CHAPTER 423: CHAPTER 360 NINE-HEADED DRAGON RESEARCH INSTITUTE_1

The Eternal Domain’s air force, after sustaining significant sacrifices, finally forced the advancing dirigibles to fall back. The aerial forces of both sides gradually disengaged. However, the air force of the Wildwind Principality did not retreat completely, as the ground battle was still ongoing.

A stretch of trenches, caught in a cycle of capture and recapture, had been repeatedly bombarded by Magic and heavy artillery, losing its original appearance. Both armies came up with various methods to drive the opponent out of this area. Firearms and Charged Magic Wands, two entirely new types of weapons, were employed at ranges of tens of meters, or even just a few meters. The narrow trenches were filled with the bodies of soldiers from both sides.

The fierce battle persisted into the night. Ultimately, the forces of the Eternal Domain failed to completely drive out the soldiers of the Wildwind Principality, nor did the Wildwind Principality manage to expand its occupied territory.

When darkness enveloped the battlefield, the fighting finally began to subside. In the tranquil expanse, spotlights and Illumination Magic were intermittently launched into the sky. An occasional gunshot or flash of light would claim an unlucky soul’s life. Soldiers lay in the trenches, almost able to hear the enemy’s voices.

Faced with this stalemate, the Eternal Domain’s generals were unsure how to proceed. Letting the frontline soldiers withdraw in batches for rest risked an enemy night raid. Yet, if they didn’t withdraw them... the late winter and early spring nights were cold, and daring not to light fires for warmth on the front lines, they feared the soldiers wouldn’t endure the chill.

Yan Xing continued to preside over the post-battle meeting at Outpost Fort.

Facing this situation, Yan Xing said, "Have logistics send a batch of blankets to the front line. It’s tough for our men at night, but it’s even tougher for the enemy. At least we have dugouts where our soldiers can take turns resting, and we can send them food and drink. The enemy probably can’t even get anything hot to eat. It hasn’t been long since our good days started; surely we haven’t forgotten how to endure hardship so quickly. As for guarding against enemy night raids... instead of waiting for them to attack us, we should organize small night raid units and make *them* guard against *us*. All units, gather the night-vision equipment issued to you and organize night raid squads to harass the enemy forces. Also, make proper arrangements for the frontline soldiers’ rest and prepare for prolonged trench warfare..."

At that moment, Yan Xing lit a cigarette. He focused his mind, re-evaluating the decisions he had made.

The day’s battles... The Duchy’s Army’s attacks had been aggressive—brave, but not ruthless. Especially after their dirigibles were forced to retreat, their drive to capture more trenches had noticeably diminished. They seemed satisfied with the ground they had gained. He didn’t know what Anderson’s next move would be, but political interests still guided the war. Anderson would definitely not stake all his assets on winning a battle for Cloud Tower; he wouldn’t go all-in on a single fight. In the three battles fought so far, it was apparent Anderson had no intention of fighting to the bitter end. He essentially cut his losses promptly when a battle turned unfavorable. As a naturally talented and powerful commander, Anderson could surely see that the Outpost Fort defensive line wasn’t something he could easily breach; trench warfare was a meat grinder, constantly fed by soldiers from both sides. The Wildwind Principality, with its limited population, couldn’t sustain such attrition tactics against the Thunderous Swamp. Unable to secure a decisive victory quickly, Anderson would likely opt for a strategy of high-intensity standoffs and low-intensity combat. He might try to break the stalemate elsewhere. At the same time, he could use this situation to pressure Cloud Tower for more benefits. Isn’t that what he used to do in the Wildwind Highlands? Only this time, the sucker was different.

Therefore, Yan Xing concluded that this trench warfare would likely be protracted. Prolonged, intense combat might be manageable for the original Wildwind Highlands Legion, but it was a significant test for the Eternal Domain’s newly formed army. Over time, soldiers could become numb and complacent, fostering war-weariness, which could create an opening for Anderson. He left the task of maintaining the army’s combat effectiveness to the frontline commanders.

After presiding over the post-battle meeting, Yan Xing returned to the Eternal Domain. Then he boarded a cargo plane bound for Heize City.

He lay on a camp bed in the cargo hold, surrounded by neatly stacked wooden crates. The discovery of the Nine-Headed Dragon was extremely important for the Eternal Domain. To keep pace with the research, large quantities of supplies were dispatched daily to Heize City from the Eternal Domain. An elite military force had already been deployed to reinforce the defenses of Heize City.

Yan Xing closed his eyes, trying to rest on the aircraft, but he was still communicating with Chui Chui in his consciousness. By this time, Chui Chui had already collected many legends from the Swamp Tribe about the Nine-Headed Dragon. After discarding some exaggerations and later artistic embellishments, and drawing from the scenes witnessed in the cave, they had also pieced together some stories that might relate to the truth.

The time of the Nine-Headed Dragon’s appearance was impossible to determine. There was no direct evidence to confirm or deny whether it was a guardian of the Swamp Tribe.

The story goes that one day, on a stormy, rain-swept night filled with thunder, the Nine-Headed Dragon emerged from the mire at the bottom of a swamp. It had no wings and could not fly like the Giant Dragons, but it possessed a robust physique, and the venom it spat could corrupt all things. Moreover, each of its nine heads mastered a different kind of Magic.

One day, the gods summoned all the ultimate creatures, requiring these most powerful species to each choose one of the intelligent races created by the gods in the mortal world—to teach them and to protect them.