Hiding A Logistics Center In The Apocalypse - Chapter 86
Chapter 86: The Symbol of Resurrection (3)
TL/ED – Miso
The place where the gate portal was connected was a massive fortress located south of Dresden.
To be precise, it was about 20 kilometers away.
“We have to pass through the fortress first. It’s blocking the path.”
Lydia added.
The awakened ones from Prague who were aiming for Dresden.
She also knew that crossing the fortress was the first hurdle.
“It was originally a German historical site. A citadel built in the mountains… but Fermegon made its nest there.”
Thanks to that, we were able to gather bits and pieces of information about the demons’ fortress…
But we were not the only ones who had thoroughly prepared.
“They seem to have made their own preparations as well.”
Fermegon knew it too.
That we would soon storm into Dresden.
Not only had they lined up thick barricades in front of the gate portal, but the fortress walls were also armed with sharp-looking bombardment turrets, their muzzles menacingly aimed at us.
It was as if they had been waiting for us to arrive in Dresden.
Druruk.
Drururuk.
Lower-ranking imps dragged heavy carts.
What was loaded onto the carts were barricades reinforced with iron plates.
Shaped like shields, but in reality, they were more like defensive structures.
Even after subjugating thirteen demon fortresses, we had never seen such a thing before.
“Well then…”
We immediately launched our attack.
I deployed a subspace portal right in front of us and initiated an assault on Fermegon while remaining hidden.
Piuung!
Shwaaaak!
The silver arrows of Elvenheim, along with the dispatched Holy Spears, shot forward…
Crack!
Pak!
But they only managed to push them back about one or two meters.
The barricades set up by the demons were sturdier than expected.
As the imps pushed the carts back in, the fortress that had barely come into view disappeared from sight once again.
Clack! Clack!
The imps peeked out and sneered at us…
Crunch!
But this time, their face was mercilessly torn apart.
“Don’t stick your head out…”
The “Demon Devourer” had finally met the conditions.
Even in a simple comparison, its overwhelming performance was evident.
Thanks to the newly added “Double Penetration” effect, it could not only pierce through the barricades but also impale the imps hiding behind them in one strike.
And then…
Shwaaaak!
The “Double Penetration” effect was not limited to demons alone.
Just seeing how it tore through the barricades like paper made it clear.
It worked not only against demons but also against the structures and buildings they had erected.
Thanks to that…
Rumble…
Dozens of spires piled atop the outer citadel collapsed in an instant.
Crash!
A landslide of rubble swept down.
Amidst it, Fermegon’s piercing shriek rang out.
– Fire!
Boom!
Boom!
Immediately, the area ahead became a sea of fire.
The defense turrets continuously spewed flames, and massive fireballs rained down generously whenever the flames seemed to subside.
“Indeed… this time, it’s quite grand.”
Lancelot’s words were true.
The strategy of taking helicopters and dropping H-Beams to destroy their strongholds.
Now, it was difficult even to step outside the portal, let alone board a helicopter.
Shwaaaak!
Boom!
Rumble!
A continuous exchange of bombardments ensued.
Due to Fermegon’s persistent suppression, all I could do was deal with the imps that clung to the surroundings.
Even though the “Demon Predator” had shattered the barricades and spires, it had failed to inflict significant damage on the fortress’s thick walls.
Rumble…
The battle had reached a stalemate before we knew it.
A giant demon clad in thick armor rose to its feet.
Thud.
Thud.
– Guoooh…
With a low roar, it began approaching the portal with massive footsteps.
It seemed that Fermegon’s demons had regained their confidence…
-Guoooegh…!?
Boom!
By blowing its forehead wide open, I made them realize their delusion.
“…Where do you think you’re raising your head so rudely?”
Ding!
[Holy Explosion: Fires the devoured souls as projectiles, triggering a holy explosion.]
This was also an effect of the “Demon Devourer”.
It could devour up to 1,000 souls and unleash them to trigger a “Holy Explosion”.
Since I had been continuously accumulating demon souls while exchanging attacks with Fermegon,
Of course, using the explosion would consume the demons’ souls as well.
It might have been a technique best used as a trump card, saved for a decisive strike…
“…But that doesn’t apply to me.”
As soon as souls accumulated, I used “Item Retrieval” to store the spears in subspace.
Then, I replicated the stored spears and launched them again.
Thanks to this method, even if I triggered tens or hundreds of “Holy Explosions”, I would never run out of demon souls.
Though there was a limitation, souls of intelligent demons couldn’t be copied…
‘But these guys are just low-ranking demons anyway.’
I had deliberately targeted lower-class entities like imps, carefully selecting “copyable” souls to fill my reserves.
-Kraaah!
-Guuooooh!
The demons were visibly flustered.
The prolonged, tedious exchange of bombardments.
They had no idea that, during all that time, they had been digging their own graves.
Regardless of their realization…
Boom!
Rumble!
The demons’ bodies exploded under the flashes of the “Holy Explosion”.
Thud!
Thud!
One by one, demons collapsed to the ground.
After clearing out the six or so massive demons that had been guarding the fortress walls, the grand fortress of Fermegon, which had blocked the path to Dresden, finally came into view.
“Now I can see it clearly.”
There was no need to hesitate.
Not since I had confirmed the effects granted to the “Blessed Demon Devourer”.
I had always envisioned the sight of Fermegon’s fortress crumbling to dust.
Of course, even with the “Double Penetration” effect, the “Demon Devourer” alone couldn’t pierce through the fortress’s thick walls.
Moreover, since it was built into the mountain range, Fermegon’s fortress was more of a sheer cliff than a castle.
But…
“As long as it sticks, that’s enough.”
Shwaaaak!
Shwaaak!
After clearing out all the interfering demons,
I embedded hundreds of “Devourers” directly into the smooth walls of the fortress.
Crack!
Crunch!
Whoooosh!
The “Double Penetration” effect activated without fail.
The spears spiraled and burrowed deeper into the fortress walls…
Crack!
Snap!
Spiderweb-like fractures spread outward.
And that was not all.
Bang!
Bang!
The “Battle Hammers”, sent via <Tracking Delivery>, struck the embedded Holy Spears like nails.
Thus, the “Devourers”, driven so deeply that their handles were no longer visible…
Boom!
Boom!
Triggered a “Chain Holy Explosion” using 1,000 souls.
Crack!
Craaaack!
With jagged fractures, the fortress walls shattered like glass…
Crash!
Like a house of cards, the fortress began to collapse helplessly.
The ground erupted as the walls folded inward, collapsing toward the center.
The artillery units stationed on top were swept away, vanishing into the rising dust cloud.
And in the end…
-Kaaaah…
That was the end.
Dozens of gargoyles that had been hovering in the sky.
They could only stare blankly at their main stronghold, which had vanished before their eyes.
***
After cleanly bringing down Fermegon’s fortress.
However, unfortunately, the news we had hoped for did not come.
“…They weren’t there?”
Lancelot answered me.
“There were only prisoners who had been brought over from Valencia. The other detention facility was completely empty. The prisoners who were originally here…”
There were two detention facilities set up in Dresden.
At least we had successfully rescued the prisoners who had been tracked through the gate portal…
“It seems they’ve already been moved.”
“Damn it…”
The awakened ones from Prague, who had family in Dresden, could do nothing but swallow their tears.
“……”
Lydia was no different.
She simply clutched an unknown pendant, her shoulders trembling.
I recalled the conversation we had last night.
The series of gate portals that led from one Fermegon stronghold to another.
But there was a high chance that they weren’t actually connected to the main branch headquarters in Paris.
‘The gate portals are useless now anyway…’
This time, things were different.
We had finally managed to rescue the prisoners who had been repeatedly dragged through the gates.
Not only had I unlocked the “Demon Devourer” but through the battle in Dresden, I had also secured all the mana stones necessary for leveling up my subspace.
Now that it was confirmed that the families of the Prague awakened ones were not in Dresden, raiding the demon strongholds could be postponed for later.
Moreover…
‘…They must still be alive.’
What Fermegon sought was the vengeful spirits of humans.
Even here in Dresden, one of the detention facilities was left completely empty, yet there were no signs of a massacre.
It was more reasonable to assume that the prisoners had been relocated rather than killed, and guessing their new location was not difficult.
I spoke to Lydia, who was silently lowering her head.
“Let’s go to Paris.”
They were definitely there.
Her younger sibling, and Fermegon, the mastermind behind all of this.
***
The head of the European branch of the Chamber of Commerce and Fermegon were exchanging long-awaited good news.
“It’s complete! It’s finally complete!”
Sisyphus, the soul extraction device that had been under construction for so long.
A facility that would become the key to the colonization of Earth had finally been completed.
“You’ve worked hard, Fermegon.”
Clap, clap.
The branch head clapped his hands and patted Fermegon’s shoulder.
“With Sisyphus… and all the necessary materials gathered, all that remains now is Barnaul’s response.”
“Yes, we’ve already sent an official business proposal to Barnaul.”
“Good. Very good.”
Phew.
The branch head let out a deep sigh.
At last, the minimum conditions for negotiating with Barnaul had been met.
If they declared their expansion into Earth’s market, he, as the overseer of Europe, would be able to solidify his position.
‘Those Korean bastards are a nuisance, but…’
That, too, was not a real problem.
No one in the multidimensional sphere could interfere with Barnaul’s business.
However…
Was it because of their repeated defeats?
Fermegon could not hide his unease.
“Will everything really be fine once Barnaul steps in? The rank restriction will still be an issue…”
It wasn’t an incorrect concern.
Rank restrictions.
No matter what tricks were used, the current limit was only the 6th Order.
No matter how powerful Barnaul was, even they could not break the principles set by the Multidimensional Chamber of Commerce.
However, the branch head reassured Fermegon with a calm voice.
“Of course, an exceptionally powerful warlock won’t be able to enter. But… haven’t we already prepared for this?”
“Ah…!”
“All we need to do is create vengeful spirits. Every single one of them will become Barnaul’s forces.”
This, too, was part of their scheme.
A Europe filled with corpses and vengeful spirits.
That was an environment where Barnaul could rampage freely.
As Fermegon’s mind eased, the branch head spoke with a relaxed tone, adding a bit of humor.
“They are no match for Barnaul. What, did they team up with druids or something? Did they, by any chance, manage to get their hands on a proper World Tree?”
At the branch head’s joke, Fermegon burst into laughter.
“Haha… As if that would ever happen.”
The World Tree was said to have been wiped out across all dimensions.
And druids, who were powerless without such a tree.
Once a force that had threatened Barnaul, they had now become nothing more than a laughingstock in the multidimensional sphere.
Tap!
The branch head firmly grasped Fermegon’s shoulder.
Everything was proceeding smoothly, but they still had to wait for Barnaul’s response.
However…
“Until then, Fermegon, you need to buy us some time. You can do that, right?”
“Of course. At the very least, Dresden Fortress won’t be breached easily. Even if they try, it will take them at least a week…”
Clatter!
It was then.
A demon suddenly came rushing toward Fermegon.
“A-a disaster!”
“What?”
Swish.
A sense of dread flickered across Fermegon’s mind.
Could it be that the fortress, which they had painstakingly built, had fallen in just half a day?
However…
“The Holy Knights have entered Paris!”
The news that arrived was far beyond his worst fears.
****
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The Fool
Lmao. Druids and Elves plus the World tree. They’re in for a treat. XD