Similar events occurred everywhere.
Pillars of fire rose simultaneously.
Most of Magrain’s side was annihilated, but sometimes it was the Walkers who fell instead. In such cases, Warriors were deployed.
That took care of most artillery batteries, but for places that still held, Giants were sent. When a Giant—larger and stronger than a Warrior—charged in, a single position was cleared in 10 seconds.
Of course, there were places where that didn’t work. Positions held by Legion Commanders or Duselduf could not be broken even by Giants.
Puk.
Duselduf’s spear pierced the Giant’s heart. The Giant endured with Death Resistance and swung its Scythe Claw, but it didn’t reach Duselduf.
“With mere creatures like these.”
Duselduf’s hands trembled with excitement. A sturdy Giant was not an entity that even an S-class Hunter could easily kill. But Duselduf had cast Great Magic, so it was possible.
What is Great Magic? It was a technique that could only be deployed when dozens of consciousnesses were focused on a single will.
Unlike demons and orcs, who had similar desires, humans—a species with strong diversity—found it difficult to deploy. Even if they did, using Great Magic to strengthen oneself like demons, rather than a one-time attack, was a miracle.
“Kill them all. Carnage!”
Duselduf’s eyes glistened as he stepped onto the Ice Land. Over 10 million followed him. With that many maintaining the Great Magic, Duselduf’s confidence was not unfounded.
Kai2 transmitted information about the Great Magic from near Duselduf. The Central Sky-Eye Giant received that information and analyzed Duselduf’s Great Magic using the brains of other Sky-Eye Giants. Soon, a startling result emerged: If they didn’t stop Duselduf, 80% of the ground Apocalids would die.
“How did that result come about?”
The Central Sky-Eye Giant’s battle simulation was transmitted to Choi Kangjoong.
“It’s because there are 10 million people maintaining the Great Magic. They can continuously replenish the maintainers from the surrounding 300 million.”
In the simulation, Duselduf was unstoppable. Together with his subordinates buffed by the Great Magic, he defeated both Giants and Battle Titans. Massive nutrient consumption was forecast. That alone caused intense stress for Ku-eong. The stress hormone concentration inside Ku-eong’s body rose.
Flash. As the hormone concentration exceeded a certain level, the stimulated Lutal opened their eyes. The Lutal equipped with Boosters rapidly exited Ku-eong’s body.
The Central Sky-Eye Giant ran the simulation again. The Apocalid consumption rate dropped sharply. The Lutal did not blindly charge at Duselduf. Along the way, they identified the weakness of the Great Magic using information gathered by reconnaissance Apocalids. The ability of the Great Magic was to grow stronger as humans died. Duselduf could become extremely powerful based on the immense number of 300 million people.
“A Great Magic more demonic than demons.”
The Lutal’s response was simple. If it gets stronger the more you kill, then just don’t kill. The Battle Titans charging at Duselduf stopped. Rifle Scouts climbed up the Battle Titans’ legs and took positions on their heads, shoulders, and middle legs.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! The Rifle Scouts fired their Chitin Rifles. From their elevated positions, the Chitin Spikes, with increased power and range, flew toward the soldiers near Duselduf and lodged into their bodies. Due to thick coats and armor, the impact was weakened and didn’t penetrate deeply. The soldiers thought little of it and pulled out the Chitin Spikes. By then, the parasites inside the Chitin Spikes had already burrowed into their clothes.
“Something’s gotten into my body!”
“My stomach…!”
“Hiiiik!”
The soldiers panicked. The resolute ones even cut off their own arms. But that was a temporary measure. In the area where Chitin Spikes rained down, parasites were everywhere. If there was no arm, they burrowed into the legs.
“Kreuk.”
The Lutal sent a Swarm Giant. The Swarm Giant violently sprayed Corrosion Spores, spreading a thick purple mist. On top of that, a Central Command Giant took position. The Apocalid World expanded strongly. With parasites clinging on, visibility limited, and even a technique that struck the mind, the soldiers were as good as half-dead. Air Walkers flew in, picked up soldiers, and dropped them into Soil Pits. The Soil Pits were outside the Great Magic area, so they had no effect on Duselduf. Fighter Warriors used their six legs and tails to move 20 people at once.
“Fight proudly!”
A Battle Titan fell to Duselduf’s spear. The Rifle Scouts quickly scattered and fired Chitin Spikes. Duselduf spun his spear to block.
“Why aren’t they weakening?”
It was a cold that even humans struggled to operate in. According to plan, they should have frozen first. But instead of freezing, they moved even more vigorously than before. The thick clothes were not helping but hindering.
“Yes. This is the level of the Best Hunter of the Alliance.”
With adrenaline surging, Duselduf charged, then twisted his body at the killing intent felt from above.
Kwaang!
Duselduf blocked the Lutal’s Death Blade and was sent flying. He broke a long stretch of ice to regain his stance, then twisted and raised his spear.
Kwaang!
Duselduf’s legs sank into the ice up to his knees. He quickly pulled himself out. His eyes were fixed on the Lutal.
‘They’re no pushovers. I can’t take them on with my current strength!’
Making a quick decision, Duselduf plunged among the gathered soldiers. He spun his spear once, and 100 necks fell.
“Now this feels like a fight.”
The Lutal rushed in. Duselduf deliberately moved to areas with many soldiers while fighting. Even the aftermath of the battle shattered or split soldiers’ bodies, killing them, and all of that became Duselduf’s power. Duselduf’s speed increased, and his strength grew. The Aura Blade condensed on his spear grew longer and more destructive.
“Need help?”
“Kreuk.”
The Lutal replied that it wasn’t necessary. According to the Central Sky-Eye Giant’s calculations, for Duselduf to become as strong as a Lutal, 100 million soldiers would have to die. To become comparable to Durutali, 200 million soldiers would have to be sacrificed.
“If you raise a Special Entity well, it does the work of a million Walkers.”
It had strengthened by obtaining Evolution Codes and advancing Species Evolution, but Choi Kangjoong was still proud. The Lutal slowly pushed Duselduf back. They didn’t kill him instantly because he was slaughtering soldiers. With bombs pre-installed or collapsing bunkers, the number of dead by his hand had already reached 10 million. From the Apocalids’ perspective, it was like blowing their nose without touching it. He had grown that strong, but to the Lutal, he was still nothing.
All. The Apocalid occupied territory in the Ice Dimension steadily expanded. Ku-eong, with Great Mana Storm deployed, drove a Biotube into the heart of the enemy position. As his size increased, the suction power became stronger, forming a massive vortex. Not only chunks of ice, but the land itself was pulled up. There was nothing humans could do against such immense force.
Hwoooooooosh!
In places where the land barely held, standing was difficult due to the gale. Soldiers were lying flat or holding onto something to endure. The Walkers moved freely. Because their center of gravity was lower and they were heavier. So they hugged the ground and bit the heads of humans who couldn’t move. When a Walker approached, some even let themselves be caught in the gale. Their end was no different. The long Biotube connected to a Soil Pit.
“This is the end.”
Jade, the staff officer who had advised Duselduf, manipulated the tactical situation board. The occupied territory had already been reduced by half. Was it only on ground? The situation in the Dimensional Sea was even more dire. There were far more broken Dimension Ships than enemy corpses. Moreover, they were even dropping Dimension Ships to attack.
Koooooong.
The tremors reached the command post deep underground.
Kwaang!
The bunker wall burst open as if exploding. Apocalids emerged from there. Screams filled the air, and the smell of blood spread thickly. Jade did not move. Either way, death was the same. A Warrior stood before him.
Seogeok.
Jade’s head fell. The Apocalid that massacred the command post moved to a location designated by the Central Sky-Eye Giant.
Duselduf’s condition was not good either. His left arm was severed, and his right eye was stained black by Death Mana. Gasping for breath, Duselduf looked around. The enemy was everywhere. Even though he had held on, the front line had been pushed back, leaving him alone.
“I’ve lost. I surrender!”
Duselduf put down his spear. Choi Kangjoong couldn’t believe his ears.
“Surrender? I thought you’d fight to the death.”
Choi Kangjoong sent the Central Command Giant.
-What’s your intention?
“Do as you please.”
All. Surrendering is the duty of the weak. Even if I am weak, I am no exception. To the strong, whether you make me a subordinate or kill me, Duselduf was at ease. Because he believed in his own value. He calculated that since he had shown his strength, they wouldn’t be able to resist using him as a subordinate. Choi Kangjoong did not see through his intention. There was no need. Because he had no intention whatsoever of accepting him as a subordinate. He had plenty of subordinates he could control without a word, like hands. Above all, he just didn’t seem like a good fit. A Death Blade formed on the Lutal’s Scythe Claw.
“W-Wait!”
That was Duselduf’s last words. An Air Walker moved Duselduf, now in five pieces, to a Soil Pit.
Plop.
It was the end of a Great Ruler praised by 3 billion people.
“How many Evolution Points will it give? Probably 100 million.”
Soon the digestion was complete. The Evolution Points gained were 70 million.
“Similar to a Demon Duke or a top-tier S-class Hunter. Was it thanks to the Great Magic?”
He hadn’t expected much, so the disappointment was small.
The battle was essentially over. Having lost their focal point, the soldiers began to escape. Of course, Ku-eong had no intention of letting even a single one get away. Those who luckily fled to the Dimensional Sea were chased and hunted by the Fighter Giants of the Dark Eater fleet.
[Dimensional Devouring begins.]
The Walkers sprayed Apocalid Spores. When the Dimensional Devouring was complete, the ground Apocalids entered the bodies of Titans or Super Titans.
“Let’s go.”
Ku-eong set course for where Magrain was. Even from afar, with Stealth Predators and Central Stealth Scouts, it was like having a compass pointing only to Magrain. 2,703 Apocalids advanced toward their prey.
With Duselduf’s communication cut off, Magrain fell into chaos. Those who believed Duselduf had been defeated and those who thought it was just a communication blackout clashed fiercely, leading to a civil war.
Even though it didn’t take long for the Apocalids to reach Magrain, several million were already dead. When Ku-eong spread the Apocalyd Wave, the chaos only grew.