VOLUME 11: CHAPTER 14

VOLUME 11: CHAPTER 14

‘It’s too late to turn back now.’

When Lark saw the encirclement, he realized he no longer had a choice but to participate in this battle.

He judged that now was not the time to be conserving his mana. Although they would end up straying from their plan of immediately closing the portal due to this, he couldn’t afford to let the Beast King die here.

‘Fortunately, we’re far from the Stronghold now.’

Now that they were a good distance away from the Talverton Stronghold, the risk of collateral damage from Lark’s spells would be minimal. None of his allies would be swept up in his spells, even if he started casting powerful magic, one after another.

Well, the Beast King was also here, but he wasn’t fragile enough to die from shockwaves or stray projectiles.

“King Lark.”

While Lark was contemplating on which spell to use to maximize efficiency in this battle, the Beast King spoke through gritted teeth.

“If you wish to retreat to the Stronghold,” said the Beast King, his voice still trembling from utter fury. “Do it now.”

More demons started surrounding them in all directions. And a dozen more middle-ranking nests unearthed themselves and blocked the path leading to the Talveron Stronghold.

“I will create a path for you,” said the Beast King fearlessly. “Use that opening to retreat.”

The Beast King’s eyes were filled with rage and madness. His silver mane glowed even brighter than before, giving it the appearance of a blazing white flame enveloping the White Lion’s torso.

“And you?” said Lark.

“I will remain here,” said the Beast King. “I will never forgive myself if I run away from here. I will forever haunt me if I don’t kill that damn demon that stole the face of General Thaorrok!”

It was amazing that despite being swallowed by wrath and fury, the Beast King managed to retain a part of his rational mind. It was apparent that the Beast King’s entire being was screaming at him to charge at the Skinwalker and rip it to shreds, but he didn’t take such drastic actions immediately out of concern for Lark.

More sky demons flew above the sky, forming a canopy that blocked the rays of the morning sun.

“Before we became friends, and before he became a General, Thaorrok was one of my rivals for the Beast King position. Although I ended up winning the battle for the throne, he is the most formidable beastman I’ve fought in my entire life, even now.”

Lark realized why General Thaorrok was assigned to oversee the defenses of the southern part of the Alliance. The beastmen needed someone nearly as powerful as the Beast King to lead the warriors stationed in this region, as this was the territory nearest the Wasteland.

“Skinwalker, is it?” said the Beast King. “If that thing managed to copy the strength and techniques of General Thaorrok, this will be a difficult battle even for me.”

Lark agreed.

Their current situation was entirely different from when they were still in Talverton Stronghold.

The Scylla, the Red Dragon, the Royal Guards of the Beast King, and the elite beastmen warriors of the Stronghold weren’t here to take the brunt of the demons’ attack. There were no trebuchets, ballistae, arrows, towers, and walls to protect them. No one would come here to assist or save them, should they find themselves completely trapped in the encirclement.

Moreover, the Skinwalker managed to copy a beastman nearly as powerful as the Beast King. No matter where they looked, this was a battle far more unfavorable than before – this was what the Beast King thought.

“Now’s your only chance,” said the Beast King. “If you wish for it, I’ll make an opening so you can escape, King Lark.”

How long had it been since someone said such words to him?

Lark couldn’t remember.

Lark smiled, and he eventually ended up laughing.

“What’s so funny?” The Beast King glared at Lark. “We’re in a serious situation here, King Lark! Choose! We’re running out of time!”

Lark shook his head once. “I apologize. I’m not laughing at you, Your Majesty.” He paused, scanned the battlefield quickly, and added, “How should I say this? I just… find it refreshing to see someone go to this length just to protect me.”

Lark lifted his right arm. Quickly, his bracer started turning into a majestic-looking staff.

If the sword form of Morpheus was designed to cut down impregnable armors, its staff form was designed to quickly cast powerful magic while minimizing mana cost.

“I’m sure you’ve resolved yourself to die here,” said Lark. “I can see it in your eyes, Your Majesty. But –”

The five gemstones at the head of the staff glowed brightly, and massive amounts of mana visible to the naked eye started gushing out of it.

“—this place wouldn’t be your grave.”

The mana that gushed out of the staff shot up, moved past the sky demons, and pierced the heavens above. The clumps of mana parted away the clouds, as though a giant invisible hand tore the sky. Two massive magic circles were formed, which quickly grew in size and overlapped with each other. Eventually, the two merged, creating an entirely new magic formation exclusive to Evander Alaester.

The mana consumed by this attack was equivalent to multiple Grand Scale spells combined.

Unique Magic: Tempest Swarm

From inside the massive magic formation, tens of thousands of ethereal-looking butterflies the size of a palm started descending. Their bodies were golden, and their translucent wings crackled with lightning.

The ethereal butterflies fluttered their wings and gracefully landed on the bodies of their nearest prey – the sky demons.

And to the Beast King’s surprise, numerous small explosions rang out.

The moment the ethereal butterflies landed on the bodies of the sky demons, they exploded into forks of lightning and wind blades, cutting and ripping the bodies of their targets.

The sky demons screeched in terror, and those that had not yet been touched by the ethereal butterflies quickly flew back and increased their distance. But to the sky demons’ horror, the ethereal butterflies flew at a comparable speed and chased after them.

“SHRIEEKKK!”

Shrieks and death throes resounded throughout the entire battlefield. From the sky, the barely recognizable corpses of the sky demons rained down.

The sky demons didn’t even try to fight back. They fled from the swarm with a single-minded focus, as a mere touch from the ethereal butterflies was enough to scorch and tear their bodies into pieces.

Even from this distance, the Beast King could feel the shockwaves whenever a butterfly exploded.

“You’re finally coming?”

The Beast King turned his attention to the Skinwalker.

The elephant beastman trumpeted its trunk, and it smashed its massive arms against the ground. It firmly planted its feet, bent its body forward, and lunged at the Beast King at a speed incomparable to its size.

The Beast King roared, “Come at me! You damn bastard that stole the face of Thaorrok!”

Like a madman, the Beast King didn’t dodge the attack of the Skinwalker. The massive fist of the Skinwalker punched the Beast King right in the face, making his head twist to the side from impact.

Without even flinching, the Beast King clenched his fists and also punched back. The punch caved in the face of the Skinwalker, and it knocked its body back several meters.

The Beast King moved closer, and with his other fist, struck the body of the Skinwalker right at the abdomen, sending it flying and rolling on the ground several meters.

The Beast King roared, and for several seconds, his voice nearly drowned the butterflies’ explosions.

Like a War God, the Beast King’s silver mane continued to blaze brightly.

The Skinwalker quickly got up and charged at the Beast King again. Despite being sent flying several meters, there was hardly any damage to the elephant beastman’s body.

“Of course! This won’t be enough to defeat someone like General Thaorrok!”

Without using his claws, the Beast King began a slugfest with the Skinwalker.

With every punch, their heads were knocked back. With every kick, their abdomens caved in. As though the Beast King wanted to honor the memories of his friend, he did not dodge the attacks of his opponent. And surprisingly, the Skinwalker did the same.

The two massive beastmen exchanged powerful blows, one after another.

For every attack the Beast King received, he returned it with even greater force.

If he was struck with a force capable of destroying wooden walls, he retaliated with an attack capable of piercing iron armor.

Although several demons tried interfering with the fight, most of them – the middle-ranking nests included —  were intercepted by the ethereal butterflies.

‘It’s amazing.’

The Beast King quickly scanned the battlefield.

‘The only reason I’m able to focus on my fight against the Skinwalker is because of him.’

Even now, the spell cast by Lark was dominating the battlefield. After taking care of the majority of the sky demons, the swarm of ethereal butterflies flew down and slaughtered the demons on the ground.

Explosions and shockwaves continuously reverberated, and together with the cries and death throes of the demons, served as the background as the Beast King and the Skinwalker fought.

Even the Fire Giants were helpless as hundreds of ethereal butterflies latched on it, exploding at the same time.

The Beast King realized why Lark didn’t use such a powerful spell before. Just the shockwave from the explosions alone was enough to kill a normal beastman warrior.

Had he used that spell back then, it would have also destroyed what remained of Talverton Stronghold.

‘It’s the same spell from before.’

The Beast King saw dozens of head-sized golden orbs surrounding Lark from all directions. While the swarm massacred the demons, the golden orbs moved around and protected their caster. They flew around within a certain radius, attacking those who were an immediate threat to Lark.

‘King Lark, thank you.’

The Beast King thanked Lark from the bottom of his heart.

He understood Lark’s intentions well. Currently, the ethereal butterflies flew far from the Skinwalker, as though intentionally avoiding it.

Although that spell should be enough to kill the Skinwalker, it was apparent that Lark was deliberately leaving that opponent to the Beast King.

‘Thank you for allowing me to settle this grudge.’

***

All the way from the Iron Mountains, through the numerous bulging eyes on its oversized head, a demon watched the battle between the demons, the Beast King, and Lark.

“What’s… this?”

Suuku’ Kala, the Pathfinder, was filled with disbelief.

It happened quickly.

The trap he’d crafted after several considerations was broken down using sheer force by a single human.

Tens of thousands of translucent butterflies flew emerged from a massive magic formation in the sky and started massacring the demons. Even the Fire Giants – demons capable of taking down city walls – couldn’t withstand the spell’s attack and perished in battle.

And to make things worse, even the Skinwalker was struggling to defeat the White Lion.

“It doesn’t make sense,” mumbled Suuku’ Kala.

Before the magic formation in the sky was activated, the Pathfinder quickly estimated the mana required to create it. And he was bewildered by the conclusion he’d arrived at.

“It’s impossible for a human to have that much mana!”

The Pathfinder started biting his long nails.

The mana used in that spell alone was comparable to a dozen high-tier spells combined.

The Pathfinder had seen Grand Scale Magic before, but even those paled in comparison to the spell the human had just cast.

Still, even if that human was blessed enough to be born with a massive mana pool, the backlash from casting such a powerful spell should be enough to kill him. Yet, currently, the human was still alive and standing.

“The staff in the human’s hands…,” mumbled the Pathfinder. “It’s probably a medium. A powerful one at that.”

Was the staff made of mithril or adamantite?

Suuku’ Kala needed to see it closely to be sure.

Suuku’ Kala remembered the reports given by the Lord of Parasitic Demons before. According to Plagas, he faced a formidable magician in this realm.

Was that magician and that human one and the same?

But it shouldn’t be possible.

According to the report submitted by the Lord of Parasitic Demons, the human magician was weaker than him. The human even went as far as flee from battle, after encountering the Lord of Parasitic Demons.

As Suuku’ Kala watched Lark slaughter the demons by the dozen, he started questioning the veracity of that report.

And it did not take long for Suuku’ Kala to arrive at a conclusion.

“Plagas!” screamed the Pathfinder. “That liar!”

The Pathfinder realized that Plagas lied to everyone. Considering that slimy demon’s personality, he was certain of it.

He shouldn’t have blindly believed the words of that coward!

“You dare lie to the Demon Lord Bakuvara! Once I get back to our Realm, I’ll make sure you are punished, no matter what!”

The Pathfinder was furious.

“No, I should report this right away,” said Suuku’ Kala. “Tormentors! Come to me!”

Several tormentors nearby immediately went to Suuku’ Kala and knelt before him.

“Pathfinder,” said the tormentors. “Please give us your commands.”

“I need you to deliver a message to your master, the Lord of the Red Tower.”

The tormentors silently listened.

“Plagas probably lied to us,” said Suuku’ Kala. “Tell Elrenar to investigate the authenticity of the Lord of Parasitic Demons’ report. Tell him that there’s a high chance that the human Plagas encountered is the same human we’re currently facing.”

“Understood.”

The tormentors stood up and went to the place where the portal was located, in order to deliver the report to the Lord of the Red Tower.

But before the tormentors could even enter the portal, a massive pressure swept over the entire Iron Mountains.

For the first time, Suuku’ Kala turned his attention away from the battle. All of his eyes gazed at the massive portal three hundred meters away from him.

The numerous eyes in Suuku’ Kala’s head widened upon seeing the portal’s energy rapidly deteriorating.

He realized that the portal was starting to close.

In a hurried voice, Suuku’ Kala roared, “What are you doing! Feed it more mana crystals! Hurry!”

The portal had been in an unstable condition ever since it was relocated in the Iron Mountains. In order for it to continue being connected to the Demon Realm, the demons needed to feed it with large amounts of mana crystals regularly.

Mana crystals were low-quality mana stones found in the Demon Realm. Although they were abundant in the Great Cavern where the Arzomos Tribe previously lived, they were brittle, making them unsuitable for use in weapons and battle.

Currently, their only real use was prolonging the duration of the portal.

Terrified that he would lose contact with the Demon Lord once the portal closed, Suuku’ Kala frantically ordered all nearby demons to pour more crystals into the portal.

“N-No! We can’t let it happen!”

Suuku’ Kala was visibly panicking. His previous arrogant demeanor vanished entirely.

“That’s not enough! More! Put more crystals! What are you doing?! Empty it! Just pour all of it!”

After several minutes of feeding mana crystals to the portal, it finally started to stabilize.

Suuku’ Kala sighed in relief. He finally regained his calm.

***

“H-Hey… you saw it, right?”

Throughout the entire ordeal, two rabbits watched from the tunnels in the mines above. They peeked through a fist-size hole, observing everything transpiring below.

They saw how the portal’s energy rapidly deteriorated, and they saw how the demons frantically tried repairing it by feeding it crystals.

Arlo nervously said, “S-Sir Fior. Didn’t the portal just—”

“—Shhh,” Fior put his index finger on his snout. In a hushed voice, he said, “Lower your voice. There’s no need to shout. I saw it too.”

Using his hand, Fior fixed his cracked spectacles. The former strategist of the Third Legion stared intently at the portal below.

“Arlo,” whispered Fior, “the Three Gods hadn’t abandoned us.”