Losing all their Clockwork kas due to underestimating the enemy was a responsibility the mbers of the Court of Justice team on this mission could not bear.
As expected, the team was soon placed on mandatory leave and sent ho, replaced by a new team.
Roggs, the operation's lead strategist, imdiately abandoned his initial complacency upon learning the full details from his colleagues. He mobilized a larger force of Clockwork kas and marched toward Fleuve Cendre in a grand procession.
Roggs divided the remaining personnel and Clockwork kas into several squads, sternly warning them against underestimating the enemy before gradually deploying them into the Fleuve Cendre District.
Unbeknownst to them, the Fleuve Cendre Faction had been monitoring their every move, projecting crystal-clear surveillance images onto a wall.
Setting up the surveillance and projection system wasn't particularly difficult. The only real challenge was that Fontaine's energy source wasn't electricity but Indemnitium and the far more volatile Pneumousia Energy.
Still, once the underlying principles were understood, a few experintal adjustnts had sufficed to achieve the desired results.
"Comrades, the real battle begins now."
"But there's no need to rush. Just follow the plan we prepared, and prioritize your own lives above all else."
"Survival is paramount!"
"Finally, good luck to you all!"
When Lofan emphasized prioritizing their safety, most of those present were deeply moved.
"Monsieur Grett, please be careful!"
"Take care!"
As the others departed, Navia lingered, watching Lofan with concern.
"Teacher, let lus and Silver protect you. You absolutely mustn't get hurt!"
Navia couldn't believe Lofan had assigned himself the task of delaying one of the enemy squads. She knew he was capable, but this was reckless!
If anything happened to Lofan, it would be the greatest loss the Fleuve Cendre Faction could suffer.
"Enough, I appreciate your concern."
"Navia, you're the most intelligent student I've ever taught..."
"Teacher, aren't I your only student...?"
"...Don't interrupt!"
Lofan nearly lost his composure at her remark, but quickly regained it and continued.
"The Court of Justice has deployed significant forces this ti. We're already at a disadvantage. Even with our ho-field advantage, disrupting our established formations would drastically increase casualties."
"My strength surpasses everyone else's here. Therefore, I'm the only one who can—and must—undertake this mission."
"In short, I've taught you everything you need to know, and we've discussed our plans for the future. Even if sothing happens to , it won't matter. As long as you're still here, the Fleuve Cendralys will endure, and our hopes and future will remain intact!"
"I've long been prepared to make this sacrifice. I'll light the path ahead, and as my most promising student, you must be ready to take my place at any mont. Until that day arrives, you can't afford to let anything happen to you."
"So, go now and do what you must. Don't hesitate!"
Sensing Lofan's unwavering resolve, Navia reluctantly turned away, her heart heavy with worry and fear. She was responsible for leading a crucial defense team, and any delay could jeopardize their position, shattering the Fleuve Cendre Faction's hard-won gains.
"...Teacher, please take care!"
lus and Silver cast one last look of deep respect at Lofan before hurrying after Navia.
"Finally, I managed to get them all out of here."
As the trio's figures faded into the distance, Lofan's expression shifted, becoming animated.
"If they hadn't let handle this alone, I'd be worn to a frazzle trying to clear out all these Clockwork kas!"
Humming a tune, Lofan rummaged in a corner and retrieved the Pneumousia Energy Explosives he had hidden earlier. As he'd explained before, Pneumousia Energy is inherently unstable; when Pneuma Energy cos into contact with Ousia Energy, it unleashes a massive energy surge.
Lofan's innovation was to amplify the explosive force, creating a uniquely otherworldly explosive.
Looking at these explosives, Lofan couldn't help but think of the Fontaine scientist who had blown up his lab and been punished. He had always maintained that Fleuve Cendre had no shortage of talent!
If we could blow up a lab back then, we can certainly blow up a Clockwork ka now!
When Lofan first approached him, the scientist had been reluctant, insisting he was a researcher, not a demolitions expert. But when Lofan asked if he wanted to regain his Fontaine citizenship, the scientist relented, reasoning that a scientist could occasionally take on side projects.
Of course, Fleuve Cendre's limited resources ant they couldn't easily test the explosives' full power or build reliable detonators. But that was no problem—Lofan had a solution.
Stuffing all the explosives into his backpack, Lofan cheerfully set off.
This ti, he didn't even bring his silver guitar.
Roggs thought he had taken the enemy seriously, but he had clearly underestimated them.
He never imagined the Fleuve Cendre Faction would set a trap right at the very entrance to the Fleuve Cendre District.
Shortly after the last Clockwork ka from the scattered squads entered the passage leading to the Fleuve Cendre District, a torrent of rubble suddenly cascaded down from above.
The unexpected assault caught everyone completely off guard. The topmost Clockwork ka buckled under the weight, crashing onto the one below, triggering a chain reaction of collapsing machines.
Instantly, the Fleuve Cendre District was pelted with a tallic rainstorm as iron hulks plumted from above. Many Clockwork kas were crushed outright, while others went haywire.
Roggs ducked beneath a large Clockwork ka, narrowly avoiding being crushed by the falling machines. A wave of terror washed over him as he realized how close he had co to death.
If he had descended even a mont later, he would undoubtedly be a corpse by now!
Just as Roggs was about to contact the others to assess the situation, a barrage of gunfire erupted in the distance.
Roggs' expression darkened. He had no ti to wonder where the Fleuve Cendre residents had acquired their weapons. He imdiately began organizing a counterattack.
Although Fleuve Cendre had caught the Court of Justice off guard with a well-executed initial strike, expanding their advantage proved exceedingly difficult.
The Clockwork ka army, directed by skilled commanders, displayed astonishing combat prowess. Before long, Fleuve Cendre found itself pinned down, unable to even peek out of cover.
The stark disparity in resilience made the conflict inherently unfair. While Fleuve Cendre residents could withstand dozens of shots before falling, a single bullet could incapacitate a Court of Justice soldier.
Moreover, Fleuve Cendre's limited firearms and ammunition, coupled with a scarcity of Vision wielders, paled in comparison to the Court of Justice's diverse Clockwork ka types, abundant weaponry, and coordinated assaults. The overwhelming pressure, the relentless hail of bullets, and the unending cacophony of explosions forced the Fleuve Cendre residents to fight and retreat.
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