"Waaaaaaaaaahhh!!"
The ground forces of the Fuuga army attacked the Red Dragon Castle. The great army that was assembled to attack the royal city of Parnam, was climbing the slope to attack the Red Dragon Castle city with a single blow. The morale of the Imperial Army was high. It was not an exaggeration to say that Fuuga's hegemony will be decided here and everyone felt that the war against Souma was probably their last chance for them to have a significant rise in the power hierarchy.
It was evident that Souma and the Kingdom of Friedonia are difficult enemies, so it's obvious that if he falls here, the rest will be very easy. The nations of the Maritime Alliance will no longer rebel after the fall of their ally, the Kingdom of Friedonia. The Republic, the Kuzuryu Kingdom, and the Euphoria Kingdom will bend their knees. If that happens, they won't have the slightest chance of success.
In other words, because this was the last chance to make a name for themselves, the soldiers of the Great Tiger Empire were highly motivated to achieve it. Furthermore, the soldiers had been frustrated by the lack of resistance up to that point and their attempts to send in separate detachments had been successfully blocked. Though not as morbid as Claire, the wish to have a legendary battle that would pass through future generations under the guidance of the hero Fuuga, was a wish that many in the Great Tiger Empire's army had.
The army of the Great Tiger Empire had high morale, but the brave generals like Kasen and Gaten and the main force of what was once the Union of Eastern Countries kept in the rear, and those who attacked in the front they were the mercenaries, refugee soldiers, and soldiers from the former Kingdom of Meltonia and the Fracto Federal Republic, who were newcomers, who wanted to rise through the ranks, were a force that would not affect them to lose. Since time is on Souma's side in this war, Fuuga and his subordinates were thinking of leaving the restraining soldiers and heading straight for Parnam, once they realized that Red Dragon Castle would not fall easily.
The main force had been moved to the rear so as not to be worn down by the general reconnaissance attack. Instead of the well-disciplined elite in the rear, the attackers were a mass of egoists, and the soldiers were no different from the thieves. If they enter the city of Red Dragon Castle, there would be looting, raiding, and massacres wherever they find themselves, and the city will turn into a butcher shop.
To prevent this, the defenders on the Red Dragon Castle's side were desperately resisting. They intercepted the attacking imperial soldiers by shooting arrows from their bows and magic from the top of the high city walls. In the meantime ...
"Unfortunately, there isn't much I can give them."
A blue-haired half-dragonewt woman with a single horn on her forehead standing on the wall muttered to herself as she looked at the imperial army swarming under her feet. She was Axela Vargas, the daughter of Excel, the wife of Castor, and the mother of Carla and Carl. She was wearing her naval clothing for the first time in a long time and held up her hand.
"This is the only thing I can give... to all the members! Fire at will!"
"Got it! Let the fire begin!" "Let the fire begin!" "Let the fire begin!"
The naval-type commandos spread and siege weapons and cannons were fired at the imperial troops, who were hanging ladders to climb the walls, preparing siege weapons, or shooting arrows and magic to attack the soldiers on the walls.
Boooooom (Ton!) Boooooom (Ton!) Boooooom!!
The loud sound of cannon firing echoed through the countless bursts from the small kom cannons. And from above the heads of the Imperial Army, pieces of iron fell like rain.
Doga, Bang
"Ugh..." "Waaaaaa!?"
Fist-sized pieces of iron and shells fell, crushing the armor and helmets of the Imperial Army, and destroying ladders and siege engines. Axela's mother, Excel, lent all the gunpowder weapons the Navy possessed to protect the Red Dragon Castle, where her daughter and her grandchildren were. Fuuga's forces were bombarded with shells that were too many in quantity for the protection of a single city.
However, the number of the Great Tiger Empire Army was overwhelming, and no matter how many soldiers were killed or injured by the shells, replacement soldiers were not long in coming to the wall. Because the Imperial Army was attacking like zombies in a pandemic movie, no matter how much they were crushed with gunpowder weapons, the end was nowhere in sight, and all the city walls were in the same situation.
(Is the desire to fight and prosper so strong under the hero Fuuga?)
Axela looked at the war situation from the wall and thought about it.
(This boosts people so much that they can continue to attack without worry, no matter how many of their allies are injured and fall near them. To defeat Fuuga Khan you don't just have to beat him... that's why His Majesty seems to think this way, so this is the reason)
Those who are drawn to Fuuga's ambitions will rise up and attack again and again as long as Fuuga does not lose his charisma. The view from this wall is exactly that. Even if you win once or twice, the Imperial Army will not give up as long as Fuuga's charisma is alive. Even if Fuuga is defeated here, the fire of resentment will remain among the people and continue to ravage the world, creating those who want to follow in his footsteps.
In order to prevent that from happening... Souma and his companions were preparing to defeat Fuuga completely and avoid any disaster. Even for this one, the Red Dragon Castle.
(...I see. That's why I needed something like that.)
Axela looked back and said to the hooded figures behind her.
"You need to surprise them to defeat their morale. Please lend me the power of the two of you."
Then the two figures walked towards Axela.
"You heard her. Looks like it's our turn. Meru meru."
"Don't call me Meru meru... Well, that's why we were called from the Veneti Nova evacuation point. It would be a waste of time if we didn't have a turn to participate."
The ones who uncovered their hoods after saying this were Ludwin's wife, the Over-scientist Genia, and Merula, the high elf, the two heads of the Kingdom's Technology Division. When Trill and Tal returned to their homes, the two of them were evacuated very early to Veneti Nova by Souma, but they arrived at this Red Dragon Castle at Axela's request.
Souma and Ludwin were reluctant to allow them to go to the Red Dragon Castle front, but due to their enthusiasm for the content of the request and the persuasion of Axela, who brought Excel over to her side, Souma, and the others gave in and gave them permission. Axela told them.
"I'll send 'it' to you. Please prepare yourselves."
"Yes. Understood. But I'm not the one who really moves it."
When Genia said it with the same light tone as always, Merula also nodded.
"Our job is to reshape 'it'. The moving parts are actually moved by Mr. Souma, but isn't the golem operated by Genia? In that sense, Genia can be said to be moving it as well, right?"
"That may be so. Anyway, I'll contact the 'King's Consciousness' through the waiting golem."
Axela nodded upon hearing Genia's words.
"Please do... Now, let's get the place in order, okay?"
Axela told the messenger and Genia.
"The messenger instructed the musicians who had been waiting to start playing! Genia, ask His Majesty to move with the music!"
"Yes!" "Okay, okay!"
The messengers ran out, and music played on the walls after a while. A brave and uplifting melody. The tune was known to the soldiers of the Kingdom of Friedonia. It was a song that was used in a certain special effects show, and was played to boost morale. This is because it was now a well-known song sung at live singing contests and that familiarity strengthened magic in actual song battles.
In contrast, the soldiers on the Great Tiger Empire's side did not know the tune. Even if they could guess that the music being played by the enemy was to boost morale, none of them could understand the meaning of the song. That's why they were so surprised.
"Come on, everyone! Let's sing together and cheer to make the entrance of that 'thing' exciting!"
Axela waved like a conductor leading a marching band. The singers were non-combatants, such as old men, children, and women from Red Dragon Castle. They were hiding within the city walls, in their own houses, and Axela had told them to sing when the song came on.
---- The song was .......
" Shimmering High Dragon Mechadora, Heavy Armored ver" (lyrics by Souma Kazuya / composition by Juna Doma)
The team of shining steel that lives in the soul of the ship ♪
Call that name when you're in trouble. The guardians of the world rise up ♪
Pilar! ( Conductor! ) Queue! ( Drill! ) Destroy the enemy~ ♪
Dragon ! ( Cannon! ) Back! ( Crossbow cannon!) Shoot the enemy ~ ♪
Glittering Dragon Me cha do ra ~ ♪
It was the theme song for the giant mechanical dragon Mechadora operated by Sylvan, in the special effects show "Super Sylvan". And, as if responding to the song, the Mechadora appeared from the forest on the mountainside. However, his appearance was different from when he fought Ooyamizuchi earlier. Now, he was armored with an additional layer of mechanical dragon steel, and it was as if he were wearing armor.
But not only that, firearms such as battleship cannons and anti-aircraft repeating crossbows were installed throughout its body. It was really a "Heavy Armored Type Mechadora". It seemed as if he was wearing a battleship for armor, and this perception was correct in a sense. After all, this extra armor had been made from the (1st generation) battleship Albert, which had been abandoned in a previous battle.
Seeing his greatness, the soldiers of the Kingdom Army cheered and the soldiers of the Imperial Army were completely shocked. Hearing such applause, Genia smiled.
"The revelation of the world's truth has clarified that the bones used in Mechadora have nothing to do with the Star Dragon Mountain Range. So now we can use them without any concern."
"...Well, it's still a bad thing to use bones as weapons to the outside world though."
Merula shrugged. And Axela laughed at the exchange between them.
"Well, it seems to be His Majesty's style to use everything at his disposal, so let's ask Mechadora-san to do his best to protect my home."
As if responding to Axela's words, Mechadora made a roaring gesture and began walking towards the Imperial troops swarming near the city walls.
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Please refer to Volume 9 for the regular version of the Mechadora theme.
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Dono/tono - "lord" or "master"
San - Refer to anyone you don't know, regardless of status or age.
Kun - Referring to men in general, male children or male teenagers, or male friends
Chan - Used for young children, close friends, babies, grandparents, and sometimes female adolescents.
Sama - A more respectful version for individuals of a higher rank than oneself. Appropriate usages include divine entities, guests or customers, and sometimes towards people one greatly admires.