"Enemy golems activated. Some are heading to the surface. Exercise caution."
The report came in from Urgan.
"Your Excellency, did you hear that?"
"Indeed... Have the security golems prepare to intercept."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The five security golems they had brought with them lined up and readied their weapons toward the entrance of the abandoned mine.
The five units each wielded different armaments: a sword, a spear, a mace, a shield, and a bow. This composition likely formed a single standard squad.
Behind them, ten security guards drew their swords and formed a perimeter. The remaining ten acted as a mobile unit, prepared to move where needed.
＊ ＊ ＊
Deep underground, Lordtoss’s golem, Urgan, was fighting a desperate battle.
Facing three enemy golems, it did not retreat a single step.
The narrow tunnels of the mine worked in its favor, preventing the enemy from fully utilizing their numerical advantage. The inability of either side to use high-powered offensive magic in such a confined space also helped, but it was still a magnificent effort on Urgan's part.
Nevertheless, sixteen other golems had already bypassed Urgan and were marching toward the surface.
"Sixteen units have headed outside! Please be careful!"
Urgan sent the transmission to Lordtoss.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Be on your guard! Sixteen enemy golems are coming out!" Lordtoss shouted, relaying Urgan's report.
Upon hearing this, Duke Blue issued her orders. Moments later, golems began to emerge from the darkness of the mine one after another.
"All hands, battle stations! Here they come!"
The duke boarded her Blow Floater and ascended to a height of about ten meters. From that vantage point, she could command the entire field of battle.
It was a wise move, as it was far safer than remaining on the ground.
"Reiko, can you go in and support Urgan? Hope, we’re taking off as well."
Jin gave his own instructions to Reiko and Hope.
"Understood. I shall return shortly."
Enveloping herself in an Invisible barrier—the superior version of Stealth magic—Reiko raced toward the mine like a gale.
On her way in, the rearmost of the sixteen enemy golems happened to be in her path, so she simply swatted it aside.
"...These golems are of no great consequence, though the duke’s models are much the same. I must hurry."
As far as Reiko was concerned, her only priority was returning to Jin’s side as quickly as possible.
After a minute of sprinting through the tunnels, the sound of dull metallic impacts reached her ears.
"That must be Urgan."
As she rounded a slight curve, the tunnel opened up into a wider chamber.
There, she saw Urgan holding its own in a three-on-one melee. Deactivating her Invisible magic, Reiko spoke a single phrase.
"I shall assist."
She stepped forward and punched one of the enemy golems square in the chest.
While Urgan’s punches had required two strikes to breach the enemy's chest armor, Reiko’s single blow pulverized the plating and sent the golem flying back.
Now that the odds were two-on-one, Urgan began to systematically overwhelm the remaining enemies. With Reiko joining the fray, the skirmish ended in seconds.
"Sixteen units have already reached the surface. We should return for now."
Reiko had already seen via the Peeping Telescope, or "Peeper," that the five individuals who had been deep inside had already escaped. She suggested they prioritize wiping out the combat golems outside rather than conducting an immediate internal search.
Urgan deferred to her judgment, and the two began making their way back to the surface.
＊ ＊ ＊
"They are quite resilient!"
On the surface, the five security golems brought by Duke Blue were locked in a fierce struggle against fifteen enemy golems.
The ten security guards remained in the rear, providing support from a distance with Fireball and Wind Bullet magic.
While these magic attacks were only strong enough to harry the enemy golems, they served as an effective distraction. Despite the three-to-one numerical disadvantage, the security golems were managing to fight on equal footing.
"There is no way Markitus could have prepared a force like this alone. He must have had trusted subordinates. They are likely the ones who built these golems."
"I suspect you're right. From the look of them, they're quite close to the Avalon-style."
Jin and Lordtoss continued their analysis of the enemy.
"I see. However, they're inferior to the ones Markitus used personally," Jin noted.
To Jin's eyes, these models didn't even come close to the combat golems Markitus had once commanded.
(If that’s the case, the models Markitus used were probably built with the assistance of the assistant automata created by the Progenitors. These ones, however, were likely made by ordinary technicians.)
His deduction hit the mark.
There were indeed technicians who had provided support for the mass production of combat golems and the construction of soaring ships. They were the true masterminds behind the current incident.
＊ ＊ ＊
"...We managed to escape, at least."
"Mm."
"But it seems we are still woefully underprepared."
"The results would suggest so, yes."
"But now that we've relocated here, there's no turning back."
The five individuals from the depths of the mine had escaped to another base via a teleportation magic circle.
"This is the final stronghold of the Magic Federation that we built together with Lord Markitus, after all."
In truth, the actual "final stronghold" was a set of ruins atop Mount Nakyu, the highest peak of the Pandor Continent, but they had never been told of its existence.
The place they currently occupied was a base established by Golbart Markitus. It also served as the Magic Federation's largest arsenal.
"Let us consider our next move."
The five of them were technicians by trade, largely inexperienced in strategy or field operations. Because of this, their previous attack on Avalon had been suppressed before they could achieve any significant results.
"I feel like I've heard somewhere that the piecemeal commitment of forces is a poor strategy."
"A bit late for that observation, don't you think?"
"We can simply apply the lesson to the next time."
"Regardless, our only choice now is to build up our power at this base."
＊ ＊ ＊
"I shall assist!"
Urgan emerged from the mine and joined the battle alongside Duke Blue’s security golems.
Meanwhile, Reiko once again vanished into an Invisible state and returned to Jin’s side.
"Good work, Reiko," Jin said, welcoming her back.
"Father, there is no one left deep inside the mine. What are your orders?"
After listening to the brief report, Jin paused to think.
"Well... I’d like to investigate the interior, but it wouldn't do to slight Duke Blue by ignoring the battle. Let's finish the fighting first."
Jin told Reiko to join the engagement, though he specifically instructed her to limit her output to ten percent.
"Understood!"
Reiko donned her combat gear, which she had summoned from Hourai Island via the transporter. She equipped her hachigane, chest protector, gauntlets, and greaves.
With Touka in hand, Reiko stepped onto the battlefield.