Meanwhile, in Laputa of Metalia, the capital of the Valhalla Kingdom…
“I, king of the Valhalla Kingdom, Kang Chul-In, hereby announce...”
When the Lord’s Hall was somewhat cleared up, Kang Chul-In gave his orders.
“From now on, I command that all forces in the north stop fighting and standby in each of their posts.”
The officials who heard the strange command were surprised.
“Y-Your Majesty! The Dorado forces led by her third Majesty, Lee Chae-Rin, are currently fighting against the 500,000 army in Shatyameba! Why are you asking for the army to retreat!?”
One servant admonished.
“You can’t! Ordering our forces in the north to retreat can lead to the end of our kingdom! Your Majesty, please think it through one more time…!”
“You can’t do that, sir!”
“Please reconsider!”
The officials all bowed towards Kang Chul-In.
“No.”
But Kang Chul-In wasn’t going to listen to a single thing they said. There was no point in fighting needlessly. The Agnaga army would be destroyed as soon as Cereb was taken care of. Why would he take the long way around when there was a more efficient solution?
“Sending forces to the north for backup is a waste. I have an idea, so wait and listen to my command.”
“Yes, your Majesty!”
“Understood, your Majesty!”
“Since his Majesty says that there is a way, shouldn’t we follow?”
The officials of the Valhalla Kingdom obeyed Kang Chul-In without any complaint. How could they dare to suggest anything else?
“Also.” He added on. “Announce my return to all soldiers, and let them know they’ve worked hard. Victory will be in the hands of the Valhalla Kingdom. I, the Supreme King of the West, Kang Chul-In, will make it so.”
It was an expression as strong as blood and iron… a promise that only Kang Chul-In could make.
“Also, summon Dorian Explorer, Hecate, Lucia, and Nilus to the kingdom immediately.”
He wanted to create a kind of unit, a special forces group designed to get rid of Cereb, who was deep in enemy territory. A squad of the strongest!
***
Boom! Rumble!
Explosive sounds rang out in the sky instantly, and… “stars” began to fall from the sky. It wasn’t just one. Hundreds and thousands of small meteorites were falling in the front yard of Esmeralda, just like the soldiers of the Ancient Empire, whose deaths were imminent.
“G-Goodness…!”
“Meteor… Strike… the spell that I only heard about in legends…”
“Goodness… Sir Nilus… Meteor Strike!”
“Ark… mage!”
The generals of the Valhalla Kingdom were shocked at the sight that Nilus created. Yes, it was a miracle. The descent of meteorites was a spell that only a few magicians could do as it was the hardest type of natural magic. Natural spells related to rain, wind, tornadoes, snow, wind storms, and heat waves all used the environment of Pangaea. However, Meteor Strike was different. Summoning a meteor that rotated around s.p.a.ce was a different story. After all, if the summoned meteors were too big, the caster of the spell wouldn’t be safe either. They would be committing suicide by blowing something up above their heads. It was a waste of mana and manpower. If you failed, you would be the fool of the century.
Such a miracle that only ark mages could do (there were only one to two ark mages per century) was happening right in front of them.
Shwoooo! Stars began to appear in the sky above Esmeralda from the atmosphere.
"...الوق النقد الدولي ووحدة الجنوبية في المركز"
Nilus didn’t pause the spell.
"...الدولي ووحدة الجنوبیة "
Meteor Strike wasn’t simply a descent of power. Dropping meteors meant that a part of the ground would be destroyed, and they didn’t attack selectively. Meteors didn’t have eyes. Because of this, Nilus was attempting to complete Meteor Strike after casting spells for barriers around their allies. Moreover, there had to be limits set on the meteors for when they fell.
Flas.h.!.+ A brilliant light scattered in front of everyone and a firm barrier wrapped around the Esmeralda territory.
“...!”
The Ancient Empire’s soldiers were taken aback at the sudden barrier.
“I-It’s not going away?”
“What is…!”
“What kind of barrier…!”
They could only be surprised. The barrier that Nilus created was a superior version of the “Untouchable Barrier” that Arsh.e.l.ly had shown in the past; it was a barrier-type magic that completely separated Esmeralda from Pangaea.
Meanwhile, meteors filled the sky above Esmeralda. The first meteorite landed in the front yard.
Boom! It was spectacularly loud.
The sky and earth roared and cried.
“I-Is this a bomb?”
“Magic?”
A few Ancient Empire soldiers expressed their curiosity. But it wasn’t just one meteor…
Shwooo, boom!
The meteors landed on the battlefield in an instant.
“...!”
The soldiers of the Ancient Empire died with their eyes open, crushed by the meteorites, and not even being aware of how they died. It was a gruesome but marvelous sight.
A meteor show! It was a beautiful sight that people could only see once in their lifetimes. And it’s destructiveness? Tens of Ancient Empire soldiers were killed in the blink of an eye. It was a refres.h.i.+ng sight from the perspective of the Valhalla Kingdom.
“Whoa…!”
“Sir Nilus… Meteor Strike…!”
“We… will win… there’s no way we’ll lose when we have such an ark mage.”
Their morale was boosted.
-Announcing to all soldiers!
Just then, a voice rang out from the magic-engineered speakers around the castle walls.
-His Majesty has returned! Once again, his Majesty has returned!
The announcement was decisive.
“H-His Majesty?”
“He’s finally returned…!”
“The G.o.d of war has come back… the G.o.d of war!”
“Your Majesty…!”
The boosted morale from Nilus’s contribution was even more uplifted.
-Also, His Majesty said to compliment the hard work of all soldiers. Victory is the kingdom’s! His Majesty will make it so!
The victory of the war was guaranteed.
“His Majesty has returned!”
“Victory is ours!”
“Wait and see, you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! His Majesty will break all your necks! Hehehe…!”
“We already won, we won!”
Their morale shot high up into the sky.
“Whoooooooo!”
“Hurrah for the Valhalla Kingdom!”
“Hurrah for Kang Chul-In!”
“For victory!”
Shouts of victory came from the mouths of the Valhallan soldiers. Yes, it was already a finished battle.
***
Two hours later,
“Your Majesty, they say the defense of Esmeralda has succeeded! Congratulations on your victory!”
“Victory…?” Kang Chul-In was surprised. “Does that make sense?”
The battle at Esmeralda was hopeless. He had summoned the strongest from the frontline for the unit and was about to head to Esmeralda to fight the Ancient Empire soldiers himself, but…
“What is the reason for victory?”
“S-Sir Nilus…!”
“Nilus?”
“Meteor Strike…”
“...!”
“In merely 10 minutes, 200,000 Ancient Empire soldiers were erased from the front yard of Esmeralda…”
“2-200,000?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Huh…”
Kang Chul-In was taken aback by the incredible number. 200,000 soldiers were killed in 10 minutes? That kind of destructiveness was like a nuclear bomb back from Earth. He couldn’t help but be surprised.
“So.” Kang Chul-In asked. “What’s the current situation?”
“Yes, your Majesty.” The servant replied. “The army of our kingdom is currently chasing after the retreating Ancient Empire soldiers. With the elimination of the enemy commander Kwak Jun, the rule of the Ancient Empire is currently immobilized, so this seems to be the best judgment for now.”
“Really?” It was some good news for the first time in a while. “Tell them to take it easy. It was a rough day.”
“B-But…”
“We’ll be victorious even if it’s not today. I’ll make it so, so tell the soldiers to stop fighting and rest up.”
“Yes, your Majesty!”
Kang Chul-In didn’t plan on getting into a heated fight with the Ancient Empire soldiers. The elimination of Cereb and the upcoming battle with the soon-to-be-resurrected Rindermergel was the most important. If these two tasks were completed, taking over Pangaea would be a matter of time.
Flas.h.!.+ Just then, someone appeared from the Warp Gate placed in the center of the Lord’s Hall.
“Kang Chul-In!” Dorian Explorer smiled, his entire body wrapped in bandages. “You’ve come back! You’re all better?!”
“It was nothing.”
“That’s good!”
“What about you? You don’t look too good.”
“Ah, I was beaten up by that stupid demon b.a.s.t.a.r.d…”
Obviously, the “stupid demon b.a.s.t.a.r.d” that Dorian was speaking about was Saturnus, who was beaten to death by Kang Chul-In.
“Just be grateful that you’re alive.”
“Well, I was lucky.”
Dorian grinned.
Flas.h.!.+ The Warp Gate s.h.i.+ned again.
“You’ve come back?” Overlord Hecate, who dreamed of sleeping with Kang Chul-In 24/7, appeared.
They’re slowly starting to gather. Kang Chul-In smiled. Just wait, you bug. I’ll pull out your dirty antennas.
Cereb’s elimination was up next.
***
Underground of the Shatyameba territory, in Cereb’s nest...
Lee Ji-Tae worked faithfully in his position of Cereb. The twelve antennas swayed around his head, delivering brain waves to the 500,000 soldier army of Agnaga.
-Chase after them. Don’t let them retreat.
-The first legion goes to the west and the second legion heads to the east. Attack them from both sides.
-The battle has to continue. Attack the enemy relentlessly and get rid of them all.
Cereb was controlling the Agnaga army and leading the battle with his antennas.
Kang Chul-In… Cereb thought. Where are you? My revenge isn’t too far… Did you escape to Earth?
Cereb didn’t know anything about Kang Chul-In’s whereabouts. He didn’t have a way to gain any information about it either. He could gather tons of information every day, but that was only possible in battle. After all, why would humans give any information to the strange-looking Agnaga?
No, that’s not it… Cereb felt anxious, thinking that Kang Chul-In escaped to Earth.
You’re not one to throw your kingdom away… just what are you doing, Kang Chul-In? Are you in the north? It was frustrating.
A month had pa.s.sed since his communication with Milenius was cut off, so Cereb knew absolutely nothing about Kang Chul-In. He just hoped that Kang Chul-In was fighting in the army against the Gullveig Alliance…
It was then.
Boom! With an explosion, the ceiling of the underground residence began to collapse.
-...!
Cereb didn’t know what was happening.
Boom! Once again, there was another explosion.
Boom! Eventually, the ceiling came tumbling down and a group of people descended.
“Are you doing well?”
The head of the group greeted Cereb.
-...!
Cereb was shocked.
-Y-You are…!
“Not the Emperor of Blood and Iron.” Kang Chul-In finished his sentence. “Kang Chul-In. The Supreme King of the West, Kang Chul-In.”
-...!
“You know what we’re here for, yes?”
-H-How…
“If you’re asking about how we knew, it was the backtracking of the brain waves.”
-...!
“There’s no way we wouldn’t know where you were after following that grotesque energy.” An evil smile appeared on Kang Chul-In’s face.