Chapter 57: Seeking Follow-up Reads! Whole Army Deployed!
At two in the afternoon, when the Sun was at its most scorching, coupled with it being summer, the Tutmos Kingdom, being a desert land, had temperatures reaching their peak across the entire Zone.
The overly brilliant Sunlight shone upon the boundless Great Sea outside, allowing one to clearly see a faint layer of mist rising. It was evaporating, and also distorting the light on the Sea Surface.
Just then.
On the distant horizon, Blue Warships bristling with Cannons appeared, flying Seagull White Sails. With the four largest Warships leading the charge, over twenty Warships spread out, almost covering the entire Sea Surface. They were like Sea Beasts in the water, riding the wind and waves, charging forward.
"The Marines are here!!"
On an Island in a Golden Sand Sea, the Slave Guards, hidden in cool Tunnels, picked up their Firearms and ran into the Trenches upon hearing the Whole Army announcement, staring intently at the rapidly approaching Marine Warships.
No one retreated, because they knew there was no path back. The Green Collar around their Neck would not allow them to take a single step back before receiving the Order to retreat.
But it wasn't without its benefits; at least it allowed them to unleash one hundred percent of their Strength!
"This is going to be a bit tough to fight."
Rear Admiral Aven felt a bit speechless looking at the golden World where all he could see was Sand Sea. Although he could sense the Aura of many people as his Observation Haki extended, he could see basically nothing with his naked eyes.
In this Situation, how were their Warships supposed to bombard?
Meanwhile, the massive Fleet began to split up according to the original plan. Apart from leaving the Headquarters Warship he was on and three Branch-Grade Small Warships from the 194th Branch at the front, the other Warships, configured with one Headquarters Warship plus five Branch Warships each, sailed towards the other three directions of the Tutmos Kingdom.
Their objective this time was to capture King Taklamakan, thoroughly investigate all his Influence, and rescue all captured Slaves. Naturally, a full encirclement was necessary.
"Go get a piece of Paper!"
Rear Admiral Aven instructed a Marine Soldier behind him. After the latter brought Paper and Pen, he quickly recorded the Troop Strength deployment on the Island that he had sensed.
However, the Range of his Observation Haki couldn't cover the entire Island, so he only knew the general Situation of the coastal Defense Line at the front.
This was enough.
"Have them conduct the Bombardment and Troop deployment according to this map!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Marine Soldier took the Paper handed to him by Rear Admiral Aven and quickly ran into the cabin to relay the Order. The latter looked up at the Scorching Sun still emitting infinite heat and light, remaining silent.
The War had begun.
[Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!]
Fifteen minutes later, one Headquarters-Grade Large Warship and three Branch-Grade Small Warships were in position, turning their Broadside towards the Golden Sand Sea on the Island.
The Triple-Barreled Anti-Aircraft Turret at the bow of the former had finished turning, coordinating with the Triple-Barreled Anti-Aircraft Turrets on the Broadside, plus twelve Large-Caliber Cannons and the eighteen Medium-Caliber Cannons on the Branch Warships.
A total of thirty-six Cannons of various Calibers launched a fierce barrage of Bombardment towards the Slave Guard Legion's coastal Defense Line!
In an instant.
Cannon Fire roared, smoke billowed, Gunfire Flash soared into the sky, and dark Cannonballs filled with High Explosive traced bright arcs in the High Altitude, forming an extremely shocking Firepower coverage over the Sand Sea!
The Trenches hidden beneath the Sand Layer on the Island were repeatedly hit by explosions, sending countless Sand flying. Some unlucky individuals were swallowed by Balls of Fire or instantly killed by the shock in their terror.
Fortunately, most people managed to hide back in the Tunnels in time, so casualties were not high. However, the problem was that their Cannons had Range issues and could not effectively counterattack at all.
The Range difference between Ship Cannons and ordinary Cannons was like heaven and earth. Therefore, the Slave Guard Legion could only grit their teeth and endure the continuous Bombardment from the Marines.
The Marines on their side didn't actually think the Bombardment had much effect; the main purpose was actually Fire Support.
To cover the main Troops landing on the beach!
Rows of Small Wooden Boats, carrying teams of Marine Soldiers armed with Firearms and carrying Long Sabers on their backs, took advantage of their Fleet's Firepower suppression and rushed towards the Island at maximum Speed.
But as they closed the distance to the beach, they were met with Cannon Fire from the Slave Guard Legion and layers of Bullet Rain flying towards them.
These Marine Soldiers, some from Headquarters and some from the 194th Branch, had to push forward despite the danger.
Truthfully, this would cause huge casualties, but it was an unavoidable process, and also the path to promotion for all Marine Soldiers.
Back in the day, Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, and even Vice Admiral Tsuru, which one of them didn't fight their way through like this, holding Guns, wielding Blades, enduring Cannonballs overhead and Bullets beside them?
As long as they survived the Battlefield, their Military Rank would be promoted, they would gain Military Merit, and they would have the opportunity to access more advanced Swordsmanship, Martial Arts, or even exchange for Devil Fruit!
Therefore, this War was also an opportunity for many people.
Meanwhile, on the Slave Guard Legion's side, because they needed to block the Marines' landing approach, they had to come out of the Tunnels and return to the Trenches.
This meant facing the Cannon Fire bombardment from the four Warships at sea. With Rear Admiral Aven, the human radar, the Firepower coverage could be said to be quite precise.
For a time, whether it was the Marines or the Slave Guards, the casualty rate began to increase rapidly.
Despite this, from a High Altitude view, it was clear that as more and more Marines stepped onto the beach, the distance between the two sides was closing at a visible Speed.
Most of these were Marine Soldiers from Marine Headquarters. The high-intensity training and rich Combat Experience they had undergone were fully displayed upon landing.
Two thousand Push-ups daily, one hundred round trips climbing High Altitude Ropes, two hundred laps around a large Training Ground, and Combat Training that required fighting until complete exhaustion and collapse.
It could be said that every Marine Soldier from Marine Headquarters, if placed in Im's Previous Life, would be an Expert capable of killing tigers and bears, with a Physique that was truly Superman-like.
In comparison, the Marine Soldiers from the 194th Branch were too far behind; most of the people who were shot dead were them.
The entire coastline of the Tutmos Kingdom, from the southeast to the northwest, had now completely turned into the most tragic and brutal Battlefield.
But strangely, the figure of the Commander, Dragon, had not been seen yet, nor was there any sign of his Flagship.
In fact, King Taklamakan, seated on the Golden Throne inside the Pyramid, was also feeling puzzled by this.
He looked at the real-time Combat Situation Screen Feeds projected by several Visual Den Den Mushi in the Main Hall, but he didn't see a single Marine Officer wearing a Coat of Justice. All he saw were figures in White Shirts and Blue Trousers, with occasional figures wearing Marine Vests, but those were at most Junior Officers.
One must know that to guard against these Experts from Marine Headquarters, he had also prepared a batch of Elite troops and sent them to various Defense Lines, but now he couldn't see a single 'Coat'!
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty—"
Just then, a High-Ranking Official ran in desperately, then fell with a thud onto the cold Stone Slab. Even so, he didn't care, shouting breathlessly.
"This is bad, Your Majesty, Shabak above us is being bombarded by the Marines!"
"Nonsense!"
King Taklamakan stood up angrily, looking down at the other party coldly. "We are in the interior of the Sand Island; the Warships' Range, no matter how far, cannot reach here."
"But the Warships are coming from the sky! They are bombarding us from the sky!"
"What?!"
King Taklamakan suddenly raised his head. Although his naked eyes only saw the flat ceiling, his Observation Haki was silently and rapidly sensing upwards.
At the same time, just as the Official said, a Headquarters-Grade Large Warship, surrounded by a Green Whirlwind, was floating in the High Altitude, its two Broadside Cannons firing with full Firepower towards Shabak below.
Dragon stood tall at the top of the Mast, his Coat of Justice flapping in the Gale behind him.
"Whole Army, advance!"
With his Order, a large number of Marine Officers, who had long been poised on the Deck, flew out like fierce White Eagles, scattering like celestial maidens and charging down towards the Sand City from all directions.
"Kill!!!"