Chapter 95

The S-rank Holy Knights of the Sacred Grinia are, in other words, Awakened Magus Knights. The S-rank title among Holy Knights is only bestowed upon those who have awakened.

Garan, who was ordered by the Church to assist the Revolutionary Army in the 'Floating City,' was one of the few Awakened Magus Knights. He had awakened about 150 years ago and possessed a relatively rare Creation-type magus armor.

Creation-type magus armor creates matter, consuming a vast amount of magical power. Once materialized, it doesn't require much to maintain, but redeployment is difficult.

However, Awakened Magus Knights have overcome this.

Awakened Magus Knights can recover their magical power without limit, which should be restored through sufficient sleep and food. While there is a limit to the amount of magical power they can handle at once, there is no limit to the amount they can recover. Even with a Creation-type magus armor that consumes a large amount of magical power, they can materialize it almost without limit.

This was Garan's strength.

"Garan, I leave it to you."

"Please leave it to me. Have you prepared the long-range magicians and magus armor users as planned?"

"Of course. Five hundred in ten groups."

Riallo, who led the Revolutionary Army, had dark circles under his eyes. He had gathered soldiers capable of long-range attacks and organized them in a single night. He and his close aides were clearly sleep-deprived.

But that was necessary to win.

Breaking through the ice fortress shown by the Imperial Army and preparing for their counterattack required strength. The fact that the fortress could move was almost a violation of the rules. Therefore, Riallo decided to borrow Garan's power.

(Now I owe a favor to the Sacred Grinia.)

Borrowing Garan, an Awakened Magus Knight, was intended as insurance.

Originally, the Sacred Grinia had lent him as a reinforcement to 'strengthen the forces.' In other words, if he wasn't used, there would be no favor. However, the Sacred Grinia had anticipated this.

They knew that the Great Empire of Subarokia possessed an Awakened Magus Knight as their trump card. They knew that numbers were meaningless against a talent that appeared once in several hundred million and a destiny that occurred once in several hundred million.

"Then I will head to the front lines. Riallo, command from the main camp."

"I understand. I pray for your success."

It was unclear whether prayer was necessary against a Holy Knight. An S-rank Holy Knight, who had received the favor of the God of El Magia to the fullest, was already blessed by the gods without needing to pray.

But Riallo, who did not believe in the God of El Magia, was so desperate that he prayed.

"Then let's go. It's time to show the power of my god."

Garan advanced a bit and released his magical power.

The Creation-type magus armor that creates matter consumes a vast amount of magical power but can create sturdy structures. Even without direct attack capabilities, it has strategic value as a single person.

Especially for an Awakened Magus Knight.

The air trembled with magical power, and ten creations were born.

Garan of the 'Floating City' created a floating castle, as the name suggests.

The castle had no offensive capabilities.

It was merely a massive structure that defied the laws of gravity. However, the situation changed when combined with long-range attack magicians and magus armor users.

Attacks from the ground couldn't reach it, and it could annihilate the enemy from above.

"The great war. I will end it."

The large Holy Knight muttered.

◆◆◆

"That's... what it is, then."

The Ice Princess Palace recognized the familiar magus armor and nodded to herself. She was the oldest Awakened Magus Knight in the Great Empire of Subarokia and knew all the Awakened Magus Knights of the Sacred Grinia.

She immediately understood that the ten floating castles that appeared in the Revolutionary Army's camp belonged to the Holy Knight Garan.

"Ice Princess Palace, what is that?"

"Stay alert. It seems this battle won't end easily."

"What do you mean...?"

"There's no time for unnecessary talk. Issue the same orders as yesterday immediately."

General Adil of the First Regiment followed the Ice Princess Palace without hesitation, despite his higher rank. He didn't defy the oldest magus knight who had supported the empire for 280 years.

The Ice Princess Palace activated her magus armor, creating an ice fortress. The massive fortress, which extended north and south, became even more solid with Adil's magus armor. Adil, who could create artillery platforms, combined with the fortress to unleash immense power.

The vanguard was the Ice Princess Palace's ice knights, and the support fire came from Adil's artillery platforms and long-range attack magus armor users. The formation was perfect.

"It seems... no, we need to get serious. The fools who believe their magus armor is the favor of the gods don't understand whom they have angered."

Magical power materialized naturally, and a cold air spread.

Even General Adil, who had survived the great war, was intimidated by the overwhelming power of the Ice Princess Palace.

"Let's start by knocking them down."

The Ice Princess Palace's magus armor used to create only ice structures. As a Creation-type, it had strategic value. However, ice was difficult to handle.

But the essence of the Ice Princess Palace's magus armor was not construction.

It was the creation of a nation centered around the Ice Princess Palace as the queen.

In other words, her magus armor could materialize the necessary structures and citizens of a nation in ice. In the past, when her magical power was limited, this was challenging, but now, as an Awakened Magus Knight, there were no limits.

She could freely create any type of nation.

Make the structures modest.

Make the structures sturdy.

Create ice soldiers.

Give them ice horses to form cavalry.

Even enlarge the soldiers themselves.

"Change of plan! All magus armor users, retreat behind the ice fortress!"

Adil issued orders immediately upon seeing the swelling ice soldiers.

A massive body could become a weapon by its mass alone. A single strike, shaking the ground and tearing the air, could crush the floating castles. The ice created by the Ice Princess Palace was as strong as metal, easily destroying one of the floating castles.

Naturally, the magicians and magus armor users inside the floating castles fell.

Unless they could fly, death was certain.

"Be careful! Focus all attacks on long-range. Retreat."

As a general, Adil had to minimize unnecessary casualties. The Ice Princess Palace would win at any cost, even if it meant sacrificing lives, but Adil couldn't do that.

Adil created artillery platforms with his magus armor to prevent the enemy from advancing, helping his allies retreat and blocking the enemy's advance.

"General! What about those who retreated?"

"Just retreat. This battle is ours. There's no more work for the regular soldiers."

"...I see."

The scene from the ice fortress was a one-sided battle.

Infinite ice soldiers and cavalry were overwhelming the Revolutionary Army. The enlarged ice soldiers had already destroyed three floating castles.

Truly a one-man army.

Or a one-woman nation.

Stopping the Ice Princess Palace was impossible. Even allies within her range would be eliminated. Even the excellent magus knights of the Great Empire of Subarokia would be obstacles.

The magus knights, who received orders, retreated.

Their enhanced movement abilities from magical power allowed them to retreat quickly. The relatively small number of the Great Empire's army made the rapid retreat possible.

"Finally."

The Ice Princess Palace released even more magical power.

She had been holding back until now.

The ice fortress became even more solid and larger, and more ice soldiers appeared. A massive army covered the ground, attacking the Revolutionary Army.

The ice soldiers, ice cavalry, and ice giants continued their advance, killing all visible enemies and automatically repairing themselves when destroyed. As inorganic matter, they felt no pain or fear, only loyal soldiers fighting for the Ice Princess Palace.

"We've won."

Adil couldn't help but say that.

◆◆◆

Myriad Truth and Enma Blackblade were walking on a road.

It was an odd combination, but they could pass as an old man and his grandson. However, it was wartime. Walking alone was dangerous, especially on a road that could easily become a military route. While the military wouldn't kill civilians indiscriminately, it was still dangerous.

But for these two, it was easy.

In fact, being found by the Revolutionary Army was what they wanted. Of course, with their perception abilities, the Revolutionary Army would be the ones to find them first.

"There they are."

Using a Familiar-type magus armor, they located the Revolutionary Army's camp. Enma Blackblade's reconnaissance confirmed that part of the Allied Forces was stationed there.

Such reconnaissance using magus armor was common.

They confirmed the coordinates and applied them to various strategies.

"Then I'll leave it to you. The location is here."

"Hmm, I see."

Myriad Truth confirmed and looked in that direction.

Then he activated his magus armor.

"I've found them."

His magus armor could observe the world in numerical form.

Not just the visible parts, but also the invisible parts could be analyzed and predicted numerically. This was the essence of the Eye of Truth. He could completely numerically analyze phenomena in this world.

With this, he could activate perfect magic.

"Let's use wind to avoid damaging the road."

He constructed a magic circle with magical power.

The massive magic circle covering the sky was still expanding. It was undoubtedly a forbidden spell. But the magic circle was still expanding, so large that its full extent couldn't be seen.

Of course, the center of the magic circle was the Revolutionary Army's camp.

To eliminate the people in the camp with one strike, Myriad Truth used his special move.

"It's complete. Watch carefully, Enma Blackblade. Divine Spell: 'Realm of Death'!"

The magic circle glowed.

Then the 15th Tier Magic was activated.

◆◆◆

A group of the Revolutionary Army had seized a road in the Great Empire of Subarokia.

Control of logistics was crucial in war, and blockades meant defeat.

"The eastern side is just the framework."

"What about the others?"

"Everything is going smoothly. The defense and surveillance are perfect."

The group occupying the road had no intention of advancing. War was not just about fighting; it was also about applying pressure through occupation and securing supply routes.

The less glamorous behind-the-scenes work often determined the outcome of the war.

Those skilled in civil engineering in the Revolutionary Army were gathered to transform the camp into a solid fortress. This made it difficult for the enemy to reclaim the road.

"Are supplies sufficient?"

"More than enough. The countries provided them at a low cost."

Overthrowing the Great Empire of Subarokia was the dream of all vassal states, tired of being exploited.

At first, the Revolutionary Army was thought to be quickly crushed, but now all the countries supported them militarily, materially, and politically.

"I hope the enemy doesn't come... but if they do, I hope we are ready."

Of course, the Great Empire's punitive forces, except for the First Regiment, had been annihilated. They didn't think the empire had the resources to attack this far.

But they underestimated the Great Empire.

"What is that!"

Someone shouted.

"A magic circle... in the sky!"

"Wow, it's huge."

"Is it going to activate here?"

"We need to... run..."

It was too late to panic.

They didn't understand the immense power hidden by the Great Empire of Subarokia.

They didn't think a single person could have the strength of an entire army.

Because it was unrealistic.

"Fucking country..."

That was the commander's last words.

The area around the Revolutionary Army's camp was covered by an air barrier. The air barrier was only one meter thick, a thin wall of gas. It seemed fragile.

However, when the air in a region over ten kilometers in diameter was compressed into a one-meter-thick barrier, it became a solid wall.

The disappearance of air inside the barrier.

In other words, all living beings died.

Even if they used magic to create air, the generated air would be immediately absorbed by the barrier. This was the 15th Tier Wind Magic: 'Realm of Death.'

A rare forbidden or divine spell that killed only living beings without damaging the environment.

While the Ice Princess Palace was annihilating the Revolutionary Army, Myriad Truth's magic destroyed another group of the Revolutionary Army.