At the same time, Lightning, Wendy, Maggie, and Hummingbird were carrying out the final strike before the general offensive.

Since the warship's main guns fired solid shot, their damage effect on the combat personnel and defensive facilities at the top of the city wall was not ideal. Therefore, their goal was to destroy the enemy's defenses on the city walls, kill as many enemy troops as possible, and open up a safe passage for the general offensive.

This was also the first time a hydrogen balloon had been put into actual combat.

Compared to the long-distance raid five months ago, this takeoff was right next to the canal, and almost everyone witnessed the ascent of this behemoth. In Roland's plan, the unimpeded hydrogen balloon could be used as a short-range bomber in this era. With the entire fleet providing logistical support, it was essentially a primitive version of an aircraft carrier battle mode.

The First Army soldiers on the dock erupted in enthusiastic cheers. They all knew that no enemy could stop the attack from the sky, and their wise and benevolent lord would surely win this war.

Soon, the hydrogen balloon floated over the royal capital, and the magnificent city was reduced to the size of a palm. Lightning pulled down her goggles, gestured to Wendy to drop the bomb, and the latter nodded and pulled the trigger.

A bomb fell off the bracket and fell to the ground.

Unlike the previous air raid, Anna was not on board this time, but Hummingbird instead. Under her continuous magical influence, the four suspended bombs only weighed 20% of their normal weight as long as they remained in contact. This enchantment method was a new method she had learned as her ability to control magic improved. If the effect was maintained for a very short time, she could change the weight of multiple objects in contact simultaneously, indirectly reducing magic consumption.

Lightning easily caught up with the bomb and guided it to crash into a catapult on the side of the city gate.

As it fell in mid-air, the little girl saw the terrified eyes of the knights on the city wall. They raised their crossbows and muskets and shot at the sky, trying to shoot her down, but she knew how difficult it was to hit a bird flying freely in the air, let alone at the altitude she was at.

The bomb slammed directly into the catapult. With a loud noise, a crimson fireball suddenly lit up and quickly expanded, engulfing the surrounding crowd before they could escape. The violent air waves swept everything on the city wall. A pot of boiling oil was overturned on the ground, quickly igniting a fire. Then the flames flowed with the hot oil, igniting the gunpowder packs piled on the side. Explosions sounded one after another, shattering everything around them. Everywhere was filled with flames and thick smoke. The knights who had been preparing for battle a moment ago scattered and fled in an instant. Many lost their way in the thick smoke and rolled directly off the city wall; others struggled in the sea of fire, rolling around on the ground trying to put out the flames on their bodies.

The city wall had become a living hell at this moment.

…

"Their defenses have collapsed," Sylvie said, with a trace of intolerance in her expression as she looked at the smoking royal capital city walls.

"These people deserve it," Nightingale said expressionlessly. "If we were the ones who failed, they would only become more ruthless."

"In any case, someone has to pay the price for this conflict, either the enemy or us," Roland said casually, then waved to Iron Axe behind him. "Sound the horn and take this city."

He didn't want to lament the cruelty of war or reminisce about the preciousness of peace at this time. This was a struggle for power, a battle for survival, and a collision of ideas and classes. When a backward class is replaced, it never silently retreats from the stage, and a lot of blood will always be needed to see it off.

He hoped that this blood would come from the enemy.

"Fighting for you, Your Highness!" The latter gave a clean military salute and left the ship.

Soon, the horn for the general offensive resounded over the dock area.

…

As a member of the Fourth Assault Team, Nail's goal was to capture the palace gate.

After entering the inner city, the team's progress suddenly slowed down. Here, they encountered a strong counterattack from the enemy.

"Egger is injured, get him down!"

"Damn it, where are the field guns?"

"They're blocked by a pile of debris and have to detour!"

"Prepare fire, these monsters are charging up again!"

Nail slapped his cheek hard, filled the cylinder of his revolver with bullets, and handed it to his teammate in front. A volley of gunfire rang out, and the berserkers rushing in the front were riddled with holes, collapsing to the ground spurting blood, but those behind them followed closely, rushing towards the assault team as if their lives didn't matter, even if their arms, abdomen and other parts were hit, their remaining speed remained unchanged.

These people were not militiamen. Nail felt his hands and feet go numb. They were all wearing half-body armor or chainmail, with sophisticated weapons, from longswords to hand crossbows—Jon, who was knowledgeable and well-informed, said that only the King's Guards would be equipped with such complete equipment. Unfortunately, this knowledge did not save him in the end. Just during a previous encounter with the enemy's charge, he was pierced through the neck by a crossbow bolt shot at an angle.

May he hold on until Angel arrives.

"Withdraw, Fourth Team retreat!"

"Third Team prepare fire!"

The veterans no longer cared about saving bullets, but instead focused on precision shooting. After emptying their revolver cylinder in one breath, they retreated to the rear to shorten the gap in fire suppression. The five assault teams alternately provided cover along the street. Since the flintlock guns were replaced with revolver rifles, Nail had seen this staggered firing method for the first time.

But the enemies they encountered were not only attacking from the front.

A team of berserkers suddenly jumped out of the houses on the side of the street. Before most people had time to turn their guns around, they had already charged into the formation.

Screams and curses suddenly rang out. Nail watched helplessly as his teammate standing in front of him was split in half by a red-eyed guard with a sword, and hot blood splattered all over his face. Although the enemy was quickly killed by other teammates, it was clear that this person could not be saved even by Angel.

"Where the hell are those damn artillerymen?"

"Save me! Ah... my foot!"

"Keep firing, don't stop!"

Hearing the captain's hoarse shout, Nail gritted his teeth, wiped the blood from the cylinder with his sleeve, picked up the long gun that had fallen on the ground, loaded it, and aimed at an enemy who was fighting with several teammates, and pulled the trigger.

Although he was afraid, the training of the past constantly reminded him that when facing a strong enemy, only by sticking closely to the team and exerting the power of the group could he survive!

At this moment, Nail heard the shouts of the support troops behind him, "The artillery battalion is in trouble on East Street. Lord Brian sent us to support you!"

"Whoever you are, get up here quickly!" the captain shouted without looking back.

Two two-wheeled carts were pulled onto the street by reinforcements. The weapons carried on the carts were Mark I heavy machine guns. After securing the firing positions, the machine guns spat out long tongues of fire at the berserkers who were launching a new wave of attacks.