Chapter 46
The defeat of the Kiral Clan was nothing more than the opening skirmish in the Aurelianople Campaign.
The most important objective still remained—an existence far more dangerous than the Kiral, one that could not even be compared.
Long ago, in the age before the Common Era, people had lived in fear of that being, calling it Asarakalt.
“Translated into the modern tongue, it means noble.”
But these were beings on an entirely different level from the nobles of today. To distinguish them, they were called the Ancient Nobles.
“The details about the Ancient Nobles are recorded in this book.”
“Wait, Instructor—that book is forbidden, isn’t it?”
“You’ve completed the body modification process. Whether you become a Dune or an Alter is yet unknown, but from now on you’re granted access to every forbidden text regulated by society.”
Until then, I’d only known vague rumors about the Ancient Nobles, whispers drifting around the battlefield. It wasn’t until the Record of the Majestic Sword that I learned of them in detail.
To be precise, it was from a book called The History of the Abyss.
That book was alive.
It gave off an undeniable sensation of life. Each thread of its worn binding felt as though it were breathing, as if it were lewdly caressing my fingertips.
The Forgotten Kings.
In the primordial age, five kings seized the power to dominate the world, claiming seats from which they ruled all.
Each commanded mighty retainers known as the Ancient Nobles. Possessing a divine nature, they could not be slain—only sealed.
Their souls lived on eternally.
The flesh they inhabited was but an illusion, endlessly regenerating.
So unreasonable…
How was one supposed to fight beings that could not be cut down, even with a blade?
Even the so-called “super-speed regeneration” the Feyquariors induced by injecting dragon blood—what we considered extraordinary—was nothing more than a basic trait to them.
Humanity first encountered one of the Forgotten Kings in the 15th century of the Common Era.
The Spider Lord, Ashron.
Also called The Devourer of Worlds.
To speak his true name carelessly was a grave taboo.
In the 15th century, Ashron and his five retainers, the Obonwi, shattered the Seolryeong Great Wall and swept across the northern continent.
[Illustration 1]
-
The Seolryeong Great Wall laid to waste.
This happened barely minutes after Ashron’s arrival. In that short time, half the Imperial Army was annihilated.
[Illustration 2]
-
Zayun, Marquis of Tendons, ranked 2nd among the Spider Lord’s Obonwi.
Struck down temporarily by the combined assault of the Feyquariors, yet regenerating swiftly in a mass of bubbling flesh.
Before Zayun was sealed away by Yoshuhar’s power, he had slain three Feyquariors.
It was terrifying to believe the Ancient Nobles truly held such strength.
Three Feyquariors, just like that…
And yet the book continued to record history in words so absurd and unreasonable.
Year 1434 CE
-
The Dragon Sage, Rain Ludwig, subjugates the Spider Lord.
Year 1542 CE
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The Apostle of the Void, Argen, with aid from Achirea of the Crimson Flame, subjugates the Lord of Time.
Two kings had been subdued (that is, their old seals broken and new ones placed), losing their influence since.
But three still remained:
The Lord of the Deep Sea, the Lord of Insects, and the Lizard Lord—who played a decisive role during the 12th-century upheavals.
The Dragon Sage and the Apostle of the Void…
No other humans in history had ever wielded such overwhelming power.
Year 1671 CE
-
A mysterious human swordsman (believed to be the First Pillar of the Black Church) unites the demon armies, beginning the “Black Summer.”
-
Led by Head Feyquarior Raminea Alter Aradamantel, the demons are repelled beyond the seas.
Year 1692 CE
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The “Red Summer” begins, as demons empowered by blessings from freed Ancient Nobles surge forth.
-
High-ranking demons undergo physical transformations, becoming even more fearsome than during the Black Summer.
-
Under the leadership of Head Feyquarior Camilla Alter Aradamantel, the Feyquariors hold the frontlines for five years.
And then… for some reason…
The record of despair suddenly stopped.
As though the book itself were whispering:
Now, it is your turn.
Total War,
Assault on Aurelienople (4)
[Iron Cross, report current status.]
At the center of the Iron Cross banner—sweeping mercilessly across the wasteland like a tide of steel—the shrine maiden answered.
“Kaisen has slain Kiral’s chief, Kishe, and is currently engaged with the remaining Kiral forces.”
[The Piljoong Corps has confirmed sorcery wards inside the fortress. Two on each section of the wall. Neutralize them immediately so the floating fortress can advance over the city.]
“At once, my lord.”
Alidona relayed the order to Roberis.
Roberis immediately commanded his aides to raise the regimental standard.
As the knights formed ranks around the banner, Roberis shouted:
“Iron Cross! Leave the rest to our allies and push into the fortress!”
“Is it all right without siege weapons?”
“Treval and Mern, you two try first. If it doesn’t work, I’ll handle it. We’ve already saved a temporal island thanks to someone’s efforts.”
When Roberis jerked his chin toward Kaisen, the knights cheered with respect.
“Kaisen, your orders remain the same. Do not release the dragon spirit without permission.”
“Understood.”
“Once we breach the gate, we split into three groups. Mern and Treval, head northwest. Kaisen and Alidona, southwest. I will spearhead the central breakthrough to the inner citadel.”
The operation unfolded swiftly.
Alidona’s sorcery conjured a new drawbridge where the old, withered one had collapsed.
Then Treval’s dragonbone spear and Mern’s Heavenly Swallowing Fang smashed the west gate wide open.
[Sir Roberis, this is Seyra of the Iron Fortress Corps. A barrier is blocking the northern approach. Must be linked to the one at the west gate.]
“It’s a chained barrier then. I’m on my way. Hold on.”
[Sir Roberis, this is Vies, commander of the 1st Combat Flight Squadron. We’re being intercepted by troll anti-air batteries! We can only provide air support once those are destroyed!]
Roberis, who was originally supposed to handle the central assault, now diverted to neutralize the fortress’s anti-air emplacements—a highly dangerous task. Trolls could rip soldiers apart as casually as eating lunch.
“I’ll take the trolls. You all head to your assigned sectors.”
“Ha! Their big heads make smashing skulls satisfying—I’d like that job myself.”
“Plenty of ogres around too. Be careful, Commander.”
But the Iron Cross was a company whose members each possessed power enough to overcome such hopeless differences in species. They showed not a flicker of fear.
“Mern, instead of worrying about me, focus on your own task. The faster each of us finishes, the quicker we regroup.”
Kaisen and Alidona moved toward the barrier zone.
The barrier was guarded by blood fiends, but they had long since mastered ways to deal with them.
When Alidona’s Oath Fragment spell cast a wide-area slowing field, opening a momentary gap—
“Kid, time to show your skills.”
Kaisen slid Aradamantel into its sheath.
He twisted his waist just enough to channel the minimal rotation into his body—
One strike.
Through the ranks of blood fiends—
The lofty blood demons fell, their heads soaring in crimson flashes.
Bound by the Oath Fragment, the lesser fiends collapsed one after another, silence descending on the battlefield.
“That quick-draw art—every time, it’s captivating. You could just show that to a girl without saying a word and she’d swoon.”
“Feyquarior is sworn to celibacy.”
“Always so dull. Watch closely—I’m about to have some fun.”
Not content with merely disabling the barrier, Alidona twisted it until it ignited into flames.
The winged serpents, Tuaki, clashing with griffins overhead, were caught in the blaze, screaming in agony. Alidona chuckled.
“Hear that? They like it too.”
“That’s what you hear?”
“Tastes differ. Some folks enjoy pain.”
Kaisen wondered if she was one of those who enjoyed inflicting pain—but he kept the thought to himself.
Soon, reports came from Mern and Treval as well: their barriers were down.
[Headquarters, this is the great dragon Isla! We’ve broken through the north gate, but there’s something weird! Squirming plants! Looks like some kind of primordial vegetation!]
[My lord, this is Arven Warden of the mage batteries. Bombardment ready on command.]
[Good. While I adjust the floating fortress’s glide path, provide carpet bombing on the coordinates requested by the Dragon’s Maw Corps.]
[Coordinates? Isla can’t read those!]
[?]
[But I’m strong enough, so it’s fine!]
[Ah… This is Seyra of the Iron Fortress Corps. I’ll transmit them.]
Thanks to Isla’s boldness and Seyra’s support, the 2nd Army Corps at the north gate also reported success.
Victory reports kept flowing in from all fronts.
[Sir Roberis, this is the 1st Combat Flight Squadron. We confirm the anti-air batteries have been neutralized. We’re ready for support!]
[We’re fine. Support the 1st Army in the wasteland outside.]
[Understood. Good luck, Feyquarior!]
[Same to you. Over.]
Roberis too had completed his perilous mission.
[This is Roberis. Iron Cross, detachments finished with barrier suppression, regroup at the city center.]
[Treval here. These damned Stone Age weeds are blocking the way. Might take a while. Pick your nose and wait if you want.]
[Commander, just as I observed during reconnaissance—the city’s overrun by primordial plants. Regrouping now is dangerous. Requesting carpet bombing first…]
Indeed, the city was stiflingly dry, overrun with monstrous vegetation—
Thick, grotesque branches, vines, and razor-edged leaves designed for slaughter.
And worst of all, bubble-like pods that drained all moisture on impact, or swallowed dozens of humans whole.
Charging through such a cursed garden to regroup would be suicide.
[Bombardment orders are already in for the 2nd Army. But we can’t wait for reloading afterward—it’ll take too long.]
Kaisen finally asked the question.
“Why are we in such a rush?”
[Kaisen, Aurelienople is a major city. Within its inner citadel, something has been detected—classified ‘Catastrophe’ level, just below the Forgotten Kings. All available corps are converging.]
Catastrophe…?
Gasps rippled across the channel. Treval gave a whistle of awe.
[A Catastrophe? That’s one step below the highest-risk targets, the Forgotten Kings.]
[Yes. An Ancient Noble. The spreading desertification already hinted at its presence. Iron Cross’s new primary objective is to subjugate it.]
[No wonder we’re rushing. Still, isn’t it great that His Radiance always entrusts the big jobs to us?]
Alidona tapped the ash from her long pipe and smirked.
“With our rookie here—the one who toyed with Mauna Loa—what’s the worry? It’ll be nothing.”
[Ha! He didn’t do that alone. We all did. Don’t make it sound like he singlehandedly pulled it off.]
“Oh my, Treval. Are you jealous of the kid?”
[It’s not jealousy, it’s fact!]
[Priestess, his face is red right now. Must’ve struck a nerve.]
[Ha! I’ve got a helm and visor on—how could you see that?]
“The rookie’s smiling at how petty your jealousy is.”
[Ha! Smiling? You?]
“I did not smile.”
[Enough chatter. Alidona.]
Alidona exhaled smoke in delight and nodded.
“I’ll make a temporary bridge overhead. I’ll wrap it in flames so the plants can’t reach. Hot, but just step on through.”
[Now that’s fiery. I like it.]
Thanks to Alidona, the Iron Cross crossed the ancient garden as if it were child’s play.
They regrouped on the main boulevard leading to the city’s central crossroads.
Yet the deeper they went, the larger and more numerous the plants became.
“These damn things… really love Aurelienople, don’t they?”
All other corps would be facing the same nightmare.
“Your Radiance, this is Iron Cross. Entry into the inner citadel is impossible. The plants have seized the entire district.”
Before the High Star could reply, another message cut in.
[This is Ria of the Black Rose. Our battlemage Artae has identified plant colonies encircling the citadel.]
“Colonies?”
[Each has a core. Destroying the core will neutralize the plants en masse. We, as light cavalry, will handle it.]
Alidona gave an impressed whistle.
“Smart girl. How’d she figure that out?”
Kaisen wasn’t surprised. On the road to Aristapho, even Johann Wolf Frost had often marveled at Ria’s brilliance.
Roberis nodded.
“Confirmed. But leaving it to just Black Rose will take too long. Can you send coordinates of other colonies?”
[Of course.]
“Iron Fortress, Dragon’s Maw—you take out the colonies she sends.”
[Kyak kyak kyak! Without Isla, nothing can be done! Then leave it to Isla!]
“?”
[Yes, understood.]
That the High Star didn’t countermand Roberis’s orders meant full approval.
“Then is it just us for the main fight now?”
Before Treval finished asking, a new voice came through.
[Cute juniors. Leave the rest to your seniors. Roro, let’s play together again.]
Gorgotia Alter Zierda—
Master of the bow-sword holy blade Zierda, and current Second Seat Feyquarior.
The subjugation of the Ancient Noble was now assigned jointly to Roberis’s Iron Cross and Gorgotia’s Piljoong Corps.
“Your Radiance, then we’ll stand by.”
[Naihang is descending with the Clarion Sword. He’ll handle your transport. Conserve your strength.]
“Understood. Then only our officer cadre will enter, while the knights reinforce the colony assault.”
[That was my intent. Piljoong Corps will also deploy only its officers.]
Then—like sunlight piercing storm clouds—golden radiance spread across the sky.
It was Naihang Setsunen, not in his usual draconic-human form, but as a noble wyrm spreading his wings.
[It begins soon. Stand by.]
The light condensed into a single lightning bolt that struck the city, shaking the earth—
And then, suddenly, all tremors ceased.
Because—
“!”
Kaisen, along with Iron Cross and Piljoong’s elite, found themselves floating above the city.
Setsunen’s power of spatial transference.
Below, through roiling currents, they saw the inner citadel. Its barrier of writhing plants had been shattered by lightning, leaving gaping holes.
“The plants formed the barrier itself…!”
The vines, once entwined around the citadel, now thrashed madly, writhing in agony—
And disgustingly grotesque in their convulsions.
「Take one each.」
Setsunen extended something in his foreclaws to each party.
They were blades—pure divinity, crystallized in the form of swords.
「The Clarion Swords. The power of the Clarion Psalms bound into a blade.」
So these were the Clarion Swords…
As Kaisen stared in awe, Roberis gave the order.
“Mern, take ours. Quickly, before the drop.”
“Leave it to me, Commander.”
“Ours is mine to wield. Roro, time to dance!”
Unlike the excited Gorgotia, Roberis spoke more calmly than ever.
“Iron Cross and Piljoong, we will now drop into the inner citadel.”
Immediate confirmation came from the floating fortress.
[Acknowledged. Iron Cross Knights and Piljoong Special Forces—subjugation of the Ancient Noble is yours.]
