Volume 3, Chapter 214 - King Versus King (1/2)
Pale could clearly see that Brandika and the Goblin King were now facing each other.
“…Yes, the king of humans, Brandika, will not flee. This entire stage was prepared just for you.”
The corner of Pale’s mouth lifted as she watched them from the distance.
When Pale saw the pursuing forces that after their fortress fell, what ran through her mind then was the plan to kill Brandika. With the Goblin King’s strength, no matter how thick of a formation the enemy sought to lay, it was possible to break through it.
Losing her strong subordinates and retreating after expending all of her strength in an expedition… None of those things was forgivable. Not to mention permitting a head-on charge toward the enemy.
But as far as Pale was concerned, the Goblin King’s world domination and Brandika’s army of 50,000 were nothing more than pawns to fulfill her vengeance.
It didn’t matter how many had to be sacrificed, so long as Brandika died, the plan would be a success.
Pale quietly laughed in madness.
In order to keep Brandika from escaping, she turned 50,000 humans into hostages and had them killed by the goblins, then she unleashed the Goblin King at Brandika.
“Touri… Ryutanu… I…”
As she looked up, the blue sky filled her vision.
Even her own life was weaved into her plans. Originally, she should have been killed in front of Melgion Fortress after her pursuers caught up, but because of the sudden downpour, her life was spared. It was a heroic resolve though the Goddess of Vengeance has blessed her.
“No, no… Not yet… He lives yet. He breathes in the air and raises up his weapon.”
Tears welled up at the corner of her eyes as she smiled a crazed smile and killed her emotions.
“Ha ha… Brandika, king of humans, your pride shall be your undoing. No, your undoing is my will… Ha ha ha. I bring death to your army.”
Pale took her bow, then she covered her arrow in oil and lit it on the nearby torch.
As she pulled on the bowstring and made the wind cry, she shot out an arrow.
That arrow could be seen clearly even from a place far away from the battlefield.
“Move out, move out!”
In a place half a day’s distance on human feet from the battlefield, the demihumans could see that arrow and know that this was an opportunity for them to mobilize.
“Is that a signal?” Tanita, who led the long tailed two-headed-two- tailed ones, glanced at Fanfan who was currently talking with a giant restless ant.
“Fanfan’s eyes couldn’t possibly be wrong!” Fanfan said.
“I saw it too.” The first wing of the winged ones (harpyurea), Yushika, gracefully stretched her white wings and agreed.
“Hmm… Then let us go,” Tanita said.
Behind him were the dependents of the long-tailed, 300 lizard men warriors from the waterside in the Forest of Darkness and 200 ratmans. Every one of them were outfitted for battle and looked at Tanita with a gaze full of reverence.
“Can’t let those bastard centaurs be the only one to look good,” Mido the Tyrant who led the Fang Tribe (Werewolf) said in jest.
“Aren’t you just worried about the gray wolves?” Luther the Moss- Covered Shell who ruled the Shell Tribe (Papirsag) readied his monsters.
“S-Shut up!” Mido replied.
“Fanfan knows. Cynthia was taken from Mido by the king!” Fanfan’s round and cute eyes gazed into Mido, causing him to falter.
“Like hell that’s true! Damn it! I’m going ahead!”
Seeing Mido perk up his shoulders as he walked away left everyone wryly smiling as they each mobilized their forces.
The third arrow Pale shot was a signal for the forces outside the battlefield to attack the Red King.
◇◆◇
After overcoming tens of thousands of soldiers, the Goblin King now stood before him.
Brandika’s imperial guards and staff officers remained yet, but though they raised up their spears, the Goblin King did not see them.
Nor did Brandika.
After passing through waves of horses so numerous they could be likened to the sea of clouds, this goblin now blocked his path.
His body dyed in blood, a great sword in each hand… Already, there was no telling how many hundreds of men and horses this goblin has slain. And as if his body was afflicted with a great fever, white smoke rose up from the goblin’s body. Even though the morning mist had already cleared…
Should he still call this monster a goblin? He wasn’t sure. Perhaps chaos itself has taken the form of a monster and now stands in his path. The steed he rode upon snorted in displeasure and kicked against the ground.
Just that was enough to strike unrest upon the people nearby.
Wasn’t his army that which conquered the south? Brandika felt anger, but at the same time, he felt refreshed.
What stood before him was a true monster.
Not a figure of speech, but a true monster.
Before his might, humans trembled in fear. With his power, he could pull out the mountains, and with his spirit, move the world. Even the soldiers that should be defending him could only prostrate themselves before his strength.
But that was precisely why he believed he was being tested.
Before him was a wall so great it was like a great mountain.
Brandika couldn’t stop himself from smiling. Perhaps the people who did jobs as reckless as adventurer work and those who prayed for peace were completely different.
Dying on the throne after years of peace and tranquility was not something Brandika could possibly desire. No. Life could only be life when danced upon the borders of life and death.
Not a trace of regret could be seen on his friend’s face. Carlion himself lived his life exactly how he wanted to live it; so, what reason was there for Brandika to distort his way of living?
“Move.”
Quietly, Brandika ordered his shields away, and he moved onwards. This monster that now stood before him. Surely, he must be the King of Monsters.
It is only when a king stands before death that a king can show his true worth.
Brandika wasn’t about to lose now.
“I am the king. Brandika of Attibel Kingdom!”
Brandika passed through the imperial guards, who looked on with eyes wide open, then he struck his Long Double-Edged Axe (Valdis) into the ground and boldly named himself.
“Name yourself, monster.”
The blood-red eyes of the monster looked into Brandika.
“I am the king, the king that binds the unhuman.”
The Goblin King put away his two great swords and unsheathed the Guardian Sword of the Giants (Titan Dagger).
“Hmph… It’s a battle between kings then! Others need not interfere!”
As Brandika lifted the massive Valdis, he cleared away the dew from the battlefield.
Within Brandika and the Goblin King’s chest welled up a feeling. Was it joy? Or was it madness?
“GURUuUOOOoOAAaAA!!”
“UOoOOoOOOOoO!!”
Like that the curtains upon this battle between two kings were drawn.
The goblins fought valiantly to support the king, but the difference in number was overwhelming. No matter how many enemies they cut down, another would come to take its place. The only reason they were able to keep fighting while keeping their advantage despite wavering between madness and calmness were Pale’s excellent orders.
“Lord Gi Jii’s platoon shall retreat… Archers, three volleys, after me!”
The enemies in the area, where the arrows fell, stopped.
“Again! Another volley!”
Where Pale’s arrow landed, so did the arrows of the elves and the members of Ganra. The strength of Ganra’s bows has gotten stronger after all the battles they’ve gone through. So, when their 600 archers shot their bows, there was more than enough firepower and precision for them to stop the enemy’s advance. As the arrows continued to rain, they managed to bring chaos to the enemy.
As one might expect, large armies often relied on their numerical advantage. But moving such great numbers required that someone instructed where each unit go and what each unit should attack.
But no soldier wanted to die; hence, there probably wasn’t a man who wanted to encroach into the land of death and go where the arrows were raining. As such, the soldiers avoided the place where the arrows fell and moved around them instead.
This created a dent on their formation, causing them to be unable to assume the offensive posture that they would like.
“Lord Gi Gu’s platoon shall retreat as well. We will use the catapult.”
Originally, siege weapons were meant to be used against castles, but by reducing their range, they were able to use them as weapons against the humans that were as numerous as the clouds. South, East, Southeast, Southwest. Humans were closing in from almost everywhere they could, and Pale had to deal with them all.
“Enemies are approaching from the east!”
Pale turned a little, and when she saw the enemies approaching the castle wall, she knit her brows.
“Send a messenger to Lord Zaurosh. I’m leaving the east to him.”
Currently, Pale was giving orders to the platoons outside while also dealing with the approaching main forces of the enemy from the south and the southeast. No matter how skilled Pale was, she could neither summon soldiers from thin air nor multiply herself.
There was also a limit to how many things a single person could think about.
“Understood. Prepare the ballista!” Zaurosh who received word from the messenger looked down the castle walls and at the approaching great army.
“They sure are desperate.” Fase from Proud Clan (Leon Heart Clan) said as he readied the Ballista beside Zaurosh.
“The tactician’s plans have come together. The Red King’s army being able to continue fighting is a testament to how strong they are. They probably have a lot of faith in their clan leader.”
Zaurosh aimed his cross spear at the enemy and howled.
“Fire!”
As Zaurosh watched the enemy soldiers mowed down, he renewed his fighting spirit.
“But we don’t plan on losing either. It’s our duty to kill, so that we can protect those we must.”
Before Zaurosh’s eyes was the sight of the enemy army panicking under ballista fire while Gi Gu’s army cut them down as they retreated.
To whom victory would fall was yet uncertain, but both camps continued to shed blood and believe that they would be the one to win.
◆◇◇
As two god class weapons clashed, shockwaves leaked to the surrounding area. A monster and a human put their pride on each swing, causing sparks to flash as they groaned and sought to crush the other.
The monster steed of the responded to him and attacked the enemy with its own attack as it stepped forward. At the same time, the king himself also attacked.
Black Flames of the Underworld burned within the Goblin King’s great sword. One of the things the king has received from the Goddess of the Underworld (Altesia), who ever seduced one toward death, was the favor of the one-eyed snake. In response, Brandika attacked with his long double-edged axe (valdis). A god class weapon he’d unearthed from a dungeon once upon a time.
The magic axe responded to its bearer and continued to increase its destructive powers infinitely. It even strengthened the physical abilities of Brandika. Brandika swung that destructive power with
both hands and equaled the Goblin King, who has felled countless soldiers until now.
“GURUUuOOOOAAAaAa!”
“NUUuUOOORAAAaAaA!”
Even their battle cries were full of valor. Already they had clashed twenty time, but the battle continued yet.
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