Chapter 266

The 15-type recoilless gun tactical support system is the most powerful infantry heavy weapon that non-awakened soldiers of the Federal Army can operate. Commonly referred to as a tactical nuclear launcher, this weapon is used across various infantry units ranging from small squads to larger battalions.

Despite several rounds of repainting and maintenance, the rugged body reveals its age, having been developed nearly half a century ago.

The Federal Army favored this weapon. The influence of Ether—which hampers communication networks and disrupts complex precision sensors—couldn’t damage this simple piece of metal.

With just a few operations, it can adjust from single-shot firepower equivalent to aerial bombs to the firepower of thousands of tons of military explosives.

It’s simple and rough, yet it boasts an honesty that doesn’t deceive its owner.

Perhaps because of this similarity, the Restraid Clan, which used its connections with the Federal Parliament to replace the upper echelons of the special forces, actively utilized this weapon.

Due to a treaty made during the old civil war, the clan couldn’t possess strategic weapons, but with some political loopholes, they could use it under limited situations with support from the Federal Army.

The indiscriminate barrage of tactical nuclear warheads obliterated the city of Asteria.

Although power was adjusted, the shockwaves lightly impacted the convention center.

Thanks to that, obstructive barriers were quickly cleared away.

Of course, nuclear weapons alone weren’t enough.

“Code Omega is intact.”

This was a fact proven by ancestors during the final stages of the First Great War. I didn’t harbor high expectations.

“Multiple monster forces are entering. Some are regenerating, while others are continuously entering through underground passages and temporary gates.”

The large and small multiple sensors attached to the armored knights’ helmets and armors blinked.

Sound waves, radar, infrared, and magical tracking systems relayed the situation of monsters rising from the ground directly to the users without filtration.

-Shoo!

Once again, as a test, two nuclear warheads flew towards the direction of the Apostle.

Once more, a brilliant flash rose up. The helmet’s lens automatically shut down to protect the user’s eyes.

The tactical assistance system inside the visor displayed the rapidly rising radiation levels.

The knights took it lightly. It’s fine; this level of radiation wouldn’t harm the Awakened.

A transmission interrupted.

“Neutralization failed.”

The first nuclear warhead exploded right next to the Apostle. A crater comparable to a star briefly swept through, but the Apostle emerged unscathed from the thick clouds.

Soon, the second projectile flew in.

The Apostle turned its head, and with a dismissive explosion, it shattered into lightweight paper fragments.

The Apostle scoffed.

Thanks to the weapons humans had just launched, the mental stimulation from the Violets dissipated, granting it the time to fully recover its body’s condition.

“Did you really think a crude nuclear fission would bring us down?”

Once again, the wave of monsters that had regrouped approached.

Amidst the support fire from the large monsters, various other monsters revealed their teeth and weapons.

“Confirmed, the nuclear weapon clearly did not affect the Apostle.”

Upon receiving this report, the commander of the guard at the front line issued a command.

“Just as expected, proceed to the next stage. Advance!”

The armored knights moved forward.

Heavy footsteps echoed on the shattered road, the sound of metal armor clashing vibrated through the air.

Was this how the legendary knight order of the old Arnor Kingdom marched?

The armored knights advanced in formation, just like medieval cavalry.

What they wore was not the full plate armor of their ancestors. Not the feeble horses that could be taken down by a single shot from a matchlock.

What accompanied the knights was the apex of modern science.

From the first steam armor to internal combustion engines, nuclear batteries, and fusion reactors, the legacy of the Restraid armored suits could rival the finest bloodlines of warhorses.

They advanced like cavalry.

Flat footfalls, the lightest and slowest steps.

The armored knights entered the battlefield. Every time their heavy steps stomped, the glassy ground groaned in agony.

Each knight maintained a perfect stride and balance, moving with the precision of an intricately crafted machine.

Breaking news, their speed began to gradually increase.

Hydraulic joints operated smoothly, enhancing their gait with newfound vigor.

Hydraulic cylinders moved vigorously, joint motors spun, and the strides widened.

Trotting, the knights drew their weapons and readied themselves.

Artificial muscles contracted and relaxed with power. The reactors in their backs pumped vitality through every intricate detail of their armor as if their hearts were beating.

The howling wave of monsters unveiled sharp fangs and claws. The tactical support system blared a scream-like alarm.

The silhouettes of enemies crowded the visors with an overwhelming presence.

Prepare for the moment of impact.

“Charge!”

Just as medieval heavy cavalry would brandish their spears, the front-line knights raised their lances high.

Incoming reports, it was time to face death and sprint forward.

The clashing of metal rang out. The backs of the armored knights opened, revealing hatch-like wings.

Boosters sprang forth powerfully. Ethereal blue flames ignited the air as they surged outward.

Spear-like cavalry spears shot forward at the speed of sound.

-Bang!

The collision erupted. An explosion-like roar, flesh spraying in all directions.

The armor and shields absorbed the impact and blocked enemy fire, but the aftermath of the shock enveloped the area in a sandstorm.

“Advance!”

The knights swept through the monster horde like a tempest.

The claws of the lowest-tier monsters slipped and scratched against their armor.

In the first charge, the cavalry spear pierced the vital spots of the large monsters blocking their path.

The spear exploded, crushing the monster’s body. Without hesitation, they drew their blades.

The clash of metal and monstrous howls intermingled. Artificial muscles contracted fiercely, and sub-motors screeched like dying beasts.

Sword energy sliced through flesh while hammers crushed bones.

The outcome was one-sided. They splintered, severed, melted, and evaporated.

“Gwaah!”

-Crunch!

The charge of the armored knights split the monster forces in half.

The steel lions roared through the battlefield stained with blood and flesh.

The combination of swords and large shields stubbornly pushed back against the wave of monsters, pushing upstream in retaliation.

As if a steamroller were crushing its target, the Restraid charge was swift and merciless.

“Oh, no…?”

The Violets stood dumbfounded.

The joint army of monsters they had been battling for dozens of minutes crumbled before the knights in the blink of an eye.

The armored knights continued to press forward, turning into a wave, pushing back against the monsters.

The charge persisted. The front line cut through monsters with swords and spears, their cutting strikes shredding the air as they did so.

They pulled out bolt launchers, piercing the heads of mid-tier monsters, and coordinated to incapacitate the limbs of higher-level monsters.

-Kwooooom!

As ruthless beams of magical energy approached, the knights raised their shields.

As the magic from the shields connected, a barrier formed. The beams that collided dispersed, scattering in dozens of directions.

Knights charged at the monster heads that spat out beams.

-Crunch!

With one blow, the monsters were split in two.

As the knights advanced, a furrow of monster corpses was left in their wake. Crushed bones and flesh, mangled remains.

The Violets etched all those scenes into their minds, dazed.

The relentless slaughtering knights suddenly stopped.

As the knights came to a halt right before the Apostle, the Violets tilted their heads in confusion.

“What’s going on?”

“From this distance, definitely…”

The Violets thought. The Apostle’s power of reality manipulation only extended so far.

As the Apostle approached with the remaining monsters, a small smoke grenade hung from its shoulder.

The surroundings thickened like a fog. Armored knights darted around in the mist.

Rather than engaging in close combat, the knights moved carefully, firing warning shots to restrain the Apostle.

Just as Violet was busily watching, a thin finger poked at her cheek.

“Hey, Violet. How long are you going to stand there watching?”

“Ah, what? They’re fighting so well! If it seems like they’re at a disadvantage, I’ll jump in.”

As Violet spoke, Sophie El shook her head.

“I already told you when we brought you here. There are two Apostles. I don’t know if the Restraid Clan can win, but what about the other Apostle?”

“Oh, right…”

Violet finally remembered the problem she had forgotten.

“Where is that Apostle?”

“Coming very soon!”

The dazed Violet mobile unit began to move once again.

The hesitant standoff endured for a short time. The smoke didn’t seem to do much in blocking the Apostle’s attacks.

Just as Violet began to feel doubt about the knights’ actions.

“Look over there.”

Countless black objects flew down from the sky.

After the terror orchestrated by the Ariel Group last October, Magnavis fled to the continent.

Violet’s terror had certainly dealt a significant blow. Most of Magnavis’s assets had slipped out of the academy city.

Some remaining assets were either consumed in acts of sabotage or fell into the black market through incompetent hands.

Not everyone who acquired it saw significant success.

Magnavis’s bizarre magical devices and technologies required a level of understanding that was refined and nuanced, bordering on exquisite.

Without a kind instruction manual and technicians at their side, it couldn’t be put to use.

The first card that Restraid pulled to capture the Apostle was such an item.

“Stalemate. Casualties are continually increasing. When will preparations be complete?”

The commander of the guard contacted the higher-ups who were waiting in the rear. Indeed, the Apostles were no joke. The proud Restraid armored knights fell one by one in reality.

“They were launched, stand by. Expected time of arrival in 5 seconds.”

And with a thud, the black object crashed to the ground.

It was slightly smaller than an adult man, topped with a round sphere, resembling a large lollipop in appearance.

-Thud! Thud!

One, two, three, the number of objects embedding in the ground near the Apostle kept increasing. In the blink of an eye, the area around the Apostle resembled a landscape sprouted with dozens of black lollipops.

As the deployment ended, the device inside the dark sphere activated. The mechanism began to pump a large amount of drugs and electrical stimuli into the dormant mass of gray matter.

“Activate the Hyper-phenomenon Suppression Stakes!”

In an instant, the surroundings were filled with a spine-chilling cacophony. Even the heavily armored knights and those with strong wills flinched and stepped back from the screams and wails.

“What, what is that?!”

The Apostle looked around in horror and realized that its powers were ineffective.

It was a similar shock to the mental one Violet used before.

Its eyes turned toward the devices embedded in the ground, and it licked its lips in human insanity.

“Do these crazy fools think they can use my kin as tools?”

Each stake held a human brain within their black orbs.

The dormant brains emitted a daunting magical wave, igniting with the last moments of their pain and nightmares.

The short screams, tainted with agony, crossed into dozens of small waves, disturbing the flow of magic in the entire area.

“Adriana pattern spike, normal operation confirmed. Begin combat. Commence battle!”

The commander of the guard issued the command with a voice mixed with excitement.

The knights rushed forward toward the Apostle without hesitation. Countless scratches embossed in moments.

“Kill the monster!”

“For Restraid!”

In the frenzied assault of the knights, the Apostle wielded its sword to counter.

“The stakes are functioning normally! Its abilities have been weakened!”

Hearing the report from the commander of the guard, the supreme commander chuckled in bemusement.

“Damn it, Noltys, you old fool! You’ve created something utterly insane. And it actually works!”

S-1281 Adriana Pattern Spike, also known as Hyper-phenomenon Suppression Stakes.

The invention born from the incomplete magic formula of the great magician’s fiancée dutifully fulfilled its role for its intended purpose.

“The problem is that it’s a disposable product with less than ten minutes of operational time.”

The constant streams of reports revealed the urgency of the situation.

“Brainwave levels for stakes 2, 16, and 21 are weakening. I will adjust the drug concentrations.”

“Stake 5, destroyed! Stake 9, output weakened! Damage confirmed!”

The stakes functioning by burning individual lives served only to interfere with the powers of reality manipulation. They were merely nets to capture beasts.

A decisive blow was needed to sever the lifeline.

“My knights, we will soon emerge.”

Cordo retrieved another dagger.

The gasping Apostle raised its gaze to the sky.

A giant shadow cast down on the ground. Everyone’s eyes turned skyward.

A mix of surprise, awe, and fear erupted into exclamations.

“It’s coming! The supreme commander is coming!”

-Kwaang!

The Steel Giant descended from the air and landed.

Its appearance was rather simple. Due to being an experimental machine, it wasn’t outfitted with heavy armaments.

The only weapon it bore was a massive sword. There were no decorations.

It was a simplicity seen on a newly manufactured car, far from tuning.

However, no one could dare to dismiss the oppressive presence of that eight-meter-tall Steel Giant.

Originally, it was only a fraction of the planned size, having reflected only part of the original design.

However, Cordo and Restraid found satisfaction in its stature. This would be enough to capture that monster alive.

“I have arrived.”

As the commander’s voice resounded across the battlefield, the knights cheered and raised their weapons.

“The Colossus has arrived! The commander has come!”

“Victory! Victory! Victory is assured!”

With a gleam of killing intent, the assault on the Apostle’s reality manipulation cut through the mental interference.

The space warped, and crushing gravity pressed down upon the Colossus. The giant rocked and swayed under its weight.

-Kiiing!

The giant stepped forward, defiantly disregarding it with remarkable stubbornness.

The Apostle’s mind was engulfed in confusion.

What was wrong? It had used its abilities considering the interference, so why?

Once again, reality twisted.

The armor crumpled, melted, and buckled apart.

It had to scatter.

It was clear that the enormous machine was trembling and cracking little by little.

But that giant stubbornly resisted change.

The pilot of the Colossus smiled with contempt.

“Did you think I would fall?”

The commander laughed. Every movement of his body was echoed by the steadfast movement of the Colossus.

The Apostle realized that the human weapon was obstinately rejecting the distortions of reality. This was not a metaphor.

The armor was so stubborn, reflecting the unwavering spirit of the human within it, that not even a scratch marred its surface.

In a rush, the Apostle’s brain processed the phenomena before its eyes.

The power the machine held was overwhelming.

Whatever energy source was used, the power utilized in the knights’ armor paled in comparison to that of the Steel Giant, like a candle next to the sun.

The solution came quickly. The Apostle still felt suspicious.

Could it be that they forcibly amplified the will of the user by harnessing robust energy output?

Is that even possible?

“That’s absurd; there’s no way they could form an unstable reality-altering field using such a crude method-”

In the next moment, the Colossus moved.

Like lightning, a strike dashed forward. The Apostle’s instincts detected the attack.

There was no room for complacency; every defensive measure was deployed.

From the most basic Ether Protection to high-speed motion-interference barriers, magic shields, spatial distortion, refraction, and reflection. All known means were enacted.

With overwhelming conviction underlying the folly, a sword imbued with a titanic will shredded all of that twisted reality.

-Kwaang!

The great sword struck the Apostle’s body. The moment the massive blade collided, shockwaves and heat radiated outward.

“Graaah!”

The impact slammed the Apostle mercilessly into the ground.

Dust swirled everywhere, the land cracked. The frontline’s spearhead rolled to the ground in a tempest of fury.

The commander guffawed.

“It works after all.”

The Apostle’s mind was filled with bewilderment.

Where on earth did these humans congregate?

“What the hell is this human!”

The Colossus arrogantly raised its sword and declared.

“Stand, monster. I’ll tear you apart.”

As the Restraid experimental machine faced the Apostle, the Violet search unit sprinted through the underground passages, shaken free from the shock of the nuclear attack.

The Apostle’s thoughts flowed like water into their minds in real-time.

“Ah, no! It’s coming! It’s coming! I can feel it! Get away!”

Fear and anxiety.

“But if this passage opens up, I can escape. I can get support from other forces!”

Desperation mixed with hope.

“What kind of machinery is that?”

Incredulity and shock.

Violet felt it. It was akin to a working adult or student returning home after a long day.

The closer she got, the more the scent of home wafted.

The familiar aroma of dinner, the sounds of chatter, the gentle clanking of utensils.

All the emotions the Apostle emitted felt uncommonly close to Violet.

“There it is!”

Violet poked her head cautiously out of the underground passageway. The female Apostle turned her head, gasping in terror.

In a dim corner of the dark temple, in front of a shimmering space resembling a gate, numerous figures chanted unknown words in prayer.

“Ugh, no! The opening process isn’t complete yet!!”

Black girls were pouring into the temple.

The Violet search unit swiftly knocked out the people there and left them unconscious.

Sensing the impending danger, the Apostle revealed her true form.

A grotesque giant, similar to its kin, loomed to fill the interior of the temple.

“It won’t fall. I will hold out!”

The female Apostle screamed and swung her sword.

Seeing this, the Violets were overwhelmingly convinced: they had to kill this thing here.

“It feels like I have to kill that one over there!”

“If we knock it down, won’t something good happen?”

The reason was unclear. They just felt a strong urge to do so, as if killing that creature would lead to something more significant.

“It’ll be opened soon! If that happens—”

But they could not delay any longer.

The rift resembling a gate in the back was steadily growing bigger.

The Violet Command Center issued orders.

“Activate the interdimensional signal device!”

Unit 141 quietly took out an object resembling a signal flare from within the folds of its clothing.

While Violet wished she could share tactical maps with others,

her friends were on the way.

“What have you done?!”

“Yep, called my friends. Let’s play together!”

A beam of magical light shot up into the sky.

The beam of magic crossing dimensions reached the helicopter beyond the veil.

“The signal from the interdimensional signal device has been detected!”

Hearing the shout of the squad member, Irene questioned somewhere.

“…Are you ready? Father?”

-No issues, begin. Acting CEO.

Having confirmed this, Irene issued her orders without hesitation.

“All units, commence descent!”

As the ramp of the waiting transport helicopter opened, a fierce wind welcomed them.

One by one, equipped hunters leapt from the gradually darkening sky, cutting through the buzzing sound, past the colorful veil. As they pierced through the veil, gray skies embraced them.

Adjusting towards the signal position, the Helios Strike Force fell from the sky.

Simultaneously, a helicopter carrying heavy equipment gradually reduced its speed in the air.

Once it released its tension, the cargo also dropped to the ground.

“Friends are coming!”

“Irene is coming!”

The Violets seized the desperate Apostle attempting to flee from its true form.

It was time to bring everything to an end.

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