As the crew of the crashed strategic vessel continued their resistance against the besieging imperial soldiers, the heavens above warped. The imperial regiment who surrounded the crash site turned their gaze upward. In mere moments, several strategic vessels emerged into existence.

Their metallic hulls hummed as every protrusions of electro-magnetic cannons turned and pointed its barrels towards various directions. The imperial soldiers below could only watch while the one behind the secret weapon of the League of Humanity quickly sprinted back.

"Fire! Destroy them!" The regiment commander roared towards the strategic vessels above them. Various artillery cannons fired at the futuristic ships, but it was all for naught. The aetheric shields blocked every explosion, reminding the imperial soldiers of how much terror the strategic vessels represented.

Before the regiment commander could even speak a single word, a few imperial soldiers cried out and dropped their weapons. They immediately ran away, bolting towards south. Their reactions brought about a cascading panic that broke the ranks of the imperial regiment.

"Anyone who deserts will die!" The regiment commander shot one of the imperial soldiers who dropped his weapon. Unfortunately, it didn’t do anything other than escalating the already tense situation. As the artillery pounded the shields of the strategic vessels, the imperial soldiers fled.

Those who besieged the fallen strategic vessel were unaware of the catastrophic circumstance outside. They fought with the morale of victors as though the crew within this crashed ship was no less than their prey. Their reaction of the emerging strategic vessels in the skies remains to be seen.

Meanwhile... the imperial general stood within the bridge of the Bahamut and watched the fleeing imperial soldiers with contempt. What was supposed to be a grandiose victory for them became a humiliation ritual. He glanced at the personnel beside him and commanded.

"Prepare to drill a kilometer into the ground. Although ambushing a lone strategic vessel merely requires patience and caution, a fleet of strategic vessels cannot be underestimated. We must withdraw from the battlefield." He shook his head and looked away from the images of the fleeing imperial soldiers.

The crew of Bahamut nodded in understanding, controlling the giant worm-like machine to drill into the open ground. Their behavior further caused the chaotic morale to fall into the abyss. The soldiers of the imperial regiment clenched their fist and sprinted as fast as they could.

None dared to look back.

Even those who were courageous and continued bombarding the aetheric shields of the strategic vessels felt their bravery waned. No matter what they did. It stood no chance against the technology of the United World Government. This was a reminder.

Their adversary who had almost brought the League of Humanity into its kneels wasn’t to be underestimated. The regiment commander gritted his teeth and noticed his soldiers staring at him. They only needed one order from their superior. It would determine their life and death.

"I- I... Prepare for withdrawal!" The regiment commander felt ashamed and wearily ordered the retreat of his army. They had already sacrificed too much. Although the northern imperial regiments managed to take down a single strategic vessel. It was a great price to pay.

Even the arrogant imperial officers didn’t dare pay such a heavy price. The regiment commander was unwilling to throw the lives of his trusted men. He could only relinquished himself from the battle. "Those cowards... They didn’t even bother shooting a single ship."

The regiment commander recalled the arrogant words of the imperial general after successfully destroying a strategic vessel of the United World Government. Their so-called hope, the Bahamut. It really does reflect well to their current state. After all, they were worms burying beneath the ground.

Those strategic vessels were like pest control. The imperial armies resembled insects in the ground, resisting yet already being defeated by the ones above. The mere thought alone gave him a headache, but it was the truth of their current world.

The golden age of humanity had long reached its dusk. Their dominance was reaching its twilight years. The conclusion of this war was clear. Sooner or later, those leaders who commanded them to fight until the end would surrender. And the ones below could only wallow in self-pity.

As the imperial soldiers flee from the crash site, the United Military personnel watched from the bridge and furrowed their eyebrows. None of them were delighted by the chaos of their adversary’s ranks. Especially when a strategic vessel belonging to their fleet had just fallen.

"Is this the experimental superweapon of the League of Humanity? The Bahamut?" The captain coolly asked, his cold eyes gazing upon the screen displaying the bore hole that the worm-like machine left behind. Its armament wasn’t to be underestimated.

After all, it was capable of penetrating through the aetheric shields in one shot. If the League of Humanity acquired more of such superweapons, the current operation would be in jeopardy.

"It is the rumored superweapon, Captain. According to intelligence, the Magus Tower has been doing their utmost in concealing the news of the matter." One of the intelligence personnel replied, earning a nod from the captain.

"Since they have begun testing with live targets, it appears that the League of Humanity are becoming confident in this weapon. Sooner or later, more information concerning the Bahamut will arrive." The captain sighed and shook his head. "Whether we desire it or not."

Silence pervaded the bridge of the strategic vessel before the captain spoke once again. "Any signs from the ground penetrating radar? They shouldn’t have gone too deep right?"

"We haven’t detected anything from the ground penetrating radar, captain. It appears that the experiment weapon is built upon a peculiar material or coated with anti-radar paint." Another personnel answered his question.

"So there’s nothing we can do than watch? It seems that hesitation wouldn’t do well for us. Send intelligence to the United Military. Upon contact with the Bahamut, destroy it at all cost."

"I believe that as the people of the United World Government. We shall defeat the League of Humanity on our own. Relying on the power of the authority is presumptuous, especially when the Sovereigns hadn’t made their moves." The captain gave a short speech before looking away.