Into the Enemy’s Heart 4

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At the boundary between the forest and the Apophis Plains.

The Alliance infiltration detachment that had finally arrived concealed themselves using group stealth items within the forest shade, observing the battlefield.

“Hmm.”

Rockfeller spoke with a calm expression.

“It seems we’re losing.”

The knights nodded in agreement.

The enemy numbers far exceeded projections.

While the expendable lesser monster vanguard had dwindled considerably, the problem was the Dark Lord’s main demonic forces remained virtually unscathed.

In contrast, the Alliance formations had collapsed, suffering catastrophic losses.

“This is…”

“An impossible situation?”

The knights all shook their heads grimly.

If they charged straight into the enemy’s flanks as the shock trooper detachment, they would undoubtedly become isolated within the Dark Lord’s heart.

For them to disrupt the enemy’s center and weaken their forces, the Alliance main force would then need to capitalize by forcefully advancing to link up.

Otherwise? The detachment would simply be annihilated.

“Even if we wreak havoc diving in recklessly, our firepower isn’t that formidable… and their numbers are far too many.”

“This is infeasible.”

“Well, what did you expect from us? Let’s abort.”

“Hmm.”

Rockfeller nodded solemnly.

“Then our next operation is…”

“Hmm!”

He boldly shrugged, speaking nonchalantly.

“We sacrifice ourselves to enable the main force’s retreat.”

As if stating the obvious, he resolutely embraced their demise.

Again – without reinforcements, their isolated detachment was doomed.

However, by disrupting the enemy’s rear even as they perished, at least the Alliance could retreat unimpeded.

“We die here today.”

“Yes, sir!”

Not a single objection.

They were Pride – the continent’s mightiest knightly order whose hearts belonged to the Undying One.

“Apostle Han Doyun, please join the main force and aid their retreat. You absolutely cannot fall in this war, Apostle.”

Yet as he addressed Doyun, Rockfeller’s expression remained that casual, carefree smile he had worn throughout their march – even while facing death.

“…”

Doyun remained silent.

The knights clanked into position, preparing their charge formation.

“Number one column.”

Clack, clack!

Perfectly synchronized bootsteps overlapped as the 80 knights formed a wedge array, glaring towards the front.

Peculiarly, despite being shock troopers, they did not mount any horses.

As the continent’s paramount shock trooper unit, Pride’s intense training had rendered their very legs capable of serving a horse’s role.

‘That’s…’

And as far as Doyun knew, such a unique charge method existed only once across the entire continent.

During the Heroic Era a century ago, the fabled charging lancework of that valorous paladin who had fought alongside the Supreme Warriors.

“To Advance.”

It was the same charge stance Doyun had manifested through his [Acquired Genius] trait against the Tsunami Tamer.

Chwaak!

They firmly planted one foot forward, their armored lower bodies bulging like a horse’s thighs as they enhanced themselves.

Watching their stances, Doyun felt a brief pang of nostalgia.

‘…’

Truly admirable individuals. Talents too precious to sacrifice here.

He did not wish for them to die.

Doyun opened his status window.

[Status Window]

Name: Han Doyun

Race: Human / Divine Beast

Affiliation: –

Talent: Genius

Stats:

Strength – Level 5

Agility – Level 4

Endurance – Level 8

Vitality – Level 6

Mana – Level 6

Innate Traits:

[Trauma (Satiety Compulsion)]

[Divine Beast]

[Acquired Genius]

[First Războinic]

[First Guildmaster]

Acquired Traits:

[Dragon Heart]

Skills:

[Manifest Sword Lv.- Rate.-]

[Swordsmanship Lv.3 Rate.S]

Subskill:

[Buske’s Style Swordsmanship Rate.S]

[Martial Arts Lv.1 Rate.S]

Subskill:

[Hecleus’s Style Martial Arts Rate.S]

[Mana Cultivation Method Lv.3 Rate.S]

Subskill:

[Draconic Mana Breathing: Triumph (Kai) – Răzvolnic Style Rate.S]

[Răzvolnic Style Mana Cultivation Method Rate.D]

[Seventh Sense Lv.- Rate.A]

[Overlord’s Divine Palm Lv.3 Rate.A]

[Javelin Throwing Lv.5 Rate.B]

[Barracuda: Triumph (Kai) – Jet Propulsion Lv.4 Rate.C]

His raw combat prowess was merely junior Heroic, yet his status displayed balanced long-range, utility, output, and techniques – top-tier across the board.

Moreover, he possessed the supreme stealth item ‘Prankster’s Scribbles’, the supreme defensive artifact ‘Cloak of Oblivion’, the Sword Emperor’s 9th Collection blade ‘Jupiter’, and the regression-capable mini-golem in necklace form.

“…”

The Pride knights. Though their time together had been brief, they were truly admirable individuals. He did not wish to sacrifice such precious talents.

Singlehandedly turning the entire battlefield would be arduous, but…

‘Trait.’

He still had the [First Guildmaster] trait.

Doyun opened the point shop.

[Special Privilege ‘Point Conversion Tonic’ has been purchased.]

[All points gained over the next 24 hours will be converted into status growth.]

Step, step. Doyun advanced forward.

“Apostle? If you go further, you’ll leave the stealth range…”

“I will take command.”

He positioned himself at the wedge formation’s apex, directly before Rockfeller.

“Pardon?”

“Just this once, follow my lead wholeheartedly.”

No matter how exceptional an Apostle’s combat ability, for one untrained in lancework to lead their renowned charge seemed preposterous.

“Lead, you say? But how could…”

However, Rockfeller fell silent upon seeing Doyun’s stance.

Chwaak.

Doyun planted one foot forward, mirroring their pose.

To Advance.

“…!”

It was the exact same preparatory stance as theirs.

‘How?’

Before he could ponder further, Doyun transitioned into the next stance.

Clank.

“On Lance.”

He raised the piercing wind javelin Aer forward, securely locking it against his waist armor.

In contrast to the prior ‘To Advance’ that required no verbalization, he had uttered the vocal ‘On Lance’ command.

It was an order directed at them.

“…”

Without a word, Rockfeller and the knights complied.

Clank!

The sound of thick lances locking against waist armor echoed in perfect unison.

Rockfeller studied Doyun’s back.

‘If it’s him…’

That same back he had seen illustrated in the lancework manuals – the legendary paladin from a century ago.

He felt he could entrust his very life to this man on today’s battlefield.

The moment the knights of Pride’s 3rd and 4th Shock Trooper Battalions had that same thought,

Ding!

[You strive to follow your liege. Your growth rate has increased by 10%.]

[You have been inspired by your liege’s presence. Your potential has increased by 10%.]

[You look upon your liege’s back. On this battlefield alongside your liege, you will manifest your utmost capacity.]

“…!”

Thump!

Their hearts pounded fiercely as denser mana surged through their meridians with renewed vigor.

Strength flooded their beings.

‘This…!’

The very buffs that had recently set the continent ablaze.

“…”

After gaping speechlessly, they soon hardened their expressions, fixing their gazes forwards.

Then, the commander’s final order rang out.

“Charge!”

Kwaaaang!

An explosive thunderclap as if a cannon had detonated.

The shockwave from their launch – no, firing – cratered the earth and shook the trees.

The spiraling vortex of the Aer javelin unfurled widely like a drill, enveloping the entire wedge formation. With air resistance nullified, the winds propelled them forth.

The continent’s premier charge enhanced by the buffs’ peak condition, shrouded in the emerald-golden gales, led by their resolute commander.

81 shock troopers became a single human projectile hurtling across the battlefield.

“…Huh?”

A Dark Lord soldier preparing their formation towards the rear glanced around bewildered.

As he turned,

“Wha-, Whoa!”

Woooooosh…!

The wedge shock trooper detachment charged ferociously, threatening to plow straight through them.

No time to even report it. No chance to evade. All he could do was scream grotesquely as

“Aaaargh!!”

Kwaaaaaaang-!!

He became mere shredded meat.

Piercing the Dark Lord’s flanks, Doyun and the knights relentlessly advanced, literally mowing down everything obstructing their path.

Splutch-

“Argh, Aaaargh!”

“Th-, The fuck was that just now?!”

“My arm! My aaarm!! Uwaaaaaah!!”

The pristine formation split asunder as rivers of blood flowed, the Dark Lord’s center descending into utter chaos.

Yet the officers could not simply stand by and watch.

“You bastards!”

A 6-meter, heavily-armored, evidently formidable brute-type officer moved to block their path.

A high-ranking Dark Lord officer. The ‘Walking Bulwark’.

However, Doyun did not falter, shouting,

“Keep charging through!”

Without a shred of doubt, the knightly disciples of the Lion King maintained their momentum at their commander’s order.

Doyun leapt towards the ‘Walking Bulwark’, extending his palm towards its solar plexus.

Vibrating mana gathered intensely into his palm, swirling like a vortex.

[Overlord’s Divine Palm]

Crunch-!

“!!”

Its armor shattered as its internal muscles and organs were pulverized.

The peerless impact technique imbued with the essence of imperial conquest – even the Behemoth could not so much as scream before perishing.

[Skill ‘Overlord’s Divine Palm’ has leveled up. Current Level: 4]

Waaaah-!

Spotting their reinforcements’ heroics, cheers erupted from the Alliance forces.

Crunch!

Emboldened further, the Pride knights charged through, crushing even the ‘Walking Bulwark’s’ remains underfoot.

Thus, they had penetrated into the very heart of the Dark Lord’s formation.

Their momentum gradually waning from the ceaseless collisions, they finally halted their charge.

“Decelerate! Halt! Number four column!”

Clack, clack!

Following Rockfeller’s commands, an impenetrable defensive array formed.

“Ughhh…!”

“You… bastards…! Aaarggh…!”

Agonized wails echoed from the path they had trodden – Dark Lord troops gruesomely crippled yet clinging to life.

“Kill them!”

“Surround them!”

Enemies swarmed towards them with murderous intent.

Their role was complete. Now they could only hold firm within the enemy’s core, awaiting the Alliance’s arrival to capitalize on the weakened Dark Lord forces.

However, after swiftly surveying the battlefield, Doyun made a different judgment.

‘Not enough.’

While they had disrupted the formation, that charge alone had not sufficiently weakened the Dark Lord. The Alliance casualties were catastrophic, and the enemy’s numbers exceeded projections.

He needed to go further.

Channeling his mana, Doyun muttered,

“Well done.”

“Such words after our survival…”

Bang!

Not waiting for Rockfeller to finish, Doyun leapt high.

His abrupt launch drew the gazes of the knights below, the surrounding Dark Lord troops, the distant officers, and even the Alliance main force.

He glanced downwards. Enemies were already swarming the Pride knights beneath him.

‘Meteor Drop’

His dantian concentrated his entire body’s weight, accelerating his descending form rapidly. His Dragon Heart blazed as his eyes turned golden.

The scorching mana expelled like a engine’s exhaust focused into his right foot.

Observing Doyun’s plummeting silhouette, the Dark Lord troops felt an inexplicable sense of dread.

‘Overlord…’

His foot touched the ground.

‘Divine Palm!’

Kwaaaaaang-!

A crater formed as the entire area inverted.

Spider-web golden cracks radiated outwards as thick chunks of uplifted earth speared in every direction like shrapnel.

The Level 4 Overlord’s Divine Palm detonated at the heart of the Dark Lord’s formation.

“Guh, Aaaargh!”

“Uuuwaaah!”

Over a hundred demonic figures were launched skywards. The shockwave pulverized their insides as the lethal earthen fragments lacerated them.

Yet it was insufficient to outright slay them.

‘Manifest Sword’

Demonic existences deserved only extinction, after all.

‘Slay the Fiendish’

---

Soundless sword beams lanced outwards.

Expanding the ‘Bend’ phenomenon through sheer force of will, extending the sword arcs themselves – true sword ki.

The skyborne demons and those further beyond. Hundreds upon hundreds of fiends across the entire area were bisected.

Doyun’s mana had grown sufficient to casually unleash Manifest Sword repeatedly without tiring.

Fwoooosh-

At the radiant golden flare rippling outwards from the Dark Lord’s shattered center, the enemy officers and Alliance forces alike gaped in shock.

‘That… just what was that…!’

A sublime manifestation akin to the Sword God’s descent.

[Stat ‘Mana’ has leveled up. Current Level: 7]

“Kyaaaaah! Daddy’s the best!!”

An adorable cheer reached Doyun’s ears from somewhere, prompting a wry smile.

‘Now is just the start.’

It was time to thoroughly dismantle the Dark Lord’s forces.