System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

Chapter 831: Chapter 831: The Unwavering Course West

Attempts to establish contact with the center of the Golden Dragon Empire proved futile. Long-range communication arrays yielded nothing but distorted static, confirming that transmission networks had been blocked by the traitorous faction.

Ethan stood at the edge of the fortress’s upper lookout. Beside him, Vaelen returned after dispatching messenger ships via secondary routes, clenching his fist in frustration.

”General, we dispatched three small frigates through roundabout paths, but spatial interference across the border region is overwhelming,” reported Vaelen. ”It is a deliberate blockade.”

”There is nothing to be surprised about,” replied Ethan, his voice calm yet weighted with coldness. ”Vorian planned this to the smallest detail. If we stay here waiting for reinforcements that will never arrive, we will only give the enemy time to dispatch a larger extermination force.”

Ethan gazed out at the fleet of captured Divine Wind Empire warships hovering in the air, integrated into formation alongside his own vessels.

[Crul, initiate ship modifications], commanded Ethan mentally. [Integrate the runic arrays of the Mobile Siege Formation into the primary hulls. If those ships are destined to be reduced to ash in this campaign, make sure they take the whole Divine Wind Empire down with them.]

[Initiating runic drafting on energy cores...], Crul’s voice echoed in his mind. [Sixty-four vessels selected as channeling nodes. The fleet’s offensive output will increase by three hundred percent, Master.]

Ethan turned toward Vaelen and the officers lined up behind him.

”The wait is over,” declared Ethan, drawing the Black Chaos Sword and pointing it straight toward the western dunes. ”We will not retreat to the empire’s center to explain ourselves or fall into Vorian’s traps. We will march head-on into the territory of the Divine Wind Empire, obliterate every garrison that attempts to block our path, and seize their spatial portal to reach the Phoenix Empire.”

Vaelen took in the resolve in Ethan’s eyes and struck his fist against his chest in a military salute.

”At your command, General! We will march with you into hell itself!”

For an entire month, Ethan forged the fleet into a war machine. Inside the maintenance bays, the glow of his amethyst mana never ceased as he carved alignment runic patterns onto each ship’s core with precision. Meanwhile, the imperial troops underwent combat drills; they had to adapt their movements to operate strictly from the three central battleships, allowing Crul to pilot the remainder of the fleet as an autonomous swarm.

Throughout that wait, they maintained surveillance across the Great Desert. Every six hours, the three messenger frigates sent toward the capital reported their status. Crul kept them under constant link within his detection range. However, ten days after their departure, the final transmission was recorded.

[Master... we have lost signal from all three frigates], reported Crul within Ethan’s mind.

The last image processed by the system was disturbing: two colossal pillars of energy rained down from the clouds, vaporizing the frigates in an instant. Despite the vessels traveling hundreds of kilometers apart along completely different routes, their destruction occurred simultaneously.

[It must be the empire’s ultimate defense array], continued Crul, projecting a map directly into Ethan’s mindscape. [Upon analyzing the coordinates of their destruction, all three ships were located at nearly the exact same radial distance from the imperial palace. I can confirm the sector is sealed by an absolute protection array. The moment the network detected their mana signatures, they were obliterated from the sky.]

Ethan stared at the three coordinates highlighted in red within his mindscape and let out a deep exhale, feeling resolve harden inside his chest.

”There is no other option. We advance,” declared Ethan. ”Can you infiltrate the Divine Wind Empire’s network?”

[Negative, Master], answered Crul in an analytical tone. [This vanguard army’s network was not connected to the empire’s central system. We need to reach a physical node directly linked to the matrix’s central network in order to breach it and manipulate their data. Do you have any ideas?]

A cold smirk formed across Ethan’s lips.

”Of course...”, Ethan said, tightening his grip on the Black Chaos Sword. ”Let us use the Trojan Horse tactic.”

Ethan stepped onto the upper platform of the main rampart, activating the fortress’s sound projection array so his voice would echo into every corner of the complex and across the decks of the entire fleet.

”Soldiers of the Soaring Dragon!” roared Ethan, feeling the echo of his words shake the desert stone. ”Listen to me well! This is a one-way journey! Ahead of us, there is no retreat, there is no diplomacy, and there is no room for doubt!”

The thousands of warriors in the courtyards and atop the ships’ decks fell into silence, their eyes locked on their General.

”Today, we shall share life and death on the very same battlefield,” Ethan continued, standing tall like a drawn blade. ”In this exact moment, those who feel fear in their hearts, those who waver, may take a step back and leave. There will be no dishonor or punishment for you.”

Ethan paused, sweeping his gaze across the rows of soldiers. Not a single man moved. The resolve in his men’s eyes was as unyielding as steel.

”But those who do not fear death!” shouted Ethan, raising the Black Chaos Sword toward the heavens, ”shall be my brothers! Whether you live or die in this campaign, your families shall be my family, your ancestors shall be mine, and your descendants shall be mine! We will fight as one and carve this path by force!”

A roar erupted from the throats of thousands of warriors, making the desert dunes tremble as they raised their weapons in answer to their leader.

Vaelen gazed at Ethan’s figure before the crowd, feeling pride swell in his throat.

The young man truly had the makings of a Great General. He had watched him grow by leaps and bounds, overcoming adversity after adversity, and now he stood at a height that Vaelen could only admire with respect.

There is no doubt Princess Isabella possesses the best eyes in this world, Vaelen thought, a faint smile playing on his lips as he tightened his grip on his sword hilt. Only she could have discovered such a treasure and brought him into the kingdom... Whether we live or die on this expedition, we have already made history.

The veteran warrior glanced away for a second toward the desert horizon, letting out a heavy sigh.

My only regret would be failing to see their future offspring... he reflected, returning his gaze to Ethan with eyes blazing with resolve. But it seems this old man will have one final chance to shine.

Vaelen raised his blade high into the air with all his strength, joining the thunderous roar of the troops, swearing in his heart to guard the General’s back until his very last breath.