I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 715

As the Ice Spirit King froze the Wraith King’s legs, immobilizing him, our side’s magical bombardment rained down relentlessly upon the Wraith King’s body.

Kroooaaah…!

The Wraith King writhed in agony. Watching this, Jenice wiped away tears of emotion.

“Sniff, sniff, he’s the best, our son…”

She seemed proud that Hannibal had accomplished something.

Priestess Rosetta, who had been watching Jenice with a look of exasperation, nodded to me.

“It seems we don’t need to step in, Your Highness.”

“It would seem so.”

I crossed my arms and observed the Wraith King crumbling over there.

I wanted to test the remaining equipment, but the Wraith King was already collapsing, and strictly speaking, it wasn’t the right situation for testing.

The Oath series given to Jenice and Rosetta was specialized for mob battles, and the equipment given to the captured beasts was also somewhat unsuitable for use against a colossal monster like the Wraith King.

In the case of Jormungandr, it would be quite useful, but…

‘The surroundings wouldn’t be left intact.’

The equipment given to Jormungandr, [Shed Skin of an Old God], transforms him into his prime form for 3 turns.

In other words, it means that this little Jormungandr can be returned to his former large size for 10 minutes.

It would be a good size match against the Wraith King, but we are a bit too close to engage in a battle of that scale, and Jormungandr’s physical charge is ultimately physical damage, so it would be difficult to defeat the Wraith King, who is immune to physical attacks.

So, I decided to postpone testing the remaining equipment and finish him off with magical bombardment as is, but…

《Krooooooo-!》

The Wraith King, who had been quietly taking the magical hits, suddenly changed his demeanor.

Crack, crack!

Suddenly, bright blue cracks spread all over the full-body armor that made up his body. I flinched, my shoulders tensing.

‘That’s not damage we inflicted!’

The energy expanding from inside his armor seemed to be swelling, as if it would burst the entire armor at any moment.

The entire armor began to break from the inside with cracking sounds, and soon, through the revealed gaps, a blue and pale energy poured out wildly.

Alarmed, I raised my hand and shouted.

“Cease fire! Everyone, switch to defensive formation!”

The soldiers firing the cannons hurriedly abandoned them and retreated, and the mages also stopped their attack magic and switched to defensive magic.

Evangeline, who had rushed forward, holding a temporary shield instead of her usual one, shouted.

“Senior, then that’s… !”

“Yes. His final pattern…”

I shuddered at the unexpected turn of events.

“The main body inside the armor… It’s the final strike, simultaneously ejecting the condensed wraiths!”

Just like the Wraith Knight from Stage 1, when the Wraith King’s armor is completely destroyed, the ghosts inside pour out.

The wraiths that the Wraith Knight released only inflicted simple mental status ailments, but the wraiths that the Wraith King released inflict direct damage to the target’s soul in addition to mental status ailments.

‘To think he’d use that himself!’

Realizing that there was no way to overcome the current situation, he decided to destroy his armor himself and convert all his remaining power into ejecting wraiths.

That crazy monster is as stubborn as ever!

At that moment, I heard Lucas, who was preparing for defense next to Evangeline, sounding strangely smug.

“It’s a pattern that all the ‘founding members’ who have been with the lord since the first defense battle know.”

“Oh, really! Stop showing off, old man!”

Evangeline grumbled.

They were bickering as usual to relieve tension, but there was still an awkward and strange atmosphere flowing between them.

In the past, Evangeline would have lightly hit Lucas a few times, or Lucas would have teased Evangeline more.

Now, they are deliberately keeping their distance. They don’t even make eye contact.

‘Hmm…’

I wonder if those two are okay.

…Ah, no, this isn’t the time to worry about such youthful emotions. Let them solve their own problems.

Boom-!

With a terrifying explosion, the Wraith King’s full-body armor shattered. It was as if a bomb had exploded inside.

Amidst the armor fragments that poured out like fireworks in all directions… a blue and pale swarm of wraiths, emitting ear-splitting wails, spewed out at a terrifying speed.

It was truly a storm of wraiths.

“Hiiiik!”

“Uwaaaah-!”

It was a sight that made one’s spirit quail. The veterans, having seen worse, calmly maintained their defensive stance, but the volunteers were completely panicked.

Many dropped their equipment and fell to the ground.

‘Even with [Unyielding Commander] applied, it’s like this.’

Indeed, the Wraith King. Moreover, perhaps because it’s a kind of suicide attack, its momentum feels even more intense.

‘Mental status ailments are something I can nullify, and I’ve prepared a defense system against the wraiths’ soul attacks in advance, but…’

Still, the momentum of the pouring wraiths is not to be taken lightly. I believe we can withstand it, but there’s a chance we might suffer more damage than expected.

‘Should I test my new equipment?’

I took a step forward and inhaled.

After glancing down at my new equipment, the [Imperial Seal Ring], on my right ring finger,

“As the commander of the World Protection Front,”

I slowly uttered the activation phrase.

“I represent everyone on this front.”

The ring, which had no markings, was filled with a black color without a symbol. It was the symbol of the World Protection Front.

“Therefore, all responsibility lies with me.”

The buck stops here.

After repeating it, I glared ahead-

I clenched my fist with the ring on and slammed it down into the empty space in front of me.

Flash!

Then, as if an official seal was stamped in the air, the imperial seal was imprinted in the empty space.

And, the next moment.

Whirr-!

Around the symbol imprinted in the air, transparent white energy began to swirl in from all directions.

This white energy was flying in from Crossroads [a central hub or meeting point] and gathering, and from everyone gathered on this battlefield, a stream of energy was also rising and converging.

The trembling volunteers were bewildered as a stream of white energy rose from their bodies and flew towards me.

This was the function of the [Imperial Seal Ring].

[Imperial Seal Ring (EX)]

– Can manifest power by gathering the will of the members of the organization you represent.

I can gather the will of the people under my command and use it as my power.

‘Currently, I am the race god of humanity, but although I have obtained divinity, I am actually having difficulty wielding its power.’

During the final battle with the Black Dragon, I was able to summon sunlight and finish off Night Bringer because all of humanity desperately wished for ‘morning’.

Usually, the will of all of humanity does not easily come together, because humanity is a species that has developed by opposing and fighting each other and aiming for differences.

For a grand title like ‘race god,’ I surprisingly have little power.

This [Imperial Seal Ring] is an equipment that assists me in that regard.

By narrowing the scope of the people I represent, I can concretize their clear will into one and use it as my power.

Looking at the symbol of the World Protection Front engraved in the air, I murmured.

“I, representing the World Protection Front, wish.”

And what those gathered here now desperately desire is only one thing.

“That the nightmare horde… may not invade our world!”

Whirr!

Then, the white and transparent energy gathered in the air rapidly began to transform.

The white energy, transformed like tetrapods stacked as breakwaters on the beach, lined up in front of my magical barrier.

And over it – the tidal wave of wraiths crashed down.

Kwaaaah!

Like a scene of a storm raging on the beach.

The poured-out wave of wraiths shattered without breaking through the breakwater made of humanity’s will.

Kyaaaaaaah…!

In front of the wraith horde scattering like foam, I inhaled.

If what is pouring down on us now is the will of the monsters and nightmares trying to destroy this world,

I represent the will of the people of this world.

The will to live… to live even one more day in this world!

“From here on, it is the world of humans.”

I declared.

“Get lost, monsters!”

The vengeful spirits released by the Wraith King did not give up and continued to crash against the breakwater. My barrier wavered several times.

But it endured to the end.

When the storm, which seemed like it would never end, was over, and people began to raise their heads one by one…

The wraiths that had been attacking us were nowhere to be seen, and the dazzling sunlight was falling from the clear sky.

“…”

The events of Stage 1 suddenly flashed before my eyes.

Lost in an unknown reverie for a moment, I surveyed the battlefield where the enemies had disappeared.

Turning around with the sunlight behind me, I looked down at my soldiers.

Everyone was looking up at me.

Clearing my throat, I shouted.

“For the past three years, we have stopped all kinds of legendary monsters.”

On this front made of graves.

We are still alive and breathing like this.

“And this winter is the last time we will stop this storm.”

The long journey of three years was already coming to an end.

This is our last season.

“After this winter passes, this war will end in some form. In some form, we will complete our mission.”

I put strength into my voice.

“And if it’s going to end anyway, I want to win!”

“…!”

“I want to achieve victory after shedding our best sweat and blood until the end. For all the comrades who have given their lives for this war, I want to obtain a happy ending without fail.”

I shouted and asked.

“What about you all!”

Thump!

The heroes and veterans simultaneously slammed their weapons on the ground in response.

I looked at the volunteers and asked once more.

“What about you all!”

The volunteers, who had hurriedly gotten up and adjusted their uniforms, also simultaneously slammed their weapons on the ground.

Thump!

It was a bit clumsy, but it was a sufficient answer.

“Now, my people!”

I clenched my fist and raised one arm.

“Will you fight with me until the end?”

Thump-!

“Will you live with me until the end?”

Thump-!

After looking around at my soldiers, who were now completely united and slamming their weapons on the ground, I smiled brightly.

“Good, let’s go! To the final battlefield!”

The first of the final 10 consecutive battles against the great monsters.

Its beginning was a complete victory.

“Together, until the end… !”

***

[STAGE 41 – CLEAR!]

[STAGE MVP – Jupiter Junior (SSR)]

[Leveled Up Characters]

– Hannibal (N) and 10 others

[Deceased and Injured Characters]

– None

[Acquired Items]

– Wraith King Magic Core (SSR): 1

– Wraith Knight Magic Core (SR): 100

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

– SR Grade Reward Box: 10

>> Get Ready For The Next STAGE

>> [Next STAGE: Lake Kingdom (2)]

***

“…”

At the same time.

On the walls of Crossroads.

Hecate, who was squatting, was staring blankly at the south.

Then, the creaking sound of crutches echoed from behind. Hecate glanced back.

Chain, the black mage, was approaching with an uncomfortable gait.

“…”

Hecate looked forward again. Chain staggered closer and stood behind Hecate.

The two, who could no longer stand on the battlefield, were quietly there side by side.

After a long silence, Hecate murmured cautiously.

“By now, our comrades must be engaged in fierce battles in front of the Black Lake.”

“…”

“What meaning is there for me, who can’t be of any help anymore, who can’t go to the battlefield, to remain on this front?”

Chain, who had been keeping his mouth shut, asked.

“If you leave, do you have a place to go?”

“…No.”

Hecate answered after a brief moment of thought.

“I don’t.”

“Then where were you planning to go?”

“…”

Hecate, biting her lip, gestured with her eyes.

“What about you, Chain? Do you have a place to go?”

“I do have a place to go.”

Chain let out a long sigh.

“I just don’t know if they’ll accept me there…”

“…”

While cheers of victory echoed in front of the Black Lake in the south.

The two retired soldiers, who could no longer fight, were falling into a silent abyss, not knowing where to go or what to do.