Chapter 190 : Chapter 190

Chapter 190 : The Fallen (1)

The news that a large number of demon beastkin appeared ahead spread through the expedition.

The demon beastkin were not strangers, as they had previously torn through Myeolji and engaged in a fierce battle with the Crows.

Because of that, word of how strong the demon beastkin were had also spread widely.

However, the expedition was not intimidated in the slightest.

Rather, most of the expedition members expressed strong anger toward the demon beastkin and strengthened their resolve for battle.

It was because the ringleader who dragged Tayon into Myeolji was the head of the demon beastkin, Zenburga.

The expedition halted its advance.

We set up a temporary camp and went to rest.

However, not a single person was laughing with a mind at ease.

Meanwhile, the commanders gathered in a clearing.

Since Ryung's report had already been delivered, the mood of the commanders had also sunk low.

“They say the demon beastkin is clustered ahead. They are expected to be the strongest among those we have faced in Myeolji.”

However, someone had to conduct the meeting.

Agamben looked around at everyone and spoke slowly.

Then the 1st Prince leading the Imperial Army, Dinaus, asked worriedly.

“Are they stronger than the mage unit led by the 7th Rank Verni?”

Agamben turned his gaze to Labella.

She nodded and answered on his behalf.

“Yes, more demonic energy is being detected than from the unit led by Verni. Verni's unit only had a strong leader, while the mages under her command were not that threatening, but the beastkin unit appears to have several high-rank demons mixed in.”

Grrr.......

A few Beast Kings growled low.

Their uncomfortable moods were conveyed vividly.

“They are no longer beastkin. They are just cowardly fallen ones.”

The Wolf King spoke while suppressing his rage.

The Tiger King Balua also nodded, and the other beastkin growled once again as if agreeing.

It wasn't just the beastkin who were burning with hostility toward the demon beastkin unit.

Remmelts, who became the head of the Crows following Tayon, was also stiff with his teeth clenched tight.

Agamben calmly stated the information he had to deliver.

“The enemy will be strong. Zenburga's rank was also 4th. I do not know if his rank has dropped now that the Necklace of the Void has been taken away, but he will be extremely agitated.”

The commanders also added their opinions one by one.

“Chief of Staff Agamben's words are correct. Even though Verni's unit was made up only of mages so the breakthrough would have been relatively easy, the expedition still suffered damage.”

“The possibility of greater damage occurring this time is high.”

“......It seems likely.”

I watched the situation and then spoke up.

“We do not know what rank Zenburga is currently, nor do we know if Zenburga is mixed in with the demon beastkin unit. However, it is clear that they are enemies we must fight and defeat.”

And I was just as filled with anger.

“Since the possibility that high-ranking ones are mixed in is high, we will not advance in a single column, but split into a vanguard and a main unit. Are there any who wish to stand in the vanguard?”

As soon as my words ended, the beastkin vied to raise their hands.

Not only the Bear King and Wolf King, but all beastkin including Balua clearly stated their intention to stand in the vanguard.

Remmelts, the head of the Crows, also raised his hand to volunteer.

Everyone must have been able to see the resolution filling his face.

Perhaps that was why even Dvalic, who would have normally stubbornly insisted that he stand in the vanguard, was quiet.

It was in contrast to how he said he would unconditionally stand as the vanguard of a battle with the next high-ranking occurred.

The commanders belonging to the Adjak family must also have had very bad feelings toward Zenburga, who dragged Tayon, one of the 12 Swords, into Myeolji, but they did not insist on the vanguard.

They yielded to those who felt an even greater anger.

After all, combat was not something only the vanguard underwent.

At that moment, Keldric raised his hand high.

It was a decision that would greatly surprise the commanders.

It was because Keldric showed action while everyone else was holding back, even though they likely wanted to raise their hands.

Even more, Keldric was strictly speaking not a commander.

He was only included in the commander meeting due to the special nature of being a member of the Separate Unit I belonged to.

But when Keldric raised his hand, Bea and Everchen raised their hands following him, as if adding strength to him.

Kiyot, Siriel, and Blaze, who moved their affiliation from the Crows to the Separate Unit, also raised their hands.

Likewise, Eidon, who had joined the Separate Unit, raised his hand high.

People's gazes began to gather on me. I also raised my hand.

The anger toward Zenburga and the demon beastkin could not be easily suppressed.

The colleagues of the Separate Unit also knew my feelings, so they raised their hands on my behalf.

Agamben looked around the surroundings to see if there were any others to raise their hands. However, no one else came forward hoping to stand in the vanguard.

“Expedition Leader, which organization will you put forward as the vanguard?”

I made eye contact one by one with the Beast Kings, Remmelts, and the Separate Unit members.

They were members who were all different in race, status, age, and way of life.

Even the colors of their eyes were all different.

However, in their eyes, a burning desire to stand in the vanguard could be felt in every single one of them.

Phew.

I let out a short breath and steeled my mind.

“The beastkin, the Crows, and the Separate Unit. We will all stand in the vanguard.”

A look of joy momentarily hovered over the faces of those who raised their hands.

Even though they were to stand in the most difficult position for the most difficult battle since the expedition's advance, it seemed that joy over being chosen rushed in rather than fear.

However, even the joy that briefly brushed past the faces of the vanguard unit disappeared, and anger and resolution toward the enemy took its place once again.

“In return, if Zenburga is seen, I will leave the battle line to others and strike him first without hesitation.”

“Yes, understood.”

The commanders answered with hardened faces.

It wasn't a very loud voice, but it was an answer where their firm hearts could be felt well.

***

The beastkin, Crows, and Separate Unit selected as the vanguard prepared for the coming battle.

I was also feeling the pulse of the Dragon Heart while holding Maron drawn.

The atmosphere of Myeolji is contaminated with demonic energy.

So accepting mana through breathing was much more difficult than usual, and mana breathing was only possible if one concentrated.

While I was repeatedly inhaling and exhaling, filtering the demonic energy in the atmosphere and feeling the faint mana, Pasion approached.

“Expedition Leader, is the preparation almost done?”

“Ah, Lord Pasion.”

I smiled gladly and greeted him.

Pasion also smiled faintly. However, how much he wanted to step forward in this battle was revealed entirely on Pasion's expression.

Pasion looked at me with burning eyes.

“The reason Tayon and I became close was simple. When we were still rookies of our families, we hung out together because our names were similar.”

“Come to think of it, your names are similar.”

“Of course, we didn't see each other often. Since Tayon was split into the Crows, and I into the White Dragon Knights. The situation didn't change even after we became the 12 Swords. We only exchanged letters occasionally and couldn't see each other's faces.”

It was Pasion, who suddenly came to find me and talk about his long connection with Tayon.

I quietly listened to his words.

“However...... it is clear that we considered each other precious colleagues.”

“Yes, if it's the two of you, I think you would have.”

“When Lord Polarin refused the proposal to ascend to the Adjak 12 Swords, honestly, I was happy. Because it seemed you believed that Tayon might still be alive.”

“Yes, in a situation where Lord Tayon's life or death was not completely grasped, I could not become one of the 12 Swords.”

Before the expedition was launched, there was an opinion within the family to elect another 12 Swords to fill Tayon's spot.

My name was mentioned first, but I refused flatly. I knew that most believed Tayon, who was dragged into Myeolji, would be dead, but I wanted to believe in the possibility that Tayon was still alive.

And I wasn't the only person like that.

“Whether that guy Tayon is alive or dead. I just want to know at least that.”

Pasion's voice trembled.

As one of the 12 Swords who supported me, as the head of the White Dragon Knights, and sometimes as the only one to oppose my decisions as Expedition Leader, he had always shown only an upright appearance.

Since it was rare for such a Passion to reveal his emotions to this extent, my emotions shook along with him.

“Yes, I will find out and return.”

Whether by killing every single beastkin, or by using any method whatsoever, I will find out.

“Please.”

Pasion smiled faintly once again.

***

The beastkin tribes, the Crows, and the Separate Unit including myself.

The vanguard unit that would strike the demon beastkin first increased speed and advanced.

The closer we got, the eerie demonic energy emitted by the demon beastkin unit could be felt.

It was certainly clear that they were the most powerful enemies the expedition had faced since Verni.

No, they harbored an energy much fiercer and stronger than even the mage unit led by Verni.

However, not a single one of the vanguard hesitated; rather, they increased their speed.

“Death to the fallen ones!”

The Wolf tribe shouted as they went furthest in front.

Behind them, the Tiger tribe and Bear tribe followed, and the Rat tribe also squeaked and shot all sorts of curses into the air.

The Crows also advanced while wearing their crow masks pressed down, and the Separate Unit was at the very rear.

I observed the enemies' reaction even while running.

I had to react flexibly without being swept away by excitement.

Even if the Necklace of the Void was taken away, Zenburga would still be threatening and besides him, there were several high-ranking demons.

Since I didn't know how the authority they would use might overturn the war situation, I needed to see the war situation broadly rather than running ahead.

The demons were also not just waiting for the expedition.

They arranged their formation in the shape of a triangle.

One in the very front, two behind him, and three in the third row.

The formation of the beastkin moved just like one body.

Kabaam!

The expedition's beastkin and the demon beastkin collided.

A massive sound rang out as if heavy equipment had crashed.

The Wolf King broke the neck of the demon standing at the apex in an instant and bit into its throat, killing it.

After that, it was a melee.

A clash of power against power, a barrage of curses; the demons and the expedition used all their strength to collapse each other's formations.

At that moment, ten or so demons flew up into the sky.

They were demon beastkin with giant wings.

They looked down at the expedition from the air and seemed to be preparing to collapse the formation.

I said to the Separate Unit beside me.

“I will go deal with them.”

“Yes, we will help.”

I spread the Wings of Ainsitel and flew up.

Immediately, an aerial battle began.

As the distance narrowed, I could know their identity.

Eagle beastkin.

They were fallen ones where the entire species went to Myeolji and were betrayed.

The eagles flew at me, putting their pitch-black talons forward.

However, I spun around in the air to dodge the talons and then loaded [Gravity Manipulation] onto Maron.

And I thrust the sword toward the wing of one eagle.

20 times gravity.

The eagle plummeted to the ground while wounded.

“Screeeech!”

The guy's scream could not continue for long.

Because the vanguard unit down below soon tore the guy apart.

Attacks from the expedition poured onto the other eagles as well.

Bea's light arrows pierced the eagles' bodies, and the Rat tribe's curses also piled up on the eagles.

Eidon also shot ice spears and froze the eagles' wings.

They must have been guys who roamed the sky their whole lives, but the sky was no longer their territory.

I, who had come to utilize the Wings of Ainsitel freely, succeeded in overwhelming them.

Eventually, even after all the eagles fell to the ground, I stayed in the air and examined the enemies' movements.

Soon I was able to discover the demon harboring the strongest energy.

“Zenburga!”

I began to descend rapidly toward the middle of the enemy camp where Zenburga was standing.