Chapter 431
by post_apiChapter 431: The Monster Army
“How is this possible?! How could monsters appear in the royal capital—and in such staggering numbers?!”
Within the imperial ranks, the black-robed mage who had earlier shattered the city gate’s defensive magic shield with an artifact cried out in disbelief.
“Hey now, we’re here to kill humans. Slaughtering these monsters serves no purpose,” grumbled the young spearman who had slain the kingdom’s grand general, his voice thick with discontent.
“Youke, this isn’t the time for such talk. Those monsters appear alarmingly powerful—this spells disaster…”
“Not the time? Hanno, have you forgotten our objective? If we fail to exterminate enough of the human race, we cannot answer to *that one*. And you well know the consequences of failure.”
As Youke finished speaking, Hanno the mage visibly paled.
“Regardless, we eliminate the kingdom’s soldiers first!”
“Agreed. We’ve no other choice.”
Under Hanno and Youke’s command, the imperial soldiers reluctantly reengaged the kingdom’s army, though their eyes kept darting toward the distant monsters. The kingdom’s troops, sandwiched between the alliance forces and the monster horde, trembled with terror.
Just then, the monsters surged into motion.
Following thunderous roars from the Goblin King and the alpha of the wolf-like monsters, they charged the battlefield as one.
“Damnation! What madness is this?!”
“Why would monsters swarm together and strike as a unified force? It’s as if guided by an unseen hand!”
“Steady yourselves! These worthless kingdom soldiers still shield us—cut them down first!” Youke barked amid the alliance’s rising panic, thrusting his spear through the chests of two kingdom soldiers.
But before the ranks could respond, the monsters streamed past the kingdom’s soldiers and hurtled straight toward the alliance.
“Impossible! Are these abominations fighting *for* the kingdom?!”
“They’re upon us! Gods, their speed—!”
“Stand your ground! Ready arms!!”
The alliance had scarcely moments to brace before the monsters tore into their lines.
The empire’s “undying” soldiers fell instantly to the onslaught, bodies littering the field.
Big Goblins swung colossal clubs, pulping skulls into crimson mist. Even when soldiers regenerated their heads through the “mark’s” power, a second blow ended them permanently.
Ordinary goblins—diminutive and feeble compared to imperial troops—doubled or tripled their strength under the Goblin Wizard’s enhancing spells. Where one goblin faltered, three more swarmed a soldier.
Then came the Granville Wolves: lightning-fast, razor-fanged, joined by other lupine horrors.
Beneath this monstrous tide, imperial forces and soldiers from the two great duchies alike suffered devastating losses.
One soldier slashed at the ant-folk trailing the goblins and wolves—only to discover these knee-high creatures surpassed even their allies in dread. Blades sparked harmlessly off their carapaces; the strongest warriors left mere white scratches.
Beyond these terrors waited the true scourge: advanced monsters of Class B or higher. A single strike from them felled soldiers by the dozen.
Class B monsters were powerful enough to annihilate entire human villages single-handedly, and a significant number of them were visible at a glance!
Though bewildered by the monsters’ assault on the alliance forces, the kingdom’s soldiers didn’t freeze in confusion. Instead, they rallied and charged forward alongside the monsters to attack the enemy.
…
Meanwhile, within the Reba army,
a shadow darted across the battlefield before merging seamlessly into Darkling Stalker’s own shadow.
The arriving Stealth Ant relayed Magic Rainbow’s plan to Darkling Stalker and Weak Sound.
“Master, there are far too many monsters, and their strength is extraordinary. If this continues, we’ll face total annihilation!”
A soldier urgently reported.
“Do you have a plan, Master?”
“A plan?”
Darkling Stalker cast him a cool glance before leaping from her horse, her long sword flashing in a swift arc.
A streak of blade light sliced through the air, and the heads of several nearby imperial soldiers tumbled to the ground as one.
“Master?!”
“Compared to those monsters, the imperial army and the Duchy of Donelas’s forces are far easier prey.”
“You… you mean…”
“I have agents within the kingdom. I believe… it is time for the Principality of Reba and the Duchy of Donelas to welcome new dukes.”
After a deliberate pause, Darkling Stalker leveled her calm gaze at her soldiers.
“You are the troops I’ve trained these past three years. I now offer you two choices: stand against me, or join me in confronting the imperial army and the forces of the Duchy of Donelas.”
“What?!”
…
Apart from a faction loyal to the Duke of Reba, the majority of the remaining Principality of Reba soldiers followed Darkling Stalker’s betrayal of the alliance, turning their fangs toward the adjacent imperial troops and the army of the Duchy of Donelas.
“Those madmen from the Principality of Reba! To turn on us now of all times!”
The black-robed mage Hanno roared furiously.
“Hmph, I always knew these ducal forces were unreliable,”
Youke, standing beside him, added coldly.
At that moment, Youke was locked in combat with a Class B Goblin King. After finally inflicting severe wounds upon it, the Goblin Warriors behind their king surged forward, enabling the Goblin King to withdraw to safety.
“Damn it! These monsters prove more troublesome than the ducal soldiers. Though reinforcements approach, it’s only a matter of time before our ordinary troops are overwhelmed. Hanno, we cannot afford further delays here!”
“Sigh, it can’t be helped… That lord’s plan takes precedence.”
Exchanging a glance, Youke and Hanno of the imperial army issued their command:
“Soldiers! Form squads and disperse! Follow me to slaughter every commoner in the royal capital! We’ll make that little queen fight to keep her throne!”