329 Chapter
This was suicidal.
An incredibly foolish act of suicide.
Even with the possession of an artefact infused with a Great Mage’s circle, Ilpilim was merely a 7th Circle Mage.
Attempting to cast a Warp spell alone with just a 7th Circle level body was nothing short of suicide.
Nevertheless, Resina ignored Ilpilim’s pleas and completed the magic until its manifestation.
And fortunately, the warp succeeded.
Zzzeeeeng!!
Immediately after the warp succeeded.
The backlash transformed his body into that of a ragdoll, and the surrounding ground collapsed.
Though her vision reddened and blood splattered everywhere, Resina paid no heed and rose to her feet.
“We’ve arrived.”
Resina used the previously altered mana veins as a one-time-use temporary gate and signal beacon to specify spatial coordinates.
As a result, the ground where the mana veins flowed had completely melted and bubbled.
Many mages across the continent would have detected this rough and sudden warp.
Moreover, the location Resina warped to was close to the Imperial Capital.
More precisely, it was in an area that barely escaped the defensive perimeter established to protect the Imperial Capital and nearby cities.
Even though it was slightly outside the defensive zone, with the warp having been detected, the Empire’s defense forces would surely mobilize immediately.
[Hide and retreat immediately!!!]
“Alright, let’s begin.”
Holding the cracked Alea, which emitted flashes of light, Resina started moving.
Simultaneously, familiar phantoms began sequentially forming and advanced alongside her.
Ilpilim, recognizing the reckless use of mana, momentarily lost his words as he realized his physical form was rapidly deteriorating.
Resina had no intention of restoring Ilpilim’s body. To her, Ilpilim’s body was merely a disposable consumable item.
Struggling to accept the reality he faced, Ilpilim fell silent.
However, when Resina openly massacred a small group of the Empire’s defense forces and resumed her advance,
Ilpilim coldly acknowledged his inevitable demise and became enraged.
[What exactly are you trying to do with my body?! What is your purpose?! Answer me!!!]
If death was unavoidable, at least he wanted to clearly know why the ghost possessing his body was causing such chaos.
With a grin, Resina stepped forward while crushing a soldier’s spilled intestines.
“You don’t need to be upset. Your sacrifice will be worth enough, and you’ll be satisfied too.”
[You keep spouting nonsense…!]
“Ilphilim, the Demon Realm Expedition will succeed.”
[What…?]
“That child will make it happen. Even though they were initially just a crude and flawed replica, I now feel affection for them.”
Tearing apart an armored knight, Resina briefly wore a wistful expression.
“The beginning was a lie, but now that child truly carries Harshia’s sword.”
With a mere gesture, Resina erased the incoming barrage of magic above her head and aimed Alea at the imperial army.
“Just like Harshia did, that child will save the continent and sustain the empire… I believe.”
The whip-like flash emanating from Alea evaporated everything in its vicinity.
Pushing away the heat, Resina continued advancing.
“The expedition will succeed. The Demon Realm will contract more than ever before, the empire will grow stronger, and the continent will be fully purified. That child, who has already reached their limit, won’t last much longer and will soon close their eyes… Luna will follow them too.”
That was the conclusion Ray had chosen.
However, Resina could not accept such an ending.
Because such an ending meant… El-Lam’s ‘perfect victory.’
“Hahahaha… No, no, that cannot be.”
Smiling absurdly, Resina’s expression hardened.
“El-Lam… I won’t allow that detestable existence to take control of this world. Rather than witnessing such a sight, I’d rather we both perish together.”
[…What does that have to do with this madness right now?]
“Ray… The guardian of the empire, and the greatest hero in imperial history, revered as a saint. Such a figure protects a cute child named Lea.”
[So what?]
“Lea, that child is royalty.”
[…!!!]
Even Ilpilim, who was on the brink of death and lacked composure, was shocked by this revelation.
[Royalty? You said royalty?]
“Unknown even to the empire, she is royalty. Ray protected her because she is the biological daughter of the woman he thought of as a mother.”
Despite countless conflicts, Ray couldn’t bring himself to dispose of his own sister, and eventually, Lea became a bittersweet presence for Ray.
How many hardships did Ray willingly endure to save Lea, destined for a short life?
Ray sacrificed his lifespan to dedicate himself to Lea, and thanks to that, Lea should have grown up safely into adulthood… but.
“We’re going to Lea.”
[…?]
“And we’ll guide the situation so that the emperor learns about the fact that she possesses dragon blood.”
[…!!]
“Thanks to this reckless assault you’ve initiated, it will happen by chance. Future generations will record you as the starting point of chaos.”
[You…!! Exactly…!!]
“Lea. The hidden royal lineage protected secretly by the greatest hero in imperial history. The emperor isn’t stupid enough to tolerate such an existence…”
Just how cruel will the emperor become upon confirming Lea’s existence?
Recalling countless examples from history, Resina looked up at the sky and laughed brightly.
El-Lam, you hateful creature, I won’t see your smug face twice.
Even if we perish together, I will never let you win.
“So, Ray… I wish for your safe return. Because this must be your final battlefield.”
In the distance, additional reinforcements from the Empire’s defense forces gathered to stop Resina.
Preparing to increase her speed, Resina softly whispered.
“And… I’m really curious, Ray.”
After losing everything you staked your life to protect,
“Will you keep the promise you made with Luna… that you wouldn’t ask for anything?”
*
At the same time, in the Demon Realm.
Having successfully established a forward base, the expeditionary force moved forward again.
The expeditionary force continued its smooth advance, establishing multiple temporary bases at critical locations.
There were occasional demon worshippers blocking the way, but they were all weaklings.
Thanks to this, the expeditionary force managed to secure about 80% of their target temporary bases.
The distance to the final objective, where Preches was located, had decreased to less than half compared to when they first entered the Demon Realm.
Additionally, the expeditionary force’s troops were significantly dispersed to protect the temporary bases.
It was time to end this transparent farce.
No better description could fit the current situation than “calm before the storm.”
And the first anomaly struck the expeditionary force’s forward base.
“…”
Royal Guard Paula was personally guarding the perimeter of the forward base, her senses heightened.
She knew that this seemingly peaceful battlefield would soon transform into hell.
While maintaining focus, Paula noticed a small dot rising into the sky beyond the horizon.
Initially dismissing it as insignificant, the dot ascending towards the sky disappeared from view before suddenly growing larger above Paula’s head.
Paula shouted.
“It’s an artillery attack!!!”
“!!”
Everyone quickly prepared for the bombardment.
Of course, the forward base was equipped with defenses against powerful artillery attacks.
Still, thanks to Paula’s early warning, the mages reinforced the protective barriers further.
Soon enough, a black mass fell onto the forward base.
The black mass was large enough to cast a shadow over the entire forward base momentarily.
Kwaang!!!!
The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck.
Unfazed despite the tremors, Paula hurriedly checked the base for damages.
The forward base had managed to withstand the bombardment.
However, many elite soldiers were swept away by the shockwave, and the oozing explosive shells released corrosive liquids that seeped through the barrier, corroding whatever they touched.
Clerics rushed to purify the unholy energy, while mages deployed magical formations to reinforce the protective barriers.
Paula immediately called out to Magna, a royal mage directly under the royal family.
“Did you manage to trace the firing position?!”
“About 40 km away!”
“How did they hit us directly above the head from that distance?!”
“We don’t have time to analyze it now.”
There was no spare time to analyze the principle behind it.
While Paula yelled orders to the soldiers to repair the base, she sensed ominous energy overhead again.
“…!!”
Another bombardment dropped shortly after the previous one.
“Intercept it!!!”
Kwaang!!!!!
The mages unleashed their full power without hesitation, causing the oozing shell to explode mid-air.
Meanwhile, Paula, having received predictive coordinates from Magna, urgently shouted into the communicator.
“Base 13!! Base 14!! The forward base is exposed to enemy artillery fire!! Can you visually confirm the source of the attack?!!”
[Base 13, visual confirmation. A giant monstrosity over fifty meters tall… emerging from what looks like a black swamp and firing artillery.]
“Eliminate it as quickly as possible with nearby bases!!!”
If such bombardments continue, the forward base might hold, but the temporary bases will be hard to maintain.
Understanding the situation quickly, Lucas, commanding Base 13, allocated troops to eliminate the giant monstrosity.
However, just as he was about to move the troops, a dark blue monster about five meters long attacked Base 13.
Kwang!!!
“What is this thing?!”
Lucas swung his sword.
The sword pierced the monster’s leg, causing it to scream and spew black flames in all directions.
Hwaaack!!!
“?!”
Soldiers near the monster were thrown to the ground.
Thanks to an artefact, Lucas avoided severe injuries but stumbled momentarily.
The dark blue monster possessed most of the characteristics of a darkness spirit but, for some reason, was injured by Lucas’ sword and leaked black blood.
Not a spirit then? Could it be a demon?
While pondering the monster’s identity, Lucas’ field of vision narrowed momentarily.
A scream sounded behind Lucas’ head.
“Kraaaak!”
“…!”
An elite soldier blocked a blade aimed at Lucas’ back with his body and screamed.
The blade protruding from the arm pierced through the elite soldier as the demonic being faded into smoke and reappeared behind a templar, another essential member of the expeditionary force.
“Dare you…!!”
Lucas fiercely deflected the demon’s blade aimed at the templar.
The demon smirked openly at Lucas and faded into smoke again.
Meanwhile, battles were also breaking out at other bases.
Through the communicator, reports poured in from over half the bases about assaults.
The slow response due to the bizarre techniques used by demons and unidentified monsters was increasing casualties rapidly.
Of course, the losses were still manageable for now.
However, once the enemy’s main force starts rampaging soon, the number of casualties will skyrocket instantly.
To retreat while preserving the expeditionary force’s strength, they needed to retreat now.
Conversely, if they were determined to win the expedition, there could be no looking back.
Those at the forefront of the expeditionary force looked back at Alexander, who held command authority.
Without hesitation, Alexander picked up the communicator.
“This is the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, Alexander.”
The communication paused briefly.
“The enemy’s offensive will grow fiercer. Until further orders, do your best to defend the established bases and the forward base. Remember, this is the Demon Realm. Surrender or escape is impossible. Brace yourselves. We will prove that your sacrifices will not be in vain.”
Alexander succinctly conveyed his resolve.
Soon, communications between bases surged again.
Now it was a race to see which side would break first.
“Hmm…”
Ray took a deep breath.
The 200 members of the expeditionary force who had stayed with the front-line strike team until the end retreated to support the base defenses.
Then, the thirty-member strike team began activating top-tier armaments they had been conserving.
From here on, the strike team would forcefully penetrate a single point to strike Preches.
“…Luna.”
Ray turned to look at Luna.
Two wind spirits contracted to Luna materialized beside her.
One was the high-ranking wind spirit Karga, and the other was the recently contracted highest-ranking wind spirit ‘Eira’.
Trying his best to smile, Ray took Luna’s hand.
“…Let’s go, Luna.”
“…Yes, Ray.”
“Always… thank you.”
For a moment, Ray tightly clasped Luna’s hand before stepping back.
Reaffirming his commitment to fulfill his final duty to protect his people, Ray summoned the Empire’s divine sword from the air.
Reenactment (1)
