Chapter 38

Chapter 38

As the task force was organized, the main force’s strategy also changed.

Instead of focusing solely on killing monsters, they shifted to a more defensive approach.

“Aaaaaaah!”

“Hold the line! Don’t let them through!”

Soldiers wielding shields shouted as they pushed back the monsters.

Most of them were small, but still—

“Screeeech!”

“Grooooar!”

The creatures, eyes gleaming with madness, charged at the soldiers, refusing to be pushed back.

Thud! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Each blow was a deadly attack, wildly swung.

Slash!

“Stay tight and don’t let them push through! Support the backs of your comrades in front!”

Commanders shouted until their voices were hoarse.

By now, the task force should have reached their target!

“We just need to hold until the task force destroys the cursed object! Victory will be ours!”

“Watch your flanks! They’re coming from the side!”

“Aaaaaaagh!”

“Gaaahhhh!”

Shouts mingled in the chaos.

Even though the commands were barely heard amidst the pandemonium, the subjugation soldiers covered each other’s gaps, gradually taking down the monsters.

Of course, as time passed, the subjugation force’s casualties continued to rise.

But they gritted their teeth and held on.

‘We just need to hold a little longer...!’

‘Until the task force succeeds...!’

The strongest members from their units had gone on the mission.

If they couldn’t do it, then no one could.

This thought gave the remaining soldiers the strength to endure.

Meanwhile—

“The giant monsters will be handled by groups of five from each unit, drawing them as far away from the crystal as possible. And...”

Bertos glanced at the smaller monsters around the crystal.

There were fewer than twenty of them, but eliminating them quickly was crucial.

“The remaining fifteen will take out those small ones as fast as possible.”

Everyone nodded.

“Then I will destroy the crystal.”

Homen clenched his gauntlets tightly as he spoke.

Though over forty, Homen was the captain of the Adellante Temple’s monk unit.

His physique was more solid than most men in their twenties, and his strikes were powerful enough to shatter boulders.

“Cleric Claire, please release your holy power to the maximum. The signal will be when your holy power is unleashed.”

At Bertos’s words, everyone nodded in understanding.

The plan was set.

Now, they just needed to execute it perfectly.

“Damian, focus on taking out those small monsters as quickly as possible.”

“...Understood.”

Damian nodded.

Tarion selected the soldiers who would face the giant monsters with him.

They were all among the most skilled in the Neokalitz unit.

“Phew... I’ve never fought something that big before.”

“Well, we’ve got to fight it anyway.”

“Be careful. One hit from that thing and you’re done.”

The creature was enormous, making even a Black Bear look like a child.

It was about five meters tall.

It felt like facing a rock golem.

Once everyone was ready, Bertos looked at Claire.

Claire knelt on one knee, hands clasped in prayer, fully prepared.

Everyone held their breath as they watched her.

“O all-knowing, omnipotent one in the heavens.”

Her prayer flowed softly.

With it, the holy power emanating from Claire’s body began to grow stronger.

“Grant your mercy and save those who are here.”

Fwoooosh!

A blinding white light spread in all directions.

At that moment—

“Now!”

“Haah!”

The task force members simultaneously dove through the foliage and charged toward the clearing.

“Grrraaaaah!”

“Roooaaaar!”

It was hard to tell whether the noises were screams or roars.

The monsters, struggling against the pervasive holy power, still charged at the task force.

“Screeeech!”

“We’ll handle these monsters!”

At the words of the leading soldier, Damian quickly assessed the situation.

Tarion and the group fighting the giant monsters had already split off to the side.

The rest charged toward the smaller monsters.

“Don’t let them get through!”

“Draw their attention this way!”

Whoosh!

Damian kicked off the ground, rushing toward the small monsters.

“You’ll all die here.”

Swish!

Damian’s spear shot straight for the neck of an Ork.

The creature turned its head at the last second, trying to avoid the attack.

Thwack!

Damian’s spear pierced right through the Ork’s neck.

Thud.

Damian quickly took down the first monster and exhaled, managing his mana.

It had thought it would easily catch him.

Thud!

But it missed by a hair.

“Grooooar!”

The Werewolf let out a furious roar.

“We’ve got a chance! While Damian keeps it busy, we need to take out the others!”

Dianal shouted, charging at the smaller monsters.

The remaining task force members quickly joined in, taking on the creatures.

Whoosh!

Despite all its efforts, the Werewolf had yet to land even a single hit on Damian, its claws swiping at empty air.

It was like fighting a ghost.

As if Damian could predict every move it made.

Swish.

The Werewolf’s attack missed once again.

It turned to face Damian once more.

This time, it wouldn’t fail.

But—

Thwack!

“Gah!”

“Sorry, but I’m not just going to dodge.”

Damian’s spear had pierced the Werewolf’s thigh.

The Werewolf staggered as the spear lodged deep into its leg.

The creature had exhausted too much energy trying to keep up with Damian.

Damian pulled the spear free, taking a moment to catch his breath.

“Huuuuh.”

Mana from his magic core surged to the tip of his spear, radiating intense energy.

Damian’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“Let’s finish this.”

“Grooooar!”

The Werewolf opened its jaws wide and lunged at Damian, aiming to tear his throat out.

But—

Damian’s spear twisted like a snake and pierced the Werewolf’s side.

Crunch!

Damian drove the spear upward, tearing through the Werewolf’s ribs.

His tightly clenched jaw and red-hot hands gripped the spear with all their might.

“Haaaah!”

Crack!

Damian tore the spear out after ripping through the Werewolf’s left side from bottom to top.

The Werewolf’s eyes dulled as it fell.

No creature could survive a wound like that.

Thud.

The Werewolf collapsed to the ground.

“Huff... Huff... Huff...”

Damian breathed heavily.

He had used a considerable amount of mana.

‘Damn.’

He was still far from his best.

Thanks to his mana, he could fight at his previous level, but—

His body was not yet fully conditioned.

‘And I still lack enough mana.’

Damian knew his shortcomings, and his path forward was clear.

But right now, he couldn’t help feeling frustrated.

Damian turned his gaze.

It looked like the other groups were finishing off the smaller monsters as well.

“We need to hurry.”

The other task force members were holding the giant monsters at bay, but it was a precarious situation.

The giants were faster and stronger than expected.

Damian turned his head and shouted at Homen above.

“Now’s your chance!”

There were no more monsters blocking them.

Homen, filled with holy power, stared at the crystal ahead.

“I’ve... finished my preparations.”

And then—

“Haaaah!”

Homen launched himself at the crystal.

The magic-infused crystal gleamed with a dark light, as if it knew its fate.

“Haaaah!”

Crash!

Homen’s fist struck the center of the crystal.

Crack! Craaack!

The crystal splintered under the impact of Homen’s punch.

The expressions of those watching lit up with hope.

‘It’s over...!’

“We did it!”

Someone cheered.

But in that moment—

“...?”

“...Huh?!”

Whoooosh!

Dark energy erupted from the fractured crystal.

“Aaaaagh!”

It enveloped Homen and slammed him to the ground.

Thud!

Homen lay sprawled on the ground, struggling to regain his senses from the severe impact.

But that wasn’t the main issue.

“...What the hell is that?”

The dark energy pulsated as if it were alive.

Damian looked at it and spoke quietly.

“...Is it going berserk?”