Chapter 85

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The Alter Kingdom Royal Guard Knights.

This is the name given to the knights who serve and protect the royal family.

To join the guard, one must have mastered the advanced knight class [Holy Knight].

Furthermore, every successive captain of the guard has held the position of the super-class [Heavenly Knight].

The [Heavenly Knight], as the captain of the guard, would ride the national treasure — the Radiant Jade Horse — and always lead the kingdom's knights.

Led by the strongest knight, these were the most noble of knights.

The Alter Kingdom Royal Guard Knights were the representative knights of the "Knight Kingdom" Alter.

◆

That was, in the past.

The current Royal Guard Knights are a thing of the past.

Because the glorious Alter Kingdom Royal Guard Knights were annihilated half a year ago, according to Dendrogram time.

This was due to the war with the Dryf Empire, also known as the First Knight War.

In this battle, the Royal Guard Knights fought a certain army and lost sixty percent of their total force.

Moreover, to be precise... it was a battle against a single enemy.

The enemy's name was [Demon General] Logan Godhart.

One of the three... at the time, two [Super-Class] in the Dryf Empire.

The [Demon General] is a super-class with aptitude for both frontline combat and army command.

He is also a demon summoner who can summon demons by offering sacrifices.

While his individual combat power is slightly inferior to the other [Super-Class] [Beast King], his power in a group is on par with the [Beast King].

“'I offer the many lives I possess'

'Open the gates of hell, and let the army crawl forth'

— [Call Devil Regiments]”

The [Demon General] used a large number of sacrifices in the war and summoned over three thousand demons.

The strong and man-eating demon army caused the kingdom to lose ten thousand soldiers.

Even the Royal Guard Knights, composed entirely of [Holy Knights], suffered over a hundred casualties.

In response to the increasing casualties, the Royal Guard Captain [Heavenly Knight] Langley Grandria charged through the swarm of demons and challenged the [Demon General], the leader and source of the demons, in a single combat.

Or rather, it was slightly different. It wasn't a single combat.

To be precise... he was the only one who managed to reach the [Demon General] alive.

A select few, including the then vice-captain who was at the level cap, attempted to break through.

As a result, only the [Heavenly Knight] managed to reach the [Demon General] alive.

The battle between the [Heavenly Knight] and the [Demon General] was intense.

The [Heavenly Knight], considered the strongest among the front-line knights, did not yield even to the [Demon General], who had the advantage due to [Embryo].

The demons led by the [Demon General] tried to assist their summoner, but all were defeated.

“'I cannot let the land of the kingdom be stained with more blood of my comrades! Logan Godhart, I will slay you and vanquish the demons!'”

“'Gah! Damn...!'”

In close combat, the [Heavenly Knight] had the upper hand over the [Demon General].

Perhaps, if things had continued, the [Heavenly Knight] might have won and eliminated the demon army.

But...

“'Hey, hey, General. Are you doing well? The [Beast King] has already taken care of the [Great Sage]? What? You haven't finished yet? You might even lose? That's quite a problem, General (laugh)'”

The sound of provoking the [Demon General] changed the situation — and the [Demon General]'s consciousness.

“'—Don't underestimate me, Franklin!!'”

Immediately after, the [Demon General] tore off one of the pieces of equipment he was wearing.

This was a special weapon he obtained as a reward for defeating a legendary [UBM].

“'I offer my only treasure!'

'With the eternal treasure as my sustenance, grant me the power for one time only!'

'Come forth, endless demon from the age of gods!'

— [Call Devil Zero Over]!!”

The [Demon General] summoned a demon of mythic power, equivalent to a mythic [UBM], by offering the MVP reward.

The introduction of this mythic-level power immediately reversed the balance of power, and the [Heavenly Knight] was killed.

At the same time, his beloved Radiant Jade Horse, a national treasure, was destroyed... and the kingdom lost its leader in both human and material terms.

After the conclusion of the battle, the [Great Professor] Mr. Franklin's modified monster army attacked the main camp where King Eldor Zeo Alter was seated.

Everyone in the main camp, including the king, became literal prey.

Thus, the Royal Guard Knights lost their comrades and leader to the [Demon General], and their master to the [Great Professor].

◆

After the ceasefire with the empire, during the reorganization of the Royal Guard Knights, Lilianna Grandria, the daughter of the deceased captain and the fifth strongest, took the position of vice-captain.

At the same time, she also took command of the Royal Guard Knights.

She became vice-captain because she was the strongest among the survivors.

However, she remained a vice-captain because she could not succeed the [Heavenly Knight].

All previous captains were [Heavenly Knights].

In other words, the kingdom determined that one must be a [Heavenly Knight] to be qualified as the captain of the Royal Guard Knights.

Lilianna is not weak, but she has not yet reached the super-class level.

The overall level of the knights has also declined, and the number of [Holy Knights] who can use the secret techniques [Grand Cross] and [Silver Light of Sanctity] can be counted on one hand.

Thus, the positions of captain and [Heavenly Knight] were left vacant.

Furthermore, their status fell because they failed to protect the monarch.

They faced criticism from both inside and outside, and the surviving Royal Guard Knights themselves felt ashamed of their failure.

As a result, many resigned, fled, or transferred to other knight orders, further reducing the size of the Royal Guard Knights.

At their peak, the Royal Guard Knights numbered three hundred, but now only about fifty remain.

However, those who remained had a strong will.

Was it the desire for revenge against the [Demon General], who had degraded their position, and the [Great Professor], who had taken the life of their lord?

No.

While that desire was present to some extent, it was a minor one compared to their core will.

What they truly desired was to "protect this time" — a wish they imposed upon themselves.

To protect the three princesses left by the monarch, the people of the Alter Kingdom, and to protect them with their lives this time.

That was what they desired.

Despite being in a difficult situation, they took it upon themselves to be knights.

◆

Therefore, they now charge.

With their whole being, with all their strength, even beyond their limits, they challenge the monster in front of them — the [RSK].

All for the sake of defeating the enemy in front of them and saving Princess Elizabeth.

Yes, they are shining like a page from a knight's tale.

“'Yes, they are shining. In the sense of a flickering flame, that is.'"

Before me — [Great Professor] Mr. Franklin — lie the Royal Guard Knights, reduced from fifty to even fewer.

Only a few are still moving.

The rest have been defeated by my [RSK].

[RSK] — a fleshy sphere covered in countless cracks, supported by ten tentacles, my specially modified monster.

An upper-level modification of [Spawn of the Evil God] and [Loper].

The tentacles have no particularly interesting functions.

I could have added them, but the original target was the target, so it would have been a waste.

Due to its complex structure, it cannot be created with the usual [Monster Creation].

However, I have [Super-Class Embryo]'s ultimate skill [Rebirth Shrine], so I could create it.

[RSK] is a hastily made monster from last night.

I needed to test whether it could survive and function properly.

The result is the pile of dead Royal Guard Knights.

“'The test is good. Yes, it's functioning properly. The attack function is a bit weak, but that's inevitable.'"

I didn't allocate capacity for power.

I thought about the pile of dead bodies, but the fallen Royal Guard Knights seem to be surprisingly alive.

I will finish them off with a final blow.

“'Sir Lindus! We will use the 'stacked' technique!'”

“'Understood!!'”

The still-moving Royal Guard Knights — Vice-Captain Lilianna and the third-strongest Lindus — seem to be doing something.

They moved to the 12 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions relative to the [RSK] — the positions for a crossfire.

“'Grand Cross!!'”

Immediately after, a light that pierces the sky sprang from the feet of the [RSK].

“'Hmm'”

What they unleashed was the secret technique of the [Holy Knights].

A torrent of holy light sprang from the ground in a cross shape, burning the enemy with its energy.

They synchronized their attacks to multiply the power.

This "stacked Grand Cross" is strong.

It can end a pure dragon in one hit, depending on the attribute.

Since [RSK] is functionally a pure dragon, it would normally be dangerous.

“'But it's meaningless, you see.'"

— The [RSK], after receiving the "stacked Grand Cross," stood there completely unharmed.

“'No... way...'”

Lindus groaned.

Of course, [RSK] has not a single burn mark on it.

It's as if it wasn't even scratched.

[RSK] waved its tentacles irritably and opened the cracks — eyelids — on the sphere to fire light projectiles at the two.

Yes, the test is good.

“'Sir Lindus, not yet! It's too early to give up!'”

“'...! Understood!!'”

And so they charge on horseback and start attacking again.

It seems they are not giving up yet.

Even though it's futile.

“'If you weren't [Holy Knights]... it might have been a match.'"

Well, if that were the case, it would be a different story.

At least, [Holy Knights], who primarily use holy attribute sword techniques, have no chance of winning.

Because I made it that way.

With [Material Barrier] to reduce physical damage, [Holy Attribute Nullification].

And for good measure, [Heat Nullification], [Poison Nullification], [Weakness Nullification], and [Intoxication Nullification].

And the ultimate "that."

The other defensive effects are just bonuses for "that."

Yes, "that" I prepared for him.

“'Hehehehehe'”

It's exciting.

I wonder what kind of face he will make.

“'I hope he comes soon.'"

I don't know if my wish reached the heavens.

A huge flame attacked [RSK] from the side.

It was a fierce flame shot — the equipment skill [Inferno Flame] of [Scorching Flame Gauntlet].

Of course, [RSK], with [Heat Nullification], takes no damage.

However, the important thing now is that [Inferno Flame] was fired.

In other words, he has arrived.

“'He's here... he's here, he's here, he's here!'”

A little later than planned, but he's here!

“'Are you okay?!'”

And he — Ray Sterling — arrives at the battlefield between [RSK] and the Royal Guard Knights.

Riding the Radiant Jade Horse, he looks like a page from a story.

— And that's what makes it the funniest.

“'Ray?! Why are you here...!'”

Why are you here?

Stupid question.

I know, having observed him, that he is a person who acts with the most genuine heroic motives.

If he sees someone in trouble, he will try to help, regardless of his own abilities or the risks involved.

So, of course, in this situation tonight... he couldn't help but come here.

“'I don't like stories where children are kidnapped.'"

See?

“'...And I came to knock him out, too.'”

“'Ah, you thought that far. Interesting. Very interesting.'"

I knew he doesn't consider his own abilities or risks, but did he really come to defeat me... a [Super-Class]?

He is looking at me.

Is there hostility? Hatred? Irritation?

No, it's more pure... anger.

“'Haha'”

I couldn't help but laugh strangely.

He is very serious.

In this [Infinite Dendrogram], I have only seen a few people as serious as him: that child, [Death King], and the me in the mirror.

Indeed, the Master of Maiden.

Or rather, because he is such a person, he is the Master of Maiden.

Very good.

I like it.

— It will be the most satisfying to crush him.

“'Flamingo, I'm going to pay back the debt from yesterday, too.'”

“'Haha, then I'll pay back the debt from last week. Puppy-ears boy.'"

Welcome, Ray Sterling.

[RSK] has been waiting for you.

To be continued

The next update will be tomorrow at 21:00.