00381 Demon Nergal ———————————————– ————————–=
visor!
The sound of metal clashing with weapon shook all around. It wasn’t a sound that came from just one place. Strong vibrations erupted from everywhere, echoing throughout the area and giving an idea of the intensity of the battle.
And the sounds that followed were truly different.
Roaring cries, pain-soaked screams, profanity-laced shouts, and struggling cries.
Moist dirt and sand were scattered by the explosions and flames rising from all directions, and without fail, flesh fell and blood splattered between them. It was truly a fierce battle with no way to predict the future. The eastern and western regions were now intertwined in battle, to the point where it was difficult to distinguish between friends and enemies.
“You bastards! Protect your formation! “Don’t run away, stay where you are!”
Clap!
– Ouch!
As a sword that could be found in a butcher’s shop cut through the air, a tramp fell to pieces with a pitiful scream. Soon, her body, with her head and body separated, fell to the floor and the man let out a harsh laugh on purpose.
“Whahahaha! Come on, come on! Deokpil Kim, the vagabond slayer, will deal with you!”
The main character of the plot was Kim Deok-pil, the ‘vagrant killer’. In front of him were dozens of corpses, each with their heads taken off. Soon, as he held a sword dripping with blood and his eyes flashed, some of the enemies trembled in surprise.
– Oooooh!
However, perhaps gaining strength from the shouts of allies coming from behind, they began to slowly move forward again.
The current battlefield could still be seen as advantageous to the Western Continent and the vagabond Allies. In fact, it was inevitable because they were overwhelming in many factors such as momentum and numbers. In some ways, it was nothing short of a miracle that eastern users had endured and resisted until now.
no. A miracle actually occurred.
In the beginning, Kim Soo-hyun was able to gain maximum time, allowing Dongbu to do very minimal maintenance. And Ansol’s unique ability ‘Miracle’ had a tremendous impact on the battlefield. Not only did he raise the status of all his allies to the highest level, but he completely erased all remaining ‘magic bullets’.
Even though they had the upper hand now, the Allied forces could not help but become more and more frustrated as time went by. Even though it was almost completely breached, resistance in the east became stronger towards the end.
It was really unexpected and sudden.
In the end, one way or another, the Allied forces’ plan to penetrate the Seomun unit in one go was virtually a failure.
And as it was, it was only a matter of time until the moment the reinforcements arrived, the situation would turn around.
– Break through! Break through somehow! If not, just pass by!
“Nimiral.”
As soon as he saw the enemies coming in like a tidal wave again, Deokpil Kim let out a soft curse. Then he raised his head for a moment and looked beyond where the enemies were flocking. His eyes were mostly mad, but there was also a little bit of earnest hope for salvation.
Eventually, Deok-Pil Kim shouted in a cheerful voice as he grasped the sword that was dripping with blood.
“Unite! And hold on! “If you hold on just a little longer, reinforcements will come!”
Although we don’t know how much longer we have to hold out, that is the only hope left for eastern speakers.
Soon, the eastern users started shouting at each other, and their shouts clashed with each other.
And in the meantime, the change that would bring a new aspect to the war was just around the corner.
*
Quick and easy.
Quick and easy.
In a place far away from the fierce battle, the sound of immeasurable footsteps was heard.
The sound is too much. Then, thousands of footprints were once again engraved on the wet ground where the enemies had roughly stepped on.
(Faster.)
Eventually, as the amplified voice rang out, the cycle of footsteps began to gradually shorten. It was natural that the marching speed increased further.
Quick and easy!
The number of users seen next, marching in step, reached nearly 6,000.
It was like that. The identity of the users who marched in an orderly manner in line with the front line was the users who were in charge of the south and north gates. The support unit that had assessed the situation and completed maintenance had finally arrived.
“After a while. The situation is no joke. “It’s a complete mess.”
“Hmm.”
The man nodded at what one user said. Even though it was still vaguely visible from a distance, the feeling of the battlefield was breathtaking.
The man sighed softly.
“I wish you were alive… .”
“Clan Lord. I received a call from the alumni unit. They say they have settled down… . “A lot of people will be waiting.”
“Not a clan lord, but a commander.”
The man who blurted out a word quickly amplified his voice again.
(Before charging… we need to let people know that we are here, so scream as loud as possible.)
The users looked at each other in turn at the unexpected command. But soon, as the man starts running ahead of him, he begins to speed up even more to keep up with him.
Soon, the center of the battle line, which had taken a straight rectangular shape, began to rise forward little by little. The echelon commanders, including the men, come first, followed by melee and ranged classes.
Chuk chuk, thump thump! Chuk chuk, thump thump!
Slowly, the march of 6,000 users begins to change to a fast pace.
As the distance shortened, tension appeared on everyone’s faces and their hearts pounded.
Thump thump, thump thump! Thump thump, thump thump!
Now, it has completely changed to a running pace. In addition, as if she thought this was enough, the man pulled out his sword and shouted.
(The rescue of the West Gate unit begins now. Everyone prepare for battle!)
Weapons were raised here and there in time with the voice, and the sound of incantations being chanted rang out simultaneously.
And by the time the battlefield got close enough to be seen with the naked eye. The man struck down her sword and shouted in an unprecedentedly loud voice.
(attack!)
Waaaaaaa!
Thump thump thump thump thump!
At the same time, the South Gate and North Gate units began crossing the field, shouting in unison.
Soon, 6,000 users who ran among the corpses came like a wave to the rear of the Allied forces.
Meanwhile, at the same time.
Waaaaaaa!
A huge roar shakes the entire field. The moment he heard the sound, Seong Hyeon-min slowly stood up. As he stepped forward, one person quickly followed next to him.
“One load. “I guess it’s started?”
“yes. It looks like he moved right after sending the message. I like it because it’s fast. haha.”
The woman made a strange expression as she saw Seong Hyun-min smiling cheerfully.
“Won’t you regret it?”
“Regret?”
However, the woman kept her mouth shut in response to the question that immediately followed.
After a moment of silence, Seong Hyeon-min opened his mouth again.
“I acted according to my beliefs. And I just followed the plan.
“… still.”
“So the answer is… . yes. “I have no regrets.”
After finishing speaking. Seong Hyeon-min looked around with relaxed eyes.
The current alumni unit has approximately 3,500 members. Currently, they were gathered at one point and formed a rectangular dense formation. As if waiting for someone.
In fact, Seong Hyeon-min was able to notice something strange right from the moment the incident occurred. And when it was confirmed that the castle wall had been torn down and all the enemies had rushed out to the west gate, my curiosity turned into confidence.
However, Seong Hyun-min chose a slightly different path rather than immediately starting rescue with 3,500 people. He immediately sent a messenger to the South Gate and North Gate troops to inform them of the situation, and then they bypassed the battlefield and set up a new camp on the enemy’s expected retreat route.
Of course, it was not a major violation of the strategy, but there was room for controversy. However, taking that into account, Seong Hyun-min acted as he intended. Only he knew what intentions were hidden.
Eventually, as the earth began to tremble little by little, Seong Hyeon-min, who had been staring ahead for a while, calmly opened his mouth.
“It looks like it’s finally coming.”
“이길 수 있을까요? 그래도 우리보다 많을 것 같은데.”
“지금의 우리는 이길 수 있습니다.”
말을 하는 성현민의 눈빛은 자신감으로 가득 차있었다. 뜻 모를 자신감에 여인은 한숨을 내쉬었고, 이내 조용히 음성 증폭 마법을 시전했다.
주변에 대기하고 있는 사용자들의 얼굴은 하나같이 제각각 이었다. 어떤 사용자들은 분한 얼굴을 하고 있었고, 또 어떤 사용자들은 고개를 갸웃한다.
아직까지 적들과 난전을 벌이지는 않았지만, 서문 부대가 힘겨운 전투를 하고 있다는 것을 그들은 잘 알고 있었다.
성현민은 그들을 빠르게 훑고선 조용히 입을 열었다.
(적들이 다가오고 있습니다.)
그 말에, 한없이 가라앉았던 분위기에 비로소 긴장이 샘솟기 시작한다.
(긴장하실 거 없습니다. 준비는 완벽하니까요. 다들 탐험 한 번씩은 해보셨죠? 언제나 하던 것처럼 똑같이 해주시면 됩니다.)
성현민이 농담 비슷한 어조를 던졌지만 누구 하나 웃는 사용자는 없었다. 그 사이 지축의 떨림이 점차 강도를 더해가고 있었고, 멀리서 뭔가 움직이는 기색이 포착됐기 때문이다.
드디어 전장을 뚫은 연합군의 선두 부대가 조금씩 모습을 보이기 시작한 것이다.
그러한 상황에서도 성현민은 여유를 잃지 않았다. 선택은 두 가지였다. 적들이 이대로 좌우로 선회해서 도망가거나, 아니면 그대로 짓쳐 들거나.
사실 어느 쪽이라도 상관없다. 동문 부대의 입장에서 급한 건 어디까지나 연합군이었다. 자신들은 완벽히 정비를 마쳤다. 더 이상 마구잡이 식 난전이 아닌, 정돈된 전투를 할 수 있다. 북 대륙이 자랑하는 사용자들의 실력을 이제 고스란히 보여줄 수 있는 것이다. 물론 거기에는 그 나름대로의 계산이 있었지만.
잠깐 생각한 성현민은, 차갑게 미소 지었다.
(자. 기다리던 복수의 시간이 도래했네요. 다들 많이들 참으셨습니다. 모두 준비하세요.)
이윽고 적들의 선두가 서서히 확인되기 시작함에, 성현민은 지체 않고 음성을 퍼뜨렸다.
끼릭, 끼리릭!
“───. ───. ───.”
그러자 궁수들이 화살을 재는 소리와, 마법사들이 주문을 외우는 소리가 장엄히 울리기 시작한다.
성질 급한 사용자들은 위협 사격을 날리려고도 해보았다.
(아직 대기합니다.)
그러나 곧바로 제지한 성현민은 날카롭게 전방을 주시했다.
연합군은 퇴로에 진을 친 동문 부대를 인지한듯했다. 그에 따라 잠시 움직임을 멈췄지만, 마치 무언가에 쫓기듯 곧바로 정면으로 달려오기 시작했다.
그런 적들을 보며 성현민은 멍청하다고 생각했지만, 방심하지는 않았다. 그대로 돌격한다는 소리는, 아직 보이지 않는 곳에 돌파를 성공한 적들이 제법 있다는 소리였으니까.
(대기, 대기합니다.)
두두두두! 두두두두!
역시나 성현민의 예상이 맞았는지, 선두의 뒤로 제법 많은 수의 연합군이 모습을 드러냈다. 그것은 얼핏 헤아려도 동문 부대의 1.5배는 되는 숫자였다.
비록 마구잡이로 달려오기는 했지만, 그 모습은 확실히 위협적이었다.
그에 따라 일부 사용자들이 눈에 띄게 흔들리기 시작한다. 시위를 잡은 손이 떨리고, 주문을 외우는 목소리에 잡음이 섞여 들어갔다.
(두려워할 필요는 없습니다. 우리는 이길 수 있습니다. 이번 전쟁에서 영웅이 되는 겁니다!)
이윽고, 적들의 선두가 완전히 모습을 드러내었다.
– 우오오오오오오오!
그리고 범위에 들어온 순간, 성현민은 지체 않고 외쳤다.
(들어오는 놈들은 한 놈도 놓치지 않습니다! 모두 공격!)
슈슈슉! 슈슈슈슉!
그와 동시에, 먼저 장전된 화살이 허공을 날았다.
그리고 쏘아진 화살은 포물선을 그리더니, 달려오는 적들에게로 우수수 쏟아져 내렸다.
*
‘뭐지?’
한창 달리던 도중, 나는 갑작스럽게 늘어난 시체에 의문을 느꼈다. 사방에는 화살과 마법이 휩쓸어 대지가 파헤쳐져 있었고, 그 위를 장식한 시체는 거의 연합군이었다.
사실상 시몬을 추격하는데 있어서, 나는 지금 달리는 곳을 돌파하는걸 가장 난관으로 여겼다. 직선으로 돌파한 만큼 빠르게 가로지를 수는 있었지만, 앞으로 나아갈수록 앞서 전장을 지나친 적들이 더욱 많으리라 생각했기 때문이다. 그리고 아군은 더더욱 줄어들 테고.
하지만 적들 또한 거의 보이지 않는다. 이 소리는….
‘아.’
해답은, 시체더미를 돌파한 순간 알 수 있었다. 저기 멀리서 어지러이 전투를 벌이는 광경에 눈에 잡혔기 때문이다. 사용자들과 연합군이 한 바탕 어우러진 광경은 지원 부대가 도착했음을 알려주고 있었다.
‘하기야 도착할 때도 됐지만….’
그렇다면 전방으로 보이는 부대는 구원이 아니라 부랑자들의 퇴로를 차단했다는 소리.
뭔가 석연치 않은 의문이 남았지만, 병장기가 부딪치는 소리가 가까워지자 나는 곧바로 고개를 털었다.
아무래도 좋다. 아니, 서문 부대의 사용자들은 야속하게 생각할지 몰라도, 나에게는 더없이 나이스를 외칠 상황이었다.
안 그래도 꽁지가 빠져라 도망가는 시몬에, 적들이 곳곳에서 가로막는 와중이었다. 하지만 이렇게 되면 적들의 신경을 돌릴 곳이 생긴다. 아무런 방해도 받지 않고 그대로 돌파할 수 있는 것이다.
한순간 어떻게 해야 할까 고민했지만, 나는 전장을 그대로 돌파하기로 결정했다.
아까부터 계속해서 간파 당하고 있음에도 불구하고, 시몬의 마안은 꾸준히 나를 주시하고 있었다. 마치 내가 자신을 죽일 거라는걸 알고 있는 것 같은 태도였다.
하지만 내 기억에 따르면, 시몬은 근접 계열이 아니다. 굳이 따지면 마법사 클래스에 가깝다고나 할까? 불나방처럼 달려드는 적들의 방해가 없다면 10분 안에 따라잡을 자신이 있었다.
눈앞으로 거친 흙먼지가 일어났다. 밟고 달리는 대지에서 이제는 더 이상 물기가 느껴지지 않는다.
이윽고 치열한 전투가 벌어지는 흙먼지 속으로, 나는 지체 없이 뛰어들었다.
2년의 시간을 벌기 위해서.
—————————= 작품 후기 —————————=
시몬은 걱정하지 않으셔도 됩니다. 걔 아니더라도 나올 애들은 많으니까요.(?)
아 진짜 다음 회 쓰고 싶어 죽겠는데, 결국에는 잡기 직전에 끊었습니다. 더 내용을 추가했다가는 진짜로 늦을 것 같아서요.(절대로 절단은 아닙니다. 믿어주세요.)
Now that I think about it, I think October was a slump for me. There were a lot of difficult things going on in one way or another. But as I was writing today, I felt like I was slowly showing signs of breaking away.
I think it’s probably thanks to the readers’ consistent support and pointed comments. ha ha ha.
There’s a lot I want to say, but I’m just grateful to the readers. kid. I’m embarrassed to suddenly say this. Why is this suddenly happening? lol.
Anyway, thank you, and thank you again.
I will work even harder until Part 1 is completed!
P.S. The next episode could be quite brutal. He’s going crazy again. If you have any objections, please take this into consideration.
fantasy,
