Chapter 279: A Chilling Sight
The Archbishop, Alhiepisukop, dashed across the ground, occasionally leaping into the air to evade capture. A high-powered Maser beam pursued him, adjusting its angle with precision. The ground beneath was instantly stripped of moisture, drying out, cracking, and then melting into a glowing mass. Plasma-formed molecules dispersed into the surroundings, emitting a unique light.
“Given the distance, aiming is quite challenging. The target is small and quick. The air is also vibrating slightly; this might be our limit,” remarked Asahi, the Brain Unit No.6, whose bust protruded from the console, arms crossed and head tilted in contemplation. Although the Maser Cannon was under precise control, it lacked sufficient vibration dampening equipment, making it difficult to target a human-sized figure.
Originally, the beam’s diameter and energy output were intended to compensate for such issues. Normally, a mere graze would char a typical organism to ashes.
“Iris requests the deployment of Coil Cannons. Eurytus unit, initiate staggered attacks with the Coil Cannons,” Akane reported.
Simultaneously, seven Coil Cannons unleashed metal projectiles accelerated to 6,000 m/s. As the heat-resistant coating evaporated, the shells traversed nearly 10 kilometers in under two seconds.
Hypersonic warheads pierced the air, striking down in a staggered formation to block the Archbishop’s escape route. Upon impact, the shells detonated, sending shockwaves rippling through the ground. Clods of earth exploded outward, engulfing the hapless monk soldiers caught in the blast.
Yet, despite the onslaught, the Archbishop remained elusive.
“Wow! The target has escaped the attack range! What is this, invincibility mode?” one of the operators exclaimed.
“We’re pursuing with the Maser Cannon, but the barrel temperature is nearing its limit. We’ll need to initiate an emergency stop soon,” came the reply.
“We need to neutralize the other Archbishops as well.”
The Archbishop at the East Gate swung a two-handed sword, towering over a human’s height, wreaking havoc in his wake. As he approached the Jotun stationed to the east, he swept his sword low. He was forced to retreat from a barrage of laser fire, but not before nearly obliterating the Jotun’s mobility, severing about half of the wheels equipped on its underside.
Various projectiles continued to rain down in an attempt to halt the Archbishop’s rampage.
Meanwhile, at the North Gate, numerous barriers severely hampered the movements of the Quadrupedal Tanks. Slowed down, they became mere targets. Unable to provide support to other units, multiple monk soldiers and Bishops systematically destroyed one Quadrupedal Tank after another.
“All Aerial Escort Ships, the Titan, have entered a turning trajectory. Rear weapons are now operational,” reported another operator.
“Oh, finally… The Titan has a bit less firepower on its underside, though,” another added.
The Titan had been unable to utilize its rear weapons due to its hull blocking the line of fire. Now, by tilting its hull diagonally, most of its turrets could finally target ground objectives.
“Flight trajectory stable. Commence attack.”
Thus, a new rain of projectiles descended upon the chaotic battlefield, adding to the confusion.
However, the battlefield itself was sprawling in all directions.
“And over here… I wonder if we can manage,” one soldier mused.
“South Gate, enemy units eliminated. Advancing forward,” came the report.
The South Gate unit had successfully cleared most enemy units. Although the Jotun’s main cannon was destroyed, its other functions remained intact, and several Quadrupedal Tanks still stood ready. The Jotun began to move forward, crushing everything in its path with its massive wheels, disregarding the trenches that had been dug.
The enemy monk soldiers continued to resist around the castle gates, but they could not stop the onslaught of the Quadrupedal Tanks. Several managed to breach the resistance line and reached the massive doors of the castle gate.
However, entry would not be granted so easily. As the Quadrupedal Tanks approached, a heavy iron grate clattered down with a resounding crash. The grate, falling under its own weight, embedded itself into the ground.
Normally, such a grate could be easily destroyed. Yet, it reacted instantly to incoming projectiles, and the Defense Membrane absorbed every shot.
“The projectiles are deemed attacks. I wanted to see how it would react to something merely passing through, but the iron grate is troublesome. It seems difficult to destroy,” came the analysis.
Meanwhile, the monk soldiers at the South Gate had been eliminated. The area around the South Gate was now completely occupied by Paraiso.
“Bishop, the other Archbishops are pinned down in different battlefields. We should be safe for a while. So, what now?”
“Assuming the invasion will be over the castle walls. The Jotun will launch climbing gear.”
From the Jotun, numerous hooked wire ropes were fired, soaring toward the top of the castle walls and snagging onto the stonework.
“They didn’t bounce off!”
“Yes, Commander. It seems to selectively defend against offensive actions.”
At this moment, a new characteristic of the magical barrier was revealed. Attacks that clearly caused damage, like cannon fire, were blocked, but ropes intended for infiltration were not.
“I wonder how it’s making those selections! It’s hard to believe that the Magic Stone has cognitive abilities!” Asahi exclaimed gleefully. However, the selective nature of the barrier had been anticipated. If it blocked everything, it would prevent the intake of air, water, and food. If a living being’s consciousness were making selections, it would be unnatural for it to react to attacks outside of its awareness. There might be some external selection mechanism at play.
Nevertheless, this line of thought would not develop further in the current situation. Monk soldiers rushed to the location where the hooked claws had been fired, seemingly panicking. They attempted to remove the claws, but the metal cables were not easily severed. Quadrupedal Tanks quickly attached winches to the ropes and began to ascend the walls.
Unfortunately, projectiles fired from outside were blocked by the barrier. Gathered monk soldiers swung their swords down in an attempt to cut the cables. Fortunately, the steel material of the cables proved stronger, and their strikes resulted in broken blades. However, the cables were now burdened with the weight of several dozen tons from the Quadrupedal Tanks hanging below.
The surface of the cables, damaged by the strikes, began to snap with a crackling sound, eventually tearing apart.
The severed cables whipped through the air, striking nearby monk soldiers, and the Quadrupedal Tanks, now unsupported, slid helplessly down the castle walls.
“It seems there were some issues with the cable strength,” one soldier noted.
“Considering it was makeshift equipment, it seems to be functioning well enough,” another replied.
As RINGO, the AI Commander, would have preferred more leeway in terms of maximum strength, there was no time for such leisurely considerations on the battlefield.
Several Quadrupedal Tanks managed to scale the walls and began to wreak havoc. Monk soldiers rushed in to attack, but the narrow footing of the castle walls made it difficult. A single shot from a railgun sent dozens of monk soldiers flying through the air. Using this as a foothold, the Quadrupedal Tanks continued to ascend the walls.
“Some are deploying barriers individually…”
The monk soldiers thrust their hands forward, manifesting barriers that deflected the railgun projectiles as they advanced. However, it appeared they lacked the strength to withstand the barrage of hypersonic shells. They managed to block a few shots before collapsing as if fainting. This was likely the magic power depletion symptom that Asahi had mentioned earlier.
The monk soldiers behind quickly moved to cover, but by then, the Quadrupedal Tanks had already infiltrated deep within the castle walls.
“…I know it’s wrong, but it feels like a swarm of monsters gathering around a hole.”
The footage captured through the zoom lens depicted, in the most charitable light, a pitiful fortress city besieged by a horde of monsters.
Thank you for your continued support of The Tree, which is undergoing its transformation into the Demon King’s Army.