Chapter 668


    The meeting of kings reached its end.


    The consensus was to mobilize forces and strike at the ck Dragon directly.


    "Let''s lead the entire army and march to battle!"


    "Should we just let it continue firing like that?"


    "If we have to engage in a decisive battle, now is the best time while our forces are still fully intact!"


    The one who opposed was the Emperor.


    "Ash had warned me in advance. If he finds himself unable to issue orders, he said to absolutely not go out and fight, but to fortify our defenses at Crossroad."


    The kings objected.


    "So, you''re saying we should just keep getting pounded by that breath, Traha?""...We are devising a n."


    "Devising a n! If that breath hits here again soon, and this time strikes our barracks directly, then we won''t even be able to counterattack!"


    Traha frowned.


    Although Ash had left instructions, the kings had a point.


    It was uncertain how long it would take for the ck Dragon to reach this ce, Crossroad.


    Just staying in that position and continually firing like a cannon, the fortress city would not be able to withstand it.


    Ash left behind a way to block the breath...


    But that ''method'' had not yet been activated. The reason was that the ''method'' wouldnt respond since Ash had disappeared.


    If only we could block the breath, we could buy time while waiting for its approach.


    Traha sighed anew. The monster front here was abnormally dependent on his youngest son.


    Son, you know better than anyone how important you are here...


    Yet to throw his life away. To cast the king into the heart of enemy territory.


    Amander should know his own worth, be grateful for the sacrifices of his soldiers, and also consider preserving his own life a virtue.


    It had always been reckless, but this time it was excessive.


    Why to such an extent?


    No, perhaps.


    ...because there was no other way but to risk his own life?


    If Ash thought that was the only way out.


    Then what would this counterattack against the ck Dragon mean?


    "Traha? What shall we do?"


    The Emperor slowly pulled himself from his thoughts and nodded.


    "Very well. Let''s employ the second method we prepared."


    Since n A, the expeditionary punitive force, had failed.


    n Bmobilize a human army to strike at the ck Dragons neck.


    Engage in a full-frontal assault with the monsters.


    The kings all nodded in agreement. Traha continued.


    "We will deploy the heavy knight brigade, the light cavalry brigade, and the airship fleet we brought from New Terra from Everck."


    Currently at Crossroad, the main strength of the Everck army was stationed, drawn from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Legions.


    Primarily consisting of the heavy knight brigade, light cavalry brigade, and regr infantry.


    Traha dered that all but the regr infantry would be deployed.


    Moreover, the airship fleet would beunched.


    The entire airship fleet that had been left in New Terra was now at Crossroad. There were altogether sixteen ships.


    The gship Alcatraz had been dmissioned and could no longer fly, but the remaining fleet was still a formidable force.


    Various artifacts developed after thest great battle were also installed.


    "With the main forces of Everck stepping forth like this...!"


    "We definitely have a chance! This is doable!"


    "Good. Lets meet the ck Dragon a days journey from the ck Lake. The airship fleet will depart first, and our forces will move to the specified location via the teleport gates..."


    The kings, all hardened by previous conflicts, and the soldiers, diligently trained in anticipation of n B, acted swiftly once the decision was made.


    The sounds of the soldiers gearing up with armor and weapons reached the meeting hall.


    One by one, the kings left the meeting hall to issue orders to their armies.


    "..."


    Traha gestured to the side.


    His adjutant quickly approached.


    "Prepare the heavy knight brigade and the light cavalry brigade, and... call Captain McMin."


    ***


    "...sigh."


    McMin, themander of the Everck Empires airship squadron, grimly puffed on his pipe tobo.


    After losing the entire fleet during thest battle with the King of Flies, and even dmissioning Alcatraz, McMin thought he would certainly be dismissed... but the Emperor did not do so.


    The experience of fighting against the King of Flies was deemed very important for a fleetmander.


    Thus, McMin still maintained his position as themander of the airship squadron.


    "I have a bad feeling about this."


    After receiving the deployment orders from the Emperor and heading towards the airship hangar, McMin continuously exhaled smoke.


    Having fought against the King of Flies before, McMin intuited that this battle would be exceedingly difficult.


    However, there was also logic in the decision that it was better to aim for the monsters'' neck with their forces than to be unterally ravaged by the enemy monster without even a fight.


    Crouching and gathering strength was a tactic only applicable against an opponent with a manageable power disparity. The ck Dragon was a monster far beyond the usual scope.


    Whether it eats us or not, our chance to strike with all our might is... now.


    "I''m not fond of night flights..."


    Grumbling, McMin moved on.


    There was a temple on the way to the airship hangar. Visiting to pay respects to the heroes of the expedition, and also to seek advice for the uing battle, McMin stopped by.


    The temple was filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder and the foul stench of blood.


    Soldiers, swept up in the ck me breath and burned, continuously screamed as they died with raspy voices.


    Endlessly, the injured were carried to beds, and just as many were covered with white cloths andid outside the temple.


    "..."


    McMins jaw was clenched tight.


    Inside the temple corridor, Lucas was sitting. Recognizing a familiar face, McMin waved his hand.


    "Captain Lucas! Or should I say, Acting Commander Lucas now. Are you feeling alright..."


    McMin suddenly stopped speaking.


    At the temple entrance, the sight of Lucas resting with a sinister ck sword cradled in his arms... for a moment, he did not seem human.


    A wolfor perhaps something even more malevolent.


    Gone was the usual gentle smile of Prince Ashs follower, reced by a knight scattering a deadly aura, as if he would stab anyone who approached.


    ...Its not just Captain Lucas.


    Only then did McMin notice as he looked around the temple.


    All the heroes resting and receiving treatment... their aura hadpletely changed.


    Their faces, dry from bloody tears, stared into the void, waiting only for their bodies to recover.


    They were like shattered ss pieces.


    Originally one, transparent and beautiful.


    But now broken and scattered, seeming to cut anyone who approached.


    "...Captain McMin."


    Lucas, noticing McMins visit a beatte, nodded in greeting.


    "What brings you here..."


    "Ah, Acting Commander. I mean..."


    "I am not the Acting Commander anymore."


    Lucas immediately countered, and McMin blinked.


    "Excuse me?"


    "I have just resigned that title... I argued that we should absolutely not lead the troops to deployment, but the kings would not listen. So, I returned it."


    "..."


    "And more than anything, I must now follow a path that I can no longer bear such grand titles."


    Lucass eyes, gazing at the floor, emitted a chilling light.


    "...So, Captain McMin. What brings you here?"


    McMin briefly exined the current situation.


    As Lucas had already heard, most of the forces stationed at Crossroad had decided to strike at the ck Dragon simultaneously, and the airship fleet was also mobilized for this operation.


    And since he was tomand the airship fleet, he asked if Lucas had any advice.


    Lucas silently shared information about the ck Dragon.


    Although data on the ck Dragons attack methods and physical abilities had been disseminated to the entire front line beforehand by Ash, the information the heroes had gained from actualbat was even more valuable.


    And it was far more sinister.


    Looking over the information he had received, McMinsplexion turned pale. Lucas added calmly,


    "I am sorry that I cannot be of help in this battle due to my severe injuries."


    "No, everyone is aware of the tough fight you all have been through."


    "...Captain McMin. I sincerely wish you victory, but still, I must say."


    McMin swallowed dryly at Lucass next words.


    "Be sure to judge well when it is time to flee."


    "..."


    "If even a few more of our troops survive, they could serve as a shield when we set out for revenge."


    That was the end of the conversation.


    Lucas closed his eyes and leaned his head against a pir, and McMin, hesitating, had no choice but to step back.


    "I have a bad feeling."


    Outside the temple.


    Putting the pipe he had momentarily pocketed back in his mouth, McMin looked up at the sky and sighed.


    "I have a bad feeling..."


    It was too dark to tell whether it was day or night, and whether the blurry orb in the sky was the sun or the moon.


    What was to be of this world, he couldnt tell...


    ***


    The troops that teleported from Crossroad assembled at a point one day''s distance from ck Lake and two days from Crossroad.


    Remaining in Crossroad were the monster frontline direct troops, the general infantry of the empire, and the militia and various racial armies replenished after the autumn festival.


    This had happened because all the racial representatives had opposed the deployment.


    Excluding these, the number of troops assembled at the battlefield reached 30,000.


    Initially, when the kings brought their soldiers, they could have increased the number by merely inting the numbers, but following Ash''s instructions, only the elites from each country were gathered.


    And still, it amounted to 30,000. Moreover, they had trained together for several months in anticipation of a major monster battle.


    30,000 of humanitys finest united forces.


    Moreover, in the skies above


    Screeeeech!


    The airship fleet.


    The worlds most formidable weapon and Everck Empire''sst bastion, the airship fleet, was scattering left and right in its majesty, upying the sky in the distance.


    "Let''s just stick to the n."


    Staring down the valley that led from ck Lake towards Crossroad, the chieftain of the Mirage tribe said.


    Then, themanders of various units around him nodded.


    The overallmand of the allied forces was taken by the chieftain of the Mirage tribe. These nomads had long been at war with goblins and had extensive experience fighting monsters.


    Themand of Everck Empire''s heavy knight brigade and the airship fleet was assigned to the respective leaders of the heavy knight brigade and the airship squadronmander.


    Themand structure was all set in advance. The issue was the strategy.


    "Ambush. Encircle. Surprise attack. Annihte."


    The current allied forces were hidden in the forests on both sides of the valley, overlooking it from below. Originally, the teleport gates were secretly installed in these woods.


    On the left side of the valley were the allied kingdoms troops, and on the right were the empires heavy knight brigade and light cavalry brigade.


    They were lying in wait, holding their breath, and at the moment the ck Dragon noticed the airship fleet and focused on it, they would simultaneously surround and ambush it from both sides.


    They were ambushed far away in the middle of the forest, wary of being detected, and even deployed artifacts to aid in wide-area concealment. The monster would never dream of it.


    While these forces clung to the ck Dragon to buy time, the airship fleet and the mages from various kingdoms would finish it off.


    "Everyone, if we fight resolved to death... we can surely wound it."


    The Mirage tribe chieftain dered resolutely.


    "Let''s show the will of humanity."


    Everyone firmly grasped their weapons.


    Many of the current forces were veterans who had remained at the front even after the battle with the King of Flies.


    Their will was strong, and they still had the pride of a suicide squad sworn to protect the world.


    How long had they waited?


    Thump... Thump... Thump...


    Along with the sound that shook the ground.


    At the end of the valley, Night Bringer appeared.


    It seemed as if darkness itself was moving, the creature more like a huge whale swimming through a sea called night rather than a dragon.


    The monstrous body slid across the ground, rapidly approaching, and as it did, it filled the field of vision and grewrger.


    Gulp...


    Humans all swallowed dryly.


    Tears welled up unknowingly in response to the overwhelming malevolence emitted by the evil dragon.


    Exhaling a trembling breath, the Mirage tribe chieftain tightly closed his eyes and quietly recited a prayer.


    "Great gods of the sun and sand, please protect our armor today, and endow our swords with light and glory..."


    At that moment.


    Creak...


    Above the head of the Mirage tribe chieftain, a sound of something opening resonated, followed by a damp heat pouring down on his turban-covered head.


    "...?"


    Puzzled, the Mirage tribe chieftain looked up,


    There, floating above, one of the ck Dragon''s heads with gleaming golden eyes... was opening its mouth wide, cruelly smiling.


    "I was going to pretend I didn''t notice..."


    From the main body of the monster that had stopped walking, the middle head of the ck Dragon whispered in a low voice.


    "You shouldn''t seek the sun in front of me."


    "...O gods."


    As the Mirage tribe chieftain gritted his teeth and drew his curved sword


    Roaaaaar!


    The head of the ck Dragon hovering above unleashed mes towards the ground.


    Themand center of the allied forces was engulfed in mes without even a chance to scream.


    --TL Notes--


    Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading