novelraw Chapter 296: Episode 296
Chapter 296: Episode 296
[Haol Desert Giant Poison Scorpion]
[Haol Desert Giant Ironclad Scorpion]
[Haol Desert Giant Pincer Scorpion]
The destructive power of the thrice-upgraded siege weapons was staggering. The scorpions’ tough hides, capable of withstanding even a hydra’s acid, were obliterated by dozens of cannonballs.
"The enemy’s main forces are all retreating."
"The necromancer’s main body as well."
"The undead soldiers have been eliminated," Grai reported. "Shall I pursue, my lord?"
Corpses of the undead littered the Halung Plains. Normally, the necromancer’s power would have reanimated them, but the relentless assault had overwhelmed their regenerative abilities. Flyten had to be running low on mana. The battle against the Undying Legion was, for all intents and purposes, Balak’s victory.
"Let the main forces go," Taehyun ordered. "They surely have a means of escape. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have attacked with such small numbers."
"That lord of theirs already vanished—his time must have been up," Ashuanin added. "The same goes for me. I’ll be heading back."
"Yeah, you did well," Taehyun said.
The mercenary summoning had ended, and Ashuanin returned to his own dimension. The only remaining targets for the undead army were the Hereis Kingdom and Golpein Territory. Taehyun was particularly curious about the second battle brewing on the Nihallas Plains. He opened a channel to Hyunjun again.
"I was waiting," Hyunjun said.
"Perfect timing. The second battle should be starting soon. Go take another look. This time, don’t worry if the bishops spot you. Just observe."
"It’s risky, but I’ll do it."
Ten bishops now instead of five. He’d heard they were on par with S-rank Raiders, but with Golpein as their target, they couldn’t afford to be reckless. He’d placed a marker on Hyunjun, so escape was always an option. Taehyun sent his scout off with an easy mind.
Rabiz, standing beside him, gave her report. "Casualties are 35 S-rank soldiers and approximately 108 A-rank soldiers, Master."
"To have losses that low without using Valpurgis... that says it all," Taehyun remarked, impressed. "The dwarves’ technology is truly outstanding. By installing the parts according to Larkan’s designs, they’ve doubled not just the mana efficiency but the firepower as well."
The battle had confirmed the power of both the undead army and his own enhanced forces. Grai had fought a swordsman one rank higher to a standstill. Kumakuma had actually overwhelmed a keeper of the same rank. And Ashuanin, through brilliant tactics, had successfully driven back the Cold-Hearted Lord. It was a complete victory, achieved without even using his ancient artifact.
"Riel, please take care of the clean-up."
"Yes, Master. I’ll send the dungeon residents and beastmen right away."
"Rabiz, let’s go back."
"Understood, Master."
Taehyun returned to the Master Room, Rabiz clinging to his arm.
---
The second battle on the Nihallas Plains.
With the arrival of the Raider unit, the Eastern Federation’s strength had increased considerably. Though there was still no word from the Gogol army, they were confident of victory. But as Commander-in-Chief Jespain prepared to give the order to advance, he received some disturbing news.
"What do you mean the bishops haven’t returned?!" he demanded.
"That is the report from the druids of the Church of Abundance, sir," his adjutant replied. "They say the bishops infiltrated Golpein Territory on Archbishop Messiah’s orders, but they have not come back."
Ten druid bishops, masters of the earth’s elements. They were an immense power, far beyond ordinary druids, and they had vanished. Jespain had Hyacinth scan the territory, but to no avail.
"I can’t see them with my Thousand-Mile Eyes," she reported grimly. "It seems the bishops, during their infiltration..."
"Impossible!" a druid elder snapped. "How dare you Raiders speak such blasphemy!"
"It’s not blasphemy, it’s a logical conclusion," Hyacinth retorted, her eyes flashing. "And what do you mean, ‘you Raiders’? We don’t serve your Church. We are here on commission. You have no right to question our judgment."
"Grrr. You vulgar wench!"
The discord between the two factions only worsened, and still, there was no news of the bishops. Finally, Jespain appointed a high-ranking druid named Piranan to command the unit and raised the horn to signal the advance.
’They are bishops on par with S-rank Raiders,’ he reasoned. ’Even if we lost contact, they must have inflicted heavy damage. And that Sword Saint mercenary has a time limit. We will strike in that opening!’
He had witnessed the SS-rank mercenary’s power firsthand. Considering the summoning duration, now was the perfect time to attack.
’Bwoooooo.’
The horns blared, and the advance began.
The shield soldiers marched forward in perfect formation. Cavalry units shot out from the flanks, racing to seize the center of the battlefield.
"Wait! Halt!" a commander suddenly shouted.
"Commander Pauls has given the order to halt! Everyone, stop!"
"Halt!"
Pauls, the cavalry commander, raised a hand, his eyes fixed on the territory’s walls. A young man was squatting there, looking down at them. It was him. Repild, the Sword Saint who had single-handedly fought four bishops.
Cold sweat trickled down Pauls’s spine. He was about to order a full retreat when Repild let out a long, lazy yawn and waved a hand.
[SS-rank Mercenary, Repild the Sword Saint, has cast Falling Sword.]
[SS-rank Mercenary, Repild the Sword Saint, has cast Falling Sword.]
[SS-rank Mercenary, Repild the Sword Saint, has cast Falling Sword.]
Dozens, no, hundreds of Annihilation Swords materialized in the sky. Terrified by the sight of the colossal blades, the cavalrymen broke rank and fled.
"D-damn it! It’s the Sword Saint! It’s Repild, the Sword Saaaaaaint!"
"They said he had a time limit! How is he still here?!"
"I-it’s gonna hit! It’s gonna hiiiiiit!"
A single man had laid waste to the heart of the battlefield. The cavalry, already in full retreat, was annihilated in an instant. There were no survivors. Soldiers watching from the rear stared in horror, while Hyunjun, observing from a different vantage point, made a call.
Refilder, who had been watching with a lazy, almost bored expression, allowed a smile to touch his lips as he began casting one skill after another.
"Is—is this the power of an SS-rank mercenary?!"
"This is no time for that! From the looks of it, the Dungeon Master isn’t even in the territory. First, we need to use the exclusive item—’Aaaargh’!"
Just as Hyacinth reached for a position-switching item, an immense pressure crushed down on her, and she collapsed. The cause was the Sword Saint’s Evil Eye.
[SS-rank Mercenary, Sword Saint Refilder’s special ability, ’Evil Eye,’ has been activated.]
[S-rank Raider, Hyacinth, has been rendered incapacitated.]
[Evil Eye Usage Limit: 1/3]
It was a special ability unique to an SS-rank mercenary—the power to subdue an opponent with a mere gaze, in addition to his peerless sword skills. Perun, standing beside her, was suddenly struck by three impossible questions.
’How in the world is he maintaining the skill’s duration without a Dungeon Master?’ she wondered. ’He shouldn’t have a clear line of sight, yet he spotted Hyacinth from that far away?! And is his mana truly infinite? He’s casting spells so casually, as if it’s a chore.’
It was, in a word, despair. The second engagement was now being single-handedly dictated by one man, and tens of thousands of soldiers were being slaughtered in an instant. The Eastern Federation was forced to retreat from the plains without ever properly engaging the undead army.
"We can’t afford any more casualties! All troops, retreat! Retreat!"
"Aaaaargh’, he’s coming this way, too! Run!"
"Dammit, we didn’t even get to fight the undead properly, and it’s all because of one man! This is absurd!"
Thus, with the second battle also failing to capture the Golpein Territory, the Eastern Federation suffered a humiliating defeat.
---
At that moment, Hyunjun, hidden on a nearby hill, trembled as he gazed down at the tens of thousands of corpses.
"He’s... insane. A single person defended the entire territory by himself. Are all SS-rank mercenaries monsters like that?"
SS-rank mercenaries were beings who had never before shown themselves on the continent. Although a few SS-rank dungeons were scattered across the land, they never participated in gatherings, making it highly unlikely they would ever deploy their mercenaries. This time, however, was an exception. Among the members of the Tarantula faction, the Sword Saint Refilder’s master must have been present. Though currently under the control of Leon van Noah, the SS-rank mercenary’s martial prowess was clearly undiminished.
Garuda, standing beside him, seemed to agree, belatedly nodding his head. Hyunjun wiped the cold sweat from his brow and took out a return item.
"First, we have to go back—’Ugh’?!"
[SS-rank Mercenary, Sword Saint Refilder’s special ability, ’Evil Eye,’ has been activated.]
[A-rank Dungeon Master, Hyunjun Jo, has been rendered incapacitated.]
[Evil Eye Usage Limit: 2/3]
An oppressive pressure crushed his entire body, and his sense of balance crumbled in an instant. From atop the distant castle wall, the gaze of a young man was fixed directly on him. Hyunjun collapsed, struggling to lift his head. In that same moment, Refilder, who had been defending the territory, materialized before his eyes.
"You were watching the whole time I was using my skills. Who are you? Looks like you came to spy. Spit it out, which side are you on?"
"Grrrgh’."
"Haaah’, if you don’t answer in five seconds, I’ll kill you. Hurry up and answer..."
Just as he raised his sword in threat, Hyunjun’s form vanished.
[The Dungeon Master of Balak has used a Companion Summon Coin.]
[Hyunjun Jo, who was marked beforehand, has been summoned to Balak.]
It was an S-rank exclusive item. Refilder scowled, but his expression brightened as he read the system message.
"Oho, the Dungeon Master of Balak, huh? That’s the one my master was going on about all day. I hear he’s a monster. I wonder what he’s really like... Ah?"
"Hup’!"
Left alone, Garuda was utterly terrified. For some reason, the man known as the Sword Saint was showing interest in Balak. One wrong move, and he could be captured right here. Refilder, however, seemed to have no intention of doing so and sheathed his sword.
"Taehyun Yoo, was it? Anyway, tell him this: Mihye is trapped in the basement right now, getting tossed around."
"M-Mihye? You mean the Tarantula faction leader?!"
"Yeah, that’s right. She threatened my master’s life, so I’m letting her get tortured for now. But frankly, taking orders from someone else is a real pain in the ass. So tell him if he wants to help, he should come to the Golpein Territory. Of course, without that tyrant noticing."
It was a proposition that was also a demand. Though half a threat, he clearly needed help. Garuda swallowed hard and nodded. Just then, a shimmering return circle formed on the ground beneath him.
[The Dungeon Master of Unix has used a return item.]
[A-rank Named Guardian, Ragna, is returning to Balak.]
Fortunately, Hyunjun hadn’t abandoned him. Refilder watched the return circle with interest before turning his back. The Resistance had been clashing with the Tarantula faction for some time. In a way, they were his enemies, but in this situation, he couldn’t afford to be picky. He would be a great help, especially since he was the Dungeon Master of Balak, the rising power in the West.
’Taehyun Yoo,’ he mused. ’The one my master was so obsessed with. It would be a huge relief if that guy somehow managed to kill Leon van Noah. And then I’d be a free man, too.’
Even now, Mihye was trapped in the basement, enduring all sorts of torture, but she had yet to submit. As a mercenary from another dimension, he needed a Dungeon Master to even exist on this continent. It would be a major problem if she were to die.
"Haaam’, I guess I’ll get some sleep. Extending the duration with my own magic is quite tiring."
And so, the SS-rank mercenary, Sword Saint Refilder, started back toward the Golpein Territory.