The combined main camp of the Demon Lord’s Army and the Empire’s Army was as chaotic as disturbing a beehive.
News of a god’s summoning and the generals engaging in battle on the front lines was disseminated.
The kings of both factions received the report.
“That’s faster than expected… did you stockpile energy somewhere beforehand? No, it’s also possible they gave up on a complete summoning and sped it up.”
The Demon Lord, with one eye closed, tried to grasp the situation through his familiar.
“Demon Lord, I’ll send our engineering troops to your aid. There’s no point in continuing to form our lines now.”
The Emperor of the Empire also did what they could.
“That’s right, we’ll hold the front line. For now, we need to complete our plan as quickly as possible.”
Choosing priorities.
That was the job of the leaders.
Even though the god’s summoning was expedited, their organizational structure wasn’t so fragile that it would collapse immediately.
“Will it be in time?”
“His toughness is proven. The Human King can hold out for three days even with the Sun God fully summoned.”
The great tree was summoned, the weather manipulated, and now the white serpent was also called forth.
The key player on the current battlefield was a single man who was using high-ranking spirits and spirits with immense power comparable to them to resist the god.
“I see.”
The King of the Empire paid no mind to the Demon Lord’s serious reply and observed the battlefield from the main camp.
“…How ironic. Are we to be saved by those who oppose a self-serving god that ignores the people who worship and pray for salvation?”
“We have no intention of saving them. For now, we are simply standing side by side. If, when facing each other, our hands reach for the swords at our waists, it will be the same cycle, that’s all.”
“……”
A massive body visible even from a distance.
Should I call it a giant god of flames?
Even though they were far from the battlefield, both kings felt a pressure that threatened to crush their bodies, simply from the upper half of its body appearing.
A fraction of the god’s power.
That alone surpassed ordinary beings.
“From here on, it’s a race against time.”
“Ah, the fact that the god has appeared probably means the world’s purification is imminent.”
The fact that its power has not yet been unleashed is thanks to a man wielding what appears to be a massive slash attack, even from afar.
Even so, there isn’t much time.
“What’s the progress?”
“We’re confirming, but it’s about thirty to fifty percent.”
“While that speed would normally impress me…”
“It’s about a fifty-fifty chance of it being in time. Considering the later stages, I cannot stand on the battlefield right now. Deploying him in battle was also unplanned. However, you can still cover for that. But if I am depleted here, it cannot be covered.”
By deploying disposable personnel, they were able to buy a little time, but in return, they lost their margin for error.
King Hanjibal’s engineering troops were trusted enough to be brought to this decisive battle.
This meant they could proceed with operations using highly advanced magic.
However, according to the Demon Lord’s calculations, it was still a very tight race against time to complete the crucial plan.
The forces capable of fighting a god were limited, with the Demon Lord’s Army’s strongest asset, a general, only barely able to hold it back alone.
And that was with a time limit.
If that’s the case, you might think that deploying the other seven people would be enough to defeat it, but this operation is not about defeating it.
That is a shadow clone.
Not the main body.
However, even so, the Demon Lord’s plan proceeded in his mind without issue.
“Demon Lord, is time what you need?”
“Yes, and it would be even better if we didn’t have to expend our remaining energy.”
The one sharing the plan immediately understood what was needed at that moment.
“In that case, it’s no time for us to hold back either. Hey.”
King Hanjibal had already committed the forces needed for the plan and understood which forces should not be used.
Holding back forces. Neither the Demon Lord’s Army nor the Empire’s Army were completely open with each other and trusting.
It was natural to have a hidden card or two.
For the Demon Lord’s Army, there were Evia, Amili, and those associated with the temple.
They couldn’t be used lightly, but it was possible to mobilize them if necessary.
And if they were used, it would create significant leeway on the current battlefield.
However, the Demon Lord judged that now was not the time.
Therefore, they had no choice but to utilize the strategy King Hanjibal was planning to employ.
He sent a messenger with a key-like object.
An item directly managed by the king.
“What will come out?”
“It’s an ancient weapon. Developed by our ancestors long ago, and passed down orally to successive kings to be used in dire situations.”
If Jiro heard this conversation, he would have undoubtedly thought, “What is this, Elixir Syndrome?”
In a world where they had fought the Demon Lord’s Army countless times and had a history of defeating Demon Lords, there was no reason to hoard weapons effective against gods.
Whether he was aware of this or not, King Hanjibal decided that as king, now was the time to use it.
“Its name?”
He had brought it to this battlefield.
“The Chain of Heavenly Binding.”
A rumbling sound, as if something was being rolled.
Outside the command tent, the Demon Lord recalled the massive box in the Empire’s encampment.
King Hanjibal had said he would prepare siege weapons, and he was impressed that this had been mixed in among them.
King Hanjibal, maintaining his poker face without any expression or indifference, watched as the cart pushing the box slowly stopped, was placed in the center of the plaza, and soldiers began setting it up.
“It’s a weapon that fires cannonballs inscribed with a seal formula in ancient script, designed to counter Demon Lords. There’s only one shot left. The projectile speed isn’t that fast, but it should be effective if it hits.”
“…What civilization is it from?”
While listening to King Hanjibal’s explanation, the Demon Lord considered the weapon’s effectiveness.
Even with ancient script, there were many eras.
The Demon Lord believed that a relic from civilization thousands of years ago wouldn’t be that effective against a god.
“A relic from the age of mythology. From before creation.”
“!?”
However, King Hanjibal’s explanation went beyond the Demon Lord’s understanding. A relic from before civilization.
Even the Demon Lord’s Army had very few such things.
You might think that in the era of the world’s creation, there shouldn’t be any writing, but there was.
There actually was.
Divine script.
The script used by gods, and a secret text that even the Demon Lord’s Army had not yet fully deciphered, and which the gods kept hidden.
The fact that a relic from that era still exists today is a miracle, and it being processed into a weapon is an even greater miracle.
Even the Demon Lord, who had been surprised, opened his eyes.
“You’re not asking if it’s genuine, are you?”
“I’ll know when I see it.”
The Demon Lord smiled, surprised by the fact that his shadows hadn’t been able to investigate a relic held by such a person, and even more so by his king’s decision to use it without hesitation when he deemed the time right.
Looking at the weapon being freed from the box, he was convinced it was genuine.
At first glance, it looked like a giant ballista.
In the center of the launch platform was a white gem, exuding a white light like powdered snow that evoked divinity, which was likely the relic.
If red was the color of the Sun God, then blue was the color of the Moon God.
Then what was the presence of the white god?
“A relic of a creation god?”
“It’s one of a kind in this world.”
Even the Demon Lord had only seen the real thing a few times.
And this was the first time he had seen one that could withstand practical use.
The relic of a superior being among gods.
“Hmph, it seems to have noticed us.”
“Well, to that Sun God, it must be nothing but a menace.”
Its presence was noticed by the god even from a distance.
What had been the annoying task of swatting away a fly moments ago, the god, upon sensing the presence of this weapon, widened its eyes and turned its gaze towards them, despite the distance.
A gesture that shattered the god’s composure.
In a sense, a gesture unfit for a god.
“Now, since it’s noticed us…”
It was absorbing the surrounding magic power, preparing to fire.
To the Demon Lord, such an obvious weapon was flawed.
It was like a telephone punch, boldly announcing, “I’m going to launch a troublesome attack, try to dodge it.”
“We have a plan. Now, just hit it.”
“Hmph, understood. I knew that. I’m used to such unreasonable demands.”
The power of that telephone punch was guaranteed. Therefore, the Demon Lord had to devise a strategy to land it.
Approach? Considering the damage afterward, it was too reckless to even consider. The Demon Lord made an instant judgment.
“Human King, can you hear me?”
He sent his subordinate, who was fighting valiantly right below them, a job.
“I can hear you fine! What is this presence!? It sent chills down my spine!”
“Yes, we’re about to fire a weapon to hold the god in place, so hit it.”
“Haa!?”
The Demon Lord’s calculation showed that the highest chance of success was to have the Human King provide support.
There was no time, and they couldn’t leave the Sun God, who was clearly showing intentions to attack, in that state for much longer.
“By the way, what’s the range?”
“Everything within the vicinity of impact will likely be stopped.”
“Specifically?”
“I don’t know. The oral tradition only states that it seals away the Demon Lord along with space.”
King Hanjibal’s vagueness made the Demon Lord want to sigh.
Why did they have to use such an unreliable weapon? He suppressed the urge to clutch his head.
“I have no choice.”
Still, with no option to not use it, he had no choice but to give up.
“By the way, escape immediately after impact.”
“Eh!? Wait a minute!?”
Believing he could do it, he turned his gaze to King Hanjibal, who nodded and ruthlessly ordered the launch.
The light converged, releasing the magic power stored in the gem.
A white arrow of light, perhaps.
“DON’T MESS WITH ME-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!”
The Demon Lord brushed off the Human King’s scream, deciding in his heart to forgive the insult for achieving this unreasonable request.
The arrow of light flew straight towards the god, but the god would not easily receive it.
It created a fireball to intercept.
It was like a small sun.
If that were released, the arrow would instantly burn up, and the main camp in its direct path would be annihilated.
Yes, if fired like that.
“As expected.”
“I’ll call it impressive.”
The fireball shifted to the side; they realized it was a slash attack.
Both kings nodded as if impressed, and with a subsequent slash, the god’s arm was severed, making it difficult to intercept the arrow before it reached its target.
Then, the god twisted its body, trying to evade the line of fire, but…
“…”
The Demon Lord and the Emperor widened their eyes in surprise.
After all, a small human had punched the massive Sun God in the cheek.
It staggered back, moving directly into the arrow’s path.
There was no more time to reposition.
Still, as a last resort, it fell to the ground, breaking its stance, but the arrow of light still aimed for its shoulder and…
pierced it.
“…That was supposed to be a sealing implement, wasn’t it?”
“It was.”
“Hmm, it doesn’t seem to be a complete seal.”
“It was designed to counter Demon Lords, not gods.”
That was supposed to be the end of it.
The arrow instantly turned into chains, and hundreds of fine chains wrapped around the impaled god, trying to seal it.
And the tips of the chains dug into the ground, covering the god and its surroundings with chains.
However, the god was immobilized but still conscious.
“If this buys us time, that’s good. Let’s proceed with the work.”
Seizing the opportunity, the Demon Lord decided to continue buying time.
Another side End
Today’s word: Unreasonable demands come at the last minute.
Thank you as always for your comments and指摘 of typos.
If you enjoyed it, please leave a review, rating, bookmark, etc.
Currently, another work is being serialized:
Pandora Pandemic Panic: Pandora’s Box Has Been Opened Again, But We’re Fighting Back with Various Activities in Secret Bases!!
Please check that out as well!!
