Episode 225. Abyssal Holy War - The Continent's Barrier (1)
As expected, the mont of the decisive battle arrived in an instant.
It had only been a day since we had let the soldiers get a full rest.
Giselle Davi ran up to , out of breath, and reported.
“We’ve lost contact with all reconnaissance teams sent to Point A!”
“From Point A to here… they’ll arrive in two hours, at a generous estimate.”
“Yes, Sir! Should I order all the reconnaissance teams at Point B to fall back?”
Giselle Davi asked imdiately.
“Yes. Now that the enemy’s offensive is clear, remaining exposed in the fog is nothing short of a suicide mission.”
The enemies couldn’t see through the fog either, but in a sudden encounter within it, the outco of a fight between Drones executing their orders instantly and lightly ard scouts was obvious.
Securing the exact timing of the enemy's offensive was important, but the enemy was also short on ti, and I couldn't send them all to a aningless death just to find that out.
“I understand!”
Giselle Davi imdiately saluted and withdrew.
“Th-That was fast.”
Damien De Millbeau muttered, bewildered.
Only a day had passed since the battle during the last patrol, yet Paimon had already launched an all-out offensive.
Considering they weren’t waiting right nearby, they must have sallied forth even earlier.
Even if Drones were their main force, considering there were also Demons handling rockets and machine guns, preparations should have taken ti, yet for them to arrive so quickly ant…
That surprise attack must have been just a taste, a greeting of sorts, and they had finished their real offensive preparations long ago.
“What’s the status of the trench line?”
“Only about half….”
Damien answered with a wince, so I patted him on the shoulder and said,
“Even that is better than nothing. General Nicolas Nere.”
“Yes, Sir!”
“The vanguard role is yours, as always. But this is a defensive battle, so follow Commander Millbeau's orders faithfully.”
“Ah, I understand.”
I turned my gaze to Gaston, who wore a heavy expression.
“General Gaston, how is the incorporated Paladin Order?”
“They have not forgotten that His Excellency the Marquis gave them a chance, despite the disastrous results of their forr commander’s arbitrary decision. They will be able to provide so degree of support for my Cuirassiers, even if not perfectly.”
I smiled faintly.
Yes, I could trust him, of all people, because it was Gaston.
“Good, I trust you. As I always have.”
Gaston simply bowed his head in response.
Feeling my hands grow sweaty, I wiped them and clenched my fists.
I knew it would co to this when I set foot on this island.
No, this is actually better than when we were aimlessly wandering in the fog.
“Issue a mobilization order to all units. Prepare for battle.”
“Yes, Sir! I will relay it to all armies!”
“...The ti for the decisive battle has finally co.”
I imdiately shot up from my seat.
*
“His Excellency the Marquis, the supply unit has arrived.”
“This should be the last of it. They made it just in ti.”
Until now, the Navy had been ferrying food supplies and ammunition from the holand during the standoff, but once the main battle began, that would be impossible.
Still, thanks to the grand fleet’s tireless transport over the past few days, we were able to stockpile a decent amount of supplies.
Even without any further resupply, we had enough to last at least a week.
As I watched the supplies being brought into the camp, an officer from the supply unit cautiously approached and handed a letter.
“His Excellency the Marquis, the Admiral asked to deliver this to you.”
“Thank you.”
I imdiately tore open the letter and read it.
The letter, written in her usual concise script, addressed the very thing I had been most concerned about.
[I discussed the matter of concern with the Magic Tower Master. While we can’t rule out the possibility of the demons trying to interfere with the gate, he said they can’t arbitrarily change its control or settings unless they interfere with it physically. The Magic Tower isn’t that careless, he said, and even got angry at the suggestion.]
I let out a soft sigh of relief.
Because of the warning Gremory had left, I had been worried about a situation where the enemy might take control of the gate we built, but at least that possibility seed slim.
And if that was the case, all we had to do was protect the gate, no matter what. The Francia holand beyond the gate was already filled with Allied Forces.
The demons of Abyss Corporation were certainly strong, but Great Demons powerful enough to overwhelm humans were not that common.
This island, while vast, was much smaller in scale than the entire Central Continent, so there was bound to be a difference in the number of troops.
In the end, if the Allied Forces from the Central Continent could just set foot on this island, it would an the Allied Forces’ victory.
I lowered my eyes to the last part written on the letter.
[There is much I want to say, but I will only say what is most needed.
I miss you, Pierre. As always, I'll believe that we will see each other again soon.
Your Christine.]
I lightly kissed the letter, folded it, and tucked it into my clothes.
This ti again, she was using everything at her disposal to help , trusting and waiting for .
In that case, just as I’ve always done, I just have to survive and succeed, sohow.
And we will reunite, with wearing a proud face.
I turned my gaze to the assembled soldiers.
The vanguard, the first to set foot on this island of Abyss Corporation, the island of demons.
They were n who had been summoned after a short rest, insufficient to fully relieve the fatigue built up from the constant tension.
And yet, these n, the finest elites gathered from the entire Central Continent, had all assembled shortly after the order was given, lined up in an unwavering formation.
The Revolutionary Army, which had followed from that long civil war, through the Revolution and countless other wars.
Gaston, who was with from the start; Damien De Millbeau, who was dragged here by ill fate; Nicolas Nere, whose courage is excessive but for that reason, is trustworthy.
Giselle Davie, whose older sister died as an assassin and who I never thought I'd get entangled with like this, but who has now beco a subordinate I can trust, and.
Even José Vachet, who had to kill his own family with his own hands in Iberica, but is now here as my adjutant, seeking revenge.
I wondered how many of those in the Revolutionary Army had been with from the very beginning, then slowly closed my eyes.
Could I even dare to count how many have died fighting under my command over that long period of ti?
The vast amount of blood scattered along the path I have walked.
I want to believe that all those sacrifices had value.
Because I, who once had no choice but to secure funds through a deal with them when Paimon first approached , am now here leading the entire Allied Forces.
Because the Revolution I had chosen rely as the lesser evil, their Republic, chose compromise and now dreams of unity and hope alongside Eris.
Because the old politician who decided to trust despite my past actions of dealing with demons allowed to stand in this place now.
I have fought for Christine and my people, but at the sa ti, I have not fought for that alone.
I inherited the blood of the Blue Knight, but I did not walk the sa path as him.
The final battlefield, one that will put a period at the end of this long and difficult journey.
This is the final test, to prove whether the path I have walked and the life I have lived had any value.
I stood before them, gathered my mana, and raised my voice.
“The enemies are coming here now. Soon, the final war against the demons will begin.”
At my words, I feel tension spread through all the troops.
“We are the Allied Forces. Our motherlands are different, and our affiliations are different. Everyone here surely rembers a ti when we pointed our guns at each other and shed blood on the sa battlefield.”
The Revolutionary Army, the Iberian Brotherhood, the Germania Imperial Army, the Krafte Kingdom Army, the Holy Theocracy, and even the Magic Kingdom.
“However, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, I order you. For this mont, at least on this battlefield, forget your affiliations. I, too, will lead you not as the Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army, but as the Commander-in-Chief of you all.”
These n, dressed in a motley of different uniforms, are all looking at . Looking only at .
“Those demons tried to shatter our unity from the very first mont we set foot on this island. But they failed. They will fail again, and I do not doubt for a mont that you all will stand united as one against their threat.”
The first landing and the days we were ambushed in the fog may have exhausted us, but they did not break us.
No, rather, as we struggled to find a way forward amidst the threat, our unity grew stronger.
“Soldiers, you are n who volunteered to be here, knowing that the enemies you will now face will be stronger than any you have faced before. Each and every one of you are heroes deserving of awe!”
Because they are the ones who overca that long continental war and all the demons’ various obstructions to gather here.
“Therefore, soldiers, realize that you bear a comnsurate responsibility. Of the countless people on the Central Continent, only we were granted permission to land on this island first. The first opportunity to achieve victory against a terror that has been passed down for generations rests on the shoulders of you all.”
Because they are the ones who carry all hope, for an opportunity barely obtained after 400 years of suffering.
“The mont you fight, rember you are not alone. Each and every person beside you is a veteran of the Central Continent’s coback, and you are the hope of the Allied Forces gathered from across the continent!”
This fight is not for any single nation.
“I will protect you, so do not retreat a single step! No matter what trials co, we, the Allied Forces, will overco this ordeal and achieve victory. No, we must be victorious.”
A battle with nowhere to retreat, where even a single failure leads directly to ruin.
“This is humanity's frontline, and we are the Continent's Barrier, so we shall endure!”
As I shouted, the soldiers raised their weapons and shouted along.
“We shall endure!”
The sound of hooves drew my attention, and a ssenger shouted urgently.
“We have confird the demon military forces are approaching! They will arrive within 30 minutes!”
Yes, it begins now.
Three days until the mages of the Magic Kingdom complete the gate.
“All units, to your battle stations!”
“Revolutionary Army, to your positions!”
“The Brothers of Iberica will be placed in the rear of the Center Army! I leave the timing of your deploynt into lee combat to you, Brother!”
“The Krafte Kingdom will be in charge of the light infantry and skirmishers! The artillery corps will coordinate with the Revolutionary Army!”
“The Germania Imperial Army will form the battle line with the Revolutionary Army!”
“Cavalry and Paladin Order, follow ! We move to the flanks!”
As everyone moved about busily, from beyond the utterly gloomy fog, small and slow.
But steadily and surely.
A chanical and rhythmic sound of footsteps, one that could never be forgotten, began to be heard.
I grasped the hilt of the sword at my waist.
The sensation, one I had grown so accustod to over that long ti, seed to calm my heart.
Everything was for this very mont.
I drew my sword at once and shouted.
“Rember, soldiers! We must be victorious! Fulfill your duty as those who stand here bearing the weight of your families, your motherlands, and all of humanity!”
And at that mont.
Whiz-
A familiar roar rang out from within the fog-
And rockets flew through the fog, beginning the battle.
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