Chapter 95: Ghost Shadow (5)

A place far from the scene of the incident.

Edwin Hector, with a stern expression, responded to Thompson's voice coming through the magical communicator.

"Thompson, stay calm. The enemies are using the darkness to their advantage because they are outnumbered. Keep your guard up and calmly explain the situation to me."

[The enemy has appeared in the area assigned to the 1st Company of the 2nd Battalion. No matter how much I check, I can't see the enemy. Hector's soldiers are dying one after another, but only the bodies remain. I can't find any trace of the enemy. Commander, what should we do? We can't do anything against a ghost with no form!]

His voice trembled.

Even without seeing his face, I could imagine Thompson's pale, frightened expression.

‘Thompson is an Aura Seer. If even someone with senses far superior to an ordinary person can't find any trace, is it even possible, no matter how dark the space is?’

No.

It's impossible.

Aura Seers can see through the darkness.

Eyes imbued with mana can pinpoint the enemy's location, which is why I chose to climb the mountain even after sunset.

Yet, Roman Dmitri's figure could not be found anywhere.

Not only the 1st Company, but reports from other areas also clearly indicated that the remnants of Cairo were roaming the mountains.

‘Is it a possibility of magic?’

No.

There are spells like Invisibility and Hide that can make the body transparent, but Roman Dmitri is not a mage, and even if he were, magic can't be used frequently.

A one-time technique.

Once used, it requires a significant amount of time to recharge, yet Roman Dmitri, as Thompson described, acted as if he were a ghost with no physical form.

Hector's soldiers are dying.

This means the enemy has revealed its form, and even after the effects of the spell have worn off, it has disappeared back into the darkness.

I can't understand it.

Roman Dmitri.

The more I learn, the more I feel like I'm sinking into a quagmire.

Edwin Hector has experienced many situations, but this war constantly tests him.

I don't know the answer.

But, Edwin Hector spoke with a steady voice.

"As time passes, the enemy will inevitably reach their physical limits. According to our calculations, the number of soldiers who have joined Roman Dmitri is less than two hundred. Thompson, don't be deceived by the darkness. We have the advantage, and if we remain calm, we will certainly discover the enemy's true form. I will lead the troops there. If you surround the area where you were attacked and use magical flares to illuminate the area, the enemy will have no way to escape."

Based on objective calculations.

Edwin Hector was confident in the favorable situation.

He was not swayed by the fear unfolding before him but faced the reality of the rapidly changing situation.

He sent a signal.

Just as he was about to move with his troops.

[...Commander! It seems the ghost of Cairo is targeting me!]

Through the communicator.

Thompson's voice, drenched in despair, was heard.

* * *

Thump.

Thompson raised his sword and guarded the area.

The soldiers around him were quickly disappearing.

As the darkness drew closer, Thompson was certain he was the ghost's target.

"1st Company soldiers, listen! Confirm each other's positions and form a defensive formation! The enemy is targeting our lives. Don't be drawn into the darkness; stand back-to-back and defend against the enemy's attacks!"

He shouted loudly.

His arm trembled.

Aura Seer.

Though he had reached a superhuman level that ordinary people could not approach, he was still human.

‘It's not just the 1st Company here. Our allies are forming a tight defensive line, so this area will be completely surrounded within three minutes. There's no need to be afraid. As the commander said, the situation is in our favor.’

Swallow.

He swallowed hard.

The magical communicator was left on.

To immediately relay any situation, he firmly secured the magical communicator to his waist.

Then.

Crack.

The flame disappeared.

About 5 meters from where Thompson was standing, a soldier was seen being dragged into the darkness.

He was certain.

The dark entity had appeared right in front of him, and Thompson instinctively summoned mana.

‘This is my chance!’

Boom.

The explosion of aura.

It swept through the space.

To prevent the enemy from escaping, he quickly moved through the space and swung his sword at the darkness that had taken the soldier.

Swoosh!

It cut through the air.

There was no sensation on the sword.

Although he thought he had followed the enemy's movements, he could not see the enemy, and only the body of the fallen soldier was visible.

The soldier had died with his eyes wide open.

Seeing the face that had not accepted his own death, Thompson's expression turned pale.

‘Oh no.’

One sweep.

He broke formation.

Realizing that the soldiers who were following him had fallen behind, Thompson quickly withdrew his sword and tried to retreat.

At that moment.

Thompson's body stiffened.

In the pitch-black space.

A dark figure slowly walked out.

The dark figure.

It was Roman Dmitri.

In the moonlight, his face was covered in the blood of the enemies he had scattered.

"Hunting enemies in the darkness, this kind of situation often occurs."

His voice was low.

Thompson couldn't scream.

The sword, stretched out, seemed unprepared to attack, but the blood dripping from it proved that it could attack at any time.

His hair stood on end.

Thompson raised the aura he could muster to the maximum, preparing for Roman Dmitri's sudden attack.

Rustle.

He stepped on a leaf.

The sound was heard.

Until now, there had been no sound, but now, the presence of a human in the darkness was clear.

Roman sneered.

"An invisible enemy. The illusion that you can win just by finding the enemy. You, who were just terrified, immediately jumped into the darkness as soon as you saw me. Why did you make such a mistake? Did you really think that by finding me, you could easily subdue me?"

Thompson glanced around.

The soldiers were farther away than he thought.

In the end, to survive, he had to rely on himself.

‘Let's see who wins.’

He covered his ears.

He was not swayed by meaningless words.

Watching Roman slowly approach, he pushed off the ground as soon as the enemy was within range.

Boom.

"Die!"

He was fast.

The aura exploded again.

Though it was only a 1-star aura, the ability that transcended human limits seemed capable of slicing through Roman's body in one go.

And.

It was an illusion.

In Thompson's mind, he thought the attack had hit, but when he regained his senses, a burning pain enveloped him.

Swoosh!

"Argh!"

Blood splattered.

His chest was sliced open, and the intense pain caused Thompson's body to collapse.

A single strike.

Thompson realized that with his skills, he could never defeat Roman Dmitri.

The skin on his chest was torn to shreds, but he immediately jumped up and ran without looking back.

To survive, he had to run.

He screamed to alert the soldiers to his situation.

But it seemed a Silence spell had been used, as his voice did not transmit.

And.

Stumble.

Pain like a bolt of lightning, and his balance was lost.

Roman's sword had cut through Thompson's Achilles tendon, and when he tried to block it with his hand, his wrist was severed.

Thud.

The wrist fell to the ground.

Thompson's face turned ashen.

Trembling, he dragged himself along the ground with his remaining hand, but Roman was already in front of him.

Roman extended his hand.

Thompson, bracing for death, squeezed his eyes shut.

He wasn't killed.

Roman checked his waist and removed the firmly secured magical communicator, bringing it to his mouth.

"Can you hear my voice?"

Through the communicator.

Roman sought out Hector's commander.

There was no response.

Despite the recent conversation with Thompson, only a cold silence echoed through the communicator.

Roman spoke.

"I know what you are thinking. Attacking the southern front simultaneously to divert attention and then occupying the warp gate. It's not a plan you prepared in a day or two. Even if Cairo was complacent, your plan was perfect. But why did you go to such lengths to occupy the southern front? Hector, a kingdom where the people are starving due to an unprecedented famine, why did you risk your lives to occupy the southern front, which offers no tangible benefits?"

Light flickered around.

The soldiers checked the area but did not notice what Roman was doing nearby.

"There is only one answer. To solve the country's problems through war. You are clearly trying to take the southern front as a hostage to negotiate a large sum with the Cairo royal family. If that wasn't the case, there would be no need to go to such lengths. The reason the remaining Hector soldiers in the rear are preparing for defense is to show a clear threat to the Cairo royal family."

He laughed.

The enemy's plan was perfectly executed, but it was crumbling due to his existence.

"The problem is that I know your plan. You don't have time. With the inadequate supplies, you can't hold out for more than three months. I have no intention of letting you proceed with your plans. I will resist to the end and interfere with your plans."

This communication.

Was thoroughly intentional.

The Hector Kingdom actually had little time left.

They had endured countless trials and errors to minimize the margin of error and chose to occupy the warp gate to end the war quickly.

The perfect plan exposed their weakness.

If Roman hadn't mentioned the weakness, they might still think they had time, but by directly communicating, he pushed the Hector Kingdom to the brink.

‘The Hector Kingdom has no choice. Therefore, the truth they have been ignoring will make them anxious.’

His existence.

Can no longer be overlooked.

With a clear understanding of their intentions, how can they negotiate with the Cairo royal family?

It was a dead end.

If they couldn't deal with Roman.

They would crumble like a sandcastle.

‘With this, my goal is achieved.’

Whether the enemy retreats.

Or fights to the end.

Roman's communication created a variable.

With this single communication, the Hector Kingdom could never return to a better situation than before.

At that moment.

[Are you Roman Dmitri?]

Edwin Hector.

The one who had been silent all along finally responded.