Ch.1240Why Did You Come to My House

“Charge-! Chaaaarge-!!”

“Don’t fall behind! Run!”

“Hold your shield properly! Do you want to die!”

As the battle at the main gate intensified, the two thousand troops that had split into left and right wings also advanced toward the cliff ahead, launching their offensive.

– Whoooosh!

“Large rocks! Coming!”

“Catch them!”

The projectiles fired from catapults inside the fortress walls stopped as if caught by something, then plummeted vertically, pounding only the empty field below.

This was the racial ability of the rock monkeys—control over fragments of Mother Earth, dominion over natural stone.

It wasn’t comparable to the Turankai who could lift and throw house-sized boulders, but when they combined their strength, they could easily block a dozen catapult shots.

Of course, they were already at their limit just stopping the projectiles, so they couldn’t return the halted ammunition back to the enemy… but well, blocking them was enough.

Besides, even if they could return those rocks, they wouldn’t leave so much as a scratch on the fortress walls covered with magical protective formulas.

In truth, there was no reason to return them anyway.

The rock monkeys had many among them who possessed both better ways to use those rocks and the ability to do so.

“Weaklings, can’t even lift this?”

“Train! Do it every day!”

Just as human strength varies between individuals, the rock monkeys’ ability to control stone also grew stronger with training.

The control of elite warriors—equivalent to what humans would call Masters—was strong enough to halt flying rocks in mid-air through their power alone.

While sending them back up the cliff might be too much, they could at least suspend them overhead and move them at will.

“Fireballs coming again-! Big ones!”

“Gather rocks! Make a wall!”

The rocks floating through the air became their shields and barriers, intercepting and breaking apart under the rain of arrows and magic that followed the barrage of catapult fire.

– KWAAANG! THUKWAAANG!

Arrows snapped and tumbled. Flames shattered and scattered. Stone dust and gravel rained down like hail.

“Dodge well! Can’t block everything!”

Huge fireballs collided with the rock walls and exploded, and from the blood of the wounded or dead, reddish worms, bats, and even wolves emerged and ran wild.

“What is this?! Strange, strange things!”

When struck with swords or spears, they reverted to blood to evade attacks, then immediately reformed into beast shapes to counterattack.

“Blood, into me…! KEEEEEK!”

The creatures thrashed about like beasts with only teeth and claws, and when the monkeys showed weakness due to mistakes or injuries, they immediately extended red tentacles to burrow into their bodies.

Once that happened, death was the only outcome. The blood curse that seeped into their bodies ruptured blood vessels and hearts, causing them to die spewing blood from every orifice.

“How do we block this!”

“Blood! Watch out for blood! Get hurt and you die!”

Not just blood beasts but all manner of bizarre blood magic continued to unfold, and what had been small sparks of confusion gradually spread like wildfire throughout the formation.

While they could easily block explosion magic specialized for area damage, as it was a common attack, these bizarre spells were methods the monkeys had never seen before.

How could they properly respond when they couldn’t even understand the effects until they’d already been hit?

It was fortunate that the distance to the walls was great, keeping the frequency and accuracy low—otherwise, more than half would have died before even reaching the cliff.

“Finally, finally reached it!”

“Climb up!”

Anyway, despite falling into confusion and accumulating casualties, the rock monkeys steadfastly advanced and finally reached the cliff, beginning to climb the wall.

“Split in half! Half stays below to protect!”

To be precise, only half the forces climbed the cliff while the remaining half protected the climbing warriors from below.

If attacked during the rock climb, they would be hit without being able to counter and fall right back down.

“KEEEEEK-!”

“Oil! It’s oil! Hot!”

Of course, they couldn’t block all attacks, so many rock monkeys fell after being fried in boiling oil or engulfed in flames.

– CRACKLE!

“GYAAAAK!”

Even the protective formulas covering the cliff occasionally sprayed lightning, causing some to stick to the wall convulsing from electrocution until they burned to a crisp.

It was a fierce and desperate climb.

—-

Meanwhile, at that time, Caljarat had finally reached the vicinity of the main gate at the front of the fortress.

This was the result achieved by sacrificing half his power and two great swords. He had consumed half his strength before even properly fighting, let alone achieving victory, but even that was significant progress for now.

At this distance, he could cut down the fortress wall before the blood bombardment could reach him.

“Kheuh… Finally within reach. What will you do now!”

Caljarat raised his remaining four great swords high, blood dripping between his sneering teeth.

Perhaps convinced that the same methods could no longer stop him?

The crimson sphere floating in the air dispersed like mist, then swirled up from the ground in front of the gate, taking a form resembling a human.

Rather than a creature with flesh and bones, it was blood congealed like jelly mimicking human form—more grotesque than fascinating or beautiful.

【 Caljarat… though this is our first direct meeting, I’ve often heard your name in rumors. 】

It spoke through what appeared to be a mouth—or rather, a hole that resembled one. The voice was strange and eerie, resonating like an echo that seemed to burrow into one’s mind.

It was a technique commonly used by gods and demigods, infusing divine power into their voice to create an overwhelming and mysterious presence befitting transcendent beings.

【 That’s why I find it difficult to understand. For what reason are you doing this? 】

The voice contained doubt—a question that had been occupying her mind since Caljarat and his army of nagas and rock monkeys had attacked.

【 There is no debt or grudge between us, yet you come charging not alone but with these vermin in tow. This is quite different from what I’ve heard. 】

“Heh… a grudge has just been formed. You’ve killed many of my subordinates and shattered two of my precious swords. That’s enough enmity that we cannot live under the same sky.”

【 …Ha, you dare play word games before me? A lowly orc like you. 】

The Caljarat that Erzsebet knew was a wandering fighter who roamed all of Naraka picking fights with manageable strong opponents.

He wasn’t an ambitious leader commanding an army and engaging in territorial disputes.

Given his personality—preferring death over submission to others—the possibility that he was attacking on someone else’s orders rather than his own decision was also slim.

At least that’s what Erzsebet believed, which made the reality before her eyes an incomprehensible anomaly.

The fact that Caljarat had been persuaded by Bergelmir to serve under Haschal was top-secret information known only to those directly involved.

Even Caliburn, who had formed an alliance with Haschal, only suspected this might be the case, so it was something Erzsebet, an outsider, couldn’t possibly imagine.

Unable to understand why they were attacking, she had merely observed and maintained a passive defense until now.

But such passive measures ended here.

Now that the possibility of her carefully built fortress being destroyed had become real, she could no longer just cast magic from afar to drive them away—she needed to engage in a full-scale battle.

【 If you have no intention of answering, I won’t ask further. 】

The blood-formed woman’s shape sank as if melting, and the next moment, a cracked, bleeding red halo appeared above the central spire.

– WHOOSH!

Great wings spread wide, creating gusts of wind.

A woman with black hair and red skin, dressed in elaborate ceremonial clothes with a languid expression, stood atop the spire looking down at the fortress below and declared loudly:

【 You too shall become food for death, perishing in regret as you realize the difference in our caliber. 】

The next moment, the entire fortress glowed red and emitted an ominous cry—

【 Just as your extinct kin did! 】

An enormous amount of blood, enough to block the sky, surged up like a tsunami, forming a massive pillar of blood.

Even Caljarat, who was about to swing his great swords again, looked up in surprise at the ominous and sinister energy it emanated.

“…Do it if you can, blood-sucking wench!”

After hesitating for a moment while looking up at the pillar of blood, Caljarat swallowed his bloody spit and swung his great sword toward the gate.

Although Erzsebet was at the top of the high spire rather than at the gate, the allied forces’ target wasn’t just her, so destroying the gate first was the priority.

【 Think I’ll allow that? 】

But those blades didn’t even reach the fortress walls, let alone the gate.

The moment Erzsebet extended her right hand toward Caljarat, part of the towering pillar of blood split and transformed into a giant hand that came crashing down.

– CRACK!

The ground touched by those fingernails was torn into five strips, and the fragments that flew up were submerged in blood, dissolving instantly.

– RUMBLE!

“Kuk…!”

The blood-red grasp didn’t stop with one gesture but persistently targeted him, constantly changing direction.

Knowing he couldn’t guarantee his safety if caught, Caljarat was too busy jumping around in all directions to evade it, unable to even attempt attacking the gate.