Ch.339Time Attack

While chatting with Jessica, our forces had already reached the “bridge”—the command center of the starship.

And standing before it was Partia, still in her regular nun attire as if she hadn’t felt the need to switch to combat mode, wielding a vicious chain-axe that completely contradicted her modest appearance.

Perhaps it was because the bridge was one of the two most critical locations in the ship’s system.

“Why haven’t we broken through yet! The Commander is watching personally!”

“All firepower is concentrated on the single passage.”

“Even the armored chimeras created by Griyanar are getting pulverized.”

The path to the bridge was wide but consisted of just one straightforward corridor.

Worse yet, that corridor was fortified with thick bulkheads, turrets, and defensive troops at regular intervals.

The final section featured security turrets equipped with powerful beam gatlings and additional defensive forces.

And…

“Such insolent creatures, you dare try to claim this Ouroboros?!”

“Oh.”

An enhanced human in a powered suit four times larger than the regular soldiers, boldly pointing at us…

No, it was the “Admiral” of the fleet we were fighting against.

With such formidable defenses in place, our already slow zone conquest seemed to have reached a complete standstill, which irritated me.

But that feeling didn’t last long.

“Ah, that place must finally be the destination our Savior desires.”

*Crack! Crack! Craaack!*

“UOOOOOOHHH!”

“The Savior Icarus wishes it, so judgment upon you all!”

“Lady Partia is charging, cover her!”

“For Icarus! For the Savior!”

“Erk.”

Partia, who had been fighting with her delicate frame until now, seemed to have her fighting spirit ignited upon seeing the “enhanced human” Admiral.

She immediately transformed into her 3-meter tall combat mode and charged forward, slicing through—

No, simply tanking all the beams and bullets flying toward her with her body.

Of course, even Partia would have difficulty blocking the anti-tank missiles and “beam gatling” fire that followed, but…

“When faced with strength, one should not respond with strength but naturally use softness…”

“????”

She grabbed the incoming anti-tank missiles by their mid-sections rather than their warheads.

Then she spun them around and sent them back in the direction they came from.

Some she threw at other missiles to intercept them.

The beam gatling?

She blocked everything by spinning her chain axe in circles with her hand.

Of course, the price was that her chain axe melted into liquid metal and shattered into fragments.

“Hahaaaa… All of you, kneel before me!”

“Hieeeeeek!”

“M-monster!”

“Is there such a crazy monster tag? Die, enhanced human!”

Our Partia had bought enough time to break through the defensive line and tear the beam gatling defense turret from the ceiling.

After all defensive systems failed to stop Partia, the face of the power-suited Admiral showed intense determination.

“Hmm, impressive indeed… But with this suit, even you won’t escape unharmed!”

“Excellent resolve, Admiral.”

…Of course, there are things in this world that resolve alone cannot overcome.

About three minutes after Partia and the Admiral began their clash.

“Why won’t you die?!”

“Faith, youngster.”

*CRACK!!*

“Ugh… gurgle…”

“Savior, I have dealt with the Admiral.”

“…Hmm.”

Our fleet Admiral, who had boasted his large and beautiful powered suit, had it shattered by Partia.

After struggling to the end, he finally had his face smashed in by her fist, his teeth scattering everywhere.

But just as I was about to savor this satisfying victory…

“Kuhuhehe, ugh, don’t celebrate your victory yet…!”

“Hmm?”

“If this s-suit is destroyed, the ship’s self-destruct system automatically activates!”

“What.”

The Admiral, his suit destroyed, proudly declared that he had initiated the self-destruct sequence for the Ouroboros I was targeting.

—————————————–

<Event>

<If I Can’t Have It, I’ll Reduce It To Ashes!>

<Details>

<The fleet Admiral aboard the Ouroboros-class has decided to end his life in self-destruction rather than let you take the Ouroboros.>

<Of course, if you manage to capture both the ‘bridge’ and the ‘engine room’, the Admiral’s self-destruct order will be automatically canceled.>

<Time remaining until Ouroboros-class self-destruction: 59 minutes 18 seconds>

—————————————–

‘This son of a…’

When this event message appeared, I felt a surge of anger, but first ordered Partia to conquer the bridge.

Then I immediately ordered the troops who were taking over the ship’s interior to capture the ‘engine room’ to stop the damned self-destruct sequence.

But there was a serious problem—I had believed the bridge would be right after defeating the Admiral.

Instead, there were additional defense lines before reaching the bridge.

With Partia here, breaking through wouldn’t be an issue.

The problem was that Partia was ‘absolutely’ necessary to break through the bridge’s defenses.

After capturing the bridge, having Partia go all the way to the engine room to conquer it… there simply wasn’t enough time.

‘We’re screwed, really screwed.’

To stop the self-destruct, we needed to capture both the bridge and engine room, but that seemed impossible in the current situation.

All I could do was pray that somehow my enhanced human soldiers would break through the defenses in less than an hour.

==========

But about 30 minutes later.

Partia had successfully eliminated the bridge command staff and quickly secured it, but…

“The defense line is too solid!”

“Damn it, those bastards are using walkers inside the ship.”

“Aaaaargh.”

As the situation became increasingly desperate with our forces unable to break through as expected, I felt more and more anxious.

At least Partia had finished securing the bridge and was now rushing toward the engine room in combat mode.

But with the complex internal structure and the need to break through sealed bulkheads, time kept ticking away.

Realizing we might not be able to stop the self-destruct at this rate, I was about to order Jessica to tell Partia and our internal forces to prepare for evacuation.

But right at that moment.

—————————————–

<Event Chat Window>

-[Icarus]

-[How’s the Ouroboros conquest going?]

-[I’ve dealt with all the other fleets, so I think I can send reinforcements now](Arcadia)

—————————————–

While I was focused on conquering the Ouroboros interior, Arcadia, who had apparently ground through all the NPC fleets, messaged me.

After a moment’s consideration, I decided to explain the situation clearly.

And after hearing my explanation (ship about to self-destruct, need to capture the engine room too but struggling), Arcadia said:

—————————————–

<Event Chat Window>

-[Then just mark the engine room location]

-[My enhanced humans are fine, I’ll deploy them there](Arcadia)

-[Ah](Icarus)

—————————————–

She stated this so calmly.

For a moment, I thought, ‘Wait, is she trying to claim ownership of the ship at this point?’

But as soon as that thought crossed my mind…

—————————————–

<Event Chat Window>

-[The ship is yours]

-[Icarus, you’ve been grinding through the entire fleet with determination, right?]

-[We’ll push to just before capturing the engine room, then let Icarus’s enhanced humans make the final capture](Arcadia)

—————————————–

“Ah… aah…”

Contrary to my unworthy thoughts, she responded with such saintly generosity that I felt embarrassed.

Of course, this wasn’t the time to dwell on such feelings.

—————————————–

<Event Chat Window>

-[Thank you… overwhelming thanks…!](Icarus)

—————————————–

I expressed my gratitude to Arcadia and gratefully accepted her support.