Chapter 260
Chapter 260
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 260
Chapter Title: 100. Collapse (2)
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Watching the empire's army melt away in the flames, Ace cheered.
He had no idea how it happened, but someone had unleashed a massive spell that incinerated the enemy completely.
The entire Anti-Empire Alliance erupted in cheers as they pushed forward against the foe.
The empire's forces couldn't respond properly.
Enemies pressed from the front, flames roared from behind.
The monsters expanded their tentacles in a desperate frenzy, lunging in all directions, only to be pierced by blades or shoved back into the inferno, twisting in agony.
"Monsters can't withstand fire either! Push them all back!"
Ace shouted.
"Push forward! Drive them out!"
"Uwaaaaaah!"
With the blazing flames at their backs, the empire's army resisted desperately.
No matter how steeped in black magic they were, the fear of death never fully vanished.
It was a primal emotion.
They blinked in disbelief, tilting their heads, then collapsed with a deflating sound.
One imperial soldier even shed tears just before falling.
Ace felt a flicker of pity, but it lasted only a moment.
To survive on the battlefield, one had to discard such useless sentiments.
All focus had to be on survival and slaughter to see tomorrow's sun.
"Kill!"
His sword clumsily stabbed into an imperial soldier's gut. The sensation of piercing flesh and organs was now familiar. He twisted the blade once before pulling it out. Blood splashed onto his face.
Lifting his eyes, he saw a monster swinging its charred tentacles.
Even though magic had struck the enemy's center, countless remnants remained.
"What a monstrous nation..."
In population, national power, everything—the empire overwhelmed them.
Even with nations that prided themselves as continental powerhouses united, there was no sense of gaining the upper hand.
On the contrary, the prolonged war of attrition was wearing down the Anti-Empire Alliance's troops.
The fearless black army was horrifying enough, but now they summoned these monsters too.
Could they win?
The thought crept in.
Even with fire-wielding mages and soldiers of firm resolve, victory against those endless foes advancing like machines seemed doubtful.
Locking eyes with an imperial soldier clashing swords amplified the negativity.
Whether ensnared by black magic or struggling desperately like him, they would meet the same end.
No matter the victor, the postwar world likely held no place for him.
Strength drained from his hand.
Beyond the enemy's shoulder, through the flames, a monster unfurled tentacles like a peacock's tail.
Seizing Ace's daze, the foe pushed harder.
His body was shoved back.
The enemy's blade slipped at that instant.
"Hey, Ace."
A voice called from behind.
"A true gambler, as expected. Pretending to give up to flip the table at the last second?"
The battlefield dust clogging his lungs washed away.
The acrid smoke blanketing the sky, the resolute faces of the standoffish imperials—no longer seemed despairing.
It felt like a refreshing breeze blowing through.
Ace suppressed a grin as he replied.
"Of course. The best card must be revealed last."
"Can't beat you."
"Don't play weak. I remember exactly how much of my money you took."
"Thanks to you, I enjoyed plenty of fine liquor."
His mere appearance shifted the battlefield's mood.
It was always like that.
Yuri Brioll was that kind of man.
"If you crave revenge, come find me anytime."
"Wait for it. I'll clean you out soon enough."
"Looking forward to it."
Brioll's prince regent, Yuri Brioll, clapped his shoulder as he passed.
His presence parted the ranks.
The empire's army, which fought without fear, now hesitated.
Ace raised his weapon and yelled.
"For Brioll!"
Yuri was constantly on the move.
While frontline soldiers grew weary from periodic battles, from Yuri's perspective, excluding meals and sleep, he fought nonstop.
The empire poked at multiple fronts in sequence, and Yuri rushed to each, aiding allies.
Each appearance yielded visible results, so no one could stop him.
His grueling rounds saved allied lives.
Of course, when the empire hit multiple fronts simultaneously, he prioritized Brioll or the most urgent.
"Hoo..."
Yuri let out a long sigh.
Strange movements from the empire had drawn him to the small nations' alliance front, where unidentified monsters were slaughtering soldiers.
"In Ariel."
"I know."
"Blast them with something hot and satisfying."
"Cool or hot—what's the plan?"
"You know."
In Ariel was the master of the 'Immutable Mana Formula' that overcame even Dispel.
Now transcending the world's constraints via black magic, she could unleash a massive spell on the enemy army.
Yuri requested the giant fireball he'd longed for so long.
"Slam one down like the end of the world."
Before she could reply, he stepped forward.
In Ariel didn't refuse.
Hot flames ignited overhead.
"Charge!"
Yuri spurred his horse.
Soon, another sun hovered above, crashing into the enemy's midst. An explosion bloomed, flames spreading to burn the imperial army.
But the black army, stripped of hindering emotions by war, responded calmly.
Even amid surging flames, their morale held, maintaining the line.
The sight demoralized the Anti-Empire Alliance instead.
Yuri kicked his saddle and galloped ahead.
Ironically, a familiar face appeared.
He'd heard the Allied Forces Veterans' Society joined, dispatched here as veterans.
But his demeanor was off—symptoms from endless fighting.
Yuri called out casually as he passed.
"A true gambler, as expected. Pretending to give up to flip the table at the last second?"
The man's body jolted sharply.
His mind snapped back; Ace replied.
"Of course. The best card must be revealed last."
"Can't beat you."
"Don't play weak. I remember exactly how much of my money you took."
"Thanks to you, I enjoyed plenty of fine liquor."
Yuri grinned.
Against incomprehensible foes radiating dark auras from black magic, it was easy to get entranced.
Those opposing darkness must know they could be swallowed by it anytime.
Of course, no need to overcome it alone.
A shoulder clap sufficed.
Just as he'd helped Ace now.
"If you crave revenge, come find me anytime."
"Wait for it. I'll clean you out soon enough."
"Looking forward to it."
With that, Yuri pressed on.
He glanced left and right.
No allies matched his pace.
This was the vanguard.
He stood at the forefront, facing the enemy.
Since his miserable end in his past life, that never changed.
As the spearhead Yuri thrust forward, enemy resistance concentrated.
With none guarding his flanks, assaults came from sides, front, and rear.
Yuri drew Guilty.
A whirlwind enveloped him, shredding the surrounding imperial army.
Beyond the mangled flesh, unfamiliar creatures swarmed Yuri.
"Are you Cedric's invention?"
Grotesque beasts with tentacles. They crawled on insect-like legs attached to their torsos, tentacles writhing from their backs. No visible head.
The tentacles resembled soft-bodied creatures, tipped with razor edges.
As if engineered for war.
"Disgusting."
Yuri deflected incoming tentacles one by one, then slashed down.
The beast split halfway.
Tougher surface than expected; it didn't die instantly.
More tentacles lunged from around.
Recognizing Yuri as foe, they focused attacks.
Bundles of tentacles scattered in air, targeting vitals—Yuri couldn't block all.
He raised mana for a barrier.
Tentacle tips collided and slid off the wall.
Then—
Several charging monsters shattered mid-air, scattering.
Black mana discharged along the trajectory.
Yuri smirked, calling his name.
"Rolang, you're late."
He glared sullenly, shrugged, and swung again.
Each sword beam unleashed dark mana.
Twisted by black magic and restored, his mana turned black. Prolonged exposure stained his core, attuning it to demonic properties.
Rolant, his glowing golden hair clashing with black sword aura, said,
"Who rushed ahead like a dog with its tail on fire?"
Yuri burst out laughing.
Rolant seemed irked by Yuri laughing off his words but didn't change demeanor.
"Stop laughing and focus."
"Right. My loyal knight, Sir Rolang."
"I'm no longer a knight..."
Before he finished, Jared rushed up yelling.
"Why so hasty, you two? Like puppies with tails aflame?"
Rolant shut his mouth; Yuri laughed.
But no time for laughs. Enemies surged relentlessly; battle intensified. Allies died even as they swung swords.
Alliance morale dropped with casualties; the empire produced soldiers endlessly without such weakness.
Couldn't sustain this attrition.
They needed to advance.
Yuri eyed the imperial commander watching calmly beyond the line.
A knight in black armor.
Each front had overseers; this knight always led imperials here.
Heavy guards prevented a kill so far.
"Listen up."
Yuri impaled a blocking monster, speaking.
"This time, we take him."
"Possible?"
Layered imperial ranks stood between: soldiers, monsters, knights glaring from black helms.
One misstep meant encirclement.
"Can't keep trading lives like this."
Yuri said.
Not just here—other fronts wearied too.
Time for change.
"Reconsider..."
"Charge!"
Yuri dashed. Jared sighed, following. Rolang cursed, trailing late.
Three pierced imperial lines in triangle formation, Yuri leading.
Yuri cleared path; flanks supported.
Like a knife through tofu, they reached the heart swiftly.
Now knights walled them—empowered by black magic, no pushovers.
But Yuri didn't care.
Felt he could go anywhere.
His eyes entered Heart-Soul Realm. Heart-Soul Severing mana swirled his body; crossing into Chaos Realm, his sword aura unlocked unprecedented potentials.
Guilty vibrated fiercely, howling.
Wind blew in.
It became a massive vortex instantly.
At the empire's camp center.
A colossal sword-aura whirlwind linked heaven and earth.