Rabbit Island Saved?
[Rabbit Island is under attack by the Beastman Union.]
Upon learning through a carrier pigeon that Rabbit Island was being invaded, Kang-rim immediately issued orders to Iris and Artria.
For territorial expansion, three ships and five frigates commanded by Iris were available. For contingencies, one ship and five frigates had been left at Fox Island. And finally, the ship Kang-rim himself was using for diplomatic activities. Every ironclad vessel he could mobilize turned toward Rabbit Island.
Kang-rim chose Iris as the commander-in-chief for this operation. In the game, she had been the commander who led Grid's armies. Even though she was currently nothing more than a captain of a pirate group, she was destined to become a significant figure later. She was a woman with a history of betrayal, but since she was filled with fear toward him, she wouldn't dare to defy him if he gave her full authority.
Besides, he had neither the experience nor the knowledge to lead an army. So, even if it was a bit risky, leaving it to Iris was the better choice. It was better than him, an amateur, leading the best forces to their ruin. Kang-rim's gamble proved correct.
"All units, charge! Don't let a single one escape!"
At Iris's command, the Steel Corps surged forward, their spear tips pointed at the enemy. Before such an overwhelming force, the Beastman Union army had no choice but to crumble. Even if they fought bravely, it was meaningless.
No matter how many arrows they fired, these soldiers didn't stop. No matter how many heads they severed, they didn't waver. No matter how much they were burned by magic, they didn't feel terror. They just kept cutting through.
Those who bared their teeth were sliced apart, jaw and all. Those who swung their fists had their arms ripped off. Those who brandished weapons were ground down along with their steel. Those who cast magic were burned alive.
The Steel Corps marched on without pause until the enemy's will to fight was completely extinguished. Their minds held only one thought: Strike down every single person who dares to obstruct the Master's path. Make those who defiled the Master's precious paradise pay the price in blood. Only for the Master, for the Master, for the great Master Grid. I will offer my life for Grid.
This was the Steel Corps. They were Grid's shield and sword, their personalities erased, leaving only absolute loyalty. For them, retreat did not exist. They lived only to fight and die. Because this command was hardwired into their brains, not a single one had fled in terror since landing on Rabbit Island. Conversely, it was the beastmen who found themselves paralyzed by fear.
"W-what are these monsters? Are they even human?"
"There's no chance of winning. We have to run!"
"To where? Our ships are all sunk, where are we supposed to run?"
The once-victorious Beastman Union found itself cornered. Having used the northern beach as their landing point, they had been marching toward the royal castle where Levi, the Queen of the Rabbit tribe, resided. The Rabbit tribe had fought desperately to prevent the landing, but they were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers.
They had set up a defensive line on the path to the castle, but with heavy casualties, there was no way for the Rabbit tribe to defeat the union. The royal castle itself was on the verge of being leveled by the fleet's bombardment. Everything was going according to the union's plan. If they had continued to press the attack, Rabbit Island might truly have fallen. If Iris hadn't struck the northern beach, that would have been the reality.
"It's do or die! Target the one in the silver armor!"
The ships anchored at the beach had been sunk by the pirates' bombardment. Because the enemy had advanced from behind, their retreat was cut off. Even if they wanted to flee forward, the Rabbit tribe was desperately blocking their path. The Beastman Union was instantly caught like a sausage between two slices of bread.
In less than an hour, the Beastman Union was annihilated. A few had escaped miraculously, but they would be caught soon enough. Once captured, they would all become slaves without exception. If that's the case, let's at least target the enemy leader. Let's kill her and remove any future trouble.
Resolved, a few brave beastman warriors gave up on fleeing and charged at Iris. But they couldn't reach her.
-Slash.
Iris had simply swung her blade. She had merely drawn a line through the air, toward the enemies rushing at her. The line created in that split second vanished, and the beastmen collapsed to the floor, spraying blood. Those who had lost their lower bodies died on the spot.
"Pests like you are getting cocky."
Iris was slightly surprised that they had dared to charge at her, but that was all. They posed no threat to her whatsoever. Compared to the Master who had cast her into hell, their skills weren't even worth mentioning. Even if they were warriors, to Iris, they were nothing more than a quick snack.
"Isn't that right?"
"G-gurgle..."
Iris asked, choking the neck of the beastman who had tried to ambush her. This beastman had also tried to target the leader, Iris, but had been caught in return.
"K-kill, kill me..."
"No, I won't kill you."
The beastman with raccoon ears and a tail muttered, but Iris had no intention of listening. "I received orders to keep the women alive if possible."
"Ugh..."
"So..."
"Ugh?"
She threw the captured beastman to the ground and gave instructions to the nearby soldiers. "Strip her and drag her to the beach."
"N-no, no, nooooo!"
The beastman struggled, but that was all. The female beastman, instantly stripped naked by the soldiers, was dragged away with an iron collar locked around her neck.
"Is it all finished over there?"
A woman with purple hair approached. Unlike Iris in her silver armor, she wore crude bronze armor. Her name was Artria. She had just returned from meeting the commander of the Rabbit tribe's army.
"Of course it's finished. Now we just need to clean up the stragglers."
The battle was over. The Beastman Union that had invaded the northern beach was decimated. Those who fought bravely met a miserable end. Those taken prisoner would face the horrific future of being slaves. The Steel Corps was currently pursuing the stragglers. Since this was the Rabbit tribe's backyard, they would all be captured soon.
"It's a huge relief we weren't late. If the island had fallen..."
The worst-case scenario might have unfolded. Just thinking about it gave Iris goosebumps. "By the way, what about the royal castle?"
There had been a Beastman Union fleet attacking the castle from the eastern coast. She had cleared the north, but that side should still be intact. Artria answered her question.
"It's fine. The Master took care of everything."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, by now he's probably busy loading up all the treasures..."
It was then that a sudden explosion was heard.
-BOOM!
A sound of something detonating echoed from far away. The sheer volume caused everyone present to turn their heads in that direction. And then, they were struck with shock.
"A-Artria. T-that is..."
In the air where Iris was pointing, a black object was floating. Realizing what it was, Artria was stunned.
"M-Master!"
Ten minutes before the explosion.
"Ah, listen up, you living bastards."
Kang-rim, who had climbed onto the deck, shouted through a megaphone. This megaphone was also an ancient artifact. If even things like this were considered artifacts, just how brilliant must the civilization of the ancient era have been? Or perhaps the developers were just lazy and labeled anything as an ancient artifact? He wanted to complain about how strange it was, but Kang-rim held it in. Acquiring loot was the top priority right now.
"My name is Grid. I, Lord Grid, will give you a chance."
Kang-rim declared in a voice dripping with arrogance. "Those who want to live, climb up using the nets I've lowered. Come up and become prisoners. Then, I will at least spare your lives."
Grid shouted toward the wreckage of the sailing ships floating in the sea. "I'll say it again. Those who want to live, climb up the nets."
Nets woven with thick ropes were lowered from both sides of the flagship. Through those nets, beastmen soaked in seawater were climbing up. They were all from the Beastman Union, the ones who had barely survived when their ships sank. Originally, they should have been announcing their victory by toppling the Rabbit tribe's castle, but unfortunately, it had ended in failure.
"Yes, yes. Swallow your pride and come up, hurry, hurry. Heaven is right before your eyes."
They had been wiped out by the cannonballs fired from Kang-rim's flagship. Because he had fired from such a long distance, the union fleet had been hit unilaterally, and by the time they realized the enemy's position, all six mobilized ships had long since become fish food.
"Men to this side, women to that side. Move without dawdling."
For those who barely survived, there was only one fate: becoming slaves. The men would be put to sleep. He planned to erase their personalities later and use them as laborers who would sweat blood. And the women...
"Strip them all. Except for the iron collars around their necks."
He literally stripped them. Their armor, and the clothes they wore underneath, were all taken away. Once stripped, iron collars that suppressed their strength were locked around their necks. The female beastmen shed tears, feeling deep humiliation at being naked. They didn't realize that those tears would eventually turn into pleasure.
"Thank you for your hard work, Master."
The captain handed a water bottle to Kang-rim, who had finished his task. "Oh, thanks. I was just getting thirsty."
Kang-rim gulped down the water in one breath. "I'm worried about how things are going over there."
"Please don't worry."
Unlike Kang-rim's concern, the captain wasn't worried at all. "Iris and Artria are strong enough."
As he said, the two women were strong. If one were to rank their power, they would be right after the Master. "Yeah, they're definitely strong."
Kang-rim didn't deny it. 'They were so strong that I had to spend a fortune on them.' He should have just looked up the strategy guide posted on an internet community. Kang-rim often regretted why he had wasted money, complaining that it was hard to clear. Though, regretting the past never brought anything back.
"Actually, I was surprised that you didn't fight, Master."
"Surprised?"
When he looked at him as if to ask what he was talking about, the captain replied. "There were many times when you would just rush in, saying you'd kill everyone yourself. Surely, you haven't forgotten?"
"Ah, ah! I remember, I remember."
Of course, it was a lie. It was a lie, but Kang-rim glossed over it because he didn't want to be suspected. "This time, the bombardment was the focus. So I thought there was no need for me to go out."
"..."
"Would there be any need for me to step in when we're firing cannons anyway?"
"That makes sense."
Even while saying that, the captain tilted his head. Seeing that, cold sweat ran down Kang-rim's back.
"Is it strange for me to be well-behaved?"
"Yes, it's very strange."
"..."
Just how reckless was this piece of trash? How confident in his strength was he to fight so ignorantly? Kang-rim was genuinely curious.
It was at that moment, as he was thinking that.
"...?"
Something. Something is coming. He didn't know exactly what, but something was coming from above. Something very large and terrifying.
"Master, why is your expression... Eek?"
Without even having time to answer, Kang-rim pushed the captain aside. He shoved him and swung the hammer he held in his hand.
-KRAAAAANG!
The ship shook violently from the immense shockwave. Kang-rim was pushed back significantly.
"So you're the one called Grid."
A woman with orange hair stood there. Tiger ears and a tail were attached to her head and hips. Heavy knuckles were equipped on both her hands.
'T-this woman!'
Kang-rim knew exactly who this woman with the golden eyes was.
"I, Tai, will be the one to end you!"
Tai, the leader of the Tiger tribe. The mastermind who led the invasion of Rabbit Island lunged at Kang-rim.