Chapter 295: Decisive Battle System
Hwee-Kyung liked Vasen's confidence. "Anyway, what should we do about the floating crystals? We could secretly inform the Imperial Army, but..."
Vasen finally looked up from the Go board. "Let's hear more details."
Hwee-Kyung briefly explained the research findings on the floating crystals. As Vasen had guessed, it seemed like a device for summoning, and Hwee-Kyung added information about how it was used according to ancient texts.
The most important thing was how to attack the floating crystals themselves. The reason modern weaponry was ineffective was that the floating crystals had a magical shield. To neutralize this shield, a specific method was needed.
After hearing the whole explanation, Vasen said, "Let's wait."
Hwee-Kyung questioned, "Wait? I thought it was an urgent situation."
"We've already thrown a bait. The Empire is perceived as unable to properly deal with the floating crystals, their first line of attack. There's no need to alert them now. Besides, we still don't know about their reconnaissance resources. Utmost caution is necessary."
Hwee-Kyung, not being an expert in strategy, agreed for now. Still, she had some doubts.
"But if they start moving, the Empire might be completely defenseless."
"It's not that we shouldn't do anything. Hm, let's do this. The weakness of the floating crystals is low temperature, right?"
"Yes."
The shield of the floating crystals could be broken at temperatures close to zero degrees, and as it approached that temperature, the shield's efficiency decreased. In fact, floating crystals were not seen in the cities of the southern continent, where it was transitioning from winter to spring. That was a hint.
"We need appropriate responses for each city and region. Cities on the east coast, currently in autumn and located at higher latitudes, can weaken the shield considerably just by covering them with water. In areas with large chemical industrial districts, they can cool the crystals with liquid nitrogen.
For regions with less advanced technological industries...it's a crude approach, but they could start stocking ice in freezers from now. For the latter, we'll have to devise a method of deployment."
"...Did you just think of all that?"
Vasen slightly tilted his head, as if not understanding the intention of the question. "With the Fifth Waterwheel's network, we can mobilize civilian businessmen and distributors without going through the Imperial Army. Secretly."
Hwee-Kyung nodded. An idea was already forming.
Using the pretext of emergency inspections of local water supply facilities, they planned to modify water systems, urgently order liquid nitrogen from local chemical industrial districts by paying extra, and in coastal areas, they could fill freezers with ice using fish nearing disposal.
Unlike the direct commands of the Empire, they would be able to contribute against the old gods with not only the old gods none the wiser, but also those involved in the cash flow.
"Let's proceed that way." As Hwee-Kyung replied, Vasen nodded.
"Mando, sorry, but it seems I won't be able to play another round. It's time to act."
"No, not at all. It was an honor."
Mando Hwae-Sa attempted to bow with their large body, but Vasen waved in dismissal. A few Go stones scattered and the leg of the Go board slightly cracked in the slight commotion before Vasen stood up.
"Hm, alright. Aside from the floating crystals, it seems the scenario suggests that the Battle System is also ready."
"Yes, it's almost complete."
"Then let's head there."
"Uh, that is..."
After leaving the Go parlor, Hwee-Kyung glanced around the meeting plaza. It was a maze-like place, and Hwee-Kyung had difficulty finding her way.
Sairan, following the two apostles, confidently led the way. "It's this way."
As they moved through the various spaces created by modern architectural engineering, Vasen contemplated the Battle System. Despite its grand name, the system itself wasn't particularly remarkable.
The Battle System referred to a methodology allowing unified control over the Empire's existing reconnaissance resources, the Imperial Army, and other human and material resources.
The Empire, being diverse and complex, made it so that even the Pantheon only partially mobilized different entities as needed, sometimes calling on the Imperial Palace, temples, the Imperial Army, the Intelligence Agency, or recently, the external extension known as the Starkeeper.
The Battle System simplified all these complex components of the Empire, enabling immediate execution of direct commands—not just any commands, but the will of the Pantheon. A higher order of command system was trained into the Imperial Army, extraordinary measures comparable to the constitution were prepared, and if necessary, even life could be risked under these measures.
'...So, this is a method even the gods did not dare to touch.'
Though it felt somewhat blasphemous, Vasen believed that since the gods had permitted it, there was no other way but to handle it well and hope for the gods' satisfaction. Even some apostles had refused to handle this system, claiming they weren't worthy, a point Vasen found hard to understand.
'Ha, a chance to wield a power even the gods did not dare to touch, and they give it up?'
Vasen knew that handling this Battle System was unethical and against human rights. That he would be criticized.
'If I command from this system, I could control the entire world of the Empire with just my voice, like becoming a god.'
The three entered the command center where the Battle System was ready, and Mando, not having clearance, saluted and waited outside the door.
"Good, just as I thought,” Vasen said.
Vasen looked around the command center. It was a large space. Though still cluttered with communication lines hastily being connected by employees, it was filled with numerous large and small screens in a seemingly disorderly arrangement.
Around 300 wireless operators, ready to immediately relay Vasen's commands, were seated, along with other apostles who had offered Vasen advice in preparing this system.
"Dordol, is everything coming along?"
The Ogre Dordol glanced back and nodded. "Yes, Commander in Chief. It's ready for immediate transition in an emergency."
"Hm, I’m willing to switch places with you even now."
"That is unreasonable."
"Tsk, such modesty."
Dordol laughed and shook their head. "Don't you know? You can handle this system better than me. If it were a simple war...yes, you and I could be on the same level as there are many variables that might not favor you. But were this a game—no, using the Battle System is closer to playing than real war. It is a game."
"Hmph." Vasen scoffed. "Mocking me for my lower apostle rank?"
"Come on, don’t say that. Who would dare treat the Commander in Chief that way?"
Both thought of Lakrak, but exchanged uneasy glances and decided to move on.
Vasen grumbled, "So it means I can risk anything for victory, right? Even the countless lives hinged on the Empire. You're too righteous to do that, and me, yes, the reckless prince, I can."
"Oh my." Dordol couldn't help but smile and shake their head.
"I know someone more adept at doing whatever it takes for victory. You're more like him than me, and that's why he chose you."
"...Expecting some crumbs to fall your way by saying so?"
"Is there any?"
Vasen moved past Dordol and sat on the edge of the chair in the center of the command center.
"Greedy, aren't you? I only have one thing to offer, so don't expect more."
Dordol nodded. "Victory...that's more than enough."
***
"...Something is..."
In the sky, above the clouds, 22 Sky Castles floated. These Sky Castles were different from the 72 lower-grade Sky Castles that had descended closer to the ground. These Sky Castles were adorned with elegant decorations of gold and platinum, all arranged according to the design of magical engineering.
Occasionally, horrific corpses could be seen among these intersecting ornamental lines. These corpses, belonging to different species, displayed expressions of agony, and their souls were indeed suffering. The bodies of the corpses were physically twisted, bound, fragmented, and sewn together to be beautifully processed—all to extract magic from the souls of the corpses, a practice of Pain Discipline, the oldest magic discipline of the old gods.
These lofty Sky Castles had been the old gods' lofts for a long time, having once disappeared into the Demon World, only to reappear in the skies of Avartin.
Each Sky Castle served a specific old god and maintained an altitude corresponding to the predetermined status and hierarchy of its master.
"...Something is strange."
The highest among them, the leader of the old gods, the father of fathers, Bifnen Dial Robane, stood at the edge of their Sky Castle, towering 100 meters tall, looking down upon the other old gods.
Bifnen had sixteen wings and a blinding halo above their head that obscured their face. Wearing only a single garment, their pale-gray skin was almost entirely exposed, and their well-aligned muscles gave an impression of perfection. Perhaps they were indeed perfect. A perfect body could mean a multitude of aesthetic values as numerous as the species of life, but at least from the perspective of an old god, it seemed flawless.
"...Isn't it so, Aldin?"
The one singled out was Aldin, residing in the Sky Castle of the lowest status. Aldin, with six wings flat on the ground, bowed on top of their Sky Castle. Though the Sky Castles were quite distant from each other, their magical connections were close-knit.
Pressing forehead to the ground, Aldin said, "They are ignorant mortals. They do not know what they are doing."
"But there are 1.7 billion of them. With such a large number, why can no one accomplish what we have ordered?"
"Mortals are cowards by nature. When gods speak, they are more likely to fear than act. Haven't you experienced this before?"
While saying this, Aldin anxiously thought to themself, 'Please. Please.'
Bifnen said, "Yes. That's right. I had forgotten...having slept for so long. Those tiny beings have always been like that. Since the old times. Then we must resort to the old ways."
Aldin thought, 'Please. No.'
Bifnen said, "If they do not listen, then they must be disciplined."
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