The Saxon Major soon led the unit to advance in the direction the farmer indicated. The three infantry companies, led by their respective officers, swiftly dispersed from their dense marching column into loose search formations and began moving toward the small copse of trees. Out of caution, the Major kept the fourth company as a reserve and positioned his battalion command group toward the rear of the center, right next to the three towering 'Siegfried I' Armored Knights. The presence of these steel giants gave all the infantry a huge sense of security.
The goal of this operation was clear: a short armed search. Therefore, the infantry battalion had not brought cumbersome logistics units. Their plan was to return the way they came after searching for a certain distance, whether they found anything or not.
The unit advanced in the direction the farmer had indicated, but the surrounding environment was strangely silent. Aside from the soft sound of the soldiers' footsteps and the clanking of their equipment, not a single chirp of an insect or a bird could be heard. This eerie silence caused a subtle feeling of unease in the Major's heart.
Just then, a panting Dispatch Rider arrived from the left-flank 1st Company. "Major! We found some traces ahead!" The Saxon Major perked up and immediately led his command group and the three Armored Knights to the location. Behind a clump of bushes, he saw a clearly cleared area with the ashes of a few still-warm campfires.
"Sir, it looks like a temporary camp," an experienced veteran crouched down, rubbing a pinch of ash and showing it to the Major. "The campfire didn't go out long ago; they must have left recently."
The Major nodded after hearing this, then carefully observed the size of the camp and the traces left behind, calculating rapidly. "Judging by the marks of the camp and the number of fires, the enemy must number around one company." This assessment slightly relieved him. Although a bit more than the 'hundred men' the Gallic farmer mentioned, it was well within the capability of his infantry battalion to handle easily. Moreover, he had the three Armored Knights as his ace in the hole.
"It seems we are on the right track," the Major said to the officers beside him. "There are indeed enemy movements in this area. Order the troops to heighten vigilance and continue the advance!"
He then walked up to the leading Armored Knight and firmly patted its cold leg armor. The huge metal plate made a dull thud. "Captain Chris, can you hear me?"
Inside the cockpit, the Knight pilot replied through the external amplifier: "I hear you, Major. Is there a problem?"
"We've found traces of the enemy. Their number should be around one company!" The Major shouted up: "I need you to continue covering our search for a short distance. Hopefully, we can locate this enemy unit and capture a few prisoners for questioning."
"No problem at all," the Armored Knight's voice was steady through the amplifier. "But Major, I suggest you remain cautious. We are a considerable distance from the nearest allied unit. If anything goes wrong, it will be difficult to get support quickly."
"I understand." The Major nodded. "I will ensure the soldiers maintain vigilance."
After a brief consultation, the unit began to advance again. The companies and platoons opened up their formation, and the soldiers' steps became more cautious, their muzzles instinctively aimed at every potential hiding spot. They were unaware that with every step forward, they were drawing closer to the carefully prepared ambush laid by the 'Ranger' Squadron.
The mission to assist Colonel Erwin in the 'capture' operation was entrusted to two elite infantry companies from the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Although only two companies strong, every soldier was a veteran with over five years of colonial service, possessing terrifying experience in counter-insurgency, ambushes, and anti-ambush tactics. To suppress the potentially numerous Saxon infantry during this operation, the two companies carried four Vickers Heavy Machine Guns. They were currently disguised as Gallic guerrillas, lurking deep within the copse of trees.
"They're coming." A Britannian scout slid down from a treetop and quietly reported to his Company Commander.
"Prepare for combat!" the Commander lowered his voice and gave the order.
Soon, as the Saxon infantry battalion's vanguard approached the copse, the 'Gallic Guerrillas' deliberately exposed their position, then feigned panic and retreated deeper into the woods. "Enemy spotted! They're in the woods!" The Saxon vanguard soldiers shouted excitedly.
"We finally found you!" The Saxon Major, receiving the report, unhesitatingly issued the attack order. "Companies, deploy assault formation! Surround the woods! Don't let them escape!"
The three Saxon infantry companies swarmed the woods from three directions. However, as they excitedly neared the edge of the copse, they were met with a deadly hail of bullets.
"Da-da-da-da——!"
Four Vickers Heavy Machine Guns opened fire simultaneously from different positions deep within the woods. The dense bullets, like four sharp scythes, instantly mowed down large numbers of Saxon soldiers who were leading the charge. The sudden, fierce firepower stalled the Saxons' momentum, forcing the soldiers to drop to the ground and seek cover. Despite only a month of war, the Saxon soldiers had learned to adapt to enemy Heavy Machine Gun fire and no longer charged foolishly in dense formations.
"Heavy Machine Guns! The enemy has Heavy Machine Guns!"
"Suppress them! Where are our Light Machine Guns?" Saxon officers shouted, directing their Machine Gun Squads equipped with MG14 Light Machine Guns to return fire. The MG14 and MP14 automatic weapons had demonstrated immense power with the Instruction Assault Battalion, but due to rear production limits, the general deployment rate was still low. This search battalion only had six Light Machine Guns. Furthermore, while they were reinforced with two MG08 Heavy Machine Guns, the extreme weight meant they were left behind for this search mission—a decision the Battalion Commander now intensely regretted.
The fighting intensified around the copse. Relying on their numerical superiority, the Saxon infantry battalion quickly stabilized their position. One company, after suffering casualties, successfully located a blind spot in the Machine Gun fire. The Company Commander immediately ordered: "1st Platoon, 2nd Platoon, charge! Rush into the woods and fight them in close-quarters combat!"
Over a hundred Saxon soldiers yelled, fixed their bayonets, and charged into the woods from the flank. The Company Commander judged that if they could close the distance, the disciplined Saxon soldiers would defeat the sniping enemy in a melee. However, his judgment was flawed.
Just as they rushed into the copse, a deep green steel giant violently burst out of the side bushes. It was an Armored Knight they had never seen before. It was slightly smaller than the familiar 'Siegfried I' and the enemy's 'St. George III,' and painted in a dark green that perfectly matched the surrounding environment. It carried no lance or war hammer, instead wielding two long and short sabers that flashed menacingly.
This 'Hound Type 4' Armored Knight charged into the crowd like a hungry, crazed wolf tearing into a flock of sheep. The dual sabers in its hands spun like a high-speed top, each swing bringing a spray of blood. The surrounding Saxon infantry could not resist and were immediately scattered and cut down by the steel monster. The company was virtually routed in an instant.
"Armored Knight! The enemy has an Armored Knight!" The surviving soldiers screamed in terror, fleeing the woods in disarray. The Saxon Major, observing the Armored Knight through his binoculars from a distance, was shocked and immediately realized something was wrong. How could Gallic guerrillas be supported by something as expensive as an Armored Knight? And Britannian Armored Knights would never lower themselves to support Gallic guerrillas… The only possibility was that this so-called 'guerrilla force' was actually Britannian regular forces in disguise!
"Why would they do this?" The Major's mind raced. Although he didn't yet understand the enemy's true intention, he knew the enemy's value had just skyrocketed. If he could annihilate them all, or capture the pilot of the Armored Knight, he might gain important intelligence.
Thinking this, he hesitated no longer and immediately requested assistance from the three 'Siegfried I' machines beside him. "Captain Chris! Our infantry encountered an enemy Armored Knight in the woods! Request you engage immediately!"
"Received! We're moving!"
The three 'Siegfried I' Armored Knights acknowledged the order and immediately began advancing toward the woods in a standard three-point assault formation. The three towering 'Siegfried I' machines roared as they crashed into the woods like mobile fortresses. Their massive hulls smashed through trees, and their sturdy shields deflected the dense bullets fired by the Britannian soldiers. Under the cover of the Armored Knights, the Saxon infantry, who had been pinned down by Heavy Machine Gun fire, regained their morale and regrouped, advancing once more into the depths of the woods.
"Maintain search patterns! Locate that enemy Armored Knight!" The leading Teutonic Knight commanded the other two via amplifier. Due to the unsolved communication problem, squad-level communication remained a constant weakness for the Teutonic Knights. In most engagements, they had to rely on battlefield 'understanding' gained from years of training. The three pilots were intensely focused, vigilantly scanning their surroundings. They maximized the power of the Magic Detection Device installed in their Armored Knights—the only way, aside from visual scanning, to detect other Armored Knights. This device could sense the unique energy fluctuations emitted by other Armored Knights' Magic Cores during operation.
Strangely, no matter how hard they scanned, the detection device remained silent. The Britannian Armored Knight that had just been rampaging through the woods seemed to have vanished into thin air.
"What's going on? Cannot detect the target!" one pilot exclaimed in confusion.
"They must have shut down their Magic Core and concealed themselves. We'll maintain silence as well." The leader replied, then gestured to the other two Armored Knights—spread out and widen the search pattern. The three 'Siegfried I' machines immediately changed their formation, pulling apart slightly, cautiously advancing through the woods like three predators searching for prey.
They were unaware that their every move was clearly observed by the true hunters. Surrounding them, ten 'Hound Type 4' specialized Armored Knights of the 'Ranger' Squadron were silently lurking. These predators had dug simple ambush pits, concealing their relatively small machines, which were covered by carefully crafted camouflage nets made of fishing net, leaves, and branches.
More importantly, the specialized 'Hound Type 4' Armored Knights had a unique 'Ambush Mode' built into their Magic Cores. In this mode, the core's energy output was minimized. Coupled with the Magic Wave-Absorbing Materials incorporated into the 'Hound Type 4's' external armor, they generated virtually no detectable energy fluctuations in Ambush Mode, perfectly evading the Magic Detection Device. This unique Magic Core could also instantly return to full power, providing the Armored Knight with the surge needed for combat. Of course, the trade-off for these stealth capabilities was that the output power of the Magic Core was slightly lower than regular Magic Cores. However, given the reduced size and combat weight of the 'Hound Type 4,' the power output was sufficient.
Watching the three 'Siegfried I' machines move deep into the ambush zone and begin to split up, Colonel Erwin knew the optimal attack window had arrived. He curled his lips into a cold, predatory smile and issued a brief command through his Communication Stone.
"Commence operation."
Seconds after the command was given, the Magic Detection Device in the cockpits of the three 'Siegfried I' Armored Knights suddenly blared a piercing alarm. Red lights flashed wildly. In the combined vision of the three pilots and their Armored Knights' sensor array, ten distinct, high-energy signatures suddenly erupted from all directions, completely encircling them!
"No! It's a trap!"
"We're surrounded!"
The faces of the three Teutonic Knights instantly contorted in shock. They never imagined they were walking into an ambush laid by ten whole Armored Knights!
(End of this Chapter)
The novel has already been fully translated up to the last updated chapter. You can access it on my Patreon at patreon.com/caleredhair