In the barracks of the 4th Plains Occupation Zone, a gathering of people had formed.
Among them were not only the Red faction that occupied the territory, but also individuals sporting blue and green armbands.
These were the ones currently temporarily commanding the group, also part of the main forces.
They were seated around the round table, eyeing each other warily.
“From now on, we will commence the provisional meeting for the ‘Demon King’s Castle’ operation…”
The student standing next to the map hanging on the wall cracked his neck and drew everyone’s attention.
He was Lee Joo-hyuk, a fourth-year student and one of the commanders of the Red faction.
Lee Joo-hyuk looked around at the seated individuals and opened his mouth.
“Is there anyone here with any special strategies?”
“No.”
“None.”
“Nothing.”
With the repetitive answers, Lee Joo-hyuk was left speechless. He blinked, then closed his mouth again.
While it could be seen as a bad attitude during a meeting, the truth was that Lee Joo-hyuk had no answers like the others.
“…Well, it’s only natural that we have nothing at the moment as we are here to find the strategy. Let’s hear various opinions.”
However, sitting still was not an option. Having lost in the drawing lots, Lee Joo-hyuk inevitably had to lead the meeting.
“We attempted to attack the Demon King’s Castle about two hours ago and gathered some information.”
It wasn’t just the red faction that poked at the castle; the blue and green factions were doing the same.
They all wanted to gobble up that lone ‘1’ in a 3:3:3 stalemate.
Moreover, they thought there must be a limit to how well the fortress could defend itself when held by a single party, so they were waiting for that moment.
But…
“They don’t seem to be getting tired at all?”
“Look, the barrier is rising again. Is all of that a proper counterattack…? Ugh…”
“Ugh… the golem’s enhanced Gop-hwa is terrifying…”
During the two-hour attack, the fortress of Lee Ha-yul showed no signs of crumbling. Instead, it was fiercely repelling the intruders.
Even when they struggled to break through the walls, they immediately rose up again, expanding their range.
Countless spirits and golems poured out from beyond the barriers, while the elite spirit lieutenant ran amok on the battlefield assassinating students.
Despite such an enormous army and ongoing battle tactics, Lee Ha-yul’s magic power showed no signs of running low.
“……”
As they sorted through the collected information, silence fell on the round table. Everyone stared at the papers sprawled across it, their mouths shut.
“…What if the president is wearing a mask and acting secretly?”
“Cough, insane…”
“No way, honestly, I can’t believe it…”
A few chuckles arose from the murmurs of students with experience in being completely annihilated (four times) during the Demon King’s Castle operation. It was amusing, yet absurd.
That fortress had dealt an immense shock to the students.
They knew special students were strong. They also knew that getting too close would result in getting sliced apart.
They understood from the moment the twin-headed wyrm’s spirit was annihilated that those skills exceeded the typical level of students from Shio-ram.
“But I never thought we wouldn’t even see their face while being attacked by hundreds…”
That was the crux of the issue.
Despite being stabbed from all sides, their hands didn’t shake. Rather, their arms, which were meant to poke, were seized and twisted, leaving them rolling on the ground.
They hadn’t even been able to see the face of the perpetrator.
That’s why they gathered in one place.
They sensed danger and stubborn pride.
Danger.
If those spirits and golems shift into offensive mode and decide to focus on taking down one, the other two would choose that moment to pounce.
If that happened, they would surely sink.
Pride.
“Damn, I still want to at least see their face…”
“Losing is one thing, but I can’t accept not even being able to see their face…”
There were emotional reasons behind it, not just pragmatic.
Lee Joo-hyuk inwardly nodded at the frustrated expressions of familiar faces around him.
‘Let’s split it up…’
Of course, he knew that special students were out of the norms. However, not being able to see even a face while hundreds charged at them was enormously aggravating for pride.
Furthermore, this was a live broadcast from the ‘Tower of Growth’. If they were dragged down like this, even if they won the match, they wouldn’t be able to hold their heads up in shame.
“…Anyway, that concludes the information we collected. Based on this, let’s brainstorm various strategies.”
Lee Joo-hyuk said, leaning on the table.
“Honestly, it’s pretty embarrassing to say this after getting wiped out for two or three hours, but can’t we break through with a united front?”
It sounded lame, but all three factions had not dedicated all their forces to conquering the Demon King’s Castle.
Even amidst this, a significant amount of their power had to be deployed to defend their territory and launch regular attacks to prevent any tricks from the other factions.
“Let’s combine our strengths for a bit. We all know we will fight after capturing the first occupation zone, but let’s try to cooperate just until we take it.”
Even saying that, they would certainly prepare for the fallout. But for now, the focus was on officially joining forces.
“Hmm…”
“Hmm…”
The leaders of the blue and green factions fell into thought at Lee Joo-hyuk’s words.
Currently, this barracks housed the leaders of three factions and some main forces.
It was a risky business letting them into the occupied area.
Letting them in only to have them go berserk would result in significant losses.
‘Especially those two are dangerous.’
Lee Joo-hyuk glanced over the two individuals seated at the center of the blue and green formations.
Baek Ahrin, with her blue hair in braids, and Choi Ji-yeon, lounging back with her arms crossed.
They were first and second-year students, respectively, but they bore the prestigious tags of being the top of their classes and the next successors of Changhae and Taesan.
Those two could already overwhelm even the upperclassmen. Their skills were tremendous, and most couldn’t even approach when they properly unleashed their unique abilities.
Especially if Choi Ji-yeon decided to pour spirits inside, it would be extremely troubling.
‘Even if they go berserk, we should be able to manage somehow.’
They had Hong Yeon-hwa positioned at the table for this purpose. Although she was outclassed by the two due to a lack of environmental enhancement, she excelled in close combat starting from this proximity.
Even if both went berserk at once, Hong Yeon-hwa could surely block them.
‘Moreover, with that blonde-haired junior present too, we should be safer.’
Lee Joo-hyuk’s gaze shifted to the student seated next to Hong Yeon-hwa.
With her beautiful long golden hair reaching below her waist and an astonishingly curvy figure that caught everyone’s eye.
Elia Slade.
Her name was widely recognized due to her living with Lee Ha-yul, but in this event, it was her abilities that garnered attention.
With a unique ability that seamlessly combines regeneration and recovery, she had exceptional output.
Additionally, her enhancement effects were also notably robust, so the battlefield with her was considerably easier.
While she couldn’t unleash a direct rampage like Hong Yeon-hwa, Elia stood as an invisible pillar supporting her allies from the rear.
“…Let’s cooperate until we take down the Rock Mountain Occupation Zone.”
The response came soon after. Lee Joo-hyuk nodded, as it was the answer he expected.
In a 3:3:3 stalemate, where everyone was wary and reluctant to commit their forces, creating a new external threat was the best move.
“Well, if anyone has a sharp idea, feel free to speak.”
“……”
“……”
The alliance front was set up somehow.
As they dived into the actual strategy meeting, the previously opening mouths fell silent again.
“Well, is there any special strategy? We can either push in from one direction or attack from three directions.”
A student from the blue faction voiced up. Certainly, there weren’t any clear strategies apart from those.
“By the way, do your juniors have any sharp ideas?”
After a brief moment of hesitation, Lee Joo-hyuk pointed at a few individuals and began.
The ones he pointed at blinked in surprise.
Hong Yeon-hwa and Elia from the red faction.
Baek Ahrin from the blue faction.
Choi Ji-yeon from the green faction.
“Yeah, since you usually get along well, I was wondering if there was any part we could strategize on.”
Each of them was part of their respective factions’ main forces and very close to Lee Ha-yul.
“A sharp idea…”
“A strategy…?”
The pointed students exchanged glances, blinking in confusion. They seemed to share similar expressions, maybe their thoughts had aligned.
The method to conquer that Demon King’s Castle… It was clear they considered it quite difficult to breach via conventional means.
Crossing over countless troops and dozens of barriers, and attempting to storm a fortress whose functions they hadn’t even figured out yet would be a huge drain of energy.
Plus, whether or not they’d complete this within the time limit seemed doubtful.
“Hmm…”
But they had a way in mind, at least for themselves. To be exact, it was a very simple, overwhelmingly fast method.
They could just approach with weapons drawn. If they walked unguarded toward the barrier, it would be over.
Of course, that wouldn’t be possible for the others. They’d likely get vaporized by artillery or killed by the troops while approaching.
But Hong Yeon-hwa, Elia, Baek Ahrin, and Choi Ji-yeon were different.
– “Hey, Ha-yul, are you going to hit me…?”
…If they muttered something like this, the attack would stop, and the door would open on its own.
– “Ha-yul, you’re being good, right? Open the door for me~”
…They could say it like this too.
And that would be the end of it.
Lee Ha-yul would halt his attacks, open the doors of that impregnable barrier, and withdraw the troops.
He’d cautiously poke his head out from behind the opened barrier.
If it were Lee Ha-yul, he would definitely do so. Whether or not this match was being broadcasted worldwide, or there was a huge reward at stake, it wouldn’t matter…
“…Well, I can’t think of any strategies.”
“Same here.”
That’s why they mumbled with awkward faces, knowing well that such plans were indeed cowardly and something they couldn’t bring themselves to do to Lee Ha-yul.
“Just as I thought…”
Lee Joo-hyuk nodded, as if he were only probing. In his understanding, he couldn’t envision a future where the fortress would simply open up.
“Then…”
– Whoosh!
Just then, as Lee Joo-hyuk was about to continue the meeting, the cloth covering the entrance of the barracks was torn open violently.
A student rushed in, panting, screaming.
“Enemy raid─! The White faction! A mixed force of golems and spirits is rapidly approaching!”
“Eh?”
Everyone gasped and jumped up from their seats.
The Demon King’s forces had transitioned to an offensive stance.
*
The 4th Plains Occupation Zone became chaotic in an instant. The established defenses were quickly overwhelmed by the onslaught of spirits and golems.
“Block the golems first! Engage in counterattack!”
“They’re breaking through! Recovery is slow! Outside of combat, the effects are diminishing!”
“Magic users, handle the spirits! The rest, contain the golems and spirits!”
They were not on the offensive; they were now on the receiving end.
While the positions had switched, the revulsion of the Demon King’s forces remained unchanged.
Spirits usually don’t fall easily. Even if a limb is severed, they reattach and rise again.
If they succeed in incapacitating one, it would explode with magic, scattering bits and pieces everywhere.
Golems were similar. Though they slowed down now that they were far from combat, even if they were shattered to bits, they would soon erupt from the ground again. Without any controlling cores, they couldn’t be nullified either.
To completely incapacitate them, they needed to erase all traces, which only a handful of students could accomplish.
Furthermore, spirits were typically semi-immortal and could not be nullified.
At best, they could only reseal them back to their masters.
They could get knocked down but would rise again.
“Could this really be the Demon King’s forces…?”
“I concede.”
As they shifted to offense, it became even more revolting. When on attack, they could simply retreat if things seemed dire, but now pulling back meant losing their stronghold.
“Retreat to left! Gop-hwa is about to blow!”
“Sprinkle water magic on the right flank!”
“Push forward in the center!! We have far more spirits, so use them as meat shields!”
However, they did not fold without a fight. In fact, at this moment, students were pushing the Demon King’s forces back.
This was a favorable location where the red faction had laid some informal and several proper defenses.
Also, thanks to this, a significant portion of the main forces had gathered here, effectively pushing back those vile troops.
Additionally, Hong Yeon-hwa’s Gop-hwa helped disable the spirits and golems.
Spirits would be burned to ashes before they could even stitch themselves back together. The same went for the golems. They’d be incinerated along with their foundations and spells.
Even the undead army would instantly burn away before Gop-hwa.
In a similar vein, Baek Ahrin’s ice from Changhae would freeze the recovery magic, and Choi Ji-yeon’s spirits summoned would be qualitatively superior and vastly outnumbered those of the enemies.
Oddly enough, it seemed that some spirits were unable to exert themselves against several women.
‘Did we take too long to unite our forces? No, even if we had, we wouldn’t have been able to reclaim it.’
Those who were contemplating joining forces with the Demon King’s forces to retake the occupation zone quickly changed their minds.
– Whoooosh!
“Spirit fusion!”
A shout that broke the monotonous flow of battle brought tension.
Spirit fusion. It was a technique akin to the secret art of elementalists.
Given the number of students who had been slaughtered by golems fused with spirits in previous battles, it left a striking impression.
Especially the golem that handled the Gop-hwa; Hong Yeon-hwa readied her weapon with sparkling eyes.
– Whooooo…
A wind spirit in the shape of a bird descended onto the helmet of a golem.
Without a chance to stop it, the spirit seeped into the helmet, transforming the golem’s armor into a verdant hue while a fierce wind surged.
“Wind spirit!”
A shout for those who had not noticed yet. Immediately after, three more spirits landed atop the golem’s helmet.
A blue seal, a brown dog, and a yellow wolf.
Water, earth, lightning.
The once gloomy golem began to change colors, and various attributes lashed out wildly around.
Students versed in elemental magic dropped their jaws.
“Four fused spirits!”
“Wait, so fusion can happen with multiple spirits…?”
– Craaaash!
As if in response to a student’s murmur, the golem merged with a lightning spirit raised its spear and slammed it down.
Craaaash! Lightning struck from a clear sky. A few students were eliminated in an instant by the bolts interspersed with white.
“Break the fused golem first!”
Even Hong Yeon-hwa, Baek Ahrin, and Choi Ji-yeon, who were sweeping through various troops, charged at the golem fused with spirits.
“Haa!”
Hong Yeon-hwa soared up with her Gop-hwa imbued sword aimed at the golem with the water spirit.
Swish! The verdant golem conjured a massive ice shield to block her sword.
A relatively small sword struck the giant shield. Crack! The sword cleaved through the shield in one blow and struck the golem’s arm.
– Siiiiz…
The Gop-hwa evaporated the ice and water shrouding the armor, melting it away in an instant.
– Keeiiing…
“Why are you moaning like that…?”
From the helmet of the golem, the bark of a golden dog echoed. Hong Yeon-hwa’s expression twisted in reflex.
Hong Yeon-hwa glanced around.
Choi Ji-yeon, fighting the golem infused with the earth spirit, also had a puzzled expression, and Baek Ahrin, attacking the golem with the lightning spirit, looked perplexed too.
“…These guys can’t properly attack us!”
Hong Yeon-hwa soon realized that the spirits couldn’t properly launch their offense.
At best, they delivered the equivalent of token resistance. They showed obvious reluctance to engage aggressively. It wasn’t simply a matter of not being given the opportunity; it was an evident sense of aversion.
This was something they hadn’t noticed, as they hadn’t been involved in the operation against the Demon King’s Castle.
“Is it because they are influenced by their master?”
Baek Ahrin murmured with a strange face as she cut off the ice-shrouded arm of the golem and watched it regenerate.
“That’s likely the case since Lee Ha-yul must be directing everything. The stronger the contractor, the more influence they exert, right?”
“…Then that’s surprisingly touching.”
Choi Ji-yeon’s mutter from afar drew Baek Ahrin’s laughter.
“I’m completely touched. After this, I’ll demand a feast.”
“Uh… isn’t that a bit much?”
Even a simple joke flowed freely. While they felt a strange sense of emotion, they busily continued their battle.
‘…Why did we switch to offense?’
At the same time, they held questions in their minds.
Lee Ha-yul, who had been focused solely on defense, had shifted to a counteroffensive stance.
What was the reason? Was he planning to reclaim the occupation zone at the later stage? Certainly, if he could bind their main forces like this and concentrate attacks elsewhere, there would be a chance of victory.
But the news had not reached the elementalists stationed at the respective occupation zones.
Does that mean they intended to seize this place? That seemed unlikely since their main forces were gathered here in good numbers. Additionally, it didn’t seem that Lee Ha-yul had sent his strength to attack.
‘What’s the objective…?’
“Oh.”
At that moment, a student’s exclamation reached the ears of those whose senses were sharpened for combat.
It was a member of the red faction with detection abilities. He seemed to fumble for something for a moment before suddenly widening his eyes.
“C-Caution! That golem─!”
“What?”
The student defending next to him asked back. But before he could, a shining yellow line traced all over the surface of the golem in front of them.
It was a glimpse of a complex and detailed spell. ‘Buckshot beam,’ drastically modified to heighten its output by Lee Ha-yul himself.
“Run! It’s self-destructing!”
“It’s going to explode!”
The surface of the golem began to glow brightly. The scattered students were aghast and bolted backward, hastily erecting their defensive measures.
– KWA-BOOM!!!
The ‘buckshot beam’ that launched in their direction erupted right in front of them. The body of the golem blew up, showering the battlefield with hundreds of rays.
The tremendous explosion shook the ground, and they squinted against the dazzling light filling the air.
– Czzzz!
With the explosive noise mangled into chaos, the sound of thunderclaps echoed in the ears of some skilled individuals.
Moments later, an immense rush of wind barreled toward them, the overwhelming pressure surged, and only a few sensed the danger and braced for impact.
“W-What?”
The majority couldn’t respond in time. The elateding Elia, who was currently healing the injured from a distance, gasped.
Suddenly, something wrapped around her whole body, and a sense of weightlessness ensued. A rough wind battered her.
The instant she realized this, Elia clutched her pendant and became wide-eyed with a sudden thought.
‘Huh?’
The pendant wasn’t activating on its own. Since entering the Tower of Growth, this pendant had always protected Elia from threats.
But not now. Additionally, this familiar sensation felt very comfortable.
A mix of pure affection and obsession washed over her, easing her mind.
After a moment, her vision returned, now tinted with light. Elia immediately looked down.
She saw the ground and the tiny people growing distant.
And there it was— the familiar blue wing that enveloped her body.
The artifact transformed by Lee Ha-yul, the ‘Feather of the Sky.’
It currently served as an additional wing made of lightning, cradling Elia and swiftly transporting her away safely.
“…Heh.”
Suddenly faced with an abduction-like predicament, Elia couldn’t help but smile.
*
The lightning spirit that snatched Elia flew away at an incredible speed. So fast that even the afterimage was faintly visible. At the end of its trajectory lay the small Rock Mountain.
“Damn it…”
Several red faction students screamed as they lost their precious recovery resource.
In the meanwhile,
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had been absentmindedly staring at the lightning spirit soaring across the sky after dismantling the golem, grimaced suddenly.
“Why the hell wasn’t I taken too?!”
Her sword, imbued with Gop-hwa, crackled menacingly.
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