Funeral Parlor had already reached the dock closest to Ward 24. The fortress lay just across the sea. Gai studied the distant base through binoculars, then shifted his gaze to the United Nations fleet surrounding it. Vast aircraft carriers and warplanes stood ready for battle.
"..."
The sight made him frown.
"They still have not opened fire despite being this close... So that really is what is going on?"
He lowered the binoculars and walked into the warehouse, where everyone was calibrating their equipment...
"Mm. The 256 Leukocytes are nothing more than a bluff. There was only one we failed to destroy before. The rest are decoy models meant to fool optical observation, along with false signals created through hacking."
Sextant answered him as he transferred the footage Tsugumi had already deciphered onto the large screen.
"In other words, GHQ does not have much military strength left."
Gai understood.
"When you look at it that way, they really are stalling for time. Both we and the United Nations forces have been completely fooled."
Argo complained irritably.
Click...
As he spoke, he loaded the rocket launcher in his hands.
"They may already be at the end of their rope, but—"
"Perhaps they never intended to rely on the military."
Gai finished for him.
After all, that man called Da'ath and Mana Ouma were both there. There was no telling what they might do.
"Where is Mio?"
Gai asked.
"Miss Raiden is already in position."
Sextant answered.
"Gai, the United Nations will launch its attack in one minute!"
At that moment, Tsugumi reported through their earpieces. Naturally, she had switched to the public channel so everyone could hear.
"It is finally starting?! This is what I have been waiting for!"
Argo grew excited. He and the companions beside him readied their weapons and waited for the right moment. The instant the United Nations launched its assault, Funeral Parlor would move out.
"Ayase... Are you ready?"
Gai picked up his rifle and addressed Ayase, who had already boarded her modified Endlave.
"Mm. Ready to move out at any time!"
Ayase's voice came from within the machine as she gave him a thumbs-up.
"Good. Everyone, prepare yourselves!"
Gai nodded and switched his communicator to Funeral Parlor's public channel, reminding everyone to stand ready.
"Understood!" ×N
Everyone except the Shogun answered with tremendous spirit, just as they had during their previous missions.
However—
Just as they waited for the United Nations to strike Ward 24 first and deal the enemy a crushing opening blow, something unexpected happened. No, it should not have been called unexpected. They knew Da'ath and his people were not fools. Naturally, they would take countermeasures rather than sit idly by and wait for the United Nations attack.
Just as they had expected... On the exposed platform at the very top of Ward 24's tower, the electronic doors slowly opened. Da'ath emerged at a leisurely pace, exposing himself to the full view of the United Nations fleet.
He coldly surveyed the many aircraft carriers and helicopters ahead. Countless gun barrels were trained on the offshore base beneath his feet.
"Heh... A pack of ignorant rats. I already told you not to interfere with us. If you refuse to heed the warning and lose your lives, do not blame me, all right?"
Hum...
The young man raised a hand and drew out his own Void. It was a bow-like weapon. Not only that, he also extracted the Voids of several white-clad attendants standing behind him and fused them with his crossbow, forming a weapon with a distinctly futuristic appearance.
"Mere ants dare obstruct the steps of gods. This is your punishment!"
Bang!
He pulled the trigger. A dark beam erupted from the crossbow's barrel and shot into the sky. High above, the beam formed a spherical matrix. The next second, a torrential storm of crystal arrows burst from it, covering the entire area occupied by the United Nations fleet.
Crash! ×N
Countless crystal spikes rained from the sky. The instant they struck the decks of the aircraft carriers, crystallization spread across the entire hulls. The soldiers aboard were crystallized and ultimately shattered. The helicopters in the sky were no exception. Once infected by the virus, they all plunged into the sea. In less than a few seconds, every trace of the United Nations fleet's combat strength had been destroyed before they could even react.
"—!" ×N
The members of Funeral Parlor were horrified.
"Hey, you cannot be serious—!"
Argo's face went pale.
They had expected to witness the magnificent spectacle of the United Nations assaulting Ward 24. Instead, reality proved to be the exact opposite. Da'ath alone had slaughtered the entire United Nations fleet.
"What kind of power is that?!"
"It is the power of Voids."
Gai was stunned only briefly before his expression darkened again.
"So that is how it is..."
Only a fool would have waited helplessly for such an attack. He should have anticipated this long ago.
"Gai, what do we do?"
Ayase asked.
"We proceed according to the original plan..."
He gave the order.
"But the United Nations forces have all—"
"It does not matter... We have Mio. She is far more capable than any of them."
Besides, the United Nations fleet had never been included as an essential part of his plan. In other words, whether they helped or not... even whether they lived or died, had nothing to do with Funeral Parlor. They only needed to accomplish their own mission.
"Understood!"
Ayase replied.
"Good. Everyone, move out!"
"Understood!" ×N
And so, Funeral Parlor split into two groups according to the original plan and advanced toward Ward 24 across the sea. Several routes led into Ward 24. Gai drove at the head of the main force down the central passage, while Ayase led dozens of Endlaves under her sole control through another route.
No matter which route they chose, however, they would have to cross the sea. Da'ath, standing atop the base's high platform, could clearly see their movements.
"Heh. It seems there are still rats hoping to exploit an opening. Stop them."
The young man sent a signal through his communicator to the GHQ troops who had long been standing by inside the base. The next second, the troops surged forward. There were infantrymen and numerous Endlaves, and they outnumbered Funeral Parlor, though not by an overwhelming margin. After all, most of GHQ's forces had already been depleted by the Shogun.
"Everyone, prepare to engage the enemy!"
Gai warned them.
Boom! Boom!
The next second, the two forces collided. Chaos erupted at once. Artillery fire thundered everywhere, while streaks of gunfire and missiles repeatedly tore across the sky. The violent noise sent tremors rippling across the surface of the sea.
"They truly are persistent... In that case, why do I not add a little seasoning for you?"
Watching the fierce clash unfold on the passage spanning the sea below, Da'ath curled his lips into a sinister smile and prepared to use the crossbow in his hands once more. When the snipe and clam fought, the fisherman profited. Although the "clam" in this case consisted of his own men, he no longer cared. More accurately, he had never cared from the beginning.
He raised the crossbow above his head and prepared to fire—
This shot would surely erase both sides from the passage in one strike.
The mere thought thrilled him.
However—he had forgotten that one person was still missing.
Whoosh!
Shnk!
Just as he was about to pull the trigger, an arrow like a lightning dragon struck the shoulder of the arm holding his weapon. It pierced clean through and severed his arm.
"What—?!"
For a moment, the one-armed Da'ath failed to react. Only when he saw his severed hand did his pupils slowly contract and shock spread across his face.
What was that?!
An arrow?
Where did it come from?!
Those thoughts raced through his mind as he hurriedly searched the area ahead. At last, on the rooftop of a towering building on the far shore, he spotted a woman standing with her bow drawn, staring coldly at him.
"You—!"
By the time he found the culprit, however, it was already too late. While he had been searching for her position, the Shogun had already nocked another arrow and released the string.
Crackle—!
This arrow was even faster than the last. More accurately, Da'ath was still reeling from the loss of his arm. He could neither defend himself nor evade. He could only watch as the thunderous arrow rapidly expanded within his vision before piercing directly through the center of his forehead.
Bang!
The tremendous force carried his body backward in a straight line. He smashed through the metal doors behind him and flew into the area beyond, while the Void in his hand dispersed.
"...Obstructing the steps of gods, was it? You are the first person to dare call yourself a god before me. How laughable."
The Shogun lowered Thundering Pulse and relaxed her hand from the bowstring. Recalling the shameless words he had spoken earlier, she let out a faint, mocking sneer.