Eyes wide, Ian followed the arc of flame as it carved a thick, blazing line across the sky. It was Lu Entre’s sacred fire. There was no need to wonder who could have unleashed a spell like that.
Rumble—
Even after the eruption ended, the flame continued to extend, piercing through the center of the swarm of flying monsters. Unlike when they were struck by red magic, the monsters caught in it didn’t even have time to scream. They simply turned to charcoal and fell from the sky.
Whoosh—
Only when the slanted torrent of fire reached the vicinity of the wall did it finally scatter outward, dissolving without a trace.
"My goodness… shouldn’t we be calling her an archmage instead of a saintess?" Thesaya let out a half-laugh, her voice tinged with magic.
Even while nodding, Ian didn't take his eyes off the sky.
Screech—
There were still monsters coming. More than half had already burned to death, yet the rest surged forward anyway, shrieking as if in a frenzy.
"Anyway, thanks to that, it seems I'll be enough on my own now."As Moro moved to shield Nila’s flank, Thesaya raised her left arm. A gemstone glowing with deep blue magic gleamed in her palm. Just as Ian glanced down at the back of her head, magic burst forth from the gemstone.
Swoosh— Crackle!
A blue ripple spread outward in perfect concentric circles. In the very next instant, massive ice crystals bloomed across the sky, forming at a speed and scale greater than anything Ian had ever seen.
"I didn’t expect it to go this smoothly."
Even Thesaya herself seemed surprised. In any case, there was no need for concern. Swallowing a chuckle, Ian finally glanced behind him.
"Ice after fire..."
"Is that blue magic? They said she was an Elder, truly amaz—"
"Amazing, my foot! Don’t get distracted! Move!"
Amid the chatter, the legion continued finalizing its formation with practiced efficiency. Beyond them, the sacred flame flared high once more before gradually settling.
Fwoosh...
Cherwyn, now standing with her back to the brazier, slowly lowered her raised right arm. Sacred fire clung to the back of her hand, her forearm, and her hooded cloak. Her orange eyes burned as she stared upward with a fierce, almost predatory smile on her lips.
Doesn’t seem like she’s in any position to scold Lucy.
The corners of Ian's mouth curled up naturally. Then again, Cherwyn was someone who had lived through an age of war. Perhaps this was simply the side of her she’d been suppressing all along.
In any case, it looks like I wouldn’t need to worry about the fire.
Ian’s gaze shifted to the priests gathered around the brazier, clutching firewood. Sparks danced across the logs as they continued chanting their prayers without pause, clearly intent on keeping the sacred flame alive.
His eyes moved past the diagonal line of wagons and settled on Miguel, standing guard beside the second brazier.
Rumble—
A sound like falling hail spread from above. The flying monsters had collided with the Crystal Barrier, covering the air in a circle. At that precise moment, Thesaya clenched the gemstone in her hand.
Boom—Screech!
White cracks spread across the crystals, and then they exploded in unison. Ice shards filled the air as the monsters’ screams echoed wildly before cutting off.
Thesaya, letting her left arm drop, looked back at Ian and smiled. "See? I told you it’d be enough."
"And your magic?"
They weren’t all dead, but that hardly mattered. Stopping them was more than sufficient.
"Still plenty. If anything, the North suits me. Less magic consumption and stronger spells," said Thesaya.
"That’s probably the weather," Ian said, lifting his gaze to the sky.
Almost immediately, thunderous shouts rose from behind him.
"Formation complete!"
"All units ready, Your Excellency!"
They were the voices of the centurions and commanders. With explosions, roars, and flashes of light continuing nonstop near the wall, Thesaya looked over and let out a quiet sound of surprise.
"Oh, that actually looks pretty solid."
Ian turned at last and nodded.
Within the reach of the sacred flame’s glow, the legion had formed two massive concentric circles around the wagons. Every single one of them was a barbarian warrior bearing the Blessing of Battle.
This is more thorough than I expected.
The space left between the two rings was clearly meant to allow flexible movement. Mounted commanders, including the centurions, were positioned among them. They were the only ones on horseback, likely so they could relay orders without confusion.
Meeting their gazes one by one, Ian raised the Fang Greatsword and shouted, "Prepare for battle! The monsters are approaching!"
Only then did the legionnaires’ eyes turn toward the direction his blade pointed.
Beyond the low-hanging veil of purple streaks, a flock-like mass surged toward them, writhing like a tide of migrating birds. There were far more than before.
"Let them know we are here. Make them keep coming to us of their own accord."
"Oooooo!"
"Come on!"
As Ian lowered his greatsword, the legion roared in unison, weapons raised high. The centurions followed suit, and even Mev lifted her sword overhead.
"Don’t worry about the rear, Agent of the Saint."
A voice tinged with divinity rang out. Cherwyn stood there, orange eyes glowing, sacred fire shimmering across her open palms.
Ian nodded silently and swept his gaze around her position. Horses were tethered near the wagons, while mercenaries and defense troops armed with crossbows clustered together. Some had even climbed atop the supply wagons to watch the sky.
A solid defensive net.
Even Nasser was standing atop the princess’s carriage, sword and shield in hand. It wouldn’t be easy for the monsters to break through and reach the braziers.
Tightening his grip on the reins, Ian glanced at Thesaya. "Keep doing what you’ve been doing. Just circle the outskirts."
Thesaya nodded, then asked, "Where are you going?"
Where else?
Ian didn’t bother answering. He flicked the reins, and Nila surged forward, shouldering past Moro as it burst into a run.
Whoosh—
Standing in the stirrups, Ian let the Fang Greatsword hang at a slant. Ash-gray magic flickered in his eyes as snow-laden wind cut through the crimson divinity surging around him. Even so, his gaze remained fixed on the snowy field between the fortress and the legion.
Screech— Screech—
Monsters Thesaya had knocked from the sky lay scattered across the ground. Ice shards jutted from their wings and bodies, though it was clear they would recover before long. Explosions and flashes from the wall illuminated them in stark relief.
"Just graze past. Don’t stop," Ian murmured, leaning forward slightly as he adjusted his grip.
Nila answered with a sharp snort, sparks scattering from its breath.
Shweeek—
Releasing the reins, Ian gripped the greatsword with both hands and swung it diagonally toward the ground.
Crash—
A red arc tore outward, slicing cleanly through a staggering mutated harpy. Its upper body and wings were severed at an angle, collapsing backward.
Splat— Scree...
Purple-tinged fluid sprayed across the snow as the creature twitched and groaned, not quite dead.
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
Ian didn’t spare it a glance. As Nila changed direction and charged onward, his eyes locked onto a griffin struggling in the distance, its broken wing flapping uselessly.
A few seconds later, Ian twisted his waist and swung the Fang Greatsword again.
Slash— Crunch!
A crimson arc packed with shrieking wind burst outward. The grotesquely mutated, eagle-like griffin’s head was cleaved clean from its body, spinning through the air. Only after it struck the ground did the rest of the creature finally collapse.
Crash! Crack!
The same situation repeated afterward. Nila never slowed, skimming past the monsters at a hair’s breadth, and each time she did, wind-laden crimson arcs tore them apart.
Rumble—
Even gargoyles, their hides thick as cured leather, were no exception. The only difference was that they were dragged along the ground for several seconds, grinding against the snow, before being cut to pieces.
After tearing apart more than a dozen monsters in just a few minutes, Ian suddenly turned his head. The distance ahead flared with light.
Fwoosh—
A pillar of sacred flame surged upward like a fountain, spilling and cascading in every direction. Beneath it stood Cherwyn, both arms raised high above her head.
Screech!
The sky, washed in purple, churned as the advancing swarm pressed forward. Their shrieks rang out as the flowing flames twisted violently, breaking apart into countless blazing fireballs. At that exact moment, Cherwyn lowered her arms.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
The blazing fireballs were hurled wildly into the rushing monsters. Unlike before, they detonated the instant they made contact. Even so, the result was not much different.
Not all the monsters were reduced to charcoal this time. Those caught in the flames screamed as they plunged from the sky.
Crash—
On reflex, Ian smashed apart a harpy that had drawn too close, then yanked hard on Nila’s reins. That one had been the last.
It was time to turn back.
Screech—
Too many monsters were crashing down nearby to linger. And it wasn’t only those consumed by sacred flame. The soldiers were firing their crossbows without pause, and that alone was enough to bring monsters tumbling from the sky.
Rumble—
From the opposite side, a swirling gale filled with razor-sharp shards of ice gathered. It was Thesaya’s spell, no doubt. Monsters that had tried to circle wide to avoid the sacred flame flailed helplessly as they were dragged in.
"Bring it on!"
"North's— Demigod—"
Before he realized it, the legionnaires’ side had grown noisy as well. Monsters were no longer just falling nearby. Some were slipping through the gaps and charging straight in.
Their end, however, was no different from the rest.
Barbarian warriors bearing the Blessing of Battle and reinforced by sacred flame were little short of superhuman. Any creature that dove in with claws or fangs bared was seized and butchered on the spot.
"Hold your positions! Maintain formation!"
"Fight!"
As the battlefield erupted into chaos, Ian plunged back into the fray with the Fang Greatsword in hand.
Standing on the stirrups, he circled the legion and swung the greatsword ceaselessly. Crimson trails tore apart every fallen monster without exception.
Nila never slowed, not even once.
That should be enough to draw its attention…
Even as he cut down countless foes, Ian remained utterly calm. His deeply sunken eyes continued to scan the top of the wall, never leaving it, even as he fought.
When are you going to show yourself?
The disturbance he had ordered wasn’t meant only to ease the burden on the front lines. It was also to draw Akihatara's attention.
If he could slay the archdemon here, the garrison’s losses would be minimized, and the archduke’s plan would collapse entirely.
—You feel it, don’t you, my friend?
A low whisper brushed his mind moments later.
So you weren’t asleep after all.
Ian lifted his gaze skyward at once. His instincts were already screaming warnings.
His brow furrowed for just a moment.
"Prepare to scatter! Demons incoming!" Ian shouted, raising his greatsword.
Instead of Akihatara, demons serving it were flying this way, alongside a fresh wave of monsters.