Volume 2, Chapter 104 – Rearguard

The figure was clad in the Graveyard’s signature pitch-black armor. In his hand, he held a longsword exuding an icy chill from hilt to tip.

Though compared to the beam of light descending from the heavens, his body appeared small, almost insignificant.

Yet that beam of light, formed from the power of the planes, halted in front of that seemingly insignificant figure.

“Who is that?”

The one clad in black armor had appeared out of nowhere and, with a single hand, blocked the attack of the descending Plane Power.

In the void, Heavenly Father’s calm, unshaken eyes widened ever so slightly.

“A black suit of armor, a rune sword radiating frost, if I’m not mistaken, this matches the description of that Grand Duke of the Graveyard, Sargus.”

It was the Abyssal Lord who spoke. Though unreliable in many matters, if there was anyone in this world who knew the most, it was the Abyssal Lord.

Throughout countless ages, the Abyssal Lord had developed a strange habit, after luring others into the Abyss, it would also claim for itself all the knowledge they once possessed.

“So this is the Grand Duke of the Undead?”

For the first time, Heavenly Father’s gaze grew contemplative.

“I can sense a power within him that feels strangely familiar to me…”

“Hahahahahahahahaha, Heavenly Father, don’t tell me you’re thinking about recruiting this Grand Duke of the Undead? How amusing. He’s the Graveyard’s Grand Duke, you think you can?”

“I have no such intentions. Fine, since this Grand Duke of the Undead has come uninvited, we can’t just ignore him. Direct the Plane Power at him.”

As Heavenly Father’s words fell, the five distinct manifestations of Plane Power above the Main World turned their spearpoints downward toward the lone figure that had appeared, the one they called the Grand Duke of the Undead, Sargus.

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“Grand Duke… we…”

The voices of the Graveyard’s Legendaries trembled as they looked at Sargus, who stood before them, blocking a blow on their behalf.

But undead would always be undead. They could not weep. No matter how sorrowful they felt, in the eyes of others, they only appeared terrifying.

Sargus sighed softly.

“I know what you wish to say, but for now, all of you, return.”

With his back turned to the Legendaries of the Graveyard, his right hand gripped the rune sword tightly.

“Our foundations may be gone, but we can build them up again.”

“We’ve failed this time, but we can retreat, and one day, rise again.”

“We’ve endured a million years already, what’s wrong with another million?”

Sargus spoke slowly, his tone calm, not the least bit angry even though the Legendaries had squandered the Graveyard’s million-year accumulation.

“Go on, return. At least we still have the Graveyard Plane, we still have a home. Even if we’ve failed out here, we can go back.”

“This time, obey my command. Go home.”

Faced with the total loss of a million years of resources, Sargus, the Grand Duke of the Undead, did not reprimand them with even a single word of blame. Instead, he spoke gently, urging the Legendaries to take the survivors and return home.

“Grand Duke… You acting like this only makes me feel worse… Please… Scold me, hit me, anything…”

Headless Knight Fischerna was the first to break, her voice trembling with deep sorrow at how calmly the Grand Duke acted, as if nothing had happened.

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“Yes, Grand Duke, it was our fault, we were wrong, but why won’t you even scold us… even just one word, even if you curse us, we…”

“What use is there in scolding you?”

Sargus replied quietly.

“Enough. Stop dawdling. I’ve already built several small Plane Portals these past few days. Take the remaining undead and go quickly.”

Not only did he not blame them for their foolishness, it was as if he had foreseen this outcome long ago and had already prepared the Graveyard’s retreat route.

The Legendaries’ guilt deepened into painful remorse.

At that moment, Lich King Kersu, looking at Sargus’s back, asked.

“Grand Duke, what about you? Won’t you come with us?”

“Me?”

At Kersu’s question, Sargus tilted his head slightly.

“If I leave too, who will cover your retreat?”

The moment those words left his mouth, all of the Legendaries froze in disbelief.

The Grand Duke of the Undead, Sargus, was going to stay behind to cover them?

“No, Grand Duke! You are the Grand Duke of the Undead! How could we possibly let you take the rearguard!”

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Kersu was the first to shout out in protest.

“Grand Duke, you must go! Let me take the rearguard instead! After what I’ve done to fail you, let this sinner be the one to atone with his life!”

“Grand Duke, let me stay behind. This pile of bones isn’t worth much anyway. You were the one who picked me up and gave me a purpose. Let me repay you, Grand Duke!”

“I’ll be the rearguard, Grand Duke!”

In that instant, chaos broke out among the gathered Legendaries as they argued over who would stay behind. But all of them shared one single goal, to make sure the Grand Duke of the Undead, Sargus, would leave with them.

“Enough!”

An invisible force suddenly spread across the battlefield, enveloping all the Legendaries’ senses.

And Sargus’s voice, like thunder cracking across the heavens, echoed in their ears.

At once, the Legendaries fell into a strange, heavy silence.

“Do you still not understand? Those beings in the sky are not something you Legendaries can possibly oppose.”

“If you stay behind, it’s nothing but suicide.”

“But Grand Duke, precisely because we know how powerful the forces above are, we cannot let you be the one to stay behind!”

“We can die, but you cannot, Grand Duke! If you stay, we stay! We will not leave you!”

“That’s right! We’ll live and die with you, Grand Duke!”

If the undead could cry, then every Legendary present would already have tears streaming down their faces.

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But the undead could not cry. No matter how sad, how anguished they felt, tears would never fall.

“I truly… don’t know what to say anymore.”

Faced with the stubborn devotion of his Legendaries, Sargus finally turned around  Under the pitch-black helmet, his eyes were tightly shut.

“Go back. Please, all of you, just go back…”

This time, his voice sounded like a plea.

“Go, all of you. Just this once, listen to me, will you?”

“I, Sargus…”

“I’m begging you all…”

Translator Note

Undead could not cry.

But I am not an undead…

So I am crying right now 😭