Chapter 981 981 The Impossible Stronghold (3)
In response to Miguel's warning, every member of the expedition squad took up defensive positions in preparation for the coming assault.
When the first robot had shown itself, they had dropped their guard since it was such a strange and alien creature.
Of course, when it suddenly opened fire on them with an unknown weapon only Marcus had recognized, everyone realized that these robots were a massive threat that needed to be taken seriously.
'Damn it, they had to show themselves while we are split up.' Marcus thought while wearing a bitter expression.
Seven members of the expedition squad had already scaled the stronghold's wall, but the other thirteen were either still on the ground or in the middle of climbing up.
Those close to the top were rushing to climb up, while those not yet halfway up the ladder were scrambling back down to regroup with the team that was still at the bottom of the wall.
Naturally all of them knew that being attacked on the rope ladder that offered far from stable footing would leave them vulnerable.
Marcus found himself at the top of the wall along with the entirety of his party from the Northern Quadrant, as well as Fianna who initially climbed the wall to place the ladder, and Besso, the bear beastman warrior that was part of Evette's party.
By the time the robots had burst through the fog two more members of the expedition squad had ascended the ladder and reached the top. This made for a grand total of nine members at the top and eleven below.
Unfortunately, even if the entire expedition squad had been together, they would have found themselves outnumbered. From both sides the robots were closing in with around thirty units total.
However, the two groups attacking them were coming in riding on large platforms attached to the stronghold's railings that were equipped with all manner of weaponry.
On the front of each of these platforms Marcus counted four automatic turret guns that could fire incredibly large rounds, three weapons that he guessed were grenade launchers, and one massive cannon that looked like a tank's main gun.
At around two hundred eighty meters away the robots stopped their platforms and aimed their plethora of weapons at the group that was on top of the wall.
Frankly it was almost comical how much firepower the robots had aimed at a group of nine people that were wielding swords, axes, and staves.
Nevertheless, Mirrion was a world where people could grow strong by leveling up and obtain skills that endowed people with immense power.
Before the robots could begin their bombardment, Kollo and Besso charged one of the platforms while Mrazivy and Miguel attacked the other.
From their first encounter it became clear that these enemies were more proficient at fighting from a long range. Up close their high output weapons would be far more difficult to properly use.
'Lightning Warrior, Iron Golem, Fire Phalanx.'
Quickly Marcus cast three spells to both protect himself and the others that were making up the backline of his team.
Thegia likewise used her earth magic to create several walls made of transparent crystals that protected them from the incoming hail of bullets and bombs while not cutting off line of sight.
It didn't take long for the entire area to erupt in explosions as powerful attacks were unleashed from both sides.
'Cure Pulse.'
Noticing injuries starting to build up, Marcus cast a wide range tier seven healing magic spell he rarely used since it affected everything within its range, even enemies.
This time though, he did not need to worry about healing their enemies since the robots were completely mechanical.
Yet the more Marcus used his magic to support his allies and keep them from incurring fatal damage, the more the robots began to target him. It seemed that they understood that eliminating the healer was a priority.
'This is what I get for acting as support.' Marcus thought as mortar shells rained down on him from above.
Despite being behind several layers of protection Marcus found himself bombarded by not only bullets and explosions, but by chemical weapons.
Some of the mortar shells that impacted near him burst into colorful clouds of poisonous and acidic gas.
Thankfully, he was immune to poison and the acid was not strong enough to really harm him.
Had he been a flesh and blood human though, he would have found his nervous system destroying itself from the poison and his lungs melting as he breathed in the acidic gas.
Marcus wanted to launch a counterattack of his own but had already found his more precise but weaker spells to be unable to breach the robot's defenses while his stronger spells would hit his allies.
This was why he was focusing his magic on support which drew the robot's attention.
Still, Marcus knew that he couldn't stop. His magic was pivotal for the frontliners to stay in good condition, and it was not like he couldn't take whatever the robots threw at him. His form was unfairly tough and could take nearly endless amount of damage and still recover. Unless his entire soul was destroyed all at once, he could bounce back from anything.
Slowly but surely, the robots began to fall, and it seemed like the battle would soon turn in the expedition squad's favor.
Yet, as the last few robots holding out were on the verge of being destroyed, the top of the stronghold opened up in multiple locations and more robots emerged from the inside of the stronghold.
'This is just great.' Marcus thought as several robots appeared right before him.
Before he could take any evasive actions, several machine guns began blasting him with hundreds of rounds every second.
Marcus' first thought was to simply turn his body intangible and let the bullets fly through him harmlessly, but if he did so the people behind him were liable to get hit. And while he knew they could take care of themselves; he didn't want to let anyone else get hit by an attack meant for him.
'Iron Wings of the Archangel.'
As the first wave of bullets reached him Marcus deflected them with his mana barrier before his tier five iron magic took from.
Once the six wings made of iron feathers had burst out of his back, he moved them in front of his body and sued them as shields to block the incoming projectiles.
Extending his senses Marcus made sure no one was too close to him so that he could go on the offensive without worry of friendly fire.
When he found that no one was within around thirty meters of him, he smiled and unleashed his next spell.
'Cataclysmic Iron Sword.'
A massive hundred-meter-long ten-meter-wide sword suddenly appeared in the air beside Marcus.
The robots noticed this gigantic weapon and switched their fire towards it to try and destroy it, but it was already too late.
With the swing of his hand Marcus spun the sword around and stabbed it towards the robots in front of him that had been blasting him with gunfire.
barriers activated to protect the robots, but it was impossible to fully negate the force behind the giant mass of iron Marcus was attacking with.
lightsΝοvεl ?οm The four assailants in front of Marcus ended up mostly unharmed but destroying them was not his goal.
Each of the robots he hit went flying and were launched off the top of the stronghold's wall. On this island where flying was prohibited, it would take them at least a few minutes to get back into the battle.
'Looks like there is one more.'
Looking in front of him, Marcus saw the last of the five robots that had appeared near him. Not having moved from the same spot since its arrival.
This one was noticeably shaped differently than the others. It was a head taller and the plating on its exterior was noticeably thicker. Although it was missing something that all the other robots had, and that was the minigun attached to their right shoulders.
'Well, let's see what this one is made of.'
Marcus pointed his cataclysmic iron sword towards the remaining robot and began spinning the giant weapon like a drill. He could tell with a single look that this type of robot was tougher than the others.
The moment he launched his attack the bulky robot made its move and two glowing blades popped out of the top of each of its writs.
Using these blades, the robot intercepted Marcus' spell and cleaved right through it.
Wide eyed with shock Marcus could not believe what he was seeing.
His cataclysmic iron sword was being destroyed as it came into contact with the robot's weapons.
For a moment he thought that it was utilizing the same type of power as destruction magic, but swiftly realized that was not the case.
Its swords were superheated to the point where they vaporized the iron that Marcus' magic had conjured.
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