Ch.376The Road to the Cecilia Continent (1)

The entertainment at the Blue Hole was exceptional.

Though it couldn’t completely wash away the fatigue of the long pilgrimage, it at least managed to scrub off the accumulated grime, so to speak.

After a total of one week of languid and leisurely rest, the Solar Army, as well as the Iron Walker Party, finished recharging and once again set out on their pilgrimage route. Their destination was undoubtedly the 10th continent, Cecilia.

“O Sun, are you ready to depart now?”

“Indeed.”

“Then, please accept these supplies. The citizens of Blue Hole have pooled their resources to gather them.”

“Oh?”

As they were about to leave, there were those who held the Sun back.

They donated supplies they had collected through their combined efforts, and the Sun could tell that these supplies consisted of cocktails and cookies—alcohol and confections, in other words.

If they were the only ones consuming them, it might be different, but soldiers enjoying alcohol and sweets would inevitably have a negative impact on military discipline.

It wasn’t the notion that mere grunts shouldn’t enjoy alcohol and sweets, but rather that drinking alcohol would lead to more frequent mistakes and unclear comprehension of orders. Additionally, cookies, by their nature, produced many oily crumbs, which could cause malfunctions if they scattered around the ship filled with mechanical devices and electronic equipment.

However, thinking it would be improper to refuse their goodwill, Victor decided to load these items and summoned the legion commanders and their subordinate officers, instructing them to warn the soldiers not to drink alcohol recklessly during working hours and to limit cookie consumption to five or six per day.

“Allow them to enjoy alcohol after working hours, but limit it to one bottle per person. If anyone gets drunk and quarrels with a comrade, implement light disciplinary measures followed by a one-month alcohol ban. And if anyone causes a major incident that violates military law, impose a one-year alcohol ban.”

“What about the cookies, sir?”

“Permit consumption during meal times and personal maintenance periods, but limit it to five cookies or fewer per person. The principle is that the consumer must clean up any crumbs or oil residue after eating. If this rule is violated and conflicts arise or equipment malfunctions occur, issue a warning reprimand and have them assist with repairs.”

Detailed punishments were already outlined in military law, so there was no need for the Sun to issue such specific instructions.

When the officers nodded, Victor dismissed them from the captain’s quarters. The officers began circulating throughout the ship to disseminate the information.

-Notice: Engine ignition in 2 hours. Engineering personnel conduct final engine checks.-

-Lower thruster 23-11 disconnected from ship network. Maintenance team to determine cause immediately.-

As departure time approached, the machinery inside the Sky Warden began to gradually emit heat and light.

Burning and reacting fuel, with intense combustion, steam and hydraulic pressure were forced into pistons and pipes to lift the massive hull of one million tons into the sky.

Though he had experienced it several times already, Victor greatly enjoyed the sensation of the aerial battleship rising.

*

“Already finished with the ninth continent. It’s a shame we can no longer count them on our fingers.”

“Hmm…”

Victor muttered this while using his fingers to caress his wife’s cheek.

Faerune, Miriam, Meridia, Yenisei, Hyacinth, Laysion, Hurichel, Terius, Karkata.

Having traversed nine continents, the Iron Walker Party was now heading to the 10th continent, Cecilia.

What famous sites would be waiting for them there?

How many people would kneel before him and bow their heads, and how many cities and nations would break their flags and submit under the banner of the new empire?

“Sigh… I cannot tell.”

Just as he exhaled, the sound of cannon fire reached his ears.

They were currently crossing the sea and had been engaged in combat with an unidentified submarine fleet for the past two hours.

Despite this, they remained at ease because whenever missiles rose from the submarines, the CIWS systems intercepted them with fierce barrages before they could even leave the water’s surface. Whenever the observation team detected traces of submarines undulating beneath the surface, the 460mm cannons—capable of wiping out an entire infantry regiment with just a glancing blow—spewed fire and destroyed the submarines hiding beneath the sea foam.

-Alert to anti-aircraft gun crews! Enemy aircraft formation appearing on radar! Approaching from all directions! Approximately 3000 in number!-

-Combat personnel to positions! Set up barricades in corridors and seal off key passages!-

-Enemy ship reaction on sea surface! Prepare anti-ship missiles!-

However, they never thought it would end with such a careless provocation.

The submarines were merely decoys and vanguards. A fleet of thousands of aircraft and dozens of naval battleships were baring their fangs and tusks toward the Sky Warden.

They could increase speed and shake them off, but the enemy was fully prepared. There was no choice but to annihilate the enemies here.

KWOOOOOO!

As anti-ship missiles were launched, dozens of cannons arranged like whiskers on both sides of the ship simultaneously spewed fire.

In aerial versus naval combat, aerial batteries generally have the advantage, but the enemy surely knew this.

-!!!-

-Additional forces confirmed over the horizon… approximately 40 ships! They’re arsenal ships!-

Arsenal ships, simply put, are vessels packed full of missiles without cannons or anything else. Like container ships with all containers replaced by missiles.

With dozens of such ships simultaneously launching missiles, the once peaceful sea was suddenly filled with explosions and fragments.

BWAAAANG!!!

KWANG! KWAGAGAGA!

The Gatling guns attached to hundreds of CIWS turrets spewed fire and shot down missiles, but they soon became defenseless against the bombing of incoming aircraft.

If given the choice between large missiles and small missiles, one would naturally choose the large ones, but the truth that small things gathered become large has never been wrong.

KWUUUNG!

The outer wall was damaged, and sparks flew inside the turrets.

The continuous explosions and transmitted shock waves. But the firepower was still insufficient to topple this steel lady of one million tons.

The batteries attached to the lower flight deck began spewing fire, blowing open the hatches of destroyers approaching from below, and aircraft formations had their fuselages snapped like reeds whenever cannons loaded with anti-aircraft scatter shells fired.

Missiles. Machine guns. Cannons. Though they were continuously hit, damage to the vital parts (such as ammunition storage or engine compartments) that were solidly and firmly protected was minimal. After all, with ships, bigger is better—the larger they are, the more their combat power increases proportionally.

They brought arsenal ships to wage a firepower battle, but unfortunately, all anti-ship missiles were intercepted, all missiles fired by attack aircraft were tanked by armor, and all the shells fired by battleships and destroyers ricocheted due to terrible angles of incidence.

It was impossible to break through the thick armor that could withstand hours of 460mm cannon barrages with their cannon calibers, and with the added effect of sloped armor, the only option left was to sink them.

“My lord.”

“Hmm.”

“The enemy is retreating. What would you like to do?”

“Pursue and annihilate them.”

“Understood.”

Victor considered himself merciful.

At least toward those who recognized their own wrongdoings. Whether they acted on someone’s instigation or of their own volition, it no longer mattered at this point.

Sometimes, one might not be able to take responsibility for their actions, and all that can be done is to solemnly accept the consequences of one’s choices.

Such as one’s own death, for instance.

KWAAAANG!

A fleeing battleship takes a direct hit to its ammunition storage and explodes catastrophically. Fragments fly almost to the bridge, and the battleship’s hull, split in half, begins to sink slowly while spinning erratically, enveloped by the current.

“Show them what it means to turn their guns on the Sun. My armies, who among you will bring me the souls of these heretics?”

“Men! Our master desires the blood of the apostates! Let us offer repentant souls to the Lord of Fervor!”

“””Long live the Sun!”””

With a roar, the cannons are loaded.

Then aimed… and soon, with the sound of lightning, judgment is delivered.

What is fired is punishment, what crumbles is the ark of apostasy, and what falls are the corrupted powers of apostasy seduced by temptation. It was the duty of the Solar Army to kill them and offer their repentant souls to the master’s throne.