Chapter 280: The Complete Annihilation of the Unit
Despite the desperate resistance of the monk soldiers, the quadrupedal tanks continued to breach the city walls and invade the urban area. The enemy monk soldiers outside the South Gate had already been wiped out, and there was no way to prevent the onslaught.
The only option left was to run along the top of the walls, but they were completely suppressed.
The construction walkers, escorted by the quadrupedal tanks, climbed over the walls. Dragging behind them were communication cables. First, they would implant communication units and information gathering sensors atop the walls, then descend into the city.
With this, the internal information that had only been gathered through incomplete data from the long-range visuals and infiltrated bots surged dramatically. Furthermore, multiple machines successfully infiltrated the city, driving information collection piles into the ground one after another.
“Commencing analysis of internal city information. Transferring primary analysis authority from
“Authority received. Feedback on analysis results will commence.”
Receiving a vast amount of sensor data,
“I had heard that more than half of the Holy Capital was comprised of monk soldiers, but it seems completely deserted.”
“Yes, Ma’am. It is presumed that non-combatants were evacuated to the north, and the monk soldiers have gathered.”
Considering the scale of the nation, the Holy Capital was quite expansive, yet there were hardly any signs of ordinary citizens. Most had likely been conscripted as defensive forces. Moreover, a significant number of those monk soldiers had already perished in battle.
However, with the appearance of bishops and the archbishop, the estimated combat power evaluation value had actually increased compared to before the conflict began. On the other hand, the forces on the side of
“We are successfully restraining the maximum combat power outside the walls.”
“
Flying drones were being deployed in succession near the secured southern gate. From a distance, they resembled a swarm of insects. Maintaining their distance from one another, the drone swarm crossed the walls and infiltrated the Holy Capital.
Most of them scattered into the skies, but some descended from the walls and landed. After purging their flight blades for internal suppression, they entered the city.
“With walls of this size, there must be corridors inside.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Due to the limited number of spy bots, our investigation was minimal, but there is a gate control mechanism inside, so we will secure it.”
After overwhelming several monk soldiers with their numbers, the drones reached the gate’s opening and closing mechanism. Although the winch had been destroyed, as long as they could manage the fixed mechanism, the quadrupedal tanks could force their way through.
“
Thus, the South Gate of the Prava Divine Nation’s Holy Capital was opened, and numerous automated machines began to flow in.
Meanwhile, outside the walls, the situation was dire.
The Jotun assigned to the West Gate had a massive hole in its belly but was barely maintaining its mobility. The greatest threat, the archbishop, had been forced to flee northward due to bombardment from the Gigantia Unit. This meant there were no longer any obstacles to hinder the Jotun.
The operational quadrupedal tanks had fallen below 40% of their initial numbers. Nevertheless, that was still a sufficient force. The Jotun drew closer to the West Gate, firing hooked wire ropes in succession. With the South Gate breached, the next target was the West Gate. Surviving monk soldiers began to gather, but they were not enough to halt the momentum of the automated machines.
The monster that should have been defeated by the archbishop approached, undeterred by its grievous wounds. It was a sight that would instill fear in anyone.
In reality, one of the three nuclear fusion reactors was completely destroyed, and another had its output reduced to 20%. The internal energy lines were in tatters, and various functions had ceased. About 60% of the mobility wheels were silent, barely allowing it to move, teetering on the brink of being scrap.
However, such a state was not apparent from the outside.
The infiltrating drones efficiently opened the city gates. With nothing left to close the gates, there was no longer any way to deny entry. The quadrupedal tanks and drones began to flood into the city.
At the East Gate, the archbishop was steadily eliminating the quadrupedal tanks. Dodging and deflecting the onslaught of shells and laser fire, he leaped toward his next target without pausing.
Determining that defeating the enemy with ground forces was difficult,
And then, at the North Gate.
The archbishop from the west and the archbishop from the north converged. The enemy’s combat power evaluation value skyrocketed, but the previously dispersed bombardment density from
The lasers and masers generated heat through energy irradiation, which constituted their attack power. Even when dispersed, the energy contained within did not diminish. Moreover, even if blocked, the areas that withstood the attacks would heat up accordingly.
The shells fired restricted the archbishop’s movements. Then, the meticulously calculated energy radiation poured into a specific area.
The materials present where the energy concentrated instantaneously turned to plasma. Even in areas not directly affected, high heat radiated outward.
The battlefield at the North Gate transformed into a localized hell of scorching heat.
“…In addition to direct attacks, there’s environmental damage as well.”
“The extent of its effectiveness is uncertain, however.”
As the archbishop fled, scorched by the high-energy beams, the properties of the shields slightly changed, scattering the beams once more. However, the heat generated was not easily dissipated.
The Jotun assigned to the north was still operational. The situation was such that they could continue to push the archbishop back.
The archbishop, who had been generating shields, suddenly came to a halt. As he shouted something, a multitude of shields appeared, surrounding him. The archbishop, who had executed long-range attacks, dove into the mass of shields.
“
“Oh, she’s charging up, Older Sister!”
“Is she planning to unleash a grand technique?”
The concentrated lasers and masers were reflected and scattered, failing to land effective hits. The onslaught of metal shells could not penetrate all the shields.
Every cannon that had a clear line of fire targeted the archbishop. They all fired simultaneously. However, if they left the enemy in front of them unattended, they would expose their own vulnerable sides. In the next moment, approximately 10% of the quadrupedal tanks received critical damage.
Yet, thanks to those sacrifices, over 600 shells soared through the air. Each shell was meticulously timed and aimed, fired with slight delays to avoid colliding in midair.
A massive barrage of metal shells slammed against the shields. Due to the proximity of the attack, air resistance had little effect on their speed. The supersonic mass converted its kinetic energy into destructive power.
The scene erupted into a blinding white light.
Some of the kinetic energy transformed into heat, enveloping the impact site in high temperatures. Plasma-formed atoms, evaporated metals, and molten steel scattered in all directions.
Eve watched the grand spectacle with a serious expression, while Asahi, whose audio was cut off, reveled in the three-dimensional display.
“Significant damage has occurred to Jotun No. 6. Operational capacity is below 10%.”
“The archbishop has escaped!”
“Inside the walls!”
Akane, Utsugi, and Erika, who had been conducting data analysis, reported back. The Jotun assigned to the North Gate had been severely damaged by the long-range attack launched by the archbishop, losing nearly all functionality. Meanwhile, it seemed the archbishop had not escaped unscathed either, retreating with significant injuries. Simultaneously, the archbishop at the East Gate also withdrew.
What remained were the Jotun No. 6, which had been completely destroyed, Jotun No. 5, which had sustained critical damage to its mobility, and a plethora of wreckage, with the number of quadrupedal tanks reduced to one-tenth of their original count.
“
In this losing event of the city defense battle, the retreat of the protagonists begins here. They have defeated the enemy’s great demon beast, and somehow, the protagonist (the archbishop) party has survived. All is well.