Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Shadows of Betrayal
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“Report!! The Dark Zone's density has thinned!!”
Keldian nodded at the scout's shout.
“Looks like Sir Charlo pulled it off. Send the signal to the entire army right now.”
Roooar―――!!!
A massive trumpet blast echoed as a pillar of pure white light shot into the sky.
It was the signal to advance.
“Royal Guard!! Follow me!!!”
Keldian didn't hesitate, leading his forces straight into the Dark Zone.
Raaaaah―――!!
Raaaaah―――!!
Cheers erupted from the Lion King Order and Blue Knight Order as they spotted the signal.
Knights poured in from all three directions, sweeping away the remaining barbarians in the Dark Zone and beginning to dispel the darkness.
“Lion King Order, listen up!! Shine your holy relics!!”
At Vice Captain Rohan's command, the holy knights wrapped the pendants from around their necks around their swords.
Voooong……!!
Sssshhhh……!!
The light pouring from their swords touched the Dark Zone's shadows, evaporating them in wisps of black smoke.
“There it is!!!”
The black dragon's form emerged through the rapidly thinning darkness, thanks to the holy knights' power.
“Fire the signal flare!!”
Pheeeeeew―――!!!
A projectile soared into the sky, exploding in a burst of light that signaled the Magic Cannon Corps.
“Load the magic cannon!!!”
Captain Victor, who had been watching the battlefield intently, raised his hand the instant he saw the flare.
Clank―!!
Vvvvvrrrr……!!
Energy condensed rapidly inside the magic cannon's barrel, charged to its limit.
“Fire!!!!!”
The moment the black dragon's head came into view, Victor dropped his hand.
Kabooooom――――!!!!!
The beam from the magic cannon hurtled toward the black dragon at blinding speed.
As the battle kicked off, the community boards lit up again.
A large-scale fight like nothing before.
After the raid party's wipe, the black dragon had become a symbol of terror for players, but rumors of knight orders from various nations—not to mention the Holy See's sacred relics activating—drew eyes back in droves.
The reactions were ice-cold.
And one person was checking those community posts in real time.
Im Hee-jung.
“……Done.”
The system alert chimed, and she hurriedly loaded the file.
Gulp.
Tornbach's battle—unseen by anyone yet.
“Even if they rush reinforcements late, the Dark Zone's messed up the portals. The small ones are overloaded just moving the knights……”
By the time anyone arrived, the battle would likely be over.
“Meaning this is the only footage of the Tornbach War.”
She smacked her lips with a sly grin.
“Can't wait to see the views.”
Click.
She tapped the video file in the system window, and a hologram bloomed before her.
[Kaboom―!! Kaboosh――――!!]
The footage showed fierce clashes raging on.
A colossal black dragon surrounded by knight orders.
Her brother Alteon was in there too.
“Heh…… Looks kinda fresh from this angle?”
Im Hee-jung chuckled at her little bro's desperate struggle.
“The knights are pushing the black dragon back. At this rate…… might end easier than expected?”
She figured she'd better edit it quick.
“……Huh?”
But the smile faded fast.
Her face hardened as she watched.
“W-Wait……? What's this?”
Her eyes widened at the hologram's unfolding scene.
[A magic cannon…… I didn't know the ancient dwarven tech was still passed down.]
“Guh…… Ack……”
[But it's not what it used to be. If it were truly dwarven, it might've blown my head clean off.]
“E-Everyone, fall back…… Gahk!!!”
The black dragon's massive claw crushed Victor flat.
[You'll pay for taking one of my wings.]
Bensina folded its broken wing and slowly inhaled.
“Evade!!!!”
The Naga mercenaries guarding the magic cannon corps scattered at the sight of heat gathering in the dragon's maw.
“Damn it! You mercenary bastards……!!”
“Protect the magic cannon at all costs!!!”
“……Shields!!!”
Even without their captain, the magic cannon corps moved like clockwork.
Clack―! Clack――!!
A barricade rose swiftly before the cannon.
“Deploy shields!!!”
A bluish aura enveloped the barricade.
“You idiots……!! That won't hold it!! Run now!!!”
Tachip bellowed at full volume, but not a single corpsman broke ranks.
Kabooooom―――!!
The dragon's breath hit the barricade, melting the shieldbearers in seconds.
“Gaaaah!!”
“S-Save me……!!!”
Screams rang out.
The fleeing mercenaries shook their heads at the burning cannon.
“Pathetic. Honor doesn't pay the bills.”
Captain Tachip clicked his tongue.
“……What now?”
“What do you mean? We run!! The knights got massacred—what can we do?!”
“B-But……”
“What? You chasing glory too? Then march into that corpse pile!!”
“No sir!!”
At Tachip's roar, the mercenaries bolted from the battlefield.
Just moments ago, the knight orders had the upper hand.
Now over half were gone, the survivors mostly wounded.
[…….]
Bensina stomped the smoldering cannon and gazed down the hill.
The weakened Dark Zone belched thick shadows again, and the surviving wounded stared in dazed despair, morale shattered.
“What…… the hell happened?”
Alteon clutched his ringing head, shaking it.
His body felt drained of strength.
Like pent-up fatigue slamming him all at once.
‘The magic cannon downed the black dragon fine…….’
The trouble started after.
All three knight orders pressed the black dragon, which faltered with its injured wing.
‘We definitely had momentum.’
Then the [Stake of the Immortal] effect vanished abruptly.
Sharro died suddenly.
The balance broke; the dragon snatched Keldian's life in a flash.
The leaderless knights fought valiantly but fell short.
The line crumbled, and with the Lion King Order as the pivot, the assault collapsed entirely.
“Get back, Your Grace! We'll…… hold them somehow.”
Alteon looked up at the voice.
Zion Müllenga, the sole surviving commander, yelled through his battered face.
His Blue Knights had lost half too.
Yet he rallied his men, resisting desperately.
“Uncle!!”
“Karlan……? Why are you here……?”
“Got swept up in it. I'm the shocked one—you leading the Blue Knights?”
“Fell into it myself.”
Zion gave a wry smile, ruffling Karlan's hair lightly.
“But why're you barehanded?”
“Ah…… Sorry. Lost it fighting barbarians.”
“……Right?”
Zion's gaze turned icy for a split second.
“Could happen. Don't sweat it. You're alive—that's what matters.”
No one noticed his eyes.
“Karlan, escort His Grace and fall back. This isn't your place.”
“No!! I…… need to find the Stake of the Immortal.”
Alteon shouted urgently.
Couldn't lose the Holy See's relic after Sharro.
“You wanna charge in there now? Suicide! The dragon that smashed the cannon's coming back here soon.”
“But……”
Alteon bit his lip, speechless under Zion's rebuke.
“Can't go back to the Holy See like this……”
His face twisted in panic.
Zion gripped his shoulders warmly, urging him on.
“We can hunt the dragon first, then retrieve the relic. It'll still be there—our survivors know honor.”
His voice carried strange power.
“……Understood.”
Alteon answered heavily.
‘This is insane…… How do I report this…….’
“Your Grace, retreat now. Losing you too after our Glory Knight? Can't face the Pope.”
“B-But……”
“Blue Knights! You three, escort His Grace to the portal. Clear?”
At Zion's order, Blue Knights hoisted the fallen Alteon.
“This way.”
“W-Wait……!!”
No time to argue; his commands flowed seamlessly.
Soon Alteon was atop a horse, Blue Knights at his side.
“Survivors, hear me……!! Reinforcements are coming……!! Don't give up!!”
Like magic, his not-so-loud voice boomed across the field.
‘Rumors wrong? Thought Müllenga's weakest…….’
‘Not just some rich kid after all.’
The knights reignited their final resolve at his call.
“All forces……!! Stand and fight!!!”
The three orders began regrouping under his lead.
“……”
Woojin watched them coldly.
Zion Müllenga.
Appeared right after the Stake vanished and two commanders died.
Coincidence?
“You're the outsider who fought the black dragon.”
“Yes.”
“Help us? As you see, we're desperately short-handed.”
“Sure.”
Zion extended a hand to Woojin.
“Call me Zion casually. I'd love to befriend someone who held the dragon three days.”
Polite guy.
No noble airs.
Maybe why no one suspected.
“Alright.”
Woojin clasped his hand.
“Casual it is…… Mind if I ask something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Stake of the Immortal.”
Woojin's voice turned frigid.
“You pull it?”
Three knight orders and magic cannon corps.
Over 800 total.
More than half gone.
For one man's greed.
“Me? No way.”
Zion's face twisted oddly.
“……Got it.”
Woojin clapped his shoulder and walked past.
[Grrrrrr…….]
The black dragon's roar echoed.
Not yet.
He bottled his rising fury.
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