Chapter 417: The Second Battle for the Capital (1)

In response to the oracle of twilight, powerful figures gathered from all across the empire, including the imperial knights, notable figures from various regions, mages from the Tower of Dawn and the imperial tower, as well as those belonging to the church.

Aura users and high-ranking mages were a dime a dozen, and even ordinary soldiers of the army were elites with skills surpassing most knights. Their number reached twenty thousand.

When combined with the existing twilight army, the powerful army numbered thirty thousand, and they advanced toward the capital. The Cult of the Black God mobilized in full force in response.

All the martial kings, archmages, and fallen popes who had been ravaging the continent returned to Thea Krahan. With the living and the dead, monsters, elves, and even dragons conscripted, their numbers exceeded one hundred thousand.

Both sides had committed everything. It was truly a decisive battle for the fate of the world.

***

Upon reaching the capital, the twilight army set up camp at the entrance of Mount Hezard, located south of the city. It was a familiar place for Karnak's group. During the first battle for the capital, they had also camped here while leading the imperial army.

Serati surveyed the capital standing atop a hill overlooking the city. Her brow furrowed slightly. The sight of Thea Krahan was nothing like what she remembered. "It's dreadful," she commented.

Thick gray clouds churned violently under the blood crimson sky, and dozens of dragons filled the air. Molten lava flowed through the half-destroyed city, and the collapsed walls were buried in ash. Black haze rose like mist from the broken spires and the ruined imperial palace.

It had become a city of ash and lava. Thea Krahan was now a barren wasteland where no life—human or otherwise—could survive. Unfortunately, the distance made it impossible to see beyond the walls.

Serati asked with concern, "What happened to the citizens?"

Karnak slowly shook his head. "They're not likely in a good state."

Karnak wasn't foolish enough to begin a war without information about the enemy. Naturally, as soon as they arrived, he had sent out scouts. Of course, sending human scouts into that hellscape would have been inhumane. Thus, he utilized evil spirits.

He had deployed the necromancers of the Twilight Order to conduct necromantic surveillance in all directions. And since necromancy was used to spare human lives, there was little criticism.

The enemy also employed necromancers, so they couldn't uncover critical intelligence, but they were able to grasp the general situation inside the capital.

"The entire capital is covered in something called Abyss of Human Skin. It's a spell that enslaves its targets while they're still alive," said Karnak.

Serati was shocked. "There's such necromancy?"

"Didn't I tell you before? I once tried it and caused a great famine."

"Oh. So that's what this is."

Back then, Karnak hadn't been powerful enough and had required contaminated grain as a catalyst to cast the spell. Tesranach, however, would have no such limitation. The citizens caught in the spell had lost their reason. They had been reduced to something like living zombies.

Among them were remnants of the imperial army and members of the capital's Twilight Order who had failed to escape.

"I imagine Chaplin and Desteran are in a similar state. Haven't found them yet, though."

As if praying, Serati murmured, "I hope they're both still alive."

Karnak shrugged. "From my perspective, it'd actually be better if they were dead. That's probably why Tesranach kept them alive as slaves."

It would be easier to seize control if they were already undead. They had also gained a rough understanding of the enemy's deployment. The enemy was using the remnants of the grand cathedral, previously belonging to Parnel of the Stars, Atima of the Sea, and Cater of Fire and War, as their command center.

Martial kings, archmages, and fallen popes heeded their respective forces around the command center, defending key positions in the capital. Those defensive lines formed concentric circles around the entire capital. Breaking through them with a simple assault would not be easy.

"We couldn't confirm Tesranach's exact location, but he's probably in the center."

Guarding the Shadow of Doom was Tesranach's foremost priority. After observing the situation, Serati felt a sense of déjà vu. "This formation looks familiar."

During the first battle for the capital, the Cult of the Black God had established a similar defensive structure centered around the great cathedral.

"Well, their objective is quite similar to then," answered Karnak.

Back then, the cult had aimed to hold out as long as possible while reducing their enemy's strength. Of course, their goal at the time had been to increase Tesranach's following, but the strategic aim remained identical. They wanted to spill as much blood as possible and produce as much death as possible. Then, should the twilight army attempt to defeat them separately like before?

Serati looked troubled. "I don't think they'll fall for that so easily."

Unlike the first battle, the distance between each stronghold was short. Reinforcements could be dispatched immediately in an emergency. It was clear that they had no intention of allowing themselves to be picked off one by one.

"Definitely not." Even so, Karnak didn't look troubled at all. "At least, they won't allow themselves to be picked off one by one."

***

The leaders of the Black God's Cult had gathered inside the command center located within the great cathedral. They were preparing for the battle with the Twilight army stationed outside the capital.

Looking up at the blood-stained sky over Thea Krahan, Elezar let out a sigh. "It is truly difficult to grasp his intentions."

Giyen Ren nodded. "He is not one who is easily understood."

Tesranach had issued an absolute command regarding the treacherous villain, Karnak:

—His death cannot be permitted. However, avoiding him or choosing death yourselves will no longer be tolerated.

—Then what are we to do?

—Endure and wait. I will come myself.

The command itself was not difficult to understand. If they encountered Karnak, they were to hold him in place. Tesranach would deal with him personally. What was difficult to understand was why Tesranach insisted on such a peculiar command.

They had difficulties understanding why Tesranach concerned himself so greatly over this man. Almost everyone harboured doubts, and at the same time, they trembled.

Why?

Why are we trembling?

The fear buried in their subconscious was forcibly suppressed and dissolved. Even their doubts vanished like morning dew, and calm washed over their faces.

Leven Strauss and the fallen pope Jedex muttered.

"It does not concern us."

"Our task has already been decided."

Diogres Kolon clicked his tongue. "The problem is that we have no idea what he might do. He will surely be plotting something again this time."

Their opponent was Karnak. He was a man who never fought fairly. He was always hiding something and struck from behind.

Malican Thun and Rigail spoke firmly.

"It doesn't matter."

"He can try any trick he wants. We'll simply put a stop to him."

The others cast strange looks at the two. Come to think of it, Malican Thun and Rigail had never actually fought Karnak. They had never suffered crushing defeats from his schemes, unlike the others.

Dreltein gave a bitter smile. "That's exactly the problem... it's not as simple as it sounds."

***

The next morning, the Twilight army finally mobilized. Thirty thousand troops advanced toward the capital. The Black God's forces immediately took up defensive positions, though they did not change their formation.

In a conventional war, they would have used Thea Krahan's walls as a shield and forced a siege. But in this situation, it was better to face the enemy within the city itself. After all, the city walls were already heavily damaged from the first battle, and the Black God's Cult had no interest in rebuilding them.

It was far more advantageous to use the relatively intact building within the city as barricades, rather than relying on broken walls. In addition, there was another reason why they preferred a battle within the city walls.

The capital was within Tesranach's authority. Any slain soldiers of the Twilight army would immediately be converted into the Shadow of Doom. But outside the capital? The darkness would have to be extracted after killing them, then manually transported back to the storage.

The process was far less efficient. Fighting outside the capital would be a disadvantage. And beyond the walls was, strictly speaking, outside Thea Krahan. Sensing the approaching Twilight army, Diogres Kolon made his decision.

—Let them come. This city will be their grave.

The Twilight army drew closer and closer. The Black God's forces remained in place. Soon, the enemy would cross the broken walls and enter the city.

However, something unexpected happened. The Twilight army suddenly halted its advance. They stopped in their tracks just dozens of meters from the walls, then spread their formation wide.

Elezar tensed. What are they up to?

She didn't know exactly what their plan was, but one thing was certain. Whenever something incomprehensible happened, it meant Karnak was up to something.

Sure enough, the Twilight army began to act strangely. Some of the soldiers in the front ranks handed their spears and swords to those behind them. Then they took hold of items that seemed completely out of place for the situation and stood facing the walls.

Giyen Ren's eyes filled with confusion as he magically observed the situation from afar. Why are they holding those? What the soldiers carried were dozens of large horns and drums.

***

A resounding blast of horns tore through the air, echoing with force. One after another, the soldiers joined in, blowing their horns. Before long, heavy drumbeats began to thunder along with the triumphant racket.

The soldiers marched. Keeping rhythm with the pounding sound that seemed to shake their very hearts, they moved in perfect unison. The first soldier shouted, "In the name of Serakal, I command: collapse!"

The remaining soldiers echoed his chant. "Collapse! Collapse! Collapse!"

The second soldier shouted, "The Goddess of Twilight strikes this land. Collapse!"

Once again, the roar followed. "Collapse! Collapse! Collapse!"

The sight of thirty thousand troops marching along the capital's walls was, at a glance, almost majestic. The problem was that such grandeur did not suit the time or place. Malican Thun and Rigail blinked dazedly as they watched the fiasco through a crystal.

"What are they trying to do?"

No one was trying to deny the importance of music in battle. There were countless examples in history of soldiers advancing into enemy lines to the sound of drums and battle cries to raise morale. However, there was something wrong with this scene.

"But the walls are already destroyed."

"What exactly are they trying to make collapse here?"

Moreover, if they wanted to break the city, they should be launching spells or using siege weapons. Why were they suddenly blowing horns, beating drums, and calling upon a goddess?

On the other hand, those like Diogres and Elezar, who had firsthand experience being blindsided by Karnak, reacted differently.

"Damn it!"

"There's something going on!"

"Find it immediately!"

Orders were sent to every stronghold. Watch the skies! Watch the ground! Watch underground as well! Search every alley, every building, every sewer. Search every place imaginable! Even if it seems impossible, search for it anyway! He's the kind of man who could do anything!! Never assume what you see is all there is!!!

However, nothing happened. The thirty-thousand-strong Twilight army marched along the walls, blowing horns and beating drums, then simply returned to their encampment. It was a day that ended in utter anticlimax.

Leven Strauss and Jedex ground their teeth in irritation.

"That damned Karnak..."

"What is he plotting this time?"