Rise of the Fallen Kingdom’s Third Prince — Chapter 307: Siege (2)

Chapter 307: Siege (2)

They climbed onto the‌‌ wall, drove in‍ their swords, and‍‌ brought it down.‍‌‍

It⁠‍‍ seemed like a simple process, but‌‌ while Yuri was⁠ doing that, the‌‌ other experts were⁠‌ desperately fighting against‌‍⁠ the black magic.⁠

Even⁠‍ the air was⁠ hostile—an authentic killing⁠⁠‍ field.

Countless⁠ forks in the road between life⁠‍ and death stretched‍⁠‌ before them.

“Be⁠ careful.”

“Thanks‌⁠ for the advice.”⁠

Eto‍‍ and Oliver were‌⁠ atop the wall,‌⁠ fighting back-to-back against‍ the tentacles.

Panting,⁠ Oliver let himself‌‍ drop down for‌‌ a moment.

Eto‍ spoke sharply.

“For‍‍ an Imperial, I thought you had‍⁠ stamina. Are you⁠ going to collapse‌⁠ now?”

He⁠⁠ wasn’t the type‍‌ to enjoy verbal‌⁠ jabs, but he‌‌ did it on⁠⁠ purpose to provoke‌ him. If Oliver‍⁠ collapsed here, it‌ would all be‌ over.

Oliver‌‌ abruptly lifted his‌‌⁠ head.

“Don’t‌‍ make me laugh,‍⁠ peasant from Liberta.”‍

“And‌‌ yet you’re about‌‌ to collapse in‌⁠ front of a peasant.”

“Not⁠‌ a chance!”

He⁠ sprang up.

“I‌⁠ am Oliver of⁠ House Elgast. I will not fall⁠‌ so easily.”

“Then‍⁠‌ prove it, Oliver.”⁠‍‌

“Of‍‍⁠ course I will.⁠ Those bastards who‌⁠ soiled the name‌ of the Empire⁠‍‍ and sold even‌‌ their souls to‌⁠ these disgusting things…”‍

Oliver’s⁠ mana surged in⁠⁠⁠ fury.

“They⁠ will pay the‌‍⁠ price!”

“That’s‍ the spirit.”

Eto⁠ cut down a tentacle and whistled.‌

“Oliver,‍ is that all⁠ your rage?”

“Watch‍⁠ closely!”

Every‍⁠ word pushed him‌ to fight harder.⁠ Provoking him was⁠ worth it; he‌ seemed like a simple-minded type.

Eto⁠ threw another jab.‍‌

“Oliver,⁠ Imperial… I’ve already‍ killed five monsters,‍ what about you?”

“Wait,‌ you peasant!”

In⁠‌ truth, Eto had⁠ only killed three,‍‍ but he exaggerated. Unaware of this,‍‍ Oliver charged madly‌⁠ at another creature.‍

“Die!”‍

Eto smirked and refocused‍⁠ on the battle.

It⁠ wasn’t easy.

The‍ monsters atop the‍ wall were on‌ a completely different⁠ level from those‌ they had faced⁠ before.

From⁠⁠ the corner of‍ his eye, Eto⁠ saw the Prince of Briol in‍ the center of‌‌ the wall, sword‍ driven in, pouring‍‍ out mana.

Seeing‌‍‍ his clothes ripple‌⁠ in the wind,‌ Eto nodded.

It⁠ was a technique‌ impossible for most, but he could⁠⁠‍ pull it off.‌⁠

Because⁠ he was that‍‌‌ kind of person.‍‌

So Eto only had‍ to buy time.‍‍

“Watch‌ out above!”

Suddenly,‌ Oliver shouted, and‍‌ Eto reflexively ducked‌‌ his head.

Something brushed past where‍‌ his head had been.

A winged monster.

“Kh…”‌

It‍‌ was a grotesque‍ creature, half human,⁠‌ half bird, similar to a legendary harpy, but its‍ body was entwined⁠⁠ with tentacles.

From‌ the membranes of‍ its wings splattered‌‌ a viscous substance‌ that, upon touching‍‌‍ his shoulder guard,‌ burned and melted⁠‌⁠ it with a nauseating stench.

“Damn‍ it…”

Eto‍ tore off the shoulder guard and‌ threw it away.‍⁠‍

This‌‍‍ wasn’t a place‍‍ he wanted to⁠ linger in.

If⁠ the wall was‌ like this, what‍ kind of hell‍‌ awaited inside?

Eto‍‍⁠ snarled in frustration.⁠

“Hey,‍‍ Imperial, what the⁠ hell were you‌ people thinking making‍ this? Trying to destroy the world?⁠‌‍ It’s a disaster!”⁠‍

“…”‍‌

No‌‌ response.

When‌⁠ he turned, he‍ saw Oliver pressing⁠‍ his lips together‍‌ in silence—he had nothing to say.

Eto‌ softened his tone.

“In‍‌⁠ any case… thanks‍ for warning me‍⁠‍ earlier. I almost‍ died.”

“Hmph.‌‌ Shut up and⁠‍⁠ fight.”

“Alright.”⁠

While‍‌ they argued, the⁠ other three of‌‌‍ the Ten Greats—Francesco,‍ Jose, and Moyongchan—were⁠⁠⁠ fighting in an⁠ even more complicated‌⁠ situation.

They⁠ were blocking invisible‌ projectiles raining down‌ from afar, all‌⁠ imbued with black‌ magic.

“Damn‌ it!”

Francesco‌‍⁠ cursed.

“Are‍‌‌ we sure it‍ was a good idea to come‌ alone?”

“Hold‍ out!”

“Stop complaining.”

Tentacles⁠⁠⁠ rose from below,‍‍‍ while distant attacks‌ continued to pour⁠ in. Blocking them with sword energy had its limits.‍⁠‌

A tentacle wrapped around‌ Francesco’s ankle and‌‍ made him stumble.‍ He managed to‌ cut it away‍⁠⁠ and regain his‌‌ balance, shouting over‌⁠⁠ his shoulder.

“Hey,⁠ Yuri! Almost done?”⁠

“Just‍‍ a little longer!”⁠

Jared‍ answered.

“Kh…”‍‍

The‍⁠ attacks grew fiercer,‌‍ and Francesco pushed⁠ his mana to⁠‌ the limit.

“We‍‍ can’t wait much‍⁠‍ longer…”

His‍‌ face was red;‌ his body overheating‍‌ from the extreme‍ mana output. If‌⁠ he pushed further,‌‌ he could damage his energy channels.‍

At‌‌ that moment, an invisible attack struck him squarely.

“Kraah!”‍‌

The⁠‍ impact shook him‍ as though a mace had smashed⁠ into him.

Though⁠ he diverted part of the blow‍⁠ with a mana‌ barrier, another attack⁠ was already coming.‌

He‌‌‍ looked to Jose‌ and Moyongchan for⁠‍‍ help, but they⁠‌ had no room‌‍‌ to assist him.⁠

“Ah…”

The‍‌‌ attack was about‍‍ to hit. Francesco‌‌‌ saw his life‌⁠ flash before his‌ eyes—it began with‌‌ childhood memories of‍‍⁠ playing on the⁠ swing with his‍‍ mother.

Slash.‍‍

But‌⁠ suddenly, the sound⁠ of something being‌ cut through halted‌‌‍ the black magic.‍

The‌‍ attacks headed for⁠ him disintegrated.

“Huh?”⁠⁠

“Are‍ you alright?”

“You⁠ are…”

The‌⁠ one who had⁠ arrived alongside the‌ Eastern warriors was‌‌ a man named‍ Bernard.

Francesco‍ had long heard of the ill-famed‌⁠‍ swordsman known as‌ the “Sword Demon,”⁠‍ and meeting him‍ in person confirmed‌ he was no‍ ordinary fighter. Even as one of⁠‍ the Ten Greats,‌⁠ Francesco couldn’t guarantee‍ victory against him.⁠

Indeed,⁠ the world was full of masters.‍

Francesco‍⁠ smiled faintly and⁠ expressed his thanks.‍

“Thank‍ you. Thanks to‌⁠ you, I’m still⁠⁠⁠ alive.”

“We⁠⁠‍ just have to⁠ hold out a little longer. His Highness is doing‍⁠ everything he can.”⁠

His‍⁠⁠ voice held no⁠ emotional fluctuation. Even‌ in this desperate⁠⁠‍ situation, he remained‌⁠ calm, making the‍ title “Sword Demon”‌ suit him perfectly.‌

Soon,‌ a strange flow‍⁠ of power began‌ emanating from Yuri, who was clinging⁠‌ to the wall.⁠

He‌ was sending mana‍‌⁠ directly inside to‌‍ blow it apart⁠‌ from within.

To⁠ attempt such a technique against a wall that massive—his⁠ approach was, without⁠ a doubt, unlike⁠ anyone else’s.

“He’s‍ definitely insane.”

Francesco⁠ lifted his sword‍‌ again. He put⁠‌ strength into his‍‍ exhausted arms and‌‍‌ drew mana from⁠ his damaged channels.‌

Everything⁠ they had achieved⁠ so far was‌⁠ thanks to Yuri‌⁠ Briol, that young⁠ man.

So, this time too,‍⁠⁠ he would trust‍‌ him and endure‌ until the end.‍

Francesco‌‍‌ muttered,

“By‍⁠ the way… I wonder if things⁠ are going well‍ over there…”

While‌‍ in the West‍‌ they were protecting⁠‌ Yuri and trying‌⁠⁠ to bring down‍ the wall, in‌ the East they were using the‌ opposite method.

They‌ were battering it‌ with unrelenting fire.

Jang‌⁠ Yeonghak soared into‌ the air and‍ began unleashing indiscriminate‍⁠ sword attacks, with‍ the other warriors‍ joining in the‍‌ bombardment.

Martial‍‌ arts so extraordinary‍ followed one after‌ another that any‍‌‍ Easterner watching would‍‍ have their eyes‍ wide open.

The‍‌‍ Illuminated Tai Chi‍ Sword of Wudang,⁠ the Twenty-Four Plum‌ Blossom Sword Strikes‌ of Huashan, the Divine Hundred-Step Fist‌‍ of Shaolin, the‍ Thirty-Six World Swords‍‌ of Zhongnan, the‌ Dog-Beating Staff Technique⁠‍ of the Beggar‍‌ Sect, the Boundless Blue Sky Sword⁠⁠ of the Namgung⁠‍ family, the Heavenly‍‌ Flower Rain of‍ the Tang family‌ of Sichuan, the‌‌ Thunderous Roaring Sword⁠ of the Hwangbo‌ family, the White‌‍ Ice Divine Palm‍ of the Northern Sea Ice Palace,‍ and more…

It was the total‌ sum of the⁠ martial arts accumulated by the Eastern⁠⁠ Murim.

A storm of martial‌⁠‌ arts so intense‌‍ that even its⁠‌ murderous intent could‍‍ be felt swept‍ over the wall.⁠‌

Neither‌ black magic nor monster attacks could⁠‌ come close to⁠ such power—they vanished‌ instantly.

The⁠ wall was ripped‍ apart and destroyed.⁠

The⁠‍ monsters’ bodies were‌ disintegrated.

Again‌⁠‌ and again, it‍‍ broke and was destroyed.

But the Empire did‍ not remain idle.

Flying‌ monsters appeared, beginning‌ to attack from⁠ the rear.

The‍‌ warriors, who until then had been⁠‌ striking the wall⁠ without pause, had⁠‌ to halt their‌ bombardment to repel‌⁠ the enemies threatening⁠ them from behind.⁠

In that time, the‌ wall began to‍ regenerate.

At⁠⁠ every damaged point,‍ countless worm-like tentacles⁠ sprouted, intertwining and‌⁠⁠ reforming solid tissue.

In‍ an instant, all‍⁠ previous attacks were⁠‌ rendered meaningless.

“My‍ God…”

Jang⁠ Yeonghak let out‍‍ a sigh.

It⁠‍ was like a scene from hell‍‍ itself.

What‌ kind of horrors⁠ had the demon‌⁠‍ of the West summoned? If even‌ a mere wall was so abominable,‌‍⁠ how evil must‌ the entities beyond it be?

He‍ couldn’t even imagine‍ it.

Was‍ this what the‌⁠‍ Westerners had been‌⁠‍ fighting against all‍⁠ along?

Suddenly,⁠ his gaze shifted⁠ to the wall‍ on the left⁠ flank.

Their‌ plan was simple.

Protect one, and have‍ that one bring‌‌ down the wall.‍‍⁠

In⁠ that resolve, there⁠⁠ was absolute confidence.‍

“Yuri‍⁠ Briol, was it…?”‌

Western⁠⁠⁠ names were difficult‌ to pronounce, but‌ he believed it was something like‌ that.

He⁠ knew the moment‍ he saw him.‍

“Right now, he is⁠‍ in a state‌‍‌ of absolute perfection.”‍⁠‍

That‍⁠‌ he had reached‌ the level of⁠‍ a great master‍ at such a young age was‍ already surprising, but the perfection energy he radiated was‍ even more astounding.

Perfection⁠⁠‍ did not just‌ mean being fully⁠‍ prepared; it meant‍ that his training,‌‌ the environment around‌ him, the fortune‍‌ granted by the⁠‌ heavens, and the‌‍‍ flow of the‌ universe itself were‍ aligned.

The‌ entire world was‌‍ pushing the back‍⁠ of that man‍⁠ called Yuri.

The‍‌ Heaven-Sundering Star had‍ thrown the world⁠ into chaos, and‌‍ this young Westerner‍‌ had been chosen‍‍⁠ as its designated⁠‍ opponent.

Perhaps‍ his entire journey⁠ to the West⁠⁠⁠ had been nothing⁠‍ more than a working of fate⁠ to aid Yuri.⁠

Jang‌‍‌ Yeonghak murmured,

“If⁠ that’s the case,‌ it doesn’t matter. To destroy that evil existence, I will gladly become‌ an anonymous grain of wheat.”

He‌‍ had understood his‍ role.

And‍⁠ he decided to‌‍⁠ use a supreme‍‍‍ technique that could⁠ not be employed‍‌‌ twice.

“Everyone,⁠‍ stand back!”

At‌⁠‍ his thunderous voice,‌‌ the warriors instinctively withdrew.

Jang‍ Yeonghak raised his sword.

His‍‌ robe fluttered.

A massive wave radiated out from him.‌

It⁠⁠⁠ was not the‌‍ Tai Chi qi‌ he had been⁠‌ using until now,‌‍ but something filled‍ with an intense⁠‌⁠ thirst for blood.⁠

It‌‍ was Wudang’s forbidden‍ assassination art.

Shidanjin.‌‍⁠

Screeeech!‍‌

A piercing noise, like‌‍ scratching at the‌ ears, accompanied the‌ spread of crimson‌⁠ sword qi. It twisted and tore⁠ apart everything it‌ touched.

The inversion of the‌‌‌ natural order.

The‌⁠ collapse of order.‌

A martial technique created⁠ solely for destruction,‌ accessible only to‌ one who had⁠ reached the pinnacle of Tai Chi.

He charged toward the‌⁠ cursed structure formed‍⁠ of flesh, distorted‍ magic, and energy‌⁠ from another world.‌‍⁠

A grotesque sound rang‍⁠ out.

And‍ at the same‍⁠ time, light burst⁠‍‌ from the sword⁠ Yuri had driven‍ into the wall.

As‍ if it had⁠ been coordinated.

The‍‍⁠ wall was enveloped‌ in radiance from⁠‍ two directions at‍⁠ once.

***⁠

The⁠ forces of the⁠ Anti-Imperial Alliance, watching⁠ from behind, held⁠ their breath.

They‌ weren’t just standing‍‍ there watching—they were‍ poised to charge⁠‌ the moment the⁠ wall fell.

In⁠‌ fact, even if‌‍ it didn’t fall,‍⁠‌ there would be‍‍‍ no turning back.‍‌

Retreat‍‍ did not exist.‍‌ No matter what‍ happened, they would‍ rush into Zveta.⁠

“Your‍ Highness…”

Ainzer⁠⁠⁠ murmured.

At‍ a glance, it‌ was clear that the situation was⁠⁠ not favorable.

The⁠‌ enemy’s defense was⁠‍‍ strong, and the‌‍ wall showed little⁠ sign of yielding.⁠

When⁠‍ it seemed the⁠ East was making‌ progress, the wall⁠⁠ would regenerate instantly,‌ drawing sighs of‍ frustration.

“Hey,‍ give me that.”⁠⁠

“Yes,‌ sir!”

Ainzer took the war horn to give⁠⁠ the signal to⁠⁠ attack.

If‍⁠⁠ necessary, he would blow it himself.

Even‌ if the wall‍ didn’t fall, they‍‌‌ had to advance.‍

They‌ had to protect⁠ His Highness.

But⁠ at that moment,⁠⁠ something changed in‍⁠ both sectors of⁠ the wall they‍ were targeting.

On‍ the left, cracks‌ began to form‍⁠ and the structure‌‍ was collapsing from‍‌‍ within.

On‌‍ the other, the‍‍‍ surface was tearing‌⁠ apart and falling‌‌ in chunks.

Light‍ erupted from both.

It‌ was so dazzling⁠⁠ that even from‍‍⁠ afar it stole their sight for‌⁠ several seconds.

“W-what‍ is that?”

Ainzer’s‌ eyes widened. Tears‍ streamed down his⁠‍ face, but he did not look‍ away.

Even‍ if he went⁠‍ blind, he couldn’t⁠ miss the signal.‍‌

Then‌ he saw it.⁠‌‍

Both⁠ walls.

They‍⁠ hadn’t fallen, but‍ they were half‌⁠ destroyed, hanging in‌‌ tatters.

The⁠‍⁠ eighteen members of‌⁠⁠ the suicide squad‍‍ who had fought‌⁠ on them were‌⁠ also half-collapsed.

Seeing⁠ tentacles slithering from‌ the cracks and‍ intertwining to regenerate‍ the wall, Angel‍⁠ held his breath‍‍⁠ and blew the‌ war horn with‌⁠ all his might.⁠

Wooooooo!‍

The‌ signal to charge‌ rang high into the sky.

“Forward!”⁠

They could no longer‍‍ rely solely on⁠ them.

Even‌⁠⁠ if it meant⁠‍ their vanguard would‌‍‌ be annihilated, they‌ had to help⁠ bring down the wall.

Ainzer‌‍ was the first to launch himself⁠‍ forward.

“All⁠‍ forces, attack!”

When⁠ the Anti-Imperial Alliance‌ charged, the entire‍‌ earth trembled.