TOFW 13

Chapter 13

“Assault squad, prepare!”

On the commander’s order, Kaisen, temporarily assigned to Sharon’s battalion, climbed onto Ria’s saddle.

Below the hill, Uruk mountain troops were roaring as they climbed the slope.

The battalion had decided to assault the East Gate, where the encirclement was relatively thin — a decision that proved effective.

The lower-ranked demons vastly outnumbered the higher-ranked demons.

— The first things to watch out for in the demon alliance are the goblins and the gnome species.

The lowest-tier monsters had been reorganized as foot soldiers under the demon banners.

The Uruk tribe was known for being cowardly and petty, and famously refused to use ranged weapons like bows.

Filling that gap in ranged attacks were the low-level monsters, lacking both physical ability and intelligence.

“First line shooters, prepare to fire artillery!”

The first-line musketeers and front-line spearmen raised their barrels and spears simultaneously, metal clanking.

The large Frisvia cores operating the cannons positioned on the hilltop spun fiercely, emitting a hissing sound like boiling water.

The artillerymen loaded the shells, covered the cannon mouths to allow steam to build just before explosion, then stepped back for safety.

“Wait.”

The Uruk’s heavy bodies shook the ground as they neared, making the soldiers’ throats tighten dryly.

“Wait!”

Finally, the wave of Uruks entered firing range, their ugly faces just barely visible.

“First line, fire!”

Shhh, shhh, shaaaaek…!

Uruks pierced through the chest and thighs by bullets danced briefly before collapsing.

“WuraaaaaaaaA!”

Those who charged over the fallen bodies were skewered on abnormally long spears.

“Artillery, fire all at once!”

Brrrrrrrrrrrrbang!

The approaching enemy screamed as one or two limbs were crushed by rolling, bouncing cannonballs.

“Advance!”

Sharon tugged tightly on the reins, leading the cavalry to flank around the hill.

Sharon’s battalion consisted of 988 mounted gunners, including ten knights of the Dunos dynasty.

Armed with dual pistols for horseback shooting, they had proven their breakthrough power in numerous battles.

“Uruk wolf cavalry approaching from both sides!”

At that moment, denying the heat of the summer day, pale blue icy walls rose on both sides.

The Ice Barrier.

One of the specialties of Johann Wolf Frost, the empire’s greatest ice mage and archmage.

Wolf anxiously watched as the massive ice walls formed in an instant, nearly blocking the gate.

“Be careful, Kaisen.”

Since Camilla’s battalion was held in reserve on the hill as infantry, Wolf’s orders matched.

— Camilla’s battalion will counter the wolf cavalry attacking the flanks.

Camilla’s mission was to cut down high-risk demons like trolls targeting the main force.

“Don’t lose focus just because the ice barrier is up. What to watch out for there is…”

At that moment, something spinning fiercely smashed through the left front of the ice wall and flew in.

Horses with severed front legs collapsed to the ground, three mounted musketeers scattered in the mud.

It was a weapon called a boomerang — a huge boomerang made from human bones spinning fiercely.

An Uruk wearing a distinctive red mask climbed the ice wall and dynamically caught the returning boomerang.

“Kyu-jin…!”

Kyu-jin.

A member of the Kiranzy clan, bestowed only to the strongest warriors of the Kiral clan.

His specialty was massacres using boomerangs, and the frontline human forces knew his notorious reputation.

— The second thing to watch out for during breakthroughs is the Kiral clan’s strongest force, the Kiranzy clan.

Kyu-jin bent back his grotesquely overgrown right arm, signaling the power to throw the boomerang again.

Someone opposed that power.

That someone was Kaisen, who kicked off from Ria’s warhorse and leapt into the air.

Kyu-jin’s eyes narrowed.

“What is this human brat…?”

Was he about to fight me one-on-one?

He had underestimated me so much.

I’ll kill that arrogant body and the other five with him at once.

— The Cross-shaped Sword Draw Technique: Woodcutting Strike.

The boy raised his sheathed sword high above his head, simultaneously generating explosive mana with Mana Heart and Mana Chain.

Mana concentrated on the blade but trapped in the scabbard, unable to circulate or dissipate, began radiating fierce heat.

This sudden burst of trapped mana was the principle behind the Woodcutting Strike technique, designed to cleave enemies.

One-Hair Flash.

Just before the boomerang entered its throwing trajectory, Kyu-jin caught a flash of light in the dark for a moment.

“No…?”

His vision spun wildly.

A helpless sensation, as if forcibly shaken and shaken by a powerful force.

It looked like magic at first, but strangely he saw his own body throwing the boomerang in a strange trajectory.

Was I, my neck, cut?

By that brat?

“Wow, did you see that?”

“A single blow to the Kiranzy clan!”

As explosive cheers rose from the assault squad, Sharon glanced back at the situation and whistled.

“Not only skillful but reckless — clearly Camilla’s disciple.”

Ria called out to Kaisen from far ahead, but Kaisen shook his head.

“It’s too late to go back now. I’ve gone far ahead.”

Was he going to be isolated here?

No, Wolf’s ice barrier could be slid down like a railing if placed on a downhill slope.

Kaisen displayed extreme balance skills, riding the ice barrier’s railing and not breaking formation.

“That woman’s impressive too.”

At the vanguard, Sharon’s fierce assault was as brutal as Camilla’s, cutting and stabbing demons relentlessly.

A blue afterimage remained briefly along the trajectory of his heavy swings.

Unlike the wide swings of the cross sword, Sharon’s extreme stabbing sword technique precisely pierced vital points to kill.

At that moment, as he briefly looked toward Sharon—

Crack! The ice wall shattered with a crushing sound, the footing disappeared, and a sense of weightlessness overcame him.

Murderous intent.

Momentarily flailing feet uselessly in midair, Kaisen barely regained his balance.

The ice wall shattered to pieces.

Leaping over the shards, he slashed toward the source of the murderous intent that had shattered the ice wall below.

Shreeeeeeeeng!

But the monster that easily blocked that slash like a lie—

Yes, at first he could only think that way.

“Hah!”

Using the force of their clash to break momentum, the huge monster rolled backward and stepped back, raising the corners of their eyes in satisfaction.

“Mide? Finally, a human worthy of a proper fight.”

Then, raising a hand, he drove back the Uruks charging from all sides.

“Let’s see your sword skills, human brat.”

The End of Childhood,
The Arystapo Battle (4)

“Let me see how you wield your sword, human kid.”

No sooner had the command from Goeo ended than a sharp blue flash streaked right before his eyes—right in front of him.

Crazy, what kind of speed is that…?

His center of gravity was shattered.

In that instant, losing his balance, his body was thrown backward. Rolling back, he barely dodged the slashing strike.

“Uha!”

The monster, as if to give a brief respite, pulled back the momentum of his charge.

Kishun.

Kishun Jiolobefe.

The formidable rival who would bring an end to Kaisen’s boyhood—this was the first time they met.

An overwhelming physique draped in fur.

Broad and sturdy shoulders, a face marked with scars from a lifetime of battle, giving off a chilling aura.

“This can’t be your best, right? You want me to go ‘rus’? Fun? Make it fun for me.”

Kaisen was surprised to hear Kishun speak human language quite fluently.

“A Uruk worse than a pig, speaking human tongue…?”

“I learned human speech. When I meet a strong one like you, oldoroshi? I want to talk a little.”

Kishun clicked his blade-shaped claws together in anticipation.

His assault was unreal.

Each slash was fierce enough to crush wrists, and when his attack missed, trees and rocks shattered; when he slammed the ground, the earth sank.

Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa…!

The reverberation of a single strike kicked up dust and debris repeatedly, and Kaisen kept stepping back.

What the hell kind of crazy bastard is this…?

His mouth twitched.

Cold sweat drenched his forehead.

There was no opening. No time to counterattack between attacks.

Cheng, kaang, cheng, kiing…!

Amid the fierce scattering volcanic ash, metal blades danced a blue-hued dance, while unlike Kaisen, the Kiral tribe’s Uruk warriors on the sidelines stood with open mouths, dumbfounded.

“What is that human kid?”

“Fighting on equal terms with Kishun?”

“Saying the strike that cut Kujin in one blow wasn’t luck?”

As Kaisen dodged slashing strikes that swept past, raising a cutting wind, he thought:

But I just need to not get hit.

He had only one chance to aim for a big hit, lure a massive strike, then break that offense.

Kaisen pretended to flinch.

At that moment, Kishun swung his left claw in a wide arc, controlling the horizontal space. Suddenly, a blade flashed in Kaisen’s eyes.

Sword-drawing technique—Baldan-do (拔彈刀).

A Baldan-do sword-drawing technique from the cross-shaped stance that requires no further combo.

Just by slightly tilting his head back to dodge the attack, he used that backward force to sheath his sword.

Then again.

He pulled his body forward with force to draw the blade, hitting the foe’s abdomen with the hilt end of his sword.

Ddong─────!

A dull resonant sound.

The target’s mechanical function collapsed.

Within the body, there is a flow of energy, and by sending a ‘shackle’ (鎖, Manachain) into that flow, it temporarily breaks the body’s balance—a surprise counterattack.

Got you now.

Kishun staggered backward.

Kaisen immediately twisted his body and, using the momentum of the rotation, powerfully swung his sword from below. But—

────kakakakaga!

The sound, the feeling, was strange.

Not the sound of slicing flesh, but scraping metal…

At that moment, goosebumps rose all over his body.

“Shit!”

Kaisen gasped and pushed off the ground to increase the distance—however—

Ah…?

The tip of a kick grazed his abdomen.

The agony was like breaking at least two ribs, and he rolled pathetically on the ground.

Pain darkened his vision.

Had he been just a half-beat slower, the attack would have been fatal.

“Huh!”

Kishun whistled, alternating his gaze between his own belly and Kaisen. Kaisen suppressed the pain and rose to his feet.

Did the Baldan-do miss?

No, was he wearing chainmail under that fur? He should have risked aiming for the jaw.

“Your judgment is impressive. How old are you now?”

“Shut that mouth of yours…”

Then Kishun raised his hand, and from all directions, Uruks mounted on Blashuulps walked forward.

A hundred? No, at least two hundred.

He scanned the battlefield and took a deep breath to soothe the pain in his broken ribs.

Thanks to the delay, the Black Rose Brigade seemed to have safely reached the city…

“Don’t worry. I won’t kill you here.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“You humans are planning some secret move once you enter that gate? Tohos? The city gates? That’s why you’re trying so hard to get in. Then come on, bring it on.”

“What the hell kind of trick is this, you bastard?”

“The humans in that castle are pitifully weak. Olbu? The ones coming to help? Even more pathetic. I don’t like fighting such battles, Likunot, you know? Don’t want to either.”

A chill ran down his spine.

Was it cold sweat? Feeling cold in this summer heat?

“It’s been years since a war broke out, shouldn’t we enjoy it more? Pabis? With passion?”

What?

Is this guy crazy?

Seeing suspicion in Kaisen’s eyes, Kishun shook his head and explained.

“But you, doroshi? Yeah, you’re worth savoring. It’s a waste to kill you now.”

Chilling.

The tone made it sound like a joke.

“If you want to live long, don’t bluff, you bastard. If I were to kill you, I’d do it now.”

“Scary. Yeah, that’s what a warrior should be. That’s why I hate fighting more. If you guys go in there? The battle will be more fun.”

Kishun shouted something in Uruk language, and the Uruks surrounding Kaisen laughed and stepped back.

What?

They’re just letting me go?

Wouldn’t they resent me for that? But they immediately obey?

Is the charisma that great?

“My name is Kishun. Son of Zukan, the great chief of Kiral. Since I spared your life, tell me your name.”

Jiolobefe…

Does it mean “Fierce Storm”?

Not hiding it, Kaisen spat and said:

“Kaisen.”

“Whose son are you?”

In Uruk society, the names of parents and tribe were of utmost importance. Warriors always mentioned their father’s name when stating their own.

“You think I’d tell my mother’s name to Uruk bastards worse than pigs like you?”

Did Kishun feel the sudden intense hatred burning in Kaisen’s eyes? He raised his eyebrows, excited for the upcoming battle.

“Alright, Kaisen. Don’t die until I come to kill you. I’ll pull my clan 500 steps back. That’s proof I won’t attack.”

“Humans sure suck at talking. Scared?”

“Yeah, scared! If we fight more here, you humans will be wiped out easily. Doueba, then the fight won’t be fun anymore. Hahaha…!”

A fun fight?

Is this supposed to be fun?

A cold chill ran through Kaisen’s mind. He shouted after Kishun who was turning away.

“Hey, you crazy bastard!”

Pointing death with his sword tip.

Blashuulp whimpering with its jaw cut off, Uruk warrior crying clutching a severed leg.

“What’s so damn fun about all this, huh!?”

My mother said there’s no such thing as a noble battle in this world.

She was right.

I’ve realized why she never tried to teach me swordsmanship for the past four years.

But these bastards…

“Don’t act all proper, Kaisen.”

Suddenly, a chill ran through him.

Kishun stopped walking with his back turned, his voice cold and sinking.

“Don’t hide your true nature.”

“True nature?”

“When you kill someone, have you ever clenched your fist thinking, ‘That landed well, I defended properly’? Achidomo? Have you ever miraculously won an outnumbered battle and shouted?”

Kaisen tried to argue, but couldn’t.

Because it had happened many times.

His gaze suffocated him. Those deep, dark eyes were like a bottomless well… he felt like he might be sucked in.

“Kaisen, you and I are Atidos! We’re the same kind. We’re warriors! Doing whatever we want! Ha ha! Humanity’s true nature!”

“Humanity’s… true nature?”

“Yeah! Accept your nature, throw away reason! Uhahaha…!”

Kaisen was dazed.

Even under Kishun’s protection, with no attacks, until the moment he entered Arystapo without bloodshed, for a long time…