"I'll explain the strategy for the Imperial City conquest operation."
After wrapping up the discussion about those who had fled in the night, I started to explain the plan for the upcoming Imperial City conquest to the kings.
"Firstly, I need to make something clear... We stand no chance in a frontal assault."
Although it was an obvious fact, the kings seemed somewhat shocked to hear me, their commander, admit it so candidly.
I spread a map of New Terra on the table and pointed to it.
"The walls of the Imperial City of New Terra are formidable. Coated with various magic defense mechanisms and protected by the Empire's proud airship fleet."
Having been the commander of the southern front, I knew this all too well.
Fighting along fortified walls is an incredible advantage. Even with an ordinary stone fortress and a ragtag army of veterans and rookies, one can offset a multiple-fold difference in troop numbers.
Let alone the magic-enchanted walls of the Imperial Capital, where the elite forces and state-of-the-art equipment are stationed.
The defenders have an overwhelming advantage. Our chances of winning a siege are practically zero.
"We are outclassed in every aspect, from the quality of troops to equipment. A direct siege is practically impossible."
The enemy defeated Lark, the elite of the elite.
In contrast, we're a ragtag group of dethroned kings from the borderlands, having never trained or fought together.
Is there a more fitting example of "bringing a knife to a gunfight"? A head-on conflict would result in our certain annihilation.
"So, despite all this, you brought us here, Ash. Does that mean you have a cunning plan?"
Dusk Bringar asked. I nodded.
"I've infiltrated a 'key' into enemy territory."
The dual agent Metalik, along with the 'Gambler's Club', had been deployed inside the Imperial City.
"They will conduct various operations to open the 'back door' of the city, allowing our elite force to enter."
I pointed past the walls on the map, directly at the heart of the city.
"We'll infiltrate the Imperial Palace and neutralize Fernandes."
"Sounds like a tough mission, yet you speak of it so lightly."
"Whether it's difficult or not isn't the issue."
It's about whether we can achieve it or not. That's all that matters.
"With Emperor Traha on our side, Fernandes' cause and legitimacy are as good as gone."
In a normal wartime situation, we would have waited, let the enemy's morale deteriorate and internal conflicts arise.
With the Emperor on our side, and Fernandes attempting to kill his father and usurp his brother, he's bound to lose public trust.
We could have relied on a war of attrition, allowing the Imperial City to crumble from within.
"The problem is Fernandes' plan... the activation of the 'Shutdown Protocol'. We don't have much time left."
Fernandes' insane plan involved activating a city-wide sacrificial magic circle, the 'Shutdown Protocol', melting all citizens of New Terra to transport their souls in an 'ark' to a new world.
Setting aside the craziness of the plan, the issue is that we don't have much time left before it's activated. Probably only a few days.
'We need to subdue Fernandes quickly.'
Therefore, we have to take some risks.
"The team for the Imperial Palace infiltration will be as follows."
I announced the members who would join me in infiltrating the palace through the back door.
Myself, Damian, Junior, Kuilan and his penal battalion, Verdandi and her Holy Grail Seekers.
Hearing the list, Dusk Bringar expressed concern.
"...Isn't that too few?"
"We need to operate stealthily. There's no need for more."
Each of these individuals was a hero, a superhuman in their own right.
With this team, the operation will be sufficiently manned. More would only draw unnecessary attention.
"To all others, please draw the main enemy force's attention at the southern gate. Duchess Dusk Bringar, I entrust you with the command."
"Hm."
Dusk Bringar nodded. I continued.
"The key to this operation is to subdue Fernandes. In other words... you only need to distract the enemy's main force. Do not risk your lives unnecessarily in battle."
They all need to be available to fight alongside me in the upcoming war against the beasts.
It would be a waste to lose lives in this internal conflict.
"It seems like the brief on the operation is complete. I will communicate more details as we advance north."
I looked around at the kings and nodded.
"Now, it's a race against time. Let's move!"
***
After marching northward vigorously, by evening, the Imperial City of New Terra began to come into view in the distance.
The center of global trade and logistics and the largest city in the world.
Naturally, the outskirts of the city, beyond the walls, were settled by citizens.
Lush plains stretched endlessly with fields and homes.
However, there was no sign of life.
The fields, seemingly untended for months, were overrun with weeds.
Observing this eerie landscape, we silently swallowed our unease.
"Where have all the citizens gone?"
"One of two possibilities. They either evacuated when this area became a warzone, or they've gone inside the city, trying to get on the 'Final Ark'..."
Listening to the kings' conversation, I silently observed the cobwebs on the houses.
As the evening approached, we halted our march. We would reach the walls by tomorrow. It was too risky to approach the city any further in the darkness of night.
We set up camp, preparing to face another night. During this, I sneaked a peek at the sleeping Emperor.
"..."
So much for using him as a cheat key.
He's really just sleeping. Will he be fully rested in a few days?
In the camp, the soldiers began to relax, eating dinner and resting. But a vague tension hung in the air.
Everyone sensed it. The decisive moment was drawing near.
"Prince, please eat."
"Ah, thanks."
Damian approached me with a bowl of stew, its ingredients unidentifiable. Along with some bread and pickled vegetables, he diligently set up my meal. Suddenly, Damian twitched his shoulder.
Startled, I dropped my spoon.
"What's wrong, Damian?"
"Something's..."
Damian suddenly turned northward.
"Something's coming."
"What?"
I quickly looked northward... but of course, I couldn't see what Damian saw.
"What's coming?"
"Airships."
Damian's face paled as he muttered.
"...The same ones that came to Crossroad as reinforcements, those three airships."
This meant serious trouble.
I calmly placed my spoon back in the stew and gritted my teeth.
"Damn it, can't they let us eat in peace!"
***
Thwoosh-!
From the direction of New Terra, a flurry of lights flashed across the sky, followed by the ominous sound of engines as three airships approached.
The familiar airships. After all, they were the same ones that had come to Crossroad for reinforcements.
The Imperial special mission airship Alcatraz. Accompanied by its two escort ships, Anchor 1 and Anchor 2.
The trio of black airships, floating against the blood-red evening sky, looked like harbingers of death. And their actions were not much different.
The threatening hum of their engines filled the air...!
As Alcatraz slowed down in the sky, its hatch slowly opened, revealing a familiar aged mage leaning on a staff.
"Directly from the Imperial special mission ship Alcatraz, I am Reyna Windwell, the Grandmaster of the Imperial Magic Corps, delivering the Emperor's command."
Her hair, now starting to turn white at the roots, fluttered in the wind as Reyna spoke in her blunt manner.
"By imperial command, we are here to eliminate the traitors. This is your final warning. Surrender now, and your lives will be spared."
Of course, there would be no surrender. Our soldiers were already prepared to respond.
Stepping forward, I shouted back.
"The real Emperor is right here and you talk of imperial commands and traitors? What nonsense, Reyna! Only the true Emperor can issue imperial commands, and the real traitors are you!"
"The only Emperor I serve is Fernandes," Reyna retorted, shaking her head slightly.
"It seems talking won't resolve our situation."
She began to gather magic in her hands.
"Execution time."
Roaring...!
Suddenly, four more mages appeared behind Reyna, assisting her.
I recognized this magic.
It was the combined wind magic of Reyna and her team that had slaughtered the wyvern fleet at Crossroad.
Wham!
Giant tornadoes formed in the air and plunged towards the ground, unleashing the same terrifying force that had ripped through hundreds of wyverns.
Our soldiers screamed and hit the ground-
"...[Elemental Disassembly]."
Ting!
A massive halo appeared in the sky, creating cracks in space, and just like that- the tornadoes vanished.
The sky cleared miraculously. Our soldiers, and even the mages on the airship, were stunned by this sudden turn of events.
"Indeed."
But Reyna wasn't surprised.
She laughed refreshingly as if expecting this outcome.
"Countering spells through reverse calculation... Junior, your ability is still unbelievable!"
Junior, standing beside me and having used his ultimate skill [Elemental Disassembly], was now bleeding from his nose.
As soon as I sensed the airships approaching, I had Junior prepare to use his ultimate skill to counter Reyna's magic bombardment.
"...For a while, all magical elements in this area are under my control. They won't be able to use magic for some time."
"Great job, Junior. Rest for a bit."
"Yes... Cough! Cough!"
Junior coughed up blood mixed with phlegm from the recoil of using his ultimate skill, but he still glared at the sky.
Reyna and Junior's eyes met.
What thoughts were running through the minds of these two mages?
Unknown to me, but as a commander, I had a duty to perform.
"Anchor 1 and Anchor 2! Prepare for bombardment-!"
With magic now ineffective, Reyna quickly switched tactics, ordering the two escort ships to attack.
Clank! Clank!
The two escort ships extended their gunports, aiming at us.
The ends of the gunports began to glow red. In a few seconds, they would be ready to fire at us.
Seeing this, I grinned.
"Imperial airships are heavily fortified with defensive magic."
The engravings on their armor provided formidable defense. They were so durable that hundreds of wyverns couldn't even scratch them.
"But there's a moment when their defensive magic becomes ineffective."
That moment is when the gunports are extended and ready to fire.
At this instant, the magic supply to the armor is cut off, and the defensive magic disappears.
Of course. You can't fire a gun while surrounded by a barrier. The barrier has to be lowered at the moment of attack.
In other words,
"The moment you try to attack us, even your state-of-the-art airships will be no better than paper targets!"
I shouted, raising my hand high.
Simultaneously,
Whoosh!
Right above Anchors 1 and 2, the air rippled like a wave, and the magic camouflage was peeled away, revealing something that had been hidden there.
Ratatatat!
Hidden and lying in wait was... an airship resembling a massive lump of dull metal, with huge propellers on its head and tail.
It was our flagship, the Geronimo.
"What...?!"
Looking up in shock, Reyna let out a bewildered groan.
"The flagship Geronimo?! Impossible, how could it have been hidden so close without being detected...!"
"Sorry, but I'm not kind enough to explain my magic tricks."
I waved my hand in a circle.
"Think it over as you're being shot down."
Anchors 1 and 2 hurriedly retracted their gunports and tried to switch to a defensive stance, but it was too late.
Dozens of gun batteries unfolded from the underside of the Geronimo, simultaneously firing.
Ratatatatatatat!
Boom! Brrrrrrr!
In an instant, hundreds of bullets rained down like a shower-
And within that barrage, the two proud Imperial escort ships were torn to shreds in mere seconds.