Chapter 114
Chapter 114: Storm's Eve (3)
The great canyon of the disputed territory. Above the right cliff, a papal headquarters appeared, reminiscent of a nation's castle in size. With the massive canyon in between, the Astia Religious Order and an unidentified army stood in standoff. The formation of that army was clearly encircling the religious order.
"How dare you."
Riferoze watched the confrontation of the two groups from afar. And she was angry.
Scraaaape!
She dragged an enormous greatsword toward the papal headquarters. Along that path, deep scars were left upon the earth. This was anger.
'An army that would make the Pope and Julius insist on mere standoff.'
Riferoze narrowed her eyes. She carefully examined the army beyond the cliff. Clear markings of a round circle were visible on their armor.
'It resembles what I saw when moving the elves to the empire—.'
She tilted her head for a moment, inferring their identity.
"So it's the Allied Nations."
Having identified their identity, Riferoze ascended above the canyon of the papal headquarters, drawing a white flash strike.
Crash!
With a thunderous sound, dust scattered in all directions, and she swept the dust away by swinging her sword horizontally.
Whoosh!
The sky cleared in the sword wind. The faces of the Holy Knights welcoming her were revealed.
"It's, it's Lady Riferoze!"
The Holy Knights of the religious order, who had been maintaining a tense standoff, and even the Holy War Knight Commander Julius at the vanguard, seemed delighted to see her.
'A war will begin.'
However, even the Pope seemed somewhat troubled. The Pope took the form of a giant Holy Knight and approached the Allied Nations' army. Before Riferoze arrived, he had recited words of warning.
"From now on, a single misspoken word will start a war, O Knights of the Round Table."
The moment the Pope's warning ended.
Boom!
An overwhelming force began to consume all directions. At that heavy power, the Allied Nations' army beyond the canyon twisted their bodies.
Crunch!
Without even a scream, the army contorted into grotesque shapes. It was a calamity.
"Yes, the Knights of the Round Table. That was the name."
The Holy Knights of the religious order split left and right, opening a path for Riferoze. Between the golden Holy Knights, a pure white girl walked toward the cliff's edge, twirling her greatsword.
Whoooosh!
A desolate wind blew from the great canyon of the disputed territory. White hair scattered in all directions.
"Why do you threaten my father and my siblings?"
Riferoze asked. Among the twisting knights, figures of complete masters appeared.
"Only innocent children die."
They were the Knights of the Round Table, the strongest of the 11 Kingdoms. The one at the very center stood at the cliff's edge, facing Riferoze. Then, removing his helmet, he recited:
"White Witch, the balance of the world has been broken."
The 1st Seat of the Allied Nations, Supreme Commander Verdi Reinhardt. Through the removed helmet, ash-gray long hair flowed down, and an elderly woman appeared. Hair turned gray with age and a face wrinkled with time.
Whoooosh!
Wind blew between the canyons. White hair and ash-gray hair swayed simultaneously. Though the canyon between the cliffs was vast, the hot gazes of the two women made the distance seem nonexistent. Tense silence was broken.
Hahaha!!!
The canyon resonated. A scornful laughter echoing loudly all around. Upon seeing the ash-gray woman, Riferoze burst into laughter. It was ridicule.
"Old woman, you still have the vigor to wander about like this even at your age?"
At Riferoze's words, the elderly Verdi smiled bitterly.
"Riferoze, unlike you, I am growing old."
Unifying the 11 Kingdoms into one. Originally, the Allied Nations was merely a union in name, with each nation maintaining strong autonomy. However, Verdi Reinhardt established a federation under the name of the Round Table above the kingdoms, truly unifying the 11 Kingdoms into one. In that process, there was a massive purge. From the aftermath of that time, she lost the power she possessed and fell into decline.
"Yes, Verdi. You will simply grow old and die, so why crawl out here and threaten my siblings?"
"Didn't I tell you? Riferoze, the balance of the world has been broken."
At her words, Riferoze tilted her head.
"Balance, you say."
"The Empire will not stop. Because you are in the Empire. Moreover, even the World Tree, the pillar of the world, has now taken root in the Empire—."
A great upheaval had occurred. The Empire had launched a unification war it had prepared beforehand.
"The unification war was bound to happen anyway."
By Riferoze's reckoning, the unification war was something that would inevitably occur. As long as the Empire bore the name of Empire. As long as the Emperor maintained the castle of Arman, it was absolute.
"The war that would occur and its outcome would be different."
Verdi frowned. Her wrinkles deepened.
"Sigh! Riferoze, let me speak bluntly. Your disciple Erik. He has broken the balance of the world."
She hesitated for a moment, then continued speaking.
"This too must be the work of the Possessors."
However, no further conversation could continue.
Whoosh!
"You dare mention my disciple?"
Riferoze disappeared, leaving only an afterimage, and simply leapt over the cliff. With her greatsword, she aimed for the neck of Verdi, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Nations. In an instant, the greatsword hung at the neck of the Allied Nations' supreme commander.
"Ho, hm."
Drip. Red blood flowed along Riferoze's blade. This was Verdi's blood.
"What is this?"
"Riferoze, this is our formation."
However, this was the middle of one nation's army. All the strong around Verdi aimed their swords at Riferoze.
"If need be, even if my neck is severed, the moment I signal, kill Riferoze."
Even with a blade at her throat, Verdi continued speaking nonchalantly.
"Do you think that will work?"
Riferoze also asked calmly in return. She feigned composure, but her situation was close to dangerous.
'They wield strange power.'
The Allied soldiers who had been contorted together with their armor suddenly surged forward with momentum.
"So the crushed ones straighten out in an instant."
Moreover, the Knights of the Round Table were also drawing their swords against Riferoze.
"Your subordinates have also improved considerably in level."
White pupils glimmered.
Swoosh!
Riferoze retrieved her sword. Then she spoke quietly:
"Verdi, the continent harbors a desire to be unified as one."
"Is it divine revelation?"
At Verdi's question, Riferoze gave her answer.
"No, this is the will of the world."
The sublime will of the world that has continued since the beginning of time.
***
Darkness has no end.
The deeper and more profound it becomes, the more it is dark. However, darkness not only deepens but can also brighten. Like flowers blooming from mud. Light dwelled within the darkness.
"Please protect this land."
Erik opened a path through the demon realm. Golden divinity sparkled, piercing through pitch-black darkness.
Keeeeng!
Those who believed in Erik followed that light with their steps. With the will to believe. And with one to guide them. There was nothing to fear.
"I've never seen this many monsters."
The Imperial Army following Erik's massive form was astonished at the sight they'd never witnessed before. Monsters filled all directions, more numerous than in the Labyrinth of the Cataclysm.
"Column 1, Column 2, alternate!"
However, they were only astonished. The Imperial Army fulfilled their roles steadily. For they were soldiers of the honored Empire.
'The problem is.'
What bewildered the Imperial Army was precisely the glittering mage at the very front.
"What is that? Why does it keep encroaching on my territory? Really, what is a mere mage, not even a War-Mage, doing at the vanguard, honestly."
Battalion Commander Iris, she too was a mage like Jang Du-sik. However, looking at Jang Du-sik's magic.
'Is that truly the Imperial magic?'
The magic she knew seemed somehow wrong.
Whoosh! Boom!
Jang Du-sik's magic consisted solely of smashing monsters with a club.
'How does that have such power—.'
Crude but efficient. Inelegant but overwhelmingly powerful.
'—Still, magic should be elegant.'
Iris surpassed Jang Du-sik, drawing a graceful magic circle. It was a Blink spell.
"I have something to discuss with Director Erik regarding our formation since we've ventured deep into the demon realm, so do not interfere."
Battalion Commander Iris approached Erik. Having entered the depths of the demon realm, they needed to reorganize their formation.
'A defensive formation behind Director Erik.'
Lost in such thoughts, an unbelievable sight unfolded before Iris's eyes. She witnessed it.
Crash!!!
A wave of monsters being swept away by a single slash.
'How fast is he swinging that sword?'
Iris was left speechless.
'My eyes can't even catch it?'
She witnessed a single strike. Yet what appeared were three consecutive slashes. What of their power then?
'Phew.'
Looking at the pierced front, words naturally failed her. In front of Erik was a full procession of all manner of monsters. Yet, a massive tunnel had formed through those creatures.
'What in the world.'
Monsters formed walls, and more than that, terrain itself was created. Between those monsters, a round, elongated tunnel had formed. Following the shape of the sword aura, that passage continued endlessly.
'Can such power truly be created by one person?'
No matter how hard she tried to forget, she kept recalling that it was impossible that this great Holy Knight was only fifteen years old. The reason was that he seemed like a being with a different origin. Only taking the form of a human. It felt like a different species entirely.
'It's as if I'm witnessing the true power of a god.'
Moreover, there was one more fact Iris learned upon reaching the very vanguard.
'The army was only facing the remaining monsters.'
The Imperial Army steadily supported Erik's rear. In that process, they had faced an enormous number of monsters. But even that was nothing compared to Erik at the very front. As Iris was processing such shock:
"Is something wrong?"
A heavy, low voice rang out. Iris turned her head.
'Ah.'
The giant Holy Knight Erik was looking at her, radiating brilliant radiance. His gaze was as solemn as it had been in the Labyrinth.
'Back then too, you said you were going to save your subordinates—.'
That sublime will dwelling in his unwavering gaze. Even though Iris was wearing a helmet, she felt her face burning with heat. Thus, she lowered her head and spoke quietly:
"We've ventured too deep. We, we need to reorganize the formation a bit."
"Since you're the expert on military matters, please handle it as you see fit."
It was a statement of entrusting her with his trust. This was confidence. She bowed her head deeply, then disappeared as if fleeing.
At that moment, as if waiting for it, Jang Du-sik and Janson aligned themselves behind Erik. They were covered from head to toe in vicious bloodstains.
"Brother, um. Does this actually have an end?"
"Du-sik, everything in this world has an end."
Erik spoke thus and once again unleashed a grand and sublime golden divinity.
Boom!
Far away. A giant greatsword rose, tearing through the darkness of the demon realm. Erik brought his hand down toward the horde of monsters filling his vision.
Bang!!!
The sword tore through the demon realm. A roar echoed, and flesh and blood scattered in all directions. The forms of monsters scattering everywhere seemed familiar for some reason.
"Boss, isn't that like those yokai that often appear in Japan?"
"Seems that way."
At Janson's question, Erik nodded quietly.
'The deeper into the demon realm, the more peculiar monsters appear.'
The fact that dead monster corpses burst apart meant the divinity didn't take effect. This also signified a descent of power.
'A Possessor who has achieved incarnation.'
Goblins, yokai, and such. Creatures commonly seen on Earth.
"That's far enough."
Moreover, these beings possessed reason.
"Everyone, halt."
Erik extended his hand, stopping their advance. Jang Du-sik and Janson stopped their actions, looking toward Erik.
Grrrrr!
Between the gigantic goblins, a goblin with long horns appeared. In the one-eyed goblin's hand was held red hair, and it pointed at Erik with its other hand. The intention was clear.
"I'll be back shortly."
Erik walked into the darkness without hesitation.
***
Erica Fernasia.
She had headed to the disputed territory to investigate the source of the Black River.
There, she encountered something resembling waves of a great sea. Those waves were filled with black monsters. An overwhelming number that a mere dozen or so could not face.
Both she and her subordinates from the Intelligence Bureau and Imperial Guard were overcome.
'Ah.'
Thus, Erica was consumed by darkness.
'I became lost in the darkness.'
All around were monsters, and her body was no longer her own.
'Yet still, I have faith.'
She prayed. Even as she was engulfed by black magical power, her heart was more devout than ever.
"I hate the Empire."
"I will slay and annihilate Saint Erik."
However, relentless voices of temptation pierced through her prayers.
Unseen. Unheard. Unfelt. She was truly trapped in darkness. Yet still, that voice burrowed into her ears as if it were her own will. It was horrific.
"I hate the Empire."
"I will slay and annihilate Saint Erik."
A horrific monster repeating two phrases endlessly. Erica was becoming one with that monster.
Crunch!
With a horrific sound, something of hers disappeared. But—.
'I am fine.'
She was strong. Without eyes, she saw with her heart. Though her body was melting away, her soul became that much stronger. She had faith. And that faith always remained by her side.
'Though this flesh may disappear, I shall remain by his side.'
Affection became faith. And that faith grew ever more solid. And then.
"I will drive out the evil of this land and achieve peace."
Her faith was proven.
Boom!
In unseeing eyes. Golden waves were vivid. Revealing the darkness of the world, something vast and radiant approached her.
"I shall slaughter all black mages of this world and save those who died unjustly—."
She witnessed with the eyes of her soul.
"—I offer the conviction of purification and evil to this land."
The wrath of God.