Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad [EN]: Chapter 267

Demons

The advance team’s annihilation was foreseen.

That was the intention from the start.

The advance team, caught in a massive trap, suffered devastating blows and disintegrated as expected.

“Aren’t you disappointed? Such forces would have been a great help in the final battle.”
“It is regrettable. They were also major pillars supporting the demons. However, we couldn’t leave uncontrolled power unchecked.”

Sidriel’s resolve was firm.

The three houses, brimming with arrogant authority, would have caused problems eventually.

They were a source of discord, a spark that could turn into a disaster.

Such unstable power was worse than useless.

It was used to delay the enemy’s advance even for a short time, so it was satisfactory enough.

“Then, is it our turn to step up?”

“Let’s go.”

“I’m counting on you.”

The Legends, including Choi Hyun-seok, moved as planned.

Divided into two teams, one team would hold back the main body of the cultists, and the other would prevent new groups of cultists from gathering.

Neither task was easy.

A continuous series of battles.

Time flowed relentlessly.

One day, two days, a week, ten days…

Choi Hyun-seok did his best to stop the approaching cultist groups.

Just how fiercely and desperately he fought.

How many times he crossed the line between life and death.

How many enemies he had toppled.

You could tell just by looking at his level, which had grown in spurts.

▫ Name: Choi Hyun-seok

▫ Title: Legendary Hero

▫ Level: 1713

· Strength: 626

· Agility: 629

· Stamina: 627

· Mana: 683

· Charisma: 175

· Fighting Spirit: 201

He had grown by about 400 levels in a short time.

Thanks to this, his combat power exceeded 100, making further measurement impossible.

It was definitely a great thing, but considering the process, he couldn’t laugh at all.

“Haa…”

Choi Hyun-seok, with a tired face, washed his face with dry hands.

How many cultists had he killed to get here?

So many lives had been lost.

Perhaps because he had personally destroyed each head and heart, the weight of those lives felt heavier.

“…I’m glad the evacuation was completed safely.”
“The operation was a success, for now.”
“Everyone worked hard.”

Still, thanks to their fierce fighting, they were able to achieve their goal.

Currently, the evacuation is 99.9% complete.

There has been almost no damage during that time.

This was a great thing, and Choi Hyun-seok tried to focus more on this fact.

If he thought about how many people had died at his hands, he might really go crazy.

Now, he would only think about how many people he had saved.

Choi Hyun-seok had to.

With the final battle just around the corner.

Whether he atoned, broke down and went crazy, or fell into hell.

At least that’s something to think about after the last battle is over.

He had to do so, even considering the weight of life and sacrifice that weighed on his shoulders now.

“They’re coming tomorrow.”
“Finally, the end.”
“That’s right. The final battle…”

A super-large group of cultists numbering 40 million.

Despite numerous deaths, the number of those who had further increased their numbers was approaching the capital, Drassel.

“Can we win…”

Someone muttered softly.

That murmur became a chilling dagger and pierced everyone’s hearts.

“…”

An uncomfortable and awkward silence follows.

Everyone was too tired to pretend to be okay, even with a forced bright smile.

They fought without a moment’s rest.

To be precise, it would be more accurate to say that they killed people without rest.

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to form a huge river if you collected the blood that those here had shed.

They were all floundering, trapped in the river of blood they had created.

No one could think of breaking the silence.

Choi Hyun-seok opened his mouth at that moment.

“We will win. Because these times were for that.”

There was a strange power in his calm voice.

He didn’t even have time to wash during the battle.

Now he has completely forgotten to wash and is completely disheveled.

However, only his eyes were clear.

He had already finished organizing his thoughts.

He knew what he had to do.

“Let’s start soon. It seems like everyone is here.”

“…I understand.”

Olaven Grimier rose from his seat.

He began briefing on the final operation.

“Thanks to your efforts, the evacuation is almost over. The citizens of Drassel, as well as refugees from other countries, have been safely moved to the rear. Thank you once again for your hard work.”

Olaven Grimier bowed lightly.

If it weren’t for the Legends here, damage beyond imagination would have occurred.

Perhaps even the hope of protecting humanity would have disappeared.

That’s why Olaven Grimier was sincerely grateful for their efforts.

After a while, he raised his head and continued his explanation.

“The enemy is currently gathering in a place half a day away from the capital, Drassel. As expected, they will arrive here in Drassel around dawn tomorrow.”
“I heard that the number of enemies is 40 million, is that correct?”
“That’s right. According to magical observations, about 40.76 million have gathered so far.”

Everyone groaned.

Forty million.

An unimaginable number.

It was a scale that could not be won by fighting.

They had gathered all their forces, but they were hopelessly insufficient compared to the enemy.

“That’s why your role is so important. You’ve done a lot so far, but I’d like to ask you for one last favor.”
“Leave out the flattery and get to the point quickly. We need to save every minute.”

Park Hyun-ah said cynically.

The tone was somewhat aggressive, but it wasn’t wrong.

They don’t have the luxury of looking back at each other right now.

Time was directly related to the lives that could be saved.

Everything would be over tomorrow anyway, so they had to run without stopping now.

Olaven Grimier nodded.

“The goal is to kill the Pope. If we get rid of the Pope, people’s mind control will be released.”

In fact, this was an obvious story.

The fact that people’s minds were connected somewhere was revealed relatively early in the situation.

It was not difficult to guess that it was related to the Pope.

However, it just took time to be sure.

After thorough research, the wizards of the Drasen Empire revealed this fact three days ago.

The minds of all cultists are connected to the Pope.

If you kill the Pope, the mind control will be released.

“As I said, now that the evacuation is over, it’s time to fight the final battle.”

The reason why they hadn’t moved until now, even knowing this fact, was because the evacuation was not over yet.

First of all, the top priority was to safely send the evacuees to the rear.

Now that the evacuation was over, it was time to make the final move.

“The Pope is in Gratiam, the capital of Gatrein. He is in the imperial palace in the center.”
“The location was obvious from the beginning. The problem is the troops guarding it.”
“The troops are 20 million cultists. And many individuals with high divine power, presumed to be cardinals, have also been identified.”

“Hmm…”

The expressions of those present darkened at the word cardinal.

Everyone had fought with cultists and faced cardinals.

“How many cardinals are there exactly?”
“At least ten or more. It’s not certain, but it’s estimated to be around twenty.”

“It won’t be easy.”

Each cardinal possessed legendary power, so they were by no means easy opponents.

There were as many as twenty of them.

Maybe there were more.

It was a matter of course, but it was expected that a difficult battle awaited.

“I don’t think it will be possible to fight head-on. Not only do we have to face the cardinals, but we also have to face the cultists.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Someone has to draw attention while the rest deal with the Pope.”

“Not bad.”

“If we’re not careful, our forces will be divided and we’ll be wiped out without being able to do anything.”
“What happens if we gather together and charge head-on? Who will take responsibility if we all die without even seeing the Pope’s face?”
“I also think the bait operation is better.”
“First of all, I have no choice but to go as bait. I can’t handle the Pope.”

The Legends shared their opinions and discussed how to attack.

After finishing the role assignment and completing the final briefing.

“That’s all for the story. Let’s get going.”

“Let’s go.”

The Legends rose from their seats.

The time given to them was not very long.

They had to hurry to the final battlefield.

“Kkyaaa~ Damn it! When this is over, I’m going to buy a villa by the sea and live quietly. I’m not coming out of there until I die.”
“Is that possible with your personality, Sister?”
“What’s wrong with my personality, you little punk?”
“You know it well, but you’re asking.”
“Is this punk subtly talking down to me? You’ve grown up a lot, haven’t you?”
“Misunderstanding. Misunderstanding~ We’re busy, let’s go quickly!”

Choi Hyun-seok and Park Hyun-ah also moved while bickering.

After playing a light prank, I feel a little relieved.

‘Sister is also a romantic at heart.’

On the way to Gratiam.

For some reason, Park Hyun-ah’s words kept lingering in my head.

Living in a villa overlooking the sea…

It’s quite a nice story.

I don’t know how much it will stick to Park Hyun-ah’s personality.

‘What should I do.’

Choi Hyun-seok’s thoughts naturally led to his future.

If the operation is successful.

And if I survive.

What should I do?

‘Well, it’s actually a problem that doesn’t need to be worried about.’

Choi Hyun-seok smiled.

His goal has not changed, either now or then.

That’s why he kept fighting and struggling.

For the dream and goal that he will achieve someday.

‘It’s really almost here now. I’m finally ready to stand at the starting point.’

I’ve come a long way.

I haven’t even stood at the starting point of the road to the goal yet.

That’s why Choi Hyun-seok is more desperate to promise.

That he will achieve what he wants.

***

The current situation, where the Empire’s devotion was activated and cultists were rampant, was a disaster.

It was also a huge disaster that seemed like the world was going to end.

Disaster does not discriminate against people.

It drove everyone into a corner, regardless of gender, wealth, or class.

In an instant, the country collapsed.

Family and friends died or went crazy.

They left their hometown and traveled a long distance, as if crossing the continent.

Even if their feet were blistered, bleeding, and their toenails fell out, they couldn’t stop.

To avoid being caught by the cultist group, they had to move a little faster and farther.

They moved their heavy steps in pain and anxiety.

Without eating properly.

Many people lost their lives due to continued overwork.

All the dead had to be abandoned.

They didn’t have the time to bury the bodies leisurely, nor did they have the strength to do so.

After a time of endurance, they finally arrived at Drassel, the capital of the Drasen Empire.

Just as they were relieved that they were finally alive, the refugees heard another thunderbolt.

A huge number of cultists had gathered in front of Drassel.

The number was beyond imagination.

Many soldiers stepped up to stop them, but the chances of winning were slim.

The number of enemies was ten times that of this side.

Once the soldiers fell, the next would be this city.

There is no paradise in the place you escaped to.

People realized.

Unless they fought back, they would chase them to the end of the continent.

Until nothing but cultists remained.

Step, step…

People began to step out of the city one by one.

Before dawn, in the early morning when the sky was bluish.

The footsteps of the refugees who were leaving the city one by one had already become a huge river.

They didn’t even have a proper sword, but they held even crude weapons with all their might.

In front of Drassel, countless soldiers were already forming ranks and waiting.

The refugees naturally mixed with them.

They guarded the rear and sides of the soldiers.

The soldiers did not stop the refugees.

In the first place, the soldiers were various units gathered from all countries, so there was no particular sense of heterogeneity.

There were hundreds of flags symbolizing each affiliation.

People who had nothing in common.

Hundreds of thousands of people who would never have met or worked together had gathered for only one purpose.

To protect this land.

To protect someone precious who is still suffering and anxious at this moment.

They could no longer lose or run away.

They stepped up to fight.

Whirring-!

A gust of wind stirred among the people.

As if counting how many people were standing.

The wind quickly swept through the battle line stretching for dozens of kilometers and flew into the sky.

Thud, thud…!

A faint vibration and noise are heard.

As dawn broke, sunlight streamed through the clouds.

A swarm of creatures running from afar.

The scale of the creatures was so large that it quickly filled the plains.

“…”

No one opened their mouth.

Even if they didn’t say anything, they could all tell that they were of the same mind.

Tense breathing.

The sound of saliva going down the throat can be heard clearly.

Thud, thud, thud, thud-!

The vibration gradually increases.

Along with the noise of pounding the ground, a noisy laughter is heard.

The laughter they had heard so much.

A voice filled with madness, shouting for rest, confuses people’s minds.

For a moment, fear raised its head.

Ppoooo-!

It was then that the sound of a horn was heard.

At the sound of the horn ringing out across the battlefield, people rushed forward as if they had made a promise.

“Waaaaaaa-!!!”

Some shout for humanity.

Some shout for death.

Some just scream and run.

At the end of running until their blistered feet were torn, a cultist shouting for rest was waiting.

Kwaaa-!

The two groups collide and become entangled.

It was the prelude to the day that would later be recorded as the largest and most tragic battle in human history.