Chapter 801
Just as the four fathers and sons were having a brief moment of family time, there was no leisure for such luxuries.
Kuguugugung!
The assault of the Outer Gods' hands, which had momentarily weakened, intensified once again.
Until now, they had simply been poking or scratching with their fingertips, but now they began to grab and forcefully tear at my sky fortress in a more concrete manner.
The sight of countless hands, tens or hundreds of times larger than my body, endlessly descending from the sky and ripping off the ceiling of my fortress was… truly a chilling spectacle.
"I request your interception!"
I immediately ordered Lark and Fernandez.
"You two elder brothers, please defend the fortress and continue to repel the hands of the Outer Gods!"
The two brothers nodded firmly, then lightly boarded their ship — 'The Last Ark' — and without hesitation, soared into the sky, wielding their swords and magic.
Following the trajectory of the Last Ark's ascent, a dazzling light burst forth as sword strikes and magical bombardments intertwined. The hands of the Outer Gods that tried to grasp the ark were torn apart and exploded.
"I shall join as well."
The Emperor also drew his sword with his right hand and began to control La Mancha with his left.
"Father!"
I urgently called out to the Emperor before he could set out.
"What about the method to remove Everblack? What did you see when you connected to Everblack earlier?"
"…"
The Emperor was silent for a moment, then,
"It's alright."
He suddenly said this.
"Pardon?"
To me, who asked back in confusion, the Emperor smiled gently.
"Trust me. Everblack is fine. It will soon open the way by itself."
"But!"
"Everblack is humanity's guardian tree. And it's also a lighthouse that sees the future."
For some reason, there was a sorrowful smile on the Emperor's face as he looked at the tree.
"This tree has never once not been for the people. It's the same now."
"…"
"Believe in our thorn tree. And, let's do what we can do now."
The Emperor seemed to have gained confidence from seeing something inside Everblack.
For some reason, he didn't give a specific explanation, but I nodded.
Just as my people trust me.
I too, because I trust my people.
I decided to accept the Emperor's conviction.
"I will, Father."
Everblack will open the way by itself.
We buy time until then.
"Huhu. Good. Then shall we go too! We can't let your brothers have all the fun as fellow guardians, can we?"
Tuhak-!
La Mancha soared up following the Last Ark. I also spread my dragon wings and flew up alongside La Mancha.
"By the way, Ash. You truly are blessed with good people."
The Emperor suddenly said.
"Everyone is coming to help you even here in the spirit realm."
"Pardon?"
I opened my eyes wide.
What does he mean? The only ones who could come to help me in this spirit realm are Lark and Fernandez, right?
Then the Emperor silently pointed his hand towards the sky.
"Look."
I looked up at the sky following the Emperor.
There were countless giant palms falling towards us, slicing through the sky. There were so many hands that they filled the sky without gaps, falling as one massive curtain.
"All I see are enemies trying to kill me, not those coming to help me!"
Despite my complaint, the Emperor just smiled silently.
The next moment, the falling palms filled my vision and occupied the entire sky. The unbroken hostility completely obscured the sky.
Soon, the whole world was plunged into complete darkness.
The sun rises.
Tearing away the curtain of darkness, the sunlight illuminated the spirit realm with a ferocious intensity as if to incinerate it.
I looked over there in surprise. The dawn broke brilliantly, forcefully ripping apart the artificial night created by the hands of the Outer Gods.
"This is…!"
As I looked up to observe, the sun was rising at the end of that endless land stretching out on the opposite side of the coast. And following the movement of that sun, all the hands of the Outer Gods burst into flames.
It reminded me of the time long ago when I first drifted into this spirit realm. That sun I witnessed then was rising again.
Squinting at the dazzling radiance, I raised my hand to shield my eyes from the light.
'Huh?'
Is it an illusion?
With the blazing sun at its back, something's shadow was shimmering like a heat haze.
I focused my gaze to see the approaching shadow more clearly.
It was…
Four enormous dragons flying towards us with the sunrise at their backs.
"…No way."
Suddenly.
The last words of Dusk Bringar, who had passed on the flame in my heart to me, echoed in my mind.
— According to the legend my mother told me, the red dragons who have lived out their lifespans gather at the shore at the end of the world… and wait together for the world's last sunrise.
— So, this isn't goodbye… We'll be able to meet again on that final morning.
The shore at the end of the world.
The last sunrise on that shore.
Recalling that unbelievable legend, I swallowed hard. The Emperor chuckled softly.
"Well, well, she truly is a great person of persistence."
"…"
"It seems she's been waiting all this time at the boundary between this world and the afterlife… just to meet you."
Illuminating the world brightly, four Red Dragons descended one by one onto my sky fortress.
An unbelievably large dragon — radiating an aura as grand as the sun itself — the first Dusk Bringar.
With a flash of red light, the next moment she transformed into a woman with long, flowing red hair. Following her, the other three dragons also changed into human form one after another.
A woman with pale skin and short red hair. The first Dawn Bringar.
A woman with dark skin and multiple braids cascading down. Day Bringar.
And…
"…"
Like the night waves dancing on the legendary sea
With flowing black hair to her ears.
The one who passed on her blood and will to me,
The 2nd Dusk Bringar.
The Duchess.
"Didn't I promise you?"
I stood there dumbfounded, unable to believe it, and Dusk Bringar, who was quietly observing me, smiled showing her pointed teeth.
"That it wasn't goodbye. That we would be able to meet again on the last morning."
"Duchess…!"
When I called out, Dusk Bringar frowned with a dissatisfied expression, then.
"Hmm… Instead of 'Duchess', couldn't you call me by the title you used at the very end?"
She asked hesitantly.
I carefully took her hand and corrected my address.
"…Mother."
"Huhuhuh."
Dusk Bringar blushed and seemed flustered.
"My, what a ticklish and embarrassing yet pleasant sound that is…"
Then the Emperor, who was watching, made a comment.
"It seems I hear the sound of family trees getting tangled again…"
"Quiet, Traha. The Bringar Duchy is connected not by blood, but by will. Ash is my descendant, connected by my heart."
And then.
The woman with long, flowing red hair — the first Dusk Bringar — approached me with audible footsteps.
I tensed up a bit and stood stiffly as I looked at her. The first Dusk Bringar stood in front of me and made a "Hmm-" sound as she examined me.
"Yes. I've heard a lot about you. You are the 2nd Dawn Bringar."
"I greet you, ancestor."
"The only male among my descendants. How fascinating. Well, in our family connected by will, what does gender matter?"
The first Dusk Bringar lowered her eyes and nodded towards the 2nd Dusk Bringar.
"By the way, to think you would rebel against the Outer Gods… Indeed, you have a boldness worthy of my descendants' constant pride."
"A-Ancestor! There's no need to mention that!"
"Isn't that just saying you chose your son well? There's nothing to be embarrassed about."
She smiled wryly at the 2nd Dusk Bringar who was jumping up and down.
Then the first Dusk Bringar opened her golden dragon eyes wide and gazed at me intently.
"You who bear the fifth name of the Bringar family. You who have decided to abandon the dragon blood on your own."
"…"
"I understand your intention, but it's difficult for me to fully support your choice to willingly give up my blood. After all, I am the last dragon, and I passed on that bloodline to humans in order to preserve it."
When the spirit realm closes, all magic, mysteries, and powers in this world will disappear.
The dragon blood is no exception. The Bringar Duchy will lose all its special dragon qualities and become an ordinary human family.
"Descendant. Would you explain your intentions to me?"
I answered immediately.
"The most important thing you left behind, ancestor, is not the dragon's heart, the dragon's blood, or even the name Bringar."
I placed my hand on my chest.
"What's important is this will, this heart that has been passed down from you to me."
The justice that the people of the Bringar Duchy have held for generations, the courage to not hate.
Isn't it enough to inherit just that? Even if everything else becomes diluted.
"…It's such a perfect answer that it's astounding."
The first Dusk Bringar shook her head.
"But, yes. Even in the distant past, and perhaps even now, there were few who sincerely gave such an obvious and old-fashioned answer. Everyone tended to be consumed by the external power rather than the will inscribed within. But you are not like that."
"…"
"2nd Dawn Bringar. My son who has inherited not only my bloodline but also my heart."
The first Dusk Bringar, and then the first Dawn Bringar and Day Bringar smiled together.
It was a benevolent smile like sunlight.
"We will lend you our strength."
I silently knelt on one knee and bowed my head to express my gratitude.
"…That man, Night Bringar, argued that if we were to be toyed with by the Outer Gods, we should destroy this world itself. On the other hand, I believed that even if it was a fate of being toyed with, the will of living beings itself was important."
The first Dusk Bringar quietly looked into my chest.
"You, who have inherited both bloodlines, have presented a new path that surpasses both that man's and my conclusions."
"I only pray that this path is the right one."
"Even if it strays a little, what does it matter?"
The first Dusk Bringar covered her mouth and chuckled.
"You can just find your direction again on the path that follows."
"…"
"Go the path you believe in. Your mothers will help you."
Then the first Dusk Bringar commanded.
"Now, my daughters! The last day we have been waiting for in this eternal moment, in the gap between life and death, has dawned."
The three women transformed back into dragon form one by one.
"Let's spend this day from this final dawn to dusk without regrets!"
The first Dusk Bringar spread her two enormous wings and soared up, followed by the first Dawn Bringar and Day Bringar.
"Ash."
Lastly, Dusk Bringar, preparing to transform, smiled brightly.
"Meeting you and being connected to you was the best thing I've done in my entire life."
"…"
"I'm proud of you."
For this moment.
In front of my heart's mother who had endured in this harsh spirit realm without rest even at the end of her life, waiting without promise, I could only well up with tears.
Then Dusk Bringar reached out her small hand to gently pat my head, and
"When my son says he'll take a difficult path, of course his mom should help!"
She smiled brightly, then transformed into the form of a graceful and beautiful red dragon.
The four red dragons, soaring up in a group like fireworks, charged towards the Outer Gods one after another.
Under the final flames they ignited, the whole sky brightened.
Chapter 802
The fierce battle continued.
In the sky, the hands of the Outer Gods simultaneously clenched into fists, then fell to the ground in an instant.
Then the hands grasped each other and rotated, striking the ground like swords or whips.
The hands of the Outer Gods tried to destroy our sky fortress using various methods and overwhelming numbers.
In the face of the Outer Gods' intensifying offensive, we struggled but…
We were still holding on.
As the Outer Gods' attacks increased, so did our defensive forces.
New reinforcements were joining one after another.
Kung-!
The racial gods of the 4 major heterogeneous races who had gone to burn their guardian trees joined our defense line. The giant beings fought against the Outer Gods, exhaling formless roars.
And following them…
"…!"
Countless racial gods of other races began to appear from all over the spirit realm and stand with us.
In the distant past.
The Outer Gods conducted another game of destruction on this world stage — the 'Racial War'.
They planted guardian trees for their chosen races and incited wars where each race tried to burn the others' guardian trees… watching and enjoying as they killed each other.
There were countless races that were used as toys then, but were defeated and had their guardian trees burned. Their racial gods had been buried and sleeping under the sands of this spirit realm.
And now, at this final and first rebellion shaking the spirit realm…
They too bared their teeth against those beings in the sky who had used and abandoned them as toys.
Under my brightly shining and fluttering flag, all the sleeping racial gods awoke and united. The giants participated in the battle, burning the last of their remaining strength.
"…"
I suddenly observed the World Guardian Front engaging in a truly mythical battle here in the spirit realm.
An army composed entirely of racial gods, led by the racial gods of the 4 major heterogeneous races.
The world's last red dragons, and the three daughters who inherited their will.
Humanity's strongest knight and greatest mage.
The Emperor who had fought in the spirit realm all his life, and his royal guard.
And me, commanding all of them.
I waved my flag. Immediately, everyone who understood my intentions changed formation in perfect unison to block the Outer Gods' attacks.
"Let's fight!"
We resist all oppression imposed on our world.
Because we are not toys.
Because we are players, not pieces.
Because we are the sole masters of our fate!
"Don't give up, fight-!"
Commanding the endless battle with optimal efficiency, I shouted until my voice was hoarse.
How long had the battle continued in this state of selflessness?
Suddenly, the air changed.
Feeling an ominous premonition, I quickly looked up at the sky.
"…!"
The eyes of the Outer Gods staring at us.
Some of them were tinged with an eerie purple color.
'What are they trying to do?'
It wasn't the 'blink' that was trying to crush and kill us in one strike.
The purple gazes shot by the eyes intertwined with each other, unfolding chaotic patterns and magical formulas in the air. As countless eyes simultaneously drew in the sky, the diagram was completed in an instant.
"Kugh?!"
Just looking at it made my head throb and my stomach churn.
An illusion, or rather something closer to a curse… a mental attack from a higher being.
As their direct attacks continued to be thwarted, the Outer Gods had changed their method of attack. Towards destroying our minds…!
I hurriedly averted my gaze, but the completed illusion was already covering the entire spirit realm and affecting all beings within it.
My [Unyielding Commander] was having an effect on the entire area, but there were too many casters of this illusion and their level was too high.
I felt my mental barriers melt away and evaporate in an instant.
'I have to block it!'
And the moment my mental barriers were completely worn away, everyone in the resistance force who was barely holding on would fall victim to that illusion.
'Somehow, I have to endure…!'
My vision burns white.
But I resisted with all my might, holding back my screams.
Did they think I would fall here?
After coming this far, how could I…!
'I must, endure…!'
The next moment, as the Outer Gods' gazes turned from purple to blood red-
Jjeoeoeoeoek!
The mental pressure exerted on me multiplied several times.
I couldn't breathe. The critical point approached in an instant.
Sensing that I could no longer endure, I squeezed my eyes shut and…
-Click.
For some reason familiar. And a little nostalgic.
The sound of an umbrella opening was heard beside me.
At the same time, the pressure that had been exerted on me disappeared all at once.
'Huh?'
I looked to the side in surprise.
Someone had approached and was now standing next to me, holding an umbrella over my head. Their appearance was hidden by the umbrella.
The color of the umbrella was dazzling, confident, and brazenly — pink.
A soft and sweet scent wafted over.
To me, who was blinking in surprise, the someone who had covered me with the umbrella… whispered in a voice that seemed to be holding back laughter.
"Hello, honey?"
This light, cheerful and quirky voice.
I muttered blankly without realizing it.
"Salome…?"
Then, from the other side of the umbrella, she laughed.
"Correct!"
The pink umbrella twirled around like a fan, pushing away all the mental attacks.
The sky in the area cleared instantly, the headache and nausea disappeared, and I regained my breath in one go.
As I caught my breath and turned to the side-
"Ash!"
She — Salome — jumped up and hugged me as she pleased.
"Ta-da! I've come to save you!"
"Salome, you…!"
Normally, I should have avoided or pushed her away.
But because I was happy for this unexpected reunion. And grateful for the helping hand she had given me.
I let her hug me as she pleased and rub her cheek against my chest.
"You, you're alive! I'm so glad…"
"Hehe."
Salome looked the same as before.
Glossy pink hair. Horns sprouting between it. A tail wagging frantically like a dog's.
And as if she had just been tanning at some resort, her skin was a healthy brown color, clearly visible in her sleeveless shirt and short shorts, topped with a hooded jumper and cap, and slippers…
"…?"
Wait.
Wait wait wait.
She doesn't look the same as before at all.
Rather, hasn't she skipped over several worldviews with this ridiculous appearance?!
"Th-This is outrageous! Get off me!"
I hurriedly pushed away this succubus who was trying to slyly wrap her arms around my neck. The dormant Confucian boy inside me screamed. Men and women should not sit together after the age of seven, good heavens!
I pointed at Salome.
"You, you…! What's with that appearance?!"
"Aahn? Is the boy not ready to handle this succubus sister's healthy sexy version yet?"
Salome smiled lasciviously, then twirled around on the spot and shouted.
"Let me introduce! 'Your own pink sun', in short…"
In short?
"It's the 'Pink Sun' version of Salome!"
"I-Insane…"
I felt dizzy even though it wasn't a mental attack. I clutched my forehead.
No matter how I look at it, she's wearing Earth culture clothes and using Earth culture jokes. She did peek at my memories before, or more precisely, the memories of the retro addict, is that why?
What the hell happened to this one in the meantime?
"After absorbing Raven back then, I was able to escape to this spirit realm. Raven only had pure evil left, but well, evil is also a mind… So for me who feeds on minds, it was as good as power."
Salome had always used the spirit realm as a hideout. That's why she had saved me when I was drifting in the spirit realm before.
It seems she managed to escape to the spirit realm even after defeating Raven back then.
"Ugh, but this Raven's malice was extraordinarily vicious. It kept trying to infect and rot even my soul, which is my mental body. I had quite a hard time."
Then Salome patted her belly visible under her short shirt.
"But, who am I? The Succubus Queen! Daughter of the Succubi! The universe's greatest femme fatale! I am Salome. There's no mind I can't devour! In the end, it took a while, but I completely digested Raven's malice and the essence of the plague…"
Then Salome muttered with a slightly gloomy expression.
"And became this Pink Sun…"
"What exactly is a Pink Sun…?"
"To be specific, I guess you could say I received some of Raven's traits. Now I can easily spread any emotion, and devour any malice whole."
Then Salome urgently grabbed my shoulders and said with trembling hands.
"No, I'll be honest. Malice tastes the best. Please, can you let me eat some malice…?"
This one has completely lost it!
"Anyway, through this process, I was able to break my existing specifications and be reborn as a being of the next level."
"Yeah. You seem to have… been reborn quite a lot…"
"Now I'm a somewhat amazing being who can go anywhere there is a 'mind' and do anything…"
Then Salome put her hand in a V-sign next to her large eyes, winked, and shouted.
"I've become the legendary strongest succubus! The Succubus Empress-!"
"…No, you're the Pink Sun."
No matter how I look at it, you're just a pink-haired tanned delinquent.
"Ah, anyway, I really wanted to do this! An old comrade joining at the last moment of the final battle to provide crucial help!"
Salome lightly looked around at the scenery of the spirit realm where the final battle was taking place, then smiled brightly at me.
"How about it, Ash! Aren't you happy I came? Aren't you relieved? Aren't you moved?"
"…Yeah."
I answered honestly.
"Thank you, Salome. For being alive. And for coming to help me."
"…"
Surprised that I honestly acknowledged it, Salome stared at me with wide eyes, and then.
"I'm the one who should thank you, Ash."
She smiled broadly with slightly flushed cheeks.
"For coming this far. For fighting without losing your heart… without giving up until now."
That smile, which was not the confident and seductive smile she had been wearing until just now, but somehow awkward and clumsy, looked…
More human than any expression I had seen on Salome so far.
"…"
"…"
By the way, even if we suddenly try to turn the atmosphere warm and fuzzy, it doesn't suit me and her… Look how awkward the air has become in an instant…
"Ahem! Anyway, that's how it is!"
Salome twirled her umbrella and rested it on her shoulder, then licked her lips with the tip of her tongue.
"Leave those bulging-eyed friends' mental attacks to me. I'll take care of all of them."
"Will you be alright? It was powerful enough to melt my mental barriers."
"Of course. Teeming with constant malice, it's really…"
Salome's pink eyes flashed dangerously.
"All my special dish!"
Then, she kicked off the ground and soared into the sky in an instant-
And absorbed all the purple mental attacks pouring down from the Outer Gods.
Through Salome's horns, which glowed with the same purple light, all the Outer Gods' mental attacks were sucked in and disappeared. Salome emitted a dazzling pink flash and laughed arrogantly, "Muhahaha!"
"…As always."
Still dumbfounded, but always grateful, I watched my reinforcements with a wry smile.
The Outer Gods continued to attack us with even stronger blinks, fingertips, and curses, but we were holding firm.
And then-
"…!"
Sensing something, I hurriedly turned my head.
Kuguguung…
The black thorn tree, Everblack, standing next to our fortress…
As if moving on its own, it began to rise, opening huge cracks around it.
Reality, the human world.
In front of the main castle of Crossroad.
The last line of defense against the Great Monster Invasion.
The airship Blue Pearl, which had been fighting in the sky until the very end-
Kuwagwagwagwang!
Crashed into the middle of the battlefield teeming with monsters.
Chapter 803
In front of Crossroad's main castle.
A fierce battle was raging here as well.
The last line of defense for humanity was now preparing to deploy the melee units against the monsters that had suddenly advanced to the very foot of the castle walls.
"Melee units, prepare!"
Evangeline shouted from atop the castle wall. The soldiers of the melee units standing to her left and right immediately flashed their eyes in unison.
Until now, they had been mobilized to create a curtain of fire with bows and crossbows to stop the monsters, but the original purpose of the melee units was not to create a curtain of fire.
It was to block the monsters with their bodies.
It was to throw themselves into battle to hold the line, believing that others in the rear would deal with the monsters.
"The situation is urgent! 1st and 2nd units, deploy simultaneously!"
The melee units were currently divided into three groups for operation.
Evangeline was in command of the 1st unit, while Torkel led the 2nd unit. The 3rd unit, which was the reserve force, was to be rotated or deployed as the situation demanded.
"1st unit to the east, 2nd unit to the west! 3rd unit will replace the wounded when I give the order!"
Evangeline shouted again.
"Deploy!"
"Deploy!"
"Crush those monsters!"
The melee unit members who had rushed to the edge of the wall prepared for battle. Evangeline also readjusted her grip on her lance, placing one foot on the wall, and looked down.
"…"
For a moment, her breath caught.
It's black.
She had the illusion that an endless black wave filling the horizon was surging forward.
A sea of monsters was truly rushing towards the foot of the castle wall. The raging torrent had risen to just below Crossroad's throat.
Although Crossroad had declared itself a 'tidal wave', the actual tidal wave of monsters surging forward was too much for Crossroad, which was too shallow a port to withstand it.
For a moment, Evangeline felt small and insignificant.
How could she, such a tiny human, possibly stand against such a vast sea?
"…!"
At that moment.
Evangeline suddenly looked to the side.
Her eyes held the karma of the Cross family. All the 'paths' of the family that had made monster-slaying their livelihood were reflected in her eyes.
Perhaps that's why?
For a fleeting moment, Evangeline saw phantoms standing against the castle wall.
From the distant ancestors, right up to her own father.
They were the images of all the lords who had lived and fought against monsters on the walls of Crossroad.
They all wore fearful expressions.
From the first Margrave Cross who started the family business in a small palisade fortress, through the previous Margrave who led the iron fortress of the empire in its heyday, to her father who desperately held out in the declining fortress.
They were all terrified. Their eyes showed clear fear as they looked at the approaching horde of monsters.
"…"
Evangeline didn't know. She truly didn't know.
She had never imagined that her father, who always showed a firm back standing on the castle wall, had actually worn such an expression.
And then…
The first Margrave, having caught his breath, adjusted his helmet and strapped on his shield.
Following him, all the Margraves, regardless of gender or age, everyone who had continued the lineage of the Cross family, covered their fear-stricken faces with helmets and tightened the straps of the shields on their arms.
Her father, after exhaling a long sigh, bit his lip firmly to steady his mind, then grasped his spear and shield.
'Ah… '
Only then did Evangeline understand.
The reason why her family, mocked as country bumpkins in the capital, was truly great.
What fisherman isn't afraid of the sea?
What human isn't afraid of the world?
The moment they become great is not when they no longer feel fear.
It's when they face the waves despite being afraid of the sea.
'Father.'
To protect his daughter, his wife, his city, and the world behind it…
Evangeline finally truly understood her father's heart, who overcame his daily fears and silently set out to the sea of monsters.
A smile formed on Evangeline's lips as she finally truly understood.
Was it an illusion?
It seemed as if faint smiles also appeared on the faces of all the Cross Margraves glaring at the sea of monsters.
"…"
When she closed her eyes and opened them again, the phantoms were gone without a trace.
But Evangeline Cross no longer trembled with fear. She acknowledged and accepted the terror.
'I am a small human.'
The shield in her hand is even smaller.
But the future of the people she will protect with this shield, this 'continuity' that has persisted from the distant past and will spread into the future-
Is by no means small.
This must be the reason why the Cross family, and all those who face the world, have raised their small shields in front of the sea, willing to sacrifice their lives.
"Prepare for battle!"
Evangeline shouted in an unwavering voice as she watched the monsters climbing up the castle wall.
"Let's do what we've always done!"
The voice of the future Margrave Cross was filled with firm confidence, and that alone brought stability to the soldiers' hearts. Everyone in the melee unit prepared for battle in response to Evangeline's command.
Commanding the frontline soldiers with the charisma befitting the lord of a city, Evangeline smiled.
She was the daughter of a villager who had built a life on the shore of the monster sea. And now.
She was truly proud of that fact.
"Begin combat!"
The monsters climbed up the castle wall, and humans struck down with their weapons.
The desperate struggle at the final line of defense of Crossroad's main castle had begun.
In front of Crossroad's main castle.
In the air. The airship Blue Pearl.
10 minutes before the crash.
"Sir Lucas!"
One of Lucas's aides shouted in a scream-like voice.
"We have no more means to delay the 'Sleepless Lake Princess'!"
"…!"
Lucas, who had been cutting down the swarm of flying monsters while standing on the deck of the airship, groaned.
All the delay tactics prepared by the guerrilla unit had been exhausted.
They had been holding back the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' with all kinds of special equipment and tactics, but now they had reached their limit.
Moreover, the onslaught of ordinary monsters was intensifying. Monsters were pouring in densely both from the ground and the air, and the Blue Pearl was also engaged in dealing with flying monsters while carrying out the operation to stop the Lake Princess.
But there was no more way.
Even amidst all this, the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' was walking gracefully, getting closer to Crossroad's main castle bit by bit.
Among the countless horde of monsters, now the monsters themselves were making way for her.
It was as if she was walking along a white path parting the black waves.
"…It's not that there's no way."
At that moment, the Rompeller siblings, who had been dealing with flying monsters alongside Lucas, approached with a grin.
"We still have unused special equipment, don't we, Sir Knight?"
Lucas frowned.
"…Using that on the Lake Princess is too risky."
"But we have no other choice, right? And the risk we'll bear is less of a problem than Crossroad falling."
The Rompeller siblings took out the equipment they had been carrying on their backs.
The female Rompeller had a giant anchor, while the male Rompeller had a multi-barreled harpoon gun.
"We're already in deep water, so we might as well grasp at straws, right?"
"…"
It was true.
There was no time to hesitate. Lucas closed his eyes once, opened them, and immediately ordered.
"Operation 'Weight of Obsession', begin."
When Lucas spoke aloud the grotesque operation name they had given, the excited Rompeller siblings high-fived each other.
As there was no time, the operation began immediately. All crew members were already familiar with the operation details.
Everyone knew that this was essentially a suicide mission.
"Blue Pearl, launch! Target is the enemy commander… 'Sleepless Lake Princess'!"
The Blue Pearl, which had been hovering in the air, accelerated sharply and descended towards the ground.
Until now, the Blue Pearl had maintained a certain distance from the 'Sleepless Lake Princess'. This was to use delay tactics without getting caught in the Lake Princess's attacks.
However, this operation 'Weight of Obsession' necessarily presupposed approaching.
So the Blue Pearl, with all its sails unfurled, charged towards the enemy commander, leaving trails of blue magical energy.
"…"
Hanging like strings from the pitch-black gazes shot by the Outer Gods.
The gaze of the 'Sleepless Lake Princess', who had been advancing jerkily like a wooden puppet, slowly moved. It was towards the Blue Pearl charging at her.
Saaaa…!
Darkness gathered in the 'Sleepless Lake Princess's' hand, transformed into the shape of a longsword, and was lightly swung towards the Blue Pearl.
Crack-!
With a chilling sound that seemed to split space, the sword of darkness flew towards the front of the Blue Pearl.
And, the Blue Pearl did not dodge.
Thud…!
The sword of darkness pierced exactly into the bow of the Blue Pearl.
But the Blue Pearl endured.
Rather, it continued to charge forward, shattering the sword of darkness. The mermaid pirates on board cheered in unison.
"This is it-!"
"As expected of Lady Siren!"
There was a statue of Siren fixed to the bow of the Blue Pearl.
The Nightmare Slayer [Steadfast Superstition] — moved from La Mancha to the Blue Pearl.
This special artifact, made from the magic core of the Ghost Fleet Admiral, exerted its special ability without reservation.
'Unbreakable'!
Even if that attack was the most vicious strike shot by the incarnation of nightmares, it was completely nullified!
'No, not completely.'
Lucas sharply observed the state of the Blue Pearl.
Undoubtedly, [Steadfast Superstition] had endured even in the face of that terrible attack. However, the bow around the statue was tattered from the impact.
Even though the direct hit was nullified, the shockwave spread around it had shattered the durability of the airship's bow.
'It won't endure twice!'
But it was true that it had withstood the initial strike.
And while the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' prepared for a second attack following her first ineffective one, the Blue Pearl succeeded in approaching within the targeted distance.
"Harpoons, fire all-!"
"Fire!"
With the male Rompeller's shout, all the harpoon guns prepared on the Blue Pearl were fired at once. The male Rompeller also emptied his multi-barreled harpoon gun completely.
The multi-barreled harpoon gun, [Obsession of the Sea].
A weapon given by Ash, the special effect of this equipment was… forced binding.
Once connected with this harpoon, the target cannot escape from this harpoon until the user retrieves it.
In addition to the harpoons shot by the male Rompeller, dozens of harpoons fired by the Blue Pearl wrapped around the body of the 'Sleepless Lake Princess'.
"We did it!"
"Retreat!"
With that, the Blue Pearl turned tail and fled.
To the south.
And when the male Rompeller judged that they had gained sufficient distance, he shouted at the female Rompeller.
"Anchor it!"
"Okay-!"
The female Rompeller threw the giant anchor she was holding overboard.
The name of this anchor is [Weight of the Sea].
Also given by Ash, its special ability allows the user's ship to 'anchor' immediately the moment the anchor touches the ground.
Thud…!
The moment [Weight of the Sea] hit the ground.
Screech…!
Suddenly, the Blue Pearl stopped as if fixed in mid-air.
And the 'Sleepless Lake Princess', entangled by harpoons to the Blue Pearl, also had to stop in place, unable to advance north any further.
It looked as if the Blue Pearl, fixed like a nail in the southern sky, was holding back the 'Sleepless Lake Princess', who had been walking towards the north where human settlements were — towards Crossroad, with harpoon guns.
"…"
Snap, snap snap snap!
While all the other harpoon guns that the Blue Pearl had prepared were using magically reinforced ropes, they all rotted and broke just by the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' touching them.
However, the rope connected to the special harpoon shot by [Obsession of the Sea] endured.
The 'Sleepless Lake Princess' tried to pull the rope tied to her to drag the Blue Pearl towards her instead. But the Blue Pearl, anchored by [Weight of the Sea], didn't budge an inch.
In the end, the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' had to stop there, unable to advance north any further.
"Where are you rushing off to? Got a party appointment or something?"
"Seems like you don't understand the situation, but if you want to pass through here, you've got to pay a hefty toll, you know?"
"Oh my, toll? We should call it a friendship fee!"
"That's right, friendship fee! Pay the friendship fee and let's be friends, friend!"
The two excited Rompellers cheered.
But the joy was short-lived.
Whoosh-!
The 'Sleepless Lake Princess' turned her body, lightly kicked off the ground — and shot towards the southern sky.
It was a speed of a different dimension from her previous sluggish movements. The two Rompellers, startled, hurriedly tried to retrieve their equipment.
"Release the harpoons, retrieve the anchor!"
"Immediate evasive maneuvers…!"
Originally, the plan was to retrieve the harpoons and anchor, withdraw, and then continue to hinder and lure the Lake Princess in the same way, but.
The 'Sleepless Lake Princess' moved at an unexpected speed. Everyone on the Blue Pearl was flustered by this unprecedented movement.
Before they could retrieve the harpoons and anchor, before they could initiate evasive maneuvers.
The 'Sleepless Lake Princess', who had penetrated within range, threw a sword of darkness.
Even in this situation, the skilled helmsman accurately turned the ship's direction, allowing [Steadfast Superstition] to take the direct hit, but-
Only [Steadfast Superstition] endured.
Crash!
The front of the Blue Pearl caved in.
The tremendous force of the sword of darkness tore off [Steadfast Superstition] from the bow and pushed it into the inside of the ship.
The already tattered bow was crushed, and the collapse spread from the bow to the hull of the airship. The masts kept breaking and falling chaotically.
Unable to withstand, the Blue Pearl immediately lost its lift, and
Boom!
It crashed into the middle of the battlefield teeming with monsters.
Chapter 804
The Rompeller siblings were also Avatars who could borrow the power of their racial deity.
Although they had not inherited these powers long ago and were unfamiliar with them, and even though the supply of magical power from the spirit realm to reality was weakening—
"Waaaaaah!"
They were able to exert enough power to save their lives in the falling situation.
The two siblings created a water cushion under the Blue Pearl, and although the ship crashed horribly to the ground, the impact was dispersed.
"Everyone, retreat!"
Lucas shouted, gathering the sailors who were staggering from the impact of the crash.
"Retreat! Hurry—!"
But despair quickly clouded the faces of those who had hastily escaped from the ship.
"Ah… Aah…"
"Hii, hiiiiii!"
It was approaching.
The 'Sleepless Lake Princess'.
The Blue Pearl had crashed near the center of the battlefield. Although not too far from the castle walls, it felt like a thousand miles to the sailors struggling from the impact of the crash.
And the master of nightmares was closing the distance with graceful steps.
The Rompeller siblings gritted their teeth and drew their daggers and pistols.
"Damn, is this as far as we go…?"
"I wanted to cause a bit more trouble…"
"…"
Lucas stepped forward, pushing back the injured soldiers, his face hardened as he placed his hand on his waist.
It was then.
"…?"
The gaze of the 'Sleepless Lake Princess', who had been staring at the Blue Pearl's crew, suddenly shifted.
Towards Crossroad's castle wall, no—
Towards an artifact installed on top of it.
The artifact, made of a large metal plate, was accurately reflecting the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' on its smooth surface.
Lilly, the red-haired senior magician who had her hand on the artifact, shouted vigorously.
"[Start Over]—!"
The artifact, [Start Over].
Its effect was to forcibly teleport the target whose full body was captured inside the metal plate to the southern end of Crossroad's field.
Click—!
As the artifact's activation sound rang out, the next moment.
Crack!
A clear fracture opened on the metal plate.
It was the price of daring to handle an existence of a different caliber, one that couldn't be contained.
The alchemists gritted their teeth and rushed in, holding the trembling metal plate with their hands to stabilize it, pouring all their magical power into the artifact.
Due to the effects of the spirit realm closure, self-sustaining magical power supply was difficult, so they had connected the artifact to pre-stored magical power charging paths to barely maintain output, but it was unstable.
Crack, crackcrackcrack!
Like a glass mirror breaking, countless cracks spread across the metal plate. Even as their hands were torn by the broken metal fragments, everyone endured.
And then—
"Fly away… awaaaay!"
With Lilly's cry,
Clang—!
The entire metal plate bent and broke, and [Start Over] was ultimately destroyed horribly.
But it completed its final mission to the very end.
Flash!
It succeeded in teleporting the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' to the southern end of the field.
As the grim reaper who had approached right in front of them suddenly distanced herself, the Blue Pearl's crew let out a collective scream-like cheer.
But it was too early to rejoice.
Thud thud thud thud thud—!
The monsters in the area had been keeping their distance as it was the hunting ground chosen by the master of nightmares, but now that she had been flung to the entrance of the battlefield.
The monsters no longer held back. They rushed in from all directions to tear apart and kill the humans who had fallen in the middle of the battlefield.
And, if the master of nightmares was absent.
The human side had no reason to hold back either.
"Everyone, duck your heads—!"
With the cry of a stern old man, terrifying pillars of fire rose around the Blue Pearl. Hundreds of monsters rushing towards the crew turned to ashes instantly.
When Lucas looked up, he saw Ivory Tower Master Dearmudin and telekinetic Bodybag flying through the sky to their rescue.
Until now, Dearmudin had been supporting the Sky Knight Division using the flight ability of his equipped item [Old Phoenix]. Bodybag was also able to fly using telekinesis and was supporting him.
That's why they were able to come to the rescue at such an opportune moment.
"Let's evacuate!"
The two magicians grabbed all of the Blue Pearl's crew at once, lifting them into the air, and transported them towards the castle walls.
The monsters didn't give up and kept swarming in, but Bodybag bound them with a force field and Dearmudin burned them all.
"Thank you for the rescue, Lord Dearmudin."
Lucas expressed his gratitude. But Dearmudin shook his head.
"This is no time for optimism, Sir Lucas. We have no more delay tactics to use against the Lake Princess, do we?"
"…"
It was exactly as he said.
Now that the Blue Pearl had crashed and all the delay tactics possessed by the guerrilla unit had been exhausted, there was no way left to hold back the 'Sleepless Lake Princess'.
[Start Over] was a secret measure saved to use when the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' came right up to the castle walls, but it too had been consumed.
"That artifact, it could have at least blown her away to the entrance of the Black Lake, instead of just to the southern end of Crossroad's field. How stingy."
Dearmudin grumbled, but Lucas was grateful to [Start Over].
In the previous battle, and in this battle, how much time had that artifact bought them and what role had it played? [Start Over] was the only delay tactic that had pushed back such a powerful enemy commander this much.
But it had been used up and broken.
Now there were no more delay tactics, no more stopgap measures left to use against the enemy commander.
"We can somehow hold back the other monsters, but that Lake Princess… even the sturdiest castle walls can't withstand her."
"…"
"If there are no more means of delay, then Crossroad can no longer…"
"No."
Lucas, taking a deep breath, opened his azure eyes wide.
"There is."
"What…?"
As they reached the front of the castle wall, Lucas voluntarily broke free from Dearmudin's flight magic and fell to the ground.
Thud!
Standing in front of the castle gate, Lucas glared towards the south with his azure eyes.
"The rest of you, regroup on the castle walls and reinforce the defense of the main castle."
"What about you, Sir Lucas?"
"I have."
Lucas slowly drew the two swords at his waist and gripped them in both hands.
"A means to stop that monster."
In the distance— the 'Sleepless Lake Princess', who had been flung to the southern end of the field barely within sight from Crossroad, was quickly approaching again.
At her original sluggish pace, it would have taken a considerable amount of time, but her movements, with burnt dress hems fluttering, had become blindingly fast.
Were the Outer Gods manipulating and toying with her feeling impatient?
"…"
Lucas calmly composed his rising breath.
Suddenly, magic power in the atmosphere had become scarce.
As the magic power he had naturally utilized all his life became insufficient, Lucas suddenly felt small. It was as if the muscles were disappearing from his entire body, a sensation of shrinking.
But Lucas decided not to be afraid.
Because he knew that those monsters, and that Lake Princess too, were experiencing the same… perhaps even greater loss.
Also, because this loss was proof that his lord's strategy was being properly executed.
Instead, he chose to believe.
In his body honed over a lifetime, his senses, his swordsmanship, his efforts.
In his comrades fighting everywhere.
And— in himself.
Whoosh—!
A golden aura began to flow from Lucas's entire body.
[Divine Descent].
His ultimate technique, likely its final use in this world where magic was declining.
Simultaneously, a pale flash began to shimmer on Excalibur, the holy sword in Lucas's left hand.
It was the light of divinity.
Though Lucas himself didn't know.
In several previous iterations, Lucas had a history of fighting against the Demon King in place of Ash.
When Ash had broken down after too many regressions and often lost his sense of self and died right after arriving at Crossroad.
Lucas led Crossroad in those iterations as the acting lord, as the adversary of nightmares, as the protagonist.
Just as Ash had acted in place of the broken Aider, Lucas had acted in place of the broken Ash.
Later, as Ash continued his destruction play by overlaying different personalities on himself, Lucas no longer had the opportunity to take on such a role.
But undoubtedly, Lucas was the proxy of the player's proxy.
In other words—
He had the 'qualification'.
The qualification to touch divinity. The qualification to face the Demon King and his army of nightmares. The qualification to fight representing this world.
It was engraved in the knight's soul.
"…"
At the same time.
The blade of light of [Bestowed Sword] held in Lucas's right hand began to glow blue.
The violent instinct sealed within Lucas himself.
The power of the beast.
The shameful past he wanted to turn away from but couldn't erase. The driving force of that regret.
He decided to willingly accept even that.
"Haaaa…"
White breath leaked from Lucas's lips.
Simultaneously, the pale light cluster of [Excalibur] and the deep blue light cluster of [Bestowed Sword] began to melt into the golden aura emanating from Lucas's body.
'Sanctification' and 'Bestialization' were opposite concepts. Complete opposites.
Not something that could be contained together in one body.
But Lucas was handling them simultaneously. Neutralizing the two properties against each other, not being buried in sanctity, not being devoured by bestiality, he was walking the middle path between them.
"I am human."
Lucas, murmuring, slowly brought the two swords together before his chest.
Click, click, click!
The two swords transformed, merging into one.
[Bestowed Sword], which was only a handle in substance, clung to the lower part of [Excalibur]'s handle, spewing magical lightning.
At the same time, the separated guard parts also rose up along [Excalibur]'s handle with magical lightning, attaching to [Excalibur]'s guard.
And then,
Thud—!
Along the snow-white blade of the holy sword with pale light condensed on it, a current of blue light surged.
Enveloping [Excalibur]'s blade, the blade of light of [Bestowed Sword] burst forth, swirling enormously.
That white and blue aura, combining sanctity and bestiality, eventually settled into a serene golden color.
EX-grade weapon, [Ad Astra].
This weapon, normally so unstable it could only be used for a limited time, was now gripped steadily and calmly in Lucas's hand.
Because its master had firmly established his own mind.
The weapon too found serenity between the two swirling forces.
"I am the master of my fate, choosing my path by my own will."
The pale light of divinity and the deep blue light of the beast completely merged into a golden aura.
With unwavering eyes fixed straight ahead, Lucas asked.
"What about you, Nameless?"
The master of nightmares was now at hand.
With her whole body bound by the gazes of the Outer Gods, creaking like a marionette— the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' shot straight ahead.
Lucas took a deep breath.
"Your fate…"
A sword of darkness coalesced in the 'Sleepless Lake Princess's' hand. An enormous dark greatsword, incomparable to anything before, swirled violently.
Against it, Lucas swung [Ad Astra] straight and true.
Murmuring softly with heartfelt sincerity.
"…don't let them decide it."
The sword of darkness and the sword of light collided.
No sound was made, but instead, a tremendous shockwave spread in all directions.
Darkness and light swirled, devastating the battlefield. All the monsters standing in the area collapsed, spewing blood, and the entire wall of Crossroad shook greatly.
Rumble…
And when the aftermath of the collision subsided.
"…"
Lucas had been pushed back more than ten steps from the point of collision.
He had barely managed to stop by planting his greatsword into the ground and sliding backwards, his back almost touching the city gate before coming to a difficult halt.
And the 'Sleepless Lake Princess'.
"…"
She had taken one step back from the point of collision.
While Lucas was forced back ten steps, she had retreated only one step.
The difference in power was clear. The 'Sleepless Lake Princess' was overwhelmingly stronger.
However—
The Outer Gods controlling the 'Sleepless Lake Princess', looking down on this scene, were bewildered.
No one.
In all the infinitely repeated iterations until now, no one.
No ancient being, no mythical monster, no legendary hero, no weapon embodying all of humanity's wisdom, nor strategy devised by the wisest minds.
Nothing had ever confronted her head-on and made her take even one step back.
Perhaps this disturbance among the Outer Gods was transmitted to her.
"…"
For the first time.
The fingertips of the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' holding the sword of darkness trembled.
"…Until my lord returns."
After spitting out a mouthful of blood-tinged saliva,
His azure eyes flashing between disheveled strands of hair, Lucas gripped his sword anew.
"You shall not pass, Nameless."
Chapter 805
Wielding both powers that consume humanity: sanctification and bestial transformation.
Combining the two most powerful weapons in the world into one, fully drawing out their abilities.
As if possessed by divine will, taking steps filled with determination and striking with blows imbued with resolve.
Lucas fought truly like the protagonist chosen by the world.
As Ash had boasted earlier, Lucas, having awakened his potential beyond its limits, was undoubtedly the strongest knight.
However-
"…"
The 'Sleepless Lake Princess', reborn as the master of nightmares, was invincible.
She was the embodiment of all nightmares in the world, the personification of destruction.
From the beginning, she was not an entity that could be fought or pushed back against.
Against such an opponent, Lucas had managed to hold out for dozens of exchanges. It was an unbelievable feat for a mere human.
Each time Lucas's sword of light blocked the sword of darkness wielded by the 'Sleepless Lake Princess', the Outer Gods' eyes widened in shock.
But miracles are ultimately temporary.
The difference in absolute power was too great. He couldn't hold out forever.
This final delaying action was nearing its end.
"…Haah…"
White breath once again escaped from Lucas's blood-covered lips.
Currently, Lucas was leaning against the dented gate of Crossroad.
He had just received a blow from the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' and was thrown back, crashing into the gate like a cannonball.
In Lucas's hand, the great sword of light [Ad Astra] was still firmly gripped.
But all his other equipment was horribly damaged.
Gauntlets, boots, breastplate, pauldrons, backplate — every part of the armor [Black Scales] was in tatters, and blood poured profusely from the flesh beneath the broken armor.
'Just one more time.'
Blood dripped from the ends of his disheveled blonde hair. An excruciating pain he had never felt before coursed through his body, cut by the sword of darkness.
But his sapphire eyes still emitted a sharp light like a blade's edge, and his will remained unscathed.
'Block it just one more time.'
Lucas himself knew well. That he couldn't hold off the master of nightmares forever.
So — just one more time.
Just one more time. Just one more time. Just one more time. Continuously…
Whoosh-!
The next moment, the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' charged forward. The sword of darkness in her hand swirled fiercely.
Even in the midst of this fierce battle, Lucas was comprehending the principles of swordsmanship.
He continued to internalize how to face that overwhelming sword of darkness to hold out even a little longer…
As the two swords of light and darkness entangled, he was able to withstand the enemy commander's attack once again.
Crash!
Lucas endured, but the gate he was leaning against exploded.
Along with the fallen gate, Lucas was thrown inside the fortress. He quickly tried to regain his balance by stabbing his sword into the ground, but he was still pushed back for quite a distance.
"Kuh…!"
Lucas gritted his teeth.
The enemy commander had finally entered inside the fortress walls.
Through the fortress entrance where dust rose from the fallen gate, the sound of footsteps echoed: step, step.
The next moment, as the dust cleared with a gust of wind, the figure of the enemy commander — the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' — was revealed.
The enemy commander's light footsteps touched the inside of the fortress. Lucas clenched his teeth and gripped his sword.
Once again.
If once isn't enough, then twice. If twice isn't enough, then thrice-
It's a matter of trying again and again without giving up.
So, once more…
"…?!"
However, immediately after, Lucas belatedly realized that both his knees had touched the ground.
His spirit was still enduring, but his body had reached its limit first.
'Stand up!'
Lucas gritted his teeth as he struck his disobedient legs that had collapsed on their own.
'Move, damn legs!'
But before his trembling legs could struggle to stand again, the enemy commander was approaching once more.
Just as Lucas was about to swing his sword even from his fallen posture-
Tap!
Someone rushed in front of him.
Shimmering platinum blonde hair, dazzling white armor, and a shield and lance.
It was Evangeline.
"Together!"
Before Lucas could say anything, Evangeline spoke boldly.
"Don't bear it alone. I'll endure with you, so…"
Evangeline turned back with a radiant smile.
"Let's overcome this together…!"
To the left and right of Evangeline, who stood at the very front with her shield raised.
All the shield warriors belonging to Crossroad, and soldiers with shields, rushed in…
In just a few seconds, they gathered their shields together, forming a perfect shield wall.
While Lucas and the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' were engaged in fierce combat, the rest of the monsters had withdrawn from the battlefield. To avoid getting caught up in their master's fight.
But the people of the monster front line had devised a plan to help Lucas fight, and they jumped in.
"…!"
Lucas suddenly realized the current situation as he saw the 'shield' that had formed in front of him.
He slowly reached out and carefully placed his hand on Evangeline's shoulder.
Whoosh…!
The golden aura enveloping his body spread to Evangeline.
As if she had been waiting for this, Evangeline firmly planted her shield on the ground and exerted her last bit of magic power to unleash her ultimate skill.
[Final Fortress].
A shield of golden magical power formed in front of all the people standing in the shield formation, and eventually merged into one.
The sword strike of the 'Sleepless Lake Princess', who had rushed in, crashed down onto the completed giant golden shield.
Boom-!
The sword of darkness made no sound, but the shield that took the direct hit screamed as it was destroyed.
Evangeline's shield, which took the attack head-on at the forefront, shattered into pieces. Not just the shield, but Evangeline's entire left arm was torn apart, splattering blood everywhere.
It wasn't just Evangeline's shield. The shields of all those who stood together were simultaneously destroyed.
But — that was all.
Originally, it was a strike of darkness so intense that merely facing it should have vaporized souls and brought certain death.
However, the courage of humans who defied death brought about a fitting miracle.
Numerous people resonated with a single thought to complete one shield, and that shield was imbued with light to oppose the darkness.
Thus, while the shield was destroyed, the people endured.
No, it didn't end with just enduring.
"In my city…"
[Final Fortress] is a defensive technique that absorbs the enemy's attack and then returns it.
The enemy commander's attack, received by everyone together, was fully stored in the shields of all those gathered here.
"To my people…!"
Like the tide changing from flood to ebb, once again from the rear to the front, gathering and pouring out-
"Don't you dare touch them carelessly, sister-!"
It burst forth from the tip of Evangeline's lance.
The largest [Damage Save] that had never existed before and would never exist again-
And,
[Damage Payback]!
Whoosh!
Evangeline's right arm was torn apart as her lance shattered into pieces. The power of darkness swirling at the tip of that lance was shot directly towards the 'Sleepless Lake Princess'.
It was a power that Evangeline alone couldn't have blocked, stored, or returned. But it was an unbelievable counterattack made possible because everyone gathered here resonated and united their wills.
"…!"
The 'Sleepless Lake Princess', who received her own attack back in full, was pushed back.
As powerful as her own attack had been, the fully returned counterattack was equally mighty. She had to retreat dozens of steps, more than ever before.
When she came to her senses, she was once again outside the fortress.
As if it had been a lie that she had invaded inside the fortress, she had to retreat quite a distance.
"…"
The Outer Gods were shocked at this unbelievable reality, and while their puppet, the 'Sleepless Lake Princess', was staggering to regain her posture.
"Torkel-!"
As she fell backward, Evangeline shouted with her remaining strength.
"Go-!"
"…!"
As the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' urgently raised her head, a large heavy armored knight was falling from the sky.
It was Torkel, the strongest tank of the monster front line, who had been waiting in the sky with a griffin rider and jumped down at the precise moment.
The 'Sleepless Lake Princess' sharply extended her hand. Dark power wrapped around like a whip, lashing Torkel's entire body.
Not only the shield Torkel was holding, but all the armor on his entire body was completely shattered.
But Torkel had already activated his ultimate skill [Man is not Made for Defeat].
He feels the pain, but takes no damage.
And Torkel was not a man who could be stopped by pain alone.
Grab!
The warrior's strong hand grasped the enemy commander's body. Torkel clung to the 'Sleepless Lake Princess'.
He knows.
Both the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' and Torkel himself, everyone here knows. That Torkel's strength alone cannot stop the enemy commander.
Knowing this, Torkel volunteered for this role.
If he could create even a slight opening for the enemy commander during the mere 10 minutes he could endure.
If he could expose even a dust-sized weakness in the invincible monster.
If it could be of even the slightest help to his comrades' counterattack that would follow!
It's worth trying.
As Torkel dropped and clung to the enemy commander, Junior, who had been waiting on top of the wall, raised her staff forward.
Zing-!
A halo appeared in the sky, and the surrounding space shattered like a mosaic.
[Elemental Disassembly].
It was [Elemental Disassembly] condensed into a single spell by overlapping dozens of incantations.
Until now, Junior had forcibly achieved effects by layering multiple spells when [Elemental Disassembly] didn't work on an enemy.
But this time, she changed her approach.
She decided to delve into a single [Elemental Disassembly] to the extreme.
To a realm never reached before, scraping away Yin, surpassing Void, and even transcending the realm of Emptiness-
To the realm of Nothingness.
And now she succeeded in proving the formula that had only been theoretical.
Instead of insufficient human magic power, she forcibly overclocked the magic core of her staff to complete the spell.
In the end, the staff [Rod of Crimson], having exceeded its critical point, couldn't withstand and exploded. But even that was within her calculations.
"…"
Junior sensed it.
That this would be the ultimate magic casting of her life as a magician.
But for some reason, rather than feeling regretful…
She felt relieved.
"Heavens, behold!"
As she completed her ultimate, Junior smiled brightly.
"We are here-!"
Crack-crack-crack!
The halo, grown to an unbelievable size, covered the sky above, and the space below it completely shattered.
Junior collapsed, violently coughing up blood. But her ultimate magic undoubtedly had an effect.
"…?!"
The veil of invulnerability that made the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' invincible was lifted.
At this very moment when the connection between the spirit realm and the human world weakened, making magic power scarce.
As the curse, nightmare, and darkness that formed the essence of the 'Sleepless Lake Princess' were also powers from another world, i.e., created by magic power. Her existence was clearly shaken…
And Junior's ultimate magic struck perfectly in that gap.
"…"
Supported and healed simultaneously by the two priests, Rosetta and Zenis, Lucas stood up straight.
Looking around, he saw that his golden aura was already spreading to all the people in this fortress one by one.
It was another miracle born because they all shared the same will and followed the same flag.
"Once more."
Lucas muttered softly, and
"Once more-!"
The people rushed out.
To stop the enemy commander once again.
To protect the world, even if just one more time.