Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 236

236.

I focused my efforts and told Ken,

“Slowly pull back some of the commanders and soldiers.”

“Your Highness!”

“Have all the remaining residents inside the castle move into the inner castle.”

Ken bit his lip.

The current situation couldn’t be solved even with Ken’s sharp mind, nor with my and Lillian’s considerable skills.

Endless swarms of Chimera Ghouls.

It wasn’t an official name, but I called the creatures created by merging several ghouls into one, Chimera Ghouls.

Even though they were formed from multiple ghouls, they were at least ten times stronger than the original bio-ghouls.

It wasn’t just an addition of their power; they became significantly stronger upon merging.

I didn’t believe we could hold the outer castle walls.

The castle walls that had withstood the Kingdom Alliance’s attack and even Karen’s assault wouldn’t be able to withstand the Chimera Ghouls’ attacks.

Kwaaaang-! Kwang-!

Again and again, the Chimera Ghouls slammed their bodies against the castle walls.

The castle walls shook from the massive impacts.

That suicide attack!

It wasn’t easy to defend the castle walls because we couldn’t stop those suicide attacks.

“Lillian! How long will it take to inscribe magic circles on the inner castle walls?”

“I can do it quickly.”

“Go ahead with the retreating soldiers and knights and inscribe magic circles on the inner castle walls.”

Lillian nodded.

My burden felt heavier when Lillian left the battlefield, but it didn’t matter.

‘There’s no other option but a full retreat. It’s impossible to defend the outer castle walls until sunrise.’

Following Ken’s orders, some knights began to retreat with the soldiers.

We couldn’t abandon the outer castle walls immediately, so we were gradually retreating into the inner castle.

‘Damn it.’

I fiercely invoked the Breath of Wind once more.

As mana surged, Sylphid responded.

The blades of wind swept across the battlefield.

Swish-! Swish-!

The bodies of hundreds of Chimera Ghouls were sliced apart.

The problem was the Necromancer Ghouls.

When those guys reached out, more than half of the Chimera Ghouls that had been cut down rose again.

‘I need to eliminate those guys first, somehow.’

The ones raising the corpses hid within the black smoke.

Smart bastards.

Before Olivia and Gale could even launch their Aura Blades, before I could even use my skills, they disappeared among the Chimera Ghouls, concealed by the black smoke.

It wasn’t easy to find them and intercept them.

That said, I couldn’t order Olivia and Gale to go down below the castle walls and infiltrate their camp.

Kwaaaang-! Kwang-!

I bit my lip.

I couldn’t find an opportunity to use the Four-Attribute Harmony attack, and I didn’t possess any skills more powerful than what I had now.

It was frustrating that my growth had stagnated.

I had spent more time establishing myself as the Crown Prince than focusing on growth through the system.

I concentrated on increasing my political influence, nurturing Vikan, and securing financial independence.

I repeatedly considered how to build a solid foundation within my direct territory.

In the meantime, my growth had plateaued at the level of a Supreme Spirit Master.

‘I assumed Supreme was the highest I could reach. I didn’t even consider surpassing that limit, like Father or Karen.’

I believed I had reached the pinnacle of the Spirit Master’s path since I had formed contracts with all the Supreme Spirits of the four elements.

‘There’s a king-level threat right in front of me, though.’

I nervously poured mana into Ifrit.

Whirr-!

A massive wall of flame blocked the Chimera Ghouls’ advance.

The creatures fearlessly breaking through the wall of fire didn’t care at all that their comrades were burning.

Undead with no reason left, literally!

“Your Highness, Lillian says she’s finished inscribing all the magic circles!”

I immediately gave the order.

“Retreat systematically under the command of each commander. If we retreat all at once, the losses will be greater.”

“Yes.”

“What about the residents?”

“Everyone has been evacuated.”

In the first place, when the Kingdom Alliance soldiers transformed into ghouls, many residents fled to other regions.

I didn’t bother stopping them.

It was easier to let them flee to other regions than to have them stay and add to the chaos.

Besides, there weren’t any among them who could become soldiers.

Olivia approached.

“Your Highness.”

“Olivia.”

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I’ll retreat last. Olivia, encourage the knights and help the soldiers retreat.”

Olivia shook her head.

“The knights can handle that much. I’ll retreat with Your Highness.”

I didn’t bother arguing with Olivia.

Pure white aura emanated from her sword.

Swish-!

‘The Purifying Flame Order.’

I thought about the cause of this whole mess.

The Purifying Flame Order’s goal is the destruction of humanity!

If I can’t stop them, not only will the Empire be destroyed, but even the people I cherish will be turned into undead like the Kingdom Alliance soldiers.

“Undine!”

At my call, Undine unleashed a storm of water.

Kwaaaang-!

Mana was gradually being depleted, and now I could see the bottom of my reserves.

I looked around.

“Almost everyone has retreated.”

Indeed, more Chimera Ghouls were climbing up the castle walls.

Some sections of the castle walls had completely collapsed.

“Let’s go.”

I unleashed the Flow of Wind and Earth.

Still using skills with the Supreme Spirits, I headed to the inner castle with Olivia.

Kwaaaang-! Kwang-!

Now the entire Grenian outer castle wall was collapsing.

‘This isn’t the end.’

The magic circles that Lillian inscribed would mitigate the Chimera’s suicide attacks to some extent.

It was a shame that I couldn’t have magic circles inscribed on the outer castle walls in advance, but that was in the past.

It was enough that she bought time to inscribe the magic circles on the inner walls.

We’ll start again from the inner castle.

* * *

The sun rose.

I took a breather and checked the system window for the first time in a while.

There were no particular changes.

There were no points to unlock skills, nor quests to earn points.

‘Damn it.’

The foundation of my growth so far has undoubtedly been the system.

That advantage had vanished, leaving me feeling powerless.

‘What should I do?’

Neglecting the system is different from being unable to use it.

The system was still functioning, but I could only access a part of it.

Points!

I couldn’t collect the points needed for skill unlocks and quests.

‘It’s frozen.’

Olivia, noticing my serious expression, asked worriedly.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“Oh, I’m fine.”

I’m strong enough as I am now.

I’m confident that I’m stronger than any Spirit Master on the continent.

But it’s not enough to overcome this difficulty.

Karen has already surpassed the Sword Master barrier, and the endless tide of undead is not something that can be stopped with the abilities of a Supreme Spirit Master.

Even Lillian, who has reached the 9th Circle, can’t stop them.

‘Although it’s not a complete 9th Circle.’

I need a breakthrough.

I immediately turned my gaze to Ken.

“Ken, send a messenger to the Imperial Palace to request priests. We need knights who can wield divine power.”

“Yes.”

If it’s Duke James, he will heed the messenger’s news and send priests to reinforce us.

The Holy Knights are the best reinforcement we could ask for right now.

Divine power is the most effective force against the undead.

“How about rebuilding the outer castle walls? All the undead have disappeared.”

A knight suggested.

I didn’t dismiss the knight’s suggestion and answered.

“The outer castle walls were already weakened from the continuous battles. Now that they have completely collapsed, it will take a considerable amount of time to rebuild them. The inner castle walls are sturdier, and Lillian has inscribed magic circles on them, so they can withstand the attacks sufficiently.”

The knight immediately agreed and stepped back.

The outer castle walls couldn’t have had Lillian inscribe magic circles on them in the first place.

Firstly, their length was much greater than the inner castle walls, and it would take more than half a day to inscribe magic circles on such a long wall.

It would take at least a month, but we haven’t had that much time so far.

The fact that we were able to inscribe magic circles on the inner castle walls was because Lillian was an exceptional magician.

“Give the soldiers ample rest.”

After giving the order, I returned to the palace.

As I entered the palace, it was crowded with people.

“The nobles’ mansions weren’t enough to accommodate all the residents, so we had no choice but to bring them into the palace.”

“Bring all the residents staying in the nobles’ mansions to the palace as well. The palace is the safest place.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ken subtly interjected.

“The palace will become chaotic.”

“It’s not important that it’s chaotic. If the inner castle walls fall, the last stronghold is the palace.”

Olivia agreed with my words.

“We must do our best to protect the residents.”

“The knights should rest as well. The undead will return when the sun sets. And Hamilton, Ken, and Lillian, follow me.”

I moved to the office.

I told Olivia to rest and sent her away.

As soon as I sat down in the office, I said to Lillian.

“There’s definitely a Necromancer involved.”

Lillian agreed.

“They must be controlling the undead from somewhere. No matter what kind of magic it is, it’s impossible for a bio-ghoul to use Necromantic abilities on its own. They’re controlling them from close range.”

I turned my gaze to Hamilton.

“Search the surrounding area with your subordinates. Even beyond the border.”

“Yes. I will find the Necromancer.”

“When the Holy Knights arrive, include some of them in your search party.”

“Yes.”

I asked Ken.

“Does the Kingdom Alliance know about this?”

“Only the top executives will know.”

“So the people of the Kingdom Alliance are being sacrificed to the Purifying Flame Order?”

“Yes.”

“Can’t we try to rescue them?”

Ken shook his head at my words.

“It would be better to send more reinforcements to Riorden and David [likely referring to key defensive positions or commanders].”

I immediately accepted.

“Okay. Focus only on defense and finding the Necromancer.”

Now is not the time to divide our forces.

“I will depart immediately.”

I shook my head at Hamilton’s words.

“You fought all night, so rest and depart later. Depart before sunset and hide in a place where the undead don’t appear, then proceed with the search during the day.”

Hamilton quickly agreed.

“Yes.”

“Lillian, set up magical traps.”

“I’m tired, but I can’t refuse.”

Lillian nodded.

Defense was becoming increasingly difficult.

It’s good to do whatever we can.

After finishing the conversation with the three, I headed to the bedroom.

Olivia was waiting.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s certain that a Necromancer is controlling the undead from somewhere. I went to discuss that.”

Olivia nodded.

“Indeed, even if they are powerful undead, it’s strange for them to use Necromantic abilities.”

“Haa, it’s tough.”

As I said with a tired face, Olivia hugged me tightly.

“Cheer up. Many people are looking to Your Highness for strength.”

I nodded in Olivia’s arms.

If I collapse, it’s over.

The soldiers have already surpassed their limits, and the knights are also growing weary day by day.

Still, since I, the commander, am fighting on the front lines, they are also doing their best to defend.

At that moment, there was a knock.

“Your Highness! The messenger has returned.”

The messenger I sent a little while ago already?

I opened the door with Olivia.

The messenger’s expression was grim.

“What’s wrong?”

“All the clergy of all orders have been dispatched to the south.”

“All of them?”

Is that why the messenger’s expression is so bad?

Then came news that was hard to believe.

“Duke Beregon has been killed in action.”