ALL NOVEL Chapter 115
Dozens of golems lay destroyed on the ground.
Princess Meinel, the second princess of the Resen Kingdom, stared blankly at the man in the black coat who had taken down dozens of golems in an instant.
Thud—Thud—
Duke Yuma shook off the dirt that had become caked all over his black coat.
Feeling the intense gaze boring into him, Yuma slowly opened his mouth.
“I come from the Astes Empire.”
At those words, the eyes of the knights and soldiers of the Resen Kingdom, who could be considered survivors, widened.
Gray hair and wall-colored eyes.
And overwhelming power. It struck them that he matched the appearance of the God of War, who had made a name for himself not just within the Astes Empire, but throughout the Gehergen continent.
The soldiers and knights, looking at the massive wreckage of the broken golems, were convinced that he was indeed that person.
Meinel bowed deeply.
“I am honored to meet Duke Yuma of the Astes Empire.”
He hadn’t even introduced himself, and yet she had figured out his identity.
“I am Princess Meinel of the Resen Kingdom. I have received the grace of your salvation.”
Yuma slowly shook his head.
“I merely responded to a request for aid from an allied nation. Someday, the Empire may find itself in need of assistance from the kingdom as well.”
Ella Brighton, one of the Empire’s generals and now a subordinate of Yuma, began by clearing away the huge pillar that was pressing down on the Swordmaster and then moved the wounded soldiers to safe, debris-free areas.
Healers and medics rushed around the battlefield in a frenzy.
Yuma stood before Meinel.
“There seem to be dozens more ahead. Let’s finish this quickly.”
He had no intention of dragging things out. The schedule he had hoped to use for the proper growth of his comrades was now a chaotic mess, which was quite frustrating.
“Yes, I will guide you.”
Meinel was also one of those eager to resolve the situation quickly.
Too much blood had already been shed.
The Swordmaster Marcann, standing next to Meinel, drew his sword and stepped forward.
“I will clear the path.”
Marcann and Ella quickly began clearing away the structures in front of them, each armed with their weapons.
Yuma advanced forward.
“…”
Since he arrived riding Ethan, a Griffin, who was among the fastest aerial creatures in the Intermediate World, he could say he had come to their aid swiftly.
However, the kingdom had already lost quite a bit of blood shortly before his arrival.
The bodies of soldiers embedded in the walls and ground caught his eye.
Crack—
Princess Meinel’s grinding teeth reached Yuma’s ears.
“Why did the divine golems that once protected the kingdom…bring about such a devastating massacre?”
At her murmur, filled with questions, the faces of the knights and soldiers of Resen crumpled in anguish.
Meinel’s words struck a chord deep within them.
Clang! Crash! Boom!
The massive fists of the golems clashed with the soldiers’ weapons.
Yuma gestured to Meinel.
“Withdraw the kingdom’s forces.”
Then he turned to Ella.
“Clear a path.”
“Understood! Duke!”
Ella replied loudly.
He answered with a sound.
Princess Meinel shouted loudly,
“Reinforcements have arrived—! Pull back!”
It was a thunderous roar far removed from her originally delicate voice.
Ella Brighton kicked the ground hard and leapt out.
The spear tore through the atmosphere as it advanced.
The endlessly spinning spearhead reached out towards the black golem, which had been forming an unbreakable wall at the front.
Boooooom!
A fierce shockwave radiated outward. The black golem’s body was pushed back.
The black coat flapped.
Duke Yuma lightly stepped on the ground.
Crack—
Yuma’s new form vanished like a ghost.
Kwaaaang!
He repeatedly used [Blink].
Each time he used Blink, grandmaster-level golems, like the previous golden golem, burst apart.
A series of [Absolute Counter].
Bam!
The golems shattered like fragments.
Bang─!
The kingdom’s soldiers were left speechless at the transcendent spectacle.
A red beam of light shot towards Yuma. The incoming red beam was deflected by Balmung.
[Absolute Counter—Disaster]
Kraaaaang!
From the center of the Balmung that Yuma held, a red thunderbolt erupted.
The golem that had fired the red beam attack from the center of Yuma’s head was the first to be obliterated.
Kwaaaang! Kwaaaakakakak!
The massive golems on either side were crushed by the spreading red thunder due to the impact of the Disasaster.
Yuma continued to vanish like a ghost.
Bang!
Every time he reappeared, at least one golem was destroyed. Golem shards whirled around like dirty snowflakes.
Having single-handedly shattered two-thirds of the golems, Yuma gazed at the remaining purple golem.
A giant fist reached out towards Yuma.
Yuma vertically swung his black and white sword, Balmung.
Booooom!
The impact of the golden light spread outward.
[Absolute Counter]
Kudududud! Wooduk!
The purple golem was flattened on the ground.
Countless brick fragments lay scattered everywhere. Yuma picked up the largest stone from the debris. A red stone that looked darker than blood.
The heart of the golem, the core. The core in Yuma’s hand suddenly emitted a clear light.
Voices began to be heard.
Inside Yuma’s head.
—I don’t know how many humans have died because of this.
A heavy voice continued.
—You, who dares to oppose the authority of the god.
—You will soon die, and even if you don’t, the humans around you—no, all the humans on this Geherden land will soon be dead.
Even if you can’t kill me, soon all the humans around you. No, all the humans on the land of Geherden will die.
– I can see you.
– The people of your land, the Astes Empire, are killing each other. Your subordinates and comrades, with their heads bursting and their bodies torn apart, turning into meat chunks.
– In the end, you’ll be left all alone, the one who couldn’t protect anyone.
– Feel the helplessness. This is just the starting point of the massacre.
Crack!
With those last words, the core shattered, scattering red smoke.
Whoosh—
Yuma, furrowing his brow, brushed off the broken core from his right hand.
‘You’re underestimating me.’
Humans.
It was a declaration of war against the entirety of this continent. From a god.
‘Method.’
Yuma felt the need to find a way.
The threat uttered by the creature perceived as a god seemed quite realistic.
Step by step, Yuma walked down the mountain of corpses made of rock golems.
Towards the solitary figure of Yuma, both the forces of the Second Princess and the Third Prince approached.
Thud—
And everyone knelt down.
The Second Princess opened her mouth.
“O hero who saved the Resen Kingdom.”
Following the Second Princess’s words, the Third Prince added,
“The kingdom will never forget the grace of the hero.”
Those praises merely brushed against Yuma’s ears.
His mind was racing.
As Yuma remained silent, the gazes of the two kneeling before him shifted toward their people behind him.
Yuma followed their gaze. The corpses of the fallen soldiers of the kingdom came into view.
“I merely upheld the faith of an ally.”
Yuma thought it would be wise to give a warning before leaving.
A warning that something like this could happen again.
“I need to meet the king of Resen. Lead me.”
No one dared to point out Yuma’s behavior, which would be deemed quite rude coming from a person of Resen.
Because the desolate sight made up of countless golem fragments lay at Yuma’s feet.
The entire group moved towards the Resen royal palace.
Albert, the Third Prince of the Resen Kingdom, who had brown hair like Meinel, gazed at Yuma’s back.
Duke Yuma.
A being called the God of War. The dragon slayer who annihilated dragons and seemed to be a transcendent being, having executed someone in front of the Astes Empire’s palace.
He thought it was excessive praise. A foolish reverence.
Yet, the one who had accomplished the impossible feats was stronger than he had expected.
And the weighty gaze observing the lives extinguished at the hands of golems was striking.
Albert whispered to the Second Princess Meinel, who was walking beside him,
“It’s fortunate that the damage has ended here. Sister.”
“…Indeed. It’s fortunate.”
Meinel looked at Ella, one of the three notable figures of the empire, walking alongside her with a steady pace, her green eyes observing.
“I’m envious of the empire. The rumors were no exaggeration.”
At Meinel’s words, Ella nodded vigorously, her blonde hair swaying dramatically.
He nodded vigorously, enough to send his blonde hair flying.
Ella’s crimson eyes were shining.
“That’s right! Today was the first time I met you, and I was so surprised! Duke Yuma is truly remarkable!”
“First time today…? Ah, it seems the Third Legion Commander doesn’t stay in the Imperial Palace.”
“Exactly! Huuuuh! If I hadn’t had the chance to accompany His Excellency today, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life!”
Ella didn’t hide the awe she felt from Yuma at all.
*
“Please enter.”
Yuma walked into the audience room.
The King of Resen, Alcaros, was seated inside.
Yuma took a seat facing Alcaros.
“I am Alcaros, King of Resen.”
“And I am Yuma, Duke of Astes.”
The white-haired king bowed deeply.
“…First of all, thank you for rescuing my kingdom from darkness, Duke Yuma.”
Yuma replied, “This was orchestrated by a transcendent being. You could call it a god.”
“A god… you say?”
“Yes, the gods have started playing tricks on this continent. It seems they are yearning for the end of this land.”
Though it seemed he was the root of that mischief.
Remembering God Incrinew’s business and the messages the state window had shown, it appeared that this continent was always at risk of destruction by the gods, even without him.
“…So, the transcendent being that appeared in the Empire a few days ago is also a god?”
“That’s right.”
It was hard to believe such words easily.
That’s why he was saying this only to the king.
“Believe it or not, that doesn’t matter. Such incidents can happen again at any time. So, request assistance from the Empire each time it happens.”
“…I believe. If I don’t believe in the one who saved my kingdom, whom should I trust?”
Alcaros decided to believe what he could see. The golems had turned the kingdom into rubble. And the man before him had subdued them. It was clear whose words to trust.
“So you’re saying that if this happens again, you’ll help us? But why go to such lengths?”
“Because if Resen falls, Astes will be affected too. And I don’t like it. The mindset of those who think they can destroy the continent whenever they please.”
Yuma continued, “Even if the continent perishes, it should be a result of conflicts within the continent. It’s disgusting to think it’ll be due to the whims of others.”
Alcaros opened his eyes wide.
The words meant to inspire Alcaros had indeed hit their mark.
“…That’s right. Even if the history of the continent ends, it should end by the hands of those who have lived on this land. The Duke is correct.”
Yuma stood up.
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
Alcaros hurriedly rose.
“The alliance between the Empire and our kingdom has grown stronger. Please convey that to His Majesty.”
“Will do.”
*
Yuma returned together with Ella Brighton, riding the griffin Ethan.
The second commander of the Knights had resolved matters before even crossing the border to assist the Resen Kingdom.
And the day after the continent faced upheaval.
[You have transcended the ordinary.]
Yuma transcended the mundane.