Episode 1106 The Great Offensive (2)
Befitting its status as the second largest lake on the continent, Lake Pendren was also extraordinary in its depth.It was a sea.It would not be an exaggeration to call it an ocean trapped within the continent.
Cool water temperature… … .
The body, which does not freeze even when buried in deserted snowy mountains, does not burn in flames that love ashes, and is not damaged by the heat pressure of slushy lava, perceived only the state of the environment.
The muffled sound of footsteps scattered as they reached the bottom of the lake.
Verden disguised himself in a pitch-black robe, far removed from his true form, using the
Although not visually distinguishable, the concentration of contamination is quite high even at the edges.
More information permeates the senses than is transmitted to headquarters. Since the subjects of perception are different, a gap between the field and headquarters is bound to arise.
Concealed by a mask… … blue eyes, as if containing an endless blue sea, flickered.
As is typical of any lake where the deepest point usually converges towards the center, as you moved toward the center, a thick darkness settled where the light beyond the surface could not reach.
Complete enemy territory.
An artificial current surged toward Verden.
No wonder Thearel’s legion is having a hard time.
The contamination caused by the Pendren silt affected not only humans but also aquatic life. The contaminated life split into various individuals or merged, transforming into inhabitants situated on the boundary between life and death.
Boom───
The floor split open, and countless deformed arms suddenly popped out and grabbed Verden’s ankle.
From the front, a group of anomalous creatures composed of hideously distorted blood vessels approached, walking as if unaffected by the buoyancy of the water.
There was rotten, mucous purple slime stuck between them.
A strange voice and a psychic wave were transmitted simultaneously.
[Let’s… … melt away together… … .]
What on earth are they trying to become by melting together?Nothing has been revealed.It might be an expression of an instinct to increase the number of their kind, like a kind of reproductive urge. However, aside from that, they showed no physiological impulses.
Instead of seeking survival, they decided to fiercely resist Verden.To protect the gate────
The embodiment of decay
Everything that touched Verden’s body rotted and crumbled away miserably. The transcendental black magic shattered the boundaries of the aberrant form, delivering certain annihilation.
A faction is a matter of the presence or absence of dominance. If you lack the strength to advance, simply rot away and devour the enemy’s lowest ranks.
Brilliantly rippling black magic raced through the magic circuits of the entire body.
‘Take control.’
Just as the concepts of birth and death coexist, it is the providence for organic matter to naturally decay.
The essence of black magic.
Black magic is a magical discipline that studies the inevitable decline and its consequences, and unlike regeneration, decline is a concept leading to downfall.
Therefore, black magic seems to continue developing in a negative direction from a worldly perspective, such as cursing opponents, worsening their condition, or handling corpses.
Just as the old saying goes that associating with goblins makes one act like a goblin, it may be common sense that exposure to evil knowledge leads to committing evil deeds, but in reality, this is nothing more than a one-dimensional prejudice.
What is injustice?
Although the dictionary definition means something incorrect, it is difficult to answer the question immediately. This is because what is considered impure varies depending on the subject.
Even though this world is one, living beings live in their own separate worlds.
That is why exploration is necessary.
Only by striving to understand negativity can one gain the strength to recognize and reject it; thus, human history, built upon all kinds of experiences, proves that direction is just as important as the means.
Is cursing evil truly evil?
The Poisoned Chalice of Levida
As Verden turned his palm downward, a darkness mixed with blood flowed down.It spread out like the diffusion of liquids or like fog settling in the air. The aberrant figures engulfed in it slowly came to a halt before suddenly beginning to twist their entire bodies.
[Ha, together… … No, melt away, come, come… … .]
As Verden belonged to the Bohemian Magic Tower of the Elemental School, he had the opportunity to delve deeply into various theories of elemental magic; however, he had no chance to encounter the realm of dark magic in detail beyond general knowledge.To be honest, he wasn’t particularly interested.After all, elemental mages were much closer to Verden’s disposition than dark mages. Learning dark magic belatedly now would have been an inefficient step toward growth.
Had it not been for Draven Lemarque’s magical resonance in the special situation of the Apostle of Death’s return, he would not have been able to acquire it like this.
However… regardless of his personality, Verden seemed to have a talent for black magic.
Especially in the curse category.
Verden had a past of cursing others to death for a long time. He experienced the expansion and decline of his emotions.Revenge, anger, murderous intent.His defiance was objectively the product of passions that were closer to evil than to good.
Crunch!
The monstrous beings, having drunk the poisoned chalice of passion, turned their backs on Verden. Their drowned-like eyes were stained with an inexplicably brilliant darkness, and their chilling gazes were directed at their own kind.It was a hateful look that seemed to glare at the enemy who had used them as test subjects.
Verden cursed.
Move in reverse.
The monstrous beings split into two camps and clashed.
* * *
The Allied fleet, having formed and departed from the Imperial territory, succeeded in identifying the gates of Lake Pendren from high above about six days after the outbreak of war.
This was possible not only because the fully prepared fleet itself required no rest during its advance, but also because it had traveled a much greater distance than planned due to the complete absence of combat… However,it was also hundreds of times larger than the Four Sects of other continents. Currently, 70% of the Four Sects were submerged in the lake.
It was truly shocking.
Even though they had identified the shape of the Four Gates through reconnaissance, most of them were shaken.They quickly composed themselves, but the tension continued to grow as they could not possibly imagine what lay inside the strangely massive interior.
However… anyway, it is true that the destination is within sight.
Except for the Delharun Sect—no one doubted that the Pendren Sect would be the first to achieve the feat of eliminating the Sect.
More than ten days passed since I stood before the gate with my resolve strengthened like that.
They still haven’t been able to enter the gate.
Thwack────────────!
The Arnark Empire’s prized, unique super-sized airship, the Atorium, launched a carpet bombing attack that severely shook the lake.Fully armed with all kinds of artifacts, its power was sufficient to obliterate the city.
An underwater explosion occurred beneath the water.A column of water resembling a mountain range shot up.
The continental ships captured by the Xerion Empire rose from below as if splitting apart. The shock triggered in the enemy camp soon reached the friendly camp as well.
“It’s tilting!”“Ugh……!”
As the angle of the deck rose, the Allied forces lowered their upper bodies or gripped the structure tightly to maintain their center of gravity. Suppressing their breathing, they repeated to themselves.
If you fall into the lake, you die.The moment you touch the lake, pollution begins!
Ship fragments mixed with water droplets in the lake and poured down as a shower, and the magical shield of the Ostea Magic Tower, which only reacts to projectiles flying from a certain distance, completely blocked it.
Mado
Medrant Keden, the Master of the Ostea Magic Tower, the Sage of Protection, and the Eleventh Phase, once again floated multiple layers of magic shields in the air and thought.
The Xerion Empire is desperately persistent.
Although the Pendren Suppression Force has only one Transcendent, its scale is comparable to that of other legions. Overall, it is no exaggeration to say that it is the most well-balanced.Furthermore, since it was coordinated at the summit to receive priority long-range support from the Saintess, it could not be said that their strength was lacking.
However, the enemy was also formidable.
“Again, from beneath the surface……!”“It’s coming up!”“Drop it from the right first!”
The number of monstrous creatures born from the contamination of at least millions of humans and countless lake creatures was reminiscent of a school of sardines… … andunlike the Stampede phenomenon caused by the surge in demi-humans and monsters, they did not blindly charge head-on.
Damage the lower part of the hull, orclimb onto the hull.
The Empire thoroughly repeated ambushes and surprise attacks to slow down the advance of the Allied fleet.
In fact, if that were the only issue, they could have broken through within 10 days at the latest, but the problem was that the battlefield was a huge, contaminated lake.
No matter how powerful the magical bombardment, there is a limit to the depth that can be struck.
However, if they enter the lake directly, those with low resistance cannot withstand the contamination for long and end up transforming into bizarre, deformed creatures.
The closer they got to the gate, the more intense the contamination became. Even the skilled beastmen found it difficult to endure, to the point where they were helpless on the deck.
The only being capable of fully enduring the environment of this lake was Thearel.
Above water and underwater.
Because their territories were different, the Empire could not inflict severe damage on the Alliance, but likewise, the Alliance could not break the Empire’s resistance beyond a certain limit.
Had it not been for the Saint’s successive bombardment with the Holy Lance, they would not have been able to approach the Gate of Death this far.
Roughly speaking, just one step forward.
We explored various options for that one step, but there was no clear solution.
I was uneasy about sending only the flying beastmen and seaplane fleets just because maneuvering the naval fleet was difficult.If we lowered our altitude to match the gate, we would not only fall within the attack range of the异形族 (abnormal creatures), but we would also be at a disadvantage if we were subjected to a massive surprise attack as soon as we entered the gate.
There was great uncertainty as reconnaissance inside the gate had failed every time.
Whether for reconnaissance or anything else, Tearel entering alone is naturally out of the question. Even if the Legion Commander is the strongest, if he is sent alone and becomes isolated, the Legion will lose its momentum.In war, arrogance leads directly to death. The Transcendents are likely no exception. The Empire also possesses numerous enemies of the Transcendent class.
The seaplane fleet and the surface fleet must enter the gate simultaneously. That is the safest and most likely way to close the gate.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gak!
As Medrant ground down the aberrants threatening the hull with his magic shield, he calculated in his own way when they might be able to enter the Gate of Death at this rate,taking into account the fatigue of his allies and the gradual weakening of the enemy’s resistance.
Is it about six days at a single step?
It is truly a heavy step.
There are only three ways to shorten the time here right now.
Tearel’s Super-Tier Magic.The Holy Spear of the Luas Church.Support from the Alliance Headquarters.
Kugugugugugugu… … !
[Let’s… … melt away together… … .]
A cluster of monstrous creatures that had recently destroyed two ships of the naval fleet rose up. Itwas shaped like a massive pillar. Transparent blood vessels through which blood flow was visible were twisted, and countless eyes and mouths were embedded on top of them.
This is the third time.
Having eventually defeated the enemies encountered before, they had mastered how to deal with them. The commanders, having realized through the deaths of their subordinates, comrades, and superiors that any delay would lead to a rapid increase in casualties, reacted as one.
Japanese bombing.
Kwagwagwagwagwagwagwagwagwang!
Elemental magic unleashed by wizards and magical weapons struck the swarm. Then, in the Attorium, the Lord of the Imperial Magic Castle unleashed magic.
Mana
Through the magic manipulation method of Eldrium, the ancient bloodline of Melissa Pesfield, natural magic was transformed into a unique entity called Mana, andshe gave form to the Mana with her ten fingers, manifesting a unique form.
Satellite crash.
Three circles rising in the sky rotated erratically, then suddenly converged and aligned vertically on the same line, aiming at the cluster.
Deworth
A high-temperature beam of mana struck the swarm of aberrant creatures.The vision was filled with light.A stench of burning flesh wafted, and the surface of the swarm crumbled, glowing red like lava.
Marysa muttered.
It’s now.
As soon as the words were finished, a massive blade of water pressure surged diagonally from the lake.
Ker Mabina
The cluster of aberrant entities was severed. Due to the Alliance’s concentrated attack, its core was destroyed before it could even recover, causing it to lose power and fall into the lake.
Since the cluster pillars possess resistance capable of withstanding the Transcendent’s unique magic more than once, the Alliance employed a tactic of weakening them as much as possible to prevent Tearel from using their hands twice, and then delivering a decisive blow.
Now is the time for the most powerful forces to conserve their strength as much as possible.
widely!
Tearel landed on the deck after swumming through the lake. Of course, she shook off all the contaminated water that had soaked her body before touching the ship.
Her old comrades approached her from the large Adventurer’s Guild ship leading the vanguard.
Yurval of the raid said.
“Since we eliminated that damn pillar as soon as it appeared, it’s not a big problem anymore. What about below the surface? Are there still a lot?”“There are still a lot.”“Damn it.”“Still, I think we can break through this resistance line in a day or two…….”
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
As many as four clusters of anomalous entities surfaced near the path leading to the gate.
Laetila Bennett, who had been thinking optimistically, covered the corner of her mouth.
“Oh my.”“I told you, you’re being too thoughtless.”“Assuming there are more of them hiding, it looks like it will take at least six days to enter the gate.”
The martial arts warriors, unable to exert their strength actively in the battle, clicked their tongues.
Just then, Thearel’s communication device rang.
───Tearel.
“huh.”
───The Saint is currently resting due to the excessive bombardment of the Holy Lance. Dealing with those groups all at once without Holy Lance support would consume a considerable amount of power, so I was wondering if it would be better to step back, regroup, and then overwhelm them in one fell swoop… … .
There was merit to Merissa’s advice.Continuing the offensive half-heartedly would only result in attrition.
Just then, Medrant also connected the communication.
When will the support from Alliance Headquarters arrive?
Considerable attention was focused on Tearel. The Alliance headquarters had said they would send reinforcements, but there was still no news. The headquarters merely repeated the answer to wait without providing a clear response.
“well.”
Tearel tilted his head.As he did so, he thought.The support from the Alliance headquarters must surely have stemmed from Verden’s orders.
“icedcoffee?”
Amidst the loud scream of the monstrous creature urging them to melt together, Verden’s timing, which she had personally experienced in the Arcadium, suddenly awakened her senses.
“Now?”“Now??”
The adventurers’ heads tilted even lower.
“What do you mean by ‘now’…….”
Kuooooooh───!
A radius of tens of kilometers centered on the gate was suddenly plunged into darkness.Goosebumps ran all over the Allied forces’ bodies.
“Huh?”“Damn it!!”“Tearel!”
Dael, the former leader of the Black Sea Party, carried Tearel away from the railing. All the top-ranking adventurers, skilled by profession for detecting danger, rolled across the deck.
A massive curse exploded at Lake Pendren.
The clusters of heteromorphic bodies split apart.
