Chapter 57. Fortress Assault Operation (2)
In the darkness of the fortress.
Elsyde mages advanced silently.
Askel, positioned in the middle of the formation, gripped his metal staff, operated his mana, and gave low instructions.
“Deploy detection magic, communication magic.”
Wheeeing-
From the artifacts plugged into each mage's ear like earpieces, small communication magic circles instantly rotated and deployed, emitting a faint light in the darkness.
“Front. Enemy movement detected.”
A detection-type magic user in the middle of the formation calmly began briefing.
“One on the left corner, two on the right.”
“Neutralize.”
Askel instructed. Two combat mages clearing the path at the front followed his briefing.
Aiming their magic gears, they quickly entered around the corner.
Mana light flashed from the two magic gears aimed at the enemy.
Chooong!
Sharp mana bullets and fireballs formed from the magic circles struck those hiding in the darkness.
Painful screams from bodies pierced with holes and limbs set ablaze vibrated through the fortress corridors.
The hiding exiles collapsed with a dry thud, twitching.
“…This is the price for messing with Elsyde.”
One mage spoke lowly, looking at the fallen enemy.
The mages in the rear silently passed by the subdued enemies rolling on the floor, one after another.
One among them deployed a magic circle towards them.
Chrarararak!
Instantly, chains binding their limbs materialized from translucent mana and wrapped around them.
“Enemy silenced, confirmed. Still breathing. Hand over to the Order’s healer-mages following behind.”
“Disperse. Commence fortress interior entry.”
At Askel’s command, the Elsyde mages flowed apart like water into pairs of two in the narrow passage.
The entire unit simultaneously began securing the maze-like fortress.
Aiming their magic gears in unison, clearing blind spots as they advanced.
Upon detecting enemies, they thoroughly neutralized ambushing foes using impact magic and flashbang artifacts before entry.
Another mage following behind quickly entered the fortress chambers, subduing the neutralized enemies one by one.
“Am-Ambush!!”
“It’s the Elsyde bastards, run!”
Meanwhile, the enemies, witnessing Elsyde’s overwhelming power, began hesitantly retreating.
Soon realizing the situation was extremely unfavorable, the exiles started fleeing towards the fortress rear gate.
Among the exiles fleeing in disarray, someone let out a desperate shout.
“Everyone run! First, escape through the fortress rear gate…!”
But the guy’s shout didn’t last long.
Kwaaaaang!
Right before their eyes, as they rushed towards the rear of the fortress, a powerful explosion occurred.
Several people were sent flying along with dust and debris.
Immediately after the explosion, which silenced all the voices of the enemies trying to flee, vibrated through the night darkness.
Only pained groans represented the intentions of those who tried to escape from the Elsyde mages.
Step….
And beyond the dust and debris raised by the explosion.
Black uniforms adorned with gold embroidery revealed themselves.
The midnight moonlight, clearing through the dust, shone down on the silhouettes of the mages dressed in uniforms symbolizing the elite.
The Nemesis Knights participating in the Allied Mission.
The violet-haired female knight standing in their midst looked towards Enoch from the opposite side of the fortress.
Teano’s violet eyes, looking at him, shone darkly within the shadow of her formal cap.
[Looking at the map, the fortress has a rear gate.]
Just before departing from the village after the briefing ended.
Enoch had spoken to Teano, who was conducting the meeting.
[If we breach and secure the fortress, the disadvantaged enemies will rush towards the escape route all at once to flee.]
[The intention behind your words?]
[Therefore, I wish to entrust Nemesis with subduing the enemies rushing towards the rear gate attempting to escape.]
The Nemesis Knights, including Teano, looked at Enoch from beyond the shadows of their formal caps.
[Are you saying we should block the escape route?]
[Yes.]
Enoch looked around at them and said.
[To subdue personnel concentrated in one place, elite Knight Order level strength must be deployed at the rear gate.]
Though symbolic, the command of the Allied Mission rested with the direct descendant. If the operation was rational, there would be no reason to object.
Sure enough.
Teano looked at Enoch for a moment, seemingly surprised, then quietly nodded without showing it.
[…Understood.]
Of course, there was a calculation behind all of Enoch’s words.
‘To avoid revealing the sword, this is the only way.’
This place was related to the Last Sword Saint.
Who knew where potential spec-up elements might be found, and moreover, the fact that he used a sword couldn't be revealed to the family mages.
Therefore, Nemesis was caught.
Nemesis, being the most outstanding force in this Allied Mission, were entities that absolutely had to accompany this fortress assault, especially since only a few were moving.
But simultaneously, Enoch needed to act inside the fortress, away from their eyes.
‘If so, there’s also this way to utilize them.’
-Blocking the escape route of enemies fleeing in disarray.
A cornered rat will bite a cat, as the saying goes.
Naturally, the resistance of those desperately seeking an escape route to survive would surely be fierce.
However, what if what lay before them wasn't just a cat, but the Elsyde family’s ‘absolute elite Magic Knight Order’?
“Nemesis. As per plan, block the enemy escape route.”
At Teano’s command, the Nemesis Knights silently and skillfully formed positions from their respective places.
One of the Nemesis Knights looked up, scanned the enemies once, and remarked casually.
“Eh, what a letdown, having to deal with just these guys~”
Luca.
The female knight who also participated as an examiner in the 1st Nemesis examination earlier laughed lightly as if finding it bland and casually spoke to Teano beside her.
“Still, isn’t it somewhat surprising, Deputy Commander?”
Luca glanced briefly towards the distant Enoch and said.
“The operation that direct descendant planned wasn’t significantly different from the strategy we originally considered, right?”
She laughed lowly beneath the shadow of her formal cap and said.
“Said to be the family’s incompetent who was confined until now, yet reads the enemy movements just by glancing at a map and forms a strategy… Is that really possible?”
“Luca.”
Teano shot her a warning glance. Luca merely smiled brightly and pulled her formal cap down firmly.
“Yessir, Deputy Commander. No chatting during missions, right!”
Saying so, Luca slowly took a step forward and circulated mana throughout her body.
Then, completely different from moments ago, she opened her mouth with a much colder voice.
“Nemesis. Commence operation.”
The exiles, facing the Nemesis Knights standing in the darkness, hesitated and stepped back.
Despair crept onto the faces of the enemies, realizing their escape route was now completely blocked.
Watching this from afar, Enoch turned his head.
‘Good, so far according to plan.’
In the midst of the rapidly unfolding battle scene.
The situation from when the operation was planned earlier overlaid his thoughts.
[…Then, what will you do, Lord Enoch?]
After planning the operation, Teano had asked back.
[Since Lord Enoch still has no Follower Family, you might fall into danger in case of emergency. If possible, acting together with us Nemesis or other mages would be….]
[No. I will act separately.]
Enoch added curtly.
[Together with the Beast-kin who knows the fortress interior well. I will act separately to target their leader.]
A flicker of surprise crossed Teano’s expression.
[…May I ask the reason?]
[If the battle drags on, friendly casualties will increase.]
It was a high-difficulty operation requiring the capture of enemies defending a fortress with impenetrable terrain, specifically for information gathering.
Even for the family’s highly trained mages, there was a high possibility they had to brace for sacrifices.
[As quickly as possible, I will end the situation.]
At those words, the surprised gazes of the family mages looked towards Enoch once more.
Of course, Elsyde’s mages were undoubtedly strong.
Drafted formally for the Allied Mission, they were all battle veterans with outstanding skills.
Nevertheless, the fortress assault operation was high-risk combat requiring bracing for friendly casualties.
For Enoch, participating in his first Allied Mission, to understand precisely that point?
But Enoch, as if unwilling to permit even such sacrifices, looked around at them and spoke calmly.
[Therefore, while our main force mages are securing the fortress and moving, I will act separately and snipe the leader. If we catch him, the rest will lose their commander and become powerless.]
One of the family mages spoke hesitantly.
[That may be so, but it’s reckless. No matter what, for Lord Enoch, the direct descendant, to go alone….]
Other mages listening had similar expressions, nodding.
They seemed unable to adapt to the direct descendant’s unexpected remarks, perhaps for the nth time.
[It’s fine.]
But Enoch looked towards Sirocco and answered.
[A Beast-kin who knows the fortress interior well and possesses outstanding combat skills will go with me.]
Enoch added.
[Sirocco Lycaon. Heir of the current Chieftain.]
Sirocco puffed out her chest proudly at her introduction, wearing a triumphant expression. Then she wagged her tail behind her back and placed both hands on her hips.
[That’s right!]
Sirocco, appearing merely as a pretty girl around fifteen, didn’t seem reliable, as several mages cast doubtful glances briefly.
But they likely didn't know.
That this was the definite right answer.
“We move too.”
Watching the family mages securing the fortress interior, Enoch spoke to Sirocco standing beside him.
Sirocco nodded slightly.
“Alright, I’ll guide you. I know the way. Besides…”
She briefly looked up towards the lofty top floor of the fortress and added in a low voice.
“I smell prey.”
“Smell?”
“Yup. A very, nasty one.”
She started walking towards the fortress entrance, tap tap.
Enoch silently lowered the cloth bag and followed Sirocco into the darkness-engulfed fortress.
Climbing the stairs revealed the fortress interior corridor.
In the antique, long corridor, torches lining both walls dimly illuminated the path.
Enoch looked around and thought.
‘Quite strange.’
Perhaps because it was a past architectural style different from the Magic Empire he had seen so far, the place felt peculiar.
Like the long-sealed underground prison in the Elsyde Fortress he saw when he first became Enoch.
However, there was no time for sentimentality.
A situation facing an important battle soon.
Now was not the time to be distracted…
-Dizzy
Suddenly, his vision began to waver.
‘…?’
Before he could even think anything. Enoch’s vision suddenly began filling with familiar shadows.
And the moment he realized the identity of those shadows, Enoch couldn't help but doubt his eyes.
‘…Surely, the World of Impermanence?’
There was no mistaking it.
Enoch’s mental image, previously entered only through meditation. It was the color of the black space seen there.
Instantly, a chill ran down Enoch’s spine.
‘The World of Impermanence is trying to activate forcibly!’
There wasn't even room for doubt.
‘Why suddenly?’
The next moment, pale characters began listing themselves in his vision, which was starting to be encroached upon by the World of Impermanence.
? Entered the ruins of the 「Empire's Last Sword Saint」
? Accessing past memories of the corresponding subject!
? Synchronization rate with subject's memories drastically increased!
And at the next phrase arrayed before his eyes, Enoch’s dark blue eyes momentarily widened greatly.
? 「World of Impermanence」 Hidden Ability: Unlocked
‘…Wait.’
What is this now?