“Growl!” The mighty red dragon screamed, asserting its dominance by rising into the skies. Fire flared hotly all over its body, making it appear as though each and every scale on its body were composed completely of fire."Return," Ifrit instructed.Overlooking them all, the enormous dragon abruptly transformed into a cloud of mana and entered Ifrit's body."That dragon..." Anthony was taken aback.Under the dragon's piercing gaze, he was unable to breathe at all. The innumerable drakes and wyverns he had faced in the past seemed like ants in comparison to that dragon."It isn't a true dragon. This is what is known as a spirit body. This discussion can be continued if everyone has achieved the S-rank." Ifrit glanced at the massive crater in front of him.Everything that had been there only a moment ago—the earth, the trees, everything—had vanished. That demon's devastating might was unrivalled."Spirit body? We now know that S-ranks are the only ones who can possess them. and it is t
"Rage? Are you back?""Yes…" "So, how is it going? Being murdered by an S-rank?""Ugh…"Rage shook his head and sagged onto the chair as if his bones were all flesh."That human was frightening.""I assumed my natural shape, but he summoned his dragon and struck me once, killing me instantly. My tough defences really dissolved like butter!""Dragon?" I scowled.I was completely unaware that Duke Ifrit owned a dragon. Is taming a dragon even a possibility?How did he come to have a dragon in the first place is the proper question to ask."I don't believe it's a genuine dragon.""He called out immediately, and I saw the dragon emerge from his body!" "Like whoosh!" Rage expressed everything by waving his hands around.Now that I think about it, his personality has changed dramatically after evolving. Rage used to be a man of few words; now he feels like another Nero.Talkative to the point of irritability."So, who do you believe is stronger? Me or that other person?" I inquired, intri
"Dray and Roland must have begun to make their move." I kept an eye on the distant mountain that I could see. "Young Master, how did you foresee that they would be camped out there?" "Remember that I interrogated those cyclops?" "This cyclops tribe always sets up camp at the highest point, and this tribe in particular is used to being irresponsible when they feel safe. They prefer to party and have a good time before going into battle." "Those hunters must be exhausted." Jacob was concerned. The baron had assigned many Stone Village hunters the responsibility of setting ambushes a day before. That meant the hunters had been lurking in the tall forests for a day, waiting for the right moment. Their intended victim was a beastmen named Altham. This beastmen, according to the baron, was the most deadly of their foes, and they were required to destroy him regardless of the consequences. "You have no idea what those hunters have been through. There were instances when they went for
"Huf…huf!" While running through the woodland, Jack's heart was racing. There were several other people sprinting beside him, each with a bow and a knife.The calm of the woodland was disturbed by the loud rattle of the arrows in the quiver, which blended in with their hasty steps.They are being pursued at the moment by those Cyclops. The numerous cyclops after them made loud thumps as they pursued, causing the earth to tremble.The trees would tremble and the leaves would fall in a haphazard fashion, and birds would fly from one tree to another.These cyclops would have been mistaken for monsters by Jack if he hadn't known. When he looked back, those massive eyes glaring at them had his pulse skip a beat.The young master visited them about a week ago.To inquire if they—the residents of Stone Village—would be prepared to accept a risky task. Although the baron had every right to make them labour because he provided them with food and shelter, he did not.The baron described the na
"Huh?!" "You guys are late," Wise said.Someone had stopped Maruk's giant axe.Maruk's axe was a few feet away from Wise's head, but it had been caught by another axe.Dray's form slowly emerged from the shadows as he deflected Maruk's axe.The newcomers were dangerous, according to Maruk's instincts. The visitors' faces were covered in rough cloaks, giving them the appearance of rogues even though he could see that they were wearing knightly armour."There were many of those beastmen," Dray answered as he moved in front of Wise and fixed his gaze on the Cyclops.Roland quickly emerged from the shadows and came into view of Maruk.Wise cracked a smile."In war, everything is fair. Given your strength, two of them must be manageable for you, right?""So you've been stalling for these two humans all this time?" Maruk chuckled."What does it matter? I'll take on the three of you if you join as well.:Dray nodded as he approached Wise."Are you sure you finished the task?" Wise inquired
A trail of crimson flew into the sky out of nowhere, and Captain Gordon, who had been waiting for this moment, felt his mouth becoming dry.Three hundred soldiers were standing behind him, all of whom were tensely gripping their swords and spears.They were apprehensive since they would be facing beastmen twice as tall and twice as powerful as them."Are we really attacking instead of defending within the city, Captain Gordon?" One of the soldiers said something quietly. His whisper, nevertheless, got through to everyone because they were all but silently cloaking themselves."The baron stated that the beastmen have at least a thousand soldiers... Then won't we—if we ambush them?" The soldier did not finish his sentence.It was unfortunate to bring up such a topic. But everyone knew what he was going to say next.Gordon examined the gleaming blade and firm armour on his torso, both of which were new to him. Each and every soldier in the army received a pair of armour from the baron.H
The battle began.Currently, two human troops were engaged and killing a beastman, but the beastmen had no chance thanks to Solan's magical enhancement.And Solan went straight for Rafael.It was a battle that ended prematurely.Rafael was completely outmatched by Solan, who had five more circles than him.Solan didn't even need to utilize her magic to defeat Rafael; her physical strength was more than enough.The beastmen couldn't help but rub their large eyes, unable to fathom what was going on.Their lieutenant's limbs were broken in one attack by the diminutive human who was only half his size and in the subsequent manoeuvre...Shred!Rafael's head was torn off by Solan in a couple of minutes, and while the blood began to splatter wildly, a barrier that Solan had set up contained it.The remaining beastmen were furious and charged carelessly after witnessing their lieutenant slain in such a barbaric way.On the hill, the noises of fighting erupted, and the aroma of blood filled th
"Hmm, it appears that the trees in this area have been turned to stone."Kruger kicked a nearby tree, causing it to crumble into bits.The tree had been transformed to stone from the inside out, and he could even see the creatures that had been clinging to the tree bark turn to stone.Kruger was unaware that the tracking snake on which they had been depending had shifted its course and was now pointing them away from Ethan Slayer.The reason for this was that the snake had detected another scent that belonged to Ethan Slayer in a different direction.What is the explanation for this?Rage was at the place where Stone Village had previously been. He peered at the huts and homes that had been left behind by the hunters who were now residing in Ice Demon City.In his hand was a mana stone charged with the mana of his Master.Then he turned to face the other way and remarked, "I hope everyone enjoyed my gift." Having murmured something, Rage flung the mana stone towards the direction he w
"Hey! Why should we listen to a brat like you?" The interjection came from the back of the crowd, a young soldier, his face flushed with anger, his eyes blazing with defiance. The rest of the soldiers turned to stare, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.A genuine smile spread across my face. Finally, someone had the audacity to speak up. A flicker of satisfaction ignited within me. This was exactly what I had been hoping for, wasn't it? Didn't this feel like the natural order of things?I had anticipated this moment from the very beginning. There was no way these esteemed scions of nobility and battle-hardened knights would meekly submit to the commands of a mere child. The moment I was elected commander of one of the three mighty armies, I knew this tension would inevitably arise. After all, who among these talented warriors would willingly follow a teenager with little to boast of in terms of accomplishments? And let's not forget the shadow of my less-than-st
Ladia couldn't help but castigate herself for her lapse in judgment. How had she not seen it before? If the involvement of the magic towers would significantly aid the Empire, then the impact of the very person who had defeated the magicians of the tower participating would be monumental.The princess's heart thrummed with the realization, chiding herself for taking so long to come to this epiphany. Was Ethan's proposal the correct course of action or not? She no longer dwelled on the question.With a steely gaze, Ladia announced, "I have reached a verdict."The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the princess. The final decision lay in her hands, and she was ready to reveal it. The anticipation hung heavy in the air, and Ladia took a deep breath before continuing. "I have decided to accept Ethan's proposal."A murmur of surprise rippled through the room, but Ladia held up her hand for silence. "I believe that Ethan's plan, with a few modifications, is the best course of action for
My suggestion ignited a firestorm of debate among the upper echelons of the capital. The princess convened her officials in the grand throne room, where the air was thick with tension and uncertainty as they deliberated their next course of action. Ultimately, the march toward the City of Aran was postponed by a full day, a delay that weighed heavily on everyone present. The officials found themselves divided, caught between two stark choices: should they attempt to reclaim the nearby City of Aran from the Beast Kingdom, or should they focus their efforts on retaking the more strategically significant City of Northfall?"But, Your Majesty," one of the officials interjected, his voice rising above the murmurs of the assembly, "as we stand now, we cannot afford to risk an attack on the Northfall Fortress! I have heard reports that the beastmen have fortified their walls and laid even more traps to ensnare us! If we allow this farce to continue, we will be nothing more than lambs led to
A chill snaked down Ryle's spine. Ethan's suggestion hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, like a shroud woven from despair. To attack City of Aran, a fortress city now bristling with tens of thousands of Beast Kingdom soldiers, felt like a declaration of utter annihilation. Even Lance, their most valiant commander, had fallen captive within its walls.Ryle's brow creased into a deep furrow. He, too, was a commander of the Initiation Army, a man who had tasted the bitterness of defeat and the sting of loss. He couldn't fathom how Ethan, this newly appointed leader, could so blithely propose a course of action that reeked of self-destruction."I cannot, in good conscience, agree with your plan," Ryle stated, his voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. "As we stand now, attacking Northfall City is a fool's errand, a suicide mission. We are scattered, depleted, and outmatched. We must first rally our remaining forces, regroup along the borders, and then, and only then,
"Ryle Green, step forward!" the Royal advisor said, seeing Ryle was in a daze.Ryle coughed and stepped forward, his heart pounding with excitement as he knelt before the Princess."Ryle Green, you are hereby granted authority over fifty thousand soldiers," the Princess said, her voice like a melody that soothed the soul. "You shall be the commander of the Vanguard Army!"With a snap of her fingers, the Princess bestowed an insignia upon Ryle's shoulder, its glow of light like a beacon of hope in the face of the looming threat of the Beast Kingdom."I will crush those beastmen for you, Your Highness!" Ryle said, his voice filled with determination and resolve.The Princess smiled, her eyes filled with pride and hope. "We have faith in you, Ryle," she said. "Together, we will defeat the Beast Kingdom and restore peace to our lands."Princess Ladia nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I expect a lot from the younger generation, Ryle," she said, her voice laced with both encou
The Dwarven Kingdom, a land renowned for its glittering wealth, held its breath. The Brightwing Empire’s meager offer, a desperate plea for aid, was all they had to entice the notoriously hard-drinking mercenaries. Even if their weapons were outdated, their reputation for unmatched effectiveness in battle preceded them. Surely, that would be enough.“Your Majesty,” a guard murmured, his voice barely a tremor in the air. “They have arrived.”Princess Ladia, lost in a labyrinth of thought, startled slightly. She had wrestled with the decision for what felt like an eternity, but finally, a solution had emerged. All that remained was to face them, to meet their gaze and offer her hand in this desperate alliance.Viscount Lamiel, a man whose arrogance was only surpassed by his thirst for gold, strode into the royal garden, flanked by a legion of equally boisterous mercenaries. Princess Ladia recognized most of them – the nobles summoned by the crown, their faces etched with a mixture of g
The scene unfolded with brutal efficiency. Several soldiers, their faces grim and resolute, descended upon Drew and the other soldier, their movements swift and decisive. There was no struggle, no desperate pleas for mercy. They walked away with heads bowed, accepting their fate with a stoic silence that spoke volumes of their resignation.Ryle, his expression a mixture of weariness and amusement, ran a hand through his hair, a sigh escaping his lips. "What a waste of a perfectly good sleep," he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "Young men like myself need our rest, yet everyone seems determined to disrupt my slumber over such trivial matters."His gaze shifted to me, and a playful smile curved his lips. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, extending a hand towards me. "Ryle Green, third son of Count Green, and as you might be able to tell, the future commander of this very army." He spoke with an air of unwavering confidence, his words carrying the weight of
Two soldiers from a rival camp, their boots crunching on the gravel path, happened upon the conversation. One soldier, his face contorting with barely suppressed mirth, clamped a hand over his mouth, desperately trying to stifle a chuckle. His companion, sensing the impending eruption, jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow, a silent plea for decorum. But the laughter, like a trapped spring, was too powerful to contain. Tears welled in the soldier's eyes, threatening to spill over as his shoulders shook with silent mirth. Finally, with a strangled cry, he burst into a full-blown guffaw. "Hahahaha! If it's the Young Master leading us! Hahaha! We'll be able to… Pft! Hahaha!"The sound of his uncontrolled laughter echoed through the camp, drawing curious glances from nearby soldiers. Gaston, his face a mask of confusion and irritation, turned to the source of the amusement. "Excuse me, but what's so funny?" he demanded, his voice laced with displeasure.The soldier, still gasping for br
The unyielding army of the Ice Demon City had been journeying for a considerable number of weeks, traversing a multitude of cities and towns along the way. During our sojourns, we would occasionally restock our supplies, find respite in taverns, and often in the great outdoors, before resuming our arduous trek.Given the unfortunate circumstances, we were informed that the Ice Demon City was the most distant of all cities from the capital. This reality meant that we were among the last to receive the urgent message, compelling us to join the ranks of the other nobles and their armies in the capital.It was in the fourth week of our relentless march that we finally arrived in the grand and magnificent Capital city. The journey had been long and arduous, but our determination never wavered, as we knew our presence was required in these critical times. I had already surmised that the majority of the other nobles and their forces would have already amassed in the capital, readying themse