Three days before the start of the Alkeia annihilation.
“As mentioned earlier, there are two paths leading into Alkeia. One is the vertical cave. The other is the sloped path.”
Gathered in one place, Raniael reviewed the operation for those being deployed in the annihilation. With her index and middle fingers spread wide, she tapped her other hand’s extended index finger.
“In the center of the forest is the vertical cave. There are about five Carapace Dragons guarding its walls. Considering some variance, it’ll be roughly six…”
Next, she touched her middle finger.
“There are about seven Carapace Dragons on the sloped path. Of course, their quality will differ from the Carapace Dragons we originally knew. They’re hastily created beasts rather than masterpieces honed over centuries.”
Still, the danger of the Carapace Dragons couldn’t be overlooked.
In Alkeia, which was the end of the abyss, a special current flowed, and the Gletus was using that current to strengthen his minions.
“The first hurdle of the operation will be breaking through these Carapace Dragons, but it shouldn’t be too big of a problem.”
Yet Raniael was certain.
It wouldn’t be too big of a problem. She tapped the wall carved with Alkeia’s structure with her knuckles.
“Kalt, Draka, Karioth, Lac, Belnoa.”
Five superhumans specialized in close combat.
“Kelharlem, Resti, Chloe, Natida.”
Mages and saints specialized in support fire and assistance.
And…
“Destel.”
The assistant commander who will lead them in this operation.
With this many gathered, they should be able to break through about six Carapace Dragons easily. Concluding so, Raniael clapped her hands and continued speaking.
“The ones I just named will enter the vertical cave. Wait for a signal at the entrance of the cave.”
The majority of the operation personnel would enter the vertical cave.
Then, who would enter the sloped path?
“Entering the sloped path will be Remia and me, just the two of us.”
The Archery Master, Remia.
The Hero, Rania van Trias.
She was saying she would face seven Carapace Dragons with only the two of them, yet no one objected to her words. Rania kept talking.
“Right before entering the sloped path, I’ll fire a flare into the sky. If you see a burst of light in the sky…”
SWISH, SWISH!
Raniael swung her fingers downward.
“Then we’ll enter under Destel’s command.”
She chuckled softly.
“Once we enter.”
With her finger pointed downwards and her hand in a fist, Raniael squeezed it tightly.
“We’ll crush them all.”
—
A twisted and ruined forest.
In the forest adjoining Alkeia, no proper life forms existed. This place was so repellent that even the inhabitants of the Phantom Territory avoided it. All that resided here were the twisted minions created by the Gletus.
GRUMBLE, GRUMBLE.
The minions wandered through the forest.
Various minions, including corpse harvesters, absently stared up at the sky. The branches swayed and the crimson rain fell from above.
And.
Among them, gray ash continued to fall.
*
FWOOSH, WHACK!
Leaping off of twisted branches, Remia fired an arrow. The taut line connected between trees created a path. Running along the line, Remia kept shooting arrows.
The line bore Raniael’s circuit.
With consecutive shots using arrows connected to the line, Remia began to weave a net throughout the forest. The line stretched out like spider silk, beginning to encircle the entire forest. When the net became dense enough, she released her final arrow.
WHACK!
The arrow shot diagonally and lodged itself at the entrance of the sloped path. Following the line, Remia landed at the entrance of the sloped path.
“Raniael.”
Waiting where she landed was none other than her. With the Hero’s cape fluttering, Raniael pulled up her gloves. At the call of Remia, she turned around.
“I’m all set.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Raniael nodded briefly, exhaling.
Her gaze returned forward. The deep sloped path descending into darkness. Peering into the obscured void, Raniael spoke.
“Shoot.”
Just a short command.
Remia immediately looked up at the sky and drew back her bowstring. The taut string held an arrow aimed at the heavens.
TWANG!
Remia released the bowstring.
A moonlight arrow shot vertically into the sky, trailing a bright light. ZING, the arrow, shimmering with its light, reached a sufficient height and exploded.
What spilled out with the explosion was a soft moonlight.
As the moonlight arrow burst, a silver-white flash diffused all around. In the Phantom Territory submerged in darkness, the gentle glow from the moonlight arrow stood out even more.
The signal flare had been fired.
This wasn’t merely a signal for allies.
The beasts wandering the forest began to gather in response to the disturbance. Amidst the loud sounds resonating through the forest, Raniael spoke.
“From now on.”
She lifted her foot.
“We shall commence the Alkeia annihilation.”
With a stomp of her foot, Raniael marked the ground.
What she crushed underfoot was the arrow of Remia embedded in the ground along with the line connected to it. While stepping upon her engraved circuit, Raniael closed her eyes.
With a single breath, a single blink.
When she opened her eyes again, an enormous mana surged around her. The mana that had been held back burst forth in all directions. The concealed aura and presence comparable to a calamity pressed heavily upon the forest.
WHOOM, the air became dense.
With the emergence of a colossal presence, the forest grew even noisier. To expel the intruder, all the beasts unleashed by the Gletus began to charge towards Raniael. Just as the forest trembled and the beasts surged forth…
CLICK!
Sparks flew up.
The line that Raniael was standing on. The circuit engraved upon the line crackled, ZZZZT, and started to burn.
“Commence the operation.”
The net encompassing the forest. The circuit engraved on the net. The ash scattered throughout the forest. The fuse waiting for a tiny spark ignited. It was the moment Remia covered her ears and curled up.
BOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!
With a tremendous sound, the forest flickered bright white.
—
In front of the vertical cave, those who had been hidden while suppressing their presence looked up at the sky. The moonlight arrow shot up, signaling the start of the operation.
All eyes turned to Destel.
Gazing at the sky, Destel waved his hand forward. A signal indicating entry. Soon after, the superhumans shed their disguises and charged out. The moment they broke free from the forest, it flickered bright white.
A fierce flash appeared, shortly followed by a deafening roar.
As the glare and roar subsided, what remained was merely the sight of the forest engulfed in flames. Countless beasts burned in the fierce flames. The traces of the Gletus were being charred to ash in the blaze ignited by the Hero.
The vast forest burned completely.
The annihilation. Without missing a single beast, the flames voraciously engulfed the forest as Destel waved his hand again; the previously determined signal.
“Summon.”
The Ashen Witch, Resti Elenoa.
Following the gesture of her finger, the space split open. A portal to the Otherworld opened, and minions poured out from within. At the forefront was a Wyvern.
Carrying those deployed in the operation, the Wyvern rose into the sky. The Wyvern hovered gracefully above the vertical cave.
“……”
Destel looked down.
The swirling darkness and thick fog obscured the vertical cave. Gazing into the passage leading into the abyss, Destel swallowed hard. He steeled his resolve.
“Starlight.”
The constellation inscribed upon the starry attire glimmered brilliantly.
“Mimicry, Glistening Haton.”
Summoning the Glistening Haton.
Over 400 years ago, this was the weapon belonging to a hero who swept the battlefield with indomitable knights. The starry weapon of Haton was a feather spear. Brandishing the feather spear inscribed with star patterns, Haton spoke.
“The stars are with us.”
The starlight in Haton radiated.
Haton bestowed blessings upon the knights standing on the battlefield. Grasping the feather spear tightly, Destel swung it wide. The spear fluttered as it traced a circle. Encompassed within the circle were all those participating in the operation, the superhumans riding the Wyvern.
FLASH!
The starlight imbued the bodies of the superhumans. The starlight maximized their physical prowess and reflexes. The sword-wielding superhumans atop the Wyvern unsheathed their swords.
SWISH, SWISH, the sound of blades echoed.
Destel released the spear and spoke again.
“Mimicry, Champion Epta.”
A platinum bow appeared.
Gazing down at the vertical cave, Destel drew the bowstring. The arrow of starlight gleamed radiantly.
“Commence the operation.”
Destel released the bowstring.
The arrow of starlight shot towards the vertical cave, trailing light behind it. Thus, the arrow, once shrouded in darkness, illuminated the gloom of the vertical cave with a flash!
Revealed with the flash was the figure of the Carapace Dragons.
As they looked up at the sky, the Carapace Dragons unleashed a dreadful roar and began to rise. With the momentum to crush anything that approached them. And there were those who jumped towards the rampaging Carapace Dragons.
THUD!
They leaped off the backs of the Wyverns.
Lac von Grace.
Kalt.
Belnoa van Dragonik.
Draka.
Karioth.
The superhumans, blessed by the saint and the glistening light, leaped into the open maws of the soaring Carapace Dragons.
SNAP-CRACKLE-POP!
As the rampaging Carapace Dragons tore through the walls of the vertical cave, colliding with falling debris was about to happen.
WEAKENING.
RESTRAINT.
RESTRICTION.
CONTROL.
DECELERATION.
SPELL-BUNCH.
A massive circuit illuminated the sky. The overlapping debuff spells engulfed the Carapace Dragons. No matter how resistant the Carapace Dragons were, they couldn’t escape the magic unleashed by the two mages and the Hero.
The Ashen Witch, the current, the Braver.
Sufficiently slowed, the Carapace Dragons faced one collective spell.
CHAIN!
CHAAAAIN!
The chains rose from all directions, restraining the Carapace Dragons. For a brief moment, the movements of the Carapace Dragons halted. It really was just a moment.
CLANG, CRACKLE!
The chains binding the Carapace Dragons shattered, and the debuff spells etched upon their bodies faded. However, amidst it all, the mages managed to momentarily bind the Carapace Dragons.
In terms of time, it was only about one or two seconds.
For some, it was merely a fleeting moment.
For superhumans who lived in split seconds, that was more than enough time. The sword pulses rippling from the tip of their blades, and the storm wrapped around the dragon’s claws surged.
BOOM!
The remaining heights, Lac’s greatsword smashed down upon the protruding head of the Carapace Dragon. With a creaking space, the head of the Carapace Dragon shattered. It broke apart, widely gaping.
THUMP!
Towards that gaping maw, Draka, Kalt, and Karioth leapt, stepping on the shattered chains. As they jumped into the mouth of the Carapace Dragon, they tore from within. After several convulsions, the trio burst forth from the belly of the mutilated Carapace Dragon, splattered in blood.
SHRIEK!
As the mangled Carapace Dragon began to plummet, Belnoa swung his arm. A fierce gust held the remains of the Carapace Dragon in place. Clearing away the scattered blood, they secured their view.
The remains of the Carapace Dragon held in midair served as a springboard.
CRASH!
They positioned themselves on the makeshift platform. Even in darkness, their eyes glimmered ominously, sharp as ever toward the approaching Carapace Dragons. The blade’s pulsing energy they wielded was sharper than ever.
But they weren’t the only ones targeting the Carapace Dragons.
Once again, a massive circuit glimmered in the sky. The manifestation of a tremendous spell. With the help of two superhumans, the Hero, Chloe, aimed her staff at the abyss. The mana swirled around the tip of her staff.
RAPID FLOW.
Drawing the swirling starlight mana…
Chloe pronounced the name of the completed spell.
