Chapter 263: Like a Hero Should (2)
Chapter 263: Like a Hero Should (2)
Arren Hamut Decatur.
The current King of the Decatur Kingdom smiled as he listened to the reports from the battlefield.
"So. The Overlord is trapped within the encirclement?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. That is correct."
"I see. So that’s how it turned out."
Even upon hearing that his ally was in grave danger, a thin smile remained on his lips. He gazed at the map of the continent spread out before him and muttered to himself.
"Overlord. Truly brave, aren't you? Such brilliant talent and courage at such a young age. You are indeed a hero of the era."
His smile deepened as he continued.
"But you see, I have no desire to live in the same era as a hero. It isn't particularly pleasant to be a subject of comparison."
Overlord Sierion Byssus Yuzef.
It was a name that shone far too brightly.
Of course, the King knew. It was Sierion who had saved the Decatur Kingdom when it was on the brink of destruction during the invasion by the Caesar Kingdom. Thanks to his appearance and exploits, the Decatur Kingdom had managed to survive.
But at the same time, King Arren’s pride had been shattered into pieces.
Since when had it started? Every time he closed his eyes to sleep, he was plagued by nightmares.
[Incompetent and foolish King!]
[It is all because of your incompetence that this happened!]
[If only our King were the Overlord!]
[King Arren is useless.]
[It would be better to just hand the throne over to the Overlord.]
[Foolish man. Relinquish the throne to the Overlord of your own accord. Otherwise, you won't even be able to save that pathetic life of yours.]
These nightmares persisted day after day, gnawing away at King Arren’s sanity. And finally, he realized something. Unless he removed that great hero, he could never truly exist as a King.
"If you're a hero, then act like one and vanish into the pages of history as nothing more than a story."
* * *
The Overlord’s charge was truly unstoppable.
No one dared to stand in his way, and the valiant knights following behind him pierced through the enemy lines. However…
"Fire!"
Since when had it started? Arrows began to rain down not just from the front, but from the flanks and the rear as well.
"Agh!"
"Aaaargh!"
"Damn it, the shield… Gack!"
The soldiers of the Yuzef Kingdom began to fall, struck by arrows flying from all directions. As the casualties mounted, Matthias Carvan shouted.
"Circular Formation! Knights, move to all-around defense and protect the soldiers!"
"Yes, sir!"
Following his command, the Ryan Knights responded swiftly, forming a circular perimeter to shield the soldiers. While this reduced the immediate casualties, a problem arose.
The army, which had been charging relentlessly in a wedge formation, lost its momentum upon switching to a circular formation. Unless the Overlord intended to abandon all his soldiers and charge alone, he had no choice but to halt his advance.
As a result, the 40,000-strong Yuzef army, now stationary, faced the worst possible outcome: being surrounded by 160,000 troops from the Caesar Kingdom.
"Damn it, what is the Decatur Kingdom doing?"
"Get here already! Hurry!"
Several knights and staff officers looked desperately for reinforcements. If they could launch a pincer attack from both inside and outside the encirclement, they could easily break the line and find a way out. However…
"Your Highness, the Decatur Kingdom is not moving!"
A messenger, having confirmed the situation at the rear with the help of a mage, shouted at the top of his lungs. His voice reached not only Sierion but everyone on the battlefield, causing the Yuzef soldiers to bite their lips hard.
"No way, could it be…?"
"Ha, we came all this way just to be stabbed in the back?"
"Those Decatur bastards."
"Whose war was this in the first place?"
A mixture of betrayal and despair fueled the soldiers' anxiety. No matter how elite and battle-hardened they were, the betrayal of an ally in this situation made them sense impending doom.
It was then that the Overlord’s voice thundered across the field.
"All troops, do not be shaken!"
After encouraging his men with a powerful shout, he raised his sword high and declared, "I will carve a path! Follow where my sword leads!"
The Overlord held aloft a massive sword of light. His blade, illuminating every corner of the battlefield, instilled courage in his allies even in this desperate situation.
Consequently, the forces of the Caesar Kingdom moved to extinguish this light of hope.
"Overloooooord!"
It was like a streak of red meteor cutting across the battlefield. The streak of light, tearing through ally and foe alike, rushed in a straight line toward Overlord Sierion.
"Hmph!"
The moment Sierion identified the red flash, he swung his sword without hesitation.
Boom!
A collision between Aura Blades.
The Overlord’s sword managed to push back the charging red meteor, but it couldn't shatter it. The opponent was pushed back more than ten meters, leaving deep furrows in the ground before finally stopping by plunging his weapon, a long lance, into the earth.
When he lifted his head…
"Hahaha. This guy is absolutely incredible."
He had red hair and appeared to be in his late twenties. Seeing this man, clad in light armor and armed with a long lance, the Overlord nodded.
"Are you Count Mateus Edward?"
"Ah, that’s right. That would be me."
The man replied, spinning his lance with exaggerated flair.
"The finest spearman of the Caesar Kingdom, the number one bachelor in high society, the passionate man who makes countless women's hearts flutter. That is exactly who I am."
He thrust the spinning lance forward into a finishing pose as he delivered his final line.
"Count Mateus Edward!"
"……."
Well, this is a new type of character, Sierion thought. Even the great Overlord was momentarily taken aback.
Mateus Edward. A treasure of the Caesar Kingdom, he was a man once hailed as a genius. At the age of 27, he had reached the 7-Star Realm, holding the glorious title of the youngest 7-star knight. Though now…
"Well, these days, being at my level makes the 'genius' title a bit ambiguous."
"……."
"My reputation is in tatters because of all these unnecessarily talented juniors. I’ve lost one of my best lines for picking up girls at the pub. How are you going to take responsibility for that? Huh?"
"……."
The Overlord let out a short laugh and replied, "My apologies for that. Then why don't you come here and try to take my head? I imagine that would go a long way in restoring your fallen honor."
"Ho? You're just going to give it to me?"
"You'll have to take it with your own skill."
"Well, that is the law of the battlefield. It is, but…"
Mateus Edward was also a man called a genius. A single clash was enough for him to realize the difference in their capabilities. Seeing as his wrists were still tingling and his grip hadn't fully returned…
He’s stronger than me.
Mateus was in the mid-7-star realm. He took pride in the fact that his offensive power alone was nearly at the 8-star level. Yet, this Overlord was even stronger. Mateus had put everything into that surprise attack to pierce him in one go, but the Overlord had parried it while standing his ground.
And unlike Mateus, he was brimming with composure. As if he still had plenty of strength to spare.
"Seriously, kids these days are something else."
"I appreciate the compliment."
"Do you take some kind of weird medicine? Or did you make a contract with a demon?"
It was Marquis Matthias Carvan, standing nearby, who answered Mateus's question.
"Watch your tongue, Count Edward."
"And who might you be, old man?"
"I am Matthias Carvan. Do you wish to die for insulting my lord’s honor?"
"Ah, so you're the one they call the Black Knight."
"……."
"Our names are so similar, don't be so cold."
For a moment, Marquis Matthias Carvan thought to himself: This is the first person since that man who has managed to grate on my nerves like this.
A mouth that had to say everything it wanted to say regardless of the situation, and a reckless drive that ignored the gaze of others or common sense. Though their directions were slightly different, this man definitely reminded him of someone.
Fortunately, his skill isn't quite at that level…
Matthias Carvan took a step in front of his lord and spoke.
"You wouldn't have had the guts to block my lord’s path alone. Stop hiding like rats and come out, all of you!"
Mateus scratched his head and said, "That hits a bit close to home, actually."
"……."
"Don't look at me like that. It's a battlefield, what can you do? We're just doing what we're told."
"……."
"Seniors, we've been caught. He says to come out."
At his words, several men revealed themselves from within the encirclement.
Count Bentley Crawford.
Count Stellon Pereira.
Count Davis Kaikara.
And Marquis Beretto Zigler, who had recently been promoted…
All five of the Caesar Kingdom’s remaining 7-star knights had gathered in one place.
Count Edward spoke up. "Seniors, the 'First Strike Wins' operation was a failure."
Marquis Beretto Zigler let out a sigh. "Step back for now. Steady your Aura Hall."
"Understood."
After sending his eccentric junior to the rear, Marquis Beretto Zigler bowed his head toward the Overlord.
"I greet His Highness, Overlord Sierion Byssus Yuzef."
He didn't kneel, but he politely placed his left hand over his heart and bowed his head. It was an extreme level of etiquette to show an enemy on the battlefield.
"I am also pleased to meet you, Marquis Zigler."
"……."
"However, what is a Marquis so renowned for his piety planning to do now? Surely the 7-star knights aren't planning to join forces for a group attack?"
Marquis Beretto Zigler’s eyebrows twitched. He knew this wasn't honorable. However…
"On the battlefield, victory must take precedence over a knight's honor."
"Hmm, I heard you suffered quite a blow once because of that mindset?"
"……."
Marquis Beretto Zigler’s face contorted violently. How could he not know? Patrick Schneider. It was a name that would remain a lifelong humiliation for him. The Caesar Kingdom’s army had attacked him with four 7-star knights and 10,000 elite troops, only to be miserably defeated. This disgrace would be passed down to his descendants long after he was dead.
Marquis Zigler took a deep breath. Then…
"There is too much talk on the battlefield. Let us settle this now."
"If that is what you wish."
The Overlord raised his massive two-handed sword. And immediately after…
Marquis Zigler’s body vanished.
To an ordinary person, it would have seemed that way. But the moment Marquis Zigler disappeared, Overlord Sierion swung his massive blade. And then…
KRA-BOOM!
Marquis Zigler’s mace, appearing from the Overlord’s right, collided with the greatsword.
"Grrrgh…"
"……."
Both men were the type to utilize the destructive power of heavy weaponry. Not to mention the Overlord with his massive two-handed sword, Marquis Zigler, known as the 'Hammer of God' for his use of the mace, had rarely been pushed back in such a contest. However…
"Hah!"
With a powerful shout, the Overlord took a step forward, pouring strength into his sword to push back. Marquis Zigler couldn't withstand it and was forced back a great distance.
A single exchange. But the disparity between the two was clear.
And yet, Marquis Zigler, who had been pushed back…
"Fortunate."
…had a smile on his face. To any observer, he did not look like someone who had just been overpowered in a direct confrontation. The reason for his expression was revealed in his next words.
"Overlord. You are truly strong. Your talent is magnificent enough to command respect."
"I thank you for the praise."
"However."
Marquis Zigler continued with a faint, predatory smile directed at the Overlord.
"You are not quite at the level of that monster."
The meaning behind the smile on Marquis Zigler’s lips was clear. The Overlord was stronger than him. He might have one foot in the 8-Star Realm or perhaps had already ascended to it. But if asked if he was completely untouchable, the answer was no. Above all, Zigler had already experienced it once—the overwhelming difference in skill that felt impossible to overcome.
Compared to back then…
There was no longer any need to hesitate. Having judged that they had a chance of winning, Marquis Beretto Zigler shouted at the top of his lungs.
"All units, attack! Take the Overlord’s head and annihilate the Yuzef Kingdom!"
Simultaneously with his command, the entire army launched an all-out assault on the Yuzef Kingdom’s forces trapped within the encirclement.
"They're coming!"
"Respond!"
The knights and soldiers of the Yuzef Kingdom did not give up. Even in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation, they fought without losing their will. They were veterans who had already gone through the war with the Flame Kingdom and had been highly active on the front lines against the Caesar Kingdom. Even in the face of overwhelming odds, their spirits did not break. And above all…
"Haaaaah!"
"Begone!"
Though they were outnumbered overall, the skill of the Yuzef Kingdom’s Ryan Knights was far superior. Composed entirely of knights at the 4-Star Level or higher, the Ryan Knights protected their allies even while outnumbered by overpowering the enemy. Because they were fighting so fiercely and pushing back the foe, the Yuzef army was able to hold its ground within the encirclement.
A temporary stalemate. At least until the Ryan Knights' stamina was depleted, even the 160,000-strong army of the Caesar Kingdom could not easily trample the Yuzef soldiers.
So, where would the turning point of the battle be? It was right here…
KABOOM!
"Don't let him get away!"
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
"Black Knight!"
"Die!"
A space of destruction that ordinary soldiers—no, even ordinary knights—dared not approach. This space, where seven 7-star knights were gathered in a chaotic melee, was the place that would decide the victory or defeat of this entire battle.