When Sekichin arrived at the tent that served as the temporary residence for the “Sub-Zero Crystal Spear,” they were armed and ready as usual.
Adventurers typically wore armor like casual clothing and always kept their weapons close at hand. Their equipment was designed for that purpose.
Even when Sekichin suddenly appeared, there was no sign of surprise or tension from them.
They simply felt a sense of readiness for the upcoming moment.
“We’ve kept you waiting for a long time.”
“It’s finally our turn, huh?”
It had been about a month since the “Sub-Zero Crystal Spear” appeared. Since the monsters rarely emerged from the forest during that time, the “Sub-Zero Crystal Spear’s” job mainly involved escorting supply transports. Of course, it was necessary work.
However, during that time, Sekichin and Zeft had become somewhat acquainted. Sekichin was in a position to manage others as the head special combatant in this battle. Both the special combatants and the hired help were a select few. Being in the same unit, they could grasp everyone’s abilities, and they also had common topics to discuss.
“Yeah. However, the situation is a bit unusual.”
“What do you mean?”
“It seems the commander desires a ‘supreme battle’ from us. The orders will probably come down within a day or two.”
“Supreme Battle”? This was an unfamiliar term for Zeft, who was an adventurer.
In other words, it referred to a battle where a few individuals with outstanding strength would dispose of numerous normal soldiers.
“Do battle against the rabble, huh?”
“To break the siege early, there’s no other option. Normally, special combatants are meant to be used carefully against cannon fodder. But with teleportation magic, only a small number can flank behind enemy cannons… If they try to send in troops, they’ll consume magic power more numerous than the water of the Dragon Head River.”
Continuous cannonfire echoed, and heavy explosions roared overhead. Their eardrums trembled.
Although defense mechanisms deployed magical barriers to block the bombardment, it was clear to even a novice in warfare that if the attacking side could use magic power more abundantly, it would only serve as a delay tactic.
“Special combatants stirring up the battlefield in response to reinforcements attacking from the south. Using that opportunity to break the siege from within, is that the plan?”
“It’s not set in stone yet, so I haven’t been informed. However, it’s likely to go that way.”
Claire analyzed, her glasses shining.
It could be said they were already cornered. There were no ingenious plans to break the situation gracefully. They would launch a counterattack with all their might, prepared for sacrifices, inflicting significant damage on the enemy to achieve a situational victory.
“Zeft, you’re a hired hand. If you’re averse to this kind of battle…”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Before Sekichin could finish, Zeft replied.
“With a battle like this, the other side won’t hold back either. Chenxi is surely among them. So, we just have to go.”
“I see… Your assistance is much appreciated.”
While pretending to be concerned outwardly, Sekichin was confirming that Zeft’s resolve remained unwavering.
It seemed there was no problem. He would fight with all his might.
Unlike Zeft, Sekichin couldn’t firmly believe in a future where Chenxi would be restored.
However, he still hoped for her liberation at the very least.
For whose sake did he become strong?
Thinking about it… no matter what sacrifices were required, they had to win.
＊ ＊ ＊
It was around dawn on the third day of the siege.
Suddenly, individuals with an unusually strong fighting spirit appeared in the camp.
René detected them using her ability ‘Emotion Detection’.
Finally, the Blue Army had played its trump card.
“They’re here, Alastair! Approximately fifty at the rear of the formation on the southern side!”
“Announce to all units! Follow Plan 1 and reposition! Connect the teleportation magic circles!”
Alastair, the commander at the main camp, simultaneously activated the call marks lined up on his desk and issued commands.
They were ready to channel magic into the teleportation circles prepared at various points of the siege, summoning powerful individuals capable of countering the enemy’s “special combatants”.
However, as this happened, reports came in from scouts and observation teams.
“We report! Enemy reinforcements approaching from the south in arrowhead formation have increased their speed and begun their assault!”
“We confirm the launch of enemy aerial cavalry from their camp! Approximately 40 Skydogs, 7 Hippogriffs, and 2 Arson Cranes! The commanding rider is Wing Tiger… no, Gale Tiger!”
“The south gate of the fortification has opened! Confirming 20 enemy large battle golems, ‘Yellow Scarf Wrestler – Type B’!”
“Understood. Report again if there are any changes in the situation!”
From the main camp set up on a small hill along the river to the southeast of the town, they could roughly observe all the mentioned enemies.
Cavalry launching from within the walls.
Large golems charging through the holes on the ground caused by stray cannon fire.
And the approaching army from the south.
“Everything is going as expected.”
“Yes. The number of golems matches the reconnaissance reports.”
They hadn’t anticipated any strange tactics, and indeed, it was a straightforward confrontation.
That didn’t mean the enemy lacked tactical ability. It was just that they knew how to maximize their strength and were throwing it at them.
The enemy was prepared to endure sacrifices and engage in a relentless struggle, aiming for victory by grinding each other down.
In reality, a head-on collision might lead to defeat.
But if you could predict the enemy’s moves, you could take countermeasures.
So far, even this offensive was within expectations.
◇
“Destroy the corpses, don’t just defeat them cleanly! They’ll rise again!”
When the “special combatant” unit teleported to the southern side of the besieging force, it quickly turned into a chaotic melee.
Soldiers ran through, cutting lizardmen’s heads off as if mowing grass.
Flames erupted, lightning struck from the sky, and the bodies of fallen soldiers danced in the air as they disintegrated.
With so many formidable warriors gathered, the battle resembled a storm.
However, within five minutes, the attacks began to slow down.
A Ghoul Knight clad in dazzling armor clashed with Zeft’s greatsword, blocking his strikes and engaging him in a fierce duel.
“«Holy Arrow»!”
“«Pain Whip»!”
Albina provided covering fire with magic, but a nearby Lich, engaged in combat with another soldier, instantly cast a curse spell in response.
The black and white magic spells collided in mid-air and mutually annihilated.
“This guy!”
As Cain swung his large shield to attack, Zeft landed a side blow on the Ghoul Knight, crushing him between Zeft’s sword and Cain’s shield.
“Argh!”
In that moment, a blow struck Cain’s back.
An ogre with colorful war paint drove a stone club into the armor on his back.
“«Shockwave»!”
An invisible force wave swept the ground.
Claire’s magic tore apart the ogre while pushing it back, creating distance.
“We need healing…”
“These guys are tough!”
“The enemy has also gathered elites.”
“Team up on one enemy! Let’s reduce their numbers first!”
Sekichin shouted instructions to the soldiers.
“Support is coming. Charge in when they do!”
In the sky above, despite interference from flying creatures, the allied airborne cavalry took positions for glide assaults against the ground.
Leading the charge was the heavily armored Hippogriff, followed by the black-headed and white-bodied winged dog creatures, the Skydogs, forming a formation resembling an arrowhead, as they swooped down for the assault.
From the stationary magic bows armed with arrows of light, high-altitude shots were showered.
Magic projectiles, akin to falling meteors, targeted the formations of aerial cavalry, but most missed their mark, and those that hit were deflected. They were using magic items like protective talismans to defend against anti-air attacks.
“Fire!”
Finally, when the Skydogs were within sight, arrows were released simultaneously from the ground.
The archers providing anti-air cover weren’t just the skeleton archer corps.
Unexpectedly, arrows came flying from much closer distances, and every single one found its mark with deadly accuracy.
Through the joints of armor.
Through gaps in helmets.
Arrows found their way unerringly to places where luck alone wouldn’t suffice to avoid them.
Riders pierced by arrows fell from their mounts, or their mounts, killed instantly, crashed to the ground with them.
Nearly half of the Skydog cavalry had been shot down by the first volley.
Amidst the rain of falling bodies carried by the momentum of their charge, the surviving airborne cavalry broke away, soaring high to distance themselves from the battlefield.
“…Is this what battles outside the woods are like? It would be easier to pierce fledgling birds in the early morning.”
“Dark Elves…!?”
A green-haired woman with a bow muttered incredulously.
Cloaked entirely in robes akin to liches, the archers concealed among the ranks of the undead revealed their true identities by discarding their disguises.
With their brown skin and pointed ears, these women, clad seductively in leather armor, were unmistakably Dark Elves.
The Blue Army had observed parts of the vast forest darkening, and it was almost certain that the forces of the “Rose Princess of Hellrage” and the elves were fighting together in the forest.
However, that was just a prediction that the elves would be conquered by monsters and treated like sl*ves of war, and no one expected that so many people would turn into Dark Elves.
The archery prowess of the elves was a significant threat, even in battles outside the forest.
However, their specialty lay in guerrilla warfare, hiding among the trees. They hadn’t been trained to use archers effectively outside the forest.
At least, not by themselves.
But now, the Elves had become Dark Elves, wielding their bows as part of the monster army.
“Kill the Dark Elves! The airborne cavalry won’t be able to move!”
“Protect the archers! Don’t let them get close!”
Sekichin and a ghoul, that seemed to be a frontline commander, yelled orders.
Zeft also charged forward.
Regardless of whether they appeared human or were originally human beings, they were monsters now.
Pawns of the demons.
If they stood in their way, they would be defeated.
If that was what it took to save Chenxi.
Zeft approached the Dark Elven woman wielding a sword made of beast bones.
But then, it happened.
“What…?”
Zeft felt a horrifying chill all over his body, as if plunging into snow without clothes.
The sky remained clear yet darkened.
The air became thick and sticky, like glue.
Just as Zeft was about to be engulfed, he berely managed to deflect the impending fatal blow.
A sword, as finely crafted as if carved from a gemstone, blood-red.
A silver-haired girl stood there.
Innocent yet intelligent, graceful yet evil.
Incongruously dressed in a beautiful white dress, not befitting a battlefield, with the skirt adorned with a blood-red rose.
“‘Rose Princess of Hellrage’…!!”
The enemy commander, the “Rose Princess of Hellrage” herself, had appeared at the frontline.
