Episode 976 Hwanguk (3)
Count Loud, having slumped to the ground in exhaustion, watched blankly as the battle unfolding nearby unfolded while almost embracing the Knight Commander.
A deafening roar that shook the earth.
The distant cliff disappeared completely.
Countless spheres of black flame crashed and destroyed the mountain range connecting the peaks. I nearly stopped breathing at the sight of the dark red glow emitted from its center.
‘Is this really reality?’
The fierce battle I fought against thousands of undead not long ago couldn’t even be compared to this.The Transcendent, the Transcendent… I had only encountered them through rumors and international newspapers. It was to the point where the expression “world-class power equivalent to a nation” was an understatement.
Something is flying towards me.
Boom!
Part of the upper body of the Transcendental Doll that had massacred the soldiers struck in front of Count Laud. Then, Verden, whose return was unknown, trampled the wreckage. Astream of mercilessly exploding thunder surged into the sky from below.
Kuu
The entity that nearly annihilated Count Loud’s army has completely perished.
“Haa──”
Verden let out a silent sigh. It wasn’t enough to feel completely relieved, but his urge to destroy had subsided.His face, which had been bulging with veins on his forehead and temples, regained its composure.
Realizing that the situation was over, Alpha squirmed and emerged from the nape of Robe’s neck.
[subsidence?]
To some extent.
Jeoljin, Levran Howell Brakas.
He was seen in Andes’ memories as the third transcendent being killed by the Old King.He stood alone against the Old King’s forces at the capital of the Kingdom of Bracas, which was geographically designated as the front line of the war, without joining the alliance.
A transcendent being who has never retreated.
Stubbornness that disregards even one’s own life.It is the breeding ground of the transcendent.
Judging by his final appearance, it seems he was not merely a henchman carrying out the former king’s orders. Was he merely resurrected in a dead body and forced to act and think, while his consciousness itself belonged to the Transcendent being?Of course, having lost his transcendence, there are likely those like Levran who have lost the attitude they had during their lifetime.
I do not know how many such entities there are, but we must find and eliminate them quickly.
While a transcendent being who has adapted to the realm can handle it without difficulty, it is an overwhelming or unmanageable threat to the powerful below them.At the very least, a large number of national-level forces would be required to confront it.For a mere city or a small nation with weak national power, it is nothing short of a disaster.
Verden said.
“Did you say Count Laud?”“……! I am Rudol Laud of the Kingdom of Belmair!”
Count Loud hurriedly bowed.
“I humbly bow my head in gratitude for the grace of saving my life. I will never forget the mercy Your Majesty has shown me—not even in my lifetime, no, not even after death!”“The thanks are fine. Where were you going?”“Yes, I was heading to the Uninhabited Lands to request reinforcements from Eon.”
The peak of Eon is right ahead.
Count Laud quickly took out the royal letter and handed it over politely. Verden and Alpha read aloud the words written personally by King Belmeir.
“It’s a request for a massive magical bombardment to stop the advancing undead forces.”
Judging by his willingness to pay with whatever means, whether it be magic stones or something else, he seemed to have almost no room to spare. He appears to be feeling the pressure of the war of attrition against the constantly appearing undead.
But advancing north.
Beneath the ownerless land lies the Kingdom of Belmair, beneath the Kingdom of Belmair lies the Kingdom of Dinel, and beneath the Kingdom of Dinel lie the Blue Mountains and the Ternetia Federation.If a massive army of the undead rises from the south, what will become of the southern nations of the Central Continent?
“I’ll head to Arrain for now. We’ll discuss the magic bombardment once I arrive.”“Gasp…!”“Gasp!”
Verden stored the letter in a subspace and seized control of the space. The feet of Count Laud and his knights rose into the air.
As you can see, I have just returned to the continent. I would have liked you to tell me how the international community turned out in general on your way back.
[Information needed.]
Count Laud, imagining that he might be denied support if the information was insufficient, entrusted the fate of the Kingdom of Belmair to his eloquence.
I will tell you everything I know.
* * *
Ownerless land, Arrein.
“It is not good as it is.”
Eon’s intelligence officer, Pale, spoke with a bundle of papers containing information he had collected as much as possible from various locations by deploying every available informant, with the contents placed beside him.
“The Demon Realm and somewhere in the southern part of the Central Continent. These two have been confirmed as the current undead hotspots in the Central Continent. The Demon Realm is anchored by the Great Beastmen Tribe and the Adventurer’s Guild, while other nations act as a bulwark in the south. The Elf Alliance intercepts any undead that have strayed from their packs and reached ownerless lands, using the forest as a boundary.”“…….”“The territory of Eon is relatively safe, but we cannot simply continue repeating wars of attrition. Not as long as we do not know how many more undead will appear in the future. It would not be surprising at all if large-scale undead infestations were to expand further from here.”
It is difficult to believe that an undead army of this magnitude could have been continuously produced using a specific resource. The resource would surely be depleted before long.
The opponent is an ancient transcendent being known as the Old King, worshipped by the Glory of the Dead. One whom modern transcendent beings could not kill even when attacking together… Therefore, it would be a hundred times more correct to deal with the situation by keeping the absolute worst-case scenario in mind.
The undead spawn endlessly, regardless of continent. Probably without consuming any resources.
Pale was observing the current situation from that perspective.
“I do not know when the Old King’s seal will be broken again, but it is clear that the time is already running out. We need more information.”“I know that, but…”
Keirel clicked his tongue.
I never realized how inconvenient it would be without communication devices and spatial teleportation.
Even putting aside the Kingdom of Estira, it was very painful that I could not communicate in real-time with the Great Hall of Black Hour, where the main airship fleet and Eon’s mage forces were concentrated, and travel between the two sides.
It was difficult to carry out a large-scale movement using only the strategic weapons and personnel moved to ownerless land when spatial teleportation was possible.
“…….”
Junia bit her lip in the corner.Her anxiety was evident.This was because she had lost contact with Cain, the twin who had been dispatched to the Kingdom of Ronia on the Eastern Continent. It was the first time in their lives that the two had been separated for such a long time.
The air is heavy.
Romer, the lone wolf who knew quite a bit about lightening the mood, also shrugged his teeth. In the uneasy silence, Liam spoke.
In that regard, I have no choice but to trust Isabella and Beta entirely.
Liam added.
“And Lord Adrian will take care of the Kingdom of Ronia. Please don’t worry too much.”“……Okay.”
Yunia nodded slowly.
It is a frustrating situation in many ways.
Since we never assumed that spatial teleportation and communication would be blocked, our strategy based on modern magic technology has been thrown into disarray.Under these circumstances, even the Alliance of Transcendents, equipped with the Golden Vigo’s armor, will find it difficult to act in perfect unison. For now, perhaps we need time to adapt to the current situation.
Although limited spatial movement is possible… … the distance to the relevant point is far and it is difficult to utilize, so the scope of action is just as narrow.
Pale stood up from his seat and stared at Arrein’s street for a moment.
This place is peaceful.
However, as rumors have spread, unrest is likely rising beneath the surface. It is necessary to clear away these bubbles before they gather and burst.
Reactivation of spatial movement.Restart of communication device.
These two are the key.
The territory of Eon is not entirely comprised of ownerless lands. The Great Hall is located on the Western Continent, and the Kingdom of Estiria is on the Eastern Continent.Unless an intercontinental communication network is established, it will be difficult to defend the entire territory during this crisis.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
“Open the door!! Hurry!! This is an urgent matter!!”
Lester Roadheart, who had risen from mercenary captain to Northern Sheriff after settling on the ownerless land through Kalia’s introduction, rode in on horseback himself.Upon entering Arrain Fortress, he met Pale’s eyes as Pale leaned his head out the window.
“What is it?”“Breaking news! Count Laud of the Kingdom of Belmair has come to find Arrein to request reinforcements! And!!”
Leicester raised his voice.
“His Majesty Verden has returned!!”“What did you say……?”
Pale opened his eyes wide, then turned around at the presence he sensed behind him. Everyone stared at one person and one golem with eyes just like Pale’s.
[hi.]
I apologize for being unintentionally late. More importantly, the continent seems to have become quite chaotic while I was away.
The gray-haired Verden naturally took his seat at the head of the meeting room.
“Report it.”“Whoa!!!!! Senior!!!”
puck!
Yunia rushed forward.
* * *
Pale quickly gathered all the materials in the conference room and placed them in front of Verden. While Verden scanned the documents, Pale added further explanations.The content regarding international affairs was close to an in-depth elaboration of what Count Laud had said.
Verden asked.
“Where is Beta?”
Naturally, Verden’s primary concern was Eon’s internal affairs. He needed to understand Eon’s situation to deploy his forces efficiently.Above all, their safety was Verden’s top priority.
Yunia answered while hugging Verden’s neck from behind. She looked exactly like an immature junior relying on a close senior.
Beta crossed over to the Grand Hall after retrieving the central signal device. Apparently, communication was disrupted because some kind of interference was applied to the magical energy wavelength itself, so he said he would try modifying that part. However, as spatial teleportation gradually became impossible afterward, we haven’t been able to meet.
Modification of the central signaling device.
It is highly likely that Beta went back to the Golem Research Facility from the Great Hall. There is no other place to service the central beacon.
Isabella would have remained on the ownerless land.
This time, Liam answered.
“Yes, Lady Isabella is currently moving with the elves who have settled in the forest, stating that she intends to find the cause hindering spatial travel in the ownerless land.”
Isabella’s keen eyesight is special. Possessing a vision different from others, she might find an unknown alien species, perhaps even an undead causing spatial disturbance.With the elves by her side, there is no chance of any mishaps occurring.
Alpha asks.
[What about Adrian?]
“…….”
As a transcendent being, Adrian has a duty to protect the territory. However, no trace of him could be felt anywhere in the ownerless land.
Did they go to the Great Hall?Did they go to the Kingdom of Estiria?
Verden soon became convinced.
“You went to the Kingdom of Ronia in the Eastern Continent. To rescue the Aspects who had lost contact.”“Originally, you intended to protect the territory, but… while communications and spatial travel were gradually being cut off, Ferne crossed over to the Eastern Continent and obtained top-secret information.”
Pale said in a low voice
“Mauler has moved south.”“……!”
The Great King of Delharun moved south, passing through the city-state of Kylians. Since Kylians, the Kingdom of Ronia, and Mauler’s territory were all within his domain, it would not have been strange for him to go anywhere, but it could not be ignored.
Those dispatched to the Kingdom of Ronia cannot deal with Mauler.If they encounter him, they will be killed.
If Verden were Adrian, what choice would he have made? Naturally, just like Adrian, he would have entrusted the territory to Isabella and headed to the Kingdom of Ronia.
“…….”
After collecting his thoughts for a moment, Verden picked up the document regarding spatial teleportation.
“It says that the pre-installed spatial teleportation device is operational. Is that true?”
Keirel nodded.
“It’s true. Adrian also crossed over to the Eastern Continent via the intercontinental spatial teleportation tunnel.”“What about the intercontinental spatial teleportation tunnel where only the foundation is completed?”“Huh? That’s… well…”“Then we’ll just have to give it a try.”
There is an unfinished intercontinental spatial teleportation circle in the ownerless land and the Kingdom of Estiria. It is the result of receiving some of the technology from the Artisan Magic Tower.The foundation has been fully constructed, so it will finally be completed once Verden personally creates the magic circle.
It is doubtful whether the spatial teleportation network can be properly established under these circumstances, but we have no choice but to give it a try.
If communication with the Kingdom of Estira becomes possible, various issues regarding the territory will be resolved.If there is a possibility, we must succeed.
“But, Senior.”“What?”“What is that look…?”
Junia pointed at [Einber], which was stained ash like Verden’s hair color.It was a scene similar to what she had seen before.Just like [Einber], which turned from white to pitch black after Verden awakened.
“It is the result of rising in the hierarchy.”“Aha.”
Yunia clapped her hands as if she understood, then froze.
“Huh? Rank 8?”
