Chapter 293
Chapter 293
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 293
Chapter Title: Ahayute
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【Vanish!】
Navardoje exhaled the breath she had been holding. A tidal wave of fire swept across the sky. Amid the crimson flames engulfing everything, Abel's voice rang out.
"You know something like that won't work on me."
Slash! The wall of flames parted as Abel burst through. Even cloaked in primordial fire, he suffered no more than a slight singe to his hair. His sword aura sliced through the air, grazing Navardoje's cheek as it passed.
【Kuh...!】
Their battle raged at the edge of a vast white plain where nothing existed. Their skills were evenly matched, and neither could gain the upper hand. As he prepared a counterattack, he furrowed his brow.
"Hm?"
Navardoje had vanished. Suddenly, her voice boomed from above.
【I know that too.】
"Tch."
Realizing his mistake, Abel looked up. A massive hand was already descending upon him. Navardoje's palm slammed down. Boom! With a deafening roar, his body crashed into the ground.
"This isn't good."
Abel muttered while lying down. The impact was severe. The hole he'd been smashed into was so deep he looked like a mere speck at its bottom.
He had anticipated it, but Navardoje was too strong. Even with the stars' blessing upon him, his back throbbed. At this rate, he might actually lose.
"...No choice, then."
He didn't like it, but it seemed he had to use his trump card. With that resolve, Abel rose to his feet.
****
"Damn it, break through no matter what!"
"More blood, bring more blood!"
The final assault order had been given. Curses echoed from all sides. The coalition forces, their fear nullified, threw everything they had at the cult's main headquarters.
A massive battering ram pounded the gates, while ladders and siege towers advanced slowly. People drank dilutions made from Ronan's blood or smeared it on their weapons, preparing for the last fight.
"Break through! Just get over the walls!"
"We have to seize the fortress before Mage Asel collapses!"
Someone shouted. The stars' blessing still blanketed the sky. Asel's desperate barrier barely held against the giants' barrage. His diminutive frame absorbed the mana from all the mages.
"Nngh... ugh...!"
Blood trickled from Asel's tiny lips. Even with support, his limits were clear. Focusing his mind like walking a blade's edge, he squeezed out the words.
"Ho...ld...!"
Adeshan's telepathic message rang out simultaneously. The top priority was preventing further deterioration. She remembered Tieriia's words about the descent ritual underway—likely deep inside the fortress.
'We seize the fortress first and fight the giants. If we just hold out until Navardoje or Ronan returns...!'
They needed to seize the enemy's foothold and buy time. Fortunately, the siege itself favored the coalition. The Nebula Klazie followers, unprepared for this turn, scrambled in panic.
"Th-these bastards won't give up...!"
"Repel them! Don't let them climb the walls!"
In truth, excluding the giants, the cult side lacked manpower. The Hierarch had left with Navardoje, and most archbishops were occupied with the descent ritual.
Of course, defenders still held the advantage. Cultists defending the north prepared spells to destroy a siege tower. Boom! Thud! Dozens of shadows erupted from below, landing atop the walls. The lead shadow spoke.
"Good to see you."
"Z-Zaifa!"
The cultists cried out in shock. The hulking were-tiger gripped a crescent blade infused with aura. Slash! Before they could react, his strike cleaved through them. Marya, standing behind, sighed.
"You actually made it up. I'm done with this."
"Hahaha, isn't this more glorious?"
Braun laughed heartily. The shadow's mana had nullified his fear, restoring his boisterous nature. Schlieffen, scanning the surroundings, charged forward.
"I'll rescue Lady Iril and return."
"Sch-Schlieffen!"
Marya called, but he didn't respond. Without looking back, he dashed into the pale fortress depths. Whoosh! Wind howled, and cultist screams filled the air. Zaifa, having swept away nearby foes, spat out an order.
"Kill them all."
"Waaaaah!"
With that, those atop the walls surged forward. They were a provisional strike team to halt the ritual and rescue Iril. But could they turn the tide? Hardly. Slash! Blood sprayed from the coalition's center.
"Gah...!"
The struck mage staggered. Something leaped from the walls, punching a hole through his chest. Dispatched from the Full Moon Tower, he had been aiding Asel with the others.
Thud. Kneeling at last, he reached toward the woman before him.
"G-Give it... back."
"Who'd just watch such insolence?"
Archbishop Tieriia laughed. In her hand was the mage's heart from moments ago. The mage collapsed, lifeless. Biting into the heart like an apple, Tieriia spoke.
"Abandon hope. This is your end."
"Don't make me laugh!"
Soldiers charged en masse. But Tieriia boasted combat prowess rivaling Fantasion. Each swipe of her claws sent limbs flying.
"Arrrgh!"
"S-Spare me!"
"Ahahaha! That's it!"
Tieriia cackled madly. The coalition, fixated on seizing the fortress, had no spare attention for her. Each fallen mage made Asel's body sway.
"Urk."
The limit approached fast. Maintaining the stars' blessing consumed vast mana. Giants still bombarded, and outer summoned beasts from feathers battered the barrier relentlessly.
With supply sources vanishing, holding was impossible. As Tieriia reached for her thirteenth mage's heart—Clang! Something sharp deflected her claws forcefully.
"Oh, you're decent."
Tieriia's eyes widened. She flipped backward to land, eyeing her blocker. Naviroje, sword tip trained on Tieriia, spoke.
"Don't interfere with my student."
"Or what?"
Tieriia smirked. Naviroje answered with action, kicking off the ground. Clanggg! Metal screeched as the women clashed. As Asel regained focus— A familiar voice boomed from above.
"Having fun without me?"
"...What?"
Adeshan's face hardened. If her ears weren't deceiving her, this voice shouldn't be here. Her breath quickened.
"No way..."
She looked toward the source. The empty sky held only the giants' summoning magic circle flashing.
Yeah, I misheard. As Adeshan steadied her breath—Crash!! Space in the sky shattered, spitting out a man. Desperately defending cultists erupted in cheers.
"Hi-Hierarch!!"
"The Hierarch's back!"
The mood flipped. Stunned coalition forces looked up. The descending man was unmistakably Nebula Klazie's Hierarch, Abel.
"What, still not done?"
Thud! Landing on the walls, he clicked his tongue. Coalition soldiers paled.
"What? The Hierarch?"
"Wh-Where's Lady Navardoje...?"
Only Abel had emerged from the dimensional gate. No sign of Navardoje. As they froze in shock—Snap! Abel, surveying, flicked his fingers.
"Hurry. We can't dawdle here."
Whoosh! Grotesque curtains of color climbed the headquarters' exterior. The writhing barrier flung off wall-climbing soldiers and siege towers alike. Adeshan screamed in despair.
"N-No!"
But the new stars' blessing had engulfed the fortress. Their final gambit dissolved to nothing. Those inside were now isolated.
They needed a new plan fast, but Abel offered no time. Silently drawing his sword, he unleashed sword aura at the coalition's protective barrier.
Boom! The barrier shattered on direct hit. Asel's already faltering shield couldn't withstand the Hierarch's strike.
"Kahak...!"
Crimson blood sprayed from Asel's mouth. Unable to endure, he toppled. Watching from above, Orse ground his teeth.
He wanted to rescue him immediately, but had no leeway. Five giants pursued him relentlessly. Orse dodged light spears with acrobatic flight and successive blinks.
Boom! Spears Rorhon failed to deflect rained back on the coalition. Pillars of light erupted, each claiming hundreds in death cries.
"R-Run, everyone!"
"Orders... kugh!"
Outer lurking familiars pounced like they awaited this. Abel, hands behind back, turned to Adeshan.
"You're the commander. You look young, but you did well to get this far."
"Ah... aaa..."
Adeshan couldn't reply—couldn't even speak. Means to fend giants were gone. No seizing the fortress, and blood transports were smashed.
Eyes open, yet blind. Despair filled hope's void swiftly. Abel clicked his tongue.
"I told you. All futile."
"...Shut up."
Snapping from daze, Adeshan reached for her back-mounted crossbow. Unlike usual, it was instinct unthought. Only "do something" drove her.
"Stop. Face your end with dignity."
Abel shook his head. But Adeshan pulled the trigger. Twang! The bolt aimed at his brow shattered midair. Parrying a mere bolt was trivial for Abel. Trembling, she reloaded.
"You've done enough. Accept it without fear. This makes us better beings."
"I said shut up...!"
Twang! She fired again, but Abel sliced it effortlessly. As she reloaded once more—a light spear crashed nearby. Boom! Blast flung Adeshan rolling.
"Kugh!"
"Pitiful."
Abel turned away. Adeshan struggled up, shaking, but he had no intent to watch. Time dragged, but it ended. Navardoje could be handled later.
"Now... what first."
Abel muttered. Iril's power unfinished, giants couldn't be released yet. He didn't want people dying in agony.
"Right. Time to squash the cockroaches."
Decided, he gripped his hilt. Giants would handle outside; kill intruders inside. While awaiting "That One's" descent. As Abel stepped forward—
Whoosh—like ripping a million sheets at once, a sound tore from the sky.
"What?"
He'd never heard this. Turning, Abel's eyes widened. Space amid the giants ripped, birthing something massive. All eyes fixed skyward. Adeshan, barely lifting her head, narrowed her eyes.
"What is... that?"
A shadow blanketed the battlefield. The emerging mass defied description—grotesque. A flower of rock and metal. Or a whale plastered with such flowers.
Its unreal scale impressed more than form. Like uprooting a mountain. As confusion reigned—Boom! It flashed, unleashing dozens of red beams at surrounding giants.
"Wha...!"
Gasps rose. Instant chaos. Beams pierced not the stars' blessing but hurled giants far. Some below smashed into ground.
"What the hell now."
Abel frowned. Felt familiar, yet unrecallable. Giants retargeted, hurling spears.
Boom! All hit true, yet unscathed. Same barrier cloaked it. Then a small shadow shot from it. Abel's eyes bulged.
"No way...!"
"Goddamn idiots. Fucking bastards."
Ronan cursed, scanning. The field turned hellish real-time. Giant craters evoked past-life memories.
Still many troops left—not too late. He leaped as Duinhar space-jumped. Winged baldies gawked at sudden Ronan.
"Huh?"
His gaze hit a giant. Expected fighting giants, not this one here. Ronan's lip curled.
"Long time, asshole."
『Who... are you?』
Ahayute twitched brow. Vague memory of this human. Soon recalled: slayer of Duaru.
『Duaru's killer?』
"Oh, you remember?"
『What...』
Ronan shrugged. Sense-sharing giants reacted in sync. Photons gathered in their hands. Nearest Ahayute struck first. Six light spears auto-formed around him.
『Foe of His will. Vanish.』
"Fuck off."
Ahayute swung. Ronan flipped middle finger, twisting. Six spears stabbed varied angles—none touched. He remembered this foe's habits from before.
Not just past experience. Curse gone, his body far improved. Ahayute's brow furrowed faintly.
『Impossible...!』
Spears doubled. Twelve flew—same result. Ronan dismantled effortlessly, closing in deep.
Ahayute's torso gaped empty. Ronan gripped hilt. In stretched time, past-life flashed.
Moldy youth, killing noble, Penal Legion. Days steeped in blood and booze, comrades dying just as bonds formed.
Sudden three giants, dying folk, hometown Numbton and sister gone. Rorhon mutual destruction, Navardoje, unfulfilled Empire's Greatest Swordsman Schlieffen's heroic end. Years later, vivid: Grand General Adeshan's lips.
Much changed now. What he couldn't protect then—here. Glancing down, Adeshan stared dazed. Eyes met, she whispered.
"Ronan."
No reply. She looked battered—suffered much. He flashed grin, refocused on Ahayute. Slow bald still unaware of strike.
This one gave peculiar motivation too. What was it again? Remembered clearly.
-Fortunate for us. You rotted talent in filth.
-Polished, you'd be massive obstacle to our wishes.
"Ha."
Ronan chuckled. Spot on now. Perhaps this bald fixed his rotten mindset.
Thanks due. Gripping hilt, Ronan slashed horizontally. Spirit-infused Ramancha arced nimbly. Ahayute finally noticed, dismayed.
『What...』
Too late to act. Past settled quick. Blade glided, severing throat. Whoosh! Blue blood sprayed; head arced down.