Chapter 166

Our objective consisted of three cities that required liberation.

These were Termora on Floor 55, Lunestia on Floor 56, and Arseon on Floor 57.

Every single one of these settlements was occupied by fiends classified as mid-boss entities, and as expected, the intricacies of their vulnerabilities were common knowledge to both Baek Jinwoo and Rachel.

The actual engagements were far from challenging.

“Press forward! Disregard your anxieties and execute the divine mandate!”

“We stand as the champions of radiance! Eradicate the wickedness! ADVANCE!”

“ROOOOOAAAR!”

Tens of thousands of infantrymen accompanied by thousands of holy knights.

Leading this massive host were the Commander alongside the Champion.

Given that setup, what exactly was our assignment?

We simply had to remain on standby until they initiated the frontal assault, and then barge right in to cause absolute chaos.

“Rachel.”

“Present.”

“Your target is the eastern flank.”

“Understood.”

We divided our forces.

While the primary entryway was being battered by the Commander and the Champion, we launched simultaneous breaches through the eastern and western entry points respectively.

This was the classic tactic of making a disturbance in the center while executing a flanking maneuver on both sides.

Since the western gate fell under my jurisdiction…

The fiends tasked with defending it were incredibly unfortunate.

Of all the opponents they could have faced, they ended up drawing my name.

Ha.

The prolonged period of inactivity devoted to recovery and preparation had been testing my patience.

It was finally time to unleash everything and enjoy the chaos.

The unit under Baek Jinwoo also readied themselves for deployment.

Scaling the massive frame of LG, the figures of Dhampir, Drill Sarge, and Aso ascended in sequence.

• Screeeech……!

Baek Jinwoo took his position upon the airborne wyvern, keeping Stormy positioned directly ahead while Ramba remained settled on his shoulder.

The remaining minor forces, including the Rune Dwarves, took up positions at the rear of the formation.

Excellent.

Time to begin.

“You have arrived!”

The field commander overseeing the western approach, a Paladin by rank, offered a greeting upon their arrival.

The engagement was already fully underway.

BOOOM-BOOOM-BOOM!

Enormous war engines were actively pounding the defenses, while the defending fiends stationed along the battlements unleashed a torrent of projectiles and sorcery to repel the assault.

RUMBLE……!

An assault tower crept forward.

In its shadow, the holy knights channeled their luminous power, neutralizing the incoming malevolent spells.

However.

“AAAAARGH!”

“GURK!”

A number of holy knights collapsed into the dirt, their lifeblood spilling from severe gashes.

The defending fiends were proving to be formidable adversaries.

Potent hexes managed to bypass the protective holy barriers.

Some soldiers were consumed by sudden blazes, while others disintegrated entirely, their physical forms breaking down into ash.

“We require immediate assistance! Their defense is far more intense than we anticipated!”

“Understood.”

Nodding in response, Baek Jinwoo signaled his conjured forces to rapidly organize themselves.

Swish, swish, swish!

Ramba commenced her enhancement sequence.

Storm Dragon Arts.

Hidden technique.

Shift.

ROOOOAAAR!

The hellfire launched by Stormy materialized as a massive serpentine dragon, tearing across the upper parapets with a deafening clash.

Following that.

“Our trusty LG.”

You consumed that Guardian Stone, so it is time to demonstrate your value, correct?

Baek Jinwoo stepped toward the commanding officer.

“Pardon me.”

“Y-yes! Please, state your need!”

The officer belonged to the elite Royal Guardians.

Having previously suffered a definitive defeat at the hands of Baek Jinwoo, his current behavior was profoundly deferential.

Even without that history.

Witnessing the terrifying display of Stormy’s hellfire consuming the enemy positions above was enough to make anyone exceptionally polite.

“Would it be possible to place this entity into that siege machine?”

“This entity being……?”

“The construct right here.”

Baek Jinwoo gestured toward LG.

“The-the construct?!”

“I recommend expediting the process. Any delay will only increase the body count among your men.”

“I-immediately! Execute the order!”

Prompted by the officer’s command.

Clack, clack!

The crew adjusted the machinery precisely to Baek Jinwoo’s specifications.

• Groooan?

LG maneuvered himself onto the firing pocket of the siege engine.

Dhampir secured a position directly on top of him.

“Launch them directly onto the upper battlements.”

“Understood, sir!”

An operator carefully calibrated the trajectory of the mechanism.

The objective was a precise landing for LG right amidst the enemy positions.

Then.

“RELEASE!”

THWACK!

The locking pin snapped free.

WHOOOOOOSH!

The heavy ballast dropped rapidly under the pull of gravity.

CRASH!

The velocity transferred instantly to the arm, catapulting LG straight into the sky.

• ROOOOOOOAR!

Aware of his objective, LG raised a massive clenched fist high above his head.

The instant his trajectory intercepted the apex of the wall.

BOOOOOM!

He brought his fist down with tremendous force, smashing it deep into the masonry.

The pure kinetic impact generated a massive shockwave that vibrated through the entire structure.

• SHRIEEK!

• SCREEEAM!

The fiends defending the parapet erupted into chaos, rushing toward the intruder.

Yet LG, having hauled his massive form onto the walkway through sheer physical power, merely cocked his head in confusion.

What exactly are you attempting?

Are you trying to tickle me?

Disregarding the entire assault, he began throwing heavy strikes. While his offensive power wasn’t earth-shattering, his absolute invulnerability simply erased all incoming damage, presenting an absolute catastrophe for the defenders.

“Incredible!”

“YEAAAAAH!”

On the ground, the spirits of the Holy Kingdom’s battalions surged dramatically.

“A divine emissary!”

“The champion stands on the front line!”

“Marvelous!”

The soldiers bellowed with renewed energy upon witnessing the construct’s absolute dominance.

The constant rain of projectiles, scalding fluids, and offensive spells abruptly halted.

The entire defensive line redirected their undivided attention toward LG.

The implication?

The path was clear for an ascent.

“Advance the assault towers!”

“Push forward without delay!”

“THE DIVINE IS WITH US! TRIUMPH IS OURS!”

“ROOOOOAAAR!”

The vanguard began scaling the fortifications, and Baek Jinwoo remained equally active.

• Screeech!

Utilizing the wyvern to ascend, he touched down on a section of the wall just beneath LG’s position.

Provided his conjured entities remained active, a participant was completely immune to death.

That protective shield remained impenetrable even if the primary adversary, Asmodeus himself, entered the fray.

Consequently, maintaining a clear vantage point was his primary concern.

THUD!

The moment his boots made contact with the stone.

“Drill Sarge, Aso. Commencing deployment.”

Directly behind him, a trio of summons armed with blades and a reaping scythe vaulted onto the platform in identical fashion.

“Eradicate them.”

• Understood, Master!

• Acknowledged!

• Grrrr….

With those words, the slaughter commenced.

Indeed.

The irritation that had built up from exercising restraint back on Floor 54 was palpable.

This was the ideal venue to release every bit of it.

Across the expanse of the engagement.

Observing the devastation from a distance, an obese gentleman was shaking uncontrollably.

This was Holy King Arkelion.

The individual designated as the earthly voice of the Divine.

“Your Holiness.”

The Champion, Eila, communicated in a muted tone.

“It might be prudent for you to withdraw to the interior pavilion.”

Because the entirety of their martial force had been committed, the sovereign had accompanied the host.

This specific vantage point offered greater security than their prior location.

However, if the rank-and-file witnessed their monarch displaying such visible terror, it would utterly destroy their resolve.

One cannot exactly discipline the voice of the Divine, after all.

Ultimately, Eila opted to position herself to block him from public view.

“Please remain patient for a short while longer. I shall personally enter the fray and secure the settlement.”

“If you depart—!”

The Holy King nearly leaped out of his garments in panic.

“What becomes of ME?!”

Twitch.

A visible vein pulsed against Eila’s brow.

Nevertheless, he remained the Holy King.

She preserved every shred of protocol she could manage.

“Fifty elite Royal Guardians maintain a perimeter around Your Holiness. Your safety is guaranteed. If I fail to intervene immediately…… the casualties will continue to mount.”

Tightening her grip.

Eila, outfitted in gleaming pale plate armor, closed her hand firmly around her polearm.

“Champion!”

A breathless Royal Guardian burst into the command pavilion from the exterior.

“Report.”

“Th-they have successfully secured the settlement!”

“What?”

Eila’s gaze widened in absolute disbelief.

The primary entryway remained completely obstructed. Her forces hadn’t even breached the threshold.

What could he possibly mean by claiming the settlement was secured?

“Are you certain you comprehend the definition of ‘secured’?”

To secure meant to completely liberate what had been occupied.

It required far more than merely seizing the outer perimeters.

One had to penetrate the central estate and claim the life of the opposing commander for the achievement to register.

The entity commanding Termora was Akredis, an S-rank adversary.

A prominent lieutenant under Asmodeus—a specialized assassin-type fiend manipulating darkness.

“I-it is an absolute fact! The western perimeter collapsed initially, and once our forces shifted to exploit that gap, the eastern gateway shattered immediately after!”

“……?”

Both flanking entry points had collapsed so quickly?

“Ohohoho, is such a thing truly accurate?!”

Having apparently monitored the conversation from the rear, the Holy King emerged rapidly from his concealed spot.

“They truly represent divine emissaries! Emissaries, without a doubt!”

“Indeed. The entity identified as Drill Sarge has returned bearing the severed head of Akredis.”

“My word.”

Eila stood completely stunned by the revelation.

It had been accomplished with such ease?

“Based on the accounts from the frontline soldiers…… those individuals are absolute terrors. The manner in which the fiends regarded them…… it mimicked the way one would look at an actual monster……”

“Priorities first.”

Eila swiftly parted the entry drapes of the pavilion.

“Let us verify this with our own eyes.”

To witness the aftermath.

To evaluate the current state of affairs.

“YEAAAAAAAH!”

The exterior environment was already vibrating with celebratory shouts.

CREEEAK!

The primary gateway was being drawn open from within.

And through the opening, the collective forces began their triumphant exit.

It was a remarkable sight.

Just a short duration prior, that location had been heavily defended by fiends and aberrations—so for what reason were friendly forces now casually strolling out of it?

Furthermore.

• LET ME HEAR YOU ROOOOOAAAR!

The pixie known as Ramba.

She gestured grandly with her implement through the air, driving the assembled crowd into absolute hysteria.

“Ha.”

A hollow chuckle escaped Eila’s lips.

She possessed awareness regarding their capabilities.

Yet she had never anticipated it would reach this degree of absurdity.

Conceivably, they might actually be…

The figures capable of rescuing a land bordering on absolute devastation?

Clenching her fist.

She compressed her fingers into a tight ball.

These were individuals who had accomplished the monumental task of obliterating fiends.

She fully intended to accord them every bit of reverence they had earned.

Thud.

Baek Jinwoo dropped an object directly at the feet of the Holy King.

The cranium of the opposing general.

To be precise—it was the head of Akredis.

Under conventional circumstances.

Both the Commander and the Champion would have sharply rebuked such an irreverent gesture.

But things had changed.

The newcomers had verified their capabilities.

Demonstrating that they stood as the sole remaining salvation for the Holy Kingdom.

Baek Jinwoo offered a mischievous smirk.

Positioned behind him, Rachel maintained her stance as well.

“As per our terms, we have liberated the settlement and delivered the head of this fiend…… Surely you possess additional compensation prepared for our efforts, do you not?”

“Ha, hahaha.”

The Holy King offered a strained chuckle.

Additional compensation?

Even if his stores were completely depleted, he would be forced to manufacture an offering from nothing.

“Eila.”

“Awaiting your command, Your Holiness.”

“Do you possess any item suitable for them?”

Eila’s countenance shifted to one of profound skepticism.

For what reason are you directing this inquiry toward me?

“I fail to comprehend your intent. I possess nothing of value to offer.”

“Haha, is that the situation?”

Snap!

The Holy King redirected his attention sharply back toward Baek Jinwoo.

“I harbor immense gratitude for the assistance you have provided, however, the pair of Guardian Stones I transferred previously constituted the entirety of my inventory…… Is there perhaps an alternative reward you desire? I shall ensure it is procured, regardless of the difficulty!”

“Is that truly the case?”

The edges of Baek Jinwoo’s mouth turned upward into a distinct smirk.

The deceptive old man.

He was transparently fabricating a falsehood at this very moment.

Within the mechanics of the game, without any ambiguity—

• I desire to grant you a reward. Select one from this pair.

—he had explicitly uttered those words while presenting a sapphire-tinted ‘stone’ alongside a ‘manuscript.’

A commendable effort, elderly gentleman.

“You retain a manuscript adorned with azure symbols, do you not? Suppose you transfer that over instead.”

“……A manuscript with azure symbols?”

The volume of the Holy King’s response diminished significantly.

He attempted to mask his reaction, but the sudden panic visible on his features was impossible to miss.

By what means does he possess knowledge of that item?

Distributed across the land were relics left by the divine messengers of antiquity.

The Ten Apostles who had directly served the Divine.

Manuscripts containing the residual essence of those Apostles, secured via sacred seals—those items were absolutely non-negotiable.

He had already been stripped of his Guardian Stones. If he surrendered those artifacts as well?

The realm would be left completely bankrupt.

“Haha, I am entirely unfamiliar with the object you are describing.”

The Holy King attempted to feign ignorance.

Yet Baek Jinwoo’s smirk remained completely fixed.

“In that case, bind it with a vow.”

“A vow?”

“Indeed. Affirm it before the Divine. That the statement you just uttered represents the absolute truth.”

“……W-what exactly are you requesting.”

Was this individual demanding that he engage in outright sacrilege?

Yet Baek Jinwoo increased the pressure.

“Surely a simple pledge of that nature is within your capability? I am starting to feel quite insulted. If this is the level of cooperation we can expect, then our commitment to liberate the remaining two settlements is—”

“Sigh, very well! Very well, I yield! I shall surrender it! However, there is only a SINGLE piece!”

Excellent.

The situation was unfolding perfectly.

Time to secure this concession permanently.

“Then swear it before the Divine. State the precise quantity of manuscripts currently in your possession, and while we are on the topic, confirm whether those previous Guardian Stones truly amounted to only a pair. I require absolute verification.”

Be quick about it!

Utter the vow before the Divine, let us go!

“……!”

Confronted by the intense, unyielding gaze of Baek Jinwoo, the Holy King forced his eyelids shut.

Avarice was one matter, but he could never bring himself to invoke the name of the Divine to substantiate a falsehood.

Confound it all.

There was no remaining avenue for evasion.

Fine! Take everything!

Every last bit!