Chapter 157

Megabase was preparing a crucial move.

However, there was a gaze watching all of its actions from a distant sky beyond its guarded perimeter.

Round hands and a doll-like frame.

The long silver hair shimmered brilliantly under the light.

“Hmm…”

Seated on the commander’s chair, Edu watched every situation unfold with great attention.

To this Edu, Edward asked a question.

“Edu, isn’t that preparation for an artillery barrage?”

“Yes, it’s preparation for a plasma artillery barrage.”

It was a genuine artillery barrage mobilizing even the kitchen.

But my heart remained calm as I observed this action.

“Isn’t that dangerous? Shouldn’t we inform the Supreme Commander immediately—”

“It might be fine, but there’s always that one-in-a-million chance. Nisia, can you contact Freya for me?”

“Okay!”

Nisia nodded and sent the communication.

Meanwhile, Edward, who had been tilting his head in confusion, asked again.

“Wait a moment, Edu. What do you mean it ‘might be fine’?”

“I’ve been observing the enemy lines, and there seem to be quite a few troops around Megabase.”

“Uh… Edu, is that really considered ‘few’?”

“That’s right, Miss Edu. Calling that ‘few’ is kind of… inappropriate.”

The surprised Jenny and the perplexed Clarissa.

Others, excluding Mili, Sita, and Nisia, were scratching their cheeks or tilting their heads as if they agreed with similar thoughts.

This peculiar reaction.

Of course, there was a reason my friends reacted this way.

Because beyond the screen stretched an arid wasteland covered with steel invaders.

To these people, hearing that an army like that was ‘few’ made it sound absurd.

But there was a reason I insisted on using the term ‘few,’ even knowing this reaction would come.

Simply put, the number of enemies was insufficient.

Whenever you continue playing the same game, all sorts of trivial knowledge and experiences become ingrained in your mind.

Megabase, an important rival within the narrative, was akin to a gatekeeper we had to fight every round.

This naturally accumulated experience and knowledge about it, which led me to have certain impressions engraved in my mind—like the size of its army.

“Still, what Jenny and Clarissa said isn’t wrong.”

After all, the number of enemies was indeed large.

But what they meant by “many” was simply describing the scale of the enemy force, while what I meant by “few” was in comparison to the massive army of Megabase—a clear frame of reference.

That’s why they used “many,” while I described a ‘large’ army as ‘few.’

“Hmm, that wasn’t exactly what I meant. I’ll explain later when I have more time to think.”

After answering that way, I focused back on my thoughts.

“We’re engaging earlier than usual, so having a smaller force is natural, but it’s too small. Moreover, resorting to such an extravagant plasma barrage…”

The plasma artillery mounted on Megabase boasts far greater power than the weapons used by Arondight or Dainsleif, and it’s strong enough just to cut down enemy troops.

So, preparing to fire it at an even higher output suggests something suspicious.

The cumbersome preparation.

The insufficient number of enemies.

When I contemplated these two factors, one hypothesis came to mind.

Detachment.

That would roughly match this situation.

“So, where is this detachment?”

Just as I was about to dwell deeper into my thoughts, the noises of the battlefield that echoed in my ears reminded me not to lose focus.

If I’m curious, I could directly confirm the situation.

“Jason, how far can you display the battle field?”

“If necessary, I can deploy observation drones to cover a wider area.”

Jason’s satisfied response to my inquiry.

“Can you do that for me?”

“Understood, Captain Edu. I’ll deploy the observation drones and monitor a wider area.”

The large screen split into four parts, each showing different directions.

Screens illuminating the desolate wasteland.

As time passed, the observation drones pushed forward to farther locations, and finally, in the upper-right screen, I found what I was looking for.

A vague flicker emerging from the thick darkness.

They were using optical camouflage, making it hard to gauge their size instantly, but the dust rising from the ground indicated the scale of the enemy force.

The number exactly matched what I had deemed insufficient.

‘That’s right.’

I nodded and issued an order to Jason.

“Jason, can you zoom in on the area around Megabase?”

“Understood, Captain Edu. I will halt the wide observation and zoom in on the enemy fortress to display it on the screen.”

The ground image magnified significantly.

Observing the enemy within, as I began to count them by sight, I realized a clear fact.

‘They’re still missing.’

The flagship of Megabase’s main power.

More specifically, no carrier ships suitable for large-scale transports, like Akkeltis, were in sight.

“Miss? Is something wrong?”

“I think I roughly understand what they’re planning.”

I summarized the situation.

An overwhelming army, yet a lukewarm attack.

Preparation of high-output plasma artillery barrages.

Enemy detachments equipped with optical camouflage.

And the invisible enemy flagship carriers.

All of these pointed to one thing.

A textbook hammer and anvil tactic, coupled with a ploy to provoke chaos.

If Megabase clears the way with bombardment and the large forces from the hidden carriers attacked from the flanks, the situation would drastically tilt in their favor.

Yet, another aspect of their intention was evident.

“Seems like you didn’t like the mushrooms from Russia.”

“Mushrooms? Oh, do you mean that nuclear attack?”

“Yes.”

The wariness evident in all of their actions.

There was no need to provoke chaos with overpowering forces that could increase damage, but they chose chaos anyway.

It must have hurt a lot from the blow received in Russia.

“Hm, you’re pretty crafty.”

Not bad for a tin can.

But the opponent was too inexperienced.

This was likely your first battle with me, but I have fought you countless times.

Our levels of accumulated experience differ!

“Alright, now that we’ve understood the enemy’s intentions, it’s time for us to move. Nisia, please contact Miss Banetta and Miss Simonia and inform Freya about the enemy’s scheme.”

“Okay, got it!”

Nisia nodded and sent the transmission.

After watching this for a moment, once all communications were complete, I raised my hand high into the air.

“Jason, descend at full speed!”

“Understood, Captain Edu. The vessel descends, maneuvering at full speed.”

…

The puzzle pieces are fitting neatly together toward victory.

The adversaries are still distracted by our side, and soon the detachment will reach its designated location.

“Prepare artillery barrage. All forces along the line, prepare yourselves.”

Commands descending upon the troops.

The highest tip of the towering pyramid split open, revealing the concealed plasma artillery inside.

Energy being drawn in.

Just as we were about to unleash the barrage of victory.

“Directly above the enemy vessel! Steep descent!”

An unexpected report came from the escort ships before Megabase could issue orders.

All turrets aimed toward the sky from the battle ships.

“Interception begins.”

All turrets aligned and simultaneously fired.

BOOM, KA-BOOM!

Cannons fired toward the sky.

“Anti-air defensive network deployed.”

The battleships activated their dense array of anti-air cannons and auxiliary weapons, unleashing a fierce barrage.

The fiery trails of cannonballs decorating the sky.

But the white vessel paid no mind to that fierce barrage, quickly descending toward them.

A streak of white cutting across the battlefield.

Riding atop this streak was a one-eyed giant.

“Squirt! Fire it all!”

The giant with a flashing blue eye.

High-speed gatling guns simultaneously erupted in flames, and countless missiles surged from the missile pods, descending toward the ground.

A rain of missiles and gattling fire falling from the sky.

“Squirt! Armament replenishment! Keep firing!”

The armaments of the squirts, which had emptied, quickly reloaded, and the number of missiles increased, transforming into hundreds of missiles in the storm of destruction.

…

The split ends of Megabase’s peak closed again just as the missiles struck.

PER-BANG, KOOOOO-ONG!

An immense number of missile barrages engulfed Megabase and its surroundings in an instant.

“Now, Jason! Turn to the left!”

“Initiating maneuver.”

Captain Edu confirmed that the attack had succeeded and issued orders while the white ship smoothly maneuvered, turning the hull to withdraw from the battlefield.

“Enemy retreat, begin interception.”

KA-BOOM! KOONG!

The battle ships lowered their main guns and continued to fire barrages as the distance with Jason grew wider.

Explosions occurred one after another around Jason but were deflected by the thick barriers.

Megabase, puzzled by the actions of Edu and her group.

Certainly, the surprise attack was unexpected, but the attack they launched wasn’t serious enough to inflict damage on Megabase.

Megabase couldn’t understand why they would penetrate deep into the enemy line just to launch such an insignificant attack.

However, separately from this question, Megabase had already issued commands.

“Confirmed bug presence; all forces maintain highest alert status.”

Before the communication even ended, something flickered in the sky above.

Conical objects quickly flew toward us, engulfed in flames.

Upon confirming this, Megabase immediately responded.

“Enemy strategic weapon approaching! Request interception!”

“Affirmative.”

The troops reacted instantaneously.

But the brief lapse caused by chasing Jason had ensnared the battleships and anti-air equipment. Right before they could aim, dozens of nuclear warheads plunged into the ground.

Several explosions of light swallowed the Invaders.

As the light grew brighter, consuming all sounds around, an immense thunderous roar echoed across the battlefield soon afterward.

PER-R-R-R-RR!!!

Several mushroom clouds ascending from the center of the Invader forces.

The Invaders struck by the powerful shockwave crumbled and shattered on the ground, but that was only the beginning.

A gleam flashed above Megabase’s head.

The breath of the crimson dragon launched from space pierced through Megabase in a flash.

“Alright, now! Fire all!”

Under Banetta’s command, the railgun barrage continued one after another.

Each shot shattered the ground and ignited tremendous smoke and fire.

When all the ammunition was spent, the dragon fell silent.

But that wasn’t the end.

“Alright, let’s finish this! Drop it!”

The artificial shadow that fell upon the ground.

A colossal golden ring, accelerated by hastily prepared propulsion devices, dove toward the ground.

It was the wreckage of the flagship from the First Interstellar fleet, the orbital station.

“It’s the orbital station!”

The round ring receiving gravity’s acceleration and speeding down.

The graveyard of the defeated became a mighty force heading toward the impregnable fortress atop Megabase.

KOOOONG!

A monumental explosion and smoke.

The sight of Megabase disappeared behind the thick dust cloud rising after the consecutive attacks.

“Oooh…?”

The spreading anticipation and excitement among the soldiers watching this scene.

“Destroye—”

“Jack, shut it.”

“Okay.”

Plugging Edward’s mouth as he was about to utter a revival spell, I continued observing the situation.

The billowing smoke slowly dissipated.

That’s when a flash of light shot out from the smoke.

The thunderous roar that shook the battlefield.

A high-output plasma barrage shot like a line, piercing through the right side of the third defense line and erasing the mountain and cliff located there.

GRRUUUUMMMMM…

The heavy rail sound that shook the ground.

ZIIIP, ZIIIP—

From the bottom of the finished attack chassis, vapors continuously spurted, creating a white streak.

Megabase marched forward majestically through the thick dust and the burning wasteland.

“Order, all forces, deploy.”

Its flanks were followed by the battle ships, and the Invader forces moved forward again.

“Annihilation begins.”