Chapter 172: A War That Wasn’t Even a War (2)

About 300 soldiers laid down their arms and surrendered before the three of us.

What a ridiculous sight that was.

Watching the scene unfold, Raion approached Jefra, the Vice Commander of Huffo Territory’s Knights.

“Return straight to Huffo Territory as you are. Understood?”

“……Pardon?”

“Can’t you understand words? Should I cut off those ears first?”

“N–No, sir!”

“Then turn your troops around and head back immediately. Move!”

Jefra fumbled for a moment before clearing his throat.

“All troops, return to the territory! Retreat! Retreat now!”

At the Vice Commander’s order, the knights and soldiers glanced around nervously before they began to move.

Thus, the 300 troops slowly withdrew from the mouth of the valley.

‘That takes care of one group. Now there are around 1,200 left.’

Given the current situation, it was clear that Prince Rasfer was holding command.

The key now was to reduce their numbers as much as possible before engaging directly.

Tat-tat-tat-tat!

Just as the valley’s entrance was cleared, loud noises erupted from deeper inside.

Turklan and Patrick pricked up their ears and turned their heads.

“Seems something’s happening inside.”

“That’s probably Charoen retreating after being overwhelmed.”

Their movements had been continuously tracked through Perception.

Soon enough, Charoen, Rashid, and several members of the Black Crescent Moon came rushing toward the entrance of the valley.

.

.

.

“Persistent bastards!”

“This is getting troublesome. Is there really no other way?”

Charoen and Rashid had both reached the level of Swordmaster.

And yet, instead of fighting back, they were running for their lives.

“There’s nothing we can do against those things! I can’t think of any solution!”

Half of the Black Crescent Moon members who had retreated with them were already gone.

Rashid’s eyes darted behind him.

Kyaaaak! Kyaaak! Kyak! Kyak!

Goblins, about waist-high, were charging in swarms.

If they were normal goblins, the two could have easily dealt with them.

But these weren’t ordinary. That was the problem.

“They double in number every time one dies!”

“I’ve never seen or even heard of such monsters before!”

Their bodies were as black as pitch.

“Let’s scatter once we get outside!”

“Understood!”

They were getting closer and closer to the entrance they had used to enter the valley.

But near the entrance, familiar figures were waiting.

“It’s them again!”

“Perfect!”

“…Sir?”

“If we rush past them quickly, we can use them as bait and create an opening!”

“Good idea!”

Once the plan was set, the two quickened their pace.

They didn’t even care about the subordinates running behind them.

Tap—!

As they neared the spot, they pushed their speed to the limit.

They wanted to get past as quickly as possible and change the monsters’ focus.

Of course, they were also ready to counter any attacks from the other side.

Shuaaaak! Shwk!

“……”

Contrary to their expectations, Charoen and Rashid passed right by Raion without incident.

The counterattack they expected never came. It was almost disappointing.

Meanwhile, Raion’s eyes shifted toward the pitch-black goblins chasing after them.

From a distance, it looked as though a wave of black smoke was surging through the valley.

‘Just a while ago, those were Huffo Territory’s soldiers.’

When he’d checked the map through Perception, that’s what they’d been.

The pitch-black goblins screeched hideously, baring razor-sharp black fangs.

‘Like a swarm of piranhas…’

There were too many for Aura to handle.

Patrick and Turklan knew it too.

“Master, we must fall back at once.”

“This wasn’t part of the plan.”

“It seems dangerous.”

Patrick’s eyes were tense.

Raion sheathed his sword and raised both hands.

He began drawing two complex spell circles in the air—one with each hand.

Swish! Sswish! Swish!

“Let’s start with ‘Gravity Boom.’”

As soon as the right-hand spell was completed, he activated it.

With the incantation, the pitch-black goblins were pulled toward a single point.

Kyaaaak!

Kkaak! Kyaaak!

Krrrk! Kyaaaak!

The deafening noise filled the entire valley.

Even so, Raion didn’t stop concentrating on his magic.

The goblins couldn’t move past the center point where the spell was cast.

Then he activated the spell he’d prepared with his left hand.

“This time—‘Fire Storm’…!”

A massive vortex of flames spread out from the center of the Gravity Boom—then got sucked right back in.

The screams of the nearby goblins grew louder.

Amid the chaos, a faint smirk appeared on Raion’s lips.

Even then, the goblins kept merging together, forming a huge mass of darkness.

When it grew large enough to fill the valley horizontally, the spell’s effect began to weaken, and goblins started squeezing out again.

“This should do it.”

At that moment, Raion released the Gravity Boom he’d been maintaining.

Shuuuuuuuuuuk—!

The sound of air being sucked in abruptly ceased—then red flames burst skyward from within the mass of pitch-black goblins.

Chapter 172: A War That Wasn’t Even a War (3)

Kwahng—! Fwoooooosh!

Flames several times stronger than the previous Fire Storm surged up to the very top of the valley.

“Ah…”

If there was one mistake, it was a miscalculation.

The fire that had reached its limit naturally tried to fill the remaining space—

including the place where Raion stood.

At that moment, a translucent barrier spread wide before his eyes.

It was Gravity Shield, a 5th-circle defensive spell.

“That was dangerously close, Master.”

Even Patrick, who was usually calm, had a tense expression.

In contrast, Raion tilted his head.

“This wasn’t my doing.”

“…Pardon? Then who—?”

“There.”

Halfway up the left ridge of the valley stood one of Raion’s closest aides, Caldein Flavan, maintaining the Gravity Shield.

“Looks like the rest have arrived right on time.”

“That’s a relief. Then… are we going into full-scale battle now?”

“Let’s finish up here first.”

The fire that had filled the valley created a backdraft effect.

It devoured the surrounding air at incredible speed, burning the pitch-black goblins to ash like dry straw.

Then, once combustion reached its limit, the flames died out almost instantly.

At the same time, Caldein withdrew the Gravity Shield.

The inside of the valley had turned completely black.

“It doesn’t seem like we’ll have time to rest. Jade! Is Jade here?!”

On the map projected by Perception, friendly forces were displayed.

But with so many of them, it was hard to tell who was who.

At Raion’s call, a woman stepped swiftly down from a rocky ledge along the ridge.

“Sir Jade hasn’t arrived yet.”

She was Negis, a master archer.

“Still not? Then who’s in charge right now? The reinforcements seem to be all here.”

“Among the knights, we have Dejir Malon and Calsios.

A total of 124 troops are on standby.”

“You must’ve had a hard time getting here.”

“It’s nothing.”

“For now, you take command, Negis.”

“…Me?”

“You’ve got the widest field of view from here. And from now on, we’ll strike Rasfer’s main force.”

Once the command was given, everyone waited for his next words.

“Our tactic is tag. Draw them into the forest and fight there.”

“I understand.”

“Move now.”

“What about Sir Caldein Flavan?”

The tactic emphasized mobility—

and having a mage like Caldein could slow them down.

“Take him with you. You might need him there. Patrick, Turklan, go with them and assist.”

“What will you be doing, Master?”

If they all left, Raion would be alone at the valley entrance.

Turklan was clearly worried.

“I’ve got a feeling a strong one’s coming.”

“Could it be… like last time?”

The image of the demon that appeared right after their battle with a massive monster flashed through their minds.

A faint grin tugged at Raion’s lips.

“It seems it’ll arrive sooner than I thought. I don’t want to hold back my strength unnecessarily, so go quickly.”

“Understood, Master. We’ll see you soon.”

Patrick bowed politely and ran off with Negis and Turklan.

Caldein Flavan, who had been standing on the ridge, had already vanished.

Step. Step.

The hooded man who had confronted Rasfer at the Mineta Royal Capital walked through the center of the valley.

“Well, well… it’s blazing hot here.”

Moments ago, an enormous flame had swept through the valley.

Even now, heat still shimmered from various parts of it.

Yet the hooded man looked completely unscathed.

As he walked, the valley entrance came into view.

“That guy, huh? …Stronger than I expected.”

His eyes gleamed with anticipation.

The hooded man’s body blurred—and in the next instant, he appeared before Raion, who stood at the entrance.

Sasak—! Sak!

“Are you the sorcerer who just cast that spell?”

“…And who are you supposed to be?”

He had crossed hundreds of steps in an instant—

any normal person would have been startled.

Yet Raion not only stayed calm but even threw back a puzzled retort.

“I’m looking for the one who interrupted my fun. Seems I’ve found him.”

“By fun, you mean those goblins that swarmed like rats earlier?”

“Exactly. You know them well. Judging by your power… quite impressive. How about joining me?”

Raion frowned at the sudden offer.

‘Where do freaks like this keep crawling out from?’

He checked the hooded man through Perception and Specific Analysis.

[Target Information]

Name: Malphas

Age: 1,911 years

Race: Demon

Occupation: Count of the Demon Realm

Life: 9,999 / 9,999

Stamina: 9,300 / 9,500

Mana: 32,120 / 34,230

The same rank as the demon he’d fought previously.

Seeing the numbers, Raion made a few deductions.

‘His mana is almost twice that of the last one… must be a magic-type.’

He didn’t know how this one had created those pitch-black goblins, but with that level of power, it was clearly magical.

Raion silently looked at Malphas, the so-called Count of the Demon Realm, just like Decarsen Falkahn before.

“…Malphas?”

“How do you know my name? Some mystical trick of yours? Interesting.”

“Count of the Demon Realm… first that one, now you.

What exactly are you demons planning, crossing from the Demon Realm into the middle world?”

“Before? What do you mean?”

“Decarsen Falkahn. Don’t tell me you don’t know him.”

Just when Raion needed more information about demons, another one appeared.

Malphas’s brow furrowed slightly, then eased.

“Oh~! Decarsen, you know that fellow?”

He spoke in a friendly tone—but there was a hint of menace behind it.

“Cut the nonsense and start explaining.”

“More importantly, how do you know Decarsen?

I haven’t seen him in ages.”

“He ran from me last time. Didn’t he return to your hideout afterward?”

“…Ran?”

The smirk that had lingered on Malphas’s lips finally disappeared.

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