Chapter 250: Chapter 250 - Guardian Sentinel Statues
The enemy’s war drones began to show their true capability. In mere moments, they formed a vast aerial pattern overhead, casting a looming shadow over Gacha Haven. It was as if the drones were blanketing the sky itself.
Their numbers were staggering. Maybe five hundred? Or worse, maybe this wasn’t even the full force. Alaric could still have more in reserve, ready to deploy at any moment.
Clearly, his system ability revolved around mechanical constructs like these. That explained his confidence. These weren’t ordinary drones cobbled together in the Lower Lands. Normal machines could still be effective, sure, but not this precise. Not this deadly. The firepower was enormous, but so was the cost. Only a Lord with full integration into his system could control them like this.
Time seemed to crawl as they waited for the battle to officially begin. Meanwhile, Alaric kept up the pressure, demonstrating his drone control with smug precision. He didn’t even need to move. Just a flicker of mental command, and his drones responded instantly, hovering into formation.
Then, without warning, he ordered a small barrage to be fired. Explosive rounds slammed into Gacha Haven’s protective dome, causing it to flare with a pulse of energy. Just a taste of what was to come.
Atlas raised a brow.
"You’re really not worried about running out of ammunition?" he said calmly. "Shame if all those expensive toys of yours end up getting shredded too quickly once the real battle starts."
Alaric gave a short laugh.
"Do you know the difference between confidence and arrogance, Atlas?" he said, voice cold. "I’m the former. You? Definitely the latter."
He took a step forward on the edge of his floating island, the light gleaming off his silver suit.
"You’re not seriously planning to stay on that little throne of yours once the battle starts, are you?" he mocked. "That’ll make it easy. I’ll take you out right away, quick and clean. And after that? I’ll claim everything inside your cute little island."
Atlas frowned. Clearly, this Lord had no idea Gacha Haven wasn’t even Atlas’s largest island.
The countdown ticked down, now entering the final minute.
At that moment, three figures emerged in perfect timing.
From below, Morganna shot up and landed smoothly at Atlas’s right. Lyrassa floated gently into position at his left. Behind him, Serenith flared her mechanical wings and lifted into the air, taking position in a graceful hover above and behind Atlas’s throne.
Alaric narrowed his eyes slightly at the sight.
"I see one of your girls has some decent tech too," he muttered. "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she’s well secured in my hands after this battle ends. You can relax, knowing at least one of your subordinates will still be put to good use."
The countdown ticked lower.
Atlas’s forces moved into position. His troops scattered across the edges of the floating island, ready to meet the enemy head-on from every direction.
Any second now... the battle would begin.
[The battle begins now.]
Teleportation portals began opening in rapid succession around the outer edges of the war zone surrounding Gacha Haven.
One... two... three... and more kept appearing, at least a dozen, maybe more. Each one opened wide like glowing scars in the air, and from them poured the forces of Lord Alaric.
Most of his troops wore exoskeleton rigs, the kind that enhanced mobility, strength, and combat reaction speed. Sleek, metallic, and clearly customized to maximize efficiency in airborne or multi-surface warfare.
At the same time, Gacha Haven’s protective dome began to retract. Slowly, the shimmering shield peeled back like a curtain, exposing the entire island to the skies above.
The battle had officially begun.
From the edge of his floating island, Alaric summoned a glowing circular platform beneath his feet, an energy disc that allowed him to hover freely in the air. He rose calmly, like a conductor above his orchestra of steel and code.
But Gacha Haven was far from defenseless.
From all sides of the island, the new defense structures were activated. The Rank-A structure: Guardian Sentinel Statues.
Fifty of them.
It was a staggering number.
Towering humanoid statues at least the same size and height as Baldric, each designed in the image of armored knights. During construction, Atlas had chosen their weapon types: spears, swords, and shields. Now, those weapons pulsed with magical energy as the statues activated, stone and steel suddenly coming to life.
Though each statue had combat power comparable to an awakened fighter, they came with a weakness: once damaged, they couldn’t be repaired on the spot. They had to be restored through the normal building cooldown cycle.
Still... fifty of them? That was an entire army in itself.
The Sentinels descended from their platforms, landing across the island with thunderous steps. Weapons raised, eyes glowing, they readied for battle.
Then, another wave of activation. The Flame Beacons.
Lines of cylindrical turrets embedded into the island terrain began to charge, glowing red with stored energy. If enemies got within range, they’d unleash powerful flame barrages in all directions.
And now... Atlas had one hundred of them. Even without his soldiers, these two defense systems alone might be enough to hold off Alaric’s invading forces.
But Atlas didn’t plan to just defend.
Alaric wore a smug grin on his face, the kind only a man certain of victory could bear. Then, with a booming voice that echoed across the battlefield and sent a pulse through his army, he roared:
"Wipe them out. Show them that raw strength and tradition can’t match innovation!"
In response, his troops surged into motion.
The frontlines opened with a thunderous barrage, soldiers wielding mana-infused firearms unleashed their volleys from range, bullets streaking across the sky like streaks of blue flame. Meanwhile, the Guardian Sentinels charged forward, their heavy footfalls pounding into the earth like war drums. The blasts slammed against their armored bodies, but they did not falter.
Alaric’s melee units surged next, enhanced by their exosuits, launching into rapid formations to intercept.
From the other side, Atlas’s forces met them head-on. Dozens of his fighters leapt into the fray, weapons raised, spells burning, blades clashing. The battlefield erupted as both sides collided, metal to metal, power to power.
On one flank, Raze let out a deafening roar, charging past the Sentinels like a meteor. He tore into the enemy’s front line, howling as his massive body smashed through exosuits and drone support alike.
"COME ON, YOU SONS OF WHORES! I’LL SEND YOU BACK TO THE DIRT WHERE YOUR MOTHERS ARE STILL BUSY PLEASURING EVERY MAN WHO PAYS IN SCRAPS!"
Elsewhere, the Elite Subordinates took command of their divisions.
Mira, Edrik, Karian, and Kurogasa, each led with absolute resolve, their respective troops moving with deadly coordination. These were not enemies to take lightly.
"Let’s cut them just enough so they scream... then stitch them up again so we can start all over." Mira roared with her innocent face.
"Rip their jaws off. Let’s see how they scream with no throats." Karian too.
And then Edrik, "They’ve sent in wind-up toys! Let’s break them quick. I have wine chilling at home."
His soldiers all turned toward him, visibly stunned.
"Was that... Edrik?"
"Oh my. He’s finally loosening up."
From atop his throne, Atlas rose. He activated his Spirit Infusion skill, merging with Zefyros.
A surge of elemental energy coursed through him. His armor shifted, deep ocean blue, lined with jagged golden spikes. A flowing water tail streamed behind him, and with a swift motion, his full helmet sealed into place.
Then, boom! He launched into the air, boosted by the Rank-A Item: Mountain Leaper Bands. His leap was swift, and powerful, propelled by a water shield wrapping his body and crackling golden lightning racing across his frame.
Above him, the sky began to shift, dark clouds gathering, rumbling thunder echoing across the horizon. The heavens responded.
To his right, Morganna flew forward, two bat-like shadow wings tearing through the air. Her body cloaked in dark energy and blood-hued aura, fully transformed. Her scythe sliced the wind as she soared forward.
On the left, Lyrassa surged ahead, encased in a glowing green protective barrier, which rippled outward, linking to other allies as she passed them, amplifying their defenses.
And above, Serenith ascended with excited laughter, her mechanical wings blazing with energy. Instantly, dozens of drones turned toward her, locking on in unison.
She laughed louder.
They would have to try harder.
The battle had truly begun.
And still, Alaric smiled. His confident laugh echoed across the storm, as if the war drums were playing only for his victory.