MIR, the sentient Wyvern.

The North on Fire

The ultimatum was coming to an end and the troops remained safe in the capital while the enchantress received the 'package', i.e. the return of her 'servants', head first.

It was despicable and she immediately went to take out her nerves on the wyverns who were playing the stupid animal.

"ALPHA! I know you understand me... Your son MIR... He's a horror... a MONSTER!!! So, listen carefully if you want to keep your female and your mother alive... you bring MIR back here! and I want you to eat the princess! Otherwise, take one last look at your female! And if you want to be free, bring back Etincelle!"

In the meantime I went to see the wire drawing mill and the cables were finished.

Then I went to the big hangars and the gas and mana engines were ready and the propellers were whirring.

One of the dwarves said to me. "I've never worked on such complex machines, but with the new tools, it's a joy to work with metal. There's so much to do!

Ah, the Tormentor is ready!

I started to smile and after inspecting my new death machine, I ordered: Build 2 more, add 30% more volume to the rear and fit me with a 3-axis turret on the belly, back, rear and front.

The second attack will no longer have the element of surprise, so they'll have their surprise.

Then, after inspecting the mechanical workshop, the Dwarves had copied the general mechanism of the gun, added an automatic recoil system and chain magazines.

The explosives and ammunition were reserved for wyverns and goblins.

Meanwhile, in Magincia.

"Send 50,000 men to defend the Duchy, it will set an example but they will be scattered and wind mages will chase away the toxic clouds!"

His general nodded and immediately gave the order to set off.

"We've got to teach that mad lizard a lesson and he'll lose all support after this!"

Order a siege of the capital and take the reserve army!"

It was the last straw.

As far as I was concerned, this witch was relentless and nothing had been done to her.

I ordered the obsolete ballistas to be replaced and placed on outlying buildings. The eagles and griffins would destroy them with stones. The real danger was my new invention: copies of the first water-cooled hand-cranked Gatling guns. The introduction of cartridges and firearms, without going through the blunderbuss.

We were going from the Middle Ages to 1914! The goblins had rifles like Mausers, with bayonets and sights.

The mashers were improved with a wafer wall to increase mortality.

And... surprise,

Mortars with cast iron balls and TNT/fulmington inside.

I also had trenches dug to snipe at the attackers.

So I freed up 1,000 men to attack the duchy, defended by 65,000 to 70,000 fighters, the units having regrouped.

I also took 500 Imps and 50 harpies and we marched happily north-east.

From her crystal ball, the enchantress laughed at the sight of a puny army attacking a well-defended city.

But to her surprise, several thousand men and their noble chiefs had come to witness the spectacle.

And like all demon lords, the clouds and mist and evil mana brought clouds and the weather turned to rain, making the plain slippery and muddy.

But it didn't matter.