mtl008 Chapter 508 Tragedy Prelude
Chapter 508 Tragedy Prelude
Chapter 508 Tragedy Prelude
Before your eyes is an extremely desolate, reddish-brown land with almost no grass. Because the kingdom and the empire have been fighting here for years, many people call this land of death the bloody land.
Katz Plains.
This is a place where undead and other monsters are ready to make their move, and it is also a well-known dangerous area.
What is particularly terrifying is that this place is shrouded in a thin fog day and night.
This mist that hides the monsters will not harm people, nor will it have any effect on the living, but its inherent undead reaction will render the detection skill ineffective, and many adventurers have been attacked and killed. Even the Axis cultists find it difficult to deal with it.
The fog has not yet become hazy, as if welcoming the upcoming war to produce more deaths, and the view is vast and clear.
Like dispersing fog, no trace of the undead could be seen anywhere. All that came into view was a vast expanse of land without any movement or signs of life.
Collapsed spires and other buildings from hundreds of years ago protrude from the ground like tombstones.
Needless to say, not a single building remains in its original form.
The original six-story spire had collapsed above three floors, turning into broken rubble scattered all around, and only less than half of the thick wall remained.
It is not caused by the erosion of time, but the result of various monsters fighting for territory.
Like a dividing line, this scenery is adjacent to the green grassland, which is why this place is called the cursed land.
The two armies used the reddish-brown land and gentle hills to deploy their troops and confront each other.
The Kingdom's army had an astonishing 250,000 troops, divided into 70,000 on the right wing, 70,000 on the left wing, and 110,000 in the center, and cleverly used three hills to build their positions.
Although it was called a position, it was not surrounded by a fence. Instead, it was a semi-enclosed crescent shape formed by the overwhelming army.
Although such a formation is indeed strong and can prevent the enemy from attacking easily, it also has many weaknesses.
If the Empire shoots arrows or uses magic, many people will surely die.
However, the kingdom does not require these ordinary civilians to perform well, as long as they can block the opponent's first wave of offensive.
In comparison, the Imperial Army has 60,000 men, which is much smaller than the Kingdom Army.
However, the imperial army was not afraid at all, but instead looked arrogant.
They don't think they will lose at all. This confidence comes from the absolute gap in individual strength and the fruitful results of previous years.
Professional fighters cannot fight against civilians.
For the Empire, as long as they can get the Kingdom's civilians to go to the battlefield, their goal is achieved. They will not deliberately waste precious human resources, and the Kingdom is well aware of this.
This seemingly pre-arranged routine is the war between empires and kingdoms.
Gathering here is just a process.
Most of the kingdom’s nobles believed that even with the addition of a magic caster named Ainz Ooal Gown, the battle would still be over in just a few rounds.
Even the empire would not waste the lives of soldiers in vain, after all, it might shake the foundation of the empire.
Therefore, the kingdom's nobles were waiting for the empire to send troops first.
As per custom, the Imperial Army would pass directly in front of the Kingdom Army, then retreat, and the Kingdom would then shout victory.
It's like this every year.
however--
This time the Imperial Army remained silent.
They marched out from their fortress-like garrison and set up their positions in front of the Kingdom’s army, but there was no movement. It was as if they were waiting for the Kingdom to take the initiative to attack, or waiting for something else.
"Why is there no movement? What does this mean?"
Marquis Leburne, who was standing beside Gazef and Lin, felt strange looking at the motionless knights of the Empire, and his inner uneasiness grew stronger.
If the empire does not move, then the kingdom cannot move either.
Disrupting an already formed formation is the most foolish thing to do on the battlefield, and judging from the attacks in previous years, this formation has suffered the least losses. Any rash action will only result in a heavy blow... This is a bloody lesson learned in previous years.
"It looks like they're waiting for us to make a move."
In front of the army, Lord Rebuen asked in confusion: "The final advice has been given, and now the war has begun... Lin, do you know what the Empire is waiting for?"
Thirty minutes ago, the envoys had already conducted negotiations in the central area where the two armies were confronting each other.
It is called negotiation, but in fact it is just making suggestions and giving advice to the other party under conditions that the other party will never agree to, just like a show.
In short, it was hypocrisy, pretending to be compassionate and trying to avoid war until the last minute. When the negotiations broke down, war naturally broke out.
According to past practice, the Imperial Army should have dispatched troops immediately, but this time it went against their norm and remained on hold.
Lin shook his head. "No, the intelligence personnel I placed in the fortress city evacuated long ago, and there was no useful intelligence from within the empire. I guess my men have met with an accident."
Long before declaring war, Lin had Axis believers gather intelligence.
However, one day.
They all disappeared.
Lin guessed that these people should have been targeted by the Blood Emperor early on, just like the imperial spies that Lana had discovered. When the war came, they were all eliminated to prevent intelligence leaks.
"Where is the Warrior Captain?"
"Sorry, I don't know. Sigh... Although it's the same thing every time, I really don't like this tense atmosphere. I don't want the Empire to get serious and attack our army, but if you want to launch an attack, please hurry up, otherwise I will be anxious."
"...I see. This could also be one of the Empire's strategies."
Maybe the Empire is just waiting for them to lose their patience.
It is undoubtedly very difficult to mobilize such a large force and act together, so as long as one of the armies makes a small move, it will turn into a big shock when it reaches the end.
Marquis Leibun suddenly realized what was going on and quickly issued orders, asking those at the back of the camp to move forward.
As long as the formation is changed every once in a while, the army will not become anxious and dispersed.
Gazef looked at the Imperial Knights present.
"It would be fine if it's just a little test like in previous years. But if we really charge forward, in order to defeat the enemy's momentum, I might go out alone."
He patted the sword at his waist.
This is one of the four secret treasures passed down from generation to generation in the kingdom, the Razor's Blade, and it is said that it can even cut through magically reinforced armor as easily as butter.
Not only that, there are also vitality gloves that will not tire, an immortal amulet that continuously heals, and a protective armor that can avoid critical hits.
The fact that the four secret treasures were equipped on one person was enough to prove how much the King valued this war.
Gazef gained a lot of confidence.
Apart from the triple magic chanter Fluda, there was no one in the Empire that Gazef found difficult to deal with. Even among the four strongest knights in the Empire, he was confident that he could defeat them. Even against Fluda, he still had a chance.
However, he did not think he could defeat Ainz Ooal Gown.
He just couldn't imagine it.
No matter how optimistic he was and how he thought in a favorable direction, he felt that he would be killed by a single blow of mysterious magic.
“Gazef, your breath is disordered.”
"No, it's okay..."
Lin's question caused his breathing to hitch slightly.
Everyone sees themselves as the strongest warriors in the kingdom, and if they show weakness it would damage morale.
“Gazef, the enemy seems to have finally made some movement.”
The Imperial Army split into two as if to clear a path. Gazef looked at their movements and thought that they might be dealing with the Kingdom's left and right wing armies.
At this time, an unfamiliar flag was raised high.
That flag was beyond Gazef’s comprehension. It had a strange emblem that did not belong to the Kingdom or the Empire. A group was marching forward holding that flag.
Everyone's attention was focused on that group.
Gazef felt a chill in his heart. Lord Rebuen beside him grunted, and even Lin frowned.
He knew he was not the only one who was timid. A bitter taste appeared at the root of his tongue and his heart was pounding.
It was an unusual army.
There were only about 500 of them, which was pitifully small considering the two opposing armies.
But those soldiers were so abnormal!
He was two meters three inches tall, and his body was not human-like. In his left hand he held a tower shield that covered three quarters of his body, and in his right hand he held a giant 1.3 meter long ripple sword. He wore a tattered black cape and black full body armor with red veins that looked like blood vessels.
Sharp spikes can be seen everywhere on the armor, and demon horns are sticking out of the helmet, revealing the face underneath. It is a horrible, decayed face, and the empty eye sockets are flashing red light full of hatred and murderous intent.
Even at such a long distance, the negative energy still came towards him.
The memory of Carne Village revived vividly in Gazef's mind. At that time, there was a knight-like monster, and Ainz said that he created it.
"Lin, that is...!"
"I know. It's the Death Knight."
The Death Knight's adventurer difficulty is above 100, and one can destroy a city or even a small country. The most disgusting thing is that the people killed by it will be resurrected as follower zombies of the same level. It is said that one Death Knight is enough to make a country restless. And there are Death Knights here, which are slightly stronger than ordinary steel-level adventurers!
Gazef got goosebumps all over his body.
Not good, the situation is not good.
Although this feeling was too lacking in substance, Gazef could not think of a better adjective.
"Lin, you..."
"I can handle it."
The priest gave a reassuring answer, but soon made him fall into the abyss again.
“But I think it’s more than that.”
"What's the meaning?!"
Gazef became unusually flustered.
In fact, he had a premonition, but he just didn't want to believe it. Now Lin pointed it out.
"——This might just be a decoration for the other party to save the situation. Something more terrifying has not yet appeared."
What a joke!
Marquis Leibun wanted to curse out loud, calling the person on the other side a monster, but he knew that there was no time to waste, and the most urgent task was to reorganize the army.
"Lord Leibun!"
"I know! We retreated, and lost!"
They already knew that the enemy had prepared a formidable force, so what else could they do except flee?
Just as Gazef was about to speak, he saw a masked magic caster standing at the forefront of the enemy army. To his right was a dwarf in a black robe, and to his left was one of the Four Knights of the Empire.
Even at such a distance, he still wouldn't admit his mistake.
"Your Excellency Gong."
“Is that person the great magic caster, Ainz Ooal Gown?”
"Is that the guy who summoned five hundred Death Knights?"
"What kind of monster are we dealing with..."
There was chaos all around them and their emotions were not stable.
It’s not their fault, but everything in front of them is too horrifying.
Ainz waved his arm, and as if in response, a huge dome-shaped magic circle ten meters long suddenly opened up with him as the center.
"Oh no, this is super large magic!"
"Super large magic?"
"Yes, it is a magic more powerful than explosion magic!"
"Can that be stopped?"
"If I still had some reserve magic power, I could try, but there's nothing I can do now."
Lin's words made Marquis Rebuen's eyes widen. He had been able to remain calm just now, but now he had completely lost his composure. He shouted to Gazef to protect the king and asked Lin to accompany him in ordering the troops to retreat, hoping to minimize casualties.
However, it was too late.
----
"There are no players in the Kingdom's army. Krillin didn't respond either? It seems like what Demiurge said, his stored magic power has run out."
Ainz made such a judgment.
Players who use super-level magic in the game will be regarded as the primary target, and the fact that his magic was not interrupted means that there are no players in the kingdom’s army, and Xiaolin has not awakened any memories about the game... or maybe the other party is not a player at all.
To be honest, he was quite afraid to get along with Lin in this identity.
After all, the opponent was a magic caster of faith who could restrain him, and there was always someone better than him. If Ainz met a player stronger than himself, he probably wouldn't have much chance of winning. So when Xiaolin said he wanted to go on a visit, even though Demiurge said he could show his power to the opponent, he still refused.
The reason why Ainz is strong in the gaming era is that he is rich in knowledge and has a high chance of winning against players. After collecting enough information, his chances of winning will gradually increase.
Accordingly, he is also very likely to lose to an opponent he meets for the first time.
Xiao Lin's level was not high, at most level 40. But the terrifying power that the opponent revealed from time to time forced him to guard against it.
However, he has the upper hand now!
I am really looking forward to what effect the next super-level magic will have on the Kingdom Army.
At the same time, he slightly frowned his non-existent brows.
A large number of humans will die next, but he has no mercy or other feelings at all, which makes him feel a little terrible.
Even the cruel thought of stepping on ants to death did not tremble at all, really... I did not even feel the touch.
There was only the desire to see the results of his actions, and how much benefit this action would bring to himself - and, in turn, to the people of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
Ainz clenched his hands.
Then, the super-level magic is activated.
——Sacrifice of the Dark Soil!
A dark aura blew across the left wing of the Kingdom Army, which had just changed its formation.
No, there was no real wind blowing.
In fact, the weeds on the plain, and the hair of the Kingdom soldiers there, were not blown at all.
However, the 70,000 soldiers on the left wing of the kingdom's army fell to the ground one after another, as helpless as harvested wheat.
Their lives were all taken on the spot!
Death comes, and the tragedy begins.
(End of this chapter)