The Liberomancer [Isekai Progression LitRPG]

Despite how the situation looked, there was a small glimmer of hope through all of it - the sun was about to set. We had been fighting for only a few hours even though it felt like it had gone on for days, but when the sun set, it would hopefully mean that the dryads would withdraw from their assault. At least, most of us thought so, given that they had never attempted to attack us after daylight hours up until now. Either they couldn't see very well at night, or just became less active, whatever it was, so long as it gave us time to recharge, they would be sure to lose tomorrow.

If only we could just hold out till then…

The chaotic scenery continued. One advantage that [Grand Fireball] and [Fireball] had over conventional firearms was that they didn't generate smoke or noise, but even with those advantages, it was hard to keep track of what was going on with all the shouting and spells flying. Some semblance of order was maintained, but it appeared exceptionally fragile, like a glass kept just at the edge of a table practically begging to be knocked over.

Eventually, there was a lull in the fighting. That was when I saw it - Drake had gone near the edge to cast [Grand Fireball] again when an enemy spear found its mark - he turned his head to the side in time but it still struck the side of his helm and he fell over the edge of the wall.

It was like I was watching it in slow motion as I ran forward. Before I could get to him, he had already hit the ground, though he must have had something that cushioned him from the fall like [Gravity Guard] which passively negated all fall damage as I saw no broken bones or blood pooling out from under him. But it looked like the strike to his head had knocked him out, because he was not trying to get up or cast anything.

His fall had momentarily stunned the surrounding dryads, but they were not going to remain like that for long once they realized what it was had fallen into their midst.

I had seconds, if that, to act.

I jumped off the wall, casting [Summon Elephant Frog] during my descent. I had been saving it for a rainy day, and if there ever was a time to use it, it was now.

The frog's impact cleared up some space, and I ran over to check on Drake who was thankfully still breathing, meaning my assessment that he had to have some kind of skill that saved him was correct. He was however, unconscious.

Now, to get back onto the wall, while keeping both of us safe…

I didn't even need to tell the Elephant Frog to do what it did next - or give it any other signal of any kind. It just knew it through our mental connection - it knew that I was asking it to swallow the two of us.

I latched onto Drake tightly, and braced myself as we found ourselves inside the frog's mouth after its tongue had wrapped around us. I held my breath - was it normal for a summoned creature to smell this much on the inside? It was uncomfortable both for us and for the frog, given that Drake was still wearing plate armor. If it had not been a summon it would've almost certainly spat the two of us out immediately. But with a sudden lurch, it leapt over the wall, spitting us out with expert precision onto the top, before it dived back down to take out as many of the enemy it could before it died.

I was covered in its disgusting saliva, and no doubt smelled bad, but I was able to finally take in a breath of fresh air, which was a huge relief.

[Create Water] and [Fragrance] would've been quite helpful here to clean the saliva and to stop me from smelling, but I had no mana for either of them.

Drake was definitely going to be mad at me for doing that, but I didn't know how badly he had been injured, and wasn't confident on getting him back up the wall without hurting him even more any other way.

"Help!" I yelled out. "The governor's son - Commander Drake! He's been injured! He needs a healer! I repeat, this is the governor's son here and your commander!"

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My shouting drew in someone who carried Drake away, presumably to a healer.

That whole little escapade had knocked what little energy I had out of me, and I lay there on the wall, panting and covered in frog saliva, hoping that Drake was safe.

Hardly the kind of thing you'd read about in a heroic epic…

I felt my connection to the Elephant Frog break after a few minutes, meaning it had been killed.

Mustering all of my strength, I drew myself up.

"Master Liberomancer - that side might be breached soon!"

"Master Liberomancer - if you have enough mana, we need someone to force them back over there with a [Grand Fireball]!"

"Master Liberomancer - are you in charge now?"

"Master Liberomancer - can you use that skill of yours with a spider again?"

"Master Liberomancer - where should the reservists be sent too?"

Voices assaulted me even as I felt my eyelids becoming heavy - and I realized what the problem was.

Drake was commanding this side of the wall. His second-in-command was a lizardman who was also out of commission for some reason, and I didn't know who the third-in-command was. Neither did anyone else right now - and so, seeing the sash, and also how much time they'd seen me spending with him they assumed that I might be next in line.

"Alright, I'm not in command," I spat out. "Someone send word to Zeke, he'll find someone else to replace Drake, but for now, sure, I'll handle things. First off, someone please splash water on me and clean this mess off my face."

Someone obliged, casting a bucket of cold water on me none too gently - it was annoying, but at the same time refreshing and did give me a new burst of energy. I no longer felt like I was going to fall asleep any second now.

I cleaned my face. Though physically I was spent and sore all over, I now had enough magic for another spell, which I made sure to use to its maximum effectiveness as I cast it on the most desperate area of the wall.

Alright, some breathing room. "You, yes, over there! That's where we need more forces. If there's anyone with mana, they should target those two areas next. And send a runner to find out what's going on with Drake!"

I barked out orders, not even sure of what I was doing, but trying to emulate Drake as much as I could.

By now I felt like I could collapse.

But there was still a job to do. The last hour of fighting felt longer than the hours that had come before it combined. Every minute dragged on longer than it should have - it was likely a very dumb decision on my part, but I ended up removing a good chunk of my armor other than the chestpiece. I just couldn't do anything with the weight on me. I staggered over to the area where I was stationed and noticed something odd.

It looked like… pages were bleeding out?

With a jolt, I remembered that I had been reading that grimoire that Zeke had given me that gave [Ansoon's Blessing] even today, and when the dryads had started moving I had quickly stashed it away for safekeeping in a crevice here. Only something - the wind or someone carelessly passing by, had knocked it out leaving it exposed.

Only it looks like at some point, a spear or claw had gotten through my armor and ended up puncturing the grimoire - most of its pages had been torn through, and it was clearly unreadable now given how much it had been damaged.

I swore. Loudly.

I had spent the better part of a month whittling away at the thing, and was about three-fourths of the way done.

Only now, all that effort had been in vain! I had gotten this grimoire with great difficulty - this was the equivalent of losing more than a month's worth of work!

I had no doubt that any Liberomancer who saw this sight would weep, much like I felt like doing. This was entirely from my own carelessness; I had allowed myself to get swept up in the fight so much I hadn't bothered to take this into account.

At some point, someone came, another Rank Three Liberomancer who was a lizardman who I vaguely recognized from that meeting I had to attended a while back. I couldn't for the life of me remember his name, but he hurriedly approached me and said, "Master Liberomancer, I have been sent by Governor Lance to take command of this region." It took me a moment to realize that he was actually asking for my permission to take command - despite being told this by the governor.

"Of course, thank you for coming."

"Ah, and the governor also sends his thanks that you saved his son. Sir Drake has been heavily injured, but none of his wounds were fatal," he continued. "He should make a full recovery, though the healers have to prioritize some others rather than him so it may take some time, but rest assured that he is stable…"

"Thank you," I said, quite relieved. "Now if you'll excuse me…" I found a well-sheltered area of the wall away from the frontlines, and dropped to the floor.

I was so exhausted at this point I felt like I couldn't even lift a finger.

"Master Stefan! Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm not injured," I said. "Just… can't fight any longer…"

I'm not sure whether or not I passed out or fell asleep, but regardless of which one it was, the world went black.

I just couldn't keep up any longer.