I Became a Mythical Knight King

Chapter 80: Rat Lord (1)

Time passed in Yoo Seong Castle as well.

Night.

The night sky of the world was blocked by a violet barrier.

Vanadain, sitting on the castle wall and gazing at the stars and the moon, turned his head to the side and looked.

Diana was staring blankly at the moon.

Hector’s predictions were both wrong.

Vanadain did not whisper sweet words of love, and Diana did not show any behavior that was different from usual.

They were just quietly spending time together, holding hands or leaning on each other’s shoulders, as they had been doing in silence.

It was a strange thing.

Without any particular reason, after meeting each other at Yoo Seong Castle, the two had been sharing secret meetings, just like now.

Why was that?

Why was Vanadain spending time with Diana?

She was beautiful, but she wasn’t particularly seductive or full of charm.

It wasn’t as if Diana had come forward eagerly either.

It just happened at some moment.

They ended up together.

Now, sharing each other’s warmth has become something completely natural.

Was it due to their bond from Camelot, a memory so distant it was hard to recall?

Or was there some other reason?

‘How foolish. Love has no reason. For someone to say they can only love if there’s a reason, that’s just sophistry.’

A phrase he had once heard from someone.

He couldn’t exactly remember who said it, but he did recall the words he had spoken back then.

‘I never thought a day would come when I’d feel that your words were right. Truly, the end times are upon us.’

Diana, who had been gazing at the moon, turned her head and looked at Vanadain.

The two lightly kissed and leaned against each other.

With their eyes closed, they listened to the sound of each other’s heartbeat.

There was no passionate affair or sweet whispers of love.

But it was enough.

The two tightened their grip on their interlaced hands.

Without letting go of each other, they shared time together.

Morning arrived.

Everyone at Baron Robert’s territory knew that a great battle was about to take place.

Some calmly carried out their tasks, while others trembled in fear and anxiety.

Some smiled, trying to reassure others that everything would be fine.

Some prayed to God.

Others, in tears, tried to flee.

The scouts informed them of the approaching enemy.

The ratmen, who had defeated Count Artois main army and destroyed the Legion, were coming.

Baron Robert could not give a magnificent speech to comfort the villagers, but he did not leave his post.

Rather than abandoning the castle or cowering in fear, he focused on feeding the soldiers who were about to go to battle.

Baron Anjou quietly meditated.

Baron Laval had late regrets about following along, but he didn’t flee.

Jillian, who had heard the strategy from Yoo Seong, had her face pale as usual but nodded, even if with a sad face.

Robin, Edgar, and Ruan kept their positions.

The knights from Camelot, summoned for the final battle meeting, reaffirmed the strategy they had already heard and strengthened their resolve.

“Hehehe, I’ve been given an important role.”

Hector said with a hearty laugh, and Kate looked at him with a worried face.

Roland remained quietly silent, while Vanadain turned to look at Diana.

“Vanadain.”

It was Yoo Seong’s call.

Vanadain, who had been looking at Diana, turned to look at Yoo Seong, and Diana watched Vanadain in turn.

In a brief moment of crossed gazes, Yoo Seong spoke.

“Please.”

The most important role was entrusted to Vanadain.

Rather than saying anything, Vanadain simply nodded once.

“For the glory of Camelot.”

Rene smiled and tapped her chest.

Everyone knew she was smiling brightly despite the fear.

So everyone smiled back, honoring Camelot’s example.

“For the glory of Camelot.”

Time passed.

As the highest point of the day tilted toward the west, the ratmen’s army revealed itself.

Rat Lord Balakai sat on his seat and looked at the castle walls of Baron Robert’s territory.

Compared to Legion, the castle walls were insignificant, but soldiers were packed on them.

There were about 5,000 soldiers.

Balakai didn’t give any grand orders.

He simply nodded to the Red Eyes who were looking at him, and that was enough.

The battle had begun.

“Charge formation! Prepare the magic cannons!”

The command of Red Eye Vali spread quickly.

“Begin administering the potion!”

“Begin administering the potion!”

The ratmen in formation each poured the potion they were carrying into their mouths.

These were magical potions made from the sacrifices of Legion’s residents.

As the potion took effect, the ratmen began to tremble and exhale heavily.

It was a drug that numbed pain and energized the entire body. Highly addictive, it was dangerous to take repeatedly as it could lead to death, but for the ratmen, who treated life as disposable, that was not important.

“Charge! Do it!”

“Raaaaaah!”

Under the commands of the Red Eyes and Blue Eyes, and other higher-ranking ratmen knights, the ratmen began charging toward Baron Robert’s castle.

Although the ratmen were small and light, their numbers were so great that the walls seemed to shake with their charge.

“Prepare the magic cannon fire! Prepare the fire!”

“Ready the slaves!”

The magic cannon positioned at the rear began to adjust its firing angle.

No one paid attention to the ratmen being caught in the charge.

Ratmen slaves with blindfolds were made to kneel around the magic cannon.

The commander of the magic cannon unit, Blue Eye, gasped with excitement.

He imagined the scene of the cannon’s muzzle shooting lightning, collapsing the castle walls.

Boom boom boom!

At that moment, a large number of arrows flew from the castle wall.

These long-range shots passed over the charging ratmen’s heads and even reached the magic cannon unit.

They were probably the elves but it was useless.

The magic barriers conjured by the Blue Eyes easily blocked the weakened arrows, which had flown over such a long distance.

The Blue Eyes and the gunners of the magic cannon unit chuckled.

“Target locked!”

“Good! Fire immediately-”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The impatient gunners fired the magic cannons before the command was given.

From farther behind, almost pillar-sized arrows suddenly flew in from the opposite side of Baron Robert’s territory and exploded among the magic cannons.

Boom! Boom! Ka-boom!

The Blue Eyes, who had deployed a defensive barrier in front, had no way to defend against the attack from behind. The violent explosions shattered the magic cannons, and more explosions followed, causing a massive roar as the magic cannon unit was annihilated in an instant.

The ratmen around the magic cannon unit were stunned and looked back.

In the distance, five ballistas were stationed.

Balakai also saw this and smiled.

Drawing all attention to the front and attacking from the rear.

It was amusing.

Because of this, Balakai decided to act a bit earlier.

“Charge! Charge! Charge!”

“Stop them!”

The ratmen, who had reached the base of the castle wall, began to set up ladders or climb directly up the walls.

The soldiers poured hot oil, threw stones, or swung spears to push the ratmen back.

And then, Balakai stood up.

The massive figure, about five meters tall, held his sword adorned with skulls and raised his left hand.

He was gazing at the castle wall as he muttered a spell.

As a child of the gods, he manifested divinity.

Pa pa pa pa pa pa paht!

The heads of 200 ratman slaves surrounding him exploded simultaneously.

The magical power, gathered at the cost of their lives, took shape above Balakai’s hand.

A green light.

Not the beautiful and mystical green of fresh spring, but something deadly, resembling a potent venom.

When Balakai extended his left hand, a pillar of light stretched toward the wall.

The magic, inspired by the dragon’s breath, was called the “Light of Destruction.”

Everyone screamed at the pillar of light that shattered the gates of the Legion, but Baron Robert gritted his teeth and stared directly at the oncoming light.

He prayed, looking at the back of Jillian, who stood two steps ahead of him.

Jillian stretched both of her hands.

Seeing the approaching Light of Destruction, she finally burst into tears, having endured until now.

But she stood firm, even as her trembling legs struggled to hold her up.

She focused the strength of the Saint as she stared directly at the Light of Destruction.

“Barrier of Omphalos!”

It wasn’t just one. Ten barriers surged up one after another and collided head-on with the Light of Destruction.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Each barrier that shattered caused Jillian to stagger but she did not fall.

Through her tear-streaked vision, she did not let go of the Light of Destruction.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The barriers were destroyed one after another except for the final barrier.

At the barrier just in front of the gate, the Light of Destruction was shattered.

The energy of the light dispersed, and the gates remained intact.

“Uaaaahhh!”

“Omphalos!”

“Long live the Saint!”

A cry of joy erupted from all sides.

Jillian, who collapsed with a thud, lowered her head and gasped for breath. Baron Robert remembered Jillian, who was afraid and teary-eyed, and too weak to use a single holy spell but that wasn’t all.

Before she became a saint, she had been the high priestess of the Omphalos Church, respected and loved for her devout faith and her affection for the believers.

Because of this, Baron Robert, tears of deep emotion now flowing more than ever, looked at Jillian’s small back.

“Ha.”

Balakai laughed.

The fact that his magic, which even countless mages and clergy of the Legion could not stop, was blocked by a single prayer pleased him.

Balakai took a step forward.

It was the advance of the divine bloodline.

With each step he took, the ominous violet energy emanating from his body grew larger.

The closer Balakai got, the more vitality surged into the ratmen’s bodies.

The Blue Eyes began casting magic at the castle wall.

Despite the area-wide attack spells that indiscriminately killed the ratmen, no one cared.

Balakai approached and a knight jumped down from the wall.

“Filthy rat. Or is he just a rat?”

Hector laughed fiercely and activated his chivalry, the giant from Camelot.

With a size that rivaled Balakai’s, he charged toward Balakai, wielding an axe spear and shield.

The ratmen split left and right to open a path.

The large knight was Balakai’s source of enjoyment so the Blue Eyes ignored Hector and continued attacking the wall.

Hector stomped the ground and Balakai greeted the charging Hector head-on.

The axe spear and greatsword collided, as Hector gritted his teeth and held firm.

Seeing Hector not being pushed back, Balakai smiled fiercely.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The axe and sword clashed one after another.

Their battle, like a scene from myth, would not last long.

With each clash, Hector staggered and was pushed back.

Though he had only blocked two or three attacks, his shield was shattered, and the hand holding the axe spear trembled from the shock.

Is this all?

Balakai’s sword spoke.

Rather than answering, Hector raised his shield and blocked another attack.

The shield, unable to withstand the pressure, shattered, but Hector, instead of retreating, swung the axe spear with all his might.

Balakai blocked it.

And at that moment, a light poured down from the sky.

Dragoon Dive.

Diana’s Shook.

It was lightning.

A vertical lance was charging down but it was not a mere instant, to reach its target, it required crossing some distance.

Balakai sensed the attack in that brief gap.

He pushed Hector’s axe spear away with his greatsword, then looked up at the sky.

Boom!

The shockwave swept across the ground.

But, as always, there was no ensuing destruction or explosion.

At the moment when the attack was flooding in, Balakai cast magic and moved to a new position.

Instead of blocking or pushing away the falling lightning, he simply evaded it with ease.

Diana, kicking off the ground, soared into the air once more.

Though her falling shock made her waver in the air, she was an easy target. However, Balakai didn’t take his eyes off her.

“Human king.”

Balakai spoke.

He swung his greatsword toward the black lightning charging toward him.

Black Lightning Eclipse.

Lightning Step.

The black lightning tore through the ground.

Balakai, as if to break that lightning, swung his sword vertically.

Kkagagagag!

The ground cracked under the mighty blow of his sword but it missed by a hair’s breadth.

The descending strike was avoided by Yoo Seong, who, while swinging his sword, aimed for Balakai’s exposed waist.

Clang!

It didn’t cut through but was blocked by a shield spell.

The Rat Lord surely had a defensive artifact, similar to those used by the Red Eyes but Yoo Seong didn’t mind since he already knew about it.

With a stomp, Yoo Seong spun gracefully and aimed for Balakai’s ankle this time with his sword.

Balakai withdrew his foot to avoid the attack.

At the same time, Hector charged toward Balakai.

Boldly, René, who had been lying in ambush with an invisibility spell, threw a fireball.

Balakai responded to both.

He forcefully swung his weapon to push Hector back and immediately turned to face the incoming fireball.

Boom!

Balakai grabbed the fireball with his left hand.

He crushed René’s magic with violet magic and slammed his greatsword into the ground, sending a powerful shockwave.

Boom!

Yoo Seong and Hector retreated to avoid the shockwave while the fireball disappeared in Balakai’s palm.

And then, Vanadain drew his bow on the opposite side of the wall, the place where the ballista unit had appeared.

The arrow he nocked was a consecrated arrow.

An arrow made from the holy energy of the Kobold prince, infused with the essence of the Goddess of Lake.

Vanadain held his breath as he released the holy arrow toward Balakai.