The Million-Strong Army (2)
Asura Kabel.
He had been darting back and forth between Atlas and Hell lately, making waves.
To ensure the followers of the previous Asura would pledge loyalty to him, he was busy toppling one powerhouse after another.
Puuk!
Kabel furrowed his brow after felling yet another strong foe.
Vassal Lukio has left Hyun's Forge.
Kabel was one of the key figures who had sealed Gremory alongside Lukio, back when the latter was a lesser demon.
He also knew that Lukio had gone with him to Atlas, and just recently, Hyun-soo had asked him to dig up any info on "Lukio."
Right after crushing that powerhouse, he'd been about to start hunting for leads on Lukio.
That's when he received a whisper from Hyun-soo.
Of course he did.
Once he finished explaining, a reply came from Hyun-soo.
"???"
Kabel was baffled.
Hyun-soo rarely used such aggressive language.
Soon enough, he heard the full story.
'...This is bad.'
From what he gathered, the Blood King had deeply insulted Hyun-soo.
And yeah, it was true that even Hyun-soo was visibly furious, struggling to keep his cool.
But the "bad" Kabel meant wasn't that.
'Hyun-soo is a rational guy.'
Which meant he only picked fights he knew he could win. He'd reached that conclusion himself.
The real problem in Kabel's mind?
'Enya Kingdom's the one in deep shit.'
Even Kabel, the info broker, had no clue.
Just how massive a force did Hyun-soo assemble when he called his "friends"?
How many powerhouses could he muster?
And his answer to Hyun-soo's question.
Kabel let out a sigh and cracked a wry smile. This was why he liked Hyun-soo.
Hyun-soo's reply was straightforward.
Ending the whisper, Kabel began his preparations.
By toppling these powerhouses, he was converting the old Asura's forces into his own.
[Hell Warrior Lv.389]
[Hell Knight Lv.443]
Five thousand hellish troops had gathered before them. As Kabel crossed through the Hell Gate, he thought:
'I'm probably bringing the smallest force?'
He looked forward to seeing just how many troops would assemble.
Meanwhile.
In the capital of Goyad Kingdom.
Sword King Barad, the marquises, and Sword Sage Laisen surveyed the reconstruction efforts underway.
Every time Barad passed by, the people called his name and bowed deeply.
After the fall of Goyad, the bond between the king, nobles, and commoners had grown unbreakable.
It shouldn't have turned out that way.
The people should have blamed the incompetent old king and hailed the new one, Hyun-soo.
But Hyun-soo had made it clear: this is our land.
And since then, he'd been quietly focusing on building up his own territory.
Barad and the three nobles had picked up on his intentions.
"...Looks like Hyun-soo's aiming to carve out his own independent nation."
Mysterious smiles played on the marquises' lips.
Sword Sage Laisen nodded in agreement.
"...It's for Your Highness's sake."
"You've taken a liking to Hyun-soo now, too?"
"Heh heh, isn't it all thanks to him?"
Sword Sage Laisen gazed at the capital slowly being restored.
Without Hyun-soo, it would have fallen, drowned in blood.
And if Hyun-soo hadn't wanted his own nation?
"I'm sick and tired of wars and rebellions."
Sword Sage Laisen knew internal revolts and conflicts would have erupted nonstop.
Yes, Goyad's current peace existed solely because of Hyun-soo's consideration.
'Hyun-soo.'
Barad wore a faint smile.
The miracles his dear friend was creating.
And he looked forward to the ones yet to come.
Then.
Beeeep!
A single hawk arrived at high speed.
'A hawk?'
Unlike pigeons, hawks signaled emergencies. Barad read the missive, and his face hardened.
"What is it, Your Highness?"
Barad explained the situation.
The nobles and Sword Sage Laisen erupted in massive fury.
Was it because Hyun-soo had suffered such humiliation?
Of course, that was part of it.
But this came with ironclad justification.
This wasn't mere aid or a favor between friends.
Sword Sage Laisen narrowed his eyes.
"Your Highness, how can a king from another continent—another nation—invade without permission?"
Yes, wars between kingdoms required pretext.
Even the Parion Empire had fabricated one when none existed—it was that crucial.
Of course, Goyad wasn't mighty enough to pick fights lightly.
But.
"I've heard of the Blood King. He's a king in name only."
The Blood King's realm was an anomaly.
It traded with no one.
Even if it had once been a true kingdom, who could call it one now?
Yes—a "kingdom" in name, but not in reality.
So Goyad could handle the Blood King if it willed it.
Barad knew this, too.
But he also judged this wasn't worth his personal involvement.
Yet Hyun-soo might one day lead this nation.
Sword Sage Laisen knelt and pleaded.
"Your Highness, how can I sit idle while our nation's hero endures such shame? Grant me troops. I will march."
The old warrior's wish: to live for Hyun-soo someday.
"Permission granted."
Under his command, Goyad's massive army set out.
Meanwhile.
Heavenly Spear Ben beheld the small world tree, now even grander and more majestic.
This tree, which had nearly incinerated Praam Kingdom's castles, now bore fruit to feed the masses.
"The people's loyalty to Your Highness is overwhelming."
"The ten thousand subjects rejoice in Praam because of him."
"They say it's a land free of hunger, the word spreading across the world."
Ben had grown more sentimental lately.
A hunger-free nation.
No matter the kingdom, the starving always overflowed behind the glamour.
Countless died agonizing deaths from starvation.
But not Praam.
Ben thought of Hyun-soo.
'Must be busy these days.'
Ben had heard the recent tales.
He'd wanted to rush to save Goyad, too.
But the Parion Empire had warned him directly: any troop movements would face harsh retaliation.
Then the missive arrived.
Ben took it and read.
But there was a snag.
'Hyun-soo.'
Even as a friend, he couldn't intervene recklessly.
That was why kings like Ben and Barad held their thrones.
Help once, twice, thrice—and it stops being his strength.
About to reply "Impossible," Ben paused.
"...Heh heh, now that's a different story."
Ben eyed the small world tree.
"What made you this pissed?"
He double-checked the missive's end.
I know a way to obtain a true world tree. If I secure it, I'll gift one to you as well, Your Highness Ben.
With just the small one, Praam had become prosperous.
A true world tree? That was the trigger.
Yes.
Hyun-soo was extending a bargaining hand via the true world tree—and it was his power, not Ben's.
Ben himself burned with desire for a real one.
"Assemble the troops."
"...Understood. But who shall be appointed commander?"
Ben also felt this didn't require his direct action.
So he recalled his disciple, reborn through Hyun-soo to see the world anew.
The Heavenly successor, Prak.
Prak and the grand army began their march.
***
Enya Kingdom.
Once the most splendid and beautiful of realms, no longer.
The untended walls teetered on collapse, spiderwebs draping everywhere.
It looked like something out of an undead kingdom.
Yet no other kingdom or empire eyed Enya.
First: no one knew its exact location.
Second: nothing worth taking.
Third: the Blood King was undeniably powerful.
To be precise, neighbors left Enya alone since it caused no harm—and poking it might cause trouble.
Not fear of the "shit," but avoidance of the mess.
Even Enya had knights guarding it.
Kuuuung!
The audience chamber doors shut.
Lukio and the Blood King had entered to reminisce.
At that moment, Knight Commander Sun patrolled the night walls with his knights.
"Who even knows how many years of nights it's been."
Sun had lived a long time.
All thanks to the Blood King.
By accepting his power, a mere royal knight commander had gained strength to rival legends.
The other knights were the same.
Knight levels in the 460s—formidable might.
Suddenly, a smirk crossed Sun's lips.
"That fucking moron bastard."
He recalled the petty lord cowering in fear.
"A mere count thinking he could harbor Sir Lukio."
The other knights and soldiers jeered at the lord, calling him pathetic.
Then, from the darkness, an unidentified lantern flickered to life.
Hwaaaak!
"...?"
The lone light in the gloom felt blindingly bright.
A familiar face emerged behind it.
"...That guy from before?"
Commander Sun chuckled.
Clearly, the fool who thought himself strong couldn't stomach the humiliation of defeat and submission.
Hyun-soo spoke.
"Open the gates."
Sun burst out laughing, clutching his belly.
"Pfft—kuhahaha!"
Mocking laughter from the wall's soldiers and knights echoed into the sky.
"Uhahaha!"
"What the hell's this idiot babbling?"
"He's lost it!"
"Hey, you noble fuck, this is a kingdom. Not some territory. Don't you get it? A guy who can barely muster a thousand troops!"
The wall defenders alone numbered fifty thousand.
"What're you gonna do solo? Scram if you don't wanna end up a pincushion. We're holding back for Sir Lukio's sake."
Shwaaaak!
At Sun's glance, fifty thousand knights and soldiers nocked arrows, threatening him. One fired.
Puuuk!
"Whoops, slipped?"
The arrow lodged before Hyun-soo.
A mocking "get lost." Then the man said something odd.
"...You attacked first."
Sun tilted his head.
From the darkness, an old man's voice rang out.
"...Count Hyun-soo has been attacked. Prepare full army assault."
One lantern ignited, revealing Sword Sage Laisen.
Starting with him, lanterns blazed endlessly.
Dung!
Dung!
Dung!
Dung!
"...."
Sun took a step back.
'200,000? No, 500,000? No—one million...!?'
A countless host lighting lanterns—an uncountable grand army.
And that army marched straight for Enya Kingdom.