The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 346

224. The Appearance of the Colossus

“Beykan!!!”

Carryl shouted.

His voice, amplified by magic, echoed across the vast battlefield. Simultaneously, the Tu tribe’s cavalry, led by Beykan, surged toward him.

“To the left! Magic corps, shields up!!!”

Watching them rush in like a flood, the Imperial knights hurriedly shouted.

“7th and 8th Corps, shield wall! Slow down the enemy’s speed!! Defensive formation!”

Clang-! Thud!!

Oooooooo—!!

Shaken by the sudden surprise attack, the Imperial army quickly recovered and began to retaliate.

“Archers!! Fire!!”

Swish-!! Swish, swish, swish—!!

A rain of arrows darkened the sky, aimed at the charging Tu tribe.

“Tu Tribe!! Break through!!”

Beykan spurred his horse onward, undeterred by the arrow storm. Surprisingly, their speed didn’t falter as they plunged into the arrows’ range.

“Shieldbearers!!”

At the commanders’ shouts, massive tower shields were stacked in layers, forming a formidable barrier.

“N-no way……?!”

The Tu tribe’s cavalry, now within mere meters, didn’t slow down, even as they approached the shield wall.

The commanders of the shieldbearers, who had braced for the impact, shouted in confusion as they watched the relentless charge.

Clang—!!

Beykan’s massive axe cleaved through the shieldbearers’ shields in a single, devastating blow. With a cracking sound, several soldiers were sent flying by his tremendous strength, and debris from the shattered shields rained down.

“Don’t slow down!!”

The Tu tribe’s soldiers relentlessly poured through the gap Beykan had created.

“Sir Ajif! The 7th Corps is requesting support……!”

Ajif, fighting at the forefront, frowned at his adjutant’s shout.

The 7th and 8th Corps were primarily defense-oriented, tasked with protecting the magic corps in the rear.

But with them collapsing first, Ajif realized he risked being caught from behind if he made a mistake.

“Infantry, turn left and intercept! Surround them and support the shieldbearers. Restore the collapsed front line immediately! Cut off their advance!”

Uooooooo—!!!

At Ajif’s command, the soldiers shifted. Knights in the area turned to pursue Carryl’s Freedom League, who were pressing the attack.

“Advance!!”

Clang—!!!

The infantry slammed into the Freedom League’s flank, and Ajif’s knights followed, creating chaos.

The Gold Knights were the Emperor’s personal bodyguards, stationed in the Imperial Palace, and each was among the Empire’s best knights.

Ajif had risen to the position of vice-commander through hard work and dedication. Though overshadowed by Kwell McGubern, the renowned Sword Master, Ajif’s leadership was exceptional.

“Scatter again. Focus. I will send you magic power. Create waves.”

Carryl spoke calmly, facing Ajif, who had bravely blocked his path.

Woo-oong……!!

The raw magic power surging from the mana vein flowed through Carryl’s Lacna [a magical sword].

Crack-!! Crackle—!!

The magic power emanating from the Lacna’s hilt was unlike anything seen before. It no longer resembled a sword blade.

Like a giant pillar, magic power erupted from the hilt, splitting into tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of branches, like retrograde lightning, filling the sky.

“…….”

Ajif stared, speechless.

‘What is this ridiculous magic power……? Could he have reached the rank of Archmage? Impossible. This is far beyond his power with the Twin Armor [a magical artifact that enhances defense].’

Kadin Luer, the Imperial court mage, was an Archmage. Ajif knew him well, but he doubted even Kadin could achieve something like this.

“Advance.”

Carryl’s low voice cut through the air.

The core of No Formation [a complex battle tactic].

The tactic of repeatedly scattering and gathering could be vulnerable, easily defeated if executed poorly.

Breaking ranks to engage the enemy required exceptional individual soldiers.

That’s why Anthem had initially deemed it impossible.

There was only one way to make the impossible possible.

Carryl had to provide magic power to the magic-less barbarians, boosting their stats.

“The Empire cannot, but we can.”

The pebbles Anthem had scattered before the battle.

They were none other than Azurel [a magical mineral that absorbs and amplifies magic].

It was an absurd strategy, made possible by the Freedom League’s Azurel equipment.

In the chaos of battle, even an Archmage would struggle to target only the Freedom League with magic power.

However, because the Freedom League used Azurel, which absorbed magic power, they could store Carryl’s magic in their equipment. This added a layer of magic to their armor, dramatically increasing their stats.

Even though they lacked inherent magic, the physical abilities of the immigrants and barbarians already surpassed those of the Imperials.

With the addition of magic power, even a single infantryman could wield the power of a knight.

“Ugh?!”

Ajif, attempting to counterattack the Freedom League from the rear, was caught off guard by their fierce counterattack as he collided with their cavalry.

Shuk-!! Shushuk-!!

“Bring down the shieldbearers. Continue the first wave’s attack. The second and third follow-up attacks have already begun. Support the Tu tribe. Dismantle the magic corps hidden behind the shields.”

Just then,

Sharp arrows rained in from the side.

“……!!”

The scattered archers reappeared, reforming their ranks. At Kinu Mukari’s command, the Bi Gung tribe’s arrows [a tribe known for their archery] targeted the soldiers’ vital points through the gaps in their shields.

“Ugh!! Aaaagh!!”

“Cough……! Keuheuk!!”

The shieldbearers began to fall, their thick shields proving useless.

They were not knights, and the Azurel arrows, imbued with Carryl’s magic power, carried the force of a knight’s attack with each shot.

Whoosh-!!

At Carryl’s whistle, red scales [a type of dragon] flew over the knights’ heads.

Pulling on the reins, he mounted the Biyong [Carryl’s personal dragon] and sped toward Bran in the distance.

“To abandon the castle and come out. To give up your only advantage. You’ve made a foolish mistake, Bran Gaunt.”

“……!!”

Chills-!!

“S-stop him!! Stop that guy at all costs!!”

Bran Gaunt shouted, his composure shattered as he watched Carryl fly toward Ajif.

“To change tactics by trusting only one dragon. Now I know why you couldn’t beat Anthem in war. You lack the confidence to believe in your own strategy and push it to the end, even if it seems reckless.”

Swaaaaa—!!

As the red scales spread their wings, their speed increased.

Carryl, soaring over the heads of the large army, descended directly above Ajif.

“That’s your downfall.”

“……!!”

Ajif frantically gathered his magic power.

But he knew he couldn’t stop Carryl’s attack with his own strength.

Death.

The chilling premonition he’d felt upon Carryl’s appearance.

Ajif knew he couldn’t escape that fate.

[You!!!! That’s far enough.]

Just then,

Kaaaaaaa—!!!

A powerful gust of wind, unlike anything seen before, swept through the battlefield, scattering the knights who had rushed to intercept Carryl like dust.

“Cough…… Keoeok……!!”

“Aaaagh……!!”

The red scales, moving at incredible speed, staggered in the wind as if the weight of their thick armor was meaningless.

[Kuaaaaa!!]

A huge shadow fell over Carryl, accompanied by a deafening roar. He looked up to see Python’s [a powerful dragon] sharp teeth aimed directly at him.

“A-avoid it!! Please!!”

Beykan shouted in horror. The dragon seemed poised to swallow Carryl whole.

Squeeze-

But Carryl pulled on the reins, refusing to slow the red scales.

“My lord!!!”

His subordinates on the front line, including Kinu Mukari and Kayla Chang, cried out in unison.

[Kuaaaaaaaa—!!!]

It was a truly desperate situation.

Python’s mouth, descending from above, lunged to devour Carryl.

“Kuh, keuheuk!! The end is you!!”

Ajif shouted, a wry smile on his pale face, barely able to wipe the cold sweat from his brow.

“Die!!”

Thud—!!

At that moment, Python’s head was slammed to the ground as if struck by something incredibly heavy, its neck bent at an unnatural angle.

“……!!!”

“……!!!”

A massive shadow had struck the dragon’s head.

The ground shook from the tremendous impact, sending dust billowing across the battlefield.

“W-what……?!”

“What the hell is it?!”

The Red Dragon flapped its wings, struggling to rise from the sudden attack, disoriented by the immense weight pressing down on it.

“…….”

Ajif slumped, his expression blank.

“Die? Was that what you said to me a little while ago?”

The red scales ceased flapping. Carryl looked down at Ajif, his voice cold.

Ajif felt the chilling presence of death.

Gulp-

His eyes wide with fear, Ajif swallowed hard, his mouth opening and closing silently.

[Am I late.]

A welcome voice echoed in a mechanical tone. Carryl chuckled.

“No. You arrived just in time.”

Thud-

Carryl turned to see the Colossus [a giant mechanical soldier], saluting him with a hand on its chest.

The magic machine soldier, towering above the battlefield, was equipped with unprecedented outer armor and armaments.

[Y-you bastard!!]

Python, lying on the ground, roared, baring its sharp teeth.

Revol’s fist seemed to have struck Python, but dozens of layers of protective magic shielded the dragon’s head.

Python had cast the magic in a split second.

Clang-!!

However, Revol raised his hand, unfazed by the Red Dragon’s skill.

A sharp iron pillar extended from the back of his hand, its black-brown surface glowing faintly in the sunlight.

Crack-!!!

Wingle Hartt [the pilot of the Colossus] struck the Red Dragon’s head again and again from inside the cockpit.

Kuddeudeu……!!

Again, again, again.

[Keuk……!! Keureureuk!!!]

Python’s head shook violently as the Colossus’s fist, weighing several tons, relentlessly pounded him, shattering the protective magic.

Carryl knew the iron pillar attached to Revol’s back was a composite of Azurel and Joam Rock [another magical mineral].

[To synthesize two minerals with the property of absorbing magic power into one. Keul keul……. Is that the work of the gnomes [a race known for their engineering]? Look at that ridiculous size. Anyway, you’re surrounded by crazy people.]

Aln [a powerful mage] watched the scene and laughed.

Thud-!!

A sickening thud echoed as Python’s skull cracked.

[Cough……! Keokeok…….]

Python screamed, but Revol continued to pummel the dragon’s head.

[Ku, kulleok!! These damn……! Guys……!!]

Python, limp and spitting blood, struggled to shout at Revol.

Kaaaaaaa—!!

But the Colossus only responded by punching the dragon’s face.