Chapter 716

When the Ice Spirit King froze the Phantom King's legs, it couldn't move, and our side's magic bombardment rained down relentlessly on the Phantom King's body.

"Groooaaar...!"

The Phantom King twisted in agony. Witnessing this, Zenis wiped away tears of joy.

"Sob, my son is the best..."

It seems he's proud of Hannibal's achievement.

Seeing Zenis' pathetic display, High Priestess Rosetta nodded towards me.

"It looks like we don't need to step in. Your Highness."

"It seems so."

I crossed my arms and observed the Phantom King crumbling on the other side.

I wanted to test the remaining equipment, but the Phantom King was already collapsing, and it wasn't exactly the right condition for testing anyway.

The Oath series given to Zenis and Rosetta was specialized for chaotic skirmishes, and the equipment given to the captured beasts was somewhat ambiguous for use against colossal monsters like the Phantom King.

Jörmungandr's equipment would be quite useful, though...

'It would probably not leave much around it intact.'

The equipment given to Jörmungandr, [Shell of the Old God], can transform it into its prime form for 3 turns.

In other words, it could revert this tiny Jörmungandr back to its enormous form for 10 minutes.

It would make for a good size match with the Phantom King, but such a large-scale battle would be too close for comfort, and Jörmungandr's physical charge wouldn't be effective against the Phantom King, who is immune to physical damage.

So I decided to postpone the remaining equipment tests and finish off the Phantom King with magic bombardment...

"Grooooaaaar-!"

The Phantom King, who had been quietly enduring the magic strikes, suddenly changed its stance.

Crack, crack!

Bright blue cracks suddenly spread across the full-body armor that made up its body. I shuddered.

'That's not damage we've inflicted!'

The energy expanding from within its armor seemed ready to burst the entire armor at any moment.

The armor started to break from within, emitting blue and pale energy through the cracks.

Alarmed, I raised my hand and shouted.

"Cease bombardment-! Everyone switch to defense mode-!"

The soldiers firing cannons hurriedly abandoned their cannons and retreated, and the mages stopped their attack spells and switched to defensive spells.

Evangeline, who had rushed forward with a temporary shield instead of her usual one, shouted.

"Sir, then that is...!"

"Yes, it's its final pattern..."

I trembled at the unexpected turn of events.

"The inner core of the armor... It's the final strike, releasing all the condensed wraiths at once!"

Just like the Phantom Knights in Stage 1, the Phantom King releases ghosts from its armor once it's destroyed.

While the wraiths released by the Phantom Knights only inflicted mental status ailments, the wraiths released by the Phantom King directly damage the soul of the target in addition to mental status ailments.

'I can't believe it's using that itself!'

Realizing there was no way to overcome the current situation, it decided to destroy its armor and divert all remaining energy to releasing the wraiths. This crazy beast is always pulling stunts like this, now and then!

At that moment, Lucas, who was preparing for defense alongside Evangeline, spoke with a strange bravado.

"Anyone who has fought in the first defensive battle with our lord knows this pattern."

"Oh, come on! Stop showing off, old man!"

Evangeline grumbled.

The two of them were bantering as usual to ease the tension, but there was still an awkward and subtle atmosphere between them.

In the past, Evangeline might have lightly hit Lucas a few times, or Lucas might have played more pranks on Evangeline.

But now they were keeping a distance, not even making eye contact.

'Hmm...'

I wonder if they'll be alright.

...No, this isn't the time to worry about such tender sentiments. Let them solve their problems on their own.

Boom-!

With a terrifying sound, the Phantom King's full-body armor shattered as if a bomb had gone off inside.

Amid the fragments scattered like fireworks... A mass of blue and pale wraiths surged out with a deafening wail.

It was truly a storm of wraiths.

"Eeeek!"

"Aaaaah-!"

It was a terrifying sight. The seasoned soldiers, who had seen worse, remained calm and maintained their defensive stance, but the volunteer soldiers were in complete disarray. Many dropped their equipment and fell to the ground.

'Even with [Unyielding Commander] applied, they look like this.'

As expected of the Phantom King. And since it's a sort of suicide attack, its momentum felt even more intense.

'Mental status ailments can be nullified by me, and I have prepared a defense system against soul attacks from the wraiths...'

But the sheer force of the wraiths pouring in was daunting. Although I believed we could withstand it, there was a chance we could suffer more damage than expected.

'Shall I test my new equipment?'

Stepping forward, I took a deep breath.

I glanced down at my new equipment, [Imperial Seal Ring], on my right ring finger,

"As the commander of the World Guardian Front."

I slowly began the incantation.

"I represent everyone on this front."

The ring, which bore no markings, filled with a symbol-less black color, the emblem of the World Guardian Front.

"Therefore, all responsibility lies with me."

The buck stops here.

I echoed the words, then clenched my fist, striking the air in front of me.

Flash!

It was as if an imperial seal had been stamped in the air.

And the next moment.

Whoosh-!

Transparent white energy began to swirl around the symbol imprinted in the air.

This white energy was converging from Crossroad and from every person gathered on this battlefield.

The volunteer soldiers, who had been trembling, were bewildered as streams of white energy rose from their bodies and flew towards me.

This was the function of the [Imperial Seal Ring].

[Imperial Seal Ring(EX)]

- Can manifest the will of the members of the organization you represent into power.

I can gather the will of those under my command and use their collective strength.

'Currently, I am the racial god of humanity, but while I have gained divinity, I actually struggle to exercise that power.'

During the decisive battle with the Black Dragon, all humanity desperately wished for 'morning', so I could use sunlight to end Night Bringer.

But usually, the will of humanity doesn't easily unite, as we are a species that advances through conflict and divergence.

Despite the grand name 'racial god', it actually doesn't hold much power.

This [Imperial Seal Ring] assists me in this regard. It narrows the scope of people I represent and concretely unifies their clear will into my power.

Gazing at the symbol of the World Guardian Front imprinted in the air, I murmured.

"As the representative of the World Guardian Front, I wish."

And what everyone gathered here fervently wished for was just one thing.

"That this horde of nightmares... does not invade our world!"

Whoosh-!

The white, transparent energy in the air began to transform rapidly.

The white energy transformed into something like tetrapods used as breakwaters on a beach and lined up in front of my magical wall.

And over that- the phantom tide crashed down.

Boom!

It was like a stormy beach.

The waves of wraiths crashing down couldn't penetrate the breakwater made of human will and shattered into pieces.

Screeeech!

Breathing in, I looked at the disintegrating mass of wraiths.

If what is pouring towards us is the will of monsters and nightmares to destroy this world,

Then I represent the will of the people of this world.

The will to live in this world, even for just one more day!

"From here on, it is the realm of humans."

I declared.

"Begone, monsters-!"

The wraiths released by the Phantom King kept crashing against the breakwater. My wall wavered several times.

But it ultimately withstood.

When the seemingly endless storm finally subsided and people began to lift their heads...

The wraiths that had been surging towards us had vanished without a trace, and the bright sunlight was shining down from the clear sky.

"..."

The memories of Stage 1 flashed before my eyes.

Caught in an inexplicable sentiment, I surveyed the battlefield now devoid of enemies.

Turning around with the sunlight at my back, I looked down at my soldiers.

Everyone was looking up at me.

Clearing my throat, I shouted.

"For the past three years, we have defended against all sorts of legendary monsters."

On this front made of graves.

We are still alive and breathing.

"And this winter will be our last time to stop this storm."

The long journey of three years was finally coming to an end.

This is our final season.

"Once this winter passes, this war will end in one way or another. In one way or another, we will complete our mission."

I spoke with resolve.

"And since it will end anyway, I want to win!"

"...!"

"I want to seize victory after giving our best effort until the very end. For all our comrades who have sacrificed their lives for this war, I want to grasp a happy ending."

I shouted.

"What about you all!"

Thud!

The heroes and veteran soldiers simultaneously struck the ground with their weapons.

I looked at the volunteer soldiers and asked again.

"What about you!"

The volunteer soldiers, hastily standing up and adjusting their gear, also struck the ground with their weapons.

Thud!

It was a bit clumsy, but a sufficient response.

"Now, my people!"

Clenching my fist, I raised one arm.

"Will you fight with me till the end?"

Thud-!

"Will you live with me till the end?"

Thud-!

Looking around at my soldiers now in perfect unison, I smiled broadly.

"Good, let's go! To the final battlefield!"

The first of the final 10 battles against colossal monsters.

It started with a complete victory.

"Together, till the end...!"

***

[STAGE 41 - CLEAR!]

[STAGE MVP - Jupiter Junior(SSR)]

[Level-Up Characters]

- Hannibal(N) and 10 others <Expand List>

[Deceased and Injured Characters]

- None

[Items Acquired]

- Phantom King's Magic Core(SSR): 1

- Phantom Knight's Magic Core(SR): 100

[Stage Clear Rewards have been distributed. Please check your inventory.]

- SR-grade Reward Box: 10

>> Get Ready For The Next STAGE

>> [Next STAGE: Lake Kingdom (2)]

***

***

"..."

At the same time.

Atop the walls of Crossroad.

Hecate, squatting, stared blankly towards the south.

The creaking sound of crutches echoed from behind. Hecate glanced back.

A black magician, Chain, approached with an unsteady gait.

"..."

Hecate turned her gaze forward again. Chain stumbled closer and stood behind Hecate.

The two, who could no longer stand on the battlefield, quietly stood there side by side.

After a long silence, Hecate cautiously muttered.

"By now, our comrades must be fighting a fierce battle in front of the Black Lake."

"..."

"Now that I'm of no use, unable to step onto the battlefield, what is the point of me staying here on this front?"

Chain, who had been silent, asked.

"If you leave, do you have a place to go?"

"...No."

After a brief contemplation, Hecate replied.

"No."

"Then where were you planning to go?"

"..."

Hecate bit her lip and glanced sideways.

"And you, Chain. Do you have a place to go?"

"I do."

Chain sighed deeply.

"I just don't know if they will accept me there..."

"..."

As cheers of victory echoed from the south, in front of the Black Lake.

The two retirees, unable to fight anymore, fell into a silent and uncertain contemplation about where to go and what to do.