novelraw Chapter 124 : Clash (1)
Chapter 124 : Clash (1)
Chapter 124: Clash (1)
After finishing every preparation I could, I headed alone to the terrace.
The plaza visible just below, the turrets standing beside it, and the vast plain stretching far into the distance — it was an overwhelming sight.
I stood there for quite some time, staring blankly at the scene.
When I finally glanced at my wristwatch, it was already well past 3 a.m.
“Phew….”
As I let out a series of sighs, a resonance stirred from within.
― You don’t look well, my friend. Are you tired?
‘Not particularly….’
I turned my thoughts toward Clina, who had appeared at just the right moment.
‘Thanks for earlier, Clina.’
― Think nothing of it. We share a common enemy — it’s only natural to join forces.
And then, silence again.
Yet Clina did not press me, only watched quietly.
That quiet patience — that kind of consideration — somehow drew out my own thoughts.
Thoughts that I would never share with anyone else.
‘…Many will die. A lot of them.’
― …Indeed. The history of life is the history of death.
‘The history of death, huh….’
― How unexpected. I thought you’d grown used to such sights long ago.
‘…Perhaps.’
It was Apocalypse Mode — the one I had played longer than any other mode.
Though the battlefields I faced in-game and those in reality were utterly different,
the countless memories of Eugene Carter within me balanced that dissonance.
I’d fought in more wars than I could count — cutting down both humans and beasts without mercy.
I had saved countless lives, but witnessed even more deaths.
And it would be the same from here on out.
If anything, it would only grow worse.
And every choice in it would be mine alone.
Unintended, yet a sight I had longed to face more than anyone.
A future I had resolved to endure — just to save five people.
All those scenes I once brushed off, thinking, ‘It’s just a game,’
would now unfold before me as reality.
This battle, too, would be but a mild taste of the carnage to come.
Of course, I had no intention of averting my gaze or succumbing to despair.
Whether by chance or fate, I had been cast into this place — given one final opportunity.
I couldn’t afford to waste that chance.
That was why I intended to carve it deeply into my eyes.
All the realities I would soon face.
And I would seize them — without fail.
That would be the true ending, the one that would bring my ten-year journey to its close.
I was reaffirming that resolve when—
“…….”
From afar, a dark cloud loomed.
A mass of black mist thick with hostility and murderous intent.
“…It’s here.”
The second main event — following the Imperial Summit — was about to begin.
BEEEEEP―!
The alarm blared throughout the entire tower.
The resting members hurriedly moved to their designated positions under the orders of Senior Novices and Agents.
Gustav burst out of his room and sprinted toward the command control room on the 12th floor.
Inside, five observers and several intermediate Agents were already gathered.
“Tower Master!”
“Master!”
“How far have they come?”
“They’re crossing the Fluker Plain! They’ll reach the main gate in about thirty minutes!”
“Relay the order once more — no preemptive bombardment until they enter turret range. We can’t afford to waste a single shot. Where’s Meriel?”
“No news yet, sir!”
“Then she’s likely still on the 21st floor. You — go fetch her, now. And you — check the Barion Orbs in the turrets again. If the command chain breaks, we’re finished.”
“Yes, sir!”
As two Agents rushed out, Gustav turned to the most senior observer.
“Do you see the Executor?”
“…Not yet! As you said, we expect him to appear with the main force!”
“Good. Report any changes immediately — no hesitation, understood?”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
Moments later, every Barion Orb within the tower began to ring out simultaneously.
Gustav folded his arms, staring at the map projected ahead.
The plain was dotted with countless black marks.
In contrast, their side had far fewer — so sparse that the difference was almost painful to see.
“…I wonder if we can really pull this off.”
As he swallowed his worry, the door to the control room opened once more.
Creak—
“My apologies for being late, Master.”
It was Agent Meriel.
Sweat beaded across her forehead, dripping down her face.
Seeing her obvious fatigue, Gustav tilted his head slightly.
“Something happen on the 21st floor? You look terrible.”
“I’m fine.”
“Then get to the plaza. You’ve got about twenty-five minutes left.”
“Understood. The Soul Transmission Magic should be cast fifteen minutes prior, correct?”
“Right.”
Meriel gave a short nod and left the room.
Her eyes burned with a mix of determination and fighting spirit.
Pruhk, pruruk!
Neighhh!
The horses in the relay station’s stable neighed restlessly.
They, too, must have sensed the crisis in the air.
Novice Graham, who had volunteered as stable keeper, used Sleep Magic to put the horses one by one into slumber.
Once the interior fell quiet, he slipped back toward the turret through a narrow passage between the main gate walls.
By then, over a hundred layers of barriers had been stacked in front of the gate — the outer walls far thicker than those near the entrance, just as planned.
Meanwhile, the walkway across the plaza was in total ruin.
Marble fragments scattered everywhere gathered toward the core.
The interception turrets and automatic defense turrets began flickering rapidly, fueled by mana stones.
At each turret entrance stood a battle mage, each with a sturdy, well-built frame.
Before the large gate leading into the tower, Meriel and the finest elites of Mallet stood waiting.
“Come if you dare, you lunatic fanatics!”
Meanwhile—
The Dellowell elite advanced, closing the distance to the enemy with a deafening clamor.
Clank, clank.
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
A select few First-Rank Believers, entrusted with command, raised their hands high at the right moment and shouted toward the tower.
“Our objectives are to seize the Barion Orbs, eliminate Tower Master Gustav, and slay the War Hero Eugene Carter!”
“Not even death can stop us! Paradise awaits!”
“Martyrs, march with me!”
At the signal, the believers roared and began their charge.
Their heavy footsteps, once rhythmic, became a thunderous quake that shook the ground.
Past the city, past the forest road, past the plain—
they finally reached their destination.
Their weapons gleamed with light as they stormed into the enemy’s frontlines.
At that exact moment, as if on cue, countless spells rained down from the sky.
Boom! Boom!
The flag fluttering at the believers’ center burst into flames under the flaming spear.
Madness began to engulf the land.
It was the outbreak of war.
“Kill them! Kill them!”
“Rip them apart!”
“Crush them and burn them all!”
The believers charged toward the main gate in groups of six, filled with fervor.
Boom! Boom!
The barrier didn’t even flinch against ordinary weapons.
Let alone those worn-out spears and swords—they wouldn’t even leave a scratch.
However—
The radiant light coating those dull blades was enough to turn them into fearsome weapons.
Crack! Crack!
As those with blunt weapons struck the barrier madly, axes and spears followed close behind.
The relentless storm of spear thrusts targeted every tiny crack without mercy, and soon, even the sturdy shield began to fracture.
Once a single gap appeared, the rest crumbled swiftly.
Nearly a hundred layers of barriers shattered like thin boards snapping apart.
Even as countless explosions tore through their armor and flesh, the believers pressed forward, breaking down the wall before them without hesitation.
Less than thirty minutes later, the main gate was breached—and the bombardment stopped all at once.
“Now! Advance! Advance!”
Waaah― Waaah―
Some believers, exhilarated by their faster-than-expected breach of the outer entrance, flung their cloaks wide and charged into the plaza.
At that instant—
The interception turrets on both sides roared to life, unleashing fire all at once.
Boom! Boom!
BOOOOOM!
“Guh!”
Every believer who charged in was blasted backward by the turret fire.
“…….”
Ssshhh―
The faces of those hit directly by the flame shells swelled red and blistered—only to heal completely moments later.
Seeing this, the First-Rank Believers swiftly changed tactics and shouted new orders.
“Teams 3 through 12, split and neutralize the interception turrets!”
“The rest, hold formation and keep pushing forward! Move!”
As two hundred troops from ten squads spread out to both flanks, bombardments once again rained over the area.
Boom! Boom!
The remaining fifteen squads—three hundred in total—divided across the wide plaza into dozens of smaller teams, advancing steadily.
Explosions erupted from all sides; the powerful impacts battered their bodies through armor, yet their march never ceased.
Once they crossed about half the plaza, the tower’s entrance came into view from afar.
The sight of the mages standing guard there only heightened their murderous intent.
Filling their legs with strength, they sprinted forward.
Rumble…
That was when ash-gray giants began to block their way.
Thud.
THUD.
Before the colossal figures, each easily over four meters tall, even the believers’ frenzied charge came to a halt.
“…Golems.”
“I see… if they’ve fallen this far, then we need not hesitate either.”
The number of golems emerging all around totaled twenty-seven.
Surveying them, First-Rank Believer Andrea drew his cone-shaped spear.
“I’ll open the path. Cover me.”
“Yes, sir!”
He twisted his body and took a charging stance.
A divine aura gathered clearly at the tip of his spear.
He kicked off the ground, lunging at the golem ahead; the air split behind him.
Shrrrk!
BOOOOM!
The immense impact sent one golem staggering backward.
The other believers immediately rushed in, aiming for its lower joints.
But their weapons never struck home.
Two other golems had already moved in, blocking their path from both sides.
Thud!
“Saint Andrea!”
Struck by a heavy kick, Andrea was hurled dozens of meters away—but rolled and recovered swiftly.
“I’m fine! Focus on the enemies before you!”
He raised his head and glared ahead.
The two golems, as if perfectly synchronized, were driving the believers back.
‘…What a rare sight.’
Was it even possible for golems to coordinate like this?
Golems operated through a core, and that core was crafted by extracting a soul.
A soul ripped mercilessly from its body would never be friendly to its caster, and so the more one forced a golem’s movements, the simpler its behavior became.
Humans or beasts might coordinate—but golems? This level of cooperation was unheard of.
“…….”
From afar, the sight looked even more unnatural.
“Don’t go too far ahead! Fall back!”
“Our rear’s blocked!”
“We’re inside the turret range! Get out, now!”
Boom! BOOOOM!
About a dozen believers attempting to push forward were surrounded by four golems and struck directly by the turrets’ bombardment.
Once they had neutralized their targets, the golems immediately dispersed back to their positions.
Witnessing that seamless coordination, Andrea shouted urgently, sensing danger.
“Regroup! Pull back toward the main gate and—!”
“I don’t think so.”
A sharp, resolute voice cut through his command.
Clank, clank!
In an instant, someone closed in, striking precisely at the joints of his armor.
The face before him was all too familiar.
“Eugene Carter…!”
“Where do you think you’re going? None of you are leaving here.”
A violent gust swept through as Eugene sent Andrea flying to the opposite side, a grin curling his lips.
“There’s no exit for you.”