Chapter 107
Chapter 107 — The Rider Who Cleaves the Dark
Calix leads the army from the front. The road toward Star Haven, capital of the Astria Kingdom. Behind him, the Mountain Rabbits stretched out in a line, with the Alliance Forces and western noble infantry each holding their positions.
Banners snapped in the wind, and the joints of armor rang out with noise. With Hadiya making full use of her scouting abilities, the formation held without breaking whether through forest paths or open plains.
However, as time passed, the familiar landscape began to change little by little.
The meadows were desolate. Even with the sun hanging overhead, the grass had yellowed and lay flat against the ground. An unpleasant smell of unknown origin drifted through the air, and field mice and insects had vanished entirely.
"Somehow, the weather feels excessively cold."
"We'll need something to layer underneath."
One by one, more people began to feel the biting chill. The soldiers searched the supply wagons for something to wear underneath, but overall quantities were lacking.
Calix watched the scene and furrowed his brow. Since the march began, his nerves had been strangely on edge.
'They say you see as much as you know — but not even a single flying insect in sight. Is it because of the Legion Commander's presence?'
As with the saying that you see more the more you know, Calix sensed the enemy's presence with sharp clarity. This was thanks to the feather left behind by the Wandering One, Kailo Felderwin.
[Mana Absorption Complete]
[Ranita's Heart/Source of Mana, sub-attribute increase detected]
[Nature Attunement '7%' increase, '51%' reached]
His level of combat power had not risen, but his senses had become far sharper. The method was the same as before, yet he perceived further and deeper.
And because of that, he could not easily lower his guard.
Occasionally, a chill ran up his spine.
At that, Volga, who had been watching him sideways, suddenly spoke up. It was during a brief rest at the foot of a gentle hill.
"Just enjoy it."
"……?"
"I'm saying, enjoy the responsibility."
As Calix looked up, his friend pointed to one side of the formation — where the animals were gathered. Lunos was moving among the Rockboars and warhorses. Head raised stiffly as befitted a leader, walking with pride.
Volga looked at the sight and grinned.
"Look at that. That guy doesn't hide his power at all. But you — sure, you're incredible when you're fighting, but the rest of the time you're just walking around with a serious expression. Well, that's got its own charm, but… you should show off a little!"
"Was I like that?"
"That's exactly why I'm giving you advice as a friend, isn't it? When the best guy struts around, the ones beneath him get to swagger around in his reflected glory too."
"……."
"Not that I want to do that, of course. Just so we're clear."
At the cheeky remark, Calix let out a short pfft of a laugh. As Volga said, there was no need to be serious about everything.
Right at that moment, Gregor, who had been standing nearby, added his own words.
"Quite right, indeed. If you're the little captain, you need to think about what your members are feeling too. But managing one's own heart is equally important. In such times, breaking a good sweat is also a wonderful method."
"Yes, Gregor. Thank you for the advice."
"With that said then — cook comrade, shall we have a round together for the first time in a while?"
Being a rest period, there was a brief window of time. Calix nodded and began to rise, but Volga clicked his tongue and stepped in the way.
"Old man, my friend here uses something called Geomhwa now."
"……And?"
"You know full well and you're still pulling this. You can't even match swords with Falling Fire anymore, can you?"
The large young man committed an act that was, truly, cruel.
At the cold remark, an expression of embarrassment crossed the old man's face.
"That is……. Th-that is!"
Remarkably, it was true. Gregor, uncharacteristically, even stumbled over his words. Since Calix had stepped into the threshold of Geomhwa, they could no longer spar at full strength — because after Calix had held his ground against Helmut Barben, it had been purely through an overwhelming volume of mana. He had continuously revived the flames crushed in each moment and faced him head-on. Naturally, that was a realm not permitted to Royce or Gregor.
Which meant—
"No! It's not like that! In any case, no!"
"……Gregor, please accept reality."
"I said it isn't like that!"
The student had completely surpassed the master.
And so the old man who had lost his memories sulked cheerfully. He could neither bring himself to admit that fact, nor deny it outright.
***
The argument with Gregor ended quickly. The Alliance Forces resumed their long march, and Calix spent the time traveling by holding a verbal sparring session.
"Now I'll thrust. Deep and hard!"
"In that case, I would read the movement of Gregor's shoulder and deflect with a striking blow. At the point a third of the way up the sword handle — depending on the rebound felt in my grip, I would carry the motion from there. If the force came in strong, I'd deflect it inward as though pulling it away; if it's manageable, I'd press down in return and drive forward."
"Y-you can distinguish that? In that brief instant?"
"……Yes."
This had been a consideration for the teacher's feelings, but to those watching from the outside, it was a fascinatingly entertaining spectacle. Soon Barakh, the commander of Kalahim, joined in, and the knight commander of House Hoover's order along with Serylion Belrnar followed.
For Calix, it was not a bad thing.
He could ease the excessive tension, and above all, discussing swordsmanship itself was quite enjoyable.
Yet the fundamental problem had not disappeared. Just as the knight-level figures were briefly sharing camaraderie, at some point everyone fell silent.
Only the steadfast dwarf Basim muttered quietly.
"Damn, this feels familiar."
It fell to Zahira to reply.
"Shh. Everyone concentrate."
In their field of vision, crumbled walls came into view. A small city. But what spread before them was ruins from which all signs of life had completely vanished.
"There's no sign of people. Not even smoke rising."
"Sounds like quite some time has passed. Was this the doing of the Niboria Imperial Army?"
"No, the entire outer wall has crumbled. They wouldn't have done something that foolish."
There was an unspoken part at the end of Hadiya's words.
'If they were human.'
The Mountain Rabbits had learned this truth from experience, and Calix did not let his companions' remarks pass by unheard.
The smell of rot permeated the air.
"Calix, the army's commanders have asked for your opinion. Will you search the city?"
He shook his head at the messenger's question. Their role was enough simply to follow the Mountain Rabbits. They would fight together — but not yet.
Calix's gaze swept across the flat ground before the walls.
'Deep navy blue. Not a large number.'
Like a stain of death that had spread and taken hold, an unnatural color had congealed there. The distance was only a few hundred meters — close enough that enemy shapes should have been visible, yet nothing existed.
And he had experienced something similar to this before.
'It's similar to the Sand Worm I encountered on the outskirts of the desert.'
The decision was made immediately.
"Cavalry, prepare to charge. We go first."
The newcomers were puzzled, but not a single veteran member raised a question. Each confirmed the condition of their Barding, readied themselves for battle, and briefly recited a prayer along the way.
Soon, Volga raised the banner.
Thud.
Lunos took the first step, and several hundred warhorses followed in his wake.
***
Several hundred warhorses charged straight forward. Their speed was moderate — fitting. A state where a full cavalry charge was possible at any moment. The Mountain Rabbits were moving as if enemies were clustered just ahead.
At that, grumbling broke out among those who had only just joined.
"What exactly are they trying to do?"
"Don't tell me they plan to fight against crumbled walls?"
"Charging across open ground……."
At those words, Barakh, the commander of Kalahim, scrunched his face. It was right after Calix had asked him to 'charge when the time comes'.
"Fools. You judge the battlefield with only your ears and eyes."
He knew what war was. He had lived through countless brushes with death, and at their end had felt his own limits. He might be respected as a supreme-level warrior, but as a commander, there were certain points he could not surpass.
And precisely because of that, he understood it all the better.
"Only the chosen can read what is incomprehensible."
Barakh ordered a slow advance as requested. It did not take long to determine who had been right.
***
Calix never slowed his pace once. Then, the moment he reached a certain point, he extended his left arm and sent a hand signal.
A signal for unit leader Royce.
And immediately after—
Fweeee—!
At a single blast of the whistle, the Mountain Rabbits split apart to either side. Royce and Marik swept wide to the left, and on the opposite side, Calix and Gregor took the lead.
In one sense, it was a familiar and natural sight. When an order falls, you follow. Even if you don't understand its meaning, you move together first.
But that was precisely the absolute standard by which the caliber of a group was measured.
That was the feeling the elf, Airien, experienced.
Dud-dud-dud-dud.'What is that?'
Her long ears pricked up sharply. At first she thought it was the sound of hoofbeats, but her keen senses told her something was different.
It was exactly at that moment.
Kwa-ddddd-dddrch—!
The flat ground collapsed with a thunderous roar. Through the dark reddish dust, something enormous surged upward.
It was a creature that could only be described as a 'worm'.
An elongated yet segmented body writhed grotesquely, and on its shell were embedded gemstones of a sinister hue. It resembled the Sand Worm, native creature of the Kalahim Desert, but was incomparably larger and more ferocious.
And she had heard of this creature before.
"It's a Tunnel Worm!"
The instant Airien gritted her teeth and cried out — the massive body tilted back, opening a gap leading underground, and from within, unknown creatures came pouring out in droves.
"……The Corrupted."
Their appearance was even more horrifying.
Horned masks, beast hides dyed black, something indistinguishable as skin or garment pressed against their entire bodies. Their pupils were hollow and empty, and the corners of their mouths were torn wide to either side.
In their hands were axes and blades, spears and the like — but across their surfaces, various colors flowed, emanating an ominous energy.
But these creatures had already failed.
'The enemy's number is roughly……. 500. Shave from the outskirts first.'
Calix judged quickly and immediately moved into action.
"Kyeeeeee—ck!"
Schk!
He avoids a direct collision. Instead, he shaves off the enemies emerging from the pit little by little, starting from the outside. Screams and shouts, and the ominous ring of clashing metal crossed each other. Like a craftsman carving away at a sculpture, he continuously cut and cut again at the enemy's outer edges.
The creatures called 'the Corrupted', true to their wicked nature, charged without fearing death — but each time, a blade charged with Geomhwa gleamed with chilling light.
Krrr-crunch, kwa-ak!
But immediately after, Calix's eyes narrowed. He had cut away the enemy's weapon, but a rebound force was felt in his grip.
'That is no ordinary weapon.'
Even so, the result did not change. He had surely seized the advantage, and soon he led his cavalry to the opposite side.
"Reverse — prepare to charge!"
He exchanged a glance with Royce. The Mountain Rabbits who had split to either side rotated smoothly like two currents merging, and connected into a second offensive.
A full cavalry charge had yet to be shown.
The warhorses drew on the power of Mana Stones and planted their hooves. Naturally, Lunos stood at the very front.
Bwa-aaa-aaang—!
"Advance—!"
Uwa-aaa-aaa!
By then, on the far side of the battlefield, the Kalahim cavalry was charging in. With this, the only options left for the enemy were to flee or be destroyed.
In that instant, Calix's gaze fell upon the center of the enemy formation.
'That is…….'
Among the din of the battlefield, a jet-black energy seeped and rose. It was the enemy commander. In those sulfur-yellow eyes, malice roiled.
An inexplicable chill swept across his skin. A silence that seemed to stop the heart. A bitter taste lingered at the corners of his mouth.
'Something feels ominous.'
Though victory was drawing near, even in the moment of crashing into the enemy line, Calix did not take his eyes away.
The pitch-black mana, blanketed in hatred and madness, churned as if ready to burst at any moment.