In front of the dungeon ‘Evil God’s Nest’, a wyvern spread its wings wide through the morning’s blue mist.
The bipedal dragon, with a pair of hind legs and forelegs transformed into wings, was magnificent.
Although its body was only 7 meters, small compared to true dragons, its majesty was overwhelming when compared to ordinary monsters.
“Kruaaaaaak!”
The wyvern roared with its mouth open.
Sharp, pointed teeth like sharp spears were revealed from its steel-like jaw, and its red eyes glinted as if searching for an enemy.
As its tail, covered in sharp spikes, swung through the air, thin green venom splattered from its tip.
“Now, this is a gift from the Great One.”
Celia watched the wyvern, her red dress fluttering in the wind. Satisfaction spread across her face.
“As expected of Master.”
Her voice was a mixture of awe and worship.
Where did Master get this wyvern from?
But the doubt did not last long.
It was only possible because it was Master.
To even question it felt blasphemous.
Master could do anything.
Celia looked around at the monsters gathered around the wyvern.
Undead monsters, orcs, and even some goblins – various races had all gathered.
They were all to be dispatched to the war between the Sail Kingdom and the Free City Alliance.
“We will quickly seize the Free City Alliance according to Master’s expectations.”
As Celia declared, the monsters roared in unison.
Even the wyvern seemed to react to Celia’s words, flapping its wings widely in agreement.
“Now.”
Celia clapped her hands delicately.
With that sound, all the monsters fell silent.
“So, who should handle this wyvern?”
While the wyvern could be used alone, employing it together promised immense synergy.
Therefore, it was desirable for someone to act with the wyvern.
Skoll was the first to answer Celia’s question.
Skoll, the chieftain of the orcs and a 4-star orc, was the most belligerent among the monsters participating in this war.
“I, Skoll, will handle the wyvern! Chweeeek!”
His rough voice echoed through the morning air.
Skoll passionately explained the reason he should handle the wyvern, raising his muscular arms high.
“A great warrior needs a wyvern! I, Skoll, will descend from the sky and crush the enemies! Chweeeek!”
In response to Skoll’s statement, all the orc tribesmen cheered by banging their weapons in unison.
The sight of their powerful chieftain commanding battles from the sky would undoubtedly be spectacular.
How magnificent it would be.
As soon as Skoll’s proposal ended, the Death Knight slowly raised his hand.
“…”
The Death Knight imagined it wordlessly.
Himself riding the wyvern, flying through the high sky with a shield adorned with a maid outfit.
Then, his own imposing presence, circling slowly above the enemy lines and instilling fear in them.
“…”
The Death Knight felt proud just from the imagination.
However, Celia showed an expression that seemed to reject both proposals.
“Are there any other opinions?”
The Death Knight grew dejected at Celia’s firm voice.
His slumped shoulders did not seem to be just his imagination.
“Clap!”
At that moment, Necros raised his bone hand.
He had originally been dispatched to the Orbis Empire, but he had returned to prepare for the war.
Necros, an Arch Lich, began to explain his plan.
“Clack clack clack – clack clack!”
His bony fingers moved, drawing complex patterns in the air.
Celia listened to Necros quietly and nodded.
“Oh? You mean riding the wyvern with skeletons?”
Her eyes twinkled with interest.
“Clack clack!”
“And the strategy is to drop the skeletons one by one and use corpse explosion…”
“Clack!”
Necros’s bony fingers struck down with a confident motion.
His strategy was original yet simple. ride the wyvern with many skeletons, circle above the enemy lines, drop them one by one, and when they fall, activate the corpse explosion magic.
It was a strategy akin to a rain of death from the sky.
“Hmm, that’s a good method.”
Celia nodded with a smile on her red lips.
“Does anyone have a better idea than Necros’s strategy? Please raise your hand.”
“…”
Silence followed.
No matter how they thought about it, Necros’s proposal was the most efficient and creative.
The wyvern, as if understanding its fate, bowed its head towards Necros.
Celia clasped her hands together with a satisfied smile.
“Then it’s decided. Mr. Necros, please take good care of the wyvern.”
“Clack!”
After hearing Necros’s response, Celia turned her head towards the Goblin Lord.
“Mr. Goblin Lord, please take good care of the dungeon as well.”
“Don’t you worry!”
The Goblin Lord smote his chest and shouted with a confident voice.
He had a history of successfully defending dungeons multiple times.
The goblins under his command had been reborn as elite soldiers through immense training.
They should not be thought of as ordinary goblins.
Therefore, Celia was not particularly worried.
“Ah, and I will take the half-elf we recently captured.”
The Goblin Lord nodded at Celia’s words.
“Bring her here!”
At the Goblin Lord’s command, two goblins dragged someone out.
It was Lyra, Baldwyn’s comrade and a dismembered adventurer.
Her hair was matted, and her clothes were stained with dirt and blood.
Most importantly, her arms and legs were severed, making her no different from a doll that could no longer move.
But the most shocking thing was her eyes.
Those eyes, once full of challenge and spirit, now lacked vitality, merely staring blankly into space.
Saliva dripped from her mouth, but she didn’t even bother to wipe it.
“Lyra.”
Celia called her name, but there was no response.
Celia lifted Lyra’s chin to meet her eyes. Lyra’s gaze turned towards Celia, but she didn’t seem to be actually seeing her.
She looked like a soulless husk.
At that moment, Lyra’s lips trembled slightly. She whispered softly.
“Please… stop… killing me…”
Hearing her words, a smile spread across Celia’s lips.
Celia gently stroked Lyra’s hair.
Lyra must not die now. She must survive to meet Baldwyn.
Only then would everything proceed according to Celia’s plan.
“Well then, shall we depart now?”
The morning sun began to rise over the mountain range.
They would now head towards the Free City Alliance.
Soon, the allied cities would be drenched in a sea of blood.
* * *
In front of the walls of the Free City Alliance, various troops of Crusaders gathered like a wave.
From regular knights and hastily assembled militias to adventurers.
However, the most eye-catching figure in that wave was the blonde man at the forefront.
Baldwyn.
The Gold Badge adventurer, once known as the ‘Knight of Flames’, had become a member of the Crusaders and drawn his sword.
His purpose was singular.
Revenge.
Revenge against the warlocks who had killed his comrades. And anger towards the Free City Alliance, which had condoned and covered up such cruel warlocks.
“The Paladins of the White Church have already departed.”
Clayton, the commander of the Crusaders, approached Baldwyn.
Clayton was a priest of the White Church, as well as the commander of the Crusaders.
“Since the war with the Sail Kingdom has begun, there is no need for the Paladins to remain in the Free City Alliance.”
“I see.”
Baldwyn nodded coldly.
It didn’t matter to him anyway.
He had drawn his sword for revenge. And he would cut down anyone who stood in his way.
Even if they were Paladins of the White Church.
Of course, that was just a thought; Baldwyn was not foolish enough to voice it.
“How is the attack preparation?”
“All preparations are complete.”
Clayton replied.
“Many people have volunteered for the Crusaders. They want to drive out the heretics in this holy war.”
Thousands of Crusader volunteers waited around Baldwyn for Clayton’s command.
Among them were knights, paladins, and adventurers, but the majority were ordinary merchants, farmers, and even common folk like carpenters and blacksmiths.
They wore hurriedly made armor and carried the weapons they possessed.
Baldwyn’s gaze turned towards the walls of the Free City Alliance.
On the walls, the Alliance’s troops stood with tense expressions.
A moment later, the sound of a horn split the morning air. It was the attack signal.
“Forward!”
Priest Clayton shouted.
At his shout, the Crusader forces charged towards the walls.
Siege equipment was pushed forward, and from atop the walls, the Free City Alliance’s troops rained down fire arrows.
Painful screams erupted as the first attack wave of the Crusaders came into contact with the fire arrows.
“Pour water! Quickly!”
Crusader soldiers threw their water buckets, and the flames subsided.
Taking advantage of the gap, Baldwyn charged forward at the very front. His mind was solely filled with vengeance.
The evidence shown by Celia, Lyra’s hair, and Sienna’s ring flashed through his mind.
And a sweet voice echoed in his ears.
“Judge them, Baldwyn. They took away what you cherished.”
It was clearly Celia’s voice from the arena.
No, was it the voice from his memory? Or was he actually hearing it now?
Strangely, he couldn’t distinguish.
It was as if the boundary between his consciousness and reality had faded.
Since meeting her in the arena, Celia’s presence seemed to have taken deep root in his consciousness.
Sometimes it felt as if she were right beside him, and sometimes as if she were living inside his mind.
“Snap out of it!”
He shook his head and refocused.
Upon reaching the base of the walls, Baldwyn ran towards the siege ladder. His steps were light.
As he began to climb the ladder, his gaze inadvertently turned towards the top of the wall.
“……!”
Lifting his head, he saw not only knights and soldiers on the wall, but also hastily gathered commoners. Among them were the elderly and young youths.
Their faces showed a mix of fear and determination.
The spear held by a young man was even trembling.
‘Are they really hiding the warlocks?’
A moment of doubt arose, but soon Celia’s voice echoed again, piercing his mind.
“They are all accomplices. The Free City Alliance concealed and protected the warlocks. They are the reason your comrades died.”
Hallucinations flashed before Baldwyn’s eyes, showing the images of Lyra and Sienna.
Celia had said that Sienna died with her heart ripped out, and Lyra had gone missing.
His chest burned with rage.
“Aaaargh!!”
He climbed the wall and swung his sword.
Baldwyn’s sword cut through the enemy, slicing red blood.
It was like red flames.
“Kuaak!”
The young man screamed and fell.
However, Baldwyn did not stop. He pushed forward.
Behind him, Crusader forces breached the walls, breaking through the Free City Alliance’s first line of defense.
However, the screams of civilians from inside the city reached his ears.
The cries of children, the wails of women, the prayers of the elderly…
Baldwyn paused for a moment.
Was what he was doing truly righteous?
Must innocent citizens be sacrificed to find the warlocks who killed Lyra and Sienna?
As a Gold Badge adventurer, he had always protected the weak. What values had he upheld through countless commissions?
“They are not innocent.”
Celia’s voice echoed in his mind again. A sweet yet firm voice.
And her enchanting image appeared.
“They all knew. They are all accomplices. Think of Lyra.”
Baldwyn shook his head. His vision blurred for a moment, then cleared again.
His sword was imbued with resolve.
“Yes, this is for revenge.”
He moved forward again. The hesitation that had lingered deep in his heart was gone.
Only the screams of people echoed in his wake.
