Chapter 406: Last Battle (3)
It wasn’t my first time joining the frontlines.
Although I had been away from the scene for so long, I had already faced all sorts of dangers just following Kim Hyunsung from the early days of Blue. In fact, I used to partic.i.p.ate in melee battles frequently.
However, those were only small scale skirmishes or dungeons.
It was the first time that I had fought in a large-scale battle between humans.
I had to admit that the feeling was different from when I looked at the situation through screens.
The heat of the battle. The noises and screams that reverberated across the field, and the thick smell of blood and sweat.
I wasn’t fl.u.s.tered, but I couldn’t help but frown at the unfamiliar environment I was in.
‘I guess I shouldn’t have come down.’
It was uncomfortable to be in the middle of the battlefield after leaving the safe rear seat, but that train had already departed.
I had come too far to regret it now.
It looked as if the shock felt by the frontlines was felt all the way to the backlines. I could see the warriors up at the first row beginning to mix up among the enemy soldiers.
Bang!
Crash!
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
“Sh*t!”
“Gather up! Gather up!”
“Son of a b.i.t.c.h!”
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
Crack!
Even my eyes now failed to see the events properly.
All I could witness were the backs of our allied forces struggling to push back the enemies, their armors and shields constantly banging against each other.
I wouldn’t have been able to understand the situation properly if I hadn’t been an eye user.
Unlike my confused mind, my eyes continued to receive information around me.
Even walking felt difficult due to the bodies of those who had already fallen.
It was amazing as to how our allies keep breaking through the enemy forces.
Looking at the situation carefully again, I could see Park Deokgu wielding his shield with a crumpled face.
Watching him stick by my side as he pushed the opponents away with a shield constantly reminded me of the tutorial.
The guy blocked, and I stabbed in return.
Of course, I didn’t do that at the moment, but I was reminded about how reliable he was in battle. It was a method that usually only worked for tutorial monsters, but it would be quite efficient in a place with limited s.p.a.ce to move.
Soldiers behind the frontal force continued to thrust their spears beyond the shield wall in my stead.
“Hyung-nim, are you following me properly?”
“Keep looking ahead. Don’t mind me.”
“I-I said I got it. Which way are we going?”
“West. Joining the nearest unit should be our goal for now.”
“Got it. Can you follow without any problems? I have no idea what’s happening, but I’ll definitely take you there.”
“Okay, focus, Deokgu.”
“You are the one who should follow me properly!”
We pushed our way through as quickly as possible, but our movement was naturally slow.
I wanted to throw a Dragon Breath potion.
However, I couldn’t use such weapons to my heart’s content without damaging our allies.
The same went for alchemy summons.
Above all else, it could give away my position. Troops hurried from the reserves.
They were capable of breaking through enemy forces but not strong enough to withstand an intensive offensive. If they discovered that I was currently mixed with our force, the enemy wizards would rain down spells into our location.
Joining the main unit behind the enemy lines was the top priority for now.
The reserve team was also aware of that. That was why they were moving so desperately.
“Pierce through!”
“Don’t be pushed! Don’t be pushed! We have to connect with the main unit at all costs!”
“Gasp!”
Their task was to send me to the main unit.
I could see warriors falling one by one, but there was nothing I could do other than sending a brief divine power.
I wanted to hold their hands and drag them away, but if I paid attention to those who had been forcefully retired, I would end up isolated.
No matter how unconscionable I was, it was hard to watch those who were risking their lives for me and pretend like it was nothing.
‘Sh*t. Sh*t.’
Crash!
Craaaackk!
“Block! Block!”
“Block ahead! Lift up your shields! Magic is raining down on us! I said, lift up your shields! What are you doing!?”
“Arrows incoming! What are the ally wizards doing!?”
“Priests! We need a priest over here!”
An arrow struck clear and true into the soldier’s chest, looking for a priest right next to me.
One man managed to push into our ranks with a spear, but a large shield immediately blocked his advance.
The allied soldiers swiftly filled the gaps again.
As I looked down, I saw the soldier with an arrow in his chest gasping for breath. A friendly combat priest hastily checked his condition, but there was no hope.
Naturally, he didn’t try to extend his life by sending divine power into his body as much as possible.
This was because he already knew how stupid it was to expend resources on the hopeless.
‘That’s why they say a lot about war. f.u.c.k…’
Individual deaths were a tragedy, but many deaths remained statistics, some had said.
I couldn’t help but think exactly that way.
There wasn’t even time to mourn the death of our allies.
It was impossible to determine who died, and who was alive.
Each of the people who died might have had their own stories, but they were just another casualty, another corpse in the context of the war.
No one remembered those who were dying.
“I will remember.”
“C-Cough. Thank… you.”
The sight of the soldier throwing up blood and closing his eyes quietly made me grieve.
Of course, I wouldn’t remember, either.
However, saying those words to give him peace of mind was the least I could do. I nodded, looking at the soldier with his eyes closed relatively comfortably, but I had a bitter taste in my mouth.
Leaving the deceased soldiers behind, we continued to move forward.
As time pa.s.sed, I gradually got used to the noise of the battlefield.
I even became numb to the sight of death.
“Die!”
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
“Motherf.u.c.kers! Motherf.u.c.kers! Motherf.u.c.kers!”
“Stay strong! b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! Just a little more! Don’t lose! We just need to break a little more!”
“Don’t let them put even a single finger inside our ranks!”
“Arrows incoming! Lift your shields now! Priests and wizards, protection! We need protection!”
Volleys upon volleys of arrows rained down upon us.
A large shield then obscured the view.
Some of the arrows pierced through it, making me think that there was an archer among the enemy that could use tremendous magic power.
However, the damage wasn’t significant enough to cause the tide of battle to sway to their side.
Allies, including Park Deokgu, once again took up the shield and moved forward by slaying or cutting those around them.
It felt like the highlands weren’t too far.
It was then that a roar and a scream came from our side.
‘Sh*t.’
Allied troops were flung into the air, bouncing and skidding away from the frontlines. I didn’t know the exact details, but what happened was obvious.
‘A named enemy?’
Craaashhhh!
Craaaaaacckkkkk!
“Ahhhhhhhhh!”
“Block! Blo… ck. Don’t… gasp!”
‘Who’s the b.a.s.t.a.r.d?’
The face of the motherf.u.c.ker running from afar was quite familiar. It was the Russian who was as big as Park Deokgu.
Valentin Alexandro.
One of the Five General Tigers of the Republic, Ronaf’s Slayer, Ronaf’s Brawler.
The motherf.u.c.ker saved the Demon Summoner Jin Qing while injuring his right arm by Jung Hayan’s magic during the Laios crisis.
I bit down on my lips harshly upon seeing him charge through our allies like a battering ram.
‘Have they discovered my location?’
Perhaps it wasn’t that.
Magic bombardment hadn’t fallen onto our position yet.
The most rational cause I could think of was that the enemy refused to allow our reserve team to join the main unit; hence they put him in our way.
The person blew away heavily armored warriors with ease, showing exactly why people who had that level of power like him were called out of line.
The roaring sound of the guy covered in blood sounded the same as a huge monster’s.
‘Is there no support for allies?’
Lee Jihye would’ve already noticed.
However, there was a high probability that they wouldn’t be able to send support in time, considering the allies’ situation who were completely surrounded by the enemy forces.
A little farther from that place, there must’ve been a friendly force breaking through as well.
I managed to decipher that knowledge based on the four-nation alliance’s flag that I constantly looked out for with my eyes.
However…
‘Will they arrive in time?’
It would be nice if they could come in time, but they would still be in a pinch even if they did.
Having to stop that crazy gorilla was a huge burden to carry.
‘No. We can stop it.’
It could be possible with the current troops.
It was possible to buy some time with alchemy summons and Dragon Breath potions. I also had the Bomb of Light potion just in case, so maybe we could be a match to that ignorant b.a.s.t.a.r.d, even if it was just for a while.
I also had a shield that was stronger than anyone else next to me.
The problem was that they might be able to confirm my position after that. The reserve would be constantly kept in check by the enemy forces before we could even join the main unit.
However…
There was no choice.
We were in a situation where I could not expect support right away.
‘Block as quickly as possible and join the troops who came out to meet us as soon as possible.’
I was anxious, but that was the most reasonable option. I then barked an order immediately.
Park Deokgu looked at me.
“Deokgu, prepare for battle.”
“Can we win?”
“It’s possible. Get ready. We have to go out of our way to meet that thing.”
“…”
“…”
“Hyung-nim.”
“What?”
“I am not a fool either.”
“What bullsh*t is this all of a sudden?”
“I know how things are going, I mean. I know we’re in a dangerous situation right now, and I know that you shouldn’t be here. No, the enemy shouldn’t know that you’re here… Well, that or this is the same, but…”
“Shut up and get ready, pig b.a.s.t.a.r.d. This is a highly urgent matter. I don’t have time to take on a joke.”
“You go first. I will be in charge of here.”
“Stop bullsh*tting me. Do you think this is an anime movie? Don’t overdo it just to create an impressive scene. Shut up and prepare for battle. I’m not kidding anymore.”
“I told you to go first. I’ll take charge here. The remaining troops will take you to the main unit.”
“What bullsh*t…”
In an instant, Park Deokgu grabbed my shoulder.
He had such a big body that I had to look up.
Strangely, what I saw before continued to overlap with what was happening in the present.
The memory of the first round I saw through Yuno Kasugano.
“I’m sorry I look so shameful. Now I can see why you were able to stand on the battlefield so calmly. Thank you for your consideration, thank you for being with me, thank you, and… Thank you. Of course, I know it sounds stupid. I know that you don’t trust me much…”
“Don’t do anything stupid!”
“If you can…”
“Stop with the bullsh*t, crazy pig who doesn’t even know his place!”
“I can do better.”
He pushed me away.
I was pushed back against my will, and the allies caught me.
Once again, troops involved in the war were mixed between Park Deokgu and me.
In an instant, the brawler came in rushing with his large body.
I could see the pig grabbing his arm with a large shield on his back.
Baaaaaannngggg!
The last scene I could see was the scene of two hands grappling against each other with a loud crash sound.
“That stupid pig b.a.s.t.a.r.d!!” I had to scream.