305 Crew

He now commands a total of 5 mid-size battleships and 15 small ones in his arsenal. One of the mid-size battleships was powered by both Aether and Mana. It was named Providence and will be one of his trump cards in case a battle broke out. It looks like a normal battleship like the Excellence and Transcendence but everything inside was completely different.

Aside from that, during the summer in the country, Traceless Hands had gathered all the magicians who wanted to travel in space. 

Thanks to Lacus and Yumi's effort, they have managed to raise awareness and hint to the people about the approaching danger. 

The information about the efforts of the three Grand Arcanists to prevent this had also been leaked to the public which only confirmed the rumors. 

Not only that, but they have managed to control the situation and it not resulted in any crowd panic. Well, it may also be due to the virtual game that has a similar premise. Its influence couldn't easily be described with words. 

"Are you nervous?"

"Who wouldn't be? But I'm also a bit excited?"

"Haha... That's true... I just hope that no accident will happen."

"Sshh! Don't jinx it!"

This conversation can be heard almost anywhere within the spaceship. They were aware that the ship was now being readied and has been positioned to be catapulted at the Mass Driver...

A total of 50 magicians has boarded the spaceship. They were all nervous and a bit excited at the same time as it would only be a few more moments until they were brought to outer space.

They will be the crew of several battleships under Ace's control. 

This has been permitted and approved by the government and as a matter of fact, the country's leader has even offered to send talented magicians to help. 

Unfortunately, they were still playing the Alien Invasion game.

It was due to Ace's insistence that the game was also a way for him to test the people he wanted to be on his side during the battle. 

He didn't want just anyone to man his battleships but he wanted to learn about them through the virtual world which would later be analyzed by Avalon. 

It would also be unfair to the people who had first played the game before getting the exam if Ace just agreed to their request. 

"Haa~ It seems that the spaceship was truly operated by an A.I. just like in the game."

"Yeah... Just like Freya... It's very interesting."

"If that was the case, the battleship that where we will be stationed would also be controlled by the A.I.?"

"Most likely... However, as we are all aware, the A.I. was not capable of utilizing mana to its full potential. It can only trigger them using simple methods but was not capable of controlling them at all."

The first batch of magicians selected were all people who had reached more than 22 years old. 

Aside from playing games, they were also people who were working in the real world. Most of them were Combat Magicians who were working as security personnel, tutors, mercenary, and researchers. There were also 10 Magic Engineers who were previously working as fabricators.

However, because of Ace's generous offer, they decided to join the frontline to earn money and hopefully, some prestige. Once they managed to return, they were sure that they will be recognized and appreciated by many people. It was something they have never even dreamed of but was now within their grasp.

"Everyone, let's all stay calm... Once we're up there, if you feel any discomfort or sickness, immediately report it to us. This will be the first time where a large number of people will be sent out so you have to be prepared.

"Understood!"

The group of 50 actually has a leader. He was a Battle Mage named Tyrone and he just recently reached his 25th birthday. 

He was young and considered powerful in his age group. He can even easily join a mage battalion in the army if he wanted to.

However, as he came from a successful merchant family, he didn't lack money. He instead indulged himself in pleasure until he found out about the virtual world where he learned many things. 

Although he was only within the top 50 within the game, his leadership was impeccable and he had even established his own faction within the game.

'Moon Base... Here I come!'

Tyrone excitedly thought as Avalon notified everyone that the spaceship will now start its Launch Sequence. 

***

Ace had always been in contact with his trusted friends in the land to monitor the actions of the several clans. 

After all, he heard that the Skywalker Clan was still continuing their space project. He had to keep updated about them in case they truly managed to send a spaceship out successfully.

It may not affect him a lot but it was better to be safe. 

"So... The mutated magicians... Oh, they were calling it Awakened Magicians now..."

"Yes... It looks like the Congress wanted to create an army formed by these magicians. "

"I see... Thank you for informing me, Senior Lacus."

"It's nothing much. I think that Yumi could even provide you much detailed news about it."

"Ahh... It seems that she was too busy with something so I didn't ask her."

Ace answered as he was indeed unable to contact Yumi just like in the past. She always seems to be busy so he asked his senior instead. 

'It seems that Veda was serious about this...'

After he ended their conversation, Avalon notified him about some events it detected from the direction the Omen had come from. 

'Hmmm... Unusual disturbance but it wasn't followed by anything at the moment... Maybe a spaceship failed to get out of the wormhole?'

Sigh~

"Just continue monitoring that direction. Also, expand your surveillance. I will create more equipment for you. Anyway, it will be a lot easier once the magicians were here..."

Ace muttered as he waited for the spaceship bringing 50 magicians to arrive at the Moon Base.