I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 421

Even a typical monster would have succumbed to the damage it had sustained.

But Bernard Fokker was a Nightmare Legion Commander.

Moreover, as a monster of the ‘Ghost’ category, he possessed a unique ability that allowed him to move for a few seconds even after taking what should have been lethal damage.

《……Hehehehe.》

Scattering pale ectoplasm from his torn body, the leader of the ghost pirate legion laughed wickedly.

《You won, humans. ……But.》

The next moment, Fokker lost his form.

He abandoned his admiral’s hat, coat, cannon, and greatsword, becoming just a wretched ghost, and shot towards me.

Whoosh!

The ghost rushed at me, scattering pieces of its ectoplasmic body behind it. I stared indifferently at the monster.

《Since things have gone wrong anyway, let me at least flip the board before I go-!》

Fokker laughed loudly and stretched out his pale, ghostly arm towards me.

Thwack-!

Thorkel, standing in front of me, crushed Fokker’s last attack.

The [Goddess-Blessed Mace] in Thorkel’s hand emitted a dazzling light, pulverizing the last of the wraith’s body.

I glared at the remains of the enemy commander, whose final struggle had been thwarted, and growled briefly.

“Get lost, you bastard.”

《Hahaha, well done, you damned landlubbers…….》

Fokker completely vanished with a scattering, hollow laugh.

《I’ll be watching with pleasure to see how long you can keep winning…….》

Once the immense hostility had completely disappeared, Thorkel took a long breath and slowly straightened his posture. I patted Thorkel’s back.

“Good work, Thorkel.”

“……I was just doing what I had to do.”

At the same time.

The dark clouds that had hung in the sky began to scatter as if they were a lie. The downpour stopped, and before we knew it, only the dazzling sunlight remained.

The enemy commander had vanished, and at the same time, the effect of the [Stormy Sea] ended.

The water-soaked southern field sparkled dazzlingly in the sunlight.

The post-rain scenery was so vivid it was almost blinding. For a moment, everyone on the ramparts was speechless, looking down at the scene.

“Comrades!”

I was the first to regain my senses and shouted to the heroes around me.

“We have won-!”

As I raised my arm high, the heroes around me cheered in response.

I then shouted to the soldiers below the ramparts.

“I declare again! My people! We have won!”

Waaaah-!

The soldiers took off their helmets and threw them into the air, cheering.

For me, and for the heroes and soldiers.

I don’t know how long it’s been since I gave a victory speech after a battle.

I continued, not hiding the passion in my voice.

“For the past few days, everyone has trained and prepared day and night, and because of that, we were able to defeat the monsters in this defense battle without any casualties!”

For the first time in the defense battles against the Nightmare Legion Commanders.

We were able to annihilate them without any losses on our side.

There were several situations that were favorable to us, and it is also true that we were lucky.

Nevertheless, it was also an undeniable fact that we ‘fought very well’.

‘Yes. We really fought well.’

It didn’t feel like I had been gone for half a year. No, it was even better than that.

The heroes and soldiers were all well-honed and skilled in battle. They shot, blocked, and moved as I directed, with perfect coordination.

Just as I had grown mentally while fighting to find myself over the past half year.

During that half year, fighting without me… my heroes and soldiers had also grown.

“I promise you all.”

After catching my breath,

I spoke the words I wanted to say to the people here.

“From now on, I will stand at the very front and wave the flag for you!”

Some people looked confused, and others were bewildered, not knowing what I meant.

There were also people who just cheered, as if it didn’t matter what I said.

“I will protect the banner of this monster front, where we save people and kill monsters, until the very end.”

How many of these heroes and soldiers will understand the true meaning of my words?

It doesn’t matter if they don’t understand.

Because they are all people who have believed in me and waited for me until now.

I am just conveying my sincerity.

“Now I will not go anywhere. I will no longer wander or hesitate. I will be here with you until the very end.”

After looking around at everyone, I shouted loudly.

“So, please, be with me!”

The day will come when we will not have such an easy victory as today.

Many deaths, much pain, and much sorrow will once again cover this front.

But.

Even so. No matter what adversity comes our way.

I will stand in front of you with the flag, believing that you will stand behind me, as you have always done.

Just as the sun shines after a storm, I believe that after we overcome all the long hardships that remain for us… a dazzling true ending will come.

After looking around at the people who were looking up at me with their own expressions, I smiled and raised my arm.

“Now! Let’s celebrate the victory!”

And, I shouted the words that everyone had been waiting for the most.

“Prepare the feast-!”

***

[STAGE 20 – CLEAR!]

[STAGE MVP – Lucas(SSR), Damian(EX), Thorkel(SR)]

[Leveled Up Characters]

– Thorkel(SR) Lv.50 (↑1) (3rd job advancement is available!)

– 20 others

[Deceased Characters]

– None

[Injured Characters]

– None

[Acquired Items]

– Ghost Pirate Legion Magic Stone: 340

– Ghost Pirate Fleet Commander Magic Core(SSR): 1

[Stage clear rewards have been distributed. Please check your inventory.]

– Pirate Random Reward Box: 10

>> Get Ready For The Next STAGE

>> [Next STAGE : Everblack]

***

After a defense battle ends, the process of collecting and incinerating usable materials from the monster corpses takes place.

But today, one more step was added to this process.

That is…….

“Fish-!”

Collecting the fish scattered all over the ground!

The ghost pirate legion’s [Stormy Sea] was a reckless skill that connected the sky with somewhere in the vast southern sea.

Naturally, all sorts of fish were swept away along with the seawater.

In the seawater that had pooled in the southern field, fish with shimmering scales were flopping around.

Not only fish, but also octopuses, squids, clams, shrimp, and other rare marine creatures were pitifully swept away and dropped in the middle of the ground.

They would only dry up and die if left alone, so it would be better to use them as food for today’s feast.

“Yahoo! It’s a fish party!”

Evangeline shouted repeatedly, then put a large basket on her head and ran to the field.

Crossroad is a city located inland, so it is rare to see fish normally. Of course, it is also rare to taste them.

Evangeline seemed excited at the thought of eating as much seafood as she wanted, and she diligently filled her basket without even thinking of wiping the drool from her mouth.

Other heroes and soldiers also seemed excited about this sudden seafood festival, and they joined in collecting fish with their own baskets at their sides.

“Aaaah! Get it off! Get it off me!”

I looked at Quillan, who was screaming with his arms and legs tied up by a large octopus, and then turned to the side.

“I gave you a difficult mission, but I’m glad everyone is safe.”

Lucas, who also had a large basket on his waist, chuckled.

“You gave us a mission that matched our abilities. It was us who pushed the airship too hard at the end.”

The heroes who had gone out to intercept on the airship Geronimo were all safe.

The Geronimo had crash-landed, and everyone had experienced a bit of dizziness from the crash, but they seemed to be fine now.

“Wow… it’s been a long time since I’ve seen clams.”

“Let’s make necklaces with them! Hurry! Hurry!”

Verdandi and Dusk Bringer were picking up clams with sparkling eyes. Everyone is excited.

While this unexpected fish harvest festival was taking place, and everyone was smiling and filling their baskets with fish for dinner-

“Your Highness!”

Damian came running in a hurry.

I looked at him, puzzled. What’s wrong?

“A… among the fish…”

“Among?”

“A mermaid! There was a mermaid!”

At Damian’s words, my eyes widened.

A mermaid?! Why a mermaid?!

“I see! Since the gate to the southern sea opened with [Stormy Sea], a mermaid from that side must have been caught up in the accident…!”

I slapped my forehead at the unexpected situation and asked Damian.

“Where is she now?”

“I’ve taken her over there! I did some first aid, but I thought I should report to Your Highness first…”

“Good job, Damian! Lead the way!”

The mermaid race, once considered one of the four major races, was known to have left this continent after the race war 100 years ago. Only the mixed-bloods remained here.

But were there still some left here?

With various thoughts in mind, I arrived at the place Damian had led me to.

And there was…….

“…No, it’s a mermaid, but.”

There was a being that was completely different from what I had imagined.

I was flustered and whispered in Damian’s ear.

“Usually, when you say mermaid, isn’t the upper body human and the lower body a fish? Why is this one the opposite…?!”

“I, I’m sorry, it’s my first time seeing a mermaid too…!”

Damian, also flustered, was sweating profusely.

This mermaid, who was sitting with her long brown legs crossed arrogantly… well, only her legs were human. Above her waist, she was a fish with shimmering scales.

The large eyes of the fish, which were struggling and gasping, turned and looked at me. No, at this rate, she’s just a fish!

‘Is this the original form of the mermaid race?!’

Where is my childhood fantasy going?!

“Tsk tsk. Put aside your prejudice, Ash.”

Then, Dusk Bringer appeared behind me, carrying a basket full of clams.

The way he was walking with a large clam in his hand looked like a sea otter.

“Mermaids take the form of a fish in the sea, but they are shapeshifters who can change their bodies to make it easier to move on land.”

“Oh… so, they can transform?”

“Well, yes. The degree of change varies depending on the level of training… This mermaid seems to be able to change up to half of her body.”

“Does that mean…?”

“It means she can change the parts she transforms. This friend will also be able to change the parts.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the mermaid’s whole body began to glow blue.

“Look, isn’t she changing! Haha, how is it? Am I not quite knowledgeable?”

“O, oh…! Amazing…!”

I watched this amazing polymorph? shapeshifting? transformation with interest. And.

Flash!

“…….”

“…….”

The mermaid transformed into a person on the left half of her body and a fish on the right half of her body…….

Even after finishing the transformation, the mermaid couldn’t keep her balance and was flopping on the floor in pain. Dusk Bringer and I were silent as we watched this scene. What is this…….

That’s when it happened.

“Wait a minute, I’ll try to talk to her!”

Serenade came running, having heard the news.

Right. Serenade is a mixed-blood between a mermaid and a human. She will have a solution to this situation.

Serenade squatted down in front of the mermaid and made various shapes with her hands.

The mermaid also responded by making shapes with her only hand. What are they doing?

Then, Dusk Bringer cracked a large clam on the floor and mumbled as he ate the contents.

“Mermaids originally communicate with sign language. They can’t talk with their voices in the water, can they?”

“Ah, I see.”

In front of me, who was convinced, the half-human, half-fish and Serenade continued to communicate with sign language, and the mermaid finally slapped the floor with her fin as if she had realized something-

Flash!

Another transformation.

When the blue light faded, there was a mermaid man who was the typical image from fairy tales… with a human upper body and a fish lower body.

The tanned, muscular upper body was that of a warrior, and the mermaid’s unique blue hair was so dark it was almost navy.

Underneath thick eyebrows, two sapphire-like eyes seemed to emit light. His eyebrows and the full beard that grew below his chin were also blue.

And on his head was a crown made of pearls…….

……Huh? A crown?

The mermaid, who could now use both hands, used fluent(?) sign language, and after about a minute of sign language with Serenade, she introduced the mermaid to us.

“I’d like to introduce you, Your Highness. This person is the last king of the mermaid race remaining on this continent…”

There was a slight hint of embarrassment on Serenade’s face.

“…King Poseidon XIII.”

I was even more flustered when I heard the name.

No, why is the mermaid king here?!