Shortly before Jin prevented the Ether Stampede.
"Is it true? Guillermo Marukitasu has launched an indiscriminate attack on the Pandor Continent?"
Elena was receiving a report at Kashimnole Base. Wattes Schretzer, her military staff officer, stood by her side.
"This could be seen as an opportunity to reclaim Electra Base, but..."
After a moment's hesitation, Elena reached a decision. "As Nostalgia, we cannot turn a blind eye to Guillermo Marukitasu’s actions."
"I quite agree," Wattes Schretzer replied, supporting her choice. "It is high time the world learned that Nostalgia exists."
"Wattes, begin the preparations at once."
"As you wish. They are already underway."
"Excellent."
Elena and Wattes both boarded their flagship, a sixty-meter-class airship. At present, Nostalgia’s fleet consisted of twelve ships of that same model.
"We will sortie with eighty percent of our strength. The remaining twenty percent will stay behind to defend the base."
"Understood."
Ten airships carrying combat golems and general-purpose golems ascended into the sky. Nostalgia was on its way to the Pandor Continent.
＊ ＊ ＊
Nostalgia didn't head for Mahalig, the capital of the Mercana Principality. Instead, they prioritized Taji Village and Fan Village.
"I see combat golems," Wattes noted.
"How many?"
Assessing the enemy was a priority. Wattes immediately activated a specialized magi-device. It was a simplified version of a magi-detector, capable of sensing strong mana signatures from entities like golems.
"Approximately twenty units. Ten in Taji Village, and ten in Fan Village."
"We can handle that. Deploy our new combat golems. And send out the rescue golems as well."
"At once."
The ten airships split into two groups of five, hovering over Taji and Fan. Each ship dropped two combat golems, totaling ten per village. Two rescue golems followed each group. The airships descended to five meters above the ground, and the golems landed with ease.
Elena’s flagship loomed over Taji Village. "Very well. Let’s observe the situation first."
Then, the fighting began.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Aaaah!"
"Run! Get away!"
In Taji Village, the majority of the houses were already in ruins. Mysterious golems had attacked suddenly in the middle of the night.
"Helga, over here!"
"Father!"
Village Chief Sergei had been quick to realize the danger and led a retreat to the spring on the mountain behind the village. Most of the villagers had managed to escape with him.
Miraculously, there were no human casualties yet; the mysterious golems seemed more interested in destroying buildings and facilities than harming people.
"What... what are they?" Helga whispered.
"I don't know."
Flames rose from various points in the village, likely spreading from hearths left unattended.
"Oh no... the fire!" someone wailed.
"We can't put it out... dammit!" Isaac, Helga's childhood friend, struck a tree with his fist in frustration.
The flames grew, and soon the entire village was engulfed in a blaze.
"Our homes..."
"The shop..."
"All our food..."
Shoulders slumped in despair. They had fled with only the clothes on their backs. Some held machetes or sticks, but none had food. They had water from the spring, but they couldn't stay there forever. More importantly, there was no guarantee the golems wouldn't follow them up the mountain.
"Wait, what’s that?"
In the light of the fires, something long and slender could be seen floating in the sky. The villagers didn't realize it was one of Guillermo Marukitasu’s soaring ships.
Just then, with the sound of snapping wood, a golem emerged from the brush.
"Kyaa!"
"Dammit! One of them found us!"
Village Chief Sergei swung his stick, sweeping the golem’s legs. It worked—the mysterious golem tumbled to the ground.
"Now! Get it!"
The armed villagers swarmed it with clubs, branches, machetes, hoes, and stones. But their makeshift weapons barely scratched the metal.
"Gah!"
"Argh!"
With a single sweep of its arm, the golem sent five men flying. One suffered a broken arm, another broken ribs. Three lay unconscious.
The golem stood up and fixed its sights on its next target: Sergei, the man who had tripped it.
"Father!"
Helga squeezed her eyes shut, covering her face. She expected to hear the whistle of a fist and the sound of her father being crushed.
Instead, a dull metallic clang rang out, followed by a tree trunk shattering.
"Whoa!"
Startled by the shouts, Helga peeked through her fingers.
Her father was safe.
A tree lay broken behind him, and beyond it, the enemy golem lay crumpled on the ground. A strange, black golem stood over it.
Standing beside Sergei was another golem—this one silver.
These new arrivals looked nothing like the invaders. While the enemy golem was bulky and armored, these newcomers had sleek, human-like proportions.
Then, the silver one spoke.
"Healing."
The golem cast a spell. Light washed over the injured, instantly mending the broken arm and the fractured ribs.
"Oh!"
"It’s... it’s healed! The pain is gone!"
The golem moved on to treat the unconscious men.
"We’re saved..." Helga whispered, her breath hitching in a sigh of relief.