He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 210

I Became the Greatest Crazy Emperor – Episode 210

I Became the Greatest Crazy Emperor 210

“Even though they are an impious group, the addition of the Vostok undead legion gives us room to counterattack. We must put them at the forefront and counterattack!”

The general of the Purification Knights passionately argued for an advance.

Although the undead legion was not pleasing, he valued the opportunity they provided.

“I agree, General. But we must be clear about our strategic objectives. What should we aim for against that undead legion, in your opinion?”

War has strategic objectives.

Traditionally, these are strongholds like cities or fortresses, but a more advanced view of war aims to annihilate the enemy’s army.

“…I am sorry, but both of those are difficult against the undead legion.”

“Anyone can say it’s difficult. Can you give a valid reason why?”

“Yes, first of all, even if the undead suffer cumulative damage, unlike ordinary armies, their morale does not drop, and their military system does not collapse. Therefore, focusing on physical strikes against the army is not effective.”

I nodded at the general’s analysis.

Unlike armies composed of the living, the undead do not lose morale when defeated in battle, nor do they starve when surrounded.

Moreover, their combat power doesn’t plummet even if officers or skilled soldiers, who are generally the backbone of the army, die. Except for the commander level, the undead do not have officer ranks in the first place.

Of course, armies must defeat even such an army, but at least attrition warfare should be avoided against an army that does not tire or weaken no matter how much it fights.

“Also, targeting strongholds is meaningless if we attack point by point. The undead have no reason to be attached to strongholds, so they will retreat without hesitation and aim for a reverse encirclement.”

The same went for strongholds. The undead, who do not need supplies, were unlikely to be as attached to defending key points as humans.

Unless there was something special to protect.

Rather, humans could recklessly take a stronghold, only to be reverse-encircled, isolated, and starved to death.

“Then what should we do, General?”

“Breakthrough is the only answer, Your Majesty.”

“Breakthrough… Are you perhaps suggesting we break through and target the Lord of Death?”

“That is correct.”

The generals of the Eastern Territory, who had often fought against the undead legions, had gained some experience with them.

The undead were numerous, but their combat power varied greatly.

The presence of a commander made a big difference. There was a big difference between places where only low-level undead were sent and battlefields where a commander was directing from somewhere.

“The top strategic goal is to break through the enemy lines with elite troops, eliminate those who correspond to commanders, and ultimately eliminate the Lord of Death.”

The undead who lost their commanders not only weakened but, in severe cases, had their will extinguished.

Or, as Vostok said, they would be absorbed by another Lord of Death who possessed a relic.

In that sense, the general’s analysis was valid.

“That’s a good plan. But there’s one blind spot.”

But then, Vostok, who had been watching, opened his mouth.

“A blind spot? Tell me, Vampire Lord.”

The generals looked displeased with Vostok’s intervention, but Vostok didn’t care and said,

“It certainly won’t be easy to pick out and eliminate the commander-level undead, but it will be effective. But the Lord of Death is different.”

“What’s different?”

“They can be resurrected even if they are killed.”

“…!”

The generals all looked surprised at Vostok’s statement.

“Is that true?”

“Is there anyone here who knows more about the undead than I do?”

“…So, why do the Lords of Death come back to life? Even if they are undead…”

“They can be destroyed as much as you want. But the Lords of Death create resurrection shrines in preparation for that time.”

Even if the undead are destroyed, they can be restored and resurrected at any time if the conditions are met.

And that was no exception for the Lords of Death.

“Of course, such shrines are made in the rear, so it won’t be easy no matter how much you break through.”

“Ugh, then…”

The breakthrough operation they had planned became meaningless.

The generals clicked their tongues at that fact.

Having heard that far, I asked Vostok.

“Vostok, how far away from the battlefield can that shrine be?”

“It can be quite far away, but not too far. Roughly near a fortress or city.”

So, the undead also need city or fortress strongholds to protect the lives of their commanders?

“Certainly, a breakthrough decapitation operation would be difficult in general.”

“The best way is to defeat the legion on the battlefield and then rush to the stronghold where the shrine is located and occupy it before they resurrect.”

Vostok gave a textbook answer.

But I soon shook my head.

“That’s too textbook. It’s moving according to the enemy’s intentions.”

Did the enemy not know that we would do that? Knowing their advantages, they would read our actions.

They would probably force attrition warfare by thoroughly using their numerical superiority and use themselves as bait to fight.

Even if they died on the battlefield, they would be resurrected at the shrine and start a second battle.

In that case, our side’s consumption would increase exponentially.

We could win once or twice, but if that was repeated, the army would not be able to withstand it.

“So, we need to give it a twist.”

“Then how will you give it a twist?”

The way to give a twist to an enemy who forces the norm is simple.

“Overwhelming power that no one expects.”

If you show that, anyone will be swayed.

And I could show it.

* * *

“The human bastards are advancing… These guys have lost their minds.”

The Lord of Death, Skullord, a skeleton master, scoffed at the advance of the humans called the ‘Empire’.

Of course, he, a skeleton, couldn’t actually laugh.

“And Vostok called me… Ha, was it true that he sided with humans, Vostok?”

Once hailed as the noblest of the Lords of Death.

But he was also someone who excessively pitied life.

“Foolish. It’s not like the past will come back even if you do that.”

Skullord muttered and rose from the skull throne.

“Since they’re coming, I’ll deal with them. Of course, I can see what they’re thinking.”

Vostok knew their weaknesses better than anyone else because he was the same Lord of Death.

The Lords of Death were no longer afraid of death, nor were they overconfident.

Rather, they knew how to actively use their characteristics as the dead in battle.

That was the strategy using shrines. Originally, undead called liches [powerful undead spellcasters] created relics called life vessels.

Why couldn’t it be used by anyone other than liches? So Skullord, a Lord of Death specializing in skeleton-type undead, willingly used it as well.

Soon, the human forces advancing and the skeleton forces led by Skullord faced each other on the plain that would become the battlefield.

Unusually, the human forces also included forces mainly of vampires led by Vostok.

“Vostok! Have you truly abandoned your pride as a noble of the night? Have you become a dog of humans, of the living?”

Skullord shouted, leading the way on a skeletal horse.

Then, as if to counter that, Vostok came out from the Empire’s camp.

“I have simply found the path I must truly take, Skullord. I can only feel sorry that you cannot see the guidance of that person I saw.”

“You pitied humans and lost your clarity, I can only feel sorry for you.”

Clack- Clatter-

When Skullord gestured, the skeleton forces showed movements as if measured with a ruler.

It was a qualitatively different movement from any undead legion they had faced so far.

If a battle broke out, it would not be easy to break through them and defeat Skullord.

“I can clearly see what you are aiming for. You’re trying to take my shrine while I’m dealing with you here, right?”

“You know it well, Skullord. Did you bring your army out knowing that?”

“Haha! It doesn’t matter how many detour troops you send. The city is perfectly fortified. No living person is allowed to set foot there.”

Skullord answered confidently, but that was by no means an outburst of arrogance.

As he said, the city behind him where the shrine was built was really firmly fortified.

No matter how many detour troops they sent, they would never be able to break through easily.

“Too bad, Skullord. Today, your common sense will be shattered.”

“What?”

“Look at the sky, and realize your ignorance.”

Skullord looked up at the sky with a sudden sense of intense unease.

Then, a red comet that seemed to be burning fiercely was falling in the sky.

No, it wasn’t a comet.

It was a person falling, wrapped in burning flames.

“No……!”

The existence of that burning flame was falling towards the city of death where his shrine resided with fierce momentum.

What would happen if that fell? Feeling a sense of crisis, Skullord immediately activated the city’s defense functions.

Shushushushuk! Shushuk!

Immediately, bone arrows flew from the city towards the burning existence.

Whirr-!

However, the bones turned into ashes in an instant due to the intensely burning flames.

The high-heat flames that burned even bones to ashes soon exploded in the city.

Whoaaaa!

“T, this……!”

The city where the shrine was located was burning fiercely. The flames were so huge that they dyed the cloudy sky behind them red.

“Where are you looking, Skullord!”

Clang!

“Kugh!”

At that moment, Vostok turned into a swarm of bats and rushed in front of Skullord.

He wielded a blood-red sword, and Skullord blocked it with a bone sword made of bone dragons.

“Do you understand, Skullord? Today is the day your death sees its end!”

“Kugh! Not yet! Not yet!”

The two Lords of Death began to fight fiercely.

Then, both armies also began to charge.

“For the Empire!”

“For His Majesty the Emperor!”

-For the new guide of the dead!

The Empire’s soldiers began to run with all their might, and the knights created wedge formations solely for breakthrough, attempting a mad rush.

Among those knights were also the blood knights of the Blood Knights, who were vampires.

Absolutely obedient to Vostok’s will, they already considered the Emperor of the Empire as their guide.

“Flame of purification, protect and guide the children of the Empire.”

Flames swirled around their swords and spears. The flames of purification fiercely burned the undead who opposed them.

“Your Majesty, please achieve your will this time as well.”

Behind them, Stella was endlessly offering prayers of purification and giving the blessing of fire.

She could only earnestly pray that the Emperor, who had jumped alone into the middle of the enemy lines, would always be victorious as always.