[Raul POV]
We arrived in the waters around Florentia Island in the morning. From a distance, I could see the capital of the Venetian Republic sitting only about a few kilometers from the ship I was on.
"How is your vision, Raul?" asked Elena, who was beside me.
She was also looking ahead—at the place where we would soon fight. It seemed she asked this because the battle between both sides was imminent.
"Thanks to our routine practice, I think I've been able to adapt to fighting using one eye," I replied to her.
For over a month, I had practiced with Elena every day. Even now, my reactions seemed able to keep pace with someone who wasn't quite as fast as Elena.
After being approximately three kilometers from the Florentia Island harbor, the fleet in the center formation began to advance while the wing formations stopped. Our task was to intercept the Alliance fleet, which had not appeared at all until now. They must still be hiding, waiting for the right time to attack the Imperial fleet from two directions.
"Lower the sails!"
"Await orders to move and maintain positions!"
This warship was filled with 20 crew members and 130 fighters. With a total fleet of 800 ships, the force brought by the Empire for this assault was around 105,000 men. We left the remaining 15,000 to guard the City of Tusculum.
A green flag was seen flying from the fleet in the center of the formation. This flag was the signal to advance slowly. 400 ships then moved forward and began to approach Florentia Island. When the fleet's distance reached 700 meters from the island's harbor fortress, the sound of cannons fired by the enemy was heard.
— BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!
Several ships were hit by a rain of enemy cannon fire. A yellow flag was then raised, signaling the fleet to change their column formation to widen slightly so that enemy cannon fire would be difficult to hit the ships.
"It seems this will be a heavy battle," Elena muttered.
"Of course, this is the decisive battle," I said without shifting my gaze forward. "The enemy will surely deploy all their strength so that we cannot conquer their capital."
However, what I was worried about was not the enemy troops, but something else. A creature that possesses the power to easily tear apart the entire Imperial Fleet.
***
[Siena POV]
The battle has begun; the sound of cannon fire was heard loudly from the harbor walls. However, seeing their fleet being fired upon, the Empire did not remain silent and widened their ship formations, making our cannon fire more difficult to hit the targets. Currently, I am in the lighthouse tower to observe the progress of the battle more broadly.
"Quick! Reload the cannons!"
"Fire at their ships before they reach the harbor area!"
— BOOM!!! BOOM!! BOOM!!!
Our cannon fire once again rained down on the Aragon Imperial Fleet. Several cannons successfully hit their targets and damaged the Imperial ships that were approaching the harbor area. Their distance was still 300 meters away before entering the harbor area. However, before that, they had to destroy the chains blocking their ships from entering. Of course, we would not let them destroy the chains easily.
"Their attack is coming! Take cover!"
However, the Empire also retaliated against our cannon fire with their magic. Dozens of fireballs could be seen hurtling toward the harbor walls where the teams operating the cannons were located.
— Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions were created as the fireballs hit the harbor walls. The troops there were seen being thrown around by the explosions. With this counterattack, their ships easily approached a distance of only 200 meters from the harbor area.
But their attack did not stop there. Ten mages could be seen standing at the front of each of their respective ships. Around their palms, a significant concentration of Mana was created, ready to be fired here.
"A combined spell, is it?" I muttered, feeling a bad premonition.
If the blast from that combined magic hit the harbor walls, it was certain the walls would be destroyed and their fleet could land here more easily. I had to stop it. Drawing my sword, I exited the lighthouse tower and jumped toward the harbor walls.
A giant fireball was created from the combined Mana concentration made by those ten mages.
"Prepare for cover! Their attack will be even stronger this time!" one of the soldiers shouted, warning the others.
I began to analyze the giant fireball. With a size this large, even if I split it with Spatial Magic, the remaining magic projectiles would still hit the harbor area. For that, what I had to do was move it. However, moving magic that large would leave me unable to use my Spatial Nature Mana for a while.
"Their fireball attack is coming!" a soldier shouted.
A very large fireball hurtled here like a comet. The troops on top of the walls scrambled to leave the harbor walls.
"Do not be afraid! Return to your respective posts!" I shouted while gathering Mana in my right palm.
"M-Major Siena! But that giant fireball will—"
"Trust me!" I cut off his words.
The troops returned to their respective positions and began to continue firing at the approaching Imperial ships. On the other hand, I had gathered a significant amount of Mana. Both of my legs began to emit particles of light. Then, I stepped onto this wall as a foothold and leapt toward the giant fireball heading here.
My eyes felt dazzled by the light from the fireball, and my skin began to sear as my body drew closer to it. Extending my right hand forward, a magic circle began to be created.
"Spatial Magic..."
The giant fireball began to make contact with the magic circle I created. I began to feel a powerful pressure, and my right hand started to blister from the intense heat of the flames of this magic.
"Porta Locus!"
The magic circle in my palm then expanded and slowly swallowed the giant fireball. My hand shook very hard trying to control such a large amount of magical energy. Slowly but surely, the giant fireball was swallowed by the magic circle I created until eventually, nothing remained.
I then landed on the chains closing the harbor area and looked toward the Imperial ships being bombarded by our troops' cannons. I extended my right hand again and pointed it at the sky above the enemy ships heading this way.
Feel the impact of your own magic...
"Spatial Gate... Open..."
A magic circle was created right above the front line of those ships. The giant fireball that was previously swallowed reappeared and hurtled down toward the warships. Not long after...
— BOOM!!!!
A super-massive explosion was created and swallowed the Imperial ships in the front line in flames. The magical explosion was so strong it created a giant mushroom cloud towering into the air. Burning wooden debris fell like a meteor shower.
"WOOAAHHHH!!!"
"Major Siena destroyed many enemy ships!"
"That is the greatness of 'The Miracle' of the Venetian Republic!"
All our soldiers who witnessed it looked in awe, and it made their fighting morale higher. But no magnificent magic comes without a side effect. The Spatial Gate magic I used earlier made me unable to use my Spatial Nature Mana for a while. For that reason, this ability cannot be used carelessly.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, something came out of the billows of smoke produced by the giant fireball's explosion. Five drums were seen being thrown out, flying toward the harbor area.
"Shoot and destroy those drums!" I shouted, pointing at the five drums in the air.
Everyone began to fire at the five drums with their rifles. Several mages from the allied nations also fired magical projectiles so that the events that happened at the Regium Fortress City would not be repeated.
— Crack!
Several bullets and spells hit one of the drums until it was destroyed. A mage was seen hiding there, but now he no longer had any protection at all. A hail of bullets rained down on the mage, hitting his body before he reached the harbor area. His body then fell into the sea without any attempt to evade the attacks directed at him.
It seemed one had fallen, but...
The other four drums had now reached the harbor area. Those drums then shattered, revealing four mages who were biting their wrists. They were the Animagus.
This was not good; currently, I could not use my Nature Mana to teleport and kill them all at once before they transformed.
"Gigante del Toro!"
"Gigante del Toro!"
The four Animagus then changed shape into a Gorilla, a Dog, a Bull, and a Giant Bear. The four monsters landed in the harbor area and began to attack our defenses.
— ROOOAARRRR!!!
I hurried to jump from the chains and landed in the harbor area. Next, I activated Asphalt magic and sped toward the Bear monster that was currently attacking the mages from the Draconia Kingdom. Realizing my presence, the bear turned around. I then drew my sword, ready to launch an attack.
— ROOOAARRRR!!!
The bear launched an attack with its massive hand, which had sharp claws. I jumped to evade and landed on its arm and began to run toward the bear's head. However, suddenly he swung his arm upward violently, throwing me far into the air.
My body then began to fall; the giant bear was seen preparing to attack me with its hand and sharp claws. I took a deep breath, activated Avilar magic, and prepared to launch a combat combo I got from Liana de Grantz's sword technique.
— ROOAARRRR!!!!
The bear aimed its claws at me, who was right above it. I then twisted my body to evade those five sharp claws and began to launch the combo I had prepared.
"Moon Blade Dance!"
My body began to spin while slashing the bear's arm many times quickly. Blood splattered everywhere; the monster roared in pain, but it did not stay silent and launched another attack at me with its left hand. Activating Temper magic, I then delivered a slash toward the claws of the bear's left hand that was about to stab me.
— CLANG!!!
My body was thrown back and hit the wall of a building near the harbor area. My strength was not yet enough to surpass the monster's offensive power. Rising back to my feet, the giant bear glared at me atop the roof of this building with irritation. Its right hand now hung limp and useless after receiving my combo attack.
Wasting no time, I reactivated Asphalt magic and ran toward the giant bear. The bear launched another attack with its left hand, but I easily jumped, evading its attack. Next, I kicked off the bear's hand and sped toward its head.
— ROOOAARRRR!!!
The monster shrieked as my sword pierced one of its eyes. He then thrashed his head around, trying to shake me off from here. However, due to its poor vision and balance, the bear instead crashed into nearby buildings and collapsed to the ground. I hurried to jump so as not to be crushed by its massive body, then landed on the roof of one of the buildings.
"Now! Fire at that bear with your weapons and magic!" I ordered the entire force.
Everyone then fired at the bear mercilessly. The giant monster then roared in pain, but the alliance forces did not stop attacking it at all. Not long after, the giant bear's body suddenly began to shrink. Its body eventually changed back into a human again. The Animagus lay in the harbor area with many wounds on his body. It seemed he had died after receiving many concentrated attacks on him.
— ROOOAARRRR!!!
On the other side, I saw the Elite troops from the Draconia Kingdom and the Greco Republic successfully take down two other giant monsters that were rampaging earlier. Only the Gorilla monster remained in this harbor area.
"The harbor chains have been destroyed! Enemy ships are beginning to enter the waters around the docks!"
Hearing the shout of a soldier in the lighthouse tower, I shifted my attention toward the harbor entrance from the sea. Several enemy ships were seen arriving. Because we were too occupied by the Animagus, we lost focus on holding the Imperial fleet back from closing in.
The Imperial troops began to jump down from the ships and land on the docks. Now, hundreds of their troops were starting to fill the harbor area.
"This is bad! We found Imperial troops emerging through the sewers!" one of the soldiers shouted a warning.
Huh? The sewers?
We hadn't considered this possibility at all. That means some Imperial troops had dived to the bottom of the waters around here and entered the city's sewage outlets.
Two different directions of attack, then? But it seemed the Empire did not send many of their Knights into the sewers because it would be very difficult for ordinary soldiers to dive and enter the channels from within the ocean.
The harbor area began to burn due to the intensifying battle between both sides. Black smoke was seen drifting into the air, and its ash fell, polluting the surrounding ocean. But what confused me was not this heartbreaking sight. Rather, it was the black clouds beginning to gather in the sky, blocking out the sunlight and making this region darker. Furthermore, a strong wind suddenly blew as if a great storm were about to strike this place.
"What is actually happening?" I muttered, confused by the sudden and drastic change in weather.
— BOOM!!!
Lightning began to strike from the dark clouds in the sky, the ocean waves also began to grow larger, and heavy rain started to fall.
"There is something strange here."
It was impossible for this extreme weather change to occur in a very short amount of time.
My vow has been called...
Suddenly, I heard a woman's voice from the direction of the ocean. The entire force also looked the same and stopped their combat to look toward the ocean. Several water tornadoes were seen being created in the open sea. However, what caught my attention was the figure of a blue-haired woman standing at the peak of one of the whirlpools appearing in the sea not far from the island.
And now... My soul will return and destroy those who would invade this land as I swore to do.
That...
There is no mistake...
I thought she was merely a legend...
However...
It is true there is a Demigod who made herself the Guardian of this island.