Chapter 93
Chapter 93
Benelrode the Incandescent surveyed the battle situation without feeling particularly impatient.
Although quite a few monsters that had withstood his flames fell dead, the human side's casualties were accumulating as well.
If he simply kept pushing forward like this, he would soon be able to break through the front lines.
'No matter how advantageous these humans are, they cannot possibly stand against me.'
The strike force of the past had only barely managed to make him retreat.
They failed to claim a dragon's life, and even among the strike force, none could avoid fatal injuries.
In short, regardless of how desperately the humans struggled, they could do nothing to diminish the dragon's persistence.
'I was caught off guard back then. I excessively underestimated humans.'
Benelrode the Incandescent, having been hurt by humans before, was acting with a bit more caution.
The humans had fielded armies, so he chose to respond with monsters.
Even if someone considered a strong foe appeared, his minions were already prepared.
Lately, he had acquired a minion that seemed particularly promising and had shown results beyond expectations.
'Humans driving out humans... To think such an amusing act can be staged!'
Because of this, Benelrode the Incandescent could not help but pay even more attention to the Knight of True Flame.
As a human who ranked among the strong, for some reason the knight had come to his side.
In the end, the knight had even absorbed his magic power and attained the ultimate state, and thus could annihilate any human.
'At this rate, I don't even need to step in myself... Hm?'
Benelrode the Incandescent sensed a distinct change and absentmindedly looked toward the gathering place of the humans.
Even if his powers had waned compared to the past, there was no way he was mistaken.
Why was a presence like his own kin seeping out from among the humans?
'No. That's impossible! How can a dragon possibly side with humans?'
While being extremely wary, Benelrode the Incandescent tried to recall that energy.
Ekexax the Tempest had already perished, and Ru the Luminescent surely maintained a neutral stance still.
The remaining dragons would certainly not protect humans, so this only deepened his doubts.
'This magic power... is not compatible with mine. Which means!'
Only belatedly did Benelrode the Incandescent sense a piercing chill and open his eyes wide.
If a dragon harbored frost, only a single existence could come to mind.
Yet, that being was supposed to have been sealed somewhere in the northern regions by the humans—how could he have returned alive?
'Is the Tiksa the Frostbane cooperating with the humans?'
Tiksa the Frostbane, like himself, was one of the seven dragons of Hazlodein.
Dragons were existences handed down from Hazlodein's world, transcendent beings who span between the beginning and the end.
Thus, they could destroy and dominate anything, but by now, they had fallen into powerless wanderers.
'So Tiksa wants to fight me? For what reason would he do such a thing?'
Dragons, by nature, were proud creatures and often quarreled among themselves.
However, the pride of a dragon as their identity was firmly established, so they never submitted to lowly humans.
If, on the contrary, a dragon like Ru the Luminescent claimed neutrality among humans, that would mean abandoning such pride.
Could Tiksa the Frostbane truly have given up even his pride for the humans?
'Tiksa... To be entangled with mere humans! Have you no shame as a dragon?'
Enraged, Benelrode the Incandescent released a torrent of magic power.
If Tiksa the Frostbane had intervened, not just monsters but even his vassals could be swept away.
Yet, that energy seemed somewhat weakened—surely, he could not rampage as before.
'If you've recognized me, you should quietly withdraw. If not—I'll personally guide you to your end!'
* * *
Benelrode's vassal, Burning Feather, flew through the air and rained flames onto the city walls.
No matter how much the humans endured, they could not fly into the sky.
Even those deemed powerful among the humans could not get near him, allowing for a one-sided assault.
"Keeheehee... Today, I'll torment you plenty once again!"
Burning Feather continued to swoop above, out of arrow range, then dived down toward the walls.
At the same time, birds wreathed in flames followed in his wake.
Though only a small group of flying monsters, the soldiers found them difficult to deal with.
"Just do as usual. Show them how it's done!"
Burning Feather always adhered to a simple, consistent tactic.
He assumed the humans would have him in their sights, but they couldn't pull off any trickery.
He and his minions just needed to attack, then escape quickly.
"What could weaklings like you possibly do?"
Burning Feather paused for a moment, then quickly beat his wings again.
From his wings, tongues of flame spewed out, engulfing the soldiers below.
The soldiers, unable even to attempt a counterattack, had no choice but to hide behind the wall.
"Keek! Die, die! I won't go down so easily."
Burning Feather had heard news that one of his fellow minions had already died, but he didn't care much.
The now-dead one was weak and had merely paid the price for it with his life.
How could anyone, even after receiving a dragon's magic power, be slain at the hands of mere humans?
"I'm different from Blaze Wolf. I can fly! Kuhihihit!"
Burning Feather soared higher to avoid the arrows flying up at him.
The arrows seemed to float up, only to soon fall powerlessly to the ground.
If he kept repeating this attack-and-escape pattern, the humans would tire first.
"Guys! This time, sweep around to the left..."
"Kiyaa!"
"Gak..."
"Kehuk..."
Burning Feather's minions suddenly spasmed, then began crashing to the ground one by one.
Their wings or bodies had frozen in an instant, making it impossible to maintain flight.
They met the ground in a frozen state, shattering into pieces.
"Wha...what? Who did this... Eh!"
Burning Feather, caught in the sudden chill, could no longer move.
The tips of his wings were covered in ice, which had already started to consume his body.
He needed to melt it somehow, but his flame was gradually dying.
"Kah... hiiiik..."
Losing all control, Burning Feather beat only one wing desperately.
But with just one wing, flight was impossible.
Thus, he grew ever further from the sky, getting closer and closer to the ground.
"No! I can't die like this... gyahhh..."
Only after being completely frozen did Burning Feather slam into the ground.
Like his subordinates, he was utterly smashed, followed by the crackling sound of ice breaking.
Alter glared at them from above for a moment, then hurriedly descended beneath the wall.
"Bwahaha! Has that stupid fool finally died?"
A giant-shaped monster eyed Burning Feather, then completely ignored him.
He'd figured from the start that the fool, showing off in the sky, wouldn't last long.
In the end, without a sturdy body, a single blow would shatter you.
"But thanks to you, I can finally break this!"
The giant-shaped monster spewed magma, relentlessly attacking.
While Burning Feather had drawn the defenders' attention, it focused solely on attacking a single city gate.
The gate was nearly destroyed; soon, a path into the city would open.
"Let me crush you!"
Benelrode's minion, Volcanic Golem, clasped its massive hands together and struck down with all its might.
Magma oozed from its thick forearms, then exploded violently.
The city gate seemed to endure for a moment, but the heavy fist pierced straight through its center.
"Hahaha! I'll smash you all to pieces!"
Volcanic Golem swept aside the debris, dragging out the remains of the gate.
At last, the gate was utterly destroyed, exposing the city's inner area.
The soldiers stared up tensely at Volcanic Golem.
"Which of you should I smash first! Now you're all... urk!"
Volcanic Golem could not advance into the city and was pushed back.
The sudden ambush surprised him, though he managed a last-minute defense.
However, a long slash mark was left on his left arm, cutting deep.
"Who dares... grrkh!"
Volcanic Golem failed to see the attack coming and suffered a blow.
Only because he'd managed to lift his left arm was he barely able to avoid a mortal wound.
But that arm was already severed, magma oozing weakly from the stump.
"Heuk... heuu..."
Only then did Volcanic Golem, gripped by fear, look upon his assailant.
His appearance was no different from other humans, but the magic power surging from the man's body was immense.
Just wielding a single sword, he radiated overwhelming might.
'... He's weaker than the Knight of True Flame.'
Brillie displayed an annoyed look as she infused her blade with magic power.
If it had been the Knight of True Flame, such an attack could have been easily dodged or blocked.
But this minion couldn't withstand her strike even though he was of the same rank—a wave of emptiness swept over her.
'Did Captain really do such a thing?'
Brillie, her heart filled with fury, swiftly readied her stance.
The captain she knew—the next Sword Saint—cherished lives above all.
He knew he must lead by example and sought always to stand at the vanguard in battle.
Could such a person really join forces with monsters and threaten his own nation?
'To kill innocent soldiers... and to attack me and even my fiancé?'
Brillie glared at Volcanic Golem and then swung her blade.
Magic brightly trailed her slash, its color undisturbed.
The soldiers, at first silently observing, unconsciously realized what technique she had unleashed.
Someone of Sword Saint-caliber, manifesting such powerful sword forms as a swordswoman.
'Just why... Why would he—'
Buried in profound bloodlust, Brillie hurled her form at the enemy.
Her sword strike, Radiant with magic power, advanced unyieldingly and struck her foes.
Volcanic Golem was slashed diagonally, the strike passing through to rend even the monsters behind him.
"Ouuu... kaaah!"
Standing still, Brillie peered through the gate beyond.
With a dreadful scream, Volcanic Golem's upper body tumbled down.
The lower half collapsed soon after, and the monsters behind left not a trace.
Perhaps because of this, the remaining monsters didn't even dare to approach.
"Wow..."
"She swept them away with just one move."
"Doesn't this mean we can win?"
"The Great Mage and the Holy Apostle are here too—how could we possibly lose?"
"At this rate, we might even take down the dragon!"
Listening in on the soldiers' chatter, Alter moved forward at a slow pace.
Since Brillie had gone to defend the gate alone, he had hurried to take care of the flying monsters.
But Brillie had instantly reversed the tide of battle and even lifted the soldiers' morale.
"Lady Brillie, are you all right?"
"I'm always all right. I just got a bit more serious, that's all."
"...."
Looking at Brillie, Alter recalled the battle with the Knight of True Flame.
Brillie was an experienced swordswoman and surely recognized the sword technique the Knight had used.
Perhaps she had already realized that the Knight of True Flame was the next Sword Saint.
'Next time I meet him, I must deal with him—for Brillie's sake, too...'