Chapter 401

“Heh heh, running away like rats.”

The messenger sneered, watching the enemies scatter and flee disgracefully.

No matter how much insignificant small fry tried to interfere, this was the inevitable outcome.

“Do you think you can survive like that? You insolent vermin.”

He had already ordered the Knights of Death to pursue the enemy to the end and slaughter them without exception.

The Knights of Death would carry out that order faithfully.

It meant there was no way for those vermin to live.

“Heh heh heh heh.”

The messenger waited with delight for the situation to unfold.

* * *

The main thoroughfare in the center of the Holy City.

But the roads weren’t just main thoroughfares.

Large and small roads connected to the main thoroughfare, branching out like stems.

And not only the humans carrying out the operation but also the Elven warriors had perfectly mastered that geography.

Because it was an essential condition for carrying out the operation.

On the main thoroughfare, they ultimately couldn’t withstand a large number of troops.

Because it was a terrain where numerical superiority couldn’t be overcome.

However, if it was a narrow road, the story changed completely.

A terrain where the power of the majority was limited, and even a small number could exert their strength.

It was also a terrain suitable for guerrilla warfare.

That very place was their battlefield, and the battlefield in Max’s mind.

The combined human and elf forces were demonstrating that battle in practice.

“This way!”

“Faster!”

*Clack, clack, clack, clack!*

The combined forces ran with all their might towards the targeted alleyway.

The Knights of Death pursued them from behind.

They didn’t know their identities.

But everyone realized they were dangerous enemies.

Because the aura they exuded was on a different level from ordinary undead.

Moreover, their pursuit speed was also terrifying.

They had to run at full power without any leeway just to barely maintain the distance.

But that distance was also gradually closing.

Living beings that eventually run out of breath, and the undead.

There was no need to even think about which side had superior endurance.

“Are there two of them chasing us?”

“Yes.”

“Tsk, can we do it?”

“If we can’t even handle two of them, it’s better to just die pathetically here.”

“Hmph, says who.”

Even while being cornered, there was no sign of intimidation in the residents’ eyes.

The expressions of the Elven warriors were the same.

Anyone could tell that they were completely mentally prepared.

“The signal?”

“Of course, I sent it earlier.”

“Good, let’s go in.”

The combined forces entered a narrow alleyway.

But it was a dead end.

An act as if they were voluntarily walking into a precipice.

When the two Knights of Death entered the alleyway, it was so tightly packed that it seemed impossible to breathe, and there appeared to be no escape route.

*Groooar!*

*Groar!*

A threatening roar.

The massive swords of the Knights of Death glinted with an ominous black light.

*Thump, thump!*

The Knights of Death approached slowly, as if cornering their prey.

The combined forces also formed a shield wall and confronted them.

A moment of touch-and-go, like walking on thin ice.

*Stab, stab, stab, stab!*

Suddenly, sharp spearheads shot up from beneath the ground.

It was such a sudden surprise attack that even the Knights of Death couldn’t react and were impaled by the spearheads like hedgehogs.

*Graaaar!*

*Graaaaaar!*

A painful roar.

“Now!”

A voice heard from somewhere.

The combined forces, which had been cornered, unleashed their attacks as if they had been waiting.

*Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!*

Arrows rained down.

*Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab!*

Long spears thrust from the front also pierced the bodies of the Knights of Death.

Perhaps because they possessed incredibly strong vitality, it didn’t seem to be a fatal wound, but the Knights of Death were impaled by the spearheads and couldn’t move.

Yet, they struggled, trying to somehow break free from the binding of the spearheads.

“Ugh, persistent bastards.”

“What are you doing? Finish them off!”

A resident who was restraining a Knight of Death shouted.

As soon as he did, someone leaped out from underground into the air.

A glinting blade.

*Thwack! Thwack!*

That blade successively cut off the necks of the Knights of Death.

Severed heads.

But a tenacious vitality, wriggling like an earthworm.

“Agh, seriously.”

The resident who had cut off the neck frowned and slammed the severed skull down hard with his shield.

*Crunch!*

*Splat!*

Skulls shattering into pieces.

Only then did the wriggling bodies stop and collapse downwards.

*Thud!*

*Crash!*

“Phew, it’s finally over.”

“Well done.”

They exchanged victorious glances.

A near-perfect coordinated attack, their teamwork flawless.

That was why they were able to take down such formidable foes.

And the same thing was happening simultaneously in many places.

* * *

“Hahahahat, you bastards! The one who dominates the battlefield seizes victory!”

Dunken roared with laughter and swung his twin axes.

A powerful strike imbued with tremendous force.

That attack directly sliced through the skull of a Knight of Death.

*Slice!*

Dunken, having finished off the last Knight of Death, triumphantly hung his axes back on his belt.

“What should we do now, Squad Leader Dunken?”

“I think I can still chop some more.”

“Well, of course.”

At the words of the Turtle unit members, Dunken clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Stop it. Have you forgotten the Savior’s instructions? If we mess things up by acting recklessly, it’s all our fault.”

Dunken lived and died by fighting, but today, he was more level-headed than ever.

Because he knew very well how important today’s battle was.

*Thump!*

Dunken stomped his foot hard.

“Everyone, return now! Fire the return signal!”

“Understood, Squad Leader!”

Soon, a red flare shot up into the sky.

* * *

Enemies scattered into narrow paths.

Therefore, even from the top of the giant, there was no way to see what the situation was.

However, the messenger waited leisurely.

Because it was as clear as day that the pursuing Knights of Death would have mercilessly slaughtered them.

“…”

Of course, of course.

“…”

Hmm?

“…”

What the hell?

It was past time for the Knights of Death, who had slaughtered those bastards, to return.

But there was no news at all.

A ridiculous situation.

It was then.

*Piiing!*

A red flare was seen rising in the sky over there.

“Huh?”

The messenger’s eyes narrowed upon seeing it.

The Knights of Death would never do such a thing.

It was humans who did such things.

Or perhaps those elf bastards.

An annoying, unpleasant thought arose in the messenger’s head.

But there was no way that could be true.

Because it didn’t make sense.

“Come down.”

Then, Natasha’s voice was heard.

*Whoosh!*

The messenger leaped down and landed.

“Why are you doing that…”

“You know, don’t you? Something happened.”

“Not necessarily…”

“We’ll know if we check directly.”

Natasha’s figure moved.

The messenger hurriedly followed her.

* * *

“W-What is this…”

The messenger’s face was filled with shock upon seeing the miserably shattered corpses of the Knights of Death.

He seemed to have not thought it was real, even though he had doubted it until the end.

“They’ve done something interesting.”

Natasha, on the other hand, blinked her cold eyes.

“They were attacked from behind. It must have been a surprise attack.”

“T-That’s impossible! There’s no way the Knights of Death wouldn’t notice a human surprise attack…”

“Reality doesn’t lie.”

Natasha cut him off coldly.

“N-No! I’ll check other places immediately…”

“It’s useless. You don’t feel anything, do you? Neither the Knights of Death, nor humans.”

“Ugh.”

The messenger was speechless, as if unable to deny it.

Because, as she said, no aura could be felt in the surroundings.

“What’s certain is that the humans didn’t just prepare for the city walls. They must have done something interesting in the streets as well.”

“Tsk, even so, it’s just a petty trick…”

“I suppose so.”

“Pardon?”

The messenger was rather flustered by the unexpected answer.

“The red flare earlier must have been a retreat signal. That’s why they’re nowhere to be seen now.”

“I-I suppose so.”

“Yes, in the end, even interesting tricks have their limits.”

Natasha turned around, as if there was no need to look further.

“So, we just need to advance again. Do you need further explanation?”

“O-Of course not.”

The situation was concluded.

The messenger’s stomach churned from the unexpected blow, but he pretended to be unfazed.

Because he was embarrassed as the one who had given the order.

“…Then we will advance again.”

The eastern army moved again.

* * *

South.

An anomaly was also occurring there.

“Catch them!”

“Don’t let the demons escape!”

“In the name of God!”

The 2nd Holy Knights fiercely pursued the fleeing residents and the combined elf forces, who were scattered.

A situation unexpected even by Elden, who controlled them.

Because he had manipulated them into believing it was a battle against demons and a holy war, the Holy Knights’ aggression towards the enemy demons was at its peak.

That frenzied aggression was very helpful when launching a wave attack against the enemy defending the city walls, but it also had the adverse effect of recklessly pursuing the scattered and fleeing enemies.

“Tsk.”

Elden clicked his tongue.

Because he had naturally expected a battle of many against many, in formation.

And so on.

He hadn’t expected them to just poke and run away in such small groups.

“Hmph, are you mimicking guerrilla tactics?”

But in the end, small scale is small scale.

It can’t exert great power.

Only a little power.

Such power can be thoroughly crushed by even greater power.

Like now.

“Don’t stop! Keep pushing forward!”

Elden urged his army on.

A different response from the messenger, who had stopped his army earlier.

His intention was to push through with force and thoroughly crush the enemies, no matter what tricks they pulled.

However.

Now was not a situation where he could concentrate his power in one place, like when attacking the city walls.

To pursue the scattered and fleeing enemies, the pursuing side also had to split up.

It meant that their forces would inevitably be divided.

But Elden was optimistic about the situation.

Because he thought he could still crush them with overwhelming superiority.

No one knew now what results that would bring.

* * *

*Clack, clack!*

*Clack, clack, clack!*

The combined forces communicated through hand signals.

Because they had their ears plugged with earplugs.

It was a precaution against an enemy with mental manipulation abilities.

Yet, they communicated as smoothly as flowing water.

It was the result of training.

*Thump! Thump!*

They tapped the floor twice in a predetermined rhythm.

Then.

*Clunk!*

As if in response, an entrance opened in the floor, which had looked like an ordinary path.

They disappeared like a mirage through the opened entrance.

*Bang!*

The entrance closed again.

Everything happened in an instant.

Therefore, the Holy Knights who arrived late in the alleyway couldn’t know what had happened.

“Where are the demons!”

“It’s a dead end! There’s nowhere to run!”

“Search everywhere!”

The Holy Knights began to search the surroundings.

Their entire attention was focused on that.

Therefore, they completely failed to notice that an anomaly was occurring behind them.

*Swish.*

A hand quietly rose.

And soon.

*Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!*

A rain of arrows from behind engulfed the backs of the Holy Knights.

*Thwack! Thump! Thwack!*

Holy Knights struck by the unexpected arrow attack.

“Tsk, w-what?!”

“I-Is it the enemy?!”

“H-How from behind!”

They were greatly alarmed and hurriedly tried to regroup their shaken formation.

However, a shield wall soon pressed them hard.

*Clack, clack, clack, clack, clack!*

“Ugh?”

“W-What?”

Renewed panic.

Not missing that brief moment, sharp spearheads thrust out in unison.

*Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, stab!*

“K-Kuh?!”

“Kuaaaargh!”

“Aaaaargh!”

Death rattles.

It was the screams uttered by the Holy Knights, riddled like honeycombs by the spearheads, before they died.

It was truly a surprise attack in the blink of an eye.

An attack that even the elite Holy Knights couldn’t help but fall victim to.

To be intoxicated by the joy of such a tremendous achievement?

Such a thing did not exist.

The combined forces had already disappeared underground.

Their battle was just beginning.