Volume 7 Chapter 6 The Strongest Vs The Fiercest
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Gertroud’s Perspective
The Living Dead army I had sent south arrived at a plain where they could survey the Black Dragon forces.
During our march, I had dispatched numerous messages to Nokin’s separate unit, instructing him to strike from the rear, but Nokin remained holed up in his encampment, refusing to budge.
Is Nokin planning to betray me… Could this be Alonsa’s handiwork?
”Give Nokin the final warning. If he doesn’t move after this message, I’ll turn him into corpses as well! Understood? Now go!”
An attendant from the Asura Clan jumped onto his steed and galloped off toward Nokin’s stationary encampment.
Well, even if he doesn’t move, my victory is still certain… I’ll make quick work of the Black Dragons and head to the Capital City.
”Sir Gertroud, the vanguard of the Black Dragon army has engaged! It’s an air squadron! The vanguard’s Living Dead are being whittled down rapidly!”
An officer positioned nearby reported the battle situation in a flustered voice.
”So they’ve finally come… Signal the squad comprised of those Living Dead that can cast Intermediate-level magic!”
”Understood!”
As I issued the orders, smoke signals rose up behind me.
The gathered Magician units simultaneously began chanting the spell for Gale Wind.
However, they were all linking hands as they chanted.
Once they completed the incantation, they unleashed the magic toward the airborne squadron that was baring its fangs at the vanguard.
Suddenly, dark clouds began to gather and swell ominously, as if something was compounding in the sky, causing the elegant Dragonewt and Dragonia that had been flying gracefully above to crash down to the ground, as though held down by an unseen force.
”Hahahaha! They’ve fallen victim to the Downburst! Flying creatures are most vulnerable to wind-based attacks. Even the Black Dragon clan can’t withstand repeated large-scale combination magic. Let the magicians keep firing away. They’re Living Dead anyway. Even if their magic runs dry, their bodies will simply vanish.”
”New wave incoming!”
”Take down the grounded Dragonewts and Dragonias! Without flight, their combat abilities should be drastically reduced. The Black Dragon army will collapse if we defeat the Dragonewts and Dragonias.”
As the flying squad re-entered, the magicians unleashed another Downburst, generating a powerful downdraft from the black cloud they had conjured, which sliced through the wings of the flying Dragonewts with a *ZZAP!* Losing their ability to fly, the Dragonewts and Dragonias fell to the ground, only to be surrounded and relentlessly slaughtered by the Living Dead.
”After all, the strength of the Black Dragons lies in their flight ability. Once they’re grounded, they’re just tough creatures. Now, let’s quickly defeat the Black Dragon army and head towards the Capital City.”
* * *
*Fabulanova’s Perspective
”Elder Sister! It’s terrible! The strong assault reconnaissance team that attacked the Gertroud army has been annihilated. The enemy used large-scale combination magic to knock our brave warriors out of the sky, surround them, and massacre them!”
Ugno, who was commanding the troops, rushed into the camp with a pale face.
Just earlier, I had given permission for the strong assault reconnaissance team to launch in order to gather information on the enemy army, and now this report had come in.
”Large-scale combination magic… Does the Gertroud army have such skilled magicians?”
”According to the survivors, hundreds of magicians were chanting in unison to activate it! That wind-based magic exhibited power that surpassed our Black Dragon clan’s magic resistance, and our allies lost their ability to fly, crashed, and were surrounded and killed.”
Hmph, to think such magic existed… Could it be the combination magic that hundreds of Magicians chanted together, a spell only used in ancient battles… Gertroud, just where did you learn such magic…
”For now, cancel the Airborne Unit’s solo attack. Ugno, deploy the infantry to the front lines to halt the enemy’s advance. Leave the destruction of the Magician Unit to Clayd.”
Clayd, who had been idly sitting with his Two-Handed sword, stood up and clicked his tongue.
”Hey, I’m gonna change the terrain around here and cause some magic element pollution, but just bear with it. For now, I’ll take care of at least ten thousand Living Dead on my own. If I push it, I should be able to reach 20 thousand. And I’m getting high-purity Magic Stones too.”
It seemed Clayd wasn’t listening to my instructions.
Maybe giving such detailed battle instructions to someone with his muscle-brain was meaningless.
”Ah… Well, fine. Clayd, can you just focus on blowing away the Magicians first?”
Such a regrettable man with a brain like his, but there was no doubt his magic skills were among the best in the Kingdom.
If he could do it, his potential to wipe out 20 thousand Living Dead was certain.
”Alright, I’ll do this alone and freely. Ugno, don’t get close to me. If you get caught up in it, I won’t have the leisure to help you out.”
”I know. There’s no one in our army dumb enough to try fighting near the real Clayd.”
Ugno knew that if he fought near the real Clayd, he’d just become bait for his wide-range magic.
”Then, Clayd will take the vanguard, followed by Ugno leading the infantry to mop up the remaining enemies. The Magician Unit will be eliminated immediately upon discovery.”
””Ohhh!””
The two of them hurriedly left their positions.
Taking their place was the second son of the Dracul family, Nord Dracul.
He was a talent who had gained a confidant during his stay in the Capital City and was hired as a vassal by the Dukedom.
Despite being the second son of the Dracul family, he held a territory near the western border.
He was a man of numbers, well-versed in the internal affairs of the Black Dragon Dukedom, and so, after Rosvita’s departure, he was granted the vacant position of economic bureaucrat.
Lacking in combat ability, he made full use of his connections and negotiation skills in the Capital City to manage the logistics of this expeditionary force.
”Lady Fabulanova… the damage from this battle is too great. If we continue like this, even if we win, the Dukedom’s influence…”
Nord, with his Incubus-like features and normally composed face, reported with a frown.
I understood what he was trying to say.
The Black Dragon clan, the main fighting force of the Dukedom, had suffered nearly a hundred deaths.
If their numbers dwindled any further, the Dukedom’s dominance in the west could collapse.
”Nord… this is an imperial decree… we cannot refuse──”
”Then, are Sir Clayd and Sir Ugno leading the infantry in battle?”
”Yes, I cannot allow any more of our kin to be harmed… if our already low-reproduction race diminishes any further…”
”In that case, I propose we fight just enough to return to the west. Despite the imperial decree, Lord Gwain has already lost power. His Majesty Shifa has lost his support. We wait in the west, let Gertroud destroy His Majesty, and then raise another expeditionary force. Lady Fabulanova, you shall be the Demon Lord.”
Nord proposed his radical idea with a calm, emotionless face.
He was suggesting we abandon His Majesty.
And he was subtly pushing for me to take the throne of the Demon Lord.
”That won’t do. Since our grandmother Bendavar became the Demon Lord, it has been forbidden for our family to take the position of Demon Lord.”
”Until the next Demon Lord is decided, I propose that we appoint an interim Demon Lord… We should select a compliant individual from one of the noble families of the western lands.”
”Isn’t that just the same as Lord Gwain?!”
”That depends on Lady Fabulanova. Will she adopt a supremacist view like Lord Gwain, or will she prioritize abilities regardless of race? It’s entirely up to her heart.”
The words of Nord ignited the smoldering flames of ambition within me, the heat spreading through my veins.
I had no intention of starting a rebellion, nor did I harbor any ill feelings toward His Majesty.
But a part of me felt that with His Majesty in charge, the Kingdom on the verge of disintegration could not be saved.
”…Are we to abandon His Majesty…?”
”Indeed, I want Lady Fabulanova to take a leading role in rebuilding the Kingdom. Even if we defeat Gertroud here and now, a corrupt Kingdom with a weak foundation will inevitably crumble.”
Nord fixed his cold gaze on me.
I had thought of him as a competent bureaucrat, but I could not help but recognize that he was also a capable strategist.
”…Very well. I will adopt Nord’s proposal. This time, if Clayd and Ugno are satisfied, we will withdraw. Have the air squad prepare to retreat first. Get ready to transport the infantry. We’ll abandon supplies if necessary. People take precedence.”
”Hah, I won’t waste your wise decision. I’ll start preparations at once.”
* * *
*Clayd’s perspective
”Wow, what a sight. To think so many corpses could be gathered here.”
I surveyed the enemy from above using my Flying Wings.
Below me lay tens of thousands of dead, gathered like a grim testament to our conflict.
”Now then, shall we turn them to ash? I should probably show Fabulanova something impressive before she gets seriously angry.”
Just then, the powerful gale of the massive combination magic, Downburst, swept over my body.
I quickly cast a magical barrier to withstand the wind’s ferocity.
I’ve layered the barrier 5 times, but the wind, imbued with the magic of Downburst, has already torn through 3 of them.
”Hmph, quite the power… But using such vast amounts of magic, you can’t possibly cast it multiple times. Shall we see if you can take my attack?”
I dive down towards the ground and activate Flame Bomb in my right hand and Earth Wall in my left.
Then, I unleash the combination magic towards the Living Dead sprawling below.
”Let’s see you endure the Flame Wall and get cremated!”
The ground beneath the Living Dead rises up, and from the elevated earth, flames burst forth.
I launch fireballs into the surrounded Living Dead, incinerating them one by one.
Dozens of Living Dead are engulfed in flames, their bodies disappearing into the fire.
”They burn well now that the oil’s dried up. A living body just doesn’t burn as lively, does it? Here, let’s keep going.”
I begin to construct another combination magic in my mind, blending Burning Flame with Earth Wall.
Concentrated fire magic gathers in my hand, lighting a small seed of flame.
I flick this seed towards the Living Dead below.
As the small flame touches the ground, a massive inferno rises up, explosively spreading and engulfing the land where the Living Dead stir.
The Living Dead in the area are suddenly consumed by the fiery carpet, their bodies utterly incinerated.
”Oh, it burns. It burns. It’s been a while since I used a big move like Burning Wall. Lately, I’m only allowed to use such large-scale combination magic in the South District. Let’s see this as a parting gift for the afterlife.”
I infiltrate the vanguard of the Gertroud army, ready to unleash even more magic.
”All right! This time I’ll pierce them with a Fire Arrow!”
My field of vision was filled with hundreds of lock coordinates.
As I raised my hands to shield my eyes, the Fire Arrow I had targeted above began to shimmer.
”Ugh, my arms are numbing! It’s been a while since I used max power! Feel the burst of my magic!”
With a downward swing of my arms, the arrows simultaneously shot out towards their locked targets.
Hundreds of Fire Arrows were launched with a thunderous boom, piercing through the locked Living Dead one after another, setting their bodies ablaze.
”They just won’t move… Dealing with the dead is so unnerving.”
I had turned nearly a thousand Living Dead to ash with my attacks, yet there was no sign of panic from Gertroud’s army.
Most of them had become Living Dead, which was likely why there was little agitation──the scarcity of living humans.
”Guess it’d be quicker to take out the parent’s head first…”
Aimed at me in the sky on my Flying Wings, dozens of fireballs and hundreds of energy bolts were unleashed from Gertroud’s army.
I quickly activated my Body Enhancement Magic’s high-speed mode to enhance my agility.
I weaved through the incoming fireballs and energy bolts at high speed, evading the anti-air bombardment.
”Ugh, what a pain. Guess I should take out the Magician squad first…”
I sent a pink light bullet towards Ugno, who was waiting in the rear, as a signal.
We had agreed beforehand that pink meant the discovery of the Magician squad.
Once again, a new barrage of energy bolts was fired towards me.
The Magician squad, now pinpointed, was composed of Living Dead.
Can the Living Dead cast magic…?
On closer inspection, the Living Dead casting magic had another one beside it, with hands placed on its back.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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