Ch.21972. Legend and Legend (2)

I’ve heard that Rupert, once known as the leader of the Snake-Eye faction of the Salvation Knights, often used to say:

“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”

Coming from someone who could glimpse the future, even if uncertainly, these words feel quite profound.

So then.

What is preparation?

And what is readiness?

“……”

It seems the sword of Saint Cariel, now a holy relic, doesn’t lend its power to just anyone.

After various experiments, the church concluded that this sacred object has predetermined users and suitable wielders.

And that user, that suitable wielder is…

‘So this is how fate connects us.’

From the treetop, I look down, appreciating and analyzing the battle situation.

‘Moreover…’

There was something quite significant about the fact that the entity these warriors had entrusted their faith to was now, in some sense, cooperating with us.

Also…

‘That giant…’

Though lacking a physical body, that spiritual entity was quite familiar.

‘So that’s what it was.’

Both those barbarian warriors.

And that giant.

They shared the same essence.

For instance, some of the reborn giants had been reintegrated into this world through the bodies of barbarian warriors.

And that giant…

A rebel who refused to be converted until the end.

That’s why it still maintains the form of an ancient giant, if only in spirit and essence.

If it returns to the ruins of the fire giants, perhaps its soul could reclaim its empty physical body.

‘Is this related to Heva?’

More precisely, the half-Hevatein I carry.

It seems it’s also called Levatein, though the meaning and appropriateness seem to differ depending on how it’s pronounced.

They say that in mythological times, names and designations were something beyond simply calling or identifying things.

They were like cruel sentences that defined a being, binding regulations.

“……”

Monsters are pouring out through a dimensional gate somewhere in the forest.

However, the actual residents and members of the demon realm, those who held positions of power there, have yet to show themselves.

…If their elites had poured out from the beginning as they planned, the current rescue and reinforcements might have been meaningless.

And even this attack is happening outside the corrupted zone, before demonification has taken place, which is why they’re being defeated like this…

If this place were already part of the demon realm, or if the entire area had been transformed into it…

The battle situation would be overwhelmingly one-sided.

“In the end…”

These incoming monsters are nothing but a distraction.

‘The Demon King…’

Expanding the corrupted zone to accelerate demonification.

One might mistakenly think this is the main objective.

But the issue is understanding why they’re doing this, grasping the key point.

…Is corrupting the World Tree the main goal?

Or is it to secure territory where they can freely exert their full power?

Weaken the enemy and strengthen your own forces.

In a way, it’s a textbook formula for victory.

Is the current Demon King building toward victory according to this theory?

“……”

My thought process was already complete.

I was just refining my thoughts to avoid being blindsided by unexpected variables.

“…Huff.”

So first…

Buy some time.

A jet-black afterimage forms in my grasp.

I throw it toward the distance as if hurling something tightly gripped.

From my hand, a massive black spear flies like a projectile, piercing through a monster’s body at a distant point on the ground.

It drives a huge black lightning bolt into the earth.

Yet its form and appearance remained intact.

And so.

I launch myself onto the long black line stretched diagonally.

Immediately after landing with both feet, I slide along the steeply sloping black line like an arrow, arriving at my destination in a flash.

The heart of the monster horde.

Like an arrow hitting its target, I sweep through four or five monsters in an instant with my jet-black sword.

I’m now dozens of paces away from our forces.

Truly, I’ve thrown myself alone into the front lines.

The wave of monsters suddenly turns, surging toward the black-clad human who has just arrived on the ground.

As if whoever reaches me first will be the first to taste fresh meat.

“……”

But without a trace of agitation, confusion, or dismay.

A long, steady breath that remains undisturbed even while in motion suddenly awakens my body and mind.

Ennea.

Dominator Abnodo.

As my consciousness reaches its peak, the extreme focus causes my body and mind to awaken, instantly reaching full capacity.

I slash and thrust at the charging monsters with my sword, avoiding attacks by hair’s breadth margins, deflecting them.

Before long, I begin to sweep through the battlefield alone, alternating between wielding a jet-black sword and spear.

When the spear swings horizontally, even its shaft becomes a blade that cuts through enemies. Small monsters that charged without realizing they’ve been cut fly from the side to the back in pieces.

Slashing and thrusting with the sword.

Rather than pulling out the embedded sword, I dispel the darkness and regenerate it to slash and thrust again.

I throw the spear, impaling two or three small abominations that are flung away spewing blood and pus.

But when a monster resembling a child crouches low and approaches stealthily, trying to plunge its hideous claws into me.

Having just dismembered a monster charging from the front, I quickly grab the arm of the monster attacking from behind.

Then, as if dancing while holding hands, I drag the monster around, using it as a shield while slaying other enemies.

Seizing a brief opening, I throw the monster into the air, slice its neck, and kick its body into the face of a charging bull-like beast, forcing it to eat the corpse.

Normally, a bull monster wouldn’t flinch from such a small mass.

Yet somehow, as soon as the small monster crashed into its head, its solid skull cracked.

The reason: I had secretly surrounded the kicked monster’s body with darkness, shooting it like a wedge.

This dangerous fighting style, maneuvering through enemy lines with such flair and skill, was truly remarkable.

But the true marvel occurred right after.

BOOM!

When I stomped the ground with my foot, black afterimages suddenly swept through the area.

Those caught in it were forcibly pulled in as if being sucked by something, not knowing what was happening.

Jet-black spears that had formed without notice mercilessly impaled the bodies of the drawn-in monsters.

The spears then shot out in all directions.

Those caught in their path numbered at least several dozen.

In this way, the number of monsters swept away in that short time had already exceeded a hundred.

‘This should be…’

Flashy enough?

But mere flashiness won’t be enough to raise morale.

‘It’s about time…’

I need to catch their attention too.

“……”

Facing the monsters that keep flooding in to fill the gaps.

I clench my fist tightly.

My consciousness immediately responds to my will.

Without lengthy preparation or distracting thoughts.

A single will intensifies and represents the whole.

‘Compared to what you’ve been using…’

This is truly nothing.

Finally, opening my clenched hand.

The fire demon I had wrapped in darkness.

I drive it straight into the ground.

====

HWAAAANG!

At first, it was an intense light.

But before the brilliant flash could overwhelm vision.

Heat, formless heat, was the first thing that pierced everyone’s skin.

“Wh-wh-what?”

Some were too stunned to speak.

“……”

Others closed their eyes tightly after opening them wide.

“Wow…”

Some gave reactions that couldn’t be called either admiration or exclamation.

“What is this?”

A massive pillar of fire.

A marvelous pillar of fire, mixing red and jet-black, shot up vertically and engulfed the area.

And that wasn’t all.

As if caught in something unexpected, monsters near the fire pillar struggled before being sucked in, instantly turning to ash and dust that scattered in the wind.

It was a destructive marvel that enemies could never face.

And for allies, it was a fearsome power of salvation.

-…

And.

Inside the corrupted zone, Demon King Lutesia narrowed her red eyes upon witnessing this marvel unfolding as if for show.

Is it provocation?

Or… was the situation dire enough that he had to bring that out?

The severity of the situation would be polar opposites depending on which it was.

If provocation… it would mean things were going contrary to her intentions.

If he used it out of desperation, it would mean her plan was proceeding well.

…Or.

Both?

In the end.

She, Lutesia, had no real choice.

-…rrrr

She grabbed her own shoulder.

And then.

She tore off her shoulder guard.

The torn metal guard, along with her gauntlet, revealed her ordinary flesh.

Then.

With her pale white hand, she tore off the other shoulder guard as well.

With both hands and arms now bare, the girl.

Set them down while continuing her bitter prayer.

‘Please…’

According to our covenant, be with me.

‘Until the day the world perishes forever.’

Or.

‘Until the day I destroy the world.’

We…

====

“Hmm?”

“Did Your Majesty feel it too?”

The Guardian of the South, Diares, raised his rigid gaze toward his sister, who was focused on commanding while mounted on a white horse.

“Both sides are relentless.”

As soon as Cariel manifested his divine power, an undeniable energy burst forth from the Demon King.

When they reflexively looked, black entities began to emerge from the vicinity of the Demon King.

They were strange beings clad in jet-black armor.

…The Elven Queen, Dianakis, immediately noticed that the Demon King’s arms were bare.

‘What did she do by removing them?’

The question was quickly answered.

Those beings in black armor broke through the corrupted zone and began charging toward them.

“Diares!”

“I know!”

Diares faced one of them, leaving a blue afterimage as he flew.

“Ugh?!”

But the pressure and ferocity from just one of them was pushing him back far beyond his expectations.

A jet-black metal spear had formed out of nowhere and was one-sidedly driving Diares back.

‘This being?!’

Moreover, he only noticed when it got close.

This entity was emanating the same demonic energy as the Demon King standing over there.

Even the total amount of demonic energy accumulated within it seemed… not much different.

It was so overwhelming that just the residual energy was enough to constrict his breathing.

To begin with, demonic energy generated in the demon realm is like a deadly poison to middle-world beings.

‘This much power even outside the corrupted zone!’

If this were inside the demonified corrupted zone like before…

Even he wouldn’t have lasted more than a few exchanges.

-KRAAAH!

KWANG!

Another black-armored being that he’d missed clashed with a white barbarian warrior.

-Wh-what?!

Despite the size difference being at least four or five times.

The barbarian warrior was being pushed back as if he were frail.

In the hands of the black-armored being was a massive blunt weapon.

Resembling a hexagonal iron pillar, it struck the barbarian’s axe without restraint.

-What the hell?!

KANG!

-If you’re struggling alone, you should say something!

-What is this bastard?!

Thanks to the two who came to help quickly, they overcame the critical moment.

But even so, the three were being pushed back one-sidedly.

-This isn’t something we can handle!

-Where’s the big guy?!

The giant that the barbarian warrior desperately wanted to call was clinging to the tree monster attached to the World Tree, struggling to remove it.

-Looks like he’s busy too!

-Damn it!

As the blunt weapon was swung as if it were a light hammer, the large barbarian was easily sent flying into the air despite blocking with his weapon.

He only rose about one person’s height, but this alone was astonishing.

“There really is no end to them.”

And the queen, who had been observing this while suppressing her agitation as much as possible.

Only then did she notice Cariel approaching, breaking through the battle lines in reverse.

The sight of him sweeping through the surroundings while spewing massive flames in all directions literally evoked a scene from mythology.

…But it didn’t seem like it would turn the tide to that extent.

However, it definitely had an effect.

“……”

The morale of the allied forces watching this, knowingly or unknowingly, soared sharply.

Also, the momentary gap gave the allies time to catch their breath.

That time soon gave them a chance to regroup, however briefly.

And because of that, their defenses became stronger.

After confirming this, Cariel began to withdraw to the rear.

…He must have seen those jet-black beings too.

Perhaps that’s why.

The queen found herself whispering involuntarily.

“Compared to before…”

You’ve changed so much.

But even your current self…

“I think it’s good.”

The snake and viper of youth.

Have now broken out of their egg.

And the being that emerged from that egg.

Was neither the fearsome snake nor the cunning viper of before.

“A star, perhaps.”

For some reason.

Rather than a creature or living being… that came to mind first.

Like a bright star.

Shining small but brilliant in the black sky.