Chapter 246: Escalation
Chapter 246: Escalation
Six hours had passed since the start of the battle.
…By the standards of the Magic Kingdom’s time, at least.
There were still about two hours—eighty minutes—left until sunset, but there was no sign of the fighting coming to an end.
It wasn't that the battle was dragging; rather, the combat was continuing relentlessly.
The problem was simply that Ronia’s defensive line was far more formidable than anyone had imagined.
“…Lieutenant General Par’s charge earlier failed to break the barrier in the end, didn't it?”
“Yes. It seems they are adjusting the magic formulas specifically to counter them.”
Tsk.
At this rate, it really was going to turn into a war of attrition.
Even Brigadier General Un-ho’s specialty, guerrilla warfare, was being countered more quickly now. He said that even he couldn't find a way to break through anymore.
To be precise, he said he could break through if he went alone, but it would be difficult under the condition of staying with me.
Should I be satisfied with having balanced The Scales between the two factions to some extent?
Al’shel had neutralized one of Par’s wave-attack squads in the rear by firing his signature black beams.
Un-ho and I had managed to pick off about ten enemies from each camp by luring them out one by one and disposing of them.
On top of that, with the Par and Ronia factions clashing directly, perhaps another twenty to thirty had been eliminated from each side.
I didn't know the exact numbers.
But there were likely forty to fifty left on each side now.
In terms of pure numbers, half of both forces had been consumed, but…
“Through all that, not a single one of Par’s six adjutants has been caught.”
“Yes. Their individual skills are impressive, but their coordination is truly exceptional.”
I had to agree.
Whenever Ronia’s defensive line created a situation where one of them was about to fall, the other five would immediately swarm the area, pull their half-incapacitated comrade out of the fray, and retreat.
And Lieutenant General Par would go on a rampage to cover their rear, ensuring everyone escaped safely. It was a display of perfect teamwork.
“…What should we do? If we don't deal with at least one of them, it will be difficult for us to claim victory.”
“Wouldn't that make things too favorable for Ronia’s side?”
“No individual as strong as them has been observed on Ronia’s side yet. It’s suspicious that Ronia himself still hasn't shown his face, but in my personal opinion, those seven will be the greater threat once this battle enters its final stages.”
So the plan was to cut down those seven now that we had reached the halfway point.
Hmm.
I had already made up my mind to some extent, but I asked just to be sure.
“Un-ho. What do you think?”
I tossed the question to the ferret who had now become a full-fledged comrade.
“I think it’s better to deal with them now, too~. I don’t think surprise attacks are going to work on those guys anymore anyway…”
Perhaps it was the shock of failing to take down even one of them during the earlier raid on Ronia’s camp; Un-ho, covered in dirt from rolling around, replied in a dejected voice.
Two out of the three of us believed that even if we took some losses, it was better to cut down Par’s adjutants now.
I suppose that just left my opinion.
“Right. We can’t keep playing around with the weaklings forever.”
Thump.
I slammed my summoned hammer into the ground and gripped it with a smirk.
“Half the forces are gone. It’s about time a Strong One dropped out.”
With that, it was unanimous.
*
Having decided on our strategy, we abandoned our guerrilla tactics, steeled our nerves, and waited for the next wave of attacks.
Perhaps one of us would be neutralized in this coming clash.
Numerically speaking, we were intervening in a battle of seven-plus-alpha against fifty.
But anyone seeing it firsthand would find it hard to believe that this was a battle between forces of less than a hundred.
The front line was barely dozens of meters long, yet the sheer volume of bombardment, magic, and combat intensity was equivalent to an entire legion at war.
When this battle first began, Captain Ronia had set up camp on a hill slightly higher than the surrounding area.
Now, a long cliff had formed in front of that position, and the surrounding area had long since been leveled into a plain.
All because of the countless bombardments, spells, and the touch of Lieutenant General Par.
As I recalled that scene, my concentration wavered for a moment.
“Let’s double-check one more time.”
“As many times as you like.”
“Is there something you want to change~?”
No, it wasn't about changing anything. It was just that, no matter how much I thought about it, it was hard to believe…
“I’ll mark Lieutenant General Par one-on-one.”
“Yes.”
“And Un-ho and Al’shel, you two will handle Ronia’s faction and the six adjutants…”
“That’s right~.”
Thinking about it now, I had doubts about whether that objective was even possible.
“Are you two confident you won't get caught in the crossfire when Par and I clash?”
That was the problem.
Since Lieutenant General Par was from the Magic Kingdom, I expected them to be proficient in magic, and indeed, they had mostly used magic when we met.
However, the combat ability Par displayed here was entirely different from conventional magic.
Though they were on the larger side for a denizen of the Magic Kingdom, the sheer physical force they exerted from a body smaller than mine was absurd.
Of course, unlike me, it didn't seem to be strength derived from pure muscle. They would form Magic Circles on their hands and feet to fire shockwaves or generate blue Mana Claws larger than their own body on their arms.
Regardless, his fighting style was closer to that of a Martial Artist than a mage.
Seeing such a being reshape the terrain with raw strength and tear through magic barriers was a bizarre sight.
I finally understood why people looked at me so strangely.
Even I felt it was weird to see a small being overturning the earth and engaging in a contest of strength; surely others felt the same when they looked at me.
Such a bizarre existence.
And what made it even more problematic was the fact that the Crimson Twisted Flesh Arm, which appeared when Par was extremely agitated, hadn't even shown up yet.
They were already changing the landscape as it was; I couldn't even guess what would happen once that thing came out.
That was why I asked again, worried they would get caught in the fallout.
“We will handle that on our own. Please, Lee Ha-ram, just make sure you keep Lieutenant General Par occupied.”
“It’s not like this is our first time working with you, Ha-ram~! If things get really serious, we’ll move the others so there are no casualties, so don’t worry!”
My two comrades gave me a lively response, telling me not to worry and that they would handle it.
“…I’ll leave it to you, then.”
I steeled my heart once more.
To clear my mind for the first time in a while, I sat cross-legged in meditation.
*
As the sun began to sink below the horizon, bleeding an orange glow across the sky, Lieutenant General Par, their six adjutants, and about a dozen soldiers charged across the battlefield, reflecting the sunset.
“Tsk. I was hoping there wouldn't be any soldiers.”
Are they planning one final all-out assault before night falls? Of all the times to come, they had to pick the exact moment we were planning to ambush them.
“What should we do? Should we postpone this and aim for the next wave?”
It didn't matter to me since I only had to fight Par, but the burden of those soldiers would fall on Al’shel and Un-ho.
Therefore, this wasn't my choice to make.
“Hmm…”
“Mmm-hmm…”
Understanding this, Al’shel and Un-ho observed The Enemy for a moment, letting out strange groans.
“Let’s proceed. There’s no guarantee The Enemy numbers will be lower in the next attack.”
“Yeah. I think the same~. The more chaotic the battlefield, the better it is for me, so I think this is fine~.”
Then it was decided.
I shouldered my hammer and regulated the mana within me.
All for the sake of the coming battle against a strong opponent.
“I’ll leave the timing of the charge to you.”
“Yes, I will let you know the exact moment.”
Al’shel also began to refine the mana throughout his body.
In addition, he started scattering a strange fog around us.
…I’d never seen this phenomenon before. What was it?
I had a brief moment of doubt, but there was no time to discuss it. I took a stance, ready to sprint forward.
Un-ho, the last one left, hopped onto a shoulder.
Not mine, but Al’shel’s.
“Ready?”
“No problems here.”
“Ready to go~.”
Final check.
About ten seconds later.
The force led by Lieutenant General Par reached the barrier of Ronia’s faction.
“Let’s go.”
With that, Al’shel gave the signal to start.
‘Already?’
‘He hasn't even touched the barrier yet?’
Those thoughts flashed through my mind.
But they were thoughts that came after I had already lunged forward in response to Al’shel’s signal.
Right now, I was a soldier carrying out an operation.
Even if I had personal doubts, I had to follow the words of my strategist, Al’shel.
So, I pushed aside the doubt that had just surfaced.
I immediately locked my gaze onto a single being.
A general who stood at the very front.
A fairy who was currently tearing at the barrier with blue Mana Claws sprouted from both arms.
I ceased all perception of everything else around me.
Even if there were attacks flying toward me, I trusted that Al’shel and Un-ho would block them.
I simply kicked off the ground toward the being in front of me.
Boom!
Something landed right next to me.
I didn't react.
Shouts and voices reached my ears.
I kept moving forward.
Nothing could stop me; no one could hold me back.
To fulfill the duty and mission entrusted to me, I kept my eyes fixed on The Enemy.
Did he sense it?
Snap.
Accompanied by a high-frequency sound, shards of blue light scattered into the sky.
The moment I realized those were the fragments of the barrier protecting Ronia’s forces, the being who had destroyed it turned his head toward me.
“Lee Ha-ram.”
In a voice like twisted, rusted static.
Looking at me with eyes that were infinitely hollow, pitch black, and swirling.
“Yeah, it’s Lee Ha-ram. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
I replied to the voice that called my name and leaped into the air to drag the hovering Par down to the ground.
“…Not. Now. Block him.”
Par immediately turned their body away.
In response.
“Stop right there!”
Six figures interposed themselves between me and Par.
Lieutenant General Par’s six adjutants.
The ones we currently recognized as the most dangerous entities.
Since they blocked my path, it was only natural to deal with them.
But I didn't give them a single glance.
The trajectory of The Hammer I had raised to strike Par did not change.
Even as they drew Magic Circles and threw punches at me, I did not react.
Because I trusted my other half as a Magical Girl.
Was it in response to that trust?
The sound of a beast echoed in my ears.
“—Open the path.”
An unrefined, long, and coarse cry.
A voice I had grown familiar with over thirty years opened the end of the song.
With a sudden flash, a path of light appeared before me.
Pushing aside the six adjutants.
Pushing aside the army on the ground.
A long curtain of light where only I and Lieutenant General Par existed.
The six adjutants immediately reacted and clung to the curtain.
Whether Un-ho had drawn the short straw again or not, the curtain of light, though cracked slightly from the adjutants' attacks, maintained its form.
“Got you.”
I swung my hammer down toward Lieutenant General Par.
Toward Par, who was staring at Ronia’s formation without even looking at me.
KABOOM!
As if judging that the prayer had been fulfilled, a golden halo spread out into the surroundings.
A beautiful halo created as the curtain shattered.
However, my attack did not succeed.
“Ronia hasn't come out yet.”
Lieutenant General Par revealed their monstrosity as they stared intently at me.
A neck turned nearly 180 degrees, a feat impossible for any normal physical structure.
Abyssal eyes, sunken inward, with tiny red lights flickering within.
And, gripping my hammer…
The skin of a palm mutated into a crimson hue.
That grotesqueness was utterly out of place in this fairy-tale Magic Kingdom.
But seeing it only fueled my fighting spirit further.
It meant that Par was showing me the abyss of their power—the power they hadn't shown Ronia’s faction even while enraged.
“Forget about that pig and dance with me first!”
Ignition!
ROOOOOAR!
Immediately, the booster behind The Hammer spat fire.
My signature move that never failed to meet expectations.
Zero-Distance Booster launch.
“…!”
Perhaps not expecting it, Lieutenant General Par, who had been holding me with ease in mid-air, blinked in surprise and plummeted to the ground with me.
CRASH!
Leaving a massive crater at the point of impact, we opened a new battlefield.