Editing Tytania:Volume 5 Chapter 3 (section)

=== II ===
Hyulick then proceeded to greet the occupant of the adjacent room. After they exchanged a Tytania-style salute and a salute in the manner of the Blaze Flag Army, his counterpart spoke up immediately.

“Are you Fan Hyulick?”

“I am, but…”

To Hyulick’s eyes, his counterpart was young enough to be called a boy, yet he wore an admiral’s uniform. He was undoubtedly a Tytanian noble. Hyulick decided it was best to remain polite.

“I am Viscount Balamy Tytania.”

“It is an honour to meet you.”

“You likely do not know me, but I have long wished to meet you. It may be presumptuous, but I held the military prowess of the late Duke Ariabert in high regard.”

It was the first time Balamy had ever used the word “regard” in relation to Ariabert. During the latter’s lifetime, he simply could not bring himself to use it.



Aboard the battleship ''Black Prince'' in Uraniborg, just before departure, the crew could not help but be in an uproar. The figure that had arrived at the harbour gate was not Idris’.

“B-Baron Radmoth, my Lord… what has happened to Duke Idris?”

“My brother is not coming. From this moment on, I shall command this ship.”

“I haven’t heard anything about this.”

“You are a tiresome fellow. Look at this.”

Radmoth threw the imperial decree he held at the captain. Though utterly astonished by such unbelievable insolence, Commodore Kendall caught it, read the contents, and saluted with a stiffened expression.

“I have indeed read it.”

“Now that you understand, escort me to my seat.”

Since the ''Black Prince'' had been constructed as the Tytanian fleet’s flagship, a seat for the commander-in-chief had been provided in addition to the captain’s seat. Radmoth, of course, settled his massive frame there without hesitation. While the seat was undoubtedly exceptionally comfortable, perhaps because Radmoth lacked the capacity for “sentiment”, he merely crossed his powerful knees with a look of boredom.

“We are setting out, Captain.”

Fifteen minutes later.

“A vessel is departing! It appears to be the ''Black Prince''!”

Startled by the lookout’s strained voice, Jouslain peered at the combat screen. The first port gate of Uraniborg was being obstructed by some massive, dark object. The black mass advanced slowly, as if being birthed from the womb of Uraniborg itself.

“What is that… enormous thing…?”

“It looks to be nearly a kilometre in length.”

Its maximum width appeared to be around 150&nbsp;metres. Compared to a standard battleship, it was three times larger in both length and width. Its mass seemed to be perhaps thirty times greater. ''Whether it was the strongest in history or not, it was certainly the largest,'' thought Jouslain sarcastically.

“How many escort vessels?”

“None. It is a solo ''sortie''.”

“Hoh…”

That dinosaur<ref name="ftn7">“Dinosaur” (巨獣) is pronounced “dinosaurus”.</ref> surely needed no escort. The fleet already deployed was more than enough. Memories from nearly two years ago flooded back to Jouslain’s mind. When this black colossus had first been completed, the Tytania nobility had each visited to behold it. Gazing up at the massive frame of the ''Black Prince'', Jouslain had been unable to suppress his sarcastic tone.

“And who exactly is meant to ride in this oversized coffin? Our Titan<ref name="ftn8">“Giant race” (巨人類) is pronounced “titan”.</ref> ancestors?”

“Y-Your Grace, this ship is intended to announce the military might of Tytania to the entire universe. I beg you to take that into consideration.”

“Yes, I am well aware. However, no matter how massive a ship it may be, a single vessel cannot manage tactical deployment. If we are spending that amount of money, it would be far better to construct thirty high-speed frigates.”

Jouslain had found himself unable to stop talking.

“Surely you don’t mean to send it out alone. There would be about ten escort ships regardless. To think the mightiest vessel in the universe requires an escort—what a contradiction.”

The officer offered no reply, but he seemed to feel something akin to creepiness rather than indignation towards Jouslain. Jouslain was not regarded as someone who tended to be overly verbose regarding military matters, and that was indeed the case.

Because Ariabert later expressed the same sentiment, the ''Black Prince'' arrived at the present day without much expectation, despite its massive size. In other words, while moored at Uraniborg, it had served as little more than a magnificent ornament, never having participated in actual combat. It was even used as an object of study for primary school field trips, as its outward appearance alone was deemed sufficient.

If the ''Black Prince'' possessed a will of its own, its days must have been filled with wounded pride. At long last, Radmoth was set to launch it into the vast cosmic ocean. Idris had, in effect, been robbed of making “history” by boarding the ''Black Prince'' as its first commander-in-chief, a distinction snatched away by his younger brother.

With true majesty, the ''Black Prince'' cut through the turbulent waves of a deep space that should not have existed, venturing out into the great sea of stars. Ahead, points of light flickered and flashed violently. An aerial battle was unfolding between the boarding craft.

“Hmph. A three-on-one formation, is it?”

“Your orders for an interception, my Lord?” asked the captain, Commodore Kendall, in a voice devoid of emotion.

“The secondary battery will suffice. Fire a single shot into the centre of the formation.”

An invisible wave of icy water was splashed across the bridge. Commodore Kendall groaned.

“M-My Lord, if we do that, we will be burying our own allies alongside the enemy.”

“It is because you speak with such half-measures that you keep getting defeated by the same tactics time and time again. Fire a single shot into the centre. By doing so, we lose only one craft, but the enemy loses three.”

“……!”

“It is primary school arithmetic. Do you not grasp our advantage? Our enemy is Jouslain. Once we blow his flagship apart, this battle is over.”

“…”

“Don’t you get it!? You could become the hero that suppressed the rebellion!”

Radmoth was a year younger than Balamy. Looking at his age alone, some might have used the term “boy” to describe him. However, the Tytanian troops, who had seen him as nothing more than the “unworthy younger brother weighing down Duke Idris”, envisioned a terrifying sight.

Radmoth’s face split from side to side, and as the fissures extended downwards, human skin burst apart, revealing an unidentified monster of dazzling, multicoloured brilliance. It was a type of unknown threat, distinct from the awe felt toward Clanner Ajman, possessing a power that uprooted the very resentment and will to resist from the soldiers.

“If you get it, then do it!”

No one resisted any longer. The artillerymen clung to their respective control consoles, their fingers moving mechanically. The artillery commander reported in a cracked voice.

“Firing preparations, complete.”

“Good, fire at once.”

In response to the casual command, the secondary batteries responded. Thirty-six secondary guns released an equal number of energy beams. An equal number of formations vanished almost simultaneously, turning into fireballs. In that single moment, one hundred and forty-four enemy and friendly craft were lost.

The search officer aboard the ''Austra'' gasped.

“What on earth are they doing… They’ve shot down their own allies along with us…!”

“Was it not friendly fire?”

“… Ah, again!”

Fireballs of all sizes bloomed everywhere, as death and destruction, clad in iridescent colours, danced hand in hand. Beside Jouslain, who stared fixedly at the screen, Balamy remained silent, while Hyulick, who had been permitted to remain on the bridge, let out a long sigh of relief.

Indeed, with this “tactic”, one could wipe out three times as many enemies as allies with every single strike. Even if the mathematics supported it, no one had ever utilised such a “tactic” before. Until now, that is. This was likely a mere demonstration to showcase the firepower of the ''Black Prince''. With that thought, Jouslain issued the orders to continue with their previous manoeuvres.

“All ships, all docked craft, launch!”

“Repeating. All ships, all docked craft, launch!”

Small eggs of light were born across various parts of the screens, lining up in perfect, orderly rows. One could well imagine the skill of the pilots, seasoned by both training and combat.

“How does this look to you, Mr&nbsp;Hyulick?”

“I believe it is a sound tactic.”

Jouslain nodded, watching as the allied points of light surged towards the enemy in an orderly formation. Before there was even time to be astonished, the enemy lights were split apart and were instantly ensnared in a three-to-one formation that boasted an undefeated record.

In truth, as they were both part of the Tytania forces, there should have been no significant difference in the performance of their weaponry or the skill of their pilots. And yet, in a mere three minutes, the Uraniborg side had lost over two hundred units. During that same interval, upon the bridge of the ''Black Prince'', Radmoth had been facing resistance from his own officers while ordering them to fire the main cannons.

“Why do you hesitate? Fire, damn you!”

Radmoth did not shout. Instead, his low voice, which resembled the rumble of distant thunder, sent a shiver through the officers. One of them mustered his courage:

“But at this distance, and in this state, if we fire the main cannons, we shall take many of our own with us.”

“That again?”

The Tytanian scion clicked his tongue loudly. He raised his right fist as if to strike, but he did not bring it down.

“Listen, I said I would annihilate the enemy, but I didn’t say we must slaughter every single one of them. Once we eliminate their leader, Jouslain, the rebels will collapse. Some of them might be your old acquaintances, but if we leave them be, they’ll surrender. For now, you just need to obey my orders.”

“…”

“I won’t say it a third time. Fire!”

“Main cannons, volley fire!” responded the master gunner, his voice sounding as if he were gasping for breath.

Next, or rather almost simultaneously, nine long beams of light tore through the eternal darkness like the pillars of an ancient temple. They pierced into the heart of the melee between friend and foe and exploded.

Though no sound should have been audible, everyone froze at the unprecedented blast. Clouds of light expanded and tore apart in every direction, changing colours with dizzying speed. Within each small fragment, lives numbering in the thousands were reduced—even down to the cellular level.

In a single stroke, one hundred vessels were turned into cosmic dust, and perhaps half of them had been allies and comrades. The master gunner covered his mouth, barely managing to suppress the contents surging up from his stomach.

Aboard the ''Austra'', Hyulick let out a low groan.

“Space is truly a vast place. To think someone out there is even more reckless than me.”

“Was it intentional?”

Hyulick nodded firmly.

“That is correct, Duke Jouslain. They intend to sacrifice one thousand units of their own in order to devour our three thousand.”

Balamy cried out, his voice almost a shout:

“A tactic that kills their own allies…!”

“Would Idris… no.”

Would Idris truly do such a thing? To kill his own soldiers with his own hands, only to boast of a victory? Ariabert would certainly never do it. But Idris… would he commit such an atrocity and, in doing so, undermine his own prestige as the next Clanner? Idris was not so foolish.

“Who exactly is aboard that ship?”

For the first time, Jouslain felt a seed of doubt. It was late to realise this, but he had been under the firm impression that Idris was the one aboard. Consequently, when he witnessed that initial, reckless bombardment, he had dismissed it as mere posturing rather than a full-scale assault. But he had been wrong. Who was this enemy general, who cared nothing for sacrificing his own men as long as he secured victory?

Everyone watched as sophisticated and rational tactics were utterly shattered by sheer, indiscriminate violence.

“It is an unbelievable sight! And yet, we are witnessing it with our own eyes. Has the tide truly turned so completely that we are now hurtling straight towards the final stage!?”

Hundreds of mouths uttered the same lines, which then expanded a thousand, ten thousand times over, scattering to every corner of human society. The media amplified and magnified their own excitement as they broadcast it to the public. Information drifted far and wide, riding upon the waves of an explosive light.