Ch.133Chapter 133: The Fierce Battle at Year’s End (8)

BOOM-! BOOM-!

The overwhelming physique inferred from the footsteps that shook the earth’s axis.

Due to Adorator’s machinations.

Though its appearance was still not revealed.

-GUOOOOOOH!!!

The howl overflowing with killing intent naturally revealed its close proximity.

Indeed, the presence befitting Behemoth, the monster called the king of the earth, was filling the desolate winter land.

Even for ordinary… no, even for the garrison forces of Knight Haven who made protecting this land their lifelong duty.

-GUOOOOH!! GUOOOOOOOOH!!!

Few would be able to maintain their composure when directly facing this beast’s howl, which showed not even a fragment of intelligence.

For a fully grown adult specimen with a size comparable to Knight Haven’s outer wall, that was only natural.

Even sensing the presence of a monster that could only be confronted by a superhuman capable of splitting the sky and shaking the earth with a single sword.

While it’s natural to praise the courage of ordinary people who feel no fear.

One cannot condemn those who cannot do so as cowards.

Moreover….

“Ah, what a shame. I wanted to play more, but these ‘children’ are getting restless, so as the adult, I should give way. Please understand~.”

Despite moving farther from the fortress, Adorator’s voice was clearly audible, and the word ‘children’ in her mocking statement caught my attention.

It seemed that.

BOOM-! BOOM-! BOOM-BOOM-! BOOM-BOOM!! BOOM-BOOM!!

Judging by these footsteps, which became increasingly irregular as Adorator’s mockery intensified.

Right now, the number of Behemoths heading toward the fortress was roughly….

“Four.”

[Based on the footsteps, there are about four of them. She brought them out quite meticulously.]

“Four beasts.”

“…Wait, can you really tell how many there are just by the sound? I can’t even tell what’s making these footsteps.”

“Excel, your training is lacking. Being able to determine how many large monsters like Behemoths are present just by their footsteps is the most basic skill.”

“I will show no deficiency next time.”

“That’s the right attitude.”

…Just like before.

Somehow, the correct answer seems to come out before I can even make my judgment.

Unlike me, who was interrupted before I could voice my guess.

It was some small consolation that Excel was floundering without knowing the answer.

But the rest of the group gave the perfect answer, requiring no additional explanation from me.

That’s right. Four beasts.

They had brought about one-third of the Behemoths that resided in the Obsidian Palace in my memories from before my regression.

Originally, in the timeline before my regression, five would have been deployed by the Demon Realm to attack the fortress during this subjugation festival period.

But unlike the previous timeline, Pale Sanguin, who had ended his seclusion in the coffin and suddenly resumed activities.

Had taken one to support his undead legion, only to lose it pathetically to Lord Nighthart’s Heaven-Opening Sword.

Well, even if the number decreased from five to four.

The fact that these creatures posed a significant threat to Knight Haven’s safety remained unchanged.

“Now, my dears.”

While my thoughts continued, Adorator’s powerful voice rang out as she stopped retreating, having judged this distance sufficient.

As she addressed something invisible at this location.

Rather than the weakness she had shown when injured by Fafnir’s flames earlier.

She now exuded the audacity worthy of the self-proclaimed mistress of the Obsidian Palace beyond the Dragon Claw Mountains, where unquenchable malice erupted.

All while dispersing the dark, viscous energy that enveloped her body.

What was she trying to do with such force in her voice?

Though somewhat predictable, the unclear principles behind Adorator’s actions were revealed.

SNAP-!!

When she raised her left hand and produced a clear sound by pressing her index finger and thumb together.

The massive body of the Behemoth, which had been impressively concealed until now, revealed itself at the moment Adorator’s two fingers collided.

-GRRRRRR-!!

Following the howl, it now emitted a growl that sounded ravenous for blood.

“I shall give you the opportunity to unleash the boiling vigor within your bodies!”

It was then that Adorator, emboldened by the sight of the bloodthirsty Behemoths, ordered them to begin destroying the fortress.

The four Behemoths, which had remained docile despite appearing ready to unleash their destructive instincts, finally followed Adorator’s command.

-GUOOOOOOOOH-!!!!!

With a roar filled with the intent to destroy the fortress, they stepped forward one by one.

As their footsteps continued, I could see Adorator in the distance wearing a sinister smile of assured victory.

However, that sinister smile lasted only for a moment.

Why?

Just as Adorator was about to adjust her upturned lips.

SWISH-!!

The distinctive sound of a sharp blade cutting through the air.

SWAAAASH-!!

Transformed into an invisible blade of vacuum with terrifying cutting power.

-KUOOO…!!

As its trajectory intersected with the upper body of one of the advancing Behemoths, cutting it in two.

KUUUUNG-!!

A thunderous boom announced that the body of what was until recently a Behemoth had crashed to the ground with vibrations that shook the earth’s axis.

“…!!”

Adorator’s expression, which had been distorted with the certainty of victory, gradually filled with shock and disbelief.

#

WOOOOONG-!!

The distinctive resonance that occurred as the clear, pure aura of fighting spirit expanded.

Swept away the silence that had followed the thunderous sound of the Behemoth’s body rolling on the ground.

[Oh….]

Fafnir’s pure admiration echoed in my mind as he witnessed the sword strike that effortlessly dismembered the Behemoth.

Not just Fafnir, but even I, watching this together, could express nothing but admiration for the perfect sword strike that unfolded.

For a moment, I reflected on the swordsmanship displayed by Sister when the Behemoths revealed themselves.

From Sister’s right hand, which held the formless sword that still emanated a bluish fighting spirit despite having dampened its momentum.

After confirming with her eyes the movements of the Behemoths approaching step by step.

-It would be better if they all came at once.

After uttering words tinged with a vague regret.

She lightly swept her right hand holding the formless sword from left to right.

-One down for now.

She concluded her action with that brief statement.

Though it seemed like an incredibly light action, combining a simple movement with brief words.

The result it produced was anything but light.

The swift strike, executed with such speed that it seemed to tear through space itself, merely cut through the air.

But in the wake of the sword’s trajectory, a vacuum blade with enough power to bisect the Behemoth, the so-called king of the earth, was created.

SWAAAASH-!!

The vacuum blade, moving faster than an arrow released from a bow, engulfed one Behemoth and took the life of the earth’s king.

I’ll say it again.

It truly was a perfect slash.

#

Besides Fafnir, who kept expressing admiration, and me, who kept replaying the previous motion in my mind.

The amazing swordsmanship displayed by Sister seemed to have evoked similar impressions in others who witnessed it.

“…”

Excel’s expression, as he simply blinked while looking at Sister, revealed regret for not properly capturing with his eyes the swordsmanship she had just displayed.

But that regret didn’t stem from cheap emotions like jealousy or inferiority.

“Why are you standing there blankly like a broken machine?”

“Sister’s swordsmanship was so magnificent that I, Excel, have forgotten what I was about to say and can only express admiration.”

“Stop talking nonsense and help me deal with the remaining three.”

“Gladly.”

I could immediately tell that his feeling was close to reverence, beyond the admiration I felt watching Sister’s swordsmanship.

And there was one person among our party, excluding the person in question, who expressed the most distinctive sentiment.

“I… can do it too…”

Still not leaving my embrace.

“Give me… a sword. I need to show my skills too.”

That was the sentiment shown by Shizu, who displayed half admiration and half competitive spirit, burning with fighting spirit after seeing Sister’s swordsmanship.

But while her actions naturally evoked admiration from those who witnessed them.

The expression of Sister, who had displayed that amazing swordsmanship, showed only composure.

WOONG-!!

With her formless sword wrapped in even more fighting spirit than when she created the vacuum blade, pointing toward where the Behemoths and Adorator were.

“Three left… no, three beasts and one creature.”

She spoke with a flat tone as if commenting on how delicious today’s meal was.

“…”

The impact of those words, delivered with an icy expression perfectly suited to the current situation, was tremendous.

-Gu… guuuu.

The Behemoths, which had been rushing to destroy the fortress until just now, had completely stopped their confident advance after the absurd death of one of their kind and were now just watching each other.

Even Adorator, who would normally have erupted in anger at the Behemoths for ignoring her orders and not advancing.

“…What.”

Uttering words that suggested she still couldn’t believe what she had just witnessed.

She merely displayed an expression that had moved beyond anger to shock.

It was undoubtedly an expression born from the certainty of successfully conquering the fortress after breaking the wall, now turned to doubt.

This was the moment when the fortress battle shifted from the offensive attempts of the Demon Realm side to a defensive position, as the Imperial forces remained unshaken.