The Lion King 3

“I shall confront them alone.”

Silence gripped the throne room in the wake of that proclamation.

“Par…Pardon?”

The vassal stuttered, his reaction akin to utter bewilderment in coarse terms.

How could His Majesty utter such an incomprehensible statement? Even accounting for battling along the Great Celestial Extremis Barricade, their enemy deployed not just a couple of paramount Vanguard Commanders this time.

‘…No.’

However, Doyun pondered whether the Lion King alone might genuinely overwhelm two Vanguard Generals by himself.

Until moments ago, such notions seemed practically impossible. Yet having guided the king through those sublime enlightenments, Doyun realized he could no longer discount that possibility.

The blazing willpower radiating from within the Lion King’s pupils served as vivid proof.

Of course, his vassals’ perspectives differed starkly:

“B-, But we face entire armies with multiple Vanguard Commanders included! We must make absolutely thorough preparations, Your Majesty!”

“I implore you to reconsider, Your Highness!”

“Hmm.”

The Lion King stroked his chin contemplatively before chuckling:

“Well, some preparations should still occur, I suppose.”

No reason existed to needlessly disband their assembled forces altogether. His earlier statement merely expressed self-assurance befitting the Alliance’s very pillar.

Indeed, the Lion King’s distinctive aura alongside his indescribable gravitas and overflowing confidence enabled diffusing that dire atmosphere considerably.

The situation had seemed utterly hopeless mere moments prior. Yet with this vastly empowered Lion King’s reemergence, their prospects now appeared quite viable after all.

The Lion King motioned towards the vassal who had spoken up initially:

“Open the armory vaults.”

A casual tone akin to proposing lunch. Yet those words carried immense weight behind them.

Muspelheim’s armory served as the Alliance’s very arsenal repository. Even Doyun’s cloak originated from those vaults, proving instrumental until this day.

Yet during these crisis circumstances, unlocking such national treasures raised grave concerns over potential losses while depleting their coffers.

The Finance Minister’s throat bobbed visibly as he protested:

“Y-, Your Majesty! Fully unsealing those…”

“Some temporary loans should suffice, no? We must fully equip our top one hundred Apostles at the bare minimum.”

“However, potential wartime losses… Each artifact possesses immense invaluable worth…”

“Which would fall into enemy hands regardless once Muspelheim crumbles alongside its walls tomorrow into ashes and dust. I shan’t entertain any rebuttals.”

“Yes…, yes… As you command…”

The Finance Minister eventually acquiesced with a resigned nod.

At that moment, the Lion King’s gaze fell upon Doyun’s cloak:

“That one?”

“Ah, Apostle Han Doyun borrowed the ‘Ethereal Wraith Cloak’ from Muspelheim’s vaults around three months ago.”

Doyun wondered about the Lion King’s peculiar expression upon mentioning that detail.

“…It suits you well.”

Soon after, Doyun discerned the nature of that sentiment:

‘…Was he eyeing my cloak enviously?’

And yet, the fire-aligned cloak the Lion King himself wore appeared far superior in quality.

“That design is rather stunning… Even its name is superb…”

Wistful regrets seemed to permeate the Lion King’s eyes and tone while scrutinizing Doyun’s cloak intensely.

‘…All over its design truly?’

The sovereign’s behavior bordered on childish impropriety sullying his royal dignity. Even the warriors regarded him with bewildered incredulity.

Yet the king himself appeared utterly oblivious.

“…I’ve been utilizing it quite usefully.”

“Hmm… I see.”

An awkward silence lingered before the Finance Minister commented from the side:

“Since you borrowed it on a six-month contract, the return deadline approaches soo…”

“Keep it.”

“Pardon me?”

The Finance Minister blurted out rather than Doyun himself.

“It suits you well. Simply keep it as recompense for your assistance.”

Doyun tilted his head in puzzlement. Hadn’t the king eyed his cloak enviously earlier?

In any case, welcomed news regardless. Yet before His Majesty, Doyun deflected courteously out of propriety:

“Even so, this priceless artifact…”

“Hmm! Well, receiving it outright feels a tad awkward too come to think of it.”

“…?”

…What? Suddenly switching statements now?

The Lion King’s eyes sparkled mischievously:

“Instead, share a meal with my daughter once this war concludes.”

“…”

Doyun refrained from affirming that condition outright.

Somewhat unorthodox, yet ultimately harmless enough for him regardless.

“…I shall utilize it gratefully then.”

“A fair bargain indeed. Hmm!”

The Lion King grunted quite satisfied, it seemed.

Curiously though, Doyun alongside the other warriors felt the king’s envy over relinquishing his coveted cloak resonated far deeper than any priceless artifact exchange itself from various perspectives.

Certainly an utterly disparate personage compared to the Saint King.

“Then let us adjourn to the armory vaults. The warriors shall choose their selections directly including yourself, Apostle Doyun.”

“Understood.”

The legendary armory of Muspelheim, heralded as the Alliance capital’s very repository – Doyun found himself eagerly anticipating this rare opportunity.

Thus concluded Muspelheim’s final sunset before the impending war against the Demon Lord’s forces.

++++

Illuminated by the bright moonlight, Doyun sat quietly by the window performing final maintenance rituals.

His accommodations proved quite spacious befitting his status as an honored Apostle guest, second only to the royal couple’s quarters.

Seated by that moonlit window, he meticulously polished his blade – Yupiteur’s lustrous steel reflecting the full moon alongside drifting cloud banks beyond.

After setting aside his freshly maintained sword, Doyun picked up the javelin gifted by the Lion King earlier:

[Gáe Bolg]

(An ancient spear forged by the sea warrior Bolg Mac Buain from the spine of the vile sea monster Coinchenn.

Coinchenn was a sea monster covered in innumerable spines protruding outwards from its vertebrae, needle-thin yet resilient like rose brambles perpetually coated in rotting fish guts. Its spines numbered so densely that its true skin color remained indescribable across any folklore without visible surface area beyond that solid spine mass.

Upon striking an enemy, Gáe Bolg sprouts countless barbs along its entire spearshaft imbued with binding energies. Its ‘entire’ spearshaft to reiterate – you would be wise utilizing this strictly as a throwing javelin to avoid the warrior Bolg Mac Buain’s eventual gruesome fate.)

The fourth javelin added to Doyun’s wind elemental spear collection alongside Heineken’s Heaven-Traversing Pike.

‘Maybe I should start a throwing javelin collection of my own.’

Doyun idly mused while wiping down the Gáe Bolg’s rough spearshaft with a cloth.

This too qualified as a priceless divine artifact beyond mere spiked barbs – its bindings imbued with binding energies as well.

Even mighty Vanguard Generals would struggle breaking free after becoming properly impaled by its binding thorns.

‘Quite the excellent acquisition.’

Moreover, a permanent transfer rather than temporary loan unlike the cloak – all as recompense for his small role assisting the Lion King’s endeavors alongside those enlightenments.

An unexpectedly magnanimous gesture by that sovereign.

And yet, an inexplicable melancholic trepidation seemed to cling adhesively alongside Doyun’s polishing motions, slowing his hands considerably by the javelin’s conclusion.

“…”

Doyun sensed his heartbeat pounding heavily from anxiety.

‘…I possess an ominous premonition.’

The Lion King had returned vastly empowered beyond all prior comparison. The Saint King’s deployment had been arranged accordingly. Doyun himself had grown mighty enough to potentially contend against Vanguard Generals to some extent.

‘So why then?’

What underlying unease wracked his instincts to such disturbing extents despite these favorable prospects?

Could they genuinely emerge victorious from this imminent war after all?

“…”

Doyun leaned back into that plush armchair, cupping his face within both palms while steadying his breaths behind that concealing veil.

After a lingering interim, he murmured softly:

“My apologies.”

Lowering his arms to reveal an awakened Luna having materialized beneath that moonlight, silently regarding him this entire time.

“You sensed my perturbations.”

As ever, that icy facade masked Luna’s expression. Yet Doyun could perceive her underlying disquiet as acutely as she must have sensed his own distress through their bond.

For a protracted duration, Luna simply observed Doyun until finally parting her lips:

“…I shall keep watch over you.”

Those unexpected words prompted Doyun’s drooping eyelids to shoot wide open once more.

Had Luna truly spoken just now?

“…”

He couldn’t help chuckling wryly at that earnest sentiment.

“Thank you, Luna.”

Doyun reclosed his eyes, the corners of his lips appearing far more serene compared to earlier.

“…”

Luna continued regarding him stoically throughout that interim while passing clouds temporarily obscured the moonlight into darkness once more before that radiant luminescence pierced through the dispersing haze.

Yet by then, Luna had vanished into the retreating shadows herself.

However, Doyun could still sense her watchful presence cloaking him protectively amidst that pervading gloom.

Reassured by her encompassing aura, Doyun drifted into tranquil slumber nestled within that comfortable chair.

++++

Alongside the Lion King, Doyun and the assembled warriors ascended the ramparts overlooking that imminent battlefield.

The Great Celestial Extremis Barricade represented both a sprawling conflict zone drenched by decades of bloodshed and bombardment alike over prolonged years.

Unsurprisingly then, the wasteland vistas stretching before those very fortifications appeared utterly ravaged and barren.

Beyond the horizon’s edge, the gradually descending sun cast a crimson vermillion glow across the heavens.

Doyun marveled at the Great Celestial Extremis Barricade’s sheer imposing grandeur upon witnessing it firsthand:

‘So this spans the entire continent.’

Featuring precipitous heights akin to gazing down from a soaring mountain peak alongside defensive thicknesses spanning over ten meters – undoubtedly the single largest construction endeavor throughout all recorded human history despite its astronomical sacrifices during the actual construction process itself.

Nevertheless, this colossal edifice had safeguarded the Alliance territories without Enoch against the Demon Lord’s invasion forces until this present day as the world’s most formidable bastion.

Its glory indeed deserved that monumental epithet renowned across generations as a true historic marvel.

Doyun turned around surveying the defensive preparations underway:

Knights urgently scrambled with final equipment maintenance rituals while supply convoys swiftly transported provisions and armaments.

Moreover, the continent’s paramount Apostles assembled on those inner ramparts as contingencies against the worst inevitabilities – the Alliance’s overwhelming majority having concentrated their full military might here.

Blades and spears once crossed against bitter adversaries throughout histories filled with strife and bloodshed pointing outwards in unified solidarity against their demonic nemesis for sheer survival’s sake alone.

And today, their collective fates would be decided through this singular titanic clash.

Doyun strode towards his assembled teammates surrounded by mage sentries on active deployment.

“Daddy!”

Tiamat rushed over for a hug which Doyun reciprocated warmly.

Too hazardous for her amidst these battlefields. Yet unavoidably drafted for a pivotal role nonetheless.

“Remember what Daddy instructed you earlier, Tia?”

“Uh-huh! Mommy and I just practiced that again yesterday!”

Doyun smiled while ruffling Tiamat’s confident little head reassuringly.

Then he turned towards Sofie entrusted with an equally crucial responsibility:

“Sofie.”

“Yes.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Both exchanged meaningful glances filled with solemn conviction.

She had been quite startled upon first receiving these duties initially. Yet in hindsight, not too arduous of a task after all.

Just follow the captain’s instructions precisely – Sofie steadied her resolve unflinchingly.

“Leave it to me…!”

With an affirming nod, Doyun pivoted back towards that distant horizon once more as the descending sun finally slipped below the edge, its waning rays yielding to encroaching twilight while evening miasmas drifted across those desolate wastelands.

The finished preparations prompted all eyes turning towards that same direction alongside the warriors, until eventually:

“…They’ve arrived.”

The Demon Lord’s forces drew near at last.

Everyone tensed while gripping their respective blades, ballistae controls or staves tightly in white-knuckled anticipation.

First came dark silhouettes materializing along that hazy horizon’s end.

Doyun peered through enhancing his senses:

“Imps.”

The most formidable threat garnering gravest concerns throughout intelligence briefings for this war – Satan’s elite Imp Brigade legions.

According to reports, each imp possessed combat prowess rivaling elite Apostles individually. Congregating into groups of around twenty could even overwhelm peak Apostles through sheer force of numbers alone, further amplified beyond Doyun’s encounter nine months prior when Satan had still remained active himself.

“And yet such monstrosities charge towards us in veritable hordes…”

Failing to suppress those initial swarms through massed firepower or area saturation would render this entire war nigh unwinnable from the very onset itself.

Magic Apostles specifically drafted to counter such demonic threats gulped heavily while glaring at those encroaching mobs resolutely.

Yet something seemed amiss the longer that vanguard continued revealing itself across the horizon.

“…Huh?”

Deeper they emerged, their true scale gradually unveiling itself more completely over that expanding vista – those generals gripped the hilts of their weapons with trembling fingers uncontrollably.

Initially, those Imps spanning the horizon only manifested around the sun’s approximate size itself.

But as they crossed that boundary, their collective mass swelled exponentially wider and taller until eventually:

That entire horizon had blackened completely into an endless sea of writhing shadowy figures swallowing up the barren landscape entirely.

“Why…”

Even after interminable periods, that inky deluge showed no signs of ebbing whatsoever as fresh waves continued surging forward endlessly.

“Why… doesn’t it end?”

Eventually filling every corner of visible sight from one horizon’s edge all the way around to the other, those demonic legions had blackened out the entire vista itself into a single unified expanse.

“…”

“What… is that…?”

Like a colossal tsunami comprised of endless shadow threatening to engulf them completely.

Each individual entity ostensibly rivaling elite Apostles themselves, Satan’s Imp Brigade assembled into a single titanic ocean blotting out that desolate wasteland from existence itself.

How many could they number? Hundreds of thousands? No, likely over a million without exaggeration whatsoever.

Entire nations paled before such staggering military might capable of conquering the entire continent without any Vanguard Commanders leading them whatsoever simply through sheer endless reserves alone.

Someone eventually parted their lips despairingly while croaking out that dismayed realization:

“…Oh.”

They had glimpsed the Alliance’s very doom manifesting before their eyes.