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Far away, the enemy’s main force approached.
An overwhelming number of undead whose end could not be seen, along with elite swordsmen.
And behind them, a few mages and witches who would support them.
“Damn, that’s a lot.”
True to the name of the number-one ranked legion, it was a force capable of easily conquering any territory they targeted.
However, Glenn, who stood alone in front of the castle gate, did not even bother to take them into his eyes.
Glenn’s gaze was directed beyond the army.
Among the tens of thousands of flickering demonic energies, his eyes were focused on one presence that emitted an unrivaled aura.
Soon, the wave of undead split apart, and from its center she slowly walked toward Glenn.
Gooooooo—
She was completely different from when he had met her a few days ago.
The demonic energy that had once been fierce yet restrained, like a beast bound by a leash, was now chillingly refined.
And in her red eyes, a violet glow flowed.
“Wow…”
An exclamation naturally slipped out.
The only thing that had changed was the sword in her hand, and even that was the same type.
But the greatsword called Tearbel was a legendary artifact, and at the same time Rowen’s beloved sword.
It emitted an extraordinary aura that made that fact unmistakably real.
Rowen’s change was not only something that could be sensed intuitively.
《Opening information on a new Lunatic element.》
《Owner of Tearbel Lunatic》
: The legendary artifact Tearbel is a sword like a treasured relic of the demon race, a blade that has created countless legends.
: However, the Tearbel of the present world is destined to disappear without ever seeing the light, and thus it designates a master worthy of it.
: The demonic sword Tearbel is bound to the hero Rowen.
: She treasures the sword inherited from her older brother more than her own life.
A system message that appeared after a long time.
Even that objective information was announcing that Rowen had grown stronger.
Still, since it was information he had already learned beforehand through Victor Carden, Glenn calmly analyzed the enemy’s power.
‘Nine stars… and not someone who just reached the level either, but someone already in the middle stage wielding that Tearbel… And I still don’t even know that bastard’s unique potential ability.’
His gray eyes quietly sank.
If Rowen’s current power were expressed in numbers, it would be roughly 9.7 stars.
When all members joined together, Glenn’s party would have around 9.5 stars of power.
So she was slightly ahead.
And since he didn’t know her skills or her unique potential ability, there were even more uncertain factors.
Rowen, who was called the strongest next to the Demon King, had already reached a level similar to the Demon King from the original story.
‘…Will it work?’
He had heard the information in advance from Victor Carden and had already prepared the groundwork, but the chances of victory were unclear.
The Rowen standing before him now, holding Tearbel, was not someone who could be described with just a few words.
Still, Glenn gripped his beloved sword Einheria and stepped forward.
Clank. Clank.
The four Skeleton Knights summoned by Ridenhall followed behind Glenn.
At this point, he decided not to think anymore about things like combat power, chances of victory, or whether the plan would work.
He had prepared based on everything he knew.
Now he had to create the best possible result with what he held in his hands.
‘So for now.’
Wooooong—
He activated the Gray Ring, and nine white rings resonated in unison.
Dense golden holy power wrapped around Glenn’s entire body, filling him with vitality.
“Let’s fight like hell.”
Einheria, wrapped in holy power, pointed directly at the enemy that had to be defeated.
Bwooooo—
Bwooooo—
The horns signaling the start of battle sounded from both sides.
At the same time, the undead standing at the front surged forward like a black wave toward the castle walls.
Since the area in front of the gate would soon become the place where Glenn and Rowen would fight to the death, no troops headed there.
“Arrows ready!”
At the commander’s shout amplified by holy power, the archers waiting on the walls placed arrows on their bowstrings all at once.
The advancing undead, regardless of what countermeasures the enemy might take, began rushing toward the wall like puppets following orders.
“Kweeeeeee!”
“Draw! Fire!”
Arrows of all kinds—holy power, fire, and more—filled the sky densely.
Papapapapak—!
Hundreds of undead collapsed beneath the wall.
Then the undead that followed trampled over their fallen comrades and began climbing the wall.
On the wall, the archers nocked their next arrows at the commander’s command, and soldiers brought boiling oil.
The tension hanging over the battlefield instantly transformed into madness as the siege battle began.
Step. Step.
Even in the center of that chaos, two beings moved forward quietly.
One was the Third Saint, Glenn.
The other was the hero Rowen.
“….”
The two who would determine the outcome of this battle… no, the fate of Raygle and the First Legion of the Demon King’s army… closed the distance between them.
Their steps gradually quickened.
Then at a certain point, they kicked off the ground at the same time.
Boom—!
The sound of their steps striking the ground echoed across the battlefield like thunder.
The next moment, their swords were clashing precisely at the center point.
KWAaaaaaANG—!
With a tremendous explosion, particles of holy power and demonic energy collided and erupted.
“….”
“….”
Einheria and Tearbel.
Between the two legendary swords biting into each other, the human and the demon race warrior said nothing.
They simply stared into each other’s eyes with cold and composed gazes.
Even Glenn, who never lost his sly smile even against powerful enemies, was fully concentrating right now.
Kiiiiiik— Paang!
Einheria, which lost in size and power, deflected the massive Tearbel.
Glenn and Rowen crossed paths, switching positions.
“!”
Rowen spun her body and swung the greatsword downward in a rotating slash.
‘Can’t block it. But…!’
If he tried to dodge here, Rowen would seize the momentum and continue her assault.
Glenn angled Einheria and received the spinning Tearbel.
Jjeeeong—!
Tearbel struck the blade of Einheria, and the shock transferred directly to him.
“…Kgh!”
Pain ran through his arm and twisted his lips, but as long as Einheria didn’t break, that was enough.
After all, Glenn wasn’t the one attacking.
Piiiiing—!
The sky opened, and a black wedge made of demonic energy fell from above.
The magic Romina had launched from far away aimed precisely at Rowen’s head.
“!”
Rowen flinched.
Dodging was difficult since Glenn’s sword was locking her own blade in place.
So without hesitation she released the hand holding her sword and twisted her body.
But Glenn’s party’s coordination did not end with Romina.
Clank— Clank—!
Swoooosh—
