Chapter 16: Dorman Defense Battle (2)
According to what Artier remembered, the Dorman Defense Battle took place about a week after the tutorial ended.
And on the sixth day, as if by appointment, news about the Hellmorph began to enter the city.
Large-scale unidentified monsters are moving toward Dorman!
Hunters and mercenaries started returning with the corpses of their fallen comrades. They all spoke in terrified voices about grotesque monsters they had never seen before.
The rumors spread like wildfire in an instant.
“It’s finally here……. We have to run.”
“What good would running do?”
“…….”
“We’re doomed if we go bankrupt anyway. If it’s death either way, I’ll take even a sliver of a chance.”
The merchants maintaining the city began posting large notices all over the city the very next day.
It was an announcement recruiting those to fight in the Dorman Defense Battle.
“I don’t understand.”
Bow, who was stuffing bread through the gap in his mask, said.
“You guys barely survived after facing those monsters, right? So why are you insisting on clashing with them again?”
Except for Artier’s party, everyone who had fled from Jestion’s viscounty had left the city.
So it was understandable that Bow was puzzled.
“Nominally, it’s because our party leader decided to stay.”
Gerard glanced at Artier and said.
“But if you’re asking for personal reasons…… it’s because I realized something.”
“What?”
“Those guys are beyond our common sense. They burned down a castle in just two days.”
After Jestion’s viscounty, no more imperial castles existed in the north.
They were destructive, intelligent, and unstoppable.
“No matter where we run, it’s just a matter of time. Probably in less than half a year, those guys will be roaming the entire empire.”
“Hah, so you’re going to fight? Even the empire won’t stand a chance against incomprehensible enemies.”
“We’re fighting to prevent the empire from falling.”
Gerard said confidently.
“Even though I’m a mercenary who moves for money, the fact that I’m a citizen of the Orion Empire doesn’t change.”
“Worthless patriotism only hastens death.”
“Yeah. I heard that endlessly when I was a low-rank mercenary.”
“Hmph.”
Bow shoved the last piece of bread into his mouth as if it was boring.
“Don’t worry. This time, we won’t be pushed back futilely like before.”
Artier said.
“Why?”
“This defense battle is definitely different from the battles so far.”
“Information?”
“Yes.”
The reason Hellmorph became the incarnation of terror wasn’t just because they were strong.
Due to the complete lack of survivors, humanity had to face Hellmorph as if for the first time every time, because of the absence of information.
“We’ve installed alarm magic on all possible invasion routes, and the barriers are all made of mana-forged metal.”
The information left by the survivors before they departed was changing many things on the battlefield.
As information about Hellmorph accumulated, humanity would respond more skillfully.
“You’re generous. So how long do we have to guard this place? I don’t want to stay long.”
“In three days, when reinforcements arrive, we’ll move elsewhere.”
It was natural for Bow to react that way.
‘Collecting the elves’ relics is quite important to me too.’
Dong…… Dong…… Dong…….
At that moment, a loud sound rang out from the city’s bell tower.
The heads of everyone eating in the shop turned at once.
“Are the monsters here?”
“Still annoying. Not even letting us eat.”
Jeina spat out the bone she was chewing, picked up her weapon, and stood up first.
“Come on, let’s go!”
At those words, everyone rose from their seats.
***
Unlike the viscounty, which protected itself with sturdy walls, the commercial city of Dorman had no separate walls.
Instead, barriers surrounded the outskirts of the city. They were lower than walls, but made entirely of mana-forged metal.
“How much time left?”
“They’ll be here soon. Let’s prepare.”
Those surrounding the village were mostly mercenaries.
Occasionally, there were city residents who had armed themselves at their own expense, but not many.
“Tsk, as expected, not many. Can the defense battle even proceed like this?”
At Bow’s words, Artier looked around.
Even to his eyes, the number of soldiers visible wasn’t that many. Generously, maybe 2,000.
Considering the need to disperse personnel to places like drainage ditches for Hellmorph invasions, this number was woefully insufficient.
“Are we okay?”
Collie said anxiously.
This being his first battle, he was completely tense and frozen.
To that, Artier said confidently.
“We’re fine. Because this isn’t the end.”
Clank clank.
Just then, fully armed ironclad soldiers began walking from the city center.
As if they were a knight order, they all wore the same type of armor and weapons.
“Could it be the Derth Mercenary Corps?”
“Why is a large mercenary corps here?”
The mountain of mercenaries standing around naturally parted.
Seeing that, Gerard whistled lightly and said.
“The merchants are desperate too.”
Derth Mercenary Corps.
One of the large mercenary corps occupying a considerable scale in the north.
‘Large mercenary corps’ isn’t determined merely by size. At least three top-rank mercenaries must belong to it to be called a large mercenary corps.
“Three top-rank mercenaries.”
“It’s not over.”
“What?”
As soon as Artier’s words ended, this time, people in leather armor holding bows swarmed in.
“Robist Mercenary Corps?”
Finally, mages in robes holding staffs appeared, embedding magic circles and mana stones into the ground, preparing for battle.
“Even the Magica Mercenary Corps?!”
A whopping three large mercenary corps had been hired for this defense battle.
“Nine top-rank mercenaries gathered in one place…….”
It wasn’t just Gerard who was surprised; everyone in the party except Artier was in shock.
“How many high-rank knights were there in total in Jestion’s viscounty? Ten?”
“Around that. It’s a stretch to treat mercenaries on the same level as knights, but the number of high-level personnel itself is similar now.”
“Yeah, like the party leader said, it’s doable now.”
Artier smiled and gave a thumbs up.
After that commotion, not long after, a communication came to the sentinel standing guard at the front.
They’re coming!
Rumble…….
The horizon beyond began to turn white.
The ground trembled, nearby trees started collapsing, and their forms began to reveal themselves.
The expressions of the mercenaries seeing Hellmorph for the first time hardened.
“Th-those are the monsters?”
“They look horribly grotesque.”
Their appearances were like commonly seen animals—wolves, spiders, leopards—but their movements were somehow bizarre.
They were perfect examples of the uncanny valley.
“Fire!”
With one person’s shout, mana bullets and arrows began raining down from the Dorman side.
The attacks flying in parabolas started piercing holes in the Hellmorphs’ bodies.
“Kieeeek!”
“Damn! How high is their anti-magic resistance?”
But there was a reason monsters were monsters.
They kept charging forward regardless of being hit by mana bullets and arrows.
“Artier, what do we do?”
Gerard asked in an urgent tone.
At this rate, in just 10 seconds, the Hellmorphs would swarm here.
“We’ll put up a shield magic wall.”
“No. Save your mana.”
“But at this rate, the barrier will be destroyed from the start!”
“Those guys are just minions.”
Artier looked at the massive Hellmorphs slowly approaching from afar.
The guys resembling giant yetis stopped advancing at a certain point and quietly watched the battle situation.
‘The most troublesome guys in this defense battle.’
They were the Hell Siege Soldiers.
[Lv.7 Hell Siege Soldier (Mid-Rank)]
They were siege weapons optimized for destroying defensive structures.
They had tremendous health, and the problem was they only destroyed structures.
“The barrier can be repaired if broken. But siege soldiers will crush it beyond repair. Then that area will have to fight without cover for a while.”
Therefore, there was a need to snipe the siege soldiers first.
“Alright, understood. But how do you plan to take down the siege soldiers? They’re protected far back.”
“Well, of course.”
Artier smirked and drew his sword.
“We have to reduce their numbers first.”
As he stepped forward, the Hellmorphs that had run right up charged at Artier.
‘I’ll gain experience and test the new skill at the same time.’
Holding the hilt of the newly acquired flame longsword, his hands swiftly slashed through the Hellmorphs.
“Everyone, act on your own. Don’t stray too far from this area.”
“I’ve been waiting for those words!”
“Hah, who do you take me for? Obviously.”
“Confirmed.”
“No problem!”
Kwagagak!
Artier gripped the sword with both hands and slashed through the Hellmorphs.
Where the sword passed, flames erupted, spreading a disgusting smell.
“Kyaaak!”
Had they realized Artier wasn’t ordinary?
Shortly after, two Hellmorphs charged at Artier simultaneously.
Thud!
But by now, low-level Hellmorph attacks were no longer a threat to Artier.
The moment the sword light flashed, one’s attack was deflected, and the other was kicked far away.
“Who is that guy?”
“An amazing skilled one. How can he move like that?”
About 30 minutes after the battle began.
Contrary to what he had advised others, Artier was delving deep into the Hellmorph formation.
‘I’ve gone quite deep.’
Artier looked around.
No one else had come this far.
‘Then I can do as I please now?’
Thud.
Artier lightly spun his sword and grinned.
‘I have to hit at least level 10 here.’
He had been holding back too much until now.
Until now, he had to constantly regulate his strength lest the party members suspect his identity.
But here, there was no need to worry. He had gone deep enough to be out of sight.
“Kieeeek!”
All the surrounding Hellmorphs charged at the isolated Artier at once.
A full-on assault with no blind spots.
[Perfect Counter activates!]
But their teeth didn’t even reach Artier.
The reason Artier desperately wanted Perfect Counter. It was because.
[Perfect Counter activates!]
[Perfect Counter activates!]
[Perfect Counter activates!]
As long as Artier succeeded in reacting, he could continuously gain the skill effect without cooldown.
Whoosh.
In a stopped world, Artier alone swung his sword.
Then, a storm of flames swept all directions.
“If it were a game, I’d bring party members to hunt……. But that seems impossible here.”
Artier muttered while kicking away a Hellmorph head at his feet.
“I have no choice but to get stronger myself.”
Then, the surrounding Hellmorphs hesitated and stepped back.
“Scared? So you guys feel fear too?”
Artier aimed his sword and said.
It was just fascinating that they had emotions.
“I just want to live too.”
Get stronger, survive, and see the game’s ending.
This battle was just the first step toward that goal.
There was no hesitation in Artier’s actions as he charged, swinging his sword.