Chapter 652: The Hour of Despair
Their clash persisted for a long ti. Humanity's elite forces, in full mobilization, had managed to match Asmodeus's attacks after a great struggle with Linares and Egor taking on his latest attack together.
"Uoooooo!!!!"
Refusing to be defeated, Linares's fist and Egor's sword pushed back against the black torrent.
It was a perfect standoff… And then a massive explosion occurred.
"Your Majesty! Are you alright!?"
"Never mind ! Focus on the next attack!"
The blast obscured their vision and Alida, the captain of the Imperial Guards, was looking worried for Emperor Johannes but Johannes was already looking ahead. After the explosion, Linares and Egor were nowhere to be seen. Their absence was enough to break the spirits of the allied forces. Humanity's ultimate warriors, reigning as SS-rank adventurers for so long, had vanished. (TL: RIP the two goats)
"Even such powerful individuals..."
"The Sword Saint and the Fist Saint..."
"It's over..."
Many knelt down after witnessing the scene, believing there was no chance for a reversal. Two of the five SS-rank adventurers were lost and yet Asmodeus still stood strong. The enemy's unilateral attack had cost them much of their critical forces with many soldiers of the allied forces having fallen. Victory seed impossible, despair engulfed everyone and yet, so individuals hadn't given up.
"What's the matter, Asmodeus!? Even I can see you're wearing out! In your desperation to kill and the magic source, I can see that you've exhausted yourself first!!"
Johannes smirked while half taunting, half stating a fact. Indeed, Asmodeus was wearing down since such magnitude of attacks would drain even Asmodeus. But he continued, knowing that not eliminating the emperor ant that the enemy’s endless supply of magic wouldn't cease. That ultimate caution led Asmodeus to attack the emperor. However, failing to kill the emperor was enough to injure the pride of Asmodeus, who considered himself the strongest.
"Emperor, you're only alive because of luck."
"If you dismiss this as luck, you might end up walking the sa path as the previous Demon Lords. Current Demon Lord."
"Interesting. If you wish for death that much, I'll grant it to you!"
Asmodeus's voice echoed across the battlefield as he raised both hands to the sky. The sky suddenly turned a purplish color, an unnatural shade that silenced everyone. Lights began to shimr in the purple sky as not one or two, but countless star-like objects appeared in the horizon. Those lights were teors.
"itei." (TL: Netherfall… Bro did a Madara Uchiha)
As Asmodeus chanted, countless teors fell from the sky. Unlike his previous attacks, this was a mass attack. If power alone wasn't enough, then the annihilation can be achieved by sheer numbers instead.
Each teor was formidable on its own, making it clear: blocking this attack was nearly impossible. Yet, Johannes raised the imperial sword.
"Intercept them! If we can defend here, we can then launch our counterattack!"
As he commanded, the Imperial Guards rose to the sky to intercept the falling teors. They knew that they could barely handle one each and that their numbers were insufficient.
However, the attack wasn't aid at the emperor alone. All of humanity on the battlefield was targeted. The remaining SS-rank adventurers; Silver, No Na, Jack and the wielder of the holy sword, Elna, were all busy intercepting the other teors to save as many lives as they could. ŘáƝÖ𝖇ËS
"Your Majesty! Please escape!"
"There's nowhere to run!"
Alida's counsel was t with Johannes's declaration of unwavering will, twisting her face in concern. The Imperial Guards alone couldn't defend against it all. Amidst this, an anomaly occurred in the sky. Amidst the rain of teors, even more fell. It was too much for Alida and the other knight commanders to intercept them and just as she thought so, the Brave Duke ascended.
"I won't let them pass!"
Declaring so, the Brave Duke swung the holy sword, clearing many teors as he did so... Yet it was a drop in the bucket against the countless falling stars, leaving the Brave Duke overwheld, he still managed to avoid direct hits until a teor struck him in the side.
"Guuh..."
While spitting blood, the Brave Duke continued to wield the holy sword. As a descendant of the heroes, he was not to be incapacitated by pain. However, the Brave Duke was still human and the damage incurred would serve to slow him down…
Gradually, the teors began to hit the Brave Duke. Although he managed to avoid fatal injuries, one teor targeted the emperor, falling straight towards him. Protecting himself was all he could manage, yet the Brave Duke prioritized protecting the emperor, fulfilling his role as the emperor’s sword.
"Haahhhhhhhhh!!!"
While still swinging the holy sword, he destroyed the teor. Simultaneously, another teor descended towards the Brave Duke with no ti for him to react, leading to it rcilessly taking his left leg. A leg is unnecessary for battle, so while ignoring the leg that was torn away, the Brave Duke continued to wield the holy sword. But his struggle finally ended there. Another teor pierced through his right shoulder, making him unable to grasp the holy sword, slowly causing it to slip from his hand.
Is this the end...?
Thinking so, the Brave Duke fell but he was caught by Elna's lieutenant, Mark Tyber.
"My Lord the Brave Duke!! Brave Duke??"
He was still breathing, however his injuries were too severe and he needed quick treatnt. As Mark decided to carry the Brave Duke, he noticed the emperor's figure. He was still guarded by the captain of the Imperial Guards, Alida and the vice-captain, Theodore. If anyone could defend him, it would be those two.
Mark trusted them as much as he trusted Elna. The Imperial Guard's top three captains were exceptional. Thus, when Theodore was pierced by nurous teors, Mark was in disbelief. Theodore, a master of defense, had also crumbled. Before Mark could voice out, the emperor shouted.
"Theodore! Do not give up!!"
Hearing that, Theodore, whose body was riddled like swiss cheese, still stood his ground. Then, forcibly pulled at Alida, who was trying to intercept the teors, behind him.
"Theodore!?"
"The empire... still needs its captain of the guards, doesn't it?"
After saying that to Alida, Theodore used all his strength to expand his wind sword domain, cutting down the approaching teors. However, soon his arms could no longer rise. Realizing his limit, Theodore slowly turned back to face his Emperor.
"Your Majesty... serving you was my happiness..."
"You did well...!"
As Theodore's resistance faded, a teor pierced through him and now Alida was the only guard left. But the teors didn't stop and even Alida couldn't hold on by herself. There was no ti for her to even grieve. Lives were being extinguished one after another.
Amidst this, a teleportation gate opened next to the emperor. Seeing it, Johannes smiled faintly. It was clear who opened it. Could he enter? What would happen if he did? In Johanne’s mind, that person’s role was already decided. As long as the enemy targeted Johanne, drawing their attention and forcing them to expend energy was his final duty… And he had fulfilled it.
Asmodeus was provoked into launching a widespread attack, causing it to exhaust him further. Now was their chance. Thus, Johannes threw the imperial sword into the teleportation gate. A hastily opened gate that surely connected it to soone he trusted. Now, the sword was unnecessary for him as the one who needed it was to be his successor who would carry on the battle.
Johannes looked afar. There stood a silver-masked mage who looked seemingly astonished by Johannes's action. Believing his voice would reach him, even if his feet might halt at the upcoming events, Johannes trusted that his voice would propel them forward.
"Go, Arnold...!" (TL: He knows)
At that mont, two teors finally hit Johannes directly. One of his arms was blown off and his abdon was gouged out. Seeing this, Alida scread.
"Your Majesty!!!!"
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