The Prince Wants to Retire

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The Crown Prince Wants to Retire

54. The Gate War! (3)

Talion, shocked by the report from the shadows.

But he wasn’t the only one shocked. Achelio, too, was ready to move towards Kariel as soon as he heard the news, spilling his drink.

“The Majesty has commanded you to remain at your post.”

“….”

Kariel, who seemed to predict how Achelio would react, gave the orders.

The knight delivering the report sighed, but unlike Achelio, he didn’t have a worried expression.

“The Majesty participated directly?”

“Yes.”

“There must be more troops heading south than we have, then?”

“Yes. However, most of that area has already been stabilized.”

Achelio tilted his head at the knight’s report.

The enormous maw of Hell had been troublesome even for Achelio to handle. They wouldn’t simply die when split in two, and their tentacle-like mouths made them difficult to defend against.

Yet, now thousands of those maws had gathered.

Furthermore, unlike the north, the south was accompanied by massive, burning skeletons, making defense even more challenging.

“Stabilized… has it?”

“Yes, the Majesty has repelled them with overwhelming power.”

Achelio looked puzzled at the knight’s report.

“Overwhelming?”

Achelio could only understand when he later viewed the footage of Kariel’s exploits in the south through the image sphere.

Kariel’s sudden decision that had shocked both Talion and Achelio.

In truth, Kariel had not initially intended to participate at this moment.

He merely wished to sample the situation at Giant’s Fortress and get involved in the supply line defense operations once he had a grasp of the situation.

However, things took a rapid turn.

The moment Roman saw an opening in Ignit, he went for the attack like a hound.

With the supply line in jeopardy, he couldn’t just sit idly by.

He moved south with the reinforcements dispatched from Giant’s Fortress and watched the situation from the airship.

The sight of the maws charging like a pack of dogs alongside the burning skeleton army made his heart race.

In that moment, he opened the airship door and summoned a creature.

There was no need to summon Surth; he simply mounted Agni, the massive fire golem, trampling the maws as he moved forward and summoned Skoll to clear the path.

And that was all that was needed.

“The situation is settled.”

In the landscape filled with ash, Kariel muttered quietly.

Observing him, Surth remarked with a frown.

– You did nothing; your summoned creature did it all. What’s with the swagger?

“Ahem! This is also my ability.”

Kariel cleared his throat at Surth’s words, shaking off his previous bravado and heading towards where the commanders were.

“Your Majesty, thank you for your hard work.”

The soldiers and commanders who had witnessed the magnificent scene looked at Kariel with utmost respect.

Just then, a Palace Knight approached Kariel and said.

“The crisis has passed, so it would be best for you to return to the fortress. Roman may send more troops targeting you.”

Upon hearing this, the commanders protecting the supply line urged him to comply urgently.

However, Kariel resolutely shook his head.

“The Fire Priests are suited to deal with the army of Hell. My abilities are likewise.”

After stating this, Kariel gazed toward Roman’s formation.

“I must remain here to directly counter Roman.”

“But Your Majesty! It’s too dangerous.”

“The main forces must focus on the demons only once the rear is stabilized. This is the best course of action to prevent Roman’s advance.”

With Kariel capable of demonstrating overwhelming strength against the army of Hell, even if limited to the existences of Hell, his master-level power could surely diminish Roman’s forces.

“Once this place is stabilized, I will head north. Inform Talion and Lord Achelio to prepare.”

“What should we prepare for…?”

“Prepare to strike Roman.”

At Kariel’s words, the commanders’ eyes widened in surprise.

“Your Majesty, attacking Roman with our current forces is….”

“I am aware of that. That’s why it will only be a scare tactic. Moreover, we are not the only ones attacking Roman.”

With a grin, Kariel said this.

If the demons and fiends have all moved north, and if the existences of Hell concentrate on keeping Ignit in check, what would happen in the south?

Surely the allied forces would be aware of the weakened defenses.

Prior to this, he had asked Ignit to launch an attack if Roman concentrated his forces on it.

“The moment we strike Roman, the allied forces will rise from the south.”

“Then…”

“It seems possible.”

“Our goal is to make Roman once again barricade himself in the fortress. If we can maintain that situation at least until the war in the north is concluded, it will be our victory.”

This had already been discussed in the meeting with the military officers from Giant’s Fortress.

If the southern allied forces did well, it was a feasible operation.

With Kariel’s overwhelming power now engaged in the operation along with the Fire Priests and securing the supply line, troops steadily advanced north.

While victories rang out in the supply line, the main forces were still pressing forward.

Glen’s Detached Unit and the Holy Knight Order, led by the Pope and the Sun Blade, entered the area where the Demon Gate was located.

“Burn all the evil beings!”

At the command of the Sun Blade, the Holy Knights unleashed their white divine power, cutting down the demons.

“The Demon Legion Commander!”

The elite troops of dark mages and demons stood in the way of the Holy Knights.

Leading them was the Leader of Dark Mages and the Demon Legion Commander. The very same commander that had blocked the Empire from the south swung a massive spear, hindering the charge of the Holy Knights again.

“Break through!”

With the Pope’s command, they used their full strength in casting holy magic.

As white lightning and storms erupted, they shattered the magic of the dark mages.

“It’s the Gate!”

As the Pope’s magic broke the barrier, a gigantic structure of the Gate emerged.

Before it was a monstrous being in cocoon form, pulsing like a heart, drawing in all the mana spilling from the Gate.

“That is the Demon King! Block it!”

Instinctively recognizing it was a ritual to awaken the demon king, the Pope commanded with all his life force.

But even as they were torn apart, the demons blocking them prevented the charge of the Holy Knights.

“Damn it!”

Despite getting so close, they could only watch helplessly as they couldn’t break through, and the Pope’s expression twisted in frustration.

The always composed face of the Pope was contorted in stress, as the situation was the worst imaginable.

At that moment, the Detached Unit that had started from the west broke through the demons and approached the structure of the Gate.

Leading the charge, Glen unsheathed his sword in a single motion and struck horizontally.

A powerful blow, so immense it distorted space itself, flew toward the cocoon presumed to be the Demon King.

KABOOM!

The gigantic noise echoed as it collided with the Demon Legion Commander.

With a bull-like appearance, the Demon Commander stood on two legs, swinging his massive axes.

“…The Demon Legion Commander.”

Glen gripped his sword and glared ahead.

In response, the bull-headed Demon Legion Commander snorted and charged.

Though he had lost many subordinates due to his easily excitable nature, his raw strength ranked among the highest of the demon commanders, making him formidable even against Glen.

‘Time is running out.’

Glen anxiously glanced at the cocoon housing the Demon King.

The pulsing quickened, and with it, the aura of mana thickened.

Knowing that time was running out before the Demon King awakened, the Detached Unit was willing to sacrifice themselves to stop it, but it wasn’t easy.

The legion led by the bull-headed commander had survived countless wars, and although few in number, each of their powers was extraordinary.

As time dragged on with the Detached Unit unable to break through the demons, the pulsation of the cocoon grew even quicker, and the film making up the cocoon began to wobble.

“We must stop it….”

“Go and block it!”

Just as Glen prepared to charge, ready to sacrifice an arm, a voice echoed from above, sending a powerful spear of mana flying toward the Demon Commander.

KABOOM!

“I’ll hold this place! Now go!”

The Mage Duke Welch appeared from the sky, and Glen hurriedly nodded and rushed toward the cocoon.

Though the Demon Commander had tried to block it, Mage Duke Welch stood in his way.

– Impudent!

The Demon Commander was enraged that a mere mage, just beginning to uncover the peak of their potential, dared to obstruct him instead of Glen.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

All sorts of spells were unleashed to hinder Mage Duke Welch’s approach.

Creating walls of earth and storms of fire, they attempted to bind him.

Yet, with a thunderous roar, the sturdy walls of earth collapsed with a single swing of the demonic commander’s axe.

‘This is tough. But…’

Currently, facing Mage Duke Welch alone was a challenging foe.

But it was manageable as long as he could hold on until Glen tore apart the cocoon of the Demon King.

Soon reaching the cocoon, Glen without hesitation, infused his aura into his sword to the limit and swung it without restraint.

SWISH!

It felt as if space itself was splitting, a powerful force cleaved through the cocoon.

Reaching the level of Grand Master would allow one to completely slice through space, but Glen’s current state only momentarily distorted it.

But that was enough.

The thick film of mana was torn apart swiftly, breaking through the cocoon’s defenses.

“Done it!”

Just as Glen proclaimed that.

KABOOM!

He reflexively slashed at a massive chunk of mana, but it rebounded and sent him crashing against the opposite wall.

“Ugh! I definitely tore through it….”

Muttering, as he looked back to where the cocoon had been, a small demon stood in its place, looking like a child.

– Worthless beings. Can’t even last until I gather one-tenth of my power?

Hearing the words of the Demon King, the bull-headed Legion Commander pushed aside Mage Duke Welch and bowed to the Demon King.

– Please kill them for me.

– Tsk! Your punishment will be after I recover all my power.

The Demon King gestured for Mage Duke Welch to be blocked as he soared into the sky. At that moment, Glen staggered and rose to his feet.

– A dangerous one indeed.

Noting the youthful appearance, the child-like Demon King sparkled with red eyes.

– You must die here.

The Demon King, recognizing Glen’s genius immediately, unleashed his full power.

Within a storm of purple mana, thousands of mana orbs flew toward Glen.

Each one was filled with tremendous power, but Glen swung his sword wildly, tearing through them all.

Then the child-like Demon King charged, wrapping the mana around his arms.

KABOOM!

“Demon Martial Arts.”

– Oh? You know about it?

A precautionary measure, Kariel had informed Glen about the Demon’s martial arts.

Most associate demons with their fearsome dark magic, but the truth was different.

Those who eventually became Demon Kings were mostly trained to their physical limits.

And the current Demon King primarily relied on Demon Martial Arts.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

– This is unexpected……

The Demon King managed to endure Glen’s attack, perfectly blocking the mana drain with his aura.

Glen, effectively countering the Demon King’s martial arts—superior in damaging internal strength while withstanding external impacts.

Suddenly, it was the Demon King who found himself in danger.

While the fight raged on, Glen was growing immensely powerful.

If this continued, Glen would undoubtedly discover the Demon King’s weakness, prompting the Demon King to retreat.

At the same time, he drew on the remaining mana from the Gate and cocoon to create a monumental spell.

– Everyone shall die for me.

At the Demon King’s decree, the demons and the Legion Commander fighting nearby bowed their heads in unison.

– For the Demon King!

Seeing the demons gearing to die for the Demon King made Glen grit his teeth.

With all his strength, he swung his sword.

In an instant, space undulated as he cleaved through the mighty sphere produced by the Demon King.

At that moment, a tremendous explosion erupted, creating a storm of mana in the vicinity.

With the power that could shake the northern region, the very ground where the Gate resided collapsed.

The explosion visible from afar marked the end of the war in the north.

And this news quickly reached Kariel.

“Damage to the Demon Gate: half-destroyed. The Demon King has awakened incompletely. The main forces are currently retreating from the north. Glen, head of the Detached Unit, severely wounded; Mage Duke Welch in critical condition; the Pope and Sun Blade also incurred internal injuries.”