“The reply from HQ… it won’t make it in time.”
“There’s no helping it. They haven’t gotten a grasp of the situation over there either.”
The information brought by the urgent messenger had, in a sudden turn of events, plunged us into dire straits.
The appearance of the aerial fortress, and the horde of angels guarding it.
Where on earth did they acquire such things?
I could roughly guess. Are those also possessions of the gods?
Instructor Kio and I took up positions on a small hill, fully geared up.
I had already sent all the information we could gather to the president, who oversees HQ and the Demon Lord’s Army. However, even tracing back through history, there was no information about that aerial fortress.
Does that mean it appeared because we cornered them, or was it newly manufactured and recently completed?
“Is the reason the allied forces are internally divided and the religious faction has started independent activities because of that over there?”
“It’s probably not just that. They’ve been doing other fishy things. It seems their god is seriously trying to make this world his own. Honestly, it makes me sick.”
In our eyes, we could discern beings floating in the sky, about the size of a grain of rice.
Furthermore, around those grains of rice, there was a black, hazy substance.
The terrifying part was that all of them were a horde of angels.
“Our forces are roughly thirty thousand. They’re naturally more than that, isn’t that right?”
“We could muster more if we stayed holed up in the dungeon, but we can’t abandon the refugees and the surrounding countries.”
“Yes, if we abandon them, everything we’ve done will be in vain. Even if we survive, the public perception we’ve cultivated will collapse, making peace difficult.”
“To think our actions would backfire.”
“No one could have predicted something like that.”
We turned the small hill into a makeshift fortress, hastily prepared to intercept them.
The thirty thousand elites Kio,Instructor, had gathered were here.
All the soldiers bore the resolve to defend this place to the death, etched on their faces.
“I’ve requested our battleships and aerial forces from Amili-san. If we can buy time until then, we can defend this position and then advance onto the fortress.”
“How much time?”
“If it’s just my battleships, they’ll be here this afternoon. As for Amili-san, with the reorganization of defenses, it’ll be at least two days, no… we should expect three days.”
“A single battleship won’t make much difference. Can we hold out for three days?”
Instructor Kio and I felt the same.
Abandoning our soldiers and retreating was unthinkable.
That was the Demon Lord’s Army, and a general fought with resolve.
“Fortunately, we have two generals here. We won’t lose.”
“…Is that okay?”
Knowing that, I had intentionally put on a smile, yet a hint of doubt, uncharacteristic for an instructor, reached my ears.
Turning my face towards the instructor standing beside me, I saw that he, looking down due to the height difference, had a defeated expression.
“Are you concerned about Suella?”
“Yeah. With your authority, you could have her retreat further back.”
He was worried about me, or rather, about my personal feelings. Suella had been the first to volunteer for rear command during this crisis.
At first, I had immediately objected, but that was purely my personal emotional reaction.
She, having immediately seen through me, weighed the merits and demerits of her being here logically, and explained how it would benefit the Demon Lord’s Army.
The instructor was also present at that meeting, and he agreed with her reasoning.
It was two against one, and my counter-argument was emotional, which is a weak point for a working adult. So I had no choice but to agree.
“It would be a lie to say I’m not bothered, but I understand it’s necessary.”
“Jiro.”
I am a professional soldier.
More than that, I am someone who gives orders.
Therefore, I must act in the best way possible within that environment.
It is natural for us to worry about each other, but we have clashed, understood each other’s capabilities, and conveyed our feelings.
That is why…
“There’s no problem. I’ll stop them all here and defeat them. That’s all there is to it.”
Her feelings only served to strengthen my resolve to protect her.
“Don’t you think so?”
It wasn’t a bluff or a forced display of strength. With a fierce smile that could tear into prey, I turned to the instructor’s gaze. After a moment of surprise.
“You’re right.”
The instructor returned a similar smile.
“But what do we do? While some of my race can fly, most of us can’t.”
Now that this worry was gone, it was time to deal with the real problems that had sprung up and cut down the overgrown weeds.
The Ogre Tribe, as their appearance suggests, are large and specialized in close combat.
There are some individuals with unique abilities like spellcasters or spies, but they are a minority overall.
They charge head-on and overwhelm their opponents. Is that how I should put their policy?
As if to embody that pride, almost none of the Ogre Tribe can fly.
“Is it possible to kick off the air and move forward before sinking?”
“There are those who can do it, but the number who can use it in battle is even smaller.”
“So, there are a few.”
Our opponents are in the air.
That alone gives them an advantage.
While our attacks can’t reach them, they can attack us unilaterally, using the weapon of gravity acceleration.
It’s enough to make one cry.
To stand on the same battlefield as them, one must fly.
However, we don’t have the aerial forces prepared to fly.
“In that case, will we intercept with long-range magic to reduce their numbers?”
“That’s reasonable. Though I don’t know if it will be effective.”
“We’ll just hope for some effect. Fortunately.”
Therefore, the basic tactic would be a delaying battle through anti-air interception.
“My magic power is almost inexhaustible right now.”
This is not a bluff born from the desire to protect Suella, who is in the rear.
If magic power could become inexhaustible through sheer emotion, then the instructor’s troops, full of battle-hardened individuals, would have become an infinite magic army long ago.
The plan is simple.
“They’re here.”
“Oh, that looks like something worth punching.”
Far from the rear, a great spirit powerfully emerged, generating immense magical energy from a considerable distance away from our interception point.
The Great Spirit Tofam.
Originally a spirit of agriculture, it was now lending its strength as Suella’s trump card in a different role.
This serves not only as a defense for the base but, more importantly, as a source of magical power through Suella’s connection with me.
Although there are distance limitations, it is sufficiently capable of providing magical power at this range.
“That’s the highest compliment.”
“Right?”
With the rear secure and a single general supplied with inexhaustible magic power, this is beyond cheating, it’s a bug-level combat strength.
“Well then, I don’t know what their intention is in coming here, but I understand their will to invade. Shall we do this?”
“Yeah, hit ’em with something flashy!”
From here on, it will be a one-sided attack without regard for magic power.
We issued a warning. I had previously sent a warning to the Harpy unit, but their response was an attack on the Harpy unit.
This confirmed the enemy’s intent to invade. Their bringing out the aerial fortress in the first place made their aggressive intent clear, but a final confirmation was necessary.
However, with the instructor’s agreement, I intend to unveil a new technique here.
With the strongest bodyguard by my side, there’s no worry of a surprise attack.
I removed the Ore Tree from my back, connected its roots, and initiated magic circulation.
This is an action that would be impossible during combat, concentrating all my nerves on bombardment magic.
By focusing all my attention on simply firing at the enemy before me, I can unleash a strike that would normally be impossible.
I channeled the abundant magical energy into the spell formation, and it was converted into higher purity magic through the Ore Tree’s circulation.
This allowed for the creation of a magic spell of superior quality, to which I could then add a concept.
“That’s outrageous. Even I wouldn’t want to defend against that.”
The resulting attack was so outrageous that even the instructor laughed and declared he’d dodge it.
“The enemy is also starting to notice and defend. Hey, Jiro, will it reach?”
“It will reach.”
The aerial fortress activated a massive barrier, large enough to engulf the angels entirely, despite the vast distance. This was proof that they felt threatened.
Their vigilance is natural.
If they grew complacent thinking they could defend against it normally, they would be underestimating my attack.
At that moment, I intended to cut them down, along with their complacency.
“Fortunately, they don’t seem to be trying to approach us, perhaps they have too much confidence in that barrier.”
“Is that so? Then we’ll have to break that haughty nose of theirs.”
“Indeed.”
Instead, I will cut down their barrier, which they are so confident in, along with their confidence.
Magic loading complete, spell formation complete, concept applied, complete.
Thunder erupts. The lightning attribute is my specialty, but this Takemikazuchi is a bit different.
With my skills, I can launch blades into the air.
I process them with my armor magic and then apply the concept of “cutting.”
My body, pulled back to its limit as I swung forward, veins bulging, waited for the opportune moment to fire.
And the completed magic.
“Takemikazuchi, Slash Wave!”
My magic, designed to cut through massive objects—a “for fortress” attack—was fired.
The blade, swung forward from my back in a crescent shape, was shrouded in violet lightning, as if visualizing the air pressure, and instantly transformed into a giant blade, launched into the sky.
Although it is cloaked in lightning, it does not reach the speed of lightning itself.
However, exceeding the speed of sound and approaching the speed of light, the slash wave flies towards the aerial fortress at the same speed as my slashing attack.
Now, here’s the problem.
Is this cheat-like ability of conceptual attack effective for long-range attacks as well?
If it is, then by repeatedly slashing with long-range attacks, the enemy could be easily sliced into pieces. This hypothesis holds true.
However, it is not that simple.
Conceptual attacks are a technology largely based on the sensory realm. Therefore, it is a rather delicate technique.
The intent must surpass the opponent’s physical defense. Naturally, the closer the source of power, the stronger the intent and the greater the effect.
Naturally, as the distance increases, the effect diminishes.
The Slash Wave is the same.
Perhaps, by the time it contacts the barrier, the concept of “cutting” will only contain less than thirty percent of the power I put into it.
“I’ll start preparing the next one.”
Since I don’t know the effectiveness of the enemy’s defense, I move on to the next attack without letting my guard down or becoming complacent.
While watching the attack’s trajectory, I prepare the same technique again.
If they possessed a defense that could overcome my conceptual attack, that attack would be easily blocked.
It’s about ten seconds until contact. I’ll finish preparing the next shot within that time.
I knead the supplied magic again, apply it to the same spell formation, and add the concept.
And just as I finished preparing.
“It’ll reach.”
The result of the attack, visible to both the instructor and my eyes, was watched with bated breath by the soldiers.
Whether the Demon Lord’s Army’s strongest attack would be effective would greatly impact the morale of the subsequent battle.
The result is about to be revealed.
The moment the Slash Wave hits the barrier.
“Hmph!”
I fired the second wave.
“The barrier was torn apart! Now tear apart the fortress too!”
My attack, scattering the barrier, was met with the instructor’s loud roar and the cheers of the soldiers.
Today’s quote:
There are times when on-site judgment is necessary.
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Pandora Pandemic Panic – Pandora’s Box has been opened again, but we’re fighting back with secret bases and various other efforts!!
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