Volume 3, Chapter 80 – The Attacking Abyssal Demons

A few minutes ago, atop the city walls to the north of Sky Dome, Lingmu, the commander of the Second Army Group, paced back and forth as part of his routine, earnestly guarding against everything in the vicinity. Although Sky Dome was surrounded by numerous cities that served as iron bastions, making the possibility of an enemy attacking silently almost zero, Lingmu still maintained a high level of alertness while performing his duty and watching for any potential foes.

‘It really is a pity to be on guard duty here during His Majesty’s Coronation Ceremony.’

Lingmu couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

Yet, just as the commander was sighing while scanning the distance, an unknown mass of black suddenly burst into his field of vision, causing his pupils to contract sharply as a wave of foreboding surged into his heart.

“Hmm?!! What… what… what is that?!”

Along with Lingmu’s exclamation, a sudden change occurred beneath the clear blue sky.

Around the forest outside the distant canyon, a mass of black mist suddenly billowed out. Under the stunned gazes of Lingmu and his men, the black aura began to spread rapidly, covering the forest in an instant.

Then, a massive, hateful monster, covered in eerie black fur and resembling a Nargacuga ¹

from Monster Hunter series , suddenly charged out of the forest.

‘That… that is… an Abyssal Demon?!’

The moment he saw the black monster, Lingmu trembled all over and let out an uncontrollable cry of alarm.

As his cry rang out, the Nargacuga-like Abyssal Demon also raised its head abruptly and let out a terrifying roar that sounded like the wailing of ghosts and howls of gods!

“Awoo! Awoooooooo!!”

The roar continued to spread and the forest began to tremble.

In an instant, under Lingmu’s horrified gaze and accompanied by low, stifled growls, thousands of Abyssal Demons swarmed out of the forest like beasts unleashed from their chains, guided by the roars.

Piercing killing intent, an eerie black mist, and stampeding, bloodthirsty monsters.

Suddenly, they converged into waves of pitch-black darkness, surging toward Sky Dome like a burst dam! Among the Abyssal Demons, there were even dozens of massive sixth tier existences, while fifth tier Abyssal Demons were countless.

Although no seventh tier existence had appeared yet, this number was enough to make one’s blood run cold.

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With the appearance of these loathsome monsters, waves of low, terrifying beastly roars and a vast, sickening pressure like death itself coalesced and swept across the land like a surging tide, crashing violently against the city walls from the distance and instantly shattering the peaceful atmosphere of the city.

Not just Lingmu, but every soldier felt an unprecedented sense of trembling at this moment.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes filled with disbelief.

“Am… am… I f*cking dreaming?!”

“Why… would Abyssal Demons appear here? And so many of them?”

Biting his lip hard, Lingmu watched with a twitching face as the swarm of Abyssal Demons approached with the momentum of a mountain collapsing into the sea.

Though his heart was filled with shock, his years of experience and mindset as a commander-in-chief quickly allowed Lingmu to calm down. In the next moment, the commander drew the saber at his waist and let out a roar bolstered by his powerful battle aura.

“Everyone! Level one battle readiness!”

As the order was shouted, the defenders on the wall began to mobilize at high speed. The results of the troops’ diligent training in the past were fully displayed at this moment.

In an instant, all soldiers were in position. Tens of thousands of magic guns began to emit a dazzling light, and hundreds of heavy long-range bombardment cannons were deployed, their dark muzzles aimed at the oncoming swarm of Abyssal Demons.

With the surge of magic power, the battle mages’ anti-army magic circles were completed.

Seeing his subordinates quickly prepare for battle, the commander couldn’t help but show a gratified look, and the unease in his heart was somewhat soothed.

After seeing that preparations were complete, the commander hurriedly turned to look at the female adjutant behind him and anxiously instructed:

“Quick! Go inform His Majesty and General Lockephy!”

“Yes!!”

Having received her orders and cast an uneasy glance at the surging tide of Abyssal Demons, the female adjutant leaped down from the wall in a hurry and ran toward the communications department.

At the same time, the commander sounded the alarm.

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Returning to the present…

Looking at the soldier who had breathlessly delivered the news to him, Xue Tian’ao’s brow began to twitch violently.

“You say that Abyssal Demons have appeared in the northern canyon direction?”

“Ye… yes, Your Majesty!”

“…”

Upon receiving this news, Xue Tian’ao fell into a brief silence.

Although it was hard to believe, judging from the soldier’s nervous reaction and the alarms ringing throughout the city, the appearance of the Abyssal Demon swarm was undoubtedly a fact.

‘Just what is going on?’

Xue Tian’ao couldn’t help but roar inwardly. The Abyssal Demon swarm had actually made it all the way to Sky Dome? To the imperial capital? Even if the swarm charged very quickly, to come from the Deepwinter Forest in the Northern Frontier and fight their way to the imperial capital, it would take at least several days even if the fortresses along the way were made of paper and offered no defense.

In all these days, why hadn’t he received any news?!

What the hell was the Fourth Army Group in the Northern Frontier doing!

Thinking of this, Xue Tian’ao, who was already in a bad mood, became even more furious. The magic power around him grew increasingly violent and cold, causing the Royal Knight kneeling before him to tremble uncontrollably.

After calming down slightly, Xue Tian’ao cast a cold glance at the knight:

“What exactly happened in the Northern Frontier?!”

Sensing the coldness in Xue Tian’ao’s tone, a drop of cold sweat slowly trickled down the knight’s forehead.

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“Re… reporting to Your Majesty, we are not sure. There has been no news from the Northern Frontier, and we have been unable to establish contact with the Fourth Army Group until now…”

“Useless…”

After cursing, Xue Tian’ao gazed toward the north of Sky Dome, his blue eyes narrowing slightly as a look of gravity surfaced within them.

The inability to establish contact.

Was it because of the blizzard interference that communications were cut off? No, that possibility was too low. The Abyssal Demons couldn’t have ignored those targets and charged straight for Sky Dome.

Which meant, the Fourth Army Group was already…

‘Dammit! What the hell is going on!’

At the same time, at the site of Fort Garros in the Northern Frontier.

The majestic fortress that had been rebuilt previously no longer existed. In its place was a ruin of death shrouded in a sea of fire and blood.

Broken walls and mangled corpses were everywhere, a scene of literal hell on earth.

The soldiers of the Fourth Army Group who once guarded this place were almost all dead, either having become food in the mouths of the Abyssal Demons or having been directly infected by the Shadow Essence.

A small number of people had managed to survive by hiding in the newly built underground shelters before the fortress was overrun, thus avoiding discovery by the Abyssal Demons.

As the night passed and there was almost no movement from the Abyssal Demons in the city, some survivors finally emerged from their endless fear. They cautiously opened the door of the underground shelter just a tiny crack.

Pabala, a squad leader among the survivors, nervously pressed his eye to the crack, fearfully observing the situation outside.

After observing for a moment, Pabala let out a long sigh of relief.

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“It looks like the Abyssal Demons are all gone…”

As soon as these words were spoken, the dozens of soldiers hiding in the shelter also sighed in relief, the joy of surviving a disaster filling everyone’s hearts.

However, with the mortal crisis averted, squad leader Pabala revealed a look of confusion as he gazed toward the distant remains of the city walls.

Strictly speaking, the fall of their fortress wasn’t entirely due to the Abyssal Demons. Although they were indeed caught off guard at first, with subsequent reinforcements, the sturdy fortress, and the heavy firepower granted by His Majesty Xue Tian’ao, they had managed to barely ‘withstand’ the swarm’s attack.

However, just as they intended to call for further reinforcements and report the matter to His Majesty, those walls that were supposedly like an ‘iron bastion’ suddenly disintegrated under the Abyssal Demons’ bombardment. Not only the fort’s defensive ramparts but all the defensive walls within sight crumbled away.

The collapse of the walls was too sudden, so sudden that it caught everyone unprepared.

They, who could have relied on the terrain to resist the swarm, were instantly thrust into the awkward position of having to face countless Abyssal Demons head-on. Under such circumstances, the outcome was predictable.

The army defending Fort Garros was almost wiped out in an instant.

Recalling the tragic deaths of his comrades, Pabala clenched his fists in frustration.

“Just why… why did the walls suddenly collapse?! No, it shouldn’t be! Although the people of the Northern Frontier are barbarians, their ability to build defensive lines is top-tier. It shouldn’t have been so flimsy.”

The young squad leader couldn’t help but speak his thoughts.

Upon hearing the leader’s words, a soldier nearby who was breathing heavily spoke slowly after a few seconds of silence.

“Um, Captain… the walls of the fortress here… they weren’t built by the Northern Frontier engineering corps.”

“Hmm? What did you say?”

“It’s just… the defenses in this area weren’t built solely by the Duke Family. After this place was breached by the Snow Devourer, it was the people from the Blackrose Family who helped rebuild it…”

“Wait?! You… you said… Blackrose?!”