I took a serious look at the Black Forest for the first time.

It was indeed worthy of its name - the trees rose up to nearly a hundred meters, with thick trunks that would require several people to hug. The branches and leaves of the trees grew densely, blocking almost all sunlight from above. The ground was covered with decomposed branches and leaves, and the hooves of horses would cause water to seep out. The stones were covered in dense moss, making it slippery when accidentally stepped on.

The air carried a damp and rotten smell, making it a paradise for microorganisms and decomposers. Apart from winter, sunlight hardly ever shone here. Occasionally, a small patch of sunlight would be seen, which felt as rare and exciting as discovering a new land to me.

Small animals in the forest moved between the branches, curiously observing us as unexpected guests. Due to the lack of sunlight and the early morning hour, the temperature in the Black Forest was bone-chilling. I had considered everything, except for the temperature. I shivered on the horse's back, while the Elves beside me seemed unaffected.

It's only me feeling cold!

I sent out five scouts to find the location of the earth dragons, while our main force continued towards the canyon. With a group of about a hundred people and three horse-drawn carriages behind us, we were pressed for time. The elders had only managed to produce three ballistas and, to make matters worse, they had yet to make arrows. In my desperation, I took all the spears they had prepared initially and cut them into pieces that could fit into the cartridge.

So, the amount of ammunition that could be fired this time was very limited. If it were the traditional single-shot ballistas, it might be enough, but I had added automatic firing mechanisms. It was like taking the ammunition originally intended for a rifle and using it for a machine gun. I estimated that if we fired one full round, we would run out completely. That meant all the remaining earth dragons would have to be killed manually by us.

Our speed of movement was not fast because the carriages were easily overturned on the road covered with branches, decaying leaves, and moss. The undisturbed uphill terrain also significantly affected our progress. However, we had set off just in time. Although the earth dragons showed signs of gathering, they had not started their charge yet. Looking at the map, the canyon should be ahead. We should be able to go around to both sides of the canyon. I raised my hand to signal a stop, and the cavalry and carriages behind me halted.

"Ballistas, move to the right and circle around to the other side of the canyon. And yes, we brought the high priests, good. You two elders, walk slowly. You go to the left and find the narrowest part of the canyon. Keep an eye on both sides of the rocks. If you can't destroy them in one shot, weaken them with a few hits first. Lucia, you come with me."

This time, I brought two priests from the palace, distinguished-looking individuals who seemed older than even the elders. As soon as they heard about the task, they expressed their willingness to come and help me. I should really let those old folks see what responsibility means and why they couldn't become priests. It's because they lack the moral consciousness and dedication.

My strategy was simple: bait and trap. Use a liquid that can attract earth dragons to lure them to the canyon. After all of them entered the canyon, we would explode it, blocking their escape route on this side. On the other side, we would set up the ballistas. Once they were within range, we would shoot them all. For those we couldn't kill, it didn't matter. We would personally go up and kill them with the spears we brought. If we were dispersed, I would dig a trench behind us, lined with spikes. I wouldn't believe any earth dragons could escape then.

I only had a little over a hundred people, but I believed that Elves should be able to make things much simpler, after all, we had magic.

However, the problem lied in who would attract the earth dragons. To ensure safety, I needed the person to get close to the group of dragons and sprinkle the mixture on themselves before running back. It seemed simple in theory but was actually very dangerous. As I mentioned before, earth dragons were faster than horses, and this was a forest with a difficult terrain. The speed of horses would be even lower, making it easy for the earth dragons to catch up and trample them.

My initial idea was to do it in relay, setting up several people along the way, each holding a small bottle instead of directly pouring it onto themselves. But the consequence of doing so would be that each person would get very little liquid, and it might not attract enough earth dragons. Therefore, the perfect method was for one person to attract the group of earth dragons. This person needed to have exceptional equestrian skills or be able to run at a speed greater than the earth dragons.

That's why Lucia volunteered for the task. Lucia was a perfect candidate. With the wind Elf's blessing, she could control the wind direction so that all the earth dragons would smell it. She didn't need a horse. She could move in the forest like a squirrel and, moreover, she could jump on treetops without worrying about being trampled by earth dragons. No matter how we looked at it, Lucia was the most suitable person for the job.But still, I'm not at ease.

If Lucia makes a mistake, it would be disastrous. I can still remember the bodies of my comrades, trampled to death, their faces filled with despair and pain. That was before we had this potion, and now Lucia is the prime target for the Earth Dragons. Any mistake made would result in Lucia's certain death.

So I hesitate, whether to let Lucia go or not. If I don't let Lucia go, I don't have any better options. But I am reluctant to let Lucia go.

The two of us rode our horses to the mountaintop. There were no trees on the top, and as we stood on the rocks, we finally saw the full view of the canyon—a long and narrow one. Although it was long, it was narrow enough to be completely blocked by three ballistae. I believed that even the bodies of Earth Dragons could barely pass through side by side.

However, this was not ideal. When the Earth Dragons in front died, the ones behind would be blocked by their corpses, wasting a large amount of arrows. Moreover, if the Earth Dragons charged towards us, the only ones that could be hit were the corpses of the dragons in front.

In other words, I needed a place where at least four Earth Dragons could walk side by side. Therefore, I needed to see if the middle part of the canyon was wider. It would be like a pocket, narrow at both ends and wider in the middle. Originally, I planned to seal off the exit, but now it seemed that I had to kill all the Earth Dragons in the middle. In the middle, when the Earth Dragons in front died, the ones behind would have space to push their bodies.

After engaging the enemy, we could also split up into small groups to fight against the Earth Dragons or forcefully advance with the Macedonian phalanx. But I felt that the Elves were relatively weak and would be easily broken through by the Macedonian phalanx... But I didn't have a better method, so all I could do was pray that my Imperial Guard soldiers were strong enough to withstand the charge of the Earth Dragons.

Lucia was riding beside me, looking into the distance with her usual expressionless face, as if she hadn't woken up yet. But I knew that her mind was working hard to figure out how to get to this side amidst the group of Earth Dragons. Even though I initially didn't agree with her, she insisted on going on her own.

"Your Highness, the ballistae have been assembled."

A messenger arrived on my right.

"Change the position, push the ballistae here, at the widest part behind."

"Understood."

"I have also found a suitable location for the entrance."

An aged voice resonated through the air. Magic communication was really fast. I nodded. Now, only one final step remained—someone to lure the Earth Dragons.

Lucia pulled on the reins, turning to look at me. She said, "Your Highness, please give me that bottle of potion. I will depart now."

"I think this method is still too dangerous. Lucia, please allow me to think of a better method... like sprinkling the liquid on the ground along the way..."

No, it wouldn't work. The quantity wouldn't be enough. I only had a small bottle, not a big bucket. If I had a big bucket... I estimated that by now, the city wall would have been breached. I furrowed my brows, thinking frantically. If not through human effort, what other method could attract a group of Earth Dragons with this small bottle of liquid?

I'm sorry...

I don't know...

"Urgent report!! The Earth Dragons have started moving! They are currently heading towards the capital city!"

At this moment, the scout I had sent returned, loudly reporting the movements of the Earth Dragons. We had barely finished our setup when something happened, and there was no time left for me to think. Either we could do a relay, where another person would put on the clothes sprinkled with the potion and continue running just before being caught up by the Earth Dragons, or there was only Lucia alone.

As I hesitated, suddenly a gust of wind roared beside me. My horse panicked, neighing loudly and nearly throwing me off its back. Reflexively, I tightly grabbed onto the reins and hunched over the horse's back to avoid being thrown off. And in that moment when I couldn't move, a blurry figure swept past behind me.

My heart sank.

The whirlwind subsided, and there was nothing left on the back of my horse beside me. I reached for my belt and felt the small pouch attached to it. The precious bottle of potion was gone.

Truly, Lucia is unstoppable.

I sighed, silently praying in the distance, hoping that Lucia would come back unharmed.

I rode my horse around the small mountain and entered the canyon below. The three ballistae had been fully assembled and aimed at the entrance. The Elves busied themselves around the ballistae, stuffing the ammunition, which used to be spears and was now arrows, into the magazine. Looking at the pitiful amount of ammunition, I shook my head. If it were five days later, I wouldn't have to bring any Imperial Guards with me. I could simply set up the ballistae on both sides and shoot down the Earth Dragons from a high vantage point. Moreover, with enough ammunition, I could construct an impenetrable firepower net that no one could survive.But now, it seems like we have to confront the ground dragons head-on. We only have enough ammunition in one magazine, and it will probably empty in less than a minute of shooting.

"Take a few people to the exit and dig a deep trench, insert long spears in them, and cover it up."

I ordered again and stood in front of the crossbow cannon. I felt the wooden body of the cannon. This was the first time I had seen the actual thing. The crossbow cannons made by the Elves were passable, but it felt strange for the Elves to use Human-made things. It wasn't easy for the Elves to understand my drawings and actually make them.

"Your Highness, is this enough?" The captain of the royal guards asked as he walked to my side.

I shook my head and said, "I can't guarantee that shooting in unison will completely kill all the ground dragons. I need you to organize yourselves behind the crossbow cannons. It's like this formation: the four people in the front hold the long spears and crouch down, and the second row of people put their guns on their shoulders..."

I crouched down and enthusiastically drew with my fingers on the ground. Look closely, learn well. These are the crystallization of Human battles thousands of years ago, you know? Do you know how invincible the things I'm telling you right now were back then? You Elves, you are still so unimaginative...

"So, are we forming a phalanx with the long spears?" The captain of the royal guards interrupted my enthusiastic teaching and asked. He crouched down too and perfectly completed the remaining parts on the incomplete drawing...

"Ah... yes..." I stared at him in astonishment. He looked at me helplessly, as if he was a tutor teaching arithmetic to a primary school student who was a math Olympics champion... I initially thought he was an idiot, but now it seems that I was the idiot...

Damn it! This is so embarrassing...

I forgot, the technology here is not the same as the technology of Alexander the Great. The tactical formations back then were definitely known by the Elves, and I was treating the Elves as idiots... The Macedonian phalanx is not a particularly difficult tactic, as long as coordination is good. The Elves should have invented this formation long ago.

"Understood."

The captain went to arrange the formation. This time, the royal guards brought four-meter-long spears and treated the group of ground dragons as cavalry charges. What I am worried about now is whether the soldiers in the front can withstand the impact of the ground dragons. Even though the royal guards are formidable, they are still Elves, and Elves are much more delicate than Humans. I don't know if they will be thrown into disarray by the charging ground dragons.

The final trench has also been dug, and all the personnel are ready. The scouts have returned one after another, great. Now it's up to Lucia. I am not by Lucia's side, and at this time, there are no walkie-talkies or telephones. I have no idea about Lucia's situation, whether she has found the enemy, whether she is injured, whether she is scared, I don't know.

Lucia has always had a carefree attitude, no matter what she is asked to do, it's all the same. Even if she was asked to sacrifice herself, I guess Lucia would face it calmly without any complaints. Is this love or loyalty? Or maybe it's the combination of the two that gives her unparalleled courage?

The long spears stood erect one by one, and a makeshift Macedonian phalanx was formed. The royal guards stood in tight formation, waiting for the arrival of the group of ground dragons. There was no fear in their eyes, perhaps because they were experienced in battle or full of confidence in victory. They remained silent, like blocks of rocks, waiting for the moment when they would make an earth-shattering breakthrough.

The leisure in the air and the scent of the forest were replaced by the smell of metal and oil, filled with tension and the silence before the battle. Everyone was silent, watching the enemy approach. There was no sound in the entire gorge, only an overwhelming feeling of tension. I looked at my soldiers and raised my right hand.

"Everyone, get ready. Don't shoot until the ground dragons are within range!"

"Understood!"

The war against these rampant beasts finally reached its climax.