Chapter 67: One-Man Army (3)
Chapter 67: One-Man Army (3)
"...Is that even possible? No, really, you think the enemy will respond like that?"
Ellis's eyes were wide with disbelief.
It was hard to believe.
He had not only read the cunning opponent's moves, but he had also deduced the character of the heartless like they had been best friends for ten years.
What's more, the last hidden card he'd prepared was something that even Ellis herself couldn't have imagined.
"You... seriously, what are you? Are you even human?"
Ellis gulped down her saliva.
She knew more than anyone how incredible Jinhyuk was from the moment they had first met.
But this - the deeper you dug, the more astonishing it became.
"I am just one of those who love this world."
11 years.
No one had enjoyed this world more than he had.
That's why he clung to it more than anyone else.
He wasn't a natural prodigy who could learn everything at once.
Nor was he born with exceptional talent as one with heavenly bones.
He was a well-seasoned veteran of this world.
That was all there was to it.
"Huh. That's a very you-kind of answer."
Ellis let out a small sigh.
No matter how much she asked, she realized she wouldn't get any more answers about Jinhyuk's identity.
"Just keep good care of that crown on your head. It's valuable."
"Don't worry. Once I get my hands on something, I'm not the type to let anyone snatch it away."
A smirk.
"Well, of course. I'll see you in a bit, then."
After bidding farewell, Jinhyuk moved away from the center where Ellis was.
Crossing the chessboard, he arrived at a wide open space located on the far right.
Jinhyuk whistled.
Thud, thud, thud!
Lance-wielding and armored heavy cavalry lined up on either side of him.
"Did you call for us?"
An emotionless voice flowed from the knight astride his steed.
Unlike the other chess pieces, these 'knights' were special entities with intelligence added.
They'd been kept in reserve just for this moment.
Among them, a black knight encased in dark armor approached.
'It's been quite a while since I've ridden a horse.'
Jinhyuk stroked the black horse's mane.
From horses and direwolves, which were relatively common, to the phoenixes and dragons of legend.
The Tower of Trials boasted thousands of 'mounts'.
Of course, Jinhyuk had ridden every mount in existence.
In fact, he'd used such rare and unusual mounts so often that riding a horse almost felt awkward.
Jinhyuk mounted up.
"Neigh!"
The horse bucked wildly.
But it was for only a brief moment.
Soon, it calmed down under Jinhyuk's smooth and skilled handling.
"Let's go."
Jinhyuk grasped the lance.
"Understood."
The black knight dipped his head in acknowledgment.
***
The thunder of hooves echoed as 300 knights began to race across the bamboo forest.
As the clamor reached its peak:
"Roar!"
"Oooh!"
A horde of particularly long-limbed statues sprinted through the statues.
Around 3,000 strong, each was at least of medium strength.
'They're targeting the main camp.'
It was an awkward number to deal with - too many to ignore, but too few to merit turning back.
No doubt, this was also Muhon's calculation.
"What shall we do?"
"We ignore them. If 3,000 have left, their walls will be that much thinner."
Jinhyuk pointed at the gap that had formed in the middle of the statue formations.
"As soon as we break through, the troops on both wings will cut off their retreat."
"That's likely."
He knew.
He knew that the gap was intentionally left open.
The enemy's plan was certainly to trap us inside, then steal Ellis's crown while we were held up.
Just by the arrangement of powerful figures in the center and smaller ones on the sides, their intent was obvious.
However, everything depended on one big assumption.
Namely, that Muhon's annihilation force of 3,000 would be able to snatch away the crown.
'Faster than I can cut down his neck.'
The sound of hooves intensified.
The enemy lines were now within striking distance.
"Break through at once!"
With a loud cry, Jinhyuk thrust his lance forward.
[Chess piece 'Knight' activates 'Wedge Formation'!]
[Damage upon impact increases by 200%!]
A charge formation designed for maximum destruction despite being outnumbered.
The 300 knights plunged into the enemy ranks.
Boom, boom, boom!
Fragments from the pierced statues scattered in all directions.
It was terrifyingly effective.
When a single point breaks through fortified defenses, those defenses crumble entirely.
Leading the charge, Jinhyuk regrouped his forces as they pushed deeper inward.
While some statues fought back desperately, none were strong enough to hold up Jinhyuk unless they were named figures.
After about a minute.
Jinhyuk and his knights had reached the deepest point of the enemy lines.
Jinhyuk looked up.
There, atop a bejeweled statue, stood Muhon.
'...He's smiling.'
A twisted smile on his face, sure of his victory.
"Crawled all the way here, have you, human? For bringing such a small force to me, you deserve praise."
"Cut the crap. You intentionally left that gap for me, so stop pretending."
"Ho, you were aware it was a trap?"
"That's right."
"Interesting, so why walk into it willingly?"
"Hm? A trap? All I see is a cool riverside park on a summer night. Look, there's even someone selling skewers and beer."
"...Even in this situation, you act so carelessly. I'm starting to think maybe I overestimated you."
Muhon slowly brought both hands together.
"Well, enough of that. Leaving the crown to a skinny girl, bringing just that tiny army in here... You're no longer worth my time."
And with that gesture, he merged his palms.
Thud, thud, thud!
The statues on both sides began to move then.
Jinhyuk's gaze sharpened.
'The Statue of David from Greece and even the Great Filth King Kong... he's summoned strong named monsters.'
Like the Thousand-Armed Kannon, they were formidable named monsters appearing one after another.
Boom, boom!
The knights were obliterated without a chance to fight back.
Armor split in two and lances shattered.
"Hahaha! Are there no better fools in the Shiva world?"
The Great Filth King Kong laughed heartily while...
"Hmm. I don't see any humans with perfect body proportions."
...the Statue of David passed judgment with a leer.
A battlefield with both a warrior and a pervert, a rare sight indeed.
Their mana reserves must be truly vast to command such monstrous beings.
'A boss still remains a boss, huh?'
Despite the overwhelmingly adverse situation, there was no sign of tension on Jinhyuk's face.
Instead, he smiled, looking directly at Muhon.
"Gone mad, have you? Why the smile?"
"There are just two things where you're mistaken," Jinhyuk started, folding one finger.
"First, those statues you sent. It seems you selected them with confidence... am I right?"
"Yes. I chose only the elites. They can be entrusted with any mission."
"I did the same."
"What?"
"The one who has the crown... I also entrusted it to someone I can rely on."
As Jinhyuk finished his sentence,
Boom, boom, boom!
Red blood sprayed in the distance.
"These lowlifes! How dare they lay a hand on her head?"
Ellis's face twisted ferociously.
[Ellis activates Lv?? 'Rain of Blood'!]
Blood turned into hundreds of harpoons covered the sky.
Many, but each infused with immense mana.
The sunlight vanished and was replaced by dark clouds.
"Die."
With that cold whisper, the blood poured down from the sky, obliterating the statues.
It was a bombardment seen only in films, and that with restrained mana supply. If she could unleash her full power, the whole-area would have been razed.
"What, what's going on?"
Muhon gasped at the sight.
He had intentionally chosen beings specialized in duels, not group battles.
Yet in front of the silver-haired girl, they were nothing but paper soldiers.
It made no sense.
There were even named statues among them, but how...
While Muhon was reeling from the shock,
Jinhyuk folded a second finger.
"And next. The gap you opened to lure me deep inside? That's exactly what I was counting on."
The conditions for activation had been complicated, but at this moment, everything lined up perfectly.
[Summoning 'Memories of the World'.]
Jinhyuk conjured the Great Library where all his unique abilities and skills were stored.
A deep rumble followed.
The skills to be fused were 'Blood Magic' and 'Mandala', two entirely opposite abilities combined to turn this battle around.
[A unique ability 'Blood Magic' and 'Mandala' begins to fuse!]
[Fusion successful!]
[You have obtained the skill 'Double Agent (S)'!]
[Due to the intricate activation requirements, the rank is downgraded from S to A.]
[Double Agent]
Difficulty of Acquisition: A
Effect: You can brainwash some of the enemies, turning them against each other. However, the targets of Double Agent must be 'summons' controlled by a boss monster, and it can only be used within 5 meters of the 'boss monster'.
"Thanks."
For drawing me within range to activate it.
Now, he could use this ability.
[Double Agent Lv1 activates!]
An invisible wave pulsed from Jinhyuk's body.
In that moment,
"Rawr!"
Chaos erupted within the encircling forces.
Nearly half of the statues that were targeting Jinhyuk and his knights suddenly turned their weapons on their allies.
Thud!
Crash!
Almost simultaneously, a riot broke out as they attacked indiscriminately.
Even named statues were amongst them.
"Perfect human proportions, be damned! You sanctimonious Western brat!"
The Great Filth King Kong struck the Statue of David's face.
Boom!
Cracks marred David's once perfect face.
"What is the meaning of this sudden...?"
"Silence! I never liked your pretentious countenance or those sculpted abs and thighs from the start!"
Once hit by 'Double Agent,' nothing could change their minds, as now the Great Filth King Kong saw the Statue of David as an archenemy.
The battlefield turned into a pandemonium.
"Damn it. Did you just play me with a bluff all along?"
Muhon gritted his teeth hard enough to crack.
"You laid a trap within a trap."
To catch a clever enemy, one layer of deception wasn't enough.
So, a bit more seasoning was needed.
No matter how self-assured the foe, there was no escaping.
There's a saying, after all - the flower of lies is the counter-lie.
In any case...
The scales were now even.
"It's round two now."