Chapter 266 : Birthday Festival Offensive

Becoming ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍a Witch, I Started an Industrial Revolution

“The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍attempt to persuade Itzamein to surrender hasn't been very effective. According to observations from our insiders, the overwhelming majority of the Royal Capital's residents harbor extreme hostility toward the Ceres Federation...”

Anna's ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍tone carried a trace of concern. Itzamein's population was far from small. In fact, as the Holy See had suffered one defeat after another during the war, large numbers of wealthy merchants and nobles from across the country had fled to the Royal Capital for refuge.

As ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the former Royal Capital, Itzamein had once had a population of over two million. By conservative estimates, it now had no fewer than four million people.

With ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍so many gathered together, and more than half of them being fanatics, honestly speaking, this was a tough nut for anyone to crack.

Moreover, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as the Royal Capital, it was also the location of the Church's headquarters. The Grand Cathedral at its headquarters gathered an immense amount of the Power of the Will of All Living Beings. Combined with the Light Goddess personally presiding over it, supported by two Demigods and a large number of Saints...

With such a lineup, unless the Alliance dispatched all of its top-tier combat forces to launch an all-out assault, she would be able to hold the city for more than half a month no matter what.

And if they launched a full-scale assault regardless of the cost, then the outcome of fighting street battles against several million people... Just think about how miserable the Northern Allied Forces still were while being dragged into an attritional campaign against the hundreds of thousands of troops in the Ernesto Kingdom.

And tying down one of the Alliance's main armies in the north for more than half a month was certainly not good news for the rapidly changing Western Front.

After all, the Ceres Federation's established strategy was to seize the key strategic points in the west, buying enough time to eliminate the Holy See in the north and complete the unification of the north, linking Suria and the Ernesto Kingdom together.

Once that was accomplished, the rear would be secure. They could then advance northwest into the territory of the Britian Empire, joining forces with the Western Orc Liberation Front for a two-pronged offensive, while simultaneously pushing southwest to swiftly crush the two kingdoms and eliminate the Allied Army's forward positions.

At that point, the entire subcontinent homeland would be completely secure.

As the strategic rear, the Alliance could continuously mass-produce equipment and arm its allied nations in endless waves. In such a war, the Alliance would be sitting firmly in an unbeatable position. At worst, they would negotiate peace—it would be impossible for them to lose.

Listening to Anna's report, Midia let out a cold laugh.

"These people are all members of the privileged class who fled from across the Holy See to hide in the Royal Capital, aren't they?"

"Forget it."

Midia pressed her seal onto the operational plan, approving the request submitted by the Commander-in-Chief of the Holy See Front.

"Whether they are or not, from the moment they refused to surrender, they became exactly that."

"Perhaps they still don't understand what war truly means. Then we'll go and teach them what war is, what fear is, and what death is!"

September 5.

For several days, the tense and oppressive atmosphere inside the Royal Capital of Itzamein, caused by the city being surrounded by a massive army, was eased somewhat as the streets and buildings were decorated with colorful banners and lanterns.

Today was the birthday of the Light Goddess—her sacred birthday. Despite the tense situation outside, the Holy See still held a grand celebration in her honor. Even the people hurrying through the royal palace and the Church wore rare smiles on their faces.

Looking on the bright side, with the Goddess present, as long as they endured this most difficult period and waited for the allied armies to achieve a breakthrough on the western front, the Alliance's encirclement would naturally collapse, allowing them to launch a counteroffensive against the Alliance forces.

The streets were packed with people. Countless residents of the Royal Capital sang and danced, offering blessings to the Goddess. Everyone was immersed in joyous celebration.

But on such a festive day, Midia naturally had a birthday present prepared for the Light Goddess~

The 1,400 Flying Fortresses that had taken off from the Alliance homeland had already flown into Holy See territory after six hours of long-distance flight. Together with more than 600 Medium Bomber aircraft stationed locally, they headed straight toward the Royal Capital of Itzamein.

Suddenly, above Itzamein—where martial law had been lifted and liveliness had returned—dozens of fireworks shot into the sky, bursting into brilliant blossoms of light.

Countless civilians raised their heads to watch. They both hated and loved this novel item purchased from Alliance merchants. They hated it because it came from the Alliance; every firework purchased was equivalent to buying two more bullets for Alliance soldiers to fire at them.

They loved it because it was undeniably beautiful. Through special arrangements and combinations, large firework formations could even spell out simple congratulatory messages.

High-ranking mages could also create such displays, but those noble mages would never willingly let commoners treat them like performing monkeys. As a result, fireworks actually had tremendous market potential across the Magic Continent.

As everyone admired the fireworks, no one noticed that one barrel on a rooftop had never emitted a single spark, as though it had malfunctioned.

Meanwhile, the generous benefactor who had provided the free fireworks display had long since disappeared without a trace.

That unexploded firework had actually been operating the entire time—it simply functioned differently from the others around it~

When fireworks exploded, they disturbed the surrounding elemental energies, producing magical fluctuations.

That particular barrel, however, was actually a giant wireless signal transmitter.

Among the bomber formation flying high overhead was a Flying Fortress that had undergone electronic modifications. Inside the circular transparent dome beneath its nose, the receiving device picked up the signal.

Guided by it, the formation slowly descended, dropping from the clouds at an altitude of ten thousand meters to airspace around 5,000 meters.

At that moment, the stealth barrier was deactivated and switched to the Protective Barrier.

Only then did several sharp-sensed mages notice that something was wrong. Casting detection spells toward the sky, they immediately spotted the dark cloud steadily approaching.

"Enemy attack! In the sky!!!"

The civilians celebrating the Goddess's festival throughout the Royal Capital of Itzamein instantly fell into panic. The entire city erupted into chaos as Magic-Powered Anti-Aircraft Cannons positioned throughout the capital continuously launched all kinds of long-range spells into the heavens.

At the same time, several Saints and Demigods also took action, attempting to eliminate the overwhelming sense of danger emanating from those steel giant birds.

However, just as their attacks erupted with terrifying power, they were disrupted and scattered by external forces extending from elsewhere, dissolving back into nothingness.

The Alliance did not want to launch a direct assault because the Holy See's Royal Capital contained countless large-scale composite amplification magic arrays accumulated over hundreds and thousands of years, all powered by the Light Goddess's immense faith.

A head-on attack would easily result in heavy losses.

But while the Alliance's top-tier combatants had no desire to force their way in, that did not mean they were at a disadvantage in terms of strength. It was still entirely possible for two or three of them to pin down one enemy and prevent the opponent from successfully casting magic.

While the Demigods and Saints of both sides secretly clashed, the main force of Flying Fortresses had already arrived above Itzamein.

Using the coordinates provided by the signal transmitter as the center point, the Alliance Air Command Center had ample time to calculate every bombing parameter well in advance.

Once they reached the release point, the bomb bay doors beneath the bombers opened, and endless streams of Napalm Bombs poured out. The same scene unfolded across every section of the sky.

The sheer number of bombs being dropped resembled a massive swarm of giant locusts descending from the heavens, completely covering the skies above the Royal Capital.

A single Flying Fortress had a standard payload capacity of sixteen tons. This wave of bombers alone dropped more than fifteen thousand tons of incendiary bombs.

Without a doubt, every member of the Holy See would be overflowing with "warmth" today.