The Prince Wants to Retire

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Crown Prince Wishes to Retire

57. I’m not sure about the war, but let’s just fish for now (3)

Kariel prepared a special force for the Royal Roman project.

The decisive weapon crafted for the war against Hell was now on the move.

Naturally, the Romans couldn’t help but be taken aback by the unexpected developments.

“Is that a Demon Hunter?”

“No. They are coming alongside the main forces.”

Ignit’s special force, made exclusively for Great Demons, had shown overwhelming power against the demons.

However, they had also demonstrated superiority based on the elemental advantages with the existence of Hell.

This was a situation that the Romans were well aware of, and they had prepared accordingly.

“Not that special forces, but another one?”

The commander was swirling in confusion at the subordinate’s report.

The troubling part was that while he was bewildered, Ignit’s main forces were advancing rapidly northward without hesitation.

As their carefully crafted plans fell apart due to an unforeseen special force, the Roman command was thrown into chaos.

Seeing this, the Roman Emperor smirked.

“Did they still keep a hidden ace?”

He stood up, thinking of the Ignit army who had been trying to deceive them until the end.

“The situation is urgent.”

“…I apologize.”

The Emperor sighed as he looked at the mage kneeling before him, head bowed.

He had sacrificed his brothers, Ivan, who had pledged allegiance to the Empire for the Great Plan, along with the best commander.

Now, with Roman’s plans on the brink of collapse, it was time for him to make a move.

“Number one.”

“Yes! Your Majesty.”

“I shall act personally.”

With those words, the Roman Emperor prepared to move towards the Black Canyon.

And the demons felt the same.

“I will also move personally.”

At the Demon King’s words, all including the Demon Legion Commander bowed their heads silently.

He had aimed for just one-tenth of his original power when crossing to the continent.

That target was still unfulfilled. The final strike that Glen had shown him had dealt a critical blow.

It was a dire situation that urged him to act despite the internal damage he had sustained.

In fact, they could have simply retreated upon hearing of Ignit’s movements.

However, they had already crossed the point of no return.

The day before they received news of Ignit, they had stumbled upon traces of ancient ruins.

Thus, neither side could afford to back down.

Eventually, while the demon and Roman armies engaged in fierce battles searching for the ruins, Ignit’s main force advanced swiftly.

*

“I’ve been properly hooked.”

Receiving reports from the shadows, Kariel wore a satisfied smile.

The Hell Gate they aimed for danced enticingly before them—could they possibly stop now?

Even knowing that the jaws of the beast called Ignit were closing in, they continued to fight fiercely like rabbits drawn to delectable fruit.

Watching them, Kariel felt he had landed a big catch.

“What about the Army of Hell?”

“Not in sight. It seems they’ve completely retreated, likely unable to keep up with ‘them.’”

Kariel smiled at Talion’s report.

Before the war began, Ignit had tirelessly tried to predict what the Roman’s hidden ace might be.

The hardest foe blocking Ignit’s path was likely Roman rather than the demons.

For that reason, they had anticipated and prepared for several of Roman’s maneuvers.

Watching Roman’s main forces advance eastward while still in a state of uncertainty, they were finally able to form a complete plan.

“The ‘Red Ghost’ seems to be performing even better than anticipated.”

“It’s only natural, considering it is blessed by Your Majesty.”

Talion responded as if it was obvious to him.

A report about the special force created for the great battle against Hell—the Red Ghost—was relayed from Talion.

「Report on the performance of the Red Ghost」

This special force aimed at combating the Legion of Hell was similar to a Demon Hunter, yet distinctly different.

Firstly, while the Demon Hunters were created to counter demons using the Power of Fire, claiming an advantage through their divine weapons, those weapons were fundamentally based on divine power.

On the other hand, the Red Ghost exclusively used weapons blessed by fire.

Secondly, if the Demon Hunters received blessings from the Temple of Fire or were those who awakened the Power of Fire, the Red Ghost consisted solely of individuals who had received direct blessings from the Emperor.

Thirdly, all members of the Red Ghost underwent ‘special training’ at the Temple of Fire.

In other words, unlike the Demon Hunters, who could face both demons and the Army of Hell, the Red Ghost was designed exclusively to engage solely with the Army of Hell.

Not only were they selected from those who had awakened the divine power of fire to combat the Army of Hell, but they had undergone special training as well.

Kariel personally bestowed blessings on these individuals and provided them with weapons created from divine fire.

“Not bad.”

Seeing Kariel smile with satisfaction, Surth nodded in agreement.

If Kariel was a force meant to face the Army of Hell, then certainly those who received his strength would be the same.

It was a valid assumption that they could smash the Army of Hell without Kariel needing to use his own power.

Hence, Roman’s plans completely unraveled.

「High possibility of stalling Ignit’s main force with the Army of Hell.」

Now, the decrepit Roman strategy report lay tattered.

For Roman, the best way to achieve optimal results was to utilize the Army of Hell.

They could thoroughly stall for time using only the Army of Hell without risking their own main forces, accomplishing their objectives—what could be a better strategy than that?

But they were completely shredded by a special force akin to ultimate elemental mastery.

“Is it just a matter of advancing now?”

Having hooked a big fish, Kariel quickly moved to prepare the catch.

However, as Ignit’s main force advanced rapidly to the northeast, the demons weren’t just sitting idle either.

*

Boom!

“Overwhelming.”

The Demon King moved through the Black Canyon, practically demolishing it.

Contrary to reports describing him as a mere child’s form, the Demon King, resembling a large boy, surged through Roman’s army with overwhelming force as he charged toward the Gate.

The Master formations and even the Army of Hell were ineffective in stopping him.

Even though Roman suffered immense losses in every battle, the Emperor was satisfied.

“Quite the struggle.”

Watching the Demon King’s advance from a distance, the Roman Emperor smiled.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Indeed. At first glance, he seems formidable, but the more he uses his power, the more unstable his magic has become.”

The Leader of the Black Moon observed the Demon King with hawk-like eyes.

“A bull is charging again.”

“I’ll stop him.”

As the Leader of the Black Moon bowed his head and vanished, Roman’s only mage soared high into the air.

This was because a colossal black serpent, the Demon Legion Commander, was wreaking havoc on Roman’s formations.

In the meantime, the Sandria’s main forces were deployed.

The tribal chiefs of the influential tribes displayed their power.

From mages who manipulated the earth to sorcerers wielding the power of Hell, to warriors swinging golden aura blades.

The hidden powers of Sandria contended with the Leader of Dark Mages and Master-level beings.

“You should be the one to deal with that.”

At the Emperor’s words, the man wearing a turban nodded and soared into the air.

A gray storm erupted toward the massive-headed Demon Legion Commander.

As the overwhelming force split through everything, even the notorious Demon Legion Commander surrendered to defense.

“Since I’ve left that guy for my little brother, it looks like the only one left is the Demon King?”

The murmurs of the Roman Emperor.

Is it possible that there exists a hidden little brother—the only kin of the Roman Emperor—known to be utterly alone?

A being of such tremendous power? If that became known across the continent, it would be shocking news indeed.

“Tsk! The Secret Guardians are going to be a nuisance.”

After losing several daring knights of the Black Moon to supply line battles, engaging the Secret Guardians had indeed been thanks to this hidden brother.

Moreover, even in the desert, it was all thanks to the powers wielded by his brother that the Hell Sorcerers could covertly be deployed in the supply line battles.

The overwhelming strength that shredded the Secret Guardians manifested as a gray storm visible to the Emperor.

Boom!

Lost in thought, a thunderous sound shattered part of the Black Canyon, revealing the ruins.

“Your Majesty! The ruins have appeared!”

“Go.”

“Yes!”

At the Emperor’s command, the royal knights, protecting him, carved their path by slashing through demons.

Meanwhile, the Demon King surged forward toward the ruins with overwhelming power.

As the Roman Emperor also entered the ruins via the collapsed canyon, fierce combat continued between the demons and Roman’s army.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

As soon as the Demon King stepped into the ruins, he smashed through the guardians that stood in his way, advancing alone.

In the meantime, the Roman Emperor led the knights into the interiors.

“Is that the Gate?”

After bypassing the remnants of the guardians destroyed by the Demon King, the Roman Emperor arrived at what is presumed to be the Hell Gate.

-Just a moment too late.

He locked eyes with the Demon King, who was blocking his path and speaking.

Inside the structure thought to be the Hell Gate, the Demon King placed a black jewel, and in response, the previously derelict ruins began to emit a strange wave.

-Apostle of Hell, it seems your wishes cannot come true.

As the Roman Emperor regarded the Demon King, who called himself the Apostle of Hell, he gestured subtly.

Then, knights rushed toward the Demon King.

-Are you really going to deal with me using these pathetic knights?

The Demon King tore through Roman’s knights without sparing a single one from entering.

However, the Roman Emperor remained unperturbed.

From the start, he had never expected the knights to break past the Demon King.

With cold eyes, he waved his hand as knights perished.

At that moment, an old staff appeared surrounded by crimson energy.

And as he lifted it and struck down, gray winds began to swirl around the ruins, and space began to tremble.

-What’s that…?

“Let’s see how much you can handle with your insufficient power.”

As the Emperor spoke, the Demon King gritted his teeth.

Realizing the identity of the staff the Roman Emperor held, the Demon King summoned all his strength.

But unlike before, his magic quivered uneasily.

-Is this the Apostle of Hell? Very well! Come forth!

The Demon King revealed his spirit against those aberrant creatures born from the gray aura.

Just as the Roman Emperor and the Demon King began their battle, explosions resounded between the forces of the Demon King and Roman’s armies, causing tremendous casualties.

Boom!

“Could it be!”

-Have they already arrived?

They gazed upward at the vessels from the sky, raining fierce attacks on them as both the ordinary Roman and Demon armies momentarily ceased fighting to glance towards the heavens.

“…An emergency alliance?”

-That’s what we’ll need to survive.

The Demon Legion Commander, suppressing his excitement, let out a cry towards the sky just as a massive aura blade plummeted toward him.

At the same time, from the Black Canyon, a giant Fire Giant was summoned.

“Let’s clear them all out.”

On top of the Fire Giant, Kariel commanded.

At that moment, the great army of Ignit surged into motion, charging toward both Roman and Demon forces.

Caught completely off guard by the unexpectedly early arrival of Ignit’s army, both the Demon and Roman forces found themselves swept away.

Meanwhile, Kariel closed his eyes, summoning a red wave.

“Is this the feeling?”

-Yes. The Hell Gate is definitely here.

Feeling the shared sensations, Surth confirmed with a nod.

“Let’s go.”

At Kariel’s command, Surth nodded and began to move his massive body.

The Demon King’s forces and Roman’s troops united in a joint assault to block him, but Skoll and Agni were summoned, pushing them back.

Through the breach created by the two summoned beings, Surth entered the depths.

As Kariel entered the ruins, the Demon Legion Commander attempted to block him, but Achelio and Talion confronted him.

“If you wish to interfere with His Majesty, then you must break through us first.”