episode_0159

The Fountain of Lions Plaza was swept away by a downpour unlike any in decades.

People wandering the plaza ran frantically in all directions, bewildered by the sudden torrential rain that poured down with lightning.

Unfortunately, rain does not fall in the Vittorio Dungeon. A dark ceiling blocks the place where the sky should be. Instead of water, what falls is lead.

Bullets, bullets, more bullets pounded the ground. The Violet Battalion poured forth firepower as if to unleash all the ammunition they had stockpiled in their inventories.

“Attack, attack! Fire everything!”

“Keep firing until the barrels melt!”

A thousand Violets moved. Five Violet infantry companies emerged from the plaza’s buildings and alleys, forming an encirclement-and-annihilation formation. The air corps took flight. The artillery units finished their deployment.

While the enemies faltered, we detonated landmines to confuse them, then began our offensive.

The rain of lead bullets is impartial. It spares neither monsters nor humans.

“Stop right there! You future beehives!”

Unit 132, from 1st Company, positioned its machine gun’s tripod by the window. As the charging handle was pulled, bullets from the ammunition belt extending from the feed bag clicked into the chamber. The trigger was pulled. There was no thought of burst fire. Aiming was pointless anyway!

-Rat-a-tat-tat!

The countless streams of bullets unleashed by the machine gunners hammered the plaza. The riflemen also spat fire.

“Kuaaaak! Argh!”

There was no hiding place in the Fountain of Lions Plaza. For the enemy, still reeling from the recent improvised explosive device attack, there were only two options: fall to the ground, or return fire, risking their Aetheric defenses being chipped away by the hail of bullets.

Of course, we had no intention of giving them the option to return fire. Command pressed firmly on the artillery units on the strategic map to call them.

“First Battery! V-1 rocket count?”

“About 200 rounds. V-2s are also being assembled, so look forward to it!”

“Good, the impact zone is decent, so keep pouring it on!”

Beyond the plaza, from behind the buildings, makeshift rockets with fiery tails rained down like a meteor shower.

As the enemy’s return fire dwindled under the artillery attack, fifteen hang gliders descended below the ceiling.

The air corps’ first objective: secure air superiority. Second objective: ground support!

“They’re harmful birds. Get rid of them!”

Command tapped the red enemy markers on the map. Gunners in the back seats of the motorized hang gliders shot down the jet bikes that hadn’t managed to escape.

By the time they looked up, bewildered, it was too late. Violet guided bombs from the sky swooped down on the highest priority targets.

“Fly here, here! Take out those Vanguard bastards first!”

“I’m going!”

Command’s Unit 4 tapped the map. Units 890 and 891, having dropped from beneath the hang gliders, flew to the designated location. Unit 890 spotted the Vanguard. They were rallying their subordinates and facing both the monsters and us simultaneously.

“Die!”

Just before the guided bombs, entering their terminal phase, collided with them, a barrage of light-orbs flew in. The intercepted Violet guided bombs exploded in the sky.

“Ugh, argh! Intercepted!”

As I surveyed the scene in confusion, the mages, who had regained their wits, deployed protective barriers and activated interception spells in various places, blocking our attacks. Flying rockets and grenades exploded upon impact with the light-orbs. The hang gliders, startled, quickly moved out of the sky.

“Dammit! It must be that vice student council president again! Look there!”

In the midst of the enemy personnel was that familiar vice student council president. Surely, she was commanding the other mages. The Magnavis agents relied on the protection of their barriers and interception spells as they counterattacked us.

“Aargh! You bastards! Our devotees! Kuaaak!”

Even the monsters and cultists they had painstakingly brought were of little help now. The Noxterror melted under the Vanguard’s attacks, and the monsters died off. The cultists’ leader was gone. The surviving cultists were also fleeing.

“Tch, they’re useless!”

Indeed, they were elite forces. To form up and counterattack without fleeing in this situation… I had somewhat expected it, but I didn’t realize they’d be this tenacious.

“Hey! Just run away already!”

I now realized that frustration and admiration could be coexisting emotions.

“This won’t do. Sniper team, Levi. All units, prepare to fire!”

The anti-material rifle and battle rifle sniper teams, waiting on the rooftop, turned their muzzles. Levi’s ballista also aimed at the enemy. Gunners wielding captured electromagnetic rifles also prepared to attack.

“Battalion Command reports! For now, fire individually, but once I designate a target, concentrate fire on it!”

The assault teams from each company, waiting behind the encirclement, moved. Some wore exoskeletons captured from the Federation Army. Standard bearers carrying the ‘Last Regiment’ flag prepared to wave it from the rear.

“Assault team, prepare!”

The Violets in the front row injected the remaining Black Ice into their thighs. The reinforced exoskeletons finished preparing for operation.

“Command reports: Assault immediately after the brief psychological warfare ends!”

One hang glider returned to the sky, carrying large speakers, a megaphone, and crudely printed flyers hastily produced on the spot.

“Begin!”

**

“My God.”

The Vanguard commander unconsciously let out a gasp. Even he, an atheist, found himself calling out to God in this situation.

“Enemies! Enemies everywhere!”

Over 70% of the objects before his eyes were enemies. From inside the windows of the buildings surrounding the plaza and from the rooftops, gunfire rained down. From the sky, rocket attacks flew in.

“We must retreat!”

“Retreat? Where? We’re surrounded!”

No escape route was visible. The passage leading to the outpost, above the plaza, was blocked by hordes of cultists and monsters. It must have been due to the trick they played on the Vision Prism just a moment ago.

Considering his weakening barrier and Aetheric defense, he approached and unleashed fireballs. One floor of a building erupted in flames. In retaliation, the enemies launched anti-tank rockets and grenades.

“Don’t overdo it! You are our only hope here!”

“Damn it, this is utterly dreadful. They might really be those Obsidian Legion bastards.”

The commander gnashed his teeth. To think this entire thing was a massive trap. Blinded by the artifact and the signal device, he had stepped into a death trap. They were an army. A combat unit composed solely of Awakened ones. They moved faster than unawakened individuals and displayed more tenacious vitality.

Could that really be just an ordinary clone generation ability?

Beyond the wall, crude rocket fire flew relentlessly, and from the sky, what appeared to be gliders swooped down, dropping bombs. Even a tank appeared, though he didn’t know where they’d captured it. For now, it merely blocked the passage and served as cover, but those hateful bastards had crushed his subordinates.

“I can’t believe they’re clones. To use them in such a way…”

Lera pointed to the sky. A human figure exploded after being hit by an interception spell. Instinctive senses and decades of experience made her body reflexively activate a protective barrier.

“Ha, I’ll have to commend them. Well, it is an efficient method of attack, after all.”

As the Magnavis agents shook their heads at the tactics that defied common sense, a sharp beeping sound suddenly echoed.

-Ah, ah! Microphone test!

Everyone glanced at the sky at the voice, clearly audible amidst the gunfire. One of the enemy hang gliders that had fled returned, blaring propaganda.

-Surrender! We know your identities! The Federation and Academy City authorities have already prepared their accusations! Drop your weapons!

The agents were bewildered by the enemy’s sudden declaration. Lera raised her right hand with an incredulous expression.

‘Did they really think this would work?’

Just as she was about to shoot down the hang glider, shocking words blared from the speaker.

-Hey! Lera Belestan! Fifth-year student at Polaris Academy! Vice President of the Student Council! What are you doing here?!

At that moment, her face crumpled as if she’d been hit by a sledgehammer.

“H-How did they…!”

**

“Good, now! Charge!”

“Irene, let’s go!”

“Understood!”

Irene and the assault team charged into their formation under covering fire. The orange-haired individual and her subordinates immediately counterattacked, but due to the shock, her face was still unable to shake off her astonishment.

“Oh dear, she’s not fainting from this. Then, chaaarge!”

As the standard bearer passionately waved the flag, our running speed slightly increased. Our reaction speed also further increased. With Irene’s unique ability, the drug’s effect, the exoskeleton’s speed, and the flag’s buff combined, the assault team rushed at them faster than they could fire.

“Hello! We know what you did last summer at the academy!”

“How…? Who are you?!”

Though she was an enemy, I sympathized with her momentary panic. How bewildered would anyone be if someone suddenly shouted their name and personal information from the sky?

I realized why the student council president had been so smug. Watching an enemy panic after their identity was exposed was incredibly fun!

Adela, who was drawing her bow on the rooftop, had a subtle change in expression.

“…That person, they’re an academy student?”

“Yep! Unnie, that person isn’t just an agent. They’re a student council executive! It’s like an undercover operation!”

“To think such a strange academy exists in the world…”

While the drugged assault team charged at high speed and engaged in close-quarters combat, the hang gliders also provoked the enemies periodically during the fight.

“What’s the Magnavis Vanguard doing here? We’ve filmed everything! We’re putting it online!”

“Hey! Vanguard tin cans! You just saw your subordinate get flattened, didn’t you?”

Immediately after those words were heard, one assault Violet was torn apart.

“Kyaaah! I know what you did under the principal’s and chairman’s desks!”

Unit 405, who was swinging her sword on the front line, also attempted a provocation. The vice student council president looked at me with a slightly bewildered expression.

“I know what you did with the student council president in that hotel last summer vacation! Hehehe!”

“Shut up!”

As I started to speak, Lera suddenly reacted violently, raising her staff.

“What, why is she suddenly angry?”

“Kyaaaah!”

The Violets were swept away by lightning whips. The propaganda hang glider also caught fire and crashed.

“Ughyaaaah! You can’t hide the truth by covering the sky with your hand–”

-CRASH!

The fishbowl-helmeted guy behind her was seen striking the vice student council president’s shoulder hard.

“Damn it, what are you doing? Don’t fall for their bluster. Shut your mouth!”

The one who appeared to be the leader was quite calm. He quietly focused on the battle despite our continuous provocations.

Sadly, he was right. This was nothing but bluster. A clan’s black operations or schemes, even if spread through media or online, would quickly be made to disappear.

Therefore, killing them all is the best option.

“Command reports! Self-destruct!”

The Violets engaged in close-quarters combat rushed towards the mages.

“Get them off! Self-destruct!”

The quick-witted ones kicked us away or threw us off, but the slow ones were caught in the explosions.

“Kuaaaak!”

One Vanguard agent stumbled after taking a direct hit from an explosion. I ran forward, holding my lightning spear.

“Take this!”

With a *bang*, his head flew off. That left four.

Command ordered concentrated sniping.

“Kyahahaha! You human trash, disappear!”

One by one, the heavy rifle shots, the anti-material rifle’s cannon shells, and Levi’s ballista bolts concentrated. Each time Command’s Violet pressed a red dot on the map, the Violets focused their rifles on a single enemy.

“Kalia! Tie that one up!”

As Kalia, who had followed the assault team, swung her chains, another Vanguard agent was captured. I clicked on the agent on the map again.

“Cough!”

The agent, struck by the anti-material rifle and large bolts, died instantly on the spot. That left three!

“As expected, our tactics are working!”

Concentrated sniping neutralized their barriers and interception systems. Agents were successively riddled with holes and died. Seeing this, Lera, terrified, activated the interception spells with the other mages even more intensely. The interception spells now blocked even stray bullets.

“Oh dear, they’re having a tough time. Gunners, concentrated fire! Artillery, prepare the V-2s!”

The Violet artillery responded to her efforts with even more firepower. Gunners with electromagnetic rifles also ran forward in a line and pulled their triggers.

“Ah, aaaaaah…!”

One of the mages collapsed, bleeding profusely from their eyes and nose. It was the result of their mind overloading from over-calculating to block the electromagnetic rifle’s volley fire.

Once again, rockets flew. This time, larger ones than before were mixed in. V-2 rockets. Having overloaded their calculations, the remaining ones lost their chance to intercept the rockets.

The hang glider squadron also returned.

“M-My God. No…”

“No, it will!”

While the team members retreated, the assault team continued to engage them. Exploiting the chaos, Unit 506 relentlessly burrowed through the enemy ranks, aided by drugs and the reinforced exoskeleton.

The target was the vice student council president.

“Take this!”

Unit 506 thrust her lightning spear forward. The target quickly raised her left arm, but it was too late. The tip of the lightning spear pierced her left arm.

-CRASH!

“Aargh!”

The vice student council president fell back, having lost her left arm. Just as Unit 506 was about to finish her off, a Vanguard agent tore Unit 506 apart.

“Ah, damn! Couldn’t confirm the kill!”

“Can’t be helped. Air corps, finish them off instead!”

While holding down the Violets and Magnavis agents, the hang glider squadron flew in a line, heading directly over the enemies’ heads. Countless makeshift explosives, retrieved from inventories, rained down like a storm.

“Carpet bombing initiated!”

The plaza was engulfed in flames.

**

“Ugh, ugh…”

Lera, having lost her left arm, groaned in pain. She saw hang gliders flying overhead, dropping countless metal chunks. They were undoubtedly explosives.

‘We failed.’

Just as she was about to close her eyes in despair, a rough hand grabbed her.

“Belestan, you can somehow endure that, can’t you?”

“Huh?”

The Vanguard commander forcibly activated a device on her back. The cloaking device engaged.

“Go and tell the Archmage-nim. Tell them we failed. The Clan must prepare for those bastards. You must return alive!”

“…!”

The next moment, Lera found herself flying towards the edge of the plaza. The instant she hit the corner, the plaza erupted in flames.

“My God…”

She clutched her severed arm and painfully crawled into the darkness.

**

Immediately after a wave of explosions swept through, the 30-year veteran of the Vanguard rose, his body riddled with injuries.

‘By now, she must have made it back somehow. No, she *has* to make it back.’

He searched for allies via telepathic communication. The communication was silent. He belatedly realized his communicator was broken. He called out to his allies vocally.

“Are you the only survivor?”

“…Only me.”

Bitterly, at the fact that only one comrade remained, the commander looked straight ahead. Countless forces wielding swords, a wave of clones, were approaching him.

“Damn it.”

He removed his shattered sealed mask. The face of an elderly man, embedded with thin, complex electronic devices and wires, appeared. He checked his condition. He had little magic power left. His body was a wreck. Even if left alone, it would be difficult to survive.

Suddenly, the man thought.

Why this cursed chaos, this mess like a witch’s cauldron, had ended up this way.

Lack of firepower? A problem with troop numbers? Them, blinded by the artifact, failing to anticipate the enemy’s ambush?

No. From the very beginning, the initiative in this witch’s cauldron might not have been theirs. The one who had dominated this chaotic battlefield from the start must have been the master of that countless black wave. They had merely been toyed with.

The owner of the cauldron was that girl, standing right before him.

‘So, that girl… she’s the witch who stirred the cauldron.’

After finishing his thoughts, the last two remaining Vanguard agents burned their final vestiges of magic power and deployed their spells.

“Come at us, you cockroach bastards. We are the Guardians of Mystery. The overseers of all magic and sorcery. The Vanguard protecting the depths of the Magnavis Group…!”

Instead of responding to the dying mage’s words, the Violets raised their muzzles. Their weapons were aimed in unison, as if to carry out an execution.

-Rat-a-tat-tat!

The last enemies collapsed forward with a wet thud. A tank then rolled over them.

“What did they just say?”

“I don’t know! Just confirm the kill.”

Ruzilin’s Iron Fist rolled straight over them, crushing their bodies flat between its tracks.

Command declared a ceasefire.

“Begin battlefield cleanup!”

The battle was over.