Chapter 333: Are You Okay? Are You Still Alive? (2)
Chapter 333: Are You Okay? Are You Still Alive? (2)
November 7, 1531.
This was the day of the seventh battle between the Allied Forces and the army of the Yuzef Kingdom.
However, there was one thing that made this day different from all the others….
“Enemy attack! It’s an enemy attack!”
“Emergency! Everyone, get out there!”
This time, it was the Yuzef Kingdom that had struck the Allied Forces first.
The sudden offensive threw the Allied leadership into a state of panic. They had never expected an enemy that had remained consistently on the defensive to suddenly launch a preemptive strike.
And the sight that greeted them as they rushed outside was….
“What is this? What on earth….”
“Ha… Haha….”
It was the end of the world.
From the beginning, they had been under a delusion. They believed that even though the Sword Saint was dead and they had suffered consecutive defeats, the Allied Forces—composed of every nation on the continent—would eventually prevail.
It was a vague, irresponsible hope based on nothing at all.
In reality, the Dark Mages had merely been toying with them, like a cat with a mouse.
But now, there was no longer any need for games. Now that all the energy required for the resurrection of the Outer God had been gathered, the Dark Mages had deployed their true military might for the first time in this war.
A march of zombies stretched to the very edge of the horizon.
Hellish demons asserted their presence in the gaps between the undead ranks.
And the sky was filled with Bone Wyverns and demonic beasts of hell….
It was a sight that made the word 'surrender' spring to mind just by looking at it.
“This is…. Ha… Haha….”
“It’s over.”
Even some of the knights lost their will to fight and slumped to the ground.
What hope was there for the morale of the common soldiers? Faced with such overwhelming death and despair, humans could not even conceive of standing against it.
However….
“All troops! Form ranks!”
There were those who did not give up, even in this situation.
All eyes turned toward the source of the voice.
What the people saw there was Grand Duke Schneider. Usually so kind that he seemed almost frail, he was now standing tall, sword in hand, barking orders.
No matter how gentle he appeared, he was a man who had lived his entire life neighboring the Great Forest. He was a man who had already faced and overcome a monster Stampede once before.
He was usually quiet, but when a desperate crisis struck, the blood of House Schneider flowing through his veins began to boil.
“Do not give up! Do not run! If you are men, take up your swords and die fighting!”
The first to respond to the Grand Duke’s cry were….
“That’s my father for you!”
They were fierce warriors who would burst into flames at the slightest spark.
Starting with Tutan, countless Orc warriors stepped forward, weapons in hand. Standing at the front, Tutan raised his Stone Blade high and roared.
“If we must die, let us die like warriors!”
“Wooooooo!”
“Oooooooo!”
In such dire crises, reason can sometimes be a mere hindrance. Relying on the wild instincts of the Orc race, they surged forward, followed closely by the soldiers and knights of the Schneider Duchy.
“Knights to the front! We lead the charge!”
“Dammit, let’s do this!”
“Goooooo!”
The Double Dragon Knights were the first to sprint ahead. Without even waiting for the Grand Duke’s command, the knights—led by Sanson and Oliver—crashed directly into the enemy. And then….
“Don’t fall behind!”
“Waaaaaaaaagh!”
A green wave followed in their wake.
Compared to the massive scale of the enemy, the attack of these two forces was like a single wave crashing against a boulder. However….
“Waaaaaaa!”
“Crush them all!”
That wave did not break upon the rock. Instead, it dug in, pushing forward and slowly but surely carving through the massive boulder as they repelled the enemy.
That sight offered a glimmer of hope to the despairing Allied nations.
“What are you doing? Do you intend to leave everything to the Schneider Duchy!”
Garcia shouted, gripping Benator—the national treasure of the Empire inherited from his grandfather.
“We are the knights of the Empire!”
The Imperial Army rose.
“By Yupinel!”
The Holy Knights of the Holy Kingdom stepped forward, wreathed in radiance.
“Dammit! Let’s give it a shot!”
“We’re dead either way!”
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Before the commanders could even issue orders, everyone from the lowliest soldiers to the highest knights charged forward.
In this moment….
The Allied Forces became truly one as they advanced. Their strength, though temporary, was enough to push back even the mighty undead and demons of the Yuzef Kingdom.
“Impressive.”
“It seems they truly are father and son.”
“Hmm….”
The only ones maintaining their composure in this situation were the Sages belonging to the Tower of Truth.
The Seven Sages had always thought that Grand Duke Schneider and Patrick were far too different. But the decisiveness the Grand Duke was showing now—that refusal to look back—certainly reminded them of someone.
“Let us join in as well.”
“Indeed. If we lose here, there is no tomorrow.”
All of the Seven Sages rose into the air. Along with them, every mage and magic swordsman of the Tower of Truth, as well as the Elven warriors wreathed in spirits, took to the skies.
Before them swarmed massive flocks of Bone Wyverns and grotesque, nameless demonic beasts of hell.
Gazing at the sight, the First Sage gripped his staff tightly. He had never imagined he would experience such a massive battle in his lifetime. But….
“If we lose here, there is no turning back. Everyone, pour everything you have into this! Do not think of what comes next!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Understood!”
And immediately following that….
Boom! Kaboom!
Countless spells began to explode in the sky. The magical detonations, reminiscent of a natural disaster, were the result of the Tower of Truth and the Elves giving their all to protect the heads of their allies.
The number of enemies swarming in showed no sign of thinning, but it didn't matter.
“Fire! Keep firing!”
“Fire until your hearts burst! This is the turning point!”
The Seven Sages, encouraging their disciples, stood at the very front and poured out offensive magic. As they said, this was the turning point. This was no time to worry about the future.
* * *
‘Is it that way?’
While the entire Allied army fought like an erupting volcano, one person was calmly carrying out her task.
April Schneider.
The woman who had earned the epithet "Flash Queen" was currently cutting across the enemy lines in search of something.
“Kyahaha! Die!”
A demon of hell lunged at her, swinging a massive hammer, but….
Slash!
Without a hint of agitation, she cut the demon down in a single stroke.
“Ku… Kueeegh…. You bitch…. How dare a mere human do this to me, a second-class demon….”
“…….”
“Remember my name. I am Barba—”
“Shut up!”
Crunch!
The demon tried to say something, but April frowned and crushed its head under her boot.
And so, the demon named Barba-whatever was returned to hell.
‘I can’t concentrate….’
April clicked her tongue and continued to swing her sword. She had to cut down the demonic beasts, undead, and demons that kept lunging at her.
At the same time, she kept her energy sense spread wide. What she was looking for was the source of this demonic energy. It was difficult to find because the entire area was saturated with it, but she had to find it regardless.
‘I have to hurry.’
Her allies were fighting well. Or more accurately, they were holding out well. The entire Allied army, their morale momentarily boosted, was working as one to block the overwhelming enemy offensive.
But….
‘They won’t be able to hold out for long.’
No matter how she looked at it, the difference in numbers was too great. Everywhere she looked, undead and demonic beasts stretched beyond the horizon. Soldiers and knights of the Yuzef Kingdom were scattered among them, but their eyes were vacant, as if they were drugged.
She hadn't realized the Dark Mages were this powerful. It was almost incomprehensible why they had remained hidden in the shadows of the continent for so long if they possessed such strength.
But conversely, it meant the core of the enemy's power was the Dark Mages. And she already had experience fighting one.
Rust, one of the disciples of the Jonsa. And her own disciples.
Back then, the Dark Mages had summoned countless undead and demonic beasts, but the moment the Dark Mage themselves was dealt with, the undead and summons were naturally resolved as well.
In other words, what she was aiming for now was….
“Found you.”
Her eyes flashed, and she instantly transformed into a golden flash of light.
Boom!
Nothing could stand in her way as she sprinted. She pulverized any enemies that obstructed her path, and after about a minute of sprinting….
She saw her destination.
Three massive magic circles.
A large number of Dark Mages were exuding an extraordinary density of demonic energy. Some of them seemed to be being used as sacrifices in the center of the circles.
As a result, countless demonic beasts and demons were gushing out from above the magic circles.
The moment she found her target, she did not hesitate.
Unlimited—Deploy.
Aura overflowed from April’s entire body. And from the twin swords she held, massive blades of light over ten meters long were generated.
She crossed the two massive swords of light behind her back. And then….
Twin Dragons Eight Sword Styles.
Second Style.
Great Dragon Cross Sword.
April’s strike, delivered with her full power, instantly left a gargantuan cruciform scar upon the earth.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
A massive cross-shaped shockwave, seemingly endless, was carved into the ground. Her attack crushed the magic circles entirely and annihilated the group of Dark Mages without a trace. However….
“Impressive. That was quite a close call.”
“Where did a monster like this come from?”
“Hoho…. To think I’d see a test subject even more desirable than the Salamander Princess.”
There were those who had survived April’s attack.
Glunit, Envy, and Rasnya.
These three, direct disciples of the Jonsa, remained nonchalant despite April’s attack. In fact, they could afford to be nonchalant because they hadn't done anything to stop it.
No matter how high their realm, their essence was that of mages. They were not warriors. They were vulnerable to surprise attacks.
It wasn't them who had blocked April’s sudden strike.
“See? I told you it was a good idea to keep them as guards.”
“Fine. You were right, so stop gloating, Envy.”
Standing before the Dark Mages, blocking April’s path, were the Overlord and the Sword King.
April stood before the two of them.
‘I wanted to take them out with a surprise attack if possible….’
Looking at the two of them, it was clear they were being controlled by some sort of taboo placed on them by the Dark Mages. So, she had hoped that if she killed the Dark Mages with a surprise attack, the taboo on the two of them would be lifted.
But the attempt had failed. Now, she had no choice but to face these two head-on and overcome them.
“Give up, Flash Queen,” Envy said to April. “You already know, don't you? You cannot win a fight against these two alone.”
“…….”
“I’ll make you an exceptional offer. If you surrender quietly now, I will let you live. I might even take you as my familiar, and when the Salvation’s Sunset arrives and I ascend to a Divine Rank, I could make you my direct apostle.”
“…….”
“Wait, I’d like to make that offer as well.”
“Indeed. Such talent is quite tempting. I make the same offer.”
“…….”
April did not respond to the Dark Mages’ proposals. No, she simply wasn't entertaining them.
Ignoring their words completely, she was looking back on her life.
A life where she was supposed to die. A mother who had tried to save her in the midst of it. The terrible despair, terror, fear, and pain that followed her mother’s death….
The one who had saved her from all of that was….
[Is it you? The quack who was talking about a curse?]
A smile touched April’s lips.
‘Young Master….’
The benefactor who had saved her life and given it meaning. And the person who had, undeservedly, even come to love her.
She had never dared to imagine she could become his wife. But when he learned of her feelings, he had accepted her without hesitation. Even though she was a nobody, unlike the Elven princess or the other two who were of legitimate royal blood.
The only existence more precious than her own life.
“For your sake, there is nothing I need to hold back.”
April made up her mind.
Her hands moved swiftly, striking pressure points on her own body.
If Patrick had been there, he would have been shocked by this sight. This was a technique Patrick had never taught her.
However, he would have known exactly what that technique was.
Stimulating the Danjung, Taeyang, and Cheonchu points in succession to shatter the vessel of Qi gathered in the Dantian. As the vessel breaks, the overflowing energy surges through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians of the entire body like a rampage, generating immense power.
The Blood Explosion Great Method, or the Heaven-Defying Great Method.
It was called by many names, but it had only one purpose.
A move for Mutual Destruction.
A final resort used to kill a sworn enemy at the cost of one's own life.
Patrick had never taught April such a terrible method. But April, born with a natural genius for martial arts, had discovered this technique on her own.
And she was using it now.
“Huuu….”
A pain as if lava were flowing through the veins of her entire body.
In proportion to that pain, a power incomparable to anything before erupted from her body.
Unlimited Overflow.
April Schneider.
She began to burn her very life force.