Chapter 186
Chapter 186
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Crash into Enemy Territory
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"You're talking so calmly when we're all about to crash and die? Oh, I get it. You've got wings, so you're fine, right?"
"Wings and flying aren't always directly connected."
"What do you mean?"
"And,"
Mazdari said.
"I only said we're crashing. I didn't say we'd all die."
Ramin Solost Muel inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
Mazdari was both a grand magus and an apostle.
It was only natural that he wouldn't let everyone in Thunderhold perish.
"So you do have a plan?"
Mazdari cut him off.
"A plan? No need for me to step in."
"What?"
"Thunderhold was built with the worst-case scenario in mind: the gasbag completely rupturing and the ship plummeting. We can't avoid the fall itself, but we can turn a hard crash into a soft landing."
At those words, Ramin hurriedly looked around to see what the scurrying, straining soldiers were doing.
The soldiers were adjusting the direction of the thrusters on both wings using levers.
They were redirecting the spiral blades, originally meant to propel forward, upward to generate lift for the airship however possible.
Mazdari continued.
"The gasbag isn't completely destroyed, so repairs are feasible. A few mages have already started synthesizing hydrogen, so we'll have plenty of gas to refill it, and we have materials to patch the tears."
Just as he finished speaking, a jolt rocked both sides of the hull.
The tilting thrusters had both shifted to a right-angle orientation.
At Lizardman Captain Floyd Tanssen's command, the spiral blades on both thrusters spun, slowing their descent enough to feel it in their bones.
The soldiers cheered and embraced one another.
Ramin squatted down, clutching his legs.
"Why scare me like that? I should go see if the others need help."
"You don't get it, Ramin. Just because we survive the landing doesn't mean the situation improves."
"What now?"
"It's not the crash that's the problem. It's where we're crashing."
Only then did Ramin remember what he had forgotten.
Since they had encountered the United Kingdom's dragon knights, it was safe to assume Thunderhold had crossed the front lines.
Mazdari said.
"We've fallen into the deepest heart of the southern continent, the United Kingdom of Danri's territory. Right below us are countless United Kingdom soldiers and weapons."
Ramin panicked.
"I secretly hoped the airship would crash, but not until after we reached the front lines. Looks like the Wild Heavens granted my wish with a mix-up."
"...So that's what happened."
Mazdari started to scold Ramin but realized it would be pointless and let it go.
"No telling how fast the enemy will react, but considering the time to repair Thunderhold, combat is inevitable."
"So we're all dead in the end? While you fly away?"
Mazdari clacked his beak together sharply.
He fixed Ramin with the sharp gaze that had always yielded useful results in place of his brief words so far, but it had no effect on this vampire.
Mazdari suppressed a sigh and said.
"I'm not running away, Ramin."
"That's a relief."
"You're the one who needs to run."
Ramin blinked.
"Me?"
─┼
A colossal steel fortress worthy of the term iron bastion.
The citadel consisted of dozens of Gothic spires piercing the sky at varying heights, connected by lofty gallery bridges filled with stained glass bearing indistinct sigils.
Gargoyles, bereft of their purpose with no visitors, perched silently on the spires' and galleries' railings, gazing vacantly into the emptiness beyond the fortress. It was a prison from which no one could enter—or escape.
Atop the tallest spire, on the highest dais, upon the grandest throne, sat a figure wearing a horned helm.
Player Hegemonia.
Hegemonia addressed the creation prostrated before the throne.
"What? Say that again."
The creation, resembling a velociraptor from any angle, was one Hegemonia had made to handle certain tasks in his stead.
Among players, such creations were called "administrators." Hegemonia was simply too busy ruling his expanded world to manage it all himself.
The raptor bowed its head low and said.
"Thunderhold is crashing into our territory."
"Is it now?"
It was a fact Hegemonia hadn't anticipated.
When the giant moray he had created to confront Mazdari died, Hegemonia had dismissed the screen. He had assumed it was a failure anyway.
But the giant moray hadn't forgotten its mission even in its dying moments.
"So, we're finally capturing an apostle? No, wait. You've already dispatched troops to the crash site to surround it, right?"
"Yes. The Fifth Apostle, Alma Alloi, has mobilized forces from all directions to encircle it."
Hegemonia reviewed the raptor’s report while simultaneously checking the system windows for details.
"Good. Then..."
As Hegemonia moved to issue further orders, a message popped up before his eyes.
「Player 'Nebula' has requested a whisper.」
Hegemonia reflexively reached for the accept button but stopped short.
'No! Not falling for it this time.'
To summarize the past decades of war from Hegemonia's perspective: a history of prolonged deception by Seong-un.
Seong-un had approached Hegemonia with simple proposals, ceasefires, partial surrenders—countless tempting words.
But they were all preludes to the next scheme.
Even accepting a proposal on a specific front inevitably led to losses for Hegemonia, though he couldn't see it until it was too late.
In the original Lost World, he had never spoken to Nebula, so he hadn't imagined it.
But now, it all seemed part of the ploy.
'Acting like fair play, only to...!'
Of course, it wasn't solely because Hegemonia trusted Seong-un.
The war between their nations was on such a massive scale that no single person could grasp every cause and effect.
For instance, when Seong-un proposed a years-long ceasefire on the eastern front and Hegemonia accepted, merchants profiting from the war went bankrupt, collapsing the local economy. Something Hegemonia had overlooked.
That sparked unrest, breeding rebels, and seemingly minor events snowballed into factors that turned the tide against him.
'I just need to do my job. Not play games with Nebula's wordplay.'
The very act of an opponent proposing something implied they were already prepared.
No matter how thoroughly Hegemonia prepared—even as a god who knew everything in his territory—processing and understanding information had human limits.
'...No, Nebula's the same. Even other players' creations are just smarter and more autonomous than mine. Alliances are always risks.'
It was regrettable that Hegemonia couldn't properly strike Seong-un and his allies, but he believed he could win with his full strength.
Like top players in any game, he considered luck part of skill.
Ignoring the message, Hegemonia continued instructing the raptor.
"...Oh, and send more creations down. Any not currently holding the front lines..."
Then, a lone raptor burst in.
"Rageful One! Disaster strikes!"
"What is it?"
"Hasten to check the northern front!"
Hegemonia summoned a screen.
"...What the hell is this?"
The Empire's south—the United Kingdom's northern front—had devolved into trench warfare.
Typically, apostles, creations, or tank units broke through, followed by infantry exploiting the breach after bombardment.
Opponents countered to block breakthroughs while striking elsewhere for gains—a standard tactic given poor supply lines from prolonged war and needs for tech and societal advancement. Both sides had found compromises.
But the current scene was no back-and-forth.
Countless creations—unprecedented in number—were charging the trenches.
Even named ones Hegemonia itched to crush were among them.
'Slatis is there? Haven't seen it since the last eastern front battle. That stag beetle is Hecup. And... damn it, Sekton.'
Even one could sweep infantry, yet dozens lined up along the front.
Sure, some were mediocre, but as a unit, they’d overwhelm the line.
'Wait, that number means they've pulled creations from other fronts? So strike elsewhere first... No.'
Hegemonia refocused.
He was confident in war command, even against Seong-un.
'Got it. They want total war. Nebula realized petty mind games don't work anymore.'
It even explained risking an individual like the Third Apostle Mazdari.
'Crashing Thunderhold was a feint too. To deny me even a moment to respond.'
But realizing it now wasn't too late.
Hegemonia rose.
"Alright, raptors. Total war it is. Rally all apostles not engaged elsewhere. The first line was just a delay tactic for this. We settle it on the second!"
One raptor raised its head.
"But, Rageful One..."
"What?"
"...What about Thunderhold?"
Hegemonia snapped.
"Still don't get it? It's a feint. Hold them loosely. ...But report Mazdari's position precisely."
─┼
Seong-un said to Wisdom.
"How's it looking?"
Wisdom checked his screen.
"Just as you said. Enemy forces are massing. How'd you know?"
Seong-un waved it off.
"Such bold commitment he's never shown before—naturally, he'd be thrilled. And he's got that simple side."
His tactical and strategic prowess could humble even the Empire's might in specifics, but broader strategy was harder to claim.
Thus, Seong-un's first principle against Hegemonia: don't seek direct gains from battles.
And it always worked.
"But pulling forces outright—Hegemonia isn't stupid; he'll spot the deception."
"Then maintain the front at a loss?"
"No, pull them immediately."
"...?"
As Wisdom turned, Seong-un added.
"But deceive what the feint targets. Time to activate the espionage unit on the western front. Hope that stockpiled troll skin disease proves useful."
In the meantime, Seong-un planned to move the real pieces that mattered.