform, on which sat the seat of the sole governing official of the Thunderous Swamp.
Yan Xing sat in the seat of the sole governor. He had self-appointed himself to the position before the military parade began. At that time, no one had raised any objection, and now, even fewer would dare to. After settling into his seat, Yan Xing looked around the platforms. Over a thousand Clan Leaders packed the hall to its full capacity. Then Yan Xing began to call out names. The Clan Leaders whose names were called took their places in the legislative seats. Of the twenty-eight legislators, fourteen were Werewolves and fourteen were Lizardmen. Those Clan Leaders who had been close to the Eternal Domain from the beginning became members of the first Thunderous Swamp Council.
Next were the six permanent members: Olaf, Duan’er, Li Zhua, Red Eye, Green Tail, and Long Jaw.