Chapter 665
From the perspective of the 7th Legion, predicting where the “Third” would advance wasn’t difficult.
The Third’s goal wasn’t war, it was pressure on Bilkenos. His true aim was to attack Bilkenos to force the Grand Duke’s return.
So, since all of the North’s forces were concentrated in the Frost Field, they would not consider ambushes or traps, they would simply move as quickly as possible along the shortest path to Bilkenos.
But—
[Khhhhh! Move quickly!]
The enemy still didn’t know about the massive forces Simon had hidden in his subspace.
All Feer had to do was choose the most advantageous point on the Third’s route for an ambush. His choice was a canyon road.
This terrain, formed where the river had dried up, was the most effective passage across the northern mountain range, allowing fast movement across flatland.
Of course, nothing would be visible from the road itself, but on the canyon slopes and ridges, countless undead of the 7th Legion swarmed, hiding beneath trees.
[Before the battle begins, I’ll make this clear, Feer!]
Prince shouted, pounding his fists in the air.
[The Third is mine! Don’t interfere!]
[Khhhhh! Do as you like.]
[Feer.]
Just then, Erzebet stepped lightly down on spider webs, appearing from the sky.
[The Third’s forces have already reached right before us.]
[I see! Then we prepare.]
[Huh? What? What?]
Herseba rose into the air, looking around restlessly.
[They’re right in front of us, but the brat and Akemius? Too slow!]
Erzebet bit her lip lightly.
[This girl worries about the same. I’ve set the spiders loose to search, but…]
[With Akemius alongside, there’s no need to worry too much!]
Feer raised the Greatsword of Destruction and rested it on his shoulder.
[Everyone, back to your positions! Battle begins soon!]
* * *
They didn’t have to wait long.
The undead army of the “Third” marched straight into the canyon where Feer’s forces lay in wait.
The undead troops advanced along the canyon path, their formation naturally stretching out into a long line. From above, it looked like a trail of ants crawling in a row.
And standing squarely in the middle of that canyon road—
[Hahahahaha!]
—was a small boy, blocking the path all by himself.
He wore the fancy noble attire common to young lords of prestigious families, and upon his head sat a faded crown.
But his gray skin, strange wounds, and the rising Darkness emanating from him made it clear—he was far from human.
-Geeeek!
-Grugh!
Some of the undead growled threateningly, but the lone boy didn’t flinch.
[What are you brats staring at!]
Prince folded his arms with a loud snap.
[Look me in the eyes!]
Kiiiiiiiiiing!
From the crown on his head burst a blinding radiance, and Prince glared wide-eyed. At once, the zombies’ eyes spun and changed to match his.
Clunk.
Thud.
Most of the undead controlled by the North Star were zombies or skeletons—the largest number by far being zombies. The crown’s power manifested, seizing control of all zombies at once, halting them in place and stopping the army’s advance.
[Hmph!]
Having stopped a massive army all on his own, Prince swept his gaze around proudly.
[Enough of you trash. Where are the rotten ones? Come out already!]
But the undead remained still.
Partly because the zombies had stopped, but also—it was strangely quiet.
Prince turned his head warily. And then—
Kugugung—!
It came from the opposite side of the canyon.
Dust erupted, and strands of hair burst through the ground. Soon, one of the infamous Brothers—the Third—emerged, grinning with bared teeth.
‘Hiding underground?’
It resembled a human far too closely, unpleasantly so, moving nimbly on all fours.
It planted both hands on the ground, and with its head twisted at an impossible angle, it stared directly at Prince. Shivers crawled up Prince’s spine as he pulled back his arms.
[Ugly bastard!]
He punched the air, sending a shockwave forward.
[?!]
But the Third’s body vanished, as if it had teleported. Prince’s eyes darted upward.
The Third had leapt high into the sky, contorting its body grotesquely like a rag, staring down at him with chilling eyes.
Then it stabbed downward with its toes. Prince crossed his arms to shield his head.
KWAaaaaaANG!
The canyon shook as if it would collapse, and Prince groaned under the impact.
[Now!]
Churrrrk!
Atop the canyon ridge, Feer leveled his greatsword forward.
[Advance!]
KIEEEEEEEEK!
Kyaaaaaaaaah!
Like black ants bursting from stone, countless undead of the 7th Legion poured down from the cliffs, screaming as they fell upon the enemy. The North Star’s undead below shrieked in turn, lowering itself in readiness.
In an instant, the two forces clashed.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWANG!
The 7th Legion’s undead, with the added momentum of their descent, crashed violently into the North Star’s lines.
The battlefield became a chaotic melee at once.
Kiiiiiiiiiing!
The Third braced on all fours, opening its maw wide. From its mouth spewed a beam of annihilation, incinerating undead as they surged down the canyon.
[I’m still just fine, damn it!]
TuuuUNG!
From beneath the collapsed ground, Prince shot upward, smashing the Third’s jaw with a rising punch. The beam cut off, and the monster’s head jerked back.
But instead of reeling, its head spun around unnaturally, grinning eerily at Prince once again.
[Ugh! Stop grinning like that…!]
KWAANG!
The Third’s whip-like arm smashed Prince into the canyon wall.
Prince spat black blood. As he struggled to break free, the Third pounced again, stabbing down with its feet like twin spears.
At the impact point, the canyon itself collapsed entirely.
-KRRRRRiiiiiing!
The Third howled in satisfaction, pulling the battered Prince from the falling debris.
It split its mouth wide, ready to mount Prince’s body as a trophy—
Pashhhhh!
But Prince’s body turned to ash, dissolving into nothing but an ordinary zombie. Enraged, the Third hurled the husk away.
[Feer! Prince has fallen!]
From above, perched on spider silk, Erzebet screamed.
[This girl—!]
[Stay in your role, Erzebet!]
Feer swung the Greatsword of Destruction, cleaving through zombies climbing the canyon, and barked his reply.
[If you leave, the tactic we planned will break apart!]
[Then we’re just going to let that monster rampage freely?!]
The Third hopped about madly, elbows tucked, trampling undead beneath its feet or biting them apart. As expected of one of the Brothers who had terrorized the North for over a century, it was monstrously strong.
-Kerrrrring!
At that moment, the Third suddenly froze, squatting down.
From the corner of his mouth, Darkness oozed upward, forming words in midair.
The twisted shapes resembled musical notes on a staff, but it was unmistakably the form of Runes—black magic was activating.
Watching this, Erzebet’s expression twisted.
‘No way…’
[Hear me, O departed.]
From the magic circle resounded a deep, calm voice.
It wasn’t the unnaturally high-pitched voice of the Third. Even his eyes had changed color.
[The dead are beings more complete than the living, having overcome the limits of life and death. Why remain bound to the contracts of the living?]
The Third raised his arms toward the heavens. The posture resembled a puppet lifted by strings in the hands of a puppeteer.
[Only the dead can understand the dead. We shall topple the age of the living and create a world of the dead. Follow m—]
But the words were cut off.
With an ear-splitting roar, a pitch-black comet descended from the heavens, trailing a long tail.
KWAaaaaaANG!
It was Akemius.
From high altitude, he plummeted at breakneck speed, driving his knee into the Third and slamming him down, silencing the mysterious voice.
[Whether living or dead matters not.]
Akemius soared back upward, shouting:
[What matters is eternal loyalty to one’s lord! I rejoice in this fate, that even as a corpse, I can serve in devotion!]
Thud.
Akemius landed near Feer and Erzebet. The black feathers faded, revealing Simon, panting heavily.
[Young master!]
“Sorry I’m late.”
[Commander! We feared for you!]
Erzebet rushed forward and embraced him. Then, touching his forehead, she gasped.
[Your forehead burns like fire!]
“…Yeah. Looks like I’ve been cursed.”
The black magic the Third had used earlier was none other than a curse.
Akemius, struck alongside him, had immunity and regeneration. But Simon was a normal human. He gasped for breath, shaking his head.
“I can’t dispel it. Not even Holiness works.”
[Khhhhh! Worry not, boy!]
Shrrrk!
Feer’s body split into several streams of shadowy power, attaching themselves snugly to Simon, even lending him the massive sword arm.
[A curse always breaks when its caster is destroyed!]
“You’re right.”
Wuuung—! Wuuung—!
On Simon’s left hand, Prince’s Ring vibrated, urging him impatiently, as if saying “Summon me already”.
Simon chuckled faintly, pulled a zombie from subspace, and held the ring to it. Immediately, a black bolt of lightning struck, and Prince appeared.
[Uwaaaaagh!]
He erupted into fury the moment he materialized, charging forward.
[That bastard! I’ll tear him apart!]
“Wait, Prince!”
Simon tried to stop him, but Prince was uncontrollable. He launched himself across the canyon, fist drawn back.
[Hidden Card Puuuunch!]
TUUU-KWAAAAANG!
From Prince’s fist burst a violent shockwave aimed straight at the Third. But with a nimble leap, the Third evaded it.
-Kerrrrring!
The Third, seemingly delighted at Prince’s return, bounded toward him, springing lightly. The two hurled their fists at each other simultaneously.
The collision boomed like thunder, and the resulting shockwave swept up zombies into the air.
[Arghh!]
Prince grimaced as their fists clashed, straining against the overwhelming strength. Then suddenly—something jabbed out from behind him: the Third’s toes.
[What the hell—how is this freak’s body built—Kuhh!]
The Third’s leg twisted like a serpent, coiling around him. With a sinister grin, the Third buried its leg deep into the ground, locking Prince tight.
Crunchhh!
With a grotesque tightening, Prince’s body was torn in two.
The instant he was destroyed, Simon immediately summoned him back onto the battlefield.
[You bastard! That’s cheating!!]
Resurrected again, Prince stormed forward, hopping with rage.
“Prince! Don’t overdo it just because you’ve got extra lives!”
[Khhhhh! Leave him be, boy! At least Prince alone is keeping the Third marked firmly!]
Simon, cursed, stayed focused on directing the battle. From the rear, he used Herseba to hurl zombies, detonating them with Corpse Explosion, providing ample firepower.
Erzebet spread dense webs across the field, while Akemius and Skullwing dominated the skies.
But—
‘Strong…!’
Cold sweat dripped down Simon’s cheek. The duel between the Third and Prince was one-sided; Prince couldn’t overpower him.
Simon recalled the Grand Duke’s words at the northern strategy meeting days ago:
“I warn you now. The Brothers are far stronger than you can imagine.”
The North Star himself was an existence so absolute that even the term Ancient Undead lost meaning. But his own combat ability was known to be nonexistent.
Instead, he commanded countless undead, splitting his power among three vessels—the infamous Brothers.
‘At this rate, it’s dangerous.’
Crack!
As Prince was destroyed yet again by the Third and re-summoned with another life, he shouted—
[Hey, Simon!]
“Huh?”
Still fuming, Prince glared at him.
Then he turned his head sharply, staring Simon in the eye.
[Try it—use that Corpse Explosion thing!]
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters