The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 454

272. Stepping Forward (2)

[Deploy the shields!]

Viola’s cry echoed through the magic communication device.

Whoosh—!!

As the knights pulled the long cords attached to their waists, blades sprouted from the back of their armor like wings, forming sharp shields that fanned out.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Tatatatata……!!!

The insects crashed against the shields with a deafening noise, swarming the knights.

“Don’t try to chase the bugs away! Designate an area and incinerate them! Magic corps, prepare!”

She shouted from behind the iron wall.

“Fire!”

Grace Panfiel raised his silver sword high above his head and slashed down, signaling the mages behind the knights to unleash flames.

“All troops except for 50, focus on maintaining the formation! The rest of you, follow me.”

“Yes, sir!”

Grace Panfiel charged through the raging flames. The insects, momentarily halted by the fire, moved to pursue the 50 knights following him.

“We’ll be the bait! Magic corps, coordinate your bombardment behind us!!!”

He shouted, wiping the thick black grime from his face. Despite the dangerous situation where they could be devoured by the swarm in an instant, Grace rushed ahead, leading the charge.

* * *

“Azure Knights!”

“Aye, sir!”

No further explanation was needed. The moment Kwell’s sword was drawn from its scabbard, the knights lowered their helmet visors and spurred their horses forward.

Waaaaaaaah—!!!!

Waaaaaah—!!!

The ships docked at Piasta Harbor had long been devoured and destroyed by Rice [the insect swarm].

The insects covered everything from the ground to the sky, but locating them wasn’t difficult.

Crack-!! Kwaaaang!!!

The buildings in Piasta began to crumble one by one, as if swept away by an invisible wave.

“Maintain the defensive line from the left. Divide the knights into two groups and quickly establish the first and second defensive walls.”

“Understood.”

Polhend felt ironically relieved to hear Kwell’s command after so long.

Even though it was a life-or-death battle, he reaffirmed that Kwell McGovern’s presence completed the Azure Knights.

As he raised the large Azure Knights banner, the knights dispersed in unison.

“I’ll leave the rest to you.”

The Free Army, led by Beykan, raised their long spears between the defensive lines created by the Azure Knights.

‘Truly the Empire’s premier knightly force.’

As a warrior of the Great Plains, he had never been intimidated by anyone’s aura, but beyond mere strength, Kwell exuded an inexplicable sense of pressure.

And that feeling seemed to have solidified even more after the oracle and the revelation of Farel of Eternal Ice.

‘While the other five Sword Masters remained stagnant, he, who was called the strongest, seems to have reached an even higher realm.’

Although he lacked magical power, Beykan, an exceptional warrior, could sense it through the aura alone.

‘Is it atonement for his lord? I don’t know what tempered him further, but…….’

Beykan muttered in a low voice, looking at the shield wall created by the Azure Knights.

“Their defense is truly formidable.”

When they first arrived in Piasta, he had been honestly at a loss as to how to stop Rice.

Even though they prided themselves on conquering many demon nests and hunting countless monsters, they couldn’t shake the unease of facing an invisible enemy.

‘Indeed… If we had overthrown the Empire by force, their military strength would be virtually nonexistent. If that were the case, it would have been difficult to stop them with our forces alone.’

Beykan now understood why Khalil had gone to such lengths to minimize the Empire’s losses, even though they were enemies.

‘Our lord truly envisioned a grand plan.’

Despite the desperate situation caused by the constant appearance of enemies, they couldn’t help but be amazed by Khalil’s repeated, admirable actions.

“Free Army! Prepare for battle!”

Clang-!! Swish—!!

At Beykan’s cry, the soldiers raised their weapons between the shields created by the knights.

“Our lord will once again take a step in a direction we cannot imagine, so we only need to defend this land. There is no need to think beyond that.”

Then, he pulled the horse’s reins with all his might.

Neighhhhh—!!

The horse neighed, raising its front hooves.

“Free Army, raise your spears and bows.

* * *

“Sharpen your senses! Maintain formation and wait until they come inside.”

Hwarin shouted, seemingly forgetting the northern cold. Her resilient muscles rippled with every movement.

“Kid, are you ready? Start now. This is your stage from now on.”

At her words, Liliana, who was standing next to her, also turned around. Three women were standing on the hill, obscured by Hwarin and Liliana’s large frames.

“……I still can’t get used to this cold.”

Unlike the other two, she was shivering despite wrapping herself in a thick cloak. It was none other than Kayla Chang.

“The North just isn’t for me….”

Recalling the time when Khalil declared the Free State against the Empire and led troops through the North to the capital, Kayla shuddered at the even more bitter cold than before.

“Hahaha, southerners are weak.”

“I hope you don’t come to the South. I wouldn’t want to carry your bulk after you collapse from the desert heat.”

Hwarin liked Kayla’s unyielding attitude. Although her physique was small and her combat power didn’t match theirs, she was still the leader of a tribe.

“The Mujin Formation is strong, but there’s nothing as suitable as the Blazing Inferno Formation for unleashing the power of the foreign tribes.”

However, this formation, created by Ordo Chang, the 17th patriarch, was ultimately like a relic. Just like Anthem, the Blazing Inferno Formation had endless potential for advancement.

Knowing this, Khalil had included Kayla Chang in the Farel of Eternal Ice subjugation force.

“You’ve memorized the tactics, right?”

“You’ll see.”

Liliana answered without hesitation to Kayla’s question. She nodded and stood on the hill.

She shouted towards the soldiers below the canyon, facing the swarming insects in the distance.

“Warriors!!!”

Waaaaaaaah—!!

Waaaaaah—!!

The sight of warriors from the South and North mingled together here was spectacular in a different sense.

“Let’s heat up the North.”

Kayla Chang’s clear voice cut through the blizzard.

“Unleash the Blazing Inferno Formation!!!”

* * *

“The battle has begun. From the harbor to the North and South, swarms of insects have attacked the continent. What are you doing in a place like this when you’re the leader?”

Miliana, who had come to find Khalil after the war started, found him standing blankly.

“Huh? Why are you at the Imperial Tomb?”

She said in a displeased voice, recalling that the place she found Khalil was where the emperors of the Empire were buried.

“I think I’ll quit after all.”

Khalil said as if he had made up his mind, letting out a soft sigh. Miliana stared at him, not understanding what he meant, but he simply shrugged.

“I can’t meet him yet, not until I’ve taken down Farel. I’m curious as hell, but now’s not the time. I almost showed a pathetic side.”

He turned around as if shaking it off.

“Israfil.”

[Yes, Master.]

“Check Yurin’s location.”

[It seems she’s almost reached her destination. Shall I connect you with Wingel?]

“Yes.”

As Khalil nodded, a magic screen appeared before his eyes.

[We’ve arrived.]

Wingel, sitting in the cockpit, took off his helmet and bowed to Khalil.

[I can see Farel over there.]

“Yurin and Hawat will be heading there soon. Rice’s attack was faster than we expected. But the plan will proceed as is. Do you understand what I mean?”

[Don’t worry.]

“That place will be a more intense battlefield than anywhere else.”

[That’s why I’ve been cooped up in the warehouse until now. You can look forward to it.]

Khalil chuckled at Wingel’s confident answer.

[Golem unit, prepare for battle!!]

As soon as his command was issued, hundreds of golems around Ascalon began to raise dust and form a battle formation.

“Wait, hold on! What is that?”

Miliana frowned as she looked at the golems in the magic screen. The appearance of the giant wasn’t the problem.

What made her frown was the huge tower standing in front of them.

“……Farel?!”

Miliana was speechless.

The continent was overwhelmed by the disaster, and just stopping the monsters was a struggle. But in the midst of all this, Khalil had set up a daring operation to conquer Farel.

“Yes, we’re going to conquer Farel.”

“But the Ten Saviors you’ve chosen are currently scattered. I clearly warned you, didn’t I? Not to try to solve it alone.”

“Is that why you only sent the sisters to the South and stayed in the capital? Because you thought I’d go to Farel alone.”

Miliana’s face turned red at Khalil’s words, and she hesitated.

“Don’t say such foolish things! That’s not important right now. How are you going to reach the top of Farel in this situation where disaster is engulfing the continent?!”

Khalil gave a faint smile at her shout.

“I’ve been thinking about it. Just stopping the disasters without conquering Farel means we can’t prevent our destruction in the end.”

Although it was different from his previous life, Khalil knew how humanity’s future would change in his previous life.

When the final disaster arrived, humanity was in a desperate situation with no forces left to stop the corruption.

“But conquering Farel isn’t easy either.”

Ironically, Khalil knew that better than anyone else. After all, he had spent countless eons trying to reach the summit of Farel.

Yulla had told him to conquer Farel as if it were the only way, but in the end, it would lead to the destruction of humanity.

“The gods don’t want humans to survive.”

“Then…….”

[Master, we’ve arrived!!]

Wingel’s voice was heard.

As the Aegis brought by Hawat was attached to Ascalon’s arm, the activation stone embedded in the giant’s heart began to glow.

“I’m no longer a hero fighting for the gods. So, there’s no need to diligently climb the stairs as he said.”

Click-

Whoooom—!!!!

Ascalon grabbed the giant Aegis with both arms and threw it with all its might towards Farel.

‘In my previous life, I was alone. So, I had no choice but to walk the given path that Yulla had created. I fought the disasters and had no choice but to climb Farel.’

Khalil thought as he looked at Farel in the magic screen.

“But it’s not like that anymore.”

His eyes gleamed.

“Just as history has changed and the future has been transformed, I no longer walk the path that Yulla created.”

Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang……!!!!!!!!

The flying Aegis crashed into the wall of Farel, unleashing a fierce roar.

“Climbing to the top isn’t the only way.”

Khalil raised his finger towards the sky.

“……?!”

“All I have to do is put the summit at my feet.”

Then, he pointed that finger back down and said in a low voice.

[Golem unit! All units, deploy!!!!]

With Wingel’s cry, the golems began to rush towards Farel in unison.

[Krrrrrr…….]

And red scales soared above Khalil’s head, as if waiting for him.

“Farel?”

Khalil looked at the flames of the tower rising above the half-embedded giant shield and said in a sharp voice.

“Just tear it down.”