Becoming the Revered One: A New Beginning (3)
A blue wave blanketed the horizon. Every bit of it was blue slimes.
I calculated it all at a glance. The rate of erosion on the walls. The density of the slimes. The remaining forces in the territory. We could hold out for maybe tens of minutes at best. If we didn't end it by then, the walls would collapse completely.
And atop the highest point of those walls stood a red-haired woman. Yuris of the famed Garding family berserkers. She was very far away, but I used magic to observe her first and foremost. Fortunately, that look in her eyes hadn't died yet. Eyes that swallowed despair and forced themselves to endure. Pure berserker blood.
If I polished her properly and forged an alliance, she'd be an enormous asset down the line. But first things first. If those walls fell, all my calculations would be meaningless.
To halt the slime advance, I immediately put my skills to work. The ground rumbled low. Pure white bones pushed through the soil and rose. Ribcages interlocked, and dark flames ignited in empty skulls. The summoning of the Skeleton Legion unfolded behind me. They weren't armed like humans, but their bony forms were the epitome of terror.
Thousands of skeletons. A true army of bones. Yet the slimes' numbers were no joke either.
Luckily, I know how to take down slimes... The problem is, I have to nail it on the first try.
At the appearance of me and my Skeleton Legion, some of the slimes started crawling toward me as their target. An endless blue tide surged forward. This wasn't just a simple horde. It was a collective mass, absorbing each other to grow larger. Mess it up, and the walls would crumble before I even found the core.
No time. I issued immediate orders to the skeletons.
"Advance!"
It wouldn't reach Yuris, but I shouted loudly on purpose. I'd calculated the mana spent on summoning and amplified my voice with magic to carry it far. At the same time, the army of bones charged.
Skeletons summoned right in front of the slimes. Soon, the white wave clashed with the blue.
But contrary to my shout, there was no dramatic scene.
Squelch! Splorch! Crunch!
Just as I'd predicted. The skeletons were crushed, pulverized, and swallowed whole. Bones crumbled within the blue mucus. From the walls, it must have looked like I was wasting my forces. They'd think I was some mad Necromancer who knew nothing of strategy.
But this was all calculated—a deliberate tactic. Slimes absorb skeletons. And to digest the bones, they'll transport them toward the slime core. Once enough bones gather there, that's when I'll strike.
Eat more.
I deliberately fed them. No maintaining formation. No defense. Just attack. Attack again. And get devoured. It felt like tossing bones into the maw of some massive beast.
The slime density was rising. The absorption rate sped up. The core was nearing saturation. They were swallowing even more than I'd calculated.
At this rate, the blast radius will be bigger than expected?
Not good news. If it got out of my control, it could engulf the walls too.
The walls. I glanced up briefly. Over half-eroded by slime secretions already. Blue mucus wrapped the stone, seeping into cracks. At least I'd bought them time here to retreat their forces.
If pushed to the brink, Yuris—that red-haired berserker—would draw her sword and fight. She'd retreat eventually, but lose an arm in the process. Her swordsmanship specialized in two-handed blades. That's why I wanted to save her intact.
"Hold on just a bit longer."
I muttered to myself. She didn't know yet. How much potential she held. That berserker blood. The will that refused to flee even in despair. If I saved this territory today, she'd owe me. And I'd turn that debt into a bond.
A berserker. Yuris, the youngest daughter of the Garding family. If she became mine, I could leave the territory to handle various tasks. But that hope only mattered if I dealt with these slimes now.
Come on. Time to end this.
Part of the slime horde turned toward me. Good. After absorbing skeletons, instinct drove it to devour me—their source.
I dumped a potion into my mouth. Compressed my remaining dark mana. My gaze locked on the presumed slime core location.
Shattered bone fragments floated in the mucus. Like a whirlpool, they gathered and piled toward the core. I sensed its position as my mana slightly recovered.
Squish— Squish— Squish—
The slime core writhed, absorbing skeleton shards. Finally, the moment I'd waited for arrived.
I positioned some skeletons in front of me. An airtight barrier and shield formed. Now.
I unleashed all my gathered mana. The spell detonated the summoned skeletons. Every one except those shielding me—including the already broken fragments.
"You're all piled up in there!"
KABOOOOOM—!!!
Light erupted inside the slime. Especially the fragments clustered near the core—they exploded simultaneously. The blue mass tore apart from within. Mucus backflowed, cracks spread. A deafening roar split the sky. Air and slime shards burst outward in a shockwave.
The slime wave shattered. The massive blob detonated, sending large and small fragments flying far. The skeletons blocking me shattered or cracked. Bigger impact than I'd thought. Without them, I might've died.
But I survived, so whatever. The important thing was the result.
Did I destroy the slime core? As doubt crept in, my mana hit zero. I chugged another potion and scanned around.
The blue slimes that had flattened the horizon froze. The surging blue waves lost power and collapsed. Lifeless mucus soaked the earth. Plopping sounds as it piled up anew. The vital walls had barely withstood the assault. The forces atop them—and most importantly, Yuris—were safe.
Looking around, I spotted a mangled slime core nearby. Exposed and in tatters—it was definitely dead. Poking it with remaining skeletons got no reaction. Soon, the slime secretions began melting away on their own. Like snow under spring sun. Slowly at first, then rapidly, the traces vanished.
"Woooooooh!"
Then, a massive cheer from the walls. Everyone realized they'd won, that the walls were saved—they roared in joy.
We won. Feeling it sink in, I slowly exhaled. Perfect calculation. Perfect victory.
And. Yuris gazing down at me from the walls. Fear and awe, mixed with unyielding fighting spirit.
I raised my right hand toward the forces and Yuris.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
"It's Maker! Maker!"
"Ooh... The savior we've only heard rumors about!"
"The savior saved us!"
The cheers intensified. Amid them, some who knew my name started chanting it. A pointless swell of pride. Today's victory wasn't mere salvation. It was a stepping stone for my future. This was how I expanded my influence—through righteous action.
Then exhaustion hit suddenly. A symptom of rapid mana depletion.
* * *
Yuris still couldn't believe it. The blue waves that had been devouring the walls moments ago were gone. But there was something even more astonishing.
"No fatalities, miss..."
Her right-hand woman, who'd joined the evacuating civilians on Yuris's orders but returned at the explosion sound. She'd assessed the situation and reported swiftly.
"Serious injuries, but no life-threatening ones! The evacuated civilians are returning too."
Her chest heaved. A miracle, plain and simple. That slime horde's scale. Walls over half-eroded, forces exhausted. A little later, and there'd have been dozens, hundreds dead.
Yet not a single soul lost.
Yuris's gaze slowly turned to the plains. A Necromancer. Dark mage who commanded the dead. Ironically, the one who'd saved this territory and all its lives today.
He was walking toward the walls. The Skeleton Legion had vanished without a trace, as if they'd never existed.
Soldiers stepped forward to guide and clear a path. Eyes filled with fear and reverence as a bonus. Yuris descended to the gate herself. As lord, it was proper to greet the miracle-worker personally.
Up close, he was younger than expected. But worn with fatigue.
She bowed politely.
"I am Yuris of the Garding family, lord of this territory. I will never forget today's grace."
She caught her breath, speaking deliberately.
"It's thanks to the walls, the forces, and you holding out so well. I just acted on the desperate support letter you sent. Reward the messenger who brought it."
Maker's calm reply deflected the credit. Something in Yuris's chest stirred oddly at his humility.
A hasty feast hall was prepared. Nothing lavish post-battle. They dragged out an unbroken long table, brought the best remaining food. Warm soup, baked bread, a bit of wine. Modest, but sincere.
Yuris escorted him personally.
"Forgive the suddenness and our meager means, but we've done our best to show our gratitude."
She was straightforward. Garding folk didn't posture.
Maker nodded, seemingly pleased. Yuris looked at him again. A powerful mage. A righteous man. Who wielded dark power to save lives. In today's battle, he hadn't let magic backlash reach inside the walls. Even controlled the explosion's aftershocks. Despite his own peril, in his most dangerous moment.
A true protector of lives. If Maker stayed in this territory? It would grow stronger. The people safer. She might even dream of grander battlefields.
The thought made her heart quicken a bit. But.
Maker's hand trembled faintly as he sat. Shallow breaths, face even paler.
Yuris's eyes sharpened.
"Severe mana depletion?"
"I'm fine."
Short answer. But he wasn't. He looked ready to slip from the chair any second.
"Cancel the feast."
Her decision was swift. Murmurs rippled around.
"The guest comes first. He needs rest now."
She was firm. A feast required a hale, happy recipient.
She led him straight to the infirmary. The cleanest room, maintained even in war. Unbroken windows, tidy bed. Yuris supported his body herself. Lighter than expected. A mage's frame, unlike a warrior's.
As she laid him down, she spoke low.
"Today, you saved me and our precious lives. The forces and the people."
She paused, choosing words, then added with utter sincerity.
"Thank you. If there's anything you desire, name it. On the Garding name, I'll repay you to the best of my ability."
A pledge of honor. Maker, eyes half-lidded, stared at the ceiling before slowly turning his gaze. Fatigue-clouded eyes, but a sharp light lingered within.
"In that case..."
He spoke. As words formed, the room's air grew tense. Yuris's heart pounded. Whatever he demanded, she was ready to accept.
Maker slowly raised his right hand. Pointed straight at Yuris—then passed out.
Her eyes widened at the sight. She pondered his gesture.
He definitely pointed at me, right? Me... Me... Ah... Aah...! Does he want me?
So thought Yuris. In an instant, her face flushed a shade matching her red hair.