Chapter 175
Meanwhile.
In the southern region of the North, a fierce battle was ongoing.
"Hold them back, hold them back!!"
"Kill them! We have to kill them all!!"
The battlefield between the Demonic Beast Legion and the Northern Army.
The plains once covered in snow are now stained with the footprints and blood of demonic beasts.
*Crunch!!*
Even in this fierce battlefield, there were figures who stood out.
"Uryaaaaah!!"
*Boom-!*
A massive man swinging a noticeably huge greatsword.
"Aaron!"
It was Aaron.
Wielding Galaximen, the heirloom of the Arpen family bestowed upon him by Callias, his momentum was like that of an enraged bull.
With his entire body hardened, he withstood the attacks of the demonic beasts and swept them away in a single strike. His martial prowess was truly worthy of admiration.
"As expected of Sir Aaron!"
Even under the relentless onslaught of the demonic beasts, smiles formed on the soldiers' lips.
However, that too was only for a moment.
[Uwoooooo!]
Knights with threads and stakes driven into them appeared.
The manipulated Northern Army, swinging their swords with distorted faces while shedding tears.
"You fucking bastards!!"
"H-How... Amorun! I wondered where you went, you bastard! D-Damn it!!"
Yesterday's allies become today's enemies.
Knights who are clearly being manipulated.
The followers' act of brainwashing and manipulating them invokes boundless fury.
*Slash!*
Allen, his face stained with a knight's blood, wiped the blood off his eyepatch.
[Bl-Blood! I need blooood!]
*Thud!*
Dodging and counterattacking the swords of the charging reinforced knights without even looking, Allen began an unrivaled rampage on the battlefield.
*Squish!*
But at that moment, a thread from a dead knight bound Allen's feet.
The brainwashed knights charged in.
A potentially dangerous situation.
*Slash-!*
"Be careful, Sir Allen."
A short-haired female knight appeared beside him.
A heavy sword unsuited for a woman's body. However, she easily shook it off and readjusted her grip, facing forward once more.
Allen also stood by her side, glaring forward.
"I will repay this debt."
"Dinner would be enough."
"Gladly."
Following Aaron, there was Allen.
And Orphin as well.
As the three commander-level knights known as the Three Great Captains of the North gathered, the collapsed frontline began to regain its balance.
"Uwaaaaah!!"
"The Three Captains have arrived! Hold the line, hold it!!"
Two years since he left.
Their skills, having grown accustomed to using the cultivation method and swordsmanship Callias left behind, had matured completely.
The experience from the previous war.
And the help Callias had provided.
And their own effort.
It would have been stranger if their skills hadn't improved.
As they, sometimes even called Callias's followers, appeared, the collapsed frontline was restored, and the situation reversed in an instant.
The piling corpses of demonic beasts.
Advancing while trampling over the corpses of fallen former comrades, shedding tears.
*Boom-!*
"Uwaaaaaah-!"
"Kraang!"
*Crunch, Boom-!*
The frontline collapsed once more.
Amidst the purely white rising smoke, the mangled remains of soldiers scattered in all directions.
*Whizz- Thud!*
A soldier with only his upper body remaining grabbed Aaron's leg.
"S-Save me... T-Troll, a troll..."
*Slip.*
The soldier's hand fell powerlessly.
Tilted head. Cold blood.
*Crack!* Veins bulging in his neck, Aaron stood Galaximen upright.
As Aaron, gritting his teeth, was about to charge forward, someone stepped out ahead of him.
His partner, bathed in the blood of demonic beasts.
"Allen!!"
Allen charged out.
The female knight, Orphin, followed behind him.
"Aaron, are you tired?"
"Not at all!"
A greatsword as tall as himself.
Hoisting Galaximen onto his shoulder, Aaron increased his speed.
*Thump thump thump-!*
A troll swinging its club ruthlessly.
Several stakes were driven into its club, and like the fangs of a vicious beast, chunks of flesh were wedged between them.
Its entire body was armed with bizarre stakes, cloth, and leather.
"Kraaah!!"
The troll recognized the three.
Its intention to launch a swift surprise attack was shattered.
Allen, at the forefront, looked back.
"Aaron! We need you to block it!"
"Without me, you're useless! Alright! I'll block it!!"
The troll's club was too massive.
Allen and Orphin's swords couldn't block it, nor would they dare to try.
The troll that appeared was easily five meters tall.
It was no different from a giant.
'Can I block it?'
The swinging club of the troll looked incredibly massive.
I want to dodge.
I want to run away.
I want to erase the massive existence before my eyes from my sight. The urge to turn my back is overwhelming.
But.
'I have to do it.'
Otherwise, the countless soldiers following behind him and the comrades charging alongside him would die in vain.
It's frightening. It's terrifying. I'm scared.
I feel like I can't withstand it.
I want to run away.
However.
'I must do it!!'
A proud Zerban knight of the North, bestowed with a sword by the hero!
"I am Aaronnnnnnnn!!"
*Boom-!*
*Crack! Creaaak!!*
Aaron's face contorted violently as he blocked the troll's club.
Galaximen screamed out.
*Screech!* Caught on the stakes embedded in the club, he couldn't even let go of his sword.
'Damn it, my wrist...!'
Blocking just a single strike shattered his wrist bones.
Even though he had hardened and reinforced his wrist with Galaximen, there was nothing he could do against the troll's monstrous strength.
*Thud.*
Aaron's massive body floated up into the air.
The sight of his huge body slamming and rolling onto the ground indicated the following:
The troll's mouth twisted bizarrely.
A clear sneer.
But Aaron also sneered back.
"What are you laughing at, you soon-to-be-dead bastard!!"
The troll's eyes became bloodshot.
"It hurts like hell! Allen! Orphin!!"
That was the moment. *Dash!*
Two figures dashed toward the troll like lightning.
*Stab! Stab!! Slash-!*
-Gwaaaaaaa!
Taking advantage of the moment Aaron blocked it.
Allen and Orphin's swords pierced the troll's abdomen and slashed right through it.
The troll's belly tore open long and wide.
*Splatter!* Blood spurted up.
Along with it, massive intestines spilled out from the torn abdomen.
"Uwaaaaaah-!"
The soldiers' cheers followed.
Taking a few steps back, Aaron dropped Galaximen and slumped to the ground.
His hands and feet trembled.
He wouldn't be able to hold a sword for a while, but his mood wasn't too bad.
"Now... it's over, right?"
The moment he thought that.
"Ah...?"
The troll, having spilled all its intestines, moved.
Didn't it start shoving all the spilled intestines back into its belly!
"What!"
"Stop it right now!"
The troll's regeneration was like a miracle of the gods. It couldn't be left alone like that.
Starting with Aaron's shout.
Allen and Orphin.
And a multitude of soldiers charged forward.
However.
*Whirl. Swipe.*
The threads wrapped around the troll's hand moved on their own and began to stitch up the torn abdomen. It was truly a split-second event.
*Whoosh-Whack!*
"Kuaaak!"
The charging soldiers were all sent flying by the troll's swinging fists.
"This is insane!"
But there was still hope.
Allen and Orphin.
The two's swords aimed for the troll once again.
*Bang! Boom-!*
Dodging the massive club strikes, the two simultaneously climbed onto its arm and ran up.
*Dash!*
The swords of the two, having climbed onto the massive body and run up, simultaneously aimed for the neck this time, not the abdomen.
Swung with the intent to strike the neck.
"Go!!"
Along with Aaron's shouting cry.
Their swords headed for the troll's neck.
*Clang-!*
"!"
"Impossible!"
The very moment Allen and Orphin's swords were about to slash the troll's neck.
*Whirl!*
The threads wrapped around its neck moved.
The red threads suddenly emitted divine power and thickened in an instant, blocking Allen and Orphin's swords full of sword aura!
At that absurd moment.
*Smirk.*
Soon, along with the troll's sneer.
"Orphin!"
"Allen!"
The troll's club charging toward Orphin.
But Allen stepped in front of her.
*Whack-! Whir- Thud!*
Seeing Allen get blown away in a single blow, Orphin's eyes filled with shock.
The sight of Allen, battered into a bloody mess and gasping, reflected in her pupils.
The shock soon transformed into rage.
*Thump. Thump.*
But regardless of her feelings, the troll took a step forward.
If it were a simple troll, they might have defeated it. But the current troll.
Was no ordinary troll.
Biting her lips until they bled, Orphin gripped her sword tightly along with her rage.
*Boom-!*
The ground dirt scattered from the smashed club.
But Orphin wasn't there.
Orphin, who had moved in a flash, aimed her sword at the troll's side once again.
*Clang!*
But the wrapped threads didn't allow it. Her momentum, painted with rage, soon changed into desperation.
'Think.'
A way to bring down the troll.
Think.
Think.
I must think.
Otherwise, everyone will die.
However.
*Boom-! Patter!*
Nothing comes to mind at all.
'By myself...'
There is nothing I can do.
When only despair filled her.
"Orphin! Get a hold of yourself!"
"Aaron!"
Aaron, holding Galaximen in a state where his wrist was completely mangled.
Beside him, soldiers were helping him hold Galaximen.
"We are not alone! Snap out of it!"
"So Aaron does make...... sense sometimes. Cough!"
Allen, who had fallen, also stood up.
His whole body was mangled and turned into a bloody mess from being pierced by the stakes in the club.
Yet he stood up.
He gripped his sword.
To fight.
For what? A ridiculous question.
"For the North."
Allen murmured, bringing his sword to Galaximen.
At that, Orphin also gripped her sword tightly.
Slipping out of Aaron's support, she dragged her heavy sword and stepped forward.
"For the North."
The three advancing forward once more.
And behind them.
"For the North!"
"For the North!!"
"For Zerban!!"
"For the honor of Zerban!!"
The soldiers' shouts echoed.
*Riiiip!*
Aaron, tearing a cloth, tied his hand and Galaximen together.
"Let's give it another go!"
"But your hand..."
"If we die here, whether I have a hand or not, I won't be using it again anyway! I don't need a hand! A knight doesn't fight only with his hands!"
"If you don't have a hand, you can't hold a sword."
"I'll hold it with my teeth, what does it matter! Stop spouting nonsense and let's figure out how to take that thing down!"
Aaron's nonsense echoed across the battlefield.
It was a ridiculous thing to say, but in a time where despair was everywhere, it was like a ray of hope.
It became a light that briefly pierced through the dark clouds hanging over the soldiers' hearts.
Allen's eyes shone.
Although it was only a single remaining light, it seemed to shine even brighter precisely at a time like this.
'He always does this right before we're about to die.'
Hiding his bitter feelings, Allen looked at the troll.
The bastard, now no different from a zombie, growled while holding its club.
"I'll go first."
In an instant, Allen's figure shot toward the troll like a collapsing shadow.
*Boom boom boom boom boom boom-!*
Dodging the troll's lightning-fast strikes by a hair's breadth, Allen's charging figure reached the troll's feet.
But the bastard's massive body was five meters tall.
Too high and far.
Thus, Allen threw his sword.
*Whizzzz!*
*Stab!!*
-Gwooooooo!!
The sword pierced into the troll's eye.
"You're the same as me."
*Thwack!*
Allen was sent flying by its thrashing kick.
But unable to withstand the pain, the troll threw away its club and pulled out the sword stuck in its eye.
Right then.
"Let's go, let's go! Chargeeee!!"
The strike of Aaron and the soldiers holding Galaximen followed.
Galaximen, shot like an arrow, aimed for the troll's abdomen stitched with threads.
*Whirl.*
The threads moved once again, but they weren't just standing by watching.
"Block it! Block it!!"
The soldiers threw their bodies forward.
Grabbing the threads that tried to defend with their bare hands, they wedged their bodies in.
In the process, hands and arms were sliced off, but they didn't care.
"Ugh!"
"For... the North!"
"For Zerban!!"
Thanks to them, Galaximen, which wouldn't have reached, struck true.
*Stab!* The troll's blood gushed out, splitting open like a torn seam.
-Gweeeeeee!
It thrashed about in pain, but they absolutely refused to let go of Galaximen.
"Just die already!!"
"Diiiiiiie!"
Aaron, enduring while drenched in the troll's blood, shouted.
"Orphin! Pluck out the remaining eye too!!"
"I will!"
Orphin, climbing onto its body once again, thrust her sword toward the troll's remaining eye. But the threads interfered again.
*Whirl!*
The red threads moving as if alive wrapped around Orphin's sword and blocked it.
"......!"
But Orphin didn't care.
Rather, she threw away her sword.
Then she pulled out a dagger from her bosom, leaped up, and stabbed the troll's eye.
*Stab!*
-Kuuuuuuuuuuuugh!
*Thump! Thump! Thump!*
"Absolutely don't let go! If it recovers right away, we won't be able to face the dead!!"
"Even if you die, don't let go!!"
"Please just dieeee!!"
Galaximen pushed in once more.
*Crack.*
*Creaaak, Squelch!!* Along with Galaximen piercing through the troll's massive body.
"Uhh! It's going down!!"
The troll's body, like a giant tree.
Began to fall backward.
*Thuuuud-!!*
The fallen troll.
And the Northern Army, exhaling rough breaths.
No one dared to speak carelessly.
Because if they said something, if they rejoiced, it felt like it would immediately get back up.
"B-Burn it! Burn it to ashes!!"
"Oil! Bring the oil!!"
"Matches! Is there a torch!?"
"Hurry! Hurry up and bring them, you slow bastards!"
The oil inside the leather pouch.
They poured it and immediately took out a match.
*Snap, snap!*
"Light it quickly, you idiot!!"
"Shut up! I'm doing it right now!"
The matches kept breaking.
The soldier's trembling hands showed just how tense they were.
Proof that the fear of the troll and its regeneration was etched into their entire bodies.
But just as a tree will eventually fall if you keep chopping at it. No matter how many matches broke.
If you keep trying, one will eventually strike.
We call that a price.
Sometimes a reward.
"It's lit!"
And sometimes, hope.
*Blaze!*
The moment the thrown match burst into flames.
-Gwooooh!
The fallen troll's massive body started thrashing again.
But rather, the inferno blazed even more fiercely as if it wanted exactly that.
And after a short while.
The darkened sky.
Beneath the Milky Way embroidered across it.
The troll, burning pitch black, burned for a long time.
A handful of small embers turned into a great fire.
A great fire that would warm the bodies of the exhausted Northern Army.
"I thought we were going to die."
"Hah... Will we get our names in the history books now?"
"Bullshit, what name is a mere soldier going to get in there."
"We're still included in it, fuck! Why are you being so negative, you bastard!"
"Keukeuheuh!"
"We survived! We actually survived!"
"Killing a troll, isn't that a drinking story for a lifetime?! Kahaha!"
As they were laughing and enjoying themselves.
The flames burning the flickering troll made their shadows waver.
Aaron's eyes, as he sat slumped on the ground, pierced through the smoke that even blocked the moon.
"Fuck."
With a single curse, the soldiers' banter subsided in an instant.
The burning flames slowly withered as if it had burned everything.
*Thump. Thump.*
Despair loomed over them again like dark clouds.
"Hah...."
The troll they had worked so hard to kill.
Such a monster was standing there, perfectly fine, once again.
And the army composed of demonic beasts and brainwashed knights approached once more.
*Thump. Thump.*
*Thump. Thump. Thump! Thump! Thump!*
The charging trolls leaped up violently.
To them, who didn't even have the energy to lift a finger, that sight was like despair itself.
As they stared blankly, about to accept death.
Between the charging trolls.
A purple light intervened.
*Boom-!*
"!"
*Bang!!*
Someone appeared and blew away the troll's massive body in one strike.
*Tap tap! Tap!*
A frail-looking woman who had sent the troll flying was beating her shield!
"Protect the Northern Army!!"
With a single cry from her.
"For the Shield God!!"
"For Lady Lumitera!"
"Uwaaaaaaaaa!!"
A legion wielding a thousand shields.
Poured out like a tidal wave.