novelraw Chapter 294: Episode 294
Chapter 294: Episode 294
Dungeons and Raiders, creations of the world’s architect, had existed on the continent for millennia. While the demonic Dungeon Masters were a recent phenomenon, Raiders had been honing their skills since ancient times. Stats, skills, special abilities, system messages—they operated according to a set of immutable laws, then as now.
The Raider’s Association was merely an institution that invoked the Creator’s name, its authority to manage Raider performance and rankings borrowed from a higher power. Its founder, Anderno, had shrewdly established the association on this principle, cultivating generations of Raiders over centuries with the support of various nations. While the path was open to anyone, few could walk it successfully—the very secret to the Association’s enduring success.
Until a few decades ago, however, Raiders were a little-known entity. The Association only found its true purpose with the arrival of the Dungeon Masters. Though some natural dungeons still existed, the number of artificial ones had surged. With the threat of a full-scale invasion by Dungeon Masters looming, the importance of Raiders had never been greater. It was only natural that figures like Count Dinen and other influential nobles would throw their support behind the Association to resist the demons. The branches established across the eastern, western, southern, and northern territories all served this singular purpose.
Yet, as the Dungeon Masters grew in power, situations arose that even the Raiders could not contain. The war between the demon factions was a prime example. That conflict had scarred the continent, leaving entire regions devastated and abandoned. The Gogol Kingdom in the south had been hit hardest, suffering over ten thousand casualties, forever marking it as the nation most ravaged by the demon wars. In response, King Leoric of Gogol had declared war on all demon-kind. Upon hearing that Dungeon Masters had allied with the Erneis Kingdom, he had immediately joined the Eastern Federation.
---
Taimis Fortress, the strategic junction between the western and southern territories, loomed before them. Unlike the Eastern Federation, which had used the gate in the capital of Jemberton, the Gogol Kingdom had been forced to march overland. They had finally arrived at the fortress, the gateway to the western frontier.
Taimis was under the command of Baron Canwell Fredlick, who, much like the late Viscount Crowley, had maintained a staunchly neutral stance. Since he was a noble from a different kingdom, they anticipated that persuading him would be simple.
Knight Commander Handal, riding at the head of the column, raised a hand to halt the army and surveyed the main gate.
’No guards?’ he wondered.
Despite the dead of night, the only light came from flickering torches. The sentries who should have been patrolling the battlements were nowhere to be seen. Perhaps it was a shift change. With a subtle glance at King Leoric, Handal rode forward alone.
Suddenly, an arrow sliced through the darkness from atop the fortress wall. With a sharp ring of steel, Handal’s sword flashed, batting the projectile from the air.
"I am Handal Nersian, Knight Commander of the Vitan Knights of the Gogol Kingdom!" he announced, his voice echoing in the stillness. "If Lord Fredlick is within, I ask that you relay this message! We are not intruders! I repeat..."
Another arrow cut him off. Though his voice had surely carried into the fortress, they were being treated as invaders. Handal’s patience wore thin.
"These men need to be reminded of who we are," he snarled, turning to his knights. "Break through the main gate!"
"Hah!" the knights roared in unison.
"Shield bearers, advance! Block their arrows!"
"Yes, sir!"
The mounted knights thundered toward the gate while the shield bearers formed a protective wall, arrows thudding against their defenses. Clearing a path for King Leoric, Handal brought his enchanted blade down on the gate, shattering it in an explosion of splintered wood and twisted iron.
"Do not blame us for this!" he bellowed as he stormed inside. "The fault is yours for refusing us entry... What?!"
He froze. Arrayed before him were soldiers with eyes glowing an eerie red, all clad in the armor of the Erneis Kingdom. It was a trap.
"The Erneis army!" Handal roared, raising his sword. "Slay them all!"
"Waaaaaah!"
Though this force was unknown to the Eastern Federation, they were the sworn enemy of Gogol. There was no room for hesitation. Handal and his knights charged, their steel meeting the enemy in a brutal clash. Archers provided covering fire from the rear, mages unleashed devastating area-of-effect spells, and shield bearers plugged the gaps in the line, forming a perfect, coordinated assault.
"Ahahaha! Is this all the soldiers of the Erneis Kingdom can muster?" King Leoric laughed from the back lines.
"Your Highness!" one of his guards cried out. "It would be best for you to fall back!"
"What?!"
Just as their morale peaked, the fallen Erneis soldiers began to stir. Leoric stared in disbelief. These were men who had been cut down, their limbs severed. Yet, though their lives were extinguished, they were rising to their feet with guttural groans.
"Kururuk..."
"This is... we’re leaving the fortress!" Handal commanded. "Everyone, get outside!"
"That will not be possible," a silky voice purred.
An assassin materialized from the shadows. Watching the knights retreat, he activated an item.
[S-rank Raider Mamanai has used Position Switch.]
[The positions of the soldiers in the rear and Mamanai are switched.]
In a flash, the archers and mages were teleported deep within the fortress. The knights, halfway to the broken gate, watched in horror as their comrades were surrounded. From outside the walls, Mamanai extended a set of impossibly long claws.
"Where are you looking?" he taunted. "I am your opponent."
"Grrr! Everyone, re-enter the fortress!" Handal ordered. "Rescue the archers and mages!"
"Not a chance!" Mamanai sang.
He launched himself into the air, performing a series of dizzying acrobatics.
[S-rank Raider Mamanai has cast Gale Transformation.]
[For a certain period, the energy of the wind envelops your body.]
The S-rank Raider spun through the air like a deadly circus performer, then shot through the ranks of knights like an arrow, his claws slitting throats. Bodies crumpled to the ground. In an instant, half of the elite knights had fallen.
Handal’s eyes darted between Mamanai and the enemy army at his back, his mind racing. Before he could decide, a razor-sharp claw aimed for his neck.
’Clang!’
He barely parried the blow.
"Hoh, you’re not bad," Mamanai purred. "This might be a little fun."
"...I have no time for you!" Handal spat.
"Ahahaha! You’ll have to entertain me a little more!"
As the screams of his soldiers intensified, King Leoric and his knights found themselves completely encircled. Trapped and besieged, the Gogol army’s first night in the West had become their worst nightmare.
---
"The Eastern Federation’s forces total around six hundred thousand," Hyunjun’s voice reported through the communication device. "I’ve sent the information on their commander-in-chief and other officers in a separate file."
The report from his scout on the Nihallas Plains confirmed it: the Erneis Kingdom’s necromancer, the regenerating undead, the late-arriving Dungeon Master. The first engagement had unfolded in a completely unexpected way.
’So Leon’s grand plan was this Undying Legion,’ Taehyun mused. ’He’s even using the Tarantula faction members. I guess he’s done holding back.’
He had revealed his S-rank Raiders during his internal power struggles, but not his Dungeon Masters. This war was clearly meant to be his coming-out party. With all contact lost with the Gogol army, it was obvious Leon was meticulously setting the stage for a massacre.
"N-no, absolutely not, Lady Hyena."
"I know I promised I wouldn’t, but I can’t take it anymore! Please, just let me touch them once. Please?"
"W-well, if you insist... just for a second... ’Kyaaang!"
"Ehehehe! They’re so soft! So fluffy! Angel wings are the best!"
Taehyun glanced over at Hyena, who was gleefully stroking Ecla’s fluttering wings. The angel’s ecstatic moans were a rather unwelcome distraction. He sighed, watching the poor, trembling angel sob.
"Is something wrong?" Hyunjun asked.
"No, it’s nothing," Taehyun replied quickly. "By the way, I heard about an SS-rank mercenary after the first battle. Do you know anything about that?"
"Unfortunately, I was spotted by a druid bishop and had to pull back just as the battle started. If you give the order, I can go back for the second engagement."
"No, this is good enough. I have my own guests to entertain here."
Leon van Noah had split his undead army, sending them toward multiple targets: Golpein Territory on the Nihallas Plains, the Gogol army advancing from the south, the Hereis Kingdom in the far north, and, of course, Balak, the heart of the West. A twenty-thousand-strong undead unit had already entered the Halung Plains. Balak was clearly on the list.
Taehyun turned his attention to the image of Valpurgis on the screen. "How much mana is stored?"
"It has surpassed the crystal sphere’s limit and is charged to four hundred thousand units," the artifact’s consciousness replied.
"And it consumes one hundred thousand per neutralization?"
"That is correct."
The neutralization artifact had been prepared specifically for a war of this scale. With ten uses available, even an Undying Legion would be rendered helpless.
Having confirmed what he needed, Taehyun stood up.
"Aren’t our faction members going to move?" Hyunjun asked.
"It would be pathetic to mobilize the entire faction for something like this," Taehyun said with a dry laugh. "Leon hasn’t revealed all his Tarantula members, and I have no intention of playing my trump card—the Resistance—just yet. First, I need to make the little gift he sent me go ‘boom.’"
"Hmm. In that case, I’ll relay that to the others."
"I’d appreciate that."
The communication ended. Taehyun shot a weary look at Hyena and Ecla, who were now rolling around on the sofa, before giving an order to Rabiz.
[A-rank Hero Guardian, Rabiz the Pioneer of Space, has cast Mass Summon.]
[Taehyun Yoo is moved to the top of Balak Territory’s castle wall.]
The scenery warped and reformed in an instant. He was now standing atop the battlements with Rabiz, gazing out over the Halung Plains.
[S-rank Named Guardian, Mauter the Anguished Swordsman, has appeared.]
[S-rank Hero Mercenary, Moliushu the Cold-Hearted Lord, has appeared.]
[S-rank Named Keeper, Hoagon the Foothold for Reversal, has appeared.]
Three powerful figures emerged from the ranks of the undead. Just like the other attack forces, this one was bolstered by additional dungeon soldiers. It was clear Leon considered the subjugation of Balak a top priority.
"Master, what are your orders?" Rabiz asked, her voice calm.
"What do you think?" Taehyun’s lips curved into a cold smile. "We kill them all. Leave nothing but dust."
"Understood. I trust you, Master." Rabiz snuggled into his arm.
Taehyun leisurely assessed the enemy commanders, his strategy already formed. "First, to face a swordsman, we’ll need a knight."
[S-rank Guardian, Grai the Knight of Balak, has been summoned.]
"And whether he’s cold-hearted or cold-blooded, a lord must be met by a lord."
[S-rank Mercenary, Ashuanin the Lord of Black Meng, has been summoned.]
"As for a keeper... I’ve got just the teddy bear for the job."
[S-rank Named Keeper, Kumakuma the Tyrant, has been summoned.]
One after another, his champions appeared on the field, each a perfect counter to their counterpart. As the main gates of Balak swung open, his own army, which had been lying in wait, poured onto the Halung Plains. With the three summoned guardians taking the lead, all preparations were complete.
"Last time it was a raid party, now it’s the walking dead," Ashuanin’s voice echoed in Taehyun’s mind.
"If you’d rather not, you can go back and sulk in the territory for two hours."
"Hmph. I’d much rather face them. Hmm? It seems there’s a lord on their side as well."
"A perfect rival for you, wouldn’t you say?"
"Don’t be ridiculous," Ashuanin scoffed. "I’ll simply have to remind them what a true lord is."
The Lord of Black Meng had been instrumental in crushing Hyacinth’s raid party. With his pride on the line, he would never back down.
Taehyun watched the undead legion begin its charge and gave his final order.
"Wipe them out. Leave no one standing."
---