Chapter 406: Grace of the False God (4)

The Black God's forces that had crossed into the Seven Kingdoms Alliance were largely divided into three groups. In the northeast were the Eustil and Tarum Kingdoms, along with the Ethriel Kingdom in the central continent. These regions were being ravaged by the forces of darkness under the command of Valeria, the Fallen Pope of Wind, and Martial King Beltia.

In the west were the Felmayer and Lipaul Kingdoms. These lands had been laid to ruin by Beneville, the Fallen Pope of Earth, who was also responsible for destroying the Hatoba Order's stronghold.

Meanwhile, Splendia, the Fallen Pope of Fire, took charge of the regions encompassing the Altail and Atringen Kingdoms. This left the entirety of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance engulfed in war and suffering.

After driving Beneville out of Zentarok City, Serati and the Twilight–Goddess Church alliance continued their northward advance, riding the momentum of their victory. Beneville's forces could do nothing but retreat when faced with their relentless assault. Beneville himself, however, seemed completely unconcerned.

—Those bastards showed up again? We'll just have to avoid them.

The world was vast, and there were plenty of people to kill. There were countless opportunities to gather the Shadow of Doom without confronting the Twilight–Goddess alliance.

Thus, while Serati's Twilight forces liberated the Kingdom of Felmayer, Beneville's army withdrew all the way to the Hulat region along the border of the Ethriel Kingdom.

Ethriel lay within Valeria's sphere of influence, and her forces happened to be stationed nearby, thus, Beneville went to seek out Valeria's main camp. Since matters had come to this, he figured he might as well regroup with her and share the information they had gathered so far. Yet, Valeria reacted strangely.

"Beneville, even you're here..."

"Even me?"

That implied that someone other than Beneville was already present. Sure enough, from the opposite side of the tent, a familiar-faced woman appeared. "It has been a while, Beneville."

"Splendia?" Beneville looked startled. "Why are you here?"

The southern Altail Kingdom, which she oversaw, and this central Ethriel Kingdom were far enough apart that their paths would not normally overlap.

"Naturally, to obey Lord Tesranach's command." The blonde woman clad in black robes shrugged. "We cannot fight this Karnak, can we? So I kept retreating... and ended up here."

Clicking his tongue in disbelief, Beneville replied, "What nonsense are you talking about? I was fighting him as well..."

"Are you certain? I clearly saw his face."

"Of course I—" Beneville trailed off. "Now that I think about it... I never actually confirmed that it was Karnak himself."

What he had confirmed was Serati's presence. He had seen her stepping forward and fighting on the front lines. But wasn't it already common knowledge on the battlefield that wherever the Saintess of Twilight appeared, the Evil-Slaying Mage was there as well?

"So naturally, I assumed they were together..." Splendia now wore a look of realization. "Come to think of it, the army I faced wasn't the Twilight Order at all."

Karnak had fought against her alongside the Altail Kingdom army, not Serati's Twilight–Goddess alliance. Their expressions slowly grew grave.

"Wait... if that's the case..."

"Does that mean Karnak and the Saintess of Twilight have been moving separately?"

Valeria corrected them from the side. "More accurately, they had been moving separately."

The fact that Beneville and Splendia were here meant that both Serati's alliance army and Karnak's Altail Kingdom army must have drawn close to this region.

"By now, those two forces have likely regrouped as well."

***

Countless campfires illuminated the mountainside below the shallow, sprawling foothills along the border between the Kingdoms of Ethriel and Felmayer. They belonged to the encampments of the Twilight–Goddess alliance and the Altail Kingdom army.

Inside a tent at the outer edge of the camp, Karnak's group had spread out a large map. They were carefully studying the terrain. Looking toward the plains west of Hulat, where the main forces of the three fallen popes were stationed, Drel nodded. "Indeed... this should work."

If the entire group were to scatter in all directions, the risk of being defeated one by one would be far too great. But what if everyone continued moving together, while Karnak moved alone?

In that case, there would be no risk of being cornered. Whether Karnak traveled with a massive army or alone, the enemy would be forced to avoid him at all costs because of Tesranach's absolute command.

Of course, there remained a small possibility that Grateria's assumption was wrong. That was why, as a precaution, Karnak had taken Varos with him. That way, even if the enemy did attack Karnak, they could at least avoid the worst possible outcome.

As had already been proven in his previous life, Karnak could escape from any situation without fail if he was accompanied by Varos. The fate of the remaining Altail Kingdom army might be somewhat harsh, but that could not be helped.

Then what if Serati's Twilight forces, now without Karnak and Varos, came under attack? That would actually be welcome. In truth, when considering only the strength of their leadership and elite fighters, Karnak's group did not fall far behind the enemy.

It was certainly true that Tesranach's forces possessed a large number of powerful archmages and martial kings. However, most of them remained within the Lacania Empire.

The majority of the Shadow of Doom that had erupted was scattered throughout the empire's territory, and the empire's population was vastly greater. To Tesranach, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance was of relatively low priority.

As a result, not a single archmage had been dispatched to this region, and only one martial king, Beltia, was present. Overall, the offensive here relied primarily on the fallen popes. Given the current strength of Karnak's group, they had a reasonable chance of forcing a decisive battle against their enemies.

"That is, of course, assuming they don't run." Studying the map, Karnak spoke calmly. "Good. We've succeeded in driving them into a single location."

***

Karnak's intentions were not difficult for the fallen popes to deduce. "So they deliberately drove us into one place."

Spreading out a map and examining the deployment of Karnak's forces, Valeria continued. "They likely assumed that once we gathered together, we would stop retreating."

Beneville muttered as if nothing seemed strange about it. "That is a reasonable conclusion."

In truth, if not for Tesranach's absolute command, the fallen popes themselves would have begun launching counterattacks by now.

None of them appeared particularly surprised by Karnak's strategy. After all, they were former popes who had once overseen massive religious orders. They had already anticipated the possibility that Karnak might hide his presence and attempt to force their retreat across a wide region. And they had already prepared countermeasures.

Splendia spoke. Tesranach's absolute command could not be disobeyed under any circumstances. "What we must do remains unchanged. We retreat and scatter, then resume our assigned duties in our respective territories."

***

Even retreat required its own strategy. Turning one's back on the enemy without preparation would only result in being chased down and annihilated. They would first need to engage in battle, then gradually withdraw their forces.

The three fallen popes began moving their respective armies. Across the plains, the undead legions formed ranks, as if they were preparing for a full-scale offensive. Soon, countless undead surged across the vast plain like an incoming tide.

Standing before the allied forces of the Twilight Order, the Goddess Church, and the Altail Kingdom, Serati raised her sword high. Her thunderous voice carried to all. "Children of the Goddess! This is not a battle for a king! Nor is it a battle for a nation! This is a battle to protect our homes and our families!"

Twilight flames surged upward along her blade, flaring fiercely. "Do not fear. Fight!"

The first wave of undead crashed forward. Archers drew their bows, and with sharp whistling sounds, hundreds of arrows sliced through the air.

Immediately afterward, the knights charged, the thunder of hooves shaking the heavens and earth. Fierce close-quarters combat followed.

Steel clashed against steel, soldiers shouted, and the wounded groaned. Amid the chaos of the battlefield, Serati fought at the very front.

She pierced straight into the enemy's center and swung the sword of twilight without mercy. Wherever she passed, undead ignited and crumbled into ash. The soldiers roared as their fighting spirit ignited.

"Follow the Saintess!"

"The goddess watches over us!"

As Serati split apart the undead forces at the front, the allied army's left and right wings also moved. Great waves of soldiers began flowing across the plain in chaotic motion.

Karnak could be seen surveying the battlefield among them, at the forefront of the allied left wing.

"So this is how you're playing it." A faint smile formed at the corner of Karnak's lips as he observed the movements of the undead forces. "As expected... you've fallen into the same misunderstanding."

***

The Black God's army continued to be pushed back. There was a simple reason they were being pushed back. Their true fighting strength, the fallen popes, had not yet entered the battle.

The same held true for Martial King Beltia. She had merely sent out ordinary undead while remaining at the rear of the formation, watching the battle unfold. It was difficult for her to suppress her frustration as she watched the allied forces advancing from all directions.

To think I must simply retreat and leave them be...

Every single one of those countless lives, each death, could become Shadow of Doom. Each one of them could be the cornerstone for the new world, the great power that could bring her beloved daughter back to life. But she had no other choice.

This is an order. I must obey.

She continued observing the battle, waiting for the right moment to withdraw. That was when a man appeared from the forefront of the allied left wing, riding on horseback. It was a young man with black hair, clad in black robes, a deeply familiar face.

That man...? In an instant, rage surged within her. Karnak!

This was the man who had not only deceived her twice, but even toyed with the soul of her beloved daughter. This was an unforgivable villain.

She wanted to rush forward at once and split that vile bastard's throat vertically. After all, cutting it horizontally would kill him too quickly. It was an end too mercifully for a man such as that.

But she endured. Lord Tesranach has commanded...

Karnak's death was forbidden. And so she had to obey. Then it happened.

Standing at the front of the left wing, Karnak suddenly began shouting. "Beltia Crotium, Martial King of Darkness who betrayed humanity!"

His voice, amplified by magic, echoed across the battlefield. "You have used wicked power to raise the dead and turned beloved family members into our enemies!"

In an instant, veins bulged across Beltia's forehead. That bastard...!

It was not an incorrect statement. Indeed, the Black God's Cult had committed such acts. But that man had no right to say it, none at all.

The shouting continued. "Life is not a tool to satisfy your desires! I shall free the souls suffering under you and bring an end to your atrocities here!"

Beltia ground her teeth. She had to endure. Tesranach's command was absolute.

"It is not too late. Repent your sins and seek forgiveness before the goddesses!"

She had to endure...

"Otherwise, you will pay for every evil you have committed!"

She had to endure...

"Darkness shall never overcome the light!"

Beltia clenched her sword. She could endure no longer. How was she supposed to stand by and watch the man spew such demonic words? This was the man who had torn her heart apart by using her dead daughter's soul. Now, he was playing the role of a righteous hero and spewing such sanctimonious nonsense?

A chilling golden flash burst from her eyes. "KARNAK!"