Chapter 1190 – #281_All-Out War (5)
#1184
1.
There’s a common premise established by both sides in this war.
The tide of the war would shift depending on how each side utilized their major forces, the ‘Great Witches.’
However, not all Great Witches are equal in power.
The difference between the 20th and 21st tiers is significant, and the difference between the 21st and 22nd tiers is even greater.
Therefore, both sides based their fundamental strategies on ‘major battles.’
Simply put, if a 21st-tier witch appeared from the enemy camp, they would deploy a witch of the same tier to counter, and if three 20th-tier witches appeared, they would deploy three 20th-tier witches to match.
In this large-scale war, which is a first for everyone, this was the easiest and most convenient form for establishing strategies.
But there’s a problem here.
Currently, Gehenna has fewer Great Witches than Hexennacht.
This is because the massive Truth-Seeking Academic Society has completely withdrawn from the war, while three old witches have joined Hexennacht.
On top of that, there’s the asymmetrical force of Duke Errelim, a 25th-tier witch, so someone on this battlefield had to take on the role of balancing the scales.
That’s the role of the right-wing defense force led by Llyue.
It’s a decoy to induce over-investment from Hexennacht’s Eastern Legion.
Unlike engagements where exchanges occur between the same tiers and numbers, Llyue’s specialty is her rare ‘area-of-effect magic,’ making her the only one capable of this role.
“Submerge deeply.”
The deep blue aura of her magic was enough to inspire awe in those watching.
Llyue released her fishbowl along with her overflowing magic.
-Kuoohhh!!!
-Krahrahrah!!!
-Kyooohhh!!!
With roars that shook the heavens and earth, bizarre creatures cast massive shadows over the desert.
These familiars, shaped like sea monsters that have been objects of fear since ancient times, are on a completely different level from ordinary familiars in terms of size and durability.
This is also why Gehenna’s right-wing forces don’t have a separate familiar legion.
“Loyal subjects of the Nuckelavee dynasty! Destroy my enemies!”
Facing them, the commander of Hexennacht’s Eastern Legion, Ella, was not particularly fazed by the sudden appearance of the giant familiars.
Marking the enemy’s main forces is a basic necessity.
The Deep Sea Witch, who recently joined Gehenna, is one of the formidable opponents to watch out for.
Area-of-effect magic that ignores power ratios, powerful summons, and an innate magic capacity that supports all of that.
She’s not even the type who relies on technique or skill, but her raw stats are so broken that she doesn’t have any weaknesses.
The source of the information was from her own mouth, so it’s hard to say how much of it is exaggerated…
Even the troublesome Golden Witch had to give up four extra lives to the Deep Sea Witch, didn’t she?
“But her limits are clear. Deploy troops in stages, hit and run. Induce as much consumption as possible. After all, without the Deep Sea Witch, the rest are trash.”
However, that was in the Deep Sea Witch’s home turf, the naval battle, and this is a desert without a single puddle.
Even the Deep Sea Witch would have to expend a considerable amount of magic to use her specialty, the ‘Tides of the Sea of Magic,’ in this environment.
Moreover, she’s not the type of witch who can control her power and use magic moderately, so if they push her with controlled intensity, they can easily induce her self-destruction.
Or so they thought.
“Huh?”
“Commander, isn’t our plan screwed if this happens?”
“……”
Hexennacht had underestimated Gehenna’s strengths.
The only advantage Gehenna, which is at a disadvantage in terms of power, has over Hexennacht is its organizational strength.
Witches who have been part of the same academic society for a long time can easily use collective magic.
The alchemist witches of the ‘Emerald Tablet’ moved at the same time as Llyue summoned her familiars.
“Prepare! Gather with your alchemical reagents!”
“Everyone, to your designated positions!”
In their hands were reagents made of coral, blue crystals, salt, seabird feathers, and sapphires.
These were the highest-grade materials selected from the ‘Castle’s’ material warehouse, which was opened without reservation for this war, and refined and created by the most prominent alchemist witches of Gehenna.
-Clang!
Expensive reagents, the value of which is hard to fathom, were scattered on the sand.
And as the multi-layered magic, newly established for this day, followed…
-Kugugugugu!!!
The earth trembled.
The sand ripples that had spread across the dunes turned into ripples on the water.
The sound of dry sand rolling around changed into the sound of crashing waves, and the refreshing scent of the sea gently blew into the parched air.
Alchemy was a discipline created to turn base metals into gold, but its essence is ultimately the transformation of matter.
This means that if enough witches gather together, it’s possible to create an inland sea in the middle of the desert.
-Splash!
The moment Llyue, her eyes shining with a deep blue light, gently landed on the surface of the water, which reflected the sky like a mirror, a storm-like surge and rough waves decorated Llyue’s background like a screen.
“Where my footsteps fall shall be the territory of the Nuckelavee.”
2.
While the right-wing defense force acted as a breakwater and continued their fierce confrontation, the clash of the main force, the central army, was also intensifying.
Currently, in the clash of familiar legions where witches have not intervened at all, Gehenna has a slight advantage.
Although both sides hastily built their familiar legions, Gehenna, which divided its forces and properly formed its ranks, had the upper hand.
If left alone, the witches of Gehenna would be able to engage in battle using more familiars as shields.
In other words, Hexennacht, which would not stand idly by, would do something.
The commander of the Western Legion of Kliffoth.
Verda, the ‘Verdant Witch,’ who is in charge of supplying and reinforcing the entire army.
Llyue is not the only witch specialized in war.
Verda, who can mass-produce high-performance artifacts at an incredible speed, was the perfect person for this large-scale war.
“When twilight falls deep in the forest. Oh, woman hidden in the moonlight. As soft songs flow along the silver streams and the stars twinkle, you embroider dreams.”
Verda hummed a song as she stepped on moss-covered tree roots with her bare feet.
Around her, a vast forest, unsuitable for the barren desert, was unfolding.
The dense trees that made up the forest were covered with various colorful, shining fruits.
Her youthful appearance and mysterious atmosphere that blended into nature made her look like a fairy.
Verda, who was also observing the war situation with her clairvoyance, asked.
“Orselia, when is the fireworks show?”
[Hmm, now would be fine]
“I knew it, you think like me. Orselia knows how to enjoy the atmosphere, doesn’t she?”
[Hehehe, shall I begin then?]
Verda lightly flicked her finger.
At the same time, the entire forest, which had been quiet, began to shake with a roar.
There’s a reason why Hexennacht targeted Russia first when they occupied the present world.
Symbolically, it was the central country of the Second World, but more than anything, it was the country with the most immediately deployable nuclear weapons.
A group of lights like meteors streaked across the sky, half-covered with blue leaves, followed by a line of white clouds.
The short-range ballistic missiles, which had been gathered in advance in preparation for the war, were fired all at once.
“Wow… how pretty…”
The ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads were also filled with the ‘Black Fruit’ that Verda had mass-produced.
If a weapon that had put a witch in danger with the firepower of a mere multiple rocket launcher was combined with nuclear weapons, its power could not be ignored.
“As expected, it’s enemy fire! A total of 521 enemy projectiles have been detected! They are presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles!”
As soon as the bombardment, which could be seen at a glance even from afar, was confirmed, an emergency was declared in the Gehenna camp.
“As expected, they’re responding with bombardment right away.”
This was somewhat expected.
In the previous small-scale skirmishes, the ‘Verdant Witch’ had quite a bit of fun with items that combined modern weapons and her artifacts.
At that time, it was a multiple rocket launcher, but now she must have prepared firepower that far exceeds that.
Such as nuclear weapons.
If they expected it, they could also prepare for it.
Gehenna was not on this battlefield with a soft resolve.
“Secretary Valetinus, prepare the library corps for interception.”
The librarian of Gremory, also known as the ‘Archivist Witch,’ ordered the librarians while holding a bow as tall as herself.
Senior librarians and trainee librarians, who had been preparing for this situation, aimed at the sky with their bowstrings taut.
“All librarians, stand by. Intercept on signal.”
In fact, simple interception would be a self-defeating action.
Whether it’s a strategic nuclear weapon or a tactical nuclear weapon, the general principle is an air burst.
The disaster created by human science is powerful enough to devastate the ground even if it explodes in the air.
On top of that, the ‘Black Fruit,’ which interferes with various magical acts, is added, so even if they intercept it right away, it’s almost meaningless.
Therefore, a preliminary procedure is required for interception.
A preliminary procedure to suppress nuclear missiles that are flying at high speed over a wide area, wrapped in protective formulas to prevent interference and manipulation, and with a stream of waves that interfere with magical acts inside.
So, is there anyone who can solve the prerequisite in less than 30 seconds under such adverse conditions?
“Weep.”
There is.
Another witch specialized in area-of-effect magic.
Gehenna’s best perfumer and a mother of one child.
The Perfume Witch.
Amelia Marigold.
