Ch.54Heavenly Demon War (2)
by fnovelpia
The flames of war blazed forth.
With a combined force of 30,000 troops colliding, traces of life vanished in an instant.
The first clash resulted in nearly 10,000 casualties. While the losses were evenly distributed, making it seem like an even match, it was essentially a painful defeat for the angels who were on an expedition.
Against holy knights powered by divine energy, victory was impossible without a significant numerical advantage.
This was the moment when the established formula completely collapsed. The demons, who had always fought at a qualitative disadvantage due to their lack of unity, had brought all their elite troops to the battlefield, demonstrating formidable strength.
A great victory.
The Western Army headquarters could finally feel the winds of change blowing their way. They had achieved an unbelievable victory on a battlefield where countless troops had been sacrificed just to cross a small clearing.
The number of fortresses burned to the ground exceeded ten.
They had pushed back the enemy through sheer momentum, with Durin not even taking the front line but merely observing the battlefield.
The elite troops from the Southern and Western armies who had firmly held the front line played a crucial role.
While their commander Yoannina remained leisurely, her staff officers couldn’t hide their joy.
“How far have we eaten into the central region?”
“We’ll soon reach the angels’ stronghold.”
“My goodness. To advance so quickly is unbelievable.”
The demons all clenched their fists in unison.
The frontier of the Demon King’s army. The days they had endured with the sole determination to stop the angels finally seemed to be rewarded.
With many native half-bloods among them, their days on the periphery of power struggles were now over.
This victory would surely catch the Regent’s eye, creating a new foothold of power for them.
While everyone was embracing in joy, the warlocks from the Demon King’s castle were busy reporting the situation while monitoring the battle map.
The high-ranking demons maintained cool heads to assist the Regent, rather than being swayed by emotions.
“Lady Yoannina.”
“Yes. Speak.”
“The situation is progressing too smoothly. I believe we’ve never had such an advantageous war against angels.”
They harbored doubts.
Hadn’t they advanced too easily?
Despite having good momentum and quality troops, the results were abnormal.
“Please share your wisdom with us. We want to understand what they’re after.”
“Hmm. Well. I wonder why these fellows are acting this way?”
Yoannina tilted her head. With a mischievous smile, she asked the warlocks.
“One possibility is that it’s a luring tactic. They might be trying to draw us in as much as possible, create a salient, and then cut off our neck.”
“Unless they’re recklessly charging forward with insufficient troops. The demons’ advance speed is perfectly normal. There’s a lot of disruption in the rear, but hardly any occupied territory.”
“We’ve only been destroying fortresses…”
One hypothesis was eliminated. The warlocks racked their brains again.
“Then there’s the possibility they’re aiming for a decisive battle. As we approach their stronghold, there are more deforested plains than forests, allowing for large-scale troop maneuvers.”
“Oh, that sounds plausible. Angels have always preferred honorable frontal battles over cowardly warfare.”
The warlocks nodded as Yoannina agreed with them.
“Both demons and angels desire to fight on a true battlefield, so it’s credible.”
“Right. So get ready. We’ll set the stage for them.”
“Pardon?”
The warlocks exchanged glances at the sudden order. The bustling staff joined them.
They all stared at Yoannina’s lips.
With all attention focused on her, she flashed a grin.
“The magical forces that have been bombarding fortresses will now clear the area near the angels’ garrison.”
“By clearing, do you mean burning it all down?”
“Even though angels prefer direct confrontation, they’re not stupid enough to blindly push forward in unfavorable terrain. They’ve surely selected terrain suitable for deploying their holy knights. The line where we’re currently making significant advances is probably the path leading to the plains they intend to use as a battlefield.”
The core of the angels’ strength was their holy knights.
They preferred environments where they could charge at once and collapse the battle line.
While the areas closer to demon territory formed dense jungles, the angels had cleared the swamplands for this very reason.
“We are no longer an army defending from a disadvantageous position. We need to continue our offensive centered around Durin, using all available resources. Don’t you agree?”
“You’re absolutely right.”
Bang!
Yoannina slammed her fist on the table. A powerful aura, contrasting with her smiling face, spread around her.
The spirit of a demon who had lived for over 1,000 years engulfed everyone present.
“Well then! Let’s begin the flattening operation immediately. The Demon King’s castle continues to send magical forces, so don’t hold back—use everything. Understood?”
“Yes!”
#
While sporadic engagements occurred in the northern and southern regions, the sudden offensive in the center disrupted the balance.
Forces that had been dispersed above and below urgently gathered in the center, causing the scale of battle to grow exponentially.
Heaven pushed all their white-winged beings, including lower ranks, into the central battlefield, while the demons began deploying native troops to their insufficient front lines.
There was no defense. It was a sword fight with both sides clashing head-on.
The demons would have to surrender the Western Continent if they lost, while Heaven needed to avenge their defeat in the first offensive.
While the higher-ups talked about saving face, soldiers continued to die without respite.
“Damn it. What the hell are these commanders thinking!”
Tauriel, one of the Western Army’s commanders, gritted his teeth.
No orders had come down. While they were barely holding against the wave of advancing demons, the higher-ups merely repeated the same message like an echo.
-Hold your position as long as possible. We will deploy the holy knights at the moment of destiny.
“What kind of bullshit is ‘the moment of destiny’!”
It was a blasphemous statement, but he didn’t care at all.
If demons had their advantage in the fierce will toward slaughter, angels had unwavering faith.
That devout heart willing to march onto the battlefield even in death, believing God was watching over them.
But in the current situation, they couldn’t ignite their religious fervor.
What good was God watching if He would do nothing until all the soldiers died?
One thing he had realized during his long time in the demon realm was:
“If we don’t stop them now, we’ll never win!”
No matter how loudly he shouted at the sky, there was no answer.
They had to endure once more, hoping the god of fate would favor them.
“Commander!”
A urgent voice erupted simultaneously. The soldiers’ gazes followed his toward the sky.
Wondering what was happening, he turned his head.
“…”
He was left speechless.
The sky had turned black. Though the demon realm also had blue skies, today was different.
The black and red energy described in Heaven’s historical records was approaching as if to engulf the entire world.
“Damn it.”
The angel’s last words were simple. And then, buried under the earth-shaking sound, he became part of the burning world.
#
“Sir. As instructed by headquarters, the clearing of the jungle area near the angel garrison has been completed.”
A sudden messenger arrived for Yoannina. The harpy’s expression revealed the urgency with which she had rushed to the battlefield.
Demonic energy had been deployed before Durin could react to the spontaneous decision.
“My goodness.”
“Did they use up all their reserves?”
As a result, the jungle near the garrison had been neatly cleared. Though some tenacious life forms remained, at least the obstacles along the central avenue were gone.
What had been impossible with the Western region’s limited resources had happened before their eyes.
The reason Durin had supported the Demon King’s ascension. With an infinite source of demonic energy, they now had the power to shape the battlefield.
“Kill all the remaining angels. Take no prisoners.”
“Cut off their heads!”
The legion that had broken through the center slowly advanced. With the angels who had tried to retreat and organize a defensive line annihilated, there were no forces to stop them.
Of course, most angels, protected by divine energy, had successfully retreated, but many wounded remained.
“Get out! Demons!”
“I will kill you all!”
There were surprisingly many with damaged limbs but functioning mouths. Durin showed no mercy.
With a single gesture, legion soldiers with halberds stepped forward.
Slash!
They cut off the heads, showing no intention of listening further. The demons rushed forward eagerly.
They tore off white wings and dismantled the intact parts of armor.
They mounted the severed heads on poles and attached wings behind them. Hung upside down, they resembled demonic figures.
The legion soldiers cackled at the sight. It was the greatest insult they could show to Heaven.
“Advance again. Their main force is still intact.”
Though tens of thousands of troops had gathered, the losses had not yet exceeded a few thousand.
Only the outpost forces on both sides had been sacrificed. The real battle was yet to come.
As if to prove this, dense defensive forces on the white walls before Durin’s eyes exuded an ominous presence.
“Verdia. Prepare for the siege.”
“As you command, sir.”
“Give them no time.”
“It shall be done!”
Verdia bowed and moved quickly. There were many fallen trees around. With demonic energy, they could somehow be transformed into improvised weapons.
“When do you plan to attack?”
A being with lizard eyes cautiously inquired about his intentions. Durin looked into his pupils.
They were full of confidence, showing eagerness to slaughter them all and advance immediately.
But he shook his head.
“We will maintain the encirclement. Isn’t that why we set up this situation?”
“Pardon?”
“Our main force is approaching by the hour. It will take only three days for the Demon King’s castle to recharge its demonic energy. In other words, we can crush them within a week, so there’s no need to rush.”
“Then why prepare for a siege…?”
“We need to provoke their impatience. We must present them with the option of being trapped and dying.”
For those who desired a mythical war, there could be no greater humiliation.
In other words, he was inducing them to make their final struggle before death.
“But our army could suffer great losses that way. Don’t the ancient texts say that a desperate enemy is the most dangerous?”
“I will step forward.”
Thud!
Durin thrust his sword into the ground. Red battle energy spread across the area, enveloping the surroundings.
Black sky and red earth. He had designated this area as the battlefield where he would personally engage.
“I wonder if Azakiel can wait, now that I’ve come out like this.”
His red eyes were consumed by madness. The excitement boiling before battle spread throughout the world.
The glory he had so desired was here.
A new scene of mythology would be engraved.
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