Chapter 71
The general guarding the Spartan Fortress. Heracules.
A half-dragon, born of the blood of Zaus, a hybrid between a dragon and an elf, he stood on the ramparts, staring at the enemies gathered below like ants, with a serious expression.
“How many are they?”
“Around forty thousand demons. And as for the devils, reports indicate at least fifty thousand or more.”
“Hmm…”
The number of enemies had nearly doubled compared to the beginning of the invasion.
It might seem odd, given that their forces must have been depleted throughout the battles, but in reality, it wasn’t that surprising.
At first, even though the demons had the devils’ support, they were hesitant to fully commit.
However, the continuous victories of their enemies gave the demons more reason to engage in the war.
As a result, the high-ranking demons, who had previously been lukewarm, began actively participating in the war.
Moreover, the devils were continuously summoned by the Archdemons, pouring out from the depths of hell.
Thus, the reinforcements outnumbered the losses, causing the enemy forces to grow even larger than before.
The result was that twenty thousand elves now faced an army of nearly a hundred thousand.
Although they had a hundred dragons fighting alongside them, without Zaus, even the dragons couldn’t turn the tide of battle.
Despite this, Heracules had no choice but to fight.
This was Spartan Fortress, the strongest defense of the Elven Kingdom.
It was essentially the last bastion of the kingdom.
Additionally, at this point, many refugees from the surrounding areas had taken shelter here.
With Olympus already fallen, if this place fell too, it would mean the complete collapse of the Elven Kingdom.
With a resolve to fight to the end, Heracules issued orders to his subordinate generals.
“Perseus, you will take charge of the northern wall. Make sure not a single one of them gets through.”
“Understood, Commander.”
Perseus, a half-dragon armed with the blessings of the dragon, and the half-brother of Heracules, serving as the vice-commander, responded with a determined voice.
“Achilles, you will defend the southern side. It’s especially vulnerable, so call for support immediately if danger arises.”
“As you command.”
Achilles, with blue hair and an androgynous appearance but second only to Heracules in pure strength among the half-dragons, gripped his great sword and replied solemnly.
“Thesus, Bellerophon, you will join me in holding the centre. Their assault will not be easy, so prepare yourselves.”
“Yes, General.”
“We will give our lives to carry out your orders.”
“Lastly, Helphatos, please handle the aerial devils.”
# Understood. Though this body is not what it once was, I will share your fate.
Helphatos, an Elder Dragon clad in sturdy metal armour despite missing a leg, replied with deep resolve. He was Zaus’s eldest son, leading the remaining dragons in place of the injured Poseidra.
After issuing his orders, Heracules turned to the generals and soldiers and spoke with a voice filled with determination.
“Listen well, everyone! The enemy is indeed numerous. But this is our land, where our families and friends live. Only we can defend it!”
With those words, Heracules raised his weapon, the Olive Club.
It appeared humble at first glance, but with the blessings of three great dragons, it was brimming with extraordinary magical power.
“Let us stand proudly as heroes, fighting to the last person! We will inflict a wound on these wicked invaders that they will never forget! For the Elven Kingdom! For Lord Zaus!”
“For Lord Zaus!”
In what could be their final battle, Heracules and the soldiers steeled themselves for the struggle ahead.
The elves and dragons prepared to face the advancing enemies.
– Buuuuu—!
A sharp horn sound pierced their ears.
That sound, which irritates the instincts, accompanied the rapid charge of the demons towards the fortress walls.
Relying on the acceleration and defense spells they had been given,
The enemies ran forward, carrying ladders as they swiftly approached.
Watching this, Heracules maintained a cold expression, quietly waiting for them to draw closer.
And then.
“Now! Shoot!”
At Heracules’s command, the elves began firing their arrows.
With their characteristic precision and the added power of spirits, their shots cut down the approaching demons.
Hundreds of demons and devils collapsed to the ground in an instant.
However, compared to the overwhelming number of enemies, it was like scooping a single bucket of water from the ocean.
“Keep shooting! Do not let them get close!”
Following Heracules’s orders, the elves continued to fire arrows and roll down boulders.
But even as these attacks made some impact, the enemies managed to cross over the bodies of the fallen and finally reached the fortress walls.
“Climb up! Get up there quickly!”
“Follow me! Kill all the elves!”
The demons, blocking arrows and rocks with their magic, began climbing up the walls.
However, just as they barely made it up the walls after escaping death—
-Whack!!!
“Ugh…!!?”
The heads of the Dark Races burst brutally, unable to even scream.
Heracules swung the blood-stained olive club mercilessly, delivering death to every enemy that dared set foot on the fortress wall.
-Screech!!!
“Do not retreat! I am with you all!”
Pelceus, wielding a bronze shield and the Dragon’s famous sword, quickly cut down the approaching enemies.
Some demons in the sky tried to attack him from his blind spot.
But, seeing them through the back-reflecting bronze shield, Pelceus swiftly cut them down.
“That one! Kill that one first!”
Pelceus’s rampage as he mowed down the Dark Races naturally drew the attention of the demons and Dark Races.
“Fire arrows and magic at him!”
“Fire at will!”
As the order was given, arrows and magic poured toward Pelceus.
But…
“!”
“W-What?”
Small wings extended from his shoes, allowing Pelceus to move at super speed, easily dodging the attacks.
Immediately after, a burst of magical power seemed to radiate from his helmet, and his figure vanished, leaving the demons and Dark Races bewildered.
“What… what is this?”
“Where did he disappear… Ugh!!!”
A commander of the Dark Races fell with a scream.
Pelceus reappeared amidst a faint mist, smiling as he swept through the bewildered enemies.
Utilizing the full power of the Dragon’s enchanted equipment he carried, Pelceus pushed his advantage.
Though his combat strength relied heavily on the powerful artifacts he possessed,
It did not mean that Pelceus himself was weak.
Ordinary Elves, even if they were Half-Dragons, could not equip multiple pieces of Dragon gear like he could.
At most, they could handle one, maybe two—any more would cause overwhelming strain, potentially leading to disability or death.
This was Pelceus’s unique power as a Half-Dragon:
The ability to maximize the power of any equipment without limitation.
With this ability in full effect, Pelceus repelled wave after wave of attacking enemies.
“Come at me! I am Achilles!”
Achilles shouted fiercely as he cut down the enemies, making his position at the supposedly vulnerable area of the defense seem insignificant.
Like an immortal, he suffered no harm from the attacks of the demons and Dark Races, sending each approaching enemy to their doom.
Achilles’s special power as a Half-Dragon:
Absolute Defense.
Even the cursed swords of the Dark Races or the dark magic of the demons could not cause significant harm to him.
Like a living, unyielding wall, he blocked the attacks of the enemies, delivering death with his overwhelming strength.
Not only where these two generals fought, but the Elven commanders, including Heracules, also held their ground against the attacks of the Dark Races in their respective positions.
Meanwhile, in the sky, the dragons led by Helfatos were tearing through the approaching demons with flames and magic.
Even though the enemy had a numerical advantage, there was no sign of the Spartan Fortress being breached.
But…
At this moment, the one watching over the scene…
Mephistos showed no sign of anxiety or worry.
=Well then… Shall we give them a twist?
At his words, the shadows behind him began to move.
These figures, exuding an unusual aura compared to the other Dark Races, received Mephistos’s orders with a mocking voice.
=By now, their stamina must be sufficiently drained. Go. Release your pent-up grudges.
“Heh heh… Understood.”
“Heh heh! The time for revenge has come!”
“Roarrr!!!”
The Dark Races moved quickly, their laughter filled with joy and hatred.
Watching the departure of his useful pawns, Mephistos felt a mild interest, as if watching a fight between insects.
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