HomeZoid Graphics - Volume 18
Attack Target: ZeroGilvader's Target is Mad Thunder
The Dark Army's definite weak point was air power. Though the young commander Störmer advised the Guylos Emperor to strengthen it from early on, the army upper class would not accede [to his request]. His fears were realized-the weak sky defenses became exhausted, and the Dark Army, directly through the battles at Bloody Gate and Godcry, allowed the Republic Army to penetrate as far as the depths/interior of the Dark Continent.
Air Battle
The Helic Republic army commander, Shuu, got into Salamander F2 (which had only just arrived from the Central Continent) and left to scout out the Devil's Maze from the air. It would become their next battlefield. An attack by land would take many sacrifices, but if seen from the sky, it was nothing more than a defenseless valley labyrinth. Shuu decided to advance with this strategy, using the Salamander F2 force as the chief part."Inform all Zoids-know this terrain well in advance. I leave this maze of devils to all you Salamander F2 force. The success of this attack will likely determine future battles. I hope for your consideration."
The morning of the strategy's excecution came. The chief pilot, second lieutenant Bird, was seen off by Shuu and company, collected his/the formation, and sallied forth aiming for the Devil's Maze. Still, the Dark Continent slept. They met no real resistance. Approaching the upper skies of the maze, Lt. Bird flashed Salamander F2's wings left and right, and sent the sign for simultaneous attack-
Gilvader Appears!!
-but in that moment, the Salamander F2 force's pilots felt as if the sky had turned pitch-black.
"Go to Hell, Republic army!"
The words leaving the calm Störmer's mouth revealed his own feelings. It seemed for the first time he could be confident of victory in the battle of the dark continent that, until now, they'd kept losing. The controls Stoermer held were that of a terrifying mecha of destruction. Its wings let it fly and destroy without bounds, with the chest [guns] for bombardment and its head to seize the enemy. Its whole body was overflowing with attack power.
The rotating saws (Beam Smashers) in Gilvader's wings tore the Salamander F2 to pieces. Its chest's Plasma Particle Guns accurately shot them down. In that moment, the heavens of Devil's Maze had indeed become the skies of a devil for Salamander F2...
Shuu's Decision
"It can't be!”
He could never have predicted this, but as far as Shuu was concerned, the appearance of the Dark Army's flying mecha was a surprise. The reborn Republic Army's most skilled pilots had led that annhilated Salamander F2 force.
When Lt. Bird's final message came in, Shuu didn't move from (in front of) the radio for a while.
What was this Gilvader?
Shuu changed his tactics at once.
"Begin an all-out offensive with the entire force of Mad Thunder. It is risky, but a single Zoid is gaining total control of Devil's Maze.”
Land Battle
The Mad Thunder division all gathered at Godcry, the newly reborn Republic Army's frontline base. Hurried preparations to sally forth were advanced. In the face of this decisive battle, the battle-tried soldiers were at a loss for words.What was the true form of the fearful mecha that had annihilated the Salamander F2? What kind of battle would this become? Their tension rose...
Shuu, riding in the command Zoid, stood at the head of the Mad Thunder Division and began the advance towards the Devil's Maze. Slowly, they began moving into the huge ashen-grey region.
The valleys of Devil's Maze were dim and gloomy, light not reaching them even in the daytime. The first thing Shuu saw was the mutilated figures of the Salamander F2. He could understand Gilvader's terrible power from the destruction it had left behind. The silent division slowly progressed to the valley's interior as if they were moving toward the very depths of Hell. Shuu didn't know which way would be best to go. Relying on his instincts alone and preparing for a surprise attack, he just moved carefully onward.
Gilvader Vs. Mad Thunder
But the Dark Army's land Zoids weren't Mad Thunder's opponents-there were no enemy mecha coming to attack Mad Thunder in this Devil's Maze. Without any sort of resistance, the Mad Thunder division headed surely/securely toward the interior. Why was there still no enemy attack?
The division's sense of tension lessened a touch, and it was then Shuu became aware of a giant mecha watching the Mad Thunder division from above the valley.
"The enemy's in sight! Take your attack positions!"
But the order came too late-Gilvader, which they'd thought to be a flying mecha, also excelled greatly at land battle! Störmer's strategy had been to lure the Mad Thunder into the narrow valley, restrict their movement, and annihilate them. The reborn Republic Army had slipped right into his trap. The valley descended into chaos amid the gunfire of both parties...
What would be the fate of the reborn Republic Army that had continued to so easily andvance?
Cold as ice, Störmer's laughter floated through Gilvader's cockpit...
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