The Thirteenth Study - Godslayer (1)

Balor was a great demon whose legend was widely known among mortals. A flame giant who wielded a whip of fire. A herald of destruction who left only ashes in his wake.

“Hmm.”

Yet Balor possessed another side rarely spoken of in the mortal realm. He was the great marshal of Hell who had waged an eternal war against both Heaven and the Abyss. In other words, he possessed the strategic mind to read the flow of battle.

“You’ve prepared a truly vicious trap.”

“…”

“You made the Archduke of Gehenna betray his master, thereby undermining the authority of the Hell Monarch. At the same time, you eavesdropped on the Hell Monarch and provoked his rage.”

Enraged, the Hell Monarch had impulsively dispatched an expeditionary force. Though Balor had obeyed his sovereign’s command as a loyal subject, it was an exceedingly foolish and reckless decision.

“A fine opportunity.”

“…”

“Thanks to this, I now have justification for rebellion.”

In the Seven Hells, a lord’s mistake was legitimate grounds for revolt. To err was to prove oneself incompetent, and the incompetent had no right to rule. It was common sense.

“However, a usurper must prove he is superior to the previous monarch. Therefore, I must demonstrate that I can brilliantly dismantle this trap.”

Balor, now wearing a human body, stroked his beard. He looked exactly like a grand general marching to war at the emperor’s command.

“Summarize the situation for me, adjutant.”

“The enemy has incited the Archduke of Gehenna to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠betray us, causing Hell and the Abyss to destroy each other. Furthermore, they eavesdropped on the Hell Monarch’s council and induced a hasty attack.”

Balor nodded.

“From now on, I shall refer to the enemy as the Twilight Mastermind. As a mortal who devised schemes surpassing even we devils, he deserves such a title.”

Another nod.

“Mastermind will suffice.”

“The location where the Mastermind used his eavesdropping magic was the sacred mountain of the orcs. However, we must question this. Why would a Mastermind meticulous enough to spy on the Hell Monarch leave behind traces?”

Tap. Tap.

Balor drummed his fingers on the desk.

“Get to the conclusion.”

“This battle is a trap designed to lure us in.”

“Hmm.”

“The sacred mountain of the orcs contains souls that could interfere with Your Lordship. Additionally, the nearby temple of the fallen serpent god creates a battlefield disadvantageous to us.”

Balor nodded once more.

“And therefore?”

“The militarily correct conclusion is to retreat.”

“But that is not the politically correct conclusion.”

“Correct. Your Lordship is currently bound by your oath of loyalty to the Hell Monarch. To justify a retreat, we require grounds to usurp the throne.”

Justification for usurpation.

Proof of superior competence.

To prove competence, the trap must be overcome.

“There is a term humans use for situations like this.”

“What is it, my wise lord?”

“Checkmate.”

“What does it mean?”

“A technique that cannot be defended against.”

Balor was certain the Mastermind was well-versed in military strategy. After all, he had forced Balor into a position where only foolish tactical choices remained.

“However, there is one fact even he cannot defend against.”

“…”

“My overwhelming power cannot be overcome by any mortal tactic. Therefore, every trap the Mastermind has created is intended to drain my strength.”

In other words.

The true nature of this battle was simple.

“If I reach the sacred mountain while maintaining my full power, we win. I will be able to tear apart the orc ancestors and the serpent god, then root out the Mastermind himself.”

Tap. Tap.

He drummed the desk again.

“Then what role must you fulfill?”

“To ensure Your Lordship never needs to step forward.”

“Do not disappoint me, adjutant.”

Tap. Tap.

He struck the desk once more.

“If the coup succeeds, Gehenna shall be yours.”

“Your command shall be obeyed, my lord!”

The adjutant began reviewing the devil soldiers, preparing for battle. Meanwhile, Tellorian, who had been observing the battlefield through the Eye of Clairvoyance, cast Darmaxes’s Mirror War over the table. With perfect information, even war against devils could be perfectly simulated.

This battle is a mirror war between me and Balor. The only difference is that it will be fought in reality, not illusion.

As the foresight spell activated, Balor appeared seated across from him. Even though it was merely an illusion, the pressure it emanated was immense. Proof that the mirror war had been recreated with near-perfect fidelity to reality.

“You have recreated the battlefield splendidly, mortal.”

Balor’s illusion expressed interest in Tellorian’s magic. Its thought process was astonishingly similar to the real Balor.

“What would you have me do?”

“Simply serve as my mock battle opponent.”

The illusion was Balor recreated to near-perfect fidelity. Therefore, if he could win this strategic contest and apply the winning method, victory in reality would follow.

“Very well. That is my role.”

Devils were beings who followed rules. Therefore, even an illusory devil obeyed the principle that a creation must submit to its creator.

“What are you thinking right now?”

“You must have realized I set a trap to kill you. Instead of taking the vanguard yourself, you would have placed the army at the forefront and begun a battle of strategy.”

Balor was the great marshal of Hell. His Military Strategy rank had surpassed Hero and reached Legend. Simply relying on intelligence stats would not be enough to face him.

“Is Hero rank truly enough?”

“If I can foresee the future, it is more than sufficient.”

“That is an incredibly annoying ability…”

When it came to pure military strategy, Balor held the advantage. However, Tellorian possessed the Future Sight trait and the defender’s advantage.

“Do you know that I can see the future?”

“You probably assume I know, but only at the level of an ordinary Archmage. You don’t realize I can see farther than the gods themselves. Such a thing would be impossible to comprehend.”

Therefore, Balor did not know his true identity or full capabilities. On the other hand, he had likely seen through the cards hidden on the battlefield.

“How much do you know about my troop deployment?”

“You must have hidden the elven knights in the sky.”

Tellorian nodded.

“The desert beasts would be concealed in the sand dunes, and the stone trolls hidden in the forest. Such obvious tactics.”

Balor was currently under the effect of Fog of War, which ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠restricted his vision. Yet relying on his military strategy, he had deduced the situation simply by examining the terrain.

“I also know that you hired heroes and adventurers to form a large-scale raid party. My spies collect every piece of information on the surface.”

As expected.

“Conversely, what information do you lack?”

“I fear you because I do not know your identity.”

Balor was certain that the Mastermind who had eavesdropped on the Hell Monarch was a young mage. He also knew the youth possessed wisdom and power far beyond his years.

“So who do you currently suspect I am?”

“I have narrowed it down to either the Sage of Destruction or the Vision Sorcerer Azantal. However, Azantal is not foolish enough to earn the Hell Monarch’s grudge… so I currently believe the Sage of Destruction is the Mastermind.”

The Sage of Destruction was a transcendent who had single-handedly annihilated an army of one hundred thousand. Moreover, as a member of the Sage Council, he was an extremely dangerous opponent from Balor’s perspective.

“That is why I will command my forces with extreme caution. I have judged that other Archmages could launch a surprise attack at any moment.”

For that reason, Balor had stationed his four heavenly kings—each over level 50—in the rear. To protect himself from unexpected ambushes.

“Therefore, the vanguard I will deploy consists only of mid-to-low rank devils. With sufficient training and courage, even mortals can stand against them.”

Thanks to this.

A proper battlefield had been established.

One where devils and mortals would clash.

“Then let us begin the grand game.”

Snap!

With a snap of his fingers, the battlefield—including the sacred mountain—was perfectly recreated. In the mountain’s underground chamber stood the silver serpent and himself, while the orc shamans were conducting a ritual to weaken Balor.

“This is our base of operations.”

“Hmm?”

“If the sacred mountain is attacked before the ritual is complete, we lose. There would be no way to defeat you.”

Hmm.

The illusory ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Balor stroked his beard.

“That is information I did not possess.”

“An advantage in information.”

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

“I suppose the secret must be kept until the final moment.”

Tellorian nodded.

“If enough time passes after battle commences without any Archmages appearing, I will judge the situation safe and deploy the high-ranking devils. That will be your moment of crisis.”

Therefore.

He too would keep his main forces in reserve.

Hero Alberic tilted his head.

He declared firmly.

Alberic nodded and ordered the raid party to retreat. Even though it meant risking the collapse of the defensive line should the high-ranking devils attack all at once, he chose to follow the Grey Sage’s decision.

As the hero’s party withdrew to the rear, the defensive formation was reorganized. The first line was the kingdom army led by Rodrick the Mace Lord. The second line was the orc army commanded by Belkan the Shaman King. The third line consisted of the adventurers led by the hero. Should the third line fall, the sacred mountain itself would become the final defensive line.

I have also prepared four types of special cards that can be deployed urgently in a crisis.

Olgoldugolro’s Enlightened Troll Monk Corps.

Glorinmar’s High Elf Knight Order.

The Scorpion King’s Followers of the Serpent God.

Though too few in number to form independent factions, they were special forces capable of shifting the tide of battle.

The most crucial card was Elenstra and the Vision Sorcerers, the means by which he could intervene directly in the battle. Using the super-large magic circle they had prepared, he would be able to cast spells of far greater power.

Master’s fire magic had always been terrifying. But when he used a grand magic circle with his disciples’ assistance… the destructive power had been horrifying.

Even through the communication spell, Elenstra’s warm, proud expression could be felt. She was both his senior sister and childhood friend.

“…”

In any case, the magic he would cast through the super-large magic circle was army magic. Spells targeting not individuals, but entire armies.

At that moment, Rodrick’s message arrived.

Clang! Clang!

The Mace Lord struck his steel armor, proudly displaying his vigor. At his waist hung an array of various potions Tellorian had personally crafted for him.

?

He took out a crystal orb and observed the kingdom army.

…

They were indeed unexpected reinforcements.

No. He had anticipated it, but never expected them to actually appear.

Within the kingdom army’s formation, banners emblazoned with the symbol of the sun god fluttered in the wind. Archbishop Tomori had arrived leading a formidable church army.

“…”

It seemed.

People truly possessed many different sides.

Humans and orcs. Clerics and mages. They had joined forces. Their mutual grudges had not been forgotten. They simply acknowledged that a far more important enemy existed.

However.

This flexibility was the strength of mortals.

Something the rule-bound devils could never possess.

The sky was dyed ash-grey and the earth stained with hellish mana. Thunderous war drums sounded as the devil legions began their advance. In response, Archbishop Tomori knelt and offered a prayer.

At last.

It had begun.

The great battle against Hell.