Awakening the Great Chapter 108

Chapter 108 — Shadow Across the River

The Mountain Rabbits had won, as expected.

Only silence is permitted to the dead. The Corrupted lay flat upon the ground. As a cool wind swept through, the Allied Forces let out a roar of victory. Helts ca off, and fallen comrades were helped back to their feet.

The enemy's numbers had been few, and the tactics, the execution in real combat — all of it had been perfect.

Yet within Calix's mind, the scene from monts ago remained vivid.

* * *

Crunch-crunch-crack!

"Gaaaargh!"

The instant the enemy line was being torn apart — suddenly, the enemy commander's body began to warp. The rotting flesh that had reeked of decay swelled, and with a burst of sound, black powder scattered in every direction.

Pff-fwooom!

On pure instinct, sensing sothing dreadful, Calix imdiately channeled his energy.

[Pressure Field: Open]

A power he had only recently awakened — but in this situation, nothing could be more effective. An overwhelming surge of energy crushed the entire space. The air split apart, and the remnants of darkness were swept away in an instant.

Thanks to this, the Mountain Rabbits were able to escape the fallout, but the situation for Kalahim was another matter entirely. Screams and wailing, and a thick, biting chill crashed down upon the desert warriors.

* * *

"My fingertips are tingling. I can't… feel them anymore. Why, why is this happening?"

One of the injured stared blankly at his own hands and murmured. He had inhaled the powder. An inexplicable shudder, a chill that felt as if his entire body were being torn apart. The priestess Ella repeated her healing prayers, but even as the light seeped in, he could not be restored to how he was before.

She didn't appear to have the energy to even wipe the sweat dripping down her brow.

"It's a vile energy. I can't purge it completely."

It was only natural that the expressions of the Alliance Forces' commanders grew grave. Calix examined the enemy's corpses, the condition of the wounded, and finally, the weapons exuding a sinister energy.

At that mont, Barakh — the Kalahim commander — spoke while gazing at a crudely fashioned axe.

"……Those wounded by these weapons are not few. We thought them light injuries, but their minds grew clouded almost imdiately, and they began to retch."

An answer ca from the Viale side.

"It's the power of Demon Stones."

"Demon Stones?"

"If we wield energy through neural accelerators implanted in us, those things draw their power through objects known as 'Demon Stones'."

The elf, Serylion Belrnar, drew upon knowledge from the past. The wicked fought differently from humans. They feared losing their weapons more than death itself.

"So it was because Demon Stones were embedded in the weapons. But the greater problem lies ahead."

Royce added quietly.

"There will be limits to how much healing through divine power can accomplish."

"Mm… That ans our casualties will increase considerably."

Barakh nodded in agreent, and then — all of a sudden — reached his hand down toward the ground. Calix moved quickly and seized his wrist.

"Don't touch it."

"……I see."

Their eyes t, and an awkward silence fell between them. In the anti, a small commotion broke out nearby. Those who had returned from searching within the city were reporting to a mid-ranking commander.

"There is nothing inside the city. Only a swarm of field mice gathered in one spot, frozen to death. And there was so sort of… strange sound as well."

An indescribable unease drifted through the air. Even so, Calix knew there was no need to swing his blade any further.

Imdiately after requesting the forces to advance once more, he returned to the Mountain Rabbits' camp alongside Royce. Surprisingly, the mood there was not bad.

"So basically, only the commander-class ones self-destructed, right? Which ans we need to watch out for that black powder."

Hadiya curved the corner of her mouth upward.

"Then we block it with a cloth wrap at least. Romance, you try it on."

She pointed to the young man who had recently sent Wheatley off. The grief had ebbed, but he had not fully overco it yet. Romance covered his mouth with the cloth and tried to make a joke out of it.

"At this rate……I might get mistaken for a bandit, no?"

But Hadiya, a veteran among veterans, showed no rcy. Alongside her good-natured smile, she unleashed her vicious wit.

"Well, that's not really because of the cloth."

Snickers — laughter erupted around them.

In this brief mont of camaraderie, the gazes of Calix and Marik t. He quietly turned away. Shadows wavered beyond the firelight.

A victory had clearly been won — yet a cold energy still lingered in the air.

* * *

The Alliance Forces continued to string together victory after victory from that point on.

The Corrupted repeated their assaults, but not once did they succeed in pulling off a proper ambush. Even as their numbers grew from the hundreds to over a thousand, and even when wolf cavalry — sohow familiar to the eye — were deployed, the result remained the sa.

Calix mobilized exactly as many troops as were needed. When he ordered a charge, the enemy was pushed back; in the most dangerous monts, he led from the front himself. When the march halted, tunnel worms appeared; and on the nights he did not put the soldiers to rest, night raids followed.

Within the camp, a mood of 'we won again' — a joy and relief — had taken hold.

"If you just follow the orders, you win."

"Is Calix truly a descendant of Ranita or sothing?"

"Either way, we just have to do what we're told. Whether the enemy is human or monster, what does it matter?"

It was a little different from winning against the Niboria Imperial Forces. It had not been a single miracle. Small victories repeated themselves, hardening into conviction.

Soldiers did not follow braggarts who promised to keep them alive. They followed those who win. And their commander had proven that fact.

Together, they would live. No — sothing close to a faith that they would surely win had taken root. So much so that whispers of 'is that person truly human?' could be heard.

But one week later, the atmosphere grew heavy with startling speed. The soldiers felt a strange unease. At first, they thought it was fatigue — but the signs beca increasingly clear.

"Hey, look at this one. His toes……"

When the leather boots were removed from the injured man, his toes had turned pitch black.

"He was saying he couldn't feel them a while ago."

"Hey! Snap out of it!"

His face was pale, his breathing labored. It could no longer be dismissed as frostbite or a light injury.

At that sa mont, priestess Ella was facing a similar patient. A refugee who had survived alone. The young man was curled up on himself, a ragged mat thrown over his back.

His face had half turned to stone, and several fingers had been cleanly severed. Ella recited prayers with composure, but the light no longer reached him.

"……No."

"Ella, you must not push yourself."

"But—"

A Rank 4 Cleric, and she could do nothing. The refugee soon let his head droop, and Mountain Rabbits ca forward to remove the body.

And from that day on, the procession coming from the east ceased entirely. No ssengers arrived seeking aid, and no news of any kind could be heard.

Soone quipped,

"So now there's no one left but us, huh." But no one laughed.

As night deepened, the encampnt sank into an even more frigid silence.

The figure of Vice-captain Marik ca into view. The man who had always watched over the mbers had greatly reduced his words of late. He only briefly showed the deeply hollowed eyes and that sharp expression.

Even so, there was always an end to things. The blackened river water gurgled and flowed. At last, they had arrived just before the capital of Astria — Star Haven.

* * *

Early night.

The Alliance Forces settled in at the riverbank. Over the course of things, defeated stragglers and supporting troops from minor lords had joined, bringing the total force to roughly 10,000. Yet there was no sense of elation.

Another colossal battle was imminent.

After eting with the commanders of each division, Calix returned to the fold of the Mountain Rabbits. Despite the watch being kept, no one had closed their eyes.

Out of nowhere, Gregor asked in a clear voice.

"Cook comrade, we're nearly there, aren't we?"

"Yes. If we set out at dawn, we should arrive by sunrise."

The mont after answering, he set his gaze across the river. They had drawn close to the battlefield. The capital's walls were not visible, but what lay beyond was rendered vividly in color.

Countless masses of jet-black darkness.

And at their center — Midra, 'the Taker', lay in wait. The magnitude of that power surpassed all imagination. A monster on par with Master Imran Akran — perhaps one that might even surpass him. But he felt no despair or fear.

Calix thought first of how he might fight.

'There is a chance of victory.'

Beyond the walls, the human fla that had not yet been snuffed out burned on. A golden-hued light and divine power were fiercely resisting.

It was exactly then.

"Ugh!"

Volga shot to his feet from his spot. He could not endure the heavy, grim mood any longer. He circled widely around the campfire and ca to a stop in front of a woman.

His face had gone red, but his expression was one of firm resolve. He had decided that rather than sit around in misery, he would act on what he had been putting off all this ti.

"……Zahira, I ca because this feels the sa as when we've taken on a dangerous job. It seed like too much of a sha to die like this."

The Mountain Rabbits, dwarf Basim, and even captain Royce — everyone stared at him as though their souls had left their bodies.

'Zahira?'

'He used formal speech?'

The broad-shouldered young man drew a deep breath, then let the words out.

"I like you."

"……What?"

He delivered the shocking declaration in a composed voice, and Zahira asked back in bewildernt. Even the Mountain Rabbits had the sa reaction.

Whether it was a joke or sincere — uncertain glances.

At that, Volga repeated himself without a mont's hesitation. This ti, it was a shout loud enough to ring out.

"I said I like you!"

A silence fell — literally, where not even the sound of breathing could be heard. Only dwarf Basim swept a hand down his face and let out a brief remark.

A sigh.

"Ahh……"

Even Calix — his friend — could only stare blankly, at a loss for what to do, so there was no need to ntion the others.

It was only after several tens of seconds had passed that Zahira opened her mouth.

"Volga, that——"

And Volga refused her answer.

"Never mind."

"……?"

"You don't have to answer. Just don't."

With those words, Volga trudged back to his spot. An awkward silence drifted around the campfire. The veteran mbers stared at him with expressions that could hardly be described.

Calix, on the other hand, let out a small laugh at the sight. Foolish, but honest. It was manly — and above all, a confession that was unmistakably Volga.

Of course, enduring the teasing was entirely his own responsibility.

"……Anyone want to make a bet — does he live or die?"

The mont Hadiya flung the door wide open, the mbers ca rushing in as though they had been waiting.

"Alright. I'll bet on 'dies of embarrassnt before dawn'. Still, got to give him credit for guts! Volga, you were a hell of a guy, weren't you?"

"Hold on, sorry, but everyone's thinking the sa thing. State the exact ti he dies of embarrassnt."

"But Zahira might kill him before that, don't you think?"

"Oho?"

"……"

Thanks to that, a raucous noise — entirely out of keeping with the situation — swept in. The warmth of the campfire had long since faded, and yet everyone was too busy laughing.

It was the Mountain Rabbits at their ordinary, unremarkable best.

It was around that ti.

Tap, tap.

Calix turned at the sensation of soone tapping his shoulder. It was Vice-captain Marik. He gestured with his thumb toward the outer edge of the camp and addressed him.

"Got a mont?"

"Yes, of course."

The two walked side by side toward the riverbank where moonlight was falling. He touched and stroked his chin several tis over. He seed to be hesitating over sothing. Unable to et his gaze, he only stared at the blackened river water.

The laughter had left him long ago. Calix, too, had been quietly sensing that his heart was wavering.

It was only after a considerable ti had passed that the conversation began.

"……Responsibility is heavier than anything. That is why I respect the captain. In a way, the sa could be said of you."

"I am……"

"I'm not trying to comfort you in so half-hearted way. In fact, it's quite the opposite."

Before he could reply, the words were cut off. Marik gave a wry smile and added on.

"Calix, I am afraid."

A quiet confession.

He revealed a truth he had not disclosed to any of the mbers. In doing so, he expressed the care and respect he held for the person before him.

To that, the young man answered with equal candor.

"I am afraid as well. I am frightened that my failures might lead to consequences that cannot be undone."

A single gust of night wind passed between the two of them.

The manner of speaking was the sa, but the aning was different.

Marik asked about it.

"You…… Are you not afraid of death? I an — your own life."

After a brief silence, the words opened up. Cautious to bring out, but no longer hidden.

"It would be a lie to say I'm not. Perhaps it's because I've been through sothing similar. I used to work as a slave in a mine. Back then, I truly believed that death had co right up to my doorstep."

"……I see."

How he had overco the toxicity of the Mana Stone was beside the point. Neither Marik nor Calix made any ntion of it.

Instead, they only looked into each other's hearts.

"But that fear did not co from the fact that life would end. I was afraid of dying…… Without having done anything. I still needed to et my mother, I still wanted to beco a knight, I had a future I had dread of. The thought of being forced down without having so much as reached out my hand — the fact that no second chance would be given — it was unbearable."

"……"

"Perhaps that's why, even in this very mont, it feels as though I'm living out a wonderful dream."

Calix set down, even if only in part, the weight of burden pressing upon his heart. Putting it into words out loud — it carried that degree of power.

Marik, on the other hand, took quite a long ti before he spoke again. He had only been staring into the darkness stretched out in the distance.

At last, slowly, his mouth opened.

"……You and I are truly so different."

"In what way do you an?"

At the brief question, the middle-aged man finally t his gaze. He expressed his past in a single, compressed sentence.

"I am a coward."

It was a claim that Calix could neither agree with nor accept.