Ch.47Imperial Invasion (5)

A massive wall blocked our path ahead. To pass through this ravine, we’d have to get past that barrier. The ravine itself looked at least five times my height, and the wall before us was about twice my height. Honestly, we could have just climbed over the ravine, but…

“What do you think about your Minotaur form? Want to try smashing that thing?”

If it weren’t for Rian and Rune encouraging me beside me, I would have just climbed over the ravine. Their simple question—wouldn’t it be fun to smash that?—sounded like a challenge, asking if I could break it.

I was already on my way to kill the Empire’s Emperor, so I considered doing something worthy of being recorded in Grancia’s history books. The Elven Knights around me were cheering, “Smash it! Smash it!” while Mary was the only one trying to stop me.

“Hmm…”

Having made my decision, I pushed past Mary who was blocking my way and began moving forward. Come to think of it, as a Minotaur, I’d likely have to fight humans in the future. When else would I get to safely demolish such a large wall?

With that thought, I advanced toward the wall, receiving both encouragement from the Elven Knights and concern from Mary.

* * * * *

“Minotaur! Advancing! I repeat! A Minotaur is currently advancing toward our wall!”

A mage using Far Sight magic to observe outside announced the situation through amplification magic.

Finally, the inevitable had come.

Everyone on the wall had the same thought. Three territories had already fallen to the monster’s hands: Rapid, Floss, and Jile territories.

To reach this Edril Wall in the Edril Ravine, the monster would have had to pass through the Ashen and Clio territories. Since the monster had been moving straight through all territories, those two must have also…

Originally, this wall was the final defense protecting the capital Raul, but the Empire’s greatness was beyond what other kingdoms could challenge. Those stationed at this wall merely maintained it and verified those heading to the capital Raul.

There was no way these people performing such mundane tasks could stop a monster that had destroyed five territories, even with the wall. But as if refusing to accept this, the great leader of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor, made a decision.

He sent ten thousand soldiers, dozens of ballistas enchanted with penetration magic, a new weapon called the Magic Cannon, a Magic Corps, and 15 Sword Masters to defend this wall.

With this much force, they should be able to easily defeat that monster. While they were thinking this, the mage broadcasting the situation updated them again.

“The Minotaur shows no sign of retreat! It continues to advance!”

It seemed the victories in the five territories had given the Minotaur overconfidence. Although it had destroyed five territories, those were merely lands ruled by lords, not military strongholds.

Without proper knights and Sword Masters, it would have been impossible to stop that monster. But now, this place was not just a wall in name, but one that could properly fulfill its role.

The Magic Corps had repaired the magic formation installed in the wall, reactivating the magical defense that could block five 8th-circle level spells, as well as defensive magic that could withstand any monster’s body slam.

Additionally, there was the Magic Cannon obtained through the Emperor’s power. This Magic Cannon, a new weapon procured from the Magic Kingdom of Salion, could unleash power equivalent to an 8th-circle spell when charged with mana.

No matter how large and powerful that monster was, it couldn’t defeat the weapons installed on this wall, the Magic Corps, and the 15 Sword Masters. The soldiers’ eyes were filled with hope, and the knights were no different.

And finally, the giant Minotaur approached close enough to be visible to the naked eye.

Boom… Boom… Boom…

As it drew closer, the soldiers gulped. Even from a distance, its size seemed distorted, as if perspective was broken. Weren’t normal Minotaurs about 5 meters tall at most?

While those on the wall pondered this question, the Minotaur snorted, burning with fighting spirit. As if it could blow away this wall, the massive Minotaur lowered its body, placing its arms on the ground and pulling its legs back.

The Minotaur’s deadly technique—charging with its horns, their most powerful weapon, at the forefront.

“Hahaha! It seems this beast doesn’t know any better! This wall is legendary, said to have withstood even a Cyclops’s attack! A wall that endured a Cyclops’s attacks three times—do you really think a mere Minotaur like you can destroy it?”

Puhh—!!!

The Minotaur snorted as if mocking those words. And then the monster began to move.

Thud… Thud— Thud—! Thud—!!

The noise grew louder. The monster drew closer. The Minotaur began charging toward the wall.

“Ballista units and mages operating the Magic Cannon, fire when it enters range! Magic Corps, prepare your spells! Sword Master units, jump down to engage the creature when it rams into the wall!”

Following the orders of Lepil, who had been appointed commander of this wall, the soldiers and Magic Corps moved busily. As the Minotaur drew closer, the ballista units were the first to act.

Twooong—!! Twooong—!! Twooong—!!

Dozens of arrows flew toward the Minotaur with dull firing sounds. The massive arrows, three meters long, flew fiercely toward the charging Minotaur.

Thud-thud-thud—!!

Dozens of ballista arrows enchanted with penetration magic hit and stuck in the Minotaur, but failed to stop it. The arrows fell out as the Minotaur continued to run.

“Magic Cannon! Ready to fire!”

“Fire! Stop that monster!”

Wooooong—!!

The Magic Cannon began to vibrate with an operational sound. As if about to fire, light gathered at the cannon’s muzzle…

Bwaaaang—!!

A concentrated mass of mana flew through the air toward the Minotaur.

Moooooo—!!

This seemed to cause some damage, as the advancing Minotaur could no longer approach. In fact, it appeared to be pushed back, unable to withstand the power of the Magic Cannon.

“Hahaha! As expected of an uncivilized monster, charging in without even trying to dodge! Magic Corps! Fire as soon as you’re ready!”

Seizing this opportunity, the commander of the Magic Corps, an 8th-circle mage, cast a spell.

“Wrath of Heaven!”

The wrath of heaven, which had burned the entrance to the Elven Forest, fell toward the Minotaur that was resisting the Magic Cannon.

Kwaaaang—!!

The 8th-circle spell Wrath of Heaven emitted an intense light that made the ravine tremble, scorching the ground. When it made contact with the Magic Cannon’s blast, it created a tremendous explosion that collapsed the ravine.

Rumble—!!

With a sound like thunder, the Minotaur was buried under the collapsed ravine, and only the debris of the ravine was faintly visible through the massive dust cloud.

“Hahaha! This is the wrath of His Majesty the Emperor! An uncivilized monster like you will never touch this wall…”

Lepil couldn’t continue his words. Had he bitten his tongue? If only that were the case.

The area where the ravine debris lay began to stir. The massive rocks started to tremble and roll away. As everyone tensed up, gulping in anticipation of what was happening…

Kwaaaang—!!!

The Minotaur revealed itself. As if extremely angry, the Minotaur, which until just now had dark red fur, was now covered in bright red fur, and its size had also increased.

It had been about the same height as the gate until moments ago, but now it seemed to exceed the gate’s size.

Puhh—!!

The monster snorted as if indicating that the previous attack had hurt. Red blood sprayed from its nose, staining the ground red, and it let out a roar.

Mooooo—!!!

Thud— Thud—

“Aaaaargh—!!!”

That roar caused thousands of soldiers who couldn’t handle mana to lose consciousness, and inexperienced mages suffered from the pain of mana backflow due to the Fear contained in that roar.

Puhh—!

“You monster…!!”

Seeing the Minotaur grinning as if satisfied, Lepil cursed. He knew it was a monster, and he knew it had smashed through all the lord’s castles as it passed through five territories.

But could they really stop this monster that remained unscathed after taking hits from one Magic Cannon and an entire Magic Corps? As such thoughts grew, the Minotaur took position and charged again.

Boom—!! Boom—!!! Boom—!!!!

“Brace for impact! Grab onto anything you can!”

The Minotaur drew closer to the wall. If that monster hit the wall with all its might, those on top could fall due to the strong impact, so they prepared for this, but…

Kwaaaang—!!!

Bzzzzzz…

Crack…

The defensive magic formation emerged to block the Minotaur’s charge, but its horns were exceptionally sharp, and they became embedded in the wall. Those horns created large cracks in the legendary wall said to have withstood a Cyclops’s fist, but due to the defensive magic formation, the Minotaur got its horns stuck in the wall and stopped moving.

And from just the impact of those horns being embedded, hundreds of the soldiers who had fainted from the earlier roar were thrown off the wall…

Splat—! Splat—! Splat—!

The sound of human bodies bursting continued to echo. Commander Lepil sighed with regret at the sight, but now was their chance.

“That creature’s horns are stuck in the wall and it can’t get out! Sword Masters! Each of you go down the wall and hunt it! Magic Corps, prepare the most penetrating magic you can as soon as you recover! Magic Cannon management unit, start charging!”

With those words, Lepil and the 14 Sword Masters jumped down from the wall to hunt the Minotaur.