Chapter 62
The next dawn.
It was my turn to head out to the gate and stand guard with the soldiers.
As expected, monsters sporadically ca down and annoyed us, but their numbers weren’t that high, so we could defend with ease.
However, it was certain that the number of monsters had increased compared to yesterday.
At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before they ca rushing down in an explosion.
-Lord, it’s Limond.
“Yeah, what is it?”
A separate transmission ca from Limond.
“Limond, what’s going on?”
-The Raptor groups are increasing. Regional defense difficult.
It was unwelco news that the Raptor groups kept swelling in number.
“Really? Is it to the point that defense is impossible?”
-Defense possible. Troop mobilization needed. Many human soldiers.
“Then mobilize the soldiers remaining in the castle.”
-Understood.
With the Raptors multiplying, it was becoming difficult for the Lion Tribe warriors alone to protect the farmlands.
For now, I gave orders to urgently mobilize all the soldiers left in the castle.
The troubleso thing about the Raptors was their numbers, and the ordinary ones in the front lines were weak enough for regular soldiers to handle.
The problem was that as the Raptors kept multiplying, Limond and the Lion Tribe warriors would remain tied up there.
If the Raptor subjugation could have been wrapped up quickly, I was prepared to call Limond back here, but that beca impossible.
‘These damn Raptors really keep causing trouble again and again.’
Co next spring, I would have to completely wipe out those annoying Raptors before anything else.
From the morning, the monsters’ movents were unusual.
Their numbers were several tis greater than yesterday, and even mid- and large-sized monsters occasionally appeared among them.
Because of that, we went on full alert from the morning, and even the soldiers on standby all rushed to the gate to clean up the monsters.
“Is it always this intense this ti of year?”
“No. At this level, it’s like December or January. For this to happen in November, when winter’s only just begun, is unheard of.”
“Then sothing must be strange.”
“Exactly. It’s really unusual.”
If things were already like this in November, it was worriso how we’d endure December or January.
Every year, November was the easiest month in the three-month winter relay.
Especially since our territory’s main enemy, the Gnolls, hadn’t even appeared yet, this was troubling.
If the monsters attacked and then the Gnoll bastards poured down afterward, it would be utter chaos.
‘But this is a completely different situation from the past.’
Still, there was no reason to despair.
Our Johnson forces had grown several tis in both quality and quantity over the past year.
Frankly, the forces currently gathered at this fortress alone surpassed last year’s entire strength.
If we gathered everyone scattered across the region, we could mount a defense with truly unprecedented power.
‘But to do that, we first need to survive this crisis.’
From atop the gate, I watched alongside Irene as the Crimson Cot knights fought against the monsters.
Though Irene had only guarded this place for a few days, she was already naturally checking the Crimson Cot’s weaknesses as if she belonged here.
“I think they’ll need to change their armor. Even with enchantnts, steel armor tires them out too quickly.”
“The mana of the Monster Mountains is different in nature. That’s why Johnson Territory knights generally prefer leather armor.”
“I see, that explains it.”
“This winter, they’ll likely face Ogres often. Since most knightly armor is made from Ogre leather, Crimson Cot will soon be able to outfit themselves with new armor too.”
The mana of the Monster Mountains was different from that of Johnson Castle.
It was heavier, rougher—sothing like that.
So knights tired more easily here, and even with enchanted steel plate armor, they couldn’t last long.
To adapt properly, they’d first have to change out of that heavy armor.
Just then, Celine, who was directly commanding troops, swung her massive crescent blade and cleaved down an Ogre.
Seeing that, her weapon really was incredible.
At least against mid- and large-sized monsters, there seed to be no weapon better suited.
But Celine’s role ended there.
Against small and dium monsters, her overly massive weapon was only a hindrance to the other knights.
Even when reduced in size, her crescent blade was still huge.
She knew that well, so after felling the Ogre, she imdiately stepped back and focused solely on troop command.
“Sir Celine has already provided three new suits of armor for the knights.”
“Yes. Sister Celine took the first Ogre kill. That feels a bit unfair.”
“Not that unfair. Co to think of it, you’re wearing steel armor too. Are you alright?”
“Oh, ‘Phoenix’ is lighter than leather armor. Plus, it absorbs heat on its own, so it’s fine even in winter.”
Truly, masterpieces were different.
That elegant silver full plate was that efficient?
My Unbreakable might have its absurd instant-summon option, but with its pitch-black blade, I couldn’t say it looked particularly impressive.
Of course, the knights babbled on about how black was romantic, but it didn’t look that way to .
At least my armor, made from Ogre leather, was decent, but it couldn’t compare to Irene’s ‘Phoenix.’
‘Not that I’m envious—just looking at it, it’s clearly made for won.’
“My Lord! An abnormality! Fog… fog is approaching!”
Just as we had successfully repelled the monsters and the battlefield was being cleared—
A Ranger on the watchtower reported sothing strange.
Fog was approaching?
Wondering what that ant, I hurried up to the watchtower.
Irene seed to have the sa thought and quickly followed behind .
“My goodness, it’s true. What is that?”
“Fog? No, what fog in this season?”
Incredibly, the Ranger’s report was true.
A thick fog really was approaching the gate.
Fog didn’t grow legs, so sothing must be creating it and drawing near.
“It’s so humid.”
“Yeah. This feels more like steam than fog. How is this even possible in winter?”
“Oh, Lord Iron. Look over there. It seems to be because of that thing.”
As more ti passed and the fog covered the gate, we realized what it really was.
Sothing burning red-hot was spewing misty steam like fog as it ca closer.
Whenever the creature moved, all the snow that had piled up overnight evaporated instantly and vanished, which ant this fog was so kind of abnormal phenonon caused by the lting snow.
But just how hot did it have to be for that to happen?
“Lord Iron. What on earth is that?”
“Outwardly, it’s clearly a Mountain Crocodile.”
Its appearance was very familiar to .
It resembled the giant quadrupedal crocodile, the Mountain Crocodile, which we hunted several tis a year.
Mountain Crocodiles were Class 3 monsters that were like permanent residents of the Monster Mountains and were quite profitable for us.
Their hearts were used in potions, and their hides fetched a good price.
In short, they were a reliable resource.
‘But that’s not the sa size as usual, is it?’
The thing before us was several tis larger than the Mountain Crocodiles I knew, and on top of that, it was engulfed in flas, as though it had consud sothing it shouldn’t have.
-A variant monster?
‘Without a doubt. That’s a variant. Likely upper Class 2, maybe even Class 1? At that level, it would be the ruler of an entire region. Why would sothing like that crawl all the way down here?’
The concept of a variant wasn’t particularly unfamiliar.
The Cyclops we fought, and even the Raptor Queen in a different sense, were also variant monsters.
Ever since the Great Cataclysm, monsters had evolved into superior forms through cannibalism or predation, reerging as variants.
In truth, Calamity-Class and Catastrophe-Class monsters were also just extre mutated variants.
And naturally, variants were always overwhelmingly stronger than their regular counterparts.
“So that’s it. The anomaly at the Gate Fortress.”
I couldn’t know why a high-grade monster, which should have remained entrenched in its own region, had crawled all the way here, but it was clear that this was what caused Irene’s crisis.
Crimson Cot’s annihilation was also no doubt its doing.
And since it had co all the way here, of course, we had to destroy it.
If we left such a thing alone, we couldn’t know what kind of catastrophe might befall the territory.
“All units, assemble!!”
The mont an ergency alarm rang from the watchtower, not only the troops cleaning up the battlefield but also those resting inside all rushed outside.
Imdiately forming ranks, I, Irene, and Celine took the lead, while the Crimson Cot knights and the Lion Tribe warriors spread out to form a containnt line.
“You can feel the heat even from here?”
“Approaching won’t be easy, Lord Iron.”
It was certainly no ordinary beast.
Even from this distance, scorching heat was pressing against us.
If it felt this hot from here, I couldn’t even begin to imagine how intense it would be up close.
‘I thought the season and the falling snow would give us the advantage…’
-A truly troubleso foe.
Since the snow was still falling, I had assud the situation favored us, but in reality, it didn’t.
The monster’s heat was far too great to be extinguished by re snow, and the drifting snowflakes all sublimated into mist, turning into fog that instead obstructed our vision.
It was already daunting enough given its sheer size, but now it hindered visibility while emitting heat.
We’d really drawn a nasty opponent.
“If it gets any closer, we’ll be in trouble.”
“Intercept it, Lord Iron.”
“Alright. I’ll leave command of the knights to Sir Celine. Lion Tribe warriors, keep watch on the surroundings first! Let’s move!”
“Crimson Cot, encirclent formation. Squad 1, advance.”
The only forces gathered here were the Crimson Cot and the Lion Tribe warriors. Not a single Johnson knight remained, the ones I usually commanded at will.
So leaving command to Celine was the wise decision.
Having faced large monsters of similar scale back in Haken, Celine wasted no ti forming an encirclent formation and adjusting the knights’ positions.
-Grrrroarrr!
“Damn, it looks vicious.”
“The heat is overwhelming. I’m fine, but the other knights…”
“Ha, this won’t be easy.”
For humans to fight a giant monster, the thod was simple.
The strongest fighter would draw its attention head-on, while the surrounding knights attacked from all sides, wearing it down bit by bit.
When the timing was ripe, everyone would strike together to deliver the finishing blow.
But the heat radiating from this beast was so intense that most knights couldn’t even get close.
-Roaaar!!
“Urgh!!!”
While we hesitated, trying to gauge our approach, the monster lunged at first.
It leapt forward in an instant and swung its foreleg.
The sluggish crawl it had shown before had all been an act—its movents were frighteningly fast.
Trying to block a giant monster’s attack head-on was sheer stupidity.
The best one could do was dodge or deflect, but since it ca at so suddenly, all I could do was barely block with my sword.
It seed to have inherited the draconic trait of gaining greater strength with larger size. Even I, who had so confidence in my own power, was forced back several steps by the force of its strike.
For a re foreleg swipe to carry such power—
It was monstrous strength indeed.
Most knights would suffer fatal injuries if they took even one direct hit.
“It’s a strong one. Everyone, stay sharp!”
The knights struck and retreated repeatedly, aiming from positions difficult for the monster to guard.
It was the typical thod of wearing it down.
But no matter how careful they were, they couldn’t avoid every one of its frenzied attacks.
Knights struck by its flailing forelegs, hind legs, or tail were sent flying in all directions before regrouping.
The greatest threat was clearly its tail.
As expected of the crocodile species, its forelegs and hind legs were powerful, but in range and force, they were still a level below the tail.
Those struck by its legs might escape with minor injuries, but knights hit by its tail invariably had to withdraw from battle.
Fortunately, their armor and Aura protected their bodies enough to prevent instant death.
Another reason was that Irene, Celine, and I were marking its most dangerous area—its massive jaws.
Of course, I had calculated all that before choosing this position.
Anyone caught by those huge jaws would be beyond saving.
“This isn’t going to work like this.”
Could we really bring it down just by wearing it out?
I was deeply doubtful.
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