Chapter 391: The Presence of Just One Man (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 391: The Presence of Just One Man (1)
It happened a few days ago.
Roman Dmitry accepted the magical communication with blood-stained hands.
[My Lord, we have successfully annihilated the Kronos Imperial Army that attacked Dmitry.]
Beneath his feet, corpses lay strewn across the ground. Crossing Valhalla day and night for several days, he had slaughtered every single being that dared to block his path. The warmth radiating from the bodies proved they had been living, breathing humans just moments ago. Wasting time on a call right now would surely allow the pursuit squad to catch up, but Roman Dmitry did not care about such trivialities.
"What is the situation in Dmitry?"
[The damage is not light. Ares's betrayal and their spatial teleportation magic caused significant casualties. However, under the leadership of Knight Commander Jonathan, we responded well to the unexpected variables and resolved the issue. After blocking the enemy's initial assault, we dispatched a pursuit squad to completely drive out the Kronos Imperial Army. In the process, Kevin captured Ares alive.]
The voice on the other end belonged to Chris.
Right after mentioning Ares, he asked cautiously, […Did you perhaps expect Kevin to handle Ares?]
It was an unexpected question. Yet, to this uncharacteristic inquiry, Roman Dmitry spoke his honest thoughts.
"No. But I was certain that Dmitry would not fall to someone of Ares's caliber, regardless of who faced him."
For a brief moment, silence hung in the air. Even through the communication device, Chris's complex emotions bled through.
For him, it was a complicated matter. Having known Kevin since his days at the absolute bottom, Chris had likely remained confident in his own superiority even as he watched the 'Evil Ghost of Dmitry' grow. That was an undeniable fact. Although their past two duels had proven the gap between them, Kevin's battle with Ares had shattered the boundaries of Chris's common sense.
Ares.
He was a powerful existence. He was an opponent against whom even Chris would have to risk his life, with no guarantee of victory. Yet Kevin had brought such a being down.
To Chris, who considered himself Dmitry's second-in-command, the sight of Kevin returning with a blood-drenched, captured Ares brought a wave of bewilderment. A strange spark had ignited from that moment. If Roman Dmitry had specifically chosen Kevin as the sword to deal with Ares, Chris's pride would have been deeply wounded.
Roman Dmitry did not step in to mediate the rivalry between the two.
It had been the same in his past life. Those who followed Baek Joong-hyuk fiercely competed with one another, yearning for even a shred of more recognition. That desire became the driving force that pulled them all forward. That was why he did not give a definitive answer.
Furthermore, in this war, Roman Dmitry had not relied solely on Chris and Kevin in the first place. Just as they had blocked the attack earlier under Knight Commander Jonathan's leadership, Roman had absolute confidence in the strength of the current Dmitry.
To build a vast nation, the talent capable of solving problems could not be limited to specific individuals. No matter when, where, or what kind of problem arose, the personnel present on the spot needed the capability to resolve it.
This was the ideal Roman Dmitry envisioned.
The current Dmitry had made immense progress. While he naturally trusted Chris and Kevin more, even if Ares had bypassed the dragnet and infiltrated Dmitry's core, he would never have achieved his desired goal. Before that could happen, Ares would have been discovered and forced to his knees by human wave tactics, or his head would have been severed by the Royal Guards led by Fernando.
[I see.]
His voice sounded slightly bitter. Perhaps Chris had hoped Roman would take his side. Quickly composing his emotions, Chris got to the main point.
[Currently, the situations in the Southern Three Kingdoms, Cairo, and Hector are not good. Please give us your orders. What should we do from here on out?]
The plan moving forward.
He faced the reality before him. Rather than dwelling on personal feelings, it was time to punish the Kronos Empire for instigating this war.
* * *
That afternoon, in accordance with Roman Dmitry's orders, Chris conveyed the strategy to the Umberto Kingdom.
[The plan is simple. The Umberto Kingdom must prepare for a desperate, last-stand resistance. If you create a situation that makes it look as though you are trying to settle the score before being pushed back to the capital, my Lord will surely appear on that battlefield to aid you.]
It lacked details.
Since time was short, only a rough guideline was provided, leaving the leadership of Umberto utterly bewildered. A meeting was convened as soon as the magic communication ended. Several high-ranking officials, who had already voiced negative opinions in previous meetings, showed looks of concern once again.
"This plan is far too reckless. Dmitry's main force has stated their intention to move to aid Cairo and Hector. That means only Roman Dmitry himself will be coming to help Umberto... Honestly, I am skeptical. I do not doubt Lord Roman Dmitry's martial prowess. I believe the overwhelming might that has shaken the continent is indeed incredible, but if we attempt a counterattack relying on the arrival of just one man, we cannot guarantee Umberto's safety. Above all, has he even escaped Valhalla yet?"
"Indeed. If our timing is off by even a fraction due to bad luck, Umberto will have to bear the brunt of the damage alone."
Their worries were valid.
Chris had not promised to send reinforcing troops; instead, he said Roman Dmitry would head to Umberto via Frank's Warp Gate immediately after escaping Valhalla. It was a strategic choice. With Cairo and Hector pushed to the brink, Dmitry's forces absolutely had to assist them.
Even so, they could not abandon the Southern Three Kingdoms.
Since sending Dmitry's army to the south was highly inefficient, Roman Dmitry had declared that he would resolve the southern issue himself. In other words, the reinforcements consisted of just one man. Considering the potential variables and problems that could arise, this was not an order they could blindly follow—even if the person in question was Roman Dmitry.
Everyone's gaze turned toward one man: Calderon Drake.
Holding the ultimate decision-making power on the front lines, he observed the situation with a cold, composed expression.
‘It is indeed a reckless plan. With no guarantee that Roman Dmitry will arrive on time, even if the plan goes perfectly, the arrival of just one man cannot completely overturn our numerical disadvantage. Roman Dmitry is but a single person. Even if he can handle tens of thousands of troops, it is still Umberto's duty to hold off the rest in the meantime. In the end, it means we must drive countless people into the jaws of death.’
This operation defied common sense. Though his mind was a tangled mess, Calderon Drake soon made his decision.
"Since Roman Dmitry took the helm, Dmitry has never lost a single war. Dmitry has promised us their strongest asset, and I am certain that as long as Roman Dmitry arrives on time, we will win this war. If so, there is no reason for us to hesitate. We must follow the plan. Pushed to the brink as we are, we cannot falter just because many soldiers might be sacrificed for this operation."
He saw the essence of the matter.
What truly mattered was the outcome of the war. The only part he worried about was the casualties resulting from the operation; his faith in Roman Dmitry was absolute.
"In the first place, the very fate of Umberto hangs in the balance. Now that Roman Dmitry has shown his faith in us as a member of the Kingdom Alliance, we must risk our lives to set the stage for him to run wild."
And so, Umberto stopped retreating and chose a desperate, last-stand resistance.
Count Soler's worries were indeed a reality. Just as he had feared, the presence of a single man had drawn out Umberto's courage.
* * *
And now, everything was going according to plan.
Just as the battle reached its climax, Roman Dmitry appeared at the rear of the Kronos forces.
"R-Roman Dmitry!"
"Why is that monster here?!"
Instantly, the Kronos soldiers shrieked in terror.
Like people who had laid eyes on an eldritch horror, they turned pale and scrambled to put distance between themselves and Roman Dmitry. In Kronos, the name Roman Dmitry was synonymous with terror. The Empire, which had always possessed the confidence to crush any nation they faced, had suffered defeat after defeat whenever they clashed with him.
The previous war, in particular, had been a one-sided slaughter. Roman Dmitry had annihilated hundreds of thousands of soldiers single-handedly and had even brought down Shepir, an 8th Circle mage.
He was an untouchable monster.
The Imperial Army attacking Umberto had never expected him to appear here first, rather than returning to Dmitry.
Roman Dmitry spoke.
"It is truly irritating. This complacent assumption that you can win the war as long as you exclude me from the battlefield. What did you plan to do if you ran into me like this? Were you going to abandon the situation in Umberto and target somewhere else again?"
He smirked.
Roman Dmitry had become a man of blood. Having taken countless lives, there was not a single spot on his body that was not stained crimson. It was a grueling march that would have caused any ordinary person to collapse long ago. Yet, despite crossing Valhalla day and night, Roman Dmitry showed no signs of fatigue; instead, his eyes gleamed with a dangerously cold light.
He was a monster.
As Roman Dmitry took a single step forward, the Kronos Imperial Army took a step back in unison, as if by prior agreement.
"I promise you this. Every single person involved in this war, regardless of their status, will die."
At that moment—
"Attack!"
"Attack him!"
The taut thread of tension finally snapped.
Boom! Rumble!
The Imperial Army charged. Driven to the brink by sheer terror, the Aura Swordsmen unleashed their Aura all at once and lunged at Roman Dmitry. They knew. They knew that those who charged first would surely die. But the scene that unfolded before their eyes was far more gruesome than they could have ever imagined.
Slash! Splat!
Heads flew.
He wasn't even using any grand technique. Simply by emitting his Aura while holding back his strength as much as possible, the heads of the Aura Swordsmen were severed the instant they clashed with Roman Dmitry. From then on, an unstoppable slaughter began.
Roman Dmitry charged like a tempest. Even though he had fought for an entire week to the point of being sick of blood, he swung his sword as if he were still parched for it.
Slash. Severing arms.
Flash. Lopping off heads.
In the blink of an eye, amid the chaotic melee, flowers of blood bloomed all around Roman Dmitry.
"Aaargh!"
"Aaaaargh! Stop Roman Dmitry!"
This operation was a simple matter. He would draw all of the enemy's attention. So they could not focus on Umberto, and so the rift caused by his presence would throw the hundreds of thousands of troops into utter chaos.
He carried out a massacre. He killed, and killed again.
Just like that.
"Aaargh!"
Count Soler whipped his head around, confirming that a massive problem had arisen on the battlefield.
* * *
Was this what it felt like to have one's breath snatched away?
Count Soler was shocked at first. He could not accept the fact that Roman Dmitry—who should have been held back for at least a month according to their plans—had already escaped Valhalla.
And then, he panicked.
There was only a single opponent. No matter how hard he looked, there were no other reinforcements in sight, yet the chaos wrought by Roman Dmitry was unbelievable for the presence of just one man. Screams echoed endlessly from afar. Countless soldiers rushed to the rear, but they were unilaterally slaughtered, spraying blood as if the exact same tragedy were repeating itself on a loop.
‘...So this is Roman Dmitry.’
From past events, the commanders of Kronos had learned a harsh lesson. Roman Dmitry was no longer a mere swordsman of a weak nation, but a monster they had to face with everything they had. Count Soler was no exception.
Just in case, he had prepared for any contingency. He barked a thunderous order to the Kronos Knights guarding him.
"Release the seal and bring down Roman Dmitry!"
"Understood."
Boom! Rumble!
Their eyes instantly changed. Their Primordial Qi exploded, amplifying their mana. Not only the Kronos Knights but also the Shadows lying in wait sprang into action. Among them were Aura Swordsmen of the 5-Star level or higher. This was a force prepared specifically to counter the single existence of Roman Dmitry, and they had not intervened in the battle against Umberto until now.
Therefore, he was certain. Against Roman Dmitry, who was weighed down by a week's worth of accumulated fatigue, they would surely be able to shake him.
But...
Flash.
"Aaargh!"
It was nothing but a delusion.
Count Soler's eyes widened in shock as the Kronos Knights who charged forward were cut down in a single breath. Because he was far away, he couldn't grasp the situation perfectly. Yet, whenever a flash of light gleamed, those blocking Roman Dmitry's path sprayed blood without fail.
They were no different from ordinary foot soldiers. The knights who had exploded their Primordial Qi, and even the Shadows of Kronos who wielded mysterious powers...
Boom! Rumble!
They were swept away by a tempest of Aura. As Roman Dmitry unleashed the Heavenly Demon Sword Technique, the very space within its reach was utterly annihilated.
Goosebumps broke out all over his skin.
Just one man. The entire tide of the war was shifting. It felt as though they could have crushed Umberto with just a little more pressure, but due to the chaos caused by Roman Dmitry, he could no longer issue orders to attack the kingdom. Instead, the advancing troops turned around. They raised their voices, declaring they would deal with Roman Dmitry first, but they could not achieve their goal.
Dmitry's true monster... was Roman Dmitry.
Watching the slaughter carried out by the man drenched in blood, Count Soler realized that the rumors from the battlefield had not been exaggerated in the slightest.
‘The advice of the defeated generals was true.’
Before this war, those defeated generals—who had been demoted and held responsible for their past losses—had spoken to him, the one tasked with attacking Umberto.
"Count Soler. Out of respect for our past association, let me give you a piece of advice. Why do you think Kronos, a great empire, is waging this war in such a rush? And why on earth do you think they split their forces to attack the kingdoms of the continent simultaneously? The reason is simple. It is because they cannot handle Roman Dmitry. They judged that if they were to face Roman Dmitry on the battlefield, they would have no chance of winning, no matter how many troops they mobilized. So keep this in mind. Splitting our forces is meant to achieve maximum efficiency in a short time, but it also carries the implicit intention of abandoning any battlefield where Roman Dmitry appears."
At that time, Count Soler had denied that reality.
Kronos was a great empire. No matter how legendary Roman Dmitry's deeds sounded, he did not believe they would conduct a war while being so wary of just one man. To abandon a battlefield simply because Roman Dmitry appeared? For someone possessing the pride of the Empire, it was a miserable truth he could not readily accept.
But now, it was different.
It was overwhelming. Seeing Roman Dmitry sweep through the space teeming with the Imperial Army, and hearing the endless, pain-filled screams ringing in his ears, he finally understood why they had desperately mobilized Valhalla to hold him back. Because the moment he appeared on the battlefield, the war would inevitably become incredibly difficult. Thus, the Kronos Empire had planned to occupy as much advantageous high ground as possible before focusing entirely on Roman Dmitry.
‘The fact that there is no way to handle that monster means that, at least, Umberto is a battlefield Kronos must now abandon.’
At that moment—
"...!"
Far in the distance, his eyes met Roman Dmitry's.
Why? As a shiver ran through his entire body, the final piece of advice from the defeated general flashed through his mind.
"If you want to survive, even if you are condemned as a coward like me... the moment Roman Dmitry enters your field of vision, run without looking back. From that moment on, you are already as good as dead."
His heart sank heavily.
The defeated general's advice was the absolute truth. By the time he realized reality and took a step back, it was already too late.
"So, you are the commander."
Splatter.
Blood sprayed. Piercing through the rain of blood, Roman Dmitry appeared right before his eyes.