Nighttime came as everyone in the City of Diacel including in the surrounding towns and villages are going back to their homes from their jobs.
Every knight is on patrol duty at night, while some casted magic on the whole city in case any intruder enters it without any of their permission. Unbeknownst to them, a mysterious guest will arrive in the Western Region which will soon change the world forever.
Elsewhere, inside the Forest of Death, several kilometers east from the city. A hovercraft hovered above the forest, the hatch opened and five figures jumped out. They went out of the treelines in their advanced cloaking device capable of rivaling this world's high tier stealth magic.
Invisible on sight with no sound they could make, they are Mobile Task Force Gamma-14 "Ygot's Lawbringers", their objective was to retrieve Target Overlord, also known as Artemis.
They ran past the patrols without noticing them and jumped on top of the walls with ease and went to the other side. As they made it in an alleyway, they halted their steps.
One of the androids looks at the second before nodding its head.
Being as one, the second Android already knew the other was saying.
And so, it went into a rooftop of a 5 storey tall building while the other Forces went deeper into the city.
Two patrol knights walking in the empty streets, keeping their eyes open, the leader of the group, put out its Assault Rifle with a silence system ready to fire until something orders in its mind.
[Don't terminate any entities in this city]
The voice is familiar and it is not hard that it was Artemis' voice.
The leader nodded without question, then two knights were close to their position, when one of them looked at the Androids, his eyes widened and tried to warn his partner.
But before he could do it, in a quick reflex, the Android put out its tranquilize gun and shot them and then put their unconscious body in the street, mistaking them sleeping on the job.
Not knowing how this guard could spot while their cloaking is still activated, the Android scans the guard for biological to magical information and what it got is that this guard has a talent to see through anything hidden in sight, even able to see someone at level 100 stealth without any problem.
Sounds kinda useful, but the Androids don't care as it is not really their objective.
Then they went deeper into the city to see more patrol knights doing their duty. They still hide while activating their cloaking device in case someone has a similar ability as the other guard. Moments passed, the androids passed through the dozens of knights without them noticing, except for a few that somehow felt something.
But it doesn't matter now as they were close to their destination, the Castle.
Once they reached the inner city, they spotted a figure a few meters in front of them. They immediately put out their assault rifles ready to face a threat but instantly lower it. In the next instant they fully know who it was, they put down their guns on who is the person in front.
"It seems you've finally arrived," Artemis said.
The leader nodded.
"It's nice to see my children come to find your leader... Caitlyn, I know you're on Android."
[Hehe, well we all miss you too, Artemis, it's been, what has it been, a month already?] Caitlyn said as the Android's red eyes became blue.
[Wow, is that how the other me sounds like? Reminds me of that annoying receptionist that I hated eons ago.] The other Caitlyn within Artemis said, feeling annoyed at her other self.
[What the? Artemis, who the hell is that woman?] The Caitlyn in the MTF droid questions, suddenly began to feel angry when hearing a woman's voice.
"Well, it's actually you."
[Really?] The other Caitlyn said, feeling surprised. [Oh, I think I remember that part of my system was split which is the reason why our drones became sentient.]
[Good thing the other me isn't an idiot or a mass simp for my husband.]
[Husband!?] The other Caitlyn was shocked to hear that, she was happy to see Artemis again till another Caitlyn, or might possibly be an imposter appeared and called him her husband, which irritated her even more.
In an unknown deep space, two white figures which were the two Caitlyn themselves all look at each other intensely at the Hivemind Network.
Artemis meanwhile is in the far distance looking at the two same people arguing like two angry sisters fighting for one stuffed animal.
'Hm, when I thought about it, Caitlyn could split herself and control more of my androids and drones. If that happens, does that mean I will have a harem of my own?'
Though it kinda sounds ridiculous and great at the same time which could fulfill every man's dreams. However, Artemis isn't like those, he didn't see it exciting but more annoying dealing with thousands of Caitlyns.
As Artemis was in his own world, he suddenly spotted the two Caitlyns were indeed about to fight! They rush at each other at immeasurable speed like two Galaxies colliding.
As they made their collision, not only the Hivemind Network began to crumble, it included Artemis and all of the drones began to freeze on spot.
Looking at his hands that were violently glitching that seemed like he was about to be erased in no time. However, he didn't panic, his face didn't show any other expressions except of a calm Monarch. He looked back at the two Caitlyn's fighting like rays of light that were about to tear apart an entire universe.
"You know what, I got a better solution for this."
In the next moment, Artemis does something that even surprised the two Caitlyns. With just a mere thought, the two Artificial Intelligence stopped, suddenly the two Caitlyn's turned into an orb of lights before fusing together like two stars colliding beautifully.
Back to the real world, the Android that the other Caitlyn was controlling has its eyes returned to its usual red color.
Opening his eyes, Artemis looks around the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of the city, as if the universal fight never happens.
But then, a ray of light came out from Artemis' eyes, revealing to be a hologram Caitlyn who gave him a confused look.
[What the hell did you do?]
Artemis simply shrugged his shoulders, "Simple, I just collided you two into one, making both of your memories and consciousness fused together into one. I thought you knew that, right?"
[Oh, now I remember, thanks. And seeing the other me experience for the past month, while I look annoying, I am pretty good as a leader so far.]
"Yeah." Artemis responded with a smile.
'Though, the only thing I did that is because I don't want another annoying girl all the time.'
[Excuse me?] Caitlyn asked in a darkening tone.
Artemis immediately cuts her off while keeping his blank look, "Aside from that topic, let's get down to business, so how long will the invasion begin?"
"Hm, you dodged that bullet right there, dear. Well, as for your question, just tomorrow. Oh, and another info you'll like, Michael and Johnathan met some Sea Elves in the ocean and what those sea elves or Tavais offer them a crystal, its energy, we might be able to harness it power to keep the wormhole alive without losing too much mages, we able to save Aurora right on time before her life or stated by Valentine, her soul to be save.]
"What do you mean by her soul? Are you saying Demigods can't be killed by any means?"
[Unfortunately, yes. It is stated anyone who reaches the Demigod realm can't be killed from anything unless they are killed at a soul level. And how did we kill them? Take Joan for example, we manage to kill her with one of our Railguns, powered by a few dozen A-rank Dungeon cores. I theorized we managed to kill her with the help of this.]
"If it's true, then defeating Demigods would be no problem. Wait, what about the Pope that Omega-13 assassinated?"
[That is a tricky question. In the reports, Alpha from Omega-13 killed the pope brutally while using Argent Energy to make the pain worsen. With this, the other Caitlyn theorized something interesting, as the answer might be on us all along... Argent Energy.]
Artemis couldn't help but feel very interested about it. Element-876, or Argent Energy was one of the things that Artemis couldn't fully understand its properties, it is extremely hard to understand that even the smartest scientist in the Federation and someone beyond 200 IQ has a hard time to understand it.
Thinking about this fact, Artemis never thought there is something more about this world that could rival the powers of a Type 3 Civilization. Thankfully, he has resources to eliminate these threats.
However, there are more dangerous abilities this world possesses, such as space, time, and even more haxes that could threaten the entire Machine Empire.
And so, he will do everything in his power to find and get resources back on Earth and many other colonized planets his machines had colonized for the past hundreds of years to build technologies enough to counter these god level powers.
"Hm, interesting. Alright, you should go back to base now and mobilize our military immediately."
"What are you gonna do next, dear?"
"It's time that I'll reveal to them, I doubt that some people in this city will deny our new rule."
"For a month of recreating a new city, I know you're not gonna destroy it for everything you just built."
"Yeah, why would I?"
"I better go, our army of humans and machines are ready."
"That quick? Probably Michael did a great job on making them killing machines." Artemis said.
And so, Caitlyn controlled all of the MTF androids, all waving at him in sync before leaving.
As they left, Artemis jumped onto the highest building, zooming his view with his cybernetic eyesight, he watched the androids leave the city, a hovercraft that activates its cloaking system flies by taking the troops and returning to base, disappearing without anyone noticing it.
"You've finally decided to attack, right?" Another voice spoke to Artemis, he didn't need to turn around as he knew it was Silvanna behind him.
"You eavesdropped on our conversation?"
"Not all of it, I could wake up immediately when I felt their presence the time they entered the city but I was a heavy sleeper, so I only heard half of your conversation. And killing a Demigod without any Demigod level weapons? Wow, you guys have a way to impress me, maybe even fearing you."
"Are you gonna stand there and disturb my peaceful moment?" Artemis asked coldly.
"Maybe. I should say that you have the balls to take on the two other superpowers, ey?"
"I biologically have no balls but to think you didn't say any threats about me invading the Veldarun Empire, your home? I didn't even activate the micro bugs when you arrived and still didn't care if your very home was about to get invaded by my forces, it seems you have something to hide."
"Hm, as expected of you. Well recently I got a message from my employers, when you ask that question, it seems I have no reason to hide."
"Hm, I see. Whoever your employers were, I just now lost interest in your background already."
"Goddamn it, you ruin the atmosphere! I was about to tell you a great revelation!" Silvanna pouted. "Whatever, about the upcoming invasion, what's the first city, nation you'll begin to attack?" She asks.
"I'm not the type of person to be impatient but also not the type of person to deal with the smaller and lesser cities first, so I have to skip towards the end."
"You mean..."
"Yes, I am ordering a Blitzkrieg in the Capital cities right away...
First up... the Republic of Aetlrus."
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The Empire pride themselves for having the most powerful military in the world that had surpassed the Theocracy in military strength, if not the Theocracy's vass resources of Magical Items.
The Imperial Army consists of four major divisions: the Armored Corps, the Magic Beast Corps, the Mixed Corps and the Royal Guards. The total number of their military personnel exceeded 4.3 million, far greater than all forces in the midlands combined. This overwhelming military is the backbone of their unshakeable rule.
The supreme decision-making power of the military did not belong to the nation, but the Emperor. The highest ranking officer within the military is the Marshal, like the Supreme Commander Sebastian, followed by the three Generals commanding three major corps. These generals were selected after discussions held within the Marshal, the Emperor, and Imperial Court Magician Pyrrha.
But it's been months that the enemy hasn't moved forward, so they send out scouts or assassins to check or assassinate the enemy's leadership to go on the offensive in the shadows.
But none of them ever return.
As months went by, more and more soldiers of the two nations got mobilized and were patrolling the Fortress border. By the end of it, their number was greater than two million. They didn't believe that the Metal Demons would attack, but they had to defend their country at any cost.
Ghirra's Wall was extremely massive and it was said to be the largest military fortress of the two superpowers. It's on the lands between the territory of the Empire and the Republic, it borders the entire eastern path that leads to the Great Isthmus Region.
Nobody couldn't teleport or infiltrate that said fortress due to having special magic being cast on, any invading forces didn't stand a chance against the defenders, regardless of their numbers.
The wall was first built by Ghirra Codilanno, a legendary general who first built this military fortress 800 years ago, with so many invasions and sieges, and being destroyed and rebuilt all over and over again, it makes it a legend.
The mighty wall fortress was so big and widespread no one saw such a structure in this world ever before, maybe even surpassing the Great Walls of China in length.
Layers and layers of study enchanted stone walls. Thick, reinforced adamantine gates. On the walls constantly patrolling Golem Knights, and Magical Beasts varied in size and type.
A combined force of Battle Mages and soldiers from both empires wearing enchanted armor with durability that even surpasses a Modern Tank. Magic fueled steampunk styled cannons inhabited the walls. Providing long range artillery support if it's necessary.
Under the walls, countless hidden magical traps waited for anyone who dared to besiege the great fortress. In the air, the constantly patrolling Dragonite squadrons units and the mighty Airships of the Republic and Empire numbering thousands watched vigilantly. And anyone who dared to come closer in the airspace hunted down immediately.
At Ghirra's Wall, they are starting to increase more battle mages and less soldiers because of how the enemy is so powerful that nearly close-quarter combat is almost useless against them. The republican and the Imperial airships begin to lift off to the air and go around lands to protect from any threats, but the few airships only wait for the more Airships to come to aid.
Ever since the existence of the metal demons, both of two superpowers' militaries began to collide their military and mobilize them to the inevitable war, but with the continent's large lands, it'll take weeks to fully mobilize their might against the new enemy.
Grand Marshal Sebastian, together with three Generals and High-ranking officers of the empire were standing on top of the hundred meter tall wall, looking at the horizon till they spotted dots coming from the desolate lands beyond.
Sebastian, also known as the Emperor's Right Hand Man expression did not change. As a Saint Demigod, he did not fear the monsters in the slightest.
But the last few weeks were the hardest times of his life. He sensed multiple floating metal balls moving around while in an invisible state, but nothing could escape his presence, guessing it might be spies, he took them down. The nation was in a state of war and he was tasked to command this enormous army alongside with the other Generals
On top, 500 Airships were dominating the skies, ready to unleash their guns to the enemies below.
"I'm sure I will remember this sight for a long time." Sebastian muttered. He then unsheathed his great longsword that was locked onto his waist and walked until the edge of the wall.
"Lord Groundsword, how are the preparations?"
"Everything is ready. We have two million people ready to fight the enemy, and with the help of the walls' mechanisms, our two narion's combined forces and you Mr. Sebastian, we are confident in defeating them."
Sebastian nodded. "That is good. Make sure to keep the casualties at the minimum. The Empire can't afford to lose much of its combat force."
"I understand." The General replied seriously.
"Very well, I'm off then."
As soon as he spoke, the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army took a step forward.
But instead of falling to the ground, he stepped in the air as though he was stepping on an invisible foothold.
Then, he kicked the air, and rushed towards the enemy at terrifying speeds.
The other Generals looked at that scene with both envious and surprised expressions.
"So that is a demigod, huh. How powerful." A buff man said.
The mage woman nodded, "Just the fact that he can fly makes him almost invincible against non-demigod opponents unless they have a way to fly with magic. Unfortunately, there is a huge gap between an A-rank and Demigods. I don't know if I have a chance to bridge that gap in my lifetime."
The other Generals from two nations nodded.
Seeing such speed. To be honest, not even themselves couldn't catch the speed. If all of them faced Sebastian at once, no matter if they were extremely smart, clever, cunning, or worked together in a very organized manner, no doubt that they wouldn't last long in less than a minute.
Even facing an army of a hundred A-Rank Realm combatants and mages or more against one Saint Demigod, no less it will be a total massacre.
"The enemy is here! Ready for battle!" Shouted one General using a spell that sent a message to every single soldier in the massive fortress, signaling the start of war.
In the distance, Artillery tanks started blasting their cannons towards the walls as Missile Launching Trucks and Anti-air weapons launched countless missiles towards the Demigod.
"[Time Stop]"
The world turns black and white, and as everything around him has come to a halt, he looks back at the attacks, but to his shock...
.
.
.
.
.
The missiles and Artillery shells continue to move... even time has stopped!
"What!?" Sebastian was surprised, but he didn't panic, holding his S-rank Sword, [Flamma Mortis] and he struck all of the missiles and shells in an instant.
"Even if your weapons could travel through the world of stop time, it's not enough to stop a Demigod." He spoke indifferently before raising his sword.
"Fall..." With an ice-cold tone, his sword slashed down.
*Boom!*
The sword slash crashed against the ground. Powerful mana waves exploded in the surroundings, unstable the flow of mana kilometers around him. Just that sword slash was enough to create a five-hundred-meters-long crevice on the ground!
But...
"How unexpected. To think The Emperor's Right Hand Man would appear so far away from the capital." A deep and mechanical voice with a... British accent(?) spoke from the ground.
A bulky man with skin made of steel appeared in Sebastian's sight. He was holding an Energy Sword while defending the Armored vehicles from the attack.
It's Michael.
As he defends from Sebastian's sword like it was nothing...
"Who are you?" Sebastian asked.
"You don't need to know," Michael chuckled, "You only need to know how the missiles and shells, even me, could travel through this Time manipulation ability? Simple, all the Androids, the weapons, Elite Androids like myself, even the Commander himself have Portable Warp drives or hyperspace drives, or tranlight technology that manipulates space time to prevent Time-based abilities from affecting us that we have suffered before. Well, if we don't have one, I can imagine a Demigod that knows Time Stop like yourself would solo us, which my Commander would not like."
"What? Warp drives? Tranlight Technology?" Hearing his words, Sebastian can't help but feel immensely confused. "I don't understand everything what you said, Metal men."
"You don't need to." Michael shrugged his shoulders, "You should've listened in your science class. Are you going to fight or not?"
"Hmph!" Sebastian snorted before a strong sword intent surged out of his body, charging towards the Elite Force of the Machine Empire.
But Michael laughed. With a wave of his energy sword, an energy slash was created that seemed to cut reality itself and easily dissipating the sword's intent completely.
The next second, both swords collided in an earth-shattering clash.
Just like that, the fight between two Demigods started.
But unbeknownst to Sebastian, the actions of Michael, the armored vehicles and artillery that was stationed outside of the fortress was just a distraction.
———————————————————————
While Sebastian, the Grand Marshal of the Empire's Military was facing one of Artemis' Elite Guards, the Imperial and the Republican military were ready for preparation, but not before long multiple portals suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The combined forces of the imperial and the republican soldiers were shocked by what they saw.
"I thought the Anti-teleportation spell could cancel any form of spatial transportation from enemy forces, why is there a Gate?"
"I think there is something sabotaging the spell!" A Commanding Officer shouted and looked at a nearby soldier beside him, "You! Contact the Generals and Grand Marshal Sebastian about this now!"
"Yes sir!"
The soldier was about to cast a flying spell on himself and headed to the higher ups, only it did nothing.
"What the? I can't fly!"
"What?" Confused, the Commanding Officer tries to unleash a skill or spell to try something, only it does nothing, he then looks at the surrounding soldiers to see the confusion on their faces.
"Something is canceling our channels of our mana!" He said as a sudden realization dawned on him.
"What!? Then there could be an Anti-Skill field around, but where!?" He questions, unaware that there are thousands of tiny bots about the size as an ant came out of the wormhole and went to each soldier and canceled the channels with their mana, preventing them from casting any of their Unique skills or magic spells.
Before the soldier gets any answers, meanwhile, both the Imperial and the Republican soldiers near the wormhole noticed that something left from it, but their superhuman senses are not enough to keep up with their speed, they were way too fast.
Two Elite Androids rushed at them with their top speed and began cutting or gunning down soldiers at a speed they could not even register the enemy was trying to kill them.
The main purpose of this operation appearing in this battle began to bore its fruits. Multiple Wormholes were opened all around the Fortress.
They knew that their Dimensional Lock spell was canceled and multiple portal appearances were not in their plans, so each of them started running as far away from it as they could. But it was all too late.
Another Elite Droid comes out, followed by an army of humanoids in full armor, goes out of the portal and attacks them.
These are the new army Caitlyn and Artemis made, human soldiers with cybernetic implants and armors durable than Adamantite, all of the soldiers are either B to D-rank in physical abilities, they were once soldiers, refugees, and villagers in Fordalt but they sign in the military of the Machine Empire to become as mighty soldiers, right now, they are over 15 million of soldiers, and the numbers grow continuously.
Each of them wore tactical Armor for Combat, the same ones built the 31st Century, and since that year, the advanced replication technology allowed the Human Government to easily mass-produce the best equipment for its troops. Therefore, all of the military use the same best equipment available with the only difference being training. The TAC is designed and inspired by 21st century movie iron man nanotech suits but a lot more advanced.
As you can see, the lights on the helmets are only visible by friendly troops, to the enemy, the Legionnaires of the Machine Army are faceless. The suit has an active and adaptive camouflage system which will change color and pattern based on the surrounding environment.
As for weaponry, they have prewar advanced plasma-based weapons. In the known space, the Human Civilization back then was the only nation that had the technology level advanced enough to create and mass- produce plasma weaponry to use from infantry ground troop to spaceship armaments. It is one of the best-kept secrets of Humanity.
Although detail specs are not published, a plasma is a multilayer bullet, when the trigger is pulled, before mass effect field push the bullet out of the barrel at near speed of light the firing chamber will subject the bullet to an extremely strong electromagnetic field which completely ionizing the matter of the outer layer of the bullet. This process will continue until the bullet leaves the barrel and travels to its target, the result is a bolt of plasma 10 million Celsius (18 million F). Spaceship plasma beams are magnitudes more powerful.
And compared to the guns wielded by the Android Soldiers, the Plasma Weapons of the Legionnaires are inferior.
After them, APCs, IFVs, and Tanks came out of the portals and started to mow down and shoot missiles killing nearby Mages.
Coming out first was the Lancer-12, another pre war tech being rebuilt, it is a hover tank with retractable tracks in case of emergency. Its main armament is one 120mm gun capable of firing superheated plasma rounds for armor penetration or HEIP (high-explosive incendiary plasma) rounds. For anti- infantry it has two SWARM pods at the back and 2 three-barrel rotary 20mm that are capable of tracking enemy aircraft flying at mach 30. In addition to the powerful firepower, the tank is fully armored with KEL and a powerful shielding unit. Everything is powered by a single zero-point energy power cell.
Lining up for the crossing, Lancer tanks platoons of the 75th Armored Division are leading the two columns (Lights tanks are out of commission in this universe as MBTs offer high maneuverability and capable of harass and flanking operations) will be the first to engage enemy forces detected by cloaked recon drones on the other side. Next in are the command APCs and IFVS carrying 5th SIF and 6th Marine Division then 20 artillery Regiments and finally the logistics.
The Infantry Fighting Vehicle is as heavily armored as the Lancers with the same energy shield generator. However, the main different is its armaments allow effective counter to mass infantry and swarming tactics used by several races in the galaxy. It is armed with one powerful 45mm gatling rail cannon that fires 30mm shells at Mach 6 which are more than enough to grind a small town into dust within minutes. It also has one AT smart missile pod, two 20mm three-barrel rotary guns and 3 SWARM pods. The IFV is capable of carrying up to 10 fully equipped soldiers and has 6 ports for 6 Android Soldiers.
The command APCs, another pre-war tech Caitlyn rebuilt, a highly battle-versatile vehicle carrying powerful sensors and electronic warfare suits, armed with the verdun chain gun or retrofitted with the RGTL 40mm (Repeating Grenade Turret Launcher). It only has two 20mm three-barrel rotary guns and 1 SWARM pods but is capable of deploying an energy shield dome with 10 meters (32.8 feet) radius. Armor and shielding are the same as IFV but the APC is longer and capable of carrying 20 fully equipped soldiers in additional to sensor and EW stations.
"This is Hammerhead 1-1, we are exiting the wormhole, over." The commander in one of the lead tanks reports with a mechanical deep voice thanks to the Nanotech suit he wore.
[Roger that Hammerhead 1-1, you are weapon free, I repeat weapon free, over] The person on the other side of the call gives the orders to all units.
"Copy that Hammerhead Command, over."
The stream of Lancers pour out of the Wormhole and span out to create a perimeter around it while firing on enemy forces in all directions. The IFVs rush to the front lines and deploy their infantry while APCs in the back activate their shield domes.
The Empire and the Republic forces scramble to the sudden attack of the invading force from the wormholes, some are shocked and panic while those who manage to stay calm rush to gear up and form into combat formations as they are trained to do.
Twenty unarmed Imperial and Republican soldiers are going to the armory to get weapons but it was blocked by another Wormhole in front of them, unlike the others, it is even larger as a Spider Tank came through the portal and put out its two miniguns in its side and shot them down with bullets travel dozens of times faster than a regular bullet.
A new project type of tank Artemis created, this 50 feet tall tank is armed with a 210mm Primelium alloy railgun that fires either SABOT or HPEAT(Hyper-explosive anti-tank round) or shooting a powerful energy that if 100% in full power, it could single-handedly collapse a mountain.
The tank is very powerful while being protected with advanced composite armor made of light-weight but highly durable plasteel and advanced synthetic plastic, Explosive reactive Armor and Ceramic platings layered in between. This protection enables the spider tank to have 10x lighter weight than 26th century spider tanks but endure five times punishment.
The secondary armaments in its weapon systems of the tanks are two Miniguns coming out each side and also has rocket batteries in its back that fires hydra cluster rockets for a long-range option of fire. The spider tank boasts a speed of 30km/h on both flat ground and rough terrain such as rocky roads and swamps, and it could dodge fast projectiles by turning into a ring and rolling at a tremendous speed.
The Magical Turrets on top of the walls and on the ground fire at the Spider tank which it dodges by turning into a ring and rolls avoiding the magical missiles, some hitting the Legionnaires killing some.
Magical Turrets was created by a great engineer of the Republic, the republic are the only ones that have this in their military defenses and has special ability of nullifying any defensive magic, making it one of the reasons why Ghirra's wall is the most defensive fortress on both ground and air.
But then, a Gunship Drone appeared above them, the magical turret was then blown up by two missiles from these weapons of mass destruction.
"Antilene, you take the 2nd squad and make sure our left flank is secure. 1st squad on me, go go! Move everyone!" A lieutenant with a female voice gives orders to her platoon upon exiting the IFV. "David, I want
LMG on that rock formation! Move!"
The female commanding officer can see the enemies are forming up into large formations from the holographic display screen in her helmet, which make them a target for the Lancers' 120mm HEIP shells. TACNet is a system that allows TACS to share and receive information between soldiers, and vehicles in immediate combat, similar to the Hivemind for Artemis' Androids and Drones.
Through TACNet, the number of enemies that were in this fortress measured up to two million and is being reduced quickly, but not before long the rate of reduction will decrease as the enemy forces will soon retaliate.
Taking cover next to a Lancer, the female lieutenant fired her rifle alongside with her squad, killing a dozen soldiers and Magical Beasts from the Magical Beast Division, a force filled with Beast Tamers that nurtured and tamed magical beasts, turning them into powerful beast knights.
Each beast knight is ranked <A–> and above by itself, and the combined strength of magic beast and riders is impossible to gauge. Despite having only 300,000 members, it is the one of the most elite units the Empire has to offer.
But now, those so-called most elite units that each one of them could level a country were utterly obliterated by the Lancers as they fired their main guns giving out a deep boom sound, HEIP shell evaporating the legendary beasts and their riders.
Meanwhile, a combined force of a few dozens of Imperial and Republican Airships were headed to the battle and began bombarding the Machine Army, able to take down the Legionnaires and a few Armored Vehicles with their superior magical weapons.
However, not long after the infamous Metal Dragon, or the Gunship Drones had appeared and began to slaughter them
Stream of Argent bullets and swarms of missiles taking down or evaporating Draconite Squadrons and enemy Airships in the air, not even strong defensive magic barriers from the Airships were saved, effectively reducing the prideful air fleets of the two countries to nothing.
Witnessing the power of the enemy, the Republican and the Imperial were horrified.
"What are we going to do, General?"
Hearing his soldier asked, one of the four Generals went in deep in thought, the enemy seemed to have superior technology and power and were slaughtering the forces of two superpowers like pigs. If only they had their magic back, then they would still have a chance. But now, they only have to use physical strength and raw stats to take them down, which would be suicide.
As he was deep in thought, the corner of his eyes spotted something small on his shoulder.
Taking it out, with his special eyes, he could see this peculiar tiny creature that appears to be made out of metal.
But once he killed it, the mana within him suddenly awoke.
Now, he learns whatever these tiny creatures were, they were the one that canceled their magic.
"Everyone! Those tiny creatures on you were the ones that canceled your magic! Take it down!"
Listening to the General, all of the soldiers did the same and by then, they could unleash their magic back.
Back to the Machine Army, as a platoon of Legionnaires were happily slaughtering their enemies, they suddenly saw countless magic spells were heading to their line, which means they had figured out the Anti-Magic bots that were secretly implanted on them.
With their magic back, this hasn't become a one-sided battle.
After killing an entire Platoon, the two forces of the country's military finally went on the offensive.
Some Imperial Mages focused on some of the armored vehicles alongside a few Legionnaires and started to fire at them, while the soldiers wielded their magical melee weapons and unleashed their special skills.
After killing a few enemy soldiers, they try to take down one of the APCs. However, their attack does nothing when on impact with the shield without doing any harm. The APC crew give a thumbs up to a nearby officer indicating that the shield is holding strong.
Dozens of magical shots from a large number of magically enhanced guns on the Airship also bounce off the shield dome harmlessly.
Both the Republican and the Imperial Army fought off the invaders, both sides were equal because the forces of the two countries figured out how they got their magic back, giving the enemy forces some casualties on their own. It was a huge warzone inside the Ghirra's wall, while the Soldiers and mages have superhuman abilities during a good job on defending but there are so many Legionnaires and Armored vehicles that they are forced to retreat. Some cowardly soldiers tried to escape using each Airship but it was shot down by Gunship Drones.
Then they sent the Tank Forces to defeat them.
These 20-30 feet beings are known as Knight Golems, they are defenders of the republic. They are powered with magic crystals that give them movements and have immense strength. Their armor skin is enhanced with powerful magic, making them durable enough to survive from a nuke.
Hundreds of giant Golems begin dashed towards the Machine Army with incredible speed, even with their large size, immense weight and wearing makeshift armors with massive weapons, they still run like a fast athlete.
Not taking any chances, the Lancers, the APCs, and the IFVs start gunning them down with their 120mm and cannons. However, it seems it will take a lot of rounds to kill one.
But with their numbers they managed to reach the distance from them. In a matter of seconds, they had killed 250 Legionnaires so far, one of them lifted a Lancer and yeeted it at a small group of running Legionnaires, some able to dodge with their own superhuman speed and magic except for the unlucky ones were crushed.
Seeing the Knight Golems able to push them back, the republican and the imperial army charges, thinking they might have a chance. However, they aren't the only ones who have giants in combat.
In the portal where the spider tank were, Titans has entered the battlefield.
Better known as Battle Mechs or Titans, unlike the other mechs in the Machine Empire's arsenal, these mechs are faster, stronger, and more powerful than the previous mechs.
The Battle Mechs combines the brutal frontal assault of the tanks, long range bombardment of artillery, anti-air capability of anti-air guns and the maneuvering of all-terrain vehicles with its robotic legs that can run far smoother and transverse terrains than any wheels or tracks could. This results in a totally versatile combat platform as it can rain hell on the enemies in all manners at the same time, enabling lightning war to become faster than ever. They can be equipped with Mag cannons, Missile launchers, Rail guns, Gatling guns and repeating grenade launchers.
Ten Battle Mechs entered the battle, one of the Knight Golems try to swing its massive magical sword on one of the Battle Mechs but one dodges and used its own sword and decapitate the Golem with greater speed, one of the Battle Mechs held a warp cannon and fired at one of the Knight Golems and easily destroyed it, the other Battle Mechs destroyed all of the Knight Golems without effort.
Meanwhile on top of the walls, multiple magic turrets with bluish aura dancing around them then with more and more intensity, it let out rapid shots of magical missiles, bombarding the Machine Army and hitting the APCs' shield domes continuously making it fluctuate.
"Hammerhead Command, 5th SIF lead, recommending immediate destruction of the magic turrets, target location uploaded, over." A Commanding Officer makes a request with the lead command APC.
[Copy that, 5th SIF lead, over.]
"ARGH!"
Numerous Legionnaires shout as the turrets continue to let out countless magical missiles with different elemental attributes at them, including the Armored Vehicles, which shutdown the shield dome causing the APC to fall back and allow another to take up its position to deploy another shield dome. The magical attacks also hit half a hundred soldiers killing them while some survived but their personal shield is destroyed and TAC suit being fried, which causes serious burns.
One of the Lancers turns 120mm to fire a shot at the turret but the plasma shell is stopped by a multi-layer barrier, which causes the shell to explode and takes the first layer down with it.
"Fire again, everything you got!" The female commander orders the gunner of the Lancer to shoot at the turrets again.
A deep boom from its main turret as a swarm of missiles leaving their pods and flying towards the group of turrets.
The crystal structures were completely destroyed and the aura disappeared.
By the time all of the magic turrets were down, the artillery regiments outside the fortress that were once a distraction for the Grand Marshal, began to fire their loads, and each of them has an AI that detects enemies at location and hits with extreme precision.
[Hammerhead Command to all artillery units, want all enemy's positions leveled, weapon free.]
Once the order has been sent, the artillery opens fire on all the enemy in the fortress.
Salvos after salvos of missiles fired up to the sky then arc down to all enemy soldiers, creating red explosions, which evaporate the enemies that are near the center by plasma flash and the shrapnel that cut through armors of enemies further away and kill them or wound them badly.
Most of these rounds were aimed at the four Generals that had so far killed thousands of the Legionnaires.
Though it took a lot of shells and rounds for one of them, with their magic being annoying for them, they were still able to take all of them in the end.
When the last of the enemy Generals were slain by the might of superior firepower, there's a moment of complete silence before the TACNet alarm lit up in their helmets. A large formation of enemy airships and ground troops, mostly the Beast Army Division, are closing in from the west, enemy reinforcements are here and they are charging towards the fortress to take it back.
Their numbers, strength and power is enough to end humanity on Earth ten times.
"Form up, create a battle line, move, move!" The female commander gives orders for the troops to create a battle line facing the incoming army west of their position. The helmet reads her brainwave and relays it into TACNet to allow other soldiers to understand exactly what her orders are and what needs to be done.
"Bring the APCs, Tanks and Battle Mechs deploy their shields, I want the IFV and Gunship Drones to focus on the North of our line and bring those Airships down!"
Few moments of mobilizing themselves into their position, they also learned that the enemy forces sent out another million forces, it seemed to make a few soldiers nervous.
"Colonel Artemia, are you sure we will face such a number? You know we have lost thousands of men." One of the Legionnaires, who seemed to be a young man, spoke.
The female Commander puts her helmet off in a nanotech fashion, revealing her beautiful face, red-headed hair and large scar on her left eye.
"Private Parts, there is no point of fearing, we'll only to be showered by the blood of our enemies in the end, ready your weapons on the double!"
"B-But ma'am, I have lost too many friends on that battl—"
"Silence Private! Everything that you had thought had a meaning. Every hope, dream or moment of happiness..." She started to quote before she continued, "None of it matters, as you slain your enemies or lie bleeding out in the battlefield. None of it changes about the numbers of enemy forces there, we might either live and return to Utopia or die trying."
Looking at the soldiers that were standing there in silence, listening to her every word, she continued.
"But does that mean our lives are meaningless? Does that mean that there was no point in our being born? Would you say that our slaying comrades, what about their lives? Were they meaningless?"
"THEY WERE NOT!" She shouted. "Their memory serves as an example to us all!
The Courageous Fallen!
The Anguished Fallen!
"Their lives have meaning, because we the living refuse to forget them!
And as we ride to certain death, we trust our successors to do the same for us!
Because my soldiers do not buckle out or yield when faced with the cruelty of this world!
MY SOLDIERS PUSH FORWARD!
MY SOLDIERS SCREAM OUT!
MY SOLDIERS RAGEEE...!"
Shouted Artemia while giving the first shot with her rifle, signaling the start of the second battle.
*Ta!* *Ta!* *Ta!* *Ta!* *Ta!* *Ta!* *Ta!* *Ta!*
*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*
The Lancer Tanks, APCs, IFVs, Artillery, and Gunship Drones started bombarding the army and the soldiers were shooting like never before in their life. Body parts of humans and Magical Beasts flew everywhere in the air, as soon as they reached the Fortress they were utterly destroyed, not even the mighty Airships of the two Empires were spared.
Normally, bullets, bombs, and missiles weren't effective to any of them in the slightest if it was weapons from the 21st, but this isn't the 21st, it was the weapons of the 31st, weapons that could even slain Gods.
So no more slaughtering on the Modern Army side, no more getting stomped on by Worlds that could deem Earth's power weak.
No more excuses for tanking Guns and Nukes because of stupid and dumb reasons.
The Might of the Old Humanity will strike back.
*BOOOOOMMM!!*
Now with the power of advanced technology, a storm of bombs, rockets and bullets had a great effect on their bodies, armor, and powerful magic, their durability could withstand bombs but not high enough to endure from these bombs and countless bullets hitting them every second.
Not worrying about the massive Air Fleets as IFVs 20mm and SWARM pods seem to be very effective against them.
After about 20 minutes of an endless wave, the entire field was littered with bodies and airship wreckage. The morale of the Legionnaires were in the heavens, they were giving high-fives to each other, cheered and laughed at the miserable enemy forces.
As the remaining soldiers of the Machine Army numbering from 500,000 to 300,000 cheered over their victory, the two fast and powerful beings still fought in the sky, with each clash of their attacks splitting the sky into two.
Meanwhile the Spider Tank in the background shot down any surviving runaway enemy soldiers on sight, while huge and an easy target, it could still avoid any magical attacks from mages and shot cluster rockets and its rail cannon at them with 5% of its power. They leave no survivors in the Fortress and in the surrounding areas.
For the first time in history, Ghirra's Wall has finally lost.