Chapter 77: Invasion and Erosion (6)
“What is this? It’s nothing special…”
“Don’t let your guard down, Jack. Everyone, prepare. There are definitely still remaining foes.”
The knights who had won the first clash gathered around their commander to reorganize their formation. Meanwhile, the young mage who was the core of this tactic dismounted and was inspecting something.
“What are you looking at, Ares?”
“It’s a bit unusual.”
“Unusual?”
“All the ancient records about the Demonic Beasts are preserved in video form.”
The mage stood up with a serious expression.
Then he began to recount the old stories he had studied.
“They said that Demonic Beasts essentially take on the appearance of their victims, who are alive and corrupted. Of course, that includes beasts. But from what I see, I don’t think there was ever a creature that looked like this in this world.”
He said as he lifted the head of a Legionnaire.
Indeed, the figure clad in black armor resembling a knight’s was unrecognizable as either a beast, insect, or crustacean.
In that moment, everyone fell silent. Only the memory of the red-eyed beasts charging with murderous intent flashed through their minds.
“They first appeared in the ancient maze. I guess something has changed. We won’t be intimidated by these outdated ancient creatures.”
However, the commander, who had just urged everyone to remain alert, unexpectedly laughed heartily, lifting the grim atmosphere.
But Ares, the mage of the Stars Academy, remained skeptical of those words.
‘The entire region was struck simultaneously in just one night. Of course, if they’re just simple beasts like now, they will soon be suppressed. But…’
Being a promising member of the academy, he had heard some things. Among them was the situation in which countless distress calls flooded in through various communication conduits during the midnight attack.
The city of Rihelrm, which was under siege, the mayor governing it, the director of the Clawclaw Academy’s branch there, as well as the personal mages in the city, and even those residing in nearby villages.
His seniors had described it as a horrific hell that none had ever witnessed before.
‘Is it truly correct that Demonic Beasts, which were judged to be extinct, have reappeared?’
“This is? Everyone, be on guard!”
As Ares was about to speak again, filled with questions he couldn’t resolve, the commander of the knights detected something and sheathed his spear, drawing his sword.
‘It’s coming.’
“The ground is shaking!”
Detecting the tremors, Ares widened his eyes while the knights, stunned, struggled to control their rearing horses.
They all understood that there was no time to escape now.
Everyone desperately held onto their reins and tried to stay on their mounts.
“Below!”
Someone shouted about the ground’s anomaly.
Something was writhing underground, approaching them at incredible speed.
“Oh no.”
With the commander’s low sigh, an explosion erupted as the ground they were standing on blew up.
Ares shut his eyes tight from the shock. He was catapulted into the air with his horse and soon crashed down with a tremendous force.
Dazed and confused, he could barely register the horse and knights soaring higher above him.
‘Gah…’
He tasted the metallic tang of blood in his mouth.
Something loomed, casting a shadow over his body.
Another monster, large and seemingly solid, partially revealed from the ground.
One of its massive arms, built for smashing rocks and digging, was raised with claws extended, ready to strike him down.
He needed to dodge, but his aching body wouldn’t move easily.
“Snap out of it!”
Rescuing him from the swinging blow was none other than the commander of the knights.
Amid the shockwave that burst forth, the commander landed with a thud, repeatedly slapping Ares’s cheek to bring him to his senses.
“You are the core of this tactic. If you don’t pull yourself together, we all die here.”
“Y-yes…!”
Under the commander’s fierce gaze, he nodded desperately.
“Everyone, take positions!”
The commander organized the surviving knights. All the knights gritted their teeth and stood their ground, swords in hand.
Once again, an attack came flying in from the front. However, the knights were not standing idly.
‘Using knights with magical power as the foundation, we draw the circuit. Defensive Octagon.’
The mage Ares, drenched in sweat, cast the spell, the core and center of their formation.
In coordination with the knights’ movements, Ares unleashed the strongest shield that a single mage could deploy using the knights.
“Ugh!”
“We held!”
They all maintained their formation until the moment of death drew near.
The result was an enemy’s attack that was repelled with a strong shockwave.
“To the offensive formation!”
Simultaneously, the knights readjusted their positions once more.
It was the bone-sculpted movement that had been repeated thousands of times in practice.
This time, instead of a shield, flames of magical energy enveloped their bodies.
“Charge!”
Leading the charge, the commander surged forward, needing to strike the enemy before the enhancement effects faded.
‘It worked!’
Ares clenched his fists as he remained in the back.
The massive and thick armor that would normally withstand anything was slashed, spraying blood.
With the help of his comrades, the commander soared through the air, plunging his sword down onto the creature’s head, marking the beginning of the monster’s slow collapse.
Elated, Ares hurried to the knights.
“Prepare to cast spells. It’s not over yet.”
However, the commander instead raised his tension and pointed ahead.
“What on earth is that?”
Ares murmured unconsciously, dumbfounded.
After a certain extent of growth, the Legion had discontinued mass-producing all-purpose soldiers for efficiency.
Instead, these all-purpose soldiers were upgraded to higher-tier Legionnaires with more resources invested.
With an advantage of versatility and a lack of firepower mitigated by Formancy.
Now, that trio of upgraded Legionnaires appeared before them, just after they had barely claimed victory.
Among them, the one in the middle had a slender build and flowing black short hair.
“Take your positions! Guard formation!”
The knights, having no time to analyze or evaluate their foe, moved skillfully once more.
This time, the formation was designed to fight while protecting something.
A breathless tension and silence filled the air. The enemy also began to move.
The Legionnaires stationed on both sides slowly drew their four swords.
The slender Kang Do-yeon also raised her sword. Everyone was horrified by the crimson flames engulfing the blade.
“I’ll initiate the attack!”
While there were only three foes, Ares felt a sense of foreboding and shot off his spell.
Though hastily conjured, it was not an attack to be dismissed.
“What the hell.”
However, the blue magic spear he launched was easily blocked by the crimson barrier they had created.
As if taking their turn, the Legionnaires began to move.
“They’re coming!”
The knights assumed a defensive formation to meet the onslaught.
The two higher-tier Legionnaires, shaking the ground beneath them, charged forth, swinging their four swords and tails toward the knights.
“These guys…”
To punish the incursed enemies pulled into their formation, the knights rushed in from all sides, swinging their swords with all their might.
Yet not a single blade found its target. The enemies hadn’t actually been pulled in at all.
In a fleeting moment, merely brushing against one another, their swords and tails struck like lightning, severing the knights’ arms and legs, causing blood to spout.
“Gah… cough…”
The commander clutched the tail that pierced his chest and spat out blood.
His body was lifted as he locked eyes with the higher-tier creature. Six glowing eyes within the armor and its fading, enraged gaze.
“That technique… surely…”
As he approached death, he recognized the technique used by the intruding foes. It was a far more developed and dense version of their signature technique that they had trained for in their own specialty.
Of course, the Legion had no reason to resolve that doubt. Judging that there was no more information to extract from the commander, the higher-tier Legionnaire simply swung its tail, discarding the commander’s body.
Even in death, he did not let go of the sword.
Now, only the mage Ares, who had been there for their original purpose, was left.
“I won’t die alone.”
At the moment all the knights fell, Ares steeled his resolve and activated the spell, prepared for self-destruction.
The higher-tier Legionnaire aimed its arm at Ares.
And in the next instant, a large toxic thorn launched from its forearm embedded itself in Ares’s chest.
The Legion, determined not to let the same mistake happen three times after already experiencing two self-destructions, had planned it meticulously.
“Gagh…”
Unable to resist the infection spreading from the thorn, Ares’s body collapsed forward.
The Legion retrieved his incapacitated body without hesitation.
Unaware that he would suffer endlessly, neither dying nor going insane unless cooperating, he thrashed in despair.
‘Your body is no longer yours.’
Then, a whispering will pierced through the infection controlling his body, invading his mind.
