"If we're going to attack, now... right?"
"Yes. No matter how you look at it, I don’t think this series of attacks was carefully planned. It’s almost as if they were just hunting human souls... as though they were in a situation where they had to gather them quickly."
"Hmm," I said, organizing the conversation that Kuon had just proposed while gazing at the Gardio Empire’s fortress city, Barrelroll, where the battle had ended.
Indeed, this series of attacks felt like too much of a brute force approach. They had sent melting machines to Brunhild to buy time and hunted souls from multiple directions, almost as if they didn’t care what happened afterward. It was sloppy, as though they didn’t have a clear plan beyond that.
Are they in some kind of desperate situation? Or do they have a strategy to turn these negatives into something positive, even at the cost of this chaos?
Either way, as Kuon said, I get the feeling that if we fall behind, things will get worse.
If we hesitate and it becomes too late, we’ll be in a situation we can’t recover from.
‘I agree with Kuon's opinion as well.’
As I was thinking, I heard the voice of the doctor, and her image appeared in mid-air. Alongside her image were additional visuals, showing the Tree Fortress floating in the red lake, which we had seen before. The image was quite blurry, though...
‘Their base... the magical ether density around here has significantly dropped. The images from the reconnaissance sphere have gotten blurry because of it. I think we can still make something out... Look at the center of the fortress.’
At the center of the Tree Fortress that the doctor showed was a pyramid-like altar, with something glowing at the top. The image was too blurry to see clearly, but it was certain that something was glowing.
"What is this...?"
‘I don’t know what it is, but it’s not just magical power at work. Some kind of other force is definitely involved. Their goal was probably to activate this. If that’s the case, we should hurry.’
As if to prove the doctor’s words, the red lake surrounding the Tree Fortress began to dry up rapidly.
At the same time, the trees forming the fortress writhed like snakes, spreading their roots further and further outward.
Is it... growing? No, rather than growing, is it trying to transform into something else?
Suddenly, the image was cut off with a sharp jolt. The reconnaissance sphere must have lost its magical power and fallen.
Goldo, who had acquired the power of [Corrosion], was using the apostles of the Evil God to do something. All of his actions so far must have been for this purpose.
But what is it that Gold... no, what is it that Chrom Ranchesse is trying to do?
I don’t know what they’re trying to do, but I can’t let them do it freely.
"Alright, let's head to their base."
"What about the children?"
"There should still be some apostles of the Evil God left. Let's take them with us."
In response to Yumina's question, the children clapped their hands in excitement, as if saying 'Yay!' It's not like we're going on a fun trip, though...
If the magical ether density has decreased so much, would it be difficult to teleport everyone with [Gate]? That would mean...
"Daddy! The whale is here!"
"Huh?"
Looking up at Steph's words, I saw a huge, white flying warship coming from the eastern sky toward us.
"I see. It's the Vaal Albus."
The Overgear controlled by Albus, the ‘White’ crown, with Yumina as the temporary contractor master—Vaal Albus.
This ship can carry many Frame Gears all at once.
"Do we really need that many Frame Gears?"
"Well, they probably still have a few Cyclopes left, and they might have a hidden trump card, too."
In response to Yae's question, I answered like this. I can't imagine they'd send all of their forces here. It’s better to be cautious.
After Vaal Albus landed, I left a few Frame Gears behind just in case for the Gardio Empire and stored them all through [Gate].
Only Brunhild's knights will board.
"What about Ende?"
I called out to Ende, who was glancing at Kuon and Alice chatting happily, making a sour face.
"If Alice is going, then of course I'll go. Just make sure to do some first aid and get the Dragoon working again."
According to Rosetta, the Dragoon's right arm was badly damaged and couldn’t be used. It was probably the backlash from that one hit she delivered when defeating the Arachne Golem. The Dragoon isn’t even a combat-type machine to begin with.
I’m not sure if “first aid” is the right term, but the plan is to attach the right arm of the fallen Black Knight Baron to the Dragoon.
It’ll be harder to balance than usual, but it should still be okay for normal combat. I wonder if that’s really true...?
Well, knowing Ende, he’ll probably handle it without much trouble...
"Master, all units stored!"
"Monica, how long will it take to reach the destination from here?"
I asked Monica, who had just reported, about the travel time.
"Let’s see... At normal speed, it would take a few hours. If we go in high-speed mode, about thirty minutes? But after that, Vaal Albus won’t be able to move."
It won’t be able to move, huh. But this is an emergency. Hesitating here and not making it in time would be a problem.
"Then let’s go in high-speed mode. Yumina, can you handle it?"
"Yes. Albus, switch to high-speed mode. Full speed to the destination."
‘Understood. High-speed mode engaged, commencing navigation.’
I called out to Yumina, who was seated in the captain’s chair on the bridge, and beneath her sat the "White" crown, Albus, initiating the launch of the White Whale Vaal Albus.
Instead of the usual slow pace, Vaal Albus accelerated with a sudden jolt.
Then, the speed gradually increased, reaching a velocity comparable to the high-speed airship "Gungnir."
"Thirty-two minutes until we reach the destination."
Albus, sitting in the cockpit, announced this.
"Alright, then let’s give the knights a meal break while we can."
"Understood."
Yumina contacted the knights who were waiting in the storage bay of Vaal Albus, located in the belly of the ship.
We hadn’t had time to eat since the continuous battles with Brunhild, so it’s best to eat while we can. You can’t fight on an empty stomach.
We, too, stood in the bridge and ate sandwiches.
After calming our stomachs for the moment, Albus spoke to Yumina.
"Master. The external ether concentration is rapidly decreasing. Maintaining speed is impossible. Emergency landing."
"This is it, then."
At that report, Yumina looked at the map window floating in her right hand.
The lake at our destination... The red water had already dried up, and it no longer resembled a lake but more of a crater. It seemed we couldn’t reach the Tree Fortress in the center of it.
"With no ether here, the Frame Gears won’t move, will they?"
"No. Vaal Albus is equipped with an elemental furnace that draws power from the spirits in the air. However, the spirits in this land have all fled, so it can’t absorb power from them. I think the Frame Gears will still work using the internal ether liquid. But it will be difficult for long periods."
The doctor answered Elze’s question via communication. I see, so Vaal Albus’s output has decreased since we came to a land without spirits.
The speed of Vaal Albus slowed, and it began to descend slowly. Even though it’s an emergency landing, this shouldn’t result in an accident.
We might not be able to reach the Tree Fortress, but we should be able to get to the crater itself...
"Touya, look at that!"
"Huh...!?"
At Linze’s pointing, I turned my gaze toward the monitor, and the Tree Fortress that was in the center of the crater began to rise, like bamboo shoots sprouting.
It looked as if a tower was growing from the ground. Thick roots spiraled up the tower like a spiral staircase.
Somehow, I was reminded of the Tarot card ‘The Tower.’
It symbolizes destruction, ruin, catastrophe, and represents the worst kind of ending— the ultimate card.
There’s a ‘Tower’ in Babylon too, so I can’t say for sure, but this one looks much more ominous, and the image strongly reminds me of the Tarot card ‘The Tower.’
"Deceleration, anti-gravity control. Emergency landing."
With a quiet shock, Vaal Albus safely (?) landed inside the crater.
"Looks like the elemental furnace is useless. It’s possible to move with internal ether, but navigation seems impossible."
At the doctor's words, I wondered if it was like being out of gas in a car but still being able to listen to the radio. I then asked Yumina to open the storage bay of Vaal Albus.
If something went wrong and even that couldn’t be used, we wouldn’t be able to deploy the Frame Gears. It’s better to deploy them as soon as possible.
"Oh, looks like they’re making an appearance over there too."
I returned my gaze to the monitor at Leen's voice.
The Tree Fortress... or should I say the Tree Tower? The space at the base of it warped, and from there, Cyclopes began to emerge in droves. And then...
"What is that...?"
From the distortion, what appeared was, in appearance, a dinosaur. But with parts of its body mechanized, it resembled the melting machines, an existence similar to them.
A cyborg dinosaur, perhaps? Maybe a melting dragon to match the melting machines?
A melting dragon with the appearance of a Tyrannosaurus rex appeared, emerging from the warped space alongside the Cyclopes.
"Oh, from the sky too...!"
A part of the sky warped, and several flying melting dragons, resembling Pteranodons, flew out.
With bodies fused with machinery, large wyvern-like flying membranes, long beaks and tails, and at the tail’s end, thorny protrusions resembling burdock. Pteranodons didn’t have such long tails. These are something else, not Pteranodons after all.
"Could that be summoning magic? Summoning and controlling them from another world?"
Leen, watching the flying melting dragons... or melting flying dragons, on the monitor, offered that analysis.
Summoning magic, huh? It’s not impossible. Chrome Ranchesse, who came to the Eastern Continent, must have been interested in it.
Using the power of the apostles of the Evil God, is he summoning beasts from another world? He probably can’t summon them infinitely, but...
"Maybe we should attack before their defenses become too strong..."
"We will also go out! Let’s go, Hilde-dono!"
"Yes!"
"Mother, we too!"
"Wait, what now?!"
At Leen's muttering, Yae and Hilde, Yakumo and Frei, who had been watching the monitor, rushed out of the bridge.
"We’ll go too. Let’s finish this here."
"Agreed. Ah, Albus, stay here and continue monitoring and providing support."
‘Understood.’
Yumina got up from the captain’s chair. Vaal Albus was equipped with considerable weaponry. Even if it couldn’t move, it should still be able to serve as a gun platform.
Goldo... Chrom Ranchesse, the ghost of the past who inherited his memories. What is he trying to do?
The battle began.
From the Rossweisse, which Sakura was riding, came support magic through song, followed by Leen's Grimgerde's ‘Full Burst’ of simultaneous shooting.
Because of this, several Cyclopes were taken down, but the T-Rex melting dragon didn’t stop charging even after taking a few crystal shots. It seems to be quite tough.
The Pteranodon melting dragons mostly circled around the area of the Tree Tower, and only a few dozen attacked. Are they more cautious? No, they're probably just following orders.
The heavy knights, the Chevaliers, piloted by the knights, clashed with the melting dragons.
One of them was knocked away by the tail of a spinning melting dragon and was thrown back with great force, but it seemed they managed to block it with a shield and stand up again. I let out a sigh of relief. The shield that took the impact was bent out of shape, though.
"Watch out for the tail! Don’t get too close!"
The order came from the knight captain, Lain. A few units armed with spears held the enemy off, and in the gap, a unit with a greatsword severed the tail, then several others attacked it.
Since the weapons of the Frame Gears are made of crystal material, even the hard tail of the melting dragon can be cut.
"Ha!"
Elze’s Gerhilde landed a punch directly to the melting dragon’s snout. With a crunching sound, the melting dragon’s face was distorted, and it flew back, not to rise again. It seems its neck was broken.
"Ninth Layer Manriki Style, Secret Technique, Thunderstrike Slash!"
"Lestia Style Swordsmanship, Third Form—Iron Cutter!"
Yae’s Schwertleiter and Hilda’s Siegrune simultaneously decapitated two melting dragons.
From the speakers, I heard a voice saying, "I wanna take over too!" That voice belonged to Frei, who was riding with Hilda.
Even if they sprayed poison, Frey had an anti-poison pilot suit, so I didn’t think Frey would need to do anything. If the apostles of the Evil God show up, though, I’ll leave it to her.
I’m a bit scared that when those kids return to the future, they’ll ask for custom Frame Gears... Good luck, future me.
"Touya-san, we’ll handle the ones in the sky!"
"Understood."
At Linze’s communication, I also had Reginleif take off. ...? Huh? The output is dropping?
"Doctor, what’s going on?"
"…When we remodeled, we used part of the elemental furnace for Reginleif’s flight power, but that backfired... It’s not going to work here. It should still be able to fly using only magic, but... Touya-kun, can you summon spirits and borrow their power?"
Well, I’m not sure about that...
It’s like forcibly calling spirits in a harsh environment and telling them to work.
It’s not impossible, but their trust in me would probably drop drastically.
"I guess there’s no choice, I’ll intercept from below."
I gave up on flying, landed, and transformed the twelve crystal plates on my back into the shape of swords, then shot them at the Pteranodon melting dragons.
The crystal swords flew like missiles and pierced the melting dragon’s body.
In an instant, the Pteranodon exploded in a huge blast.
"Huh...!?"
When I glanced to the side, I saw another Pteranodon charging at Linze's Helmwiege in flight form. Something... something bad is about to happen!
"Linze! Don't let it get close! That one is going to explode!"
"Y-Yes!"
Helmwiege, hit by the rain of crystal bullets, fired back at the charging Pteranodon.
With a crack, the Pteranodon exploded, and Helmwiege shot through the explosion. I was momentarily worried, but it seemed she was okay.
"Is it carrying a bomb inside? Or has it been ordered to self-destruct from the start?"
Either way, I can't let it get close. If it crashes into the others fighting on the ground, it will be a disaster.
Noticing the danger of the Pteranodon, Yumina's Brunnhilde and Lou's Waltraute C-Caster unit both directed their long-range attacks at the Pteranodon.
From behind, the enlarged Luli and Kougyoku arrived as well, launching dragon breaths and fireballs at the Pteranodon.
However, Yumina's sniper rifle was difficult to use, as shooting the head or wings would cause it to fall and explode on the ground.
The bomb is likely in the chest or abdomen, but pinpointing it is difficult.
If we had enough firepower to blow it away in one go, we could cause it to explode in mid-air.
The Pteranodon near the tower, which had been observing (?), also began to fly toward us. It seems they are trying to overwhelm us with numbers.
"[Flying Sword Fragarach]!"
Twelve crystal swords flew through the air in every direction. Each one pierced the abdomen or chest of twelve Pteranodons, causing twelve explosions with loud booms.
I made sure to bring them down in areas where no one was below, but the broken parts and chunks of meat from the Pteranodons fell to the ground in a gruesome display.
The explosions were powerful. If one of those Pteranodons managed to self-destruct close to the Frame Gears, even one would be severely damaged.
We can't let them get close to everyone. I need to knock all of them down.
"Gyueah!?"
From behind me, continuous crystal bullet fire was shot at the Pteranodons.
It seems that Linze's Grimgerde, who had initially used 'Full Burst' for the first wave, had recovered from cooldown and was back in action.
"Darling, leave this to us. You should head to the tower."
I received that communication from Linze. She’s right; I don’t want to waste time here.
I can fly with Reginleif, but as Linze said, I could fly straight to the top of the tower...
Previously, the World God had said something. My family, including me, carries divine energy in our bodies, so we can resist Goldo’s power of [Corrosion].
However, Frame Gears don’t have that protection. At worst, Reginleif could be hijacked... and I really want to avoid that.
"I guess I’ll have to go in person."
I jumped out of the cockpit and stored Reginleif in [Storage]. Then, Kuon, riding on Kohaku, approached.
"Huh? Wasn’t she riding Yumina’s Brunnhilde?"
"Since there might be apostles of the Evil God, Mother said to follow Father. I will accompany you as well."
I wonder what it’s like to have a father who’s worried about by his wife and child...? No, I guess it's normal for family to worry, right? It’s normal, right? It’s not like I’m unreliable or anything, right?
Certainly, if there are apostles of the Evil God, I wouldn’t be able to handle them, so it’s not wrong for them to be concerned...
Yeah, ultimately, this battle has to be handled by the humans on the ground. My role is just to support. Even though Kuon, who came from the future, is still a human from this world, so there’s no issue.
My role now is to support my son’s fight. He’s the protagonist, not me.
"Understood. Then let’s go."
"Yes."
I cast [Levitation] on Kuon and Kohaku, and [Fly] on myself, then soared into the sky.
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