Martial Elf

Priegoss was looking at the people who were staring at him blankly.

He knew why they were doing so, but he couldn’t understand the cause.

It was as if a sacred light had descended from the sky, driving away the darkness.

Although it was perplexing, his expression remained calm.

Even though he could not grasp the reason, he instinctively realized it was a magnificent display for someone who had lived as a leader before the public for a long time.

As if to prove that, the eyes gazing at Priegoss were filled with wonder, as if they had witnessed a miracle.

Even the soldiers of Batar, who had exuded a sinister aura, stared at Priegoss with seemingly incredulous expressions, then raised their heads toward the sky from which that light originated.

“Behold! The Father God in the heavens also blesses our resolve! What fear should we have when the gods affirm us!”

“Oh…”

“Waaaaaah!!”

Priegoss seized the opportunity.

The soldiers of Pohelrn, inspired by Priegoss’s speech and the miracle that unfolded before their eyes, raised the spears and swords they held high towards the sky.

Those among them who had devoutly believed in the gods shed tears of warmth from their eyes.

“Priegoss! Priegoss!”

The soldiers chanted Priegoss’s name.

Some of the excited soldiers stomped their feet in rhythm.

“Nomhon. And soldiers of Batar. What will you do? Will you join the cause for humanity?”

“I…”

Nomhon’s eyes were filled with confusion.

He had believed he had shared countless experiences alongside Mutuk for a long time, but this was the first time he had witnessed such an immense miracle.

Nomhon realized he was present at a moment of a great story.

He turned back to look at his comrades who had been together with him for a long time.

They were all captivated, perhaps even more so than Nomhon felt.

‘…Tsk. Such foolish people.’

Men are all so foolish.

They throw themselves into the flames like bugs drawn to a campfire, all for something trivial like ideals or honor.

‘And I am also a man.’

“Comrades.”

When Nomhon spoke quietly, even the gazes of the Batar people that had turned to the sky all focused on Nomhon.

“We have looted and subjugated many villages from the south. And although we eventually lost, we have buried countless soldiers of the great king who captured us right before us.”

At Nomhon’s words, the eyes of Priegoss’s soldiers sharpened like axes.

“War… that is our life. We kill and take from others to survive, we eat. We are brothers and beloved comrades, but to someone, we are terrible sinners they wish to kill. However, I have never once regretted it. Because, thanks to that, I could feed my family.”

The Batar people, who had been silently listening, nodded their heads.

“But being hated by such enemies and becoming a sinner means nothing to me. However, being a sinner to humanity and to the descendants who will carry on our will is intolerable. What do my brothers think?”

“What does it matter to say it?”

“It was originally a life bought with life. It is no different this time.”

“Now that Mutuk is dead, someone must lead us. Nomhon. Guide us as you wish. We shall follow.”

“Nomhon! Nomhon!”

Nomhon smirked and turned his head toward Priegoss.

“And so it shall be.”

“Thank you.”

“But it is not for free. If anyone survives this battle, provide a decent place for those who wish to stay here, and give enough wealth and food to those who wish to return south.”

“I promise. We Pohelrnians understand responsibility and duty and shall never turn away those who are dedicated to noble values. You will receive your reward at the end of this fight.”

“Good.”

Priegoss approached Nomhon and extended his hand.

Although Nomhon flinched at the pillar of light moving with Priegoss, he eventually straightened his chest proudly and clasped Priegoss’s hand.

The soldiers of Pohelrn and the soldiers of Batar cheered from both sides.

“We have no time to delay.”

“Hmm.”

“O Father God Ul Kanadiel, who watches over us from the heavens! Please take care of us foolish ones! Help us to aid Mother God El Prigion, who cares for us on the ground! Therefore, let us cut down the unbridled giants who have invaded this sacred place and offer their necks to the gods!”

At the same time, the pillar of light that had risen above Priegoss began to widen rapidly.

“Eh?”

As everyone stepped into the light, they voiced their questions.

“Is this… fatigue?”

“My body feels light.”

“…I feel like my strength has increased.”

And as the sacred light warmly enveloped their bodies, an unknown energy began to fill them.

In particular, the soldiers of Pohelrn, who had learned martial arts from Araya and had inhaled mana to accumulate their internal energy, were sensing something peculiar.

An energy of a different nature than the internal energy they had built up within.

However, even as an uninvited guest arrived suddenly, it fused without difficulty.

And when the two energies mixed, explosive power surged within them.

A sense of omnipotence.

Confusion and joy arose in the minds of the soldiers who had stepped into the next realm.

“Those representing humanity right here! Let us go! Let us show our strength to those giants!”

“Oh!!”

With that, everyone began to rush towards the forest.

◈ ◈ ◈

“Brave warriors! Please win!”

“Your Majesty! Those cruel giants killed my father! Please take vengeance!”

“Aah! May the gods bless those brave souls!”

The citizens who had listened to Priegoss’s eloquence while running out ran towards him and the soldiers, offering their blessings.

However, Priegoss and the soldiers did not react and continued to sprint.

“Ahhhh! Who, who?!”

And at the end of this, a woman was screaming sharply as she was chased by a giant.

However, the giant caught up to her in a single step and slammed down its fist like a hammer, leaving only remnants of a human bursting apart like a fallen fruit.

“…How unbearably persistent.”

“This is a bigger village than ours. There are humans much smaller than us living there, so it can’t be helped.”

“…I can’t see the ones following from behind. Is the situation alright?”

“It feels uneasy; let’s join Beryl.”

“That seems wise. Let’s deal with some humans along the way.”

“…I feel like something is crawling over there all of a sudden.”

“…Draw your swords. The numbers are concerning.”

“Even if small humans gather, what harm can they do? There doesn’t seem to be a single long-eared one among them.”

Even from a distance, those with improved vision and hearing could see and hear the giants’ actions and conversations clearly.

And the Batar people, who had just seen the woman brutally crushed before their eyes, felt murderous rage toward the giants who had killed her, even though she was a Pohelrnian unrelated to them.

Priegoss’s declaration that giants must be slain for humanity’s sake became clear to them.

These giants could not coexist with humanity.

“Spread out!”

“Huh?”

The giants’ eyes widened at the thought of sweeping away the humans rushing at them in one go.

“Did they mistake us for beasts? Giants.”

Priegoss slammed his feet into the ground.

The sword made from pitch used to pave the road cracked the ground, and Priegoss’s body was lifted high into the air.

“…Huh?”

“The view you see is not quite to my taste.”

Priegoss’s sword shone, and a red line was drawn across the giant’s neck.

“Grrr.”

Though it couldn’t be cut all the way through due to its thickness, it still dealt a critical wound.

As blood gushed forth from the giant, like a broken dam, he shouted.

“Do not approach that giant! It will die soon, but you risk being swept away!”

“You little human! How dare you—!”

He dodged the sword slamming into the ground.

‘My body, my mind, everything feels different. Is this the realm of quality?’

No. It is different.

Perhaps it is a realm similar to that of harmony swords.

The peak, stepping into the realm of the superhuman beyond the quality.

‘But how suddenly?’

Boom! Boom!

“Crawling bugs!”

“Ugh!”

“Spread out as much as possible and target the back or the Achilles heel! Do not allow them to stand! Keep moving! Any who stop will be cut in two!”

“My movements are becoming sluggish! Ditch the armor! Once we get swept away, it’s over!”

Shouts of distress erupted everywhere.

The soldiers used the houses as cover, moving and trying to target the giants’ feet as much as possible.

However, even the houses made of baked bricks literally exploded when struck by the giants’ gigantic swords, resembling heavy clubs.

And humans situated in the same path were swept away as well.

Above all, the buildings scattered throughout served as cover for the humans but also prevented many giants from charging en masse.

“Haah!”

With a single breath, Priegoss dashed forward.

The giants still remained, and even the soldiers who had bravely charged were bound by fear after experiencing being swept away all at once.

The only one who felt free here was him alone.

The force squeezed out to the point of aching in his lower abdomen slashed the giant’s neck.

“Gah!”

“The king has taken down another giant!”

With another giant collapsing, one of the soldiers who had been fighting against other giants shouted in joy.

At that moment, the other soldiers who were encouraged began to move.

Despite numerous sacrifices, the giants who began kneeling after targeting their feet were eventually overwhelmed by soldiers rushing at them like bees swarm to honey and began to fall one by one.

“Now I see why it was said the rear would be delayed… and now even the little humans. This place truly is unbearable.”

Kahaaang—!

In an instant, a massive object approached Priegoss’s line of sight.

His block was almost instinctive.

Thunk! Thunk!

“Gah!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Beryl!”

“…Impressive. Are you still alive? I thought I swung with all my strength.”

Beryl, who appeared suddenly, struck Priegoss, sending him flying against a wall, where he coughed up blood.

“…What a peculiar force you wield.”

As pain threatened to overwhelm him, Priegoss managed to hold onto his consciousness, opening his eyelids and trying his best not to close them, as white light, like the light that had descended from the sky, began to envelop his body.

The inner turmoil caused by the abrupt impact began to feel somewhat stabilized.

“Get up. Priegoss.”

‘…Alia?’

Through the barely retained consciousness, he instinctively thought while seeing a mirage that faintly appeared like a phantasm.

“I came this far and there are only three left. Foolish ones. The great Titan is dying at the hands of mere little humans. Hey! Clear away the rest of them. I will deal with this annoying little human.”

As the giants who belatedly joined behind Beryl began approaching the retreating soldiers, the words echoed in Priegoss’s mind.

‘…I should move.’

As he looked at Beryl, who was coming closer to smash down his massive sword, he tried to move his body, but he could only move his eyelids and fingertips.

However, with the warmth spreading internally and gradually healing him, he felt that if there was only a little more time, he could return to his usual state.

‘…Is this how it ends?’

He felt disappointed.

Nevertheless, he thought that the remaining soldiers might be able to lessen the number of giants a bit more.

His role here was to reduce the number of giants approaching the Grand Temple as much as possible.

Alia was there, and so was Saraswati.

And there were still holy knights remaining.

It would be hard for the remaining remnants to make a difference.

‘…I’m sorry, Alia.’

Priegoss smiled bitterly as he watched Beryl, who was preparing to drive the giant sword down, looking down at him like the god of death.

Beryl.

Perhaps he was a giant who had a past connection with Silv.

If he had been stronger, he could have made them pay.

Just as he accepted death, the ground exploded, and a tremendous sound echoed.

“I found it.”

The giant, drenched in red and covered in sweat as if steam was rising, spoke in a voice as if something was crawling up from the depths of the earth.

“Beryl.”

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