This level of firepower fully demonstrated the foundation the Swarm had built up during its period of dormancy, especially with a massive number of unicycles still being sent to the front lines from the rear.
A massive batch of 50,000 unicycles had just been transported by Carrier Bugs to a shore near the front lines.
Because unicycles were inexpensive—requiring only simple steel tubes and wood, producible even in home workshops—their production volume was incredibly high.
As for rocket bugs, the Swarm, having optimized its gene pool, could now differentiate them directly from certain organs within the Hive without consuming larvae.
After the encirclement battle at the Dawn Empire's northern border concluded, a massive defensive vacuum opened up.
The Empire's main legions to the south totaled less than a million men, nowhere near enough to maintain the entire defense line. Meanwhile, the Swarm deployed brood lords to the front, adding nearly a million broodlings in a single day. Combined with human legions, locusts, and the main Zerg forces, the scale of the frontline army reached a staggering 7.5 million.
Such a massive army simply steamrolled across the entire front.
More and more modified roaches were being completed and sent to the front to target the Empire's armored units.
Several naval shipyards were also destroyed by the Swarm. Countless aerial units blockaded the entire sea. After multiple large-scale battles between the Zerg fleets and the Imperial Navy, the Dawn Empire, having lost over 1,300 combat vessels (including escort ships), essentially lost control of the seas.
Subsequently, the Swarm ceased naval production and used its remaining maritime forces to transport the main army to the East Continent in large numbers.
In the ocean, on several islands numbered by the Empire but devoid of life, the Swarm discovered plants capable of being converted into high-energy crystals and began large-scale cultivation.
Five days later, the main Zerg force invaded the Dawn Empire's Capital Province.
A massive campaign—the largest ever seen on this planet—erupted around the capital and its surrounding 300-kilometer radius, involving over 22 million Imperial troops (including 12 million conscripts and 2 million reservists) and 10 million Zerg.
The Empire brought out its ultimate weapon stockpiles. Throughout the night, the sky for hundreds of kilometers remained as bright as day, the light of artillery fire streaking across the heavens without a moment's pause. Scenes of carnage were everywhere. The Swarm's rocket launch vehicles and unicycles were all deployed; after a single night, tens of thousands of launch tubes were rendered useless, even with magical cooling.
...
“Logistics can't keep up.”
Standing eleven kilometers from the front lines, a human general whose ears were ringing from the noise informed the cute elf bug before him of the situation.
“Yes, the demands are quite high. You stayed up all night without sleep, didn't you?”
The elf bug glanced at the document in its hand and asked casually.
These words sounded like genuine concern, causing the young general to feel an inexplicable surge of excitement.
“It's not a big deal. I've never felt this exhilarated.”
The Zerg had actually issued an order to fire at will with an unlimited supply of ammunition.
All night long, both sides unleashed their firepower in a frenzy. This battle, where the one with less firepower would suffer, truly made the Dawn Empire feel a sense of absolute despair.
Although they hadn't yet breached the Imperial capital, the vanguard legions were now less than 100 kilometers away.
The Empire's fortifications here were exceptionally strong, having successfully repelled several Zerg assaults.
“Don't grow complacent. If it weren't for the Swarm, the Empire's current army could easily unify the entire world.”
Their mobilization capability was simply too powerful. Advances in magical technology, abundant resources, and highly centralized power allowed the Dawn Empire's war potential to surpass that of any nation on Earth.
If not for the Zerg, no civilization on this planet could have stood against them.
But their opponent grew in strength exponentially. In just over four months, they had evolved from nothing—starting with single Tier 1 organisms—to a scale of tens of millions.
Although most were cannon fodder like broodlings and locusts, their combat power was undeniable.
“Is it possible to concentrate a powerful force to pierce through the enemy's defense lines and storm the city?”
“Impossible. The Empire has too many people, and their defense lines have almost no gaps,” the general sighed. “Our offensive will still incur heavy sacrifices.”
“Fine. Continue with your mission. I'll go report to the Queen.”
Though it spoke of reporting, the conversation had already been transmitted to Xia Jin in real-time.
“This is really tough.”
Xia Jin looked at the Border Forest; they were almost at the core region. After several days of combat involving tens of millions, countless weak magic beasts were crying out for mercy and surrendering on the spot. The Swarm then drove straight in, quickly occupying three-quarters of the Border Forest.
The remaining magic beasts were highly concentrated. One could practically kill swaths of them by firing rocket bugs blindly.
Yet, the Dawn Empire had reached a stalemate at the final moment.
She estimated that even if the Imperial capital fell, the enemy wouldn't surrender immediately.
Heaven only knew what else that Goddess of Dawn would bring out.
“I'd better finish steamrolling the magic beasts first.”
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