Published at 25th of August 2024 8:41 am

Chapter 228: Ashes (3)

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

As she thought about Ernes Empire’s bite which was neither slow nor fast, Empress Gremory gently trampled on the snow that had accumulated on the ground.

The momentum of the Ernes Empire, which had already advanced past half of the Eliatta Gorge, was truly frightening.

However, Gremory, who had drawn her sword and blocked their path, showed off a quite relaxed appearance before giving a signal.

Whether her hypothesis was right or wrong,

One thing would still hold true. It was the fact that the amount of goods that Ferzen possessed was limited.

Moreover, since the price that her side would pay could not be said to be equal to how much the other side paid, a war of attrition would only lead them to victory little by little.

She probably thought so……

Gremory, are you thinking like that?

Even though Ferzen did not know the exact intention, he still noticed what the Elmark Empire was aiming for as their current battle was quite different from the battles that had been fought so far.

Currently, the Elmark Empire was using their warlocks more actively to open the gates of the underworld and summon many monsters.

Their act was undoubtedly aimed to accelerate his consumption of magical power in order to place a much larger burden on him who was controlling the previous heads of Brutein as well as to forcibly make him open the gate to the Underworld himself.

Except for the first battle, he had never opened the gate of the Underworld more than twice in a single battle.

On top of that, since they had a retreat route, their intention was to probably make the already unreasonable equivalent exchange even more unreasonable.

"Ah, ah……”

Despite the many battles they had fought against these non-human creatures, all the ordinary soldiers still could not help but express their inner terror.

Fighting against an enemy which they had a chance of winning against while risking their lives.And,

Fighting against an enemy they had no chance of winning against while risking their lives.

There was a clear difference between the two, so it would not be strange to see such a reaction from them.

“……”

It would not be a bad idea to leave the response to the elemental wizards and warlocks of the Ernes Empire.

After all, they were not the run-of-the-mill type of soldiers.

Rustle-!!

However, contrary to his own thoughts, Ferzen raised his hand to make his allies who were about to retaliate stop before gently stroking his altar to open the gate of the Underworld.

The hypothesis that Gremory made as well as the tactics she had employed based on that hypothesis were not bad.

Therefore, in order to respond to it while at the same time minimizing the damage they would suffer, he would have to respond in earnest.

However, if he did that, he would only give the enemy more confidence and would not be able to make his side break free from the shackles of being dragged around.

Even if a wolf got hurt,

It would never show it to avoid making itself appear weak.

Creak-!!

Soon, the goods contained in Ferzen's altar decreased exponentially. At the same time, the gate of the Underworld opened as the sign showed that it was connected to the Third Floor.

After confirming that, Ferzen, as if imitating Gremory who showed off a relaxed attitude, took one of his cigarettes out, put it in his mouth, and lit it up.

Not long after that……

A shadow fell in the center of the white, snow-covered Elialta Gorge.

It didn't take long for everyone to realize that it wasn't a shadow.

Since ancient times, a shadow has only appeared behind an object that light could not pass through.

In that case, shouldn't the shadow appear under the feet of the Ernes Imperial Army as well as the Elmark Imperial Army?

In the first place, the clouds in the sky did not block the sun.

“Spread out……!”

As soon as they realized it, the leaders of the Elmark Empire tried to order the soldiers in front of the line to spread out...…

Rumble–!

Before they could even do so, something that was sitting in the circle on top of the pure white snow field opened its mouth and swallowed them.

The monsters of the First Floor of the Underworld.

The monsters of the Second Floor of the Underworld.

Even they couldn't escape the violence.

After swallowing every single soldier as well as Empress Gremory Empress that were standing on the front line at once, the huge, tightly closed snout began to float into the air,

Soon after, a single eye appeared in the center of the large sphere and poured so many bloody tears to the point it looked grotesque and stained the pure white snow field red.

Whether it was the Ernes Empire’s side,

Or the Elmark Empire’s side.

It was not difficult to realize that the monster of the Third Floor that Ferzen had summoned was by no means shedding tears.

After all, the thing that trickled down together with the blood tear was clearly a human body that had been broken into pieces and crushed organs.

“……”

Should they cheer when they see that scene?

Even though it was a situation that would only serve as an advantage for the Ernes Empire, the extreme fear brought about a silence so deafening to their side that would make a gulp seem thunderous.

Only Prince Raymond looked at Ferzen who stood next to him with a faint sigh.

After all, from his perspective, he knew that the act of opening the gate of the Underworld was a way to avoid being defeated in psychological warfare.

Oh-!!

In the midst of the silence, the cheers that came out were not from the Ernes Empire, but from the Elmark Empire.

Boom-!!

Empress Gremory, who was covered in blood, split the bottom of the monster and leaped out from within.

Pour-!!

Pitter Patter-!!

As soon as she landed on the ground, human flesh and copious amounts of blood began to flow down like wine being poured into a glass and pooled on the pure white snow field.

Looking at that, Ferzen quietly exchanged glances with Prince Raymond.

Immediately after that, he gave his troops the order to attack.

In the midst of the crowded battlefield, Ferzen, who was squaring against Gremory's eyes that were staring at him from afar, threw the cigarettes in his hand to the ground and moved Isabel closer to his side.

What will you do now, Empress?

The course of action that happened so far must have been what she was hoping for; make him open the gate of the Underworld sooner rather than later and consume his limited amount of goods more.

Would she do what she always does, giving up a few thousand soldiers and retreating?

Now that he thought about it, it was also like this when they first got engaged in combat.

She deliberately moved to the front line where there wasn't even a sign of him and started a childish fight.

However, this time, as if to show that she had won the fight, Gremory pulled out her sword and instantly clung to the monster that was trying to change its form again.

Probably the reason why they let out such loud shouts,

Was because her action looked like a hero rushing towards the Demon King in the eyes of the Elmark Imperial Army.

However, in Ferzen's eyes, she only looked like a puppy that was chasing a toy that had been thrown away. That’s why he just turned away from their cheers and let a faint sneer appear on his lips.

*****

Quite a long time passed and the snow that had accumulated on the battlefield so far completely melted, neatly revealing the cliffs and the bottom parts of the bleak canyon.

The heat on the battlefield was just that intense. However, as if to remind them that even that heat was slowly cooling, the rising sun that was leaning closer to the west side started to cast a reddish glow.

Rumble-!!

After Empress Gremory struck down the single eyed monster that had been reigning like the second sun in the sky until now and brought it down to the ground, she used her left foot's extreme strength to crush its body in one go.

Gush-!!

Then, as a large amount of blood burst out from the monster's exploding body, a bright red river flowed inside the Elialta Canyon for a short time.

“……”

When the blood-red wave completely seeped into the dried-up ground...…

Her left foot was bent at an odd angle while her broken femur was sticking out through her flesh. It was the evidence of just how ragged Empress Gremory’s current state.

Of course, Ferzen had also used up all of his magic. So, all he could do was gently lift Isabel's body, which had fallen down next to him like a doll that had had its strings cut, into his arms.

At the same time, Prince Raymond, numerous knights, and numerous wizards surrounded Ferzen, who was now defenseless and began to form a strong wall to guard him.

“Hah!”

……Since ancient times, wolves were lonely creatures that did not form packs.

At the sight of Ferzen looking at her from behind the crowd of people who looked nothing but an eyesore to her, Gremory instantly burst out laughing and turned her head back.

What she saw next was a group of leaders and soldiers gathered together like a ragtag group, who were quick to let out a sigh of relief when they saw that she was still standing.

‘That’s right……’

How could they hide behind such people?

Gremory sneered while she thought that the current Ferzen was no different from a wolf sticking out its head while hiding behind a flock of sheep. While doing so, she placed her sword on her shattered left foot and tied it with some clothes to turn it into a temporary prosthetic leg.

In the very natural lull that happened, Ferzen stroked his bangs as he looked at Empress Gremory who was standing tall even though her current condition could be said as anything but healthy.

What……

Even if her magic power was depleted.

Since she was an Auror Knight whose body was a weapon itself, would she throw her body and force him to open the gate of the Underworld again?

No matter how crazy she was, her left foot would be no different from being amputated if it was not treated quickly.

However, if she was confident that he had not much left to open the gate of the Underworld and summon the monster from the Third Floor,

She was definitely going to rush towards him.

“Ha……”

However, when Gremory, who had ordered her army to retreat, turned her back, Ferzen sighed and supported the stumbling Prince Raymond's back.

“…… Thank you, Count."

"It is nothing, Your Highness.”

At the very least, this result was evidence that Gremory was uncertain about the equivalent exchange that had taken place when she fought him.

If additional skirmishes took place, she might realize that it was just a bluff on his part.

Ferzen was content to be able to make his enemies cower albeit for a short time.

After all, in that short time……

The last evil relationship that this body was entangled with would come to a complete /genesisforsaken

Share