Lance Charge on the Arkship, but No Mount

The current situation was quite awkward for her. Not only had she said goodbye to them only a few days ago, she had nearly crashed into them just now. Though unfamiliarity with the slippery roads here had sent her vehicle into a tree, her formidable physique and Originium Arts had kept her from suffering any injuries.

"Ma'am, what a strange twist of fate."

Claude could not help but sigh. It was as if they were two magnets drawing each other together, somehow running into one another again across the vast land. The odds were ridiculously low.

Looking at her car, its front end completely caved in, there was no way it could be repaired. So, as naturally as ever, Claude extended an invitation.

"Where are you headed? We can give you a ride."

"No, there's no need. Continuing to travel with you would bring danger to you as well. I can complete the rest of my journey on my own." Saria sternly and firmly refused Claude's offer. They had gotten along quite well, but after that attack, Saria still did not want them to take such risks. She truly did not want innocent people to suffer a calamity because of her.

"I understand... But wasn't all your food in the car?"

Claude suddenly reminded her, as though he had noticed something. Only then did Saria feel the heat at her back. Turning around, she discovered that the Originium engine had overloaded and caught fire, setting the entire vehicle ablaze. Naturally, the food and drinking water she had bought could not be saved either. This unexpected incident left her utterly at a loss.

Without transportation, she could still force her way out with her powerful physique. But without food and water, even she had no solution.

Claude looked at this strong, resolute woman. She had always carried herself with absolute reliability, yet right now, she looked a little dazed.

"Our place isn't far from here. You can come with us, replenish your food and water there, then decide what to do next."

Claude's words finally brought Saria back to herself, and she stopped staring blankly at her burning vehicle.

"Your organization's location should be secret. Is it really alright to bring a stranger like me there?"

"Of course it is. Ms. Saria, you're a very upright person. If we can't trust someone like you, then who can we trust?"

On the surface, this Ms. Saria's actions were highly suspicious. Their coincidental reunion could even be seen as an elaborate scheme carefully arranged in advance. Thinking of it that way seemed more reasonable.

Claude knew this companion somewhat well, and his first words had been a test. If she had immediately agreed without hesitation, Claude would have been wary. This reunion was simply too much of a coincidence. But Saria's answer had earned Claude's trust and allowed him to fully confirm her character.

"Then I'll trouble you. I'll pay for it."

Without much hesitation, Saria got into Claude's vehicle, though she seemed to become somewhat reserved and barely spoke during the ride.

Before long, they arrived at a dense woodland. Before entering the forest, Claude leaned out and waved toward the trees, then drove in. A figure in the shadows lowered their crossbow and hurriedly sent word back to camp.

By the time Claude reached the camp entrance, he nearly failed to recognize the base they had built. The outer wall that had once been made of logs had become a sturdy reinforced-concrete wall, with fully armed soldiers standing atop it and keeping watch over the surroundings. The trees around the camp had not been entirely felled; quite a few had been left standing, providing a degree of cover.

Even the old wooden gate had been replaced by a massive steel barrier of unknown origin. Though covered in dark yellow rust, it did nothing to hide its weight and solidity. Claude stared at this fortress-like camp in amazement, wondering how Talulah and the others had acquired these things.

Especially that enormous steel gate. Something that heavy could only be operated by machinery, but where had they found machinery? He had only been gone two or three months, yet his companions seemed to have accomplished something even more extraordinary.

Before Claude could continue marveling, the massive gate slowly lowered amid the hum of electric motors. A small figure hurriedly rushed out from inside and quickly reached Claude's vehicle. Looking down, Claude saw the boy named Ino, the head of their organization's medical team.

With sufficient nutrition, a boy his age had actually seemed to grow a little taller after such a short time apart. The child still shyly clung to the car door, but his face was full of joy.

"Lord Claude, you're finally back!!"

"Yeah, I'm back, and I've brought quite a bit of good news. Where is everyone? I want to announce it to them."

After patting his shoulder twice, Claude opened the door and stepped out. His two companions were also staring at the sturdy fortress before them in surprise. Centaurea was astonished by how drastically the camp had changed in just a few months, while Saria simply had not expected such a clearly unofficial Ursus structure to be built in this barren place. She had long heard of the Ursus Empire's methods, so this obviously military fortress left her especially shocked.

But to Claude's surprise, after hearing him, Ino suddenly showed a worried expression.

"I'm not really sure either, but Sasha told me that enemies seem to be coming. He went to scout them out, and everyone else went to make preparations. We've been waiting for you to come back these past two days. They'll definitely be happy when they find out you're back!!"

"Enemies?"

Claude frowned. By all rights, they should not have attracted much attention. Ordinary patrol squads would never dare risk coming here. Could it be the Ursus Empire's regular army? How had they noticed this place?

"Come on, let's move the supplies inside first. I'll ask Alina about it afterward."

Claude called Ino into the car, then drove into the camp. Many of their companions here were in urgent need of medicine.

There were indeed far fewer soldiers in the camp, especially the Shieldguards and Yeti Squad, who were nowhere to be seen. There were no longer so many tents inside either, only many log-built houses arranged neatly and orderly, without the former mess. Under Ino's guidance, Claude finally found where Alina was.

After unloading several crates of medicine, Claude told Ino to take care of Saria for the moment and get her some water and food. Then he excused himself. The situation was beyond his expectations, so he could not personally host her now.

Pushing open the wooden door at once, he found the familiar layout inside. A huge table made from logs stood in the corner of the room, covered with clothes that were being made or mended. The Elafia girl Claude knew well had her long white hair draped across the tabletop, seemingly sewing those garments. Only when she heard them did she straighten up.

Alina turned around and saw the travel-worn Claude and Centaurea. A warm smile appeared on her face as she greeted them.

"Claude, Centaurea, you're finally back. Talulah and I were just talking about you this morning. Mr. Patriot also told us that, judging by the distance, you should be arriving soon. He was right, as always."

"We made quite a haul this time. I was planning to announce it once everyone had gathered, but Ino told me enemies have appeared nearby. Do you know the details?"

At Claude's words, Alina's expression became serious as well.

"A few days ago, the captain of the crossbowmen—the child named Sasha—found them while patrolling a village. An Ursus company had arrived there at some point. From his scouting, there seem to be around five or six hundred soldiers. We still don't know that unit's intentions, but Mr. Patriot suggested we prepare in advance. Since you were about to return, we could wait for you before making a formal decision."

"Do we know which army group they belong to?"

"No. To avoid alerting them, they didn't capture any prisoners. But that company has remained in the village without moving. It's possible they're only passing through."

Claude spent a minute considering it before making a decision.

"Alina, have them all return first. Sasha and I will go take a look ourselves. Give these medicines to the soldiers in the most serious condition first and stabilize them. At the very least, with suppressants available, don't let anyone else die from Oripathy."

Several messengers immediately left the camp. They still had no reliable means of long-distance communication.

Claude turned and left, with Centaurea following behind him. The black-and-white pair quickly departed the camp. Along the way, Claude called out, and a squad of soldiers followed him. Their figures soon vanished into the depths of the forest.

PS: There are still two chapters today, but they'll be posted a little later.

A New Beginning: First Battle

The Empire would remain great forever. He believed that without question.

Standing within the heavily guarded camp, the commander looked at the dilapidated village with a trace of disdain in his eyes. As the commander of this unit, though he was only a lieutenant, he was still proud of the Ursus Empire's greatness. The Empire was immensely powerful and occupied vast territory. No nation dared underestimate its mighty army. As soldiers of the Empire, all they needed to do was win battle after battle, making the Empire ever stronger.

Look at these foolish villagers. They could contribute nothing to the Empire and had even refused to offer their homes for Imperial soldiers to live in. In his eyes, that meant they had no value whatsoever. Even so, he was still willing to give them one chance, so long as they revealed the whereabouts of the guerillas here.

Yes, they had come here to deal with the infected guerillas on the icefields. The numerous mines in the north that had been abandoned after being attacked by them had finally pushed the higher-ups beyond their limit, so this unit had been dispatched. Those patrol squads were all worthless trash, drawing Imperial pay every year yet only capable of arresting ordinary infected who could not resist. Once they encountered guerillas, they would be slaughtered like chickens.

He had already made up his mind to show those people what a true Ursus army looked like. They should not think that defeating a few incompetent patrol squads gave them the right to challenge the Empire's majesty. In his mind, 560 true Ursus soldiers, with a full complement of coordinated troop types, could easily defeat enemies several times their number.

"Has no one spoken yet?"

A deep voice issued from behind a breathing mask.

"No. Every one of them insists they've never seen any resistance organization."

"Utterly foolish. Do they think we would come here without intelligence? Starve them for a few more days. Then they'll be willing to say anything."

The commander disdainfully looked toward the warehouse in the center of the village. All the villagers had been imprisoned inside without being given any food or water. Quite a few corpses had already been carried out today, yet they still covered for the Empire's enemies. The commander was rapidly running out of patience, but he still could not find the guerillas' location. If they continued being so stubborn, then they were enemies of the Empire.

And he had never shown mercy to enemies.

Having decided the villagers' fate, the commander returned to the house where he stayed. It was the village chief's residence, a beautiful and sturdy wooden house. Entering the room where a warm fire burned in the fireplace, he began removing his heavy armor and thick military coat.

Still in uniform, the commander sat in a wooden chair and poured himself a glass of liquor. There was no fine alcohol here, but on the way over, the new patrol squad commander had thoughtfully sent him several bottles. Watching the amber liquid pour into the glass, he could not help licking his dry lips.

He had spent several days in this godforsaken place. Those paupers had nothing worth looting, and he was already out of patience.

The cold liquor entered his mouth, followed by a flavor like fire. The pungent spirits slightly improved his mood. He unfastened the buttons of his uniform, leaned back in his chair, and kept pouring liquor into himself. The faint sound of crying from the warehouse nearby made him frown, and he gave his adjutant a look. Before long, screams under the lash replaced the crying, and he nodded in satisfaction.

He shook the bottle, which had little liquor left, and felt slightly disappointed.

He poured a glass for the adjutant beside him as well. The two raised their glasses in unspoken agreement and toasted the Empire.

"Long live the Empire!"

"What a great Empire indeed."

Claude's cold, mocking voice rang out. Beside him, Sasha stared at those soldiers with hatred in his eyes. The two stood atop a high slope, with the village below. Crossbowmen and soldiers gathered behind them, silent as statues.

Aside from Claude, no one made a sound. Their icy gazes remained fixed on that village as they awaited Claude's order.

But their eager eyes kept glancing toward Claude from time to time. Naturally, Claude knew what they wanted, yet he merely shook his head slightly.

"Go back and gather all our strength first. We'll swallow them in one bite. Don't worry. None of them will live past tonight."

His heavy black cloak flared like wings. Claude did not spare the village another look before turning and leaving. Every soldier immediately followed their general.

Saria was eating a bowl of stew made with beast meat and carrots, along with some hard, dry bread. During her solo travels, she rarely had the chance to eat such hot food. She was currently in the camp's dining hall. The cafeteria covered a large area and could seat hundreds of people at once. Its structure was simple, merely rows of erected shelters with crude tables and chairs made of logs beneath them.

A kind-looking Ursus chef stood before an iron pot, using a large ladle to serve the soldiers in line. Every serving was a heaping scoop, and he would not stop until the soldiers' mess tins could not hold any more. Then he would grab a long loaf from a wooden barrel nearby and stuff it into the soldier's arms.

That chef was not the only one serving food. There were five serving stations in total, forming five long lines. The soldiers chatted and laughed from time to time. It was not noisy, but it made the place feel lively. Saria watched these energetic soldiers, their faces full of hope for the future, as if no hardship ahead could ever defeat them.

The sight made her think of Rhine Lab in its early days. Those who had first gathered together had also been so confident and full of vitality. They had believed they could create humanity's future. Back then, they too felt that nothing could stop them. They would cheer from the bottom of their hearts whenever they overcame a technical obstacle and take pride in the achievements they earned together.

But later...

"Assembly!! Return to your units immediately!!"

The sudden order caused the food lines to disperse at once. Those who had already received food handed their mess tins to the cooks, who kept them warm by the fire.

Saria watched as the soldiers returned to their respective units in orderly haste. Without taking even a bite, they were preparing to depart. After finishing her own food in confusion, she went to find Claude and learn what was happening.

She found Claude easily enough. He stood among the unit commanders, who differed greatly in appearance but all seemed quite formidable. They were watching him intently.

"Lead your units to their positions. Carry out your orders."

Everyone nodded and returned to their respective units, leaving only one exceptionally tall warrior behind.

"I have not received my assignment." Patriot looked at Claude with slight confusion. He did not understand why he, the strongest among them, had not been given a specific task.

"Mr. Boccas, your task is to break them from the front with me and eliminate any possibility of resistance."

Patriot gave a satisfied sigh, gripped his halberd and greatshield, and silently stood behind Claude.

"Mr. Claude, are you carrying out some operation?"

Facing Saria's question, Claude quickly answered.

"We are, but it's nothing major. You can continue resting here until tomorrow morning. I've already had Alina arrange a room for you."

"If you're going to battle, I can help you." Saria spoke to Claude with a serious expression.

"No, ma'am. We absolutely cannot drag you into this. I can tell that you have something important to do. Don't disappoint those who believe in you." Claude sternly refused Saria. He knew very well that attacking Ursus regular troops meant officially declaring war on the Empire. He absolutely could not involve her in something like that.

"I understand." Saria nodded gravely.

Claude nodded back. Watching unit after unit depart, he led Sasha, Aisen, and the others toward the target location. Centaurea appeared behind him like his shadow. In the blink of an eye, only a little over a hundred soldiers remained behind in the camp, along with the cooks waiting for the soldiers to return for their meals.

Watching the village's firelight that burned through the night, Claude turned and looked at the more than one thousand warriors behind him. They stood in the valley below, looking up at their general in silence as they awaited his orders. Not one showed fear. As though it were only natural, they believed their general would bring them victory.

"Faust." His calm voice rang out.

"I'm here, sir."

"Take your crossbowmen. Once the battle begins, eliminate their artillery crews and casters. Don't give them any chance to act. Afterward, immediately support Boccas."

"Yes, sir."

"Aisen."

"Sir."

"Take a squad of breachers and lie in wait on the village's western side. Once their formation is thrown into disorder, charge into their ranks."

"I will complete your mission."

"Yelena."

"I'm here."

"The Yeti Squad will attack alongside Boccas. Use your Originium Arts to create openings. Your squad is also the fastest-moving of all our units. I don't want anyone escaping after the battle ends."

"Understood." The serious-faced Cautus girl nodded.

"And you, Centaurea." Claude looked at the white-haired girl behind him. "Don't let a single one of their drones take off. Blind their eyes, and don't let those sentries make a sound."

"Of course. They won't get the chance." Centaurea draped the black cloak over herself, concealing herself in the night.

Everyone moved into action beneath the darkness.

A New Beginning: Overwhelming Force

A sentry gazed listlessly into the pitch-black night outside and could not help yawning. He was exhausted, but he had no choice but to stand guard here. He did not think it was necessary. In his mind, those infected were merely rabble who could not amount to anything. Seeing such a powerful army, they surely would not dare act rashly.

But he did not dare defy his superior's order. The man standing guard with him was his drinking buddy. When the fellow had come to relieve the previous shift, he could not resist drinking a few extra cups. His face was red now, and he could barely stand steady. The sentry secretly worried that the man would get caught, or he would receive a vicious whipping.

"Click."