In the darkness, the Mountain King who had fallen into a deep sleep observed the flow of time.
Having lived since the ancient times and the mythical era, the Mountain King was a being who had breathed even at the moment the world was created.
And so, from the moment this world was born and began to be influenced by time, he had the right to gaze into the river of time it created.
In a span of time that seemed long to humans but was merely a brief nap to the Mountain King, he watched the flow of a timeline that extended beyond the present.
It was a timeline where nothing could be seen as if it was submerged in the deep sea. Even though it was a timeline where he had existed, he could see nothing.
Just as the Mountain King began to feel a sense of puzzlement, he spotted a small light inside the current timeline and his eyes widened in surprise.
A tiny flame.
That flame was cracked as if it might shatter at any moment, yet it still emitted a brilliant light.
Even for the Mountain King, it was an extremely fleeting moment.
The instant he saw that light, he felt the emotion of greed during that brief span but soon regained his composure.
“So, that’s how it is.”
As the small flame momentarily illuminated another timeline that had been hidden like the deep sea, the Mountain King finally understood a bit of the secret within that obscured timeline.
“This will be a fun game.”
Having grasped the altered timeline, the Mountain King closed his eyes as if he was wandering through a dream.
Waiting for the other party to respond to the invitation he had sent.
***
Levi Benjamin, the head professor of the Command Department, who had recommended Shane to come to Arunvida and served as the examiner during the academic test, was once a renowned commander of the Imperial Knights.
Even though he was a foreigner, he had proven himself through his exceptional skills and became a knight with his own signature move, and until recently, he was a talent much sought after by Olicia.
His participation in the war, however, was carried out in secret.
According to imperial law, bringing a retired knight back into battle was only allowed in times of national crisis, and Benjamin’s action now signified that the Empire had indeed judged the current situation as such a crisis.
As a result, Benjamin could not have his name etched into history through this war, yet he still declared his intent to participate.
Even now, when his heart had grown weary of imperial politics, his loyalty to Anastasia remained steadfast.
“All troops! Advance!”
Following Benjamin’s command, the Imperial Knights who served Olicia mounted their horses, brandished their lances, and charged forward.
The knights infused their lances with magical power, and their warhorses began to gallop with powerful strides.
Their target was the Orc shamans chanting spells at the very rear.
“Kwaabita! Pa Dalager Wonahu!”
In response, the Orcs protecting the shamans rushed toward the humans who had appeared behind them.
The Orcs, who had cast a special spell to protect the shamans in case of an unexpected crisis, possessed the abilities of the Centurion Orc that Felice had previously faced.
However, no matter how resilient these creatures were, if their entire upper body was blown away in a single strike, they were bound to die.
Benjamin wrapped his twin swords with lightning-type magic and swept through the orcs like a typhoon.
Lightning Shadow.
Moving at the speed of lightning, shadows failed to keep up and he left behind only afterimages.
And wherever those afterimages remained, Orcs inevitably fell.
Each one of them was an Orc infused with the power of a Cyclops, yet they couldn’t react to the speed of light and had their heads severed.
“Stop them, stop them!”
“Cover me, brother!”
“We’ll meet in Urbulak!”
Realizing they couldn’t stop the knights, some of the Orcs hurled themselves directly at the knights and exploded.
Blood Burst.
A suicide technique that unleashed the wild blood of monsters.
Only Orcs with the abilities of a centurion could use this self-destructive move, and most of the knights were caught in the blast. This forced even the lightning-fast Benjamin to retreat.
At the same time, the blood of the orcs who committed suicide was absorbed into the barrier protecting the shamans after it seeped into the ground.
The concentration of that barrier had now become so thick that it was impossible to see inside.
Leaving the wounded behind, the regrouped knights charged forward to finish off the remaining Orcs.
The knights had certainly taken big losses, but thanks to their efforts, even the last Orc guarding the shamans finally fell on the cold ground of Arunvida.
By then, however, the barrier strengthened by the shamans’ spell had become as solid as a fortress wall and was protecting them.
When he saw this, Benjamin swung his sword like lightning but his attack was effortlessly bounced off.
“Ugh…!”
The recoil when it bounced off was considerable.
Having just swung with all his might, Benjamin looked at his torn palm and stifled a groan.
At that moment, a rough voice came from behind.
“You’re having a hard time, Benjamin.”
“…Daniel.”
“Yes, it’s me.”
A man whose presence evoked the image of a lion’s mane.
The famous sword of the imperial family, Commander of the Knights of Judgment, Oliver G. Daniel.
He stood there and was holding a sword enveloped in the white flames of his aura.
“Need some help?”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“Haha, then so be it!”
He laughed heartily and swung his sword.
Shrrk—!
In an instant, the barrier that had withstood Benjamin’s blade without wavering was split open.
An aura that absorbed magical power.
In the face of the White Lion’s aura, even the blood magic power dwindled away without effect.
“Kuh, Kuwabita! Eluber Vark!”
The orc shamans were startled but Benjamin’s sword was already in motion.
In an instant, ten of the hundred orc shamans had their throats slashed, and the Knights of Judgment followed suit.
“Everyone! Show them the imperial justice!”
Following the command of Commander Daniel, the knights moved in perfect coordination, cloaked in the white flames of their aura.
In the blink of an eye, half the shamans were wiped out and Elder Shaman Kargato struck the ground with its totemic staff. Its eyes were wide with rage.
The prepared spell activated, and a blood barrier enveloped the knights.
***
The sun fell from the sky.
Who had ever witnessed such a sight?
This surreal scene even halted the steps of the orcs who were consumed by the monster’s wildness.
Just below where the sun was setting, the orcs’ skin which had not yet reached them began to bubble and boil like foam.
Though they had gained immortal bodies, the pain did not disappear.
Unable to withstand the unbearable agony, even with their monstrous ferocity, the orcs screamed in pain.
And then.
When the sun and the earth which were never meant to meet collided, the space between them literally vanished.
The orcs were vaporized without leaving even a trace of blood behind.
But in a way, that was a mercy.
Death meant release from pain.
However, the orcs who were just within the edge of the explosion’s range faced a different fate.
Half of their bodies melted away.
Yet, the relentless vitality driven by the shamans’ spell blocked their path to death.
With a single strike, countless orcs either died or were rendered incapable of fighting.
In response, Raviata coughed as she looked upon the hellscape she had created with her own hands.
“Cough, damn it, it’s still too much.”
Though the process of implanting the Dragon Heart she had obtained from the Great Mezaiya Forest was still ongoing, she had pushed herself too far this time.
She would probably need several months of recovery once this was over.
“You really should’ve taken it easy.”
When James who emerged from Raviata’s shadow muttered this, Raviata shouted back at him.
“You bastard, it’s because you kept nagging about money that I ended up here!”
“Who could’ve known you’d charge out before the Dragon Heart was fully implanted?”
“Ugh…”
In fact, James was just as surprised inside.
If it wasn’t necessary, Raviata would never have involved herself in human affairs.
Even when the imperial regime changed countless times and rewards that could build towers of gold coins were offered, had she ever batted an eye?
But this time, she directly interfered in human matters.
“Well, what can I do? I owe a favor.”
Didn’t she obtain the Dragon Heart, her lifelong desire?
Because of Shane’s request, who had greatly helped her, Raviata had made an exception and revealed herself this time.
“Let’s go inside. The rest should take care of itself.”
Raviata saw that the number of orcs had decreased significantly, so she calmed her throbbing heart and headed for the portal with James following her into the portal.
***
“My God…”
After the sun had set.
The sight was visible even to those who were still fighting beyond the city walls.
A searing heat that could never be felt even in front of a fireplace in this harsh place, and the night sky lit up brightly with a deafening roar.
It was as if the sky itself had raged and brought down the sun.
But the residents of Arunbida couldn’t stop fighting.
They had already been warned by Shane that something like this might happen, and the orcs, consumed by the wildness of the monsters, were not easy opponents.
The sun had fallen at a location quite far from the city walls, so the number of monsters still pouring over the walls was huge.
“Hmph!”
In this dire situation, the one who shone the brightest was none other than Klein.
Around him, the bodies of orcs piled up as he unleashed his golden aura.
Klein who usually wouldn’t allow even a drop of enemy blood to touch him had no time to worry about such things in the chaos of war.
The more he fought, the fewer people died.
Knowing this, Klein unleashed even more of his power. He cut down enemies with precision and speed.
Beside him, Felice who had been sidelined due to an injury swung his warhammer and smashed the heads of orcs.
Those who survived gathered around Klein and Felice and fought desperately for their lives.
Amidst the battle, a warm light descended from the sky.
It wasn’t Raviata’s sun that destroyed everything, but rather the concentrated life essence of the elves which gathered and healed the wounded.
Not only that, but minor wounds healed quickly. The fighting spirit of the people was rekindled.
“You think you’re the only ones who are invincible?!”
“Just kill them already!”
In the heat of the ongoing battle, Anastasia finally drew her greatsword and charged into the fray.
One hit, one kill.
With a single swing of her greatsword, the orcs fell almost as if it were inevitable.
Amidst the chaotic battlefield where everyone was killing and being killed, a voice echoed through the air.
[Beings that defy the order of the world.]
Above the night sky, which had regained its original color, true darkness descended.
[I have not permitted your existence in this world.]
An endless darkness spread. And inside it, a figure wearing a plain mask and a black cloak emerged.
[Return to nothingness.]
As the man floating in the air clenched his hand, a profound darkness descended upon the battlefield, bringing with it a sudden and drastic change.
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