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The Forest Queen halted her advance.
Winged giant ants shot out from countless holes in her carapace.
{!Warning!}
Baek Ho’s notification window continued to chatter.
It warned that a level-4 Insectian ‘Antagon’ had appeared and to prepare for the end.
It ordered familiars to shut down for recycling.
And it told you to commit suicide.
In moments of utter defeat like this, the treatment of Necromancers and Reapers is reversed.
“We’re all going to die…”
“Ugh…”
The Pig Mask and Chicken Mask panicked and lost their reason.
A warning window telling them to flee to a nearby shelter had popped up in their eyes.
Unlike the two stunned people.
Frank silently watched Baek Ho.
He was waiting for his decision.
“This really… sucks.”
Baek Ho gritted his teeth.
The worst-case scenario he had wanted to avoid upon coming outside had occurred.
He was angry at his own incompetence.
Helplessness made his head boil and his insides sizzle with burning anger.
This was why he didn’t want to come out.
This was why he hesitated to go outside.
But the water was already spilled.
He had to deal with the aftermath himself.
Baek Ho rolled his eyes upward.
He stared into the empty void.
His lips, twisted with discomfort, reluctantly parted.
“Prepare to sortie.”
Just four words.
A simple order, but its implications were not.
Woooosh—
The sky above his head shimmered.
The invisibility magic was undone.
The sun that had heated the ground was suddenly obscured, casting a shadow.
A massive craft rose into the air.
A black airship resembling a turtle.
A dragon’s head adorned the bow, spikes covered the deck, long barrels protruded on either side, and red characters were engraved on the hull.
One sweeping strike scatters all; blood dyes mountains and rivers.
With a single slash of the sword, blood stains the landscape.
“Uh…”
The Chicken Mask removed his mask.
He looked up at the airship with eyes that were nothing but whites.
His hand trembled.
Fear vanished and a chill ran through his entire body.
That was Yeomra Corporation’s combat aircraft.
A turtle ship.
“Why is that…”
He had heard Yeomra’s turtle ship only deployed when the Baek family entered a battlefield.
“Then… could it be…”
He turned his head and looked at Baek Ho.
He was staring intently at the turtle ship.
After a moment, he slowly opened his lips as if forcing himself to say something unpleasant.
“Descent.”
The hull doors of the turtle ship opened to the sides.
Shadows poured out.
Reapers in black cloaks fluttered like shells and descended.
“Ah, aa…”
The Pig Mask collapsed to the ground as his legs gave out.
Black cloaks and black gat hats.
Long ring-bladed swords hung at their waists.
That appearance was the symbol of Yeomra’s prime Reapers, the ‘Grim Reapers’.
-Grim Reapers, hear me!
The man at the front shouted.
-By the young master’s order! Leave not a single one alive, execute them all!
No sooner had he finished speaking than the gunports on the turtle ship belched fire.
Hundreds of shells rained down.
The magic-infused metal shells pierced the beasts’ bodies and turned the surroundings into a sea of fire.
Boom! Kwang!
The green forest instantly became a battlefield.
Invaders fought invaders to reclaim their claimed land.
-Execute them!
The Grim Reapers drew their ring blades.
They held swords in their right hands and crimson iron ropes in their left.
They cast auras toward the beasts.
The extended aura tips pierced the beasts’ bodies.
Crack!
The auras contracted and pulled the Grim Reapers in.
Using the recoil, they swung their swords with force.
Shing—
The dark blue blades effortlessly sliced the beasts’ exteriors.
Beasts that seemed unkillable had their legs cut and torsos cleaved in a single stroke.
-Screee!
The Grim Reapers darted between beasts using Necroshells and auras.
Some glided, some stepped on the air, some teleported briefly.
Each in their own way cut across the battlefield with swords.
Like a group performing a dance of wholesale slaughter.
They became birds with blades, tearing the insects to pieces.
“Young master.”
A tall, thin man descended in front of Baek Ho.
Pale skin contrasted with his black gat.
A long, thick greatsword—far from a mere ring blade—was slung on his back.
“Long time no see.”
“Thank you for calling. I nearly defied the order to stand down.”
“…I see.“
Another person landed after him.
A woman with a black cloak embroidered with floral patterns draped over her shoulders.
Instead of a gat, she wore a hairpin in her hair.
“Young master, have you been well?”
She bowed demurely and smiled brightly.
She was radiant, but heavy eye makeup made her seem somewhat chilling.
“Seonhwa, you’re here too.”
“How could a flower not come where there are bees?”
“Sister, welcome back.”
“Hoho… You, shut up.”
Even in the midst of battle, the two Grim Reapers were composed.
They were like old friends out on an outing.
“No way…”
The Pig Mask removed his mask.
He blinked his sole eye.
More astonishing than the turtle ship’s firepower or the Grim Reapers’ prowess was their arrival.
Because of the items at their waists.
Tiger-engraved badges were proof they were the Baek family’s bodyguards.
Which meant this:
That man D…
“…Baek Ho?“
“You bastard!”
Seonhwa barked.
She produced a rosary-wrapped pistol and trained it on his only eye.
“How dare you speak anyone’s name so lightly!”
“W-well…”
“You rat chasing paradise, your tongue is too long! I’ll tear your limbs apart right now…”
“Enough.”
At Baek Ho’s words, Seonhwa sheathed her pistol and bowed demurely.
“My apologies. Young Master, I was a bit excited at the sight of a cowardly scoundrel.”
“That’s enough, clean this up quickly. We don’t have time.”
“Understood.”
Seonhwa lifted her head and turned away.
She pulled another pistol from her bosom.
She raised both hands to the sky and lightly hopped in place.
Her arms trembled like aspen leaves.
Then she parted her red lips and pulled the trigger.
“Five Elements Technique, White Fire.”
White lights shot from the muzzle.
Small, snow-white fireballs burst forth and surged toward the flying ants.
When they had flown halfway.
Dozens of fireballs extended white threads toward one another.
All connected, forming the shape of a flower.
It was as if a white blossom had bloomed in the sky.
Bang!
The giant ants were consumed by the white flower.
They fell to the ground in a shower of ash.
Black ash scattered over the sea of fire.
“I’ve released the girl’s bindings, so I’ll take my leave now.”
Seonhwa winked at Baek Ho and vanished like the wind.
“Seongyu, you go too.”
“I must protect the young master.”
“Frank is here, so it’ll be fine.”
Seongyu looked at Frank.
He nodded in greeting.
Frank returned the gesture.
“Then I’ll go trusting you.”
He wrapped both hands around the hilt of the greatsword on his back.
Pressing the prosthetic into the ground left deep footprints.
A dark-blue flash emitted from behind his calves and cut across the sky.
He channeled magic into the greatsword.
Adding speed and weight, he swung it sideways.
Whoooosh—!
A tearing sound and a rift in space.
A chunk of the Forest Queen’s carapace was ripped away.
“……“
“……“
The Liberation Army watched the battle in stunned silence.
They were speechless at the overwhelming prowess.
‘So powerful beings have been hovering over their heads…’
Indeed, the heir of a Necromancer family and leader of one of the seven great corporations had come out.
It’s natural they’d have guards.
But why appear now?
If they’d accompanied them from the start, there wouldn’t have been a clash with the White Bone Society, would there?
‘No need to worry about the beasts either…’
After the question came fear.
Even with such powerful Reapers, humanity still had to live in hiding.
Humans, other races, and beasts.
City folk might think the world is split into three warring camps, but that wasn’t the reality.
Those living outside knew better.
The Earth was a battleground between other races and beasts.
Humans were just zombie shrimps caught in the whales’ fight.
Frank approached Baek Ho.
“…You okay?“
“He would’ve come down even if I hadn’t called.”
His lips trembled.
He looked so weak it was hard to believe he was the one who had ordered those powerful Grim Reapers.
“Because of me, people… will die again, won’t they.”
“It’s fine. Hurry up.”
The two Liberation Army members didn’t catch the meaning behind Baek Ho’s words.
Beasts were being slaughtered before their eyes—who did he mean would die?
Could it be those powerful Grim Reapers?
They could hear the answer from someone else.
Woooosh—
A vibration came to the back of Chicken Mask’s hand.
The caller was Elise.
He stepped back and quietly answered the call.
“Yes, Elise…”
-Are you still with Baek Ho?
Elise’s voice sounded urgent.
“Yes… Elise, you knew his identity…”
-Ah, no! You guys get out of there right now!
“Yes? Why? Is this not the safest place right now…”
-Hey! Think a little! Why do you think Baek Ho hasn’t called the turtle ship until now?!
“I don’t know either…”
-Baek Ho, Baek Ho! Son of a hero, Baek Ho! His position has been picked up on the radar! On me too! On Grave as well!
“Then…”
-The other races won’t miss this!
“Ah… ah!”
To humanity, he’s the descendant of a hero.
To enemies, he’s the heir of a nemesis.
A person tantamount to the throat of humanity’s strongest is out there alone.
What did Commander Baek mean to the other races?
Even among the troublesome Undead groups, he was exceptional.
Having separated from his main force, Grave, he roamed everywhere causing great damage.
This was a golden opportunity to exploit such a person’s weakness.
Cunning races like elves or goblins wouldn’t miss such a chance.
Those who would kill and those who would defend.
One side would pour all efforts into killing, the other into protecting.
Because of a single person, a full-scale war could erupt here.
-Get out of there immediately! Now!
—
The commanders’ command center.
Grave’s bridge was in disarray.
The captain stood with a grave expression before the helm wheel controlling the course, while Reapers who had manned the bridge for decades bustled on either side.
They manipulated holograms and instruments in the air, speaking without pause.
“No distress signal yet!”
“Teleportation energy detected in a nearby sector!”
“The elven faction’s movements are suspicious!”
One Reaper turned and spoke to the captain.
“A transmission came from Yeomra. Connect?”
“Do it.”
On the forward screen of the bridge appeared Baek Ran in a red suit.
-Turn the ship around immediately!
Her face was as flushed as her agitated voice.
“We cannot.”
Baek Ran’s voice rang out again at the captain’s reply.
-Do you think I’m just saying this!
“I understand the gravity of the situation. But Grave cannot move. If we do, sectors 61, 37, and 79 will have to retreat too. Many commanders will be sacrificed in that process.”
It meant many battlefronts would fall outside Grave’s protection.
Baek Ran squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them, letting out a quiet voice.
-Senpai, please I’m begging you.
“…Ran, is Baek Ho aboard that turtle ship?“
Baek Ran did not answer, but her meaning was understood regardless.
The captain stroked his beard with a serious expression.
“Chairman Baek, the post of chief commander is vacant, so permission from the two vice-commanders is required. Commander Baek is currently in operation, so we need Vice-Commander Masamune’s approval.”
-Would he… grant permission?
“Sorry. I do not have the authority to order commanders to retreat from the field. The remaining option is…”
The captain trailed off, and Baek Ran cut in.
-I will exercise the corporation’s special resolution right.
“Understood.”
Soon the massive screen split into seven sections.
Seven corporate logos appeared, and immediately two voices—a man and a woman—spoke.
-Our ‘Hades’ agrees.
-‘Hella’ agrees as well.
Two corporations friendly to Yeomra.
Then ‘Anubis’, which did not associate with other corporations, dropped its connection.
Three in favor, one abstention.
Now Grave’s course would change depending on the remaining three corporations’ decisions.
“Now we will hear from the heads of Izanami, Chernobog, and Nergal. If you are unaware of the situation, we can explain it, though I doubt that’s the case.”
-Haha….
-How delightful.
-……
From now on, a battle of wits for corporate advantage would commence.
-In Yeomra Corporation we…
Just as Baek Ran was about to cast bait to sway them.
The seven corporate logos slid back and a black star appeared.
It was Commander Baek.
-It seems there is some misunderstanding.
A curt voice settled over the bridge.
-There are no issues with Yeomra at present; cancel the meeting.
At Commander Baek’s single sentence, the seven corporate logos disappeared from the screen.
—
Commander Baek stood tall in a place resembling a miniature version of Grave’s bridge.
Perhaps because of the lighting. Or because of the situation.
His already cold face was now fixed like that of the dead.
“Commander.”
A short Reaper with his hand on the helm spoke.
“A transmission from Chairman Baek Ran.”
“……“
Commander Baek put his hand in his coat pocket, fiddled with something, and spoke.
“Connect it.”
The Reaper pressed the connect button, and a shout burst out immediately.
-Hey!!
Her echoing voice made the special task force Reapers on the bridge flinch.
-Are you crazy? On drugs? Or are you personally leading a rescue operation?
“Enough.”
-You son of a bitch!
“They say position makes the man. Seems it didn’t for you.”
-……
Baek Ran’s voice was momentarily cut off by Commander Baek’s blunt remark.
Had she realized anger wouldn’t work?
Calming herself, she began to plead.
-Why are you like this… Is it because of tomorrow’s elders’ meeting? Worried something will go wrong with you becoming chief commander? It’s already decided on you… if you’re nervous, I’ll work harder in the city.
“Your thinking is so like you.”
-Brother… Have you forgotten what we did to that kid…? Have you forgotten what we planted and flayed from him…?
After a brief silence, Commander Baek spoke again.
“Do not underestimate that child.”
-……
“I believe him. Just think about what we made that child into based on your words.”
-Ha….
“He is not a child who will collapse like this.”
-If… if something happens to Baek Ho… I’ll detonate a nuke in the city.
“Crazy bitch.”
-Yes, I’m crazy. So I want you to take responsibility for your decision.
The transmission ended.
The special task force Reapers on the bridge fixed their gazes on Commander Baek.
Commander Baek slowly dried his face.
He masked his expression with a clasped hand and spoke in a subdued voice.
“How far to Grave?”
“Three hours.”
“Make all haste.”
Commander Baek looked at the screen.
A burning turtle ship streaked through the sky.
An army of elves surrounded it.
-Bang! Bang!
All manner of elemental magic poured from the elves’ hands and struck the turtle ship’s deck.
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