Episode 1135: A Bold Move (3)
Boom.
Akhand, holding the Dragon Sword [Magras], shot out in a line like an arrow. His front paws, having risen low, pushed off the ground again midway.
Most of the guards were completely unaware of Arkhand’s presence. Whether on the castle walls or in the streets, they were simply panicking at the sudden vibrations.
“J-Earthquake?”“Wait a minute. I’ll go ask a guard I know.”
It was the moment when the husband, who had recently been married at Elbrook Church, reassured his wife and took about three steps toward the city wall.
Kwaaaaaaaang!
Elbrook’s castle gate collapsed.
The security magic circle protecting the castle walls from external impacts was physically breached. The Alliance’s defense system against the undead legion was neutralized.
The expression “explosion” was actually more fitting.
Guards fell from the city walls, and citizens near the gate were engulfed in thick smoke. The debris of the gate covered the city.
A huge, severely warped metal door whizzed past right beside me.Behind me, the roar of buildings shattering erupted.
“honey……?”
Only a bright red bloodstain remained where the husband had been standing.
My wife stood there with her mouth agape, unable to perceive reality, until she turned her head toward the castle gate at the sound of a scream ringing out.
The silhouette of the Emperor emerged from beyond the dust cloud.
In a great war, sacrifice and salvation coexist.
Akand descended.
That is the nobility of war.
No one immediately recognized him as the Emperor of the Xerion Empire and the former king. After all, the public had neither the need nor the reason to know the appearance of the ancient king.However, the citizens instinctively understood what had happened in Elbrook.
Elbrook was invaded.
Then, figures surged up from the street that had become a complete mess.
“What an incredibly crude sword and armor…!”“Human. A martial artist. Block his skills first.”“Nothing else detected. The enemy is alone!”
They were adventurers.
It was a mixed party of Mithril grade, including not only humans but also beastmen.A composition found only in the Iderat Alliance, which broadly pursues harmony among races—they were forces deployed to a designated evacuation city under the Guild’s orders.
In the rear, a mage prepared spells, while in the front, the vanguard, supported by archer fire, exploited their numerical advantage to target Arkhand’s blind spots.It was a harmonious coordination that clearly demonstrated they had been working together for at least several years.
Akand swung his dragon sword in place without even wearing a helmet.That was all.
The structures of Elbrook situated along the path split horizontally. Along with them, people died instantly, regardless of whether they were adventurers, citizens, or soldiers.Even the wives who had lost their husbands were not spared; they were dismembered and scattered across the ground.
The only surviving wizard in the vicinity slumped down.
The corpses of comrades who had been alive and breathing just moments ago were reflected in my eyes. The weapons and armor I had acquired as a reward for the subjugation could not protect their bodies.
At that moment, shock preceded desperate sorrow.
“How, with just pressure.”
It far exceeded human capabilities.
Transcendent being?
No, I would not dare to gauge the level of the higher-ups, but it must be beyond that. Various clues led the wizard to guess the opponent’s identity.
“The ancient king…… Akhand.”“There is no way to know whether you will join the eternal cycle of fate or face complete death, but there is no need to despair or grieve.”
Akand asserted.
“In the end, you won’t remember anything.”
The Dragon Sword, which had risen high into the sky before I knew it, fell vertically.Sunlight reflected off the blade.
Xerion Empire Swordsmanship 1st Formation – Glaros
A pitch-black, matte sword strike, colossal more than any sword energy the wizard had ever seen, split the sky and the earth, cleaving the wizard and Elbrook in two.
The fortress was shattered into pieces.
The mayor of Elbrook, who had attempted to operate the communication device, could not even find a body. Death had spread. Countless casualties occurred in Elbrook, which was already burdened with refugees.There, Akand gripped the Dragon Sword with both hands and brought it down toward the ground this time.
The city of Elbrook was devastated.
Thump, thump.
Akhand, who had massacred tens of thousands, walked out of the ruins where almost nothing remained. He perceived the vivid movements of souls through his power.
“I hope you don’t end up compromising with reality like the absolutes while chasing ideals, Verden.”
Verden, disregarding his position, personally withdrew Nekbael from the battlefield.Akhand left the Imperial Citadel and entered the enemy lines alone.
“Truly… if you want to become a savior who walks a different path from them.”
Akand moved south.
Although their objectives were completely different, the essence of the numbers the two presented this time was similar.
For their deaths themselves are the conclusion of the war.It is like placing the outcome of a great war on a knife edge that could fall at any moment.
The leaders of both sides took an extreme measure, risking their lives against each other.
* * *
The interior of the Four Gates in the southern part of the Eastern Continent was… …a more difficult environment than expected.
Desolate and vast hills.There were so many hills that there was almost no flat land.
Far away, at the edge of the hills, stood an ancient fortress of an unfamiliar style. The walls were taller and thicker than those of major continental cities.Undead were embedded throughout the walls. Sensing life, they howled grotesquely.
Although the size and strength of the undead army were within the expected range, the defensive formation centered on the large fortress revealed not the slightest weakness.
Is the source of the Four Sect hidden behind the fortress? It looks like it will be a struggle to capture it.
Yurion narrowed his eyes.
‘furthermore…….’
The intensity of the unpleasant sensation felt only in the southern part of the Eastern Continent grew even stronger. Not only that, but now a foul ringing in the ears could even be heard faintly.It was the energy and noise leading the living to the corruption of the undead.
Haldirn touched his temple with his fingertips.
“Your mental strength has been slowly depleting since the moment you entered. Those of lower level or without well-trained minds will find it difficult to endure for long.”“Does this mean the threshold for corruption has lowered?”“To the point where it could be called significantly lower. Protecting your mind is no longer an option.”
Since the next successor of the Dark Warton Magic Tower interpreted it that way, it must be true.
Dark mages like Aldevan and the Pope’s forces were particularly on high alert.They were sensitive to the aura of death in different ways.
“It is a relief that at least it hasn’t had a significant impact on the high-ranking forces. They periodically cross the continent to launch sieges. Leona, tell them to establish a base.”“Yes, Your Majesty.”“…….”“I understand your desire to end this with a quick decisive battle, but put those complaints aside, Gareth. You know that, right?”
Yurion gestured with his chin.
“If you go in the wrong way, you will die.”
The Empire’s 3rd Commander, who had outsmarted even Vendie, and the Empire’s 8th Commander, who had pierced through numerous peaks whose movements had been read during the battle with arrows, watched the Transcendents from the fortress as if to show off. Theirgazes were menacing, as if daring them to come in if they dared.
Asymmetric power and transcendent-level power, the two.
I could have overwhelmed them in a head-on confrontation, but the path ahead was quite arduous. In battles between those who have reached a high level, even the slightest variable is fatal.Among that undead legion, there were individuals who could act as such a variable even against the transcendents.
Gareth clicked his tongue.
“I know. Damn it, do you have no eyes?”“Fine, if you know, that’s enough. More importantly, tone down your language. That’s why you get beaten up by Adrian.”“Calm down, Yurion.”“Adrian has a bad habit of using foul language, too.”
If he could wield the power of the Archdemon, he could overpower them with force alongside Vendie… but Gareth wasn’t that insane.The Pope of Light was right beside him.The moment it was revealed that he was a contractor of the Archdemon, Gareth would be reduced to a public enemy of the continent. He had no intention of fighting war after war.
thud.
The punitive expedition established a forward base and installed siege weapons. Until now, the Rift of the Four Gates belonged to the enemy, but now it was in the possession of the Alliance.
Great power was born.
Junia commanded Eon’s mage corps and charged the magic particle cannon. It wasa limit hierarchy reaching the 8th rank.Having been a mage since birth, Junia’s amount of magical power was incomparable to anyone in the Society, including the sages.
“Charging complete.”“Our strategy is no different from before. To chip away at the shell of the Xerion Empire as needed, then strike the enemy’s head.”
Yurion aimed his blade at the 3rd Commander—the Apocalypse of War.
Bendie drew his bowstring.Romanus opened the Bible.Gareth unleashed his power and charged.
Open fire.
The siege of the transcendents has begun.
* * *
The space provided by Deus had, before long, turned into a place more wretched than the battlefields of the continent.The mountain ranges and forests that had feigned freshness were swept away by more than 60%, and their place was occupied by a desolate wasteland bordering on a desert.
Boom──────!
As the fully deployed twin wings swept in all directions, a sharp storm raged. The turbulent currents intertwined within it slashed Verden.Finally, as he was cut by what had pierced through the divine power, divine blood flowed down.
Immediately afterwards, the Mystic Eye was activated.
Nekbael screamed, struck directly by an unavoidable miracle of God.The abandoned world trembled.
There were injuries and blood splattered everywhere, but the two showed no signs of exhaustion yet.
The life force of dragons is superior to that of any other race, while the life force of gods is an unknown something that cannot be measured in physical terms at all.
At this rate, even after a few days, I won’t have a chance to look for a way to return to the continent.
Verden pointed his fingertips upward.
In that case, I will seal it.
A gray nebula glowed faintly, and countless clusters of light surged in. Shhh! Gray chains bound Nekbael.This was a miracle modeled after the prison of defeated soldiers where the Gray Dragon was sealed.
[This, nothing… …]
A portion of the chains, composed of divine power, pierced the membrane of the wings. It was not a physical penetration, but a more conceptual action.A rain of chains poured down once more from the divine universe, binding not only the limbs but also the tail and neck. Nekhbael’s head was gradually thrown back.
Kraaaaaa──────!!
Nekbael roared and began to shatter the seal with pure power, and the more he did so, the more Verden emitted a dazzling light in his eyes and tightened his grip, which was filled with pressure.
Kugugugugugugugugugugu!
A huge force confronted.
Nekbael felt his body slowly stiffen, then gritted his teeth. Dragon blood gushed out. Also, a thick mist spread from the blood.Thick poisonous smoke instantly engulfed Nekbael’s massive body.
Verden suddenly felt the weight of the seal become as light as a feather.
‘what…….’
As I tried to figure out the situation, a human shadow leaped out of the fog.
Polymorph
Nekbael took the form of a small boy.
A large dragon horn embedded in the temple.Dark green wings.Scale-covered hands and feet, and fingernails and claws.
Like Regrit, but with dragon characteristics much more pronounced than her—Nekbael—had broken free from the god’s seal by shrinking his physique.
Boom!
Nekbael’s claws became entangled in [Interis] led by Verden.
Although its power was somewhat weaker than its original form, its speed was similar to or slightly faster than Verden’s, perhaps due to its reduced weight.
I didn’t know you could even borrow the form of a lower organism.
[I don’t admit it.]
The boy Nekbael bared his fangs fiercely.
[You are equal to an ancient dragon.]
From the dragon’s perspective, it might have been praise, but from the listener’s point of view, it was not at all.
Do not underestimate.
Verden and Nekbael engaged in a fierce battle as they rapidly descended. The moment their feet touched the ground, their Dragon Language and miracles crossed paths.
A dazzling explosion spread.
* * *
Day 34 of the war.
Three days have passed since the siege began.
Silis guarded the rift of the Gate of Death and monitored the surroundings as ordered by Yurion.She had to prepare for a surprise attack.Although they had seized the Gate of Death, the Xerion Empire had encroached upon the entire southern part of the Eastern Continent, and there was even another Gate of Death in this land.
Some time later, Kalia reported.
“Your Majesty, we have spotted enemies to the south, where the Yellow Fang Fortress is located. Not only the undead, but also corrupted beastmen; the scale is considerable.”“You have finally arrived.”
Silis took a step.
“Duke Esperensa, I will proceed separately, so I will leave the command to you.“What?”
Calia and her father, Duke Esperensa, were taken aback but soon nodded.Silis’s current status is not limited to being the Queen of the Kingdom of Estiria.
“Please leave it to me.”“Yes, then.”
Silis took no one with her. She walked away from the gate. As soon as the presence of the Allied Forces faded, Silis spoke.
“Show yourself.”“That’s ridiculous.”
Rucaria, the Ruminant who was once the third servant of the Glory of the Dead, manifested.
“You think you can take on me?”
The transcendents of the glory of the corpse stepped forward to the front lines.
