Ch.122War’s Wind (3)

The Holy War Army’s plan was to aggressively pressure the southern front while simultaneously clearing the eastern region where the Dark Order had begun causing disturbances.

Their initial strategy of completely driving out demons after resolving the central chaos had been in jeopardy ever since it was disrupted by the Beast Cavalry.

The Papal Territory, which needed to continuously replenish faith, was thrown into chaos due to the rampage of heretics and foreign mercenaries, while all forces responsible for maintaining public order had been dragged to the frontlines. Though Rupiel’s decisive action had prevented the demons’ advance and established a stalemate at the front, they couldn’t push beyond that.

The situation remained frustrating as demons from the southern border blocked Rupiel with inexplicable organization, while everyone was on edge because Durin hadn’t shown himself anywhere.

“Hold out at all costs until His Excellency arrives!”

“Sorcerers will intercept when the angel commander appears! The rest will block with their bodies using holy power!”

“I’ll release as many low-level beasts as possible! We’ll push forward with attrition warfare until their forces weaken!”

The brilliant power of the Holy Knight Order and the hymns of the Choir were formidable, but the low-level beasts continuously supplied from the Demon King’s Castle beast farm led the rotating attacks.

With the Witch of Prophecy at the Demon King’s Castle and Ludmila in the Dark Order, there was no shortage of sorcery. These creatures could be incinerated with small amounts of holy power, but it was a different story when they appeared in the thousands. The Holy War Army fell into distress as the Choir forces, which could even damage high-ranking demons, were being used merely against beasts.

“We absolutely cannot withdraw the Choir. If that cursed Beast Cavalry and high-ranking demons appear on the battlefield, we won’t be able to properly engage in battle.”

“If a War Archangel had descended, it would be fine, but the legion that Lord Rupiel brought consists mainly of high priests specialized in support.”

“Is the Archangel still busy killing rival factions? This is absurd!”

“Secretary, please give us an answer quickly.”

Rupiel bit his lip. He strongly felt the situation was deteriorating. He knew well that they couldn’t hold out forever. If they continued pushing with the Secretary’s power, the demons’ capabilities would eventually be depleted, and then, with the Holy Knight Order at the vanguard, they could achieve victory without significant losses.

They needed to demonstrate the Holy War Army’s strength during this time of internal turmoil.

The problem was that too much time had passed.

“The Regent has crossed to the east.”

Heaven was also aware that the sacred relic left by the Goddess of Night was there. The World Tree’s thousand-year-old repository of power. This was the decisive reason why Heaven, which recognized only the God of Light as the one true deity, couldn’t occupy the Great Forest, making the situation even more troubling.

“If that demon gets his hands on the sacred relic…”

The possibilities of the World Tree handing over the sacred relic to a demon were endless. Rupiel wanted to cling to the slender hope that the demon was fascinated by divine power, but there was no room for such optimism.

All trials were converging on the Holy War Army.

Heaven was too busy with power struggles to look after the human realm.

The Archangel was only concerned with securing the Papal Territory.

Angels who had been wary of demons like Azakiel had all perished in the demon realm.

Despite bringing down all the forces available under his authority as Secretary, it felt like being dragged into endless hell. The God of Light had clearly taught them to rule humans and protect the Creator’s creations from demonic greed. But a millennium of being victors had erased their holiness and filled them with arrogance and corruption.

Many archangels still easily predicted victory against demons.

Those who perished in the demon realm were denounced as incompetent commanders and faded ingloriously. Heaven, concerned only with its own safety, still cast dark clouds in the sky.

The hundred thousand Holy War soldiers under Rupiel’s command—if they were defeated and the shield that had protected them for ages disappeared, only then would Heaven turn its attention back. It seemed the Archangel would only care if the powerless Secretary, not the War Archangel, personally stepped forward and sacrificed himself.

“Or I too might be discarded as an incompetent commander.”

A month had already passed since the war began. With Heaven silent even though it was insufficient time for an archangel to come looking for the missing Secretary, hope was fading.

Yes. They still only cared about their own safety. They were protecting themselves in the clearest part of the sky, forgetting that the destruction of those below would lead to their own demise.

“Se-Secretary!”

While lost in thought, a messenger rushed urgently into the tent. Rupiel closed his eyes. He could sense it instinctively.

“The Regent has personally led an army to the east.”

“So it has come to this.”

Rupiel rose from his seat. To stop him, the Holy War Army command would have to move directly. They needed to restrict his movement using the Choir and concentrate holy power on a single point to incinerate one demon.

He couldn’t stand by and watch as the demon realm’s hope began to burn brightly. He didn’t want to become a victim of the times.

At the very least, he hoped that Rupiel’s name wouldn’t become a sacrifice in the scriptures.

#

The elves witnessed a new myth being written every day.

“Break through! We must kill them all before the Holy War Army forms its ranks!”

“If they’ve formed a defensive formation, go around! Don’t lose your lives in vain!”

The legion guarding the forest attacked the Holy War Army detachment that was forming a blockade line. The angels who had been squabbling with the Dark Order’s knights across the no-man’s land couldn’t withstand Durin’s charge that came like a wave. The power of a warrior possessing two sacred relics was beyond imagination.

Holy knights in pure white armor fell helplessly, covered in dark red fighting spirit. Some defensive formations centered around the Choir could withstand, but Durin didn’t prioritize them.

Their goal was breakthrough. They charged fiercely toward the command post controlling the forces gathered in the east.

Heavy armor provided solid protection but came with reduced mobility. With the knights mobilized to stop Durin, they had no choice but to remain isolated.

The elves’ task was clear: surround them to prevent free movement. They couldn’t match in direct confrontation, but guerrilla warfare was their specialty.

“Deer scouts, follow the Holy Knight Order’s movements. Maintain distance, but if they try to turn toward the eastern border, I authorize an attack. However, absolutely do not allow close combat.”

The elves’ strength was the bow. Their skill in long-range interception, gauging the wind, was unparalleled in the human realm.

Too weak to engage in battle against the Holy War Army’s defensive formations, they targeted the Choir instead. They shot continuously to force them to use holy power as shields. The moment even one more of these unfortunate individuals fell, the enemy would have no choice but to act defensively.

With the main force ravaged by Durin and the battlefield widened, the elves with their superior mobility could exert greater power.

“Fire!”

“Ignore the heavy infantry! We focus on the priests!”

Arrows rained down like a downpour. Though the Holy War Army was strong, surviving in a land swept by chaos was not easy. Some elite soldiers broke formation and charged out, but they only became excellent prey for the elves.

“How dare you reject Heaven and follow demons!”

“We’re just seeking a way to survive. Weren’t we born in the embrace of Mother World Tree, not the Creator God?”

Asha showed no mercy. They had already sided with demons. Having raised their banner against the God of Light, the enemy would pronounce them heretics and judge them, as they had done throughout history.

“No prisoners. Keep up the offensive to prevent them from following the Regent.”

“Understood, Great Chief. Let’s go!! Children of the forest.”

Elves poured out from the forest. Though their population was only in the tens of thousands, these warriors born and raised in the forest began blocking the front lines to protect their homeland. With Asha personally taking the field, countless young warriors followed, feeling a sense of glory.

“They haven’t watched over us for thousands of years anyway.”

“Even putting elves in hero parties was ultimately just exploitation.”

“Looking back, it was a history of exploitation. If not for Mother World Tree, we would have been exterminated long ago.”

“Resist! Our faith lies in the forest!”

More elves headed to the battlefield. Destiny flowed even against the wishes of small leaders.

Asha began leading from the front, watching the growing army. The Holy War Army’s main force would be focused on Durin anyway. The goal was to minimize casualties against the remaining secondary units.

She did her best to spare as much bloodshed as possible.

#

“Are you watching?”

The World Tree gazed into the void from deep within the forest. Fireflies full of life illuminated the battlefield.

“All my children who were hiding in the forest have now stepped outside.”

The World Tree’s eyes grew profound. Joy deeply mixed with worry. Though conflicting emotions coexisted, she remained unwavering.

“I knew the time would come when they would have to step forward. But now that the time has arrived, I feel complicated as a mother.”

The elves were beings directly created by the World Tree, not the Creator God.

Her affection for them was extraordinary.

“A free life that even divine power couldn’t achieve. I hope my children can taste that sweetness.”

The World Tree closed her eyes. She recalled the various conversations she had shared with Dantalos during their time together, before he left.

-Do you know what the noblest wish is? It’s a comfortable life lived in peace.

-We demons have always had to live in struggle. In the war against Heaven, we never had a moment’s rest.

-The reason I willingly shouldered my duty was…

“May you achieve the noblest wish.”

With the heart to sacrifice willingly, she had endured for a thousand years.

“The same goes for you all, I suppose.”

The World Tree turned around. It was the hero’s party who had been sucked into the past when Durin was trapped there.

They were still asleep. The World Tree decided to bestow the final piece to those who had received the sacred relic of the Goddess of Night.

“Because we’ll need everyone to face the angels.”

This was her offering to destiny.