Ch.188Flame (5)

The heavenly counterattack had come to nothing.

Their vaunted knights were blocked by tens of thousands of magical beasts, and even the solid heavy infantry in the center was held back by the legion that had been admirably holding out under the Demon Lord’s command.

They were fully prepared with the necessary reserves to deal with any special variants that might cause various variables.

As Caldrag had drawn his sword, he had pulled out all the remaining strength in the Demon Lord’s castle and unleashed it on this battlefield.

“Can an overwhelming victory prevent the coming catastrophe?”

Durin muttered as he looked over the battlefield.

At first, he had thought it was an unavoidable fate. Witnessing only death day after day on the withering battlefield, he had concluded it was the inevitable end for one who fulfilled his duty.

But the power of the Demon Lord’s castle was stronger than expected.

The united legion cut through the waves of holy power and beheaded the enemy. It seemed to mock Durin, who had concluded it was nearly impossible.

“I was a fool.”

Durin berated himself. At the same time, he smiled.

He saw the potential of the legion. While the Demon Lord’s presence was significant, they stood before the trial that fate had brought upon them.

The volunteer army gathered from various regions barely maintained their formation without proper training, but they never collapsed. Rather, they fought fiercely. They swung their swords fearlessly against the enraged angels.

“General. Look over there.”

The adjutant pointed toward the central army. When Durin turned his gaze, he saw signal flags being waved vigorously.

Attack signal.

Demon Lord Caldrag had judged the time for offense. The impact of the forces that had burst out from the northwest had completely dissipated, so now they just needed to push forward slowly and crush all of them.

Durin did not hesitate.

“Sound the horn! All forces switch to offensive!”

Bwooooooo-

A thunderous sound echoed across the battlefield. To the demons, it was like the beating of a thousand hearts, and to the angels, it was like the screams of death itself.

“Cavalry! Regroup your formation! It’s time for us to fill the gaps left by the magical beasts.”

“The sorcery corps will begin support bombardment. Burn those knights along with the magical beasts to ashes!”

“Legion, listen! The time of victory approaches. Advance!”

A massive offensive that began on the right wing struck the heavenly army.

The demonic energy bombardment that had overturned the earth resumed once more, completely shattering the remaining forces entangled with the magical beasts. The flattened battlefield, where not a single corpse remained, instilled fear in the central heavenly army.

“……”

For a moment, the enemy’s command system failed to function. The stagnant holy power was evidence of this.

Durin did not miss the opportunity. Drawing his sword, he took the vanguard this time.

“The general is opening the path!”

“What are you waiting for! Follow him.”

The cavalry, which had suffered heavy losses in the first clash, returned to the front line upon seeing this. Though they were damaged in many places, they did not hesitate for the sake of victory.

They willingly plunged into death for the Demon Lord holding out in the center.

BOOM!!

CRASH!!

Once again, a fierce collision occurred. However, this time, a one-sided slaughter followed.

The knights, whose formation had been broken by the magical beasts, could not withstand the charging power of the beast cavalry. Those with intact bodies had already retreated far back, so only the wounded, crushed by the bombardment, barely resisted with their spears.

“Charge!”

“Break through to the flank!”

Durin’s sharp spear completely tore through the right side of the battlefield.

The soft underbelly of the central army, which had been holding out around Battle Commander Krazael, was now exposed.

It was a vulnerability created by the complete defeat of the knights.

Screeeeeech-

-We must stop them! Deploy all reserves!

-What are the high angels doing? Stop that man!

Only then did the heavenly army unleash all their hidden forces.

In place of the collapsed knights appeared a splendid cavalry in pure white armor. Warriors with power similar to the Demon Lord’s royal guard, the Golden Guard. The cavalry began their charge with a cheer as the powerful enemy appeared.

“Kill those bastards and it’s over!”

Fierce hooves trampled toward the rear.

The heavenly forces were desperate, knowing that if they were broken here, defeat would be inevitable.

Thousands of war horses leaped between crossing spears.

-This battle will determine the future.

On the battlefield prepared by fate, the children of god continued their cruel fight.

#

“Damn it! They’re not giving way.”

“We need to join up with the center soon.”

Word of the right wing’s victory had long spread to the center.

It should have been time for the demons, riding the momentum, to push back the formation and cut the throats of those damned white wings.

But they did not collapse.

Despite the shock that shook the entire army, Krazael held firm. The powerful infantry pushed back the ragtag central forces of the Demon Lord’s army, preventing any advance.

“Your Majesty. We must coordinate with Durin.”

“Please grant us permission to join the battle.”

To seize victory, they ultimately needed to capture those enemies.

Knowing this better than anyone, the Golden Guard wanted to risk their lives to advance to the front.

But Caldrag refused.

“We must wait until Durin completely breaks through the flank. It’s still too early.”

“Our center might collapse before then. Let us go forth and maintain the formation. We will give our lives until your will is fulfilled, so please send the royal guard to the battlefield.”

Caldrag was trying to hold this front line alone. He intended to weaken the holy power with golden demonic energy and strengthen the lower demons until victory was achieved. But the royal guard judged that the king’s body could not endure until then. Indeed, blood was flowing from both arms as they emitted demonic energy.

With bloodshot eyes that seemed about to lose their vitality at any moment, those serving closest to him could not stand by and watch.

“Your Majesty!”

When they pleaded once more, Caldrag’s resolve wavered.

The image of the strong king he had been showing began to fade. It could be called the last moment of a physically weak Demon Lord, but at the same time, his desire for victory led him to make a decision.

“I permit it. Go forth and maintain the formation.”

The moment the order was given, the Golden Guard moved swiftly.

They rushed to the formation that was about to collapse and vigorously hammered the impregnable shield wall with their halberds.

It was a moment when the flag of victory was gradually tilting to one side.

#

“We’ve pushed them back!”

While the right wing was led by Durin and the center by the Demon Lord’s army, the left wing was the army of Istria.

Elite forces scraped together from the east. They too continued fighting endlessly to pound the heavenly flank.

Though they didn’t receive much attention due to the mythical battle taking place on the right, they fulfilled their role in their own way.

“We must advance with this momentum.”

“We can’t lose to Durin. We must build a great reputation for our Istria!”

The commanders who had spent a long time on the battlefield sensed that the tide of victory was coming.

There was no pressure from high-tier units, and all the heavenly commanders were gathered in the center. Only manageable units were deployed on the left, which they saw as an opportunity.

“Prepare the assault team. We will show our spirit for His Majesty.”

“We will completely break the left wing, taking advantage of the forces being concentrated in the center and right.”

All the Istrian commanders declared attack.

As the soldiers forming the battle line raised their swords and took the offensive, disaster struck the angels who had been merely maintaining the front line. Sharp attacks began to exploit their gaps.

The surprise was successful.

The commanders could see the collapsing formation.

It was a vulnerability that no demon would ever miss.

“Let’s go!”

“It’s time to achieve military merit!”

The green-horned army launched a unified charge.

Not to be outdone by Durin, they continued their attack, disregarding formation.

The demons, riding the momentum, were destructive and exerted considerable power.

“Hahaha!”

“Krazael! I’ll take your head!”

Following the right, the heavenly army began to be pushed back on the left as well.

#

“Battle Commander, this is dangerous if we continue.”

“Please withdraw the army to the northwest!”

The heavenly army felt strong pressure. They had clearly thought they would overwhelm the enemy in terms of power, but the demons showed greater combat ability than expected. Particularly, the red-horned warrior storming like a tempest from the right was the biggest obstacle.

“We must stop him.”

Krazael made his decision. He needed to draw his sword, advance, and strike the enemy’s head.

“But if I do that, we cannot win the war.”

There was no need to invest excessive resources on the right. The pure white knights were already holding him back.

Rather than beheading one demon, he looked at the victory of the war.

In Krazael’s eyes, another place looked more appetizing.

“There are no notable beings on the left wing, correct?”

“No outstanding demons appear to be there. However, we are retreating our formation as we’re being pushed back by their momentum.”

“Then I will target that area.”

The heavenly battle commander made his decision. He turned his banner, ready to unleash holy power.

“Pull back the army. I will go forth myself.”

He would punish those who had charged fearlessly.

Krazael pointed his sword at the insects that had flown into the fire.