Chapter 247: Close to a Miracle
"It doesn't seem like we can be wholly optimistic about it," Crampus said. "We’ve put in over 50% of our total Faith points. Moreover, our return on investment is less compared to that of Hegemonia."
Lim Chun-Sik agreed with Crampus. "Now, look. Hegemonia has been using Faith points for Divine Control. The skill consumes a lot of Faith points, though not as much as Hierophany. Even so, Hegemonia has only spent 20% while moving around on a minute-by-minute basis."
Lunda raised her hand and said, "I have an idea."
When their attention shifted to her, Lunda said, "What if we kill Hegemonia as soon as she assumes control over a body?”
AR1026 countered, "...If that were possible, we would have already done it. There’s no rhyme or reason to the way Hegemonia uses Divine Control. We can guess the general location, but we haven't narrowed it down to any specific individual."
"But the ones who are used for Divine Control make remarkable moves."
"It's already too late for us to deal with it when we spot it."
"I know that, but if only we can specify the range, we can aim with cannon fire or airship bombing."
"If she knows she’s being targeted, she won't use Divine Control there."
Sung-Woon put both his hands on the table and tapped it with the tip of his fingers.
"It's not impossible.”
Wisdom agreed, "I'm not sure if I've followed Nebula's thoughts correctly, but from what I can see, if we control the overall situation to some extent, we might be able to lead Hegemonia to a specific location."
"Right."
"Who's going to do it? Are you going to do it yourself, or shall I?"
Sung-Woon shook his head. "If Wisdom or I do it, it will be too noticeable since it’ll be too sophisticated. Let RD and Eldar do it."
The two players didn’t look too good when their names were mentioned, but without complaint, they carried out the task Sung-Woon had instructed them to do.
"Next, it would be good if we can deliver a clear blow on Hegemonia, even if we suffer immediate losses."
"What do you mean by ‘even if it means taking losses…’"
Sung-Woon pondered for a moment and then said, "Leave only up to 9% of the Faith points in the Pantheon. You can use the rest."
Wisdom replied, “We can use the Sanctuary."
"It seems that's the only way to stand against Hegemonia."
Lim Chun-Sik said, "Hey, wait a minute. Let’s say that’s fine for Hegemonia, but what about the rear?"
The players were almost precisely aware of the number of forces the Union Kingdom could deploy. However, the numbers were definitely lacking when it came to the special forces. This implied the possibility of Hegemonia attempting to enter the rear.
Sung-Woon replied, "That will probably be alright."
"Probably?"
"Then, let's say definitely." Sung-Woon, brushing off the question, then said, "We can hold them off until the evening with a delaying operation, even given the current momentum of the Union Kingdom. Take care of things while I'm gone."
Wisdom said, "You talk as if you're going somewhere."
"That’s right. That's why I stood up."
The players looked at Sung-Woon.
Lunda asked, "Where are you going?"
Sung-Woon answered, "It depends on the situation, but sooner or later, Hegemonia will come to the Rasdasil Ruins.”
"Are you expecting her to use Hierophany?”
"Yes." Sung-Woon nodded. "I will catch Hegemonia myself."
***
"Are you alright?"
Hearing the worried voice, Ramin Solost Muel opened her eyes. Ramin tried to hurriedly get up, but groaned in pain and fell back down again. When she looked up, Gorgota Falu was there.
"Your condition isn’t good. Some of the wounds are serious. I actually didn't expect you to regain consciousness so soon."
Ramin said with her eyes closed, "Where am I? What is this place?"
"You're at the Rasdasil Ruins. It's the very rear of the battlefield."
Ramin somewhat grasped the situation. The sound of artillery fire came from afar, and lightning flashed in the eastern sky, which seemed to be the entrance of the tent.
As Ramin looked around while lying down, Gorgota said, "Please, stay lying down. We're waiting for a transport airship to take the wounded to Orazen."
"I'm not thirsty."
"Blood had been transfused."
"Because of me?"
"There are other Vampire soldiers as well."
Ramin shook her head and managed to sit up. The tears and cuts on her body screamed in pain, and Ramin felt her consciousness fading, but soon clarity returned.
"Maybe it's because I drank the blood, I feel alright. It seems the wounds have closed up a bit."
"Really?"
"What makes you question me like you know about Vampires better?"
Gorgota shook their head, but still helped Ramin get dressed and supported her as she tried to stand up.
"What about the sword?"
"Why are you looking for the sword?" Gorgota asked, but handed the sword to Ramin while doing so.
Ramin drew the sword, taking a stance and swinging it lightly.
Even the simplest movement brought sharp pain, so she was bluffing a little, but still, it wasn't to the extent that she couldn't move her body at all. And whether it was because she had drank blood or not, a strange vitality flowed through her.
Ramin asked, "What's the situation with the war?"
"It was going well until a short while ago. Given how desperate the ground staff headquarters has become, it seems the situation has worsened."
Ramin nodded as if she had anticipated this.
"Even if this is the rear, isn't it dangerous here? This is the Angry One’s target."
"Well, it might just be a temporary change in the situation. The tide of war does not turn that quickly."
“They threw away the city in the sky that all the continents envied, didn't they? For the Empire, it's like throwing away Orazen. It's like a swordsman giving up the arm that wields the sword."
Ramin closed one eye and checked the damage to the blade as she said, "If they’ve given up that much, they’d show a matching fighting spirit."
"You’re saying they’ll become greedy?"
"It's more certainty than greed. How could you offer your arm without the belief that you could drive the sword into your opponent's heart?"
Gorgota’s argument was cut short by the sound of gunfire coming from outside the tent.
A soldier rushed towards the ground staff headquarters, shouting, "The enemy! From the west!"
It was completely opposite to the direction from which the enemy was advancing.
Ramin and Gorgota exchanged glances and ran toward the west.
***
Though it seemed nearly impossible for the enemy to appear from that position, in The Lost World, no strategy was truly impossible.
Canine, composed of the most experienced of special forces operatives, the most elite of Fang, as well as priests of the Angry One, were able to surround the Empire's reconnaissance net with physical abilities impossible for mortals with the help of God’s power. And leading them was Aruega Rob, the seventh apostle of the Angry One, whom the players of the Pantheon believed had exited the battlefield due to injuries from the fight with Ramin.
Although Aruega too was a mess from the fight, their condition was better than that of Ramin, who was wrapped in bandages from head to toe.
Aruega clicked their tongue as they confirmed that one of the Canine agents had been detected by the Empire’s scout.
"Even though it's the rear, they were on guard this far out?"
They couldn’t afford to be disheartened. While the situation had turned in favor of the Union Kingdom, it also meant that the Angry One could no longer challenge the Large Area.
Even if the improved war situation failed to breach the Empire's defenses, from the Union Kingdom's perspective, Aruerga's mission would be the last card to destroy the Rasdasil Ruins.
"Since we've been discovered, we attack as planned. Are all units ready?"
The Canines affirmed with silence. Dressed in black clothes, they entered the Rasdasil Ruins.
***
'They’ve entered.'
Hegemonia confirmed that Aruega Rob and the Canines had entered the staff headquarters in the Rasdasil Ruins. The distance from the rear defense line to the center of the Rasdasil Ruins was just about a kilometer. Soon, using Divine Control on one of the Canine agents could also be an option.
In 60 seconds, she wouldn’t be able to destroy the Rasdasil Ruins, but given enough time without interference, she would have the power to do so.
The reason Hegemonia could perform near-miraculous feats even when inside the bodies of ordinary soldiers was that her level 31 translated to incredible stats when she took over a soldier's body. With nearly perfect control over the physical body, the understanding of the hardness and strength of various materials, recognition of vector directions, and the intuition to understand the diverse emotions and behavioral patterns of all kinds of life forms automatically followed, making it not so difficult for Hegemonia to perform miracles through the bodies of individual soldiers.
The problem was the high risk of being easily detected by the players of the Pantheon if she approached too closely. The Angry One was a god, but so were the enemies.
To kill a being possessed through Divine Control with the power of a Domain alone would require a considerable amount of Faith points, but if subjected to such a counter, Hegemonia too would suffer tremendous damage.
While not as severe as a death while using Hierophany, dying while using Divine Control was not without significant penalties. It would undoubtedly lead to a drop in level and a reduction in the total amount of Faith points. The overall war capability would diminish.
Hegemonia moving around using Divine Control to turn the tide of war was risky in itself.
'Therefore, it's okay to be as cautious as possible. There's no need to take unnecessary risks.'
Aruega and the Canines’ entry into the rear was one of her tricks. Hegemonia judged that she could win the war if they steadily advanced, breaking through the defenses. There could be a need to exert her power directly when only the last step remained, but that time had yet to come.
Hegemonia squinted and observed the ensuing battle.
'Are they retreating?'
The edge of the Empire's defensive line was pulling back before properly responding to the Union Kingdom's army. It was near the battles between Apostles like Salkait, Lakrak, Ankarde, and Redin, where it wasn't easy for the Union Kingdom's army to enter, yet they were turning their troops around.
'Are they planning to conserve their forces and put up a more solid defense from the rear?'
That didn't quite make sense, but the war wasn’t being waged by Nebula in the Pantheon alone.
'There could be flawed decisions.'
At first, she had doubts, but after looking again, she became greedy. If they managed to properly break through that retreating defensive line, they could create an absolutely advantageous situation.
'...Then.'
Hegemonia, who woke up as an Orc private, took a stance as if to jump into the battlefield. But due to an irritating sensation tickling the back of her head, she was compelled to look behind first. The Orc=Hegemonia turned around.
***
The Sanctuary, a particular room in the pantheon, was vast, but filled with boxes that made noisy sounds. The boxes were densely interconnected with wires, emitting light and beeping sounds.
At the center of the Sanctuary sat a Lizardman. His name was known to anyone and everyone in the Empire, and currently, no one was by their side. Even his siblings, who were said to be on good terms with him, weren’t in their seats now.
The Lizardman's gaze was fixed on a neatly spread square-shaped monitor screen, upon which Korean chess pieces, Go stones, and dice were scattered about randomly. Some chess pieces were not typically used in regular games, the Go stones each had names, and the dice ranged from 4-sided to 20-sided.
After much contemplation, the Lizardman nodded as if they realized something and picked up one of the Korean chess pieces, moving it to one side of the screen.
"Checkmate!"
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