Chapter 90

The command structure, completely paralyzed, received the surrender of the Chiefs, and as a result, the resistance from the Polrons was negligible.

The 33rd frontline fortress fell quickly.

Inside, our unit members were busy going back and forth, moving supplies and installing necessary equipment.

“Oof, this is heavy.”

“Don’t try to carry it alone, do it together.”

Our members were loading piles of weapons reclaimed from the Polrons onto carts and moving them.

“Leave that there, and put the supplies over there!”

“Is the shuttle here yet?”

“Always stay alert, and don’t move alone. Understand?”

The officers and non-commissioned officers raised their voices, while shuttles continuously shuttled to and from the cruiser.

The cleared space, made after moving the vehicles.

In one corner of it, a shuttle landed and its boarding ramp opened.

The pilot getting out while saluting me.

“Director, I’ve come to pick you up.”

“Thank you, please wait for a moment.”

“Understood, sir!”

The pilot saluted again then returned to the shuttle.

I watched his figure for a moment before turning my gaze to the people standing at attention before me.

“Then, Director, please proceed carefully.”

“Director, I’ll see you next week.”

Balder stood stiffly at attention and saluted.

Kiron followed Balder’s example rather awkwardly, making something that resembled a salute.

Behind them, two squads of dark-colored armored suits and fully armed infantry stood in place.

“Yes. Then, thank you all for your efforts over these few days, Mr. Balder and everyone from the unit.”

“Please leave it to us.”

“‘We will work hard!'”

All at once, the unit members raised their voices and saluted.

I returned their salute and spoke to Balder.

“Then I’ll return, prepare what is needed, and send a cruiser your way.”

“I leave it in your hands.”

We exchanged pleasantries, then I rode the shuttle while being carried by Nisia.

Nisia helped me into the chair and fastened the safety belt, then after securing her own belt, the shuttle took off.

“Will everyone be alright…?”

“They’ll be fine. The weapons have been disabled, and we even have collaborators among them.”

“Mmm.”

Despite replying this way, Nisia kept an anxious gaze as she looked down at the fortress.

Trying to reach out to stroke her head and comfort her, but my short arms couldn’t stretch that far.

There’s no help for it; I settled for patting her hand instead.

Seeing this, Nisia turned her head to look at me.

“Edu…?”

“Don’t worry too much. That’s why we’re leaving sufficient forces here. We’ll also send the cruiser back again.”

“Uh-huh.”

At last, Nisia seemed somewhat calmed.

The plan was initially to suppress a couple of small bases resembling abandoned airfields where Kiron used to be, and then withdraw some troops, but fortune smiled upon us, leading us all the way to the fortress.

But since we have gone beyond the original plan, resources and additional supplies are required.

Therefore, Edu and Nisia decided to return first to the forward base, meet with Freya, request support, and then fully supply and send back the cruiser to the fortress.

“Still, everything’s going smoothly.”

“Really? Is everything going well?”

“Yes.”

Now all that’s left is to retrain the Polrons and prepare them for combat service.

Even if creating perfectly disciplined soldiers from these innate raiders may be difficult, we can raise them to a useful level quickly by utilizing their mentality and offering appropriate incentives.

‘Hmm, things seem to be going well these days.’

With such thoughts, I returned to the forward base.

“Huh?”

For some reason, the forward base looked strange.

The searchlights illuminating the ground, the soldiers bustling around, and the weaponry.

I also spotted a formation of fighter jets passing by the ship and swiftly flying off somewhere.

That direction… Is it the way to another Fangju?

While pondering this, the communication soldier called out to me.

“Director, an urgent transmission has come in through the emergency channel!”

“An emergency channel?”

“Yes, should I connect it?”

“Please connect it.”

The image that appeared on the central screen of the Command Bridge showed Freya.

Unlike her usual cheerful demeanor, her expression was rigid and tense.

[ Edu, have you returned? ]

“Yes, is there something wrong?”

[ It’s a little difficult to explain via communication lines. Can you come directly to the Obelisk? ]

“…? Understood, I’ll be there soon.”

[ Alright, I’ll be waiting. ]

With that, we made our way immediately back to the shuttle with Nisia and headed to Obelisk.

The room where I normally conversed with her.

There was another familiar face in it.

“Ms. Freya, we’ve arrived… Oh, President?”

Academy President Ryuje Erharknen.

“Hmph. So you’ve arrived, Edu, Nisia.”

“You weren’t supposed to be busy preparing for the goodwill match?”

“The goodwill match is no longer a priority. Sit down both of you.”

“Yes, yes!”

Hurriedly responding, Nisia set me down and sat in the chair beside me.

“So, Edu, how did things go?”

“Yes, we’ve acquired reliable assistants and managed to capture the Polrons’ major strongholds.”

“Uh… Major stronghold? Wasn’t the plan to raid each garrison on the outskirts of their territory?”

Freya questioned again, noticing a discrepancy from what she knew.

“It was originally, but I came up with a better method. Thanks to that, it seems we’ll be able to gather higher quality manpower.”

“Hmm… You haven’t overdone it, have you?”

“Of course not. Though there is something I’d like some help with…”

“Yes, tell me.”

I informed Freya about today’s events and details of the necessary support.

“So, I’m thinking of properly retrofitting the fort we’ve taken to use it as a training ground.”

“Good thought. Can I assist with the engineering units to help in construction, as well as materials and food provisions?”

She quickly distilled the gist of my request, which matched exactly with what Balder had already asked for.

“Yes, that should suffice.”

“Alright, I’ll take care of it immediately.”

After wrapping up this discussion, Freya took a breath.

With a clear and serious gaze, her red hair swaying slightly, she locked eyes with me.

“Then… Nisia. I’m sorry, but would you mind stepping out for a moment?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Wait, is there something Nisia shouldn’t hear?”

“That’s not the case.”

Freya responded immediately.

“Then why…? Ah.”

Realization struck and I stopped mid-word.

Freya and Ryuje’s steady gaze was directly upon me.

Pointing to myself, their slight yet affirmative nods confirmed it.

‘An issue regarding me?’

This reaction firmly convinced me that something unusual was happening, and I addressed them.

“Nisia is okay. I haven’t told her about me yet, but I trust her.”

“Hmph… If Edu says so…”

“Nisia isn’t someone I can’t trust, but are you sure it’s okay?”

Freya readily approved, while Ryuje inquired cautiously,

Perhaps this was asking whether it was acceptable to continue increasing the number of people knowing my secret.

“Umm…”

Ryuje’s words are correct; it’s unwise to continue expanding the circle of people who know my secret, but Nisia is also the protagonist and a careful, good friend who looks after me.

Good friends also share significant secrets with each other.

“It’s fine.”

“Hmph… If you insist, Edu, let’s not linger further.”

Ryuje nodded approvingly.

Turning slightly, I confirmed my suspicions as Nisia hesitated on her feet.

Extending my hand and tapping the chair she had vacated, Nisia’s eyes met mine.

“Nisia, feel free to sit.”

“Ah, okay. Thanks, Edu.”

“Of course, this is what friends are for, right?”

“…Yeah!”

I turned my gaze back to Freya and Ryuje.

The two of them, with their weighty expressions, watched us.

Freya’s mouth slowly opened.

“Edu, Nisia, listen carefully without being startled.”

Taking a small breath, her voice quivered faintly as she spoke, signaling something serious.

“…The sixth Fangju has come under attack by the Invaders.”

“What…? The Invaders attacked a Fangju?”

“Yes, let me show you the video sent from the sixth Fangju.”

Freya tapped her wrist, and a holographic screen rose on the table.

What followed was once a tranquil day, a serene routine.

That routine, thought to be eternal, came to an end.

“Hold them off! Absolutely do not let them break through!!”

“Firing! Fire! Fire!!”

Upon the command, the rows of tanks aligned before the defensive barriers unleashed their cannon fire in succession.

Lightweight walkers positioned atop the walls complemented their fire, unleashing a barrage of missiles like a downpour.

They resembled grotesque fish with their reverse joints but their attacks were anything but feeble; their ferocity unmatched by their size.

BOOM!! BOOM!!

Smoke and dust erupt with the impact of explosions, and the acrid smell of gunpowder filled the air.

Endless missiles streaked across, scattering flames and smoke in every direction.

“Keep firing! Don’t stop!!”

Even without visible targets, the volleys of fire didn’t cease.

Finally, when the missiles of the lightweight walkers were exhausted, and the tanks shot their last rounds, the bombardment halted.

The smoke filled the front field completely.

The sweat trickling down the commander’s jaw left a mark as it dropped to the ground, then,

Clunk clunk… Clatter clatter…

Sounds echoing despair emerged from within the smoke.

A chilling cacophony created by the grinding of metal against metal.

The monstrous figure breaking through the smoke revealed itself.

A monstrous frame akin to a battleship transplanted to land, its entire body encased in dense, dark armor.

The monstrous tank treads and tracks mounted under its chassis were of an unprecedented scale.

Large exhaust vents, resembling building pillars, spat out grey smoke incessantly.

The massive turrets, almost matching battleship artillery in size, held their heads high, looking down upon them.

Swiftly moving red sensors scanned the area.

The cannon barrels spread to the sides like the open jaws of an ant, aiming towards the wall.

Long rail systems stretched forward.

Sparks erupted as the barrels converged with a massive charge of energy.

“Damn!! Everyone, fall back-”

Before the commander’s words could finish, a blinding flash of light.

The tremendous impact burst eardrums and caused an earthquake — yet none were conscious of it because the searing plasma burned all within an instant.

The plasma beam, blazing through whatever stood in its way, continued past its origin point, obliterating the opposite gate.

The scorched marks etched into the ground.

Over the melted asphalt, the metal-made death machine continued its march.

Clunk clunk… Clatter clatter…

“Hold them off!! Give the citizens time to escape-”

The Fangju security forces who avoided the initial attack fought valiantly.

Armed with rifles, grenades, and portable anti-tank missiles — weapons that they knew wouldn’t suffice but still refused to retreat, they resisted bitterly.

Fierce flames erupted as they were enveloped by the fires ejected from the monster’s sides.

“Ughhhhh-”

“Kyyyyyhhhhh-”

The cries of molten bodies.

Oil dripped from the large flamethrowers mounted on its side and fell.

The monster, crushing all resistance, continued forward.

“Run! It’s the Invaders!!”

“Ah, ahhhhh!!”

The cries rang out as people fled.

Giant barrels aimed towards their backs.

A blinding flash of light.

The high-temperature plasma engulfed the people, erasing their existence without even allowing their last screams to register.

Plasma spraying at everyone, flames consumed buildings and townscapes.

The Fangju resounded with cries of agony and screams.

Yet still, the monster did not cease its march.

An eternal sound of death echoed through the Fangju that had turned into a cradle of death.

The sole refuge and paradise of humanity, Fangju.

Stomping through the safe lands of Fangju, death pressed forward.