Chapter 268
Chapter 268
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: Defense Game (2)
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The outskirts of Tar拉克 Castle, now turned into a battlefield.
Kwaaaang—!
Chwaaak!
Various energies—black magic, holy power, auras, and blood demon power—clashed all across the battlefield, erupting in deafening explosions.
Clatter—clatter!
[Kreaaak—!]
Like an endless wave, the immortal army marched in orderly yet ferocious formation under the command of the undead executives, charging straight for the walls of Tar拉克 Castle.
Opposing them were those who had come to deal with the giants. They had joined the wall defenders, fighting desperately to protect the city.
"In the name of the Main God, I shall purify these impure beings!"
"Eternal rest to the departed souls!"
Led by Cardinal Donovan, who scattered blazing holy power like flames, was a support unit from the Church of the Main God that included one paladin and two archbishops.
"Move faster!"
"Don't push yourselves too hard! Minimizing casualties is our top priority!"
Master-level knights dispatched from the royal family scurried about, urging on the wall's garrison soldiers, accompanied by their elite knight order.
"Undead really are inefficient to fight since they lack blood."
"...Even so, we don't need to get involved in defending the city, do we? Especially giants aside—this isn't even our territory."
"The High Lord must have his reasons. Probably to expand our influence in neighboring kingdoms."
And then there were the vampires: a small elite force including no less than Sacred Blood Heinz 2nd and Briki, along with five True Bloods—the strongest hybrid vampires.
Impressive as these reinforcements were, facing off head-on against an undead horde numbering over ten thousand was sheer folly.
That was why they had ventured out just enough to blunt the invasion's momentum before swiftly returning to the walls.
To fight this protracted battle as efficiently as possible.
And, as expected,
among those defending the walls, the vampires from Thalia Kingdom stood out the most.
After all, they had been no different from enemies until recently.
["Are you sure about this path? Actively opposing the Immortal King by siding with the humans?"]
Even amid the chaos, with subtle glances pouring in from all sides,
Briki sidled up to Heinz while casually fending off undead, speaking to him via telepathy.
Her formal speech in front of others had reverted to casual, but that was exactly what he'd wanted from her anyway.
He nodded calmly in response.
All while casually slicing through the air to erase a cluster of approaching undead in one go.
["Yeah. The Immortal King and we can't coexist anyway. And now that we've stepped out into the world's forefront by attending the normal council, staying passive has its limits if we want to expand our influence across the continent."]
Plus, by granting this favor to Tulk Kingdom first, they could check any alliances with other kingdoms—a multifaceted good move.
In the process, they could subtly promote Hubert's Trading Company even more.
And above all, the most important part—
'At this level... we can hold them off just barely enough.'
Of course, he had no real intention of letting Tar拉克 fall.
He'd gone to such lengths to fight the giants while minimizing damage to the city—why would he destroy a key stronghold with his own hands now?
Yet he was escalating the crisis this far to heighten continental tension as the scenario progressed.
'The karma yields have been dropping lately, like the effect's wearing off.'
The damages attributed to the Immortal King were still massive, of course.
Not just direct undead invasions, but monster outbreaks and giant appearances everywhere formed a significant part of it.
The problem was separate: people had grown too accustomed to the repeated crises.
'Even with the hero party and Heinrich's exploits, it's become 'well, that's how it is.' We need a real change.'
The method didn't matter.
As long as it created an atmosphere where everyone united their strength to overcome the crisis.
And then, with humanity's collective power gathered, the Immortal King and hero would clash in a decisive battle—the predetermined finale.
The climax of this home-field spectacle.
'With the revolutionary dealt with, that pesky variable is gone. No major hitches ahead. Even accelerating the pace, it won't end overnight.'
In truth, even starting the endgame would require considerable time to reach the finale.
This was the story's climax, after all—couldn't wrap it up sloppily.
'Build up gradually, unite everyone's power, open the path to the northern Immortal Fortress for a showdown with Hans... about half a year?'
He could drag out the chaos longer for full returns if he really committed, but endless rampage risked drawing eyes.
From those watching above.
His various supporters who'd backed him so far.
["Got it. Then I'll get more aggressive too?"]
As Heinz organized his thoughts,
Briki nodded firmly in understanding, then stepped back a few paces.
And the moment he sensed her will move—
Gooo—
Her figure vanished, and a massive blood-red torrent swirled into the undead horde ahead.
Skaakakak—!
It swept through the enemy ranks, pulverizing hundreds in an instant.
A gaping path torn through the undead army.
Briki was a vampire with poor matchup against undead, but for a Sacred Blood, such trifles weren't an issue.
"Urgh! Th-this...?"
"Hrm, to think it was this powerful."
The display drew tense gazes from the wall defenders dealing with undead.
Even as allies now, deep-rooted prejudices from ages past were hard to shake.
Especially with another Sacred Blood present.
"Hoo, impressive."
Not everyone reacted that way, though.
Some burned with competitive spirit at the vampires' prowess—
"Vampires repenting and cooperating is welcome, but as representatives of the Church of the Main God, we can't lag behind."
"Quite right. And against undead, no less?"
"We can't stand idle. Prepare the altar."
The church members who had clashed with vampires for ages until Heinrich's mediation.
They were the elite from Picaol Cathedral, alongside Cardinal Donovan.
They swiftly united, gathering to erect a makeshift altar for holy spells.
And as the cardinal led, they chanted prayers in unison—
Wooong—Kwaaa—!
A miracle unfolded in the battlefield's heart.
A pillar of radiant light descended, erasing undead en masse, its ripples halting the death aura corroding the space.
The overwhelming spectacle continued.
"Waaaah—!"
"W-we're saved! We can win!"
The soldiers, pale and frozen in terror at the grotesque corpses' advance, felt their morale surge.
They finally glimpsed hope for survival.
'Not that it'll be that easy.'
The disrupted death aura surged back fiercely on waves of military spirit.
Death Knights, liches, and other high undead positioned throughout, plus rear executives, sprang into action.
'And...'
Heinz 2nd keenly assessed the battlefield while busily dispatching charging foes, turning his gaze deep into the undead ranks.
Where the rampaging blood torrent had halted.
'If I leave now, the walls could be at risk. ...I'll watch a bit longer.'
Naturally, the immortal army wasn't just taking it lying down.
Even if this was only a fraction of their forces, they were the world's strongest, worst military power, battling the entire globe.
[Vampires, huh.]
[Heh, out in the open like three hundred years ago.]
[Kehehi—Sacred Blood vampire! A rare prize rolls in!]
Moreover, this operation mobilized many high executives who'd stayed hidden.
Doom Knight Dresler, General Spartoi Trev, Archlich Kelipha, and others surrounded the infiltrating Briki, raising their auras.
Subjugated by the Immortal King, their deepened death power resonated with the ambient energy, linking strongly.
As undead, their black magic amplified explosively through mutual conduits.
"...Hm, did I overdo it?"
Briki, confident in her Purified Blood Essence-enhanced power, grinned awkwardly as she was blocked.
She could beat any one-on-one here, but their momentum showed no such intent.
Kwaaang—!
In the immortal army's center, executives clashed with the Sacred Blood vampire.
Elsewhere, holy power and death aura seesawed relentlessly; the wall fight intensified as defenders held on.
Explosions, shouts, screams, spells, roars...
The din mixed into battlefield pandemonium.
Watching it all in real time, Heinz 2nd desperately held the walls.
'Looks good. Time to wrap it up.'
The perfect mess he'd envisioned.
He nodded solemnly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Far from the battlefield near Tar拉克.
Even beyond where the colossal giant fell, another battle raged.
Goooo—
Death aura thicker than any undead's blanketed the area.
"Urachaa—!"
A grip brimming with destructive might tore space savagely.
"Hah!"
A pillar-like blade of massive light pierced through.
Kwarung—!
Matching it, spells, spirits, and holy arts poured out.
The Immortal King and hero party's sudden clash.
Thanks to Hari's newfound power, it was fiercer than before, but those who'd just fought the giant instinctively knew:
They couldn't win as they were.
Yet refusing to yield, they squeezed out their last strength—when an unexpected end came.
[Tch, I meant just a greeting. Got carried away—took longer than thought.]
The Immortal King, overwhelming them throughout, withdrew first.
The hero party stayed vigilant, but he only let out low mockery, true to his word—no more attacks.
[Kukuku—We'll end here. Pointless to finish non-peak foes.]
"...Hah, retreating like this? Immortal King!"
[No rush. My nemesis, Heinrich. Just started a new game—can't end before enjoying it.]
With eerie laughter, the arrogant Immortal King ascended slowly, claiming much time remained.
Exhausted from back-to-back fights, the hero party could only watch.
[Exciting. How long you'll last. When and how you'll reach my castle!]
"...Wait, Immortal King! Next time, I'll hurl you into the abyss."
[Kuhahat! That'll be fun too!]
Ttak—
A black magic-charged finger flicked, sending strange waves everywhere.
Executives receiving the fortress recall withdrew rapidly.
Just a taste with show of force—no need to push.
[I'll await eagerly. Hero, Heinrich Saint Landgard.]
As suddenly as he'd appeared, the Immortal King vanished.
Leaving only the undead horde menacing Tar拉克.
And that was
a presentation successfully concluded before countless eyes.