Zombies were simply moving bodies. They had lost any semblance of humanity and simply moved on all fours like beasts. Their souls had been forcefully pulled out of their bodies and turned into banshees. The undead horde emerged from the darkness of Dofrun Castle like a nightmare. This was the most famous area of black magic, necromancy.
“Warlocks? Why are they here?”
“These bastards are like cockroaches!”
The reactions of the confused magicians varied. Some were puzzled, and others felt indignant. However, they all had one thing in common—no one welcomed the appearance of a warlock.
The Magic Society had declared that black magic as evil. Those who weren’t familiar with it thought it was just another attribute, but magic and black magic didn’t have anything in common except their foundations. They were both unique to humans and utilized Circle theory. It was a unique intersection of authentic magic and black magic.
Black magic was the power to deny this world. The mark that symbolized black magic was the reverse pentagram, and the warlocks were split into five factions.
The first faction focused on necromancy, a spell that broke the circle of life and death. Another faction lay in domination magic, forcing one’s body and soul to submit. The third faction focused on calling forces from outside of this world. The last two factions were Chronos warlocks and those who worshiped demons.
They made up the five corners of the reverse pentagram. However, necromancy was the one that caused the most number of casualties. Necromancers would be targeted by the entire continent if they were discovered. Anyone who saw the devastation of Dofrun Castle would think this decision was valid.
“They’re coming!”
A scream signaled the rise of the curtain of slaughter.
Kieeeeeeek-!?
A banshee’s cry was an acoustic weapon that shook the soul itself. The magicians had already cast Silence spells in advance, but that wasn’t possible for the Shadow Knights. Understandably, the first victims appeared in the Andras camp.
“Aaaaack!”
The knight screamed as a ghoul’s long nails were shoved into the helmet’s eye holes. The poison from the ghoul’s fingernails quickly burned through the knight’s optic nerves. The Shadow Knight convulsed as he fell to the ground.
One of the knights called out, “Be vigilant! Circulate aura through your entire body! Otherwise, you will be affected by that scream!”
Another chimed in, “Switch to protective magic! Maintain defensive formations while retreating!”
The Andras knights were not fools. They used the first casualty as a reference and concentrated on protecting their troops, rather than worrying about Meltor. It was clearly the correct call, and the Shadow Knights faithfully followed orders.
The undead treated all living beings as targets, so Meltor would be attacked as well. The Meltor unit came to the same conclusion and prepared their spells. They were expecting the horde to turn their attention to them soon enough.
The moment came soon enough. The zombies’ yellow teeth, the ghoul’s poisonous nails, and the banshees’ screams… However, there was something wrong.
The undead all headed in one direction.
The magicians just stared blankly. “… Eh?”
Meanwhile, the knights were furious.
“W-What, these bastards!”
“Don’t panic! Don’t let your breathing be disturbed!”
“Why are they only aiming at us?!”
The undead horde veered around Meltor and started to surround the Andras knights. There were some undead in the area near Meltor, but it didn’t compare to the number surrounding the Shadow Knights. In a sense, it was a great opportunity. However, Meltor was caught completely by surprise and didn’t take advantage of the reprieve.
Why are the undead leaving us alone?
Why aren’t they attacking us?
The war magicians panicked at this bizarre scene while the elves stood by idly. The leaders of both the Meltor and Andras armies were also confused.
“No, what is this all of a sudden?”
Undead suddenly appeared in the middle of the city and were only attacking Andras? No one could’ve predicted this, even if the best strategists of the continent were brought together.
In the end, Zest gave up on understanding and his mouth fell open. Despite it benefiting him, Theo thought it was ludicrous. He didn’t have a good relationship with warlocks, so why would they help him and Meltor?
… I don’t know.
There wasn’t enough evidence to reach a conclusion. Theo carefully scanned the battlefield, worry starting to bubble up inside. His unit had a great advantage now that the undead had entered the field. He didn’t know why, but it was clear that they were benefiting from it. If the dozens of Shadow Knights and the priests protecting them were killed, then Theo’s mission in coming to Dofrun was over.
Despite this, Theo didn’t like this option.
I don’t know the intentions of this warlock, and it is risky to stay here.
He couldn’t judge this as assistance. Theo focused on the still disturbed Zest while thinking of the necromancer hiding somewhere in the city.
However, someone moved before Zest and Theo.
“You! You all are the messengers who called these demons!” Cardinal Antonio, the elderly man who came from Lairon, shouted with a rough voice and pale face. “Sacrificing good people to use the power of demons! I am the seed of heaven that will punish you! If you repent now and give me your lives, you will only burn in the fires of purgatory for half a day!”
Theo blinked. “… Excuse me Cardinal, what is the basis of your barking?”
Cardinal Antonio declared, “It is a revelation from God Lairon!”
Zest muttered, “It’s just nonsense.”
Theo and Zest exchanged subtle looks. It was unclear if they should continue fighting. Their concentration had been forcefully dispersed by this disturbance and the atmosphere that was getting increasingly weirder.
At that moment…
Theo drew a sharp breath, “What?!”
Zest’s eyes narrowed. “This is…?”
Theo and Zest, one beat later than Cardinal Antonio, looked in the same direction with surprised expressions. A black knight was standing on the roof of a mansion near them, emanating a fiery and unearthly presence. Theo had only felt this once before.
Death knight!
It was a master level knight who was given life by the magic of death! A death knight’s physical abilities were amplified several times over. It didn’t feel pain, and its durability was close to immortality. Randolph had been the victor in the duel trial, but that was because the death knight had been unable to exert its full powers at that time.
This death knight that appeared between Theo and Zest wasn’t bound by any constraints.
“… Grrr… Grr…”
It couldn’t speak. The death knight made strange sounds as it raised its sword.
Wuuuong!
A gray color aura started to flow around the blade. It was a color that living humans couldn’t exert. The death knight didn’t have an Aura Ability, but its aura was said to contain the power of death. This blade was now a sword of death that forced flesh and bones to wither.
If Zest allowed an attack from the death knight to touch him, it would be fatal.
“Shit. Do you really have nothing to do with this, kid?”
Theo and Zest could both feel the killing intent that was aimed solely at Zest.
Okay, I’ve decided.
The three Infernal Blades behind his back let out a tremendous amount of magic power. One was aimed at Zest, and another at the stupid cardinal. The remaining one…
“Go.”
The fire swords shot through the night sky like meteors.
―――――――――――――!!!
Theo saw it the moment the sky and earth flashed.
Indeed, the attack power is superior.
Zest wasn’t surprised by his decision at all and slashed downward. The empty space before him blocked the flaming sword and exploded. It was the ultimate space cut, a slash that severed space itself to block the attack.
It might be Zest’s space cut, but now it was used for Theo’s benefit.
“… Well, that is unexpected.”
The surprising thing was that Antonio managed to cope with it, despite seeming incompetent.
The Golden Rays were the symbolic power of the Lairon Church, a power supposedly received from the god of the sun. Once one reached the position of a cardinal, the output was rumored to be at the level of great magic. It seemed this wasn’t an exaggeration.
Although he had blocked Infernal Blade, Antonio’s white clothing was blackened and he cursed crazily, “T-These guys! I will kill all of the demons’ puppets!”
The reason was simple.
“Attacking the children of Lairon! This is a sin that can’t be forgiven, even if they are killed thousands of times!”
The third Infernal Blade was aimed at the priests behind the Shadow Knights. Their formation had been disrupted by the undead, so this spell was the final blow. The senior priests and the few cardinal candidates were reduced to ashes, leaving only a few survivors.
Even legendary resurrection magic wouldn’t be able to revive them. The few survivors had only made it through because they had combined their divine power to create a shield around them. In any case, he had now done enough to call this mission a success.
I don’t think they can chase after us in this mess.
Theo thought about it and looked around. His unit’s eyes shone with confidence, as if they could jump into the battlefield immediately. The undead would eradicate the knights while the group of priests had been decimated, greatly reducing the duration of combat.
Theo raised his voice, “All members, retreat out of the castle as quickly as possible!”
Theo’s decision was firm, despite the war magicians preparing to attack. Meltor’s detached unit safely retreated from the now chaotic Dofrun Castle.
***
“… Hrmm, no one’s chasing us. As expected,” Theo said, looking back at the castle as they reached the tunnel they had dug.
It is terrible, but I can’t deny that it is effective.
It could be called the most fearful point of necromancy.
He didn’t know about low-level necromancers, but a high-level necromancer could use their undead to spread an infection. A human bitten by a zombie would become a zombie, while a soul drawn out by a banshee would become another banshee. Of course, there was a limit to the contagion; however, there was no shortage of targets in a land of blood and death.
If Zest was free to move, he would’ve suppressed the undead immediately. The problem was that it wasn’t possible.
“The death knight is a pretty big opponent.”
Theo’s choice to hit and run was also because the death knight had appeared. It could threaten Zest and bite at his ankles. Continuing an operation by taking advantage of the necromancy was only possible if Theo was superior to Zest. The opponent’s power was likely to overtake him, so it was better for Theo to retire after a modest gain.
The enemy of an enemy was not his friend here. It was very likely that alliance would fall through when he got stabbed in the back. As the saying from the East went, it was natural to defend yourself and never show your back to anyone.
Theo was entering the tunnel last when his eyebrows twitched.
“Theo, aren’t you coming?” There were only two people left, so Sylvia spoke to Theo casually.
Theo smiled back, “Go first. I want to get some air.”
Sylvia looked at him with a strange expression. “Yes, understood. But are you sure you won’t get hurt? This is still Andras territory, so more people can come.”
“‘I’ll come through in ten minutes. Take care of the others on the way back.”
“Okay, I will believe in you. Take your time.”
Sylvia’s silver hair disappeared into the darkness, and Theo paused for a moment.
The rematch with the empire’s 2nd Sword, Zest Speitem…
He hadn’t committed all his cards in that fight, but the suspense and excitement weren’t that much different from their previous battle. The scales of life and death could tilt to one side in many ways during a battle. Now that the battle fervor had cooled… .
“… Indeed,” Theo spoke out loud like he had known all along, “I felt your gaze when I left the castle. I didn’t feel any hostility, so I felt like we needed to talk.”
He turned, speaking to the person behind him. Theo was expecting to see an ugly warlock. The symbol of evil from the storybooks, the warlock…
What did the evil who wanted to bring about the end of the world look like?
“―Wh-at?” Theo fell silent.
He was facing a woman with snow-white hair. As Theo remained silent, the woman prostrating herself on the ground raised her head. “I sincerely congratulate you.”
Her beautiful face was wet with tears. If he had to compare her to flowers, she was a lily. White clothes, white skin, and the water droplets that fell from her pale eyes…
She felt genuinely pleased and didn’t hide her joy.
White Knight Hipatia politely greeted her king, “I—the white rider, Hipatia—greet King Jerem, king of the end.”