He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 280

“Ugh, it’s cold. Another day of this damned border patrol.”

In the northernmost part of the Empire, at a remote fortress, soldiers began to relieve their comrades in the early dawn, as twilight began to settle.

Although the northern region had been manipulating the climate using Frostfire for quite some time, the northern ‘Ironclad Fortress’ was frozen solid with ice.

It was too precious to spread the valuable Frostfire to regions like this remote fortress. And from a defensive tactical standpoint, the bitter cold was preferable.

“Yo, you finally here? I thought my jaw would drop waiting for you.”

“I’m here early, you moron. Now get down there. Oh, they’re serving onion stew this morning.”

“Ugh. Again? I can’t eat that stuff, it’s disgusting. Can’t they give us meat?”

“Don’t complain, you brat. More importantly, did anything happen last night?”

At his comrade’s question, the soldier shook his head.

“What could happen in this cold that would freeze even a demon to death?”

“But I heard the movements of the Demon race have been suspicious lately…”

“When weren’t they? But they hardly ever invade, except for a few times. It’ll probably be the same this time.”

The northern demons were known to be fearsome, but they had never actually launched a full-scale invasion of the Empire.

There had been a few localized provocations, but each time, His Majesty the Emperor had come in person to resolve the situation. The demons seemed to fear him and retreated each time.

Thus, the north had prospered to an extent that was incomparable to the days when the Empire was declining and desperately poor.

Now, a generation was emerging that did not even remember the chaotic times in the north.

“Is that so? Anyway, I’m relieved… Huh? What’s that?”

“Huh?”

As they finished their chat and were about to change shifts, they saw something shining brightly in the dim sky.

At first glance, it looked like a comet, but it was green. A green with an ominous feeling.

And their numbers were gradually increasing, filling the sky.

“O-oh… It’s coming this way!”

“T-that’s an air raid! Emergency! Emer-”

KWAANG!

Soon, balls of green fire rained down from the sky. They struck the fortress relentlessly.

The ramparts, which had been called ironclad, fortunately held firm, but the projectiles, which flew at high angles visible from the sky, relentlessly pounded the inside of the fortress.

Naturally, the interior turned into a scene of chaos. But the misfortune did not end there.

“The Ratmen are digging tunnels and invading!”

“Flying monsters are coming! All units, anti-air fire!”

“Damn it, everyone to defensive positions! Move quickly!”

It was an unprecedented large-scale air raid. And it was not just the north, but also the east and west; even the Empire’s allies were being attacked simultaneously.

Everyone who received the news was shocked. And everyone could sense it.

The war to end all wars had begun.

* * *

“What’s the situation in the north?”

“Currently, we are deploying defenses relying on the fortresses, but the situation is not good. The offensive is happening so simultaneously…”

I nodded at the words of the Captain of the Guard. Igrid had made many preparations in the north, but the frozen land was not a good environment for defense.

The ground was frozen, making it difficult to dig trenches, and it was not easy to build fortresses. Still, many fortresses had been built on the Demon Realm front, but the problem was that the fortresses themselves were not as strong as they used to be.

Just as the Empire had cannons, the other side also had the same cannons or alternatives. Besides that, the demons had endless ways to break through or bypass the fortress walls.

Of course, it was still enough to buy time as it was now. In other words, the fortresses in the front were ultimately meant to buy time.

“We must go to support them.”

“But Your Majesty, the Elves and Orcs have each requested support.”

“We can barely manage ourselves right now. Tell them to hold out on their own for a while, considering how much we’ve supported them so far.”

Right now, we cannot afford to support the Elves or Orcs, who can be considered the wings of the alliance. Rather, I hope they will endure this time, and that is why I have been trying to appease or maintain them until now.

What I am really worried about is only one thing.

“Has the Creator God’s movement been detected?”

“There have been no sightings of any being presumed to be him yet.”

“Is he still being cautious, or does he have other intentions…”

After defeating the Beast King and striking the Hive in the Southern Continent, I sensed that the time had come and hurried back to the homeland.

And inevitably, the enemies’ offensive began. But the Creator God himself has not yet revealed himself.

Is he sending troops or mid-level bosses first, as final bosses often do in games, and then appearing himself at the end?

You might say that’s nonsense like a game, but it was surprisingly possible for the Creator God, because that Creator God’s way of thinking *is* the game itself.

“In any case, we must quickly support the north. Prepare the warp gate. Mobilize all reserve energy to send troops through the gate–”

“Y-Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!”

While giving orders to the officials, someone rushed into the audience hall where the meeting was being held.

“What is it?”

“I-I’m sorry, but you should check outside. Outside… in the sky…”

As the terrified soldier shouted, I immediately rose from the throne and walked towards the terrace of the Imperial Palace. Then I could see why he was so frightened.

“That is…”

“A giant floating island… It is being transmitted through a giant gate. It seems to be heavily armed.”

Floating islands, which are strategic weapons of this era, have one disadvantage: their size is too large to use portals or warp gates.

But that is only because the conditions or cost-effectiveness of creating such a gate are not met. If there was enough leeway to do it, it was not theoretically impossible. And it seemed that it was not impossible for the Creator God.

Militarily armed floating islands were appearing one by one in the sky above the imperial capital, Augsburg.

“So, you’re not going to take us lightly like before.”

It was clearly a more threatening attack than anything that had existed so far.

But it was also true that we had been preparing to some extent.

“Quickly evacuate the citizens to shelters. Is the Capital Defense Force ready?”

“Of course, Your Majesty. We will immediately respond to the enemy’s invasion.”

The Captain of the Guard and the generals replied. I nodded and said to everyone.

“Finally, the true final battle has begun. Fight against the enemies of the Empire without an inch of retreat.”

Whether they remain or we remain, the battle where only one of us will remain has truly begun.

* * *

“D-dodge! The bombing is coming! Aaaagh!”

KWAANG!

Extensive laser bombardments rained down from the floating islands covering the sky of the capital. At the same time, the Celestial Race descended like angels of death.

The Celestial Race began to attack humans relentlessly. Unlike the debacle in the New Continent, this time they had significantly advanced armor and weapons.

So they were not easily neutralized by the Imperial Army’s fire. Even when knights engaged in close combat, they were able to cope to some extent and compete.

The Capital Defense Force was risking their lives to evacuate the citizens, but it seemed difficult to defend the capital with them alone. The capital of the Empire was clearly burning.

“Ohohoho! Finally, it’s time to take revenge on these eyesore Empire bastards!”

There was someone who was happily watching it. It was none other than Minerva, the leader of the Celestial Race rebels.

“I’m going to repay everything I’ve suffered so far. Increase the firepower even more! I’m going to turn this city into ashes!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

She was excitedly giving orders from the largest armed floating island. At this rate, it seemed like she could literally turn the capital of the Empire into ruins.

“Your Majesty! Enemy fleets have appeared! Armed floating islands and airships!”

“Hmph, even if they’re rotten, they’re still crucian carp [a type of small fish]. It seems they’ve prepared. But they won’t be able to match our power now! Sink them all!”

Soon, the Empire’s defense fleet appeared, but it was not a problem at all.

Pung! Pung Pung! Pung!

“Barrier deployed. All enemy shells are being defended.”

Various bombardments were launched from the airships and floating islands. But no attack worked on the floating island that deployed the antimatter barrier.

“Hmph, I should see the Emperor’s desperate face myself.”

“Your Majesty, shall we counterattack?”

“Do so. Send out the flying squadron.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

At Minerva’s command, thousands of flying objects began to sortie from the floating island.

Those shaped like elongated dishes were faster than the Empire’s prop planes. Surpassing the Empire’s airships and fighters in aircraft performance, they began to overwhelm them.

Minerva smiled as she watched those scenes.

“Ohohoho! I’ve finally won! Although I’ve been defeated so far, the ultimate winner is me–”

Kugugugung-!

But as soon as she finished speaking, the floating island she was on shook violently.

“W-what’s going on?”

“T-the antimatter barrier has taken a big hit!”

“The floating islands are being attacked simultaneously!”

“Where, what is attacking us?”

It was clearly a successful surprise attack. No matter how prepared they were, I thought there was no way they would have a means to counter such a floating island.

Except for one thing that bothered me.

“Your Majesty, it’s ‘that’.”

“Railgun…”

The powerful ancient weapon I saw in the Dwarf King’s armory in the New Continent.

It was an attack by that.

“The coordinates are the enemy’s Imperial Palace. That railgun is installed in the Imperial Palace.”

“Then bomb that place!”

“The enemy’s defenses are too thick! The fleet is blocking us, so if we attack recklessly, we’ll also…”

“Kkeueueueue… Then attack with the ground forces that have landed! You must! You must burn this city down!”

Minerva showed a nervous reaction. She had almost won, but she couldn’t be held back here.

At her urging, the Celestial Race began to send down all available forces. All of them were forces that had been trained in the Demon Realm for this moment.

“All assault units have been sent down. They will soon begin to advance to the Imperial Palace.”

“Good! Today is the day to kill that Emperor!”

The Emperor of those humans who I want to tear apart and kill. I will kill him.

“And I will be the one who receives the Creator God’s favor.”

Minerva was lost in the thought of ruling the world and the heavens once again under his favor.