𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗𝟗: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫 (8)
Oswald crossed the Balearic Sea aboard the air battleship.
He was on a mission to execute an operation of the newly established Gigant special forces unit, ‘Sigmund’. Leading a total of 45 airships from three airship groups, he was headed for Madrid, the capital of the Republic.
The plan was to enter the port city of Valencia and have one airship group remain to attack Valencia, while the other two groups were to continue northwest and head for Madrid.
The reason for leaving only one group of airships at Valencia was to have the Democratic Republic misunderstand that the Empire had targeted Valencia with their attacks.
Since there were various munitions production plants located in Valencia, there was a high likelihood they would misunderstand. Furthermore, by having the Northern Military Region attack Donostia and the Western Military Region attack Barcelona, they intended to keep attention focused on the front and help ‘Sigmund’ reach Madrid safely.
On the distant horizon. . . The territory of the Republic had finally come into view.
Having reached the waters just off Valencia City around dusk, the airship group slowly moved along, waiting for the night to arrive and then leisurely headed for the skies above Valencia.
The airship group, which employed the help of wizards to cast a silence magic from high up in the air, quietly reached the airspace above Valencia City.
Several of the airships, which were loaded with various bombs and grenades, began to take their positions, while the airships carrying the members of the ‘Sigmund’ unit continued north-west along their path.
The airship group, which was to begin its assault once the two groups had passed Valencia, commenced their attack by first raining down 120 rounds of magic mortar fire, and then dropping bombs and grenades.
KWAANG! KWAGWAGWANG!
Explosions erupted from all over Valencia City. . . Soon after, light magic began to appear and enemy magic mortars and magic began flying towards the sky as the air raid siren wailed.
However, the airships were firing their mortars from beyond the range of the magic mortars.
As a result, the fired magic mortars lost their targets and fell back down to the ground due to the law of gravity.
Normally, if it was just pure magic, it could be dispersed by weakening the cohesion force of the magic, but it wouldn’t have physically descended to the ground in the way it did. . . Magic mortars had magic circles engraved on them to allow the magic to be materialized into a physical form when fired, which meant it was affected by gravity regardless.
That was why the magic mortars from the airships had been aimed beyond their effective range, but were able to hit the ground due to gravity extending their range.
In an instant, all manner of factories in Valencia were destroyed and the entire city burst into flames. The public offices were the next target, and soon enough, various government offices, including the city hall, were also ablaze, turning Valencia City into a sea of fire in a moment.
“Those fools, did they think we would only come by land?”
The airship captain mocked the Republic for not having any anti-air defense systems set up. The Republic immediately requested support from nearby Barcelona. . . However, Barcelona was also under attack, so they were unable to get through.
The Barcelona Frontlines.
TODOTODOTO! TODOTODOTO! TODOTODOTO! TODOTODOTO!
The Empire deployed its Quadra Anti-Air Machinegun to the frontlines to rain artillery fire on the ground, destroying enemy trench lines, magic mortars, and bunkers alike. Since the purpose of this battle was to draw attention and support for a special forces unit headed towards the capital city of Madrid, they’d deployed the Quadra Anti-Air Machinegun to put on the flashiest display they could.
The powerful 12-mm armor-piercing round and magic rounds had an impressive firing range. . .
Although the Republic had deployed their airships. . . The firing range of the Quadra Anti-Air Machinegun exceeded even the maximum altitude the airships could reach, which was why their airships, after appearing on the frontlines, were currently on standby in the rear.
“Damn it!! Do we have any bullets left?”
“SHIIIIT! Stop it!! I’m begging you, just stop it!!”
The Republic soldiers, who were cowering in their trenches and waiting for the Empire’s attack to end. . . Most of them had already lost focus to the point of their eyes rolling back in their heads, perhaps as a result of developing shell shock from the Empire’s relentless firepower.
Unlike the Republican soldiers, the elf soldiers remained calm without showing any emotion, simply lowering their bodies and readying themselves for a counterattack. . . It was clear that the homunculi, with their emotions completely removed, were far more efficient at fighting.
“Defense Minister, sir!”
“What is it?”
“We have just received communication that our port city of Valencia has also come under attack.”
“When?”
“The assault apparently began about an hour ago.”
“Why are we only hearing about this now?”
“Apparently, it was only just now that the wizards finished disrupting the communication magic and were able to relay the message to us.”
“These guys are doing a pincer attack on us!”
It was only now that the commander of the Barcelona defense force realized why the enemy wasn’t charging and was just raining artillery shells down on them.
“Dammit. . . Valencia is where 10% of all our military’s ammunition is produced. . .”
Their defenses in the rear had weakened because they’d had to pull all troops to the frontline to stop the enemy’s massive army.
“We’re sending the airships we have here! Send them out immediately!”
“Yes, sir!”
The airships, which had done nothing but stand around and watch the situation in Barcelona unfold, set off to save Valencia.
And word of this development was relayed to the Western Military Region through Hecaton, the Empire’s intelligence agency, which had agents planted in various areas around Barcelona. Upon hearing the news, the commander of the Western Military Region ordered an all-out attack.
The Republican soldiers, who hadn’t been able to rest properly because of the continuous Quadra Anti-Air Machinegun attacks, were completely demoralized when they saw more of the Empire’s forces closing in.
SHUAK. KWAANG! KWAGWAGWANG!