Declaration of War

Beyond the shattering barrier, snow-white clouds spread infinitely.

When the master set foot there, the clouds dyed pitch-black as if paint dropped on a pure white canvas.

Looking down at the ground become like deep night, the monster recalls.

[You are a calamity that must never live.]

The words of the human who imprisoned him here.

The hatred humans possessed.

Hostility.

Fear.

[How regrettable. I must take your neck…]

The human who reduced him to near-death died.

But while barely completing his body while shaking off death here, he met a similar one.

“Foolish creature not knowing the treasure’s true value.”

The monster caressed the Hollow Eye on his forehead.

The power contained within is extremely alien and won’t move as intended.

‘I’ll kill that one.’

If he kills the human who interfered with the Hollow Eye, won’t he learn this power’s proper use?

The monster smiled.

Humans don’t change even as time passes.

They always move after calamity strikes.

When prepared, it’s already too late.

Even beings called Magi and mages comparable to them all look small like ants.

Though the heart hasn’t yet recovered, it doesn’t matter.

‘I’ll devour your hearts and drink your blood to revive once more. Thus, I’ll prove I’m alive here.’

The monster roared.

Exploding the mountain range’s demonic energy to advance the time for high-grade demon beast regeneration.

And demon beasts synchronized with the monster’s emotions began trembling together.

As the monster descended, even mountains and forests moved as demon beasts followed.

What were mere black dots became a massive wave following the monster.

Those filthy, ugly energies dye barrier stones pitch-black while advancing toward the castle.

He hears.

Humans’ breathing.

Hearts pulsing with terror.

The moment he faced the castle rife with blood and fear, the monster realized his forgotten name.

Cargoras.

The mountain range’s master was a predator devouring all things’ greed.

* * *

Massive dark clouds covered the castle.

“All demonic energy makes discerning the creature difficult.”

Zeef climbed the battlements and looked at the black wave descending from the mountain range.

“You’ll need to exert some effort.”

Zeef was determined to handle the mountain master.

But in a situation where the mountain range’s demonic energy flowed abnormally and demon beasts overflowed, finding only the master wasn’t easy.

“I’ll block demon beasts. When numbers begin decreasing, the master will also reveal himself. Then, Sir Zeef, please finish it.”

“You’re not completely hopeless.”

Whether pleased with Pernok’s proposed strategy, Zeef grinned and positioned himself with the knight order in one corner.

Pernok told Borden.

“Demon beasts charge in from the front. With us backed by the castle, there’s no reason to avoid a power struggle.”

“But won’t they get swept up by mana cannons?”

Mana cannons are Rezhen Kingdom’s tactical weapons.

A method where mages pour mana into cannon barrels made with the kingdom’s unique technology to charge, amplify, and fire again.

Five mana cannons, difficult even to glimpse, existed here.

Necessary mana would be handled by low-level mages among association mercenaries who couldn’t deploy directly to the front lines.

“I’ll create openings. You just fire determinedly when you see them.”

“Hmm, don’t resent me if you get swept up.”

“How are the knight orders?”

“I’m attaching half to you. Ten level 5 mages will move treating you like me.”

“What about the commander and deputy commander?”

“They must protect the castle. Can’t take everyone.”

When Borden looked eerily at the mountain range, Pernok smiled.

“Has the association finished flanking force preparations?”

“Of course. Ramut seemed to boil with excitement at combat after a long time.”

Another level 6 mage of this mountain range.

Association elder Ramut decided to target flanks leading level 3 and 4 mages.

A measure to let Named, boasting the strongest breakthrough power, focus only on frontal power struggles.

“What kind is Ramut’s magic?”

“Specialized in assassination.”

“That’ll help create variables.”

“Hoho, you know just by looking at eyes. Though he rested deeply, he sharpens when entering actual combat—he’ll react instantly even at a finger twitch.”

“Good. Then let’s prepare too. Everyone, move considering even worst cases.”

Baltus and Borden nodded and returned to their positions.

Pernok headed toward guild members waiting before the castle gate.

“As discussed, we’re the vanguard. We take enemy necks from the very front.”

“You work people pretty harshly.”

Jad burst into hollow laughter from one side.

While Pernok structured the overall framework from the battlements, newly joined Jad and Zodiac received detailed tactics here.

“Shouldn’t you give time to match coordination?”

“I expected about a day, but demon beasts’ nature is more urgent than expected. What can be done? We can only trust A-rank guilds’ experience.”

Zodiac smiled and asked.

“You heard about our magic?”

“Of course.”

“Confident you won’t get swept up?”

“Just do as I say. Then it’ll end without any damage.”

“As Sallio said. Confidence overflowing. Is that youth’s vigor? Hahahaha!”

Zodiac laughed and stood to Pernok’s left.

Sallio and Enri on the right, and Jad in the rear.

Pernok stood at the head with high-level mages.

“Hallam, move as Rio instructs from here.”

“Yes, guild leader!”

By the time Hallam led 30 guild members and disappeared—

Rumble!

The castle gate opened to face a vast sea flowing pitch-black in the distance.

The flesh-cutting dense demonic energy disappeared as if it never existed when Pernok raised his fist.

“Act as usual.”

Light faintly flowing from the artifact gloves seemed like it would lead to victory as always.

“We don’t fight losing battles.”

At Pernok’s guarantee, the moment all Named grinned to boost morale—

Boooooooo-!

A majestic horn sound announcing demon beasts descending from the mountain range rang out.

“Sweep them all away!”

* * *

Pernok and mages advance.

From the mountain range, massive mana surges like waves.

When the sound of gulping saliva echoes like thunder, Borden shouted from the battlements.

“Flares!”

Flames from a mage struck the blunt orb a soldier threw forward.

Flashes bursting that moment drive away darkness, revealing black outlines.

“Kyaaaaaak!”

Low-grade demon beasts mercenaries usually hunted had somehow densely covered the ground.

Pernok mustn’t waste strength on low-grade demon beasts.

When Borden raised his sword high, the battlements’ flag pointed forward.

Wherever aimed, demon beasts were concentrated.

Just lengthen range more so Pernok won’t get swept up.

“Don’t let demon beasts step on this sacred ground!”

Fire arrows first split the sky, and the moment low-grade demon beasts annoyedly blocked with bodies and kept running—

Bang!

Flashes bursting from the castle covered the pitch-black wave.

Demon beasts at the spot where a massive pit formed melted into a handful of demonic energy.

However, other demon beasts instantly filled that spot.

Though mages who activated mana cannons collapsed as if exhausted, there was no leisure to feel afterglow from this intense power.

“Prepare second wave!”

Mercenary mages supported by the association took positions at mana cannons instead.

“Water attribute mages cool the cannons!”

“200 meters until Named and demon beast collision!”

“Hurry! We must secure the path!”

When burning smells rose from everywhere—

“Count!”

Suddenly the knight commander flew up like lightning.

Boom!

Sparks flew in empty air as the dark sky rippled.

Soon it became a massive bird with sharp talons.

Nightmare Eagle.

A skilled hunter inhabiting above 8000 meters altitude, hiding in darkness to secretly hunt prey.

Even level 6 and higher mages only grasped its presence after it approached close.

“Keeeeeooot!”

Those seeing high-grade demon beasts for the first time blankly stared at pitch-black blazing flames.

It was like the sun shining to earth. The moment ominous, enlarging flames engulfed the entire castle—

Rustle! Bang!

Nightmare Eagle and fire split cleanly in two.

Only after the massive body crashed below the castle wall did soldiers regain their senses.

Borden turned his gaze sideways.

Zeef was brushing off his staff.

“Tsk tsk, swayed by just one such creature unable to regain senses—soldiers grow lazy because of mercenary trash.”

Zeef turned his gaze to intense demonic energy revealing itself above low-grade demon beasts.

Demon Knight, King Snake, Ale Solu, Raph.

High-grade demon beasts requiring two or three A-rank guilds to kill revealed themselves successively.

“This castle’s mana cannons won’t even scratch those creatures, so use them only on mid-to-low-grade demon beasts. Never let battlements be breached.”

Zeef called the Royal Guard Knights.

He no longer had attachment to castle walls.

Boom!

Mana cannons spewed fire again, sweeping low-grade demon beasts.

Pernok finally contacted demon beasts.

That one moment, the Wind Magus read intense hostility hidden in demonic energy.

“Hohoho, I thought you cunning, but you’re a greenhorn.”

Zeef carried the Royal Guard Knights on wind toward where he felt hostility.

Though Borden’s irritation surged at Zeef’s attitude ignoring the castle, he immediately straightened his expression and maintained the walls.

“Light fires! Don’t let any demon beast covet this place! Reload mana cannons, and knight orders prepare for combat with high-grade demon beasts like Eagles!”

“Charge!”

The moment knight orders newly deployed at regular intervals and drew up mana, the association’s veteran mercenaries began moving.

The flanking force led by elder Ramut dug into demon beasts’ flanks.

* * *

Pernok glanced at the blue flag hung on the castle.

Others seemed to feel it too.

“Guild leader, Zeef really seems to have abandoned this side.”

The blue flag meant Zeef found the master, so he absolutely won’t support the vanguard’s rear.

Pernok didn’t care.

Because he’d never even considered Zeef’s cooperation from the start.

Rather, fortunately he didn’t show clumsy goodwill with reasons to help.

Thud!

Breaking through the path the castle opened quickly, Jad asked.

“Demon beasts flood endlessly! How far do you plan to go?!”

“High-grade demon beasts.”

“You’re going all the way there?”

“It’s possible with Zodiac.”

Jad, who’d widened his eyes, exclaimed admiringly while slashing demon beasts.

“Wow, you’re crazy.”

Words Jad occasionally spouts when recognizing an enemy.

“How long have we met that you’re squeezing uncle to his limits?”

“You have leisure for chitchat! You move busily too, you punk!”

When Enri snapped at Jad while maintaining formation, Pernok smiled and conveyed to Zodiac.

“Open it.”

Zodiac’s magic is nature-type that collapses earth.

Especially his magic is wide-ranging, tremendously excellent for activity on plains.

Finesse is needed, but Zodiac possesses sufficient skill.

“If I use magic here, all demon beasts will fragment. I can’t stop mid-to-low-grade demon beasts from going to the castle.”

“We only handle high-grade demon beasts.”

“You’re abandoning all passing demon beasts?”

“Would idiots unable to stop even that much be at the castle?”

Instantly, Zodiac blinked.

Soon he burst into laughter and pressed both arms to the ground.

“Kwahahaha! Now I see why Sallio follows!”

Boom boom boom!

Spider-web-like cracks stretched from the ground up to 500 meters radius.

When mid-to-low-grade demon beasts fell between split earth, Pernok’s eyes turn toward high-grade demon beasts.

A full ten entities gathered.

“Remember the bet we three made when catching Demon Knights?”

Sallio and Enri grinned.

“Take even the knight order. And shake them.”

The two rushed into the midst of high-grade demon beasts.

“Jad, protect Zodiac and disturb high-grade demon beasts’ vision with flames.”

“That’s all?”

“Rather than burning all your flames trying to fell one high-grade demon beast, controlling firepower to disturb vision is far more useful.”

“Isn’t firepower insufficient to use me only for checking?”

Pernok added spiritual power to artifact gloves and turned his body toward high-grade demon beasts.

“It’s enough.”