Rayrn showed that it was possible to handle monsters simply by building walls.
The knights who had initially opposed the idea could no longer say anything. They had seen how successful Rayrn’s plan was. Instead, they sought out tasks of their own.
“We will handle the surrounding monsters.”
“Luring them would be better if you can manage it,” Rayrn replied.
“Then we shall lure them in.”
With Rayrn’s permission, the knights began to move for the purpose of luring the monsters. They did not take any soldiers with them; they moved exclusively in units of knights. They did this because they had seen the Iron Fist in action.
Though they were still far behind the knights, the Iron Fist was strong. There were quite a few among them who looked like they would soon grow to the level of a knight.
It was thanks to Mugong.
The minimum rank to become a knight was the Auror Practitioner stage, where one begins to be able to use Aura in their body. Utilizing the Mugong they had learned, the Iron Fist could mimic an Auror Practitioner.
‘Fundamentally, the starting points of Mugong and this world’s training methods are different.’
Even if they could not yet match the depth of a knight who had swung a sword for years, the fact that they could even mimic them was important. While others started by crawling, the Iron Fist started by walking. Added to this were endless training and Rayrn’s True Qi Guidance.
It would have been stranger if they were weak.
Such powerful individuals were acting as combat engineers, digging the ground, and standing at the very front whenever monsters ran wild. No matter how much pride the knights had, they could not simply worry about their reputation after seeing that.
“We have to earn achievements.”
“Indeed. We must.”
In fact, they needed to secure achievements even if just to save face. Therefore, the knights joined hands. Regardless of their Knight Order, they cooperated and moved to lure the monsters.
Among them…
“We shall join as well.”
“We appreciate it.”
The Black Crow, who had been left idle because of the Iron Fist led by Sian, also joined the fray. As the knights and the Black Crow began to work together…
*Crunch!*
“Over here!”
“It’s a small group! Take them down!”
The speed of the monster hunting in the vicinity increased drastically.
“There are many here.”
“I’ll lure them. Crows, can I count on you?”
“As much as you need.”
Small numbers were hunted directly. When large numbers were lured, the groups moved together to lead them toward the fortress being built. The moment the monsters rushed toward the fortress…
“Kill them.”
“By your command!”
The waiting Iron Fist immediately intercepted the monsters.
“Are we even needed here?”
“Ahem…”
Watching the scene, it was such a rapid hunt that the soldiers and mercenary groups felt useless just holding their positions. Rayrn gave separate orders to the idle soldiers.
“Why are you playing around? You should move.”
“What would you like us to do?”
The one usually commanding the soldiers was Endon, a knight sent by Viscount Heitz. He was also the commander who had led the soldiers at the Fmier Fortress.
“They should pick up shovels too. I need to expand this area.”
“Expand? The surroundings are all rock. Expanding a rocky mountain won’t be easy… Hmm… You’re serious.”
Rayrn nodded toward the surprised Endon.
“I will help with the foundation.”
It seemed he had prepared in advance. Setting down a bundle of scrolls he had been holding, Rayrn stepped out of the barracks for the first time in a while. Then, while all the soldiers watched…
*Wuuuuuung—*
Drawing up his Mana, he poured a massive amount of magic power toward the rocky mountain.
4th-class! Four Mana circles spun rapidly, expanding in scale. It was a massive amount of power, far beyond what one would imagine from a typical 4th-class Mage! Rayrn, having coated that Mana thickly with Internal Energy, shouted.
“Return to Mana and melt. Dissolve.”
*Fwoosh—*
He poured it entirely into the rocky mountain occupying the rear.
*Bubble. Bubble.* The mountain began to stir, bubbling like lava.
“I-It’s melting!”
“Get back!”
The mountain, softened like clay, partially flowed down. It had turned completely liquid, far from its original rocky state. As long as Rayrn’s Mana did not dissipate, the rock would surely remain in this state.
Rayrn nodded in satisfaction and issued an order.
“It won’t last for more than a few days. Move it immediately before it hardens.”
“Where should we take the stone… Ah. Did you even calculate this?”
“That’s right. We will move it to the entrance and use it as bricks.”
By excavating the rocky mountain behind them, they would secure space for many people to stay, and by stacking the excavated stone as bricks in the front, he intended to replace the wooden structures.
‘Molten rock hardens once you put it in a mold. It’s easy.’
There was no need to make bricks separately or build a factory. Simply pouring it into pre-dug molds would create solid bricks after a few days. And if they stacked those bricks, it would be much sturdier than a wall built of wood.
‘This might be why construction technology isn’t very developed in this world…’
The Kingdom of Malexia did not use this method often. However, kingdoms with many rocky mountains sometimes used magic this way to build parts of their castles.
Rayrn was simply following that method. Of course, he wasn’t fully satisfied.
‘It’s only a temporary measure. I’ll have to reinforce it properly later.’
It was impossible to completely block monsters with just a stone wall. High-ranking monsters could easily crumble stone walls with their hands. Thus, it was insufficient. A fortress only truly becomes a castle once magical treatments are applied to the walls.
For that reason, building a fortress was a massive project even in this world. It often required countless Mages.
‘I’ll handle that later.’
Rayrn was already planning other ways to secure Mages.
“Move quickly! You! And you! Build the molds!”
“Yes, sir!”
Endon, whom Viscount Heitz had thoughtfully assigned, handled the work quickly. Perhaps having learned by watching the Iron Fist’s techniques, he gathered the dexterous soldiers and set them to work.
When they created the molds, soldiers came and poured the molten rock solution into them. The remaining soldiers lifted the liquefied stone and moved it to one side.
“Bring it here!”
Birence was the one directing those soldiers. Having finished his calculations in that short time, he quickly stacked the solution on the other side. The thickness of the fortress wall was increasing in an instant.
‘Good. The excavated area can also be used as quarters. This is a better way to hold out throughout the winter.’
Rayrn watched the scene calmly, feeling satisfied. The work was proceeding smoothly. However…
‘I should move in a different way for now… Wait?’
*Thump. Thump. Thump.*
The wild monsters were more instinctive than Rayrn had anticipated. Perhaps it was because they had been staying in one place for over ten days.
—”Grarrrarara!”
The masters of the Northern Mountain Range began to show themselves one by one.
“An Ogre.”
The king of monsters.
Standing 3 meters tall, its strength was enough to snap the waist of a Troll of similar size in an instant. Its natural physique was top-tier. But that alone wasn’t why it was called the king of monsters.
‘A natural-born hunter.’
Ogres knew how to hunt instinctively. Despite their natural strength, they knew how to deal with the weak. That Ogre was charging toward the fortress. On top of that, the Ogre possessed one more weapon.
—”Grarak!”
*Flash!*
“H-Help me.”
It was Fear, which dyed prey in terror. Those who could not resist Fear would have their bodies freeze the moment they heard it. It was like losing all strength when one needed every bit of it against a powerful foe. The Ogre would then simply pluck the head off the prey consumed by terror. It was a violent but effective hunting method!
“Ugh…”
“Hmm… Prepare!”
It was a Fear so potent that even the Iron Fist members who possessed Aura instinctively recoiled. They belatedly drew up their Aura to resist, but the momentum had already…
—”Grarrararak!”
…shifted toward the Ogre.
If they collided like this, even the Iron Fist would suffer heavy damage! They could kill it, but if the main force took damage, the subjugation itself could become difficult. Because of such cases, the Suppression Force often moved to various locations while hunting monsters.
‘It’s a creature that survives by eating Goblins or Letmen. A local ruler of sorts.’
It was to avoid high-ranking monsters that were essentially local rulers. However…
“Birence! Gajei! Take charge of the defense!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Understood!”
Rayrn chose to inflict damage rather than receive it.
*Boom!*
His body shot forward in an instant toward the Ogre.
“L-Look!”
“It’s the Commander!”
Seeing him fly forward, those who had recoiled regained some of their senses. Regardless, Rayrn was already facing the Ogre.
—”Grarrararak!”
The natural-born hunter released its Fear while meeting Rayrn’s momentum. However…
*Wuuuuung—*
“…Gruuk.”
As Rayrn raised his own momentum, it was the Ogre that was pushed back instead. The Ogre, called the king of monsters, actually shrunk back!
“T-This is impossible!”
“How!”
The soldiers might not have known, but the knights understood the significance. The Ogre had felt it instinctively. It felt that Rayrn’s status was positioned far above its own.
—”Grarak!”
It tried to muster its own momentum, but to Rayrn, it was a pathetic resistance.
“You shall be the first trophy. Good.”
*Bang!*
The distance between the two vanished in an instant.
“Above!”
By the time he reappeared, Rayrn had drawn his sword and was slashing the Ogre’s shoulder.
*Slice!*
The sword, imbued with Aura, tore through the Ogre’s shoulder hide like it was tearing cloth. Without stopping, the sword began to plunge downward.
“I’ll crush everything.”
*Cr-Cr-Crunch!* It began to ravage the Ogre.
Thick skin, muscle, blood vessels, and bone. All of them began to be crushed and torn apart in an instant. Rayrn, having drawn his sword, did not want a clean cut.
‘As painfully as possible.’
Viciously. He wanted to kill it in a manner so cruel that the enemy wouldn’t dare raise their heads. Only then would the other monsters, hearing the Ogre’s screams, restrain themselves.
—”Krrraaaaaaagh!”
Even while writhing in pain…
*Whoosh—*
…the Ogre swung the massive club it held in its other hand, but Rayrn mercilessly thrust his sword again.
‘One left arm.’
Having moved down, what he slashed was the Ogre’s ankle!
“Fall. Crushing Steel Sword!”
*Crunch!* His sword, containing a force even greater than the Ogre’s, began to cleave through the monster.
*Squelch!*
The ankle was torn, and blood sprayed instantly. Rayrn, who should have been drenched in blood, had already opened up the distance.
*Whoosh— Boom!*
Only the massive club, which belatedly hit the ground, tore up the earth.
—”Kraa!”
That was its final struggle.
*Thud—!*
The Ogre, having lost an ankle, could no longer remain standing. By the time the flowing blood began to spread rapidly…
*Wuuuuung—* Rayrn, who had already generated a thick layer of Aura, spoke.
“This is the end.”
*Squelch!*
He was already slicing through the kneeling Ogre’s neck.
Rayrn’s divine might was being revealed anew to the Suppression Force.