I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 158

Wyverns are commonly called flying dragons.

They are a degenerate species of dragon that cannot use the unique powers or magic of dragons, but as direct descendants of dragons, they have high magic resistance and can shoot fireballs from their mouths.

A frustrating combination of flight, ranged attacks, and high magic resistance.

Fortunately, their weakness is clear. Their physical defense is noticeably low.

Even with an anti-air fire net of Stage 4, it’s not difficult to take them all down.

The problem is… our monster front line hasn’t recovered from the damage sustained in the battle with the Blood Kin.

While fighting the vampires on the ramparts, more than half of our cannons and ballistae were destroyed.

We focused all our efforts on repairs, but we couldn’t fully restore the anti-air fire net.

‘Besides, the composition of these monsters is also a problem.’

Krrr-!

About 20 giant monsters are flying at the very front of the wyvern legion.

These giant lizards with flames flickering all over their bodies are called Flame Wyverns.

They are the tank units of the wyvern legion, absorbing all fire and explosive attacks into their bellies.

They mostly nullify the attack power of cannons and even Burnout’s explosive arrow barrages.

If that wasn’t bad enough, there’s more.

[Enemy Information – STAGE 6]

– Lv.35 Trishula : 3

– Lv.25 Flame Wyvern : 30

– Lv.20 Wyvern : 710

The information for this stage’s boss monster, which had been hidden behind question marks, appeared in the stage enemy information.

Trishula, the three-headed dragon.

A three-headed wyvern, it’s arguably the strongest monster in the wyvern family.

These three elite monsters were designated as the bosses for this stage.

And their names were revealed at the start of the stage.

In other words, they’re not joining in a later wave; they’re coming right from the start.

Looking closely with the telescope, it was true.

The three-headed dragons were flying right behind the Flame Wyverns at the very front.

‘This is just great…’

All sorts of tactics flashed through my mind and then disappeared. There’s no way to take these guys down without taking damage.

Damn it, what can I do? I still have to do what I can.

‘Use the artifact I got last time to redirect the Flame Wyverns, then have Damian snipe them, and Burnout unleash a barrage…’

I finalized my strategy and was about to give the order when…

“My lord!”

Lukas called out to me urgently.

I turned around, wondering what was wrong, and Lukas pointed to the north, the opposite direction from where the monsters were coming.

“Something is coming from the northern sky!”

“What? From the north?”

Surprised, I turned around.

It was as Lukas said. A huge shadow was visible in the distant northern sky.

The unidentified object quickly approached. Lukas, recognizing what it was, shouted.

“That’s… an airship!”

“An airship?”

“A ship that can fly, built with ancient magic!”

I know the word, but! They have those in this world too?!

“I know there are only a few left in the entire continent. And the airship that’s flying towards us now is… !”

Screeeeeech-!

The airship approached, making a sound like it was cutting through the wind.

There were three airships in total.

One black airship with the Imperial family’s symbol, a sword and a rose, and two escort ships covered in thick iron plates on either side.

Lukas recognized the airship in the middle and called out its name.

“The Imperial flagship, ‘Alcatraz’…!”

Facing the wyvern legion flying in from the southern sky, the three airships that appeared from the northern sky flew towards them without slowing down.

Thwoosh-!

Blue flames erupted from the rear of the two escort ships.

The two escort ships, accelerating in an instant, cut across our heads and plunged into the center of the wyvern legion.

Kraaaak-!

The wyverns all shrieked and spat flames from their mouths. Hundreds of fireballs rained down like a storm.

But the wyverns’ flames were blocked and evaporated by the thick armor of the two escort ships.

The magical characters engraved on the escort ships’ armor flashed with a cold light.

What kind of defense magic is plastered on them to block that without taking damage?

The two escort ships, having roughly plunged into the wyvern swarm, pulled out the gun ports built into various parts of their hulls and began firing indiscriminately.

Bang! Kwa-kwa-kwang! Thud-thud-thud…!

A rain of bullets poured down, and monsters fell in all directions, scattering blood and flesh.

The wyvern legion’s front line was torn apart in an instant.

While I was dumbfounded watching this overwhelming firepower, the black airship that arrived a beat later stopped above our heads.

「This is the Imperial Special Task Force ship Alcatraz.」

A voice, as if speaking into a microphone, flowed from the airship.

Clank-

Following that, a hatch below the airship opened, and a soldier slowly appeared.

It was an elderly woman with her black hair tied back, neatly dressed in an Imperial army uniform.

「I am Reina Windwell, the commander of the Imperial Magic Corps, a direct unit of the Imperial family. I have come to the southern front to support the extermination of monsters under the Imperial order.」

The woman—Reina—bowed politely to me.

「From this moment, the command of our ‘support forces’ will be transferred to the Third Prince, Ash.」

“…”

「Please give your orders, Your Highness.」

In this situation, there’s no need for any special orders.

I shouted loudly at Reina.

“Wipe out those monster bastards!”

「Understood.」

Reina bowed politely again, turned her body to the south, and stretched out both hands forward.

Gooooooo…!

Mana in the area vibrated and began to gather around Reina.

Four other mages who had appeared behind Reina began to assist her.

At the same time, a warning sound flowed from the airship Alcatraz.

「Commander’s bombardment is scheduled. Anchor 1 and Anchor 2, temporarily leave the area.」

As soon as the words were spoken, the two escort ships, which had been slaughtering the wyvern legion, quickly moved away, spewing fire from their rear.

The wyverns, who were in the middle of the battle, were confused when the airships suddenly retreated without looking back.

And before they could reorganize their ranks,

Thwoooosh-!

Tornadoes fell from the sky above the monsters.

More than ten huge tornadoes were created and struck the wyvern legion.

Junior, watching this abnormally powerful wind magic, muttered in disbelief.

“A joint magic spell from a five-person wind mage party…? This is absurd-”

I don’t know the principle, but the result was devastating.

High magic resistance or anything else was meaningless.

The wyverns, swept away by the destructive tornado swarm, couldn’t withstand it and fell, or were torn to shreds while trying to hold on.

Thwoooosh-!

The airship Alcatraz also barely held on, spewing flames in the opposite direction from its thrusters.

We, standing on the ramparts, had to crouch down and grab onto anything to avoid being swept away by the wind.

How much time had passed? Tens of seconds? Maybe tens of minutes?

The wind slowly began to die down. When the storm finally subsided, I took a breath and looked at the southern sky.

The normal wyverns were all annihilated, and only about a dozen Flame Wyverns and the three boss monsters, Trishula, were still floating in the sky.

「Indeed, they are of the dragon species. To still be alive after taking that.」

Reina’s voice was heard, expressing admiration.

「Anchor 1, Anchor 2, return to the area. Finish off the remaining monsters. This ship will also join the fight.」

As the order was given, the two escort ships, which had been far away, spewed fire from their rear again and charged towards the remaining wyverns.

Reina bowed to me once more and then went inside the Alcatraz. The hatch slowly closed.

Thwak-!

The Alcatraz also spewed fire from its rear and flew up, joining the battle in the area where the escort ships were fighting.

Bang! Kwang! Thud-thud-thud…!

I watched as the few remaining elite monsters were torn to shreds by the firepower of the three airships and muttered softly.

“…I asked for support forces, but it seems like they sent enough troops to devour this place whole?”

I don’t know the entire organization of the Imperial army.

But I know that these three airships and the mages on board are monsters that the Imperial family has been sharpening their swords and nurturing.

Thanks to them, I might achieve my original goal of ‘defeating the monsters without taking damage’…

“Lukas. Do you know that woman, Reina?”

Lukas answered my question immediately.

“Of course. Reina Windwell. A mage more famous by the alias ‘Cold Wind’. She is a representative figure of the Imperial Magic Corps.”

She was a famous person.

Lukas continued his explanation.

“I thought she had retired from the front lines after the Magic Corps moved its affiliation from the 1st Corps to the direct control of the Imperial family…”

“That’s not the power of a mage who retired from the front lines? It seems she’s been doing something behind the scenes. Those directly under the Imperial family always have something shady about them.”

As I grumbled, I noticed that Junior, who was standing next to me, had a bad expression. I asked carefully.

“Junior? What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Junior smiled bitterly.

“It’s just that, human relationships… they’re so disgustingly persistent.”

“Do you know her?”

“A little.”

Junior stared silently at the black airship that was firing bullets across the sky.

“Just… a little.”

***

Kwa-kwang-!

Thud-thud-thud…

The third head of the last Trishula, crushed by bullets, was torn off, spraying blood.

It fell without even screaming, raising a cloud of dust.

With that, the wyverns were completely annihilated.

After confirming that there were no more monsters left to shoot down, the three airships landed smoothly outside the ramparts.

I led my party members, opened the gate, and went out to meet them.

Clank-

The hatches of the three airships, which had completely landed on the ground, opened simultaneously, raising a cloud of dust.

From the two escort ships, knights and soldiers neatly dressed in Imperial army uniforms came out in formation, and from the Alcatraz, mages walked out.

Looking at the scale of these people lining up in an orderly fashion in front of me, I was inwardly appalled.

There are a lot. Too many.

There seem to be over twenty hero characters, and about two hundred soldiers.

There would be even more if you included the personnel waiting inside the airships.

‘This scale is…’

At that moment, Reina, who had slowly approached me, bowed politely.

“I greet you once again. It is an honor to meet you, Prince Ash.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Lady Reina.”

I pointed at the soldiers behind Reina with my fingertips.

“By the way… the scale of the support forces is much larger than I expected? The Imperial family is more generous than I thought?”

“Ah, these are not support forces.”

Reina corrected me with a thin smile.

“The official support forces dispatched by the Imperial family are 5 officers, including myself, and 50 soldiers.”

“Oh… then what are these other friends?”

“Aren’t you already guessing, Your Highness?”

I bit my lip at the words that followed.

“It is His Majesty’s Imperial order to return to the Imperial Capital, New Terra, immediately.”

“…”

“These friends are escorts dispatched to accompany you back. That is why the Imperial Special Task Force ship Alcatraz was also sent.”

I sighed softly.

“Father called for me… I wonder if I can know the reason?”

“Does His Majesty need a reason to want to see his son?”

“Father is in seclusion in the Imperial Palace. Did Father really call for me? Or is someone else in the Imperial family calling me using Father’s name?”

“I am an ignorant soldier, so I do not know such things. I am only following the Imperial decree given to me.”

Reina, stepping aside, extended her hand towards the open hatch of the Alcatraz.

“Now, please board. I guarantee how comfortable the air travel on the Alcatraz will be.”

“…”

“Surely you are not thinking of refusing the call of the Emperor, are you, Your Highness?”

Reina, without losing her smile, took a step closer to me as I stood there without answering.

At that very moment.

Swish!

Lukas, drawing his sword and stepping forward, pointed the tip of his sword at Reina.

At the same time, Evangeline, deploying her shield, stood in front of me, and Damian, drawing his magic guns in both hands, aimed at the other mages around him.

Junior raised dozens of magic elements above his head, ready to fire them.

Clack! Clack! Clack!

And as if they had expected it, the Imperial knights drew their weapons in response.

The Imperial mages aimed the magic they had pre-casted at my party members, and the soldiers took out their crossbows, ready to shoot.

“His Majesty the Emperor must be very heartbroken.”

In this tense atmosphere, even with Lukas’s sword tip pointed at her neck, Reina didn’t even blink. She muttered.

“That his beloved youngest prince is so disobedient.”