C22 Defensive Tower

The Mechanical Legion fought a strategic retreat, pulling back to the very edge of the Dawn Territory's protective barrier. There, they harnessed the barrier's protection to form a semicircular defensive formation.

The Defender Combat Robots maintained their Energy Shields at the forefront, safeguarding the other Combat Robots positioned behind them.

A force of nearly a hundred Giant Iron Men burst forth from within the territory, breaking through the Defender's Energy Shield to establish a new defensive line 20 meters ahead.

This was their final stand. After a series of fierce clashes, the numbers of the Wild Beasts and Wang Changqing's Mechanical Legion had dwindled from over a hundred thousand to just sixty or seventy thousand. The Wild Beasts' will to fight, their physical stamina, and their internal energy reserves had significantly diminished.

Had it not been for the Level-10 Centaur Leader bolstering their ranks from the rear, Wang Changqing estimated that the Wild Beasts would have already retreated.

The brutal battle raged on. From the initial to the final defensive position, the ground was littered with the carcasses of some fifty thousand wild creatures. The once verdant grasslands were now stained crimson with their blood.

This long trail of blood was transformed into a vast pool of experience points and Soul Crystals, which pleasingly augmented the figures on Wang Changqing's personal panel.

The experience needed to reach Level-10 was immense, hinting at the formidable nature of the high-ranking Lords of the Initial Continent. Only the most ruthless among them could claim the title of Lord, ruling from thrones built upon the bones of the fallen.

Those without the necessary ruthlessness would have long since joined the skeletal remains beneath the thrones of other Lords.

The proximity of the final defensive line to the Dawn Territory meant ammunition could be readily supplied, allowing the Mechanical Legion to unleash their firepower without concern for running low on munitions.

A Mechanical Legion at full firepower was a sight to behold, significantly slowing the advance of the Wild Beasts. The Level-10 Centaur Leader, overseeing the battle from behind the beasts, grew increasingly impatient with each successive engagement.

With a thunderous "Roar!" that echoed across the battlefield, the Centaur Leader's bellow sent tremors of fear through the ranks of the Wild Beasts, their own roars diminishing in intensity.

It was clear that the Wild Beasts harbored an extreme fear of the Level-10 Centaur Leader, a fear that surpassed even their dread of death itself.

The Wild Beasts picked up speed once more, yet the toll in casualties rose in tandem. Wang Changqing welcomed this development with open arms, as he had an array of "little gifts" in store for the Wild Beasts to sample.

As the Wild Beasts closed in to within 500 meters of the Dawn Territory, the 35 towers shrouded in black cloth at the edge of the Azure Territory were unveiled by the engineering robots stationed nearby, exposing their menacing aspect.

Standing 25 meters tall and covering about five square meters each, these steel structures would appear unremarkable if one were to overlook the twin six-barrel Vulcan Machine Cannons mounted on top, capable of unleashing 1200 rounds per minute. With the addition of these formidable weapons, the towers transformed into disciples of the Grim Reaper.

The fearsome rate of fire, coupled with the towers' ample ammunition reserves, turned the defensive towers into veritable harvesters of life.

When the 35 defensive towers and their 70 twin six-barrel Vulcan Machine Cannons opened fire simultaneously, swathes of the Wild Beasts were reduced to a bloody pulp in an instant.

The relentless barrage from the towers caused the Wild Beasts' advance to falter and then reverse.

The Level 10 Centaur Leader, previously unflappable at the rear, could no longer contain his composure. He conjured a green Energy Shield and led a charge with over a hundred Level 9 Centaurs, all cloaked in their own shimmering Energy Shields.

This Centaur contingent quickly breached the front lines of the beast horde, braving the onslaught of the Mechanical Legion and the defensive towers.

The Giant Iron Man, once the vanguard of the Mechanical Legion, beat a hasty retreat upon receiving Wang Changqing's command, dashing back under the protective embrace of the Dawn Territory's shield.

The Level 10 Centaur Leader's Energy Shield proved to be exceptionally resilient, weathering the metallic tempest as it bore down on the Defenders' energy barrier.

At that critical juncture, a mere 50 Level-8 and 170 Level-7 Combat Robots remained, their combined Energy Shield far from formidable. After enduring several volleys from the Centaurs, it shattered. With the Defenders' Energy Shield in ruins, the remaining Combat Robots swiftly withdrew to the Dawn Territory, while the Defenders themselves lunged at the Centaurs, detonating in rapid succession.

The self-destruction of the Defenders barely slowed the Centaurs down. They quickly regrouped and launched another assault. The energy shield surrounding the front-line level 9 Centaurs was visibly struggling to hold up.

Yet, in their minds, shattering the azure barrier before them would allow them to easily crush the steel puppets that only dared to fire from a distance.

After the loss of over ten level 9 Centaurs and more than twenty level 9 leaders from various wild tribes, the beast horde finally reached the protective shield of the Dawn Territory, led by a level 10 Centaur Leader.

The wild creatures, with the level 10 Centaur Leader at the forefront, threw themselves into a frenzied attack on the protective barrier.

They foolishly believed that the blue energy shield before them would shatter just like the previous ones had, crumbling after withstanding a barrage of attacks.

But their naivety was their downfall. The earlier shields had been conjured by level 7 and 8 Defender robots, whereas this blue energy shield was a manifestation of the world's 'rules.' Breaking it was beyond the capabilities of even the mightiest level 10 creatures.

This was precisely why Wang Changqing had been willing to sacrifice all of the Defender Combat Robots to set up this counteroffensive. He aimed to exploit the limited intelligence of these wild creatures, tricking them into a futile sacrifice.

Tens of thousands of wild creatures relentlessly bombarded the territory's protective barrier.

"Rafe, it's time to detonate," Wang Changqing commanded with excitement, as he watched the majority of the wild creatures cluster in the open space before the territory.

"Yes, Master," Rafe, the Mechanical Butler, responded.

"Hold on, Rafe, broadcast the upcoming scene to every resident's home."

"Right away, Master!"

The citizens of the Dawn Territory were about to experience the most dramatic turn of events in their lives.

Wang Changqing had previously instructed Moo Niu to have all residents return to their homes. Though they were in the dark about Wang Changqing's plans, they complied and retreated to their new abodes.

The territory's protective barrier kept the wild creatures at bay, but their thunderous roars penetrated the homes of the residents, sending shivers down the spines of the Dawn Territory's people. Some were ready to grab their weapons and take to the streets, but Wang Changqing's orders echoed in their minds, urging restraint.

"Regardless of what you see or hear, do not leave your homes. As your Lord, I pledge my life to ensure your safety. If you trust in me, heed my command and remain indoors!"