The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth

Chapter 262: Battle of the White Bunker (2)

Chapter 262: Battle of the White Bunker (2)

[Core power stone levels increasing.]

[Mana charge at 80%.]

Wingel Hart adjusted his goggles, his expression tense as he watched the thin mana plugs attached to his veins pulse. It looked like he was entangled in a spiderweb.

Zzzzzzzzzzng...

His field of vision expanded, and three magical screens materialized before his eyes.

[Stabilizing levels.]

[Revol system readiness at 94%.]

The holographic screen in front of him displayed characters in an ancient language.

“Ninety-four percent... It should be done within the hour,” he muttered, letting out a low sigh as he read through the complex data.

The task of deciphering and combining the scripts from numerous ruins would be impossible for anyone other than the genius Wingel Hart.

“I really hate fighting, but...”

Despite being on the brink of battle, Wingel’s voice trembled, and he couldn’t stop his leg from shaking.

“Phew...”

If there was one consolation, it was that he was alone in the cockpit. The man who piloted Revol, the massive golem known as the gatekeeper of the White Bunker, looked nothing like what one might have expected.

“I have to do this. There’s no one else...”

He kept repeating that to himself like a mantra, trying to steady his nerves. The reason was simple—unlike with the other golems, Wingel was the only one capable of piloting Revol.

Beep—

[Revol system readiness at 95%.]

In the stillness of the cockpit, the screen indicating the increasing percentage made the only sound, signaling the imminent start of a battle.

Rumble...

Amidst the gathering storm clouds, the skies roared as though preparing for the final battle that would mark the end of the civil war. It was as if the gods themselves were enraged.

Plop... Plop...

Cold snowflakes fell on Karyl’s head. He briefly looked up at the sky, then drew his Freezing Talon and sliced through the air.

“Hmm.”

Unlike the tense Wingel inside Revol, Karyl radiated calm confidence, even as he prepared to face the colossal golem.

“Is everything ready?”

“I’ve stationed the armored tribesmen within their respective units. I instructed them to prioritize killing the enemy commanders while remaining as discreet as possible, but...”

“They’re a wild bunch, so I understand,” Karyl said with a smirk. “Hashir, take your troops and move to the right. I’ll leave the center to Ruiche.”

“Will she be able to handle it?”

Recalling the young girl from earlier in the tent, Hashir’s voice was tinged with a hint of doubt.

“She’s just a figurehead. The real command will come from Anthem. Handling a child is simple enough—you just have to make her feel like the protagonist.”

“Assign a few of the most skilled shield bearers from the Tiger Shield tribe to guard her,” Karyl went on. “There might be some resistance from the knights, so keep a bit of distance.”

“Yes, understood.”

“If Fran shows no signs of recovery, she’ll become an important card for us even after the war. If her guards fail in their duties, make sure to protect her at all costs, even if it means using their shields to do it.”

Hashir smiled bitterly at Karyl’s words.

“I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll assign Kuntai to her. He’ll handle it well.”

“Good.”

Karyl nodded and continued, “Even if Miliana takes care of the golems in the forest, there are still about half of them that didn’t enter the woods. As you know, only our Free Army can inflict real damage on the golems.”

“Of course.” Hashir bowed slightly. “I will make sure not a single golem returns to the White Bunker.”

He then pulled the hood of his cloak over his face.

“With the Dragon Queen herself teaching us how to hunt golems, we can’t just sit back. However, the north is nothing like the flat hunting grounds of the south.”

For some reason, Hashir, who had kept composed before, seemed particularly fired up for this battle. It was as if, as a northerner, he didn’t want to lose to the southerners.

“It’s starting to snow,” Karyl murmured, holding out his hand to feel the icy touch of the snowflakes.

The snow was picking up.

“Yes, a blizzard is coming. The heavier the snow, the closer it feels to the true northern weather. This time, we’ll show you what northern hunting actually looks like.”

At that, Karyl smiled in satisfaction.

“I understand why you want us to handle the golems and lure the enemy out of the White Bunker with Ruiche’s forces in the center. But... are you really planning to face that giant alone?”

“Of course,” Karyl answered casually. “There’s a shelter behind the main fortress where Tuli is. By now, the evacuation in the front should be complete. It’s an empty space now, but her troops are stationed there.”

Karyl had devised a bold plan, one that even Anthem had initially doubted.

“Of course, the battlefield will be in front of the White Bunker. But your goal is to lure the enemy out. The real objective of this first battle is to draw the soldiers away from the battlefield.”

“Do you mean...”

Earlier, in the tent, Karyl had pointed at White Bunker on the map and explained his plan.

“I will fight Revol inside the White Bunker.”

“...!!”

“They’re just soldiers following orders. They’re no different from the civilians. In fact, the battlefield in front of the fortress will serve as a refuge for them.”

Karyl’s words left everyone speechless.

“Revol has yet to fully charge its mana. It would be wiser to storm the fortress now that the Queen of Digon has lured the golems away,” Anthem cautiously suggested.

Everyone agreed with him. It seemed that the best strategy was to take the White Bunker quickly before Revol was fully activated.

But Karyl overturned their expectations by deciding to wait for Revol to move.

“The more spectators, the better. Word travels faster than the wind. The soldiers shall be witnesses to my battle, the ones who spread the story. When they see the giant fall, Tuli’s despair will deepen, and our strength will be firmly imprinted in the minds of our enemies.”

“If you fight that giant inside the fortress... the damage will be catastrophic. At least half of the White Bunker will be destroyed, and the shelter behind it might also be at risk,” Hashir warned.

“With your concern for the enemy, even the civilians inside the fortress could become an obstacle.”

Karyl looked at Hashir, pondering his swords.

“As formidable as that giant golem may be, one might assume its movements and reaction speed would be slow. Although it may not match Kinu Mukari, the archery skills of the Wolf-Fox tribe aren’t far behind. It might be better to rain down all our Clear Distilled Water arrows on its joints...”

“No, it’s not that simple. Revol’s mobility isn’t hindered by its size. Once it’s fully charged, Revol is actually faster than those smaller golems over there.” Karyl allowed a faint smile on his lips.

“Wingel is a genius not only in magitech but also in piloting golems. Even if all the golem pilots in the Meister unit attacked him simultaneously, they wouldn't be able to defeat him.”

Hashir’s expression showed even more confusion. He clearly didn’t understand why Karyl was creating a situation where such a formidable opponent could fight at full strength.

“Hashir, I don’t think you’re fully grasping why I’m trying to draw the enemy forces away from the battlefield.”

“...No, sir?”

“Do you think I’m doing this out of some misplaced mercy, risking unnecessary casualties among our own troops just to spare the lives of the enemy? Have I ever struck you as someone that soft?”

“I apologize, my lord.” Hashir quickly bowed his head.

“As you pointed out, Revol will cause significant destruction if it gets to fight. Every step it takes will claim dozens of lives, and each swing of its arm will be drenched in the blood of hundreds. But more importantly, what do you think will happen if that golem collapses onto the shelter?” Karyl’s tone turned icy.

“The thousands of civilians in the shelter would be crushed instantly.”

Hashir swallowed dry, not wanting to even imagine such a scenario.

“In that dire moment, I will save the people of the White Bunker from that monster. That’s why I left them there. Soldiers with morale might fight to the death, but civilians are different.”

Karyl’s eyes glinted with determination.

“I’ll make the people feel the dread of death and then snuff out the enemy’s will to fight with the overwhelming force that brings down the golem.”

A shiver ran down Hashir’s spine as he realized the full extent of Karyl’s plan.

He had it all planned out.

Hashir now realized that his earlier worries had been misplaced. Karyl had not only anticipated bringing down the golem but had also planned exactly how it would fall.

“That golem is an ancient relic. It’s said to be on par with, or even surpass, the Enderus created by the dwarves who once hunted dragons.”

“The Digon tribe hunted dragons too, but...”

Hashir hesitated, knowing the difference in scale. The Digon tribe had numbered in the tens of thousands, and it was impossible to know how many lives had been sacrificed to bring down even a single dragon.

Now Karyl was proposing to take down such a foe single-handedly. Naturally, Hashir couldn’t help feeling uneasy.

“Well, I might have to hunt that guy down myself someday... But for now, we’re not dealing with a dragon. We’re dealing with a golem.”

Hashir looked at Karyl with a gaze that questioned the difference.

“The one piloting that golem doesn’t have a dragon’s heart or a heart of stone. He’s just a man.”

A deep rumble filled the air.??

Karyl watched as the golem standing tall within the distant fortress slowly opened its eyes.

“The gatekeeper is waking up.”

Karyl’s hand, which gripped the Freezing Talon, began to sweat slightly. Although he spoke confidently, he was slightly nervous, which was only natural in this situation. After all, this was the most powerful opponent he had encountered since his return.

“Revol...” he whispered.

The giant golem, known as the walking fortress or the colossus, had earned a new name during the Oracle War when Pharel had emerged.

“The Tarak Slayer.”

Its terrifying power, capable of crushing the corrupted beings that had devoured countless humans, was perhaps even greater than that of a dragon.

Revol’s power is immense. I couldn’t defeat it in my previous life. Even now, I’m probably only on par with it.

But despite this, Karyl was confident he could steer this battle in his favor.

Wingel Hart, unfortunately for you, you’re an engineer, not a warrior. No matter how skilled you are at piloting a golem, it’s meaningless if you can’t fight properly.

Karyl took a deep breath.

You’re not suited for this fight. There’s someone far better equipped to handle that golem.

He then spun around the Freezing Talon as if to point at himself.