Chapter 212: Chapter 206: Golem Legion, Move Out

A massive fleet tore a long, narrow gash through the crimson sky.

The Odyssey sped southward at near-maximum speed.

Allen sat in the commander’s seat, his expression grim as he watched the main control screen.

On the screen was a wide-area map of the entire western region of the Molten Iron Mountain Range. It displayed the full combat situation his mentor had shared before he left, and would remain functional until the connection to the fortress was severed.

The blue areas representing the various war zones were now peppered with countless red dots, their borders flashing with red alerts.

The map’s data refreshed in real-time. Every second, blue dots representing friendly units flickered out, consumed by an ever-increasing number of red dots, some of which had already merged into large blots.

Zone 18 showed only a few sporadic dots, but they were quickly extinguished. It seemed the defensive forces in his own zone were acting autonomously.

This was an all-out war for resource points, sweeping across most of the zones.

Beneath the Odyssey’s flight path, the land was a scene of devastation.

Thick black smoke coalesced into colossal pillars, like ancient signal fires.

On the once-peaceful wasteland, innumerable Magical Beasts had formed a tide, frantically assaulting one mining site after another, each protected by the shimmering light of Runes.

The battle lines between Golems and Magical Beasts were a chaotic tangle. The light of explosions flared up one after another. Even from ten thousand meters in the air, Allen could feel the frenzy and bloodshed sweeping across the land.

The wreckage of Golems and the corpses of countless Magical Beasts mingled together, painting a hellish tableau.

Some surviving Golems still fought from behind fortifications, but they were quickly swallowed by the endless beast tide.

Allen’s gaze did not linger.

They were not his troops, and he had no intention of helping them. His top priority was to support Victor. He understood the principle of mutual dependence.

[ALERT! THREE SIGNALS DETECTED, APPROACHING AT HIGH SPEED!]

The alert chimed.

The screen before him switched, displaying an external view.

Three Lava Pterodactyls, each over ten meters long, shot up from below. Their eyes were crimson, and they bore none of the territorial aggression of the one they’d encountered before; instead, they were possessed by a relentless madness, charging straight for Allen’s fleet.

"Freedom Gundam, Stormhawk squadron, eliminate them." Allen’s eyes grew cold.

The moment the command was given, the Freedom Gundam, which had been flying silently behind the Odyssey, sprang into action.

It accelerated instantly, its Dragon Cavalry wing-mounted Floating Cannons scattering in all directions.

ZING! ZING! ZING!

Ten beams of faint blue light were the first to slice through the sky, piercing the wings of the leading Lava Pterodactyl.

The Lava Pterodactyl instantly lost control and began to plummet. The Dragon Cavalry units gave chase, unleashing a fierce barrage that annihilated it in mid-air.

Meanwhile, the Freedom Gundam drew its Ship-Slicing Blade and cut down another charging Lava Pterodactyl in a single strike!

At the same time, the six Stormhawks fanned out like keen falcons, surrounding the last Lava Pterodactyl from multiple angles.

Beams of Magic Power crisscrossed, precisely targeting the creature’s vital points.

A pained roar echoed through the air, only to be abruptly cut short.

In less than thirty seconds, all three Lava Pterodactyls were dead, having failed to land a single meaningful attack. Their massive carcasses, spraying blood across the sky, plummeted from the heavens and smashed deep craters into the crimson earth below.

Allen watched the red dots vanish from the screen, but his expression did not relax in the slightest.

’Something’s not right,’

he muttered to himself.

"Dseek, behavioral analysis."

[ANALYSIS: According to the database, Lava Pterodactyls are highly territorial, social creatures. They will not venture more than fifty kilometers from their volcanic habitats unless their nests are destroyed. The coordinated attack by three Pterodactyls far from any volcanic cluster is an abnormal behavior pattern, consistent with mental control or enslavement via Magic Power by a being of higher intelligence.]

"To be able to drive them from their nests, make them attack aerial targets in coordinated groups, and even specifically target a Wizard’s flying units..."

Allen’s eyes narrowed. "Besides Black Wizards, I can’t think of a single other possibility."

’Those skulking cowards are finally making their move.’

’And their first move is to incite a plane-wide beast tide.’

’My mentor was right. They’re organized, and this is premeditated.’

Allen’s gaze turned back to the horizon, as if he could already see Zone 19 being swallowed by the beast tide.

"Full speed ahead!"

After flying for another ten minutes or so, the volcanoes marking the southern border of Zone 18 came into view.

[CONNECTION TO FURNACE WORKSHOP DEMON EYE NETWORK ESTABLISHED.]

Suddenly, Jarvis’s voice was patched through via the Demon Eye network.

[Welcome back, Commander.]

"Jarvis, report."

[Small-scale beast tides were detected on multiple fronts one hour ago. They have been neutralized. No current emergencies.]

[Large-scale conflict detected in Zone 19. All units have been placed on high alert.]

"Jarvis, transmit my orders," Allen said, his voice sharp and decisive.

"First Golem Legion, full mobilization. Fiendfire 2, deploy with the legion."

[Order confirmed. The First Golem Legion has begun to assemble.]

"Order the First Golem Legion: assemble all forces, cross the volcanic mountain range between Zone 18 and Zone 19, and launch an armed incursion into Zone 19 from the south."

"Mission objective: eliminate all hostile targets and link up with any surviving friendly units. Authorization: you are granted the highest level of autonomous combat engagement for the duration of the mission!"

[First Golem Legion confirms the order! Assembling now... ETA for departure is ten minutes!]

"Order: Demon Eye 8 above the Furnace Workshop is to redeploy to Zone 19. Link with all units of the First Golem Legion and transmit real-time data. Authorization: Jarvis is granted integrated command authority, with Demon Eye 8 providing decision support. My secondary processing thread will maintain constant oversight."

"Order: activate the ’War Protocol.’ All garrison units throughout the territory are to enter Condition One combat readiness. The main workshop is to use all available inventory to produce Golem replacement parts."

[Authorization confirmed. ’War Protocol’ activated. All workshop production capacity has been mobilized.]

On the screen, hundreds of light dots representing the First Golem Legion began moving at once.

Fiendfire 2 emerged from a lake of lava, its towering form taking the lead. One hundred Spider Slayer Mk. IIs strode forward on their menacing metal legs, converging into a torrent of steel.

Five PX-1s and twenty "Purgatory" launch platforms followed close behind. Ten Demon Eye Mk. II aerial fortresses slowly ascended. A rapid-response team of twelve Stormhawks, like circling falcons, took the lead and flew south...

At Allen’s command, this force became an awakened behemoth of war, plunging without hesitation toward the unknown battlefield.

"Very good." Allen watched the unstoppable torrent of steel on the screen and nodded slightly.

He switched the main view back to the Odyssey’s flight path.

"Jarvis, we won’t be rendezvousing with the legion. Set a new course, straight for Victor Iron Flame’s core workshop in Zone 19."

[Order confirmed. Commander, please exercise caution.]

The Odyssey adjusted its course slightly. Together with the Freedom Gundam and the six Stormhawks, it hugged the edge of the volcanic mountain range, stealthily advancing toward the heart of Zone 19.