< 292. Decisive Battle (2) >
#292
『Ahayute executes the sentence.』
A low, deep voice rang out. At the same time, the spear that left his hand stuck in the ground. Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! A huge explosion swept through the area, destroying Adren’s Sky Tower.
However, it happened not in the allied formation that Ahayute had originally targeted, but in a distant clearing on the white earth. A small portal was open in the sky near where the spear should have originally fallen. Lorhorn, who distorted space and let go of the attack, vomited blood.
“···Cough.”
“Oh, Archmage! Are you okay!”
“Okay…cough, it’s okay.”
Lorhorn coughed heavily again and again. It was because he used too many powerful space magics in succession. The soldiers who came to their senses late were shocked. Lorhorn, who wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, looked down at them and said.
“I’m sorry. “I didn’t know it would turn out like this.”
“Well, that’s the Archmage’s fault…”
“Isn’t now the time to question such things? “Hurry up and run away.”
The usual composure could not be found on Lorhorn’s stiff face. Only then did the commanders realize what they had to do and began to put it into practice. shouted the commander-in-chief.
“All troops, retreat!”
[Retreat!!]
Other commanders repeated the retreat order in a loud voice. Looking again, there was no chance of winning. The number of giants coming down from the sky seemed to be over thirty at best.
I expected to fight against giants, but I didn’t expect there to be this many. The soldiers in the rear were about to turn and retreat. Suddenly, several spears of light were shot in a slightly strange direction.
Not towards the Allied Forces, but towards empty space in the distance. Adeshan was the first to notice the intention and let out a scream.
“Oh, no!”
But it was already too late. Three spears of light struck directly near the portal through which the Allied Forces had advanced. Kwaaaaang! The dust that rose up along with the sound of the explosion covered the sky. The elaborately maintained magic became distorted and the portal disappeared.
“iced coffee···!”
“Unbelievable.”
Despair fell on the soldiers’ faces. It is no exaggeration to say that their only escape route, a glimmer of hope, has disappeared.
Now that Kratir was exhausted, there was no one to restore the portal. People began to collapse in their seats or burst into tears one after another. Suddenly, someone’s laughter was heard from above the castle wall.
“Ahahaha! Look at those facial expressions. Hey, did you really think you were going to win?”
The soldiers raised their heads. A woman she had not seen appeared next to Letancier, holding her stomach and giggling. The bright look in her eyes made it seem like she wasn’t an ordinary crazy bitch.
“That outfit…!”
People gasped when they saw that she was wearing the same clothes as the other archbishops. Le Tancier asked.
“Tieria. Stay safe. “Is the ceremony over?”
“Still doing it. “But I came because I thought there was no need for me.”
“You really… no. “It certainly could be.”
“I think it’s over anyway, so let’s not be rigid. “There’s no need to know if this is a saint or something, right?”
Archbishop Tieria giggled. She secretly escaped from the Advent ceremony being conducted by the archbishops. Because I thought this side would be more fun.
When she saw the faces of people distorted by despair, she thought her judgment was correct. Her frozen adjutant managed to open her mouth.
“Commander. Uh, what would you like me to do?”
“I, I…”
The Commander-in-Chief stammered. I couldn’t think of anything. He once served as the general of the empire and went through all kinds of hardships, but this was unprecedented.
The giants had now completely escaped the magic circle and were preparing to throw their spears. Particles of light gathered in their hands and filled the sky. The adjutant, unable to bear the frustration, strongly grabbed the commander-in-chief’s shoulder and shook it.
“Commander! “You need to come to your senses!”
“Yeah, right… we need to spread out the damage, so everyone spreads out and retreats…”
The commander was about to say something. Spears of light shot out from the hands of all the giants. Dozens of beams of light, reminiscent of thunderbolts, were aimed precisely at the Allied Forces.
“Keuuuum..!”
It was not something that could be blocked or let go. Nevertheless, Lorhorn did not give up and chanted the spell. Dimensional doors opened one after another in the air, swallowing up the windows of light. Those that could not be blocked were attempted to be intercepted by talented individuals such as the two sword saints and Schlieffen.
“Damn, what is this all of a sudden?”
“Everyone run away, what are you doing!”
Nabirose, who had just cut down four spears, frowned and shouted. Seiffa and himself neutralized four spears each, and Schlieffen cut five spears, but the spears still remained.
In the end, two spears of light broke through the air defense network and exploded in the middle of the Allied formation. bang-! Kwahia Ah- !!! A pillar of light rose up with a roar that shook the heavens and earth. The soldiers who saw the spot where the flash subsided turned pale.
“Ah, ahhh…!”
“This… this is ridiculous.”
There was nothing left inside the huge, deep pit. I couldn’t believe that it was a space where hundreds of people lived just a few seconds ago. Even if we couldn’t do it, 500 people would have evaporated.
“Aaaah! “Ugh!”
“Save me! “My legs!”
The devastation was spread out on the edge of the pit. Those who were unfortunate enough to not die immediately were screaming. Those who had lost part of their limbs or lower body were crawling around like bugs.
Even if he was lucky enough to survive and return home, he would have to live with a disability for the rest of his life. But the misfortune did not end there. One of the officers who was looking around shouted in panic.
“Yes, the commander has been killed!”
“Well, the other commanders were there too…!”
It was a hopeless situation. While counting the personnel, they learned that the high-ranking commanders who were supposed to be at the head of the Allied forces had been vaporized by the recent bombing. But I couldn’t just leave it like this. As he was organizing the chain of command in his head, he looked back at Adeshan.
“4 Field commander, please give orders!”
“W-what?”
“You are currently the highest commanding authority. “There are people higher up still, but they are injured or in a state of panic, so we can’t communicate with them!”
“that···!”
“I have been watching the sweep operation for several months. Everyone recognizes your skills, Commander. “Please give me orders quickly!”
the officer shouted. The giants were preparing to throw their spears again. Every time they flapped their wings, shiny feathers fluttered down. It was the seed of a familiar that would turn into a monster that would tear people to pieces the moment it touched the ground.
“Well, I…”
Adeshan trailed off. She knew she didn’t have time, but she had nothing to say if it suddenly came out like this. Her head was getting hot quickly. What should I do? What can I do now?
“I throw it again, again!”
At that time, a soldier pointed to the sky and shouted. Adeshan hurriedly raised his head. The fully formed spears of light were about to leave the hands of the giants. She was about to shout something. Easy profit! Once again, dozens of lightning bolts rained down on the ground.
“···ah.”
Marya sighed. Braum, who was next to him, grabbed the handle of his shield. Everyone, including the two, instinctively sensed the impending end.
Navardose was still nowhere to be seen. All he could hear was irregular, plosive sounds that he and Abel were making, somewhere far away from him. There was no one anywhere to save them now.
“Cough! Cough!”
Still, I couldn’t wait quietly. Lorhorn, who was spitting out blood again, was about to chant a spell. A new voice rang out from the sky.
“Everyone, come to your senses!”
“uh···?”
It was a familiar voice. fault! The owner of the voice landed in the middle of the Allied formation before anyone could turn their heads. Adeshan’s eyes widened.
“Aser…?”
“Come to your senses! “It’s not over yet!”
Asher was in front of me. Orsay, who was with him, was performing acrobatics and attracting the attention of several giants. Asher requested this to reduce the number of windows even a little.
The windows of light were now directly overhead. At the moment of desperation, Asher took a deep breath and raised his arms high in the sky.
“Haaaab!”
At the same time, sparkling mana swirled and gathered together. Stars were visible in the sky where the clouds had disappeared. Ugh! The storm of mana originating from the starlight soared into the air, forming a wide force field.
It was the divine protection of the stars, the exclusive patent of the giants. Quagwagwagwang! The spears of light that finally arrived hit the defense shield like heavy rain.
“Kahak!”
Asher was disgusted as if he had been kicked in the stomach. It was because of excessive mana consumption. Heaven and earth were shaking, but the star’s protection was not destroyed. He barely raised his head and looked back at Adeshan and said.
“Ugh… you shouldn’t give up.”
“Aser.”
“Everyone believes… the commander, no, the senior, can find the answer. He can save people.”
He did not stutter as he carried the lives of the Allied forces on his shoulders. Her beautiful eyes were burning with the same determination as when she saved the Dragon City. Lorhorn’s face brightened when he saw that the shield was still intact.
“If this is the case… all wizards should join forces to Mage Asher!”
The archmage’s cry rang out. Asher’s star’s protection was the only hope in the current situation.
“Yeah, right… I can’t die like this.”
“Take my mana, young friend!”
The wizards barely came to their senses and began transferring their mana to Asher. Various types of mana swirled around his body. Asher, who was staggering as if he would fall, corrected his posture.
“Woooo… thank you everyone.”
“You’re acting strange.”
Archbishop Tieria frowned. It was annoying to dare to handle the power of giants, but I didn’t like the sight of hope appearing on my face. Asher, catching her breath, opened her mouth once again.
“senior. hurry.”
“···okay.”
Adeshan clenched his fists. Her head was finally cooling down. There was no retreat and no chance of victory, but it was the commander’s role to find an answer.
okay. I decided to become a general.
“Haaaa…”
Adeshan closed his eyes and concentrated. A black energy spread beneath her feet like a mist. It was the mana of the shadow that controlled the minds of living things. The shadow spread quickly and began to seep into nearby Allied soldiers.
“Huh?”
“What, something just happened…”
The soldiers affected by Mana were bewildered. I don’t know why, but I wasn’t afraid to fight anymore. Groundless confidence was raising its head in their hearts.
“K…ugh…!”
Adeshan gritted his teeth. Blood trickled down her high nostril. Eliminating fear alone was a simple task compared to completely controlling the mind, but there were too many people.
Of course, she couldn’t stop midway, so she overlaid the entire army with shadow mana. Now the giants were forming their formation and preparing to throw their spears. Adeshan’s voice echoed in the minds of all Allied forces.
[Listen! The entire army must enter the headquarters by any means necessary!]
“What…!”
Lorhorn’s eyes widened. It was a strategy completely opposite to what he had in mind. He may or may not, Ade Shan continued.
[There is no place to run to! If we lose here anyway, everything is over, let the giants hit their heart!]
“Waaaaa-!!”
A thunderous roar erupted. None of the soldiers, whose morale had been forcibly raised, raised any objections. Zaifa raised the corners of his mouth after hearing the command.
“Now it’s starting to sound a bit like a horse.”
“Miss Iril.”
Schlieffen grabbed the hilt of his sword. They had no intention of backing down in the first place. Once again, the giants’ bombardment struck the defense shield and the final assault began.
