“Don’t make them use the Sacred Stones!”
“Anyone here is an enemy!”
The devout followers, dressed in casual clothes, wielded hidden weapons against Beilclark.
They had sticky fingers, pilfering the clothes and belongings of real civilians.
Sacred Stones… magic stones engraved with jewels, kept hidden.
The Sacred Stones grant the user the appearance and abilities they imagine, allowing for a pseudo-rebirth where their soul and memories are sealed upon death. I don’t want them to be used, these things I created.
“Praise the gods! Witness the vanquishing of a god’s enemy!”
The followers, using the Sacred Stones, pressed them to their chests, swallowed them, and underwent idolization.
Halos and wings of light were created with magic power.
Bones would extend from their arms and palms, pulled out and turned into weapons.
“FAAAAAAA!”
“Guhhh!”
Their piercing screams shattered the enemy’s eardrums.
Hands instinctively covered ears, while bone weapons and wings flashed, striking with light bullets.
I pointed out where the enemy’s encirclement was weakest.
At night, mobility was hampered, and idolization would reveal their position with their light sources.
Therefore, during the day, they fought with all their might.
“Go, there, yeah~♪”
A fanatic wrapped his arm around the waist of a newly converted female follower (indoctrinated through brainwashing and threats), and fumbled beneath her.
“Ah, Messenger-sama/// It’s embarrassing here///”
“It’s okay, anyone who sees will soon be with the gods♪ Hahaha.”
While Rayos skillfully positioned Hiizuru, Taiyon deployed an array of lifeless wooden dummies throughout the town.
Even if the casters’ and talisman users’ positions were known, the followers’ charge couldn’t reach them.
And even though I wanted to deal with them directly! Annoyingly, Taiyon’s barrier blocked my attacks… the formations against Astral Bodies were still in place.
This was preparation born of cowardice.
They were too driven by curiosity and ambition.
The number of human experiments alone was ghastly.
Their defenses were so tight not even a needle could penetrate, lest they be killed by evil spirits.
“Talisman Arts,
Ah, I could see the phenomenon of possessed magic power being consumed with each use of their arts.
Unable to intervene, I watched the followers, who took some wooden dummies with them, meet their defeat. I watched Beilclark and Bergarth’s advance while toying with the women.
◇◇◇◇◇
The group led by Alreohn, the eldest of the Leo Siblings, clashed with Hiizuru and Taiyon on the great street.
The clash of swords never ceased.
Soldier after soldier, one by one, was felled.
“You dogs, fight on! Are you not the soldiers of our country that boasts the greatest military renown on the continent!”
“Lord Alreohn! We have no retreat left…”
“Please escape! We will serve as your rearguard!”
I thought reinforcements from our homeland would arrive and finish this quickly, but I was mistaken.
Who would have thought that magic stones could transform people into non-human beings? Our supply of numbers never ceased.
Both Hiizuru and Taiyon were more troublesome than anticipated.
Bergarth merely incited the residents, never showing himself, and prepared for a siege.
Even when we torched the area, he would immediately relocate his main camp. He was utterly tenacious.
It was truly infuriating that they wouldn’t die no matter how many times we defeated them.
My youngest brother, Eleon, seemed to be working hard, but Bergarth’s head eluded them.
It was a problem that our focus was too much on mourning the dead Ulreohn.
“Your loyalty is duly noted!”
“May your campaign be victorious!”
As I was about to part with these loyal subjects, a chill ran down my spine.
“Hm?”
A figure stood blocking Alreohn’s path.
It was Rayos.
“You will die.”
“Nonsense!”
I was on horseback, while he was on the ground. I planned to use the height difference to press through with a heavy blow.
Clang! Hieehhh!
The bold apparition not only blocked my attack but also severed my horse’s neck!
I leaped backward to escape the collapsing body of my lifeless horse. I kept my eyes on him.
My subordinates were holding him off from behind.
There were no enemy figures to my flanks.
Yet, this guy had appeared out of nowhere. I stayed vigilant, paying attention to the surrounding presence.
“As expected of a renowned general. But it’s a nuisance to us if you survive. Die next time, alright?”
It was dangerous to let the man who uttered such pleas attack.
Judging this, I swiftly threw a throwing dagger.
Shh…
Now, will you dodge? Or will you intercept?
With a single movement, I would close the distance—
Thwack!
—and cut him down?
“Gah?! Wh-Whyyyy?!”
The moment I closed the distance, I felt something pass through my body.
And by the time I realized it, a change had occurred in my body.
A faint cut appeared on my abdomen, and the sensation in my lower body gradually faded.
My vision drew closer and closer to the stone pavement.
Thud!
I slammed my forehead without even being able to brace myself. But, what was more chilling was that my arms had also lost all sensation.
“Nabô, guh…”
Desperately spitting blood, I tried to ask what was done to me before I died.
“Hmm~”
He watched the light of my life flicker out, and then suddenly disappeared. Just as he had appeared. Without even blinking.
He vanished from sight in an instant.
From behind, I heard the voices of those who had volunteered to be my rearguard calling my name, and then the sound of footsteps running towards me.
My consciousness dissolved into darkness.
