Chapter 23 – The Monster at the Frontier (3)
“Stop them, they’re coming this way!”
“W-What are you telling me to stop?! Exactly!”
The city soon descended into chaos not long after the battle began.
While none of the inhabitants were strangers to combat, none of them had ever experienced a war of this form.
“Activate the defense turrets!”
Of course, they were not entirely swept away like a wild Goblin village. After some time had passed, the city’s defensive installations began to activate.
[City Defense Turret]
“Gah, these things are as bothersome in this game as they were before…”
A great mass of mana condensed from the large mana stones, channeling through the inscribed spells before unleashing its arcane power.
The gargantuan fireball, which was as big as a small car, exploded with fiery force, turning several meters in radius into a blazing inferno instantly.
The Queen gritted her teeth as she watched dozens of her Soldiers getting annihilated with each turret’s shot.
“The main gate has been breached. Attack those turrets first.”
Fortunately for the Queen, the only proper defense setup in this small frontier town were these turrets, and even they were not numerous.
The turrets were located only in the four cardinal directions of the city, and their firing speed was not particularly rapid.
‘Smash the turrets.’
Upon receiving the Queen’s command, her troops redirected their assault toward the turrets en masse, surprising the defenders.
“W-What nonsense! They’re heading toward the turrets!”
Everyone was well aware that the turrets were their only hope. Once the turrets fell, the city would follow.
“Hurry, intercept them! Stop the turrets!”
Pale with fear, Bekins urged the city’s forces to move quickly, and they clashed fiercely with the incoming enemies near the turrets.
However, our allies were mixed in, which prevented the turrets from assisting.
“It doesn’t matter. No matter how many there are, do we really have to fall to such creatures…”
Among the forces of the city mayor Bekins, the Hobgoblin Knight Maur, known as the strongest, swung his sword, splitting the skull of a charging monster as he gritted his teeth.
Their order was clear: defend this eastern turret at all costs. As for the others, there wasn’t much they could do. At least they had to secure this one.
“These are nothing but beasts. If we hold our ground, we can withstand them.”
Encouraging his subordinates, Maur fought fiercely against the advancing enemies.
His words were somewhat true. The elite Hobgoblin Knights stood firmly, repelling the enemies from all sides without retreating.
Weapons enhanced by mana shattered the enemies’ carapaces, and the spells cast by the mages brought down many at once.
“Indeed. These are nothing but beasts.”
Despite starting to breathe heavily, Maur, who had already single-handedly killed over ten enemies, faintly smiled.
Their relentless assault and destructive power were indeed terrifying, but such ferocity was a hallmark of Mana Beasts, after all.
As long as their sole tactic was an all-out charge, they were manageable.
“What are these… things?!”
“It’s collapsing!”
Of course, one must consider that the eastern turret where Maur was stationed was in a rugged, complex area with small structures and narrow alleys.
The western turret, positioned on flat ground, was overwhelmed by the heavily armored, large-bodied assault troops who hacked apart its defenders, swiftly smashing it.
“Guh?!”
This is why a completely different entity made its way to the eastern turret where Maur was stationed.
Maur, who had just cut down an enemy’s poisoned stinger, barely managed to fend off a dark spear that lunged toward him.
“W-What are you?!”
Among the writhing horde, a singular unique enemy was mixed in.
Though similarly draped in black leather and carapace armor like the other beasts, its form was altogether different from the grotesque bugs.
The sleek body of a female figure exposed graceful curves, with faint pink hair flowing behind her.
“This…”
Though this unknown female entity said nothing, only emitting a red glow from beneath her mask, Maur realized he needed to rethink the threat posed by this mysterious legion attacking the city.
“Maybe they aren’t just a pack of beasts?”
Maur was dumbfounded as his sword was deflected by her spear, a crimson powerwave sweeping away not only him but the comrades nearby.
“Captain!”
“She’s coming!”
Trampling Maur’s severed corpse underfoot, the mysterious woman aimed her spear at the disoriented and collapsing Hobgoblin Knights and ordered her forces forward.
The regular troops surged past her like a tidal wave, overwhelming the remaining knights with streams of poisonous needles and claws.
‘Northern turret neutralized.’
‘Western turret neutralized.’
‘Southern too…’
Syla had come to assault the eastern turret but was aware of the real-time progress of the battle across the entire field.
The flow of information continuously exchanged across the whole collective never ceased.
The battle was already over. All the turrets had been neutralized and the escape routes had been blocked in advance.
Everyone except for a few who had escaped long ago were effectively trapped in the city, destined to fight to the death against the relentless monsters.
‘The Queen finds this more efficient.’
Sacrificing two Soldiers for the death of one enemy is worth it.
Having finished this calculation, the Queen continued to deploy the mobilized troops and even new recruits produced continuously into the city.
“Ah…?!”
But Syla could not leisurely observe this anymore.
Since her battle with Maur, a spine-tingling, pleasurable sensation coursed through her, making her stagger as if she had become addicted to combat.
‘She must have done something to my body.’
Of course, Syla had never had such a bloodthirsty, pleasure-driven nature on the battlefield.
She realized that this unnatural stimulation was undoubtedly a result of the Queen’s power now fused with her body.
“Like this…”
She understood it herself.
Despite having a strong will, once one’s nervous and hormonal systems are taken over, resistance is futile.
She also knew why the Queen had done this. To fully assimilate her mind as completely as her body.
To fight endlessly, to evolve endlessly, together with the Legion.
“The mayor of the city and a few Demons are making a last stand. How about finishing them yourself? It’s time for revenge.”
In the midst of all this, the Queen’s words reverberated in her mind.
Revenge, and more killing.
Thinking of it, Syla’s eyes gradually darkened to a deeper red.
Why resist? When it feels so exhilarating, so enjoyable?
“Yes.”
While she had been trembling with her head bowed, she slowly lifted it.
Beneath the mask, her face flushed as she smiled wickedly.
Her pride as a noble Vampire had long been lost the moment she became the slave of Goblins.
Having already received so much from the Queen, if this felt good, why resist?
*
[Achievement: True Unity (1) Obtained. Reward: Special Ability Point +1]
“It appears my Majesty is pleased.”
It didn’t take long for Syla’s spirit to fully assimilate with us.
With the system notification confirmed, the effect is undoubtedly solid.
Indeed, making her feel good was the right decision.
Syla is surely getting addicted to the exhilarating pleasure that bursts forth with each enemy she kills.
“Almost done with the battle.”
I swung the tentacle extending from my hand and pierced the throat of the last Orc warrior who dared to resist.
Including the area near the Southern turret where I am now, the major city districts have all fallen into our hands. The only ones left are the few survivors entrenched in the city center.
To finish cleaning them up, I led the remaining troops toward the center.
“Please, spare our lives! Please!”
“What kind of madness is this? Begging these insects for our lives?! Do they seem like ones who would show mercy!?”
The remaining citizens were in a state of panic. While many were determined to resist to the end, there were also those whose minds had broken, begging for their lives on the ground.
“That guy over there is Mayor Bekins. His lord is also an acquaintance of my nemesis.”
“Well then, allow me the honor of severing that Hobgoblin’s head.”
I smirked at Syla’s words after she had completed her task and returned.
It was now evident that even without my orders, she was eager to immediately rush out and fight.
—
“Mayor Bekins has fallen! No survivors!”
“Let’s get out of here before those creatures devour us all!”
“No use… We’re done!”
The city’s last resistance fell, and the streets echoed with screams of despair.
“I will leave no survivors in this city. There’s neither reason nor time for mercy.”
Thus, I had decided.
The city was to be wiped clean. Every last soul.
