Licht said, "What now?"
Liebe said, "We have about 9 hours. Let's take a nap. 6 or 7 hours should be great. Since we just prevented a disaster, let's save our strength."
Licht said, "Sure. What about Iris and the others?"
Liebe said, "Same for M and Gaia and Lichee, I suppose. But it's best they stay awake. Since this monster can only be beaten by demons of the Ars Goetia, and those 4 are the ones chosen, it's best if they fight."
Licht said, "Yeah, we are at a disadvantage in that field. Wait, you aren't planning to use them as bait, are you?"
Liebe said, "No. My plans require all of them to be alive and in sound health."
Licht said, "Okay then, Captain. What now? Let's take a nap. I will tell all members of Team Liebe to do the same. And currently, Horn is monitoring the defense fleet, but I doubt they can survive."
Licht said, "Okay then."
As they went to bed, Liebe said, "We need to save our strength. We don't know when might be the next time we get to rest like this."
As they went to bed at 1 PM, at around 9 PM, Fate entered their room.
Fate stated, "Maestro, it's time. It's 9 PM. Only an hour left till contact."
Liebe said, "Understood. Is the F91 here yet?"
Fate said, "Gelda said it's almost ready, according to the Vice-Captain."
Liebe said, "Okay then." As Fate left, Liebe woke up Licht. He said, "Licht, it's time."
Licht said, "Okay, coming."
As they went outside, Licht said, "Mia, are Fang, Titan, and Stella prepared for deployment?"
Mia said, "Yeah, they are ready. Aren't you, boys?"
Liebe said, "Let's make sure now. Open wide." As they opened their mouths, Liebe threw a fruit in each of their mouths.
Licht said, "What was that?"
Liebe said, "Something to boost them a bit. And Stella, take this fruit."
Licht said, "Now what is that?"
Liebe said, "Something to make Stella's stinger a bit more poisonous. Or acidic."
Licht said, "You sure these fruits are safe?"
Liebe said, "Of course they are. They are fruits of the World Tree. I even tested them on monsters from the Abyssal Zone, as well as myself."
Licht said, "If you say so."
Dark Magic: Dark Castling. As Zen came to Liebe, Liebe said, "Status report."
Zen said, "30 minutes till meeting."
Liebe said, "I see. Do you have what I asked for?"
Horn said, "Of course, here it is, Lord. A Tier Z Hazen communicator. You, as well as everyone, will be able to see what is going on with the defense fleet."
Liebe said, "Good. We are almost ready ourselves. Same for Fang, Titan, and Stella."
Horn said, "Understood. From the Hazen higher authority, you aren't allowed to fight yet."
Liebe said, "If it gets bad, Fang and the others will be sent. And what about the evacuation?"
Horn said, "99% of the population are secured, for the coastal region at least. And its current path shows the capital. If the defense fleet fails to stop it, it will reach the capital in 42 hours and 36 minutes."
Liebe said, "Okay. Go now. And what about members of Team White Eagles?"
Horn said, "We are currently in the secondary lines, 90 km behind the coastal fleet."
Liebe said, "Okay then, go. And Licht, get members of Team Liebe, as well as Aoi, Hedin, Olivia, Lumos, and Iris. And Mia, are you coming as well? We will need them. They shall watch the atrocity we are about to face."
Licht said, "5 minutes. I will gather them."
Liebe said, "Good."
In 10 minutes, everyone was at the hotel's conference room. As everyone took their seats, Liebe said, "In 20 minutes, a large-scale battle between the defense fleet of the Hazen military, consisting of more than 5000 troops and 3 divisional commanders. They are using just 5 ships, and yet one of those ships is larger than a cruise ship. Their ships are just as fierce as they say. And the monster that caused the giant tsunami. And when the Hazen forces fail, it will be up to us."
Hedin said, "I have 2 questions. Why are you stating 'when' instead of 'if'? And why do we have to fight it? This nation isn't our home."
Liebe said, "For your first question: we are assuming the worst. For a monster that can cause apocalyptic tsunamis, I doubt it's impossible. And for your second question: it doesn't matter if we don't—millions will die. And it is stated only demons of the Ars Goetia can stop them. And you four have been chosen by the four Masks of Ifrit: Demonic Models. We will have to work with what we have. We are knights. We protect the people, no matter what nation."
As they projected the condition of the defense fleet from the communicator—it worked similar to a projector—Iris said, "Impressive. We can't just talk, but see as well."
Olivia said, "Indeed."
Hedin said, "Using experimental technology like this? Is this the authority of a 1st Tier S-Class Knight?"
Aoi said, "Cool!"
As they were seeing, Licht said, "So far, 180 seconds till collision."
As they were able to see it moving in the water, Licht said, "At this trajectory, it will hit the starboard ships first." As it changed trajectory to aim towards the central ship, the ships fired cannons and the military personnel began to fire as well with their magic.
Licht said, "It sped up. Only 30 seconds till collision."
As its sharp, beak-like head was emerging—it was metal—as everyone saw it charged straight towards the first ships. Its estimated height: 190 m. As its body was a weird, irregular shape, it used its legs and claws to grab onto the central ship and used its tail to strike the surrounding ones.
Liebe said, "They are stuck."
As they began to fire, it opened its beak-like mouth and let out an ear-piercing scream, as smaller creatures began to swarm the ships—about 5 m in height.
Liebe said, "That's goddamn why it was moving so slow! It was producing sub-units!"
Lumos said, "Sub-units? How?"
Liebe said, "It was using water and underwater stone to create them. It was one of these things that grabbed my leg. There were hundreds of them. It was never rusty. It was replenishing its resources. Damn it!"
Licht said, "A fleet of 5 ships is being overpowered."
As the divisional commanders turned to their Titan forms and tried to fight it, each of them were about 50 m tall. As they were fighting it with everyone's efforts, it was finally beginning to take damage, and about a few dozen sub-units were taken down. As one of the three Titans grabbed its head while the other 2 were holding back its legs...
Hedin said, "Got it, you see, Liebe? You were just being worried for nothing."
Elizabeth said, "Yeah, we are safe."
Licht said, "Don't be so goddamn sure. The tides of a battle can change in seconds. It's basic knowledge."
As the monster violently tried to shake off the Titan keeping its mouth shut, the monster was able to throw it off its head and opened its mouth. Except this time, as it opened its mouth, it used a beam weapon—one so powerful it turned the central ship into two.
As everyone watched in terror, Liebe said, "The battle is lost."
As he used his communicator, he said, "Gelda, they have failed. Switch to D43."
Gelda said, "Understood." As she said, "Spatial Magic: Astral Gate!" and through which Titan, Fang, and Stella went through.
Liebe said, "We will offer assistance now. Fang, Blast Burn!" As Fang launched a black flame thrower towards it from behind.