October 15, slightly before 4:00 a.m. local time.
Deep within the subterranean temporary headquarters of Nostalgia on Toryu Island.
Before the assembly of members poised to storm Kashimnole Base via the Warp Gate and execute the reclamation operation, Elena, the Honorary Advisor, delivered her final instructions.
"……That is all from me. Please, everyone, stay safe."
Elena would remain at headquarters to oversee the overall situation and issue commands.
Every member had been provided with a magi-device for communication. While not as compact as a manacam, these devices allowed for speech between specific pairs—essentially super-miniaturized transceivers based on the manaphone.
Roughly the size of a standard handheld radio, thirty of these devices were lined up before Elena. Only Elena possessed the mental capacity to manage thirty individual manaphone streams and process the incoming information simultaneously.
Then, at exactly 4:00 a.m.
"Commence the operation!"
The thirty members filed into the Emergency Warp Gate in sequence. One golem teleported for every three people. Within three minutes, the thirty members of the Assault Force and nine golems had completed their transit.
"Please, come back safely..." Elena whispered, praying for the mission's success.
Meanwhile, on Hourai Island, Jin and Laojun were also watching the operation unfold through the Peeping Telescope, monitoring the progress of their allies.
＊ ＊ ＊
The Emergency Warp Gate was located on the tenth basement level of Kashimnole Base.
As the majority of the base was constructed underground, the standard protocol for an emergency was to retreat deeper into the facility rather than toward the surface.
The thirty humans and nine golems paused within the Warp Gate room to assess their surroundings. The room occupied by the Assault Force was roughly the size of a school classroom, dimly lit by the pale glow of emergency Ether Lights.
They peered through the door, but the corridor was empty. The first stage of the operation had been a success.
"Alright, we're moving out as planned."
They split into teams of three people and one golem. Three individuals remained behind to guard the Emergency Warp Gate and secure their only route of retreat.
Opening the disguised door cautiously, the nine teams scattered throughout the base, moving as silently as possible.
The local time at Kashimnole Base was 3:30 a.m. It was the hour when most of the personnel were deep in sleep.
Alum Pit led one of the teams. Having been brainwashed and forced to labor here, she was intimately familiar with the facility's recent layout.
"We're heading to the seventh basement!"
The three humans and their golem companion hurried up the emergency stairs.
The seventh basement was the floor where Alum had worked. It was officially the floor where magi craftsmen conducted research, but in practice, it was a dumping ground for those assigned to menial or unimportant tasks. The living quarters were on the same floor, and every person stationed there had been brainwashed.
"Gyah!"
"Gwah!"
"W-Who are you... Gah!?"
"Intruders?...Gyaah!"
Alum’s team moved through the floor, systematically de-brainwashing the four guards and researchers they encountered. The magi-device used for de-brainwashing was far cruder than the refined methods of the medical automata Lise; its primary drawback was that it took considerable time for the subjects to regain their full senses.
"I’ll stay here and explain things to them," one of the team members volunteered.
"The rest of us are proceeding to the third basement as planned," Alum said.
"Understood. Once these people are lucid, we'll all follow after you."
"We're counting on you."
With Alum in the lead, the team headed back to the stairs. The third basement was the base's most expansive level and housed the command room. They expected the heaviest security and the fiercest resistance there.
＊ ＊ ＊
"The Nostalgia Assault Force is handling themselves quite well."
"Indeed."
On Hourai Island, Laojun monitored the situation alongside Jin, ready to intervene at a moment's notice.
＊ ＊ ＊
Fighting had already broken out on the third basement.
"Golems, eliminate the intruders!...W-What!?"
The Magic Federation members tried to command their combat golems to intercept the invaders, but the machines refused to obey—or rather, they failed to recognize the intruders as enemies at all.
(The forged identification cards are working perfectly so far!)
Three teams—nine humans and three golems—had been deployed to this level. They were facing fifteen Magic Federation members and four enemy golems. Since the Magic Federation's golems remained idle, the Nostalgia forces held a clear advantage.
And then, Alum's team arrived.
"We’re joining the fray!"
With their arrival, the tide of battle swung decisively in Nostalgia's favor.
"Gwah!"
"Gyaa!"
They focused on knocking out anyone whose status was uncertain. Within fifteen minutes of their breach, the command room had been secured. The battle for the third basement was a victory for Nostalgia.
"We did it!"
"We have some wounded, but no one is out of the fight. Lady Elena will be pleased."
However, the most violent confrontation in Kashimnole Base took place on the ground floor.
Ten young members of the Magic Federation were stationed there. These were the "enforcers"—combat specialists responsible for the base's security. Unlike the Nostalgia side, which adhered to a strict non-lethal policy, the Magic Federation forces fought without restraint, gradually forcing the invaders onto the defensive.
"Fire Bullet!"
"Thunderbolt!!"
Nostalgia fought to drive the Magic Federation members back into the base, while the Federation forces attempted to break out and regroup in the open. A magical barrage unfolded at the base entrance—or more accurately, the Magic Federation launched a one-sided magical assault.
Nostalgia’s combat golems intercepted the magical bombardment, but as the damage mounted, it became unclear how much longer their lines could hold.
"Hold the line! Don't let them escape!"
Finally, one of Nostalgia’s combat golems exceeded its endurance threshold, ceased all movement, and toppled over.
"Dammit! Keep at it! Reinforcements are coming!!"
It wasn't just a desperate hope. It was a conviction that the teams securing other areas would soon converge on their location.
That conviction was soon rewarded.
"Are you all right!?"
"Oh, we've been waiting for you!!"
"Crap, from behind!?"
"Gyaaaa!"
The team that had secured the basement arrived. Caught in a pincer movement, the fierce struggle on the ground floor finally came to an end.
＊ ＊ ＊
"It seems they were able to suppress the base before the Guardian could wake up. That is a relief."
On Hourai Island, Laojun had just welcomed back the Shinobi Squad, whom it had dispatched to ensure the Guardian’s startup sequence was sabotaged. Without the Guardian to turn the tide, Nostalgia's victory was assured.
The operation to reclaim Kashimnole Base was finally entering its final stages.