Inside the airship of the Baltfart family.

　Nix held onto a nearby railing and looked out the window.

'Is this the war?　It's too different from any war I've ever known.

　Optical weapons and live ammunition from friendly space battleships.

　And from the imperial army, monsters were released and attacked.

　All I can hear is an inorganic voice coming from the communicators.

"Advance. No need to intercept!

　Balcus, seated in his chair, shook his fist at the railing.

'You want me to push through this!

All forces, advance.

　This is where you'd normally want to slow down in order to get the monsters to armor their opponents.

　However, the fact is that the facts won't allow it.

　Nix is also annoyed.

''Where on earth do you say the enemy is!

　They would tell me to charge at an enemy that I couldn't see with my binoculars.

　It was so different from the conventional wisdom that I was confused.

　Nevertheless, Balcus gave a notice to the panicked crew.

All of you, now follow orders and move forward at full speed!　If we hesitate, they'll stop at the airship behind us, scared to death!　Step forward!

　It made sense for the Baltfart family's airship to step forward.

　Balcus understood that, and he was shouting for them to move forward.

　Nix held onto the railing in the rocking ship and commented to Balcus.

'Dad, you want me to push forward through all those monsters!　Besides, earlier--'

　Before I can continue, the light up ahead is brighter.

　The captain shouted.

'Everybody hold onto something!

　Immediately, the interior of the ship shook violently and the spaceship exploded as the shields deployed ahead.

　Nix wiped the cold sweat off his face as he walked past the sinking spaceship and watched it fall.

'Two more of the same airships as the Luxion have sunk,'

　A large light that was released a short time ago that seemed to swallow the fleet.

　Knowing that it was the enemy's attack, I'm afraid to move forward.

''My lord, it's dangerous!　Let's move backwards!

　As the captain said this, Balcus crossed his arms and looked ahead.

'No. If Rion chooses to do it this way, it must make sense. That guy will act to win. Trust and move on!

　No matter how much progress they made, they couldn't see the Imperial fleet.

　Nix was getting impatient.

(Rion, I wonder if it's really all right.)

◇

Arcadia's rating has been revised downward.

　As Fact muttered that, the supporting artificial intelligences also made a series of calculations.

''The speed of the Royal Army is increasing.''
Until contact, we can expect two rounds of main gunfire.
We have three remaining shield ships.

　If they went on like this, the Kingdom Army could make contact at the expense of their shield ships only.

　However, in the face of the power of the enemy's main gun, the morale of the Kingdom's army was beginning to drop.

　Even if they were informed of the current situation, there were too few commanders who understood it.

　Facto also expects the development of the Kingdom Army to collapse from within before it can make contact with the Imperial Army.

''If this continues--''

　Just when you thought the odds of winning were going to be low, there was an airship in front of you.

　It was the airship of the old duchy - the Duke of Fanouse's family.

　It was flying a communication so that all the ships could hear it, and Clairvoyant was supporting it.

''What is it?''

　As Fact was hoping that he wouldn't do anything unnecessary, Hertrude's voice rang out.

''It seems that all of you in the kingdom army are quite slow.''

　Hertrude, whose voice sounded provocative, was on the battlefield and in command.

''Does this mean that the Dukes of Van Oth are the most spearheaded?　'You lords can't be all talk,'

　Don't you regret losing to me, a woman?

　In response to such an agitation, some of the kingdom's troops increased their speed and moved forward.

　Facto could not understand that scene.

''What is it?　Why did you speed up with this provocation?

　Old humans - a sight that only the regular military personnel know about, Facto, can't understand.

　And alongside such a duke's house of Van Oth - was the airship of the Republican Army.

''It's unheard of. Well, then, let's let the Arzel Republic take the lead.''

　It was Erik who spoke up next.

　He participated as a representative of the Republic, inspiring his soldiers, his subordinates.

''Brave soldiers of the Republic!　A battle of this magnitude, nothing compared to that nightmare!　'Fear not!'

　The nightmare was the day the Holy Tree went out of control in the Republic.

　Knowing the horror of that horror, the Republic army bravely picked up speed and advanced.

　Hertrude teased Erik.

''Do you want to look good in front of your saint?''

"Sister!　I would be honored if the saint could see our bravery. But we are a brave Republican army!　I'm not the kind of feckless feckless person to shy away from this level!'

　Then, a communication from each ship is heard under the fact.

'Don't let the Dukes of Fangorse figure!
"The army of the Republic is brave?　Apparently, in the Republic, it means different things to be brave.'
"Don't be late for them!　Show me what the kingdom is all about!

　With this level of agitation, his allies increased their speed, and the overall speed increased.

　Facto is puzzled.

''--I don't understand.''

　However, this would allow them to contact the Imperial forces sooner than expected.

◇

　After the Imperials fired their main gun for the third time.

　Bartolt closed his eyes.

　The soldiers are beginning to make a lot of noise.

'The Royal Army is approaching within visual range!
We have a visual on the Republic ship!
Arcadia's shields are partially penetrated!

　The momentum of the assaulting Royal Army was tremendous against the Imperial Army that was dropping back.

　Bartolt opens his eyes.

''This is as far as it goes.''

　The magical creature nodded.

'The enemy does not know our trump card. No, it will be a misunderstanding.''

　Bartolt stood up.

'All armies, intercept the Royal Army!

　The Imperial Army's formation is in the form of waiting for the assaulting Kingdom forces.

　That meant that the kingdom was at a disadvantage.

　And there were no friendly airships in front of Arcadia.

''You wanted to keep your trump card, huh?

　The magical creature replies to Bartolt's mutterings.

'No problem. Arcadia won't sink.''

　Bartolt raised his arms and then lowered them and his hands were pointed at the Royal Army in front of him.

'Shoot!'

　As Arcadia fired her main gun, the enemy brought forward a spaceship that had been modified to specialize in defense to block the attack.

　The magical creature bent its one eye - the fleshy eye - into a bow.

''The enemy will think the next attack is in forty-five minutes.

　Bartolt gave the order.

'Open fire!　Armor!　But don't let it out around Arcadia.

◇

　The flagship of the Duke of Redgrave's family.

　As Vince boarded it, he was relieved to see that he was able to get within firing distance of the Imperial forces.

''Now we can't use that attack. ''All troops, get as close to the enemy as possible!

　Vince is here because of the face of the Duke of Redgrave's family.

　And his son Gilbert was placed in the rear to escort Ricorne to the rear.

　This battle, if he didn't participate, he would lose his value as a nobleman.

　So, both Vince and Gilbert have no choice but to participate.

　Most importantly, it would be a disgrace to not participate in the future.

　As the Redgrave family's airship approaches the enemy, the bombardment begins.

''My lord!　The enemy has brought out their armor!

　As the imperial troops sortie their armor, Vince also sails the armor of the kingdom army.

''Intercept!''

　Then Vince looks at the Imperial equipment and looks like he's biting down on a bitter bug.

(All the airships are new?)

　It was provided with a turret, not the old style with cannons lined up next to the hull.

　Even for armor, they seemed to be better than the kingdom.

''Those guys from the Empire, when on earth did they start getting ready for this?　But if you get close enough.

　Immediately after, the duke's airship shook violently.

''What's going on!''

　The captain shouts.

'Wow, I don't understand. Suddenly there was a light--

　Looking out the window, the light emitted directly overhead from Arcadia bounced off of Arcadia and then fell on the kingdom's army.

　The kingdom's airships pierced the magic barriers that the airships were deploying and the kingdom's airships were sinking one by one.

　The duke's ship was also slowly sinking.

''Ore, Empire!''

　Vince shouted, and the light exploded through the duke's airship, causing it to explode.

◇

Father!

　Inside the Ricornu's ship.

　An image of the battlefield was displayed in three dimensions, and Angier, who was watching it, shouted.

　Creare confirmed the situation with facts.

'Hey!　I never heard of the enemy attacking us like this!　Besides, it's just spreading out, not a main gun class attack!'

　The attack was a diffused blow from the main gun.

　Nearly a hundred ships had been sunk by the Kingdom's army, which had been caught by surprise.

　Even if the shields were deployed and Ricorne followed up, that's how many ships were sunk.

''I'm confirming it. The enemy seems to have been storing up energy. It seems that their actions so far have been designed to mislead us.''

'Don't just calmly analyze it, get on with it!　We may not be able to stand the ships of the kingdom, though, we can't stand them!'

I'm working on it.

"You piece of shit!

　And then there was movement on the battlefield.

　Against the kingdom's army whose vanguard had collapsed, the Empire's conventional forces had attacked.

　Noel looked at the battlefield and pointed at his surviving allies.

''There are still some allies left!

　Marie also confirms her ally.

'The Dukes of Fanouse and--the Republic!　Eryk and the others are safe!

　The fleet of the Dukes of Van Oth, which held out just in time, and the Republic airships built by Ideal, were safe.

　They are fighting the Imperial forces.

　Angier immediately gives the faction instructions.

'Send in reinforcements at once!　If we don't, the entire vanguard fleet will be dropped by the Imperials.

　With tears in his eyes and his voice trembling, Angier was worried about Vince, who had fallen.

　However, he didn't have the extra strength to turn to the rescue.

''If we move forward, we will be exposed to another enemy attack. We will maintain our distance and continue the attack.''

You're abandoning your allies!

　Then Marie shouted as she looked at the three-dimensional image.

'Wait. This ship is Leon's--my brother's family!

◇

　The Baldfart family airship managed to stay afloat, taking a direct hit from the rain of light that had fallen on it.

　Nix stood up, dizzy.

'Oh, Dad!'

　Barkas was administering first aid to the injured crew member and stood up when he finished.

　He was bleeding from his forehead.

'Father, are you alright?　More importantly, we need to retreat quickly. Most of the allies around us have been sunk!

　Then Balcus puts his hands on both of Nix's shoulders.

'Nix - this ship is already descending slowly. You're going to stay on and rescue your allies at sea.

Dad?

　The airship is still safe and has not sunk.

　So why are you saying this?

　As Nix thinks this, Balcus speaks up to continue.

'I'm hit and out of the line of fire. You'll have a good excuse. You're going to get out of here as soon as you get your friend out of there. Get the hell out of this war zone.

'But, but!　My father--

　From Barkas' mannerisms, it sounded like he was trying to stay behind by himself.

"If I escape too, it will be a shame for my sinking allies. --Take care of your family.

　With that, Balcus left the bridge and headed for the hangar.

'Dad!'

　When Nix tries to chase after him, the captain stops him.

'Let go!　My dad!

Boy!　No, Master Nix--please consider the feelings of my lord.

　With that being said, Nix's strength is drained from his body and he sits down on the floor.

　Then he sees a piece of armor fly out of the hangar and shouts to the sky.

'Leon, how long are you going to stay hidden!

　He shouted to his brother, who was never seen on the battlefield.

　Then one of the sailors shouted.

'Boy!　It's downstairs!

　If he stood up and looked out of the window - down at the surface of the sea, the bow of the Luxion's ship appeared from there.

　Its appearance was like a whale appearing on the surface of the sea.

　Clad in a white splash, the Luxion appeared and pointed its main gun at Arcadia.

　Then, a pillar of blue-white light was generated.

　That light struck Arcadia's magic barrier, making a buzzing sound.

　Nix smiles.

'It's too late, you bastard!

　They attacked from directly underneath Arcadia, attempting to penetrate its barrier.

　If they pierced it, the nasty enemy's fortress would sink.

　Everyone was convinced that they could win if they did so - and then Arcadia's magical barrier would turn red-black.

　As a red-black mass appeared just below the fortress, it began to hoard energy.

　Just by looking at it, one could tell that it was dangerous.

　And as it was, he fired that mass at Luxion.

　Tearing apart the blue-white Luxion's attack, the red-black sphere hit the Luxion's main body and punched a hole in its hull.

''--Huh?''

　An explosion erupted from the hole, and Luxion slowly collapsed and disappeared into the sea.