NOVEL NEXT Chapter 59
Chapter 59
The Starroad Plains. While this was the name given to the place, its original name was the Leogart Plains.
Dekarabia, the former owner of the 68th floor, had led numerous battles to victory in this vast expanse. Most of these battles were fought against Dantalion, the ruler of the 69th floor, but it was clear that this place held deep significance for Dekarabia.
However, the Demon King who had once led victories here was no longer present. Only the new Demon King who had consumed him and become the ruler of the 68th floor remained.
“Everyone, stop. Stand by there.”
According to Nahun’s tactics, the youngest child in this battlefield was at the very front of the main force, serving as the anvil. This was Seere von Debata, the new Demon King who had personally dealt with Dekarabia. She instructed her soldiers to stand by and stepped forward.
A group was approaching Seere. At the forefront stood a fierce-looking, strong Demon King.
His gaze was like a hot flame. The magical power swirling around him already seemed to possess heat. He readied his army and stepped forward alone, just like Seere.
Seere looked at him for a moment before speaking first.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Belial.”
He was the Demon King of the 67th floor, known as the Demon King of Blazing Fire. Belial, seeing Seere speak formally, scoffed disdainfully.
“How ridiculous to send that kind of message and then come here trying to be polite! You foolish child, I will personally make you realize the mistakes you’ve made.”
“Aha, so that means…”
A smile crept across Seere’s lips. This was not her usual bright and refreshing smile; it was a rather sinister grin.
“You’ve come to teach me the mistake of not trampling you sooner, haven’t you?”
“How dare you spew nonsense with that mouth!!”
Unlike the furious Belial, Seere did not lose her smile. Showing an unexpected composure for a twelve-year-old, she turned her back and ended the brief conversation with Belial.
“Whether my words are nonsense or not, the outcome will tell us.”
“Impudent…!”
As Seere left, Belial snorted in anger. Then, a woman approached cautiously from behind and spoke.
“Your Majesty, please remain calm. Regardless of whether she is the blood of Debata, she is still only twelve years old. Challenging Your Majesty and us can be seen as merely childish bravado.”
She was Florence, one of Belial’s loyal four warriors, known as the Four Flames. Florence continued speaking.
“We just need to teach her a lesson. So there’s no need for you to expend energy on such lowly provocation, Your Majesty.”
“…You’re right.”
Belial grumbled.
“I will make her aware of pain worse than death.”
“I will assist with utmost sincerity.”
Belial, along with Florence, returned to the main stronghold to prepare for battle.
Meanwhile, seeing Seere return, Nahun raised his hand and commanded the messengers.
“Tell the left and right flanks to prepare.”
“Yes!”
“The rear of the main army should ready arrows and magic bombardments. They will fire the moment the left and right flanks begin their advance.”
“Yes, Commander!”
Now that Nahun had received full military authority from Seere, he temporarily held the title of Commander-in-Chief. Citri, suggesting that consolidating the system into one would be beneficial, temporarily delegated some authority of Citri’s army’s general, Belkarus, to Nahun. This was also because Belkarus was to take charge of the right flank.
“It’s fine if attacks don’t hit. Still, continue to launch them. The formations will hold strong to ensure the rear doesn’t crumble. If we can execute that properly, we will attain victory.”
“Understood!”
The messenger arrived at Lin, in charge of the left flank, and Belkarus, in charge of the right flank. Upon receiving the message, Lin nodded and commanded her waiting legion.
“All troops, advance!”
Lin, Baruna, and about 7,000 legion soldiers mounted similar-looking horses. These horses were all black, with horns on their foreheads, and had a dark purple mane that floated like smoke.
They were the ‘Bicons’ that Citri had previously used to pull her chariot.
Every soldier mounted on these rare steeds, which were quite hard to acquire even in the Demon World. Nahun had gradually gathered and invested money from his businesses since he occupied the 70th floor, preparing for the moment cavalry would be needed.
Lin donned her helmet and drew her sword. Her sword pointed to the sky, and Seir’s execution weapon commanded bravely.
“Follow me!”
—
“Enemy troops, cavalry approaching from the east and west! Simultaneously, infantry is moving towards our army from the front!”
Upon hearing the messenger’s report, Belial understood the enemy’s tactics. It appeared they had opted for a basic tactic of hammer and anvil in their rotation.
“How foolish.”
While the hammer and anvil were certainly excellent for rotational tactics, they had a clear weakness: If the anvil, the main force, couldn’t hold, the tactic wouldn’t hold at all.
Others might not be aware, but Belial had the strength to break through the main force. He simply commanded.
“All commanders and officers, take note. We shall break through the front before the cavalry attacking from the sides can bring us down.”
“The east will be handled by the girl.”
As Florence declared she would take the east, another warrior stepped forward.
“I will take the west.”
She was Eltria, one of the Four Flames, distinguished by her striking blue hair and known for being a solid general.
“Very well. Florence, Eltria, I will grant each of you 20,000 cavalry. Show those impudent ones the difference in power!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I will obey.”
Two of the Four Flames departed to take charge of the left and right flanks, and Belial looked towards the front with the remaining two warriors.
“It is time to deploy! Now is when we show them the power of the 67th floor! Burn them all to ash!!”
“Yes!”
Belial summoned flames that symbolized him in all directions. He intended to crush the advance coming towards them.
The remaining two warriors, the fierce Eris and the fiery Serica, followed right behind him. With great momentum, Belial’s vast army of foot soldiers advanced, outnumbering the combined troops of Seere and Citri.
However, this was quite a significant mistake.
“Where are you going, Lord Belial?”
Stars twinkled.
It was not night. Although the sun reigned in the sky in broad daylight, the stars sparkled upon the ground. Red strands of hair, visible through her white hair, seemed to regain their color, with stars weaving around her.
“Glacial Shards.”
『 Glácĭes Fragméntum 』
Soon, immense magical power transformed into sharp, large ice shards. Numerous ice chunks began to fall, covering the sky, but Belial scoffed.
“Ice in front of my flames? What a foolish girl!”
Belial summoned intense flames, intending to melt every falling shard. He confidently raised a pillar of fire to engulf the ice.
“No…!?”
However, the shards penetrated the pillar of fire far too easily. Eventually, the ice crashed down onto Belial’s troops, obliterating their formation completely.
[Kwaaa~gak!!!]
“…What just happened?”
“Those are not flames born of nature, but flames created by magical power. That means….”
At some point, Seere, wielding a darkened greatsword, had approached right in front of Belial.
“Should the difference in the amounts of magical power invested result in not melting, then this is the outcome, isn’t it?”
Clang!!!
Belial quickly drew his sword from his waist to block her strike, but due to his poor stance, the shock resonated throughout his body and rang in his ears.
“Ugh…!”
“Magical power cannot overcome stronger magical power.”
“You, mad child…!”
This was Belial’s own domain. And yet, here she was, approaching him with the intent to target him alone; this was not only impudent but a reckless act.
Eris and Serica, following Belial, hastily tried to surround Seere from behind. However, Belial interrupted them immediately.
“Eris, Serica! Block the front!!”
“What!?”
Countless arrows and massive amounts of magic were pouring down from above. Understanding the situation, Eris and Serica urgently commanded their soldiers.
“Raise your shields and form a turtle formation! Hurry!!”
Given the damage from the ice shards, this was their only way to prevent their soldiers from being killed by the arrows and magic. Though it would momentarily hinder the movement of the main force, there was no other option.
Seere deflected Belial’s sword and quickly slipped out of the encirclement. She released a barrage of arrows and magic down upon the heads of Belial’s soldiers, who had raised shields and protective magic.
Though they hastily formed their turtle formation, the impact from the previously falling ice shards was too significant. With many soldiers dead, gaps emerged in their formation, and arrows and magic poured in through the breaches, dealing additional damage.
Having absorbed that barrage, Belial roared in fury.
“I will no longer show mercy. I shall burn everything!”
He commanded Eris and Serica while stepping out of formation.
“Eris, you take command of the main force! I will rend that impudent one apart. We must break through the enemy’s main force!”
“Understood, Your Majesty!”
As Belial stepped forward to approach Seere, she brought her hand to her neck. Then, with a click, she unfastened the chains of her cloak and threw it far away. Belial and Seere met each other’s gaze.
“Are you finally implying you’ll fight properly, you impudent girl?”
“That’s not it. I simply….”
Her blue eyes shone with an unsettling light. Beneath those enchanting eyes, one could catch a glimpse of both seriousness about battle and a slight affection for someone.
“I don’t want the cloak that my teacher gave me to burn.”
—
Belial gritted his teeth. While his army still held a numerical advantage, he was directly falling victim to the hammer and anvil tactic in this manner.
However, he still had four strong and loyal warrior women at his side, and with two of them deployed to the main force, they should be able to cause a fracture in the enemy’s main force.
That was what he hoped for. Otherwise, only Florence and Eltria, who had gone to confront the cavalry, would need to emerge victorious. One of the two must turn the situation around.
“…I will admit, I underestimated you. The skill you just displayed is indeed worthy of Seir von Debata’s only descendant.”
“That’s a bit embarrassing to hear all of a sudden.”
“But that’s all.”
Belial’s magical power surged. Seere, feeling this, also showed a slight shock.
“You are still young and inexperienced. And yet, you dare to confront me alone? How incredibly arrogant of you.”
Belial’s tremendous magical power transformed into fire, manifesting as a gigantic giant. Blood streaked from his red eyes, but he was unfazed.
“Giants of Desolation, burn everything to ash.”
【 Surtr 】
This was a powerful high spell signifying the Demon King of Blazing Fire, Belial. Seere now stared at the majestic figure with a cold gaze.
Belial fused with the fiery giant. He moved the giant by his own will and warned the young Demon King.
“Did you think you could surpass me with such meager skills?”
“….”
Seere did not reply. Instead, she diligently observed Belial and his high spell, collecting information. Finally, Seere marked a slight smile before speaking to Belial.
“…As expected, what my teacher taught me was far from ordinary. The amount of expended magical power isn’t even comparable.”
“What did you say…?”
Seere unconsciously covered her mouth with her hand. Then she let out a light chuckle. The one spell her teacher had hastily taught her two days prior came to mind.
“Demon King of Blazing Fire, Belial. I extend my condolences in advance.”
“You impudent…!”
As the giant, united with Belial, swung a massive flame sword, Seere gathered all her magical power. Though merely a twelve-year-old Demon King, the amount was staggering.
As the magical power flowed out and spread around Seere, the scene resembled the Milky Way unfolding before them. In that beautiful sight, she recited a spell composed of two words.
“Existential Obliteration.”
『 Exsisténtĭa Exstínctĭo 』