Published at 21st of June 2023 6:58 pm

Volume 12, Chapter 4 – King of the Sky, Part 3

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

As the sun pointed to the mid-sky, black shadows began to float across the sky.

They are a flock of crows. Lured by the smell of blood, they swooped down to the ground.

For the crows, this place was a kind of paradise. Pieces of meat scattered everywhere, and an inexhaustible supply of corpses, no matter how much they ate. However, for the crows, this was not a place where they could eat with peace of mind. The crows, sensing the ground shaking, felt their safety in danger and flew away at once. At the same time, people were trampling down the place where they had been. But in the blink of an eye, those who had ravaged the crows’ feeding grounds became corpses and fell to the ground as lifeless corpses.

In the center of the Great Grantz Empire, the battle between the Allied Forces led by Hiro and the army of “monsters” led by the Faceless King was becoming more and more intense.

The front line was covered with so many corpses that there was no room to step.

People were crushing the corpses of their comrades, biting the grief of death, and screaming for revenge as they rushed toward the enemy who stood before them. The living could not afford to care if the act of trampling on corpses was sacrilege against the dead. They were fighting desperately to stay alive. They did not want to follow in the footsteps of their comrades who had fallen to the ground, so they turned their desire not to die into screams, and they carried everything they had in their possession to face the enemy, thinking of their hometown so much that they wanted to cry. It was always the same, the commanders who drove these soldiers to death.

The main camp of the Allied Forces, seeing the front line that was beginning to be pushed back, was suddenly becoming noisy.

They were beginning to show signs of impatience at their inability to overturn the gap in numbers.

The front line of the Allied Forces was gradually being pushed back in the face of the inexhaustible strength of the monsters.

Although they were still conserving their main forces, they did not want to take them out at this point, considering the future of the battle.

The battle was still in its early stages.

However, if things continue as they were, there was no telling when the front line would collapse.

“Thanks to the fire plan, we were able to even out the fight, but the difference in our original abilities is starting to show.”

When Ghada said this, Hiro nodded his head and admitted it.

It doesn’t matter if he hid it. It was obvious to everyone that they were starting to get pushed around.

“If we go any lower, will it break our spirit…?”

When Hiro whistled, the swift dragon heard the sound and stopped in front of him with great force.

At the edge of his vision, Ghada and the others were also preparing to fight, each on his horse.

“First, we must rebuild the front line. The second army should fall back and be replaced by the reorganized first army.”

Ghada pulled his horse up to him as he said this while astride the swift dragon.

“I understand. Should we leave the Third Army as it is? It’s still intact, but I think it’s better to put the Third Army in the front line than the First Army.”

“It’s not time yet. If they are exhausted at this point, it will hinder their ability to fight in the future.”

“If we lose, there will be no point.”

“That’s why we’ll be there.”

Hiro smiled and lightly tapped the swift dragon on the neck with his hand. Then, he started to run at a tremendous speed. Behind him, Ghada and the “Raven Army” were following in a panic.

Hiro and the others moved as if they were slipping between the units. As they passed the regrouped First Army, they saw Hugin and Munin giving instructions to their subordinates. Luca seemed to be nearby, but he could not see her because of the speed of the swift dragon.

Soon after, they were joined by the second army fighting on the front line, but in the rear were many injured people who were being brought in. Passing through these injured soldiers at full speed, they arrived at the front line. The Grantz were struggling against the monsters. However, the line was disorganized, the ranks were meaningless, and the battle line was on the verge of collapse.

But they arrived just in time. It looked like they would be able to rescue them before they lost their will to fight.

Hiro let go of the reins of the swift dragon and pulled out the Dark Emperor, which he held at his waist with his right hand, kicked the saddle, and leaped onto the battlefield. With a single slash, he sliced off the neck of the ogre, the “monsters” that the Grantz were fighting. Blood spurts into the air, and the ogre’s huge body sinks to the ground.

“It’s nostalgic; you guys remind me of my journey with Liz.”

The death of a comrade――several ogres have heard the sound, and the mouths of all of them are stained red, probably from devouring the bodies of soldiers who have died in battle.

The ogres were “monsters” that lived in packs.

They had large, ugly faces, necks thicker than Hiro’s waist, bloated bellies, and bloodshot, red, protruding eyes that strike fear into the hearts of ordinary people. Yellow teeth, missing in places, peeked out from its gaping mouth, along with the human organs it had just consumed.

Originally human, the ogres were transformed into ugly creatures when they were touched by the wrath of the spirits and driven out of their villages. This was described in the literature and other sources. Normally, they did not appear in such places but lived in secluded places. They also had a “monster” called a boss.

Hiro looked up when a large shadow appeared above him. There stood a “monster” called an ogre, which was at least one size larger than an ogre. It was a mutated version of the ogre, an intelligent, creepy “monster” that trapped people and ate them alive.

“You must be prepared to die if you stand before me.”

Hiro thrust his left hand out to the side, and the space cracked. A pure white sword hilt protrudes from the crack.

A fantastic sight was created: a silvery white light emanating out into the world.

It was snowing. No, it was light.

Small drops of white silver flutter down from the sky to the ground, but they did not accumulate.

Each time they collided with the ground, they burst and disappeared, and the light that became particles were sucked in so that it gathered under Hiro. Hiro pulled a sword from a crack in the space and kicked the ground at the same time.

The ogre looked around in surprise.

Hiro’s figure had disappeared.

But they quickly realized that he had not disappeared completely.

Because, in the place where Hiro must have passed by, ogres were collapsing one after another as dead bodies. The situation, combined with the incomprehension, made the ogres, enraged by the deaths of their comrades, begin to search for Hiro, swinging their fists erratically. It was impossible to find him, but in the face of the physical strength of the earth-shattering ogre, the soldiers around them begin to distance themselves from them, perhaps out of fear of death.

While desperately shattering the ground, they continued to search for Hiro, and eventually, he appeared as if taunting the ogre.

“I am here.”

Hiro stood in a calm and natural posture. But it was on the belly of the fellow ogre,

“It’s soft, so it’s perfect for a springboard. See, it seems to bounce well, doesn’t it?”

When he stepped on the protruding belly of the ogre, the ogre let out a roar of rage and began to charge forward.

But it was no match for Hiiro. This was because a lightning bolt was sprayed at the ogre. With a thunderous crash, the ogre was blown away――literally, without a trace. All that was left was a huge hole emitting smoke and what appeared to be a piece of the ogre’s flesh.

Everyone looked at Hiro with surprised expressions.

They were entranced by the sight of him standing there, surrounded by the corpses of “monsters.”

Next came the cheers of the crowd.

The presence of the “monster” dominating the battlefield with overwhelming military might, and even without saying many words, everyone could not help but shout when they saw the outcome. It was not a battle that would decide victory or defeat. But it did create a stir. This cry propagated. The victory over the ogre hordes had shaken the people’s hearts and restored vitality to the Grantz soldiers.

Above all, the morale of the soldiers was boosted by the fact that the commander had come to their aid.

“…This is where we start.”

It was imperative that they rebuild the front line. Looking around, the front line was in a meandering shape. It could collapse anywhere. Defeating the ogre had made room for this place, but the situation elsewhere would still be unpredictable. This cheer must be spread throughout. Hiro was off to the next battle, sprinkling black and white across the battlefield as he galloped along.

He would not hesitate to take out the “monsters” along the way, taking a life with a single blow. Naturally, if they were to go on such a rampage, the other party would also begin to respond.

The “monsters” began to appear around Hiro.

“Concentrate. It seems that the enemies have gathered at the sight of One-Eyed Dragon.”

Finally, Ghada caught up with Hiro, who drew his sword and landed on the ground, gasping for breath.

“The enemy will send in their best men as a result of my rampage. This will make it a little easier on everyone.”

With a light flick of his sword, Hiro strode across the battlefield, his body battered by a rain of blood.

While slaying the “monsters,” he slashed down his next prey with a single slash.

Soon, the enemy’s appearance changed. The “monsters” were forced to retreat, and those who looked almost human appeared before Hiro’s eyes. They were commonly referred to as the marked tribe. They were “monsters” with mysterious patterns floating all over their bodies, human but not human. Following them, the flesh-eaters, who eat and scavenge corpses, could also be seen. A tall man stepped out from the group.

“…..I have heard rumors that you are the Black Dragon King. I am Ains.”

Unlike the other marked tribe, he was a man with intricate patterns carved all over his body. His upper body was naked, his lower body was wrapped in rags, and his weapon of choice was a blunt weapon made of human bone.

“It’s exactly the kind of appearance one would expect from a barbarian.”

Are you not cold? It would be a foolish question to ask. Rather, the heat was so intense that it was almost oppressive.

The blood that was sticking to the tall man’s body was evaporating along with his sweat, giving off a peculiar smell.

“But if you can talk, you must be a marked tribe with a certain level of intelligence.”

Just as there are only a few superhumans among humans, the marked tribe is the same, with a pecking order based on strength. Even so, even among the marked tribe――and even though they may be the weakest of the “marked tribe” when compared to humans, they are more powerful than ordinary humans and cannot be defeated by ordinary humans. The difference is so great that an ordinary human being cannot compete with them.

“Yes, it is a measure of language and intelligence. Like my older brother, we are also a successful example.”

The marked tribe was originally human.

A thousand years ago, a special drug called the demon spirit pill was created by crushing spirit stones and using a special formula. Drinking the drug produced a “curse” inside the body that gave a person powerful powers. Even if they succeeded, most of them would either turn into “monsters” or become halfway decent beings with reduced intelligence and strength.

A thousand years ago, people called this “fallen” and abhorred it.

In the present day, Hiro has confirmed that there are two “fallen.” One was Rayhill, the legitimate heir of the Principality of Lichtine, and the other was Stobel, the first prince of the Grantz. Rayhill was a failure and turned into a “monster,” while Stobel was considered to be a member of the marked tribe.

“No one has ever succeeded, including me.”

“Don’t be so humble. Father praised you. He said that for the first time in human history, you have reached the level of a demon god and approached the level of a king, a unique being who is not a demon like us.”

Hiro was fed up with Ains, who was staring at him excitedly, and his shoulders slumped.

“So what’s the matter with you?”

A moment later, Hiro’s figure disappeared.

In a flash of surprise, blood spurted from Ains’s neck. He looked panicked and pressed down the bleeding with his hand, but a large amount of blood flowed out through the gap between his fingers. He shook himself unsteadily as if suffering from anemia, but Ains held on to his feet and held himself from collapsing.

“…That’s cowardice.”

“It’s war. It’s a place where everything is affirmed if you win, even if it’s cowardly.”

The Heavenly Emperor shone brighter and brighter. In response to Hiro, the Dark Emperor also emitted darkness.

As the darkness enveloped the marked tribe, Hiro laughed at him.

“Shut up and die.”

Hiro’s figure disappeared again, and Ains’s arm was slashed off.

“Gah――you bastard!”

He shouted angrily, but Hiro did not appear, and the cuts on Ains continued to mount.

“S-such a coward is a perfect being!”

The arm that had been cut regenerated in the blink of an eye. This was a super-speed regeneration that only those who have “fallen” can obtain. However, his legs were cut off, his back was gouged out, his stomach was ripped open, and he was struck by an unprovoked storm of blades.

The rest of the time, pieces of flesh scatter in the air, and blood that sticks to the ground burst forth.

Cut to pieces, unable even to groan, simply overrun by the overwhelming force of the storm.

Yet the storm did not stop.

Hiro builds up a mountain of corpses involving the “monsters” around them.

Someone muttered a few words in response to the horrific scene.

――Endless despair.

＊＊＊＊＊

The sun was about to set. Darkness was about to descend.

The Faceless King looked at the collapsed front line again and turned his attention to his faithful servant standing next to him.

“Even with the difference in numbers, it looks like we couldn’t push through.”

Keryneia’s shoulders trembled.

After Chimera’s blunder, she had planned a strategy to crush the allied forces with overwhelming numbers in an attempt to rebuild the “monsters” army, which had been weakened by Chimera’s blunder. However, although they gained the upper hand, the front line of the enemy forces had not yet collapsed, and even though they deployed the forces of the marked tribe, it could not be said that they were having any effect. In other words, it can be said that the Keryneia strategy failed spectacularly.

“As the “king” says… it seems that it is difficult to break the front line.”

The Faceless King did not seem to feel anything differently about Keryneia’s honest admission.

Normally, there would have been words of consolation or reprimand, but rather than being uninterested, the Faceless King was more like indifferent, with nothing but emptiness in his eyes. But even without any response, Keryneia spins her words.

“It’s still the first day――I think it’s because the “human race” has stamina. I think we will have to give it more time to see the effect.”

“I see. I hope to see more work in the future. What about the damage?”

“Today alone, about 60,000 monsters have been killed.”

Most of them were killed by the “Black Dragon King’s” fire plan, but the human losses were not as great as they could have been. It could be said that they were saved by the fact that they were monsters. They did not care about morale. If you feed them, they will obey your orders. Originally, “monsters,” who live individually according to their own desires, do not think in sync with each other. They are only forcibly connected to each other by the prestige of the Faceless King to form an army.

“A thousand years ago, we would have lost. The fact that the soldiers are “monsters” saved us.”

Indeed, when they were leading the demons, they could no longer continue the battle.

The “demon tribe” was defeated by the God of War a thousand years ago, and the authority of the prosperous “demon tribe” was destroyed, and most of the twelve demon lords who had united together were also exterminated. Keryneia showed her annoyance at the “Black Dragon King,” who still continued to interfere even after a thousand years, and reported the information she had just received.

“It seems that the Black Dragon King has come to the front line.”

“I can tell by looking at it. The front line that almost collapsed has been restored. Only the Black Dragon King can rebuild from there.”

“Ains seems to have died at that time. I am sorry.”

Keryneia judged the vulnerability of the allied forces to be the perfect opportunity to capture the head of the Black Dragon King and deployed the troops of the marked tribe to the front line, but her plan went awry, and she lost a valuable pawn, Ains, in the process. Keryneia was prepared to be punished and apologized,

“I see…”

The Faceless King was not sad but accepted the situation without hesitation and turned his attention to the battlefield.

He looked at the hole that had been gouged out of the front line. This must be where the “Black Dragon King” was rampaging. No one could stop it now. It was like a natural disaster. Just by being there, it had a negative impact on those around it, causing death and bringing them to the brink of despair.

“It’s still no match for a “failure,” after all. As expected of the Black Dragon King.”

The Faceless King sends his lavish praise to the Black Dragon King.

Keryneia, sensing the pleasure in the sound of his voice, could not help but sigh.

He did not blame her for her blunders, was not saddened by the deaths of his children, but was simply happy to see the “Black Dragon King,” who was supposed to be his enemy, in action. She had no idea what he, the Faceless King――was thinking. It’s the first time in a thousand years of service that she’d ever felt creepy, Keryneia thought.

“I think I’ll move the marked tribe to both wings. We won’t stand a chance if we run directly into a natural disaster.”

“You’re abandoning the center?”

“I don’t see the problem. The sun will be setting soon, and it will be a heavy burden for the human race who do not have night vision. They will retreat from the center without doing anything.”

“Are you planning to launch a night attack this way?”

If she tried to make up for her blunder with a strange plan, she would fail.

“If you use these ‘monsters’ who can’t even march quietly, you will only fail. Then I will let them scream all the time and deprive the enemy of sleep. I thought it would be better if I kept draining their strength and energy.”

“So that’s it…”

Keryneia could not judge what he was talking about, but she could only bow her head, unable to ask the question again.

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