Chapter 171: The Third Force (6)
“Although it was a short time, we will now fight here alongside the Sacred Tree.”
The spell cast by the fairies was unique to their homeland. However, they never expected that, when casting it in their homeland, the output would draw upon the power of a gigantic spaceship, far beyond their magical capabilities.
As the borrowed magic, combined with their own, was cast, a tremendous rift began to appear in the air.
‘Similar yet slightly different from the Sacred Tree.’
Eve, who already possessed restricted information about the Sacred Tree, let out a small sigh upon seeing a part of the enormous tree emerging from the rift.
“I can’t believe it. A tree that gigantic in outer space?”
Liam’s reaction was a bit more emotional. The scale was larger than that of a kilometer-class spaceship, but the mere existence of a tree with lush green leaves in space was a scene he could never have imagined.
“Is there any information? What on earth is that tree?”
‘I don’t know either.’
Liam requested information from Eve, the higher command entity, but Eve was equally uninformed.
It was clear that the enemy had prepared a powerful move, and its power was obvious even without witnessing it. However, Eve could not retreat the army now; they had to hold their ground for the time being.
‘Attack. We can find out the information later. Will it really be effective against an enemy numbering in the thousands?’
Eve first issued the attack command. After all, the fact that they were in a favorable position had not changed. Soon, the spread-out fleets, under Liam’s command, rushed toward the enemy fleet.
“That number is thirty thousand… no, over forty thousand! Is it really feasible to face them?!”
“While annihilation is impossible, we can hold our ground. Our original goal is to create chaos on the ground, isn’t it?!”
The commander, anxious from the overwhelming numbers, questioned again, but the fairies, who were experiencing a battle of this form for the first time, were just as nervous.
In the battlefield of the new era, where nothing could be guaranteed, the two formations drew close to each other in an instant.
“Open fire!”
Both sides faithfully executed the basics of a fleet battle. Colorful energy beams poured toward each other, and the flickering energy shields trembled under the barrage.
“The shields…!”
At that moment, the captains, who had gritted their teeth, widened their eyes in disbelief. No matter how strong the firepower of the fleet was compared to individual ships, numbers ultimately meant nothing. Just based on simple calculations, the shields should have shattered on the first hit, resulting in damage to the ships, but the dazzling shields remained unbroken.
The human fleet continued to move forward, clustered together under shining shields without any slowdown. On the contrary, the approaching fleets, trying to close the distance, could not withstand the firepower and were shattered or exploded.
“This is our power. We have no time to admire it; execute the operation immediately!”
“Prepare for assault! Set the target point!”
“We need to take control of the skies!”
In that moment, the fairies, whose expressions turned from joy to urgency, pressured everyone to move busily.
While the legion’s fleets surrounded the area and showered firepower, the united fleet, borrowing the power of the World Tree to amplify their energy shields, advanced into the planetary domain. Below them, the legion’s nest was, of course, spread out wide.
“It seems they’ve concluded that eliminating our nest is their priority over reclaiming their homeland. Luckily, it seems they cannot enter the planet in that state.”
‘Interesting… very interesting.’
As Liam commanded the fleet while striking down the near-impenetrable shield, he made an accurate judgment.
Furious, Eve tried to conceal her anger and moved her troops. The enemies of the universe had to be left to Liam, as she needed to stop the ground forces from launching an attack.
“I will strike with the main gun installed in the fortress. Even though focusing fire on one point may create a gap, in that interval, we can retaliate against those sharpened ears and send that tree back.”
‘…Fine. Let’s do it.’
Liam immediately proposed a new strategy, and Eve ultimately approved it.
However, the allied forces were already executing their operation. Clicking her tongue, Eve had to hold back the enemies attempting to infiltrate with the troops inside the planet.
*
“From here on out, it’s purely a battle of skills! Open fire!”
“We need to secure an assault route!”
Slightly below where a large-scale and fierce battle was raging, one escort ship entered the atmosphere and poured missiles and energy beams onto a similar-class enemy ship.
“Alright!”
They successfully forced the enemy ship to fall. However, some of the other escort ships were not as fortunate. They were penetrated by the sharp and solid beaks of the enemy vessels, wrapped in tentacles, and either plummeted or exploded.
“Look at that swarming mess below.”
“If we can’t hold out, we won’t be able to touch those bastards.”
As the soldier at the fighter jet’s controls was startled by the scene of the ground below, his comrade next to him gritted his teeth.
The nest and the legionnaires swarming to defend it.
They had to confront those monsters now. Their singular goal was clear: to create an opening for the ground forces to land. With the shield provided by the Sacred Tree rendering any half-hearted bombardment useless, they had to ensure their forces could land to strike the nest.
“Launch!”
As the fighter jet carrying the two reached the appropriate altitude, they leaped from the ship and unleashed machine-gun fire and shells toward the ground.
“Did you see that just now?”
“Die, monsters!!”
The fighter jet, narrowly dodging the breath of a draconic beast responsible for medium artillery in the legion, continued its attack while flying precariously. Other following jets were shot down and fell, but the already highly excited pilots did not stop.
Their mission was to clear the path. They had to take down as many of them as possible, even if it meant losing their own lives.
“…Not yet. Not yet.”
Gripping the controls until it broke, a photo placed beside him flickered in his eyes. It was a photo of his family, mercilessly slaughtered during the assault of those horrific monsters.
He did not let go of the controls until the moment thousands of flying monsters swarmed around and attacked, causing explosions.
“…In this fleeting moment, hundreds, no, thousands have died. This death has created an opportunity. I cannot waste it.”
“I am a warrior too. I understand, comrade. This is a path paved with blood and lives. Nothing can be more precious.”
“If I could communicate with those monsters, I would want to ask—what grudge do they hold against us to do this?”
Gar, the leader of the Gai-Shan tribe, spoke with a sergeant seated in a bipod vehicle. The explosions and flames erupting before their eyes represented human lives and grudges.
To ensure those deaths were not in vain, they had to win this battle.
“Now!”
They leaped out of the transport plane that had barely managed to descend through numerous obstacles.
Bang! With a sound, a four-legged beast bared its teeth and charged at Gar, who landed on the ground.
“Conserve your strength. They will surely come.”
However, that beast collapsed under the sergeant’s burst of machine gun fire nearby, and Gar, heeding his words, held his axe at the ready.
Soon, the endless war of attrition began between the side trying to hold their position with firepower and the side pushing through with their countless numbers.
And the enemy Gar had to face soon appeared.
“An upper-tier species. Uh… a Warrior type? Is that what they call it?”
Gar raised his axe as he observed the upper-tier species leading a large group of legionnaires. The upper-tier being glared at Gar with its four arms brandishing blood-red swords.
“Who are you? As the sergeant said, what is your purpose?”
The clash of the magic-imbued sword and axe produced a shockwave. Gar muttered while parrying the experienced attacks of the skilled swordsman.
Anyone facing off directly could tell. The upper-tier beings, utilizing all the data they had accumulated over time, possessed experience that was not merely seasoned but honed to perfection, and their swordsmanship, a blend of advantages from various factions and styles, was flawless.
“What’s the difference? It doesn’t matter.”
As Gar’s axe exploded with a burst of radiant energy, it effortlessly severed the upper-type’s arm along with the sword it held.
“With an inner drive dedicated solely to slaughter, can you truly achieve a state imbued with genuine valor?”
Sweeping away the swinging tail with a punch, Gar swung down his axe with all his might.
The unleashed red cleave shattered the upper-tier’s barrier and viciously tore through its body, continuing on to leave a deep mark on the ground.
“Clear the path!”
“Commander, strike down the tree for us.”
Gar, shielded by his troops, finally reached the Sacred Tree that had grown to several dozen meters in height. He inhaled deeply and raised his axe.
He did not know what it meant for the legion or for Eve to strike down this Sacred Tree. He only knew that it could inflict a significant blow.
‘These fools…’
Eve was understandably furious. It was a moment where she realized that those who were nothing more than pitiful prey or obstacles that she should have effortlessly crushed with her vastly enhanced power since stepping into the universe could truly stand against her and that she was far from a perfect being.
