The Agarthan Central Island, Standal.
Headquarters of the Front for National Liberation.
All of them, with their beards grown thick and shaggy, took seats around a massive round table. They were the commanders leading the Front for National Liberation.
“Has there been any separate contact yet?”
“Nur Ezenner has completely joined the enemy’s side. Wasn’t he always skeptical about the Quernen invasion from the start!”
Commander Rehadin exploded in frustration. This was the perfect opportunity to tarnish his reputation, as Nur Ezenner was his complete opposite in terms of political stance.
However, there was no real reason to tarnish his reputation.
Nur Ezenner had thoroughly failed. Everyone here already guessed that he would have surrendered by now.
Rehadin’s attitude was purely out of malice toward his rival.
But Mohammad Omar, the supreme leader of the Front for National Liberation, felt a complex mix of emotions. With already scarce manpower, losing two excellent commanders and two elite regiments was devastating.
Above all, the fact that the two ironclad ships provided by the Soviev Empire had not been sunk but captured was shocking and terrifying.
Is that all?
“The Ukranians will definitely counterattack,” he said.
“According to imperial intelligence, it’s confirmed.”
“Can we pinpoint the exact date?”
“It seems planned for sometime this week.”
The Soviev Empire, backer and sponsor of the Front for National Liberation in Agarth. Indeed, this Ukranian invasion was a war waged with legitimate compensation from the empire.
Even at the cost of giving away such massive assets like ironclads almost for free.
The Soviev Empire had ensnared itself like a snake from ancient scriptures. Especially the man with red eyes.
The man from the General Intelligence Bureau made Omar feel overwhelmed just by eye contact.
“May I ask why we’ve supported the Front for National Liberation in Agarth up until now?”
“To contain Ukrania?”
“Correct. The previous Quernen War was quite effective. Since then, Ukrania has been on an irreversible downward spiral.”
“So, you must help us again. This is the emperor’s command.”
When the fruit ripens, it’s time to trample it once more.
They even supplied weapons and supplies within days by mobilizing a large naval force.
Even Nur Ezenner, who worried about being too influenced by the Soviev Empire, changed his mind upon seeing the military supplies worth unimaginable amounts.
There was no turning back now.
Moreover, the Soviev Empire was virtually the only major sponsor of the Front for National Liberation in Agarth. Refusing their request here would lead to a dire situation.
In the end, Mohammad Omar fully approved the re-invasion of the Quernen region.
And that led to this predicament.
Now, the Front for National Liberation in Agarth would face Ukrania’s fierce counterattack, while the Soviev Empire began to quietly withdraw its support.
Why were the military supplies provided by various nations of the Empire Alliance produced in different countries?
Why were the manuals and equipment needed to operate prototype ironclads written in the common language of the Free Union?
These questions were about to be answered.
If they shook Ukrania as planned, it would be good. But if they failed, the Soviev Empire would mercilessly abandon them.
Grinding his teeth, Omar said:
“…Strengthen coastal defenses and move all available naval forces to the coast.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Order the frontline coastal fortresses to be on high alert and send mages. Even if we don’t win, we can k*ll more Ukranians. And Rehadin.”
“Yes.”
“You had a mage unit under your command last time, during the Quernen War. The hero who contributed to our great victory.”
“Aah… ‘The Elder of Alamuut,’ right?”
The Elder of Alamuut.
If Ukrania had the torpedo killer Claude Rain, then Agarth had the Elder of Alamuut.
The supreme mage of Agarth, a powerful sorcerer known as the Great Mage.
“Instruct him to find a way to stop Ukrania’s aerial fleet. Surely, that elder will know a solution.”
“I’ll pass that on.”
“Good. Then…”
The supreme leader issued orders to his subordinates with a calm voice.
“Surrender, retreat, or anything else is not an option. k*ll every single Ukranian soldier.”
It was only natural.
After all, the Front for National Liberation in Agarth was a group of madmen.
Once united under the cause of autonomy and equality for islanders, they were now nothing more than a makeshift binding force for misfits.
Without Nur Ezenner, the last conscience and deterrent of Agarth, they had nothing left but to sacrifice the islanders’ bl**d to drag Ukrania’s army into a d*ath trap.
“Ya Habib, Bismir.”
“Bismir Akba!!”
With a final call invoking divine names, they dispersed.
—
Regardless, the intelligence from the Soviev Empire was accurate. The Front for National Liberation in Agarth was reinforcing its frontlines.
Coastal forts were open 24/7, and ships previously used to raid merchant vessels were redirected to defend the inner waters and patrol.
The reason Agarth could match a full-fledged duchy wasn’t due to anything else but their formidable military strength.
Agarth consisted of four islands. Excluding the smallest island, Pam, which couldn’t accommodate a fortress, each island had at least one coastal fortress.
Most were old cannons left behind by the Rus Tsar Empire’s forces stationed on the islands, but the central island, Standal, was equipped with modern coastal guns produced by the Adalya Kingdom.
Such coastal guns could effectively suppress captured ironclads.
For days, soldiers stood ready with loaded cannons, peering at the distant horizon.
Thus, Standal transformed into a massive fortress in no time.
Defend the coast with coastal forts and cannons.
Deploy artillery and ballista units to high ground to counter any potential “aerial fleet.”
This was quite impressive foresight.
At least, the concept of anti-aircraft fire was established.
Days passed, and the soldiers of the Front for National Liberation in Agarth, tense and fatigued, approached their limit.
BOOM!!
With the sound of booming cannon fire, flames erupted from the coastal forts, heralding the dawn.
The scene before the rushing Agarth soldiers was:
“Oh my God, Ya Habib…”
A vast fleet of Ukranian battleships filled the sea not far away.
—
The Ukranian landing force advanced on three fronts almost simultaneously.
The first front was “Hill 921,” where the 8th Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit would infiltrate inside the main defense line to cut off supply lines and neutralize enemy artillery.
The second front was “Damasco Beach,” where the 32nd and 19th Divisions would land with support from two ironclads and a battleship.
The third front was “Guadalca Island,” where the rest of the Special Response Brigade, except for the Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit, would infiltrate aboard small sloops.
Everyone knew that the fiercest battle would take place on the second front.
Thus, the second front was planned to open after the deployment of the first and third fronts.
As expected, the vanguard and signal flare for this operation was the 8th Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit.
Therefore, they arrived at Agarth much earlier than the main fleet.
Originally, Diabolus could only operate at altitudes below 1 km, but thanks to continuous performance improvements and ongoing support from the Rhinehardt Empire, it could now operate at altitudes of up to 1.8 km.
Of course, it still couldn’t compare to modern aircraft, but from the ground, it appeared very distant.
Fortunately, they managed to infiltrate Agarth airspace without any interference.
The ship’s white hull and the abundance of clouds made it difficult to identify with the n*ked eye.
“Prepare to disembark!”
“Prepare to disembark!!”
A loud voice echoed from the boarding compartments. First Lieutenant Nikolai Hilbert’s First Platoon and Captain Luna Aire’s Second Platoon.
Enok Revendale slowly observed the soldiers checking their gear before descent, instructing the pilot to lower altitude.
Current altitude was 1.1 km.
The Zeppelin Mage Paratrooper Type 1, used by the soldiers, had a limit of 500 meters for safe descent.
[This is the Zeppelin, initiating descent.]
[Second ship Levandovsky, received clearly.]
[Third ship Enok, received clearly.]
As the three airships descended, confirming their distances, something below began to flash.
It looked like sunlight reflecting off something.
“…”
Before Enok could identify what it was, a long pillar-like object swiftly passed through the bridge, rising from below.
An anti-air ballista.
As Enok’s senses were gripped by a chill, he grabbed the communication device and urgently transmitted a warning.
“All units, listen up! Ballistas! The enemy has anti-air weapons. Repeat! The enemy has anti-air weapons! Evade immediately!!”
But it was too late. They were already within range.
[Second ship hit!!]
[Third ship evading urgently!]
Unprepared for the presence of anti-air weapons, the 8th Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit’s airships were helpless.
Amidst the rain of ballista fire, Enok witnessed the second ship, Levandovsky, spewing thick smoke.
Fire erupted from the fabric used as a gas bag.
Purple flames.
This was no ordinary fire. Coating the ballista tips with oil was not enough; special spells were cast to create an eternal flame that would never go out once ignited.
Thus,
As if they had been waiting for this moment,
The 8th Aerial Mage Infantry Combat Unit faced its first fierce attack from the enemy.
