novelraw Chapter 307: Episode 307
Chapter 307: Episode 307
The ground trembled. It signaled the beginning of the final phase in the West—no, the entire continent. While it might not have been the heart of the continent or a sprawling empire, the Aneis Kingdom was undeniably the center of the West. It was only natural that forces were converging on its capital, Ashlan, joining hands with the Dungeon Masters to eliminate the tyrant who had thrown their world into chaos.
"Did you hear? They say even the Frost Queen’s Frost Army—the ones who wiped out the Moderland and Derk Empires—have descended upon Ashlan. At this rate, the West really is doomed."
"Didn’t you see the Dungeon Masters earlier? The sheer number of their soldiers was staggering. Since Balak, the conqueror of the West, has stepped up, they’ll figure something out. Still... it leaves a bad taste in my mouth to rely on demons."
"Anyway, what on earth is the Partren branch manager thinking? Meeting directly with Balak’s Dungeon Master is one thing, but just letting the demons pass through? The Attacker Association won’t let this slide."
The procession of demons had already marched through the city of Partren and advanced toward Ashlan. Normally, the Partren branch of the Attacker Association should have stepped in to block their path. Instead, due to an unexpected turn of events, the demons had passed right through the city unopposed. The Attackers harbored deep suspicions about Branch Manager Kriras, their anxiety over the future of the West mounting by the second.
---
Artillery fire erupted simultaneously with a deafening boom and a thunderous crash. The scale of the clash was so massive that even the buildings in Partren, located at the southernmost tip of the region, shuddered. The final decisive battle in Ashlan would undoubtedly determine the continent’s future. However, Kriras had more immediate concerns—namely, the furious staff gathered in his office.
"Just what kind of conversation did you have with Balak’s Dungeon Master?"
"No matter how massive their forces were, to just let them pass... I’m deeply disappointed in you, sir."
"The Association will definitely penalize us for this. You’d better be prepared."
Every single one of them was holding him accountable. Some were even displaying reckless bravado, claiming they should have fought the demons themselves, making the situation incredibly frustrating. Kriras let out a heavy sigh and waved his hand dismissively. There was no point in making excuses to evade responsibility. In times like this, silence was the best policy.
Met with no response, the staff glared at him before eventually storming out of the room en masse. Some were throwing a fit and pulling out their communication devices. It was a given that personnel from the Association headquarters would be sent down soon.
’They swarm in and swarm right back out. Idiots. They probably think I built up this small city all by myself. Be reasonable! How does it make sense for a mere branch manager to govern a lordless land alone in the first place!’
After the Balak Territory was established, Partren had suffered a severe financial crisis, to the point of being practically abandoned. The previous lord, Viscount Crowley, had died, and the Behetel and Lemagal territories—their only sources of financial support—had been turned into dungeons. Left all alone in that state, what kind of development could a branch manager possibly achieve? His staff should have been grateful he hadn’t just run away. Feeling deeply wronged, Kriras pulled out his ledger.
’If it weren’t for Taehyun, you bastards wouldn’t even be in Partren right now.’ Hmph. ’And yet I have to be treated like this? It’s completely unfair.’
It was Balak that had saved Partren when it was pushed to the brink. The ledger he just opened listed all the Zen he had consistently received from Taehyun. It was an offer he had felt a strong aversion to at first, but when Nelson, the branch manager of Magritte, accepted it, Kriras had eagerly followed suit. Back then, he had been anxious and regretted the decision, but he could never deny that Balak’s help was the main reason the city had developed into a metropolis.
’That guy Nelson probably wagged his tail and let Taehyun pass right through, too.’ Haa... ’either way, it looks like all the branch managers of the West are going to be summoned to headquarters en masse.’
Just imagining it gave him goosebumps. Kriras placed a cigarette—a habit he had quit a long time ago—between his lips and stared blankly at the ceiling.
---
"Kyahahahaha! Gather to me, all of you! I, Queen Angelina, will personally trample you into the dirt!"
The Undead Soldiers in the vanguard were ensnared by a whip and dragged into a clump. Angelina was once a Holy Knight Keeper who guarded the labyrinth. However, after being reborn as the Queen of Pleasure through her recent Evolution, she had awakened to a new domain and was perfectly executing her role at the vanguard.
"Taehyun, that Keeper... she’s weird."
"I know. If she just didn’t act like that, she’d be a truly reliable Keeper," Taehyun replied. "Riel, Inhye, Eclat, cast your skills."
The shockwaves from the techniques unleashed by Kaiharst and the Centrix Duke surged all the way to the rear lines. Following his order, the three Main Forces simultaneously declared their domains, shielding the ranged soldiers. Seeing this, the other faction members also deployed their Priest Main Forces, gradually erecting protective barriers of their own.
"I’ll send you back to the North where you belong, you wench!"
"You handle mana quite well. However, you don’t actually think that’s enough to send me, the Frost Queen, packing, do you? Try a little harder."
Meanwhile, at the north gate, the Frost Queen Yuslan was relentlessly pushing back Viscount Crowell, clearly demonstrating the vast difference in their mana capacities. The Frost Army was putting up a solid fight, systematically freezing the Undead Soldiers, so there was no need to worry about that flank for now. Taehyun activated several buff items and began to unleash his skills as a commander.
"Dungeon soldiers from the Tarantula faction have appeared at the west gate! Please send the shieldbearers from the rear to the west immediately!"
[Command has been cast.]
[Control has been cast.]
[Focus of Consciousness has been cast.]
The skills he had been leveling up activated in rapid succession. The Resistance faction members promptly deployed their shieldbearers to the left flank, keeping a wary eye on the new Main Forces.
"The spider bastards have finally shown up. I heard all their soldiers were mind-controlled."
"Even so, they’re still enemies. Some of them are probably just being forced to follow Leon’s orders because Mihye was captured."
"Ugh, who cares? I never liked those guys anyway. Kill them all!"
It was the second time the two factions had clashed since the faction war. Although one side was fighting against their will, as long as their main target was Leon van Noah, the fact remained that they were enemies.
[The S-Rank Soldier Dark Lich Bigdream’s Special Ability ’Mist of Phantasmal Dreams’ has been activated.]
[The S-Rank Named Soldier Fallen Knight Modoel’s Special Ability ’Corruption Zone’ has been activated.]
[The S-Rank Named Soldier Shadow Tracker Bellamichi’s Special Ability ’Gaze of the Shadows’ has been activated.]
In the meantime, Balak’s Main Forces entered the fray in earnest, engaging the Tarantula faction’s Main Forces. A massive explosion rocked the battlefield. The bodies of the Undead Soldiers exploded one after another. It was a devastating chain reaction created by combining the Seal of Explosion with the newly upgraded Chain Explosion.
"The right flank is open. Hurry up and enchant Chain Explosion over there, too."
"I was going to do that anyway. Right, Turner?"
"Hah, I’ll refrain from answering."
With the help of his former comrades, Hendy was also actively participating, inevitably boosting the soldiers’ overall firepower.
[Mandra has died.]
[Granzle has died.]
[The Pargal Tribe Soldier Detker has died.]
Of course, their own Main Forces were dying off just as quickly, but it was an unavoidable sacrifice to suppress the tyrant.
"My son!"
"Prince Granzle!"
"Aaaah! Mandra!"
Bigdream and Grizzle rushed toward the corpse of the Death Knight, while Mederia ran toward the fairy’s corpse, which was engulfed in flames. The two undead Main Forces had been together since right before they were summoned, making the shock twice as hard to bear. Mederia had also spent a long time with them in the second Balak, leaving her equally devastated. However, pushing past the grief of the fallen soldiers, Taehyun issued a firm command.
"Everyone, return to your positions. Now is the time to focus on the battle. If you really can’t hold it in, take it out on the enemy."
"Damn it. How dare they kill my son!"
"Mandra, I’ll never forget you!"
The enemy Main Forces were the perfect outlets for their intense, burning rage. After confirming the status of the two Minotaurs fighting on the opposite flank, Taehyun turned his attention to the wielder of the Holy Sword.
The sharp clang of clashing metal rang out. Dropin, currently crossing swords with an S-Rank Attacker, was unilaterally pushing his opponent back using the sheer power of his unique stats.
"Ugh! He clearly lacks skill, yet I’m being pushed back. This makes no sense!"
"Grrr, you’re spouting the words I hate hearing the most!"
The true power of the Holy Sword had not yet been revealed. Dropin was driving the battle into an advantageous position using only the effects of his superior equipment, so there was no need to worry about him for now. Rather, the real problem was finding the perfect timing to unleash the full power of the Holy Sword and the Demonic Sword Ashlanche.
’There should still be an SS-Rank Keeper and the Sword Saint Repilder left. Is Leon waiting for the Eastern Federation to appear?’
The Eastern Federation was a wildcard; they could become an ally or an enemy. If they allied with him, they would be reliable backup, but if they turned hostile, he would have to fight a war on two fronts. However, there was no way Leon hadn’t prepared a countermeasure for the Eastern Federation.
’In the end, they’ll have no choice but to attack Ashlan first.’
With Grai’s sword gradually pressuring Kaiharst, if only the Centrix Duke that Seonghwi was facing could be dealt with, Leon’s defeat would be set in stone. Taehyun fiddled with his communication device while watching the elves led by the High Elves. He had barely managed to persuade Hamolton to bring the elves from the Silent Forest, but Momonte Anslake, whom he had given orders to, was not answering his calls. Just then, a member of the Tarantula faction used Position Transfer, and the reason became glaringly obvious.
[Position Transfer has been used.]
[The location of the Anslake Family Guild Attackers will be transferred to the previously saved location.]
It was Momonte Anslake’s betrayal. Songyi, who was being held in his arms, urgently tried to use an item block, but Taehyun stopped her.
"T-Taehyun, there are no marks nearby. Balak is..."
"I know. That’s why I had two people on standby in advance."
"Really?"
"Of course. And the strongest ones at that. Now, it looks like the Eastern Federation is finally showing up. Shall we flip this whole thing upside down for real?"
The troops of the Eastern Federation began to appear in the distance. With the massive Baekho appearing alongside the Druids, they were undeniably a formidable force. Viscount Crowell and Yuslan, who were in the middle of casting magic, both frowned as they looked at the woman riding Baekho.
"Archbishop Messiah!"
"Ugh, it’s that smell of dirt I hate the most."
"Hmph, it’s just a gathering of all the people I despise."
Thus, the war centered around the capital of Ashlan was facing a completely new dynamic with the arrival of the Eastern Federation.
---
Meanwhile, the two elderly figures waiting in the Silent Forest were watching the Attackers enter the Revived Plains.
"Ahem. They look to be about the level of top-tier A-Rank Attackers."
"Their numbers are roughly around ten thousand. If we include the three S-Rank Attackers mixed in between, it’ll be a bit annoying."
These were Guild Attackers who had consistently received support from the Anslake Family. Unlike independent Attackers, there was bound to be a vast difference in their equipment and growth levels. Hasla, who was sitting in a tree, slowly opened his eyes and pulled out the Ancient Chains.
"I suppose I’ll have to block the vanguard first. I’ll be back."
"Indeed. I’ll support you properly, so go without worry."
"Haha. I might not really need it, though."
"Tch, making a fuss even when I offer to help. Just go already!"
When the old elf shouted in a fit of temper, the Myoin Tribe chieftain finally moved toward the plains. Left alone, Hamolton lightly clicked his tongue as he watched the giant warrior approaching from afar.
"Tsk, tsk, looks like that guy cares for neither ally nor enemy. His body looks like it was temporarily pieced together, too. What a tragic life."
The Great Elder had no idea that the warrior was an Attacker who had participated in the Hyacinth Raid Party.