Chapter 77

EP.77 Side Story, The Apostate (5)

Kail Toven looked ahead.

The disaster leading the monsters was approaching. With every step she took, Kail took a step back.

'A way.'

He had to find a way to hunt the disaster.

Kail looked around. Sara and Remia came into his view. They were no different from him, trembling with fear.

"..."

Kail wasn't looking for them.

He turned his head a little more. In such situations, there was always someone who found the answer at the most critical moments.

Kail's gaze landed on Laniel.

He was staggering, dragging one foot as if his leg had been severed, heading towards the corner of the cliff.

Thud.

Standing at the edge of the cliff, he knelt and placed his hand on the ground. His broken arm lay on the ground, while his good arm stretched out towards Kail.

Smash.

A shockwave shook the earth.

The edge of the cliff where Laniel stood couldn't withstand the impact and collapsed. As he fell into the black plain, Laniel cast another spell.

Chain.

Restriction.

Chains shot out from Laniel's outstretched hand.

The chains wrapped around Remia, Sara, and Kail. Laniel roughly swung his arm, which was still holding the chains.

Swish!

The chained ones were pulled towards Laniel. The speed wasn't enough. Kail quickly made his decision and kicked off the ground, running.

"Remia!"

At Kail's shout, Remia embraced Sara. Kail kicked off the ground, grabbed them, and leaped over the cliff with Laniel.

Crack!

The dragon with a carapace bit into the spot where Kail had just been standing. They narrowly escaped the range. There was no time to be surprised by this fact.

Thud.

Kail landed beside Laniel.

The falling speed was alarming. The ground was approaching quickly. Watching the ground get closer, Kail shouted.

"Laniel!"

"I know, even without you calling me."

Laniel, with his broken arm, clapped his hands. The spell was cast on the pile of rocks he had just destroyed.

Deceleration.

The speed of the falling rocks decreased.

Falling slowly, they looked up at the sky. Dust rose from the cliff where they had just been standing.

Boom, Boom!

The cliff was shaking.

The watchtower of Rodimel Fortress was shattered and collapsing. Cracks appeared on the cliff as the fortress crumbled.

Crack!

Like a dragon burrowing through the earth, the carapace dragon emerged, devouring the cliff. Watching this, Kail broke out in a cold sweat.

'...To cut that?'

He could cut one.

But to face five at once, it was impossible.

It was beyond reason.

Fear overwhelmed him, just like when he first encountered the ancient lich Skeval and the Black Storm Belial. Kail slowly turned his head.

"..."

There was Laniel.

He was holding his broken arm, glaring at the sky. He was looking at the apostate standing on the crumbling cliff.

There was no fear in his eyes.

They were the eyes of a magician always seeking answers.

"Laniel."

Kail asked.

"Can you handle that?"

Laniel answered.

"I'll find a way. Somehow."

2.

The ground shook.

A loud crash was heard. The stench of the monsters filled the air.

The knights gathered in the tent sensed the change.

Hooooon!

The horn sounded throughout the encampment.

The knights, sensing the change, began to leave the tents one by one. They faced the monsters.

"What... is that?"

The cliff where Rodimel Fortress stood was collapsing. Among the falling rocks, a giant monster was rampaging. The fog that had covered the fortress descended onto the plain.

Monsters.

There were so many monsters that they filled the plain. Watching the wave of monsters spread across the horizon, the knights blinked.

They wanted to believe it was a lie.

But the stench of the monsters reminded them that this was reality.

Thud.

Someone approached the knights, stepping on the rain-soaked grass. The knights looked at them. There were people walking towards them, with the rising sun at their backs.

The hero and his party.

They stood in front of the knights, covered in mud. Seeing their appearance and the state of Rodimel Fortress... the answer was clear.

'The plan has failed.'

The knights' faces darkened.

* * *

There was still some time before Gletus, who led the monsters, arrived. Using the brief time given, Laniel treated his injuries.

'The injuries are unbelievable.'

Sara frowned.

She knew how many enhancement spells Laniel usually cast on himself.

Despite those spells, Laniel's arm was completely twisted.

'He only blocked one attack.'

There were five such monsters.

It was impossible to think they could win. Sara's face darkened.

"Laniel."

Sara, who was healing Laniel's arm, spoke.

"We... should we run?"

"What did you say?"

Her fingers trembled.

"Let's run. Can't you see what's happening outside?"

Laniel slowly turned his head. He frowned and asked.

"What are you saying, Laniel?"

"Those knights out there are holding on, expecting us to do something. They are different from us. They will die if the disaster moves a finger."

He said.

"Are you suggesting we abandon all those knights and run from this battlefield? Sacrifice all of them?"

"I, we are the heroes."

"Heroes... isn't surviving more important?"

"Yeah, it is. It is important."

His voice was cold.

"Heroes are important because they have to face the disasters. They have to be symbols of victory."

That's what heroes are.

Heroes must never retreat.

They must always be symbols of victory.

"Besides, even if we sacrifice the knights, we can't just walk away from here. The entire front line will collapse. If we can't stop it here, it will be hard to shake off the pursuit, right?"

To run, someone has to buy time.

Muttering this, Laniel asked.

"The knights aren't enough. Who will buy that time?"

"..."

"We will have to. To save the important heroes, the rest of us will have to sacrifice ourselves."

"But... that's..."

"You don't want to, right?"

Laniel sneered.

"Then we have to capture it, damn it."

He released Sara's collar.

While Sara rubbed her neck, Laniel staggered towards Kail.

"Hey, Kail."

"I'm listening."

He extended his arm.

"As you can see, my arm is in this state, so I can't keep up with you this time."

"..."

"Instead, I'll use another method."

He spread his fingers.

"15 seconds."

He mimicked snapping his fingers and said.

"I'll stop Gletus's movements for exactly 15 seconds."

Laniel asked.

"Can you do it?"

"There are five carapace dragons guarding. Ignoring the fog, it's impossible to kill all five and cut Gletus in 15 seconds."

"How many can you handle?"

"Two is the limit."

"Alright, that's enough."

He nodded and left the tent.

"Where are you going, Laniel?"

"To find someone to take care of the remaining three."

Laniel moved his steps.

Towards the tent where the Sword Master, Kuntel, was.

3.

The Sword Master, Kuntel, glared at Laniel, who had suddenly appeared in the tent.