Chapter 162

Chapter 162

"By the way, when we went to the energy tower just now, why didn't any of the outer defenses activate?"

I glanced back at the ongoing battle in the distance and asked the old servant.

"Because there weren't enough enemies. These systems were built to handle large-scale attacks. They won't activate for just a handful of intruders."

"Small numbers of enemies get let through to be dealt with by the traps and guards inside. The outer sweep systems only kick in when the attacking force reaches a certain size."

"I see."

I stroked my chin and studied the battlefield nearby.

"I have to say, the energy tower has quite a variety of outer defenses. Though... why do they seem so underwhelming?"

Out on the battlefield, the heavy ranged fire from the energy center was being intercepted by the crystal people's long-range magic. The few shots that made it through were blocked by their magic barriers. The exchange looked impressive from a distance, but it wasn't actually doing much damage to the crystal forces.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the airborne puppets and weapon emplacements outside the tower were being focused down one by one by the crystal people, exploding in the air.

Just from a quick look, I could tell this ranged battle was barely a challenge at all.

"That's to be expected. These defenses weren't built to fight a human army. They were designed from the start to deal with the Shadow creatures, which aren't very intelligent. And besides..."

The old servant answered from beside me, his gaze sweeping over the rows of searchlight-like devices along the tower's edge, all completely still.

"The most powerful weapons are locked down by their own restrictions. Those high-output searchlights are actually the energy tower's real trump card against the Shadow."

Right.

Not that it would matter now. Even if they were activated normally, they'd be useless against the crystal people, and would only end up killing our own contaminated allies.

I kept a close eye on the battlefield while issuing occasional orders.

As the outer defenses were steadily suppressed, the crystal forces pushed forward toward the energy tower.

I directed the massive army, gradually tightening the encirclement ring by ring.

A little while later.

"Looks like our losses are much lower than expected." The Youngest Princess jumped up onto the platform and came to stand beside me.

"Right. It won't be long before we've stripped everything outside the tower clean."

I studied the damaged defenses carefully. Their self-repair rate was slowing down more and more. Some of the repeatedly destroyed systems had nearly stopped recovering altogether.

Even if we pulled back now, it would probably take days, maybe even weeks, for all the outer defenses to fully restore themselves.

"This is just... how do I put it..." The Youngest Princess suddenly let out a remark out of nowhere. "Pure brute force beats all the magic and technology in the world."

"How are things at the front line?" I turned to ask her.

"Just like you predicted. It's already fallen. When I got there, the monsters were pouring out of the pit like a flood."

She sighed and continued:

"The Shadow army will be here soon. How ready are you on this end?"

"Don't worry."

I glanced over at the forces surrounding the energy tower. The outer ring glittered with the light of magic lanterns.

"The perimeter is ready. The Shadow won't break through."

These crystal people were easier to work with than I'd expected. I noticed they had no preset commands or behavioral rules at all.

The old servant had explained it before — when their consciousness was erased, they were sealed away immediately. So their command framework was completely blank.

The direct result of that was that my orders were no longer limited to a mere twenty seconds.

They were... indefinite.

They would carry out my last order until they died.

Which meant as long as I arranged things in advance, I didn't have to keep repeating commands over and over.

"Knight, it's time."

The old servant returned as well. "All outer defenses have been completely disabled."

"Good. Let's move."

I looked toward the lone energy tower in the distance, surrounded by crystal forces, and let a slightly eager smile cross my face.

"Suicide squad one, get ready! Move out!"

A unit of roughly several hundred crystal people — carrying crates, wearing no armor, and bearing no weapons — sprinted toward the energy tower and quickly vanished through the entrance.

Moments later, a series of violent explosions erupted from inside the tower, loud enough to be heard clearly even from this distance.

When the blasts died down, I gave the next order.

Suicide Squad Two! Go!"

Another group of several hundred crystal people charged into the tower, each carrying a Mana Stone explosive pack.

These high-powered charges were originally designed to be launched by siege engines, but since the energy tower couldn't be destroyed and we still needed the teleportation array to get up, I'd come up with this plan — have the crystal people carry the explosives and fight their way up. That way, most of the traps would be blown apart by sheer force.

Wave after wave of suicide squads went in.

Judging by the height from which the explosion sounds were coming, they had to be around the level where the Ugly Knight would be stationed.

The traps and mechanisms along the way should all be wrecked by now. And the last two squads had both been wiped out on the same floor.

That could only mean the Ugly Knight.

"You two, get ready." I hoisted my curved blade and grinned. "Let's go give the Ugly Knight a proper send-off."

"Oh!" The Youngest Princess looked just as eager.

"Ready." The old servant's expression was firm.

"Assault team, move out! Follow us!"

Nearby, a unit of fully armed crystal people in the finest armor, carrying the best weapons, lifted their heads and fell in behind the three of us one by one.

In the distance came the faint sounds of roaring — the Shadow creatures clashing head-on with the crystal army.

We paid it no mind and headed straight for the energy tower.

"These explosives are insanely powerful..."

We stepped inside the tower. The Youngest Princess stared at the wreckage where the once-complex network of traps and mechanisms had been completely obliterated, looking a little stunned.

"Well... these weren't meant to be used like this. They were designed to breach magically reinforced castle walls." The old servant looked around at the devastated interior of the energy tower, his feelings clearly mixed.

I took a careful look at the ruined mechanisms. There didn't seem to be any sign of automatic restoration.

"How long will it take for these destroyed mechanisms to recover?" I asked the old servant.

"Well..." He muttered an incantation uncertainly and checked, then answered:

"About two months."

"Alright..."

I'd need to keep that in mind for next time when deploying suicide squads. These explosives were clearly too powerful.

I called a few crystal people forward to take the lead, and our group made our way upward.

We passed through layer after layer of rubble and empty halls, steadily climbing higher.