The Land of the Rising Sun Transfers to Another World

Chapter 58: Army of Monsters

Writing battle scenes is still tough...

- ワイアード

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The 1st Invasion Army finally crossed into the Kingdom of Nildor and continued advancing with unstoppable momentum. Then the battle began... but their opponents were not human.

"First row gunner!! Ready... AIM!!"

At the NCO's command, soldiers of the Kingdom of Ali-Wamba raised their muskets. Fear was evident on all their faces, for what was approaching them were not humans but monsters. Their hands trembled, making it difficult to aim accurately, and panic began to set in. The maximum range of their muskets was around 150 to 200 meters, but their effective range was only about 70 to 100 meters, meaning they had to let the enemy get close.

"STAY CALM! Just follow your training, and we'll be fine!"

The officer shouted, trying to calm his troops as the mass of lizardmen and cyclopes became visible. The lizardmen carried swords and spears, clad in the Nildorian armor, while cyclopes, donning what appeared to be bronze armor, advanced from the rear.

"Artillery! ...Fire!"

Cannoneers in the back, prepared for action, brought smoldering sticks to the touchholes of the cannons, igniting them with a thunderous roar as flames erupted from the barrels.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Within seconds, explosions burst through the ranks of the monster army, sending lizardmen flying, some torn apart by the blasts. Several shots struck the cyclopes as well, but their bronze armor shielded them from fatal injury, allowing them to press forward. Though many lizardmen had been taken down, the army's relentless advance resembled a tidal wave.

"Shit! Artillery, reload faster! First row... FIRE!"

Once the distance to the enemy closed within 100 meters, the officer gave the command, and the soldiers took aim and pulled their triggers.

BABABABABABABABANG!!

A series of sharp cracks reverberated through the air, and thick smoke billowed up.

Skreee-eeek!

The lizardmen let out shrill cries, collapsing on the spot as bullets pierced their armor or struck unprotected areas, sending sprays of blood.

"Second row, move forward! ...Fire!"

BABABABABABABABANG!!

"Good! Fall back! Reform the line, and when ready, third row, fire!"

With each volley of gunfire, more lizardmen fell, and as the Ali-Wamban soldiers executed their shoot-and-retreat maneuver, they gradually put distance between themselves and the advancing monsters. Confidence began to return to their faces, but—

"...! The cyclopes are pushing to the front!"

As the rain of bullets stalled the lizardmen's advance, the cyclopes muscled their way to the front, wielding massive clubs and spears as they lumbered forward, each step shaking the ground beneath them.

Grrraaaahh!

"Fire!"

The muskets spat fire at the cyclopes, but they continued their advance as if untouched. The lizardmen skillfully used the cyclopes as shields, blocking the bullets and moving forward.

"These things—do they actually have intelligence!?"

"Damn it! It's bad enough they're massive, there's no way to take them down with armor!"