Chapter 99
Ami’s decision to split the forces into three groups didn’t turn out to be a bad idea after all.
Helion’s massive unique magic.
The unit that was at the forefront of that brilliant light descending from the sky was practically obliterated.
The range was quite extensive, and if the spaces between the units had been even a little narrower, the Priest-level Altife would have met the same fate.
Boom boom⎯!
Ami’s army, having broken through their lines and reached right up to the castle wall, began clashing with the Heroes.
The Heroes on the castle wall fired arrows and magic at them, fully mobilizing their firepower to fend them off.
The close-combat Heroes, wielding swords and spears, pressed against the wall, driving their weapons straight into the hearts of the Altife.
Crimson blood poured out of the red monsters’ bodies like a flood.
The Heroes, struck by this, began to transform, making it hard to tell who was an Altife and who was human.
The battlefield was saturated with the stench of blood and disgusting entrails.
The air was charged with their heated fervor and cries.
“Graaaah⎯⎯!”
Regardless of their race, they all screamed in unison.
Their objectives might have differed, but this only heightened their spirits. With muscles taut like they were about to burst, they sharply aimed at the enemy.
Remaining Altife forces: 1 Archbishop, 8 Bishops, 2,000 Priests.
In contrast, the defenders of the castle numbered only 31 in total.
Not a single ordinary soldier from Dortmund joined the fight.
The most bothersome aspect of the Priest-level is that they can breed using humans as hosts, so having regular soldiers lined up would only be a hindrance or even a counterproductive move in increasing the enemy’s numbers.
In the end, it’s said that one Hero should be worth at least 50 regular soldiers.
【Kreeeeek⎯⎯⎯!】
Toylen Troa Finn.
Having enrolled with the glorious title of being the lowest in Academia, he was methodically taking down the Priest-level enemies in front of the massive castle wall.
Finn knew very well that his skills were not on par with anyone present here. So, he didn’t overextend himself and started to stab only the Priest-level enemies he could handle.
Once or twice, the desire to fight a Bishop-level opponent and become a great help to the Heroes sparked within him, but he suppressed it.
He was aware that a misstep on his part might cause harm to others.
Their mission was merely to kill the Altife and protect Dortmund.
⎯Slash.
He beheaded a Priest-level Altife.
He repeated this action.
However, life doesn’t always flow the way one wishes.
A Special Entity.
Among them, a bizarre creature that fused a horse and a human, resembling a centaur, transformed its arm into a spear and charged at him.
Though this Special Entity belonged to the Priest-level, its power was several times stronger compared to regular forms.
That power is several times stronger.
For Finn, who’s just about to take his first steps, this is no easy opponent.
Finn calmly raised his sword.
“…”
The surrounding noise faded away.
It felt as if only Finn and the approaching cavalry remained in this stillness.
With Finn’s aura and power alone, it was difficult to pierce through the enemy in one go.
He instinctively understood that.
However, that didn’t mean he would run away.
If his own abilities were lacking, he could use the force of the charging enemy against them. The more threatening the opponent’s attack, the better it becomes a weapon to exploit.
Clop-clop—!
The Special Entity had closed in.
Just as the spear’s tip was about to reach Finn.
Finn swiftly moved his feet, dodging the enemy’s strike, and swung his sword. He wasn’t aiming for the distant enemy’s neck. Instead, he targeted the legs of the horse.
As Finn severed both of its front legs.
The horse collapsed to the ground, unable to maintain its balance.
Success!
Now all he had to do was cut off its head for victory…
“Goddamn it. Don’t get too happy just because you took down one Special Entity.”
As the Special Entity’s head fell due to Finn’s sword, a voice mocked him from nearby—a man who had been slaughtering Altife: Kshanoll.
He was a hero known for his formidable power, second only to Helion on this battlefield.
Around him lay numerous Special Entities, neatly beheaded. It was a stark contrast to the filthy and chaotic battlefield.
Finn didn’t respond; he continued the fight.
Not because he was ignoring Kshanoll, but because Kshanoll was too preoccupied with butchering priest-level foes to pay him any mind.
Finn, the least skilled among the heroes, had been positioned next to Kshanoll to avoid creating a gap on the battlefield.
Finn and Kshanoll were stationed on the right flank.
That front line still held strong, maintaining its stance.
“Huff… huff.”
As he glanced over the battlefield, Finn realized he was more exhausted than he had thought.
He hadn’t noticed due to the excessive adrenaline coursing through him. His breath was ragged.
Finn clenched his teeth and began to move more efficiently. This wasn’t a battlefield where he could afford to stand still and rest.
From his peripheral vision, he caught glimpses of Kshanoll’s movements.
He was incredibly smooth.
Though it was no dance, Kshanoll’s movements felt beautiful in every way.
And effective.
Destructive.
As his sword lashed out, he spoke.
“Hey, idiot. This is a battlefield. If you keep focusing on just one guy like that, your head will be rolling on the ground before long.”
Kshanoll clicked his tongue in disapproval. He continued to scold.
“Tch. What do you expect to accomplish not knowing even this? Damn it.”
As Kshanoll carved through the enemies, Finn took his words to heart.
He was absolutely right.
This wasn’t the time to celebrate catching one Special Entity. There were plenty more enemies like this scattered across the battlefield.
In his last fight, Finn had momentarily ‘immersed’ himself in just one enemy, ignoring the surrounding situation.
That was a mistake.
He shouldn’t be getting happy about taking down a Special Entity for the first time; he should be thinking pessimistically.
He knew the theory, but failed to apply it in practice.
As it stood, he really was an idiot.
“…!”
Amid his self-recrimination while continuing to fight alone, he sensed the clash of two enormous mana forces.
One was extremely ominous.
The other was excessively pure.
The completely opposite energies collided with great intensity.
It had to be Helion and Archbishop Ami’s mana. No one else on this battlefield exuded that level of power.
There is no one who radiates the might of the righteous.
A duel between just the two is taking place in the heart of the battlefield.
Compared to their power, the surrounding devastation seems merely like a backdrop.
“Guh-!”
A Priest-level Altife bites into the nape of Finn’s neck, who was swinging his sword. Fortunately, he quickly jabbed his sword into the creature’s eye and escaped, but blood pours out.
A hole was torn in the chainmail Finn was wearing.
He casts healing magic on himself as an emergency measure to stop the bleeding.
Although it doesn’t heal completely, it shouldn’t hinder his ability to wield his sword.
【Krukk, Krrukk!】
Noticing that Finn’s momentum has slightly diminished, a group of Priest-level beings aimed for him.
Finn immediately readjusts his stance without showing any sign of pain.
He must protect.
He absolutely must protect.
This isn’t just his problem.
If he falters here, it will allow the Altife to reach Dortmund. They’ll quickly expand their forces.
That would be utterly catastrophic.
He must block.
No matter what it takes, he will block…!
He grips his weakening resolve tightly with his sword and swings it.
Even as he grows more tired and suffers from increasing wounds.
With thoughts of Vargan, who is defending the left flank on the opposite side, he ignites his waning aura.
*
On the left flank opposite Finn.
Here, Vargan is continuing the fight while observing the flow of the battlefield. He continuously utilizes high-tier magic, showing not a hint of fatigue.
He elegantly dispatches enemies without a drop of flesh or blood splattering.
‘The situation on the battlefield isn’t bad.’
Vargan compares the two battlefields.
The situation now is quite different from the scene described in the novel.
In the original story, where they chose to suppress without helping Frikkanrisk, it would have been a dire strait.
Inside Dortmund, Frikkanrisk was rampaging to recover her son, while outside, Ami’s forces were storming in.
Because of this, the church falsely reported that Frikkanrisk and Ami had joined hands, but that wasn’t the case at all.
Ami seized the opportunity to invade while Frikkanrisk was distracted by the trap set by Hero Craine and Ami.
Of course, the already lacking heroes would have divided into two groups to evade the situation, causing Helion’s party to become overwhelmed.
Thus, the invincible Helion couldn’t protect one of his team members, Gaon, leading to Gaon’s death.
This alone would suggest that the war had drastically turned in their favor. The heroes could focus their entire strength on defense, making it much more stable.
However.
The reason Vargan believes the current situation isn’t bad doesn’t end there.
He slightly turns his head and looks at the Divine Beast, frozen in place, with magnificent wings, overlooking all the Altife in the vicinity.
As she appears like a Dragon, full of majesty, the Divine Beast Frikkanrisk’s surroundings are particularly cold.
She has been tasked with protecting Dortmund in this war due to the conditions of the “Cardinal Contract.” …To be precise, she was to protect Vargan, but it amounts to the same thing.
Frikkanrisk is a reliable ally and insurance.
It’s only natural for this war to lead to victory.
What Vargan aims for is not just a simple victory, but a flawless one. Even without her, if things proceed this way, they could carry on the story without any losses.
Done.
“One, this episode isn’t over yet.
Variables can arise.
Vargan predicted this and specified the terms of the contract with the powerful Frikkanrisk. As compensation, he might demand a substantial reward from the Church.
The lofty Twelve Divine Beasts assisting humans would naturally not let any scraps fall.
While he was thinking this, Vargan witnessed a being diving towards him.
Kuwung⎯!
A creature crashing down to the ground with a gust of wind. Like an enraged wild boar, it was built with solid muscle all over.
Vargan saw him for the first time, but he had an inkling about the creature’s identity.
A Bishop-level. Among them, one of higher rank.
He resembled an evolved form of a typical Priest-level.
His entire body was crimson, with only his face being pale.
Though he had wings that looked like they were made of leather, compared to other Bishops who were relatively human-like, he could still be seen as resembling a Priest-level.
One of Ami’s subordinates.
Bishop, Groven.
Vargan stood calmly in front of Groven. He looked at that burly figure and spoke.
Not in the slightest bit urgent.
Peacefully.
“Still no sign of change, huh?”
He did not refer to Groven as a variable. He didn’t consider him impressive enough to warrant that.
“Don’t blame me, human. This is all your fault for angering Lady Ami⎯!”
Groven, with no time to ponder Vargan’s evaluation, had a time limit on his life, making his situation critical.
He made noises reminiscent of a race car’s exhaust. His already bulky body swelled even larger.
He immediately swung a massive fist downward.
The pressure and size were even greater and faster than the Hero Yannick, reminiscent of a bear.
Kwang⎯!
The surrounding snow erupted like dust. Vargan’s form was hidden behind that white dust, making it hard to see clearly. He felt no sensation of being crushed. It seemed he had dodged.
Groven heard Vargan’s voice.
“Power and speed aren’t bad. Even as a rookie hero, you could kill with a single blow.”
Vargan continued analyzing Groven. Though he hadn’t seen him properly, it seemed he had taken no damage. Where could he be?
As Groven continued to think, he felt a presence behind him. He swung his fist back at great speed and turned his body.
“Not here…?”
But, nothing.
There was no target like Vargan, let alone anything else.
Then came a cold voice, cruel as if slowly calling for death.
“But that’s all. Don’t be a nuisance, just disappear.”
Vargan was not behind but standing right in front of him.
The question of when was irrelevant. Where Vargan’s outstretched hand landed, the difference between Groven and him became evident.
“Corruption is truly terrible.”
Groven couldn’t scream.
There was no opportunity.
The curse of decay that landed squarely on his chest immediately engulfed his entire being, proving the difference between Vargan and Groven, and took him away.
What remained was not Groven but a rotting corpse.
Vargan confirmed the effectiveness of the curse magic he’d cast for the first time, imitating Ami’s powers, then turned his head. For him, this battlefield was a good experiment site.
“What shall I do next….”
It was also a place where he could harvest fresh experimental materials.”
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