Chapter 252

Chapter 252 - Hell Knight (2)

"Please issue the charge order!"

The knights under Eugene's command sought permission in high spirits.

"I disallow. Against a demonic beast of that level, technique or armor hold no particular meaning. WhAAether conscripts or you Sirs, it's a one-hit kill all the same."

Eugene too answered exactly like Count Morad.

Mid-sized or larger monsters have completely another level of arm strength and durability. Instead, their movements were dull or heavy. But that wicked giant is extremely agile.

Eugene is one who has never been defeated on the battlefield, but it's not like he has no subordinates who died and got hurt. He hated overtly pushing knights into a death trap.

"A knight is one who lives a finite life while looking toward immortality. Even if I die, if I can feed that bastard a single blow, it is enough. Because I will be remembered eternally."

"A cool line, but no."

Eugene cut off suddenly-smart Henri's sincere plea like a knife.

* * *

"Careful! It's a bastard more dangerous than an Ogre!"

The summoner conTrolling the Minotaur shouted.

He, the leader, maintained composure, but the hands of the summoners conTrolling the Wargs trembled unconTrollably. Because as much as they were sensitive to auras of other worlds, they clearly felt how terrible an existence the giant was.

"There is no need to be tense. It's a fight sufficiently worth trying."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

The Warg is the boss of wolf-lineage monsters that even Direwolves tuck their tails and flee from. Freely alternating between bipedal and quadrupedal walking to hit and run, they are an exceptionally annoying enemy.

And the Minotaur is a threatening existence more so than 6 Wargs. Despite being a monster, it possesses intelligence utilizing combat techniques whilst looking at the battlefield broadly.

It possesses the sturdiest lower body among bipedal lifeforms, placing its entire weight onto leg strength to swing its weapon. There are cases where heavily armored knights were spliced in half along with their horses.

Keureureu-!

Keuweoeoeong-!

As the Wargs roared and counter-charged, the giant threw a horse corpse with both hands. It was so unpleasantly similar to a human, his throwing ability was alive and well too.

However, the Wargs immediately dodged three-dimensionally by stepping on building walls and roofs. The monastery's front courtyard is not an empty clearing. Refugees, merchants, and soldiers who felt futility in the secular world gathered to form a large village.

"Were Wargs good at climbing trees as well?"

"I've never even heard of such a story."

The flustered onlookers could soon know the reason. While the vanguard Warg drew the giant's gaze from the front, the ones that went around to the side launched surprise attacks.

Chwaaaak!

At the scratch of a Warg that leaped from atop a building, bloody water splattered from the giant's robust shoulder. It is the first effective hit.

"Steel gauntlets?"

"They equipped those bastards with weapons!"

The hands of the Warg stretching fully while floating in mid-air were covered in steel up to the wrists, sparkling. In particular, the hand part had 4 ghastly blades just to look at attached like Claws.

- Your Majesty. Since this is the first time making these...

- I will not punish you even if a failure comes out, so show off your skills. If you make it several times, something useful will come out, won't it.

- Understood.

- Doing nothing but using monsters as-is after going through the trouble of taming them is a waste of talent. Even peasant conscripts see their combat power jump several times if well-armed, how much more so for monsters.

They are Wargs equipped with customized steel armaments under the Emperor's command.

- Your Majesty! If you issue an excessive command more than this, they will escape control!

- Then kill them.

- Pardon?

- Can one summoner only handle one bastard per head anyway, can't they? If so, we have no choice but to elite-ify them. If it's the level of Wargs we can catch more for them, so teach them anything. Not 'Sit! Stand!', but something more useful, that is.

Wall climbing not fitting original habits is also a resultant product born from a combination of exclusive gauntlets, training, and trial and error. The skeletons that came out to intercept merely stared blankly at the Wargs that climbed onto the buildings.

Chwaak!

The second scratch of the steel claw exploded on the giant's back.

Kung!

The Warg that was provoking from the front also dodged the giant's fist by a hairsbreadth.

Wargs operate individually, but inasmuch as they share a common ancestor with wolves, the DNA of pack hunting remains in their blood. The summoners and beast trainers in the capital succeeded in awakening that DNA through collaboration.

"That's right!"

"Fuck, I never imagined I'd come to cheer for Wargs."

The mercenaries of the Morad family and Emperor's army clenched their fists and shouted out. Recalling having their sleep disturbed by the howls of those bastards during night encampments while making a living as mercenaries all this time, more laughter came out.

Right then, the giant inhaled a large breath. The already robust chest swelled further.

[□□□□□□□□□□□!!!]

The howl that exploded out shook the whole world. That wasn't a simple strange shriek, but contained malice seeking to drag the listener's soul to hell.

"Aak!"

The mercenaries clutched their ears and moaned. The fiercely maneuvering Wargs' bodies stiffened, and in that gap, rock-like fists struck true.

Kwaang!

The Warg that flew about 10m and rolled over and over slumped lifelessly. Death on impact without needing to see further.

Keuweoeoeoeoeong-!!!

When he did so, the Minotaur also roared identically as if saying it couldn't lose. The fear of hell was washed away by the anger of the wild, and the Wargs escaped from the suppressed state.

However, one bastard got its ankle caught by the giant by a hairsbreadth. When it scratched the wrist to escape, the giant tossed it into the empty air as if annoying. The Warg tossing its limbs like a flipped bug barely twisted its body.

However, the thing seen before the ground was the giant's iron pillar-like leg.

Ppeoeong!

At the giant's volley kick, the Warg flew spewing blood and got lodged into a wall.

The pagan fOrces blocked the front of the Minotaur. However, that was tantamount to trying to stop a rock rolling down a mountain.

The Minotaur snorted steam-like breaths and swung a large morningstar. The skeletons were smashed into pieces and corrupted lunatics also turned into handfuls of blood spray.

Ting!

The skeletons' melee attacks and corrupted priestesses' throwing attacks deflected off the armor the Minotaur wore.

The Minotaur created with just a single charge the destruction that 10 knights would make by engaging in a melee. Following right away, it swung the morningstar towards the giant.

Huuuung!

No matter how rock-like a skin the giant had, taking this is a fatal injury. The giant who dodged with nimble movements grasped a spear dropped by the knights.

Peoeok!

Held in the giant's hand it was less than a short spear, but its destructive power was terrifying.

"■■■■!"

The Minotaur with its left arm pierced howled in pain. The morningstar swung as if to counterattack didn't have its posture come out and cleft empty air.

When the giant holding a second long spear tried to add an additional hit, the summoner leader urgently shouted.

"Support the Minotaur! If that guy falls, it's all over!"

The Wargs hovering around pounced simultaneously. Hanging onto the giant's ankles, back, and neck, they scratched and bit.

The giant reacted immediately. Without directly detaching them, he jumped backward and slammed his back against the ground. The two Wargs that were hanging on were crushed mercilessly.

Kkeouuu-.

One Warg whose lungs were crushed suffered a fatal injury, and one escaping with difficulty was caught by its waist by the giant.

"■■■!"

The Minotaur's morningstar came charging kung kung. The giant thrust out the grabbed Warg as a shield.

Kwadeuk!

8 steel spikes 2 times larger than adult fingers mashed the Warg's chest. The Minotaur with a flustered expression flinched momentarily.

Peoeok!

The giant kicked the exposed abdomen while lying down. The Minotaur that tumbled out noisily even let go of the morningstar. Around the time it got back up with difficulty, the situation was that the giant had arrived right in front.

"■■!"

However, the Minotaur possessed a second weapon. It attempted a headbutt kicking the ground with explosively swollen thigh muscles.

The same as the Wargs reinfOrcing their hands with gauntlets. The capital's craftsmen coated the Minotaur's horns with steel cones.

However, before reaching maximum speed, the giant's hands caught the head and shoulder respectively and stopped it. An ensuing power struggle between the two large bulks.

Kkulkkeok.

A match of the century never heard of or seen before. Neither Morad's army nor the Emperor's army dared think to support. Firing crossbows or bows wouldn't pierce the giant's skin. Trying to support by getting close into melee, they would get swept up and become minced meat.

"Shouldn't we run away even now?"

"Y-Yeah."

Moreover, the mercenaries checking the atmosphere weren't just one or two. Because no matter who looked, the giant was grasping the victory.

Ttudeuk!

Screams filled with pain were heard. In the giant's grasp, having been victorious in the power struggle, a broken horn is held. The image of the Minotaur heavily bleeding from its head finally produced fleeing mercenaries.

Kwang!

Tuhak!

Even the remaining two Wargs became corpses and rolled on the ground. At that time, an anomaly occurred.

"□□□□!"

The giant howled in pain.

"Troll! The Troll was alive!"

The Troll thought dead succeeded in a surprise attack from behind the giant. In its green grasp is held the morningstar the Minotaur dropped. The steel spikes fully bit off the giant's blood and flesh.

"Karam. How many more times can you revive from now on?"

"As long as vitals aren't hit, 2 more times are possible."

At the summoner leader and master's question, the summoner handling the Troll answered.

If the Emperor reinfOrced the Warg and Minotaur with steel, the present the Troll received was nutrients.

High concentration nutrients impossible to accumulate in the wild. It ate specific meat made through the collaboration of the best alchemists and maturation experts to its limit. Thanks to that, it possessed a regenerative power much stronger than an ordinary Troll.

Phat!

When the giant raised his nails and slashed, blood splattered from the Troll's chest. However, bright yellow fat bubbled up and combined with the split muscle fibers, healing the wound like weaving a spider web.

The Troll's morningstar swung as a counterattack stopped midway. The giant quickly grabbed the grasp of the Troll holding the morningstar.

Ppudeudeudeuk!

"■■!"

As the giant applied fOrce, the Troll's grasp shattered and the morningstar fell to the ground. But the giant had no leeway to pick it up.

Peok!

Because the Minotaur's horn that rammed from behind created a large wound in his flank.

The giant with a distorted expression grabbed the horn of the Minotaur trying to slip away and pulled it forward. He put the bull's head between his arm and flank exactly as is and put it in a headlock.

The Minotaur struggling at a situation experienced for the first time in its life momentarily felt immense pressure applied to its neck bones.

Ppudeudeuk!

"E-Even the Minotaur..."

Kung!

The corpse of the Minotaur dead with its tongue stuck out fell to the ground. That was like a death sentence falling upon both armies.

The Troll whose right hand was crushed was pushed back by the giant's attacks from start to finish. No matter how strong the regenerative power, recovering comminuted fractured bones took time.

Kwajik!

Ultimately, the fight ended with the stolen morningstar striking the Troll's forehead. The giant who swept away the annoying monster unit turned towards both armies.

But something is strange. The humans looking at him were floating an emotion other than fear on their faces.

Bewilderment. Surprise. Expectation. Wonder. Excitement.

Impossible emotions were piercing them. And the giant could know the reason.

Dududuk! Dududuk! Dududuk!

The unique sound made when a horse runs is approaching. It was too big and vigorous to be called a horse, and a sound coming from a place higher than the ground.

"□□?"

The giant discovered a single rider and horse. A monster military horse much larger than an ordinary horse was charging in, kicking off the buildings at an immense speed. As if ignoring gravity.

The knight riding upon it is aiming a gigantic lance far longer than the giant's height.

Dududududu!

The giant felt the scent of death for the first time. Realizing intuitively that the approaching man is an existence different from the knights he slaughtered. As if closer to himself rather than humanity's knights...

The giant tried to dodge between the buildings as instinct directed, but failed.

Kwak.

The Troll, bloody and exposing its brain, was holding his ankle.

Kwang!

Slapping it once more with the morningstar he was holding and scattering its brains everywhere causing the hand to fall away. But the price was great. The duo of Eugene and Might who kicked off the building entered lance charging range.

Peoeoeoeoeok!

The spearhead of Predator which approached without even a mosquito's sound pierced the giant's heart.

Kudangtangtang!

Even though the giant got lodged into the ground, Might didn't stop. Eugene neither let go of the lance wedged under his armpit.

Kugugugugugu!

The giant pierced on the lance was dragged heavily on the floor. In the unending charge, the severe wound was torn wider, and the giant's mouth vomited blood like a fountain.

"..."

"..."

At that overwhelming yet nonsensical scene, everyone stared with their mouths hanging open. Even Eugene's subordinates who had seen all kinds of sights.

* * *

'He's dead.'

Eugene confirmed the giant's heartbeat felt from the lance had stopped.

'There's really no presence.'

Listening intently for the sound of severing the air, the giant missed the timing to throw his body away from the spear blade of the lance that approached soundlessly.

Truly a magic weapon made by melting the soul of an Eagle Owl. Like the name Predator, it pounced on the target like a ghost without wind pressure or presence.

Kkulleokkulleok.

When he pulled out the lance, blood poured out from the hole anew.

- I am grateful for the heart cherishing the knights, but Mayer's honor will be damaged if we just observe.

- It's fine. Because I'm going.

- Pardon? W-Wait a moment!

- A lance would be better than an axe.

Knights cannot escape the giant's mobility and attack range, but Eugene stabbing Predator riding on Might has no problem. That operation was successful.

"Nonsense."

"To think the knight of hell was defeated..."

The pagan priests stepped backwards. The giant isn't a simple strong demonic beast. It's a messenger the god birthed into a similar shape as itself and sent to the present world.

However, they had no time to be shocked at the unbelievable defeat. Because that monster-like knight had his gaze aimed at them.

"The wicked demonic beast has fallen! Now is the time to sweep up the remaining enemies!"

Peolleok!

When Eugene shook his lance, the flag of Mayer wet with the giant's blood embroidered the sky. At that heartening sight, Eugene's knights kissed their sword blades.

"Follow the Lord!"

"Charge! Charge!"

The knights of Morad also joined that charge.

"Follow me!"

"Lady Roxanne! You shouldn't stand at the very vanguard!"

Count Morad too didn't stop his subordinate knights this time.

"Send out more holy warriors!"

At the sight of 3 armies rushing in all at once, the High Priest shouted like screaming.

"But the sacrificial ritual isn't over yet. Calling them out now will..."

"Can't you see we're about to be finished?! Buying even a little time is enough!"

"U-Understood!"

The pagan priests hurriedly formed hand signs. Then, bizarre monsters swaying out came out from the monastery.

Geuuuuu-.

A shape as if taken out before fully ripening inside a womb or chrysalis. Bones and muscle fibers even shone through.

Eugene threw Predator on an appropriate roof and drew Last Autumn. Because a lance wasn't fitted for the upcoming melee.

"Your Excellency! We will join you!"

"We will arrive shortly!"

The knights of the Mayer family mercilessly attacked the enemies blocking them to reach the side of their Lord, who was far ahead. The pagan army was shredded to pieces by the knights surging in like a wave of steel.

Meanwhile, matching Might's eyes shining with purple spiritual energy, Eugene's eyes also shone. The mystery of master and servant connected the vision and hearts of the two into one.

"Block them! Block those infidels!"

At the High Priest's scolding, specially prepared skeletons blocked the path and densely aimed their pikes.

Undead pikemen not fearing death are effective against dealing with cavalry. Although they wouldn't dare block the knights' charge, the damage will definitely be great.

'Can't just leave them be.'

Eugene didn't recklessly rush frontally into the more-than-a-hundred spears.

Keureung-!

Might leaped onto a building he glanced at. Instantly wall-running buildings and going around to the rear of the undead phalanx, he jumped down as if bombing.

Kwang!

Skeletons smashed by the shock of landing scatter away. Between them, silver-white flashes sparkled countlessly. A phalanx putting long spears ahead has outstanding frontal defense, but the rear is extremely vulnerable.

The knights who had resolved to take damage trembled at the sight of the phalanx being destroyed while bone fragments flew in all directions.

Meanwhile, Eugene, who cleared the path for the knights, resumed chasing the fleeing High Priest.

"Infidel!"

"Kill! Killl!"

The arrows and javelins of the corrupted priestesses guarding the final defense line aimed for Eugene. Might didn't necessarily deal with them and rammed into the visible wall beside them.

Kung!

Kwareureu!

Might runs as if penetrating through scattering dirt and gravel. Even the steep slope heading to the monastery couldn't decelerate the World Charger's speed in the slightest.

The situation was that the pagan army was engaging the knights behind Eugene. What was guarding the front of the High Priest and priests were a few incomplete demonic beasts.

A demonic beast resembling a katydid looked 1.5 times larger than a bull. It charged at Eugene moving its legs disgustingly.

Behind that came monsters whose shapes resembled humans but were covered in pitch-black shadows. A thick aura of death could be felt from the wavering shadows.

Keuryaaaaa-!

The mouth of the katydid demonic beast that looked like it would swallow a person whole.

Seupaaat!

A silver-white flash cleft the middle of the opened mouth.

Puhwaaaak!

The corpse of the demonic beast with the entire upper portion of its mouth cleanly sliced off like a lid opening rolled forward.

The pagan priests who thought they could absolutely not shake off Eugene formed hand signs and chanted words of a curse.

Hudududuk.

Following that, the limbs of the shadow monsters also fell away to the left and right. The pagan priests squeezed their eyes shut and focused solely on their chants.

Dudududu!

Two pairs of purple eyes rapidly approaching while glaring at them. Because they simply couldn't look straight at that.

"■■■..."

Shortly before the words of curse could be completed, Might arrived. At a massive body slam, the pagan priests flew out this way and that.

Peok!

The High Priest who was at the very back had his breath cut by the javelin Eugene threw.

Keureureureung-!

Might, standing at the monastery entrance, stared down at the battlefield entering a lull and roared. As if finally releasing the resentment of not being able to step into Barcia's tournament.

Atop him, Eugene holding the AAAether Sword was like a lighthouse illuminating troubled times. Every fighter belonging to the Mayer family ran toward that place as if possessed.