The Fall of Ice Island
'We are going to conquer Ice Island.'
About two weeks had passed since the coronation ceremony.
After turning the nun Site and her high-ranking sisters into spies and sending them back to the Holy Kingdom, Kang-rim immediately declared that he would invade Ice Island.
The reason for targeting Ice Island was as follows:
'If we occupy this island, a direct path to the kingdom's capital opens up. It creates the shortest route to swallow the kingdom whole as quickly as possible.'
Ice Island was close to the capital. Because of its proximity, it had developed into a major trade hub.
If the occupation succeeded, the Desire Empire would be able to shorten the distance to the capital significantly.
At the same time, they could monopolize trade.
Even though the kingdom was in chaos due to civil war, the driving force that kept the capital functioning was trade. If that trade were blocked, the kingdom would effectively cease to function.
'That princess bitch said she wouldn't let it slide if I attacked, but....'
The kingdom was well aware of this fact.
They were in a desperate situation where the capital could fall if the island was breached; would they really just sit idly by like idiots?
That was why the First Princess, who ruled the capital, sent a threatening letter to Kang-rim.
[If you invade Ice Island, I will erase you from this world!]
Unlike the former king, who always kept a low profile after experiencing his fleet being sunk by Grid, the First Princess was hardline. Then again, if she didn't have such a sharp personality, she wouldn't have been able to pacify the many sisters who had risen in rebellion.
Unfortunately, the time when the princess's threats could work had passed.
'Don't worry about it. We're stronger anyway; can a pathetic letter like this stop me?'
The reason he hadn't invaded Ice Island until now wasn't because he had succumbed to the princess's threats. It was because taming his existing territories had been the priority.
Although he had succeeded in occupying numerous islands with overwhelming firepower, there were always pockets of resistance.
Those resistance forces had to be purged as well. If he ignored them as mere mice, they might grow into predators and cut his Achilles' heel. Kang-rim didn't want that to happen.
Therefore, he postponed attacking the important gateway and focused on taming the territories he had already secured.
The rebellious men were modified and replenished as troops, and the rebellious women were used as broodmares to constantly bear children.
Kang-rim didn't stop the taming process until every single resident on each island had been reduced to livestock.
As a result of running non-stop until the end, all the rats that had resisted were reduced to Kang-rim's slaves.
After constant modification and abuse, the empire's forces had increased to a total of 15,000.
'The fleet is sufficient, so we can defend against the princess if she attacks.'
Since the number of troops had increased, the fleet naturally had to increase as well. Kang-rim operated the factories built in Grid's hometown and churned out double-digit numbers of ships.
He completed a grand fleet consisting of 5 flagships and 50 frigates, totaling 55 ships.
Although the number of ships that could be produced per day was limited by the power of the two women used as energy sources, if they kept at it, they could aim for triple digits. And that day would be the kingdom's final day.
'As for the elves, Artria is handling them well, so it should be fine.'
The Great Forest was located between the southwestern archipelago where the beastmen lived and Ice Island. The elves had made that place their home.
Kang-rim reduced the Great Forest to a protectorate. The elves surrendered to his threat that he would turn the Great Forest into a sea of fire if they didn't sign the document stating they would be under the empire's rule.
At first, the elves chose to fight, but—
—"Haaah, hngh, let go, let go!"
—"I, I am carrying a human's child? Th-that's impossible, this can't be. This can't be happening!"
—"I, I was wrong. I was wrong, so please, don't ejaculate inside!"
They were miserably defeated, all taken prisoner, and became Kang-rim's sex slaves. Not a single one failed to carry human seed. Seeing their brave warriors being toyed with by Kang-rim while heavily pregnant, the elven elder finally signed the document.
With the warriors broken, it was meaningless to shed any more blood. It was a humiliation to submit to humans, a lower race, but the elder didn't want to commit the folly of turning his homeland into ashes just to avenge that shame.
Thus, Kang-rim was able to get his hands on the Great Forest. He could obtain top-grade lumber for free and use the enslaved elven warriors as broodmares. As a result, he was able to create an archer unit composed of elven archers.
Currently, Artria is ruling the elves as the Governor of the Great Forest. There are occasional elven resistors, but every time they appear, they are reduced to slaves.
Since Artria is handling it well even without him, he didn't need to worry much about the Great Forest. With no problems left, he could focus all his efforts on conquering Ice Island.
'Now, don't just stand there blankly, give me your opinions.'
A concrete invasion plan was established through a meeting with Iris, Cardian, and the representatives of the major tribes appointed as generals, and it was executed today.
The plan was summarized as follows:
1. Kang-rim himself becomes a monster and draws the enemies' attention.
The reason he could conquer multiple islands in a short period was Kang-rim. Because Kang-rim transformed into a monster and devastated the enemy's base, they could be conquered easily. Having transformed so constantly, he had reached a point where he could transform quietly without causing a commotion. He used this to create chaos inside the island.
The plan succeeded. The entire island fell into chaos at the sudden appearance of a monster, and taking advantage of that chaos, the Desire Empire activated the next plan.
2. The Turtle Corps and Crocodile Corps sink the ships docked at the harbor.
It was known that Persephone had lost all the ships she managed while supporting adventurers, but as a merchant who had accumulated immense wealth, she had immediately restored them. She had formed a new fleet of dozens of ships, even larger than before. Kang-rim had no intention of letting this slide.
He immediately ordered Tega, the head of the Turtle Corps, and Croker, the head of the Crocodile Corps, to sink every single ship docked at the harbor. The soldiers, who had never expected that enemies would approach the harbor by diving, didn't notice that the Turtle and Crocodile tribes had planted bombs on the ships. By the time they realized it, a massive mushroom cloud was rising over the harbor.
The fleet Persephone had barely managed to assemble vanished along with the harbor without firing a single shell.
3. Devastate Ice Island with a full-scale bombardment from the entire fleet.
They surrounded Ice Island from all sides and poured a hail of shells onto it. Ice Island, which had suffered the appearance of a monster and the destruction of its harbor, had no choice but to be helplessly struck by the subsequent bombardment from the enemies. There were those who barely regained their senses and attempted to counterattack, but the tide of battle had long since turned.
Due to the ruthless bombardment, Ice, the center of trade, became a wasteland.
4. Land on the island and suppress the remaining enemies.
Ice Island, having been completely swept away, fell into an irrecoverable state. Seizing this moment, the Iron Legion landed on the island. Normally, they should have been stopped before landing, but with the defensive lines already collapsed and most of the troops annihilated, there was nothing they could do. With even the supreme commander, Persephone, missing, all that remained for them was despair.
Thus, the Desire Empire successfully launched a surprise attack, and Ice Island failed to defend itself. All that remained was for it to be unilaterally ravaged.
"Haa, haa, My Lady…."
Persephone's aide, Teminer, kept running. Even though blood was streaming down her head from being caught in the bombardment and shrapnel was embedded throughout her body, she didn't stop running. Her left arm hung limply, perhaps because the bone was broken, but Teminer didn't care and kept running.
Teminer kept running toward the center of the island where the monster was rampaging.
'My Lady….'
It happened too suddenly. The moment Teminer stepped outside the building to complete the mission Persephone had given her, a monster suddenly jumped out. That monster, which was darkness itself, raided Persephone's office and swallowed the unconscious Persephone whole.
'Please, be safe!'
Teminer immediately attempted communication. She possessed a magical tool to contact her lady just in case.
—"Umm, Temi? Where on earth is this…."
Fortunately, Persephone had regained consciousness, but—
—"Wh, what is this. I hate it, don't come. Don't... hngh?"
Immediately after, the communication was cut off.
'I will save you somehow.'
Her lady was still alive. She didn't know how she had survived, but if she was alive, she could be saved. Her body was a wreck, but Teminer was prepared to throw away her own life if it meant saving her lady. Unfortunately, there was no one to help an aide who was so prepared.
—"Everyone, raise your shields! Stop their advance…."
A commander who tried to organize the panicked soldiers to build a defense was decapitated on the spot. The soldiers who had barely regained their senses were shocked to see their captain's head rolling on the floor, and every single one of them was slaughtered by the cold, blue blades of the Iron Legion.
—"Wh, why are the elves on the empire's side? Why…."
An archer who didn't know that the elves had been reduced to the empire's slaves died with an arrow embedded in his forehead.
—"Ugh? Let go, let go of me!"
A female mage who had lost all her comrades and survived alone was dragged away with an iron collar around her neck. Unless a miracle happened, she would be raised as livestock.
—"No, don't take my daughter, please, please!"
A married woman was also dragged away with an iron collar around her neck, and her newborn baby was snatched away. The woman would be raised as livestock, and the daughter would be reared to grow into a woman who would sacrifice her life for the Emperor.
—"Damn it, come here then. I'll show you that I didn't become a mercenary for nothing…."
A mercenary in danger of dying rushed forward to kill even one more, but he was shattered to pieces by a shell flying toward him. Small bloody chunks of the mercenary were scattered around. They were dying while putting up futile resistance. They were being dragged away after losing everything. Only screams echoed on the island.
Ice, which had been called the paradise of merchants, had become a living hell itself.
'Damn it, damn it, damn it!'
Teminer felt a surge of frustration inside. 'How did it come to this?'
The soldiers who had taken up swords to protect their homeland, the mercenaries who had laughed heartily saying they would work as much as they were paid, the adventurers who had declared they would give the empire a taste of its own medicine—they were all dead. Teminer's eyes filled with tears at the result of their best efforts ending so futilely.
'My Lady suffered so much….'
Why did it end up like this? What on earth had gone wrong? As she kept running, Teminer encountered a man.
"Hm? You are…."
"Y, you are…."
Teminer's face turned pale when she saw the man.
'Why is the mercenary captain here?'
The man her lady had ordered to be killed. She never expected to run into the mercenary captain, who was scheduled to be beheaded before he could disrupt military discipline further. The mercenary captain seemed greatly flustered as well, not expecting to see Teminer here.
"Why is the aide here?"
"Y, you are the one who should be asked why you are here?"
Asking back at the mercenary captain's question, Teminer stepped back little by little.
"I was moving to join my comrades."
Even while saying that, the mercenary captain gripped the sword at his waist.
'He was running away.'
Seeing the mercenary captain's actions, Teminer realized it immediately. 'No wonder he was always only interested in money.'
Her lady's judgment had been correct after all. This man was someone who was only useful if he died. Teminer regretted so much that she had defended this man for no reason.
'But, how do I get away?'
That piece of trash would try to kill her to silence her. If her body were in perfect condition, she could shake him off, but it was impossible with her battered body. If she at least had a sword in her hand, she could fight him, but unfortunately, she didn't even have a broken hilt. It was a complete dilemma.
"Hey, don't be so wary, why don't we run away together?"
Still not letting go of his sword, the mercenary captain approached slowly. "This island is finished. I don't know what happened to the lady you served, but shouldn't you try to survive first?"
"So, are you asking me to become a coward like you?"
Teminer glared at the mercenary captain with a face full of contempt. The mercenary captain only laughed awkwardly at Teminer.
"Ahaha, 'coward,' that's a bit harsh."
At the same time as those words—
"I was just trying to give you a chance!"
"Ugh?"
In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance. Before Teminer could even react, the mercenary captain struck Teminer's abdomen with his knee.
"Kuh-ack?"
Teminer collapsed to the floor. The mercenary captain, having suppressed the aide, covered her mouth with one hand.
"Hngh, hngh!"
"I'd love to fuck you, but I can't. Sorry, but you have to die."
The mercenary captain raised his sword high.
"Don't hold a grudge, My Lady. This is unavoidable!"
"Hngh!"
No, I can't die like this. I can't die until I save my lady! But even if she screamed, there was nothing Teminer could do. At the very moment Teminer was about to lose her life so futilely—
—"Whoosh!"
"Arghhhhh!"
The mercenary captain's right arm, holding the sword, was engulfed in blue flames.
"Aaaah, what is this?"
The captain's arm, engulfed in blue flames, turned to ash and disappeared in an instant. The sword he was holding melted to the point where its shape was unrecognizable. The mercenary captain, now one-armed, stared blankly at the place where his arm had vanished.
"Wh, what is this? Why, why is my arm…."
And—
"Aaaaaaaaaaah!"
Blue flames engulfed the mercenary captain's head.
"Aaaaaaah, save me, save meeeee!"
He desperately shook his remaining arm to put out the fire, but it was useless. Conversely, his remaining arm was also engulfed in blue flames and likewise turned to ash and disappeared.
"Save, save…."
That became his final words. His completely burned head turned to ash and scattered, and the mercenary captain, now a headless corpse, collapsed on the spot.
"Wh, what is this…."
Who did this? Is there a mage nearby? When Teminer, who had barely survived, wondered about it—
"Oh, there was a person here?"
Someone approached. It was a brown-haired Gumiho with her hair braided in two. Her tail and ears were all brown. The Gumiho, wearing a tight-fitting black hanbok, looked at Teminer with curious eyes.
"You, who are you?"
"Y, you are…."
Teminer knew very well who this Gumiho was.
"Sua, I didn't expect you to be here too…."
The leader of the Gumiho tribe and one of the generals of the Iron Beastman Corps belonging to the Iron Legion. Sua had appeared on the scene.