The escort ships that were to carry out the preemptive strike were not the main force for purifying District 44.

They were those who came forward first to prevent interference that might occur in advance. They were a kind of vanguard.

For example, suppose there was a risk that heretics hiding their power on the ground might shoot down the bombardment ships by some means. The escort ships would eliminate the danger for the safety of the main bombers that would carry out the baptism of fire.

This was exactly the reason for taking the lead and carrying out bombardment. By projecting overwhelming firepower, they would bring chaos to the ground once and neutralize the enemy's defenses. That alone would be sufficient to make the enemies lose their will to fight.

Anyone with proper common sense would not pick a fight against combat airships that dominated the night sky's airspace. The same would go even for mages capable of projecting high firepower. Those who were coldly rational would have fled as soon as they saw the silhouettes of the ships.

What would remain and fight to the end in such a place would be.

"Only insane knights like me."

Bububububang!

Explosions occurred one after another at some distance. This was the result of Sun Ring’s power responding to the projectiles, detonating all the ships' bombardments in mid-air.

Countless crimson flowers bloomed in the void. Each one was a phenomenon of death sufficient to melt not only people but also iron. Even though the shells weren't direct hits, the atmosphere trembled and the ground shook from the aftereffects alone.

The surrounding buildings swayed from the consecutive shockwaves and then collapsed with a rumble. For illegal extensions, they were built to endure quite well, but not enough to withstand the aftereffects of explosions.

Well, it was the shockwave of explosions poured down all at once in one place. If there was someone who built extensions that could withstand that, they could easily get a job at a major construction company right away.

"Truly pouring down like rain."

Most of the escort ships occupying the sky of District 44 were targeting this direction. From their perspective, they had no choice. A single person had shot down as many as two escort ships. In the case of the second one, it had retreated on its own, but it was practically the same as being shot down.

'I deliberately drew excessive attention, but this way I'm getting tied down.'

Actually, this situation was half-intentional.

'With the Liberation Army's current power, they cannot face these warships.'

Whether escort ships or warships, it didn't matter. They were forces that the military had seriously brought in. The goal was the purification of District 44. To completely erase one district, ordinary firepower wouldn't be enough.

'It will definitely be weaker than past baptisms of fire. From the construction companies' lobbying perspective, they need to build something new here. But even so, it's not an attack to be taken lightly.'

Above all, their real offensive hadn't even begun yet. The real threat was the bombers that hadn't properly revealed themselves yet. A total of three super-large warships.

They were the main force with vast firepower capable of attempting a full-scale baptism of fire. If those properly reached District 44.

'Then everything would be over.'

Even with just the escort ships now, he was being pinned down, and if the warships joined in, even Osian wouldn't be able to stop them. It might be possible to protect his own body with the Sun Ring, but this wasn't simply a fight for survival.

'This is a fight where he must protect all of District 44. There are still many people remaining inside.'

Conversely, the enemy could aim and shoot anywhere. The weight class was already different, and the conditions were unreasonably unfair. But even if he complained about the disadvantageous fight, there was no one to listen.

The world was not a fair arena for duels. There were no spectators or referees here. There were no rules to follow. All that existed were only the means to kill each other.

In that, how difficult would a fight to protect be. Yet he does it. He must do it because that's what he decided to do. That's what makes him a knight.

"Yes. Come. Focus your firepower on me."

Bububububang!

Flames burst continuously in the void. Blinding flashes, heat, and shockwaves continuously pounded his armor.

Even if not directly hit by explosions, he couldn't block the shocks transmitted through the air. No matter how sturdy the Sun Ring Armor was, like clothes getting wet from drizzle, damage inevitably accumulated.

Osian increased the size of the Sun Ring even more.

Kiiiiing! The rings rotated fiercely with grinding sounds. The range of the heat barrier widened, pushing the distance where explosions occurred further away.

"Shoot! Keep shooting!"

The commander continued to order attacks to be poured on Osian. That guy was dangerous. He too knew what kind of attack that golden pillar from earlier was.

It was the attack that had pierced through the center of the Confectionery Castle when Mother Goose's minions had invaded last time. Of course, this attack was weaker than that one, but it was still strong enough to shoot down an escort ship in one blow.

If left alone, all the escort ships would be shot down, and it would definitely affect the bombardment warships too.

'That guy is the hero? He saved District 17? Does he intend to save the humans of District 44 with that pathetic hero mentality?'

The commander found Osian's actions detestable. That was the only way he could express it. Confronting this military force alone. It was something no sane person would do.

But he had actually shot down two escort ships. Even seeing it with his own eyes, it was hard to believe, not just hearing reports. The reputation of being a hero was definitely not fiction. But the commander still believed without doubt that Osian's judgment was overconfidence in himself. No matter how strong an individual might be, this side was an army.

"Pour out everything you have. Our role is to eliminate risk factors in advance to protect the warships anyway."

Even if they concentrated fire on the individual called Osian, it aligned with their original purpose.

Tatatatatatatata!

The Gatling machine gun's barrels rotated fiercely and spat fire. Brilliant tracer trajectories cut through the night sky and fell on Osian like a downpour. Most bullets melted or exploded from the Sun Ring’s power. But the attack didn't stop.

The commander instinctively knew that if they didn't continue the offensive here, Osian would counterattack again. His anti-air capability was considerable.

No matter how much they performed maximum evasive maneuvers, they couldn't avoid all of his attacks.

"Listen well, everyone. We can't give him a chance. The moment we give him an opening, we'll face immediate counterattack. Don't think of that as a person. He's a fortress."

The commander was indeed competent. He knew well how strong Osian's abilities were and what would happen as a result. Even if this was an overreaction due to anxiety, the commander didn't exclude the possibility of 'what if.'

Thoroughly, he would eliminate the element that posed the highest priority threat.

That's why he concentrated firepower that was unbelievable for facing a single individual. They had to press on without rest. Only then could they continue to hold an advantageous position. The moment they gave even the slightest opportunity, that golden flash would pierce through the ships.

His subordinates also followed commands without complaint. They were trained soldiers. Even if they had complaints, they didn't voice them. The reason they were using the unprecedented operation called baptism of fire on the citizens of District 44 was the same.

Guilt, conscience, compassion. Such weak emotions had been thrown away. The observation of heretics in District 44 alone was sufficient reason for the entire district to disappear.

"This operation is solely under my jurisdiction. Therefore, I also take responsibility."

Even while doing this, the commander relieved his subordinates' guilt. Even if you press the button and tear people apart with bombardment, that's not your fault. It's my fault for giving the order. That one statement was enough.

[Ship 8. Adjust right main gun position.]

[Ship 2. Port main gun, target locked. Remaining main guns toward District 44.]

[Beginning purification. For the city.]

[For the city.]

Some firepower that Osian couldn't completely block began falling toward District 44 again.

*

"Save us! Please get us out of here!"

People crowded beyond the barricades set up by the soldiers. When District 44 came under bombardment, these were those trying to escape to survive.

"Fuck! Dead if we do, dead if we don't! Might as well break through!"

"Open it! Open it, you bastards!"

They pounded on the barricades, but they remained immovable. The soldiers had already completely sealed the entrance and distanced themselves. It was to avoid being caught up in the coming baptism of fire.

"Is it okay to leave them like this?"

Even though following orders was a soldier's duty, hearing the cries of people beyond the barricades made him uncomfortable.

"Are you uncomfortable?"

"Honestly speaking, yes. We were told to blockade District 44, but whether we need to go this far."

"Soldier. What is our purpose?"

"That is, to protect the city."

"Right. It's protecting the city. And in District 44, there are Liberation Army members and heretics who joined hands with them."

Are there really heretics there? The soldier desperately wanted to ask that. But he didn't. If he did, it would be insubordination. And now it was almost a wartime situation. Insubordination meant summary execution.

"Don't forget what happened in District 17. If our response had been even slightly delayed, the entire city could have been in danger. What's happening to District 44 is, in a way, natural."

The captain giving the explanation also knows. That not everyone inside are heretics. Strictly speaking, there are far more innocent people.

But orders were given and the operation was implemented. Even if they became soft-hearted here, nothing would change. What if they opened the passage out of trivial compassion? What if heretics were hiding among the people who survived that way?

"And they're not just sitting still either. District 45 is causing trouble."

"District 45? Isn't that a crime zone?"

"Right. It's adjacent to District 44. The criminal organizations living there are putting up desperate resistance to prevent us from approaching."

"That means perhaps..."

"Probably extracting people from District 44. But don't worry. Considerable forces have been deployed there too, so it'll be sorted out quickly."

Perhaps while sorting out District 44, they might also get justification to sort out the troublesome District 45. A few words about heretics hiding there too would be enough.

There would be some disturbance, but it was an inevitable sacrifice for the city called Tirna to develop further.

"Don't forget, soldier. Our purpose is only one. For the city."

"...For the city."

The soldier reminded himself of his role. The captain nodded satisfactorily. At that moment, his head turned quickly backward. His gun barrel followed.

"Who's there!"

The soldiers guarding the barricade also turned to look behind belatedly. They could see someone approaching from beyond.

No one except authorized personnel could come to the blockade route toward District 44. Guidelines had already been set up outside. Entry was impossible except for soldiers on operation.

But those approaching now didn't look like soldiers no matter how you looked at them. Their clothing and weapons were all different. There were sturdy young men mixed with women and even children.

The captain immediately waved his fingers and gave hand signal instructions. Enemies. Shoot immediately without warning.

-Tatatatatatata!!

The subordinates immediately raised their gun barrels and indiscriminately fired bullets at those approaching. It was a vicious shooting that would turn people into beehives. But what they saw afterward was thick fog obscuring their vision.

"Fog? Suddenly?"

"I can't see anything!"

"Don't panic and put on your goggles!"

"I, I still can't see anything!"

Even with special goggles, visibility wasn't secured. This wasn't ordinary fog.

"Wh, what is this."

The captain muttered like that, then drew a military dagger from his waist. The sharply swung dagger cut through space where an enemy's throat might be. As soon as he felt a presence behind him, he acted.

But what the dagger cut was empty air.

'Am I mistaken? No, that's not it. He dodged.'

The moment he muttered to himself, screams from his subordinates echoed through the fog.

"Kraaaak!" "Aaaaak!"

Bang! Tatatang!

Unable to endure the fear from their comrades' screams, several soldiers fired wildly.

"These idiots! You're only exposing your positions!"

He shouted, but it was already too late. The fog beyond had become quiet. With the tranquility that came like a serene dawn, the captain felt his spine grow cold. Cold sweat soaked his entire body. He could instinctively feel it.

'All my subordinates have been taken out.'

Swish. A huge shadow fell over him from behind. It was a shade clear enough to recognize even in the thick fog.

The captain who turned around found himself unconsciously hesitating and stepping back. A giant black beast so large that he had to crane his neck up to see was looking down at him.

Vertically split golden pupils captured his terror-stricken face completely.