I flicked the wind arrow and ran toward the enemy.
There was about a 50m distance between me and the enemy, a lone female elf with a bow in hand. That person was none other than Pale Symphoria, the elven warrior who has foiled our plans time and time again.
Standing in between us were several heavily armored elven warriors.
But did she think something like this would stop me? If I were the sort to stop because of something like this, I would never have said I would take her head in the first place!
“Second platoon, move to the flanks!”
A calm voice resounded throughout the battlefield, then the elven heavy infantry moved to the flanks.
With this there was no one standing in our way.
What is she thinking? I don’t understand.
—But that doesn’t matter!
Ether coursed through my legs as I wielded Flamberge in a low stance, then I bolted off. I leaped through the earth in a crawling fashion, closing our distance in the blink of an eye.
“Second platoon, close it!”
Suddenly, the heavy infantry that had moved to the flanks began to move back, closing the opening once more.
Were they aiming for me!?
With this I’ve been separated from the goblins.
Damn! The blood got to my head, and I lost sight of my surroundings. Now, I’m surrounded.
Well, then…
—In that case, I’ll just have to meet your expectations, won’t I!?
“GURUuOOAaOaOooO!”
When I invoked the Soul of the Berserk King, soldiers behind me stopped mattering. It’s not a one-on-one fight, so I can’t maximize my strength, but I’m still able to bolster my strength in exchange for some sanity.
—Defiant Soul!
If my path of escape has been cut, then I’ll just have to cut a new one!
If I’m surrounded, then I’ll just have to break through!
That’s all there is to it!
With the invocation of The Third Chant, the black flames surging from Flamberge became fiercer. In fact, they burned so fierce I had to suppress them a bit.
I don’t need a place to run!
—There is an enemy! An enemy, enemy, enemy, enemy, enemy in front!!!
After struggling to take back control of my crazed mind, I swung Flamberge at the soldiers around me.
The raging black flames tore through their shields and deflected their weapons.
The heavy infantry was different from the light infantry.
When I felt Flamberge stop, I turned, and there I saw three elven warriors.
I am going to pluck Pale Symphoria’s head!
After sweeping with Flamberge, I held it toward the front and rammed it along with my body into the enemy formation.
“My life is like a cloud of dust!Enchant”
Ether blew up behind me, propelling me forward as my black-flame clad sword tore through the air and penetrated the elven soldiers.
The complex invocations of ether coupled with the wall of air I pushed myself through left my vision covered in a layer of burning heat.
But I didn’t stop. I kept going with my great sword penetrated into the elven warriors, using them as a shield.
“—, GU— Ga—!”
Incomprehensible sounds leaked through my mouth, but I ignored them and continued to deflect the enemies in front.
After a while, I finally broke through the enemy formation.
I took the elven-branded corpse shield I had and threw it away, then I walked toward Pale Symphoria.
I’ve won!”
“GURUUuoOAOaAA!”
◆◆◇
The Goblin King was overwhelming.
Not even the wall of heavy infantry could stop him in his path as he swung that giant sword of his with terrifying strength.
Black flames clad his great sword, sharpening its blade. Srilana (Blue-Silver Steel) had a dispersing effect on ether, but the Goblin King still managed to cut through the soldiers with ease.
But it was also because of that that Pale Symphoria knew he could reach her.
Pale looked on at the majestic figure of the king.
She knew full well what the price of dragging this king who could lead so many out here.
From the start, Pale’s only goal was to kill the Goblin King.
Hordes of goblins she had never before seen followed him. The demihumans followed him. Even the elves…
At first, Pale couldn’t believe her eyes, but it didn’t take long for her to realize she wasn’t dreaming.
The elves under Shure Forni might indeed be the ones standing in their way, but the one that brought everything together, allowing this war to rage on, was actually this Goblin King.
The spectacular retreats during the battle on the highways, or the plan to sacrifice the village to overcome their lack of numbers. Chances were that this Goblin King was behind everything.
What a terrifying existence.
But that was precisely why she had to slay him.
The main pillar was the Goblin king; therefore, if he were to die, then the whole structure that was the enemy army would come tumbling down.
The vigorous, enthusiastic goblin army was all Pale needed to see through the Goblin King’s true nature: a crazed warrior.
To such a person, it didn’t matter how big the prey was. To him, there was nothing he couldn’t hunt.
So she laid out some bait and lured him into a trap.
“Second platoon, go after the third platoon! Once you’ve reached them, run to Symphoria without stopping!”
Rescue the chiefs and retreat to Symphoria. The light infantry had already received those orders beforehand. Even their path of retreat through the west.
Her last orders having been given, Pale prepared to face the strongest enemy.
Her bow was loaded with the Trichella Arrow, which she had specially ordered from a koro dwarf. It was a powerful arrow that would split itself several times before burying itself into its target. An arrow that could instantly slay its target.
The Goblin King’s special trait was the enormous amount of ether he possessed.
Those black flames probably originated from Altesia, the Goddess of the Underworld, or Ya Jansu, the Night God, either of which were detestable to the elves.
Pale would disperse the Goblin King’s ether, and then kill him.
Pale had previously learned from the east the method of sealing ether. That was her trump card.
To that end, Srilana (Blue-Silver Steel) and Trichella Arrow were both necessary. In fact, she had asked for Trichella Arrow to be made the moment she saw the Goblin King. Unfortunately, preparing it was so difficult that they could only prepare this single arrow.
She could not miss. If she missed, she was guaranteed to die.
The sounds deafened as her focus heightened. The Goblin King’s sword swung like a storm.
When Pale thought he had stopped, he suddenly accelerated with terrifying speed.
“…!?”
Pale panicked for a moment at the sudden increase in the Goblin King’s speed, but she quickly regained her calm.
The Goblin King was too fast.
As the Goblin King threw away the corpse of the skewered elven warrior, the warrior’s blood splattered onto Pale.
Despite that, Pale didn’t even twitch.
Pale needed just one moment, one moment where she was sure the Goblin King wouldn’t be able to dodge, so she decided to shoot the moment he swung his blade.
The Goblin King was too formidable, however. Even if she did manage to shoot the arrow, his sword would still surely cut her in half.
—Death.
Pale knew she was going to die, but despite that she did not falter.
—Sorry, Selena… It looks like I won’t be able to meet you after all.
In the silence, where all sounds were absent, Pale quietly apologized to Selena.
Then in a flash, a powerful wind erupted from the silent Pale.
From silence to movement.
Pale opened her eyes wide and glared at the Goblin King. The gaze shooting from her eyes threatened even the Goblin King, but the die had already been cast. His sword mid-flight, he could no longer retreat, so he mustered even more ether, causing his black flames to burn even fiercer.
“Pale!!”
It was then that a voice suddenly cried out.
“Huh?”
For just one moment, Pale forgot everything and turned toward that voice.
Because of that she shot the Trichella Arrow a moment later than she’d intended.
“HiyaaaAAAa!!!”
“Nu!?
Shumea jumped in between Pale and the King, parrying the king’s attack with the spin of her spear.
The king had immediately noticed what was going on, so he changed the direction of his great sword.
Unfortunately, because of that, he couldn’t dodge the Trichella Arrow in time, and he was forced to his knees.
“Shumea—” The king was about to say something, but after seeing Shumea’s current state, he swallowed his words.
On Shumea’s back were wounds incurred from magic, while the spear she’d used was cut in half, her hand bloodied.
Yet she still smiled fearlessly and said to Selena, “Go.”
After she saw Selena embrace Pale, she finally lost the last of her strength and she fell to her knees.
“Sorry, Boss…”
“Reckless girl.”
The Goblin King stood with his great sword as support.
◆◇◇
Behind Shumea were the elven escorts who had cast a spell on her.
She couldn’t make it in time with normal means, so it seems she had them cast their spell on her to propel her forward like a bullet. What a reckless plan.
Because of that though I don’t feel like killing Pale anymore.
“I hope you realize you’re being punished once this battle ends,” I said.
“Please be gentle— Ow!”
I tried to stand up with my great sword, but I couldn’t muster any strength and ended up on my knees again.
The ether that usually came welling was nowhere to be seen. When I looked down to my body, I noticed the three arrows stuck on my body.
“So you’re the reason.”
When I took an arrow out, my strength started coming back. After taking everything out, I could feel my strength return.
The heavy infantry Gi Jii had been suppressing was now heading here.
“It seems we don’t have the leisure to be lazing around.”
I still hadn’t fully recovered, but I still forced myself back up and tried to point my sword at Pale only to end up taking a step back.
This is bad. I still can’t gather my ether. If the enemy army arrives, I’ll be in trouble.
“Pale!” While I was trying to get my footing, the warriors Gi Jii had been suppressing arrived. They unsheathed their swords, wary of me, then after carrying Pale and Selena, retreated.
I thought of chasing them, but unfortunately, I couldn’t get any strength into my arms.
“We’re retreating! Go!!” An elven man commanded.
“My lord!!” Gi Jii said.
Looking around, there were no more elves left. Relieved, I thrust my sword into the ground and fell to my knees.
“Are you alright!?” Gi Jii asked.
I nodded. “Chase them, but don’t go too deep. Also, inform Rashka and Gi Ji to…”
—No.
I fought back the urge to fall asleep and forced myself up.
I am the king.
I must stay strong.
Gritting my teeth, I raised my voice and commanded Gi Jii. “Go, Gi Jii Yubu. Do not let them escape!”
“As you command!” Gi Jii said kneeling, then he ran after the enemy.
With this we’ve successfully taken back Symphoria.
—255 days until the battle with the humans.
◇◆◆◇◇◆◆◇
Level has risen.
59 => 71
Gi Do’s level has risen.
89 => 1 (Class UP)
Gi Za Zakuend’s level has risen.
61 => 82
Gi Ji Arsil’s level has risen.
21 => 37
Gi Ba’s level has risen.
53 => 81
Gi Jii Yubu’s level has risen.
5 => 27
Gi Ah’s level has risen.
10 => 42
Gi Ii’s level has risen.
6 => 38
Gi Uu’s level has risen.
13 => 40
Hal’s level has risen.
95 => 5 (Class UP)
Mido’s level has risen.
97 => 5 (Class change!)
Cynthia’s level has risen.
1 => 36
Shumea’s level has risen.
67 => 89
