Chapter 294
Kwakweakwakwakwa!
The monsters were descending the hillside.
The thick fog was long gone, and the cavalry could clearly see the hordes of monsters being pushed down like turbulent waves. The cavalry of the Knights of Dawn was filled with anxiety when they witnessed the overwhelming sight. Everyone was ready to charge at a moment’s notice, just like a tense string on the verge of snapping.
“Stand by! Wait! Not yet!” Edmund shouted. The cavalry knew it as well. If they launched a charge, they would exit the dry area the spirit of water had made for them. If they engaged the monsters on wet ground, their mobility would be reduced to almost nothing, and they would become food for the monsters. So, they waited and waited.
Kuwuuuuugh! Kweeeegh!
The cries and squeals of the monsters drew closer and closer, and their figures rapidly grew bigger as well. Behind them was a crimson stream of energy similar to the wings of a bat.
The expression of the cavalry brightened at once when they saw the crimson current.
“It’s His Majesty!”
“Ohhh!”
“I can see the sirs of Eland and the beowulfs as well!”
“It’s the twin-headed ogre! It’s Sir Galfredik and the other sirs of the Dark Clan!”
The cavalry cheered when the two groups made their appearance from the left and the right, with Princess Lilisain and Galfredik leading the charge. They had truly succeeded. A small group of warriors had successfully herded the monsters of Mount Felipoa.
“It’s our turn!” Edmund shouted while holding his spear, and the cavalry leveled their spears.
500 meters, 400 meters, 300 meters…
Flags had been planted in advance to accurately measure the location of the monsters, and as the monsters continued their charge, the flags disappeared one by one. Soon, the red flag located closest to the cavalry was swept away by the monsters.
“All units! Charge!”
Edmund led the charge with the cavalry right behind him. As if in a hurry to prove their value, the well-trained stallions charged toward the monsters without hesitation at the orders of their riders. The three hundred cavalries quickly accelerated to their maximum speed in just thirty meters. They became twice as fast as the monsters running toward them.
Moreover, the riders and horses were equipped with chainmail and shields. Each rider and horse weighed between 700 and 800 kilograms. Even though monsters were stronger than humans, they could not possibly withstand the unstoppable combination of mass and acceleration. There was a reason why well-organized soldiers and highly skilled mercenaries would never face off against a group of cavalry on flat land unless they outnumbered the horsemen five or six times. The cavalries of the Knights of Dawn were well aware of their strength. All they needed now was the courage to confront their enemies.
“For the dawn of the countdom!”
“Hisain! Forever!”
Kwakwakwakwakwa!!!
The cavalry collided with the monsters. Two or three of the smaller, low-ranking monsters were skewered on each spear, and even the larger monsters were knocked back on impact.
Kwakwakwakwa!
Hundreds of warhorses swept over the monsters as if they were nothing more than straw. More monsters were trampled to death than those skewered by spears, and there was no way to stop hundreds of horsemen charging at full speed on dry land.
“Deploy! Spread out!” Edmund shouted at the forefront while waving his spear high in the air. As per the tactics that had been discussed, the cavalry spread to the sides when they saw the red flag hanging from Edmund’s spear. A portion of the confused monsters attempted to chase after the horses, but their actions only caused more chaos within their ranks. Monsters had no sense of camaraderie to begin with, so the larger monsters roamed disjointedly to look for a way out while stamping over the smaller monsters.
The forces of Princess Lilisain and Galfredik attacked the rear of the monsters from left and right after completely driving the monsters down the mountain.
Kuwaaaaaaa!!!
The elven knights sent surges of mana forward with strokes of their swords while the beowulf warriors wielded their large, sharp claws with gleaming eyes. The vampire knights wielded their swords and spears while unleashing the full might of their Fear, while the twin-headed ogre simply crushed the monsters into unrecognizable clumps of flesh and blood with its overwhelming might.
Members of different races tore and crushed the monsters in different ways. Although they were light cavalry, it was extremely difficult for the monsters to put up a front against warriors and horses equipped with chainmail. The cavalry still suffered a few casualties, but many more monsters were slain.
Kuweeeeeeh!
A small number of monsters succeeded in breaking through the defensive formation, but their elation only lasted for a short period of time. Monsters simply could not keep up with the mobility of cavalry. Even though dozens of monsters had successfully escaped the encirclement, most of them were chased down and killed by the cavalry.
Uwwwwooooooh!!
The cavalry of the Knights of Dawn burned with even greater conviction of victory. The current situation practically existed for the cavalry. They were fighting in a place and with conditions most favorable toward them. In the first place, the monsters of the Hisain Countdom had proven difficult to subjugate because they had holed up in Mount Felipoa. However, if the monsters had willingly attacked a set place at a set time, the troops of the countdom would have mounted a successful defense.
But now, everything was in their favor. In addition, they were being supported by a force as strong as three hundred cavalries, or even stronger. They weren’t simply mounting a successful defense but completely decimating and subjugating the monsters. And regardless of what anyone said, there was one existence with the strongest presence in the subjugation.
Kyaaaaaahk!
The demonic spear ripped and shredded the monsters while flying around like a red meteor. The master of the spear donned in red armor and with wings of Fear resembling the wings of a dragon slaughtered the monsters. The sword, which was originally colored clear silver, was dyed crimson. Whenever it blurred red, red waves of energy would slaughter countless monsters.
Fwoooosh!
The knight’s shield was no longer smooth and flat, as a dragon’s head was protruding from the shield, and every time the shield was held up, a dark red flame would erupt from the dragon’s jaws. Monsters standing in the way of the flame of Fear melted away while screeching.
Neiiiiigh!
The horse named after the spirit king of wind dashed like the wind across the battlefield as if living up to its name. Silion’s eyes were dyed red like blood, perhaps because of its master’s influence. Silion charged while knocking over and forcing monsters to retreat. Eugene jumped off of the ground when he saw his trusted steed coming toward him.
Like a scene from a novel, Eugene took his place on Silion’s saddle in a perfect series of movements.
Kwaaaaao!
There were no more monsters around him within his overwhelming Fear’s sphere of influence. Even the evolved, tougher monsters actively avoided the incarnation of fear. The gleaming red eyes of the predator, the ruler, looked over the battlefield, and he looked as if he were the overlord of all things.
Eugene charged toward where most monsters were gathered. One figure stared at Eugene’s back, more specifically, at the fluttering wings of Fear. Georg’s dry lips quivered as he watched the battle of life and death unfold from a distance.
His lips then parted. “It’s really him. The Red Demon King Eugene—the Overlord of Blood.”
“You are absolutely right! Sir Eugene is literally the demon king!” Mirian cried out in agreement. However, the weight contained in their words was clearly different from each other. Unlike Mirian, who watched Eugene’s slaughter with excitement, Georg stared at the ‘Demon King’ Eugene with eyes filled with fear and other complex emotions.
***
”We won!” Edmund shouted triumphantly with his armor coated with blood. The cavalry responded with victorious shouts of their own.
Uwwwwaaaaah!!!
The boiling emotions of carnage quickly transformed into a fierce roar that swept through the battlefield littered with the corpses of monsters. It had truly been an overwhelming victory. They had exterminated an army of thousands of monsters. Moreover, this wasn’t just a simple victory either. The bodies of the monsters were severely damaged, which meant that they were suitable to be utilized as by-products. However, the glimmer of mana stones from all over the field could also be seen even with a quick glance. Naturally, the ownership of the precious jewels lay with the protagonist and the dominator of the battlefield.
Clop. Clop…
The gazes of the warriors headed toward the approaching knight. He was the greatest contributor and the creator of the triumphant victory. He was the one responsible for this overwhelming victory, the one responsible for creating the miraculous mystery—a mystery they would not have believed if they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes.
“Your Majesty!”
“Your Majesty!”
The troops ran toward Eugene with awe and admiration. The color and shapes of his equipment had returned to normal. Calm, red eyes peeked out when he took off his helmet. The eyes of the knight swept over the crowd. His eyes were filled with a mysterious, incredible power. And it seemed as if he were the incarnation of the devil itself.
“...!”
Everyone, including the Knights of Dawn and the warriors of the expedition, jolted at his gaze. It wasn’t simply due to the absolute demonstration of force he had put on display. Rather, they could all recognize that there was something different about him, even though he looked the same and only several hours had passed since they last saw him. They could sense something different even in the way he looked around. The truth of what they felt could be defined in one word—transcendence. He was an existence beyond human comprehension, a superhuman. No, rather, he was a transcendent being greater than even a superhuman. As if they had promised, the horsemen all descended from their mounts and knelt on one knee in the face of Eugene’s transcendent, overwhelming presence. The same was true for the elves, the beowulfs, and the vampire high lords. Those who bowed their heads in awe of Eugene.
They had experienced an inexplicable mystery, and Eugene was the sole catalyst of the mystery. However, one person stared at Eugene without kneeling or lowering his head.
“…?!”
Eugene was puzzled as he looked at the figure.
‘This feeling… is it them?’
Eugene realized that Georg was the existence he had sensed on his way to the top of Mount Feliopia, the one who emitted that strange energy.
Georg trudged toward Eugene, and once he came to stand in front of Eugene, he parted his lips with a complicated expression.
“Should I be glad to see you? Or should I say that it’s an honor?”
Eugene frowned at Georg’s mysterious words.
Georg bowed in a polite manner with one hand on his chest, “I—the one known as Georg, Elon, and Basago—greet the Ruler of Blood, the Shining Crimson Dragon, Overlord Eugene.”
The vampire lord and the devil prince of the Demon World were finally united.