Chapter 528

Chapter 528. The Battle with the Vanguard. (1)

Anyway, after seeing all sorts of random stories floating around, I finally got around to finishing the equipment setup and leveling of the ships, so I guess that’s why time flew by.

Time passed and passed, and before I knew it, the final countdown had begun in the blink of an eye.

And right after the final countdown ended…

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[Global Event Message]

<<[‘Grand Cross’ Event has begun!]>>

[Details]

[The event has finally started, and the vanguard of the Grand Cross fortress is advancing towards the Commanders’ bases!]

[Engage in battle against the vanguard and prove your strength, Commanders!]

[Results]

[The vanguard fleet will enter based on the Commanders’ current combat power (excluding base defense fleets).]

[Current Commander’s combat power: 1,148 points worth of main force, 700 points worth of Mercenary Group 1, 500 points worth of Mercenary Group 2, 1 direct mercenary group, and a 550-point faction dispatch team.]

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Seeing that the event had officially started and that the fleet coming at me would roughly be “this much,” I couldn’t help but feel that this was going to be a great fight.

But the problem was, while I was thinking that, Jessica tilted her head and suddenly threw a question at me.

“By the way, Commander, the vanguard from the fortress is directly attacking us here, right?”

“Uh… yeah?”

“But aren’t they not just targeting you, Commander…?”

“…Huh?”

The moment Jessica raised that question, I realized something was off.

-BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!!!

“Ah!”

“Commander, a large fleet is advancing towards us from the front!”

“Wow, that’s a lot.”

“…Come to think of it, there are 2,500 users docked here, so it’s only natural that 2,500 vanguard units are swarming in.”

I had to shed tears as I watched the vanguard forces flooding in, enough to fill the base’s radar network with a red wave.

==========

But when the users, including myself, actually started the battle, the first phase ended much more easily than expected.

The reason was none other than…

-“Fortress main gun 100% charged, ready to fire at any time!”

“Uh, fire~”

-“Firing!!”

-KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The fortress main gun, which had its first real combat experience during the battle with the Punishment Fleet but suffered many humiliating moments due to the enemy being too strong.

To be precise, Tanhoizer’s fortress main gun dealt a devastating blow to the swarming enemy fleet.

Well, even if the enemy fleet had many large ships that could “somewhat” distribute the impact of the fortress main gun…

-“Direct hit confirmed!”

-“10% of the enemy fleet destroyed!”

-“Approximately 7,000 ships sunk!”

“Wow.”

“They’re getting wiped out like moths to a flame.”

Unfortunately for the poor invaders… I mean, the vanguard, as the event notice had already stated, there were no large ships in the vanguard capable of withstanding the firepower of the main gun.

So, every time the main gun fired, the fleet was being massively wiped out.

Of course, no matter how strong the fortress main gun was.

The vanguard’s scale was 2,500 Commanders’ forces + Tanhoizer’s base defense fleets, so it was still a bit much to wipe them all out at once…

—————————————–

[Tanhoizer Mercenary Network Official Chat Room]

[Notice: No PVP during the event]

-[Melting so sweetly every time the main gun fires]

-[Yummy~]

-[Oh wait, they’re coming in from the 11 o’clock direction again]

-[Going to block them]

-[They’re also coming from the 5 o’clock direction, need additional support]

-[I’m going]

-[Me too]

—————————————–

Of course, it wasn’t just the fortress main gun; the firepower from the base and the docked bases’ defense facilities was also impressive.

And the fleets of the docked users weren’t slacking off either…

Exactly 6 hours, 17 minutes, and 39 seconds after seeing the message that the vanguard was invading…

A few seconds later.

—————————————–

[Event]

[Successfully Repelled the Vanguard’s Invasion!]

[Content]

[The vanguard that attempted to invade the Commander has been annihilated!]

[This astonishing fact was immediately reported to the command AI of the ‘Grand Cross,’ which then ordered the main force to sortie to eliminate the Commander!]

[However, since it will take quite some time for the main force to reach the Commander, it seems like a good idea to take a break and reorganize in the meantime!]

[Result]

[Due to the annihilation of the vanguard, progression to Stage 2 is now possible.]

—————————————–

“Hmm…”

“Commander, you look like you’re feeling really empty.”

“Ughhhh.”

“Seems like I was right.”

I watched as the vanguard that had invaded me was wiped out early, and the remaining ships were being captured left and right by ‘plunder squads’ created by other users.

I felt a truly indescribable, very strange emotion.

Moreover, it seemed like I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

—————————————–

[The Most Sacred and Great Icarus Republic Official Chat Room]

[Notice: Grand Cross Event Preparation!]

-[Save me, Mr. President!]

-[Kyaaaaaaah!]

-[Residential district housing!!]

-[Wait, you guys aren’t dying, you’re looting the vanguard ships;;]

-[Avalon is so OP]

-[What about Barracuda and Spiralus?]

-[Well, we came from another region, so we held out, but yeah]

-[Help!]

-[Those guys seem to be dying off]

-[Help!!]

-[Just took out one, and another fleet pops up next to me, so confusing]

-[Mr. President, help us]

-[?](Icarus)

-[Come and put out the fire]

-[LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]

-[LOLOLOLOLOLOL]

—————————————–

Not only users from other bases, but even users from the residential district seemed to be overflowing with leisure.

Seeing this, I couldn’t help but think that maybe the first round was intentionally made easier.

Moreover, while watching the chat room like this…

—————————————–

[The Most Sacred and Great Icarus Republic Official Chat Room]

[Notice: Grand Cross Event Preparation!]

-[I was stationed near the Leviathan Fleet]

-[When the vanguard came my way, the Jörmungandr-Class ships came and fired flame cannons before leaving, hehe]

-[[Picture of 5 Jörmungandr-Class ships and escort ships firing in unison.jpg]]

-[Wow]

-[Guess the flies were really annoying]

-[Haha, maybe I should live near there next time]

-[There are no resource zones near the Leviathan Fleet, and it’s a long way to go, so it’s not recommended for long-term living, FYI]

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Seeing how the mindless drone fleet picked a fight with the Leviathan Fleet and got wiped out, I couldn’t help but think that maybe the developers intentionally made the first round easier.

Of course, this easy progression through Stage 1 probably only applied to users or clans with strong bases like mine.

With no additional invasions in sight, I leisurely checked the gallery while fiddling with Jessica’s ear, intelligence pouch, and soft stocking-covered thighs…

—————————————–

-[F!!!!!U!!!!!C!!!!!K!!!!!ING VANGUARD BASTARDS!!!!!!!](54,656)

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The moment I opened it, I saw a post filled with tears and curses, and I realized that Stage 1 was indeed a case of “strong-weak-weak-strong.”

‘Holy moly.’