Chapter 224: Overlord (4)

After that, these so-called Destroyers appeared in many other places. There was one where Ye-Eun was, and other teams also reported that they discovered the Destroyers. Although Hwaya and Ina's team instantly destroyed the one they found, the other teams had difficulty defeating them and had to request for help.

Naturally, we began to move together as we met up, and by the time I killed the fourth Destroyer, everyone had gathered together.

"Are we done with the ones that came outside?"

"Hu, I can feel the heavy mana vibrating! Also, hasn't it been getting hotter, guys?"

"Hotter? Well, maybe with all the bullets you've been shooting out... Eh?"

Only after Leon's comment did I realize that the temperature rose. Because of my elementals and Felixes' Chaotic Cape, I had not noticed the change in temperature until now. Meanwhile, the others were already dripping with sweat. Other than me, the only ones unaffected were Ina, Hwaya, and Daisy.

"Ruyue, can you cool the air around us so that the guild members are comfortable?"

[Un! But I can't when we're fighting. The heat energy here is too strong.]

"That's fine."

[Got it!]

Ruyue immediately released her freezing energy, and the others could finally catch their breaths.

"The heat hasn't affected me much since I became an ability user, but this is impressive."

[Hero, we need to hurry before it gets hotter. This is a sign that the king has started to move his forces. We have to take care of his subordinates before he get serious.]

"Alright. Let's hurry, everyone."

Since we couldn't take out our plane here, everyone got on Lotte's back. She grit her teeth and grumbled, but she accepted my request after I promised her a reward.

[Since we're in a hurry... I'll allow it!]

"Sorry, Lotte..."

Ilayda and Plene also left, as the two of them wouldn't be able to withstand a hit from the king. Plene became depressed, saying that she couldn't be of help again, while Ilayda also argued, saying that she wanted to stay. Since Plene's power helped us immensely in recovering the Philippines, it was relatively easy to console her, but convincing Ilayda was harder.

"You need my ability."

"But Ilayda, it's too dangerous. It's possible that you might die from the aftershock of the king's attack. You have to level up a bit more. Once you become Gold ranked, you can accompany us on jobs like this."

"I won't complain even if I die."

"We'll be troubled if you die. We're going to need your ability in the future, so please, leave it to Ludia for today."

"I'm more than enough."

"In that case... I'll acquiesce. I'll get stronger so that I can be of help to everyone!"

When Ludia stepped up, Ilayda seemed convinced and went back to the mansion with Plene who had become happier after I consoled her. Michel then spoke with a bitter smile.

"She has a type of obsession with these things. I found out after I got to know her better. She won't hesitate to risk her life to save others, a bit too philanthropic, you could say. Because of her immense love for others, it almost looks like she has no love for herself..."

"Michel can take care of her. It should be the guild master's job to take care of his guild members, but I'm banned from talking to Ilayda about personal things."

With that, I pointed behind me. Ludia and Hwaya were glaring at Michel.

"Shin can't take care of each and every guild member personally, Michel Ajusshi."

"Are you trying to make me, Mitarus' priestess, commit murder...?"

I simply laughed without saying anything. Michel placed his hand on my shoulder with a look of pity.

"If it's tough... you can talk to me. It's a bit embarrassing to say this, but I've had my fair share of such experiences when I was younger... I know how you feel."

"Michel..."

I felt like I was tearing up. I nodded my head ever so slightly so that the girls wouldn't find out.

As we got closer to the volcano, the ground fissured and shot fire into the air. Lotte also became more and more anxious.

[Hero, I'm speeding up!]

"Got it."

At that moment, Ruyue finally announced her surrender.

[It's too hard with my power alone.]

"Damn!"

Even Ruyue's strengthened ability couldn't block the temperature change!? When she returned to my weapon, the others immediately began to feel tormented.

"This is too much!"

"Ilina, can you do something?"

"I'm bad at using my power delicately... I can freeze you though!"

"Nevermind."

"It's too hot. Should I take off my armor?"

"It'll be hotter if you do. Just endure it."

I didn't think it was possible for any environment to affect Revival's members so harshly. I shouted out a message as I grit my teeth.

"Heat can greatly hinder your movements. When we encounter this king, I'll handle him from the front .If the heat gets unbearable to the point you think you can't continue, tell me."

"Son, my body isn't so weak that a heat of this level can hinder my movements."

"That's just you, Father. Others aren't like you."

Perhaps, only Lebuik and Ren, who were beastmen, and Michel, who trained in the ways of the sword his entire life, could be like Father. Thankfully, Hwaya, who seemed most likely to be affected by environmental effects, was a flame ability user.

[I see one!]

"Heroic Strike!"

The moment a Destroyer entered my sight, I threw my spear and intercepted him. Everyone else also poured long-ranged attacks and killed it. However, up ahead, over ten Destroyers were marching towards us.

"Damn! Lotte, how many of them do you think are there?"

[From what we've seen so far, over a thousand! There are also many that are stronger than the Destroyers.]

"Wow..."

I almost lost hope. A thousand SSS+ rank monsters and more monsters above that level? There was the king to worry about too! A sigh naturally left my mouth.

[Hero, we must lower their count now. The king's army increases in size over time. Now that we're here, we can't go back.]

"Right. We can't back off now."

[It's good that we killed so many monsters before... The Witch made a wise decision.]

At Lotte's words, I got a hunch.

"Is that army made of monsters? Is that why they called all monsters living in the Philippines to the volcano?"

[It's why the Lava King is terrifying. The more he fought, the stronger his army became.]

"A role model for necromancers. I must take notes."

Daisy said an unnecessary comment as she clapped in admiration. I then smacked her head, while Hwaya grit her teeth.

"If I knew beforehand, I would have gathered an army and attacked much earlier!"

"Who knew this Lava King would be here? You did well Hwaya... There's no need to blame yourself."

I tightened my grip on my spear. Seeing the Destroyers beginning to make their appearance on the land booming with fire, I shouted.

"Ruyue, materialize into your humanoid form! It's time to show your prowess!"

[Got it!]

Ruyue transformed into a wolf girl. Ren exclaimed in awe, forgetting the current circumstance.

"B-Beautiful."

"Uuk!"

"Ren, Lebuik! Stop blabbering and get ready to fight! We're descending now!"

"G-Got it, Crown Prince!"

I glared at Ren and Lebuik, and shouted.

"Every time you get hit today, I'll lengthen your thrashing phase by one day. Lebuik will also get a taste of a thrashing phase if you're not careful! Everyone else, get ready to fight! We're going to destroy this army before the king comes!"

"Yes!"

"Got it!"

"I'll protect Daddy!"

Lotte shot down like an arrow. Ruyue cooled the path we would take, as she charged forward first and swept the Destroyers. Her claws became enveloped in ice as they slashed at the Destroyers. A destroyer had been destroyed without having a chance to counterattack... Eh?

"Her weapon might be different, but her movements are a lot like Kang Shin."

"So that's why her movements looked familiar! It's our clan's movements. The meticulousness and viciousness in charging forward without looking around while not being hit even once."

"Don't call it vicious!"

[Elementals naturally take after their masters. We should go too, Master!]

Instead of Ruyue, I infused Peika into my spear. I couldn't use chaos flames today, and if I couldn't use Ruyue, Peika was the second best option. Now that it had come to this, I became a bit sad that I had already used Sky God's Rage today. At that moment, as if she had read my mind, Peika commented.

[Leave it to me, Master. I'll show you a lightning that can even cut through fire.]

"Thanks, Peika. I will."

[Un!]

At that instant, I felt the connection between Peika and me getting deeper. With a smile, I made Lotte land. Once everyone including the succubi battle units landed, I got back on Lotte's back and shot up. Hwaya shouted.

"Shin, be careful!"

"Don't worry. Rather than that, don't die, everyone. As long as no one dies, we'll be fine."

I looked at Ludia, who had over twenty Elixirs. When a large number of Event Dungeons appeared on Earth, she had taken all the Elixirs.

Knowing what I meant, Ludia sighed.

"I want to use them for Shin only... but I guess there's no choice."

"Huhu, Ludia, if you want Shin to love you, you'll have to show a generous side of you to others."

"Don't call me Ludia, Hwaya Mastiford."

It looked like everything would be okay. I softly smiled and turned away. The volcano in the distance that seemed to be shooting out mana for a while finally erupted grandly. The heat even made me frown. Lotte shouted like she was screaming.

[Presences of monsters in this area disappeared! A unique soldier has been born!]

"Damn, there are all these Destroyers too... Lotte, accelerate!"

[Got it!]

"Dear Husband, take this!"

When we were about to charge at a nearby Destroyer, a crystal ball flew toward us. When I quickly grabbed it, I saw a dark-pink colored spherical object. Of course, it wasn't for decoration. Such a tiny ball contained an immense amount of mana.

I tilted my head in confusion and saw Licorice smiling at me.

"It's made from a portion of all the mana collected by the battle units. It contains our love, so use it when you need it, Dear Husband."

"But Licorice, this is the succubi's..."

"If Dear Husband dies, it won't matter no matter how strong we get. I hope that will be of help."

"... Thank you."

"Huhu."

I thought she'd boast more, but she only made a small smile before flying back. Dozens of magic circles appeared around her, shooting our magic that targeted down the Destroyers. Each and every one of them was powerful enough to make me shake. Obtaining Licorice before the Philippines subjugation was truly a godlike move.

"I can't lose to Ruyue or Licorice!"

I put the crystal ball away as I reaffirmed my resolve. Just from a quick estimate, the crystal ball contained three times my mana. As I currently had over 120,000 mana, this small crystal ball had over 360,000 mana in it. If something like this exploded, it would be able to easily blow up a country. Without a doubt, it would help me greatly.

[Hero, I'm going to strictly charge from now!]

"You're telling me to kill everything in one hit? Got it. I'll show you what Wind King's Rage is!"

My body flashed for a moment, and a massive wind and lightning energy fell into me. Sharana, who was infused into my body, and Peika, who was infused into my spear, both exclaimed.

[Master, great!]

[Huhu, Master is the best!]

"This is only the beginning! You guys control this energy!'

Lotte charged. Her destination was the new Destroyer that just popped out of the fissured ground and overflowing lava!

"Die!"

[Guoooooo!]

I thrust my spear forward, each attack containing lethal power.

[Critical Hit!]

Wind and lightning stormed. Lotte's charge didn't stop. From the giant hole I just pierced through, lava spurted out like blood. The Destroyer immediately collapsed. It had died.

"All of you... fight me! Mere soldiers like you, I can take care of all of you by myself!"

[You used Provoke! All enemies in the area will hold infinite hostility for you. Just by coming out victorious against them, you will make another achievement!]

The Destroyers marched forward. Just like Lotte said, about a thousand Destroyers popped up from every corner of the ground, as they all glared at me and moved towards me. I gulped down my saliva along with a surging sense of tension and shouted.

"Let's go!"

Wind King's Rage wouldn't stop until all of them were dead. With Absolute Soul's power, I would make that possible! Second, third, fourth...!

[Gruaaaaaaaaa!]

Leaving behind giant holes and bursting lava, Lotte charged forward. The whirlpool of wind and lightning enveloping my body cut through the air as it left traces of destruction. It wasn't just me. Other members of Revival also charged alongside me. About two hundred succubi shot magical attacks without rest, while the roar of the fighting Destroyers shook the land.

The war between Revival and the Lava King's Army had now begun.