387. Unfinished End of the War
387. Unfinished End of the War
- 1 -
Kwang!!
The moment Rodrick's twin-blade sword and Saya's longsword clashed, space itself burst apart.
Kwareureung —— !!
Lightning and flames danced across the ground that was their stage.
The impact was strong enough to uproot nearby trees and turn boulders to dust.
If they hadn't deliberately kept to the center of the battlefield, that alone would have caused a catastrophe that killed dozens or hundreds.
"Gahk...!"
A groan unconsciously escaped Rodrick's lips as he channeled strength into his blade to push Saya back.
The shock created by Saya's lightning coursed through his entire body.
A powerful force that felt as if his internal organs were being shaken.
'A person with this kind of strength—why would they be in the interior...?'
He swallowed his shock and glared at his opponent before him.
A woman who appeared to be from the Western Continent, calling herself Saya.
She was undeniably a Monarch-grade powerhouse.
And judging by the technique she possessed, a mature superhuman who had trained for at least several years and adapted to her power.
That was why he couldn't understand.
With that level of skill—no, even at Elite-grade—it was only natural to build wealth and honor at the borderlands.
The same applied to knights and state-affiliated ability users, not just ordinary adventurers.
Strength was, after all, power.
Once you held it in your hands, it was a universal key that made everything easier.
'But then why, why was this woman...'
Why was a powerhouse—one strong enough to press relentlessly without yielding even an inch against the continent's top 13, the one called the 'Red-eyed Spirit Mage'—serving a countess of the interior with her head bowed?
Kwareureureung — !!
As if mocking Rodrick's doubts, crimson-gold lightning blooming from Saya's sword tip struck space once more.
It was a relentless wave offensive that gave no time to breathe.
Sharp blades scattered flashes of light as they sliced through the air.
Before one slash even ended, the next followed—a flowing, natural yet swift series of strikes.
Eujik —
As dozens of these stacked up, they became a force that 'tore' space itself.
Kwang! Kwakwakwang!
"Gahk...!"
Rodrick exerted his full power.
Around him, eight colors of mana rose like a rainbow.
He clad his entire body in the strength of steel, wearing it as armor.
He ignited flames at his legs for propulsion, attached wings of wind to his back to tread the void.
The twin blades in his hands were imbued with lightning and cold respectively, while venom rising like a serpent persistently chased his foe.
The powers of earth and water circling his body aided his defense and recovery.
Movement that utilized the four primary attributes of spirits along with the four applied attributes.
This was the source of the power that earned him the name Spirit Lord.
"Is that all you have?! 'Red-eyed Spirit Mage'!"
But it was not enough.
Though he was a universal caster capable of responding to any situation on the battlefield, he could not push back Saya, who was using only the single attribute of lightning.
"Aren't you ashamed of the epithet Spirit Lord!"
Genuine disappointment laced Saya's voice.
Taking it as a provocation, Rodrick gritted his teeth.
'So that's why...!'
From deep within his mind, an uncontrollable craving raised its head.
Though he had become a Monarch-grade superhuman at a young age, he had always felt lacking.
Above him, there were still more than ten mountains he had to climb.
Every adventurer dreamed of the peak.
Strength greater than anyone, wealth and power no one could ignore.
For that, he could do anything.
『Fufufu. So that's why you came to find me. Human child.』
A voice from the past flickered through his mind.
'Yes. Anything.'
As he recalled the owner of that alluring voice, a light paler than his original red hue flickered in Rodrick's eyes.
Similar to Anselm's, but far denser and more intense—a pinkish light.
Saya did not miss that momentary change.
"As I thought."
Saya's voice turned cold.
Kung — !
A sound like something massive colliding rang out.
The source was the longsword and twin-blade sword clashing once more.
Both were thin swords, yet the mana they contained easily ignored weight.
"I had some hope, since we met a little sooner..."
Saya pressed Rodrick back and glared at him.
Her voice held genuine regret.
"You've been corrupted. You too."
"What...?!"
At the words that touched his deepest secret, Rodrick's shoulders flinched as if in a spasm.
"It's a shame. As a warrior, I looked forward to the day I would face you."
In that brief moment of rigidity, Saya exploited the opening.
Her sword vanished from sight.
Chwaak — !
"Gahk!"
The sensation of the world splitting diagonally.
Rodrick instinctively stepped back and clutched his face.
A wet, lukewarm sensation.
Checking his palm, he found blood mixed with gray matter.
His left eye...
'Cut? Me?'
「Master!」
The water spirit screamed and poured its healing authority over his wound.
"Ha...!"
The lightning spirit and fire spirit had stepped forward even without their master's command, buying time against Saya. Watching them, Rodrick suddenly looked down.
The battlefield had grown far too quiet.
The noise of utter chaos had stilled as if it were a lie.
"...! Damn it, already...!"
Rodrick's face hardened as he turned his gaze.
Anselm was kneeling. At Philia Elskopf's feet.
Philia Elskopf had her hand gently resting on his shoulder, whispering something.
『It would be troublesome if he disappeared. I'll help him once. Child.』
A voice flickered through his mind once more.
A reason to end the fight immediately had appeared.
'I don't know... how they learned my secret. But there's no time now...!'
Rodrick glared at Saya, then turned his body with resolve.
"'Jin', 'Ifrit'! Buy time! I'm withdrawing from the battlefield!"
At his call, the two spirits who possessed the most powerful strength among those contracted to him responded.
「Understood, Master.」
「Be careful.」
"You're running away!!"
Leaving Saya's furious cry behind, Rodrick gnashed his teeth and shouted toward his spirit realm.
"'Ashiriel'! 'Sylphid'!"
Four high-rank spirits.
The blood trickling from his mouth was clear proof he was overexerting himself.
But he paid no heed and drew up his mana.
A massive storm of cold, answering his call, began to swirl across the entire area.
- 2 -
At the same time, on the surface.
"The Holy Kingdom forces! We must rescue His Grace!!"
The Rugnisah army commander let out a desperate shout.
'Damn it...!'
But the situation was hopeless.
The cavalry led by Daniel Eskaf moved swiftly and precisely, nibbling away at their formations from the outer edges.
If a gap somehow appeared in their attacks, Harai's adventurers appeared from somewhere and instantly filled it.
'The difference in training is staggering...! Where did they train an army like this!'
They were clearly greater in number.
But the enemy moved as if they were truly one body.
The unit composed of adventurers lacked some cohesion, but that deficiency was filled by each individual's creativity and unpredictable recklessness.
A trigger was needed to overturn this deadlock.
That was when it happened.
Kuuuu —— !!
A low vibration rang out from the sky above.
Immediately after, a blue-white storm descended.
A blade-like wind carrying bitter cold swept across the entire area.
"Gahk...?! All forces, fall back!"
Sensing instinctive danger, Daniel hastily withdrew the cavalry.
"That's..."
His sharp eyes examined the magic.
The storm, as if possessing a will, blew with two points serving as its 'eyes,' as if to protect them.
One was the center of Anselm's Holy Kingdom forces. The other was the Rugnisah army under its commander.
It moved as if protecting them.
"Break through! We have to stop their regrouping!"
"It's impossible, Commander! That's clearly magic of a higher rank! We're outmatched!"
At Harai's urging, the adventurer mage answered despairingly.
"Damn it...!"
Harai gritted his teeth and looked up at the sky.
Centered on the spirit mage emitting an intense red light, two high-rank spirits were projecting their power toward the surface.
A beautiful forest spirit of lush green, and a phoenix form made of ice.
'I can't let the archbishop get away...!'
For him, this was an opportunity to earn merit for the lord he served with his heart.
What he needed to offer to Philia Elskopf—who had given him a new life and given his daughter a new life—was right there, yet he couldn't approach.
"This won't do. Elites, gather! That magic...!"
In that moment when he grew impatient and was about to risk his life to move—
- Don't overdo it. Let them go.
A voice filled with restraint echoed in his mind.
A gentle voice, but one carrying an authority that could not be refused.
He couldn't tell the exact direction, but Harai instinctively looked to one side.
Violet eyes were staring directly at him.
- It's more important that you don't get hurt.
At those words, Harai and Daniel nodded simultaneously.
"All forces, retreat! Secure a safe distance!"
"Cavalry, regroup!"
The orders of both commanders rang out at once, and the allied forces began to retreat in an orderly fashion.
- 3 -
In that way, the blizzard Rodrick had cast served as an excellent veil until the very end.
Using that opening, his spirits and guild members succeeded in extracting the core figures of the Holy Kingdom and Rugnisah.
Physical force like blades on the outside. A maze of air currents created within. Even mana and bodies gradually freezing.
The ice storm summoned by a Monarch-grade spirit caster was certainly powerful magic.
'It's not that I couldn't break through if I wanted...'
But I decided to simply let them go.
There was no reason to reveal here that I, Philia, was a 'Monarch-grade mage.'
And I had already obtained everything I wanted.
"Bind those who remain."
"Yes!!"
My army's vigorous response rang out across the battlefield.
"Ugh, uugh..."
"Spare me, spare me..."
Regular soldiers and knights who couldn't move, their bodies trembling, were scattered across the field.
The ice storm magic Rodrick had cast had a limited range.
Whether from the Holy Kingdom or Rugnisah, not all forces could be extracted.
"I apologize, Master. I let Rodrick get away."
Saya approached and bowed her head.
Ppajik!
Sparks of crimson-gold lightning leaped from her hair.
She had just extinguished the fire spirit and lightning spirit with a single slash imbued with full power.
"It's alright. I let him go on purpose."
I gently consoled her.
On other fronts, I had already captured all four archbishops except Anselm.
Using them alone was enough to dismantle the Holy Kingdom's justification.
Even so, the reason I had tried to capture Anselm and then let him go was to make him and those behind him grow impatient.
Impatience breeds mistakes, after all.
Not every being in the Holy Kingdom had been consumed by Astaroth.
With Anselm's faction having lost power, it was obvious that the opposing faction would now gain strength.
'The Holy Kingdom will tear itself apart.'
When that happened, Anselm would lose his power.
And this continent's sole religion would lose a considerable portion of its influence over the surface.
'If I release the old beings said to be there, it might get a bit troublesome...'
But there were preparations for that scenario as well.
I had already planted several devices around Anselm and his circle.
So what I was truly concerned about was... a matter of another dimension.
'Goddess.'
I raised my head and looked up at the sky.
The being said to dwell in the heavens. The place where the absolute one of this world was believed to exist.
"What will you do now?"
Soon, her most cherished followers would be publicly declared 'the Fallen.'
Their sins would be exposed to the world, and perhaps they would undergo the official 'excommunication' process by the Holy Kingdom.
But if, even after that, you still did not move...
'The surface will completely become mine.'
I quietly clenched my small fist.
What I held in that hand was, without exaggeration, the greatest power on this surface right now.