CHAPTER 708

[T.L: punisher87]

[My ko-fi link:- https://ko-fi.com/punisher87 ]

One of the biggest concerns before carrying out the operation with the temporary alliance was the involvement of the Evil god.

[Of course, we cannot exclude the possibility of changes in the Evil god's condition during the operation in Rikalton. However, since it has already gone through a rampage once, it will need some time to stabilize. In my opinion, we don't need to worry too much unless we are planning to fight in Rikalton for several days.]

As Orgal said, as long as Rosa did not directly participate, the success rate of the operation would significantly increase.

Diphus received some of the Evil god's powers, granting him transcendent strength, but due to the Eternal flames, he was injured.

Even in perfect condition, no one believed that he alone could withstand the combined forces of the top-level temporary alliance.

Of course, there were other powerful individuals like Padler and Lionel, as well as armies of chaos, but it seemed that they would not be a match without the Evil god.

Gradually, the steel gate began to descend.

The steel gate touched the sea surface and split into two. One side led to the Huphester Sea, where the rescue forces, including Cosmos, would head, while the other side led to the central area of Rikalton, where the puberty ship would dock.

"Cosmos, get yourself together."

"Don't worry, Captain Mary. This fleet led by Cosmos has never been captured. So, just focus on yourself, as you haven't fully recovered from your injuries."

"My lord, we will be back."

[I can't believe I'm in a position to escort these pirate scum...]

Valkas and Bale said.

Their role was to escort Cosmos's fleet until it safely landed in Rikalton and then join the main forces.

"They are not just some pirates but the most important personnel for transporting prisoners. Protect them so that not a single ship is destroyed until the allies open the way to Rikalton Harbor."

[Alright, I got it.]

"And join us safely. Bale, you too, Sir Valkas."

The puberty ship turned its bow to the right.

After exchanging words of good fortune for a while, the ships moved forward towards their respective gates.

***

4:15 AM, Rikalton Northern Border.

Approximately an hour had passed since the start of the temporary alliance's operation.

The Zipfel fleet was smoothly advancing, piercing through the aerial defenses.

Although they hadn't yet demonstrated their full power against Ram, the Zipfel fleet was undoubtedly the most powerful force humanity had.

The chaos dragons and black ships that relentlessly attacked them were mere moths that burned to ashes upon touching the flames.

To penetrate the fleet's defense barrier, they needed transcendental powerhouses like Padler.

"As Orgal said, it must be because of the rampage of the evil god. That's why Runcandel is just trying to buy time by depleting our forces...," Veradin said while spreading out a map with magic.

The desperate situation in Rikalton showed no significant changes so far.

"Dante Hairan, what do you think? Do you think they're buying time or setting a trap?" Dante turned his head to look at Veradin.

Under normal circumstances, Dante might have been momentarily lost in thought at Veradin's unfamiliar appearance, but now was not the time for that.

"I think it's the latter. It's just a hunch, but that's what it seems like," Dante replied.

"I think so too. At this rate, within 30 minutes, Orgal and Zephyrin will reach the first prisoner-of-war camp they discovered. Have they already relocated the prisoners?"

"Should we increase our speed to confirm? Even if it's a trap, we must advance to Rikalton's center beyond the prisoner-of-war camp. Our mission, as us and Zipfel, is to rescue the prisoners from the first and second camps and support the Jin and Vamel alliance," Dante suggested.

"True, if everything goes according to plan, Jin and Tikan's forces should already be advancing towards the center of Rikalton. Your suggestion seems wise. It's a situation where we can't afford to wait and carefully respond to any kind of trap. Moreover, if it's not a trap, it means that the Fourth flagbearer is still focused on recovery, which could be an opportunity," Veradin agreed.

Upon Veradin's command, the fleet increased its speed.

Kieeek, Kwaduk...!

Fragments of the black ships and the corpses of the chaos dragons shattered upon colliding with the defense barrier, constantly obscuring the view.

About 10 minutes later, the Zipfel fleet was able to confirm the first prisoner-of-war camp hidden behind the barrier of chaos.

Now, the number of advancing chaos dragons and black ships had significantly decreased, reaching a level where they posed no threat.

"I am curious whether the prison looks so grotesque because of the evil god's will or the personal taste of the Fourth flagbearer. I should ask when I meet him," Veradin remarked.

Looking down from above, the interior of the prison looked nothing like a typical detention facility.

Firstly, in the center of the inner side of the barrier, there stood a massive tree resembling a fortress.

The tree was filled with translucent black fruits, each seemingly containing around fifty prisoners.

Giant-like monsters could be seen plucking the fruits one by one, and they didn't even react when the fleet appeared.

The only ones who reacted vehemently to the fleet's arrival were the prisoners trapped inside the fruits.

Although their voices couldn't be heard, the prisoners frantically pounded and scratched the insides of the fruits with their fists upon seeing the fleet.

As a result, the fruits quickly turned red, resembling blood flowing within them.

While Veradin looked down at this scene without much excitement, Dante's fist trembled.

The majority of them were prisoners of the Empire.

"Well, this is indeed strange. The level of despair in Rikalton is intensifying the moment we arrive, Dante Hairan."

Normally, it should have been the opposite.

The emotions the prisoners trapped in the fruits would feel upon seeing the Zipfel fleet should be "we're saved."

However, the despair indicated on the map continued to deepen, and Dante clenched his fists, suppressing his rising anger.

When he focused his senses, he could faintly hear the voices of the people trapped inside the fruits.

Don't come. Stay away!

The voices were too faint to be certain if the prisoners were actually saying those words, but their gestures were evident.

In addition to pounding and scratching the fruits, the prisoners waved their hands haphazardly as if telling them to go back.

"...Ah, now I understand why the despair has deepened. The Fourth flagbearer informed the prisoners here in the first camp in advance, telling them that our arrival would be futile, that we would fall into a trap or that they have been brainwashed."

It was the latter.

The Prophet manipulated the minds of the prisoners in the first camp, instilling the perception that even if the joint forces of the temporary alliance arrived, it would be "useless." The alliance would fall into a trap and perish right in front of their eyes.

That was the perception they had been given.

"Young Patriarch! Mana response! Mana is spreading from the prison!"

A mage shouted.

If it was a trap, they would have expected the forces of chaos or an army to strike the fleet. But unexpectedly, mana was spreading in all directions from the prison.

"Deploy the maximum defense barrier."

Fortunately, the fleet was able to reinforce the defense barrier faster than the mana spreading from the prison could turn into magic.

'A net?'

The mana that erupted from the prison formed a massive net that enveloped the entire fleet, but it didn't pose any threat on its own.

The net attached to the defense barrier had no significant restraining power to restrict the movement of the fleet.

"A storm of chaos energy is approaching!"

"It's not at a level where the defense barrier can't hold."

According to the reports from the mages, a storm of chaos energy struck the fleet.

While the fleet staggered slightly, it wasn't powerful enough to break through the defense barrier like the mana net.

What does this mana and this chaos energy mean?'

Amidst the ever-increasing intensity of despair on the map, Veradin looked up as if he had realized something.

"Young Patriarch, we can break through sufficiently. Give the order."

"No, hold the fleet! This is an illusion magic."

"Illusion magic?"

Dante asked Veradin.

"Yes, that's right. I didn't expect to encounter the lost dark illusion magic here. Listen carefully, everyone! In the eyes of the prisoners right now, we will appear as if we have been annihilated ruthlessly. Even though we are perfectly fine, the level of despair is increasing because of that."

It was accurate.

At this moment, the prisoners were witnessing the "illusion" that everything had unfolded according to the Prophet's plan.

In their eyes, the entire fleet was already exploding and plummeting.

"In that case, all we have to do is break through the remaining chaos energy and show them that we are unharmed, right? Veradin."

"It's not that simple, Dante. If we resolve it that way, we won't be able to shatter the illusions that have enslaved the prisoners' minds. Even if we rescue all of them and assure them that they are safe, they will still be trapped by the illusions. And then the despair will continue to grow."

"...What should we do, then?"

"We need to unravel the enchantment rather than distort the magic with greater power. Each mage needs to untangle the net that covers the fleet... That's what it means."

"Is that the only way? I don't know much about magic, but it seems like it would take too much time."

"That's right, it will take at least three hours. If we want to shorten the time, we can simply kill the prisoners. Once they are dead, they will be released from the illusions, and the level of despair won't increase further."

"I cannot accept killing the prisoners."

"I thought you would say that. But you see, this is the trap we have been foreseeing all along. The intention is quite obvious. It's to buy time. To delay our entry. Perhaps it's because of the injuries of the Fourth flagbearer. We haven't received any information about his recovery until just before the operation started."

"So, do we rescue the prisoners and move according to the Fourth flagbearer's plan... or do we sacrifice the prisoners to reach the Fourth flagbearer a few hours earlier?"

"That's right. That's why I said to halt for now, but honestly, I'm torn. It might be better to kill the prisoners and move forward. To eliminate Diphus."

"I said it's unacceptable to kill prisoners with our own hands."

"So, present me with some evidence. Give me a reason why we should keep falling into Diphus's trap, even though we know about it."

Dante glared at Veradin.

Eventually, Dante regained his composure and replied.

"I am an individual, a guardian of the Empire and the descendant of the Sword Emperor. It's embarrassing to say it myself, but I can be considered a very special existence."

"I have a feeling I know what you're going to say. I'm getting a bit impatient, but go on."

"After Jin first guessed why the evil god was using Joshua, Orgal said that the despair of a special existence would strongly affect the completion of the evil god. Therefore, there is a possibility that my despair would be the same. So, if we continue to kill the prisoners and move forward, my despair will become too great."

Veradin blinked a few times as he looked at Dante, then replied.

"Fine, I'll accept it. It makes sense. There is logic. Now let's get ready to quickly unravel the enchantment. All unit commanders and top mages, gather at the flagship. I'll show you a demonstration."

[T/L: You can read more chapters and support me here: https://ko-fi.com/punisher87 & https://bmc.link/punisher87 ]

[T/L: Join $29 membership on my "buymeacoffee" page and read 55 chapters ahead and daily 1 new chapter update. I have introduced new memberships, and you can read upto 75 or 85 chapters ahead.]