The Valley of Death spanned approximately 600 meters in width, towered about 20 meters in height, and stretched deep with undulating terrain that seemed to fade into the horizon. Scattered across the area were numerous holes, presumed to lead underground.
“Captain, the reconnaissance drone loss rate has exceeded 3%. Their aim is wild, but the barrage is intense.”
“Yeah, it’s about time we made a move.”
Wandering across the desolate wilderness at intervals of dozens of meters were five to fifteen Nosferatu, forming a vast and thick network of vigilance.
But how are these grotesque beings, resembling the dead and devoid of any sign of vitality, sustaining themselves? There’s nothing edible in this barren wasteland, nor are there any apparent fuel supply facilities.
Still, that’s a matter for another time. Even the Chimera that once nested in the Great Mother and the Tech Gobs they attacked were merely killed, not consumed. Clearly, they must be equipped with small furnaces or batteries.
“The observation data is sufficient. It’s time we deliver a painful strike.”
“Aye. Fire.”
“Understood. Firing now.”
As Selene declared, a sound akin to uncorking a wine bottle, amplified tenfold, rang out six times in quick succession. A few seconds later, the ground seemed to explode.
“…Dampening…now. Conducting observation. All projectiles hit their marks. Sixty-five destroyed, twenty-four damaged.”
“Excellent.”
“Captain, it’s like praising old humans for their adept breathing when complimenting them.”
We were positioned about five kilometers from the entrance of the gorge. As of now, we’ve set up a temporary stronghold and started our pre-battle artillery bombardment.
The cannon being used is a small mortar. Out of the six prepared, they are Unified Army Type C Model 1 Light Mortars carried by light infantry. With an 80mm bore, they aren’t designed for destroying armored targets but for being thrown into enemy rear areas by infiltrating specialized forces to create confusion.
However, in this instance, these are more than enough. The enemy is unarmored, and their bodies, not being those of the conscripted by the Magius Geanaite, are fragile enough to be pulverized by mortar shrapnel.
Currently, all mortars are linked to Selene, and adjustments are made mechanically rather than manually, ensuring pinpoint accuracy. The hydraulic sighting mechanism positioned between the support frame and the base continuously repeats minute movements, readjusting with every shot before firing the shell.
Where the enemy is densest, as units of their squads cross paths, additional shells are automatically chambered with a sound akin to popping bubbles. Whenever the magazines run out, the Sylvanian soldiers donning reinforced exoskeletons—thanks to Selene’s desperate persuasion, they’ve finally decided to wear helmets—rapidly reload the mortars.
“…This is like poking a beehive.”
“Sure is, they keep coming…”
Following the cannonade, Nosferatu emerged from numerous holes that opened in the ground, rushing out like a torrent of water from a breached levee. Their numbers exceeded a hundred per minute, nearly covering the horizon.
“It’s like a tsunami! A heavy artillery would be appreciated.”
“Keep firing; our stock is abundant.”
“Understood.”
The numbers were so great that thousands weren’t enough; they reached the tens of thousands. In the trenches dug to protect the artillery emplacement in a semicircle, the exoskeleton troops could be seen growing visibly nervous inside.
Alright, time to pep things up with a big bang.
From the makeshift control seat I entered—I technically wasn’t supposed to be in here as this thing is designed for brain cases—I engaged the control systems of the Type 1 Biped Light Tank, commonly called the Sashigame, and started powering up the main cannon through the Fire Control System (FCS) link.
“Ammunition type: Anti-personnel. Output: 60%. Target acquisition: enemy group ahead.”
With the sensation of my body merging with the “Sashigame,” I smoothly operated the machine, pointing the barrel extending from the rear towards the enemy. Indicating the type of ammunition to the auto-loading system, I locked onto the target.
Currently, a wind blowing out of the valley is present, so I adjusted the output accordingly. Despite the railgun theoretically being capable of accelerating to sub-light speed, firing at that magnitude on the surface would cause catastrophic damage, so simply having enough power to pierce through the atmospheric barrier is sufficient.
“Firing in three bursts.”
The heated gun barrel gave off heat waves and the sound of electromagnetic excitation echoed, eagerly awaiting the moment of release.
And with that, I released it following the triangular trajectory.
“FIRE!”
In an instant, the railgun-accelerated shells flew several times faster than sound.
Just before impact, the shell casings disintegrated, scattering countless “submunitions” around.
Also known as grapeshot and designed for engaging lightly-armored targets, each shell disperses nearly a thousand projectiles in a conical formation, churning the front area into a storm of steel. Dozens of Nosferatu were turned into white mist with one round, while the following and third rounds widened the carnage.
“Alright, looks like we took out about five hundred with that!”
At the sight of such massive destruction, the warriors erupted in cheers.
But this isn’t over yet. The enemy, with their crude strategy of relentless assault, represents a threat to the Canopy Holy Capital. We shouldn’t take them lightly.
The holes from where they emerged were immediately filled by successive cohorts rushing forward, forming a revolting wave of white that surged towards us.
This is problematic. If only we had two more “Sashigames”, we could crush them under their tracks.
“Captain, the leading group is 4km away.”
“Alright, all units advance.”
Orders were sent to the linked “Dicotomus 4” units, and the previously concealed vehicles stood up. We had been cautious about potential hidden heavy artillery at their base, but with their full counter-attack failing to materialize, it seems unnecessary.
“Advance 1km toward the enemy. Gunners, hold your fire.”
Their all-out charge is at about 30km/h. Quite fast. The Tech Gobs and Sylvanians perched in the APC gunner seats could be seen trying to suppress their excitement and fear as the enemy approached.
“Let the lead gunships initiate the attack first. Gunners, hold out until we’re 500 meters away.”
Through remote wireless operation, the beetle-like mechs controlled by Selene and I advanced calmly, stopping at predetermined positions to stabilize themselves by pressing their bases to the ground.
As their movable heads reached chest height, they simultaneously opened fire with their large-caliber Coiled Guns. The fury of their 2,600 rounds-per-minute barrage swept through the enemy ranks, turning the white undead into proper dead.
Each mech was assigned a specific range and swept the enemy in a fan-like pattern, obliterating the leading Nosferatu into splinters, their penetrating rounds further shredding two to three more bodies. Subsequent waves tripped and fell, causing a domino effect that crushed those beneath.
Still, the enemy continued the assault, stepping over and scattering the dead to reach firing distance, showing no regard for what happens afterward.
Whoa, they really are charging hard. There’s no overseer pushing them, so why are they running so desperately?
“Alright, each gunner fire at will.”
“YEEEEAH!”
“Die!!”
“Haha! Even with eyes shut, it’s like a shooting gallery!”
When the distance between our vehicles and the enemy closed to under 500 meters, I authorized the vehicle-mounted weapons to open fire. These had a slightly larger caliber than the lead gunships but traded that for a lower rate of fire of 2,000 rounds per minute, focusing on increased destructive power, which managed to take out more Nosferatu.
Simultaneously with the firing, the vehicle convoy gradually retreated backward.
Retreating while firing, or “delaying tactics,” is the best method for overwhelming large armies.
“Alright, cavalry forward. Absolutely do not interrupt the firing lines.”
“Roger!”
Well, we do have Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems to prevent friendly fire, but as a precaution, I issued the warning alongside the command, letting the sixteen wolf-like units dart forward.
Galatea led the charge, followed by Falken and the knights, with the Sylvanians and Tech Gobs following. They galloped across the wasteland, and just before colliding with the enemy front, they scattered. Throwing canister-sized boxes held by multi-purpose arms from their vehicles, they fled in all directions.
A few seconds later, the enemy ranks literally exploded.
Octanitrocubane. A cube of carbons with nitrohydrogen atoms attached, considered the most powerful explosive that can be refined with primitive methods, detonated violently.
Hundreds of enemies near the blast center were completely vaporized, lifted up with the debris into oblivion.
Furthermore, dozens of Nosferatu along with dirt were hurled into the sky and crashed down like water balloons.
The most efficient, though suicidal, tactic we higher-tier units use during breakthroughs was blatantly effective. Enemy formations numbering in the thousands crumbled, the world splitting with a thunderous roar and heat waves, causing successive waves to falter.
However…
“Captain, reinforcements never cease.”
“What kind of production capability is this? There shouldn’t be that many factories around the stronghold…”
For some reason, even as we kept mowing them down, new Nosferatu kept emerging. Whether we tried to blow them away with mortars, mow them down with machine guns, or blast them with bombs, their advance never faltered.
If they kept coming indefinitely, they’d breach our position in about half an hour. While Type-C exoskeletons have armor capable of deflecting enemy bullets, the cushioning liquid filling the composite panels isn’t infinite, and after being hit by thousands of rounds, casualties would inevitably begin to mount.
So, it boils down to whether we can disrupt their supply channels.
“Ammunition change: Armor-piercing, Aim… Alright.”
I switched the main gun ammunition to High-Explosive Armor-Piercing rounds. Designed to pierce enemy armor with a hard metal layer and explode inside, damaging internal mechanisms and crew.
They should be enough to destroy the holes leading underground, where the stream of Nosferatu seems to originate.
“Power around 40% should suffice… FIRE!”
Based on terrain data collected from drones, I calculated the structural integrity and reduced the power output to avoid expanding the holes unnecessarily. The supersonic shell tore through the air with a thunderous roar, piercing a group of Nosferatu just as they were jumping out and embedding itself into the ground.
Instantly, it exploded, blowing up part of the ground and sealing the hole.
Afterward, the spewing of Nosferatu ceased. It might have either been blocked or its internal mechanisms destroyed, causing it to malfunction.
“Good, it worked. Let’s take them out one by one.”
“Excellent work, Captain.”
“I don’t protect Earth for show.”
“…Didn’t the high-tier union just blast mass projectiles during the Second Conflict? And didn’t we serve in the Fourth Conflict?”
“VR, it was VR.”
Indeed, in those types of games where enemies keep spawning, the exits are almost always holes. Likewise, militarily speaking, hidden exits in the ground are quite common occurrences. Many times, I’ve seized enemy positions at the front only to get ambushed by tanks or mechanical units from the rear.
It’s always wise to seal these holes when you still can.
“Prioritize targeting the holes near the front lines. Keep updating the battlefield layout.”
“Understood. Once we suppress the enemy, should we…”
“Press forward.”
“Understood.”
This is an invasion aimed at capturing the enemy stronghold, not just defending a line. When their pressure diminishes, the course of action is clear: push forward and suppress.
“Alright, the holes seem to halt the emergence when sealed. But…”
“The number of lingering enemies inside might increase.”
“Exactly. Should we allow a manageable number to remain on the surface while keeping pounding them?”
“The ammunition might last, hopefully.”
Using the small 3D printer we brought along, we can continue producing ammunition, but will replenishment hold up? We only came on hearsay, but we certainly didn’t anticipate the enemies outnumbering our prepared munitions. Let’s hope not.
Praying that this isn’t the case, I continued sealing troublesome holes with the tank’s main gun, constructing a killing field.
[Excerpt from Interplanetary Exploration Records]
OQ Bomb: A standard High-tier Union bomb derived from Octanitrocubane. Once considered the theoretical peak of explosives but impractical due to difficulties in refinement, it has now become operational with the advent of stable production via High-tier Union’s 3D printers. It’s the most cost-effective high-yield explosive currently in use, widely employed in large grenades and structural demolition packages.
