Sensing the resistance of an anti-teleportation field, I shattered the interference and forced the transit through.
It seemed they had prepared countermeasures, just as I’d anticipated. Word of the current Demon King’s frequent use of long-range teleportation magic must have spread. However, such measures were largely futile. The sheer disparity in our magical output meant that even the most meticulously laid traps could be overcome by brute force—a luxury afforded only to the Demon King.
My vision shifted, revealing a moonlit grassland. We were positioned perfectly to block the main road. Behind me, the Demon King’s Army stood in formation. None of them were fazed by the sudden jump; they had grown accustomed to the rhythm of our campaigns.
A short distance ahead sat a massive city enclosed by a high outer wall. Layers of barriers and defensive spells warded the city, and the peaks of buildings tall enough to crest the wall peeked out from within. That was the capital of the Technomagic Kingdom.
While teleporting directly inside would have been more efficient, I had opted against it. A direct teleportation into the heart of the city was a reckless gamble; should we find ourselves surrounded by the Technomagic Army in the tight streets, we would suffer unnecessary casualties. It was a development best avoided. The best location to safely deploy an army of ten thousand was just outside the city gates. Though it required a bit more effort, this approach allowed us to invade while keeping our losses to a minimum and mitigating the risk of unforeseen disasters.
Our strategy remained simple and direct. First, the Demon King’s Army would advance and breach the capital. While maneuvering to avoid being surrounded, they would engage the Technomagic Army and turn the fallen into undead to sow further chaos. During the fray, Logan and I would break away to locate and seize the Secret Stone. Finally, I would confront John Doe, who was hiding somewhere within.
My investigations had already confirmed his presence in the city, and I had received no reports of him fleeing. One minor complication remained: John Doe himself was impossible to sense. His magic signature was that of an ordinary commoner, devoid of any distinguishing traits. Had I met him in person, it might have been a different story, but pinpointing a single average man in a capital teeming with people was a daunting task. I would have to rely on the spies hidden throughout the city to find him. Since I had a general idea of where to start, I could only hope the search wouldn't be too grueling.
At that moment, a piercing siren wailed from the capital. Red lights flickered rhythmically along the top of the outer wall. It was an alarm, notifying the city of our arrival. The Technomagic Kingdom had detected us.
Weapons installed at regular intervals along the wall hummed to life. These were magic cannons—the same long-range weapons I had encountered at the Imperial Capital. It appeared the Technomagic Kingdom had developed their own versions. As a former partner nation, replicating the design would have been trivial.
The magic cannons swiveled, locking onto the Demon King’s Army. I sensed a rapid surge of magic power within them; they intended to open fire without a moment’s hesitation. Grom, standing by my side, bristled with bloodlust.
"My Lord," he rumbled.
"I know," I replied. "I shall handle this."
Immediately after our exchange, the magic cannons spat fire. Multiple artillery shells tore through the air at high speed. The Demon King’s Army behind me stirred. Given the sheer pressure of the incoming fire, their unease was only natural.
I flicked my fingers, weaving a net of magic power across the shells' trajectory. I caught the incoming projectiles and hurled them back with their own momentum. The reflected shells shattered the city's defensive magic and detonated against the capital. Sections of the outer wall crumbled, and the magic cannons that took direct hits vanished in spectacular explosions. It was a scene of absolute devastation.
"Just as expected of my Lord!" Grom crowed, puffing out his chest with his usual display of theatrical loyalty. "The people of the Technomagic Kingdom must be in a state of utter panic!"
I had known about the cannons' deployment through my spies. Having analyzed and even captured similar weapons at the Imperial Capital, dealing with them was a simple matter. I pointed toward the city and addressed Grom.
"Do not falter. I shall intercept every shell. Advance."
"Ha! As you wish!"
Shortly after, the Demon King’s Army began its march. My subordinates did not bother with magical counterattacks, knowing they would only be wasted against the city's defensive wards. They were conserving their strength for the breach. The chain of command was absolute; not a single soldier acted out of turn—a testament to Henry’s rigorous training.
Meanwhile, the magic cannons fell silent. Though they remained aimed at us, they did not fire. They had realized that any further attempts would only result in their own destruction.
"...Hmm."
I studied the cannons. Their magic power remained stable, and the barrels showed no signs of overheating. The cannons we had seized from the Imperial Capital had a fatal flaw: they would glow red and become inoperable after a single shot. It seemed the Technomagic Kingdom had refined the design and overcome that limitation.
As we neared the main gate, Henry stepped forward. He twirled his bow and looked at me.
"Boss, mind if I give 'em a little surprise?"
"Very well. The field is yours."
"Alright, thanks."
Henry grinned as he readied his bow and loosed a single arrow. The projectile punched straight through the capital’s defensive magic. It continued its flight with impossible accuracy, plunging directly into the muzzle of a magic cannon. The weapon slumped, its barrel lowering as it ceased to function.
According to my detection magic, the operator inside had been killed instantly. To snipe a man he couldn't even see—Henry was as exceptional as ever. Even I would find such a delicate, precise strike impossible. Henry continued his grim work, neutralizing the magic cannons one after another. Between shots, he began picking off the soldiers lurking atop the wall with terrifying precision.
Driven to desperation, the remaining cannons fired in a panic. They must have realized that staying idle was a death sentence. I reflected the incoming shells just as I had before.
"Heads... harvest... the heads...!"
While the long-range duel continued, Dorda suddenly let out a hollow roar. His form blurred into a streak of lightning as he sprinted toward the walls, ignoring the vertical incline to run directly up the masonry. Reaching the ramparts, he began a whirlwind of slaughter, his axe shearing through soldiers and cannons alike. He had clearly lost himself to his impulses. It was a dangerous state, but so long as he didn't turn on his allies, I was content to let him run wild. Dorda would never lose in melee combat; as a skirmisher, he would be perfect for throwing the Technomagic Army into total disarray.
"Now, allow me to demonstrate my own power."
Once we had reached a certain distance, Grom stepped forward with glee. Seeing Henry and Dorda’s exploits had clearly whetted his appetite for glory. He gathered magic power thick with miasma, shaping it into a gargantuan black fireball.
The projectile pulverized the reinforced main gates and tore deep into the city streets before erupting in a catastrophic explosion. Screams and death cries echoed through the air as a frenzy of black flames danced amidst the rubble.
"Fuhahahahahaha! Did you see that, my Lord? This is my power, indeed!"
Grom laughed boisterously, the flames in his eye sockets surging with delight. He was even more boisterous than usual.
"Yes, well done," I said, offering him a brief word of praise. If I lauded him too much, he would likely lose all sense of restraint and overdo it. This was enough.
With an entry point secured, the Demon King’s Army pressed forward. Resistance from atop the walls had ceased; only Dorda’s intermittent roars could be heard over the din. He was likely busy harvesting the heads of the garrison, or they were simply too preoccupied with him to mount a defense.
Just as I believed our entry was assured, a high-output magic power reaction flared from the ruins of the burning gate. A unit of golems, dozens strong, emerged from the smoke to block our path.