Chapter 146: Ardius Fortress Siege Battle – Battle of the Special Operations Unit

Chapter 146: Ardius Fortress Siege Battle – Battle of the Special Operations Unit

The exchange of fire between the Dragon Roar cannons and the defensive weapons had been going on for a long time. During that time, infantry soldiers were fully focused on intercepting the incoming drones. The members of the special operations unit were no exception.

“There, here comes the next wave! Stay sharp, guys!”

“””Yeah!”””

The one fervently rallying the squad was Tigar. He lowered the massive sword he had taken from a defeated white-armored soldier he killed with his own hand and infused it with spiritual power before raising it towards the sky. Countless branches of lightning shot out from the blade, piercing through the drones in the air.

Following him, various colorful spiritual arts soared into the sky, causing most of the drones they targeted to explode in mid-air. However, some drones managed to evade their attacks.

“These drones themselves aren’t that tough. Let’s accurately destroy the ones Tigar and the others missed!” Zald sad.

“””Yeah!”””

The few remaining drones were thoroughly destroyed under Zald’s command. Not a single drone that passed through survived.

“Clear away the wreckage. It’s obstructing the battle,” Zald ordered.

“””Grururur.”””

When you destroy drones, it’s only natural that wreckage remains. Asumi and her team were responsible for swiftly and accurately gathering it. Asumi led a group of demons synthesized with various creatures and they were known for their lower intelligence, but when it came to cleaning up the battlefield, they followed instructions well.

There were three units with distinct roles: one focused on intercepting drones in a wide range, another ensured the destruction of any drones that managed to break through, and the third unit handled the debris. With these three units led by their respective leaders rotating their roles, the special operations unit, although small in numbers, maneuvered through the battle without sustaining more than minor injuries.

“Phew... I’m counting on you for the next interception, Asumi.”

“Leave it to me.”

“We’re going to rummage through the debris this time. If you find any parts that could be used for weapon repairs, gather them up as well,” Zald instructed.

Having temporarily weathered the drone onslaught, they switched roles. Asumi’s unit would handle the next wave of attacks, Tigar’s unit would eliminate any drones they missed, and Zald’s team would manage the debris.

However, when it came to Tigar and Zald’s units handling the debris, they were also collecting salvageable junk parts. These would be used for weapon repairs, a task that was more challenging for the demon beings under Asumi’s command due to their diminished intelligence.

“Sophie, what kind of components are we currently lacking?”

“We’re running short on metal plates used for armor. There were many areas in need of repairs.”

“In that case, let’s gather armor from the drones with the least damage.”

The demon soldiers were not supplied with equipment, but they were allowed to use gear they had taken from the enemy. Since they had to perform their own repairs and adjustments, these materials were essential.

Without access to forging facilities, their repairs and adjustments merely involved shaping the armor with spiritual art. As a result, the designs were inconsistent, and the equipment appeared somewhat crude. They lacked the knowledge to inscribe spiritual circuits, so adding special effects to the equipment was also beyond their capabilities. The special operations unit gear might look shabby among the elite troops on the battlefield.

However, it was a fact that having armor significantly reduced the probability of sustaining severe injuries compared to being unprotected. They were accustomed to being ridiculed and mocked by their surroundings, and the other demons on the central front wore nothing but tattered clothing, making them even more ragged than the special operations unit. The members of the special operations unit wore their armor without caring about the judgmental gazes of others.

“I’m tired~! Big brother has it easy, just lounging over there... Ouch, what was that!?”

“Big brother will...?”

Leo hesitated when Tigar asked him. He might inconvenience the Hades scorpion demon, whom he respected just as much as his father. Was that okay, even if it meant causing trouble for “big brother”?

After pondering for a while, Leo turned to Tigar and made up his mind.

“Big brother would probably say, ‘If you thought it was necessary at that time, it’s fine.’ So, please, Dad, tell me.”

“You really get it, don’t you? Well, it’s not that complicated. Basically, you just need to get Lappy to focus on the battle, right? So...”

Listening to the words that followed from Tigar, Leo couldn’t help but think that maybe he shouldn’t have asked after all. However, he also understood that this method would likely be effective. It was a proposal that Leo couldn’t help but agree with.

However, Leo felt it might cause trouble later on for his “big brother” as Tigar had mentioned. With a sense of guilt, he approached the unhappy Lappy.

“Lappy, can you please not be angry? Okay?”

“...I’m not angry.”

When Leo approached, Lappy remained in her disgruntled state. Ariel was desperately trying to calm her down, but there was no sign of her mood improving. She furrowed her brows in a troubled manner.

Meanwhile, Julius had been idly standing by. He had a strong desire to lend a hand to Ariel, but he still harbored a sense of unease from being knocked out by Lappy before.

Moreover, his tendency to have a sharp tongue made him hesitate to intervene unnecessarily, fearing that it might further worsen Lappy’s mood. At worst, it could provoke her anger, and then she could potentially knock him out again. Thinking about these possibilities, he couldn’t bring himself to do anything.

Bolts, who could be considered another teammate, remained aloof. He refused to get involved with anyone in the special operations unit. The same held true for Julius and Ariel.

“Hey, Lappy.”

“What?”

“Maybe it’s time to stop sulking. Ariel is bothered by it, you know?”

“I...I’m not sulking.”

Having been admonished by Leo, Lappy pouted and turned her face away from him. Leo speculated that she was also aware that she wasn’t acting very well, so he decided to convey the words he had learned from Tigar.

“Well, you see, Big Brother left a message for you before the march,” Leo began.

“Big brother?”

Lappy’s long ears, due to her still being in her demon form, perked up noticeably, and Leo, feeling a hint of exasperation at her reaction to the mention of Big Brother’s name, continued speaking.

“Big brother said that if you work together with everyone and give it your all, he will give you a reward.”

“!”

Of course, the Hades scorpion demon had never actually said such a thing. It was a lie concocted by Tigar. However, that lie had a dramatic effect. Lappy remained expressionless, but the irritable atmosphere she had been exuding just moments ago completely vanished. In its place, Leo could envision a fiery determination rising from her.

Sorry for dropping your name like that. Leo silently apologized to his revered big brother in his mind. Nevertheless, he believed that this wouldn’t create any awkward tension with Lappy. With the battle now looming, Leo thought about how challenging it would be for his big bother even after it was all over, and he made his way to report that the problem had been resolved to his father.