Promised Path to Defeat (3)
In front of the main camp of the Kaldris-Mado Kingdom Alliance’s detached troops, Genovia murmured as she looked at Fort Poltaron, which was full of heavy smoke.
“Oh, they’re running away.”
Behind the fort, the Allendia forces’ escape was being detected.
Of course, she didn’t see it with her eyes. It was thanks to the magic creatures released around the battlefield.
Geseniop, a reconnaissance magic creature similar to a fruit fly.
Unlike Relixtier, which had been released during the battle between Ryu Han-bin and Nakterion, it was much better at grasping the overall movement of a wide range of areas. However, it did not examine specific targets in detail.
Garhan was also aware of the situation.
The Sword King and the silver-maned Wyvern, who had been circling the sky, left the battlefield and were heading north.
“That’s a clever decision.”
Sequential bombing with Ancient Dragons was only useful when the enemy’s position was limited.
From Allendia troops’ point of view, the one who abandoned the fort, retreated, and used the terrain to engage in sporadic battles was likely to win.
“That’s it for the Upper Draconium.”
Genovia delivered the order to their army through a messenger.
“Tell the Ancient Dragons to return and prepare the soldiers for the chase. Also, rally them up.”
After a while, hundreds of troops lined up in front of the two.
Aliens of Akhtarun.
They were Aliens consisting of about 20 in level 100s and 200 in level 70s and 90s.
Looking around them, Garhan solemnly spoke.
“It’s your turn now.”
A middle-aged swordsman in his 40s took the lead and nodded.
“Duly noted.”
Gustav, a stout Westerner with dark brown hair and a blunt impression, was their captain.
He was also the strongest living Alien of Akhtarun.
[Race: Human. Swordsman Lv.109]
However, he was far below the level of the Sword King’s party.
So Genovia slightly changed the terms of the ban.
“From now on, you are allowed to flee in the event of a battle.”
“Hmm?”
Gustav’s expression was slightly stiff.
“Can you trust us? We don’t have to fight for you.”
“You won’t fight for us, but…”
In a significant tone, she continued.
“You will be active in cutting down our enemies for pleasure.”
Gustav’s eyes looked satisfied.
Other Aliens also changed their expression.
“So you want me to avoid the Sword King’s companions and kill only the knights and soldiers of Allendia?”
“Yes, but if you flee, return to the main camp within 24 hours.”
A bitter smile came to Gustav’s lips.
“… You’re telling us not to do anything else.”
“You’ll all just go around the continent and munch when I just tell you to come back without any condition.”
Since they had been beaten by Ryu Han-bin so much, Garhan and Genovia now had a sense of dealing with Aliens.
“Understood?”
Gustav nodded.
“It’s an order to kill the Latnains as much as we want…”
Not only Gustav but also all the Aliens gathered began to emit murderous spirits.
“There’s no reason not to follow!”
* * *
An unnamed forest north of the border.
Blood was rising under the branches of lush giant trees.
“Argh!”
“Argh!”
Twenty or so Aliens freed from Akhtarun ran wildly among the screams of the Allendia soldiers.
They were divided into units and raided retreating small-scale Allendia forces.
They used Aura, Force, and Mana to kill soldiers.
“Now we’re having a good time.”
“Honestly, isn’t it too much to ask us to fight monsters at our level? What’s the level difference?”
Level 70s Aliens were slaying level 40s soldiers.
They were not in a position to discuss level differences.
But there was no way the homicidal maniacs had a normal connection.
For them, killing brought pleasure.
“Hahahaha!”
At that moment, recognizing the ambush, Allendia’s elite troops sprinted through the woods.
“Protect the rear!”
“Prepared to defend!”
Aliens checked the level of the knights with their Guidelines quickly.
[Race: Human. Swordsman Lv.76]
[Race: Sylph. Wizard Lv. 73]
There was no big difference between them based on levels alone. The numbers were similar.
But if they attacked the Aliens with their soldiers, it wouldn’t be easy.
“Retreat!”
Without regret, the Aliens flew into the woods.
Since the ban had changed, there was no need to take risks.
“We can fight and run now? Amazing!”
Not all the Aliens in the raid were fleeing.
If the level of reinforcements was low, they rushed to kill them.
“Level 62.”
“That’s an acceptable range!”
“That’s a nice little pleasure reward, huh?”
Similar situations continued throughout the forest.
The Aliens ran away if they thought it was dangerous and killed if the targets were easy.
It was made possible by their ability to see their opponents’ stats using their Guidelines.
The Knights of Allendia gritted their teeth.
“How despicable!”
“You’re only after the weak! You can’t claim to be a warrior!”
The same was true of Ryu Han-bin.
“You fucking bastards!”
He roared and galloped through the forest.
He charged like a boar between trees, reaching the point where the Aliens had attacked.
The Aliens were surprised to see the muscular warrior, who blew up steam all over his body in excitement.
“The Sword King!”
“That fucking idiot Valtara shit?”
But they were just surprised. They didn’t panic at all.
Once upon a time, they had to fight that monster like biting the bullet.
But now?
“Why would we fight against that monster?”
“Everyone, retreat!”
As if they had already prepared for such a situation, the Aliens began to flee in unison.
They had killed enough anyway. They got enough pleasure reward.
The Aliens ran, went back to the main camp, took a rest, came back, and killed again!
* * *
“… What are you thinking about?”
Genovia on the Golem Steed smiled.
“I feel a little sorry.”
It was inconvenient to move in a carriage because they were in the woods. So, unlike usual, she was riding a horse, too.
Garhan, who was walking side by side Genovia, snorted.
“Sorry for what?”
Currently, 8,000 detached troops had been chasing the Allendia forces about half a day away.
To narrow that distance, Akhtarun’s Aliens had to efficiently tie the enemy’s feet.
“If they can’t do that, they’ll be labeled useless, right?”
* * *
Twenty Aliens ran through the forest.
Their speed was no joke, considering they were all superhumans above level 80.
In an instant, they were climbing over rocks, kicking the ground, and moving forward meters upon meters at a time.
‘Whoo-hoo, I’ve killed so much today.’
Stepan, a Russian Alien, grinned and glanced at his companion.
At that moment…
Boom!
The Alien’s upper body running next to him disappeared with an explosion!
“Gasp!”
Another red flash appeared ahead of the shocked Stepan.
Boom!
That time, there was a huge hole in the Alien’s back, who was running ahead.
It was such a big gaping wound that he could see the scenery beyond it.
Of course, it was soon covered by the curtains of blood and guts.
Even Stepan, who had been through many hardships, was frightened.
“Ahhhhhhhh!”
The bodies of his dead colleagues disappeared, and a long red flash hung over it.
At the same time, one man took over.
The Earth shook as if a meteorite had fallen.
Thud!
The Aliens’ feet just stopped.
The Sword King, who was chasing them from behind, was blocking the front.
“How is he so fast?”
“He jumped over us in one step?”
Hideous eyes flashed through his messy hair.
A beastly roar rang out through the woods.
“Who said I’d let you go, you homicidal maniacs!”
* * *
“He’s almost as strong as we are.”
Touching his chin, Garhan shook his head.
“They can’t run away though they want to run away.”
* * *
Light flashed. Head and torso separated.
The sword danced. Blood and flesh fluttered in the air and disappeared like snow melting.
Ryu Han-bin relentlessly swung his Gigant.
Unlike before, Aliens could run away.
He couldn’t afford to cut their limbs.
“Argh!”
“Argh!”
Screaming, the Aliens were dying one by one.
There was only a difference between dying instantly or dying in pain.
The fallen Aliens burst into a final cry.
“… Please forgive me just this once!”
“I… I want to go home…”
His weapon ruthlessly destroyed their hearts.
“Why do you always have to change your mind when you die?”
With an eerie look on his face, Han-bin spoke.
“Why didn’t you do that when you were still fine?”
Eventually, the twenty Aliens had all been killed.
Not a single one escaped.
All the bodies disappeared.
All that was left was the weapons and clothes they were wielding and wearing.
Looking at the scene indifferently, Ryu Han-bin sheathed Gigant on his back again.
He felt no remorse killing his fellow Earthlings.
They had gone too far to feel homogeneous just because they were from the same world.
‘Or…’
Han-bin suddenly smiled bitterly.
‘Maybe I’ve gone too far.’
* * *
The Thunder King and the Archmage marched around the forest.
Genovia gave an order to the Aliens of Akhtarun, who returned after killing a lot.
“Good work. Take a rest and strike again.”
With an excited look on their faces, Aliens began to speak in a whisper.
“Do we have to come back to the main camp every time?”
“We can just pretend to back off and go back on the way.”
“It’s a waste of time, isn’t it?”
Everyone looked happy with finally murdering Latnains after so long.
Of course, some felt the absence of their dead colleagues, but…
“Well, it’s war.”
“I’ve had enough of it when someone is out of luck in a battle.”
They didn’t care. Rather, immediate pleasure compensation came first.
Garhan laughed.
‘Foolish bastards.’
If they had been ordered to ‘ambush and retreat in small units of about 20 people,’ they would never have been that active.
It was almost like a suicide charge.
But what if he told them to kill as much as they wanted and get away by themselves?
Even though he changed his words, the Aliens followed him actively and positively.
The pleasure of murder blinded them.
‘At this rate, we’ll catch up within the day.’
The Allendia troops’ movements were slowing down thanks to the Aliens’ performance. They should be enough to catch up before they got to Fort Fieldrocks.
‘Of course, it’s hard to catch the incarnation’s party.’
If they flew away on the Pitch-Black Nightmare, nobody could catch them. It would be too much until the Thunder King or the Archmage came forward.
And it was not yet time for them to step up.
‘So, I will let you go for now.’
Garhan smiled coldly, recalling the incarnation of darkness, the Sword King Felard, and his companions.
‘Only you guys.’
Thousands of soldiers in Allendia had to die in that forest!
* * *
Kibie was heading north, guarding the Allendia army’s main camp.
Seira approached and hurriedly gave a statement.
“At this rate, they’ll soon reach us. Dear incarnation, you should head to Fieldrocks first…”
Kibie reassured her.
“It’s okay. We still have a plan.”
She didn’t expect to be driven this way, but the retreat itself was in the original plan.
Looking up at the sky, she continued.
“The chase will slow down soon.”
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