Rolling black smoke slowly rose, becoming a continuous layer of dark clouds that covered the skies above Tengu City.
Within that gray sea of clouds, more than ten airships moved back and forth like sea beasts swimming through the mist.
Flashing firepower, the faint whistle of tearing wind, explosions and thunderous roars—DEM's airships were like a pack of bloodthirsty sharks, biting down relentlessly on Kotori's fleet.
"Commander! The Realizer on the right side of one of our airships has been damaged beyond the automatic repair limit! Its altitude is currently dropping!"
"Transmit orders! Have them make an ergency landing in a safe area. Kannazuki, coordinate with the other airships and provide cover!"
"Understood!"
After swiftly issuing the order, a bitter smile appeared on Kotori's face.
(How embarrassing. I was talking big just now too.)
Thirteen airships against four. Although she was at a nurical disadvantage, with Fraxinus EX's mobility and destructive power, unless the enemy was Goetia under Ellen's command, Kotori had not initially thought she would lose.
However, reality was completely different from what Kotori had imagined.
The enemy fleet moved in an orderly fashion, with strict discipline and clear command. Although the individual performance of their airships did not hold the upper hand, they were always able to coordinate with one another skillfully. When one was in danger, it could decisively withdraw. When another airship was in trouble, the rest would quickly support it. And whenever Kotori's side revealed an opening, they would pursue without the slightest hesitation. When necessary, the twenty airships waiting in place, aside from the one Yutsuki had infiltrated and destroyed, could also act as fixed gun batteries and carry out long-range attacks.
Furthermore, even Fraxinus EX's battle data seed to have already been analyzed by the enemy in advance. Every ti Kotori took action, the enemy would be prepared beforehand, preventing her from gaining any advantage at all.
It seed there was soone on the enemy side who excelled at large scale combat. Kotori and Kannazuki were more skilled at commanding and operating a single airship. Faced with an opponent who could command multiple airships simultaneously, they clearly lacked experience.
Silently warning herself not to lose composure, Kotori continuously considered all sorts of counterasures in her mind.
"Maria! Can you hijack the airships's radio communications and interfere with their command?"
[You an a Hacker intrusion like Yutsuki?… I'll try.]
After several seconds of silence on the screen, Maria shook her head with a grave expression.
[No good. The enemy airships are not using any form of electronic communication. The deployed unmanned machines are also operating entirely through automatic AI control. I cannot invade them.]
Hearing this, Kotori was surprised, but not shocked. After all, Ryougi Yutsuki's ability was the greatest threat to DEM. If it were her, she would definitely prepare counterasures against electronic intrusion before the battle began.
"What about Westcott? If we tell them Westcott was killed, they should surrender, right?"
Nia suddenly had an idea and hurriedly shouted. In response, Maria gave her an irritated glance.
[Nia-san, do you think I would overlook sothing even you could think of? The ssage was sent long ago. As I just said, the enemy has not opened wireless communications, so they cannot receive our ssages.]
"Then can we hint it to them through so other thod?"
Kannazuki proposed from the side. Kotori shook her head.
"Probably not. According to Mana, Westcott's body automatically scattered after his death. We have no evidence to prove that Westcott is dead. If we say it, they'll only treat it as a bluff."
Although she said that, another guess surfaced in Kotori's heart.
Did the enemy truly not know that Westcott was dead? If the highest leader of an organization disappeared on the battlefield, logically speaking, the subordinates should have already fallen into chaos. How could they possibly continue dealing with her so calmly and skillfully?
Besides, whoever arranged this ticulous plan had even prepared against Yutsuki's infiltration and Maria's electronic intrusion. Would a person like that really recklessly enter the enemy camp alone?
Then was the Westcott that Mana and Natsumi killed a fake? That thought surfaced in her mind, but Kotori quickly denied it.
He could use Beelzebub, control Nibelcole, and even face Natsumi when she manifested a complete Astral Dress without falling into a disadvantage. Other than Westcott, it could not have been anyone else.
Recalling everything that had happened since the beginning of the battle, a vague guess ford in Kotori's mind, causing cold sweat to unconsciously seep from her palms.
Perhaps their premise had been wrong from the very beginning.
This war was not sothing that would end just because Westcott died.
——————
Among the three remaining airships, aside from Fraxinus EX, there was one airship nad Ulmus. The supre leader of Ratatoskr, Elliot Baldwin Woodman, and the acting chairwoman of the Round Table, Karen Nora Mathers, were currently on its bridge.
Perhaps he could not tolerate hiding safely in the rear and enjoying the fruits of others's efforts while his subordinates fought bravely. Or perhaps he wanted to bring an end to things with his old close friend by his own hand. This elderly man, who could only move by wheelchair, had personally co to Tengu City after Kotori requested support, ignoring everyone's objections and participating in this battle.
"A communication spell constructed through the principle of magical power resonance? How nostalgic. If I rember correctly, the last ti I saw one was in a magic theory class in the village over thirty years ago."
Looking at the intelligence shared from Kotori's side, Woodman could not help sighing emotionally.
The instant he saw the information, Woodman understood. The reason DEM's fleet could communicate and command efficiently without relying on electronic devices was because what they were using was not science, but the mystery known as magic.
In the modern age, where information networks were so developed, communication spells had long since beco rather useless. But from a security standpoint, they could indeed prevent intrusion from Spirits with hacking abilities, such as Yutsuki or Maria.
"If I rember correctly, communication spells are not easy to construct. Without a certain foundation in magical knowledge, they cannot be used at all. So he recreated a similar effect through Realizers. Should I say, as expected of a genius recognized by everyone? Ike."
As if conceding defeat, a bit of self mockery and bitterness appeared on Woodman's gentle face.
"Having once been rivals in childhood and later comrades, I thought I was the person who understood you best. Looking at it now, that was my arrogance. But that makes sense. If I could truly see through you, why would I have left DEM back then?"
"…Elliot. May I perform a joke to lighten the atmosphere?"
At that mont, Karen suddenly spoke.
"Oh? You? That is rare. I must hear it."
Woodman could not help becoming sowhat curious. Karen continued with an unchanged expression.
"Let's run away, Elliot."
"…"
"Abandon the Spirits, Ratatoskr, everything. Then buy a house in so peaceful countryside and live quietly. In the mountains—preferably sowhere with a flower field. We should have at least three children. I believe that as long as they are yours and mine, whether boys or girls, they will all be excellent. Then we would spend noisy days together, accumulate small happiness, and grow old slowly together. And one day, when Heaven finally calls you away—I hope it will be while your head rests on my lap." (TL:Man...I feel sad for her)
After silently listening to Karen's so called joke, Woodman could not help laughing.
"Karen… You might actually have talent as a codian."
"Thank you."
"Karen."
"Yes."
Looking at Karen, who stood silently behind him, Woodman sighed apologetically.
"I'm sorry."
Woodman gently held the slender hand behind him and spoke in a soft voice.
"I was the one who misjudged DEM's threat and issued the wrong objective to Commander Itsuka and the others. Now Commander Itsuka is at a disadvantage, and the Spirits are in danger. I… must take responsibility for that."
Hearing Woodman's words, Karen's hand on the wheelchair quietly tightened, then slowly loosened again.
"You have no need to apologize, Elliot."
Karen lightly shook her head and spoke with great pride.
"It is precisely because you are that kind of person that I love you."
"Ah…"
Woodman shrugged helplessly, but the corner of his mouth carried a faint, relieved smile.
After nearly thirty years together, the two of them understood each other more than they understood themselves. Perhaps it was precisely because Karen knew what choice Woodman would make that she had tried to hold him back with such a clumsy thod.
After arriving at the equipnt transfer room, Woodman instructed Karen:
"I leave Commander Itsuka's side to you. Please help them."
"Don't worry. I understand."
Karen nodded lightly.
A reassured smile appeared on Woodman's face. He took out his golden naplate from his chest, and his eyes could not help filling with nostalgia and excitent.
"Haha! All right, old partner! Let us see together how far that adorable brat from back then has grown!"
A burst of laughter ca from within the activated equipnt transfer device. At that mont, Woodman's voice sounded like that of a young man in his twenties, bold and unrestrained.
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