Free Web NovelChapter 664: Episode 664
The Greatest Barrier Protecting the Northern God.
The named undead were known as the Living Terrors—collectively, the Three Brothers. The moment their general location was identified, the North mobilized.
"We will move as soon as preparations are complete," the Grand Duke declared.
The war was prepared in silence. Warriors abstained from alcohol, meticulously inspected their weapons, and slept like the dead to ensure they were fully rested. Supplies, loaded onto wagons disguised as merchant caravans, moved with quiet purpose. The Grand Duke, however, continued to fire her Arrows of Gale as she always did. As their greatest military asset, she should have been the one to conserve her strength, but it was paramount that the Northern God not sense anything amiss. This war, above all, had to be a surprise attack, for the cunning god was already wary of her arrows; any deviation from her routine might tip it off.
Simon, too, accelerated his Legion Commander training.
"You fool," the Grand Duke snapped. "Focus more on their thoughts!"
With battle looming, the intensity of her training escalated. Simon learned to perceive more of her thoughts and focus on a greater number of undead simultaneously. Commanding a legion was a world away from handling ordinary summoned undead. ’The very way I connect with them is different.’ The undead of his legion moved by his Jet-Black, their cores constructed from it. Metaphorically, they were like extensions of his own body. When he reached for their consciousness, he no longer felt the peculiar, instinctual hesitation of the living approaching the dead. It required little effort and did not drain his mental energy.
"Don’t fixate on individual units," she instructed. "Think of it as moving a single, massive colony!"
Her teachings were difficult, but in the heat of battle, her words always proved true. The moment he applied her lessons during combat, they became his own. ’I have no choice but to work hard and get used to it.’
Time passed in a flurry of relentless training. Finally, the day of the war arrived.
A chorus of neighs pierced the early dawn. While the residents of Vilkenos still slept, the sound of hooves echoed through the inner castle. This time, no horn announced their departure.
"Please be safe, Your Excellency," Simon said, his voice low.
"And who are you to worry about me?" she retorted.
The North was divided into two armies: the main force, composed primarily of warriors led by Great General Ganiro, and the undead forces of the 2nd Legion, commanded by the Grand Duke herself. The warriors were currently scattered throughout the region under the pretext of various missions. The moment Ganiro’s flag was raised and he marched north, those scattered forces would converge to form a grand army. The same was true for the Grand Duke’s legion. When she began her advance, every undead of the 2nd Legion within reach of her thoughts would rally to her side.
"Well then." The Grand Duke glanced back over her shoulder.
"I am leaving Vilkenos in your hands."
Simon, who had come to see her off, placed a hand over his heart. "You may leave it to me. I shall defend this place with everything I have, so please, focus only on the battle."
"Very well." She gave a single, sharp nod and donned her helmet. The atmosphere shifted in an instant as a murderous glint flashed from within the visor. With the harsh snorting of warhorses, the 2nd Legion marched forth.
’Alright,’ Simon thought, his expression hardening. ’Time to make my move.’
---
The Great General would engage the First Brother, and the Grand Duke would take the Second. The problem was the Third. It was a foregone conclusion that if the North’s full military might waged war on the Frost Field, the Third would invade their now-empty territories. The primary duty of every Grand Duke in history was not to slay the Northern God, but to protect the North. The god knew this and would use the Third to pressure the Grand Duke into returning. The Third’s advance was, in essence, a show of force.
But this time, the Grand Duke would not be returning to protect her home. A hidden power awaited in the North: Simon and the 7th Legion.
[Legion Commander! We have arrived at our destination.]
"Good. Thank you for guiding us, Erze," Simon replied.
Instead of waiting in Vilkenos, he had moved his forces to a secret campsite outside the city. It was the ruins of a village, apparently destroyed by a past war. Simon pitched his tents and released his legion into the surrounding area.
[I shall be on my way!] Erzebet took her Corpse Spiders to set up barriers and weave their webs.
[Young Master. I have brought them.] Akemus descended toward the camp, his great wings beating against the air. Trailing behind him were the named undead Simon had acquired since coming to the North, most notably the Gourmet and the One-Eyed. They were so massive that it was better to have them wait in the mountains than to confine them to an oversized subspace.
"Hello, everyone," Simon greeted them.
The Gourmet and the One-Eyed approached. Despite their hideous appearances, they bowed low before their Legion Commander, fawning over him. It was convenient here in the North; he could order even such massive undead not to attack humans, let them roam freely, and call upon them when needed. The campsite was instantly teeming with undead of all shapes and sizes, with the Ancient Undead moving busily to maintain order. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
’To think all of this is my fighting force.’ Simon looked around, a novel feeling washing over him. No matter how strong the Northern God’s champions were, he was confident he could win with this army.
[But hey,] Prince drawled, sauntering over after getting the zombies in line. [Is this Northern God that controls the Frost Field really all that great?]
"Of course. He’s so legendary he’s become part of their idioms."
[So, when we catch him, who gets to keep him?]
Simon scratched the side of his head and smiled. "According to the treaty, whoever catches him first..."
[Your will is weak, boy!] Pier, who had been listening quietly, suddenly interjected. [We ’must’ be the ones to take the Northern God! We may be joining forces with those 2nd Legion bastards for now, but think of them as future competitors!]
He slammed the Greatsword of Ruin into the ground with a heavy thud and laughed grimly. [First Deathland, and now the Frost Field. The 7th Legion will claim it all!]
"...Haha." Simon shrugged. "It’s a bit premature to be talking about that."
There was no need to predict victory and argue over the spoils. The Three Brothers still stood in their way. For now, all he could do was focus on the task at hand.
[Legion Commander!] Erzebet reported, having received a message from a returning Corpse Spider. [A group of undead forces is approaching.]
"It’s not the Third, is it?"
[No, it’s the usual offensive.]
Simon turned his head. "Any volunteers?"
Prince and Akemus stepped forward, and even the limp staff, Herseva, quickly raised a hand made of sand.
"Erze, what kind of monsters are they?"
[Zombies. Mostly the corpses of Snow Goblins. There seems to be one named-class as well.]
Snow Goblins were small and had no means of attacking from the air. Simon approached Akemus. "I think a quick aerial strike would be best. Akemus, let’s go take care of them together."
[It is an honor, Young Master!]
Prince clicked his tongue, and Herseva’s sandy form dissolved with a faint rustle. The moment Simon was enfolded in Akemus’s large arms, black wings unfurled, and they soared into the sky.
A flurry of flapping wings filled the air as every Skullwing in the camp took flight. The sky turned black as a rain of dark feathers fluttered down.
"Let’s go!" Simon commanded.
---
A considerable amount of time had passed. Simon dispatched troops to fend off the undead swarming the villages, all while conserving his main force and waiting. Then, suddenly, the attacks stopped. This phenomenon could only mean one thing.
[Kuhuhu! It seems the battle has begun up north!] Pier’s voice echoed in his mind. [The Northern God must have its hands full!]
This was the crucial moment. Simon urged Erzebet’s Corpse Spiders to redouble their reconnaissance efforts. Not long after, her report came.
[Legion Commander! The Third is leading a large force this way!]
It was just as they had predicted. Simon had Pier mobilize the troops while he and Akemus went on a reconnaissance mission. He needed to see the enemy’s movements with his own eyes.
[We are departing, Young Master!]
Akemus held Simon and flew low and fast. After passing a few ruined villages, a snow-covered mountain came into view. And there, swarming its base...
’Grrrrrrr!’
’Kiiiiiiiiiiii!’
A horde of pitch-black undead advanced in a long, unbroken line. They were of all shapes and sizes, with quite a few named-class undead among them. And leading them...
[Young Master.]
"Yes, I see him," Simon confirmed, his voice tight.
The ground shook with heavy, rhythmic footfalls. He had spotted the ’Third’ of the Three Brothers. He had never seen it in person, but he knew it instantly.
It was a giant that walked on two legs, its elbows pressed tightly to its sides as it ran with a disturbingly frivolous gait. Its gums were fully exposed, its ears shot straight up, and, true to its undead nature, its body was riddled with sunken wounds. It resembled a human, or more specifically, a beastman.
’Ugh.’ A wave of revulsion washed over Simon. It ran about with a careless abandon, trampling its own allies without a second thought. It moved with its thighs pressed together, like someone desperately trying not to wet themselves, before suddenly charging forward and sending trees crashing down with heavy kicks.
Watching from the sky, Simon swallowed hard. ’This battle might be tougher than I thought.’
[Young Master,] Akemus said, pointing ahead. [I see humans over there.]
"Huh?!"
It was true. Far down a mountain slope, a few Northern warriors were charging with reckless abandon.
"It’s the Third! That’s the Third, right?" one of them yelled.
"Definitely! It must be aiming for Vilkenos!" another confirmed.
Among them was a standard-bearer, the flag of the North fluttering bravely. Simon’s expression turned ashen. ’What are they doing?! The Grand Duke ordered all forces to stand by!’ He wanted to fly down and stop them, but they were too far away. Worse, the Third had already spotted them and was now bounding in their direction.
"All we have to do is plant the flag in its head!" the standard-bearer shouted, raising the banner high. "The Grand Duke will clean up, and we’ll be the heroes who saved Vilkenos!"
"Let’s go!"
The invasion was top secret, so these warriors had no idea the Grand Duke had already marched into the Frost Field. Just as Simon urged Akemus forward to intervene, the Third acted.
With a piercing whine, it moved a step faster. As it opened its mouth wide, the very air distorted, and a torrent of violet Jet-Black surged forth.
"Get out of the way!" Simon roared.
A beam of pure destruction erupted from the Third’s mouth, scouring the mountainside in a deafening roar. It sliced through boulders and earth, sending up a geyser of dust and debris.
"Ugh! Ack!"
More than half the warriors vanished without a trace, vaporized by the blast. The standard-bearer, who had miraculously survived, planted the flag in the ground and struggled to his feet. "What in the world was— Ah!"
A colossal head loomed out of the smoke.
With a sickeningly playful shriek, the giant snatched the man’s leg with its index and middle fingers. The warrior’s body was instantly hoisted dozens of stories into the air.
"Dammit! Let go!" he screamed, struggling and waving the flag wildly.
The Third watched him with a strangely flushed face before plucking a nearby tree from the ground. Then, with a great whoosh, it slammed the man against the trunk.
A sickening splat echoed as flesh and blood sprayed through the air. Again and again it struck, until the man’s body was a limp, ruined sack of flesh and bone. The Third lifted the blood-soaked tree and, with a proud smile, slid it into its matted, seaweed-like hair as a gruesome decoration.
It let out a triumphant howl. The surviving warriors, witnessing the horror, lost all will to fight and collapsed.
"S-Save...!"
Another warrior died with a wet splat. Simon urged Akemus forward to attempt a rescue, but it was too late. The Third, belying its massive size with nimble movements, toyed with the remaining warriors, killing them one by one. It chewed off their heads and tore off their limbs to adorn itself further.
[Young Master!] Akemus’s voice was sharp. He abruptly stopped and landed on a nearby mountaintop. [You must pull yourself together!]
"Ah, yes." Simon pressed a trembling hand to his forehead, took a long, shuddering breath, and regained his composure. "If that thing reaches Vilkenos, it will be a catastrophe."
[What will you do?]
"We move to the designated point and prepare an ambush," Simon said, his face a hard mask. "We can’t let the Third, or even a single one of its undead, get through."
’Kiiiiing-!’
Just then, Simon’s gaze snapped back to the giant. It had its mouth open, mumbling something. The violet Jet-Black leaking from its lips formed letters in the air.
’Runic language!’
An undead was weaving a black magic circle with runes. ’Does it understand the principles of magic?’ As Simon stared, his body rigid with tension...
...its massive eyeball slowly rolled a full 180 degrees, locking directly onto his position.
A cold dread, like a snake slithering down his spine, washed over Simon.
[It’s dangerous, Young Master!]
The moment Akemus shielded him, an explosion ripped through the air.
A sharp ringing filled his ears. Fortunately, Akemus had absorbed the brunt of the attack.
"A-Are you okay, Akemus?!"
[Yes, I am unharmed.]
Simon peered past him. The Third was letting out a high-pitched, giggling laugh. Simon’s lips twisted into a snarl.
’So you want a fight, do you?’
