Naval Gacha System: It's Time To Monopolize The Seven Seas! - Chapter 281

Chapter 281: | 281 | Operation Retribution Freedom: First Emergence of the Sentinels
Inside the town square of the island fortress of Citrus, a lone guard idly stood beside the gate and observed the marching soldiers of the Colonial Dominions. It has been a month since the enactment of the war effort, and his hometown had transformed into a foreign bastion of humanity. The citizens have long left the town behind, only the local garrisons stayed as they were employed by the lord of Citrus.

The island fortress had been busy and filled to the brim with soldiers. War machines from the Magus Tower and the mainland made their way into the island, which was astounding yet saddening. The beautiful island of Citrus had become a military camp, and he didn’t feel a tinge of honor or delight from it. What was supposed to be a field of flowers had become stained with war.

Despite his disappointment, he was part of the local garrison and it was his duty to defend the lord of Citrus no matter what. Even though the island of Citrus had become foreign to his perception, it was still his birthplace and home.

“Damn, I hope the war will end quickly.” The lone guard muttered while observing the marching soldiers in the distance. Tens of thousands of soldiers had been preparing within the island of Citrus, so there was no doubt that victory was merely a question of when. Behind him was an old guard from the old lord of Citrus, who commented. “It shouldn’t take long, child.”

He raised his eyebrows as it wasn’t common for someone to call him child. Only a peculiar old guard would bother to say such informal titles, though he didn’t mind it that much. “Old man… I thought you already left to the mainland after this place got turned into a military camp.” Most old people didn’t wish to see their home defiled by war, so there was nothing they could do but leave.

“As much as I dislike to see the defilement of our home, I am still a guard at heart. No matter what happens. I must stand within the island of Citrus and defend it until the very end.” The old guard responded with deepened determination. The lone guard lightly chuckled and remarked. “You sounded confident about your words, Old Man.”

“So, does this place even need the defense of a small local garrison like us? With an army of tens of thousands inside of it, I doubt that there would be any need for us guards. We are merely ceremonially defending this place, and the lord needs a consolidation of his authority. He wouldn’t want Generals to be acting like they own the place.”

His words earned the raised eyebrows of the old guard. It made sense as it was probably the most protected island within the Colonial Dominion, yet the old one had some wisdom that the younglings must learned. “This is a world where sometimes the heavens and the earth can shift along the tides of those chosen by destiny.”

“Besides, while this could be the safest place of the Colonial Dominion. It’s also the most dangerous island. After all, the presence of armies makes us the primary target of our adversaries. You must have heard of the attack days ago? Over a hundred ships sunk, and the battle hadn’t even begun.” The old guard uttered with tested wisdom.

“Our adversaries cannot be underestimated for they wield technologies beyond our understanding. According to the Magus Tower, these ‘humans’ don’t wield mana within their bodies. Yet they were able to command steel behemoths that roam the seas and lay waste to those that dared to trespass their sovereignty.” The old man continued, earning the furrowed eyebrows of the lone guard.

The old guard wasn’t wrong about his remarks regarding their adversaries, the United World Government. It was an offshoot of humanity that was heretical at its core. They were allies of the Beastfolk and even lived amongst the beastly monsters. The thriving Colonial Dominion of Terra had fallen because of their heretical ideologies of freedom for all.

“I doubt they would be able to handle the twenty-four armies of the Colonial Dominions.” The lone guard stated, forcing the old man to stop. The old one gazed at the lone guard and sighed. “That remains as a question waiting to be answered. Even with my confidence and pride to the twenty-four armies that have set foot within the island of Citrus, instincts forged from age and experience-”

“-have brought unsatisfactory feelings to my mind. I have a bad feeling about the war.” Hearing the words of the old man, the lone guard narrowed his gaze. “You did say that it shouldn’t take long for the war to end. Did it come from your senile mouth, Old Man?” He questioned, only to earned the saddened chuckle of the old one.

“I stand by my words, child… The war shouldn’t take too long until it ends. But I didn’t say who would stand as the victor above it all. Just a humble warning child, I believe that you must leave this island. I am already old and am willing to die for it. But you are still young and vigorous.” The old guard warned him before leaving the gate behind with steady yet heavy steps.

The lone guard watched the old man disappear into the distance. Thoughts of leaving the island surged into his mind, but it faded as he shook his head and straightened his back. He had his duty as the garrison guard of Citrus. It would tarnish him if he ran away from what he was supposed to protect. Besides, he was confident that Citrus would stand proudly against their adversaries.

“You should be worrying about yourself, Old Ma-”

Before the lone guard could continue, a piercing light flashed from the skies. It blinded everything below and above it, akin to the emergence of a second sunrise. Moments later, deafening shockwaves echoed as though the air itself cracked. The lone guard squinted his eyes and turned his gaze up, his jaw dropping as he saw behemoths within the skies.

Steel behemoths soared across the heavens, lifted by repulsing thrusters that maintained the stability of the vessels. The alarm bells chimed with dread as soldiers rushed in and out of the town. The lone guard stood frozen in shocked, but the call of his superior quickly pulled him from his trance. “Take your weapons and prepare for battle! We are under attack!”

What followed after the commands of his superior were falling stars exuded from the hulls of the soaring vessels. These blazing spears pierced through the air and descended rapidly towards the island fortress. When these falling stars impacted the ground. Explosions ensued alongside the gleaming light of devastation. It was chaos, and most importantly, a total decimation.

The earth shook as the island itself rumbled. The thunderous blasts echoed throughout the fortress island as the lone guard was forced to take cover under one of the houses nearby. However, it was for naught. One after another, the houses that had stood for decades collapsed. There was nothing he could do but braced for what was about to come.

The lone guard was momentarily thrown unconscious as devastation surrounded him. Smoke and dust shrouded the air as flames ran rampant throughout every corner of the streets. He coughed and mumbled to himself. “What happened? Who were they? How did this happen? Why did they appear out of nowhere?” Thousands of questions plagued his mind. And there was no answer.

He forced himself to stand up as he barely left unscathed from the bombardment that had rocked the entirety of the island. His gaze narrowed as he used his arms to cover his nose from the dust and smoke that consumed the entirety of his sight. If he wanted to survive, he must leave this place. With a pounding heart, he rushed towards the barely standing front door of the collapsed building.

He barely escaped as it crumbled after he had escaped the burning house. As he stood within the streets crowded with rubbles, he noticed the screams and cries of soldiers resounding alongside the chimes of the bells. The lone guard was disoriented for a moment, but quickly picked himself up while his superior called out to him. “Guard! Take this musket and defend our land!”

Even though he barely managed to escape death, he followed orders and picked up the musket. He followed the group of guards who were sprinting towards empty market of the town. He had no idea what was going on, but their enemies must have infiltrated the island fortress during the bombardment. “Sh*t! What the hell is going on?!”

As he was about to reached the corner of the streets, gunfire rang alongside the screams of his fellow guards. He hesitated for a moment before hiding behind a wall. He slowly took a peak and couldn’t see anything other than dust and smoke. But as he squinted his eyes, the lone guard noticed a giant figure standing at the center of the market place.

It stood tall, resembling a giant. But how could there be giants within the Ferus Sea? These abominations should have been stuck within the continent of Europa, and there was no way for them to get washed up here. The so-called giant slowly turned its head towards him while he immediately hid behind the corner. There was no winning against such monsters.

Another group of soldiers emerged, heading towards the directions of the giant. “You mustn’t reveal yourself, there is-” The soldiers didn’t pay any heed to his warnings and rushed onward with determined hearts. Yet, it was of no used. One after another, the soldiers blew up, their blood and organs splattering throughout the decimated walls and streets. They couldn’t even utter a scream.

His heart pounded as his limbs shook. He felt his muscles weakening as though he was an unmoving and feeble deer. Death was around the corner, and he wasn’t ready to face it.