Ch.346Tannhäuser Workshop Battle (2)

Obviously, I had to put in tremendous effort to move all my forces into position just outside Tannhäuser’s radar detection range: my three direct fleets (main force, Rhodes Mercenary Corps, and Avalonia Security Fleet), plus Leonard’s escort fleet of about 5,100 ships that naturally followed when I brought Marian along, around 100 monster ships I received with the stern warning “If you destroy them all again this time, I’ll turn your body into a monster next time,” and finally, the mindlessly hired 2,535 mercenary groups with their 400,000 vessels.

After positioning most of the fleets in the designated airspace, I finally deployed the “main force” containing Ouroboros and shifted my viewpoint…

“Huh?”

“Oh my, are all those ships from other Commanders?”

To my dismay, contrary to my ambitious plan, the airspace near Tannhäuser was already occupied by approximately 6-7 thousand stealth ships, presumably belonging to users who had come to watch.

At this point, with my fleets already in the process of forming their battle formations according to instructions, I couldn’t issue additional orders. So during this brief idle moment, I opened the gallery window to figure out exactly what was happening…

And what I saw in the gallery’s top posts was:

—————————————–

Title: Breaking News) Rank 3 mobilizes about 300,000 ships for Tannhäuser assault…

Author: News Boy

Content: [gif of ships continuously arriving via teleport, followed by the protagonist’s main force]

After seeing the verification post early this morning, I immediately sent ships with my secondary user to check, and ships have been popping up continuously since dawn until now;;

The numbers are so extraordinary that nearby users can’t rush in carelessly and are just watching. Looks like it’s about to begin now that the Krakens have appeared.

-Edit

Sorry, there was a numerical error

Correction: not 300,000 but 400,000 ships

Comments:

-[Wow, twin Krakens appearing, so badass;;;]

-[OP says it’s not 300,000 ships, actually more than that?]

-˪[Confirmed, our reporters just checked the numbers and radar shows over 400,000 ships](Author)

-˪[Is he insane? Mobilizing 400,000 ships alone?]

-[What’s that in front of Hresvelgr? The hull looks bizarre and whatever’s attached below is huge]

-˪[That’s an Ouroboros-class heavy cruiser, that’s practically a special ship]

-[He has three types of extremely unique ships when having just one would be remarkable;;]

-[Oh, is it starting now?]

-[Prepare the popcorn!]

—————————————–

—————————————–

Title: Betting time on whether Icarus’s Tannhäuser assault succeeds or fails

Author: Gambling Apocalypse

Content: [Image of a toad shouting “It’s time for heroes and brave men”]

[Self-voting function-<Participation Gold: 1,000>]

[<Success: 61,306>]

[<Failure: 1,559>]

Comments:

-[Let’s go with the safe bet]

-[This is when you need the heart of a beast to aim for the underdog]

-˪[You’re betting against this?]

-[400,000 ships isn’t child’s play lolololol]

-[Safe bet is guaranteed profit^^]

-[Prepare alcohol and women, it’s time for heroes and brave men who succeed with underdog bets!]

-˪[More mass farming of heroes and brave men]

-˪[Heroes~ Brave men~ Time to become dog soup~]

—————————————–

“…Ah, damn it.”

“I guess it’s impossible to move 400,000 ships discreetly after all.”

Not only had all sorts of users taken the bait, but even that News Boy character had rushed in, making my Tannhäuser assault the gallery’s biggest topic of discussion.

As the person involved, I couldn’t help but feel rather strange about it.

Of course, that didn’t mean I was going to abandon this Tannhäuser assault.

-Beep beep beep!

“Ah, Commander? All fleets have just completed their positioning.”

“Sigh… alright, then move Ouroboros to the center of the fleet formation as planned.”

“Yes sir.”

Since everyone had gathered anyway, I decided to just let things unfold and began preparations to attack the stronghold according to plan.

But first, I decided to check Tannhäuser’s situation again.

—————————————-

<Tannhäuser Gateway Fortress – Ultra-large Warp Gate>

<Lv. 7>

<Type: Gateway Base>

<Defense Force Status>

˪<Security Fleet x35>

˪<Fortress Combat Fleet x50>

<Fleet Composition Table>

<Security Fleet Composition>

˪<Battlecruisers 5, Light Cruisers 50, Destroyers 300, Escort Ships 1,500>

<Fortress Combat Fleet Composition>

˪<Heavy Cruisers 3, Battleships 20, Medium Cruisers 80, Light Cruisers 500, Destroyers 2,500, Escort Ships 500>

<Fortress Comprehensive Defense System Status: Normal>

<Tip: Cities and fortresses are basically in a non-aggression state; fleets will deploy when damaged by direct attacks.>

<Warning!>

˪<Security fleets and fortress combat fleets will immediately deploy if you approach too close to the fortress!>

—————————————-

‘Just as expected.’

And as the opening salvo to signal the beginning of my plan…

-“This is Ouroboros, executing strike on enemy stronghold as per Commander’s orders.”

-“Target confirmed, security fleet flagship and forward command post of Tannhäuser Gateway Fortress defense facilities.”

-“Target distance confirmation complete, ‘main cannon’ attack ready.”

-“Maximum output setting complete, ready to fire at any time.”

“Hmm… Pashtra, Griyanar, Berial.”

-“Already waiting on Ouroboros♡”

-“I’ve made all the modifications I could, and I’m waiting at the position you specified.”

-“Preparations complete.”

“What about Marian?”

-“I’m waiting as you said, big brother.”

After wrapping Ouroboros—which I successfully captured in the mini-event—with “firepower enhancement equipment,” charging its “flamethrower” to maximum output, applying the triple command buffs from Berial, Marian, and Griyanar, and finally deploying Pashtra to Ouroboros to receive her self-buff as well…

In other words, I was about to unleash what I called a “Quadruple-Buffed Combined Full Power Shot.”

“Very good, then… Ouroboros, give Tannhäuser a grand welcoming salute at maximum output.”

-“Understood, main cannon firing preparation!”

-“Firing preparation complete!”

-“Fire!!!!”

And perhaps because I already had verified expectations this time, contrary to the famous saying “the more you expect, the more disappointed you become,” Ouroboros fulfilled my expectations 100%.

No, it exceeded them by about 104%, truly demonstrating what the romance of “big ship, big gun” is all about.

After my firing order was given and the incredibly complex procedures were completed, Ouroboros’s “main cannon” fired…

Emitting a much stronger flash than when I had just fired it right after capturing it in the event map, the energy beam shot straight forward.

All ships in the path of the energy—from battleships to patrol ships—regardless of hull material, didn’t just melt but literally “evaporated” without leaving even debris.

The energy beam, after instantly vaporizing the main ships of the security fleet that had been patrolling around the stronghold, continued straight on…

-KWAAAAAAANG!!!!

“Ooooh.”

It struck the fortress’s outer armor plating directly, vaporizing all sorts of hangar bays and turrets and other defensive installations there.

Not stopping there, it turned the thick outer armor of the stronghold into something resembling melted cheese.

‘Excellent.’

It was a sight that left an incredibly exhilarating impression on anyone watching.

Of course, Tannhäuser, having received such an intense concentrated bombardment as Ouroboros’s first greeting, began to show a very active response.

“Commander, all of Tannhäuser’s security fleets are charging toward us from the front!”

“They’re certainly responding enthusiastically to our greeting.”

Seeing the enemy’s reaction, I immediately pulled back Ouroboros, which had entered its cooling phase.

“Now then, tell the mercenary groups that it’s time to work.”

-“Understood, Commander.”

-“You money bugs, it’s time to work!”

-“Waaaah!”

I ordered all the waiting mercenary groups to launch a full-scale offensive against Tannhäuser with all their might.