Gluttony

Inside Silver Castle, Gawain and the two newly appointed Grand Chancellors stood before the Magic Net Terminal. News from the eastern plain, relayed layer by layer through Thorinburg, the White Sand Region, the southern border, and the Gorgon River communication line, kept arriving in the room.

"Brave Ones squad has begun operations. First-stage guidance of the target successful..."

"Target has entered the range of the Thorinburg Defense Line. Brave Ones squad has disengaged successfully. Second-stage guidance successful..."

"All units in the White Sand Hills have completed evacuation. Beacons established..."

"Third-stage guidance successful. The Iron Throne has begun moving south... Target is approaching the White Sand Hills..."

Reports from the various units arrived continuously according to plan, as though following a precise timetable, yet Gawain did not feel the slightest relief. The Thorinburg Defense Line had already proven through hard facts just how strange, powerful, and difficult to destroy that Artificial God was. Though what the cultists had created with mortal power was merely a "counterfeit" of flesh and blood, its power had clearly surpassed the mortal realm and possessed certain divine attributes.

Against such an enemy, no one dared relax until it had truly been destroyed completely.

Gawain also knew that behind these reports arriving according to plan, behind these seemingly smooth and flawlessly coordinated steps, countless soldiers and commanders were risking their lives every second over every detail. Smoothness on the surface meant a balance as precise as walking a tightrope—

Their Naga allies were indeed powerful, and the plan did indeed appear perfect, but that did not mean the risks would disappear. Even if the odds of success were high, the risks still had to be taken.

Beside him, even the usually cool and composed Victoria could not help tightening her expression, her voice carrying a trace of