Episode 225 The Crusade of the Abyss – The Continent’s Barrier (1)
As expected, the moment of decisive battle came quickly.
It’s only been one day since we let the soldiers rest well.
Giselle Darby came running in a huff and reported to me.
“We have lost contact with the entire scouting team heading to Point A!”
“From point A to here… it will take about 2 hours at best.”
“ancient! Should I tell everyone to withdraw, even if it’s just the scouting party at Point B?”
Giselle Darby asked right away.
“Yes, since the enemy’s offensive has become clear, continuing to stick out in the fog is nothing but suicide.”
The enemies do not see through the fog, but when suddenly encountered in the fog, the results of the fight between the drones that immediately carry out given orders and the lightly armed scouts who have to face them are clear.
It is important to secure the exact timing of the enemy’s offensive, but the enemy does not have time anyway, and you cannot kill them all just because you know it.
“All right!”
Giselle Darby immediately saluted and retreated.
“It’s so fast.”
Damien de Mirbeau muttered in bewilderment.
Only one day has passed since the last patrol activity battle, but Paimon immediately launched an all-out offensive.
Considering they weren’t waiting right nearby, they would have marched out even faster than that.
Even though drones are the main force, considering that there are demons that use rockets and machine guns, it would take time to prepare, but seeing that they arrived so quickly…
That surprise attack was just a greeting to me from the beginning and a taste of it, and it was a real offensive. This means that the preparations were completed a long time ago.
“What are the preparations for the trench line?”
“Only about half…”
Damien answered with a sharp tone, so I tapped his shoulder and said,
“Even that amount is better than nothing. “General Nikola.”
“ancient!”
“The role of the vanguard is you, as always. However, this is a defensive war, not an offensive war, so follow Commander Mirbo’s orders faithfully.”
“Oh, I understand.”
I turned my gaze and looked at Gaston, who had a heavy face.
“What about the Holy Knights that were incorporated into General Gaston?”
“They also have not forgotten the fact that His Excellency the Marquis gave them an opportunity, even though the former leader’s arbitrary actions had disastrous results. “It will be able to keep pace with my cuirassiers to some extent, if not completely.”
I smiled softly.
Yes, you can trust it because it is Gaston and not anyone else.
“Yes, I believe you. “As always.”
Gaston responded by silently bowing his head to me.
I felt my hands getting sweaty, so I shook it off and clenched my fists.
I set foot on this island knowing that this would be the case.
No, it’s actually better than when you’re wandering aimlessly in the fog.
“Order to summon all units to prepare for battle.”
“I will spread the word to all the old counties!”
“…The time for the decisive battle has finally arrived.”
I immediately got up from my seat.
* * *
“His Excellency the Marquis’ supply party has arrived.”
“This was supposed to be the last time, so you did it just right.”
During the standoff, the Navy continued to travel back and forth to the mainland to transport supplies such as food and ammunition, but this would become unreasonable once a full-scale battle began.
Still, thanks to the great fleet’s constant transport over the past few days, we were able to stock up on quite a lot of supplies.
Even if there are no additional supplies, there are enough supplies to last at least a week.
As I was watching supplies being brought into the camp, an officer from the supply unit cautiously approached me and handed me a letter.
“Your Excellency the Marquis, this is what the Admiral asked me to deliver.”
“Thank you.”
I immediately opened the letter and opened it.
As always, the letter, written in concise handwriting, contained what I was most concerned about.
[I discussed the concerns with the magic tower owner. The possibility of demons trying to interfere with the door cannot be ruled out, but it is said that control or settings cannot be changed without permission, unless they directly physically interfere with the door. On the contrary, they complained that the Magic Tower was not that shabby.]
I lightly breathed a sigh of relief.
Because of the warning left by Gremory, I was concerned that a situation might arise where they would arbitrarily manipulate the gate we had built, but at least the possibility of that happening was slim.
And in that case, all you have to do is somehow secure the door. Because the Allied forces are already gathered in Francia’s home country beyond the gate.
The demons of the Abyss Corporation are certainly strong, but great demons that can overwhelm humans are not that common.
Although this island is vast, it is much smaller than the entire central continent, so there is bound to be a difference in the number of troops.
In the end, if the Allied Forces of the Central Continent can set foot on this island, it will be a victory for the Allied Forces.
I looked down and saw the last part of the letter.
[There are many things I want to say, but I will only say what is most necessary.
I miss you Pierre. As always, I believe we will see each other again soon.
Yours, Christine.]
I lightly kissed the letter, packed it away, and put it in my clothes.
This time too, she is doing everything she can to help me, trusting me, and waiting.
In that case, I will somehow survive and make it this time as I have done so far.
All we need to do is reunite with a proud face.
I turned my gaze and looked at the assembled soldiers.
Abyss Corporation An advance team that was the first to set foot on the island of devils.
They were ordered to gather without even being able to enjoy a short break, which would have been insufficient to relieve the fatigue accumulated from the constant tension.
Nevertheless, those who had gathered only the most elite from the entire Central Continent gathered together not long after the order was given and lined up in an unwavering posture.
The revolutionary army that followed me, starting from the long civil war, through revolutions and numerous wars, to this point.
Gaston, who started with me, and Damien de Mirbeau, who was dragged here by bad luck, have too much courage, but Nicola is trustworthy.
I didn’t know that my sister would die as an assassin and that we would end up in this way, but before I knew it, Giselle Darby had become a subordinate I could trust.
Even Jose Vachet, who had to cut down his family with his own hands in Iberica, but is now here to seek revenge as my lieutenant.
I slowly closed my eyes as I thought about how many of those revolutionary soldiers who had been with me from the beginning were still left.
Would I dare to count how many people died fighting under my orders during that long period of time?
Lots of blood scattered along the path I walked.
I want to believe that all the sacrifices were worth it.
When Paimon first contacted me, I had no choice but to raise funds through transactions with them, but now I am here leading the entire Allied Forces.
The revolution, which was merely chosen as a lesser evil, is because their republic has chosen compromise and dreams of unity and hope with Eris.
An old politician who decided to trust me despite my past dealings with the devil got me where I am today.
I have fought for Christine and my people, but at the same time, I have not fought for that alone.
Although I inherited the blood of the Blue Knight, I did not walk the same path as him.
The final battlefield that will put an end to that long and difficult journey.
This is the final test to prove whether the path I have walked and the life I have walked have value.
I stood in front of them, gathered my magic power, and raised my voice.
“The enemy is coming here now. “The final war against demons will soon begin.”
I can feel the tension spreading throughout the entire force at my words.
“We are the Allied Forces. Our country is different and our affiliations are different. “Everyone will remember that we once pointed guns at each other and shed blood on the same battlefield.”
The revolutionary army, the Brotherhood of Iberica, the Germania Empire, the Kingdom of Krafte, and the Holy Church, the Kingdom of Magic.
“But as Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, I give you an order. For this moment, forget about your affiliations, at least on this battlefield. “I will also lead you, not as the commander-in-chief of the revolutionary army, but as the commander-in-chief of all of you.”
People in different outfits are all looking at me. He’s only looking at me.
“Those demons have tried to shake our bond from the moment we set foot on this island. But they failed. “I have no doubt that they will fail in the future and that you will all unite as one to face their threat.”
The initial landings and days of being assaulted in the fog may have exhausted us, but they did not break us.
No, on the contrary, our bond grew stronger as we struggled to somehow find a way out despite the threat.
“Gentlemen, you volunteered to come here even though you knew that the enemy you would face from now on would be stronger than any enemy you had ever faced. “Each one of you is a warrior worthy of reverence!”
Because they are the ones who gathered together to overcome all the obstacles of the devil during the long continental war.
“So, gentlemen, realize that you have a certain responsibility at the same time. Among the countless people in the central continent, only we were allowed to be the first to land on this island. “The first opportunity to triumph over the horrors passed down from generation to generation rests upon all of you.”
Because they are the ones who put all their hopes on their backs for the opportunity they managed to obtain after 400 years of suffering.
“As you fight, remember that you are not alone. Each and every person next to you are the warriors of the Central Continent’s reversal, and you are the hope of the Allied Forces gathered from all over the continent!”
This fight is not just for any one country.
“I will protect you, so don’t take a single step back! No matter what trials our Allied Forces face, we will overcome them and achieve victory. No, we must win.”
A battle where there is no way back and even a single failure will lead directly to destruction.
“This is humanity’s front line, and we are the continent’s defenses, so we will endure!”
As I shout, the soldiers raise their weapons and shout along.
“We will endure!”
When I heard the sound of horses’ hooves and turned my gaze, the messenger shouted urgently.
“We have confirmed that the demon army is approaching! “We will arrive within 30 minutes!”
Okay, this is the start.
Three more days until the magicians of the Magic Kingdom complete the door.
“All units deployed for battle!”
“To the revolutionary army’s location!”
“The brothers of Iberica are deployed to the rear line of the central army! “I’ll leave the timing of engaging in close combat to you, brother!”
“The Kingdom of Krafte is responsible for the light infantry and skirmishers, and the artillery should keep pace with the revolutionary army!”
“The Germanian Imperial Army forms a battle line with the Revolutionary Army!”
“Cavalry and Holy Knights, follow me! Move to both wings!”
While each person is busy moving, small and slow beyond the gloomy fog.
But slowly and surely.
I began to hear mechanical, rhythmic footsteps that I could never forget.
I grabbed the handle of the sword at my waist.
The texture that I have become accustomed to over such a long period of time seems to calm my mind.
All for this very moment.
I immediately pulled out my sword and shouted.
“Remember, gentlemen! We must win! “Follow your duty as someone who stands here, carrying your family, your country, and all of humanity!”
And that moment.
Piiiiing –
a familiar roar sounded from the fog –
rockets flew through the fog and the battle began.
