Alright, so now I knew where the Corpse Eaters were coming from.
At the very least, if I killed this thing, the damage they caused would decrease.
I was defending everyone with Barriers, but Tatiana’s manpower was limited. If I could wipe out the source, the casualties would drop.
I wouldn’t say I had no desire for revenge in my heart. However, this was my responsibility as the King of Chronos.
The citizens of Chronos—now including those from Magellan, Ozen, Parcion, and even parts of the Repsitore Nation—were not pawns. Yet, treating the Chronos soldiers like pawns was a burden I had to bear as a ruler.
My emotions didn’t matter. I had to act as a machine supervising the army, completely stripping away my feelings. I would disregard my own political standing if I had to. I’d learned that much from Wifey. It resulted in fewer casualties, so that was what I would do.
Though in reality... even when I tried to treat them like pawns, they didn’t exactly move like them! Because they weren't pawns!
I was starting to see the limits of backroom negotiations, too. This mission had really driven that home.
I was still a total failure as a king. Honestly, I wasn't suited for the throne at all.
That aside, I had to prioritize the emotions of the people. The voices of resentment calling for the slaughter of the Corpse Eaters represented the most important campaign promise the citizens expected me to keep. "I can't do it" was not an acceptable answer.
Once this operation ended, I’d probably have to put the person in charge of the Parcion Army on military trial. Those Parcion guys... they were probably doing this knowing full well that would happen.
Dammit! I’m a total sucker for those no-guard tactics! Every person who’s ever gotten the better of me used a no-guard strategy!
Which meant right now... the thing I had to be most wary of was a no-guard tactic from the Corpse Eaters.
"All ships, all-out attack!"
Every conceivable attack was rained down upon the Planet-class Corpse Eater.
The situation was actually better than facing a Zork Mother. The reason that big lug couldn't perform omnidirectional or continuous attacks was quite simple: it was just too damn big.
Even that railgun from before was a suicide attack that destroyed the creature's own cells. It didn't even have the heat-insulating outer hull of a Zork. On top of that, it was firing plasma-fied meteors! It was collapsing rapidly while regenerating just as fast.
So where was that energy coming from? The use of energy is nothing more than a conversion into something else—heat, for example. Heat dissipation is a nightmare for battleships, Planet-class Fortresses, and humanoid fighters alike.
In all likelihood, that Planet-class Corpse Eater would self-destruct from its own heat the moment it attempted a continuous barrage. In short, it was a unit designed entirely for defense. By forcing it to the front lines, we’d effectively achieved checkmate.
For once, this was a total strategic victory. This was what you called a real "intellectual play."
...Though the fact that my allies wouldn't listen to me almost made the whole thing fall apart.
Just as I felt certain of our victory, a voice echoed directly in my head.
"Servants of 'The World.' Witness the power of 'The Star'."
Everyone froze for a heartbeat. Of course they did.
In the next instant, Himorogi-chan began to glow. My machine, Tatiana’s, and even Leonidas-kun’s machines glowed in response.
"'The World' will protect everyone," came Zashiki-warashi's voice.
"O King who defies God. I shall dispose of you here."
I felt a wave of pure, murderous intent wash over my body. I already knew what was coming next.
"Temperature of the Planet-class Corpse Eater is rising!"
I figured as much!
The Planet-class Corpse Eater began to burn like a fixed star.
"Massive energy signature!"
The fact that they didn't tell us to dodge meant there was nowhere to run! Hah! So this was why I’d felt like we needed to get inside! Are you really planning to turn your last resort into a giant bomb?!
The only stroke of luck was that the attack didn't come immediately. It wouldn't reach those temperatures instantly; it needed to charge. If we tucked tail and ran now, we might have a chance...
"This is Leonidas. Charging."
Leonidas-kun chose to charge.
He had the "death-return" ability. Was he simulating this in his head, or was he actually redoing it? I didn't know. There was no way to observe it.
But Leonidas-kun had made an irrational choice. That meant it was best to assume he had already died several times in this exact spot.
I followed his charge without a word. I had to catch up to him.
"I-I'm going too!"
"Tatiana, stay in the rear!" I shouted. I couldn't let my comrades on the battleship be sacrificed. Besides, in her separated state, her maneuverability was a bit lacking. Tatiana couldn't move as freely as Leonidas-kun or me.
"Imperial Guard, stay back too! That's an order!"
Honestly, they’d just be in the way.
"But I'm fine, right?"
One old guy had followed us on his own.
Katori-senseeeeeeeeeeeeei!
"If Master Katori is going, then I must go as well!"
Saria's Daaaaaaaaaaaad! Or should I say, Great King! I mean, he was one of the strongest pilots in the galaxy, but still!
"This is Lieutenant Junko Mizoguchi! The drone unit will provide support!"
Mizoguchi-shan!
The ratio of middle-aged men in this group was incredibly high. Talk about overwhelming pressure.
Hah-hah-hah! We’d definitely won this!
Here was a message for the self-proclaimed god called a "star": Bring it on, you idiot!
I saw the Corpse Eater ahead, glowing intensely. It was already starting to collapse from the inside.
The ghoul battleships attacked, but Leonidas-kun sent over the evasion routes before the shots were even fired.
Just how many times did you die, man?! Stop it, your mind won't be able to take it!
"If we destroy the core inside... we can stop it relatively safely," Leonidas-kun said.
Which meant there was a timeline where only he survived. Dammit, I couldn't stop him, but I knew this was taking a toll on him!
We pushed through the interior. Smaller Corpse Eaters and attack craft I'd never seen before swarmed us.
"We don't have time for them!"
"Both of you, dodge!"
"Understood!"
We evaded the incoming fire and pushed deeper. A beam grazed one of the enemy craft, but the damage was minimal. It didn't matter.
"Ha, hahahahahaha! This is starting to get fun! Leonidas! You'd better duel me later!" Katori-sensei cackled, sounding like a complete maniac.
"Absolutely not," Leonidas-kun replied.
I figured as much. I wouldn't want to either.
"I, too, wish for a match with Leonidas," the Great King added.
"No."
We dodged and dodged until we finally reached the deepest sanctum. Whew. We’d covered a ridiculous distance.
"Core located! Commencing destruction. Uta, I'm counting on you for the sniping!"
The core... was a heart. It was pulsing with light, likely on the verge of collapsing from the heat.
"Charge!" I shouted, drawing my katana.
I moved carefully to stay out of Leonidas-kun’s line of fire. His shots, coordinated with Big Sister-in-Law Uta, slammed into the core. A hole opened up.
I slashed at the opening, followed immediately by Katori-sensei. And then the Great King...
"Behold the wrath of Kijinkoku... and our Great Alliance!"
He totally stole the finishing blow...
It didn't quite end with a clean cleaving in two. However, the heart peeled open, and the light grew blindingly intense.
"Everyone, huddle up here! Listen, don't you dare go against the flow! Don't you dare use your thrusters for posture control either! Got it?!"
Ah, this was the part where we were going to die...
In a panic, we all clustered near Leonidas-kun’s machine. We gripped each other’s mechanical hands, bracing for the impact... but I didn't even have time to steady my heart before it exploded.
And there’s the explosion ending.