Through the lens, Levi clearly saw that the streak of lightning was actually a Thunderbolt Arrow, flickering with electric arcs.

It crossed several hundred paces, charging straight into the Thorn Corps’ formation.

A ball of light flashed, and like a hand grenade, it instantly sent dozens of soldiers flying.

"Damn, a real heavy hitter has arrived."

Adjusting his telescope, he spotted a Centaur standing at the rear of the Wilderness Alliance Army.

The Centaur was nocking an arrow, his body crackling with lightning.

’This is clearly a powerful warrior from the Wilderness who controls the Thunder Element.’ This scene reminded the Lord of the Dragon Vein Dog-man he’d encountered before, who also controlled the Fire Element.

’This must be the Centaur Leader Si Kai mentioned.’

Levi hadn’t forgotten the sight of Si Kai returning in such a sorry state after leading his men deep into the Wilderness to gather intelligence.

’So this is the guy who gave Si Kai such a beating.’

The Centaur’s arrival quietly shifted the tide of battle. The Thorn Corps soldiers grew fearful, their morale plummeting. In contrast, the Wilderness Alliance Army, which had been on the verge of retreat, experienced a surge in morale and launched another fierce offensive.

"Second Commander, where are my damn catapults?" Levi beckoned, barking, "Haul them up for your Lord! Aim and fire!"

Zat, forever the second-in-command as long as the Lord was around, scrambled to obey. He ordered the Beastman Guards to crank the catapults’ winches, hoisting the counterweights high and letting the slings drop.

Normally, the catapults’ counterweights were incredibly heavy. It had previously taken a dozen Pigman Warriors to crank the winch and pull the sling down with ropes.

But now, four Beastman Barbarians, the veins on their arms bulging, strained to crank the winch.

The sling slowly descended, bit by bit, until it nearly touched the ground.

Zat effortlessly lifted a Giant Stone and placed it in the sling. All the Beastman Guards had to do was release the winch. The counterweight would plummet, and the Giant Stone would be launched in an instant.

But Zat hesitated. "Boss, this is our first time using these things. Our aim is probably going to be off."

He was just giving a heads-up, so the boss wouldn’t take it out on him if they missed.

"It’s going to happen sooner or later," Levi said, waving a hand dismissively. "Let the warriors get some practice."

’In the future, High Cliff Castle is bound to become more professional and advanced. Large siege engines like Bed Crossbows, Catapults, and Siege Hammers will inevitably become part of the Burning Corps.’

’Might as well get some practice in now.’

’After all, a catapult is just like the heavy artillery from his past life—you need an experienced crew to be accurate.’

’Hadn’t that bumbling crew up ahead just lobbed a Giant Stone into their own logistics camp?’

"Fire!"

At his command,

Three Giant Stones tore through the air, hurtling toward the Wilderness Natives’ battle lines.

A Giant Stone, half the size of a man, crashed down squarely in the middle of a group of Bear Goblins. It continued to roll forward, crushing dozens more. They coughed up blood, their chests caved in—clearly, they wouldn’t survive.

Unfortunately, the other two flew straight over the main battlefield and landed harmlessly in the snow.

"Not bad at all!" Levi slapped his thigh, giving them an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

’Hitting one out of the first three shots was pretty damn good. It might have been a lucky shot, but the Lord praised them anyway.’

The Barbarians were greatly encouraged. Using their newfound experience, they began adjusting the counterweight height to control the catapults’ range.

Giant Stone after Giant Stone soared into the sky, then crashed down violently.

The Beastman Barbarians worked with feverish intensity. Every distant scream only fueled their excitement, a sign that their Giant Stones had found their mark and caused casualties.

As they gained experience, their aim grew increasingly accurate.

Eventually, almost every stone landed precisely within the enemy’s ranks, inflicting immense casualties.

Eventually, the Lord simply took out his telescope and watched the battlefield with great relish.

It seemed to start a chain reaction. As soon as they began using their catapults, the Thorn Corps brought their own long-prepared machines into the fray, delivering an unimaginable blow to the Wilderness Natives.

As time wore on, the number of Wilderness People charging the Thorn Corps camp began to dwindle. The brutal, bloody hellscape tested the nerves of every new attacker, while the Giant Stones constantly flying overhead made them jump in terror, afraid the next one would land on them.

Finally, they could bear it no longer. Ignoring the angry roars of the Giant Goblins serving as Battle Commanders, they began to abandon their comrades and retreat in a desperate rout.

The shouts of battle gradually faded, replaced by the agonized cries of the wounded littering the ground.

"I wonder how many have returned to the embrace of the Ice and Snow Goddess tonight," Masha said with a wry smile, looking at the first faint light on the horizon.

She wasn’t mourning the Wilderness People, but the soldiers of the Thorn Corps.

"War is just a matter of stacking up bodies. It’s impossible to avoid death," the Lord said, patting Masha’s shoulder comfortingly.

’To be honest, tonight’s battle didn’t even compare to the one where he defended the Feder Tribe.’

’At least this time, their forces were no smaller than the Wilderness People’s. Their soldiers and equipment were superior, and they had Casters ready for support. It only looked brutal.’

’In reality, most of the casualties had been caused by the enemy’s three catapults.’

"Gather the spoils of war. We’re heading back to camp."

With a wave of his hand, the Lord gave the order. The Beastman Barbarians began collecting the weapons and equipment scattered on the ground. A few Giants, grunting with effort, pulled the disassembled catapults toward the new camp, working with surprising diligence.

Compared to their previous masters, they much preferred this new one. The very short man would give them strips of meat as long as they worked hard.

It was much better than the Pigmen, who only ever whipped them.

Escorted by two Beastman Guards, Tikli stared in anguish at his kinsmen lying in pools of blood. Their bodies were already frozen solid, like blocks of ice.

’But now that he was a slave himself, how much better off was he?’

By the time Levi returned with his men to the main battlefield, Thorn Corps soldiers were already moving across it, delivering a final blow to any wailing Wilderness People.

It was obviously impossible to take these Wilderness People prisoner. If left alone, they would only suffer a slow, painful death as they bled out. So, in a grim act of humanitarianism, most soldiers simply gave them a quick end.

"Marshal Pan, how’s it going?"

Levi immediately spotted Panda slumped by the main gate of the camp like a great heap of flesh, and walked over with a smile.

The beastman’s black-and-white fur was completely stained red, and his face was etched with exhaustion.

The corpses of Wilderness People were piled two or three men high around him—at least a hundred of them, a testament to the brutality of the fight.

"I’m fine. Not dead yet," Panda said, taking a couple of deep breaths as he climbed to his feet.

"Just a few Wilderness yokels. No way they wore you out this badly, right?"

the Lord asked curiously.