Глава 13

Magdelene, you can't fall asleep!

Rockrock?

This guy's so heavy!

Mmm...

Feist... The Self-Salvation Corps... Why are you...?

We figured something went wrong when we saw fireworks in the middle of the day! They sealed the wall we blew open yesterday, but that cannon gave us a new path.

Hold onto Rockrock's hand, Magdelene! Our forces don't have enough manpower, and we're bringing everyone to evacuate as soon as we can!

Woahh! Feist, your zipline's even faster after those modifications you made!

Right, where is Mayor Freda? We haven't been able to locate her.

...Freda is—

Drat, why did my zipline start shaking?

What about that weak garrison commander? Where is he hiding this time?

Well, no matter... I'll take over command.

I can feel it. My blood... is boiling.

No need to contact Major Ulšulah's squad. We can take care of these laughable Victorians by ourselves.

Kill them all.

The garrison here is mounting a counter-attack. They're putting more pressure on us than any Sarkaz we've faced before!

How much explosive does Old Weiss still have outside? Can he make it here in time to back us up?

Probably not happening. Not counting the members who laid the ziplines for us, we barely had any fighting men to begin with.

Start the Crawlers! We need to break through by force!

Rockrock, watch out! Your zipline!

Ah—

That hurts—

Magdelene, are you okay?

Can you walk? Gah, these disgusting things—

On the sundering earth, a large number of red worms keep gushing onto surface. They chew on every soul they can reach and suck their blood.

This is the Prince's blessing. It's the kindness the Royal Court left for us.

In our bodies... our purest blood is now awakening. Let's waste no more time on these Victorians!

Rockrock, you should go—

The Feline girl named Rockrock takes out a dagger from her waist and stuffs it into my hand.

A large group of Sarkaz are closing in on our location.

Magdelene, get ready to fight.

It's not that hard. None of us... had any combat experience before.

Take a deep breath and make up your mind.

Make up my mind.

Right.

Just like... that Sarkaz officer who collapsed among the fluttering petals.

I grip the dagger tight.

A shot rings out.

Artillery fire? I thought we used up all our explosives!

Quick, Rockrock, Magdelene, now!

We were contacted by a few old friends. They brought a whole backup unit! They even have an identification code—

Identification code?

Is it the military? Victorian... Right... the military is responding to the war.

They must be a group of ice-cold men. They're here to kill the Sarkaz and save the Victorians. They—

'The Exemplars!'

A thick, roiling cloud of dust is kicked up into the air all over within view. Again and again, bright flashes of light suddenly erupts across the ground.

What is that... A tank?

I can hear a firm, persevering female voice coming from Feist's communicator.

This is Tank Fire Team Horn. All units, make sure to stay clear of my blast zone.

Grenade loaded. Firing second barrage!

Opening created. Cover the Self-Salvation Corps and all citizens!

Horn, continue laying suppressive fire.

Those Arts Circles... We need to find a way to stop this bloody witchcraft.

Vina, have someone else drive. I want to join the ground combat!

Hannah, eyes on the road!

Alright, alright!

Get the tank as close to the core of the Arts Circle as possible. I'll take care of that thing!

Vina!

You have other tasks.

All units, follow regular deployment formation. Morgan, Hannah, follow Horn's orders and cut open a path for the tank.

Lieutenant Shearer, Dagda, Delphine, take command of the ground forces and form a defensive line. Stop the Sanguinarch's worms.

I'm on it.

Acknowledged.

Acknowledged.

Mr. Misery, I'll leave the commander of the enemy forces to you.

All you need to do is boldly execute your plan.

Feist, it's been a while. We shall exchange pleasantries later. I need the Self-Salvation Corps to help set up a zipline that will take me above the Arts Circle.

On it!

We have no time to lose. Let us take care of the strange Arts Circle first.

I will leave my rear to all of you.

While I was still trying to identify the squad that suddenly came to our aid, the blond Feline has already ziplined to the center of the battlefield.

She descended from the sky, and bombastically made her way into the center of the Arts Circle's blood-red pillar of light. The sound of rocks blasted apart ring throughout the entire battlefield.

'Thump.'

I can see each and every swing of her large sledgehammer in that red light.

'Forward!'

The Feline's voice ignites the tank's engine.

I see a warrior holding a sledgehammer up high leading the Victorians to retake our land.

Look! Look how easily our Victorian tank fire can blast that thing apart!

We said as much long ago. Them bloody devils are no match for Victoria's military!

Crush them!

No, there are too many Originium crystals in town...

The mayor's office, the small town square, the library... those things we've been rebuilding day in and day out...

We won't make it in time—

Is it over?

No...

The pillar of red light rises from the building we built and intermingles with the festive fireworks.

There is a blood-red color boiling in that dark abyss.

The similarly red worms are reaching their antennae toward the sky.

The Arts Circle has been damaged. The Vampires' offspring have gone berserk. Seize this opportunity!

Infantry units, stop advancing. Escort all citizens out of the Arts Circle's range.

Tank squad, follow me and push forward. Destroy the remaining Originium crystals in the town and commence search and rescue!

Hell is invading my town.

All while the formation's rumbling tank accelerates and blitzes in on the devils.