< 286. March (4) >
#286
“Kratir is opening the door. Have you made up your mind?”
【Uhm.】
Navardose twisted his lips after hearing Lorhorn’s question. Her temporarily constructed conference room contained ten people, including herself. It was a staff member in charge of the brains of the Allied Forces.
They were deeply troubled, with expressions not much different from those of Navarre. The absence of a certain person was driving them crazy. Navardose, who was drooling, looked back at Adeshan.
【Hey. Are you still not in touch?】
“yes. Ever since it was disconnected on the first day…”
Adeshan trailed off. Even at this moment, a message was being sent, but Ronan’s response was not received. Did something really happen? Navardose sighed softly.
【This is difficult. Honestly, I thought you would come back around this time.】
“It’s a bit dangerous. “As time goes by, we are at a disadvantage.”
The Allied Commander, who had his arms crossed, opened his mouth. The others nodded in agreement. The purpose of gathering allied forces on the continent was to increase troops, but it was also to wait for Ronan.
However, Ronan, who left saying he would find the answer, did not return even after two days. Now it was time to make a decision. The staff members all turned their heads and focused on Navardose, the final decision maker.
【···okay. You can’t just wait.】
After being silent for a moment, she sighed. She had to rush out while she still had military supplies and blood to spare. Now that all the scattered talented people had gathered together, it would have been possible to defeat him unless he was a fairly strong enemy.
【I’m sure you have prepared defense measures against the cult leader, right?】
“For now, yes. Of course, you will have to see how long and short it is to know.”
Lorhorn agreed. They ignored Balzac’s warning not to look down on their religious leaders. Lorhorn, who looked like a child, smiled.
“That’s my opinion too. “Why don’t you at least give a morale-boosting speech?”
【It’s a speech. I have no talent in that area.】
Navardose laughed. As soon as she snapped her fingers, flames erupted from the walls and ceiling of the tented conference room. Grumble! The scenery outside was revealed beyond the tent that had turned into ashes. Allied forces, all prepared, are lined up in an orderly manner.
【Looking at it this way, it seems quite a number.】
Navardose shrugged his eyebrows. The armor and weapons stained in the glow of the sunset were twinkling like stars. Even though only the elite of the elite had gathered, it seemed like there would be easily 100,000 people.
“amazing···.”
Adeshan let out a sigh of admiration without realizing it. It was a spectacle that could not help but make one’s heart swell. The scenery I believed I would see only after I ascended to the position of general in the distant future unfolded before my eyes.
Empires and their friendly countries, barbaric enemy countries who want to prove their worth through war and conquest, and even small countries on the outskirts that you have never heard of. The warriors who lived for their own justice were all gathered under the same banner. With the belief that I will definitely save the world.
However, none of them was interested in Navardose and his staff. It was because everyone was watching Kratir open the portal. Kugugugugu…! The portal, which was already 500 meters wide, was getting wider.
“This is truly amazing. “Is this magic?”
“From what I heard, he is Lorhon’s best disciple… After this war is over, I will have to send my child to Phileon as well.”
Even veterans who had gone through all kinds of adventures couldn’t take their eyes off him. Adeshan, wiping away his moist eyes, was trying to drink tea to attract people’s attention. Navarre placed his hand on her shoulder and shook her head.
【Why don’t you just leave me to watch? This is my first time seeing space magic on that scale.】
“Ah, yes.”
Adeshan collected the mana of the shadow. It was definitely a unique sight that could not be missed.
Beyond the portal, a huge lake was seen from above. It was the entrance to the headquarters that Balzac had mentioned. The cloud-covered sky was reflected on the unwavering surface of the water.
“Keuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…!”
Kratyr was squeezing out all the mana from his body to expand the portal. The flowing mana was making his long beard dance in the air. The bulging veins looked as if they would tear open Kratir’s forehead at any moment and pop out.
A few more minutes passed. The end of the crack was about to widen to the point where it completely crossed the Allied positions. bang! Kratyr knelt down on one knee and placed his palms on the floor.
“Haaa-!!”
Sigh! At the same time, the water that filled the lake tore left and right, revealing a world beyond the surface. And once again, the viewpoint tilted to reveal the scenery under the cloudy sky. The soldiers’ eyes widened.
“Y-It’s open!”
“That’s the headquarters…!”
“Those vampires really found it. “I feel bad.”
A horrifying scene unfolded. Everything above, below, left and right was white. Not only the sky, but also few trees and grass. Even the dirt underneath was stained an eerie white. Kratir, who had used up most of his magic power, staggered as if he would fall. fault! Lorhorn, who leaped through space, supported him.
“You’ve really increased a lot. “Kratir.”
“Hehe… I sit in the principal’s office every day and joke around, so I need to do something like this.”
Kratir let out a weak laugh. Thunderous cheers erupted over the military camp. He would now be in charge of support, recovering mana like other wizards. Suddenly, Adeshan, who was looking beyond the portal, narrowed his eyes.
“That is…”
The enemy was not yet in sight. However, above the wilderness, defensive facilities such as watchtowers and fortresses were built at regular intervals. The Pale Castle, the headquarter of Nebula Clage, stood proudly at the very back of the defensive line made up of buildings.
He looked like a king being guarded by soldiers. He hadn’t heard this from Balzac, but it seemed like they had prepared Mercury in their own way. Navardose muttered softly.
【It would be better to keep it short.】
She knew well the effect of an appropriate speech in such a situation. Of course she had no intention of taking too long.
After finishing their appreciation, the eyes of the Allied Forces were already focused on her. After finishing her brief worry, Navarre was about to take her luck. A fresh scream erupted from the center of the military camp where she had been maintaining silence.
“Hyaaaaaaa! Up, it’s dangerous!”
【hmm?】
It was a familiar voice. A short boy was looking completely white and pointing inside the portal. It was Asher, a wizard she also knew well.
Navardose’s eyes widened as if they would pop out as he turned his head in the direction he was pointing. In the distance, a giant with a pair of wings was flapping in the air.
It looked somewhat clumsy compared to the giants the Allied Forces had faced so far, but that wasn’t what was important right now. A spear made of light was thrown from the giant’s hand and was flying through the wind.
“It’s a giant!”
“Did you know we would come…!”
The soldiers who saw the scene belatedly burst out in astonishment. Despair appeared on Asher’s face. The sky was still too bright to activate the star’s protection.
“Oh, no!”
I really didn’t expect it to turn out like this right from the start. The spear of light was rushing towards exactly where he was. Marya cursed and ran forward.
“Damn it, Asher!”
“Everyone is in danger!”
Marya hugged Asher with one arm and leaned back. Braum, who blocked the two men’s path, raised his great shield. It was a car where Asher chanted a spell to try to do something. Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! Suddenly, a shadow appeared overhead and a strong explosion sounded.
“Huh…?!”
Asher and his companions urgently raised their heads. Everyone’s eyes widened. Tens of thousands of red scales sparkled like jewels. As the thick smoke dispersed in the wind, a huge red dragon appeared.
“I, Navardose!”
Asher was shocked. It was a Navardose that had returned to its original form. Shrinking her size to fit through her gate, she was no different in size from Itar Gand. Of course, her unique majesty has not diminished at all. Navardose sighed deeply.
【You don’t even give me time to say a word.】
The people whose lives were saved were shocked. Without any defensive spells on her part, she simply slammed the Spear of Light into her body and canceled it out. The scales where her spear had been stuck were scorched, but that was all.
“Um, you blocked that?!”
The followers of Nebula Clazier who were watching the scene from the watchtower were frightened. Even though it was an attack from an artificial giant that had descended on Lycopos’ body, it was absolutely not something he could handle with his bare body. It has been strengthened through countless improvements since Darman was active in the Battle of the Sword.
“this. It can’t go on like this. Church leaders and archbishops…!”
Having failed to attack first, they were about to take their next action. Suddenly, the Navardose spread its wings and rushed into the portal. Kwasik! Closing the distance with a single flap of her wings, she bit down on her artificial giant’s neck.
【Gagging…!】
The sound of a neck bone being crushed rang out. Navardose’s teeth, forged with Ronan’s blood, tore apart the deteriorated star’s protection like pieces of paper.
Fresh blood poured out from the giant’s mouth and soaked the white ground. The thick liquid had an unpleasant purple color that seemed to indicate that it was neither a human nor a giant.
Kwaaaaang! As Navarre swung his head as if to shake him off, the giant’s body fell onto the watchtower. With his spine severed, the giant could no longer stand. The screams of the believers who barely escaped the stampede rang out.
“Now, wait a minute!”
“Kyaaaaaaa! “Save me!”
It was a scream so desperate that it aroused sympathy. But unfortunately, that wish did not come true. The hottest flames since the creation of the world poured out of Navardose’s mouth, which opened up and down.
“Hwaaaaa!!”
There was no time to leave a will. The tsunami of flame spread widely, engulfing people, giants, and watchtowers. Although each watchtower was staffed with personnel who knew how to use star protection, it was not enough to block her fire.
Grumble! Only after reaching the fortress, or more precisely, the defense shield surrounding the fortress, did the flames stop and die out in waves. Unlike the weak watchtowers, the huge fortresses stood firm like breakwaters. Navarro, seeing the clearly thickened defense shield, clicked his tongue.
【yes. I don’t think you’ll be offended easily.】
Breaking through that defense line seemed to be the priority. The pale castle with its lord was located far, far away. I felt like I needed to use some force. At that time, giants with a pair of wings flew all at once over the fortresses located here and there.
“Uh, like that…!”
The soldiers were astonished. It was a sight that seemed to be flying over the forest. The sound of wings flapping was spreading over the field.
Their power was nothing compared to the existing giants, but their numbers were unusual. Each and every one of the hundreds of artificial giants possessed a power similar to that of Darman, who brought about nightmares in the Battle of the Sword.
It was just as fear was about to appear on the soldiers’ faces. Navarre, holding his breath until his chest burst, looked up at the sky and shouted.
【March! Destroy it before it breaks!】
If this was a speech, it was a speech of its own. Adeshan’s voice repeating commands one after another echoed in the minds of the entire army. In his excitement, Orsay pulled his own bone spear from his chest.
【come! You bastards!】
The spear, twisted into a spiral, was still emitting an evil energy. The Shadow Duke and the vampires he led shot out in the form of a rushing cloud.
Schlieffen, who arrived at the enemy camp first, swung his sword widely. The wind drawn along the sword path crossed the sky. Sigh! The artificial giant’s head, which was about to throw a spear, rose into the air.
【…..!】
The falling body, spattering blood, announced the start of the final battle. With a shout that shook the world, the Allied forces began to charge.
****
“so. “How do you feel now?”
“Damn, how many times are you asking the same question?”
“I think it’s been about twenty times. “I’m asking if there will be any side effects, so I’m going to answer quietly.”
“Oh really. all right. therefore···.”
Ronan scratched his head after hearing the savior’s words. A dizzying bloody smell was coming from all directions. The dismembered bodies of monsters were lying around him.
After completing the ritual, Ronan immediately moved with the savior to the desert where Dainhar was located. The scorching haze turned into a cold night wind that was brushing my cheeks. He scratched his head and blurted out.
“It’s just normal.”
