Chapter 398
Doom Entegasto’s eyes were filled with the same fury it had when it killed Insectum as it looked down at me. I could feel it glowering furiously at the back of my head for a while. Allowing it to stare at me as I lowered my head in front of it wouldn’t be enough to quell its anger. Even if it had killed Doom Insectum and given me severe pain, it was just an event in the past that was wiped away once the Man Who Overcomes Adversity had activated.
The opening ceremony was over. If it tried to intimidate me again, then I was planning to fight it back. I believed that since the Man Who Overcomes Adversity had been activated outside of its domain, it was an opportunity for me to a.s.sess the extent of the gap between us that had widened over time.
After all, I was now in the realm of immortality, not Doom Entegasto. If I got a chance later, I needed to test its true power.
Another message appeared.
[Please don’t take this the wrong way. I, Lunea, am just delivering what Doom Kaos says. Do you get it? Do you understand?]
However, only Caso and Mount were on the stairs below and above me. The two had just witnessed Insectum’s punishment, so they seemed to be holding their breath, trying their best not to provoke Entegasto.
[If you understand, then kneel down right now. Although Insectum and you both made a mistake, you have reaped all the benefits. Hurry up before Doom Entegasto’s generous heart starts wavering~ Before our master changes his mind~ Hurry up!]
This b.a.s.t.a.r.d…
Lunea kept sending messages as it knew it also had Doom Entegasto’s support. In addition, I couldn’t spot it anywhere.
Apparently, Doom Kaos wanted to wrap up the situation at this point, so I kneeled down first. In fact, I would not hesitate to kneel down repeatedly, as long as it meant that I was able to keep my recent spoils.
As the opportunity for me to a.s.sess Doom Entegasto’s true ability was slipping away, I silently reminded myself that this was not the appropriate place to provoke it, so I waited patiently in silence.
A moment later, Doom Entegasto’s agitated heartbeat began to roar louder as it climbed up the stairs. The vibrations and oppressive atmosphere it created when it came down had doubled as it went up.
The black armor that encased it and the decorations attached with ancient dragon bones vanished into the darkness behind the curtain…
Sheeeek-
Lunea appeared in the conference room as if it was being sucked in.
[Oh, gracious Doom Entegasto! I, Lunea, am so honored that I don’t know what to say. T.T Doom Man should never forget this moment.]
In the past, it had referred to the Guide Lumah-le as an “outdated guide who had fled its clan,” but claimed that it, Lunea, was more loyal and serious. However, that was nothing but a lie it had said that out of fear. As soon as it was appointed as ‘Doom Kaos’s messenger,’ it revealed its true nature.
Even Yeon-Hee couldn’t distinguish them upon first impressions. They all looked alike, and they all shared the same frivolous att.i.tude that annoyed us.
[Alright, I will go up the stairs on step at a time~! ( ノ◔ω◔)ノPlease make room for me, Doom Caso!]
Joy was evident not only through its messages but also on its face. Mount struggled to move up a step, as its chains were holding it down. Caso looked up at me with eyes full of fear. Compared to Caso’s size, Lunea was no more than a tiny firefly. I watched as Lunea flew in front of Caso and idly wished that Caso would strike it down, but that didn’t happen.
As I went up to the step where Mount had previously stood, I experienced a sense of relief. If I had kept the bone ring with me, then I would not have allowed Entegasto to treat me that way.
I had been checking the upstairs cautiously and then quickly averted my gaze in order to not provoke Entegasto any further. Then, I lowered my head and waited quietly.
Despite being aware of the enlarged area inside my sh.e.l.l, I couldn’t concentrate on the ultimate sensation it brought. All eyes, especially Doom Entegasto’s, were fixed on me. His anger-filled gaze continued to penetrate the curtain and reach me.
The signs of the meeting commencing didn’t appear until a little later.
[First, let’s look at the battlefields first. You guys all know that our master is almighty, right? I, Lunea, swear my eternal loyalty to my master here~ ✧.ﾟ٩(๑>◡<๑)۶:｡♡ ]
I was furious that I had to read such a message even after the Stage of Advent. I should have removed it when it broke the promise, f.u.c.k…
Doom Kaos’s energy poured out from beyond the curtain. What came out wasn’t an image like a photograph, nor was it a physical form of Kaos’s energy. Instead, a video clip unfolded in front of me and showed dozens of battle scenes all at once-!
***
#1 - Central and West of the Greenwood Continent (Land of Whirlpool)
Knight Lanceran widened his eyes. It was a late night on the third day of the battle against the vampire corps. A blob of blood was traversing the battlefield swiftly, and it was indistinguishable from the blood that was splattered all over the ground and scattered in puddles. Only a few people knew about its existence.
Nonetheless, when it was revealed that the ancient vampire corps was active… In other words, when Knight Lanceran had intended to dispatch troops to the city previously controlled by Caldoran, where the vampire corps was expanding its territory… It was at this time that the altar had provided him with archives of Saint Ca.s.sian, which discussed the vampire corps.
In those records, there was a description of a blob of blood that moved by itself as well. It indicated the appearance of the Vampire Lord.
After resolving himself to face death, Knight Lanceran charged toward the blood ma.s.s. However, even if the pale vampires clinging to him weren’t there, the speed of the moving blood ma.s.s was still incredibly fast. The blood ma.s.s was heading towards the main camp, where a large number of reinforcements had joined.
He realized he wouldn’t be able to chase after it with his abilities, so he looked around after beheading a vampire.
I should join the main force.
Nonetheless, the things that captured his immediate attention left him questioning how many soldiers would be able to retreat even if he ordered them to do so.
At that moment, Lanceran made eye contact with a female vampire. She was soaked in blood, but she was wearing a dress that could be seen at a social party. Apart from chasing the Vampire Lord’s blood ma.s.s, Lanceran couldn’t even stop her from smirking and jumping into him.
She purred, “You must have already fallen in love with my beauty, darling.”
That was the last voice Lanceran heard before losing consciousness.
#2 - Central and East of the Greenwood Continent (Barien Empire)
Apollo[1], William Spencer, was filled with anxiety as the progress on his side was significantly slower in comparison to Deborah Bellucci’s forces. His heart pounded with concern. The spoils of war Deborah gained by destroying the old Ronsius magic towers were considerable, and she was also leading the coalition forces closest to the imperial capital. Naturally, the one who planted the flag first became the owner.
The a.s.sociation didn’t care how the land was governed. When William heard that Deborah had immediately conscripted all adult men in the first conquered territories of the empire, he was filled with regret and self-blame.
Deborah was ranked the sixth strongest in the group, and he was ranked seventh. The gap between them wasn’t huge, but it was evident that Deborah was gradually widening it. What if she ended up occupying not only the high-cla.s.s items from this alien land, but also from the imperial capital?
“I have confirmed it.”
It was about what kind of agreement the corps of Hera, Deborah Belluci, had made with the coalition groups.
“Hera had only one request for the coalition groups. She would clear the way and share everything left on that land…”
William understood the situation even without hearing the rest of that sentence.
He interrupted, “She claimed owners.h.i.+p of the residents in the capital of Dragorin, didn’t she?”
“Yes, sir.”
Deborah Bellucci’s corps wasn’t aiming to occupy the capital. Instead, their goal was to destroy the city, plunder items and gold, then gather slave soldiers. Pillaging was the right term to use to describe what she was doing.
He ordered grimly, “There will be nothing left if we are late. Summon all group leaders, without exception. Right now.”
“Yes, sir!”
#3 - Central and East of the Greenwood Continent (Barien Empire)
Rat-tat-tat. Rat-tat-tat.
The sound of guns firing at the target was loud, and the mercenary Jimmy was dizzy with the smell of gunpowder.
It was just yesterday when his group joined other groups. There seemed to be an agreement among the group’s leaders that a joint operation was necessary to capture the fortress in front of them instead of relying on individual attacks.
The two hundred groups had no choice but to be allied together as the Barien Empire’s firepower was on another level compared to other dukedoms. They used towers with supernatural power to form defensive lines and knew how to use flying beasts as their tactical helicopters.
Thus, more than two hundred groups were working together now, which meant over three thousand people had united into one corps. Jimmy was one of those mercenaries, and he was responsible for eliminating deserters coming from the frontlines.
It was quiet after a round of fire. Jimmy thought it was fortunate that it was night. Although the area was brightened by star sh.e.l.ls and magic performed by the enemy"s wizards, most of the gruesome scenes were quite hidden in darkness compared to the cruel starkness of daytime.
It was unbearably humid probably because of the blood that had been sprayed around for days. Jimmy and his fellow mercenaries took advantage of the lull to spread wood chips on the trenching ground. The corps had been formed all of a sudden, and they never imagined they would end up fighting in the trenches.
Jimmy unfolded a garbage box on the ground as his resting spot.
The biggest problem wasn’t the deserters fleeing from the frontlines of the enemy side. Instead, there were the magical spheres. They were objects that made Jimmy and the mercenaries unconsciously check the sky every now and then. They were coming from the imperial fortress, where the Awakened were attacking. When they exploded, they caused an enormous force to impact the surroundings.
There were rumors that people would bring in mortars later, but it wasn’t confirmed unless they were set up right in front of them.
Jimmy rubbed his eyes as he was quite sleepy, and talked to the mercenary beside him, “Isn’t this quite different from what we were told?”
“Have you not heard that the Declans were spotted?” responded the other guy.
He shook his head. “No, I mean, how can this be considered a small-scale operation?”
The mercenary smirked, “The Awakened must be furious that Hera’s team hit the jackpot.”
He frowned slightly. “Deborah Bellucci.”
“Yes, her.”
The conversation stopped there as the mercenary pointed at the commotion behind their back. Jimmy turned his head back, and a small-sized team had joined the coalition. They were Asians.
Jimmy couldn’t make his eyes turn red like the Awakened, so he frowned and narrowed his eyes to focus his vision on them. Then, he realized why their appearance had caused such a commotion.
Those joining were neither j.a.panese nor Chinese. Instead, they were from Odin’s home country. The group’s leader had given two hundred million dollars to his ex-girlfriend’s family as she had pa.s.sed away in the Stage of Advent.
“Caliber.”
Jimmy deliberately lowered his voice.
“Wow, Caliber is showing up too? Our frontline will be organized much better now.”
Caliber shouted in Korean as soon as he stepped in. The application on the device had more issues translating Korean than the Dragorin’s language, so the guy in front of Caliber was struggling.
Meanwhile, Jimmy didn’t believe in the image that the media created of Caliber. Even though his son had portrayed him humorously in his clips and Caliber had demonstrated his faithfulness, he still held the t.i.tle of the world’s sixth most powerful Awakened. The world of Awakened was not a place where anyone could climb up to that position easily.
Even then, Caliber’s voice was ringing loudly.
“Ah jik gga ji han gook mal mo r― myun uh jji ja gooo― yu gi dae jang, noo goo yu. leader. leader. leader mal lee yu.”
Jimmy muttered, lowering his posture into the trench, concerned that he would make eye contact with Caliber.
“Well, the mortar is here.”
He whispered as much as he could.
Bang!
Indeed, Caliber quickly advanced to the front line with the speed and force of a projectile that was being launched from a mortar.
1. The author uses Apollon, which is the less well-known version of Apollo’s name, at least, internationally. ☜