Episode 1092 Eastern Continent: Land of Corruption (1)
Two punitive expeditions heading south set foot on the land ruled—or rather, ruled—by the Kingdom of Ronia and the Lower Beastmen tribes.The moment they crossed a certain boundary, an indescribable ominousness swept over them.
If you betray your heart, you will fall into the undead… … .
The atmosphere was somewhat familiar to Cain, who had once conducted a special operation in the southern part of the Eastern Continent for the judgment of the King of Ronia’s commandments.It was not a pleasant memory.The King of Ronia, the subject of the judgment, had been killed by a saint, and for the first time in his life, he had to assume the role of a leader to prevent the survivors from falling into corruption.
Cain remembers that sense of responsibility.
I remember the time when my mind was gradually worn away by the anxiety that countless people might die because of my mistake, and by the people who created chaos and caused a disturbance despite the situation.
“Cain?”“I’m a little nervous.”
Cain shook his head briefly with an expressionless face. He was just as calm as ever. If anything, he was just a little more stiff than usual.
“Tense? Have you been to a war or two?”
Yunia laughed and patted his shoulder hard.
“Hey, if you’re scared, stay behind me. I’ll blow them all away.”“Shut up, Yunia.”“With my trump card magic, even that undead bastard called a commander would get goosebumps.”
After receiving the long teachings of the sages, and then martial arts, magic, and even great magic power from Senior Verden, Junia’s confidence soared to the sky.
Of course, Cain went through the same educational process as Junia, but the characteristics of the magic they each pioneered were as vastly different as their personalities.
If Junia pours out all her capabilities, at least for that moment, she surpasses the pinnacle of the 6th rank.This was a fact acknowledged by her senior.
However… even Yunia cannot completely hide her nervousness.You can tell by the slight stiffness in the corners of her mouth.
Competitive battles in ownerless lands.The Black Hour purge.War with the Bohemian Magic Tower.
In particular, I nearly lost my life in the magic battle against the elders of the Bohemian Magic Tower. However, the silence now was much heavier than the noise of that time.
The war with the Xerion Empire is on a completely different level in scale and justification compared to any conflict we have experienced.
Even the senior who had instantly crushed tens of thousands of undead and super-level magic constructed jointly by three 7th-rank transcendents was not letting his guard down for a single moment.It was obvious that this battlefield would be beyond anything one could imagine.
Cain leaned his arms on the railing of the airship while watching the ground.
“Unia.”“Why?”“Don’t let your guard down.”“What are you talking about?”
Yunia let out a chuckle. Yet, as if by habit, she observed her surroundings. The days of leaving Society Island and acting like a goblin in a cave—inexperienced yet full of bravado—were long gone.
You be careful too.
… … *Cough*.
Given the circumstances, I gave them serious advice, but it feels quite awkward.Even though they are twins, brothers are brothers.In fact, because they are family, it was harder to give them kind words of advice without bickering. Because the heart is conveyed even without words.
Under the order of the Oath-taker and the Pope, the Southern 1st and 2nd Punitive Corps advance southward.
The news is that the Old King descended from the stratosphere to bomb the Delharun Extermination Corps’ outpost,Mauler bought time to counter this,the Beast King and the Darkwarton Tower Master intervened via teleportation to respond, andVerden, appearing with the Holy Spear, personally sealed the Delharun Gate—but they failed to block the Old King’s entire scheme, causing a massive undead army to scatter across the continent.
Despite such news, the punitive expeditionary force in the southern Eastern Continent advances without stopping. Neither fast nor slow. The Oath-taker valued this strategy.
To defeat the first of the two gates that corrupts living beings, one had to occupy or blockade several key locations, and in terms of importance, five of them stand out.
Novar Fortress.Mane Hills.Hastow Fortress.Brefield.Yellowfang Keep.
The Oath-taker—Yurion Highros—ruminated in his mind on the places he absolutely had to seize, then clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“To think that for every single thing that goes wrong, the chance of conquering the Four Sects decreases by 20%, and if three or more go wrong, it is effectively defeat. Honestly, no matter how I think about it, it is the absolute most unreasonable thing.”
Novar Fortress is a hill fortress of the Kingdom of Ronia, serving as a key defensive stronghold guarding the supply route through which the Alliance’s troops and weapons pass, as well as the marching route toward the Second Gate.Failure to secure the fortress will cause significant setbacks in the execution of the punitive expeditions’ strategies.
Mane Hills is a marching area that must be passed through when moving to the Second Gate, and it is a place where there is an extremely high probability of large-scale engagements with the Xerion Empire forces.Novar Fortress is located to the northeast of Mane Hills. Additionally, if the eastern side of Mane Hills is captured, the flanks of the punitive forces will be completely exposed.
Hastow Fortress is one of the two largest fortresses in the southern conflict zone of the Eastern Continent. Although it is a military facility of the Kingdom of Ronia, it is virtually a city.There is no better place in the southern Eastern Continent for punitive expeditions to establish a base.
Brefield is a major city of the Kingdom of Ronia, and since it has likely already fallen into enemy hands, it is effectively a base for the Xerion Empire. In this land, the more populous a city is, the more extreme the danger becomes. Thisis because the Corrupted evolve by building altars with living creatures, including humans and beastmen. Unless the Corrupted in Brefield are blocked from approaching the conflict zone, the assault on the Four Gates will inevitably be delayed.
Yellowfang Keep is considered one of the largest fortresses in the Conflict Zone, alongside Hastow Fortress. Itserves as a base for the Lower Beastmen tribe and is adjacent to the First Gate. Like Brefield, it is suspected to be a stronghold for the Corruptors, so it must be blockaded or completely captured.
Yurion whispered quietly.
“If we fail the assault, how are we going to show our faces out of sheer embarrassment…?”“Didn’t you say we would definitely win? You even gave a speech likethat when the legion had just assembled.” “Of course I said that because it was a speech. I can’t exactly whine about a potential disaster, can I? If I just spoke the facts, the morale Verden worked so hard to build would just plummet.”“I suppose so. In any case, you don’t really need to worry about that. The defeat of the punitive expedition would mean complete annihilation, including us.”
Master—Bendier narrowed his eyes and glanced sideways at Yurion.
“Are you perhaps planning to lose but spare your life? Or are you… succumbing to corruption?”“Hahaha, of course not. If I killed all the kids and ran away alone, I’d be too ashamed to face my family. Besides, betraying myself and falling into corruption… ugh, obviously, that’s out of the question. I’d rather die a glorious death. Not that I have even the slightest intention of leaving my wife and children behind, though.”“I know that very well.”“However, while I am confident of victory, the future course of the war is quite uncertain.”
Yurion took in the sight of the punitive force advancing, led by the legion commanders.
“It is quite small compared to the vastness of this land.”“That was one of the issues already raised during the meeting.”
Currently, the total strength of the 1st and 2nd Punitive Corps amounts to approximately 130,000 troops.
The three central kingdoms of the Eastern Continent: the Kingdom of Estiria, the Principality of Liviant, and the Republic of Beldirn.The Theocracy of Luas.The Magic Tower of the Volcanic Island.The Magic Tower of Darkwarton.The Temple.Highlandia.
Even considering only the population of the three nations of the Eastern Continent, an army of hundreds of thousands is nothing. The current Age of Magic is the Age of Humanity. It is the greatest period of prosperity in human history. Whilethe numbers of all human species increased during the Age of Peace, humans, in particular, have reached their peak.
However, only 130,000 people.
Compared to the Ternetia Federation Suppression Corps commanded by Adrian, the force is woefully, woefully small.
This is because in the Land of Corruption, a large scale can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. Here, the number 130,000 represented the maximum number of people that could be protected from rapidly collapsing minds through magic and miracles.
For that reason, as long as the Gate of Corruption remained closed, the World Alliance was in a situation where it could not dispatch human resources beyond its current fixed scale.
“So, didn’t our 1st and 2nd Extermination Corps receive the most weaponry support? Next is the Pendren Extermination Corps.”“That is true, but…”
However, the fact that they were short on personnel did not mean that the punitive forces were weak.
Modern weaponry.
Even excluding the transcendents, there were artificial artifacts, various magic items, and Eon’s Golem units to compensate for the insufficient scale.It was certainly impossible to optimize the legion more efficiently than this.
“I tend to view such weapons as a secondary element. After all, we are the ones waging war, aren’t we?”“That is an outdated notion, Yurion. However, you are not wrong. After all, we are the ones using the weapons.”
Bendy was conscious of the weapons stored in his subspace arsenal.
Creating conditions to maximize the use of weapons is also.
How much enemy territory is seized.
That will determine the success or failure of the attack.
* * *
A portion of the punitive expeditionary forces moving toward Hastow Fortress broke away.It was a unit responsible for the supply lines.The majority of this force was tasked with capturing and defending Novar Fortress, a key strategic location.
Theocracy of Luas – Archbishop Joseph of the Holy Order.Principality of Liviant – Marquis Lavishurn and Count Rodenmeyer.Kingdom of Estiria – Count Terit.Council of Elders of the Volcanic Island Magic Tower – Melconi Bloud.Elder of the Darkwarton Magic Tower – Zhael.Republic of Beldirn – Council Member Ebrak and Council Member Barova.Temple – High Disciple, Kishena.Numerous high-ranking adventurers.
Led by their respective commanders, about 15,000 men headed toward Novar Fortress. It was a suitable number to take charge of the fortress and the surrounding watchtowers, as well as scout Mane Hills.
A procession of various airships and people moves away.
The main body of the punitive force continued to move south in a different direction from them.
A land stained with blood and pain.
Finally, they arrived at the conflict zone. And not long after, the scouts discovered a large fortress resembling a city standing tall.
Kalia reported while riding the Dreadmere.
Fort Hastow. I have confirmed it.
I arrived at the destination.
Pope Romanus said.
“I can faintly detect an aura of death. There are undead here, but their numbers are negligible. Their strength does not pose a threat either.”“That’s different from what I predicted. They must be well aware that we are targeting that fortress. Suspicious.”
Giving up a strategic point to the enemy?It is definitely a trap.However, since Romanus believes there are no undead traps, it is reasonable to give weight to the expert’s opinion in this situation.
“I will send scouts. Leona, establish communication with the Alliance.”“Yes, Your Majesty.”
High mages acting on Yurion’s orders parachuted from the airship. Currently, the most formidable force in urban exploration is Eon.
* * *
Hastow Fortress had no defensive magic circles activated.Of course, there was absolutely no anti-aircraft system either.
“……It is quiet, Sage.”
Yunia faced a street where it was obvious that many people had resided.
I heard that not only the Ronia Kingdom army but also the soldiers’ families relocated to and lived at Hastow Fortress. That means its defenses are that solid.It wasn’t called the Ronia Kingdom’s greatest strategic fortress in this conflict zone for nothing.
But… … it was lifeless now.
Only traces of the past remain.
After the two gates were opened and the Old King repelled the undead legions, Cain, along with the other Aspects, evacuated the survivors of the southern Eastern Continent,crossing the continent and the sea with the help of other forces.
In the process, the Ruler—Rateon—used the land route, that is, the path the punitive expedition had just passed, and he also went through Hastow Fortress at the time.However, he could not enter because the bizarre howling of the undead was echoing loudly. Rescuing the survivors was also the priority.
The southern part of the Eastern Continent is not a small land.
The former king said he would send a messenger on a specific date and that there would be no death until then, but there was no way to take it at face value.
Time was running out as we didn’t know when the corrupted might attack again. There must have been more than a few survivors who were not found at that time.
Those people… … .
Did they all die a painful death?Did they fall into corruption as the undead? Orare they lucky enough to be barely surviving somewhere?
Cain could not easily shake off the thought of the tragedy and the scene, as he could not forget them.
The Sage of Power—Osgar said.
“I don’t sense any particular sense of crisis, though. Hmm, I’ll have to check thoroughly. Activate the Identification Golem. The command is to find organic tissue.”“Yes. Find organic tissue.”
Junia, Cain, and the wizards of Eon simultaneously launched the identification golems.The spherical ones glowed with blue magic and flew up in all directions.
Aldevan of the Twelfth Aspect, with the Order of Wizards under his command, was keeping a close watch on O’sgar party to ensure no anomalies occurred in the skies above.
Pow!
It was only a dozen seconds later that the Identification Golem turned red.Its location was the building right next door.
What made them pause as they swiftly stormed the building was a single ornament. A horrific sculpture woven from organic tissue.
It’s a person.
They dissected the human body, allowing the nerves and organs to rot as if drying them out completely, woven the bones with the nerves, and draped the dried organs over them.It was a mere scarecrow made of corpses.Even the wizards who had crossed the line between life and death time and time again felt a mental shock. Among the enemies they had faced, no monster had ever treated a corpse in this way.
“Cain, you said the Fallen One would build an altar of corpses with the living. Is this that altar?”“It seems a little… different.”“Dardara.”
Osgar slowly stroked his beard.
The identification golem units engrossed in searching sent signals one after another.
I checked the nearby places first. There was another scarecrow made of a corpse. The same was true for other buildings. The only difference was that the corpses used as material for the scarecrows were all different.Men, women, the elderly, middle-aged, young adults, children… every gender and generation was used as material.
Then, I climbed one of the spires on the edge of Hastow Fortress. A scarecrow different from the ones I had seen so far had been ‘installed’ on the spire.
[Save me… please… save me… .]
A human sculpture entangled with various human parts sobs in the darkness. It was, it was a ‘corpse spider’ exposing nerves, bones, organs, and the like.
[Please… … save… … please… … .]
The undead endlessly repeated the plea to be spared like a music box. The youthful jaw sewn onto the adult’s head twisted continuously.
As a human being, it was a sight I dared not even open my eyes to.It was enough to make me sicken.
“The spirit of this undead is human. As expected, it is not some kind of altar.”
It was only after seeing that that Osgar understood the purpose of the scarecrows.
“It is psychological warfare.”“Psychological warfare?”“A stratagem to unsettle the Allied forces, whether by agitating their emotions or lowering their morale. In other words.……”
The tendons on the back of Osgar’s hand, which was holding the staff, bulged.
It’s mockery directed at us.
The Xerion Empire could have seized Hastow Fortress in advance and engaged the Allied forces. However, they did not do so. Instead, they placed dummy corpses in every building.
It is a mocking provocation implying that no matter what they do, the Allied Forces will also become scarecrows and symbols of the Xerion Empire, just like the sacrificed people.
Their scheme was practically a success.
The wizards of Eon instantly felt their heads burn as they faced the cruel scarecrow. This was because they all followed the Three Commandments of Divinity, the necromancy of Eon.
Yunia’s expression crumpled roughly.
[Please… save me… .]
Where does the dignity of the intelligent life lie?
Boom!
Cain swung his magic sword and completely shattered the corpse spider sculpture. The undead were annihilated. The human spirit trapped inside was freed.It was the thought that all the Southern survivors who had not been saved must have ended up in this state. It was the manifestation of that emotion.
Osgar patted Cain’s shoulder and turned on the communication device.
Fort Hastow. No danger whatsoever. Nothing found so far, aside from some goddamn bluff. Requesting additional search parties.
The punitive force searched the entire Hastow Fortress, but found nothing but scarecrows. There were 238 undead structures.It was confirmed that at least tens of thousands of human bodies had been used merely to mock the Allied forces.
The Pope personally conducted the funeral.
In this way, the Southern Eastern Continent punitive forces captured Hastow Fortress without shedding blood.
* * *
Countless spears of black flame swarmed from the sky, obliterating the horde of undead. The terrain remained intact, but only the aura of death vanished.
It’s a hassle since they’re scattered so widely.
Verden was heading south from Delharun toward the Kingdom of Estiria. He intended to use the intercontinental spatial teleportation portal located in the underworld of Roafra.He eliminated every horde of undead he encountered along the way.
The current location is the Middles Autonomous Region.
It was the region where I first met Adrian and where I gained a revenge companion named Adrian.
Bang───! Bang───!
King Antias was following behind, leaping over mountain ranges with his superior leg strength, though slower than the flying Verden.
It was then that Alpha sent the communication.
“What’s going on?”
───[Great Beastman Tribe. Raid. Hoof Ramparts destroyed. Beast unknown. Cleric dispatched. No traces of undead visible.]
Casualties caused by the undead leave traces in one way or another. The aura of death. Priests of Light are specialized in detecting it.
The fact that they still couldn’t find it means… … .
Verden came to a sudden halt. It is highly likely that the raider is one of the powerful figures the World Alliance is wary of, even though they do not belong to the Xerion Empire.This is especially true given that they inflicted damage on a major beastman tribe of all places.
thud!
Antias, having overheard the communication, landed on the ground and grinned.
It’s the fellow.
An ancient beastman who personally murdered Archbishop Joseph, destroyed the city of Goldhill, and engaged in a battle with the Saint who resurrected him. A beastking who reigned in the same era as the worst dwarf on earth, whom the Luas religion was convinced was dead but whose death could not be confirmed as no body was found…
It seems the prisoner of the massacre has revealed himself.
