Volume 14 Chapter 25 The Siege And Annihilation Operation On The Feto River (Part III)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Soldiers who had followed joined up one after another. They all had injured hands, and it looked like their numbers had dropped significantly.
”Lord Repulus!! Sir Nokin has charged alone to rescue Lady Alonsa. We have received strict orders to reorganize our troops and find an opportunity to enter and rescue both of you!”
The bloodstained Garo reported Sir Nokin’s news, gasping for breath. Surprisingly, he said that this ‘another world monster’ had charged alone through a horde to reach the front lines.
”Repulus! Ode, lead the way! Ode will cut through the enemy and make a path, leave the rest to me!”
”O-okay. Lord Garo, please reorganize the troops at the rear and secure our retreat!”
”G-got it!”
Upon hearing Sir Nokin’s message from Garo and learning he had charged towards Lady Alonsa’s rescue, we immediately began preparing to force our way into the enemy. Geronimo led the elite guard at the front, slicing through the packed ‘another world monsters’ one after another, clearing the way for us. I worked to push our soldiers forward and maintain the path that Geronimo opened, keeping the enemy from breaking in.
Thus, the unified Garuda Principality army began to advance slowly towards the front lines, moving through the ‘another world monsters.’
* * *
*Nokin’s Perspective
I fired off another Great Wave – I’ve lost count of how many – and the legs of a swarming spider were cut down, toppling it onto its side. The relatively soft belly of the spider was pierced by the soldiers who pounced on it, leading to its demise.
The two thousand soldiers who had already crowded around Alonsa’s position had been reduced to a hundred. My physical strength, which I had pushed to the limit to break through the enemy, was also reaching its limit.
…Damn, I can’t keep fighting like this… My arms feel like lead… Guess it’s a lack of training….
Gripping the greatsword’s hilt, slick with blood and sweat, I raise it again. The enemy shows no sign of thinning──if anything, their numbers seem to swell.
”Nokin… sorry. I didn’t plan for this. I knew we’d win, but I never thought they’d have ambush squads.”
”Alonsa. Don’t. I got this. I’ll cut through them.”
Hauling Alonsa, whose strength has long drained, I’m barely holding on myself. My own power is fading fast.
How far have we fallen back? Repulus’s banner should be in sight by now… but there’s nothing.
My vision blurs as I swing the greatsword at another monster. The blade, my trusted partner through countless battles, snaps in 2. The tip clatters to the ground.
That sword… my constant companion… breaking now feels like my own will shattering.
”Damn it!!”
Hurling the broken sword aside, I resort to martial arts, crushing spider monsters with my fists. Each kill drains what little fight I have left.
I’m on the edge, senses sharp but burning through my life force.
…This can’t keep up… I’m done for.
More monsters swarm. The soldiers guarding us are all dead. Only Alonsa and I remain.
”ROAAAR! I WON’T DIE! YOU INSECTS WON’T TAKE ME!”
But as I dodge, a spider’s leg pierces my chest.
”Guh… ugh! Hngh!”
I twist and snap the leg, then slam my palm into the spider’s head. It collapses, lifeless.
”Nokin! Ah, this is bad! I need help now! I can’t move anymore. Ahhh!!! Ugh!”
A spider behind us had speared Alonsa’s back with its front leg. Her blood, spat out on my back, dripped down messily.
”Don’t you dare touch my Alonsa!”
I kicked the spider away with all my might that attacked Alonsa. Rushing, I laid her down, but her heart was pierced, blood gushing out in huge amounts.
”Alonsa! Hold on!”
With bloodied hands, Alonsa reached out to me, whispering faintly.
”Nokin… I’m sorry… I couldn’t make you the ruler of the Demon Continent… really… Cough. I’m sorry.”
As Alonsa’s eyes shut tight, the hand on her cheek lost strength and fell. And from my body, a lot of blood was lost, the flame of life flickering out.
”Alonsa… Alonsa. I’m sorry, I couldn’t even protect you alone. Smack, forgive me…”
After kissing the cheek of the now-breathless Alonsa, I mustered my last strength to kick away the spiders closing in. Then, from behind the spiders, Geronimo appeared.
”Sir Nokin! Now, Ode will help you! Da!”
The battered Geronimo stuck his head out from the swarm of spiders, but I knew I had little life left, so I decided to let them survive.
”Geronimo! Sorry, I’m about to pass out. You must live! Live, and tell of Alonsa and me… Grrr… Leave now! It’s a royal order! Do not turn back! Ugh, ugh”
Pierced through the heart, blood flowed, and in my模糊 consciousness, I conveyed my last royal command to Geronimo.
”Sir Nokin! Ode can’t obey! I’m coming back with you! I’ll call a Healer right away!”
Geronimo shook his head against my desperate wish.
”Geronimo! Go────────────!!!”
Understanding my impending death, Geronimo wiped his tears and spoke his farewell words with a Loud Voice.
”Sir Nokin!!! Ode’s master is only Sir Nokin!! Ode will definitely survive and pass down stories of the rare warrior Nokin Wolffang!! Farewell, Sir Nokin!!!”
Geronimo, who had just said goodbye, gathered his soldiers and turned back the way they came.
With his back to them, Geronimo shouted his last effort, loud and clear, so Sir Nokin could hear.
”I am the strongest warrior on Demon Continent, and leader of the Eastern Garuda Principality──Nokin: Wolffang!!! Let us go on the journey to death!!!!!!”
* * *
*Repulus Perspective
I thought we’d be close to meeting Sir Nokin soon, but instead, Geronimo, who was leading the vanguard, came running back crying. Suspicious, I asked him what was wrong.
”Geronimo, what’s wrong? We have to find Sir Nokin.”
Geronimo trembled and dropped to the ground when I asked.
”Sir Nokin and Lady Alonsa were killed… They didn’t make it… Leader Nokin Wolffang and Chancellor Dory were all slain!! Now I must tell you Sir Nokin’s final order. He told us… ‘Live on! Live, and remember Alonsa and me…’ and then he died.”
The soldiers around us began to sob after hearing Geronimo’s words. Many of them worshipped Sir Nokin’s great fighting skill, scared yet fascinated by how he fought like a war god.
Hearing that Sir Nokin was dead, they started crying even more. Of course, I was his disciple and learned many techniques from him, and I loved him deeply. The shock hit me hard, too.
”…That Sir Nokin and Lady Alonsa are dead…”
”Ugh… my heart was pierced by a spider… but I have to fulfill Sir Nokin’s last royal order… Repulus, no time for tears. Lead the troops.”
No time to dwell on feelings, as Geronimo snapped at me to take charge of the troops. To carry out Sir Nokin’s last order, we had to survive this battle and return to the kingdom, not become food for spiders here.
”Aaaah! We were entrusted with Sir Nokin’s final royal order! Everyone, march to Felward Fortress! Our mission is to survive, to live, and to tell the tale of his great deeds to future generations! No one will die in vain under my command!”
With fewer than half of our soldiers left, I rallied them, and the spiders found weak points in our defenses, rushing toward Felward Fortress at full speed.
We lost a few along the way, but we managed to make it to Felward Fortress and successfully repelled the pursuing spiders.
So, the ‘Feto River Encirclement Annihilation Operation,’ a sub-operation of the counteroffensive, ended in great success. But, we lost the king, the strategist, and half of the soldiers to complete it.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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