Erich’s unit cut down the dead as they made their way toward the First Research Facility.

The widely scattered dead could not withstand the immense numbers of Erich’s army.

However, when Erich’s steps suddenly halted for a moment, Frederick cast a sharp glance and asked him,

“Did you notice… anything?”

“This is…”

Erich’s face darkened. It was only for a brief moment, but an unignorable chill had run down his spine.

Shortly thereafter, Mikhail, as if sensing the same energy, stared intently in one direction with a sharp expression.

“… Such cold and dark power. It chills me to the bone.”

Erich felt the same suspicious gaze he had sensed back in Maurice Village.

It was as if something was staring straight through him, a frigid, piercing gaze.

Erich had felt such a gaze many times before. Compared to those moments, this was a very faint and weak afterimage, but still…

‘The Lord of the Dead.’

Such an aura was often present when that one appeared on the battlefield.

However, even Erich could not be sure. Compared to the aura given off by the true Lord of the Dead, this was only a faint sensation, like feeling a slight sting while walking on the sand.

‘Still… I should be careful.’

Erich once again led his troops forward. Even if the Lord of the Dead was here, they could only do their best to confront him.

Soon, Erich’s unit reached the vicinity of the First Research Facility.

At this point, the dead were scarcely visible.

‘It seems they’re gathering somewhere.’

This suspicion was confirmed by Barnes and the security squad at the front.

“Commander Erich, the enemy is encamped in front of the facility.”

“How many are there?”

“Slightly over ten thousand, it seems…”

“And?”

“There are some among them that stand out quite a bit.”

Erich left the main force concealed behind a hill and climbed up with Barnes to see just what kind of ‘standout ones’ there were.

However, once Erich saw the group of dead for himself, he let out a low breath.

As Barnes had said, their numbers exceeded ten thousand. More importantly, among them were Death Knights.

‘Each one has at least two or three cores.’

Ordinary soldiers, unable to envelop themselves in aura, would suffer fatal wounds merely by approaching them.

And with such enemies spread throughout a wide formation… there was barely enough time to deal with them before allied lines would collapse.

‘If it were only master, Hrung-ga, and myself, it might be possible…’

Hunting down only the Death Knights amidst more than ten thousand enemies was, realistically, out of the question.

‘I need some kind of plan.’

Erich slowly descended the hill and returned to the camp, intent on discussing the situation.

*

“… Are you saying we die just from touching them?”

Milon’s face was stricken. Could there really be such monsters with absurd powers?

Those who had never fought against the dead with cores showed similar reactions.

Frederick answered,

“It’s not just from touching them—even getting close is fatal.”

“Then what on earth should we do?”

Milon stared quietly at Erich, as if asking if there was any way. But for the moment, even Erich didn’t have a good answer.

‘If only we’d gathered more cores, perhaps some could attempt awakening as Swordmasters…’

If there were at least people who were close to the level of Swordmasters, it would be possible to induce forced awakening using cores.

However, for now, it was hard to find such talent. Even Barnes, who seemed the most skilled, had yet to reach that level.

Maybe Alexander, the Captain of Knights from the Allflame, would have potential…

‘But he’s much too old.’

In that case, his body might not withstand the power of the core and he could die. The risk was too great for a gamble.

Just then, Ceres, who had been listening quietly, spoke.

“Do you still have the cores left over from the last fight with the Death Knights?”

“We have four, but why do you ask?”

“I thought maybe I could use magic to block the chill they emanate.”

Erich watched Ceres silently. From her, he no longer sensed the overwhelming magical energy he once had.

Ceres, understanding the meaning behind his gaze, waved a hand dismissively.

“It’s not impossible. I just need to inscribe a new formula.”

But if it was that easy, why would mages go through such hell at the mage tower?

Erich placed both hands on the table and said,

“I’ve heard there’s no such thing as power without a price. Will you be okay?”

“Even so, do we have any other options?”

Moved by Ceres’s determined will, Erich dropped his gaze, lost in thought.

‘It’s a gamble. Even now, as a mage, Ceres isn’t bad.’

He had originally considered two options:

First, for Erich himself to absorb all the cores and move through the ranks of ten thousand dead to take out the Death Knights.

Second… to give all the cores to Ceres and help her regain the power of a mage.

Both were gambles, but if he had to choose…

Once he made his decision, Erich responded,

“How many will you need?”

“Two will suffice.”

Without a word, Erich handed over two dimmed cores from his bosom. He had decided to go with the second option—’trusting Ceres.’

Of course, cores, being pure crystallizations of energy, were not something to be underestimated.

But still.

‘I have no choice but to trust Ceres.’

Ceres had already shown her faith by abandoning her master, laurenty the Mage Tower Master, and giving up her accumulated powers to join Erich’s unit.

If so, it was Erich’s turn to put his faith in her.

Accepting the cores, Ceres immediately headed to her quarters.

Meanwhile, Erich consulted with the other officers. Until Ceres was ready, he planned to gain as much advantage as possible.

***

Erich’s troops advanced over the hill. The unit, lined up in a row, formed up for battle.

Erich, Mikhail, and Hrung-ga took the vanguard, just as they had agreed the previous day.

‘Reduce the number of Death Knights as much as possible.’

Erich’s objective was clear: to diminish the enemy’s Death Knights. It was difficult, of course, but not all the Death Knights were scattered among the ranks.

Perhaps to maximize the cold’s effect, they were evenly distributed here and there. Erich’s target was to take out those in the front lines first.

Soon, Erich charged forward.

― Kwaddeuk! Kwajjik!

The dead who rushed at him were cleaved in two. Hrung-ga, who soon joined in, swung his club and cleared an even larger space.

Mikhail, however, moved in a different direction, considering the disparity in skill among their allies.

― Kwaaaang!

Erich was the first to clash with a Death Knight. Parrying the giant greatsword, he severed both of the monster’s arms.

Right after, Hrung-ga leapt and smashed its head—helm and all.

― Jjeo-eok!

Countless dead swarmed around them. Erich noticed frost forming at his feet, a sign that other Death Knights were converging on them as well. But that was exactly what they wanted.

Erich and Hrung-ga coordinated their attacks, slicing through Death Knights and the dead alike. In fierce close combat, none could lay a finger on them.

― Kwaddeuk!

Erich quickly ripped the core from a fallen Death Knight’s body. He and Hrung-ga had taken down about five between them.

Then, suddenly, Erich sensed the chill from the Death Knights was fading.

‘As expected, these aren’t ordinary dead.’

They were moving with organization. It was as if they’d realized Erich’s intent to reduce their numbers and had begun withdrawing the high-ranking units further back.

At the same time, the number of the dead surging toward them increased, and it felt like they would soon be surrounded.

In response, Erich swung his sword through the air. A long golden flame shot skyward.

― Waaaaaaah!

The dead’s attempted encirclement faltered for an instant under the onslaught of Erich’s troops.

At that moment, Erich and Hrung-ga exchanged glances.

“Fall back!”

“Protect the Commander!”

With their comrades’ protection, they broke through the enemy’s circle and escaped. Judging by the situation, it seemed Mikhail was clearing a path out on his own.

Once even the last soldier had withdrawn from the attack,

Erich realized that the first engagement of this round had been successful.

There was a standoff between Erich’s troops and the dead, who had briefly surged forward.

But then—

― Cheok, cheocheok.

The dead changed their formation, densely positioning the Death Knights and the dead even closer together.

The movement of the dead, as if a single organism, sent chills down their spines.

‘They react quickly. I can’t use the same method again.’

Though they had gained the upper hand in this engagement, the enemy had already adapted.

If they attacked in the same way again, the odds of bloodshed were high.

― Sweeeek.

Erich swept his hair, drenched in the dead’s blue blood, to the side. The sky was growing darker.

Under clear skies, it looked like it could start snowing at any moment.

The dead did not press the attack. Seeing that Albrecht was still delaying, Erich could sense that something significant was being prepared.

‘… Ceres has to pull this off.’

Erich glanced back. There, Ceres would be refining the core and developing a new magic formula.

If she failed, Erich’s unit would have no choice but to prepare for a do-or-die full-scale battle with the enemy.

————-= Clacky’s Corner ————-=

Hmm, it seems the end is nigh…

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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