A Cadet Becomes a Prophet?! — Chapter 128

Chapter 128

On‌⁠ a plain, quite⁠ far from the‍ first fortress, the frontier count and‌ the King of⁠‌ Mercenaries halted their‌ horses.

Seeing the demon approaching‍‍‌ alone on horseback,‌‍ they sent both‌ the White Lion⁠⁠ Knights and the Red Wolves company‌ back.

“How⁠ useless what you’re‌‍⁠ doing.”

Kimaris,‍‍ who stopped at‌ some distance, watched‌ them in silence.‌

“If⁠‍ they had come⁠‌ all together, they’d‌ have at least⁠‍ a sliver of‌⁠ hope.”

His⁠‍‌ chilling voice was‌ low, but clearly‌ heard.

“Why‍ did you follow⁠⁠ me alone?”

“If‌ someone bothers to‌ entertain me, why shouldn’t I follow‌ them?”

“I‌ see.”

The‌‌ corners of the‌ count’s and the‍ mercenary king’s lips⁠ curled in contempt.‍‍

To say that in‌‌⁠ the presence of‌ two Royal Knights⁠‌ was pure arrogance—but⁠ Kimaris had the‌ power to back‌ it up.

Just‌‍ by being there,‌‌ skin stood on‍ end.

That tremor was something‌‌ neither of the two had felt‍ since reaching the⁠ rank of Royal‌‍ Knight.

Not⁠ even against another of their own‌ level.

But‌ retreating was not⁠ an option.

They‍ were Royal Knights.‍‍‍

The‌‌ count had to⁠ protect Bercheff.

The⁠ mercenary king sought‌ vengeance for his⁠ disciple—or rather, to⁠ prepare for the⁠ future, in which‌ he knew he would sooner or‌ later have to‍⁠⁠ face a demon.‌

“Come.”‍‌⁠

Kimaris‍ opened both arms,‌ completely exposed.

“There‍‍⁠ is no one⁠‍‍ who can speak‌‍ to me like‌ that while standing‍‌ before me.”

Still,⁠⁠‍ the count did‍ not refuse.

He‍⁠ pressed his heels‍‍‍ into his horse’s‍‌‍ flanks and charged.‌ The King of‍ Mercenaries followed.

An‍‍ instant later, Kimaris’s⁠‍‌ black horse also‍ set off.

Thud⁠ thud thud thud—‌‌

The three riders galloped‌ toward each other.‌

In⁠‌⁠ a fraction of a second, their‍ weapons clashed.

Boom!

A shockwave erupted and‌‍‍ spread.

Aura⁠ and magic intertwined.‍ The horses neighed‌ in pain, but‌‌ kept advancing.

“Impressive.”‌

Kimaris turned his mount.⁠‌

“So‌⁠ there was a reason you dared⁠‌ to face me‍ with only two.”‍

Raising⁠ his greatsword, he‍ charged again.

“Make‌‍⁠ me enjoy this‍‍ more.”

Boom!‍

Once‍ more, they crashed head-on.

The⁠ shockwave, even more‌ violent, distorted space.⁠

But⁠ none stopped.

The⁠ three turned and‍ repeated the charge.‍

Clang!‍‍⁠

Clash!‍‍

Neighhhh!‌⁠

The‌‌ first to fall‍‍ were neither the‌‌ count nor the‌‍‌ mercenary—but their horses.

They⁠ were well-trained warhorses,⁠‌‌ but they could‌ not withstand the⁠‌ pressure of a demon and two⁠⁠ superhumans. They spat blood and collapsed.‌⁠

Both⁠‍ riders leaped from‌ the dying mounts.‌

Kimaris‌ petted his black‌ steed.

“The‌‍ horses of this world are pathetically⁠ weak. Dying from‍ not enduring something⁠ so trivial.”

And‍ he dismounted as⁠‍ well.

“Come.”⁠

“What‍‍ the hell? Now‍‌ you want us⁠‌ to joust as⁠ if this were⁠ a tournament?”

Three⁠ clashes and then sword combat—how long had it been since someone treated‍⁠‌ him like that?‍‌

The⁠⁠ King of Mercenaries⁠⁠⁠ smiled crookedly. His‌ scars quivered.

“Filthy⁠‍‍ demon, pretending to⁠ have honor.”

The count did not‍ hide his fury⁠‍‌ either.

In⁠⁠ the next instant,⁠⁠ the mercenary king’s‍⁠ spear pointed straight‌‌ at Kimaris’s face.

Clang!‌⁠

His‍‌ greatsword intervened.

Aura‍ fragments and shattered‌⁠ magic dispersed everywhere.‌‌

The⁠⁠‍ sword’s blade slid⁠‍ along the spear,‌‌ searching for his neck.

The‌ mercenary king bent his body ninety degrees to dodge⁠‍ it.

The⁠ sword changed angle,⁠ but instead of‍⁠‌ striking him, it‌ launched in another‍ direction.

Slash!⁠⁠

A powerful blue surge‌ collided with a black wall.

The⁠‌ count, not wasting⁠ time, deflected the‍‌ sword and counterattacked‌⁠ with a flurry⁠ of slashes.

Bang‍ bang!

Dozens⁠‌‍ of hits within‌ seconds.

The‌ red spear sought‍⁠ to break through‍ gaps.

Kimaris turned like a serpent, chasing it‌‍⁠ to the end.‍

“Impressive.”‍‍

He‌⁠ raised a magic wall, but the⁠ spear shattered it‌‍ and reached his⁠‍ flesh.

Boom!‌⁠‍

It⁠⁠ wasn’t the sound⁠⁠ of flesh pierced,‌‌‌ but an explosion.‍‌ The mercenary king‍‍ staggered back a step.

For⁠ an instant, Kimaris’s⁠ attention wavered, and‍ the count took⁠‍‌ advantage.

Crash‌‌ crash crash!

A wave of dozens‌‌ of blue cuts‍ enveloped the demon.⁠

The⁠ ground cracked, rock‍‍ pulverized.

Through the dust, a black tide of‌⁠ magic arose—bigger still—and‌‍‍ consumed them both.⁠

Boom!‍‍

The⁠‌ two Royal Knights⁠‌ retreated with a groan, staggering.

“Humans⁠‌ have improved a lot in a thousand years.”

Kimaris’s⁠ greatsword fell across⁠‌ the count.

BOOOM!⁠‌

The‍‌ brute strength shook‌ his arm. He stepped back, but⁠ the demon followed⁠ with another slash.‌

Crack!‌‌

The‍ ground opened beneath‍ his feet.

But‌ he was not‍ alone.

The red spear intercepted⁠ the sword, and‍ in the opening⁠‍‌ the count thrust.‍

Clang!‌‌

Kimaris‍ raised his magic⁠ again, blocking for⁠‌ a moment.

Boom!‍

The‌‌ count was halted,⁠‌ but immediately the‌‍ spear attacked from‍‌ another angle.

Slash!⁠‍

Clash!‍

Thus‍‌ continued the battle,⁠ attacks and defenses‌⁠ intertwined.

The⁠⁠ count and the‍ mercenary king.

Sword‍ and spear.

Lion‌ and serpent.

Covering‌‍⁠ each other’s gaps,‌‌‍ seeking the enemy’s.

When‍‌ the sword was‍‌ blocked, the spear‌ struck.

When the spear was⁠‍ stopped, the sword⁠ cut.

The‌ coordination was fluid,‌‌‍ clean, almost beautiful.

Even‍ Kimaris—a demon—could only⁠ resist.

“I⁠‍ admit it… I underestimated you. Now‌‍‌ I’ll fight seriously.”‍⁠

Suddenly,‍⁠‌ overwhelming magic exploded‍‌⁠ from his body.‌‌

BOOM!‍⁠‍

The‌ two Royal Knights‌ retreated without resisting,‍ but even so⁠ the impact shook‌ their bones.

“……”‌‌

“……”‍‌

They tightened their hold⁠ on their weapons,‍ with Kimaris between‌⁠‌ them.

“Incredible.”‍⁠

The‍ demon sank his‌ greatsword into the‍‌‌ ground.

“If⁠ you stood at‌ this level, you’d‍ rank among the⁠‌ top ten humans.‍ And that coordination‍ is as if⁠ you’d trained together‌ all your lives.”⁠

“What’s‍‍ the matter? Now⁠⁠ you want a one-on-one? Got cowardly,‍⁠⁠ demon?”

The‍‍ King of Mercenaries‌ ridiculed him.

“Always⁠ so insolent.”

“I‍‌ didn’t learn to‍ show courtesy to⁠ scum like you.‍⁠‌ If you want me to, kneel‌‍⁠ and bang your‌ head on the‌‌ ground. Maybe then‌‌ I’ll return the‍⁠‌ courtesy.”

“You‍ don’t know your‍ place.”

“The one who doesn’t‌‌‍ know it is‍ you, demon.”

The‌‌‌ count raised his‌‍ aura.

“Anyone⁠ who dares attack‌‍ Bercheff dies by‌⁠ my hand. Even‌‌ if it be⁠ a demon.”

“Let’s⁠ see if your skill matches your‌ mouth.”

Shiing—

Kimaris‍⁠ now brandished two‍ identical greatswords.

And‍ at that same moment, the figures‍⁠ of the two‍ Royal Knights vanished.‍

The‍ battle resumed.

***⁠⁠

─!‍‍

─!⁠

The⁠ thunder of the‍⁠ battlefield was deafening,⁠‌ yet the distant‍ explosions could still‌ be heard clearly.‍

They‌⁠ were proof that‌⁠ the two Royal‌⁠‍ Knights were fighting‌‍ the rank-66 demon,⁠⁠ Kimaris.

‘They’re⁠‍ going to win.‌ Two Royal Knights‌‍ fighting together—how could⁠ they lose?’

Fernan‍⁠ forced himself to‍‍ suppress the anxiety‌ rising within him.‌

“…But isn’t it true‍ that a combined⁠ attack doesn’t always‌ go well?”

Fernan‌ was not a knight, but he⁠‍‌ knew that coordinating in combat wasn’t‍ as easy as⁠ saying it.

If‍⁠ they didn’t train‌ together for a long time, a 1+1 could become 0 instead of⁠ 2 or 3.‌

“Don’t worry. Those two⁠‌‍ have been fighting⁠⁠⁠ together for a long time.”

“Do‌‌ they have a bond?”

“The⁠ Mercenary King has‍ fought on countless⁠‌‌ battlefields. In a continent unified and⁠ at peace under‌ the Empire, where‌‌‌ do you think‍‍‍ the most wars‌ happen?”

Nowadays,⁠ with most wars‍‍ between nations gone, there were three⁠⁠ main hotspots left.‍⁠

— Altrioque, constantly ravaged‌‌ by the monsters‌‍ of the Taklakan⁠‌⁠ desert.

— Frazia, a kingdom⁠⁠ at the southern⁠ edge of the‍‌⁠ Pandrein continent.

— And Bercheff, the⁠ guardian of the‍ imperial north.

Among‍ these, the most⁠ dangerous and exhausting‍ was undoubtedly Bercheff,⁠⁠ as the monster‍ hordes descending from‌⁠ the Northeastern Demon⁠⁠‍ were endless.

“I‌⁠⁠ see, I understand.”‍

Bringing‍ together two proud‍ Royal Knights, and⁠ the fact that⁠ the two of‌ them had fought⁠⁠ together in the⁠ past, was a stroke of luck.‌

“So⁠‍ worry about this⁠‌‍ side too! We’re‌ drowning here!”

“Exactly!‌⁠ Please stop zoning‌⁠ out!”

Luina,⁠ panting, decapitated an⁠‍ Orga climbing the⁠‍ wall.

Hyde⁠ intercepted a Crictor⁠⁠ lunging at Fernan.‍⁠‍

The‍ situation was far⁠ from good.

Against‌‌ more than ten⁠‍ thousand beasts, the‌‍ first wall had‍‌ barely a thousand⁠⁠‍ defenders.

The‌‍‍ duke had issued‌ a full mobilization order across Bercheff‍‌ and activated the‍‌⁠ reserves, but an⁠ army doesn’t appear⁠⁠ just because it’s‍‍ summoned.

If‍‍‌ not for the⁠⁠ fact that the‍‌ White Lion Knight⁠⁠‌ Order and the‌‌⁠ Red Wolf Mercenaries⁠⁠ hadn’t returned yet along with the‌ Royal Knights, and⁠‌‌ if not for Luina tirelessly racing‌ across the walls,‌⁠ the fortress would‌ already have fallen.‍

Even‍ so, the situation remained critical.

No matter how veteran‌ they were, ignoring‌ the overwhelming numerical‍⁠ difference was impossible.‌‌

And‌⁠ they weren’t humans—they‌ were all demonic beasts.

“Isn’t‌‍‍ there another way?”⁠

Luina‍ asked after slaying‌ five Crictors in‌‍‌ one strike.

“If you think I’d⁠⁠‌ have a miraculous‍ plan in this‌⁠ situation, you’re wrong.”

“I‍‍‌ know, but…”

Because⁠ somehow, she always⁠⁠ expected Fernan to‌ have one.

“But…?”⁠‍‍

“It’s⁠ nothing.”

Luina⁠ shook her head,‌⁠ swallowing her words.‌⁠‍

Blindly‌ relying on Fernan‌‍ without a real plan wasn’t a good habit.

“There⁠ is one way.”

“Really?”⁠

“To⁠⁠ hold.”

Hold⁠ on and endure‍ until the end.⁠⁠

“We‍‌ can defend the⁠ fortress. Reinforcements will come.”

“…That‌ makes sense.”

Luina‍‍⁠ shut her mouth⁠ and refocused on‍ the battle.

“Fire!”⁠‌

“Aim‍ for the flying⁠ ones first!”

The⁠‌ archers launched arrow‌ after arrow without⁠⁠ rest.

“Lightning‌ Bolt!”

“Wherever‍ you aim, you’ll⁠‌ hit a monster!⁠ Forget about friendly‍ fire and cast⁠‍ everything you’ve got!”

The⁠ mages, exhausted, drank potions and squeezed‍‍ out every last‌ drop of mana.‌⁠‌

“Don’t let them climb the wall!”

“Knock⁠ them down below!”

Knights‍ and soldiers sprinted⁠ tirelessly along the⁠‌ wall, defending it‌ with everything they⁠⁠ had.

Even‌ though the structure⁠‌⁠ was half-destroyed from⁠ a demon’s slash,‍ it was still⁠ a vital defense⁠ line.

Boom!

Screech!⁠

Aaargh!‍

Dieeee!‍‌

Explosions,⁠⁠ shrieks, and screams‌⁠ filled the air.‌‌

“This is insane! I want out!”

A soldier died when‌‌ a monster scaled‌‍ the wall.

Gismond‍ avenged him with‌ a slash, cutting‌⁠ the enemy down.

Bodies‍⁠ fell at the‍ base of the⁠ wall, where beasts⁠‌ swarmed in to‍‍ devour them.

“Drinking‌ elixirs and learning‍ swordplay isn’t enough!⁠‌‌ You need real⁠‌ combat experience, senior!”⁠

“At⁠ my level, this‌ is suicide!”

“Don’t‍‌ say that. Few⁠‌ here have more‌⁠ mana than you.”‍

“Damn it! They were‌ right—leaving home is‌‌‌ suffering like a dog!”

Gismond‌⁠ whimpered but kept⁠ swinging his sword.⁠‌

Even⁠‍ though his strikes⁠‍ were basic, his⁠ aura was enough‍ to cut down enemy after enemy.⁠‌

“They’re pushing us back!”⁠

“Hold‌ the line, even‌‌ if you die!”‌

The‍‌ shield wall gradually‍ gave way and⁠⁠ monsters began to⁠ break through.

“Back!”‌‌

Fernan‌‌ raised a wall‌‍ of steel, but‌‍ it wouldn’t hold‌⁠ back the avalanche for long.

A giant golem emerged‍ from subspace and⁠‍ landed among the‌‍‍ rubble.

Standing‌‍ in front of‌‍ the exposed Fernan⁠⁠‍ were Luina and‍ Hyde.

Boom!

The‌⁠ golem ripped the⁠ head off an⁠ Urs, a rank‌ 5 bear-like monster.⁠⁠

It‌ crushed Lufardins and‍⁠‍ split Orgas in‍‍ half.

Screech,‌ boom!

The‍⁠ golem fell as‍ its legs were devoured. Swarmed by‍‌ beasts like ants,‍‍ its light faded‍‌ and it collapsed.‌

A Barka climbed atop‍‍‌ the remains of‍‍‌ the golem.

Boom!‌‌

Another‍⁠ golem appeared to confront it.

“I’ve⁠ always hated the‍ Barka.”

Waaah!‌‌

“Stop‍ them!”

The human voices grew⁠ fewer.

The⁠ space they held‍‍ on the wall‌‍ shrank. Monster corpses⁠‌ piled up, but‍ the beasts knew⁠ no fear.

‘Damn‌ it…’

Fernan,‌⁠ controlling the golems,⁠‌‍ clenched his teeth.⁠

If‍‌ the fortress fell,‍ all of Bercheff‌⁠ would be swept‌‍ away.

‘I’ll⁠‍⁠ have to use‌ Wooden…’

He‌‌ didn’t want to‌ reveal its existence in front of‌‍ so many people,‍ but he wasn’t‍‌ about to die‍‍‍ like an idiot‍‍‍ without using it.‌⁠⁠

“Wooden, come out…”

And then—

The‌⁠ sky lit up.‌⁠

“…What?”‍

A warm light made‌ everyone look up.‍‍

They‍‍ were fireballs. Dozens‍‍ of fireballs, falling‌ like a meteor‌‌ shower upon the⁠ enemy army.

Boom!⁠

Boooom!

Pillars of fire exploded⁠ across the battlefield.‌‍‌

The‍ monsters were shattered,‌ their formations broken.⁠‌‌

“Reinforcements!”‍

“Reinforcements⁠ have arrived!”

The⁠⁠ soldiers, previously drowning‍ in despair, shouted‌ with hope.

“It’s⁠‌⁠ the Dragon God⁠‍ Cult!”

“It’s⁠ the priests!”

Dozens⁠‍⁠ of mages in⁠ robes marked with‍‌ dragons landed on the wall.

And⁠‍ then—

“Broooother!”⁠⁠‍

The‌ red-haired saint, Jace‌ Vines, flew toward⁠‌ Fernan, waving his arms.

“Are‌‌⁠ you alright? I didn’t arrive too late, right?!”

“…You’re late.”

No,‍⁠ in truth, they’d⁠ arrived faster than‍ expected.

“You‌‌ rushed, huh?”

“Of⁠ course! You ordered⁠ an absurd amount‌ of holy water,‌⁠ so I came‌ full-speed express delivery!⁠ Oh, and I also brought Cardinal⁠‌⁠ Alby to justify⁠‌‌ the mission as‌ official reinforcements!”

The saint grinned like a pleased merchant.⁠‍‍