Chapter 536 The Massive Invasion

Drehack glanced up at Alicia, then lowered his head again. He continued working as he asked:

“Report on logistics. The coastal defense construction just informed me of a Mana Crystal shortage.”

“Let me state this first—we logistics troops aren’t slacking off!”

Alicia insisted at once.

“Your construction pace is far too fast! The current supply lines can’t keep up!”

Drehack quietly looked up and stared at her again.

“I only care about results.”

Alicia gritted her teeth and stared back, unyielding.

“It won’t help to look at me like that. How long has the headquarters been relocated? The Bongisto metropolitan plan isn’t even finished, and most supply routes are still being adjusted.”

“Besides, it’s not just transportation. Now that the war has stabilized, follow-up troops from every nation and faction across the world are arriving one after another. We already have over four million soldiers here—but do you know the estimated total size of the final Allied Forces?”

“Twenty million!”

“All these people must be coordinated and settled by the Logistics Division.

Those Mana Crystals you mentioned are already at the absolute limit of the supply lines. Please stop adding burdens arbitrarily!”

“……”

The office fell deathly quiet.

Drehack stared silently at Alicia.

After a few seconds,

he lowered his head once more and resumed his work.

The frozen space began to move again, and the staff acted as if nothing had happened, continuing their tasks.

“Ella.”

“Your Highness, what are your orders?” A bespectacled woman stepped forward.

“Have the coastal forces adjust their plans. No full-scale construction at once; do it in phases. Secure critical locations first.”

“Understood!”

Ella returned to her desk at once and began drafting the order.

Alicia still stood before Drehack.

She’d felt relieved venting her frustrations, but now that she’d finished, regret flooded her.

Her mind raced, trying to ease the awkwardness.

But Drehack, still head down, spoke first.

“You may leave.”

The author's story page is the proper place to support their work, yet this copy was taken from it without permission.

“……”

Alicia opened her mouth, said nothing, gave a quiet bow, and turned to leave.

“You’ve finally grown up.”

The words suddenly came from behind as she turned.

Alicia froze in place.

“……”

Seconds later, she started walking again—her steps far lighter than before.

After the High Council of Seven Sages was established,

the entire world received its signal.

Even the weakest nations had to contribute their strength; no one could stand aside.

To house such a massive army, a sprawling super-metropolis spanning the Eastern Lands was rising from the ground.

It would be a long-term project.

The supporting forces from across the world—an army of 20 million—would continue arriving for a long time to come.

This era would be the Allied Forces’ main defensive phase.

……

……

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Blazing fire and thunder covered the Eastern Coastal Defenses.

From the ocean, the Demon Lord Army surged toward land like a tidal wave.

But the coastal defenses were nothing like they’d been a year prior.

Dense magical artillery fire covered sky and earth. Monsters flying through the air or charging across the ground were struck down without mercy.

As far as the eye could see, corpses blanketed the beach……

‘Coordinates (37,68): Assault by elite Demon Lord Army forces. Two lines of defense breached. Zieg Squadron, request immediate reinforcement! Repeat, immediate reinforcement!’

“Zieg Squadron, received!”

Zieg cut the communication and shouted at once:

“All personnel, listen up!

Coordinates (37,68), move out for reinforcement! Scouts, use Wind-msg Birds to map the enemy!”

“Sir!!”

Ten-odd minutes later,

over a hundred elite Imperial Knights, led by Zieg, arrived at the target position.

Thanks to detailed battlefield vision from the Wind-msg Birds beforehand, they drafted their battle plan at top speed.

They wiped out the invading monster unit entirely by picking them off one by one.

“Thank goodness you arrived in time. Who knows what would’ve happened here.”

The sergeant in charge of the position said with great relief.

“What are your casualties?”

“Sigh…… Nearly a third. But we can still hold the position.”

“Captain Zieg——!”

A scout suddenly shouted in alarm.

“A-Rank! A-Rank monster closing in fast! Estimated arrival in three minutes!”

“What?!”

“A-Rank?!”

Panic spread through the troops at the news—especially the defenders, who had no way to fight an A-Rank.

“C-Captain Zieg, what do we do? It’s too late for more reinforcements!”

“Don’t panic! We still have time!”

Zieg quickly calmed the men and used a magical artifact to contact the rear.

This was an ancient communication artifact deciphered and replicated by the Manacos Magic Academy not long ago.

It had been mass-issued to all forces roughly three months prior.

“This is Zieg Squadron. Engaging A-Rank monster, request long-range support! Request long-range support!”

‘Received. Provide monster type and coordinates immediately……’

Several dozen seconds later,

a rear fortress.

A massive magical turret shifted slowly, locking onto a distant direction.

With a huge quantity of Mana Crystals consumed, the turret fully charged in an instant.

BOOM——!!!

A thunderous roar erupted.

A colossal fireball soared into the sky, streaking toward the horizon……

“It…… it’s here!”

“ROAR!”

Soldiers trembled at the sight of the massive, oppressive monster appearing at the edge of their vision.

But the next second:

Whoosh——!

A blazing “meteor” crashed down from the sky.

BOOM!

Scorching wind swept over their position seconds later.

When everyone opened their eyes again, the A-Rank monster was gone—only a huge crater remained.

“……We won?”

“Incredible! One shot took down an A-Rank……”

“We’re alive!”

The soldiers cheered.

“Thanks to these new weapons! We didn’t even need a high-level expert to take down something that strong!”

“Yeah! And the magic spread by Lord Seven-Star Witch—without it, we never would’ve detected the A-Rank approaching. We might’ve all died here today……”

“Ahem.”

Zieg cleared his throat.

“Don’t let your guard down. The war isn’t over. All knights, move out with me to reinforce other positions!”

“Sir!!”

At a rear fortress.

Reid was operating the mechanism to lower the magical turret.

“Sigh……

I wonder how the others are doing. The front looks dangerous……”

‘Lieutenant Reid, coordinates (67,85) request long-range support. Prepare your turret for charging at once.’

“Again? I just fired one shot!”

“Hey, you heard him! Move! Adjust the barrel and charge the turret!”

“Lieutenant! Mana Crystal consumption is too high—we’re running out!”

“Then go get more! Damn it…… Everyone except those adjusting the turret, with me to haul crystals!”

“Yes, sir!!”