Chapter 188

Wiiing- Wiiing-

In the ruins of the city, the alarm echoes.

Alone floating destroyer’s arsenal opens, and numerous shuttles head towards the ground.

Shuttles land in old parking lots or open spaces. The doors open, and soldiers pour out.

“Quick, quick, move! The enemy is coming!!”

Urged on by the commander, the Ustansha Empire soldiers increase their speed.

Next to the empty boulevard, something stirs with a loud noise.

A large head shaped like a diamond lying on its side with tentacle-like legs sprouting from it.

The Empire’s war machine, the Tripod, emits a blaze of light as it advances alongside the infantry.

The soldiers spread out like flowing water into the outskirts of the city, entering the vacant buildings.

Upon reaching an appropriate floor, soldiers reach towards their waist and pull out long cylindrical objects.

Soldiers open the covers and press the attached buttons before rolling out the cylindrical objects like bowling balls, making rolling sounds as they come forward.

Shortly after, the rolling objects light up with a blue glow as small legs sprout and stabilize on the ground.

Wooowwng-

With a noise, barriers rise from the cylindrical objects.

Portable installed barriers appear in various places, hastily turning the previously unimportant building interiors into makeshift fortifications.

“Don’t just install one; layer them!”

The portable installed barriers are set up in layers.

In the meantime, shadows fall beside the buildings.

Boom, boom.

The heavy vibrations spreading with noise.

The Tripods at the front line take their positions on the boulevard edges, blocking the road.

Above their heads, the destroyer slowly rotates.

A drop of sweat rolls down the forehead of the tired-looking alien sitting in the captain’s chair.

“How many enemies?”

“Ke, they keep increasing!”

On the bridge screens, the radar shows a green tide approaching them.

“Damn, damn, damn!”

The destroyer captain mutters anxiously to himself and smacks the captain’s chair handle with a “Kung.”

“Activate all weapons! Stop them!”

“All weapons activated! Intercept!”

All the destroyer’s cannons emit fire.

Large beam cannons and heavy rapid-fire cannons fly over the soldiers’ heads towards the distance.

A large explosion occurs beyond the ridge, and a small hope blossoms on the soldiers’ faces, but that hope is cut short as a sound signaling despair is heard.

Guurrrrllng-

Keeereeeek-

Vibrations shaking the ground and the sharp noises from ceaselessly moving engines.

The steel army advances against the sunset sky.

The bright blue sensors stand out even in the heat-hazy landscape.

In the midst of the advancing tanks stands the silhouette of a heavily armored vehicle where a black shadow wavers. The voice of the small girl commander echoes.

[ Umm, pushing soldiers into old buildings, eh? Just as I thought, the rear defense force is nothing much. Charge! Wipe them all out! ]

[ Orders confirmed. Initiating the attack. ]

Kaaaang!

Muzzles spitting fire.

With that, the first and second rows of tanks open fire simultaneously.

“Artillery, incoming artillery!”

“Get down!!”

Soldiers crouch behind the barriers.

Artillery shells strike the outskirts of the city.

Phuoooom, Kwaahaaang!

Deafening explosions and rising flames.

A big shock wave engulfs the soldiers.

“U-”

Phooowwwng!

Unfortunate soldiers hit directly by the incoming shells disintegrate before they can even scream.

Kwaahaaang!

“Uaaaahk!”

Soldiers caught in explosions nearby are engulfed in black smoke, becoming one with the debris and perishing.

“Damn…! Fire back! Respond-”

Just as the field commander raises his head to shout,

Another barrage of shells is incoming.

A shell flies directly toward the field commander’s location.

“Ah.”

Phueeerrrrng!

Artillery rain covering the outskirts of the ghost town.

Under the overwhelming firepower disparity, sweat runs down the destroyer captain’s forehead.

“What are you doing?! Keep firing!”

“We are continuously firing! However, the number of enemies…!”

The deputy captain stammers under the destroyer captain’s urging.

Indeed, the number of enemies on the radar screen in the bridge is increasing rather than decreasing.

Like green algae filling up a lake, blue dots overrun the radar screen and advance towards them.

“Damn…!!”

The destroyer captain reviews the battle situation again.

– Kwaang, Pung!

A Tripod advancing to block the enemy is hit by concentrated artillery fire, becoming a heap of scrap metal.

Infantry inside the building besieged by falling debris are seen being crushed while trying to escape.

“Grrk…!”

Although our side continues to counterattack, the reality is that the infantry-based force is powerless against the enemy’s armored units.

With no visible small hope left, the deputy captain looks anxiously at the destroyer captain.

“Captain, a decision needs to be made. We can’t hold them off with just us!”

“Not possible! If we give up this place, the main force’s flanks and rear will be completely exposed!”

“If we were to hold out, we still won’t be able to stop their advance! It would be better to retreat now and plan for future actions…!”

“Grrk…!”

With a furrowed brow, the destroyer captain hesitates.

Just then, something up in the sky reflects light like a myriad of stars.

The radar operator widens his eyes.

“Cap, Captain!! Artillery, enemy artillery incoming!”

“Artillery?!”

Kwaahhhkwah!!

A red flash and dark smoke engulf the destroyer’s bridge. The shockwaves of successive explosions reverberate inside the destroyer.

“Uaaaahk!?”

Startled soldiers.

“Grk!”

Though startled, the destroyer captain doesn’t express their inner turmoil and focuses on the response.

“Check the status of the barrier!”

“Ba, Barrier output down to 30%! We can’t withstand the next barrage!”

“Captain!!”

The deputy captain’s urgent cry.

“Damn…!”

…..

A place far from the front line.

In the middle of concentrating while surrounded by countless holographic screens in the back of a truck, something unusual about the enemy catches the eye.

“Hmm?”

The destroyer’s bow is slowly rotating, and the light intensity from the engine at the rear is increasing.

A short while later, the destroyer, having turned its bow, accelerates and evacuates the battlefield alone.

“Hmm?”

“Edu, what’s wrong?”

Nisia’s voice.

“The enemy destroyer abandoned its subordinates and fled, quite an unsympathetic fellow.”

“Eh? Can we just let it go?”

“Though it’s good to reduce the number of enemies, even taking down a destroyer or two won’t dramatically change the situation, so there’s no need to chase unnecessarily?”

“I see.”

Nisia nods.

Turning her head back, she examines the holographic screens surrounding her one by one, forming a rough picture of the battle situation in her mind.

The last standing Tripods collapse as they are struck by concentrated artillery, causing the enemy’s defense line to crumble.

“Great, looks like it went well.”

“Did we win?”

“Yeah, but this is just the beginning, so we have to focus more.”

Here it must be noted that this was only a skirmish.

To firmly imprint the danger of the Invaders on the Ustansha minds, further significant achievements were necessary.

“Then, should we wake Musina? We need to invade the enemy’s camp now, so let’s prepare.”

“Yeah, understood.”

…..

The empire fleet crossing the skies.

A large-scale fleet centered around old, sturdy-looking ships moves forward quickly.

“Forgive me, Master. You must be tired from the long journey, yet I bring such a matter…”

“It’s alright, it’s not something you need to apologize for.”

The insect-like alien admiral firmly denies the bow of Ge-lang and stops his action.

“As I mentioned earlier, battles are always like this. Things rarely go according to plan.”

“…Understood, Master.”

As the referred-to alien pats Ge-lang’s shoulder and reassures him, an alien officer approaching from behind salutes them.

After they return the salute, the alien turns his gaze to the one called Master.

“Admiral Yi-otun, there’s something I must report….”

“Hmm, speak.”

Responding to Admiral Yi-otun’s words, the alien officer glances momentarily at Ge-lang before nodding.

“All attack preparations for ground forces and fleet have been completed, exactly as you ordered. We are ready for combat whenever necessary.”

“Good, maintain that state.”

“Yes, Admiral!”

The officer salutes again and returns to his position.

Yi-otun tilts his head from side to side and turns to one of his subordinates checking the communication equipment.

“Are there any additional reports?”

“Yes, Admiral, there’s been no contact at all.”

“Hmm…”

Lost in thought, Yi-otun.

At that moment, a soldier monitoring the radar sharply turns his head and looks at them.

“Admiral! Friendly ships are approaching from the front!”

“Identify the code, and display the ship on the screen.”

“Yes, Admiral!”

A moment later, an image appears on the bridge screens.

A destroyer rushing towards them and another soldier loudly announces.

“Identified, LAN8021 code, confirmed as belonging to the 4th Interstellar Navigation Fleet’s Milam-class destroyer!”

The soldier’s answer earns a nod from Yi-otun.

“Ge-lang?”

“Yes, confirmed as the destroyer I dispatched.”

After confirming once again with Ge-lang, Yi-otun stretches out his hand and gives an order.

“Send an immediate message to the destroyer. Adjust all ships to low speed and form a bombardment formation.”

“Understood, Admiral. All ships adjust to low speed! Form a bombardment formation!”

“Low speed forward, bombardment formation!”

A somewhat odd order at first glance, but neither soldiers nor officers asked questions, promptly following the order.

Adjusting the fleet position, all ships’ cannons aim toward the approaching destroyer.

The short silence is broken as a communications officer turns to them.

“Admiral, we received a reply from the destroyer. What do you intend to do?”

“Connect the communication.”

“Yes, Admiral!”

The image of the approaching destroyer moves to one side of the screen, and the face that fills the main screen reveals an alien with a fish-like appearance.

[ Yo—this is Destroyer 32 of the 4th Interstellar Navigation Fleet, Captain Gluck here! Don’t shoot!]

Gluck, the destroyer captain, raises his voice urgently, having picked up on our readiness to respond.

Hearing this, Yi-otun nods.

“Calm down, Captain Gluck. This is a routine measure, nothing more.”

[ Th, that’s good, right?]

“Yes. First, I want to check if there are any issues with the ship and you. To this end, would you mind allowing our troops to board your ship?”

[ That’s fine.]

“Good, I thank for your cooperation.”

Yi-otun’s head turns slightly, and the communications officer who notices nods with a salute.

The hangar opens, and shuttles head towards the destroyer stopped in front of the fleet.

Amid the heavy atmosphere, time moves on, and another figure appears on the bridge screens.

Standard soldiers of the Empire Army, equipped with full-body exoskeletons plated with iron and armed with various firearms.

The insignia and color on their shoulders represent their affiliation with Yi-otun’s 8th Main Fleet.

[ Admiral, we’ve thoroughly investigated the interior of the ship, but there are no unusual traces.]

“Hmm, well done. Prepare to return.”

[ Yes, Admiral!]

The soldiers’ figures disappear from the screen and the destroyer’s captain Gluck reappears.

“Let’s proceed, Captain Gluck. Did you report seeing native organisms advancing?”

[ Yes! As we speak, the enemy is still advancing! We must act quickly—]

“Calm down, that’s why we’re here.”

Yi-otun cuts off Gluck’s words.

Tilting his head left and right while staring intently at Gluck, Yi-otun continues.

“But why are you here, Captain Gluck? No retreat orders have been issued, have they?”

[ T, that’s….]

Gluck flinches.

To which Yi-otun slowly adds his sentence.

“Not overly anxious, I’m not reprimanding you. I’m merely curious as to why you made such a judgment.”

[ …….]

“Captain Gluck?”

An ordinary question, yet the tone carries a sense of pressure.

After a long silence, Gluck finally struggles to open his mouth under the continuous gaze.

[ I, it’s because… the power gap was too extreme, and solitary resistance felt meaningless.]

“Hmm, so you weren’t fleeing out of fear, right?”

[ That’s right! As a soldier of the Empire, how could I possibly fear death!! Just, if I must die, then let it not be without purpose…!]

“Your heart is understood, Captain Gluck. If the battle situation has already tilted, preserving power can be a wise choice.”

Yi-otun suddenly approving Gluck’s argument.

Watching the conversation, Ge-lang’s feelers give a slight shake.

‘Things never change with him.’

This was the frightening aspect of his master, Yi-otun.

Using his position skillfully to pressure and lead the other, then suddenly showing understanding, crumbling the tension.

[ Do you believe me?]

“Of course, we are all comrades in the Empire army, are we not?”

[ Thank you, Admiral!]

The subordinate already swayed halfway by Yi-otun’s words.

However, Ge-lang knows it’s not the time to dwell on such trivial matters.

“Then, I’d like to hear more details. Would that be fine?”

[ Of course! Only the situation is urgent, so would it be alright to discuss while we move?]

“Good idea, let’s do that.”

The destroyer’s bow turns.

The destroyer heads back along the path it came, followed by the large fleet behind it.

Even as they move, the conversation continues.

[ …Most of them are composed of tanks and armed vehicles. The equipment may be outdated, but their numbers are not to be underestimated…]

“Indeed.”

Yi-otun and Gluck continue exchanging information, while staring at the black screen displaying the enemy’s form.

As they keep exchanging information, the silhouette of a city appears beyond the ridge.

“Admiral, our destination is ahead.”

“Alright, all ships spread out and take bombardment formation. Support the ground forces and head into the city.”

“Understood, Admiral! Take bombardment formation! Land the ground forces! Land the ground forces!”

The numerous hangars of the ships open as countless shuttles descend into the shadows cast by the hovering fleet, unleashing a flood of soldiers and weapons.

“Combat readiness! Combat readiness!”

“Place the Tripods and antigrav tanks at the front! Infantry will follow from behind!”

The soldiers move in unison.

Shortly after, the communications officer turns toward Yi-otun.

“Admiral, the ground forces deployment is complete!”

“Hmm, advance.”

“Understood! Advance!!”

The Empire’s forces move forward.

Above their heads, the fleet cruises in straight lines, casting long shadows that move with them.

The closer they get to the city, the more the tension rises.

And when they finally arrive at the city…

[ …Huh?]

It was completely empty.