Chapter 677
The deepest and darkest place in the North.
Inside a black pit where gravel and dust poured down like hail, Commander Romario was descending, gasping for breath.
“Huff! Huff! Out of my way!”
When he swung his sword fiercely, a zombie’s head flew off.
His body had no unscathed part left, as though he had gone through countless battles. His armor was shattered, his weapon’s edge was dulled. Most of all, blood gushed down from his forehead where his helmet had cracked.
Romario was descending underground alone. Neither his comrades Chronos and Count Voldemont, nor any soldiers, were by his side.
Panting, he lifted his head.
This was the Abyss.
The dwelling place of the North Star, who ruled over the Frost Field. He had no idea how deep he had ventured, but chills kept creeping down his spine.
Romario thought he had stepped into the very end of the world.
‘It’s not too late yet.’
With grim resolve, he gripped the hilt of his sword tighter.
‘If I can just cut down the North Star, I can make everything right again.’
The North Star was powerful because he could command countless undead with his mere will.
But his actual combat ability was nonexistent.
All Romario had to do was find the creature and drive his sword into him, then victory would be theirs. Cutting down undead left and right, Romario finally realized he had reached his destination. A faint grin tugged at his lips.
‘This is it.’
The bottom of the Abyss.
Where countless blood vessels converged. Romario pressed forward without hesitation, slicing through the undead.
Crunch!
An unexpected blow.
One of the zombies crawling along the ground sank its teeth into Romario’s leg.
“Urgh!”
His knee buckled violently, but he immediately smashed the zombie’s head with his elbow.
Though his flesh was torn open, exposing bone, he gritted his teeth and forced himself onward.
‘The North Star is right ahead!’
The deeper he went, the more undead there were to guard the North Star, which only strengthened Romario’s conviction.
At last, he reached the place where the blood vessels clustered together, the deepest point of the Abyss. He pushed aside the red blood membrane draped like a curtain and entered.
And then…
“…Ah.”
Despair.
The tip of his sword trembled in his hand, then fell with a clatter to the floor.
All strength drained from his body.
—Kyaaaaaaaak!
The horde of zombies that had followed sank their teeth into his neck.
* * *
Early morning.
“March!”
The day of departure had finally arrived.
The sound of horns echoed as all the northern forces advanced toward the Frost Field.
The Northern Army, the Grand Duke’s 2nd Legion, and even Simon’s 7th Legion.
Every force was on the move to cut off the final breath of the North Star, who had lost the Three Brothers.
“Are you nervous?”
At the front of the army, the Grand Duke asked as she rode her horse. Simon, on her right, scratched the side of his head.
“It’d be a lie if I said I wasn’t.”
This was the last battle on which the fate of the North rested.
Just in case, Simon had contacted Keyzen and delayed his return date a little. Right now, the battle ahead was what mattered most.
“By the time we arrive, all the fighting might already be over, Grand Duke.”
Grand General Ganiro said, unable to hide his lingering unease.
“When I think of those kingdom bastards planting Carlos’ flag in the North Star’s corpse and laughing…”
“General.”
The Grand Duke’s hawk-like eyes narrowed.
“Is your pride and honor more important than the North Star’s death? If the creature has fallen, you should rejoice. Do you truly value your reputation and merits above that?”
Ganiro flinched and avoided her gaze.
“M-my point is! That this centuries-long war should be ended by we northerners!”
“Of course, I too desperately want to pierce the North Star’s throat with my own blade. But do not confuse priorities. You seem to lose your composure whenever it concerns Commander Romario.”
Ganiro’s face turned red, while Simon quietly chuckled to himself.
The fearless, dauntless warriors of the North—yet when it came to the Grand Duke, they cowered like scolded children.
Simon asked,
“Grand Duke, have you ever seen the North Star in person?”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“But I’ve heard that a few Grand Dukes of the past managed to reach him. From their accounts, information about his appearance and abilities has been passed down.”
“…Ah.”
“Of course, even if some reached him, none ever managed to end him.”
Her fist clenched tightly.
“But this time will be different.”
Simon answered with enthusiasm.
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Ahem.”
Suddenly she turned her head away.
Though they had spoken several times now, she still reacted like this on occasion. Simon tilted his head, puzzled, while a few generals behind them glared at him with fiery eyes.
“From now on, conserve your words and replenish your water.”
She ordered.
“We have mountains to cross.”
Before them stretched countless snow-covered peaks.
* * *
Climbing those peaks was no easy task.
The temperature dropped sharply, and the snowstorms only grew fiercer, narrowing their vision. Most dangerous of all, one misstep on the steep slopes could send them and those behind them plunging into an abyss from which there was no return.
“Uwaaaah!”
Two soldiers tumbled down the sheer cliffs, and Simon shivered as he clutched the rocks tighter.
“Hurry up!”
The Grand Duke raised her voice to rally the soldiers.
“The Legion’s undead march far ahead! Shall the warriors of the North lag behind?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
To the northerners, she was a figure of faith itself.
At her every cry, the warriors found new strength and moved with perfect discipline.
[Shall this girl pull you up?]
“I’m fine, Erzebet.”
Simon invoked Darkness on his arms and legs, climbing swiftly. Though confident in his own abilities, Erzebet fussed about his safety, insisting they tie themselves together with web threads.
Each time her figure filled his vision, Simon faltered for a moment, and each time, Erzebet chuckled knowingly, as if she had planned it all.
[I’ll push you up!]
Though Simon had told her to stay in subspace, Herseba emerged, pressed herself against his back, and extended a sandy arm from her staff to push him upward. His body indeed felt lighter.
“Thanks, Herseba.”
[This is nothing!]
Since awakening Herseba’s Geheim, Simon felt closer to her than ever. Ahead, Erzebet pouted in annoyance.
[Khh! Don’t tire yourselves out already.]
Feer, who had climbed up ahead in armor to stay unnoticed, spoke up.
While Simon was supported by his companions, the ordinary warriors were suffering. Many had already fallen behind.
—Do not falter before the cold!
—Move your legs!
Even so, the “Pride of the North” carried them onward.
—The Grand Duke herself leads us from the front!
—She has halted to wait for the rear! Pick up the pace!
At the mention of the Grand Duke, the dim eyes of the soldiers blazed once more.
This was the might of the Northern Army. Simon thought no such army could be found anywhere in the Dark Alliance.
After days of grueling climbing…
“It seems we’ve reached the top.”
The Grand Duke lifted her chin, gazing downward. Simon and Grand General Ganiro joined her.
“Ah…”
Simon’s eyes widened.
Below the mountains spread a region as red as blood. Countless undead nests filled the land. It was from here that the undead had ceaselessly swarmed, tormenting the North.
“We’re fortunate!”
Ganiro clenched his fist.
“No sign of the Kingdom’s forces! They must have failed to find the path!”
The Grand Duke stroked her chin, sweeping her gaze across the Abyss.
“That cannot be. Look at the traces of collapsed nests everywhere. The Kingdom’s army has already been here.”
“What? You mean…”
“Uwaaaah!”
A sudden scream rang out from behind. The Grand Duke and Simon halted, then hurried toward the source of the cry.
“What is it?!”
The Grand Duke demanded. A warrior, having fallen on his rear in the snow, was trembling as he pointed at something in front of him.
“S-someone!”
A human face was visible, half-buried in the snow. Apparently, the man had stepped on something soft, only to realize it was a person’s face.
The Grand Duke frowned.
“The Kingdom’s army.”
The soldier seemed shaken by the shock of the sudden discovery.
A few of his comrades walked over, snickering.
“You screamed like a woman.”
“To be so startled by just that…”
Flinch!
Suddenly, the buried face twitched. The warriors who had come over to mock him shrieked louder and collapsed on the spot.
Twitch, twitch!
The head began to move. A moment later—thud!—an arm shot out of the snow.
“He’s turning into an undead.”
—Srrng!
The Grand Duke drew her sword.
“Though he’s a soldier of the Kingdom, he was but a young life dragged to war in a foreign land. Rest in peace.”
Pukk!
Her blade pierced his heart, and the soldier, halfway through becoming undead, slumped lifelessly.
Withdrawing her sword, she turned her gaze across her men.
“Prepare yourselves.”
“Huh?”
“They’re coming.”
Whooooosh!
Through the blizzard, an ominous black mass approached.
“A-a whole army!”
“It’s the North Star’s undead forces! Ready yourselves!”
The northern warriors and the Legion’s undead scrambled to form ranks. The Grand Duke, Simon, and the generals of the North strode forward.
“Do not fear! This is nothing more than the North Star’s last gasp after losing the Three Brothers!”
“Whatever comes, we’ll crush it!”
“Uoooooh!”
With their long-awaited march into the Abyss ahead, the morale of the northern army soared.
As their war cries shook the snowfields, the storm lifted—revealing the enemy at last.
“Wait.”
“No… it can’t be…”
A chilling silence blanketed the battlefield.
Flap—
A tattered Kingdom banner flapped in the icy wind.
Crrrk, crrrk—
Broken armor, dead horses, wounds exposing bare bones and frozen entrails.
Crrrk, crrrk—
On shattered legs, twisted joints, crawling on elbows.
The grotesque procession advanced.
The northern army froze, forgetting even how to breathe.
‘Ah.’
Simon’s pupils trembled. Feer stepped forward, chuckling darkly.
[This feels just like looking at the Rose Rebellion of old.]
The army blocking the North was none other than—
“T-the Kingdom’s army…!”
Before their eyes were the soldiers who had marched two days ago to slay the North Star.
All of them had been turned into undead.
“What on earth…”
As the warriors reeled in shock at the nightmare before them, only the Grand Duke remained expressionless.
“We anticipated the North Star’s ability to corrupt. But to turn this many in just a few days? Even for him, that should be impossible.”
“Damn it all!”
A red-bearded general wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
“Those worthless Kingdom bastards! They rushed out ahead of us just to end up like this and block our way?!”
“It doesn’t matter.”
—Srrng!
Grand General Ganiro drew his sword from his belt.
“They may be under the North Star’s control, but they haven’t been undead for long. Such minnows will be easily—”
[Oh? Will they really?]
A sinister voice echoed. The northern sky warped red, and an undead figure dropped down with a heavy thud.
“!”
[Ahhh.]
A monstrous undead with protruding bones staggered before the Kingdom’s army.
It was none other than—
“Chronos!”
[A perfect body!]
The undead spread his arms wide.
Vrrrrooooom!
Without so much as a chant, black magic erupted, curses spreading across the ranks. One by one, the undead flared with ominous red and blue lights, their bodies strengthening.
[O Great North Star!]
The undead roared with laughter.
[The North Star has given me an infinite body, darkness as vast as the sea, and the army of the dead. At last, I have reached the pinnacle!]
With each magic circle he raised, the undead grew stronger.
“What are you doing, you wretch?!”
Ganiro stormed forward in rage.
“You fell in battle, then fade away with dignity! Have you lost even your reason and pride as a man? Do you feel no shame?!”
[Shame? Never!]
Chronos laughed, trembling ecstatically.
[This! This is what I’ve longed for all my life! With the North Star’s power, I am now as one of the Legion Commanders! Surpassing numbers, I will rule all undead in his name!]
He raised his arms high.
[Behold! The new Three Brothers of the North Star!]
Step.
Step.
All heads turned. A knight advanced on a skeletal horse, his body torn to pieces, only a quarter remaining. Arms sprouted from his torso, his brain gone, his face left only from the eyebrows down.
Ganiro’s bloodshot eyes widened.
“N-no… Romario!”
[Ki…]
The fallen Commander’s lips moved.
[Kill me… it hurts… kill me… kill me… guueeek!]
From his throat burst a grotesque hand, slick with saliva. It drew the sword at his waist.
[Second Brother, still whining as always.]
Chronos chuckled. Romario staggered, glaring at him.
[Kro…nos… traitor… I’ll…]
[Tsk. I simply found my true master in battle. Why can’t you understand? Ah! But where is our youngest—]
Chronos suddenly grew serious, raising his arm.
Shraaaak!
A black streak surged forth.
The Grand Duke’s long hair whipped as she loosed an arrow of the Bow of Tempest.
Chronos hastily raised a barrier spell with both arms. The impact thundered like shattering eardrums.
Eyes clenched shut, he opened them—then widened in disbelief before bursting into elated laughter.
[Ha! Hahaha! I blocked it! I blocked the strike of humanity’s hero! There is nothing beyond me now!]
Drunk on his newfound strength, Chronos roared.
[Look at me! I—huh?]
BOOM!
The arrow flared once more, its light surging.
A second amplification. The arrow shattered his barrier and pierced Chronos straight through. His undead body began crumbling at once.
[Wa—!]
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA!
The jet-black arrow carried Chronos along, splitting the undead Kingdom army in half as it shot forward endlessly.
The northern forces gaped, mouths agape at the sight.
The arrow of the Grand Duke had pierced straight through Chronos, scattering his body across the snow.
“Do not fear, soldiers.”
Clack.
With but a single strike, she had annihilated one of the Three Brothers. She lifted a black helm and set it upon her head.
Her eyes glowed with dark light.
[I am here.]
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