Chapter 753

The walls of Crossroad Castle were lower than the newly installed Knight Bringer walls on the outskirts.

For this reason, most of the artifacts installed on the castle walls couldn't be used in previous battles due to lack of visibility. This time, however, the situation was the exact opposite.

To deal with the monsters that had entered the castle, artifacts were more effective than cannons or ballistae.

As the artifacts lined up against the monsters, the alchemists and wizards in charge thought.

'We can't keep losing to the artillerymen!'

Unbeknownst to most, the soldiers of Crossroad had a prideful rivalry between their different units, with the artillery having the highest pride.

Not only were they favored by Ash, but they also recorded the most kills, making them the elite unit.

But that was just in terms of regular monster kills. When it came to boss monsters and critical stage completions, it was always the artifact team that played a decisive role!

Today, the artifact team was determined to assert their presence in the remaining battle.

Among them was the pride and joy of the artifact team.

The highest-grade defensive artifact, [Back to Square One].

An equipment that forcibly teleports any opponent captured in its metal plate to the southern plains of Crossroad, usable only once per stage.

Though costly and time-consuming to maintain, its performance in real combat had always been ambiguous.

Recently, it had performed well in the battle against the King of Flies by destroying part of the King of Flies's wings and finding a way to attack, and in the Black Dragon battle by teleporting the allied squad right in front of the Black Dragon.

Yet, it hadn't fully utilized its original function—forcing the enemy's core force away from the frontline.

'This time, for sure!'

As the alchemists aimed the metal plate at the monsters, they swallowed their dry throats.

Currently, numerous monsters still surrounded Cromwell, the enemy commander whom our heroes were charging at.

If they could 'capture' these monsters, except Cromwell, and teleport them to the end of the southern plains, it would greatly aid our charging heroes.

"Get ready, get ready-!"

Besides [Back to Square One], other various artifacts also completed their activation preparations.

After waiting for the optimal timing-

***

Shaaak!

Led by Lucas, the melee heroes slid down the walls as if gliding.

They didn't descend directly on the vertical wall; I had connected a magical wall to the ground like a slide, which they deftly rode down.

"We have no clear information on the current state of the enemy!"

I shouted, running alongside the tenth row.

"Fight flexibly according to the situation! Don't let your guard down for even a second, always stay alert!"

"Yes!"

Everyone answered in unison.

My heroes were already veterans among veterans. There was no need for such reminders.

The crucial part was my role. No matter Cromwell's state or form, I had to give the most appropriate instructions at each moment.

The heroes, having completed their descent, naturally formed an assault formation and charged forward. Various monstrous creatures spilled from Cromwell's main body and filled our path.

"Aaah, aaaaaah-!"

"Grrrrk, grrrk, grrrk!"

"It hurts, it hurts!"

Most of the fleshy monsters had spread throughout the city, but there were still quite a few clattering their teeth around Cromwell.

I gritted my teeth. Before fighting Cromwell, it seemed we'd have to struggle through these many creatures...?!

Zzzzing!

Just then, the sound of an artifact activating was heard,

Click-!

With a sound like a camera shutter,

Over a hundred massive fleshy monsters blocking our path vanished in an instant.

"Huh?"

"What..."

"This is...?!"

The leading heroes widened their eyes in surprise. So did I.

'This is... forced teleportation!'

I looked back.

There, on the castle walls, alchemists and wizards were hugging each other and jumping around with the metal plate artifact in the middle.

"Victory-!"

"Finally, we did it!"

"See! This tin-can artifact can do it!"

I finally realized the situation clearly.

After a long period of humiliation... [Back to Square One] had finally fulfilled its original role!

Of course, the forcibly teleported monsters weren't dead, just thrown far outside the city. But still, what a relief!

"The enemy's front defense is empty!"

I waved the magic flag forward and shouted.

"Now is the time! Charge-!"

At my shout, other artifacts on the castle walls also activated in succession.

Flash! Flash...!

Flashes of light poured out, casting various beneficial magical effects on us and harmful ones on the enemies.

Determined not to miss this golden opportunity, our heroic assault team charged forward like the wind.

And then...

"...!"

With most of the creatures cleared by [Back to Square One], only a few fleshy monsters remained around Cromwell's main body—the carcass of the giant reindeer monster.

Near Cromwell, especially large fleshy monsters lurked.

Huge beings resembling a giant, a mantis, a dog, and a snail—fleshy monsters that looked similar in size and form to the monster commanders Cromwell had previously devoured.

These monsters seemed too large for [Back to Square One] to capture entirely, thus they weren't cleared.

Shaaak!

Shaaaaak!

Countless tentacles and a terrible malevolent aura surged from these monsters' bodies.

"Aaaaaaah-!"

"Chik, chik, chik, chik."

"We're hungry too, let us eat!"

The giant fleshy creatures, baring their countless teeth, charged at us.

'No need to advertise that you're boss-level monsters!'

I clicked my tongue.

Rumble!

A huge centipede-shaped fleshy monster rushed at us, extending its legs like tentacles in all directions.

'In a siege, we might avoid close combat, but since we've committed, we'll use everything!'

Finishing my judgment,

"Kraken! Jörmungandr!"

I activated [Kraken's Ring] and opened the subspace for captured monsters, shouting.

"Come out-!"

Fwooosh!

Magic circles intertwined in the air, and a gigantic cephalopod monster, Kraken, roared fiercely as it emerged.

At the same time, the small serpent, Jörmungandr, activated [Shell of the Old God], reverting to its prime form as the 'World Serpent.'

Boom!

The two massive monsters crushed the centipede-shaped flesh monster as they landed.

The flesh centipede twisted its enormous body in resistance, but facing Kraken, the lord of tentacles, and Jörmungandr, who could destroy the world in ten minutes, it was futile.

Crunch! Crackle...!

Kraken and Jörmungandr seemed to cooperate as if they had long worked together, swiftly wrapping around the centipede-shaped flesh monster and crushing it instantly.

Rip! Riiip!

With a horrendous sound of tearing flesh, the centipede-shaped monster was smashed and slowly collapsed.

"Raaaargh!"

"Sss, north, sss."

As the victorious squid and serpent rose slowly,

"Chirr! Chirr!"

"Eat, eat, eat, eat, eat...!"

The mantis and giant-shaped flesh monsters joined the fray, roaring.

Boom! Boom...!

The giant monsters collided, devastating the surroundings. A cloud of dust rose in the area.

Luckily, it was an empty southern lot with few buildings, but please, moderate the destruction! I'm sick of the restoration work!

Two huge dog-shaped flesh monsters charged at us.

They resembled a three-headed dog and a two-headed dog. Clearly, they were Cerberus and Orthrus, which Cromwell had devoured earlier.

"Looking like chewed gum..."

I decided it wasn't too difficult to deal with them, seeing their tentacles and teeth.

"They're zombies! Just meat monsters without any special abilities other than tentacles and teeth!"

Sure, the tentacles and teeth were scary, but that's just physical prowess, far from their abilities in life.

Though it wasn't a long time, observing the monsters' behavior on the wall led me to this conclusion, and indeed, the two flesh dogs couldn't use their hellhound abilities.

"Raa, aah, aaah!"

Still, their terrifying physical abilities remained, and they charged at us with their huge mouths wide open.

Thunk! Thunk-!

Two spears like missiles fell from the sky, piercing each one's chest and pinning them to the ground, rendering them unable to move.

Looking up, I saw Mikhail descending swiftly on his griffin. He had thrown the spears while riding down.

Screech!

Mikhail, who descended in an instant, grabbed the double spears he had thrown and pulled them out with a burst of crimson energy.

Rip...!

The two struggling hellhound-shaped flesh monsters were split apart.

Spinning his spears lightly, Mikhail smiled and kicked his griffin's sides to take flight again.

"Commander, I'll guard from above."

The youngest king of the Vermillion Kingdom... no, the youngest king, soared back into the sky instantly. My heroes also roared and charged forward, clashing with the monsters.

While Torkel blocked the tentacles with a huge shield,

Kuilan scattered red aura-laden punches, smashing the monsters,

Verdandi's green-magic-imbued dagger unleashed ranged slashes, cutting down all the flesh in its path.

Kellibey used a chisel and hammer to break through the tall flesh barrier, creating a path.

Zenith and Rosetta, having completed their respective rescue missions, activated [Oath of Healing] and [Oath of Protection], unleashing divine power like rain. The holy energy incinerated the small flesh pieces wriggling and trying to sprout tentacles.

"Screeeech!"

Lastly, a giant slug-shaped flesh monster blocked our way, letting out a grotesque scream.

"...Move aside, monstrosity."

Swish-!

Lucas dashed forward and delivered a fierce slash, splitting it apart and setting it ablaze simultaneously.

[Excalibur] and the [Bestowed Sword] emitted a blinding light as they shattered the monster. Lucas lightly shook the twin swords, flicking off the remains, then respectfully bowed to me.

"My lord."

"Good."

I walked along the path my heroes had carved. Not once did the path falter.

Swish!

Thud...!

Other heroes, having completed their rescue missions in different parts of the city, began joining up and following behind me.

After breaking through all resistance, our main force finally stood before the enemy commander.

"..."

Standing still among the corpses and flesh remnants was the boss monster of this stage—

Cromwell.