Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Capital Bombardment (2)
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The kingdom's mages poured everything they had into maintaining the defensive magic array, but holding out against the relentless barrage from the magic cannons through the night was no easy task.
In the end, just as dawn broke, the defensive array protecting the royal castle shattered catastrophically. The Royal Heart's bombardment began striking the castle and the kingdom directly.
A chain of explosions swept through the royal castle.
The mages hastily deployed defensive spells, but even those were mere stopgaps. The barriers formed by a handful of mages were far too fragile to withstand the concentrated fire from the magic cannons.
The royal castle became a smoldering ruin in an instant. Combat units assembled, but there was no way to counter the Royal Heart raining down shells from its high altitude. They were helpless.
"Whoa, the royal castle is collapsing!"
"Get His Majesty the King to safety!"
As the mages hurriedly shielded King Lidiuss and his entourage with defensive magic, the royal knights sprang into action.
Their goal was to find a safe haven for King Lidiuss away from the bombardment, but there was no escaping the magical shells pouring from the sky like rain.
The royal castle was neutralized in moments. Its grand buildings lay in rubble, and King Lidiuss along with the high nobles of the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom vanished amid the debris.
"It appears the royal palace and castle forces have been completely wiped out."
Baron Legacy reported. A skilled magitech engineer, he oversaw all technical aspects of the Royal Heart's bridge.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The magic radar shows no readings. At the very least, all forces capable of wielding mana have been eliminated."
Baron Legacy replied calmly to Raymond's question.
The Royal Heart was an airship built with ancient technology. Every piece of equipment aboard incorporated the pinnacle of that lost knowledge, far surpassing modern magitech.
The magic radar was no exception. Relying primarily on ancient tech, its precision was incomparable to contemporary models.
A device of such caliber signaling the annihilation of enemy mana users left no room for doubt.
"They could be hiding in secret passages, no?"
Raymond was familiar with the settings of ancient magic radars.
The Royal Heart's radar could detect ground mana from extreme altitudes with pinpoint accuracy, but deep underground targets were harder to track.
Of course, this limitation applied to modern radars as well, so it wasn't a major flaw.
"I'm told the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's royal castle has many secret passages leading underground. Or am I mistaken?"
"Your Majesty is correct. If you're concerned, we could more thoroughly destroy the capital's central military facilities to minimize resistance, then land the Imperial Army or Empire forces for a sweep. That might be prudent."
Baron Legacy proposed a solution. Raymond agreed, and the Royal Heart descended slightly to commence precision strikes on surviving military installations.
Boom! Kaboom!
The citizens of the capital's central district panicked at the thunderous blasts.
They had braced for fiery devastation from above, but the magic shells targeted only military sites with uncanny precision.
Civilian casualties weren't zero, but the Royal Heart's near-perfect accuracy minimized needless deaths.
"The capital's central military forces have been fully neutralized."
At Baron Legacy's report, Raymond nodded faintly and turned to Cassias.
"Sir Cassias."
"Yes, Your Majesty. What are your orders?"
"The Empire fleet carries knight orders as well, correct?"
"Yes, it does."
The knight orders held independent command, but technically fell under the Empire forces.
Thus, when selecting elite Empire troops to board the fleet, High Knight William had embarked with two combat squads—1,000 knights—from his order.
"Who's the commander?"
"Sir William."
Cassias answered. He strongly sensed this search mission would go to Sir William's knights, and though he hid it before the Emperor, he couldn't help feeling slighted.
"Which ship carries Sir William and his knights?"
"They're aboard Ship 2 at present."
"Then relay orders to Sir William on Ship 2 to prepare his knight order."
"You plan to deploy the knight order for the search operation?"
"That's the idea."
Raymond nodded slowly at Cassias's question. His tone was firm, but Cassias couldn't suppress his disappointment and spoke up tensely.
"Your Majesty! Our Imperial Army stands ready as well!"
It was a timid plea, but surely its intent would be understood.
"The Imperial Army has a more critical mission, Sir Cassias."
Marquis Blizzard of the Royal Guard spoke calmly in Raymond's stead, as the Emperor hesitated.
"What might that be, Marquis Blizzard?"
"Escorting His Majesty from the Royal Heart."
"Ah!"
Cassias nodded in sudden realization at the Marquis's words.
It was almost comically straightforward. One might think Cassias's mind held nothing but swordsmanship, tactics, strategy, and loyalty to the Emperor.
"Do you understand, Sir Cassias?"
Raymond asked lightly, a faint smile on his lips. Cassias snapped a crisp salute and boomed his response.
"The Imperial Army pledges its full loyalty alongside Your Majesty!"
What an easy man to handle, Raymond thought with an inward chuckle. Having a subordinate with such blind devotion was a pleasant thing.
"Shall I relay the landing order to Ship 2?"
Baron Legacy asked cautiously. Raymond nodded slowly.
"Have Ships 3 and 4 descend as well to provide cover for Ship 2."
"Understood. I'll pass Your Majesty's orders to Ships 3 and 4."
Baron Legacy moved to the communication crystal as he replied.
The bridge was equipped for comms. A top-grade mage infused mana, and Ship 2's captain appeared in the crystal.
Baron Legacy conveyed the imperial command to Ship 2's captain, then did the same for Ships 3 and 4. Soon, Ship 2 began descending, with 3 and 4 following for cover.
From Ship 2, which landed amid the ruined royal castle, elite knights poured out. A few remaining guards in the castle and inner citadel resisted, but exhausted troops stood no chance against fully armored knights.
"Sir William, we've found an underground passage in the palace ruins."
"I'll check it myself."
Three hours into the search, they located the secret passage entrance. William insisted on inspecting it personally and headed there with his aide's guidance.
The passage held only corpses, including one in the king's robes.
To confirm, William summoned a knight who had visited the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom as envoy, verified King Lidiuss's death, and called a top-grade mage for magical comms to report to Raymond.
"Your Majesty, King Lidiuss is dead."
William's brief report marked the end of the long war with the Tri-Kingdom Alliance.
In the inner citadel of the Haipel Empire—the mightiest power on the Western Continent—shadowy figures stirred in secret.
"All forces provided by the Association have assembled in the inner citadel."
A woman in black robes reported. The man staring piercingly at the ground lifted his head. Wearing a black mask, he was the Herald of Doom, Richard Paler.
"Numbers?"
"Twenty thousand."
These 20,000 were the End Association's elite troops.
With the Haipel Empire as their main stage, they could muster far more than in Philius Empire or alliance territories.
"Twenty thousand... That's the Association's full strength, isn't it?"
Richard murmured softly, but the ghostly woman offered no reply. She couldn't— even high cadre Richard didn't know the Association's total might. A mere 'cadre' like her certainly wouldn't.
Still, infiltrating 20,000 into Haipel's capital undetected must have cost the Association dearly.
"No answer? Fine, doesn't matter much anyway."
Richard shrugged.
"The mercenaries are ready?"
"Yes, Sir Richard. They're en route to the capital now."
The End Association had even prepared mercenaries. Not for assaulting the imperial capital, of course—just pawns to distract the capital defense forces.
The real attack on the palace would fall to the 20,000 Association fighters.
"Commence operations when the mercenaries arrive."
Richard said quietly. The moment came sooner than expected. A messenger reported 30,000 mercenaries nearing the capital, and soon the inner citadel buzzed with activity.
The capital defense forces mobilized. Richard rose from his rock perch and drew his sword.
"Raise the black flags. The great undertaking begins now."
"Yes!"
With a resounding reply, black-robed figures emerged throughout the citadel. Black banners aloft, they advanced on the imperial palace.
Capital defense troops stationed in the citadel blocked their path.
"Richard, shall I step in?"
Grand Mage Silvers—End Association high cadre and Richard's fellow villager—asked softly. Richard shook his head and stepped forward without a word.
"In the Association's name, we declare doom upon the Haipel Empire's palace."
His sword swung.
"Gaaah!"
"Arghhh!"
The bold defense knights crumpled, spraying blood.
Richard swung relentlessly. Each jet-black flash felled more knights.
"D-Damn it!"
"It's the Sword Saint!"
No Sword Saint guarded the citadel's defenses now. With Sword Saints in the palace, high knights advanced to buy time—but they were no match for Richard, honed by endless battles and elevated in realm.
Nine high knights were diced in an instant.
"Silvers, you're up."
"I don't enjoy mopping up small fry, but I'll make an exception this time."
Silvers grumbled, twirling his staff. Lightning rained from the sky.
"Gaaah!"
"Arghhh!"
Two thousand defense troops vanished in shrieks.
"Press on."
Richard advanced. Fierce clashes erupted across the citadel between defenses and Association forces, but Richard and Silvers led the first 4,000 to reach the palace gates.
Blood Sword Akiden of Haipel's Sword Saint Assembly barred their way.
"That far and no further."
Akiden warned in a heavy voice. Behind him, two grand mages stood with high knights.
"What now, Richard? Two grand mages are even a challenge for me."
"Our ally will arrive soon. Be patient."
Richard was right.
"Gaaahhh!"
One Haipel grand mage toppled with a sudden scream, five black daggers in his back.
Akiden whirled around.
"The Association declares your doom! Accept your end!"
"Shadow Emperor Darklein? Why?!"
Darklein, who had sworn loyalty to Haipel.
Akiden couldn't believe the betrayal. Regrettably, Darklein had always been with the End Association, feigning loyalty to Haipel for his dark aims.
Even a grand mage couldn't counter a determined Shadow Emperor's ambush.
The surviving grand mage ducked behind high knights. Akiden turned his sword on him—but Richard loomed at his back.
"Don't forget about me, Blood Sword Akiden."
A chill voice accompanied a barrage of jet-black flashes. Akiden countered with crimson aura, his sword swinging—and blood sprayed high.