"What was that?"
The guard captain's eyes widened. The next moment, the giant was already standing before him.
"Attack—"
Before he could finish, he was sent flying. After rolling several times, he hit the ground and died from the fall.
Thierry stepped down from the carriage just in time to see Nimrod charge forward, smashing a broad path through the guard force. Everyone struck head-on was killed outright, while those nearby were hurled away by the shockwave.
His pupils contracted. Only then did he realize that Nimrod's strength was far more terrifying than he had imagined.
He was like a god of war from Old Night. If he hadn't wanted to subdue me, I wouldn't even have had a chance to fight before being rammed into a pulp.
Thierry no longer held the slightest doubt about Nimrod. This Work Cycle would be the Mad King's final day.
"Monster!"
"A god has descended to punish the Mad King!"
"..."
The guards' morale collapsed. Shouting wildly, they fled in every direction.
"Puhach's Hive Spire. Lead the way."
Ignoring them, Nimrod spoke to Thierry.
"My lord, the train station is only 25.4 kilometers from the Mad King's Hive Spire. Please follow me."
After advancing three kilometers, the group encountered a Hive City guard force blocking their path.
Nimrod's superhuman senses took in the entire guard force. There were 4,100 men—more than in Tezwork Hive—and they were better equipped. Every hundred men had a support vehicle.
Puhach might be insane, but he was far more generous than Boleslaw. These vehicles were nothing on a conventional battlefield, but among Hive City guard forces, they were powerful riot-suppression vehicles.
He considered that only Thierry and Rawlslev wore Carapace Armor. The rest of his men would inevitably suffer heavy casualties under the suppressive fire of heavy machine guns.
Nimrod converted the numbers, firepower, terrain, and other factors on both sides into parameters, incorporating them into the model he had built to formulate a battle plan.
"The 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Companies will deploy on the left flank with Thierry's men. The other six companies will attack from the right."
Aside from elites like Rawlslev, the 1st Vostonian Regiment, made up of gang members and Upper Hive workers, was less capable in battle than Thierry's force, which had fought guerrilla warfare for many years.
After assigning the four companies of recruits to the left flank, the combat strength of both wings was more evenly balanced.
The six companies of veterans also worked together with greater coordination. Adding recruit companies to their ranks would make cooperation difficult.
Then Nimrod charged the enemy first. He intended to draw their fire, especially the heavy machine-gun fire, onto himself.
When the captain of the guard saw the giant burst into the formation and swing his heavy halberd, sending a support vehicle flying with a single blow, he was stunned.
Seeing the giant charging straight at him, he hurriedly shouted.
"Attack! Focus fire! Aim at the monster! Fire!"
At once, thousands raised their weapons and aimed at Nimrod.
Nimrod swung his heavy halberd, directly lifting a support vehicle and smashing it down five meters ahead of him.
Then he swept the halberd again. Before the enemies on either side could react, their upper bodies burst apart amid a series of bang-bang-bang explosions.
"Advance! Attack!"
Rawlslev had anticipated this and gave the order to attack.
The recruits from the six companies also launched their assault under the urging of their captains and the veterans beside them.
The soldiers of New 4th Company froze for a moment before coming back to their senses.
Thierry, in particular, was temporarily unable to understand when battle had become like this.
Against Nimrod, did so-called tactics truly mean anything?
And what was the meaning of all the swordsmanship I had trained in for so many years?
Only when bullets struck his Carapace Armor and ricocheted away did he snap out of it. He glanced at Nimrod, who was striding forward, and gave the order.
"Attack!"
There was a trace of bitterness in Thierry's shout. In the past, House Viera's followers would have noticed their master's abnormality, but now everyone's attention had been seized by that towering figure.
As Nimrod advanced, he kept watch over the progress on both flanks.
The veteran core on the right worked together seamlessly, their morale high. Under Rawlslev's command, they advanced steadily.
Bukayo moved alone along the edge of the formation, using his silenced Las-pistol to destroy the Lumen Lamps.
Then he moved through the darkness and the shadows of the buildings. No enemy noticed him, but every time he appeared, an enemy commander died. More and more enemies fell into chaos.
Thierry was somewhat distracted, but he was still the strongest combatant besides Nimrod himself and the spearhead of the left flank.
The soldiers of House Viera burned with fighting spirit, vengeance blazing in their eyes. Their combat strength far surpassed that of the recruits from the four companies beside them.
After a brief period of confusion, the recruits entered the fight under the loud rebukes of their commanders.
Nimrod drew most of the enemy's fire, allowing them to face only scattered, intermittent attacks.
Among them, the 7th Company, which had previously captured the train station, performed especially well.
Szczesny, whom Nimrod had been observing closely, was particularly outstanding. Not only did every shot hit its mark, but he also possessed a sense for command. Through loud shouts, he directed his men and sought cooperation with other squads.
"Sandomierski, push forward and take out that bastard at your eleven o'clock."
"Wawrzyniak, get your ass back here and hold the line."
"Wasilewski, I'll draw their fire. Your squad will flank them from the side."
"..."
Nimrod turned his attention back to the front. He had already decided to train Szczesny into a Sailor.
Thierry was a natural Warrior. His potential far exceeded Rawlslev's, though his loyalty still needed to be confirmed.
His gaze fell upon the commanders fleeing in panic ahead. He moved his legs and began to run.
After five running steps, he launched himself into the air.
Then his right foot came down heavily on a support vehicle, using it as a springboard to leap farther forward.
"Run! Floor the fucking thing!"
The commander of the Lukpo guard force shouted in terror, urging the driver at the top of his lungs.
The next moment, he felt a shadow cover him from above. He looked up in horror, and his final thought was, It's over.
Nimrod crashed into the command vehicle, crushing the commander into pulp beneath his feet. At the same time, he felt his spirituality grow more active and his body become lighter. He could clearly sense that the digestion of the Barbarian had reached a new stage.
The guard force collapsed completely. They threw down their weapons and scattered in all directions.
The battlefield was cleared in less than ten standard minutes.
The 1st Vostonian Regiment captured three support vehicles, while House Viera's armed forces captured two. Their spent ammunition was replenished.
Thierry boarded a support vehicle and led the way three meters ahead and to Nimrod's left.
House Piatkowski's Hive Spire.
Puhach, with not a single patch of flesh left on his body and steel clattering with every step he took, entered the palace.
Everyone immediately lowered their heads, especially the nobles who had not yet been fully modified, whose bodies had already begun to collapse and whose vision was occasionally filled with afterimages. They silently chanted in their hearts.
The Mad King can't see me. The Mad King can't see me...
Puhach sat upon the iron throne. He raised his right arm, and his mechanical claw pointed at a man before him whose red robes concealed his fleshy legs.
"Murawski, I already sent Mierzejewski's guard force to stop them. Why did you still interrupt my experiment?"
At the mention of experiments, everyone's bodies trembled slightly.
"My king, I sincerely apologize, but the enemies attacking the Upper Hive include not only that traitor Thierry Vieira, but also a monster."
Before you continue