"I never expected Princess Glynpatra would join this battle as well!" I said.
"Because last time father didn't allow me to join the mission to Planet Grohn. I was quite upset with that decision! When this disaster happened again in our home, I insisted on joining to fight it even though I had argued with father!" said Glynpatra enthusiastically.
"My dear daughter, I was only worried because you are the only family I have. I would not be able to forgive myself if something happened to you..." said Emperor Gregustus with a compassionate tone.
"Father must start trusting me if you want me to lead Grivendal!" Glynpatra said firmly.
Gruzhnil only chuckled softly and the emperor only sighed while smiling faintly. The emperor then led us to a large round table.
I saw this like a digital illustrated map of the battlefield accompanied by holograms as marker symbols. Those holograms displayed 3-dimensional images in the form of soldiers, various kinds of combat equipment and demon monsters that were given different colors.
"I received a report that until now there are no giant-sized monsters coming out of that portal. Our main mission is to push those monsters back to the source of the portal. I heard from yesterday's mission that Sir Hellraider defeated that giant snake monster alone with your signature weapon. I'm very grateful that you are on our side this time, sir." said the emperor.
I glanced at Hellraider again and he only observed all of us while breathing until his shoulders bit rose and fell. I felt he could no longer hold his patience to go there immediately.
"Have the Priests managed to contact High Heaven?" asked Gruzhnil.
"I just received news from Grishal that they will send their troops here. However, the problem is they suddenly can't determine the coordinates of the portal to this planet. Hopefully they can arrive on time before this invasion becomes worse." answered the emperor.
"The clouds covering this entire planet are indeed very unusual and that may be the cause, Your Majesty. However, if they can receive our communication, it can be used as a tracking path later." commented Mendicore.
The emperor smiled again. Gruzhnil immediately opened a short briefing regarding each of our tasks. I immediately got the role to deploy directly to the battlefield but in the air together with Grelmure, Glynpatra and Mendicore. The emperor and Sherubiel would remain in this command room. Gruzhnil and Hellraider would directly face the horde of monsters on land. In my opinion this was a good formation.
"May Archangel Marsiel be present in the midst of our suffering..." said the emperor.
As we walked out of the command building toward the combat shuttle, I again felt sorry that the emperor, Glynpatra and Gruzhnil didn't know the truth about Marsiel. However, they seemed confident enough in Hellraider's presence.
Gruzhnil—who was already wearing combat armor along with his iconic weapon—and Hellraider boarded the same aircraft while the rest of us boarded another aircraft together. Parts on the right, left and rear sides of the aircraft could be opened and machine guns were already installed.
As we began entering the battle area in the air, I saw many monster corpses that had been slaughtered before. Some combat equipments had been burned. Rescue troops were carrying severely wounded soldiers and some were already dead.
The sound of guns and artilleries clashing with each other became clearer and louder, indicating we were close to the frontline assault guard.
"Johann you are with Princess Glynpatra on the left wing section. I will serve as the front attacker. You understand how to use this machine gun, right?" said Grelmure.
I remembered that instruction from the tour at the main base when I first arrived here.
"Yes, Sir Grelmure. You also give your best shots to those damn monsters, alright!" I said.
Grelmure smiled and went to the front pilot room. I immediately prepared the machine gun in front of me. On the other side it was already occupied by 2 soldiers with one using a combat rifle.
"Finally I can see Princess Glynpatra in action with your cool bow. I was amazed during the performance in the palace courtyard back then..." I said while glancing at her.
"Really? I was even more amazed because I could witness another action..." she replied.
"You mean Sir Hellraider, right Princess?" I said with a wide smile.
Suddenly Glynpatra pinched my left cheek.
"Ouch... Ouch... Forgive me Princess!!!" I said while bit wincing in pain.
"You are starting to get bold, Johann..." said Glynpatra while smiling.
The frontline troops were now visible. Waves of those monsters kept coming from small portals that I could not count their total number. In the very center there was the largest part which was probably the ancient portal. The distance between frontline troops and portals was estimated around 3 kilometers. All types of monsters I had encountered in hell were there even Licoth.
Our aircraft passed the assault guard and stopped a few dozen meters from it then slightly sideways facing the massive horde of monsters. Other combat shuttles also formed a guard in the air. My machine gun was ready to be used.
Glynpatra began activated a lens device on her right eye and her bow. Suddenly a yellowish light string appeared at both ends of the bow. Then her right hand—which wore a special advanced glove up to the elbow—began to move fluidly as if summoning something. Not long after that a yellow light in the form of a straight rod appeared from her hand.
Ohhh... that was the special arrow that made Glynpatra nicknamed "Arrow from Heaven".
She immediately placed the arrow on the bow ready to be shot.
"Johann, you focus on the flying monsters, alright! I will help the troops below..." said Glynpatra.
I nodded and began aiming the machine gun at the flying monsters approaching us. They were the same as those at inside the hell portal on Planet Grohn before.
I shot many of those monsters. This felt just like playing The Mayhem again. I remembered that I often used machine guns available on combat vehicles to save Hellraider's ammo.
I occasionally glanced at Glynpatra's action. She fired light arrows and generated new arrows from her glove. Her targets were elite-class monsters.
I observed one of her special techniques, which was she could release three light arrows at once. I looked down and saw 2 Desecrators and 1 Judgementor close together running toward the troops. When released, the arrows pierced through the monsters' heads and they died instantly.
I was stunned seeing her skill. It was no wonder the game developers gave Glynpatra that title...
"Johann! Stay focused on the enemies in front of you!" she said firmly.
"S-Sorry Princess..." I said while continuing to destroy the flying monsters.
After a while, my right shoulder was tapped. I reflexively turned.
"Sir Grelmure wants you to the front. I will replace your position here." said the soldier who had been the pilot earlier.
I nodded and went straight to the pilot room. Grelmure told me to sit in the co-pilot seat.
"You want to try other weapons, right?" Grelmure asked teasingly even in a situation like this.
I immediately observed the surveillance camera displaying live footage of the monster horde on land. As far as I knew this combat aircraft had complete weaponry. I tried targeting a group of monsters with a rocket launcher and successfully wiped them out.
"Wow great job, Johann! Continue!" said Grelmure while controlling the aircraft.
I smiled happily. I tried another weapon, the laser. There was a Judgementor almost reaching the defense line. When I targeted it, the monster's chest exploded and it collapsed. I wiped out the monsters with the laser and occasionally rockets. This was so fun like in the game that I almost forgot this was a real war.
Suddenly I was startled by a loud explosion sound. On the surveillance camera I saw a yellow shockwave spreading quickly on the ground causing smaller monsters to be thrown away. I immediately directed the camera to the source and it turned out to be Gruzhnil landing on the battlefield by smashing his starstones-powered warhammer to the ground creating that effect.
Gruzhnil directly struck the monsters attacking him with a single swing and they were thrown far away. Some that jumped toward him were blocked by his shield and thrown back as well. There was a Judgementor charging at Gruzhnil. He immediately ran toward it.
Ohhh... would he climb onto its neck and smash its body with the hammer like Hellraider did?
Unexpectedly, when Gruzhnil got close, he deceived it by jumping behind past its side. Upon landing he jumped again while raising his hammer toward the sky. His height almost matched the monster. He swung the hammer quickly and smashed the Judgementor's head destroying it and knocking it down, creating a small shockwave effect.
The title "Warhammer of Judgement" truly suited him...
As if that was not enough, I was again shocked by a red light suddenly appearing from the upper right corner of the screen.
I immediately understood what it was and directed the camera there.
From the shuttle, Hellraider was charging MKM-999. When the energy sphere became large enough, he jumped. In mid-air he fired it toward a large group of attacking monsters.
The effect of that energy sphere was exactly like what I saw the first time when Hellraider fired it in the center of my hometown. When traveled far enough, it exploded creating a mini nuclear effect.
Hellraider landed and had already switched to his machine gun. Without pausing for a second he immediately shot all nearby monsters quickly and precisely. An elite monster, a Desecrator, jumped at him from behind. I was startled and wanted to shout a warning even though it would be pointless.
But as if he knew the enemy's position, Hellraider immediately grabbed the Desecrator's arm before it could strike without even looking back. He threw it forward smashing it to the ground and instantly crushed its head in one stomp. The fire spikes on its body broke as if they were nothing against his physical strength.
Another Judgementor charged at Hellraider and he ran toward it.
Ohhh... would he use the same shotgun technique?
Once again unexpectedly, he switched to a sword hilt and activated his starstone energy sword. He jumped facing the monster's face. His left hand grabbed its horn and swung his body to the side of the Judgementor's head. Still mid-air, holding the sword with both hands above, he swung once powerfully and decapitated the monster, creating a flash of light from the starstone blade.
Hellraider landed and behind him stood Gruzhnil as they stood back-to-back maintaining their combat stance.
What I saw on that screen was truly epic, even beyond the gameplay itself.
"Heyyy... Don't just stare, Johann!!! Watch the enemies in front of you!" suddenly Grelmure shouted slightly at me.
Instantly I was startled and my admiration vanished immediately.