Chapter 304: Path of Justice (1)

Cedric had a relaxed expression, and Cory wore a similar one.

Due to his distorted features, most people found it difficult to read his mood, but Yuri, who had observed him for a long time, could tell he was satisfied.

Yuri gave a crooked smile.

“Cory, you’re quite full of yourself. Looks like you’ve earned a place at Cedric’s side. You’re not just anybody—I knew I wasn’t wrong about you.”

“Can you really say that now?”

“What else can I do?”

Yuri had no intention of blaming Cory.

“Everyone follows their own path.”

Not only the two of them, but also several dark figures—presumably black mages—were watching the battle.

Even though the Anti-Imperial Alliance had the advantage, they showed not the slightest sign of nervousness. They surely had something planned.

Yuri focused and gripped Guilty tightly. Thanks to Inariel, they had regained some momentum, but there was still much left to do.

He had to break through Zveta’s fortress and kill both Cedric and the god from another world hiding inside.

It would surely be an even harder task than wiping out the Imperial army they had just defeated.

“Don’t look at them,” said Yuri.

“We have to do our job.”

“Even so, it’s unsettling to have them staring at us like that.”

“Want to give them a warning?”

Yuri looked at the bodies of five Hasans lying on the ground.

Their bodies were completely destroyed and reduced to puddles of blood, but among the weapons they had left behind was a curved sword still intact.

“Yes, we should say hello. After all, we’re brothers.”

He picked it up and, after spinning it several times in the air, suddenly hurled it in Cedric’s direction.

The sword, infused with his energy, spun violently as it flew in a straight line.

The air tore apart with a sharp sound.

But just before it reached the wall, the noise stopped.

The ground beneath the wall rose up, and from there emerged a huge tentacle, like a root spreading underground, blocking the sword.

Cedric and those on the wall shrugged as if mocking them.

“Seems they laughed at you,” said Jared.

“Shut up.”

Yuri turned his gaze away. There were still Imperial troops to deal with.

“Then we’ll go take care of the rest of the Imperial army…”

But something unexpected happened.

The Imperial army began to retreat.

Suddenly, an opening shaped like a mouth appeared in the wall, swallowing the creatures as they withdrew.

“Don’t let them escape!”

For a moment, the Anti-Imperial Alliance hesitated, but then they shouted again and chased the Imperials.

With morale high from driving them back, the soldiers fought desperately, stabbing their enemies in the back.

The corpses of monsters covered the ground.

Yuri also chased them to the end, cutting down several with each swing of his sword.

“Don’t get too close to the wall!”

Yuri warned.

But some couldn’t restrain themselves and moved in for a close attack.

Then the wall reacted. Just like before, tentacles rooted underground emerged and attacked those who had gone too far ahead.

“Huh…?”

“R… retreat!”

A massive tentacle swept the ground in an instant, crushing everyone within its range.

In the struck area, bodies and splashes of blood formed a gruesome mosaic.

Yuri clicked his tongue.

“Fuh…”

It was painful to lose his men, but there was nothing to be done. He only hoped this served as a warning.

“What do we do now?”

“What do you think? Keep moving.”

Yuri looked at Zveta’s wall.

“We have to end this.”

He headed toward the unit of mages watching the battle from the rear.

Among them, Inariel was sitting in a chair, his face pale.

“Are you alright?”

“Do I look alright?”

He took his canteen and drank a sip, regaining a bit of breath.

“You should pace yourself.”

“You all looked so weak that if I hadn’t stepped in, you would’ve lost before taking another step forward.”

“Hahaha…”

Yuri smiled at his sharp remark. After all, thanks to him, many soldiers had been saved.

“If you’ve come to see me…”

Inariel smiled faintly.

“I suppose you’re thinking about how to bring down that wall.”

“That’s right.”

They had to enter Zveta, but the wall was the problem.

It was now almost like a living organism, covered in flesh rising high, and able to lash out with tentacles at any intruder, making an assault complicated.

“If only I could land one more blow…”

“Have you lost your mind?”

“No.”

Inariel stood, supported by Hernando and Maryrose on either side. Though he staggered for a moment, he regained his balance and brushed their hands away.

“I won’t be able to use magic for a while.”

“I see…”

“But it’s only temporary.”

“I understand…”

“So don’t put on that funeral face, it puts me in a bad mood.”

“Understood.”

Inariel looked toward Zveta’s fortress. Suddenly, a bluish tone shone in his eyes.

“The wall is covered by a creature born from black magic. Now it’s almost completely fused. It won’t be easy to bring down.”

“Do you think we’ll be able to cross it?”

“Who knows…”

After a few seconds, he continued.

“It’s not a single creature occupying it, and that’s a blessing.”

“Pardon?”

Yuri looked as well.

“It’s big, yes, but there are several creatures stuck next to each other. If we eliminate one or two, the wall should collapse on its own.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

The light in Inariel’s eyes intensified.

“But they will resist. The black magic energy around them is very powerful. Anyone who approaches will be pierced through and killed instantly. They’re not going to just stand there and let it happen.”

“But didn’t you say you couldn’t use magic? What you’re doing now…”

“Don’t start with useless comments.”

Inariel frowned.

“This isn’t magic to me—it’s just a simple game. When I talk about magic, I mean true magic.”

“Like that Meteor from before?”

“Exactly.”

The mages behind him looked incredulous.

“That’s a game to him…?”

“As expected of Lord Inariel…”

Inariel spoke again.

“Only the most capable will be able to reach the front.”

“You mean…?”

“That any ordinary knight will die. Choose a small elite group to kill the creature parasitizing the wall. The core should be in the center, like a heart.”

“In the center…?”

“See for yourself.”

Yuri entered the soul domain and looked. The world turned white, and he could see the black energy waving around. Just as Inariel had said, there were several black cores embedded in the wall, each belonging to a different creature.

“Looks like we’ll have to kill at least two or three.”

“Can you see them?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Inariel was blunt.

“The front is a true killing field. Until the wall comes down, the disadvantage is enormous. Only someone on the level of the Ten Greats could withstand it.”

“The Ten Greats…”

“Will it be difficult?”

“There’s no choice. It has to be done.”

Yuri nodded.

“Thank you.”

“Will you do it now?”

“Yes.”

He looked at the sky. Inariel’s Meteor had cleared the clouds, and the sun was high.

“We have to go before it gets dark.”

The Anti-Imperial Alliance, after its first victory, reorganized its ranks and took a breather.

The groans of the wounded echoed, but despite the many casualties, morale did not falter.

Even the pleas of the injured served as fuel for their rage.

Yuri gathered the main fighters.

“Everyone, gather.”

The best knights of each nation assembled.

Yuri explained the plan. Then Francesco, arms crossed, asked:

“If it’s a fighter with ability equivalent to one of the Ten Greats, even if they’re not one of them, would that do?”

“As long as they can hold out without dying right away and fight by our side…”

“What level are we talking about?”

Yuri mentally assessed the possible candidates.

To start, himself, who was among the Ten Greats, and also Francesco, Moyongchan, and Jose.

Added to that were those who, while not in the Ten Greats, had similar strength—Laurent, Jared, and Eto from Liberta.

The rest were uncertain. Bringing them would be useless, as they would die in an instant.

The number was smaller than he expected.

“And also…”

Yuri turned his head. There was a disheveled-looking man sitting in a corner.

“Him too?”

Oliver Elgast. Once a noble of the Empire, but now a member of the Anti-Imperial Alliance fighting against black magic.

Jared asked:

“Will this number be enough?”

Yuri glanced back.

High on the wall, unknown creatures had taken defensive positions.

The battle was already unfavorable; now that it was a siege, it was even more complicated.

“It won’t be easy. It might be impossible…”

Probably half of those he had gathered would die in this fight.
Thinking about it made it hard for him to speak. Everyone present had a strong bond with him.

But there was no alternative.

It was something that had to be done.

When Yuri raised his head with a serious expression, Jose grinned energetically and said:

“Your Highness, don’t worry. Anyone afraid of death wouldn’t have come this far.”

“Of course.”

“That’s right.”

“Don’t worry, Yuri.”

They were all ready to die. Yuri understood their feelings perfectly.

“Yes. Understood.”

Death didn’t scare him. From the day he returned to the past, it had always been that way.

Yuri gave orders to the commanders of the Anti-Imperial Alliance. The moment the wall fell, they were to storm Zveta together.

Soon after, Yuri, at the front of the camp, took a breath.

He felt a stab of frustration.

If only there were more strong fighters. More warriors on the level of the Ten Greats.

Or, even if not quite that strong, at least some who could help.

At that moment, he heard a murmur behind him. Following the commotion, Yuri turned his head.

“Huh?”

On the horizon, something was approaching. At first, he thought it was just a sand cloud.

But it wasn’t.

“A flag?”

A large flag waved high, fluttering in the wind.

Beneath it, a massive army advanced, raising dust.

“What is this?”

On the fluttering flag, there was text in Eastern characters that Yuri couldn’t understand.

While he was puzzled, Moyongchan, who was at his side, murmured:

“Destroy the false to establish the true, and follow justice even if it costs your life.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means: Destroy the false to establish the true, and follow justice even if it costs your life.”

“And what is that?”

Moyongchan didn’t answer. He only gave a faint smile. It was the first time Yuri had seen him with such a calm expression.

“I thought the spirit of the Jianghu had disappeared, but it seems not completely.”

“I’m asking you, what is that?”

Then, a golden, radiant flag appeared further back.

[Righteous Action of the Just Path.]

Moyongchan was silent for a moment before saying.

“Heaven does not stand idly by in the face of the tragedy that has fallen upon this land.”