Chapter 58

Even though he had struggled so much, Worm could only be dumbfounded that he was able to fall asleep for about two hours. His unshaven jaw was covered with stubble, and his cheeks were slightly gaunt.

Descending from the keep, he passed through the corner where the refugees huddled together. The sight of an injured man groaning, an old man staring blankly at the sky, and a mother soothing her child passed by the edge of his vision. Most of those he saw would be left behind in Dandueg Castle early the next morning. The outcome was as clear as day.

He could think about it after it was over. Worm tried to switch his thoughts, but he felt a chill at what might happen to him after everything was over.

The soldiers he passed by seemed unusually busy. Worm suspected they knew about the operation, but it seemed different.

Worm noticed something was off. The noise from the castle wall passage, where battles had raged day and night, had disappeared. His heart pounded like a rapid drumbeat.

"Hey, look at that!!"

A soldier pointed and shouted.

Rushing up the castle wall passage and reaching the rooftop of the gate tower, Worm was taken aback. The monsters that had surrounded the area had suddenly retreated.

Neither the archers' volleys, the magic soldiers' suppression fire, nor the wide-area attacks had been able to stop their rampage. The scene was beyond description.

"Is this a joke? The monsters are retreating."

"Did we win? Did we really win?"

Not a few soldiers cried out in joy, calling it a miracle. The more perceptive ones turned pale. Worm felt a sense of foreboding, like the calm before a tsunami.

"Don't let your guard down, don't miss a thing!!"

While trying to confirm the situation, Worm saw something unbelievable.

"Is the mountain moving?"

"That's ridiculous, it's impossible."

"No, no, it's definitely moving."

The mountain shouldn't move. Worm wanted to believe it was an illusion, but the surrounding soldiers had noticed it too.

"What is that, the mountain is on fire?"

"It's not a mountain, it's not a mountain!"

"Ah, God, it's a 'Dragon,' a dragon has come!!"

One of the soldiers hit the nail on the head. The mighty "Great Dragon" was heading straight for Dandueg Castle.

"What is that?"

Worm struggled to suppress the feeling that all his strength was about to drain away. Compared to this, a dragon might as well be a slightly larger lizard. A disaster with a will, clearly visible to the naked eye.

A living catastrophe, over 40 meters tall, with magic power that violated the surrounding air. Its scales, if they could be called that, were like exposed lava, exuding a sense of malevolence and untouchable mystique.

With every step, red-hot debris spewed from the ground.

"Impossible... of all things, one of the Five Great Dragons, the Flame Emperor Dragon!!"

"Flame Emperor Dragon!? It hasn't been sighted in 150 years. Why would such a monster come?"

"It must have been awakened by the rampage."

Among the dragons, the rulers of the ecosystem, only those at the pinnacle were called Emperors and revered with fear. Even Worm, who was unfamiliar with monsters, knew this.

In the past, only two dragons had been defeated, with the three major countries risking their very existence. The victories were largely due to the "Collapsing Giant" and the "Great Spirit Magic."

Throughout history, from the mythological era, reports of great disasters caused by dragons had destroyed countries, alliances, and empires that had sought dominance. The natural enemy of humanity had turned its fangs toward the Haiselk Empire.

Even if the northern countries united and gathered heroes, it was uncertain whether they could stand against such a foe. Dandueg Castle had only 20,000 regular and militia troops.

"This is ridiculous. Contact headquarters immediately."

"Should we evacuate immediately!?"

"Prepare the ballistae..."

"Will that even work against such a thing?"

Soldiers rushed through the castle wall passage. The operation had to be moved up. Worm, who was sensitive to magic, had already caught the forewarning.

"Get away, get away from the castle!!"

"What are you doing, Sir Knight?"

"What, the magic power is swirling."

Worm's voice sounded almost hysterical. The air, the magic power, was changing. The massive jaw opened, and the magic power that distorted space was being compressed.

"Is that...?"

The visible magic power waves spread from the Flame Emperor Dragon, burning the earth and melting the ground.

"The breath is coming!!"

The ultimate attack unique to dragons, capable of piercing the earth, splitting the sea, and breaking the sky, was the unparalleled breath of the dragon.

Worm took refuge against the strongest pillar of the gate tower, curling up like an infant and fully deploying his magic barrier.

Soldiers sought shelter in the gate tower or the shadows of buildings to increase their chances of survival.

A few seconds after taking defensive positions, a blinding light was released.

Even Worm, with the highest fire resistance, could feel the heat through his magic barrier, and his skin burned. Debris and dust covered his body.

The ringing in his ears and the disorientation from his inner ear made Worm feel like he was drowning on the ground. Debris repeatedly struck his armor. His limbs felt numb. Finally able to move, Worm got up from the debris.

Burnt, charred remains of human forms were scattered everywhere. No one who retained their original form or was still breathing could be found.

"Oh, this can't be..."

The keep that had been directly hit was a gruesome sight. It had been hollowed out in a circular shape, literally disappearing. The surrounding area was engulfed in flames.

Falling debris crushed fleeing refugees.

The breath, which had evaporated the earth, melted a corner of the castle wall like butter and disappeared the mountains behind it before finally subsiding.

"Headquarters..."

The headquarters, where the brigade commander and battalion commanders were stationed, had been completely annihilated. In a single strike, a third of the Haiselk soldiers and refugees were lost, and the castle was on the verge of dysfunction.

The Flame Emperor Dragon, the cause of all this, ignored Dandueg Castle and continued its invasion toward the mainland, with the arrogance of having merely blown away a bothersome insect.

"Oh, what is this... what is this world coming to!! What the hell is happening?"

Unable to hold back, Worm pounded the gate tower and wept. His lips bled, and the taste of blood spread in his mouth.

Images of his former comrades in battle and those he had spent time with at the Sarajevo fortress flashed through Worm's mind.

"Ayane, Maya, Moritz!!"

Regaining his senses, Worm left the castle wall and hurried to the treatment center where his protectees and subordinates were likely to be.

"Help, me, please..."

"Oh, no, no, no..."

Those with crushed limbs, those with severe burns who couldn't even stand, and those who were unharmed were few. Many needed rescue.

Withdrawing his hand, Worm kicked off the ground. He abandoned them. There were too many who had no hope of survival, and the priority was clear.

The sound of a child sobbing, the screams of soldiers, lingered in Worm's ears. As he approached his destination, the number of injured and burned people increased, looking like the walking dead.

Fortunately, the treatment center had escaped the breath's destruction.

"Move back!!"

The treatment center was crowded with people. Burned individuals, those holding their families, all cried out for help.

Outside the walls, countless patients lined up, and many had already died. Those whose skin had fused with their clothes and equipment groaned with each movement.

Worm squeezed through the gaps between the injured and entered. The beds were all occupied, and even the unhygienic floor was filled with patients.

The large room, which should have been ventilated, was permeated with the smell of death, assaulting the nostrils. Recovery mages cast spells diligently, and medical soldiers ran around the room.

At the center was Ayane. Her apron was stained with blood and flesh, and her face showed signs of fatigue, but her hands did not stop.

Relieved, Worm exhaled, and Ayane noticed him.

"Sir Worm, are you alright!?"

Though dirty, Worm was unharmed.

"The gate tower provided a shadow, so I'm fine. Gather the able-bodied soldiers, and we'll evacuate immediately. Headquarters is destroyed, and the castle walls are lost. The monsters will soon attack."

Worm planned the evacuation. Though he had no experience in group command, with the help of Moritz and the surviving squad leaders, he could gather and lead a platoon or, with some effort, a company.

They needed to stay as far away from the Flame Emperor Dragon's invasion route as possible. The specific evacuation destination could be considered while fleeing.

"…I can't."

Worm froze at Ayane's words. Perhaps she didn't understand the situation.

"I'll protect you on the way. This place is no longer safe."

"What about the injured and the people of Myard?"

"They're not even Clayst, they're Myardians."

"The country doesn't matter. I want to save them."

"What nonsense, do you want to die? Don't get drunk on self-sacrifice. Follow me obediently!!"

Worm raised his voice, drew his sword, and burned the floor. The surrounding area fell silent at his sudden aggression. Worm grabbed her shoulder and tried to drag her.

But Ayane looked at him resolutely, undaunted.

"…I don't want to die. I'm afraid of swords and monsters. But I can't abandon the people in front of me."

Her body trembled, but her eyes were filled with resolve. It was easy to dismiss her words as nonsense.

"…Ugh"

What a ridiculous story. The girl he thought was weak had a firmer belief than Worm, who claimed duty and country and abandoned people.

"The clock can't be turned back. It's… too late."

Worm, who had fallen silent, looked at where headquarters had been. Many battalion and company commanders had gathered for pre-retreat adjustments, but it was more like they had disappeared. No one could have survived.

Some soldiers were trying to withdraw, but nearly half, who had not been informed, were unable to move. The correct action would be to gather as many soldiers as possible and retreat from the city.

The brigade was in a semi-destroyed state, and the command system had collapsed. Worm was not the only one in a panic. Even as a mere guardian, people were gathering around him.

"Sir Knight, what should we do?"

"There are no battalion commanders left."

The brave Haiselk soldiers, who had fought valiantly against the enemy, were now in a panic, waiting for orders. The initial command should be to retreat early. Even if more than half of the soldiers and civilians were lost—

Worm, about to speak, felt his sleeve being grabbed. A crying girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"Please, help them."

Her voice was like a whisper. Don't think, don't entertain illusions. What can a small human do?

The injured, the soldiers, the citizens, all looked to Worm for help.

This is wrong. I must not be wrong. With the superiors and headquarters gone, he should follow their policies and act, but Worm, a weak human, believed in miracles. He was the worst kind of soldier.

Damn it, he cursed inwardly, and steeled his resolve.

"…Even if it's incomplete, we'll block the broken walls. Soldiers and civilians, follow me!!"

Whether his choice was right or wrong, the dice had been cast. Worm had no choice but to struggle.