Ch.185Flame (2)

This could perhaps be the last.

The aged king had no strength to spare. He lacked the power to wield the demonic magic of domination and drive his legions forward as he once did.

The final flame of Istria was slowly dying out, and it was time to shine before it completely faded away.

“Bring out all available forces from the east. Don’t think about what’s left behind.”

“Warriors eager to fight the celestials are gathering from all regions. Given the urgency, I will incorporate them into the support legion even if they fall slightly short of our standards.”

“That’s exactly what must be done for the victory of the Istrian dynasty. We will never surrender this era to others.”

The Red Horns would no longer tolerate failure. It was clear they would raise their banner once more, ruthlessly crushing Istria’s ambition to replace the primordial bloodline. Having been pushed to the eastern territories, they gathered everything available to avoid witnessing Istria’s lonely end.

They invested all resources that would normally only be mobilized during the greatest crises of the demon realm.

“We need to secure at least one hundred thousand to have any chance.”

“Difficult, but not entirely impossible. I will request cooperation from the nobles in the east to gather strength.”

As a result, countless wandering warriors gathered in the central region.

Tents lined up outside the fortress filled the horizon, displaying a grandeur reminiscent of the previous great war.

While amassing this enormous army, Istria made sure to announce their presence throughout the central continent, demonstrating that their dynasty remained strong. They strived to once again elevate the authority of the Demon King’s castle.

Most admired and praised Caldrago, but not everyone shared the same sentiment.

“This is a reckless expedition! Are you truly determined to ruin our world?”

“When we can’t even replenish our legions due to extreme losses, you’re scraping up our remaining reserves! Even if we win, there will be no future!”

The Red Horns vehemently opposed it, arguing that domestic affairs were more important than war at this time.

The administrative officials, centered around the Chief Justice, also sided with their opinion. While boosting morale through warfare was good, they worried about forming a large-scale expeditionary force rather than sending moderate reinforcements.

“Please come to your senses and withdraw the mobilization order! We’ll all be ruined!”

“You must wish for Istria’s downfall! We will secure our future through victory, so how dare you speak such nonsense!”

The conflict between the two factions threw the Demon King’s castle into chaos. Shouting matches occurred daily in the king’s hall, with both sides hurling insults at each other. The Istrian faction nearly initiated a violent clash when they lost their temper, but fortunately, they were all restrained by the Grand Sorcerer Azhmosa.

“When we should be united in preparing for war, what disgraceful behavior is this?”

“…”

“Consider yourselves fortunate that the king hasn’t witnessed this shameful display while he prepares for war. Do you understand?”

Once the purest golden magic of domination swept through, the conflict ceased.

The Istrians retreated after hearing the Great Mother’s words, and the Red Horns exercised restraint to prevent their cause from being undermined by petty quarrels.

Thankfully, the hastily patched rift did not worsen and settled into an uneasy stalemate.

#

The news reached the front lines as well.

The morale of the soldiers who had been struggling to defend the borders soared upon hearing that the Demon King himself was leading reinforcements.

It was like sweet honey to the war-weary legion.

“We can overcome this.”

“Organize the troops! How can we appear disheveled when His Majesty arrives?”

A ray of hope illuminated the legion. Demons who had fallen into despair due to disappointing results began to regain their strength. They prepared their stance as if ready to charge at any moment.

“The soldiers seem to have regained their spirit after a long time.”

“The war has continued long enough to break even a demon’s fighting spirit. We needed a proper victory for any chance of sustainability, but we’ve only maintained a tedious standoff. In such circumstances, it’s natural for them to rejoice at His Majesty’s announcement of personal command.”

Unlike the excited legion, Durin remained calm. The aide standing beside him observed this and subtly tried to gauge his thoughts.

“I thought you would join in the troops’ celebration, General.”

“Unfortunately, I could not. Was it that obvious?”

“Concern overshadowed you first.”

Durin didn’t deny it. He wasn’t pleased with the fact that the king, whose health was poor, had personally entered the war.

“I couldn’t rejoice because the center is shaking.”

“The center? What do you mean by that?”

“King Caldrago’s physical condition is deteriorated to the point that everyone knows about it. Further exposure to holy power could be life-threatening. Yet he’s joining the war, which means the situation must be dire indeed.”

While everyone was discussing counterattacks, the upper echelons felt a sense of crisis.

‘If we fail, hope will fade and decline will begin.’

Winning a single battle wasn’t enough. They needed to recapture the northwestern front to break even, and only by achieving extreme gains would there be any possibility of recovery.

The demon realm clung to a thread of light, believing in the past glory led by Caldrago.

To be honest, for Durin, this situation was like the prelude to destruction.

“The likelihood of failure is high. We must prepare for the shock.”

Looking at the excited legion, Durin discussed the dark future. The aide couldn’t hide his heavy heart.

“Are you saying we truly cannot defeat the White Wings with this momentum?”

“Even when His Majesty was in his prime, we were pushed back by the celestial warriors and couldn’t achieve our great cause. With the demon realm weaker than before, it’s merely an impossible hope.”

Durin faced reality.

He couldn’t wastefully sacrifice the legion in what seemed like a final, desperate war.

“However, we cannot avoid war just because the odds are against us. If the legion retreats while the king personally takes to the battlefield, then true destruction might come to the demon realm.”

“Are you suggesting we should lead the vanguard in a war we’re destined to lose?”

“Are you afraid?”

“Not at all. I was actually thinking this might be for the best.”

It was a negative statement. If someone had heard these words, morale would have been greatly damaged. But the demon legion was different.

When crisis loomed over the world, they could stand at the forefront and embrace death, which actually raised their spirits.

“As a warrior, I am satisfied to die on the most dangerous battlefield. However, I won’t spread this to the legion. I don’t want soldiers who are already at peak morale to be distracted by unnecessary thoughts.”

“Well said. Let the lower demons enjoy their current joy. A resolute mindset would only hinder them.”

Though their paths differed, everyone desired a glorious battlefield.

With a clear objective, they weren’t entangled in trivial matters.

“Send a messenger to the west immediately. We need to lay the groundwork before the king arrives.”

For now, it was time to fan the rekindled flame.

#

The awakened fighting spirit needed to be ignited.

Under Durin’s orders, the legion moved in perfect coordination.

The western border was the first to respond.

“Draw them out of the swamplands!”

“We can’t let His Majesty find them in that green quagmire!”

The lizardman monster infantry led by Yoannini continuously provoked the angels.

They used the treacherous swamplands to ambush reconnaissance teams or target rear supplies. Even when knight orders were dispatched, the lizards gained nothing. Having lived in toxic environments for centuries, these lizards skillfully evaded the holy power raining down on them, repeatedly striking and retreating.

“C-catch those creatures right now!”

They didn’t stop until the orderly celestial knights, unable to contain their anger, burst out into the open. For the knight order to be effective, they needed to use the wide path in the center of the swampland, but those whose eyes had gone wild from the constant attacks overlooked what terrain they were in and initiated a charge.

That moment was the perfect opportunity to score significant achievements.

“It’s not you who will catch us, but we who will catch you! Damn white wings!”

“Stupid fools!”

Angels who had ventured deep into the swampland met their end, covered by arrows flying from all directions. Strong neurotoxins prevented them from even screaming. Their final moments were only silent burials in the soggy earth.

“If this continues, they’ll start taking the bait soon.”

“From the garrison’s perspective, if they keep accumulating damage without results, they’ll feel pressured to prepare for a sortie.”

As Durin predicted, the celestials moved quickly. They raised a large force to exterminate the lizard tribes operating around the swampland and began activities outside their base.

The identified forces alone amounted to fifty thousand.

Though small compared to the hundred thousand-strong demon legion, each of them was a powerful warrior who held a position in the celestial realm. Their shining holy power was so formidable it could melt lower demons without even swinging a sword.

They were worthy adversaries for a glorious battlefield.

“General. His Majesty will arrive soon.”

All that remained was the massive collision.

The legion, seeking to write history worthy of being recorded in sacred texts, prepared for the coming war.