章節 48: Chapter 47
Chapter 47: The Intimidation to Other Countries
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The Empire alone cannot hope to kill the Demon King, nor would they be able to defeat the Demons by themselves. On future battlefields, if they want to reclaim their positions and lost territories, they will still need to rely on the Heroes of the South to break into the heart of the Demons and sever their supplies.
Without the support of other human nations and the emergence of a large number of heroes, the Empire would likely have no future. However, when previous threats are no longer threats, those who once helped them naturally become new ones.
Even though Frieren and her companions saved humanity in their time, and Serie followed Flamme's will by coming forward to teach humans magic, continuing legacy, the fate of those who defeat the Demons seems like the death of the hunted rabbit and the grief of the fox, or the bow being put away once the bird is dead. As expected, only those who pass early can retire in honor; those who live too long are bound to encounter unfortunate events. Reflecting on the somber future, Ash couldn't help but feel sympathy for the last two elves in the world, who were destined to be betrayed.
In this world, where people—both now and in the past—seem to use their own as expendable forces, he was not entirely surprised by such a fate.
Moreover, the longer one lives, the greater the chance of encountering misfortune. After all, it's unreasonable to expect every generation of emperors to act honorably or remember past contributions made by others.
But in truth, this was only part of the reason why Ash wanted to take action against the Empire. Schlacht had warned him of the situation that awaited them, but his main reason lay in something he had recently observed while on his way to Aura. He had passed by battlefields where two countries were locked in a fierce struggle.
...
The Empire has always harbored ambitions of restoring its former glory, which has driven its aggressiveness towards other nations.
Naturally, this aggressive stance led other countries to hate the Empire deeply, to the point that they wouldn't hesitate to strike from the rear when the Empire faced external threats.
From a high vantage point, Ash observed the armies of both sides entangled in fierce combat, their forces so tightly interwoven that they seemed inseparable.
All around, arrows and spells crisscrossed the battlefield, creating a grim yet spectacular sight.
On the snowy northern continent, he could see the ground littered with frozen limbs and scattered bodies around the main battlefield.
What caught his attention even more was the number of young children among the fallen.
"I never expected this. While fighting us in the front, they're also warring among themselves in the back? Humans are truly... fascinating and brutal."
Hovering in mid-air, Aura surveyed the human civil war below, her eyes unconsciously falling on the bodies of young children still clutching weapons, a sight that puzzled her. Turning to Ash, he asked:
"Ash, if I remember correctly, human children should not have the strength to fight, right?"
"No."
"Then why are so many children armed?"
"Maybe they're exploiting the fact that few would willingly attack children. Besides, these are war orphans and others being sacrificed for different reasons. It may also help reduce the food strain on their homeland… in a way."
"I see. I've learned something," Aura nodded, her expression one of sudden realization, though she still couldn't fully grasp why he had brought her to this battlefield. Unable to hold back, she asked, "So, what are you planning to do?"
"Because what I hate most is the meaningless waste of life. And now... I want to put an end to it."
With his gaze fixed on the center of the battlefield where the two sides clashed, Ash muttered something she couldn't quite understand. After instructing her to stay put and not to move, he launched himself downwards, falling freely toward the ground.
...
His descent quickened, gaining speed with every passing second.
At first, no one on the battlefield noticed their presence, but as the sky began to shift in color, soldiers instinctively looked up, and the expressions on their faces froze.
Because... a blazing meteorite streaked across the sky, trailing purple lightning, hurtling toward them.
"—Meteorite! It's a meteorite!!"
"Shoot it down! Hurry, shoot it down!"
"—Quick, run!!"
...
The already chaotic battlefield erupted into complete pandemonium.
Many, terrified by this sudden "celestial phenomenon," were too busy screaming and fleeing, creating a scene of complete disorder with no semblance of control or coordination.
Any magic cast in an attempt to intercept it distorted and disintegrated, just as had happened with the magic of the Undead Legion and the Demons before.
And then, in the next moment—
—BOOM!!!!
With a thunderous explosion that seemed to tear the very fabric of space, time itself seemed to freeze.
The ground at the heart of the battlefield was engulfed by the meteorite's impact, which carried an overwhelming force of destruction. The dust, flames, and lightning merged into a chaotic scene resembling the end of the world.
The soldiers at the center of the battlefield looked so small and powerless in the face of this catastrophic event.
Their armor and weapons were rendered useless against the impact of this mysterious "meteorite," and their bodies were effortlessly torn apart, scattering in bloody arcs like dead leaves caught in an autumn wind—a scene of utter desolation and despair.
The firelight illuminated their faces, vividly capturing their expressions of fear and hopelessness.
Soldiers knocked down by the shockwave farther away peered through the clearing dust and smoke to finally catch a glimpse of the meteorite's true form—a man clad in a black cloak and mask.
Before they could comprehend the situation, several dark purple orbs of light appeared around him.
"Killing magic," he declared, slowly raising his hand. Instantly, the orbs transformed into beams of purple light that swept across the remaining soldiers nearby.
Whether they were Kingdom or Empire soldiers, the speed of the beams rendered their armor, shields, and bodies as thin as paper.
Hundreds of soldiers were effortlessly torn apart by this killing magic, with blood splattering in all directions like blooming flowers, painting the air a vivid red.
And across the entire battlefield, no one could withstand the relentless advance of this human-shaped calamity.
The battlefield, which had already resembled purgatory, transformed in the blink of an eye into an arena of total annihilation.
The screams, wails, and roaring flames combined into a tragic symphony of doomsday.
Confronted by this inexplicable force, the armies on both sides, even those attempting to rally from afar, were paralyzed by the sheer might of the intrusion, halting their battle and forced to retreat.
...Forcing powerless people to fight is unnecessary no matter how one views it. To enforce this belief, Ash had chosen to use this incident as a warning to other nations, to let them understand that there would be consequences for such behavior and that persisting in it would bring nothing but devastation.
每周推薦票狀態
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榜單 
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