Chapter 116 – War (XI)
The battle on the Right Wing came to an abrupt halt as Noble forces surrendered, leaving only a few Players chasing down the fleeing remnants of the enemy army. But on the main battlefield, amidst the colossal clash between two titanic forces, the war raged on at a scale of tens of thousands.
"ROOOOAAARRR!"
The Chimera roared in unison from its three heads.
The dragon head unleashed a torrent of searing fire, incinerating an Eagle Guard soldier in a flash.
"Monsters, die!"
Aiden, commander of the First Regiment of the Northwind Eagle Guard, bellowed. With a swift lunge, he drove his long spear deep into the mountain sheep head’s skull.
A shriek of agony tore through the air as the beast reared up, blood spraying in a crimson geyser.
This three-headed abomination had already slain over a dozen of his men. The rage to destroy it consumed him—so much so that he failed to notice the danger looming from above.
But as he thrust forward, a sudden cry erupted behind him—followed by a thunderous, bone-chilling Dragon Roar.
"Noodles, full Dragon Roar Charge!"
"Two thousand XP, here I come!"
First came the clash of metal, then the sickening thud of a spear piercing flesh.
A six-meter-long lance, launched from a hundred meters in the sky, impaled Aiden mid-strike—him and his eagle mount skewered together like a trophy. Even the finest plate armor couldn’t withstand the sheer force of a dive from such height.
Aiden, commander of the First Regiment of the Northwind Eagle Guard, fell dead—slain by a Player.
On Stuffed Bun’s character sheet, a new message flashed:
"You gained 2,100 experience points."
"No way! Took down an Elite Monster in one hit!"
Stuffed Bun kicked Aiden’s corpse aside with a triumphant laugh, then urged his two-headed dragon higher into the sky.
In the command tent, Robert watched the battle unfold with growing dread. Whether from tension or the oppressive heat, sweat poured down his brow. He wiped his face with a silken handkerchief, his expression grim.
“We can’t keep this up,” he said. “At this rate, our soldiers won’t last much longer. We must break the deadlock.”
The Staff Officer hesitated. “You mean…?”
Robert spoke with quiet resolve:
“Go fetch Slaud. Have him reinforce the front lines.”
The officer’s eyes widened. “But you said—unless the Red Dragon appears, Slaud must not use his magic.”
Robert’s voice hardened.
“We’ve no choice. That Dragon-Slaying Trebuchet is our last card. If Slaud doesn’t act, I don’t know how long our army can hold.”
He paused, voice breaking.
“Aiden… is dead.”
“Yes, sir.”
The officer nodded sharply and hurried off to summon the chief mage.
Moments later, a man in a long gray robe arrived at the front lines, guarded by elite troops. He was Gray Hawk of the Arcane Monastery, the Chief Court Magus of the Duchy of Lakanman—Slaud.
A armored commander stepped forward, bowing respectfully.
“Slaud, sir. The situation is dire. The monsters are overwhelming us. We beg you—use your magic to turn the tide.”
Slaud stared at the distant battlefield, where monstrous beasts clawed and roared in fury against the Allied forces. His voice was dry, hoarse.
"Flame Kin of the Red Dragon…"
He exhaled.
"I see."
He focused on the high ground where the Dragon Vein Beasts gathered, eyes narrowing. Slowly, he raised his staff.
[Ice Storm]
The sky darkened instantly. Thick, frigid clouds rolled in, spitting tiny ice crystals that quickly grew into massive hailstones—hard as stone.
The hail fell in a relentless barrage, smashing into the Dragon Vein Beasts. The impact stunned them, but worse was the freezing cold that seeped into their blood. Their fiery dragon heritage could not withstand the supernatural chill.
"Boom!"
A hailstone struck a Dragon Vein Lizardman square in the chest. His movements slowed. His fiery blood turned sluggish, then frozen. Within seconds, he stood as a statue—mid-sprint, mouth open in a silent scream.
And this happened again and again across the high ground. Monsters scrambled to escape, but many were caught in the storm, frozen mid-motion, their bodies crystallized in grotesque poses.
To these beasts—born of fire and flame—death by battle was preferable to being frozen alive.
"Damn it! It’s [Ice Storm]!"
Dolo, caught in the center of the spell’s range, cursed.
He swung his Bloodfire Battle Axe wildly, deflecting hailstones, but his movements grew heavier. His blood, once blazing, now felt like ice.
Realizing the danger, he roared at the top of his lungs:
"Lanpu! You son of a bitch, where the hell are you?!"
"There’s a spellcaster over there!"
"CRACK!"
The earth trembled. A six-meter-tall Dragonline Ogre tore through the air with a Flight Spell, landing with a quake that shook the ground.
Dolo might have despised Lanpu, but letting him die here would be a poor mark on his own record with the Master.
With calm precision, Lanpu adjusted his golden-rimmed glasses, then raised his staff—so thin it looked like a toothpick.
[Force Wall]
A translucent, angled barrier of force erupted above the high ground.
Hailstones slammed into it—then rebounded, sliding down the slope and raining down upon the Allied forces.
The result was immediate and brutal. Allied troops screamed in agony. Casualties poured in.
Slaud’s face paled. He threw up a Shield Spell, deflecting the incoming hail—but his guards weren’t so lucky. Some were crushed instantly. Others froze solid, turned into ice statues.
Slaud vanished in a Phantom Step, retreating behind the lines. He looked up at the invisible wall in the sky, whispering:
"Damn… [Force Wall]. Only a Dissolution Spell can break it. They’ve got a high-tier spellcaster on the other side."
Dissolution Spell was a sixth-tier spell. Even Slaud couldn’t dispel it.
On the monster side, Dolo panted, his face red with fury. He glared at Lanpu.
"Lanpu… you show up just in time. I was almost frozen solid!"
His voice dripped with venom.
"I’m out here fighting for my life, while you’re back there playing ghost!"
Lanpu looked down at him, voice calm, laced with mockery.
"Dolo, think carefully. You lead the most elite troops from Ashen Hollow. And yet, you’re being pushed back by mere humans?"
He tilted his head.
"You said you’d crush them effortlessly. That was your promise. I gave you the chance to prove it. So tell me—why are you begging me for help now?"
Dolo’s face burned. He opened his mouth, but no words came. No rebuttal. Only silence, choked with rage.
Lanpu turned his gaze to the battlefield. Slowly, he raised his staff.
"Watch. This is how you really crush them."
[Wall of Fire]
A wall of fire, stretching dozens of meters long, erupted across the battlefield.
Flames roared without mercy, engulfing Allied soldiers who hadn’t even seen it coming. Screams filled the air.
But the followers of Ashen Hollow—those with the Red Dragon bloodline—were unharmed. They charged through the flames like warriors through a storm, hunting down the burning, screaming humans.
(End of Chapter)
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