Episode 1111 The Great Offensive (7)
The advance unit of the Ternetia Federation Suppression Corps safely entered the gate.
Serendia consumed the magical power stored in the [Master’s Treasure] to summon a massive tree known as the Living Tree of Arbor, activating the realm of nature.A wave of green light gradually spread.Dense vegetation intertwined to block the movement path of the undead legion and began to construct a path for the main force to pass through to seal the Gate of Death.
[El, Fr… … !]
[Kaaaaak!]
The undead let out a crude, monstrous scream. Hatred for life tore at the plants, but they repeatedly filled the gaps at an even faster pace.Even high-level magic could not burn the wall. They launched a long-range offensive against Arbor’s living tree, but it was so massive that bringing it down seemed a distant prospect.
One of the Guardian Elves paused.
The sight of Mother Nature’s endless regenerative power blocking the herd of异形種 (abnormal species) that had reached the end of their decline, and embracing a human species other than the elves… …It was a scene entirely different from the interspecies war that broke out about four centuries ago.
“Filthy bastards……! Die! Die! Die!”“Aaaargh!”“Ugh, Death Knight subspecies confirmed! Magic Tower! Call the Tower Elder immediately!”“Gary! Noooo!”“Arch Lich subjugation complete.”
[Aaaaaaaah───ah───!]
The magic particle cannons, having confirmed the enemy’s coordinates, struck the battlefield again.The airships also joined in.
Kwaaaaang!Kwaaang!
In this way, Eon’s portable communication devices positively changed the course of war.As rear observers monitored the battlefield broadly and transmitted information in real time, field commanders referred to this and immediately incorporated it into their decisions.
The war went smoothly.
There were variables, and the blood and corpses increased, but the Allied Forces reached their target Gate of Death.Although it remains to be seen whether they can actually close the Gate of Death, the World Alliance of Verden was not organized with defeat in mind.
Of course… … what determines victory or defeat in the Second War of the Transcendents is not something like whether the Four Sects are closed. They are not the main characters on the stage.
The noise from the ground reached the sky.
The time has come for even the heavens to be engulfed in turmoil once again.
* * *
Western Continent──Lake Pendren.
Verden, who is active in the Ternetia Federation through Ignatia’s spirit body, and his main body cursed the monstrous creatures at the bottom of the lake.
“So, the Pendren Gate is guarded by the 4th Commander, and the Ternetia Federation Gate by the 2nd Commander. Does this mean that almost all of Arkhand’s close associates have come out to the battlefield?”
The 1st Commander’s location is unknown.The 2nd Commander is in the southern part of the Central Continent.The 3rd Commander is in the southern part of the Eastern Continent.The 4th Commander is in the southern part of the Western Continent.
Asymmetric forces are holding onto the sects that the World Alliance has determined to be its top priority targets.
‘The First Commander might be in the Demon Realm.’
I did not jump to conclusions.
If it were Verden himself, he would have tried to cause chaos in the World Alliance by organically commanding his top forces while delaying the actions of the extermination corps with the environment of the Demon Realm.
… … A thick, dark fog fills my mind.
Both Verden and Akand are playing their cards but not revealing the full picture. This is only natural, as the outcome of the war they envision is likely completely different.
A situation where both sides must play their moves on the other side of the darkness.
Verden drew the board before making his move into the darkness beyond the darkness.Just as he made that decision and was about to issue a new order, the communication device responded first. It was a message from the Eastern Continent.
───Verden, located the Four Dragons.
“……!”
Nekhbael the Evil Dragon
It was good news that an entity considered a threat on par with Arkhand had finally been detected.
“Where is it?”
───Central Continent.
Reindel explained the route Necbael was taking. The more Verden listened, the harder his expression grew.He had assumed Necbael was likely to infiltrate one of the ongoing battlefields, but… the location he was heading to was not among the expected candidates.
First, it is obvious what exactly Nekbael is after.
Verden continued speaking while still submerged in the deep water several kilometers below. Having obtained new information, he had to make a new judgment based on it.
Asymmetric power is needed at the Pendren ship gate.
Saint Ersetia is recovering from the excessive bombardment of the Holy Lance, and Vangelis, the 7th Great Demon King, is engrossed in spatial stabilization work.Verden cannot enter the Gate of Death.Vendie is keeping the 3rd Commander in check in the southern part of the Eastern Continent.Antias is tracking the Beast of Massacre.Vantoreon is preparing for the Evil Dragon.The terror of demons has turned toward the Demon Realm.Gareth cannot use
The only asymmetric power that can intervene freely right now is the Reindel.
With the start of the massive offensive, spatial movement must have been nearing its limit.
“Yes, a shutdown will occur soon. But we must accept it. Unlike the Ternetia Federation, the Pendren is not compatible.”
As the Ternetia Federation has deployed its largest corps, it is filled with strong fighters capable of facing the Second Commander, led by Adrian and Leonhardt.In other words, there is a chance of victory even without the support of separate asymmetric forces.
on the other side…….
The Pendren Suppression Corps is heavily concentrated on modern weaponry. Their individual prowess is somewhat lacking. Evenif Tearel puts up a good fight, they are bound to suffer massive casualties against the 4th Commander, who radiates morale and drives surrounding entities into a death abyss.
That is why he, having understood the concept of death, needs to seal the guy’s magic. Just as he did in Delharun.
It was then.
I heard that an unofficial transcendent being of the Black Magic Realm belonging to the World Alliance appeared on Lake Pendren.
“…….”
The deeper you dig into black magic, the closer it gets to the study of the soul beyond the mental realm, but ironically, you naturally end up mastering magic that deals with bodies without souls.
Even without knowing the full details, Reindel concluded that the unofficial transcendent was Verden. Intuition was sufficient grounds for that judgment.Verden had no intention of denying it, but Reindel had not given him any room to do so in the first place.
───I ask you, Verden. Is it true that you cannot exert influence within the Four Gates?
Verden spoke with the look of a black magician.
“It will take some time, but if we utilize the elements of Lake Pendren… however, this is still just theory. Leaving aside the backlash, it is uncertain whether we can even control it.”
That should be enough.
Hiss.
For a moment, static arose in the communication with Reindel.It was artificial interference.
What is the matter?
A guest has arrived.
Verden opened his eyes wide. A guest? Does that mean the Xerion Empire was targeting the Dark Warton Magic Tower? He rapidly accelerated his thoughts and tried to react.
Judging by his presence, he seems to be the First Commander.
“Immediate support…….”
───It is unnecessary. Since an enemy that has been unidentified until now has revealed itself of its own accord, it would be right to welcome it instead. For that reason, it seems you, not me, should take charge of supporting the Pendren. We can save a little more space travel.
Reindel refused help from the Union headquarters.
A transcendent being pursues extraordinary ideals, so they must always look far ahead. However, in the end, if you do not walk, you will only stay in the same place.
It is good to envision the big picture, but if you don’t put the brush to work, it remains the same… advice to look toward the future, but to deal with what is right in front of you decisively first.
I will leave it to you.
───I’ll contact you later. Communication ended.
As the sound of unknown interference grew louder, the connection between the communication devices was severed. The Xerion Empire had blockaded the Dark Warton Magic Tower.
Since Reindel has decided to face the challenge alone, we have no choice but to respect his decision.
With the First Commander confirmed following Nekbael, the rest, excluding Arkhand, have descended upon the continent.This means the Alliance now has the leeway to act boldly. Verden understood and accepted Reindel’s advice.
The communication channel was aligned with the central continent.
“The Four Dragons are heading in that direction. Deal with them through Alpha in conjunction with the Alliance’s forces. Naturally enough so that the Empire does not feel any unease.”
The answer came back soon.
───I’ll do that.
Having entrusted the handling of the Four Dragons to him as well, Verden cleared his mind of distracting thoughts and focused on Lake Pendren.
The Four Gates reject me. Therefore, the key is that magical interference must be carried out without the Four Gates perceiving my existence.
There is only one way.To send his representative.
Whoosh… … .
Verden rose and emerged above the water. The entire fleet of the punitive expedition entered the Gate of Death, where aberrant creatures cursed by Verden stood guard.The Empire’s aberrant creatures, who had been attacking their transformed kin, soon looked up at Verden.
To build my agent, I need a body and emotions to serve as its driving force.
Verden stretched out his right arm toward the lake. One of the powers he had built after reaching the 8th rank—Magical Spearmanship, Magical Chanting, Magical Divine Power, and New Star—manifested.
The magic circle of the reversed heavens temporarily disappeared from the demon eye hidden by the mask.
Ritual magic.
Instead of sealing the instantaneous power of the Mystic Eye, a magical ritual was performed to transform the magic into ‘time’. Simultaneously, the magical incantation began.
The body is of a different form.
Following the flow driven by brilliant dark magic, a vortex of immense scale formed on Lake Pendren. As everything was swept away, fragments of the corpses of the monstrous creatures who had met their death in battle—corpses from which their intellect had completely vanished—began to gradually gather.
How many monstrous creatures were exterminated over the course of dozens of days?
Although some monstrous creatures swallowed the remains of their own kind to become one, there were countless large and small remains of monstrous creatures floating or sinking in Lake Pendren.
Time passed.
The monstrous creatures targeted Verden, but their cursed kin captured them.
Time passed.
Bones, organs, skin… … .
They were drawn into a vortex and gathered together to form a massive mass of organic matter, then, *crunch!*, it was slowly compressed.When it reached the point where it could no longer be compressed, it took on the form of a large human.
Time passed.
Verden lifted his head slightly.
Saaaak!
He forcibly caused bleeding by cutting a portion of the neck area with a spatial incision. The blood gushed out briefly and flowed downwards, following Verden’s touch.
“Emotions…… are mine.”
The surface of the organic tissue soaked in Verden’s blood twitched for a moment.
Time passed.
Thump.
It pulsated. Verden’s blood became blood vessels, and the dark emotions contained within them became the foundation of his instinct for action. It transformed once again from a human form and took on the shape of a monster.
Verden’s magical senses intensified.
It is more dangerous than calculated.
Not only would it require consuming an amount of magical power equivalent to the maximum output of the 8th rank, but the moment the magic was completed, at least black magic and the Mystic Eyes would be unusable for the time being.The agent Verden was establishing demanded that level of price.
however…….
It is worth the effort.
Verden unleashed astronomical black magic and aimed at it.
Time passed.
Just as martial arts transcendents sometimes instinctively realize transcendent abilities upon awakening, such cases also occur extremely rarely among magic transcendents.
8th-tier super-level magic.
The black magic of a realm that Draven Lemarque and Lunesica Anternoa could not reach due to reaching their limits was perfected through Verden’s infinite magic.
Wake up.
Verden whispered.
O my source.
Time passed.
Crack.
A huge single eye flashed.
* * *
Darkwarton Magic Tower of the Eastern Continent.
Footsteps were heard from the quiet, dark forest surrounding it. An undead was standing in the place corresponding to the front yard of the magic tower.
[Life signs in the Magic Tower are faint. Now completely absent. What compassion unbefitting of a transcendent being who understands death.]
Wouldn’t that be better for both of us?
Reindel carelessly placed the first Necromancer’s staff on the floor.
It would only be a hindrance.
The First Commander gazed into Reindel’s eyes.In doing so, he perceived an extremely faint emotion.
[Joy and determination. You didn’t call for reinforcements from the World Alliance.]
“While I am dealing with you, the World Alliance gains that much breathing room. If that is the case, why would I call for reinforcements? It is the scenario I wanted anyway.”
[Why are you happy?]
Because change is enjoyable.
Reindel unleashed his power. His distinctive presence, swearing death to life, engulfed the area. The forest, already dark, grew even darker.
[… … .]
The First Commander remained silent for a moment, then exuded an aura that overwhelmed the other commanders. He was closer to death than to the Apocalypse of Death.A white energy gathered on the sharp, bare gauntlet.
[I am the First Commander of the Xerion Empire. The Apocalypse of Famine, Jermael.]
He briefly reached out his hand.
[What about the will?]
Reindel answered.
Let’s start.
* * *
The Maren Kingdom of the Central Continent.
The siege led by the Lefragium Magic Tower tightened day by day. Although the scale was too small to be called a legion, they were quite close to the Four Gates.
It is indeed overwhelming.
The members of the besieging force had no choice but to be optimistic about the smoothly unfolding battle. While there were casualties, the damage was minor compared to the distance advanced.There is no such thing as defeat on a battlefield commanded by the Magic Tower, which holds the number one ranking in military power and overall hierarchy! The battlefields thus far had instilled such conviction in them.
one side…….
Upon receiving the new news from Verden, Deus Widen—the Lord of the Lefragium Magic Tower, the Provider—felt no emotion regarding this small victory. Forthe threat to come would be incomparable to the Undead Legion.
“I see, do you mean I am annoying?”
Talisia, the Blue Dragon, one of the Four Great Ancient Dragons.
The evil dragon Nekbael, reborn from its corpse.
A being boasting strength no less than that of ‘your’ apostle is coming. It is heading toward the Kingdom of Maren. Surely to eliminate Deus.
“That is a judgment befitting an Apostle of Fate.”
Deus prepared for the battle against the Apostles that would soon take place.In doing so, he predicted the scope of the battlefield.
At least… … the Maren Kingdom, the whole.
Preserving the nation while facing the ancient dragon is impossible even for Deus.
