Episode 1136: A Bold Move (4)
The Commander’s Corps takes charge of the front lines, while the Glory of the Dead raids the Alliance and the continent, wreaking havoc.That was the role assigned to the Glory of the Dead.
Rucaria was tasked with dealing with the leadership of the punitive expedition in the southern part of the Eastern Continent. The Transcendents would be fully occupied with attacking the Four Gates.Outside the Four Gates, there would be no military force capable of daring to oppose her.
But what is this woman thinking? She has a peculiar mental state, but that is all there is to it.
Silis Reven di Estria.
The usurping queen who ruled one of the territories of Verden, having deposed her brother and seized the throne.
Recalling Silis’s history, Rucaria placed his hands on his hips and tilted his head to the side.
Sensing my approach by perceiving mental waves is commendable, but… the difference in pure magical power is overwhelming to the point where variables are meaningless.No matter how much I observed, I could not see the basis of his confidence, which was evident even without an escort.
“Forget it, it’s meaningless.”
Mado
Rumor-r’caria is a transcendent being specialized in the mental realm; she can distort the mind through memory manipulation, turning sentient beings into living wrecks.If mental death is defined as murder, then she was the most silent killer.
“say it.”
Rucaria spun his index finger.
“What memory do you want to die with?”
Ping, Silis’s vision wavered.Her mind was in turmoil.Every single memory, including her mother’s inherited through the ancient witch bloodline, slowly crumbled and seemed to be merging together like clay.
“……!……!!”
No matter how precious and great ancient bloodlines may be, they cannot compare to a transcendent being. Naturally, a transcendent being is far more precious and greater than that.
Whether it is a witch or a disciple of a transcendent being, one cannot even face them based on background alone; ultimately, the only ones who can stand against them alone are individuals who have reached the same realm.
Just then, a light weight rested on Silis’s shoulder, which was about to be turned inside out.
“Oh my, there’s nothing you won’t say to someone else’s student?”
Brilliant hair that looked as if it were imbued with a purple Milky Way fluttered in the wind.
Outside the system, Ignacia.
A transcendent being whose territory encompassed the continent’s largest megacity appeared in the southern part of the Eastern Continent. Only then was a presence felt, one that had not been present until just moments ago.
Madou
Thump.
As Ignacia snapped her fingers briefly, Silis broke free from the memory manipulation.
Lecaria’s eyes narrowed.
“Outside… why are you here?
Ignacia scoffed.
“Anyway, I was waiting, Rumor-eating Rucaria. I’ve been waiting quite a while.”“What?”“I’d sensed your presence long ago. So I kept my breath down. Until you walked into your own death on your own accord.”
Rucaria had long been monitoring the Alliance’s legions, and Ignacia sensed Rucaria’s mental realm through Silis.
That makes no sense. How could you do that at that distance?
It is highly likely to be a ridiculous lie, but… it is true that Rucaria’s existence has already been discovered.Master, Oath-taker, Pope, Mauler, Outsider.To think Verden would have dispatched as many as five Transcendental beings to the southern part of the Eastern Continent.
A wave of fantasy enveloped the surrounding area.
“There is no retreat.”“I heard you’re quite close with Verden, but you’re just as arrogant. This isn’t even your territory, yet you act like you’ve won everything on your own.”“If you were of a different lineage, I might have given it some thought. But you’re a psychic, aren’t you?”
Ignacia gently pulled Silis behind her back and leisurely spread her arms. Having taken on the appearance of a perfect adult, she wiped the smile from her face.
“Tell me, what memory do you want to die with?”“Arrogant…….”
Battles between mental mages who have attained a high level do not have a significant impact on the material world. This is because, just as the mind is, even their conflict is a non-material reality.Beings who have transcended the limitations of their race and achieved a transcendent mental realm show this tendency even more.
There is no need for trivial scheming.Only the strength of one’s mind determines the winner and the loser.
Super-level magic.
Super-level magic.
Ignacia and Rucaria simultaneously joined their hands and formed different hand seals.The unique magical power racing through their respective magic paths.
Manifestation of the Boundary:
Rumination of Recursion:
As the boundaries of reality crumbled, the illusions woven by the two transcendent beings collided, andtheir spiritual realms colored the world.
* * *
The consciousness that had been in a deep slumber finally emerged.
“…….”
Lunesica Anternoa (the main body) opened her eyes.
I breathed blankly.
My vision was unclear, but I still stretched my leg forward. Nothing touched my foot. Because I couldn’t properly put strength into my body, I fell over.
“…….”
Turning around, she saw a pure white light that could not be described in words. It was the faint radiance of the [Animus]. She had barely succeeded in regenerating her body and soul using a rare creature called the Desire to manipulate souls.
He got up, vaguely recalling why he was here.
Swoosh.
The undead, who had been standing still in silence, handed over some clothes.It was something Akand had specially prepared.
Lunesica dressed up and went out, walking down the empty corridor. Beyond the glassless window frame, she could see the Empire, filled with darkness and death.
Commander Draven.
Clench and unclench your hand tightly.
Lunesica adapted to the mind and body restored by expending her soul. As Akhand had ordered, [Animus] fully restored her.
Lunesica clenched her molars as if they would break.
‘Verden… … !!’
The object of hatred who had slain Draven and ultimately executed Lunesica herself came to mind. The Transcendent being who, as an individual, had inflicted the greatest damage upon the Glory of the Corpse.The Great Corpse had been resurrected and the Xerion Empire rebuilt, but an immortal world would not come unless Verden was killed.
“You are awake, Lady Lunesica.”“Tiazra Morton.”
The Temple of the Sea of Corruption—Tiazra Morton showed respect despite being a fellow transcendent being. In the Glory of the Dead, the status of Draven and Lunesika was beyond a mere realm.
“Now that Lady Lunesica has returned, I will transfer overall command of the Glory of the Dead in obedience to His Majesty’s orders. I will also report on the battle situation.”
Tiazra explained how the war unfolded after Lunesica’s execution. It was evident how sincerely she followed Lunesica in the fact that she did not forget even the slightest detail.
“They are building up the forces of the undead using the ritual grounds of the former Xerion Empire, and the members of the Glory of the Dead, infiltrated into each city, are carrying out operations in alignment with the undead legions outside the castle.”“What about Nakhtel and Rucaria?”“Nakhtel headed to Virente while the 5th Commander invaded the Arnak Empire, and Rucaria headed to the southern part of the Eastern Continent where the 3rd Commander is located.”“…….”“The power of the World Alliance is greater than expected; although several gates have been closed, this is as far as it goes. Since His Majesty has personally marched out, that false light and the continent will surely burn.”
Tiazra smiled.
“Even if Verden returns, whether in the territory or anywhere else, all he will see is ashes.”
Lunesica asked, letting out a smile in response to her vengeful feelings.
“Is targeting Verden’s territory your own decision?”“No. His Majesty gave the order personally.”
As expected, His Majesty Akand also regarded Verden as the most troublesome adversary. Although the resistance from the international community was fierce, the outcome was predetermined.
Because no one can kill a great corpse.
Finally, an immortal world where souls do not suffer is truly not far off.
* * *
A girl recently named Lucy climbed a mountain with a backpack. Deep in a deserted forest. Visibilitywas reduced by the fog, but Lucy was not alone, so she was not afraid at all.
“Master, you just said that the last soul fragment in the Citadel has awakened.”
───But?
“I sealed the memories so that the Great Corpse wouldn’t notice… How can you be so sure that the soul will be able to break the seal on its own?”
Although Lucy was an uneducated orphan, she was quite clever, befitting her unique trait of accepting a living fragment of Lunesica’s soul. Shequickly gained weight as she ate her fill with the money she plundered from slaughtering the city’s drug dealers. Thanks to Lunesica’s education, her eloquence also improved.
The way to break a ban is through habit, and habits aren’t something that can be easily forgotten.
“A habit?”
When Akand was nearby, I didn’t lift my head, citing my loyalty in my own way, but I’ve always liked looking up at the sky. Before I knew it, it had solidified into a habit.
Lucy unconsciously raised her gaze. Lunesica’s soul within Lucy also naturally took in the wide-open blue sky.
I will eventually see the sky.
“…….”
I’ve arrived, here I am.
Lucy stopped. Suddenly, she felt a different sensation through her shoes and lowered her head. A strange circular stone slab was situated in the middle of the mountains.
It looks like no one has come here yet.
Is it bad?
───No, it doesn’t matter. The other soul fragments are likely passing the information they stole while taking over the Glory of the Dead to Eon. We just need to prepare on our own.
The fragment of Lunesica’s soul, visible only to Lucy, nodded its chin.
Place your hand on the stone tablet while activating the magic circuit.
“Yes, Master.”
Lucy carried out Lunesica’s order without even thinking of questioning it.
Step back.
Kiing, gurgling…
The circular stone slab began to open, dropping a thick layer of dust. It felt like watching the moment a full moon turns into a crescent.Beneath the slab lay a deep space. A swirling underground staircase came into view.
Alright, let’s go earn our keep.
The cost of the meal.
Lucy, who knows hunger, knows how important the price of food is.
Thump!
Lucy, the last new black magician of the Glory of the Dead—clutched her backpack straps tightly and descended into the ritual hall of the Xerion Empire.
* * *
Day 36 of the war.
It was the fifth day since the 1st and 2nd Extermination Corps of the World Alliance, dispatched to the southern part of the Eastern Continent, began the siege.
A piercing sound was heard at the battlefield where the Allied Forces and the Undead were clashing.
The 8th Commander—Ruerin—pulled his bowstring like a madman from atop the castle wall. He fired arrows imbued with morale reaching a transcendental realm he had never attained in life, making him practically a siege weapon in himself.
Gareth gripped the shield and infused it with energy.It was a weapon lent by Bendie.
Taaaaaaang!
Luerin’s target was not the subjugation legion, but the Transcendents. Unable to immediately breach the thick wall of the Undead, he had no choice but to unilaterally focus on defense.
“That fucking bitch……!”
Gareth stepped back, cursing.
Luerin lowered her bow. She had intended to target the Allied forces, but was unable to continue the offensive because Romanus had deployed a wide Divine Shield.
The Allied weapons unleashed a barrage of fire in unison.
Kwagwagwagwagwang!
Although the ancient fortress remained unscathed due to the strange aura surrounding it, the undead legions were clearly weakening compared to the beginning.This was because the Alliance dealt with more undead than were being born from the source of the Four Gates.
However… … it was not enough yet.
The number of casualties increased.
Even though as many as five days had passed, the transcendents could not breach the enemy’s fortress walls.
bang!
Gareth smashed the table placed in the center of the tent.
“We can’t break through like this. But since a retreat is impossible, I’ll launch an all-out war before the guys down there reach their limit.”
Given the nature of the undead, the Alliance was doomed to lose if the battle dragged on. The only effective strategy was to wage a war of attrition for a while and then break through the defenses with all-out force.
The problem is the 3rd Commander.
He thoroughly exploited the undead realm to intensify the chaos. Even when engaging Vendie head-on, he would retreat using the undead as a shield.Pursuit was impossible.Facing Necranon in enemy territory like that was a trap in itself.
Even though Necranon’s instantaneous acceleration was slower than Bendie’s, the maximum speed reached due to that acceleration was faster than hers… so it was impossible to catch him in the crowded battlefield.
That’s right.
We can win.We can win, but it takes time.
However, as time passes, the Alliance’s chances of winning decrease due to physical strength and the influence of corruption.
It was a truly difficult problem as the asymmetric forces deliberately waged guerrilla warfare to buy time, with the 8th Commander supporting them.Damn corruption.The damn disadvantage of the terrain blocked victory that was within reach.
Gareth is right. However, the remaining number of undead is precarious. If we get blocked by the Legion’s wall, our morale could be broken.
If the momentum collapses, there is a high possibility that a corrupt individual will emerge.
Ultimately, if someone succumbs to the fear of death and betrays the Alliance, the entire punitive expedition is in danger.For the choice of corruption will spread like a plague.
Isn’t there a good way?
It was just as Yurion was frowning and trying to find a new way out.
widely.
Bendie took a small artifact resembling a ‘miniature arena’ from the subspace armory and placed it on the corner of the table that Gareth had smashed.
“As everyone knows, the key is to remove Necranon from the battlefield entirely.”“That is…”“Yurion, I entrust the ‘Forbidden Pact’ to you.”
Romanus and Gareth did not understand.
However, Yurion, who had maintained a long-standing friendship with Vendie, understood the meaning immediately. The combination of the sealing artifact and the golden potion suggested a single will.
“You intend to face Necranon in a confined space?”“I can win.”“I know. But the next step is the problem.”
Yurion said seriously.
“Let’s assume that artifact is activated and you and Necranon are trapped. And let’s assume I used my antidote to impose a restriction that prevents you from escaping unless one of you dies.”“…….”“We will launch an immediate all-out offensive and destroy the source of the Gate of Death. The Gate will begin to close off from that point on, and if you fail to deal with Necranon before then, you will remain trapped inside. Because the space created by that artifact is not connected to the continent.”
Yurion emphasized it again.
“That I might never be able to return.”“I know.”
Bendie casually held out the artifact.
So please cast the gold potion.
Vendy is, so to speak, a righteous figure. She is the Master of the Temple, who opposes the evils of the world and trains disciples with steadfast convictions.
Stubbornness cannot be broken.There is no better strategy.
Yurion had no grounds to refuse.
“Finish it before the gate is shut down. I’ll be waiting.”“I will do my best.”
Gareth remained silent for a moment before leaving the tent.
In the face of her lofty resolve, Romanus simply offered a prayer to the goddess.
