Chapter 2

"Roar!"

"Screech, screech! Screech, screech!"

"Growl, growl, growl!"

The monsters charged, emitting fierce roars. Their eyes were filled with hostility and madness. The soldiers of the Antalya army, who were barricaded in the hastily constructed defensive position, fought against the rampaging creatures.

Jinofa watched the scene relatively calmly. This was his first battle, and his first time facing a stampede. However, it wasn't his first time fighting monsters. In that sense, it was easier than fighting humans.

(Most of the monsters are small...)

Jinofa, observing the battlefield, suddenly noticed this. By "small," he meant smaller than humans. Similarly, those about the same size as humans were classified as medium, and those larger than humans were classified as large.

From what Jinofa could see, this stampede had a relatively high number of small monsters. He estimated the number of monsters to be around fifteen thousand, similar to the Lostco army, but it might be even more.

However, this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. The defensive position was designed for humans, and it was quite effective against the smaller monsters. A four-legged monster leaped at a soldier but couldn't clear the fence and was instead impaled by a spear. The thousand soldiers of the Antalya army were barely holding back the more than fifteen thousand monsters.

However, the presence of small monsters didn't mean there were no large ones. A giant with a single eye, blue skin, thick muscles, and a protruding belly, known as a Cyclops, approached the Antalya army's defensive position with a massive club, as if it had been pulled from a tree.

Arrows concentrated on the Cyclops, but it didn't stop. Raising its massive club, it swept away the fence and the soldiers behind it. The hastily constructed defensive position was too fragile against such a giant. However, they couldn't just stand by and be killed.

"Huff!"

Jinofa exhaled sharply and threw his spear. The spear pierced the center of the Cyclops' chest, passing through and pinning another monster to the ground. It was a terrifying display of strength, hard to believe it came from his small, almost feminine arms.

"Plug the hole! Don't let the monsters in!"

As the Cyclops fell, Kwald immediately gave orders. Following his instructions, the soldiers with shields and spears closed the gap the Cyclops had created. However, the large monsters weren't limited to just that one Cyclops.

Jinofa picked up another spear and threw it in the same manner, aiming at the large monsters. There were only a thousand soldiers, but fortunately, there were more weapons. Some had been abandoned by the main force as they were in the way. Jinofa used these weapons to reduce the number of large monsters.

He blew off the head of a green-skinned, pig-faced giant and thrust his spear into the mouth of a giant spider. For a golem made of rock, he couldn't pierce its body, but a powerful strike knocked it over, sending it and other monsters tumbling down the hill.

Despite his valiant efforts, they were ultimately individual acts of bravery. The overall tide of the battle didn't change. The Antalya soldiers fought well and killed many monsters, but over a hundred had already fallen and been devoured. They were gradually being overwhelmed.

Seeing this, Jinofa stopped throwing spears and picked up another one from the ground. This spear was made entirely of steel, from the tip to the butt, a special spear borrowed from a general during their retreat with Garellan. Jinofa charged forward with the spear.

"Haahaaa!"

He leaped sharply, thrusting the spear straight into the chest of a horned giant. As the giant fell backward, Jinofa pulled out the spear, spun his body, and swung it with all his might, clearing the surrounding small and medium monsters. He continued his charge, swinging his spear.

The steel spear was heavy, but Jinofa wielded it as if it were a twig. The heavier the weapon, the greater the impact when it struck, assuming the same speed.

He crushed the head of a black wolf monster, shattered the spine of a skeletal soldier, and disintegrated a suit of armor that moved despite having no contents. Jinofa's fighting spirit inspired the Antalya soldiers.

"Follow the Prince!"

"Oooooooh!"

The battle cries rose, shaking the earth. Their high morale barely compensated for their numerical disadvantage. However, no matter how high their morale, humans would tire from continuous fighting. When they were exhausted, they couldn't fight with willpower alone. Their situation remained dire.

One by one, Antalya soldiers fell. Some lost both arms but still bit into monsters, taking them down with them. Others ignored their intestines being torn and stabbed the monsters. This was not a war but a struggle for survival.

(Still...!?)

Another young soldier fell near Jinofa, but he continued to wield his spear. It was all he could do. When he finally killed what seemed to be another monster, the battle situation changed. The Lostco army had completed its reorganization.

The Lostco army split into two groups, flanking the sides of the monster horde. They then spread out to the left and right, surrounding the monsters on three sides. This was a semi-encirclement formation. With the Antalya army on the fourth side, the monster horde was completely surrounded. It was a brilliant maneuver.

(King Dandelion kept his promise...!)

Jinofa smiled in satisfaction. Strength returned to his exhausted body. He raised his voice to encourage his allies.

"From here on, it's a battle of annihilation! Don't let these monsters defile even a bit of Antalya's land!"

"Oooooooh!"

Battle cries rose again. The end of the seemingly endless battle was finally in sight, and the soldiers' morale soared.

The monsters' offensive was clearly slowing down, thanks to the participation of the Lostco army. The monsters, surrounded and driven inward, gathered in the center. Arrows rained down like silver rain.

The small monsters were being crushed by the larger ones as they pressed against each other. The movement of individual monsters slowed, and this effect spread to the entire horde. At that moment, the Lostco army's cavalry charged.

Jinofa, who was fighting from a slightly higher position, had a clear view. His eyes were fixed on the lead rider, a knight on a black horse with burning red hair and a fierce, warlike smile. This was Dandelion I, the Emperor of the Lostco Empire, known as the Flame Emperor.

The Lostco cavalry charged into the monster horde, initially splitting it into two large groups, then further dividing into smaller groups to trample the monsters. The number of monsters rapidly decreased.

As dusk approached and the sky turned red, the Lostco army finally defeated the last monster. Seeing this, the Antalya soldiers, who had been watching for a long time, felt a sense of relief. They had survived the desperate battle and protected their homeland.

The Lostco army quietly and orderly reformed their battle lines in front of the Antalya soldiers. Their spears were pointed at the Antalya defensive position. The Antalya soldiers fell silent, realizing that the cooperation was over and the Lostco army was now the enemy.

The Antalya soldiers looked grim, but the Lostco army didn't immediately attack. A single rider emerged from their ranks, a knight on a black horse with burning red hair.

"To Prince Jinofa of Antalya and his subordinates, I am Dandelion I, Emperor of the Lostco Empire."

Dandelion declared himself with a powerful, resonant voice. The Antalya soldiers, including Jinofa, listened intently.

"First, I express my respect and gratitude for your wise judgment and courageous actions during the stampede in our territory. You fought for humanity, transcending national boundaries. Your dedication and achievements will surely be remembered in history!"

As Dandelion spoke, the Lostco soldiers stomped their feet in unison, overwhelming the Antalya soldiers. When Dandelion raised his hand, the stomping stopped.

"However, you remain invaders threatening our land and people, and I must repel you. Therefore, I advise you to surrender. I will treat you generously!"

Dandelion raised his voice. The Antalya soldiers, wondering what to do, focused their pleading gazes on Jinofa. He stepped forward and replied.

"Your Majesty Dandelion, I am Prince Jinofa of Antalya. Your army's prowess lives up to its reputation, truly impressive. However, as you know, the stampede disaster is not over."

Jinofa was right. A stampede is a phenomenon where monsters overflow from a dungeon. If a dungeon that has caused a stampede is left alone, it will likely cause another stampede in a relatively short time.

"We may not be able to help next time. Therefore, I suggest you lead your army to conquer the dungeon. I assure you, we will not attack from behind. Please rest assured."

Dandelion, despite Jinofa's straightforward response, did not get angry but only smiled wryly. Indeed, for him, the dungeon that could cause another stampede was more important than the exhausted Antalya soldiers. However, he couldn't leave an enemy army in his territory. His response was clear.

"I say again, surrender. If not, I will attack!"

Dandelion declared. Jinofa closed his eyes briefly, then fixed a sharp gaze on him. He stepped back and told Kwald.

"Kwald, proceed as planned."

"Prince...!"

"Please send the surviving soldiers back to their homes. I entrust this to you."

With that, Jinofa ran forward. He lowered his posture, tensing his limbs, and ran. The borrowed spear was already broken, so he drew the twin swords from his waist and readied them.

Seeing Jinofa charge alone, Dandelion muttered, "Hm," with a smile of amusement. He drew his sword and readied it on horseback. When Jinofa leaped and attacked with his twin swords, Dandelion blocked them with his own sword.

"Ugh"

The hard resistance made Jinofa's face contort slightly. However, his true intention came next. He twisted his unstable body and kicked the black horse's face.

"Neigh!"

The horse reared and thrashed. No matter how well-trained, it was still an animal. Kicked in the face, it naturally thrashed. Dandelion tried to calm it by pulling the reins but gave up halfway and gracefully dismounted.

"Well done...!"

Dandelion smiled warlike. Jinofa, seeing this, felt a cold sweat on his back. Dandelion readied his sword and narrowed his eyes, releasing a pressure Jinofa had never experienced before.

"Guh..."

Jinofa's body tensed, but he managed to hold his ground with his twin swords. Dandelion smiled fiercely.

"Holy Mark...!"

Jinofa whispered, trembling. The Holy Mark was a sign of surpassing human limits and the source of Dandelion's nickname, the Flame Emperor. If his red hair were the source, he would be called the Red Emperor.

Jinofa swallowed. Even though he had eliminated the advantage of the horse, he knew it wasn't enough to win. However, he couldn't retreat. The lives and freedom of the soldiers depended on his efforts.

"Haahaaa!"

Jinofa shouted, encouraging himself. He kicked off the ground before being overwhelmed by Dandelion's pressure and charged forward, attacking recklessly.

Once he started moving, his mind was clear. His nerves and senses were heightened. Jinofa wielded his twin swords, leaving even the sound of the wind behind. However, he couldn't reach Dandelion. Dandelion avoided Jinofa's blades with smooth footwork or deflected them with skillful swordplay. Sparks flew each time their blades clashed.

Jinofa continued his attacks. Dandelion, of course, didn't just defend. He attacked Jinofa with twice the intensity. However, Jinofa didn't back down. He continued his relentless attacks, his techniques sharp and his sword movements precise. Even the elite soldiers of Lostco would struggle against him.

The intensity of their battle gradually increased. The heat came not from the combatants but from the spectators.

Jinofa and Dandelion were both serious from the start, but the Lostco soldiers, watching, expected Dandelion to overwhelm Jinofa quickly. Surprisingly, Jinofa was holding his own. They leaned forward, holding their breath, watching the battle.

The sun gradually set. Jinofa, thrown back, put some distance between himself and Dandelion. When he landed, his legs couldn't support his body, and he fell to his knees. He realized he was drenched in sweat. No matter how hard he breathed, he couldn't catch his breath.

"Enough now. Surrender."

Dandelion said again. He was still standing, breathing heavily but steady. Jinofa, on the other hand, couldn't even stand, his legs trembling. The advantage was clear.

"..."

"You fought well. Be proud. You fought the Flame Emperor on equal terms. Who would blame you for dropping your sword here?"

Dandelion spoke loudly. Indeed, the Lostco soldiers, who had been watching intently, nodded in agreement.

Jinofa glanced at the setting sun. He needed a little more time. He needed to stand up. He struck his trembling legs with the pommel of his sword.

"..."

Enduring the pain, Jinofa stood up. He straightened his back and readied his twin swords again. Dandelion, seeing this, widened his eyes and readied his sword in response.

They glared at each other silently. The intense swordplay from before seemed like a lie. As the tension rose, the sun finally disappeared behind the distant mountains. At that moment, Jinofa moved. He sprinted forward, closing the distance in an instant. Dandelion repositioned his sword horizontally and met Jinofa with a sharp thrust.

Jinofa, dodging the lightning-fast sword with a slight head movement, continued forward without slowing down. He suddenly crouched, as Dandelion quickly changed his thrust to a horizontal swing.

Their gazes clashed, and sparks flew. In the next instant, Dandelion's kick attacked Jinofa from below. Jinofa crossed his arms to defend, but his fatigue made it difficult to brace himself. His light body easily lost balance.

Dandelion didn't miss this opportunity. He let go of his sword, stepped forward, and struck Jinofa's groin with a powerful blow.

"Kah...?"

Jinofa's twin swords slipped from his hands, and he lost consciousness.