NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: Dust and Rubble
[Before Alvatros Territory, Zukakipp Forces]
“What is this, what in the world is this?!” exclaimed the Count of the Zukakipp borderlands from the rear. The beastmen, who had been leading the charge, were annihilated by a countless number of pebbles raining down from the ramparts. These were not arrows; they were shorter and sharper, with the speed from the high ground being excessively fast.
“What is this… a new weapon…!?” The rising morning sun illuminated the soldiers atop the ramparts, each holding a strange iron weapon, akin to a sideways bow and arrow.
“What on earth is that…!?”
Zukakipp did not know that these armaments were “Crossbows,” feared as the devil’s weapon for their superiority in mid-range combat over bows and arrows. Moreover, these were modern Alvatros-made, equipped with a semi-mechanical crank and gear system for easy string winding, unlike the original crossbows which were difficult to reload. The top of the main body had a magazine for bolts, and a lever set below the grip enabled simultaneous string pulling and reloading, ensuring a firing rate surpassing that of ordinary archers. Furthermore, the string was made from a metal fiber, difficult to manufacture with 【Creation Magic】, incomparable to the organic strings commonly used in this world. Before this intense fire, the beastmen’s reflexes proved inadequate. Their armor was pierced like wax, and a mountain of corpses quickly piled up.
“Zukakipp, what should we do!?”
“Weren’t we an army of 1000 effective soldiers, including many poor!?”
“Count Zukakipp!”
The beastmen did not know the strength of the “Crossbow” lay in its ability to deliver stable power and accuracy even in the hands of amateurs. A counterattack weapon, the Trick Joker, capable of killing knights even by the poor. This characteristic was the reason for its prohibition by the Christian church in the medieval era.
“Count Zukakipp!”
To the beastmen, those who alternately shot short bolts from atop the ramparts appeared as fierce warriors. Complaining about the unexpected situation to Zukakipp, the overall commander.
“Eh! No matter how powerful a weapon they use, it’s just an evolved form of a bow and arrow! It’s powerless up close! Therefore…”
Zukakipp also had a trump card. Beside him stood five beastmen holding short staves.
“Magic soldiers, it’s your time. Shatter that rampart!”
“Oooooh!”
These were the world’s ultimate weapons, the magic soldiers. Especially those gathered by Zukakipp, who could unleash tremendous blasts with 【Flame Magic Formulas】, despite their intense magical power consumption. Borrowed from surrounding lords under his influence. Despite their rarity and magical consumption, they weren’t to be used lightly, but…
“I wanted to save this for the final battle with Alvatros, but it can’t be helped. Do it!”
To boost the morale dampened by the crossbow barrage, it was essential to achieve a significant victory here. Thus, following Zukakipp’s orders, the magic soldiers created five giant fireballs. As they swung their staves, the balls of fire exploded against the ramparts, causing intense blasts—but…
“Huh?”
The ramparts were completely unscathed. They were scorched, blackened, but that was it. Without a single crack, the ramparts continued to stand imposingly.
“Our magic…why!?”
“Why doesn’t it shatter!? Why is it intact!?”
“What in the world is this!?”
The magic soldiers, screaming in dismay. Their pride, having received noble-like treatment as the nation’s trump card, was severely wounded, contrary to the impervious ramparts.
The magic soldiers did not know that the ramparts were over ten meters thick, composed of a pure crystalline structure devoid of any impurities, thanks to the efficacy of the 【Creation Magic Formula】. Normally, damage occurs in a structurally complex composition upon impact. If a different substance B is present within substance A, the impact, even if it cannot break A, creates internal damage and fissures due to the “gap” around B. The fragility increases with more substances like B2, B3, or other materials like C and D.
However, Alvatros’ 【Creation Magic Formula】 could act on the composition itself, separating various impurities. It was like extracting iron sand from the ground, removing finer gravel, and producing pure iron. The magical sense, honed in warfare by that man, transformed a mere stone wall into an unnatural supercrystalline barrier.
Moreover, even more.
“Enemy magic soldiers confirmed. Prepare the ‘Ballista,'” a bewitching and beautiful voice echoed, as if from the heavens. With it, a gigantic crossbow revealed itself from the top of the ramparts.
“Huh?”
Zukakipp and his forces were completely unaware that this colossal weapon was the “Siege Weapon Ballista,” capable of shattering even castles.
“Fire.”
The release of the massive bolt was followed by a thunderous sound, obliterating the magic soldiers around Zukakipp.
“…Huh?”
Zukakipp knew nothing of the destructive power that left nothing recognizable upon hitting a person, nor the fact that the massive bolt was an explosively vicious type. He was oblivious to the miracle of his own near miss.
Only.
“Wha… waaaaaaaah!!! No more!!! I can’t take this anymore!!! I don’t want this anymore!!!” His survival instinct, driven by the fear of imminent death, spurred him into action.
“Retreat!!!”
Zukakipp, covered in sweat, tears, and filth, fled frantically. His figure epitomized misery, a natural reaction. What humans truly fear is the “unknown.” More than a known great threat, it’s the mysterious and unpredictable menace that causes humans to react excessively.
“Uwaaaaaaaah!!!”
Thus, the sight of Alvatros’ supernatural weapons, one after another, was nothing less than the worst nightmare for the people of this world.
“The retreat order has been given!!!”
“We’re done for!!!”
“Don’t leave me behind!!!”
The commander’s frenzy quickly spread throughout the troops. The frontline soldiers, barely maintaining their fighting spirit through pain-induced endorphins, calmed down upon seeing the rear retreating. Realizing then that only a fraction of the vanguard remained, and their bodies were riddled with gaping wounds and spilling entrails, they despaired. Regaining their humanity, they became prisoners of intense pain and fear, vomiting blood as they started to fall back. But it was too late.
“Open the gates.”
With a snap of his fingers, a resonant sound echoed. Simultaneously, a section of the impregnable rampart, dreamed of being destroyed by the soldiers, opened like melting wax. Emerging from there was a man cloaked in gold, with imperial purple, “Phoenicia Purple” eyes shining – the “Hero Alvatros” made his appearance.
And then.
“【Creation Magic Formula】, activate.”
The melted rampart stone transformed, floating around Alvatros, turning into countless twisted stone spears. Their tips coldly eyed the terrified enemy soldiers. The hero stood ready to administer judgment.
“【Creation Magic Formula】, ‘Grand Spear Burst’.”
Thus, death filled the battlefield. Countless spiral spears tore through the bodies of the kingdom’s soldiers, instantly creating hundreds of impaled corpses.
Further, further, and further.
“Burn everything, ‘Flame Witch.'”
“Ha!”
With a halo of blue flames on her back, the Urus Kingdom’s nemesis “Flame Witch Nina” soared into the sky. Nina Shubain, infamous and detested by all beastmen as the worst sow, but before her infamy, she had another title: “Genius.” Born ordinary, yet possessing an overwhelming magical sense, she could not only unleash blasts of fire but also completely control thermal vectors, enabling flight. She was the “Reincarnation of the Magical Prodigy Alvatros.”
Thus, there was no tomorrow left for the beastmen.
“’Beast Burial, Hellfire, Sin Annihilation’ ‘O ignorant masses standing against the heavenly rule, be purified by the light of divine fire.’”
The last words the beastmen heard were the “Oath Gesh,” a technique that increased the effectiveness of magic by imposing constraints like chanting, rituals, dress codes, and drug use, enhancing mental stimulation. With her chant, Nina’s radiant light blazed an intense blue—and.
“Purify them of their sins. 【Purgatory Magic Formula】, ‘Azhi Dahaka’!”
A scorching blue storm raged, obliterating the surrounding trees and incinerating the desperately fleeing beastmen, leaving not even bones behind.
Ah… further, further, and even further.
“Soldiers, slay them all.”
“Oooooh…!”
At the command, the troops, with mechanical crossbows, embarked on their sortie. Their demeanor was like hellhounds, to completely eliminate any miraculous survivors, to turn every single one of the ten thousand kingdom soldiers into lumps of flesh. There was no mercy in the man called Alvatros.
“It’s over.”
A kingdom soldier muttered. Two seconds later, he was pierced by a hundred bolts.
Ah—The soldiers had made a mistake. They had touched an adversary they should not have. Alvatros, a cowardly man, showed no hesitation in annihilating nuisances. They should never have involved themselves with this insignificant dust.
Thus, the Zukakipp army of ten thousand, dreaming of glory, suffered a historic massacre, with over ninety-nine percent fatalities…!