Chapter 290
Chapter 290
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 290
Chapter Title: Total Offensive (4)
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"This place never grows on me, no matter how many times I visit."
Abel muttered to himself. He was strolling across a land entirely blanketed in white. It was the world where the giants lived. A hollow, chilling wind reminiscent of winter in the slums brushed against his cheek.
In a world where even the grains of sand were white, there was no trace of color to be found. The Nebula Klazje's main headquarters had been decorated in a somewhat similar fashion, but it paled in comparison to the original.
He looked up to see a white sky. Amid the clouds that blanketed the stars without a gap, a massive magic circle flickered in and out of existence. It was the pathway used by giants heading out for hunts or returning from them.
No wonder they're busy. Abel murmured as he took another step forward. A low, rumbling voice echoed from above.
『Mortal-born one. How dare you set foot in this place.』
『Halt those profane steps at once.』
"Ah... alright."
Abel knelt on one knee and looked up. Two giants loomed directly overhead, gazing down at him. With four pairs of wings each, they weren't particularly high-ranking specimens.
Whoosh! Winds whipped up periodically by their wingbeats swept in all directions. It was a gale strong enough to crush a mere human flat, but Abel remained utterly unaffected. His translucent form was composed not of flesh, but of spirit. One of the giants staring at him spoke.
『You... I remember that face.』
"Well, I was here just yesterday."
Abel nodded. Since he showed up regularly, they no longer attacked him outright without warning. Clearing his throat, he spoke with as much courtesy as possible.
"I've come to see Him."
『What...』
The giants flinched. Their already stern faces grew even more rigid.
They fell silent for a long while, and Abel didn't press them. He knew they were communicating with the being they called "Him."
Sensory sharing. How convenient.
Abel waited patiently, head bowed. In the prolonged silence—longer than usual—a voice he wouldn't normally perceive reached him.
-Save me.
-I didn't do anything wrong!
-Please, get me out... please...
It was a faint whisper. The languages varied, but the meanings were clear. Countless agonized cries emanated from within the giants' bodies.
Abel knew these were the voices of souls slain by the giants. They had become one with the great race, supposedly granted eternal life, but they didn't seem particularly happy about it.
Abel gave a wry smile. Soon, the people left on the surface would meet a similar fate. Though their circumstances would differ greatly. One of the silent giants finally spoke.
『Begone. He has no desire to see you.』
"...Even today?"
Abel's brow furrowed. It was as expected, but being turned away still soured his mood. He continued.
"Come on, just pass on one more message. I'm busting my ass offering up an entire star, so granting a small request like this shouldn't be too much, right?"
『We shall not say it twice. Begone.』
Suddenly, both giants extended their hands. Particles of light began gathering within their massive white palms. These baldheads never understood the concept of dialogue. Abel sighed deeply, gauging the moment.
"I don't see what's so hard about letting me show my face just once. I guarantee you, if you underestimate my mothership, you might regret it."
『Such arrogance. Mortals cannot defeat us.』
"Then what about those four who perished on our star recently?"
『What...』
The giants fell speechless. Abel slowly raised his head. The servile plea was gone from his eyes. It was time to negotiate seriously.
"What, are you scared now?"
Abel sneered. The moment one corner of his mouth curled up—
Kwachik! A spear of light shot from somewhere and pierced Abel's back.
"Guh..."
Abel gasped. It was so fast he hadn't even seen it. Barely tracing its path, he looked up to see the sky above swirling.
That thing.
It was a vortex vast enough to envelop the entire star. At its center, where the spear had fallen, yawned a black hole. Instinctively, Abel sensed something beyond it gazing down at him.
Flash! Just as he opened his mouth to speak, his vision went black. When Abel's eyes snapped open again, he bolted upright.
"Hah...!"
His head spun. He was slumped alone in a sealed chamber. It was a secret room in the main headquarters. His spirit form had been destroyed, returning his consciousness to his physical body.
"What a foul temper."
Abel rose to his feet. His body was drenched in cold sweat. The sensation of his chest being impaled lingered vividly. At his feet lay a magic circle for communicating with the giants' world.
They took the bait.
Scratching his chest, Abel smiled. The idiots hadn't granted his request, but it no longer mattered. That final spear of light had undoubtedly come from "Him."
His business here was done. What remained depended on his few remaining subordinates and Iril.
Suddenly, memories of the past flashed before his eyes. Looking back, he'd cut down countless foes while following Cain. From savage nomadic tribes to the Dahinhar Empire's mechanical legions. Straightening the sheath at his waist, he exited the room.
"Let's see how much you've improved."
****
"Surrender already!"
Marya shouted. Charging forward, she swung her greatsword horizontally. The blade, longer and thicker than her body, gleamed with a crimson hue like Ronan's blood.
"You insolent wench!"
"Do we look like a joke to you?!"
The zealots mounting a desperate last stand atop the walls charged in fury. Marya's momentum was impressive, but their armor and shields were impenetrable.
Clang! As they raised shields in defense—
Her unrelenting greatsword sliced straight through their waists. One man, numb below the solar plexus, blurted in confusion.
"Huh?"
"You thought we were weak?!"
Marya yelled again. The zealots' upper bodies toppled to the ground. Kwang! Her unstoppable slash collided with a nearby turret. Severed at the base in one blow, it crumbled down the wall.
"M-monster!"
"What kind of strength is that..."
Cries of alarm erupted everywhere. The plate armor she wore showed not a single scratch amid the fierce melee. The aurora-hued armor, shimmering with polar lights, had been a recent gift from Ronan via the Aurora Skull.
Armed with heavy plate and a greatsword, Marya boldly cleaved through the enemy vanguard. Turning her head, she spotted Braum fighting to protect their allies. Boom! Blocking Branch Chief Puran's mace, he bashed the massive shield with his sword flat and bellowed.
"Is that all you've got?! Hit harder!"
"How dare a lowly cur...!"
Puran swung his mace with aura in enraged fury. The blow, far stronger than before, flew at him—but Braum blocked it magnificently. Stab! A soldier in Puran's blind spot pierced his waist with a spear.
"Gahk!"
Puran spewed blood and pitched forward. Spears rained down on him from all sides. Confirming the outer wall's foes cleared, Braum turned to Marya and shouted.
"This area's done!"
"Same here!"
Marya replied. Their naturally booming voices echoed thunderously. Having breached even the final fortress, they were mopping up internal resistance alongside the allied forces. Gazing outward, she saw eight fallen fortresses.
"...We did it."
It was a sight that swelled the heart. Eight allied banners fluttered atop the towering walls. Orse and the Shadow Duke tore through the skies, downing remaining artificial giants. Asel's voice rang out nearby.
"E-everyone must pay for your sins!"
"...Cutie."
Marya flushed with embarrassment. It hadn't taken long to realize how arrogant her pre-battle vow to protect Asel had been.
Riding Orse's back, Asel unleashed massive ice spikes in all directions. Erzsebet's aura-enhanced magic unleashed far greater power than usual.
【Keurk!】
【Kraaak!】
Stab! Stab! Giants struck by the unmelting ice spewed blood and plummeted. Most died in one hit; none endured three. In dragon form, Orse roared with laughter.
【Kuhahaha! That's it, killing machine!】
"Eeeek! D-don't fly so fast!"
Asel shrieked. Marya laughed. Their adventures and lessons at Phileon hadn't been in vain.
I need to work harder too. As she steeled herself and turned—
Screams erupted from deep within the citadel.
"T-the Empire's Rising Star is coming!"
"F-flee to the inner keep! Bar the gates!"
The zealots abandoning their desperate stand fled entirely to the inner citadel. Their once resolute faces now showed only fear and despair.
Marya shifted her gaze in their direction and widened her eyes. It was a scene from hell. The mangled corpses were beyond counting. They hadn't been there moments ago.
"Schlieffen."
Marya knew those clean cuts were all marks of Schlieffen's stormblade. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he'd taken the most lives today. Schlieffen trampled the path of corpses he'd created, charging toward the inner keep.
Pale Road in his left hand scattered a chill blue glow. Each step closed the distance rapidly.
"Close it! Close it! Close the gates!"
"Keep him out!"
The zealots screamed like frightened children. Rumble...! The inner gates were closing swiftly. The specially designed gates would require considerable effort even from the allies to breach.
"N-no!"
But Schlieffen slipped inside just before they shut. Thud! The gates sealed as he entered.
"Hiiiiaaak!"
"Sp-spare us!"
Even more desperate screams echoed. Mingled with the howl of wind. Even the advancing allies halted, swallowing hard.
"......!"
Then, abruptly, the screams ceased. No more voices from beyond the gates. One soldier spoke.
"I-is it... over?"
No reply. The soldiers exchanged glances and stepped forward. Kwang! The inner keep's ceiling shattered as a massive whirlwind erupted.
"Huuuuh?!"
"Insane..."
The blade-wind vortex spanned dozens of meters wide. Building debris and shredded corpses scattered everywhere.
From its center, a figure soared. Tap! Landing atop the highest turret, Schlieffen bellowed.
"Navardoje! It's done!"
It was hard to believe this thunderous roar came from the usually taciturn Schlieffen. His shout swept across the battlefield, reaching Navardoje in the sky.
【Confirmed.】
The star's blessing shielding the main headquarters, generated by the fortresses, was fading. Navardoje nodded. Between her parted jaws burned a fireball bright and hot enough to pass for a miniature sun.
It was time. Having only inhaled until now, Navardoje finally exhaled. The orb of flame launched toward the pale citadel.