148. Crossroads of the Future (3)

Not far from Yekares, the capital of the Demon King’s kingdom, was the central city of Barkaen.

It was the heart of the central region, a metropolis of the Demon King’s kingdom that enjoyed prosperity rivaling even the capital, Yekares.

The castle, a symbol of Barkaen, was as magnificent as a castle from the ancient empire era.

This was Barkaen, a place considered to be recreating the glory of that bygone era, a time of prosperity that could not be compared to the current Islennd.

Everywhere in the city, the touch of the dwarves was evident, making it seem like a living museum.

And throughout the city, the roots of the World Tree, planted by the elves, had grown. Massive trees thrived, covering the area like a primeval forest.

Moreover, it was also home to the renowned Dragon Knights.

The headquarters of the Drake Knights, who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Royal Knights, was also located in Barkaen.

But now, Barkaen was screaming, covered in crimson flames and billowing smoke.

“Knights, never break formation! Hold on! If we fall, there is no future for the Demon King’s kingdom!”

A dragonkin knight shouted.

The High Knight of the Drake Knights, seemingly the commander, was desperately yelling.

It was still midday.

But the sky was filled with ominous darkness.

It wasn’t natural darkness or storm clouds.

The news that the Demon God who had destroyed the ancient empire had been resurrected had spread throughout the Demon King’s kingdom.

As if to testify to that era of doom.

Even cities far from the Chaotic Gates began to be covered in demon energy.

Everywhere one looked, ominous clouds of demon energy were present.

And the magical beasts had become incomparably stronger than before.

The same was true for the Eastern Demon King’s army under Ustina’s command. They could no longer maintain the eastern front and were retreating their forces.

This was because a large number of magical beasts were pouring out of the Chaotic Gate of Plutia in the east.

And the situation was the same for the Central Demon King’s army, which followed her will.

No, they had already sensed defeat and annihilation.

The Southern Kaceres army, known to the demons as a natural disaster itself.

And its elite Sentiac Knights.

The Southern army, led by Duke Pedro, had already trampled the central region of the Demon King’s kingdom.

If Barkaen fell now, the capital Yekares would be right at hand. Naturally, the fall of the capital would mean the end of the Demon King’s kingdom’s history.

‘Yunir-isiyeo. Does the history of the Demon King’s kingdom end here!’

All the forces of the central region had gathered here in Barkaen.

Five thousand troops. A small number compared to the human legions, whose population could not compare to that of the demons.

But in return, the demon knights and soldiers were individually much stronger than ordinary human soldiers.

It was as if all the central forces had been gathered here. Even all the knights of the Drake Knights had gathered here.

But the Kaceres army was too strong.

They were like grim reapers preaching destruction on earth.

No, in fact, they were followers of the Demon God. Calling them walking doom and death was no exaggeration at all.

In just one week of battle, 2,000 of the 5,000 troops had been annihilated.

But the Kaceres army, with its large force of over 10,000, had suffered little damage.

Moreover, unlike ordinary human soldiers.

All the soldiers who had become demon-infused were much stronger and more violent than ordinary demon soldiers.

Above all, the clouds of demon energy that covered the entire area.

That demon energy had turned the area into a Dungeon. Morale of the soldiers plummeted in the face of the curse of that demon energy.

‘If Ustina-jeonha and the Eastern Demon King’s army were to join…’

If that great ancient dragon were here, the situation might change.

But the situation on that side was already at its limit.

As originally planned, the retreating Eastern Demon King’s army was supposed to join here in Barkaen to prepare for the final battle.

But the magical beast army of the east. The magical beast army led by the dark elf Yuranes, a traitor to the demons, was chasing from the east.

The advance speed of the Eastern Demon King’s army had no choice but to slow down. It would take at least five more days for them to join.

If they could hold out until the Eastern Demon King’s army joined, they could prepare for a final counterattack.

‘Still, overwhelmingly outnumbered…’

Of course, there was no need to think about that future. With the current war situation. Barkaen would probably disappear from the map tonight.

The command informed that another Demon King’s army. That is, the Demon King’s army from other regions that had joined that Yulian instead of Ustina might come as reinforcements.

They called themselves the Islennd Allied Forces.

But the last place their news was heard from was the southern part of the Demon King’s kingdom.

So even if that Allied Forces arrived, they would be later than Ustina’s Eastern Demon King’s army.

The faces of all the soldiers in Barkaen were filled with shadows of despair.

And when everyone was sensing the approaching defeat.

Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwang-

From beyond the Barkaen castle, a huge explosion occurred at the same time.

Another sun rose into the sky.

‘W-What’s going on?’

It seemed that something had happened to the Kaceres army, which had been attacking Barkaen with unstoppable force.

And unbelievable news spread throughout the castle.

“The Kaceres army! They are retreating! Reinforcements, reinforcements have arrived! Islennd… the Islennd Allied Forces have forced the Kaceres army to retreat!”

---

The Islennd Allied Forces entered Barkaen, a major city in the central region.

Duke Pedro’s Kaceres army was launching an all-out offensive on Barkaen.

Perhaps if they had been just one day late, the Central Demon King’s army and the Drake Knights would have disappeared into history.

“Hoo… it seems we timed it just right.”

Remiella breathed a sigh of relief.

I looked at the Kaceres army, which had temporarily withdrawn its forces over there.

‘Even though it’s an army made up of demon-infused and magical beasts. To move so uniformly.’

They must have been expecting the Allied Forces’ advance.

But the battle that had just taken place was like a surprise attack.

The Allied Forces had arrived here with an advance speed that defied common sense. They could have inflicted more damage on them.

But Duke Pedro quickly withdrew his forces.

“His Majesty’s words were correct. If we hadn’t rushed even unreasonably, this place would have already had the Kaceres army’s flag hanging when we arrived.”

Krien nodded at Aitekia’s words.

Now, the Southern Demon King’s army and the Empire’s 5th Legion had also joined, and the Allied Forces had grown in size.

But the top commanders who moved as my closest aides were still the Western Demon King’s army and the Royal Knights.

And their faith in me was absolute.

“Thanks to that, some soldiers still seem to be suffering from motion sickness. But still, it’s a relief.”

Krien grinned.

As he said, I used every means possible to arrive here as quickly as possible.

Aitekia said.

“It’s amazing that the dragons, who hate to carry anyone on their backs even if they die, are doing it. When I told them it was His Majesty’s command, they all volunteered to carry other soldiers on their backs.”

As Aitekia said.

Most dragons have very high pride.

In particular, the knights of the Royal Knights value honor more than anything as elite warriors.

So they refuse to carry anyone on their backs, saying it’s something only beasts would do.

It is the meaning of obedience as a dragon.

Like the young dragon knight Larwin, who carried me on his back in the bloody battle with Aquaritea.

Unless they have perfect obedience to their lord, they never carry anyone on their backs.

“It’s fortunate that everyone followed my will.”

But the dragons under my command followed my orders without a single complaint.

They carried elves and dwarf soldiers on their backs.

Of course, no matter how fast they could move on the ground.

They couldn’t be faster than dragons flying in the sky. Of course, they couldn’t carry all the Allied Forces and move.

But the advance force that could temporarily force the Kaceres army to retreat could arrive sufficiently.

Then the advance and rear forces would be dispersed, increasing the danger.

But this time, Rosette and Chloe played a big role.

For the rear forces, the two of them created the fastest way to move.

Due to their experience in the Drotel Gorge last time.

The two of them were able to implement magic and alchemy close to large-scale civil engineering on the spot.

So the rear forces were also able to join without being late.

So now, in this Barkaen, a legion of over 10,000 Allied Forces has newly joined.

I headed to the Lord’s Manor in the castle.

And in front of the entrance of that Lord’s Manor.

In the wide square, the knights of the Drake Knights were lined up.

‘Are those the Drake Knights who value the honor of the nobility more than their lives?’

Their gazes all turned to me at once.

---

Drake Knights.

The knight order representing the Demon King’s kingdom is currently the Royal Knights.

But before the era of Luciferiel, the best knight order in the Demon King’s kingdom was undoubtedly the Drake Knights.

If the Royal Knights were a group armed with extreme loyalty to Luciferiel.

The Drake Knights were an elite group made up of knights from the nobility and royalty who had ruled the Demon King’s kingdom.

In short, a place with very high pride in the blood of the demons.

So when they heard the rumor that Luciferiel’s son had appeared.

And when they learned that human blood was flowing in that son.

They could not accept that young dragon named Yulian.

• We will continue to follow Ustina-jeonha’s will without change!

As long as they were demons. And as long as the main god who blesses the demons was Yunir, not Jedin.

Not being able to follow that half-demon.

It was a natural thing for the Drake Knights.

But right now.

The knights of the Drake Knights gathered in the square in front of the Lord’s Manor in Barkaen.

All of them were sweating coldly.

They had no choice but to watch the man approaching them.

“Perhaps… we are seeing the strongest warrior in human history.”

And the High Knight of the Drake Knights.

Emilianel, a member of the White Dragon clan and the niece of Aitekia, the general of the Western Demon King’s army.

She opened her mouth to her superior, enduring the trembling tension in her body.

Her superior groaned and nodded.

“It’s a different kind of strength from that damned Duke Pedro. Pedro, that guy has also surpassed the limits of humans as an apostle of the Demon God… but that dragon named Yulian also seems to have surpassed the limits of our dragons.”

Emilianel recalled in her head the second sun she had seen in the battlefield full of the corpses of her colleagues just a moment ago.

That overwhelming flash that instantly evaporated hundreds of magical beasts and demon-infused.

That transcendent technique that could not be thought of as Aura at all.

‘The massacre that Duke Pedro committed a few days ago… the leader of that Allied Forces returned it as it was.’

Yulian’s performance was unforgettable in Emilianel’s mind.

Everyone here must feel the same way.

These knights are the ones who stood on the front lines of the battle that took place in Barkaen.

It was at that very moment.

The young man who created that miracle opened his mouth.

“Everyone must have heard from Ustina-nim. From now on, you will be with my Islennd Allied Forces.”

At Yulian’s words, the knights gathered here buzzed.