Глава 14

What the hell are those things up in the sky?!

Get down!

Urgh! *cough* *cough* *cough!

Delphine, your right hand—

Don't touch.

This isn't any normal cannonfire. Sarkaz witchcraft... is corrosive in nature. I won't be much help.

Those people still trapped in the polluted area...

It's too late for them.

You got shit in the air, stuff growing on the ground, AND crystals and dust everywhere! Can't even take a damn step!

The Sarkaz want to turn this battlefield into their home turf – forcing us to put down our gear and cower while they pummel us.

When it comes to a head-to-head infantry battle, the Sarkaz will surely have an advantage due to their natural physique.

Alright, I get it now. It's all just a dirty trick!

Which is why we can't afford to get caught off guard. If they ever get the drop on us, we're done for on the spot.

Morgan, get as many of our vehicles up and running as you can. Avoid any close combat with Sarkaz infantry.

Even if a vehicle's destroyed, don't overlook the mounted cannon. They're the best weapons we've got.

Understood!

Delphine,send the signalers out as widely as you feasibly can. The Exemplars will be able to maintain communication that way, at the least.

Of course.

If we want to push forward, we're going to have to take down that altar up ahead.

Horn, covering fire!

Roger!

Indra, your team's responsible for holding the enemy back. Doesn't matter if it's casters or Arts Creations or whatever those things are up in the sky.

You got it.

Dagda's team, you're with me.

Same as always?

Same as always.

I can see the core – move out.

Another altar of Sarkaz witchcraft.

Climb, pull up, leap, bring down the hammer.

As the war rages on, they've become more and more familiar with these war machines resembling the devils' eyes.

They've become more and more familiar with war itself.

Vina often feels as if Indra, Morgan, and Dagda have changed somewhat. She trusts that the very same changes can be seen in her.

Is it a change for the better? Or a change that came far too late?

The devil's crimson eye stares at her.

The hammer comes down hard, and the altar begins to collapse before Siege even reaches the ground.

It worked! Phew...

We took it down even quicker than the last one.

I hear something.

Back up!

Something's... growin' outta that bloody thing! It's another altar, not far from the one we knocked down!

How many of these little buggers did they bury in the ground? Bloody hell...

There's no end to them.

Siege tightly grips her hammer.

They are adapting. But not quickly enough.

Trilby Asher, has the location of the Stone of the Sword changed?

I haven't been notified of any changes to the plan.

Can the ship still move, with all the Originium crystals everywhere?

I'll have you know, Victoria has the most powerful fleet on land.

We might be slowed a little, but we're certainly not without options.

I hear naval guns.

I believe it's the Iron Duke's Gastrell, going by the sound.

The next round of our assault is beginning.

One of Abercorn's assault ships has run into the Sarkaz advance brigade!

The enemy was hiding in the fog and suddenly appeared–

Our vision is severely limited by the Originium crystals and we can't follow their movements at all!

Has mid-range communication been restored yet?

The ship's comm tower is still out of commission. Engineering's trying to repair it, but in this Originium-dense zone...

Your Grace, what are you doing on deck?

There's Originium dust everywhere outside, please try not to leave the command center...

I've heard that Wellington always stands on the deck of the Gastrell, personally commanding his frontline troops.

The Iron Duke has been through many battles, but you...

Just now, the Gastrell opened fire.

Your ears did not deceive you.

Is he still pressing forward?

I'm afraid so. The Iron Duke's forces have penetrated deeper than we thought, and are about to collide with the Sarkaz core units.

Wellington...

Does he plan to take the head of the Sarkaz regent?

The Wesley Wellington I knew was indeed a warrior before he became the Iron Duke.

His bravery might have bordered on madness... but he would never gamble with the outcome of a battle.

Regardless, the Iron Duke's recklessness has placed us at great risk.

As per the initial orders, Duke Abercorn's and Duke Ashworth's men are following the Iron Duke... and among them, our vanguard as well.

Factoring in the surrounding Originium, our front line is being stretched thin.

What of the 'eyes' you placed aboard the Gastrell?

Nothing yet.

Even us Trilby Ashers are experiencing some... serious delays in communication.

Aileen, confirm the status of the Stone of the Sword.

No issues so far!

We will never allow the Stone of the Sword to be tainted by Sarkaz witchcraft.

Your Grace, the Poet has launched a flare.

So Alexandrina and the Sighs of Kings will arrive soon.

Have your people keep a close eye on them. Don't let the sword get lost on the battlefield.

We must put the Sighs of Kings to work immediately.

Unless the comms are restored fully... the so-called ducal alliance is a non-entity.

The enemy seems to be getting stronger.

The same witchcraft... eats away at us while strengthening them.

Siege, watch out!

Argh—!

Dagda!

The hammer falls, and a portion of the Nachzehrer warrior's body is caved in.

But he continues to advance.

A second swing. Then a third.

Dagda leaps back, splitting his waist with her metal claws.

The Trilby Asher's flaming blade pierces his chest.

(Dull gasps)

That's just one. There are still... many more ahead.

These Sarkaz are truly...

Monsters!

These bloody devils are all monsters, goddamn it! They're not even flesh-and-blood !

Do you think they're already dead? Only the dead can...

Already dead...?