A volley from the main cannons tore into the Zork swarm.
At the start of the conflict, our weaponry had been utterly ineffective against them. That was the primary reason we had suffered defeat after defeat.
However, the main batteries of these newly built anti-Zork ships were expected to be more than a match for their armor.
"Lord Thomas! Direct hits on the Bee-type Zork! They’re detonating! We’re within the safety perimeter, but a shockwave is inbound!"
"Brace for impact!"
The ship groaned and shuddered violently. I stumbled for a moment but immediately regained my footing.
"Several enemy Battleship-types were caught in the blast and heavily damaged! It worked!"
"Maintain full power on all batteries! Relay the order to our allies!"
"Yes, sir!"
Under the weight of the coordinated barrage from our fleet and the allied forces, the Battleship-types were sent to the abyss one after another.
We could win this.
Just as that sense of relief washed over me, one of the Battleship-types began to glow a deep crimson.
"Battleship-type is glowing red... Heat signature detected! It’s going to self-destruct!"
So, it had come to this.
Yes, of course. I should have known.
For them, this entire situation was an anomaly. They had likely expected the Planet-type’s self-destruction to wipe out the entire expeditionary fleet along with Veronica.
The Zork were desperate now. Their sole objective was our absolute elimination, regardless of the cost in resources.
I couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.
"L-Lord Thomas?"
"Heh... heh-heh. Oh, you wretched Zork. You underestimate us! Do you think we still fear death at this late stage?! As long as the Emperor and Leo Kamishiro survive, it is our victory! All ships, general assault! Protect Her Majesty the Emperor!"
Cyrus laughed along with me.
"I am with you, Lord Thomas! Long live the Galactic Empire!"
The other Lords joined in with boisterous laughter.
"Hah-hah-hah! This will make a fine story to tell my wife in the afterlife!"
"Indeed! I’ll have plenty to brag about to my son!"
"Yes! I’ll tell my daughter and her family that I’ve finally taken their revenge!"
The fighter pilots shared the same sentiment.
"Resupply complete! Launching for another sortie!"
"Let's show them how the Empire fights!"
Every one of them had lost family to the Zork. It was a foregone conclusion that many noble houses would reach their end here. It wasn't just the dismantling of the Duke Association; the Zork had already slaughtered the heirs of countless families.
Leo Kamishiro was a hero, certainly. But even a hero couldn't save everyone.
He couldn't save them. He couldn't even save my friends...
I, too, had lost so many.
The Battleship-type emitted a blinding radiance.
Ah, finally. Finally, I would be released from my sins. Wait for me, my friends.
But that final moment never came.
A single streak of obsidian light tore through the void.
The Battleship-type didn't explode. It was simply pierced through by a light of nothingness, its activity ceasing instantly.
Was that the Death Blaster?
No, this was different! What was that?!
Then, a singing voice reached my ears.
"Boe~♪"
The lyrics were nonsensical—something about being a neighborhood boss and being invincible under heaven. The owner of that voice could only be my brother-in-law.
"The 'Clean Version from the Movie' has arrived!"
"W-Wait! Why are you here?!"
"Kyoko-chan finished it just in the nick of time! Let’s go, Edge!"
"Yeah."
Edge’s machine was positioned right behind my brother-in-law’s. Edge was a powerful Esper... I see! They were using ESP!
"I’ll use my Sage to amplify Edge’s ESP, then funnel it through the Death Blaster to let it rip! Hyah-ha! Kyoko-chan is a total genius!"
"Kyoko-chan claimed it was just a collection of existing technologies... but as expected, that girl is a genius, isn't she?"
I heard Lady Luna’s voice as well.
My brother-in-law fired himself up.
"Ora ora ora ora!!! Next round, coming up!"
"Acknowledged!"
As I thought, my brother-in-law was in a league of his own. The atmosphere changed the very moment he appeared.
I slapped my own cheeks to focus.
"All forces! Protect my brother-in-law! We are not yet destined for the afterlife!"
The other Lords echoed my command immediately.
"Guh-hah-hah! Does His Excellency the Grand Duke intend to make these old bones work even harder?!"
"He really is a handful, isn't he? We have no choice but to support him!"
"Hah-hah-hah! It seems our families will have to wait a while longer. Protect His Excellency the Grand Duke!"
The tide had turned completely.
My brother-in-law shot through the Battleship-types one by one. They fell silent without even being allowed the dignity of self-destruction.
"Darling! Bee-types incoming!"
"Ren! Give me some cover! Eddie, support me! I’ve got my hands full just firing these big ones!"
"On it! Don't overdo it, now."
"Roger! Wifey! Blast them without mercy!"
"Everyone! I know you're exhausted, but please, bear with it a little longer!"
A cheer erupted on our bridge.
"Long live the Emperor!"
From that point on, it was a one-sided slaughter.
The Battleship-types were neutralized in rapid succession, unable to even trigger their suicide protocols. The Bee-types were picked off by my brother-in-law’s subordinates.
Count Eddie Anheim... the man known as Leo’s right hand. I recalled him participating in the national swordsmanship tournament where I’d given the opening speech last year. I didn't remember personally presenting him an award, but... why had a man of his caliber stayed in obscurity until now?
He was picking off the Bee-types with an assault rifle with terrifying precision. With that level of skill, he could have easily won the national championship.
Then there was Ren, the daughter of House Mistral and one of Leo’s fiancées. House Mistral had come under my brother-in-law’s banner after her younger brother, Marma, inherited the headship. Now, they were a powerhouse within the Kamishiro faction.
Soon, Leo’s other fiancée Claire arrived, accompanied by Melissa.
"Claire! I’m terrible at shooting! Can I just charge in?"
"No! Just help Melissa! Here, fire the rocket launcher!"
The two of them were wielding rocket launchers designed for humanoid fighters. For someone who claimed to be bad at shooting, Claire hit her marks with flawless accuracy.
And then there were two others.
"Please! My butt! My butt is at its limit! Just end this already!"
"Waaaah! It hurts so much! Isono, fire the missiles!"
Operating a giant turret together were Count Isono and Count Nakajima. To think they would play the fool so effectively at a time like this... what terrifying men.
Suddenly, the Zork’s behavior shifted.
"Lord Thomas! The Zork’s movements have changed! They are... visibly agitated!"
I see. I finally understood.
The Zork were afraid. They were terrified of my brother-in-law, Leo Kamishiro.
So this was what it meant to be a hero.
With one final blast from Leo’s Death Blaster, the remaining Battleship-types were wiped out.