Episode 1098
Chapter 257: The Demon Army’s Assault (Part 2)
White Fleet, Third Flagship: Ridel.
Ridel had yet to cross through the dimensional gate. By all rights, it should have already passed through and taken position at the front lines, but the demon soldiers aboard were frozen in shock, watching the vanguard at Myeongwangpo crumble before their eyes.
“…W-what on earth is this?”
“Could it be… Malugia has appeared?”
Throughout their conquest of countless dimensions, the demon army had always held overwhelming superiority in fleet battles. In many other dimensions, aside from Jiple, no one even possessed a proper fleet.
That’s why the power of the Golden Fleet and the aerial fortress Lafrarosa hit the demon army like a thunderclap.
Rondo Jiple, the overall commander of this invasion, barely held onto his sanity as he stared into the crystal orb. All he could see was ashes and dust where the White Fleet once was.
“Report the damage! What happened to the vanguard’s Changsung?”
“Sir, Lord Kal of the 35th Dimension is dead. Lords Hweziron and Chukon are presumed critically wounded! We must rescue them immediately—”
“No. We abandon those two. In fact, we must abandon the entire vanguard fleet.”
“Lord Rondo, but—”
“Don’t you understand? Their bombardment doesn’t end with a single strike. If we try a half-hearted rescue, we’ll get caught in the crossfire.”
Silence fell over the ship.
Other fleets, scheduled to charge next, waited for Rondo’s orders—whether to proceed into battle or hold position.
—And sometimes, such stubborn resolve leads to miracles. That’s why the strongest warriors of the 677th Dimension have yet to kill the mutated Jhin Runcandel. The Bamel Union is a foe unlike any other dimension has ever faced.
—I was naive.
—Everyone believes that since we control every dimension except the 677th, and possess the completed Demon Stones, we can surely eliminate them. They’re wrong. Their blade is already at our necks.
Rondo recalled a conversation with Lord Keliak at the demon army’s headquarters in the first passageway.
“Lord Keliak was right… The 677th Dimension is different. That aerial fortress didn’t even exist when we last spoke.”
Honestly, Rondo and the demon soldiers had expected an easy victory before the invasion.
Even if the Bamel Union had five Changsung, they had prepared more, and their fleet’s power was incomparable.
A cannon capable of killing a Changsung in a single shot was something even the demon army did not possess.
“We should have invested more in strengthening our fleet. We lacked the achievements that a single dimension’s power could bring. We relied too heavily on the Demon Stones at our home base…”
The Demon Stone.
Throughout the dimensional conquest war, the demon army had never brought a completed Demon Stone directly to the battlefield.
Due to dimensional interference, it could cause unnecessary complications. It was safer and more efficient to acquire and enhance local Demon Stones on site.
In other words, the demon army had always successfully suppressed local Changsung using their existing fleets and those Demon Stones, so there was no need to upgrade their cannons to this extent.
“Dr. Kwaul, wasn’t it? He also stood out in the 677th Dimension. Jhin Runcandel alone is changing everything. He’s making this place special. No, he already has. We cannot let him gain that power.”
And Jhin Runcandel was here.
Beyond the dimensional gate, standing tall on the black sea’s land, Jhin’s figure was etched in Rondo’s mind—though in truth, Jhin was curled up from the shock of Myeongwangpo’s blast.
“…He must be killed.”
“Lord Rondo?”
“Jhin Runcandel must be killed in this battle. There’s no need to waste effort capturing him alive. He must be slain—by any means necessary. Request immediate reinforcements from headquarters across all dimensions. Here, in the Black Sea, we will settle this.”
The nearby officers exchanged glances, wary. Was it wise to deploy such forces without Keliak’s approval? Especially since the demon army’s main force had recently suffered heavy losses to Malugia, their caution was understandable.
“Once the traces of Malugia left in this dimension by the last battle with Lord Keliak vanish, large-scale dimensional transfers like this will require more time. Besides, Lord Keliak declared total war at the last meeting. I will take full responsibility.”
“I will proceed with requests for support from all dimensions.”
“Lord Rondo, what about the fleets on standby for the charge? They await your orders.”
“Charge as planned.”
{Lord Rondo!?}
{W-wait! Lord Rondo, please reconsider. Malugia’s energy is gathering again at the enemy’s aerial fortress. Didn’t you just say to abandon the Changsung? If we go out now, we’ll meet the same fate as the vanguard…}
The fleet captains urgently raised their voices over the ship’s comms after confirming Rondo’s order. As they said, Lafrarosa was already reloading its second Myeongwangpo cannon.
“I’m not ordering a charge to rescue the Changsung. Your deaths will be remembered by history.”
{…What?}
“It can’t be helped. We need a shield. We must keep sending troops endlessly, so that when the enemy’s cannons reload, there’s a gap. That’s when the main force will enter.”
It was bewildering and unfair.
But no one aboard trusted anyone more than Rondo, who had Keliak’s confidence. They dared not disobey. Refusal would only mean a crueler execution at the hands of Keliak or Rondo later.
{…But Lord Rondo, except for the third fleet, every fleet scheduled to enter has at least one Changsung aboard. Are you really going to use them as shields too?}
“One Changsung died in the first bombardment, two survived. The more Changsung deployed, the stronger their collective presence becomes, increasing survival rates. If about three survive the bombardment and enter the battlefield, that will be the moment for the main force.”
No matter what it took, they would settle this.
Before that resolve, even the Changsung were just special shields. A brutal tactic only the demon army could employ.
{Understood…}
“We will finally conquer time itself and meet you again. Good luck.”
Wooooooom…!
The engines of the waiting fleets began to hum.
{For Jiple!}
[For Jipleee!]
With voices filled with madness, the demon army’s fleets surged beyond the dimensional gate flowing with the Milky Way, charging toward death.
The second Myeongwangpo cannon finished off the two Changsung already critically wounded and dealt similar damage to the White Fleet emerging from the dimensional gate as before.
“Damn it, they didn’t just take out the fleet again—they killed a Changsung too. The other one’s barely alive.”
When the third Myeongwangpo fires, that last wounded Changsung will surely die.
In other words, the Bamel Union had already eliminated five of the demon army’s Changsung—the exact number they themselves possessed. It was an incredible achievement. And none of their own had fallen.
“But these bastards… are they stupid? Their Changsung keep dying to the bombardment, so what the hell are they trying to do?”
Murakan ran a hand roughly through his hair.
Though the current battle clearly favored the Bamel Union, he felt a strange unease. Despite losing five Changsung, the enemy hadn’t changed tactics.
The demon army was sending out new fleets before the effects of the second bombardment had even faded. And again, those fleets included Changsung. Murakan’s unease was slowly turning into a sense of crisis.
“…They call themselves the conquerors of all dimensions, yet they’re willing to use their own Changsung as cannon fodder?”
Jhin gritted his teeth.
“Father, the situation isn’t good.”
“I agree. The enemy commander clearly knows our aerial fortress’s cannons aren’t infinite. That’s why they keep throwing in Changsung. Once the cannon’s power drops or reload times lengthen, they’ll seize the ground.”
“Yes, a cruel and sharp mind. No matter how many Changsung they have, this kind of attrition must be taking a toll on the demon army. They’ve made a decision—to end us here.”
They had to hope the reinforcements would stop before the Myeongwangpo cannons ran out.
Jhin’s hope after the first bombardment was already proven wrong. The demon army was only more aggressive in deploying troops.
“Brother Baba, how many more times can the Myeongwangpo fire?”
{At most five times, Brother Toushin. But the power won’t be consistent for all five. Brother Boras says the hull is already overloaded.}
“Understood.”
Five times.
If the enemy could keep sending Changsung like this beyond that, the Bamel Union’s chances of victory would plummet.
Jhin had to choose—whether to abandon their position or hold it at all costs.
His decision was quick.
“If we retreat now, the next battle will be fought under conditions far more favorable to the enemy. They’re pushing hard now because of their arrangements. Besides, even if we retreat, it’s still Inse. They won’t stop pursuing us.”
Shiron and the Changsung nodded.
“First, we’ll call for reinforcements too. Father, we’ll need your help. Even if Lord Pokal and Lady Silkia open the way.”
“Understood.”
The Changsung and their allies steeled themselves, watching the endless waves of the White Fleet pouring in. Even if the Myeongwangpo cannons were exhausted, the strongest warriors and fleets of Inse remained here.
“…It will be a tough fight. But we will win.”