Chapter 125: Total War With Proxia (1)
A month had passed since Ray fell into an unresponsive state.
Aira returned to take care of the elf village, while Iriel busied herself with the war against a force known as Proxia.
The three young men who targeted Iriel were brought to Selonia for interrogation.
However, they knew little to begin with, so no valuable information was gleaned.
The Holy Kingdom felt tremendous pressure due to the Saints absence.
Normally, his mere presence would boost morale.
Knowing that a great sorcerer, one even the Necromancer couldnt handle, was supporting them was comforting.
This had a significant impact on the war, making them feel invincible even against the Lesian Empire.
However, in just a month without Ray, the Holy Kingdom began to sink like a ship with a hole.
There was no strong force to unite the nobles, nor a hero to earn the peoples ardent support.
As a result, everything was in complete disarray.
Knights and healers, fueled by faith, rushed into battle, but only news of defeat came back.
Yet, the Holy Kingdom wasnt losing due to weakness alone.
Before the fight with the original dragon, they lost Duke Jahad, a Sword Master.
With the absence of one Sword Master, the burden fell entirely on Zik and Iriel to fill the gap.
But Proxia boasted four Sword Masters.
Sword Masters werent just any title.
The Holy Kingdom had no way to counter those few, yet powerful, elite forces driven by war.
Magic was easily countered, and close combat led to too many losses.
In such dire straits, only one thought prevailed a magic powerful enough to overwhelm the enemys absurd strength.
Iriel gritted her teeth as the enemy soldiers advanced.
Wouldnt it be nice if a meteor fell right now!
Zik deflected a sword aimed at Iriel and replied.
This is not the time for jokes!
Its not a joke; its a wish!
After three days in the war, they were completely exhausted.
Even transcending human limits, it was too much.
But they couldnt abandon their positions, so they waited for reinforcements from the Holy Kingdom.
Just then, Duke Harold arrived with his knights from behind.
Holy Lady! Are you alright?
The knight order led by Duke Harolds family was renowned in the Holy Kingdom.
Iriels face lit up with the arrival of this formidable support.
Beside Duke Harold stood his son, Beris.
Following them came Count Greian with his son Greyan, and the Seris and guards from the Duke of Crellans house.
Count Greian led the familys magic troops, while the Duke of Crellan commanded celebrated knights.
Moreover, Seris was the Duke of Crellans eldest daughter and a 2nd circle master.
She was indeed a prodigy for her age.
Beris, indoctrinated by his father, Duke Harold, unsheathed his sword and began to slaughter the enemy.
His sword, in the hands of a novice aura user, tore open the chest of an adversary.
Arrgh!
Zik harbored no fondness for Beris.
He had shown disrespect to the one Zik served.
Yet now, his silhouette, as he cut down the enemy, couldnt appear more valiant.
With robust reinforcement from the rear, the front-line battle eased considerably.
Seris and Greyan unleashed spells upon the advancing soldiers.
Sweep away those before me! Lightning!
Entangle!
The synergy of 2nd and 1st circle magics yielded a significant impact.
Vines ensnared the soldiers feet, and lightning struck them down.
This caused the electrified plants to ignite.
Aaaargh!
The fire!
It sufficed to plunge the enemy into temporary chaos.
Seizing the opportunity, Beris and Duke Harold decimated the soldiers, forging a path.
The knight order surged through the breach.
From behind, Count Greians magic troops raised their fists and then slammed them downward.
Fire Ball!
Fire Ball!
The entire magic troop casting the 2nd circle spell Fire Ball with a mere incantation indicated they were all of at least the 3rd circle.
Balls of high-temperature fire decorated the sky and fell directly onto Proxias soldiers.
Boom! Bang!
The explosions upon impact caused a chain reaction, killing many.
The tide of the battlefield turned.
The knights, buoyed by this, rallied their morale.
Dont fall behind! Follow Duke Harold!
Charge!
Zik smirked at the transformed atmosphere.
He swung his sword down.
Swish
Five soldiers in the front line collapsed instantly.
Iriel, observing, quietly admired.
Ray wouldve been happy to see how much stronger youve become these past days. Its a pity he cant see this.
Zik shook his head.
The Saint should rest until the war ends, then wake up. Now, its our turn to protect.
Indeed Its our turn this time.
Iriel, emitting a sword aura from her hand, cut down the endlessly approaching soldiers.
Even the typically stoic nobles had brought their family forces into the fray.
They couldnt afford to lose ground here.
As the elite forces of the families gathered, they began to push back even the formidable Proxian forces.
Two Sword Master level figures were among them.
With magic troops, knight orders, knights, and healers, they were a formidable force in close combat.
It was impossible for Proxias ordinary soldiers to withstand such an onslaught.
The 7th Knight Commander, Deneb, led the charge on horseback.
Charge! Show those who dare oppose Gaias Holy Kingdom a bitter lesson!
Charge!
Clang!
Swords clashed, but the knights, blessed by healers, were formidable.
After a brief skirmish, they swiftly regrouped and charged again, instilling panic in the enemy soldiers.
Aaargh!
Save us!
Dont run! Those who flee will be the first to die by my hand!
The morale of the allies soared.
With this momentum, the enemys resolve would soon shatter.
However, in that moment, four Sword Masters appeared.
They skillfully cut down the knights in the front line with their aura blades.
Aaargh!
Sword Masters!
At their shout, Iriel and Ziks attention was immediately drawn.
They had just been reported to be in Sillien a few days ago. How could they already be in Selonia?
All the battles they had fought so far had ended in defeat.
There were four Sword Masters. The strength of each was comparable to an entire army.
Unfortunately, the Holy Kingdom had no force capable of stopping them.
Already stretched thin defending against Proxias attacks on multiple fronts, this was all the force they had to defend Selonia.
The power disparity was so great that even the nobles had united, offering the full strength of their houses.
Iriel and Zik quickly rushed towards the Sword Masters.
A holy woman.
Not just any holy woman, but the young man beside her is also remarkable.
This wont be easy.
Each voiced their thoughts.
Though they claimed it wouldnt be easy, Iriel and Zik were clearly at a disadvantage.
Even one-on-one duels against them were doubtful victories, let alone facing four masters weaving unpredictably through the battlefield.
Iriel broke into a cold sweat.
She couldnt see their domains.
That meant they were at least mid-level masters.
How could there be four mid-level masters gathered together!
What kind of organization was Proxia to amass such immense power!
It felt as if they were facing the Lesian Empire itself!
Iriel signaled to Zik.
If they were outmatched in strength, taking the initiative was their advantage.
Zik nodded, gripping his sword handle tightly.
Iriel quickly drew her aura blade and charged at the Sword Masters.
Whoosh-
Just as she thought she saw a flash of yellow light, her aura blade was already beside them.
Clang!
A bearded old man, looking like a dwarf, blocked Iriels strike.
Hohoho. Such vigor, I like it.
He blocked it with ease, which surprised Iriel, who had thought she could overpower at least one Sword Master.
She hadnt expected her aura to be blocked in a one-on-one, but the old man stopped it with a simple stroke of his sword.
The old man swung his sword toward Iriel.
A dense aura blade, as heavy as it was, bore down on her.
Iriel quickly raised her hand to intercept the sword.
Boom!
An explosion sounded, and Iriel was forced back.
Urgh
She withstood that? The holy woman is quite remarkable. Hohoho.
A woman of graceful age expressed her surprise, and the old man replied.
Shes quite a beauty too. Reminds me of your younger days.
Oh, what flattery are you spouting now?
The other two masters behind them chuckled.
Please, you two, stop. Its embarrassing, even for me to witness.
What? Just wait until you get older! You ache so much you cant help but reminisce! Ah
Iriel and Zik were taken aback by their banter.
Were these truly the formidable Sword Masters?
Their sharply defined aura blades seemed to affirm this, yet their conversation was reminiscent of an old couple from the countryside.
The old man flicked the blood from his sword and lunged at Iriel again with another strike.
This time, Zik intercepted it.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion, similar to the one Iriel caused, rang out, and Zik staggered back three steps.
Ugh
He coughed up blood, probably from an internal injury, inflicted by just one strike.
Even if both had attacked together, the result would likely have been the same.
The disparity in their strength was unmistakable.
Continuing the fight under these conditions was unwise.
Regardless of the cost, retreating was the preferable option.
As frustrating as it was, they had no alternative at that moment. The gap between Sword Masters was too vast.
Iriel yelled.
Retreat! Fall back now!
Ray, deeply asleep, exhibited no signs of awakening.
Euclid tenderly swept the hair away from Rays forehead.
For a month now, Ray had been lying there, unmoving.
A mysterious robed woman occasionally visited, using magic to keep his body clean.
She had said, The body sleeps, but the mind is awake perhaps
So, Euclid kept talking to Ray.
She recounted recent events and amusing stories she had heard.
Of course, whether Ray found her stories interesting was another matter.
Its convenient to stroke your hair like this when youre lying down, Saint,
she said, smiling faintly, a departure from her usual expressionless demeanor.
But, of course, no response came.
His body was in a deep, unawakenable sleep.
Nevertheless, Euclid continued talking.
Just as Ray had done for Aira when she was bedridden.
Are you worried about not seeing Iriel or Zik these past few days? They must be fighting enthusiastically right now. But dont worry. You know their capabilities better than anyone.
Only Rays faint breathing filled the room.
Euclid touched his hair with a seemingly sad expression.
So please wake up soon.
After uttering these last words, she bowed her head and left the room.
Silence enveloped the room once she was gone.
In that intense quiet, Rays hand twitched slightly.
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