"With 6 crooked lines, they claimed the sea of silence. With 6 straight lines of fire and magisteel, they lost it and forever held their silence."
- Crown Prince Akihiko Tenka, Empire of Tenka
An excerpt from his speech after the end of the 18th Silesian Skirmish.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
At the floating isles just a few hundred kilometers east of the Atlanterran island state of Mako Huna, the garrison and headquarters of the entire war effort of the Atlanterran forces against Ostadonia stood unwavering.
Formerly a kingdom ruled by the indigenous Makokuna people 300 years ago, it was subsequently colonized and taken over by the Atlanterran Confederation for the purpose of staking their claim over the entirety of the Silesia Ocean.
Back then, tales and legends spoke about the isles, both those at the sea and the ones levitating just below the clouds through magical phenomena, to be a paradise filled with people who know little about conflict for the sake of ambitions and expansion…
Nowadays, that is nowhere to be found after one structure, in all of its brutalist glory, stood as a beacon of Atlanterran power over the lands, seas and skies.
"…Hm? Tch! Them again. Colonel! I've got something here!" a mana sensor operator shouted and was approached by a man wearing a soldier's fatigues.
"…I see it. It's them again. Alright, record their flight pattern and print your predictions by the time I get back."
"Yes, sir!"
"Anabelle! Connect me with the nearest air patrol to sector G-8, we have to get rid of these pests once and for all."
"On it, sir!"
In Fort Nickson's air control tower, the group of Wizards led by Joshua was easily detected and tracked by the sensor technicians and subsequently sent a platoon-sized Wizard group in order to intercept them.
"These fools… They've always been foolhardy but they're very resilient."
"…Colonel! They seem to have detected the 14th Platoon, they're changing their heading to Sector G-10."
"G-10? Huh… I understand that they want to avoid the 14th, but if their aim is the airfield, going to G-10 would be nothing but suicide to them since that's where the anti-air fortresses are located."
For a few moments more, the colonel and the mana sensor technician kept on watching the screen where several dots corresponding to Wizards either ally or foe, are shown.
"Hm? What the—what happened there?" Upon seeing some of the dots expand and one by one disappear, the colonel asked what was going on and was answered by the technician.
"The 14th seems to have turned their heading to match the enemies' trajectory… they seem to be fighting now and some have fallen in battle, making their LogiCal units explode from the residual mana."
"Good. It seems like these Ostadonian fools really got their bellies sapped of food and carrying nothing more than empty rifles if that's all that it took to take them down."
"…Re-establishing ManaCom contact line. Please standby…"
Fiddling with the console in front of the screen that resembled a set of piano keys, the technician reprogrammed his screen to update its detected image as well as reconnecting the communications with the intercepting force that they sent.
"14th Platoon, 14th Platoon. This is Nickson Air Combat control. Report if you've annihilated the enemy, over."
The technician spoke but was initially replied to by static. He tried several times, thinking that it was just the vast distance as well as the background interference of the other magic-powered machinery in the fortress, and his insistence paid off when finally, their line went through and the reply was favorable.
["No. They turned tail, and we are in pursuit. They are very ill-equipped, and their appearance shows a lack of food and rest. They'll be easy pickings!"]
"HAH! Good job, 14th! Once you get back here, first round of drinks is on me!"
Excited to be known as the commanding officer who sent the force that killed their dreaded enemies, the colonel excitedly spoke and even invited his subordinates to go drinking later on his tab.
However, all of this excitement would be gone after the ManaCom line turned to static, a telltale sign of one side's line facing interference.
"14th? Come in, 14th! Are you alright? Are you facing ManaCom interference?!"
"Hey! Reconnect with them right now!"
"I'm trying all that I can, Colonel! Give me a moment to—"
At that moment, the line was restored but what came from it was a voice that didn't belong to anyone in the 14th Platoon.
["Give it up, Colonel. Your men are dead."]
"W-What…?!"
["Don't worry, you and the rest of your men in that control center is next."]
At that moment, the technician realized that the dots of light at his screen that expanded before disappearing earlier was not because of them being shot down but instead, them lowering their magic output to reduce their detectability to nearly null. With that, he shouted these words from the top of his lungs.
"COLONEL! WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF—"
["ALL HANDS, FIRE!!!"]
*BYA-KAKA-KAKA-KAKA—!!!*
Nearly three kilometers away from their command center, all of the Bougainvillea Wizards fired high-explosive spells at their maximum output, effectively rendering their rifles useless for a later fight. However, they knew that it was a necessary sacrifice.
"…Report! 19 out of 28 spells have landed on the enemy command center, the rest are near misses hitting the surrounding barracks and supply sheds."
"Hmph! You lot are still lousy shots! Once we get back, I'm going to make you take a motherlode of firing drills! AM I CLEAR?!!"
"""Sir, yes Sir!!!"""
In one fell swoop, Joshua and his Wizards blew up the primary command center of the Atlanterran air defense network, blatantly signaling the beginning of their assault on Fort Nickson.
"But before that, let's get to work! Fan out according to your platoon and get things exploding or burning! Prioritize ammunition storehouses and ether fuel tanks! Inflict as much damage as you can!"
"""AS ORDERED!!!"""
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Inside the Ghost of Fenris, the current flagship of the Fenris Bougainvillea Air Fleet, Jonathan received a brief explanation about what happened from the three remaining nobles of the Feudal army.
"…I see. I suspected that he'd try to push himself beyond his means if it meant finishing what he started and laying the groundwork for further progress by those who'd follow, but I didn't know that he'd go as far as this…"
"Such words are what I'd speak as well about him, young Jonathan… knowing that, do you really wish to remain and fight with us even if it means following the folly of your brother?"
Marquis Taiga asked Jonathan while trying to weigh if his answer would be from a naïve sense of recklessness or one that has thought through this for a long time.
"I've made my choice and I have promises to keep. I didn't ask my men to arm themselves, leave their homes and loved ones and face the uncertainty and danger of war, just to tell them that I, who called for them to be brave and make the right choice, is backing out due to cowardice."
"That…"
"As my father once said, a weapon of great power is wasted at the hands of someone who cannot decide to either use or destroy it, and even if they do, they'll likely never know how and why to use it out of arrogant ignorance."
After hearing those words which he heard before from his late friend, Marquis Taiga knew that Jonathan's sudden appearance was no coincidence and the same went with the airships and men that he came with.
"While we basically gave up Irma Island by bringing every man and munition with us in your airships, what do you plan to do once we get there?"
"Well, that's simple. We've going to do exactly what my brother is doing there. Whether he's making them run for their lives or torching the entire place, we're gonna make it faster and better."
"…You really are brothers, aren't you?"
"Indeed, we are. Come, Marquis. Let's see if our men are ready for the fight of their lives."
As Jonathan said that, he and Marquis Elmor went to the open bay of the ship where over 300 men who belongs to the Feudal Army forces that they picked up back in Irma Island, are either sitting around while being served hot, fulfilling meals, or laying against a wall or on the floor, trying to rest after having the first taste of air-conditioned cold air.
"Huh, seems like they're enjoying the food and interior air-conditioning." With a giggle, Jonathan spoke while looking at the soldiers around them.
"They've earned it after fighting and enduring for so long… and besides, we're not done yet. They still have one last fight to serve in before we get home."
"Right... and I swore that I'll be here to serve alongside them. Captain Maurice!" Jonathan spoke to the ship's captain through his ManaCom earpiece.
["Yes, my lord?"]
"Send word to the four other ships to stay back and provide cover fire while we clear the landing point for them."
["Understood, my lord!"]
"Also, tell the 2nd Wizard Battalion and the 3rd Lupinus Cavalry to prepare themselves. Have them battle-ready at my command."
["H-Hold on, my lord! What do you mean by that? Are you saying that—"]
"I am! I'm fighting there myself!"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Back in the losing Imperial battlefront in Silesia, the imperial generals and admirals are gathered around the large table where a map illustrating how far back the Atlanterran forces has pushed them back.
"This is a f****** tragedy… THIS IS MADNESS!"
Amidst the assembly, one of the uniformed commanders struck the table out of a mix of annoyance and grief, toppling over some of the wooden pieces that symbolized both allied and enemy units.
"Commander Al-Ahmar, I understand your frustration, but I implore you to remain calm."
"Calm? Are you seriously asking me to calm down after what they just did to our own troops?! Do you seriously have the gall to tell me that after they openly commanded them to sacrifice themselves just so they can return here and now send more of our men to die in vain?!"
There is a very clear division right now inside the headquarters of the Imperial forces engaged in the Silesia Skirmish. On one side, there are the dedicated, responsible and capable commanders and officers who are made up largely by commoners and low-ranking feudal nobles.
"That's enough out of your mouth, sand dweller! How dare you question our commands to our own men?! If not for your rank, I would've drawn my gun and shot you at your slanderous mouth!"
On the other hand, there are the pompous generals and officers who belong to Imperial nobility who flagrantly sacrificed their men in order to come back to the headquarters and now, are asking to have their contingent refilled only to command them to hold the line fruitlessly against the Atlanterrans.
"Oh yeah? I'll do you a favor then, show me what you're made of—!"
"Ghh—!"
The Turkman commander, done with being insulted and having his words disregarded, drew his gun and pointed it straight at the head of the pompous general who froze up as soon as he heard the gun pulsating with mana, ready to burn a hole through his face.
"Woah, woah, woah!!! Commander Ahmar, please lower your gun!"
"Rescind the order then." He mumbled while staring down the other commanders and generals who belong to the same side as the one that he's threatening.
"P-Pardon, sir?"
"I said rescind the order! Don't let these poor excuses of senior officers, much less of human beings, to have command over our soldiers!"
"B-But sir! They have command over—"
"Hold it! Not anymore!"
Before it can be stated that the Imperial Noble commanders have overall command of the battlefield, and thus, has full discretion of what must be done, the elderly man sitting at the head of the table spoke up and looked at his confused comrades.
"General Lucio, what do you mean by that?"
"…What I'm holding here is a letter from His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince. He sent this as a missive for us about how to end this war."
"A missive… when did it arrive and why are we hearing this only now?" asked one of the commanders which was quickly answered by the elderly general.
"There is a strict instruction to only have it opened after our meeting about the final plans in this war began. I also had to take some time to make sure that every command is clear… Gentlemen, as of this moment, we are being commanded to cease all delaying tactics and face the enemy head-on."
"Head-on? General Lucio, while the Crown Prince's words carry a lot of weight and I don't dare question his opinions about our current situation, I believe it would be unwise to follow this command."
"That's right! While we can consider His Imperial Highness's opinion in our discussions, by law, everything that will be done is still under our discretion since we have not been relieved of our command."
These words and similar other replies were spoken by the noble generals and officers, blatantly showing their disinterest with assembling an offensive and likely risking their lives and legacy to a single mistake or misfortune in the battlefield.
Instead, they'd rather have the men under their command in the defensive, doing the lazy, predictable tried-and-tested tactics that has been erroneously done to death and are expected and prepared for by the enemy. Because in this instance, they'd be labelled as just "casualties of battle or circumstance", rather than a victim of a mistaken or half-baked command.
"Is that your opinion? Very well then… Commander Al-Ahmar, do me a favor and blow up the head of that fool as punishment for both treason and insubordination."
"Thought you'd never ask." With nothing but a pause to look at the man's face that was absolutely drained of color, the Turkman commander pulled the trigger of his gun and blew up the other man's head. "See you on the other side, brother."
"—! You'd never dare to—"
*BYAKG—!!!*
"GWAH—!"
"GAH! Get it off! Get the blood and bones off!"
As those behind the now decapitated and dead noble general wiped off the blood and pieces of flesh and bones on their clothes, the rest of the assembly shook both in horror and tried their best to remain calm amidst the situation they are currently in.
After a few moments, the elderly general stood up from his seat while clutching his walking cane and turned his face towards the group to his right who has proved their willingness to act according to a pursuit for victory.
"Admiral Melchor and Air Admiral Ferrer! Step forward!"
""Hup! Ready for orders, General Lucio!"" shouted two commanders dressed in their respective armed branch's uniforms.
"Mm! Assemble the Imperial naval and air fleets under our command and have them rearmed and resupplied enough for whatever hell we'll face at the treacherous sea! Spare no effort nor expense for it!"
""As ordered!""
"…Commander Al-Ahmar! Step forward!"
"Hup! Ready to take orders, sir!"
"From this moment onwards, you have full command of the Imperial army belonging to our front. Work in conjunction with both the navy and air fleets to retake as much of our territory as possible! Remember that failure will not be accepted!"
With a shout, the general unified everyone's thoughts into one goal and one cheer.
"Enough hiding in our shells! Let's show these Atlanterran scum what it means to incur the wrath of the Empire!"
"""URAAAAAAAA—!!!"""
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Back in Fort Nickson, the initial element of surprise that Joshua and his Wizards used was quickly dispelled by a combination of continuous and coordinated anti-air gunfire from both Atlanterran Wizards and the camp's defensive Volley guns.
However, even in this situation, the gap in the skill and technology made it extremely difficult for the Atlanterran Wizards to not only match their enemy but also to defeat them.
"Move! Move it, you laggards!"
"Tch! Where in the hell did they get Wizards as good as these guys?!"
One by one, the Wizards belonging to the Atlanterran Federal Mage Service was picked off by Gunther and the other Wizards who they may outgun but can hardly outclass.
"Gh! Your ass is grass, buddy!"
"…"
One of the Atlanterran Wizards, flushed in adrenaline and the rush of the fight, chased a pair of Bougainvillea Wizards that passed by him. Rededicating the explosion spell that he was formulating into a maximum output flight spell, he pushed his LogiCal unit that began to roar lowly from being forced to compute from one kind of spell to another kind of one.
*Grrrb! Bggggh!!!*
"Kh! Come on, you piece of junk! Don't die on me now!"
He shouted to the machine on his back the continued to groan lowly. This made him unable to notice that one of the enemy Wizards he was pursuing broke off with his partner and disengaged from their pursuit.
"Huh? One is gone… Welp, that means it's your funeral then! No hard feelings, buddy!"
Before he can pull the trigger, firing out a homing explosion spell, a similar spell went towards him and in the split second that he noticed it approaching him, he tried to rededicate the processing of his LogiCal unit into putting up a barrier, but it was for naught.
"Drat—!"
*KII—BIYAAAA!!!*
From behind the Atlanterran Wizard who is now nothing but a charred and dismembered body falling to be eaten by the starving sea beasts below, the Bougainvillea Wizard who disappeared earlier reappeared with the residual smoke from his rifle still billowing out.
"Excellent Sidewinder weave, Lynus! You saved my back with that!"
"Just doing as we practiced, sir! I knew you'd do the same if I was the one that he kept tabs on."
"Exactly! Now then, let's move to silence those Volley guns before they get reloaded!"
"Roger!"
While the gap in technology between the Atlanterran LogiCal units and the Bougainvillea Soul Core is the main factor in this, there is also the sheer amount of skill, intuition and well-drilled maneuvers that the Bougainvillea Wizards had on their belt.
Since unlike the LogiCal and Combat Computation Unit that is the norm in this world, which is heavily-reliant to mechanical processing and the user's inner magic capacity that can easily be drained, the Soul Core does not rely as much to mechanical computations and sources its magic power from the surroundings, it became a norm for the Wizards serving the Bougainvillea family to have training and live-fire exercises that go from sunrise to sunset.
With almost 12 hours of training every day for 6 days a week, led by the latest texts in the methodology of war concerning Wizards, it gave the Bougainvillea family an assembly of Wizards that are worth 5 of their enemy counterparts in terms of skills and experience.
"Third Wing! Prepare to assault the enemy pillbox at 2 o'clock!"
"Fourth Wing! Distract the enemy Wizards while the First and Second are leading the charge!"
Coordinated moves, practiced maneuvers and constant clear communication are the backbone of their success, and this fact is becoming apparent to the Atlanterran forces that can barely believe what is happening.
"S-Sir! They've disabled all the fixed anti-air volley guns!"
"What?! …This fast?! Khh! Then start deploying the mobile Volley guns! Redirect a Wizard squadron to protect the engineers while they're—"
"10th Wizard Squadron has just been completely shot down!"
"—!!!"
Just as the commander was managing the defenses of their area, the worst news that could've come arrived in the form of a single sentence uttered by the magic sensor officer. It was then followed by another declaration that broke everyone's spirit.
"The enemy… has air superiority."
Back outside, with the elimination of the fortified anti-air units and the detonation of the ammunition and fuel depots, Joshua and his men has basically crippled Fort Nickson's ability to fight them off save for sporadic musket fire that constantly pattered on their magic barriers but falls short of being powerful enough to pierce it.
"This is just a part of the entire place! Fan out and leave the burning and breaking to the Second and Fourth Wings! You two, make sure to pick off as many of them as possible!"
["Yes, sir!"]
["Understood, Viscount! We'll get to you as soon as possible!"]
As Joshua and his men spread towards the other parts of Atlanterran military fortress complex, the enemy's resistance became hampered with the loss of their air defense cover and units, but they showed little to no signs of giving up the entire place.
"V-Viscount! Incoming magic broadcast signal from the center of the fortress complex!" Shouted one of the Wizards in his Wing as soon as they heard a ringing sound from their ManaCom headsets.
"Any clue about where it came from and for what purpose it is being outputted?"
"No clue… Its wavelength is too random, and the frequency is garbled."
*PUUUUYIIIIIIIIIIIII—*
Suddenly, the garbled and random ringing became a high-pitched noise that made all of them cut off their communications spell.
"ARGH—!"
"F*ckin' hell—!!!"
Suddenly, save for their comrades who are nearby, the Bougainvillea Wizards lost their ability to communicate with the others. Whenever they try to reactivate their ManaCom line, the ringing persisted, making them cut it off immediately.
"What the hell is that? Did we hit a ManaCom tower back there?"
"I don't think so. If we did, it wouldn't send out haywire signals like that."
While his men were talking about what could've caused the mysterious ManaCom broadcast, Joshua set one of the computation nodes of his Soul Core to use an analysis spell on the signal and moments later, the result appeared on the glass visor of his helmet and made him shout to his men at the top of his lungs.
"…Drat! Everyone dive! Dive as much as you can to the ground!!!"
At that exact moment, the gems hanging on the necklaces around their throats dimmed and, in a few seconds, the flight magic circles beneath their soles disappeared. Thankfully, the quick reactions of the Wizards to his command made them immediately lower their selves nearer to the ground where they safely landed.
"I-Is everyone alright?"
"Yes, sire! All hands in the First Wing are accounted for!"
"What was that about? Why did our spells and Soul Cores suddenly die off?"
"It's the ManaCom broadcast earlier. The Atlanterrans set off an anti-magic transmission field around the fortress to force us to let go of our tactical advantage while also sacrificing all our communications including theirs. All of you, find out where the three other Wings are! We have to make sure they're nearby so we can regroup and coordinate!"
Only a few moments after he gave that order, from the top of a damaged Volley gun tower, a partially destroyed fortress wall and the woods near them, quick flashes of light simultaneously appeared followed by a spurt of shade that appeared to be manmade. Once the Wizards around him realized that it was their code method, they began to decipher the message within it and reported the status of the other Wings.
"Second Wing says: All hands accounted for… three lightly wounded but able to fight."
"Same report from the third wing… two lightly wounded but able to fight, and one heavily injured and receiving emergency aid."
"I see… what about the fourth wing on the woods?" Joshua asked, wanting to hear from the most veteran group of Wizards led by Gunther. He spoke to the young Wizard deciphering the code. "Come on now! Give me something, son."
"…Huh? Why are they…?"
"What? What's wrong, boy?"
"—!!! Get down, Lord Joshua!"
*FYIII—!!! KYAGH!*
In a split second, the young Wizard threw himself in front of Joshua and with his body, caught a bullet meant for his master. The bullet not only pierced his body but blew an exit wound the size of a human's head right in the middle of his left chest where his heart is located.
"EDSEL!!!"
"ARGH! Sh*t…! Cover fire! Wing, provide cover fire for us!"
"R-Roger!"
Although he wasn't killed thanks to the selfless sacrifice of Edsel, the bullet lodged itself by the right chest of Joshua where he initially thought of it as being fatal, but after realizing it was just a flesh wound, shouted an order while trying to get back at his feet and dragging the lifeless body of his subordinate that saved his life.
"Edsel… you…"
While looking at him, Joshua noticed that Edsel's face was frozen in shock, something that proved that at the moment he was shot, he instantly died. It brought him relief that it was quick and relatively painless… but it also brought out a painful feeling for him, making him give out an order.
"I'm sorry, Edsel… I promise you, I'll make them pay!" with these words in his heart, Joshua raised his rifle and gave orders to his men who began to shoot back at the Atlanterrans who charged to assail their positions.
"Defend your lines! Do everything you can to survive!"
"""Yes, sir!!!"""
"Someone send a light code to the Fourth Wing! Tell them that since they're the ones who wasn't found, they have to locate and destroy the anti-magic transmitter!"
"Aye, sir! Give me some cover while I send it!"
At the woods where he and his men landed, Gunther gritted his teeth after seeing the three other groups being attacked by their enemies after they were spotted. He would've ordered his men towards the location of the First Wing led by Joshua, if not for the orders sent to him by light code moments before he would've given his own orders.
"Everyone, follow me! We'll destroy the enemy transmitter as fast as possible!"
"Roger!"
Gunther led his men out of the woods and into the rows of cabins and huts situated inside the part of the fortress that they haven't cleared out yet. With utmost haste and equally carefulness, his men crawled under the huts' floorboards where they heard the soldiers inside scrambling to put on their gear and fight outside.
"…Kh! Atlanterran scum!"
While crawling through the miry underside of the huts, Gunther noticed something happening above his head. In-between groans and moans either caused by pain, exhaustion or maybe even both, was a desperate call for help by a woman who is clearly being subjected to a heinous crime.
"…Sir, come on! We ain't meant to be bumpin' uglies right now!"
"You shut your trap, sergeant! This is my first taste of some good tropical broad! If you're not here to watch, get to stepping!"
After hearing an exasperated sigh and footsteps leading outside, he once again heard the heinous acts that this Atlanterran officer was committing against this native woman who can barely resist her captor.
"Gunther… Sir Gunther!"
"-!"
Before he can lose his composure and blow their cover, his second-in-command in the Fourth Wing approached him and told him something to bring him back to their mission.
"I understand that hearing all of that is making your blood boil, but all of us need you to lead us, Sir Gunther! Please get ahold of yourself."
"Yes… Yes, I understand."
As they moved deeper into the camp, the strength of the anti-magic broadcast became louder and clearer. At last, they arrived near a clearing where even with their naked eyes, they can see the metal tower pulsating with magic power.
Seeing that due to their fort being attacked, there are less soldiers guarding the tower, Gunther's orders were simple and straight.
"Everyone, go and destroy the tower."
"What about you, sir?"
"I'll handle them. Go and plant the thermite bomb at the magic generators."
"""Understood!"""
"Alright… here goes nothing! COME AT ME, YOU FILTHY COLONIZERS!!!"
After his men went away from his position, Gunther shouted loudly and began to fire his mana pistol towards the soldiers, gathering their attention and leaving his subordinates free to approach it.
While Gunther and the rest of the Fourth Wing was fighting tooth-and-nail in order to destroy the anti-magic transmitter, the situation at the other Wings was getting direr.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Drat! I'm out!"
"Spare magazine! Make all of it count!"
"Thanks!"
The Wizards, not mainly dependent on bullets as they usually use their rifles as staffs to fire out their spells, was at a disadvantage now that their magic are being jammed by the enemy and they have to use them as regular firearms.
"Reports from the Second and Third! They're slowly being overrun and are running out of ammunition!"
"Tell them that we're all on the same boat! Just hold on until Gunther and his men destroys the enemy jammer!"
"…Should we raise the white flag and surrender?"
Amidst all the chaos, the words that all of them was thinking about but was never brave enough to speak, was finally given out in the open. Acknowledging it, Joshua gave an answer that no one expected.
"We can't… or should I say, there's no point in doing so."
"What do you mean by that, Viscount?"
"We're Wizards! The rules of war hasn't caught up with our type of unit yet, making it so that there would be no terms to be followed if we ever get caught as prisoners-of-war!"
"D-Do you mean to say that—?!"
"Right. We'd get beaten or shot to death if we surrender."
Learning that there's no chance for them to receive fair treatment after surrendering, Joshua's men gritted their teeth and placed their full attention back to the fight.
"Carry on then! If I'm gonna die, I'll bring as many of these crooks with me! RAAAHHH!!!"
"I'm tossing in a grenade! Make way!"
While they continued to fight ferociously, Joshua knew that this is probably the last spurt of their strength and spirit. After this, it's either death or slavery in an Atlanterran penal camp.
"Forgive me, mother… Forgive me for breaking my promise."
At the very moment when he has resolved himself to die amongst his men, Joshua heard a series of explosions from afar, followed by the ground shaking and distant death throes filling the air.
"W-What was that?" muttered one of his men who also heard the explosions and felt the tremors.
Moments later, the sound of continuous gunfire filled the sky and the Atlanterran soldiers that was attacking their positions began to retreat as a great shadow loomed behind the broken fortress walls.
"T-That is—!"
*BIYAAAAAA-IIIK—!!!*
Before they can react at the arrival of the strange airship, an explosion deep inside the Fort Nickson billowed out and seconds later, their ManaCom lines returned to normal where Gunther immediately reported the destruction of the anti-magic transmitter.
["Lord Joshua! We've successfully destroyed the enemy transmitter! We're moving back to your position—"]
["Hold it right there, Gunther! You guys have done enough!"]
"That voice—!"
Hearing that familiar voice brought relief to Joshua who immediately knew that the tides of the battle has swung to their favor.
As the strange airship passed by the fortress walls with the sun behind it, four other airships followed suit and landed, bringing down thousands of soldiers ready to fight.
However, it wasn't just the Feudal Army. From one of the transport airships, giant wolves covered with plate armor and a large saddle, went down and was mounted by a three-man team all armed with rifles.
Lastly, from the strange airship, a group of Wizards hopped down and softened their landing using flight magic. Within that group was the one that Joshua knew would come to aid them.
"Hey Joshua… you look like you've aged a decade down here."
"Heh! I'm too tired to banter with you… So, are you taking over?"
"You got that right!"
Following Joshua's assault, the rest of the Feudal Army has landed on the Firehawk's nest… and with it, spelled the beginning of the end of Atlanterra's bout for Silesia.