Chapter 170: The Defensive Battle at Command (5)
Chapter 170: The Defensive Battle at Command (5)
Iron’s expression hardened after hearing the officer’s report.
“Did you say great worm?”
“Yes, sir!”
The officer’s affirmative answer placed a dark cloud over Iron’s head.
The giant worms were monsters that had undergone and were still undergoing mutations. And those that had successfully undergone complete mutations were called great worms. This was a name that Iron had given to the newly created monsters that were teeming and lurking in the Southeast.
“Their numbers?”
“At least hundreds.”
“Aside from them, are there also giant worms?”
“That’s right.”
Iron’s expression turned solemn at the officer’s words.
“What about the armored worm?”
“There’s no sighting as of now.”
The bastards who had remained still finally began to move. This meant that they had judged that he and his army were a threat and could no longer let them run rampant.
The other mutants were very eager to expand their power and seek the other uncontaminated living things but the contaminated giant worms just sat quietly in their territory and silently sucked up the void energy in their surroundings. They ate void insects and rapidly accumulated void energy in their bodies before repeatedly undergoing evolution.
Giant worms were originally extremely lazy creatures. They preferred and enjoyed lying down on the ground and gaining weight. So, why would these extremely indolent creatures move out of their original territory and come all the way to where they were?
‘They’re probably looking for a fight.’
It seemed like one of the reasons for their move was because they felt threatened by Iron’s continuous expansion of his Field Army Command so they could no longer maintain their wait and see attitude. However, moving at this point in time could also mean that they were already confident enough and believed that they had a high chance of winning against them.
‘Are the great worms the source of their confidence?’
Iron pondered deeply and was lost in his thoughts.
If it was just the giant worms, then Iron’s incomplete field army could at least find them to be worthy opponents. But there were also hundreds of great worms. Just this number was enough to devour and lay an entire corps to waste.
However, the most problematic opponent was the giant armored worm that led them.
The fact that hundreds of great worms had emerged from the depths of the forest meant that the giant armored worm was able to tone down its greed to some extent. It seemed like the fight that they fought before had made it realize that it was difficult to face Iron with just its power alone so it decided to distribute more void energy to its subordinates.
‘Dangerous.’
Iron instinctively felt the danger and immediately ordered the officer to place Command in the highest risk alert.
Their walls were still not yet completed and their major buildings still needed more time to be finished. His troops might have fought a lot of monsters during their stay here in the Southeast and had become skilled elite soldiers. However, they had still not reached their level’s perfection. In addition, they were exhausted from continuous battles and were only barely able to take a breather. In other words, they were still not prepared.
But the giant worms suddenly went in for an attack.
“We’re quite unlucky.”
Iron looked bitter.
If it were just the giant worms, then their current power would have been enough to block them. But the problem was the other races of monsters lurking in other places. If the monsters from the other regions decided to invade while they were busy blocking the giant worms then, their situation would become precarious.
“First off…”
“Tr… Trouble, there’s trouble!”
The communications officer was yelling loudly as he rushed inside.
“Giant water buffalos are heading straight towards Command!”
Iron’s expression turned distorted as he watched the communications officer run towards him while shouting the report loudly.
He was now facing the worst case scenario in his head. But this situation was something that he had predicted already.
The giant water buffalos were frequent visitors at Command. Because of the mutation, their race was able to breed and multiply quickly. They used this to their advantage and filled in the gaps in their ranks to continue their charge to Command. Despite knowing that Command was a place where they could die, they would still rush forward the moment they had accumulated a certain number. It seemed like the blood of the uncontaminated humans was too much of a temptation that they would willingly take the risk and rush to their deaths.
The same was true for the other races. They would lay low and stay quiet for a while, most likely to fill in a certain number, after receiving severe casualties and damage from Iron and his Mobile Field Army. However, they would come back once again and flock to Command.
The problem was that some races would have different factions and different leaders. There were even times when a certain race would come multiple times in a day. The giant ants were the prime example of this. This monster race had different factions and would serve different queens and there were times when they would invade thrice in a day. They were only able to discover this after noticing the slight difference in patterns on the soldier ants’ bodies. It seemed like the patterns symbolized the queen that they were serving.
“I’m going nuts.”
Iron was lost in thought after hearing the sudden emergency.
“Request for support right away!”
“Summon back the troops sent out for reconnaissance!”
“First, the Southern Command…”
Iron couldn’t help but close his eyes when the officers shouted their opinions loudly.
“Quiet!”
All of them shut their mouths at Iron’s loud and domineering voice. Iron was finally able to organize his thoughts after a few minutes of silence. Only then did he open his eyes.
“Call all of the officers first.”
“Yes, sir!”
Several officers ran to carry out Iron’s orders.
“Communications officers. Tell all of the troops out on patrol to gather.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Intelligence officers. Inform the Central and Southern Command about this matter and tell them to be prepared for an emergency. Ask them to send some reinforcements if they have the time to spare.”
“Yes, sir!”
Iron was lost in thoughts once again after giving out his orders.
No matter how much he thought about it, he could only think about one way.
‘I have to take on all of them by myself.’
Iron sighed.
His troops were still lacking. But it seemed like no one wanted to give them any more time to grow. If that was the case, then, there was only one way. He had to endure and make sacrifices. Perhaps, these sacrifices would also include himself.
“Is everyone here?”
Iron spoke as he looked at the officers that were finally gathered in front of him.
“I’m sure all of you have heard it on your way here, we’re in a state of emergency.”
The officers’ expressions were all stiff as they waited for his following words.
“The giant worms and great worms are on their way to Command. Not only that, even the giant water buffaloes are charging straight towards here too.”
All of them gulped as they listened to Iron. They were fully aware that they had to risk their lives with the situation that they were presented in.
“I know that everyone has become stronger after fighting countless battles. So, I will trust you this time.”
Fire began to burn and blaze in the eyes of everyone present after they heard his words.
At long last, they had received the Commander’s trust.
“Ariel will be in charge of Command’s Defense. The Storm Troops* will also be temporarily assigned under Ariel. Concentrate on defense.”
“Yes, sir!”
Saeriden responded to Iron’s orders. His usual psychotic smile had disappeared from his face and was replaced with a solemn and serious look.
“Good. Commanding officers. Do your best in your assigned positions and protect Command.”
Hearing Iron’s words, Ariel couldn’t help but tilt her head in confusion.
“The Commander is the one that will direct us, right?”
Everyone turned to look at Iron in doubt after hearing Ariel’s question.
“I will go out alone to stop the worms.”
“That’s dangerous!”
“No way!”
“Please take us, the storm troops, with you!”
The officers protested loudly after hearing Iron’s words. Even Saeriden wanted to take the newly established storm troops and go with Iron. It was one of the Mobile Field Army’s special forces. This force included Ludem and Rodem and was a force that was organized under the direct control of Command and would only listen to the Commander’s orders, just like the Northeast’s Ghost.
“That’s right. Please take the storm troops.”
Ariel looked at Saeriden as she said so. Since Saeriden, a proud member of the Lion Family, would not listen to her anyway, it would be better to not have him under her command. Most of the members of Leonhardt Family were part of the storm troops so if Saeriden did not listen, then the others would also do the same.
“No. Stay here.”
Iron straightly refused.
“Are you telling us that you don’t believe in us?”
“That’s right.”
Saeriden’s expression turned dark after seeing Iron nod to his words.
Iron looked straight into his eyes as he spoke heavily.
“Prove it.”
“…Yes?”
“Prove it to me. Show me that I can really put my trust in you and bring you around with this upcoming battle.”
Saeriden’s eyes widened before turning into crescents.
“Prove… Prove… Will you bring us along with you once we prove it?”
“That’s right.”
“Alright. We will prove it to you.”
Saeriden’s usual and unique psychotic expression returned as he bowed his head at him.
“The same goes for the others. Take this opportunity and prove to me that you can function and fight without me.”
“Yes, sir!”
“If you are able to block them without suffering much damage… then we will proceed to the next step.”
The officers’ will burned and erupted like volcanoes after they heard his words.
Iron couldn’t help but grin after feeling their passion and will.
“If you’re able to block them without receiving much damage and come help me, I will withdraw my special training once.”
He looked up as he finally threw a carrot.
“Fwiiit!”
Iron jumped up and landed on the head of the huge bird that swooped down at his whistle.
“May fortune accompany you in this battle.”
The gigantic divine beast flew up as Iron left these words to them.
The officers gave him their salute as they watched him leave. The first one to lower their hand was Ariel. She lowered her hand after watching his disappearing back turn into a small dot.
“Hoo… This is a real test. Let’s all do our best.”
Everyone nodded fiercely after hearing her words.
Airships began to fly up in the sky as the drake units followed right after them. The knights also gathered at the center of Command while the artillery units immediately went to the cannons installed on the walls. With Iron gone, the core of the Command defense had shifted and become the artillery units. Meanwhile, the rangers hid in buildings in a ten meter radius around the gate. The storm troops also stationed themselves in front of the gate.
She was originally the one in charge of the knight order, but her task was now much bigger.
Chief Executive Officer in charge of the Air Forces – Cardro
Chief Executive Officer in charge of Castle Defense – Saeriden
Chief Executive Officer in charge of the Artillery Troops – Dominic Stone
Chief Executive Officer in charge of Logistics and Support Units – Carl Stein
Chief Executive Officer in charge of the Magic Unit – Allan Reishor
Chief Executive Officer in charge of the Spirit Unit – Peter Marvio
Chief Executive Officer in charge of Command Defense – Ariel Favrice
Ariel had no choice but to temporarily divide her role. She stamped it with the Commander’s seal for documentation and placed it neatly in the center of the Commander’s desk.
“Hoo…”
Ariel couldn’t help but sigh nervously after being appointed as the chief executive officer in charge of the Command’s defense. It was only a temporary position but the weight of replacing the Commander for this short period of time was extremely heavy on her shoulders. But she knew that this was what she needed to overcome for her to grow. She wanted to stand side by side with Iron one day and relieve some of the burden that he had placed upon his shoulders. So, she gritted her teeth and endured the pressure that was suffocating her and weighing her down.
Thump, thump, thump, thump!
― Mooooo!
The ground shook as the cries of the water buffaloes rang loudly from afar.
The officers shouted loudly at the soldiers as they listened to the constant reports from the scouts in the air.
This was their first battle without the Commander. Fear encroached upon them but they all pretended to be fine as they prepared for the upcoming battle. The officers deliberately shouted loudly as the non-commissioned officers pretended to be alright and buried themselves in their work.
Anxiety appeared in the soldiers’ eyes but it was immediately replaced with anger as their tension disappeared after listening to the continuous nagging of the officers. The anger that burned in them from the continuous nagging was then redirected towards the water buffaloes.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The artillery unit began to fire their guns and cannons the moment the water buffalos reached the intersection. The cannon shells blessed with holy power flew in the sky and fell down on the water buffalos. The airships also tried to stop their rush by dropping bombs from the sky.
“Ho…”
“Monstrous bastards.”
The officers’ eyes trembled when they saw the water buffalos rush through the rain of cannons and bombs.
The situation right now was completely different back when Iron was present.
Their skin that was strengthened by the void energy and the mana covering their bodies that were naturally created by contaminated mana allowed them to withstand their powerful attacks. They were still able to rush forward and survive despite the volley of magic bombs that followed right after the cannons and gunfire.
“The power of the sanctuary… was this much?”
The officers, who had only fought inside the sanctuary created by Iron, finally realized how great the absence of their Commander was.
***
*Storm Troops – The unit/troops that would rush first to the frontline to attack the enemies.