Fifteen minutes had passed.
The once-thriving rainforest was now gone, leaving only the outer rim of the blast zone where fires still burned. Vast expanses of sand had been vitrified by the intense heat, creating a surreal landscape that shimmered under the moonlight.
At the center of the explosion, Selene exhaled softly as she slowly descended onto the searing, molten ground.
Within a radius of several kilometers, the area had become a hellish sea of magma, its surface roiling beneath a vast canopy of raging flames. The most terrifying aspect, however, was the invisible yet deadly presence of massive nuclear radiation.
If an ordinary person were to step foot here, even if they could withstand the heat, the intense radiation would be enough to cause their DNA to disintegrate, leading to a rapid and gruesome death as their body dissolved.
But Selene was unaffected. The radiation, extreme temperatures, shockwaves, and the atmospheric pressure of billions of pascals were no threat to her.
Grasping a handful of highly radioactive lava, Selene pondered, "So this is the yield of the explosion... and the concentration of nuclear fallout..."
The scorching magma didn't bother her at all. Her silver-white armor remained spotless, and even the intricate golden threads of her ornate skirt showed no signs of damage.
"As I thought, I needed to witness this firsthand to better understand the intricacies. Yes, there's progress... but now I need to work on reducing the yield."
"This level of destructive power is too much. If I act impulsively in the future during an enemy attack, I could... well..." She trailed off, her thoughts turning to the potential consequences.
"Most importantly, I can't let the radioactive fallout harm my beloved troops—they are my future!" Tossing aside the now-cooled lava, Selene closed her eyes and began to manipulate the nuclear forces.
She wasn't absorbing the radiation but instead focusing on dispersing all the radioactive particles she could sense and control further westward.
This was yet another "gift" she had prepared for the Western Kingdom.
"Hmm, I should check on their progress next."
"We must take this stronghold before the General returns!" Gensa shouted as he leaped onto the low walls of the southwestern barbarian settlement. He spread his arms wide, his face alight with fervor and excitement, and bellowed, "Soldiers! The other large barbarian settlement has been destroyed by General Selene! These are the last of our enemies!"
"Victory and glory are within reach. Follow me, and slaughter every last one of these barbarians! Long live the Empire! Long live Selene!"
"Imperial Army, advance!!"
"Victory!!!" echoed the cries of countless soldiers.
A general is the courage of his troops.
Under Gensa's command, the hundreds of veteran Imperial Guards under his leadership raised their weapons and roared in unison. Their battle cry was infectious, and soon the rest of the garrison joined in, raising their gleaming blades high as they charged forward.
"Kill—!"
The thunderous roar of battle cries surged in unison, and the entire Imperial Army, spurred on by the overwhelming morale, attacked with renewed ferocity. The barbarian city, like a lone leaf in a storm, began to buckle under the relentless assault.
On the battlements, the barbarian chieftain, who had barely managed to repel the first wave of attackers, swallowed nervously. He was brutal but not foolish; he could see the dire situation unfolding before him.
Even with the guards he personally led, they struggled to fend off the small, initial group of Imperial soldiers who had just scaled the walls.
As the Imperial forces below launched yet another assault without showing any signs of fatigue, the barbarian chieftain felt a growing sense of dread. These soldiers were nothing like the Imperial troops he was used to fighting!
Gazing at the Imperial artillery positions that had resumed firing not far outside the city, the chieftain knew that the moment of decision had arrived. Despite their advantageous position, which limited the effectiveness of the Imperial Army's heavy weapons, even in hand-to-hand combat, it seemed they were doomed to lose.
Should he surrender? Surrendering would be humiliating, but it might mean survival. Yet, to resist heroically... victory was uncertain, and defeat would mean nothing less than a brutal massacre.
As the barbarian chieftain wrestled with these thoughts, the Imperial Army gave him no time to deliberate further.
Crash—!
With a thunderous crack, the already weakened section of the wall collapsed under the repeated battering of the Imperial Army's siege engines.
"Damn it..."
"Kill—!"
Before the dust could even settle, hundreds of heavily armored Imperial soldiers charged through the breach, advancing like an unstoppable wall. Their massive, iron-clad shields pushed back the barbarian defenders, forcing them to retreat several paces.
Then, through the gaps in their shields, the Imperial soldiers unleashed a merciless slaughter with their spears, swords, and even firearms.
In reality, iron armor is far more effective than how it's often depicted in films and TV shows. When two fully armored, elite forces clashed, it was not uncommon for a battle between thousands of men to result in only a few hundred casualties after a full day of fighting.
But the barbarians lacked the strength to withstand the Imperial forces. Many of them fought with bare chests, while their enemies were fully armored and charging forward like unstoppable war machines.
Despite their best efforts, the barbarians could barely scratch the armor of the Imperial soldiers, while every swing from the Imperial troops resulted in a spray of blood.
"Die, you barbarian scum!"
A forward Imperial commander roared as he swung his heavy, long-handled axe, decapitating several barbarians with each blow.
The barbarian defenders were being cut down like wheat, impaled on spears, dismembered by swords, or riddled with bullets. The ground was soon littered with dismembered bodies and pools of blood.
The barbarian commander, who was trying to hold the breach, shouted desperately to his subordinates, "Go! Call for reinforcements from the chieftain! We need more troops—now!!"
Would the chieftain send reinforcements? Were there any more able-bodied warriors left in the settlement? The commander didn't know, but he was certain that if they couldn't push back the Imperial forces, the wall's fall was inevitable.
A moment later, the barbarian commander, wielding a massive war hammer, leaped to the front lines. With a powerful swing, he smashed his hammer down, determined to break through the Imperial shield wall, even if it cost him his life.
Boom!
The Imperial soldier holding the shield was flung back by the force, his shield shattered into splinters. The impact also sent several nearby soldiers sprawling to the ground.
The sight of such overwhelming power drew the attention of everyone on both sides of the battle.
At the breach, a newly arrived Imperial captain saw this unfold. After kicking away a corpse impaled on his sword, he shouted, "Reform the lines! It's just a cornered beast's last stand! Imperial Army, advance!!"
"Whoever slays this brute will be the first to receive honors for leading the charge!"
"Kill—!"