Empire Of Ash

Chapter 38: The Vardovian Offensive

Dawn broke over the snow-covered plains outside of Novograd, casting long shadows over the smoldering wreckage of the previous day's battle. Despite their losses, Vardovian forces had managed to hold the line, pushing Veldar back for the first time since the invasion began. The air was thick with tension as the Vardovians prepared to launch their next offensive.

General Anatoly Sokolov, commander of the Vardovian army, stood atop a ridge overlooking the battlefield. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene below. The Veldar war machine was still a formidable force, but the Vardovians had managed to exploit a critical weakness—the enemy's overreliance on its advanced technology. Veldar's tanks, the feared Königslöwes, were powerful but slow, and their infantry, though well-trained, could be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

Sokolov had spent the night planning the next phase of the counteroffensive. His strategy was simple but bold: push Veldar's forces back even further, reclaim lost ground, and force the invaders to retreat beyond Vardovian borders. The general knew this would be no easy task, but he was confident in the resilience of his soldiers.

"Comrades," Sokolov addressed his officers as they gathered around the battle map. "Yesterday, we proved that Vardovia can still stand against the might of Veldar. Today, we will push them back even further. Our enemy is overconfident, and their machines, while powerful, are not invincible. We will strike where they are weakest—on the flanks. Our infantry will overwhelm them, and our artillery will pound their positions into dust. This is our moment."

The officers nodded in agreement, though the weight of the task ahead was evident in their expressions. They had all seen the destruction wrought by the Königslöwes, the flamethrowers, and the relentless Veldar infantry. But they also knew that Vardovia had one advantage that Veldar did not: the indomitable spirit of its people.

---

On the battlefield, hours later

The Vardovian forces moved with precision, using the cover of the dense forest and snow to conceal their movements. Millions of infantry soldiers, supported by artillery and limited tank divisions, advanced on the Veldar positions. The sound of distant explosions echoed across the landscape as Vardovian artillery opened fire, targeting Veldar's supply lines and defensive positions.

At the forefront of the offensive was Lieutenant Dmitry Kuznetsov, whose unit had played a critical role in the previous day's counterattack. His men, though exhausted, were eager to press the advantage.

"Stay low and move fast," Kuznetsov instructed his soldiers as they approached the frontlines. "We're going to hit them hard and fast. Remember, we're fighting for our homes, our families. Veldar thinks they can crush us with their machines, but they're wrong."

The Vardovian infantry advanced quickly, using the cover of the terrain to close the distance between them and the Veldar lines. The Königslöwes, though powerful, were vulnerable to this kind of guerrilla-style warfare. Vardovian anti-tank units, armed with explosives and anti-armor rifles, targeted the treads and weak points of the massive tanks, slowing their advance.

Suddenly, the crack of gunfire filled the air as the Vardovians clashed with Veldar infantry. The battle quickly devolved into chaotic, close-quarters combat, with both sides fighting tooth and nail for every inch of ground. Vardovian soldiers, fueled by the desire to reclaim their homeland, fought with a ferocity that caught the Veldar forces off guard.

Behind the Vardovian infantry, artillery batteries unleashed a relentless barrage on Veldar's defensive positions. The explosions shook the ground, and thick plumes of smoke rose into the sky as Veldar fortifications crumbled under the onslaught. The Königslöwes, while formidable, struggled to maintain their positions under such intense fire.