Chapter 268
Choi Hyun-seok and the other six legends couldn’t close their mouths at the sight before them.
“It’s quite a spectacle.”
“… It can’t be snow. The sun is so bright.”
Gratiam, the capital of the Holy Empire of Gatren.
One of the continent’s largest cities was completely covered in white snow.
More precisely, it wasn’t snow but a kind of crystal formed by gathered holy power, but it looked no different on the surface.
“It feels strange somehow.”
“Indeed, in three hundred years of living, I’ve never seen a sight like this.”
It was a unique experience watching a white city in warm weather.
A passing thought noted it would have been better without the zombielike fanatics wandering the city. “That’s enough fooling around.”
Park Hyun-a stepped forward.
Soon, a war with the fanatic hordes would break out in Draxel.
Perhaps it had already begun.
They had no time for idle chat as every minute wasted meant more deaths.
“As planned, you five will draw the enemy’s attention.”
Their strategy was simple.
Five legends from various nations, including Kinley Fusel.
They would first charge into Gratiam to draw the enemy’s attention.
When the Cardinals appear, the plan starts with running away to buy time.
“When we give the signal, Choi Hyun-seok and I will sneak into the imperial palace.”
Choi Hyun-seok and Park Hyun-a would wait for the signal from afar.
When magic in a specific pattern decorates the sky, that’s when they need to move.
The two would immediately infiltrate the imperial palace in the city center.
Kill the Pope as quickly as possible to end this insufferable war.
“Ah, don’t forget to change tactics after we enter the palace. From then on, you need to focus on defense to prevent others from entering the palace.”
When the final battle begins, enemies will swarm to protect the Pope.
So our side needs to quickly switch positions too.
Put everything into protecting the palace to prevent the enemy from joining the fight.
In a way, you could say both sides’ positions would be reversed.
“We can’t hold out long. We’ll have to pour out magic like crazy… Thirty minutes at most would be our limit.”
“Don’t worry. I wasn’t planning to drag it out anyway.”
“Understood. Then we’ll head out first.”
Kinley Fusel and the legends flew toward Gratiam.
Shortly after.
Boom-!
Dust flew up with explosions in the city.
Following that first explosion, consecutive thunderous sounds rang out.
Boom! Bang!
“… Infidels…!”
“Kill them, hehehe…!”
The fanatics’ laughter rode the wind to their ears.
Choi Hyun-seok and Park Hyun-a watched the city with sharp expressions.
“Whew…”
“Nervous?”
“Aren’t you nervous, older sister?”
“I’m crazy nervous.”
Park Hyun-a grinned.
How could they not be nervous?
With humanity’s future resting on their shoulders.
The pressure from such a weighty mission felt suffocating.
‘Well, even without the pressure, it’s a situation that can’t help but make one nervous.’
Even setting aside this responsibility, this battle holds special meaning.
The moment that marks the end of a long journey.
She had waited for this moment for a long time.
“Whatever the process, if the result is shit, then it’s all shit. That’s why we need to finish well.”
“Someone who values the process would foam at the mouth hearing that.”
“Let them foam. They’re just idealists who don’t know anything. I guarantee those flower-heads would talk just like me after a year on the battlefield. Maybe even worse.”
What could be more insane than discussing dreams and ideals on the battlefield?
If you ever see such a person, it’s best to deal with them quickly.
They must have screws loose in their head by the bunch.
Park Hyun-a would not hesitate to blow their heads off if she found such people.
Fanatics and those insane people aren’t much different.
Anyway, tens of thousands of heads are blown off each day, adding one more won’t change anything.
BOOM-! BOOM!
Even while conversing, the noise continued without interruption.
If anything, it feels like it’s getting louder.
The holy power crystals covering the city scattered and sparkled here and there.
“It’s taking longer than expected. The signal should have come by now.”
“… Let’s wait a bit more.”
Despite quite some time passing since the battle began, there’s no signal.
According to the plan, they should send the signal the moment they catch the Cardinal’s attention.
They thought the signal would come within 5 minutes at most, but almost 10 minutes have passed with no news.
“Hmm…”
Choi Hyun-seok and Park Hyun-a’s expressions hardened.
If things continue like this, something terrible could happen.
If the advance party dies meaninglessly, then it will be over.
They would have to retreat pathetically without even properly fighting.
“Maybe we should join now…”
Choi Hyun-seok stopped mid-sentence.
BANG-! BANG! BANG!
Magic exploded, dyeing the sky in various colors.
The signal they were waiting for had arrived.
“Let’s go!”
Choi Hyun-seok and Park Hyun-a rushed toward Gratiam at full speed without waiting for each other.
***
Five Legends led by Kinley Fusel.
As soon as they arrived at Gratiam, they went on a rampage.
“This is a short battle anyway! Don’t save your magic, pour everything out!”
Swords, magic, and giant hammers swung around, destroying the city.
Then, as if they had been waiting, the crowd of fanatics began rushing in.
They gathered at a terrifying speed, approaching like a massive tidal wave.
Guguuguugugugu…!
A human tidal wave made up of millions.
If swept up in that, nothing good would come of it, even as a figure of speech.
However, the five legends remained composed.
Legends pouring everything out without thinking of the aftermath couldn’t be stopped by just that much.
“Heup!”
Kinley Fusel began spinning her hammer with a battle cry.
Woong- Woong- Woong-
The speed of the hammer spinning with her body as its axis gradually increased.
When her figure could barely be seen due to the tremendous rotational speed.
Magical power shot up into the sky.
World-Destroying Technique
Form 7 – Steel Tornado
This wasn’t just wind created by magic.
The solid magical power itself formed a massive tornado, tearing apart everything that came inside.
KWAAAAAAA!
“Hee, heehee! This is salvation! Salvation!”
“Oh God! I’m coming now!”
An enormous number of fanatics were swept up in the tornado and flew into the sky.
In the whirlwind, their bones broke and flesh was torn as they crashed into each other.
“Use the biggest techniques possible!”