(Song of the day: Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker)
/\\//\\//\
While things were coming to a head on the frontlines, back with Masayuki, he placed the flag that represented the revolutionary army on top of a government building, claiming it.
With Diablo, Testarossa, and Ultima's help, getting the support of the people was very easy. They had blitzed through the vast land of the Eastern Empire with the help of mechanized movement. They had captured tanks and forced industrial cities to produce more for their cause.
It was brutal for the Eastern Empire. All their supplies were cut off, and anything they were supposed to be getting was going to the revolutionary army.
"Alright, we got this city. Now for the big prize. The imperial capital. Nasca."
Once again, Diablo appeared next to him. They both looked at the city that was celebrating what they saw as liberation. But it didn't matter to Diablo; he was just doing what he was ordered to do.
"It shouldn't be too much of a problem. Anyone that's important is off dying in their invasion, so it'll be relatively undefended. But to make this faster, we're going to use their own weapons against them. It'll be simple. We have a lot of time to work with, and depending on how it goes, we could lay a siege to the capital since we have the numbers and supplies for it."
"A siege? But we have to go fast. Wait, what if we lay a siege on the capital, and once Artoria comes in, we join them as well? It would also work out, because when the Eastern Empire's army is retreating, they'll be coming straight to us, forcing them into an enemy on two fronts. They'll basically be destroyed. And after that, we go full force on the capital, capture it, and then end the war."
Masayuki suddenly had a thought. It sounded good to him.
"So you can think. What a shock. Okay, and what will you do in the aftermath? How will you handle negotiations? With your new government in place, you'll be the one to negotiate, and you'll have to answer for the invasion."
"But I didn't do that. That doesn't sound fair."
"You have a lot to learn. You'd better start thinking of what to say, or else you'll be toyed with in negotiations."
"Uh, okay then."
Masayuki still didn't know what to make of Diablo. At one time, he seems like someone just wanting to get this over with, and other times, he seems more focused on this. Like, right now, he helped Masayuki by giving him advice? He didn't know what to make of it, but as long as he was on his side, then everything would be fine.
"Okay, everyone, we're going to the capital!"
MAsayuki shouted to his army below as they started cheering. It was almost freaky to Masayuki how willing they were to turn and die for this cause. Tanks started rolling, and many soldiers got on them for a ride.
As he thought more about it, maybe a siege did make more sense. If they were going to the capital, they would encounter more fierce fighting and resistance due to the symbolism. And that's where all the ultra-loyalists and fanatics would be. The kind that would go to the extreme to defend and fight. What would the casualty count be, considering that the capital is usually the most populous city in a country?
Well, it would have to be an aggressive siege. But they had tanks, a lot of them, and with enough people to crew them, thanks to training provided by former tank crews who joined their cause.
An idea suddenly came to Masayuki. He wasn't good at math, but surely there was a good mathematician among them. Could the tank cannons be aimed high enough for them to act like a mortar or artillery of sorts? It was worth trying out.
/\\//\\//\
Back on the frontlines, a scene that inspired the Eastern Empire's troops and brought a bit of reluctance to Tempest appeared. From the only remaining airship left, a woman walked forward before transforming into a massive, red dragon. It was Velgrynd. And she was making a beeline towards Artoria and her ship. Very rapidly, she went across the field, casting a large shadow seemingly above the entire field.
The soldiers on the field had hope return to their eyes as they saw Velgrynd. Even the ones on the verge of staging a mutiny held themselves back. With her finally showing up, things should finally turn in their favor. What could possibly stop her? Surely not that large wall in front of them, they've yet to reach.
/\\//\\//\
(Ramris' Labyrinth)
What was Ramris doing during all of this? Reading manga, of course. Along with Veldora as well. They were very calm despite the possibility that this place could be invaded. Not that it would matter, since they had a contingency in place. That and Veldora. As far as Ramris was concerned, just send Veldora; it's not like anything would happen to him, like mind control.
But suddenly, as they were reading, Veldora stopped and looked in a certain direction.
"What happened? What could get you stop reading?"
"My sister."
Ramris started paying attention, fearing the worst.
"Wait, are you saying she's on her way here?"
"No, she's far away, but I can sense her. She's about to fight."
At Veldora's response, Ramris thought about the ones fighting. They were strong, yes, but a true dragon like Velgrynd? That was asking a bit much from them.
"Uh, they should be able to handle it, right?"
"We'll see."
"What? What do you mean? I think we should take this more ser—"
Ramris stopped talking as she felt something powerful. Something that was dangerous. It wasn't Velgrynd, but something spiritual.
"What the? I can feel it from here. What's going on in that fight?!"
Ramris was starting to panic. Something was happening with the spirit world. It was like someone was usurping her authority as queen to leverage the might of the spirit world. Ramris tried thinking of who could do this, until she landed on one person.
"What is Artoria doing?!"
/\\//\\//\
'Artoria, you're gonna do something, right?'
Rimuru sent a thought communication to Artoria as he saw Velgrynd move without any disturbance. She kept getting closer and closer as Artoria watched.
'Artoria? She's like right there. Aren't you a dragon too, or something?'
Rimurur sent another communication, stopping his own fighting, as he saw the scene. Carrera and her demons kept on with the rampage, not caring about Velgrynd's presence. But, still, Artoria wasn't doing anything.
'Artoria, do something! Please! Use that sword beam thing you used against Charybdis, or something!'
Rimuru started pleading. Hoping for Artoria to do something, literally anything.
And at seemingly the last moment, a voice was heard across the entire field; troops from both sides heard it. Though it was said calmly and quietly, it was like it reverberated across the entire field.
Five words. Five words that held power.
Artoria, on her ship, held out Rhongomyniad, looking directly at Velgrynd. She was completely unfazed at Velgrynd's advance
And then it happened.
"Sacred Lance, release your anchor."