Imperial standard time, 13:00—Camelot.
The first and largest sailing tactical city constructed by mankind sixty-four years ago. At its Central Garden was the Grand Cathedral, the council hall where an important, several-day long meeting to decide mankind’s fate was being held.
…I doubt I’ll get any time to sleep.
From his throne atop the highest platform in the room was the current Emperor, who oversaw the Wiseman Council.
The Emperor—Alzeus Shida O’ltriese. The one chosen by the Senate’s election from among the three royal houses to serve as mankind’s reigning sovereign.
He was currently forty-three years of age, and he would continue to sit upon this throne until he either lost his Holy Sword’s power or was dismissed by the Senate. Thankfully, the power struggles and political assassinations that existed in the Human Integrated Empire’s history were now a thing of the past. With the threat of the Voids leaving mankind on the brink of destruction, no one had time to waste on such foolish acts.
And while the title of Emperor was quite grand, the role was mostly a nominal, symbolic one, with Alzeus himself not having much authority to speak of.
…I’d change places with Alexios, if I could. So thought the Emperor.
In the Senate Hall beneath him, the representatives of each city were in the midst of fervent debate.
“Aren’t communications with the Fourth Assault Garden restored yet?!”
“We’ve confirmed their request for aid already. We should dispatch elite units right away.”
“But the capital has taken severe damages from the earlier Stampede, too.”
“You’re not suggesting we abandon our comrades in the Fourth Assault Garden, are you?”
“I didn’t say that, but there’s still a chance another Stampede might occur.”
“The Human Church’s stance is that we should put our faith in the strength of the Holy Swords…”
“With all due respect, Cardinal, right now we’re discussing realistic solutions!”
This discussion was focused on the Fourth Assault Garden, which was approaching the capital.
—Fourteen hours ago, after the Fourth Assault Garden’s distress signal arrived, it disappeared into a Void Reef. And eight hours later, one of the capital’s unmanned drones returned footage of the Fourth Assault Garden’s new, transformed state.
The great industrial city had become a massive Hive enveloped in Void miasma. What had happened to the Academia—with its many Holy Swordsmen and its hundreds of thousands of civilians—was still unknown.
“—If we do nothing, it’ll be a repeat of the Third Assault Garden,” someone said, stunning all the senators into silence and pained expressions.
The tragedy that took place in Crystalia six years ago was still fresh in everyone’s memories.
“Do we know where Governor Deinfraude is?” asked one of the senators.
“No, we’re currently searching for him,” replied a member of the city guard.
The governor of the Fourth Assault Garden, Deinfraude Phillet, arrived at the capital a few weeks ago to watch the Holy Sword Dance Festival. But now, just as this emergency was upon them, he was missing.
“Forget the governor. For now, we must discuss the situation at hand.”
“True. If the Fourth Assault Garden remains on its route, it’ll cross the Capital’s first defensive line in twenty-one hours.”
The Senate Hall went quiet.
—Indeed, the Fourth Assault Garden was charging right at the capital at a speed so high it could very well make its mana furnace go haywire.
A gigantic Void Hive was charging at the capital. This wasn’t a situation any of them could have anticipated.
“Twenty-one hours… We won’t be able to avoid it in time—” One of the senators shook his head.
Since the capital was the largest Assault Garden, its movement speed was the lowest. And to make things worse, it was docked with the Seventh Assault Garden, which was having its Mana Furnace exchanged, and the Eighth Assault Garden was under construction, so it naturally couldn’t move.
“The battleship Endymion should arrive in two hours.”
“Ooh…”
This was the sole bit of good news they heard in this situation. The Hyperion’s sister vessel, Endymion, had been dispatched from the Second Assault Garden as reinforcements to respond to the Stampede that began thirty-two hours ago. Of course, a sole battleship wouldn’t do much in this situation, but right now, every little bit of hope was welcome.
“—We have no choice but to intercept it.” Alzeus spoke up.
All the senators turned their eyes to the Emperor.
“Abandoning the Fourth Assault Garden is not an option. The Integrated Human Empire is tasked with guiding mankind to its future. If we leave innocent civilians to their deaths, all mankind will turn their backs on us.”
“Ooh…”
The Senate Hall filled with voices of admiration. Everyone knew this would be the conclusion they had to reach to begin with.
Alzeus rose from his seat. “The power of the Holy Swords given to us by the planet will keep us safe!”
“Ooh, ooooooh!”
The Senate Hall filled with exclamations of resolve. Some of the senators were seasoned Holy Swordsmen, among those given Holy Swords and fought in the Void invasion sixty-four years ago. Had the powers of their Holy Swords not faded with old age, they would have been all but resolved to set out and fight personally, even now.
“Y-you’re right! We must save the people!”
“Our Holy Swords did stop the Stampede, after all!”
But just as voices of fervor and excitement filled the hall—
“—You think you were the ones who stopped the Stampede? Truly?”
A sneering voice echoed through the room.
The Senate Hall went quiet at once, like everyone was doused with cold water.
“…Who just spoke?” Alzeus asked silently.
The dozen or so senators exchanged confused gazes.
“Fools, who do you think truly defeated that Void Lord?”
A shadow clad in a black mantle appeared in the middle of the Senate Hall. The shadow wore a skull mask and let off a chilling sense of presence.
“…Wh-who are you?!”
One of the senators raised his voice in anger. In response, the shadow answered with a flap of his mantle and introduced himself.
“My name is Zol Vadis! A Dark Lord risen from the deepest reaches of the abyss!”