Chapter 207
The Appearance of the Frost Orcs.
It flipped the tide of battle in an instant.
Until now, it was merely a mass assault of creature-type monsters with virtually no intelligence.
But a large-scale orc army, possessing intellect comparable to humans, began a strategic siege.
“There’s no need to panic! Continue unleashing large-area magic just like before! Start by taking out their siege weapons!”
The Frost Orcs attacked the defensive wall using various siege engines.
However, the commanders stationed at various points on the wall calmly ordered responses with area magic.
In response, the sorcerers around the Amplifier began casting spells aimed at the siege weapons, firing a combined barrage of area magic filled with immense firepower.
“Al-Ka-La-Kadum!”
But the Frost Orc shaman countered with their own ‘magic’.
A vast protective barrier formed with devilish incantations around the orc ranks.
“What, what is that?”
Elena could immediately sense that the shaman’s magic was related to ‘ancient spells’ upon seeing it.
The Frost Orc, which they had dismissed as mere monsters, was wielding magic of a higher level than what humans used.
All of this was due to the Frost Orcs having been under Lilith’s dominion for a long time.
-Bang! Boom! Bam!
Thus, it was only natural that the area magic fired from our side would be thwarted.
No matter how much it was enhanced by the Amplifier, it could not break through the protective barrier created by ancient magic.
-Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the midst of this, numerous projectiles were fired from the enemy’s siege weapons.
The projectiles, laden with the aura of decay, began to strike the defensive wall, and the sticky energy of decay burst forth, oozing down the walls.
The power of decay flowing down the smooth slope of the defensive wall…
-Creeeeak…
Was melting it away like ice cream.
The ‘decay property,’ a mix of demonic magic and ancient spells, was demonstrating its might.
The Legion Commander in the command room shouted.
“Damn it! At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before we’re breached! We need to dispatch ground troops to destroy those siege weapons!”
However, the 4th Legion Commander of the same rank counseled against it.
“To send ground troops into the midst of that massive force? That’s a suicide mission!”
Outside, there were hundreds of thousands of Frost Orc troops lying in wait.
It seemed difficult to deploy ground troops.
“Then are we just supposed to sit here and twiddle our thumbs? The area magic we’re firing is being blocked completely, all because of that damn barrier!”
But the 2nd Legion Commander could not just sit still either, for once the barrier broke, it was clear a full-scale battle would ensue.
“I’ll take it upon myself.”
At that moment, Elena stepped forward.
All the commanders, who had been raising their voices in disagreement, turned to look at her in unison.
Elena spoke.
“I believe I can penetrate the barrier and deal damage to the siege weapons. I can handle ancient spells… However, that does not mean I can solve everything. It would be impossible for me to destroy all those hundreds of siege weapons alone. So, we need to prepare a strategy while buying time.”
The commanders nodded.
They promised Elena that if she could buy them time, they would find a way to counter the situation.
“Then.”
Elena burst out of the command room and headed for the Amplifier.
As she walked, countless sorcerers who recognized her lowered their heads in respect.
However, she paid them no mind and passed them all to stand next to the Amplifier.
Feeling the mana receptors spread throughout her body, she pushed her mana capacity to the extreme.
She was honing her mana to maximize her power.
-Whoosh!
Having completed her preparations, Elena extended her hand forward and clenched it.
At that moment, cracks began to form in the barrier created by the orc shamans working together.
Her overwhelming telekinesis was warping the barrier.
-Crunch! Crun-ch-ch! Boom!
The barrier couldn’t withstand the pressure from her telekinesis and shattered into pieces.
Elena immediately struck directly at the unprotected siege weapons, shattering them.
In an instant, twelve siege weapons were destroyed.
“Truly, Lady Elena…!”
“Yeah! The greatest fortress of humanity wouldn’t fall so easily!”
As the siege weapons were wrecked one after another, the soldiers’ morale surged.
Soldiers who had been hesitant, fearing they might dissolve like that in the decay projectiles, began to regain their composure.
‘There are too many…’
However, contrary to the soldiers’ expectations that she would destroy all the siege weapons, Elena’s situation wasn’t that great.
Using telekinesis from such a long distance consumed a massive amount of mana.
Of course, she possessed a mana capacity like an ocean, but the number of barriers she had to break was simply too many.
Moreover, these were barriers that could not be destroyed with ordinary spells.
-Snap! Crackle! Zzzzzt!
But there was no other choice.
Until the Empire’s commanders came up with a sharp plan, she had to take down as many siege weapons as possible.
Even if she became incapacitated due to ‘mana exhaustion,’ she had no choice but to keep smashing those siege weapons.
“Great Mage!”
How much time had passed like this?
As Elena neared mana exhaustion from extreme mana consumption, a soldier rushed to her urgently.
He brought news that they had decided to carry out the ground troop insertion operation and that she could take a break.
‘They’re deploying ground troops? To a place crawling with Frost Orcs?’
However, it was too risky of an operation to justify the long hours of deliberation.
Elena immediately returned to the command room to inquire about the operation in detail.
Listening to the details of the plan, Elena was able to nod.
‘Using mass teleportation for hit-and-run, huh… not bad.’
This was the operation the commanders had thought of while she bought time.
They would use the ‘teleportation-specialized sorcerers’ within the legion to carry out a guerilla attack.
In simpler terms, they would mark a coordinate inside the enemy’s barrier, use mass teleportation, quickly destroy only the siege weapons, and retreat.
“But it’s not without its risks. If the teleportation sorcerer dies, there’s no way back.”
“…That level of risk has to be accepted.”
“…”
A plan with a high risk of failure if the teleportation sorcerer died.
However, there was no choice but to carry it out.
For aside from this plan, there were no other viable breakthroughs.
Elena looked at the commanders.
“Then, I ask of you. I need to recharge my mana through some crafting.”
“Yes. You’ve worked hard destroying all those siege weapons alone. However, there is something I must obtain your permission for first.”
“…? What is it?”
“…Simply put, you came here representing the Academy, didn’t you? Thus, I ask for your permission to deploy S-Class students for the success of the operation.”
“……”
Elena’s expression hardened.
The S-Class students of the Academy were the future of the Empire and irreplaceable talents.
It was unthinkable to send them into a mission that could cost them their lives.
“No. They are not even official soldiers yet, and their practical experience is almost non-existent.”
“…But they are indeed excellent forces. After all, Academy students aim to become officers. I believe that first-year students who have completed their courses would have sufficient knowledge about tactics and command structures.”
“…Still, that is impossible. Knowing something and applying it properly are two different realms. Pushing children who are not yet fully developed onto the battlefield—”
“Then, Lady Elena. Look here.”
But at that moment, the commander interrupted Elena and pointed to a massive screen.
Divided into dozens of screens, the enormous display showed the students performing brilliantly on the battlefields.
The commander spoke.
“Soldiers with that much capability are few even in my legion. Their abilities and situational judgment surpass that of regular officers.”
“…”
“Lady Elena, please permit us. We need their talents and strength. Every single one counts if we are to increase the chances of success for the operation. Or are their lives more precious to you than the lives of the Imperial Army?”
Elena quietly closed her eyes.
She calmly collected her thoughts.
Suddenly, Edgar’s words sprang to her mind.
‘…In less than a year, demons will swarm across the world. When that time comes, cries will be more common than laughter. …We must prepare thoroughly.’
Edgar, who had warned that the whole world would become a battlefield from the demonic invasion.
He noted that it was an inevitability that could not be avoided.
And now.
The Graham territory was under siege by millions of demonic forces.
What is to come will only become a frequent occurrence.
“…I will grant permission.”
Thus, Elena approved the commanders’ request.
After all, if the world was to become a hellscape in a year, they had to make those kids stronger.
They could not just keep protecting them within the confines of a fence.
“Thank you. Then I will incorporate the Academy students into the troop formations. Please summon all Academy students on the battlefield.”
***
The troop formations were finally completed.
Each role and strength were analyzed, and the Academy students were appropriately assigned.
As a result, Enya and Isabella were assigned to the ‘Alpha’ troop.
Lucas and Claire were assigned to the ‘Bravo’ troop.
Additionally, other S-Class students were deployed in pairs to various groups like ‘Charlie,’ ‘Delta,’ ‘Echo,’ ‘Foxtrot,’ ‘Golf,’ ‘Hotel,’ ‘India,’ and so on.
Due to the sheer number of siege weapons, they split the troops into dozens, planning to execute a guerrilla warfare strategy.
“The operation begins. The teleportation sorcerers of each unit, teleport to the designated operation area.”
Thus, the elite squad composed of approximately thirty members began their teleportation to their respective locations.
In an instant, the allied elite forces were summoned inside the orc shaman’s protective barrier.
“Focus on destroying the siege weapons! But above all, protect the teleportation sorcerer!”
As each unit was summoned around the siege weapons, the leaders of the units began issuing commands.
The soldiers moved with precision, each starting their assigned tasks.
-Boom! Bam! Crackle!
And they perfectly executed their roles, which were comprised of top-tier members.
They quickly destroyed the siege weapons and returned via mass teleportation.
“Still, the number of siege weapons is vast! Repeat the process!”
However, even though Elena had taken down a significant number, the enemy’s forces numbered in the millions.
The sheer amount of siege weapons was overwhelming.
They had no choice but to continue repeating mass teleportation to push through.
【Those rats are destroying our instruments.】
Meanwhile, the Supreme Commander of the Frost Orcs, ‘Krawl,’ seethed with anger as he watched the Empire’s guerilla tactics.
It was infuriating to see valuable siege weapons bestowed by Lady Lilith being destroyed without any means to stop it.
Thus, Krawl summoned his elite guard.
He called upon the strongest and most fully demonic Frost Orcs to give them orders.
【That human sorcerer is the problem. The one protected at the center of their formation. Capture that human and take his life. Keep those rats from escaping!】
【【Got it! Ha!】】
With Krawl’s orders, the elite orc troops laid in ambush near the siege weapons.
The moment mass teleportation was cast, they would rush the Empire’s forces and eliminate the mass teleportation sorcerer.
-Bam! Bang! Boom!
And finally, that moment arrived.
The moment the enemy’s guerilla troops teleported near the siege weapons.
The Frost Orc units lunged at the teleportation sorcerers before the enemies could even form ranks.
A sharp axe sliced through the air, aiming for the neck of the teleportation sorcerer.
***
[·····97%]
[·····98%]
[·····99%]
[·····100%]
[·····Charging complete. Beginning to equip Doom Suit.]
It was the right moment.
The news of our forces being isolated amid the enemy lines due to a surprise attack was now making its way to me.
Finally, the charging of the Doom Suit was complete, and I could head out.
-Clink. Clank, Clink.
I began to shove all the ‘Doom Suit exclusive weapons’ I had developed into my inventory.
Weapons crafted solely for slaughter and destruction.
They were part of the ‘rip and tear’ series.
“Time to tear them apart!”
So, the time for carnage had finally come.