Chapter 708: An Unavoidable Trap (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 708: An Unavoidable Trap (7)
The greatest concern for the interim alliance before launching the operation was the intervention of the Evil God.
[Of course, I cannot rule out the possibility of a change in the Evil God’s condition while the operation is underway in Ricalton. However, since she has already gone on a rampage once, even the Evil God will need some time to normalize. In my view, you needn't worry too much—unless you plan on fighting in Ricalton for days.]
As Orgal said, as long as Rosa did not personally join the fray, the success rate of the operation was bound to increase significantly.
Dipus had gained transcendental martial prowess by receiving a portion of the Evil God’s authority, but he was currently sidelined with injuries from the Eternal Fire. Even if he were in perfect condition, no one believed he could handle the interim alliance’s top-tier forces on his own. Beyond Dipus, there were other powerhouses like Padler and Lionel, as well as the army of chaos, but without the Evil God, the alliance felt confident they would not be pushed back.
Slowly, the Steel Gate began to descend.
As it touched the sea's surface, the Steel Gate split into two. One side led toward the Huphester waters, where the prisoner rescue team, including Cosmos, would head; the other side led toward the heart of Ricalton, where the Ship Puberty would enter.
“Cosmos, keep your wits about you.”
“Don’t you worry, Captain Mary. This Cosmos’s fleet has no history of being captured. So, just focus on yourself, Captain. Your wounds haven't fully healed yet.”
“My Lord, we shall be off.”
[To think I’ve been reduced to escorting these mere pirates...]
Valkas and Vail spoke up. Their role was to escort Cosmos’s fleet until they made safe landfall in Ricalton from the sea, and then rejoin the main force.
“They aren't 'mere pirates'; they are the most vital personnel for transporting the prisoners. Until the allies open a path to Ricalton’s harbor, protect them so that not a single ship is destroyed.”
[Tsk, I get it.]
“And rejoin us safely. You too, Vail, and you, Sir Valkas.”
The Ship Puberty turned its bow to the right. After a brief exchange of well-wishes, the ships moved forward toward their respective gates.
* * *
4:15 AM, the northern boundary of Ricalton.
About an hour had passed since the interim alliance’s operation began in earnest. Zipple’s fleet was advancing smoothly, piercing through the anti-air defense network. Although they hadn't been able to show their true majesty when they were struck down by Ram during the general offensive, Zipple’s fleet remained the greatest military force of humanity.
The Chaos Dragons and Black Ships that rushed at them incessantly were simply reduced to ash, like moths hitting a flame. To pierce the fleet’s shields, a transcendental powerhouse like Padler was required.
“Is it because of the Evil God’s rampage, just as Orgal said? For some reason, it seems Runcandel is only trying to buy time by consuming their troops...”
Veradin said as he unfolded a map with magic. There was still no significant change in the state of despair in Ricalton.
“Dante Hairan, what do you think? Do you think they are buying time, or have they set a trap?”
Dante turned his head to look at Veradin. Under normal circumstances, Dante would have paused to reflect on Veradin’s unfamiliar appearance, but the current situation did not allow for that.
“I suspect the latter. Though it is merely a hunch.”
“I feel the same. At this rate, we’ll reach the 1st Prisoner Camp that Orgal and Zephyrin identified within thirty minutes. Have they already moved the prisoners?”
“Why not increase our speed and check? Even if it is a trap, we must advance past the prisoner camp to Ricalton Castle anyway. Our mission, along with Zipple, is to rescue the prisoners from the 1st and 2nd camps and then support Jin and the Barmul Alliance.”
“True. According to the schedule, Jin and Tikan’s forces should be entering the heart of Ricalton soon. It’s best to do as you suggest. We aren't in a position to respond by slowly examining every kind of trap anyway. Above all, if it isn't a trap, it means the 4th Flagbearer is still focusing on recovery, which would be an opportunity.”
As Veradin issued the command, the fleet accelerated.
Kieeeek, crunch...!
Debris from Black Ships and the corpses of Chaos Dragons shattering against the shields constantly obscured their vision. About ten minutes later, Zipple’s fleet was able to identify the 1st Prisoner Camp, hidden behind a barrier of chaos. By now, the number of Chaos Dragons and Black Ships rushing them had decreased significantly, to the point where they were no longer a threat.
“I wonder if the prison’s bizarre appearance is the will of the Evil God or the personal taste of the 4th Flagbearer. I’ll have to ask when I meet him.”
Looking down from above, the interior was a landscape completely different from a typical prison. In the center of the barrier’s interior stood a single tree as massive as a citadel. The tree was laden with translucent black fruit, and each fruit appeared to hold about fifty prisoners. Monstrous giants were seen picking the fruits one by one, but they did not react much even after seeing the fleet appear.
The only ones reacting violently to the fleet were the prisoners inside the fruits. Though their voices could not be heard, as soon as the prisoners saw the fleet, they began to frantically pound and scratch at the insides of the fruits. The fruits soon took on a reddish hue from the blood they shed.
While Veradin looked down at the scene without much emotion, Dante’s fists trembled. The majority of those people were prisoners of the Empire.
“Hmm, it is strange after all. The concentration of despair in Ricalton is suddenly thickening the moment we arrived here, Dante Hairan.”
Normally, the opposite should have been true. The emotion the people trapped in the fruits felt upon seeing Zipple’s fleet should have been, ‘We’re saved.’ However, the despair indicated on the map continued to darken. Dante suppressed his boiling rage and scanned the ground again. As he heightened his senses, he felt as if he could faintly hear the voices of the people trapped in the fruits.
Don’t come. Don’t come here!
It was so faint that he couldn't be sure if the prisoners were truly saying that, but their gestures were clear. The prisoners weren't just pounding or scratching at the fruits; they were also waving their hands frantically as if telling them to go back.
‘...Ah, I see why the despair has thickened. The 4th Flagbearer told the prisoners here in advance—that even if we come, we will only fall into a trap. Or perhaps he brainwashed them.’
It was the latter. The Prophet had manipulated the minds of the prisoners in the 1st camp, planting the perception that it was ‘useless’ even if the interim alliance’s rescue team came here.
The interim alliance will fall into a trap the moment they arrive and die before your very eyes.
That was the perception planted in them.
“Young Master! It’s a mana reaction! Mana is spreading from the camp!”
A mage shouted. If it were a trap, they expected the energy of chaos or an army to swarm the fleet, but suddenly, mana was unfolding all around them.
“Deploy shields to maximum.”
Fortunately, the fleet was faster at strengthening its shields than the mana spreading from the camp was at turning into a spell.
‘A net?’
The mana surging from the camp became a net so massive it encompassed the entire fleet, but it was not a threat in itself. The net clinging to the shields did not have enough restraining force to limit the fleet’s movement.
“A storm of chaos energy is also closing in!”
“It’s not at a level the shields can’t block.”
Just as the mages on board reported, a storm of chaos energy struck the fleet. The fleet swayed slightly, but like the mana net, it wasn't powerful enough to pierce the shields.
‘What do this mana and this ambiguous chaos energy mean?’
While the concentration of despair on the map continued to thicken, Veradin looked up as if he had suddenly realized something.
“Young Master, we can easily break through. Please give the order.”
“No, all ships, standby! This is illusion magic.”
“Illusion magic?”
Dante asked, looking at Veradin.
“Yes. I didn't expect to see lost dark-type illusion magic here. Everyone, listen well! Right now, in the eyes of the prisoners, it looks as if we have been brutally annihilated. That is exactly why the despair levels are rising even though we are perfectly fine.”
He was correct. Right now, the prisoners were seeing an ‘illusion’ where everything went according to the Prophet’s plan. In their eyes, the entire fleet was already exploding and falling.
“Then can’t we just push through the remaining chaos energy and show them that we are fine, Lord Veradin?”
“It’s not that simple, Dante. Solving it that way won't break the illusion governing the prisoners' minds. Even if we rescue them all and tell them it’s okay, the prisoners will remain trapped in the illusion. Then the despair will continue to grow, won't it?”
“...What must we do?”
“We shouldn't try to distort the magic with greater power; we must dispel the ritual. It means the mages have to reverse-engineer and unravel this net covering the fleet one by one.”
“Is that the only way? I do not know much of magic, but it seems that would take far too much time.”
“You’re right. It will take at least three hours. If you want to save time, we can just kill all the prisoners. Once dead, they’ll be freed from the illusion, so the despair won't grow any further.”
“That is unacceptable.”
“I figured you’d say that. But you see, this is a trap, just as we predicted all along. The intention is very obvious. They’re trying to buy time. To delay our entry. It’s likely because of the 4th Flagbearer’s own injuries. No information came in that he had recovered, even right before the operation began.”
“In other words, it is a choice between moving according to the 4th Flagbearer’s intent by saving the prisoners... or sacrificing them to reach him a few hours faster?”
“Exactly. That’s why I told the fleet to stop for now, but I’m actually conflicted. It might be better to kill the prisoners and move forward. To eliminate Dipus.”
“I told you, I cannot accept us killing the prisoners with our own hands.”
“Then give me some grounds. A reason why we should play into Dipus’s trap even while knowing it.”
Dante glared at Veradin. Soon, Dante regained his composure and answered.
“I am but an individual, yet I am the Guardian of the Empire and the successor of the Sword Emperor. It is embarrassing to say it myself, but I can be considered a very special existence.”
“I have a feeling where this is going. You’re starting to pique my interest, so go on.”
“After Jin first speculated on why the Evil God is using Joshua, Orgal said that the despair of a special existence would act strongly toward the completion of the Evil God. Therefore, there is a possibility that my despair would be the same. If we kill the prisoners and move forward like this, my despair will become too great.”
Veradin blinked a few times while looking at Dante, then replied.
“Fine, I’ll accept that. It makes sense. All fleet mages, prepare to dispel the ritual immediately. All unit leaders and high-ranking mages, gather at the flagship. I will demonstrate the procedure.”