Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 263

263.

If I had to choose the most captivating of the human senses, it would probably be sight.

Duke Mike watched the spirits move with dazzling splendor, utterly speechless.

‘It’s far more impressive than I’d heard. I heard the Demon King had descended, but if His Highness is here, the Empire will surely prevail.’

His heart swelled with renewed hope.

Every day had brought only despairing news, and they lost soldiers daily trying to hold back the fairies.

But what Duke Mike witnessed today was a profound shock and a powerful source of hope.

‘It seems Your Highness has made great progress.’

‘Yes, I’ve been fortunate to experience many positive developments personally. Being able to summon the Spirit King is one of them. On the other hand, the future of the Empire is bleak.’

The facial muscles of Duke Mike, who had been filled with hope just moments ago, twitched involuntarily.

‘Your Highness, why do you say it’s bleak when you are here?’

‘Demon King Belush is an existence that can devour everything on the continent.’

Duke Mike’s expression turned grave.

‘I’ve been so focused on defending the west that I’ve only vaguely heard rumors about the Demon King.’

‘The Kingdom Alliance has fallen, and the High Priest of the Purifying Flame Order was also a victim of the Demon King.’

‘An entire country collapsing in an instant… it’s unbelievable.’

‘It’s not just collapsed… it’s become a wasteland where not even a bug can live, let alone a person.’

Duke Mike was momentarily speechless, absorbing the gravity of the situation.

It was that dire.

‘How on earth…’

‘The urgent matter is the Purifying Flame Order. After destroying the fairies and winning against Karen’s forces, I plan to deal with Demon King Belush.’

‘To face a Demon King who has demonstrated such power, how strong do you need to be?’

Duke Mike’s question held a mix of genuine curiosity and fervent anticipation.

‘There’s Lillian, and His Majesty is also here. And Olivia…’

When Arun’s expression, which had seemed hopeless when talking about Demon King Belush, suddenly brightened, Duke Mike inquired,

‘It seems there’s good news about Her Highness the Crown Princess?’

‘She is working tirelessly to protect the Empire, risking her own life, to reach the realm of Grand Sword Master.’

Duke Mike’s eyes widened in astonishment.

‘Really? Are you talking about Grand Sword Master?’

‘That’s right. It seems the White family’s secret swordsmanship contains information about achieving the Grand Sword Master level. And it’s very dangerous.’

‘So, Her Highness the Crown Princess is undertaking this perilous training, risking such danger?’

‘Yes.’

Duke Mike exclaimed, deeply impressed.

‘Truly… her spirit of sacrifice is beyond words. She has admirably demonstrated her responsibility as the Crown Princess of the Empire.’

‘I believe in Olivia. I believe she can do it. Right now, the hope… lies only with her.’

Soon, they arrived at the encampment where the tents were pitched.

The snow was falling even harder, creating a thick blanket over everything.

‘I will ensure the soldiers receive ample rest and provide plenty of food,’ Duke Mike stated.

‘Thank you,’ Arun replied, a genuine smile gracing his lips at the Duke’s consideration.

‘It’s only natural. I was the one who ordered the Duke and the lords to retreat. I was preparing for that.’

‘Yes. I will issue the orders immediately.’

‘Since the pursuit squad was annihilated, the fairies won’t be able to move carelessly. We’ve sent out enough scouts, so we’ll know if they advance. You’ve worked hard too, Duke. Please get some rest.’

‘Yes, Your Highness.’

Duke Mike bowed his head respectfully.

As Arun returned to his tent, Duke James approached Duke Mike.

‘It’s been a while, Duke.’

‘Duke.’

After a brief, respectful greeting, Duke Mike exhaled a plume of white breath into the frigid air and said,

‘I’ve heard about the Crown Princess.’

‘Yes, she is fulfilling her responsibility as the Crown Princess of the Empire with unwavering dedication.’

‘Personally, you must be very worried.’

Duke James offered a wry, weary smile.

‘It’s alright. I am also a subject of the Empire. I must set aside my personal feelings for my daughter, at least for a while.’

‘You are truly… a great subject, Duke.’

Duke Mike, who had no heir of his own, couldn’t fully empathize with the depth of Duke James’s paternal feelings.

However, he understood, at least to some extent, how significant and selfless Duke James’s decision truly was.

‘I heard many stories from His Highness on the way here,’ Duke Mike continued.

‘News from the west is slow to arrive. It’s been a place of fierce battles, a constant struggle for survival.’

‘Yes. We were too busy defending to look back at the Empire and assess the broader situation. I heard news occasionally, but only fragments, distorted by distance and conflict.’

Duke James carefully broached the subject that weighed heavily on both their minds.

‘The situation isn’t good, is it?’

‘His Highness summoned the Spirit King and annihilated a thousand fairy pursuers in an instant. I saw a glimmer of hope in that display of power.’

‘His Highness’s growth is certainly remarkable, a beacon in these dark times.’

‘Even so, the presence of Demon King Belush being beyond what His Highness alone can handle is very… shocking, to say the least.’

Duke James nodded grimly, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

‘His Majesty is also deeply worried.’

Duke Mike smiled bitterly, a hint of disbelief in his expression.

‘A worried Majesty… I’ve never imagined it.’

‘I was also very surprised. Karen, and even Demon King Belush. The Empire is facing its greatest crisis since its founding, a confluence of threats unlike anything we’ve ever seen.’

Duke James transitioned to another pressing topic.

‘Have you found Duke Austin?’

‘We haven’t found him. The search continues, but hope dwindles with each passing day.’

‘Many Imperial soldiers in the south have become undead. Duke Austin is an 8th circle mage, a master of arcane arts, but… if his body was resurrected as an undead…’

Duke Mike finished Duke James’s grim sentence, the implications chilling.

‘An incredibly powerful lich will attack us, a force of unimaginable destruction.’

‘One mountain of challenges after another. To think we might have to face Duke Austin after the fairies… the thought is almost unbearable.’

The Duke and Marquis, both founding contributors to the Empire, simultaneously fell silent, their gazes fixed on the fiercely falling snow, a mirror to the turmoil within their hearts.

The severe weather, where one could not see an inch ahead, was a stark metaphor for the current state of the Empire – lost, directionless, and shrouded in uncertainty.

How did the Empire, which had once been advancing relentlessly towards unification and prosperity, end up in this desperate state?

The Marquis and Duke were desperately holding back sighs, the weight of their responsibilities pressing down on them.

* * *

Olivia was still deep in meditation, her mind focused and unwavering.

Her tent was being thoroughly guarded, a testament to her importance and the dangers surrounding them.

Ken, Duke Mike, the young lords of the west, and even Duke James, all hastily gathered in the tent that had been set up as a temporary command headquarters, the air thick with tension and anticipation.

I also lingered around Olivia’s tent for a moment, drawing strength from her unwavering resolve, before entering the command tent.

Ken immediately began his report, wasting no time.

‘The fairies are reorganizing within the ruined castle and have begun their advance.’

‘What is the size of the fairy force?’ I asked, needing concrete numbers to assess the threat.

Duke Mike answered, his voice grim.

‘There are slightly over a hundred thousand fairies. And the undead number more than twice that. The exact number was difficult to ascertain, given their chaotic nature.’

I offered words of encouragement to the western lords, recognizing their tireless efforts.

‘All the soldiers in the west were fewer than them, yet you have all endured until now. That is all thanks to you, to your courage and resilience.’

Pride was evident on the faces of the young lords. It was something they could be genuinely proud of, a testament to their skill and dedication.

The fairies were all elites, formidable warriors in their own right, and the undead were notoriously difficult to deal with, their relentless nature a constant drain on resources and morale.

Duke Mike’s excellent leadership and the young lords’ competence had been instrumental in their successful defense, a bulwark against the encroaching darkness.

‘Ken, what’s the plan?’ I asked, cutting to the heart of the matter.

‘The Vargen Forest is a forest created by the roots of the World Tree [a mythical tree connecting all realms in some mythologies]. Even though they have become minions of the Demon King, the fairies still mistakenly believe they are the race of light.’

Duke Mike chimed in, adding context to Ken’s statement.

‘That’s right. Every time they fight, they habitually mutter that they are carrying out a sacred war, a twisted justification for their actions.’

The young lords nodded in agreement, while Duke James and I exchanged knowing glances, clicking our tongues in disapproval.

‘They’re crazy,’ I muttered, shaking my head at their delusion.

Duke Mike agreed with my assessment.

‘I never thought the fairies would be swayed by a cult, that their inherent arrogance would allow them to fall prey to such manipulation.’

‘That means the Purifying Flame Order is that dangerous of an organization, capable of twisting even the most steadfast beliefs. They even brought about the Demon King’s descent, a catastrophic consequence of their fanaticism.’

As I finished speaking, Ken opened his mouth again, resuming his strategic briefing.

‘The fairies will definitely enter the Vargen Forest. At that time, we plan to burn the Vargen Forest using fire tactics, turning their perceived sanctuary into a trap.’

‘We can summon the Fire Spirit King then, bolstering our forces with elemental power,’ I suggested, seeing the potential for a decisive advantage.

‘Your Highness must conserve your strength. There are not only fairies but also undead. The western lords will take charge of the archers and cavalry. They will ambush near the Vargen Forest and set fire as soon as the fairies arrive, maximizing the chaos and destruction.’

‘There are a lot of mages among them. Simple fire tactics won’t work; they’ll extinguish the flames with ease,’ one of the young lords pointed out, voicing a valid concern.

Ken smiled confidently at the young lord’s words, reassuring him.

‘Lillian the mage personally made and sent special fire arrows. They cannot be extinguished with magic; they burn with an unholy intensity.’

Everyone tilted their heads in confusion, surprised by this new information.

It seemed they hadn’t heard about Lillian’s recent achievements.

I clarified, filling in the gaps in their knowledge.

‘Lillian recently reached the 9th circle [the highest level of magic].’

Exclamations of astonishment erupted from here and there, disbelief etched on their faces.

‘Is, is that even possible?’

‘I saw it with my own two eyes, so it’s undeniably possible. Lillian is the best mage on the continent, a prodigy unlike any other. There was no one like her in previous history, and there may not be anyone like her in the human history to come.’

The lords no longer doubted, their skepticism replaced by awe and renewed hope.

‘Duke, please step forward as well,’ Ken requested, addressing Duke James directly.

‘What is my role in this operation?’ Duke James inquired, eager to contribute.

Ken answered Duke James’s question briefly and efficiently.

‘Please deal with the fairies coming out of the forest. It won’t be difficult to deal with a group in chaos, disoriented and vulnerable.’

Once again, one of the young lords raised his hand, seeking clarification.

Ken gave him the floor, acknowledging his right to speak.

‘The fairies do not separate from the undead. With only some troops, it is impossible to stop them, no matter how much of the Vargen Forest we burn. They fight as one, a unified force of darkness.’

‘The Vargen Forest is a sacred forest. Although they are corrupted, the fairies are still fairies. It is their ideology that has been corrupted, not the power they use, which is not like the black magic of the undead or the Purifying Flame Order. Their connection to the forest remains, despite their corruption.’

‘Does that mean the undead cannot enter the Vargen Forest?’ I asked, seizing on this crucial piece of information.

‘Yes. They will naturally separate. And Your Highness can take care of the undead, cleansing the land of their unholy presence.’

‘Good,’ I affirmed, pleased with the unfolding strategy.

‘This is the basic operational structure. The details will be given separately to each unit, so you can hear them through your commanders,’ Ken explained, streamlining the communication process.

Ken revealed his intention to only inform the big picture and convey the detailed operations directly to each commander, ensuring clarity and efficiency.

‘At the current rate of advance, the fairies and undead will arrive in two days,’ Ken stated, setting a clear deadline for their preparations.

‘Not much time left,’ I muttered, feeling the pressure mounting.

I also asked Ken about the Empire’s overall situation, needing to understand the broader context of their actions.

‘We decided to annihilate the fairies as quickly as possible and attack Karen’s rear, relieving the pressure on the beleaguered southern forces. Is the south holding up well now?’

‘The first gate was breached yesterday,’ Ken reported, his voice grim.

Everyone swallowed their groans gloomily, the weight of the news heavy in the air.

The south is a battlefield where the Empire has not yet won a single victory, a constant source of worry and frustration.

Even against the Kingdom Alliance, they had won several times before the Demon King descended, offering glimmers of hope amidst the conflict.

On the other hand, the south had only repeated defeats, a relentless tide of darkness washing over their defenses.

It was a battlefield where Beregon and even my father had been defeated, a testament to the overwhelming power of their enemies.

I understood that my father had set up gates and was trying to make a stand at the last gate, a desperate attempt to stem the tide of destruction.

‘To attack their rear when they attack the second gate, we must annihilate the fairies in a single battle in two days. And we need to leave immediately, wasting no time in our counteroffensive.’

Duke Mike cautiously asked, his concern evident.

‘Is that possible? Even with Your Highness and Duke James here, the fairies are by no means easy opponents. They are a formidable force, even at their weakest.’

Ken nodded confidently, reassuring the Duke.

‘That’s why a lot of preparation is needed. If we extract some troops and prepare the Vargen Forest in advance and execute the operation as planned, we can definitely annihilate them. We have a plan, and we have the means to succeed.’

The young lords were still half-doubting, their faces etched with uncertainty.

Even though they had seen the existence of the Spirit King, they were fed up with the fairies due to the long-lasting defensive war, the constant struggle for survival.

They knew the scary aspects of the fairies best, their cunning and their relentless nature.

‘Ken is the operation commander personally appointed by His Majesty, and we just need to proceed with the war according to the plan he has laid out. Trust Ken as you trust me, and trust each other and yourselves. We are all in this together, and we will succeed if we work as one.’

At my words, everyone bowed their heads in unison, their doubts momentarily quelled.

‘Yes, Your Highness.’

‘Then let’s prepare. Let’s drive out those corrupted beings who dare to invade the Empire’s land and call themselves the race of light. Let us show them the true meaning of strength and resilience.’

‘Yes, Your Highness!’ they responded, their voices filled with renewed determination and unwavering loyalty.

I smiled at the energetic response, feeling a surge of hope amidst the darkness.

KWAH-KWANG!

At the tremendous explosion, I instinctively rose to my feet, my senses on high alert.

‘It’s Olivia’s tent!’

Duke James’s voice was heard from afar, filled with alarm and concern.

Because I was already out of the tent, running towards the source of the explosion.