The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 99

99

“Ugh, I thought we were done, but they scored a point!”

Sandra twisted her body this way and that, perfectly expressing her emotions. Her words and face might say that, but she looked thrilled to be able to enjoy it more.

“I was aiming for both sides… my aim was slightly off. I’m sorry.”

Gertrude lowered her head, but Maya waved her hand dismissively.

“It’s okay. It’s just one point anyway.”

“It’s just one point, but with that, Young Master’s team’s rotation is back to normal.”

And Hubert starting to act as the setter bothered me. I couldn’t even imagine what kind of variable that would create.

“Plus, our current rotation doesn’t allow Rowenbelt sunbae [senior] to come in as a hard receiver.”

Maya, as if it were no big deal, casually adjusted her glasses and pointed her chin towards the net.

“The center of that team is Ludwick gongja [young master/noble]. But you can tell just by looking. It’s already over.”

That… was certainly true.

Magic volleyball is a sport that requires not only physical and mental strength but also magical power. The former can be endured by gritting your teeth, but the latter is impossible.

To quickly recover magical power, you need to meditate or get a good night’s sleep.

‘There’s a reason why normal teams use a lot of substitutes.’

Of course, they’re used at important timings, but the biggest purpose is to give the starting members time to recover their magical power.

As intended, Griffin Valor’s main players were able to recharge their stamina by rotating in and out during the 1-3 point exchanges.

“So that’s the problem.”

Valensidith’s eyebrows twitched slightly after hearing a similar explanation from Krista.

“Because they don’t have any substitutes.”

“Yes. The other five are just as exhausted, but among them, that guy has to touch the ball the most as the setter.”

Furthermore, he’s been spamming ridiculous double castings… Elin was starting to worry about her nephew’s body.

‘I was sure after seeing that spike. That hopeless guy can’t hold on any longer.’

But as if to shatter all such carelessness and worries, Lane Ludwick, who had pushed the ball up, soared once again.

“What… ?!”

And the moment his palm collided with the ball, it emitted a terrifying cracking sound, and the ball plummeted like an arrow.

‘How can he still do a serve like that…!’

Gertrude, who was slowly getting used to that ghostly speed, barely managed to raise the ball by throwing her body.

But the problem was that there was an error in the calculation, so the ball floated menacingly, emitting electricity, and crossed over the net.

The spectators, who had been holding their breath, shouted almost simultaneously.

“Chance ball───!”

Lillian lightly moved the ball to the setter’s position with an underhand receive. And the one who came into the setter’s position this time was… Hubert.

“Quick attack, left!”

Sandra shouted urgently, but Logan had already risen into the air….

Logan’s power spike passed over Griffin Valor’s incomplete blocking and landed precisely on the end line.

“……Court in!”

As soon as the line judges, who determine whether the ball is in or out, shouted that, cheers once again shook the stadium.

“19:24! They’re catching up!”

“The flow has completely changed since Hubert became the setter?”

But the suspicions of those who had some experience with magic volleyball only grew stronger.

What is it?

How can he still put in such a powerful serve? With what power?

‘Even roughly estimating, he’s already used more than 50,000 units of magical power…!’

‘Among the first-year students, the only one with more than 50,000 units of magical power is Lillian Karain…?’

‘But how…?’

Something’s wrong. Really wrong.

It’s not like he has enough magical power left, and he’s been constantly touching his jukyeol [pressure point], as if he’s feeling pain there…

That would be a symptom of magical power depletion… he hasn’t drunk any potions, so what is it?

‘…….’

The only person in the audience who knew why Lane Ludwick could endure was… Casena Page.

‘Don’t lose to those guys, Lane.’

The answer was the jet-black sacred stone, Heukyangrin, which Lane and Casena wore around their necks on a chain.

Heukyangrin, which emitted a hot wave of power throughout his body in sync with the pulsation of his jukyeol, was pushing out the old magical power and circulating fresh magical power at the same time.

The amount of recovery wasn’t that great, but in the current situation where Hubert was covering as the setter, giving him a brief reprieve between scoring and losing points, it was more than enough to use.

‘You think I’ll fall with just this much….’

I think with a bitter smile. Using magic without collapsing in a state of limit, I’ve done it so much in the Rin days that I’m sick of it.

It’s more accurate to say that I had to do it… anyway, compared to then, this situation is nothing.

Spinning the ball on his palm, he tossed it straight up, then jumped again and slammed the ball down with all his might.

* * *

Doran Slade, the head of the Special Affairs Department, who had returned to his alma mater’s campus after a long time, heard whispers that seemed to grab his shoulder.

“I heard the Griffin Valor disbandment match isn’t over yet?”

“They say it’s incredibly intense.”

“Wow, I thought it would be a one-sided game and didn’t go to see it….”

The Griffin Valor disbandment match?

What was that about?

The magic volleyball team’s disbandment match only existed in name, and it was rare for it to actually happen.

Moreover, among the four major volleyball teams, Griffin Valor was a royal club that the heads of prestigious magical families, both current and former, passed through. Who would dare to show such recklessness without fearing their wrath?

“They say Inseong gongja [young master/noble] is doing so well that Griffin Valor is struggling?”

“Really?”

“Let’s go see it now!”

If it’s Inseong gongja… are they talking about Lane Ludwick?

‘That makes even less sense. Why is Griffin Valor struggling if Lane Ludwick is doing well? Is he not affiliated with Griffin Valor?’

Wondering what was going on, he followed the crowd rushing towards the First Gymnasium. Even before entering the building, a fierce roar shook the gymnasium.

“Wooooo!”

“Three consecutive service aces?!”

“He’s really crazy!”

And beyond the heads of the countless people, Doran saw a sight that was hard to believe.

‘This match-up is…?’

Lane Ludwick is leading the disciples of the Eight Great Factions, who are the mainstays of the first-year golden generation, and facing off against Griffin Valor?

“Cover!”

“Last! Pass it over right away!”

“Chance ball!”

For a moment, it seemed like some kind of penalty game, but the camaraderie shown by the six people didn’t seem to be forged by something like that.

‘I’m curious about what’s going on….’

The inside of the building was so crowded that there wasn’t even room to set foot, but there was one exception.

The place where Casena Page was standing.

Whether it was because they were overwhelmed by her innate aura, whether they were nobles or commoners, no one went near her, so there was a space of about 2 meters in radius.

‘Heh, the rumors were true.’

No, in fact, there was no need to confirm the truth of the rumors with my own eyes.

Because Madelia sunbae [senior], who had lost her smile after her daughter became disabled, was smiling so well.

Anyway, perhaps because she inherited Madelia’s superior appearance as it was, she was a girl who boasted a truly exquisite beauty, even excluding the light purple hair that made Page special.

“Casena wijak [miss/lady], which side are you cheering for?”

Casena, who was concentrating on the game with her fist clenched in front of her chest, turned around in surprise half a beat late.

“Wh-what, who are you?! Ah, perhaps a professor?!”

“Please don’t be so wary. My name is Doran Slade, a junior whom Madelia kakha [esteemed one] cherishes.”

Perhaps because she had a less suspicious personality than Lane, the girl immediately dropped her guard when I revealed my friendly relationship with her mother.

“If it’s not rude, may I ask why Lane wijak [miss/lady] is playing such an interesting prank?”

But as soon as I asked that question, Doran realized he had made a mistake when he saw antipathy boiling in the girl’s eyes, beyond just wariness.

“It’s not a prank! What do you know?”

At that moment, a heavy impact sound rang out at the same time.

The sound of Logan’s spike, received from Hubert’s toss, breaking through Yorsh Bautel’s blocking and going up to the second-floor railing.

“Eushaaaaa!”

“Nice kill, Logan!”

“Nice toss, Hubert★”

No sooner had cheers erupted from the audience than.

“They’ve kept the serve!”

“It’s 23:24! One point difference!”

“Does that mean… if they get one more point, it’s deuce [tie]?!!”

Casena’s expression also brightened noticeably.

‘She has a one-dimensional and pure personality… no wonder sunbae [senior] cherishes her so much. She’s liked kids like that since she was young.’

For example, Caroline, the girl she took as a disciple… Doran thought so, but Casena turned to Doran with a very excited face.

“Lane is! He’s doing that to protect the school!”

“Protect the school?”

For a moment, I almost laughed, but I couldn’t miss this good opportunity.

Pretending to be curious, Casena explained in detail how this incident came to be.

How Lane Ludwick countered the rude behavior at the executive committee….

“So Lane will win! He’ll never lose!”

It was strange that she kept shrugging her shoulders as if she was proud of something she didn’t even do.

‘Still… thanks to her, I learned something good.’

Maya, Rowenbelt, and Yorsh were also recruitment candidates for the Special Affairs Department, but I’ll have to withdraw the recommendation.

Given the nature of the Special Affairs Department, which requires them to mingle with magicians from various backgrounds and even disguise themselves as commoners depending on the situation, such materials would only be a minus.

Doran glanced at Elin, his old junior, and smiled bitterly.

‘Elin, you must be having a hard time too. Taking care of such a troublemaker nephew.’

Yes, a troublemaker.

Lane Ludwick… he’s a tempting talent, but the more I see him, the more I fear his true nature.

“Casena wijak [miss/lady], the truth is, I’m here because of work for the Special Affairs Department.”

“Work for the Special Affairs Department? What’s that!”

“It’s something that’s also related to Lane wijak’s [miss/lady] safety, so I hope you’ll give me an honest answer. Did he happen to be away for a long time during the final exam period?”

When I mentioned Lane’s safety, Casena’s expression turned serious, and she stroked her chin and groaned as if she was trying very hard to recall the past.

Doran’s eyes narrowed as he watched her, revealing the cunning eyes inside, like a snake.

Doubt everything you see, that is the principle of the Special Affairs Department’s investigation. Even if it’s a relative of a respected sunbae [senior].

“Ah, there was!”

A coldness flashed in Doran’s eyes, and he swallowed hard.

Casena is the type to show everything on her face, she doesn’t lie.

That’s why all the nerves in his body tensed up at the next words that would come out… because it was a matter that could make Lane Ludwick a suspect.

“The first day of the final exam!”

Huh?

The first day of the final exam?

“I went to pick him up at the mansion as usual, but when I looked for him, he was wearing a student council armband and doing something like guiding people!”

Doran’s eyes narrowed. The date the soldiers mentioned was clearly the second day of the final exam.

Should I call it relief, or regret for missing the prey… a strange sense of deprivation swept through his body, and the tension relaxed languidly.

As soon as he confirmed that, Doran’s face was plastered with his signature friendly smile.

“But why! Is Lane in danger? What is it?!”

“I was just playing a prank. Wijak’s [miss/lady] reaction is so cute that it’s fun to tease her a little. It seems you like Lane wijak [miss/lady] a lot.”

“Wh-what did you say?!”

Casena’s face turned red and she tried to burst out, but at that moment, it was buried by the cheers that poured out from the audience as if they were about to explode.

“It, it, it’s a tie──!”

* * *

“Hey, hey, hey!!! To be caught up to a tie against a hastily formed team at match point, this is not even a joke!”

When the score became tied, Elin Ludwick, the advisor coach of Griffin Valor, had no choice but to call a timeout. As soon as the starting lineup came to the bench, Rowenbelt protested.

“Just get one point! So I can go in! It’s not like you’re seeing such a power serve for the first time, so what’s the problem?!”

Maya Snark bit her lip.

“The speed isn’t the problem.”

“That’s right. The problem is that the mathematical formulas ordered for that speed are something like the inverse function of an irrational function….”

Gertrude chimed in with Maya’s excuse and sighed.

Lane, who had a clear grasp of the essence of magic volleyball, only ordered attacks with mathematical formulas that took a long time to solve, whether they were easy or difficult.

The speed and power were at the cannon level, and the mathematical formulas ordered were in that state, so even Griffin Valor’s players were helplessly succumbing.

“Then there’s no other way.”

Elin, who had been listening to the players’ words silently, sharpened her eyes.

“From the next serve receive, receive with body blocking.”

As soon as they heard that, all the players in the room widened their eyes. Gertrude Panton barely stammered.

“Y-you’re joking, right? Body blocking?”

“Does this look like a situation to joke around? Do as I say. Or get replaced.”

“But we’re nobles? How can we shamelessly do that in front of so many commoners….”

Body blocking literally meant blocking the ball with your body.

It wasn’t a special tactical term, it was just a word used to make fun of beginners who were still unskilled in magic volleyball for receiving the opponent’s attack with their chest or face instead of their arms.

It was a ridiculous thing, but it wasn’t ineffective. Unlike when receiving with the arms, when receiving with the chest, the ball didn’t bounce to the back or side, but only forward.

If the team reacted immediately, they could save the ball. The problem was that the process was embarrassing.

“Embarrassed? Embarrassed? That’s funny! You’re not embarrassed that Griffin Valor is being disbanded for the first time in history because you’re being defeated by such a team? That’s just something you should go die for?”

“…….”

“Anyone who doesn’t want to do it, take off your uniform and submit your club withdrawal form right now. I won’t stop you.”

Elin’s words weren’t unreasonable, but the players hesitated for a moment.

Hadn’t they always been taught that as nobles, they had a duty to maintain their dignity? But to crumble like that in front of so many eyes.

However, Maya Snark, who always calculated her gains, was the first to express her willingness to comply.

“I’ll do it.”

The goal was to bring out Valencidies [presumably a specific strategy or player].

But if she was stopped by Lane Ludwick before even getting to the main point, it would be nothing short of a joke.

And the disgrace of body blocking [receiving a ball with one’s body, often unintentionally] was temporary, but the mark of graduating at the top would last a lifetime, no, until the world ended.

“……Then, I will too.”

“……Me too.”

With Maya, the de facto leader and No. 2 in the team’s hierarchy, stepping up first, the other members had no choice but to follow.

Sandra was an ace, so she generally didn’t participate in serve receives, and since she was currently in the front row, there was no need to ask her opinion.

Most of them reluctantly agreed, but seeing their dark expressions, Elin sighed softly.

“You only need to score one point to get into Lowenbelt [likely a prestigious league or tournament], and you won’t have to do it, you pathetic guys. What’s so difficult about it?”

“…….”

“Anyway, I told you to do it. I won’t let anyone who doesn’t do it get away with it.”

The timeout ended with a whistle from referee Iverne, and both teams returned to the court. The serve was still with Lane Ludwick.

“Your Grace, nice serve!”

Her hands and feet were shaking as if they would break.

Her breathing had already collapsed.

Clearly, she no longer had the energy to run, let alone jump, but her body was being forced to move.

– Take this opportunity to go out into the world, Lynn.

By the voice of Headmaster Atlante, echoing faintly like a bell in her mind.

– There are countless things in the world that are not in books. Beautiful things, scary things, fun things, sad things…….

The first step of the serve.

First, lightly toss the ball into the sky.

– Not just things. Among people, there are strong people, weak people, funny people, pitiful people…….

Three steps of approach.

Then, jump with all your might.

– If you see those things with your own eyes, hear them with your own ears, and touch them with your own hands, you will gradually realize things without even knowing it.

Reaching the highest point of the jump.

From there, hit the ball you tossed earlier with all your strength.

– What magic is, and how you should use the power that is naturally given to you.

A burst of sound that seemed to tear the eardrums, and at the same time, the ball, accelerated by both physical and intellectual power, fiercely tore through the air.

Terrifying speed.

Unrealistic trajectory.

The ball, which carelessly passed Maya Snark’s fingertips by a hair’s breadth, hit the end line and rang loudly.

“Crazy, how many service aces is that against Griffin Valor?”

“With this, Inseong Gongja’s team has a match point!”

The moment she landed after the serve jump, her body staggered as if she would fall, and one knee buckled. She would have fallen if Logan hadn’t supported her right away.

“Are you alright?”

“Oh, I just made a slight mistake when landing…….”

“But that was a really fantastic course!”

“I know★ Maya Snark couldn’t even touch it.”

Looking at Logan and Nora, who were making a fuss with excited voices, and Kayden and Lillian, who were giving her a thumbs up, she smiled without even knowing the meaning.

– That’s how wizards learn the truth from the world. Not just by reading books in a room.

That was what Headmaster Atlante had said when she said she wanted to follow Rista.

From there, a pure question arose.

Not trying to tease her as usual, but just vaguely curious, she asked like this.

– But you don’t know the truth either, Auntie.

– You! If I knew that, would I be looking at this crumbling magic tower? I’d be living in a magnificent magic tower, wouldn’t I?

Atlante reached out her hand, thinking that her fist would be hammered into the crown of her head as usual.

But it wasn’t.

What Atlante did then was gently stroke Lane’s head and smile.

– So I hope Lynn will teach me someday. Because Lynn will surely be able to reach it.

Auntie, I’m sorry, but I still don’t know anything about the truth.

But is this the right path?

If I follow this path that Auntie taught me, will I be able to reach the truth someday?

“Everyone, thank you for putting up with my stubbornness for the past ten days. I’ll finish it with the next serve.”

Then, Hubert, who received a new ball from referee Iverne, handed it to Lane and raised his lips as if to say don’t be ridiculous.

“Don’t be overconfident and do it comfortably as you always do. If it doesn’t work, I can finish it with my set.”

Hey, you……?

At Hubert’s encouragement, which wasn’t really encouragement, all the team members exchanged short smiles. And the whistle rang, signaling the start of the last set.

‘Just one point left……!’

‘If we just score this……!’

‘We’re beating Griffin Valor……!’

In that moment when everyone held their breath, Lane once again kicked off the ground and jumped. Doran Slade’s eyebrows twitched slightly as he watched.

‘The approach seems a little lacking?’

Was she still squeezing her body to its limit…….

As Doran expected, Lane’s serve, which lacked the approach, crossed the net with only half the power and speed of usual.

Still, the mathematical formulas I put in were more difficult and complex than usual, so it won’t be easy to receive.

“───?!”

However, as if completely trampling on Lane’s expectations, everyone gaped at Gertrude’s bizarre act of throwing her body into the path of the ball.

“With her face……?!”

“An face blocking……?!”

“The Panton’s daughter……?!”

Due to the repulsive force of not perfectly solving the mathematical formula, the ball emitted a strong current, but the direction it bounced was straight ahead.

“Save it, save it!”

“Yores, last!”

“Okay!”

Griffin Valor, who barely managed to continue Gertrude’s sacrifice, passed the ball over the net. Tsk, Hubert clicked his tongue.

‘They’re even using such tricks to win somehow.’

It doesn’t matter.

Chance ball, the right to attack is still ours.

“Chance ball★”

Nora used an underhand to kill all the power and flow of the ball, gently lifting it to the center where the setter was.

“Give it to me!”

Logan jumped with all his might, and Hubert seemed like he would toss it that way, but Hubert’s choice was Lillian on the right.

‘Exquisite……!’

‘No, but……!’

A heavy blocking wall was erected right in front of her, Yores Boutel. Lillian’s spike hit Yores’ left hand and lost its power.

“The right to attack has passed!”

“Reorganize!”

While the spectators were screaming, Griffin Valor quickly formed an attack formation. Maya’s toss went to Sandra Keppel.

‘Is she going to honestly attack with the ace here……?!’

Logan immediately jumped in front of her, but…… Sandra’s spike was not at a level that could be easily blocked by one blocker.

If you fall behind in the instantaneous mathematical formula calculation battle, you will also lose the blocking battle.

The current burst out from the ball that had been blocked by Logan’s hand, pushing that hand away and flying far away.

Lowenbelt, who had been loosening up with a tense expression, clenched his fist.

“Nice kill────?!”

While shouting that, he suddenly gasped and closed his mouth.

Because Harimun’s mute, Kayden, was diving at the out-of-bounds spot where the ball was falling.

When the mobile chairs that made up the bench scattered here and there due to the collision, the ball was lifted high by Kayden.

“Nora, cover───!”

Lane somehow saved that ball, and Nora, who received Lane’s toss, passed the ball over the net with all her might.

“Kayden, are you okay?”

[Yeah…….]

When Hubert grabbed Lane’s hand and stood up, Griffin Valor had once again formed a perfect attack formation.

“Chance ball!”

Yores lifted the ball to Maya, and Maya’s toss seemed to match Sandra with a quick attack this time, but──

“Not that way!”

──It was already too late when Lillian shouted.

The toss went to the back.

Towards Gertrude Panton, who was spreading her wings and leaning back, jumping with all her might. Maya smiled with satisfaction.

‘Yes, they must have been wary of that side since they were hit hard by a quick attack from the ace once.’

And Sandra is the type who runs with all her might whether the toss comes or not, using that as bait to score with Gertrude.

“One blocker───!”

Since Hubert and Logan were attached to Sandra, the only wall blocking Gertrude was Lillian alone. It was a blocking that she would have easily broken through under normal circumstances.

But should that be called a miracle, or a product of desperate will?

Gertrude’s spike was blocked by Lillian’s hand, which stretched out with a shout, losing both power and spin, and slowly flew over the challenger team’s court.

When Nora Redon took a receiving stance at the ball’s landing point, the spectators shouted in unison.

“””───Chance ball!”””

At that moment, Doran Slade was quite surprised, and his eyes, which were always closed with a smile, were half-opened.

‘What’s going on…….’

When I heard the explanation from Kasena, I thought the disciples of the Eight Great Factions were forcibly matching the rhythm…… but that’s not the case at all.

There’s no way the disciples of the Eight Great Factions and the heirs of the nobles could unite so much with the sole purpose of abolishing Griffin Valor.

Doran, who was in charge of the Special Affairs Department, which was filled with countless successors of the factions and heirs of the nobles, knew that better than anyone else.

‘The answer is still, in you.’

The moment Nora lifted the ball, everyone’s eyes were on Lane Ludwick.

The spectators, the Griffin Valor players, and the teammates.

It couldn’t be helped.

Because Lane was shouting like this and rushing to the front row.

“Hubert, my ball!”

My ball……?

Hubert, who was about to enter the setup motion, gave Lane a blank stare for a moment, but then realized his intention and immediately stepped aside from the setter’s position.

‘The setter position……?’

‘Switch……?’

The eyes of the Griffin Valor front row players, who were reading the setter’s movements and preparing to block, trembled.

‘Hubert is preparing to spike……!’

A slight twist to the flow of the attack that should have flowed in an orderly manner, that twist causes a huge crack.

‘Lane’s setup is not very difficult if you are well prepared in an adapted state…….’

Elin Ludwick’s eyes widened. But what if you have to deal with it suddenly, in an instant like this?

‘That’s not all……!’

Professor Owen’s eyes also widened for the first time in his life to the point where his eyeballs popped out.

‘All five of them jumped up to compensate for Lane’s shortcomings……!’

Lane’s setup is that the unbelievable toss speed is a weapon, and you can’t know for sure who it’s going to until the ball goes up.

However, because of the lack of experience, the opposing Griffin Valor was able to read and deal with that thought.

But if all five spikers jump at the same time like this…… the story has no choice but to be different.

“What is this……!”

Yores spat out a short curse and attached himself to Logan, who could be called the ace. Maya was in the center, Sandra on the right.

It was the best decision that could be made in that situation, and at the same time, the worst decision.

Because Lane tossed the ball diagonally behind, that is, to Hubert, who had just switched positions with him.

“0 blockers!”

The exponential function mathematical formula, which was nearly 90% complete in Lane’s head, was loaded onto the ball and flew──

At the same time as completing that math problem, Hubert slammed the ball down with all his might──

As if mocking Yores and Maya, the ball that passed through the empty space between the blockers──

“────?!”

“────?!”

“────?!”

It sharply hit the shoulder of the Griffin Valor sophomore in the back row as it was, causing a fierce explosion of electricity, and flew further back.

Far away.

Far enough that no one’s hand could reach.

‘You can see a lot of qualities in just one play of magic volleyball.’

In the time that flowed slowly as if it had stopped, Doran’s eyes sparkled as he watched the ball bouncing powerfully on the court.

‘Instant calculation ability, judgment ability, physical ability, etc., qualities required for a battle mage…….’

But beyond such primary qualities, there are occasionally materials that show leadership qualities, that is, the ability to unite a team that is obviously at a disadvantage and lead it to victory.

‘Magic volleyball is ultimately a sport that aims for victory. It’s no different from a microcosm of the magic world.’

Of course, it cannot be denied that a team with many good players is more likely to win.

‘It’s not impossible to lead a team to victory in a situation where everyone thinks they have no choice but to lose.’

It’s not impossible, but that doesn’t mean anyone can do it.

Because it is part of a miracle that can only be achieved by someone with the skills and charisma to be truly followed by all members.

Just like the heroes like Rista who created the light of the era in the dark history…… After a long time, a sincere smile formed on Doran’s lips.

‘If I have to retire tomorrow and hand over the Special Affairs Department to someone…… Lane Ludwick, you are the right person after all.’

Thump, thump, thump…… In the brutal silence where everyone doubted their senses and even suppressed the sound of swallowing, finally, it rang out sharply.

Beeeep──!

The whistle that signaled the end of this battle, which seemed like it would go on forever.