Fenrir Hunt (2)
There were two reasons for ordering the Goyad forces to retreat.
First, to protect the people and soldiers from being caught in the status ailment.
Second.
The 2nd Legion Commander of Demon Gremory.
Known as the Legion Commander of Explosions, he possessed the power to unleash the widest area-of-effect blast.
Area attack.
This power was most efficient when the enemy was densely packed.
'The Blood Ghost Corps, believing the castle had fallen, was more clustered than ever.'
Beings packed so tightly they filled the castle.
Hellfire Spear
The moment the black spear plunged into the ground amid the Blood Ghost Corps.
Kwa-haaaaaang—!
The entire Goyad Kingdom was engulfed in a massive shockwave.
Hellfire blast covers 450m radius, dealing 870% damage!
Pic, the supreme commander leading the Blood Ghost Corps.
He too had collapsed to his knees, shedding bloody tears, unable to resist the overwhelming status ailment.
As waves and explosions radiated from the spear, followed by smoke rising in a fan shape, his eyes trembled.
When a massive gust finally blew away all the smoke, Pic's eyes shook violently.
'...What is this.'
15,400 of the Blood Ghost Corps.
They were scattering as bone dust.
At the same time, the demon in the sky vanished.
Inside the capital.
Sword Sage Laisen swiftly climbed atop the walls.
"......"
He witnessed a scene beyond belief.
15,000 Blood Ghosts had met their end in an instant. Even seeing it with his own eyes—having participated directly—it was unbelievable.
'Did this plan truly succeed...?'
Laisen had seen Hyun-soo engulfed in warp light and vanish.
And he wasn't the only one struggling to believe.
The three marquises, saved from Fenrir by the demon summon but then afflicted by the status ailment.
With the demon's disappearance lifting the ailment, they could move again, yet they remained in deep mental shock.
'Why are we here...?'
'Hyun-soo's telekinesis...?'
They also realized they had been safely lowered from midair onto the walls.
"Keuk!"
But their condition was far from good.
The kingdom's stars spat blood from their mouths.
They wiped blood flowing from eyes, ears, and noses.
Laisen approached, and they learned the full story.
Of course, along with the instruction to keep the demon hunt secret.
"......"
"......"
The three marquises, barely able to stand, felt no anger toward Hyun-soo for not informing them.
Nor did they resent him for the near-death from the status ailment.
'That Hyun-soo...'
'Pulled off something like this?'
He had first seemed a novice, then a lord of a crumbling blacksmith territory.
Then, undeniable heir to the king, amid their unease as time passed.
Now, he had planted a spark of hope in crisis-stricken Goyad.
The marquises.
They gripped their swords with all their might.
They had no intention of wasting the chance Hyun-soo created.
The marquises began to move.
Meanwhile.
Ku-uuuung—
A massive vibration struck the entire capital. The huddled civilians and soldiers within.
"Waaah, waaah!"
A newborn's cry pierced the gaps, held by some woman.
"Ah, aaah..."
"Please..."
"Let us overcome this crisis..."
"I want to live...!"
They were simply terrified.
The soldiers, having fought the Blood Ghosts directly, feared a swift fall.
The civilians, ignorant of battle, despaired at their nurtured Goyad crumbling in moments.
Then.
"Kyaa...? Karrl!"
The crying child suddenly stopped and laughed.
Starting with the infant's mysterious giggle, one by one, faces brightened.
'10 seconds after the vibration, open your eyes.'
They opened their eyes one by one.
Instinctively toward the laughing child.
They turned to whatever made the beaming infant smile.
The woman clutching the child shed unconscious tears of relief.
"Aaah...!"
Atop the walls.
The man in the brown coat at center slowly nodded to the masses.
Dung! Dung! Dung! Dung!
Soldiers, entranced, gazed at him and beat the drums signaling counterattack.
Soldiers who thought defeat certain.
They rose slowly, gripping weapons with full strength.
Another woman.
Nel, who had swiftly entered the capital, couldn't believe the scene.
One man at the center.
Three marquises gathered beside him, blood from eyes, ears, noses crusted.
Sword Sage Laisen, kingdom's top house elder, stood with hands behind back.
The three marquises shouted.
"Count Hyun-soo commands!"
Their raised swords proclaimed a new commander today.
Tens of thousands of eyes felt it. The world in stark black and white.
In that monochrome.
The brown-coated heir they denied.
Once mere blacksmith, novice, now lowly count.
He shone as a 'beacon' illuminating the grayscale world.
His powerful voice rang out.
"Arrrrrows!"
20,000 archers on the walls drew bowstrings taut, following his raised sword.
"Fiiiire!"
Tens of thousands of arrows swept the Blood Ghosts threatening Goyad like falling leaves.
Pfufufufufufufufuk—!
1,824 Blood Ghosts perish!
"Open gates!"
Kiiiiiik—!
Gates swung open at his commanding voice. Centered on mounted Sword Sage Laisen, soldiers charged like moths to flame, eyes fierce.
"Chaaarge!"
Those who only defended in fear transformed.
Now, more confident than ever, burning with rage.
Feared nothing.
They charged seeing their top commander thrust sword forward.
"You fucking bastards!"
"Uwoooo...!"
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Remaining Blood Ghosts, freed from ailment but not fully recovered, swept away rapidly.
Goyad forces' morale soars to the heavens!
Waaaaaaaaah—
Cheers of a million spread through Goyad!
Uwawawawawaaah—!
Soldiers and civilians, their cheers heralding Blood Ghosts' defeat.
Unlike their fervor.
Blood Ghosts' morale plummets!
The Blood Ghosts, already chaotic from losing many commanders.
First shock: the explosion.
Second: Gremory's status ailment.
Third.
Goyad forces, unaffected, exuding majesty.
Thoroughly massacred before, now counterattacking like a tidal wave.
3,417 Blood Ghosts perish!
Today, their blood ran hot; the Blood Ghosts' grew cold.
"Don't die— that's an order!"
In the heated battle, at the commander's voice.
The masses still watched him; soldiers swung swords.
'...If we don't die, can we serve you?'
'Thank you.'
'Goyad's light.'
"Goyad's hero!!!!!!"
One knight's cry spread the chant.
However.
"Krhaaaaaah!"
Hearing that roar, they realized.
Goyad's swift fall wasn't due to Blood Ghosts.
Freely shrinking or enlarging, the legendary monster Fenrir was the cause.
What was Fenrir?
Even if all Blood Ghosts perished.
Alone, it could raze Goyad's capital.
Kwajak—
The massive gray-furred wolf devoured dozens of Goyad soldiers in one bite.
The tidal formation sweeping Blood Ghosts shattered pathetically.
Acceleration
Suddenly accelerating, Fenrir trampled soldiers like an elephant, crushing them.
Goyad forces, fearless till now, hesitated.
No matter the momentum or courage, the colossal legendary monster instilled terror.
Especially.
Wagjak—!
Fenrir, chewing soldiers in its maw, was enraged.
True to its high intelligence, it knew the demon summon was temporary, and someone had demeaned it as a mere dog through it.
With the transcendent gone forever, it grew more arrogant.
"Krhaaaaaah!"
Fenrir roared after slaying 400 Goyad soldiers instantly.
Brave knights swung at it, then panicked.
Taeng—!
'What hide is this thick...?'
Swords didn't pierce the ultra-tough skin. A user would hear:
You deal 1 damage.
The difference between hit and miss was vast.
Then, crimson energy swirled in Fenrir's maw.
Ku-hoooo—
Ultimate precursor.
This power, manifested at the second fortress fall, resembled dragon breath.
On release, it could crumble walls, slaying countless beyond.
Goyad forces paled.
Not from walls collapsing.
"No..."
"Civilians behind the walls!!!"
This blast would claim at least 20,000 lives.
Soldiers and knights fired arrows, thrust spears madly, but couldn't scratch Fenrir.
The three marquises atop walls, Laisen on horseback—faces drained white.
Especially Laisen.
He saw it aimed his way.
No escape.
He turned, pale smile to knights.
He had said: this old man goes first—don't die.
But knights behind were close too.
"Sorry I couldn't keep the promise. See you in hell."
As energy nearly fired.
"The sky...!"
At the shout, Laisen looked up.
The man atop walls moments ago.
Now in sky, gripping Twin Dragon Swords in both hands, plummeting down.
Ten thousand eyes, including Blood Ghosts, fixed on him.
The three dukes.
'...Fenrir, even Your Highness couldn't kill.'
Civilians and soldiers.
'Legendary monsters overwhelm human legends...'
And Nel.
'Lord Hyun-soo, I understand, but...'
Nel swallowed regret.
Only a week since parting.
Hyun-soo's power then.
Couldn't even scratch Fenrir.
And this streamed live.
Commentators denied it.
And Fenrir.
Ignored the falling human.
From Fenrir's view, only Barad warranted caution in this kingdom.
Yet even Barad was human.
Named monsters overwhelmingly outclassed legends in attack, defense, total HP.
Instead, amusing.
It would try desperately but fail.
Then.
Hyun-soo, gripping greatsword two-handed, smashed Fenrir's head.
Kwa-haaaaaang—!
That instant.
"......!"
"......!"
All watching gasped in shock.
One strike.
Fenrir's head slammed ground; body twitched spasmodically.
Casual Fenrir yelped like a pup, forgetting its majesty.
"Kkaeng...!"
Brief silence swept the battlefield.