“Please stay in the middle of the group to avoid falling behind. My companions and I will clear the path ahead. Keep up and follow us.”
Asking someone to live or not to die is not done. Instead of making promises he couldn’t keep, Aslan held Purity in his right hand and swung the staff in his left.
The guards gripped their weapons tightly and lined up behind Aslan in a long row, while the traveling party stood beside Aslan checking their weapons or taking deep breaths in preparation for the breakthrough.
The key was speed. Considering that there wouldn’t be just one or two Thor Mulls on the other side, the crucial factor was speed. It was important to break through quickly and find the target swiftly.
There was also the possibility of casualties among the guards and within the group if it dragged on too long. Aslan steeled his resolve and glanced at Anna.
“Can you possibly break the wall?”
“…The wall?”
“Yes, in case we get cornered in a narrow space during the breakthrough, it might be dangerous.”
Anna stared at the wall for a moment after hearing Aslan’s words, then nodded her head.
“Yes, it won’t be difficult.”
“Then please do so right before the breakthrough.”
Without responding, Anna’s eyes gleamed with determination as Aslan looked away from her and scanned his surroundings lightly.
Tiamat, who had only a few arrows left, shuffled them in another hand with a serious expression; Angie cracking her neck from side to side without any sign of tension; Phey standing expressionless and Ereta smiling – all prepared for the impending battle in their own ways.
Unlike the others, Lumel was clearly tense when Aslan finally noticed the movement from his left side and turned his head, realizing that Lumel was preparing for battle with great anxiety.
Aslan instantly understood the reason why upon recognizing the difference between his companions and Lumel.
After all, Lumel had only once fought alongside Aslan.
Compared to Tiamat, Ereta, Angie, and Phey who had been through numerous battles, this was only Lumel’s second crisis with Aslan.
It wasn’t something incomprehensible.
Lumel was different from his comrades who were accustomed to constant crises.
Aslan glanced at Lumel for a moment before turning away, gripping Purity firmly and adjusting his stance. Keeping his center of gravity high and centered, he slightly stepped forward with his left foot.
He raised the staff upward. The sound of the guards swallowing hard and Anna conjuring magic resounded heavily, then was drowned out by the thunderous roar as Aslan thrust his sword forward.
KWAHHHHH!
The stone wall shattered into pieces and scattered. Dust rose thickly. Through the chaos, Aslan pushed his body through first, holding his sword firmly to allow those following to advance.
Behind his tightly closed eyelids, a rough premonition surged violently.
Between the flying brick fragments emerged the enemy. Opening his eyes immediately, Aslan swung Purity upward from below with a firm grip.
CHEEKK!
Splitting was Thor Mull’s body. Leaving a trail of black liquid rolling away, Aslan leaped forward.
Soon, the dust parted as his companions charged out.
THUD CRACK!
As Aslan swung the staff to push away a Thor Mull, Lumel following closely behind hurled his spear. A Thor Mull’s chest plate shattered from the thrown spear.
Next to him, Phey jumped in and kicked aside an incoming spear which dug into the ground before stopping. Then, with agile movements, Phey vaulted onto its shoulder and leaped off, severing the head of the Thor Mull whose head rolled across the floor.
THOOM!
KWAAJIIJIK!
Dozens of Thor Mulls revealed themselves amidst the astonishing scene. Arrows flew through the mass resembling an army, where an arrow of considerable length pierced through the head of a Thor Mull charging at the front and consecutively impaled the dark figures following behind.
With sounds akin to shattering crystal or stone, lifeless bodies tumbled about.
Towards the approaching Thor Mulls, Angie rammed her body against one, dismembering it; Ereta guarding her blind spot by swinging her axe gracefully; Anna scattering lightning that left fleeting traces on the retinas, pushing back the charging Thor Mulls.
Veterans, former veterans, or even ancient divine riders comprising the party performed beyond their share, advancing forward.
“Don’t fall behind! Stab!”
“AAAAA!”
And behind the veterans, countless guards began to appear. Though individually weak, their synchronized breathing from rigorous training allowed them to block the attacking Thor Mulls with heavy shields and push them back with spears.
The Thor Mulls pushed back were smashed by those wielding axes who followed Aslan closely while shouting, keeping up desperately.
Now as the morning sun rose brightly over the city of indulgence, despite the scattered bloodstains hinting at countless deaths, the guards continued advancing.
There was hope. This way, they could either find a place to fortify again or locate the main body.
As Aslan thought this, what he hadn’t anticipated was…
Thor Mull’s breakthrough ability.
When Aslan stopped after stabbing the last Thor Mull’s neck with the staff, pulling it out while slashing its neck with Purity—
KWARRRRR!
“AHHH!”
Suddenly, a scream and a tremendous roar came from behind. A sound like something collapsing.
At the same time, dozens of dark figures appeared beyond the Thor Mull Aslan had killed, Angie cursed loudly, and Phey quietly called out Aslan’s name.
Sudden confusion spread widely. Like wildfire, it rapidly consumed the formation. Aslan quickly identified the source of the confusion and turned around.
Behind him, Aslan saw countless dark figures filling the spot they had broken through.
“Bastard Thor Mull…!”
Unexpectedly, the figure there was Thor Mull.
Just like the first time he was killed in the back alley, it was Thor Mull clad in beetle armor.
What was different from that time was that he carried countless black crystals all over his body and had countless dark figures trailing behind him.
Hundreds of such figures quickly tightened the encirclement. Countless former veterans poured in like a flood. Aslan gritted his teeth as he watched the spears closing in, while the guards retreated and stumbled trying to evade the incoming spears.
Terrified, surrounded guards. Their shrill screams were filled with despair.
Aslan glared at Thor Mull, and Tiamat clicked his tongue, drawing an axe, perhaps having run out of arrows. The others reacted similarly.
Thor Mull’s army densely drove in their spears. Aslan swept his gaze around.
Despite the predicament, Tiamat calmly focused on the enemy. But his arms trembled slightly, indicating exhaustion.
Angie looked around anxiously and clicked her tongue, while Ereta held her axe low, ready to counterattack at any moment.
Phey silently observed Lumel’s tense form next to her, and Lumel was looking at Aslan.
In his eyes flickered determination, hesitation, and apology. Reading all these emotions, Aslan sighed.
What was needed was resolve. That was why he placed his hand on his cloak and stepped forward.
Deciding to use every means of foresight and control to break through, Aslan made this vow. Before he could act, Thor Mull spoke.
“Do you want to live?”
So Aslan stopped.
He had believed Thor Mull had lost all reason.
Thought that the only thing possible was to say “I’ve found you,” that communication was impossible.
But as the sense of confusion spread, his mouth opened.
“Yes.”
The appearance of the main Thor Mull was more intact compared to the army of Thor Mulls.
Clad in beetle armor, wielding a black spear, and covered with countless black spots and crystals all over his body, but at least one eye was intact.
Staring at Aslan with that somewhat intact eye, Aslan met Thor Mull’s gaze.
“Even if it requires sacrificing others’ lives?”
An unexpected question. Aslan frowned at it, and Thor Mull quietly lowered his spear.
The emotionless face of the insect. Still, Aslan could recall a certain scene.
From a previous monster hunt with Thor Mull.
This question was the same as that time.
Its intention was unclear. Watching Thor Mull silently without revealing any signs, Aslan took a step forward and said,
“No.”
Giving the same answer as that day.
Thor Mull chuckled softly, seemingly amused by the answer.
“You’re persistent.”
Then he threw something.
Not towards Aslan, but towards the ground.
PLOP, deeply embedding itself was a spear.
A glossy black spear.
“That’s…”
Lumel recognized it in shock, and Aslan identified it.
The very spear used when Thor Mull attacked the place where Lumel and Aslan reunited.
Likely the spear containing Thor Mull’s soul.
Realizing Thor Mull’s intent with the spear throw, Aslan glared sharply at him.
In the meeting of gazes, some emotion passed, and Aslan closed his mouth as Thor Mull smiled and spoke.
“Grab that spear.”
Then he’ll let the rest go. Thor Mull pointed to the spear nonchalantly, and Aslan shut his mouth and looked down at the spear.
The glossy black spear. According to what Aslan surmised and Lumel realized, grabbing it would transform one into Thor Mull.
The countless army behind Thor Mull proved it.
Given the obvious implications, Lumel grabbed Aslan’s arm.
“Aslan sir! You can’t! If you fall for his trick…!”
Aslan didn’t respond. He wore an expression devoid of hesitation, filled with some kind of resolution.
That the moment he grabs the spear, Aslan would no longer be Aslan, yet he still must grab it.
Of course, he did intend to grab it.
And there wasn’t really a grand or foolish reason for it.
Aslan tried not to smile while meeting Thor Mull’s gaze. There was no trace of doubt in Thor Mull’s eyes.
He seemed to believe without a shadow of doubt that the moment Aslan grabbed it, his body would be taken over.
‘This is the only chance.’
The spear visible in Aslan’s eyes. The magic flowing through that spear.
Although it’s uncertain exactly what kind of magic flows through it or how similar it is,
if it bears even slight resemblance to Boren’s necromancy magic,
then Aslan, who had already dismantled Boren’s necromancy magic, should be able to undo it.
There’s no guarantee they’ll be identical, but there’s no other way to break through the encirclement surrounding the group and the guards now.
Attempting a forced breakthrough would inevitably cause massive losses.
None of the lives present here are particularly more precious or worthless than others. To Aslan, everyone’s life holds equal value.
Except for one.
If there’s a life that can be used most readily, it’s only his own.
With that thought, Aslan closed his eyes heavily. Beneath the closed eyelids, various emotions and thoughts swirled violently.
The possibility of failure, the chance of choosing the wrong option and dying, the truth that he doesn’t want to die, and yet the altruistic desire not to see others die because of him.
Amidst the countless emotions rushing through hastily,
Aslan thought.
Nevertheless.
Something only he can choose.
Something only he can accomplish.
It was enough to push away the swirling emotions in his mind. Aslan opened his eyes.
And took a step forward.
GROOONK.
Before he could take another step, someone grabbed Aslan.
It was a woman with a worried expression, sweat-drenched hair sticking to her cheeks and forehead, looking up at Aslan. Her name was Lumel.
When Aslan turned his head and met her eyes, she shook her head slightly.
“Rather, let that woman, no, even if that woman grabs the spear, I’ll still honor the promise.”
Correcting and offering an alternative proposal, Thor Mull. Aslan briefly glanced at Thor Mull and read the greed lurking in his eyes.
Then he turned to look at Lumel. Facing Aslan’s determined expression, Lumel bit her lips tightly and said,
“This isn’t my land… But protecting the citizens of the empire is the duty of a noble. So…”
Words that couldn’t continue further. Yet Lumel’s firm resolution was evident in her steadfast expression.
Aslan gazed at Lumel silently for a moment, then gently overlaid his hand on hers.
Gently releasing the clasped hands, he freed his arm from Lumel’s grip. As Aslan’s arm slipped from her grasp, Lumel let out a small gasp.
Tears streaming down her face due to the overwhelming emotions, Lumel. Aslan looked at her silently for a moment, then smiled softly and moved forward.
The sight of Aslan walking towards the spear. To anyone watching, it was unmistakably the image of a man sacrificing himself instead of the woman.
Even for someone like Lumel with delusions, there was no room for misinterpretation.
The spear embedded in the ground. Aslan stood before it and looked at Thor Mull.
“If I grab this… Will you let everyone go?”
While taking a deep breath and asking, Thor Mull responded with a meaningful smile. Even the insect-like face showed a distinct grin.
“I will. I keep my promises.”
Whether aware or not of Aslan noticing, Thor Mull remained relaxed.
Aslan looked down. Lowering his gaze, he slowly released the maintained neutral expression.
Aslan’s faint smile. To Thor Mull, this sudden smile wasn’t the expression of someone making the worst choice at the end of defeat.
To Thor Mull, that smile was the smile of a victor.
The obvious sense of incongruity. Before Thor Mull could react to that incongruity, Aslan’s hand firmly grasped the spear.
Immediately after, Aslan felt a sensation as if his consciousness was sinking into a murky swamp and fell silent.
[!– Slider main container –]
