In Ropenheim’s eyes, he could see the enemy forces gathered to breach the fortress walls.
It was on a whole different level compared to the first assault.
The aura exuded by those standing at the front was as formidable as that of the Orcs. Among them, one stood out with an extraordinary presence.
A Naga woman with a crooked crown atop her head.
The power emanating from her was on a completely different scale from the other enemies.
‘Is she the Lord of the Forest?’
It felt as if he were looking at a gigantic tidal wave.
If they attacked as they were, it seemed the fortress walls would be swept away by that wave.
【That’s the Naga Queen.】
Anne approached Ropenheim’s side.
“She’s strong.”
【The Naga choose the next Lord of the Forest by strength. She took that position by defeating all her siblings, so her skills are bound to be exceptional.】
“Does she have any weaknesses?”
【As a race tied to water, they’re somewhat weak against fire… but with the firepower we have, it’ll be hard to stop the Queen.】
“Then we’ll have to stall for as long as possible.”
Ropenheim raised his hand, eyes fixed on the slowly approaching enemy.
At his gesture, his allies moved into position.
Doped up with upgraded Balak’s dishes, they readied themselves to charge at the enemy at any moment.
Fryra and the other Dryads prepared to rapidly grow the Sunflowers of Blazing Sun newly planted atop the wall.
The Elves lined up to provide long-range fire support.
“Give all Blessings to the Orc. He’s the only one here with the strength to face the Naga Queen.”
【Understood.】
“And if the Naga Queen reaches the wall, prepare the Destruction Blood Heaven Demon Array.”
Anne nodded and left to make preparations. Ropenheim once again turned his gaze toward the enemy lines.
The Naga Queen walked forward with composure.
She stopped a short distance from the wall, looked up at Ropenheim, and spoke.
【Are you the new Lord of the Forest?】
“Is that important?”
【Not really, but your words are a bit irritating.】
The moment the Naga Queen frowned, a fierce aura surged toward Ropenheim.
Ropenheim faced it with equanimity.
He had faced countless enemies in his life, many of them far stronger than the Naga Queen.
Though his Manahole was broken and his physical abilities had declined.
His mental strength and spirit had not.
Whooooom!
As he withstood the surging force, the Naga Queen’s lips twitched.
【Ho… Not bad. Want to go a round with me?】
“That would be difficult. Instead, let me introduce you to another friend. Orc, it’s your turn.”
The Orc, gripping two enormous axes, kicked off the ground and leaped over the wall in a single bound.
Thud!
His landing was so powerful that the ground shook.
The Orc raised both axes wide and let out a battle cry.
【UOOOOOOO!】
【Orc? So you’ve joined hands with the First Forest as well?】
The Naga Queen tilted her head.
【But those guys would never join hands with another forest. Orc, what’s your name?】
【I am Orc.】
【No, I mean, what’s your name?】
【I am Orc!】
【Are you trying to mess with me?】
The Naga Queen wrinkled her nose in annoyance.
At the same time, she flicked her hand, causing the ground to collapse and a pillar of water to surge forth.
Crash!
With a violent explosion, the pillar of water burst out, engulfing the Orc. The Orc imbued his axe with an aura blade and swung.
Slash!
He cleaved through the pillar of water and charged directly at the Naga Queen, moving at a tremendous speed.
The Naga Queen skillfully manipulated the split water columns, launching a counterattack against the Orc.
Meanwhile, the waiting enemy forces rushed toward the fortress walls from behind.
“The enemy is coming. Attack! Don’t let them cling to the wall!”
At Ropenheim’s words, Fryra signaled the Dryads, and the Sunflowers of Blazing Sun rapidly grew atop the wall.
Blindingly bright sunflowers appeared, unleashing fireballs at the enemy.
Boom!
Crash!
Dozens of white fireballs fell upon the enemies’ positions.
The water shields created by the Naga were instantly vaporized.
Amidst the flames, the allied Elves unleashed their Wind Spirits. The white flames roared and spread in all directions.
A barrier was formed that the enemy could not easily breach.
【Not bad. So you blocked my people with this?】
While sparring with the Orc, the Naga Queen curled her lips and twirled the trident in her hand.
A massive wave surged forth from the Wave Trident, swallowing the white flames. The raging flames were extinguished on the spot.
While the Naga Queen’s attention was diverted, the Orc swung his heavy axe.
【Tch.】
The Naga Queen raised her trident and blocked the Orc’s attack.
She conjured orbs of water around her Vampire body.
【I won’t be affected by flames. Just charge through and break it. I’ll teach this Orc bastard a lesson.】
【Understood.】
While the Naga Queen kept the Orc occupied, the Vampires moved quickly.
With help from the enemy Elves, they increased their speed and, taking on bat form, clung swiftly to the fortress wall.
At the same time, they used Blood Magic to create a massive hammer, pounding at the wall.
【Pour all your firepower in. The defensive magic on the wall won’t last much longer.】
【Yes, sir!】
The fireballs launched by the Sunflowers of Blazing Sun vanished the moment they touched the Vampires’ shields.
Ropenheim stood atop the wall, reading the flow of the battlefield.
“Hm.”
Attacking the Vampires directly was difficult with the intensity of long-range attacks.
The high-level magic of the enemy Elves and the Naga’s spells were gradually wearing down the wall’s defenses alongside the Vampires.
Even now, it would be ideal to go all-out and drive out the Vampires, using Wyverns to attack the distant enemies.
‘The presence of the Naga Queen is overwhelming.’
Amidst the enemy ranks, the Naga Queen exuded a commanding aura.
Even while dueling the Orc, she kept reading the battle’s atmosphere and continuously cast shields over the Vampires.
It seemed the time the Orc could buy was limited.
To reverse the tide, they would have to use the Destruction Blood Heaven Demon Array right away.
But the Hero’s request was not to win the war, but to stall for time.
The Destruction Blood Heaven Demon Array was a last resort.
“Their resistance is fiercer than expected. Initiate stage one immediately.”
【Understood.】
With Ropenheim’s order, Anne gave instructions to the Witches who had been waiting.
A black magic circle was drawn in the sky, cursing the enemies.
For a moment, the power of the enemy’s magic weakened.
During that interval, the allied Elves and Dryads counterattacked.
They concentrated their fire to eliminate the Vampires clinging to the wall.
Crash!
Boom!
Amidst the relentless onslaught, the Vampires under the Naga Queen’s protection continued to chip away at the wall’s defenses.
The weakening of the barrier was now visibly apparent.
“We’ll have to activate the Destruction Blood Heaven Demon Array.”
Anne, meeting Ropenheim’s eyes, immediately activated the formation.
Red pillars rose around the fortress wall.
The crimson light absorbed the enemies’ energy and distributed it to the allies.
【UOOOOOOO!】
The Orc, on the verge of collapse from the Naga Queen’s assault, absorbed the energy and quickly recovered his exhausted body.
He charged at the Queen once more.
Whoosh!
Boom!
His power had risen to a level incomparable to before.
The Naga Queen frowned, struggling to fend off the Orc’s attack.
【He’s draining my power… What a strange formation.】
The Naga Queen unleashed a powerful attack, sending the Orc flying in an instant.
Crash!
She heightened her senses to find the formation’s weak point. Around the wall, there were sources emitting strange energy.
【UOOOOOOO!】
The charging Orc was sent flying again.
Crash!
The Naga Queen spun her trident, conjuring water and spreading it in all directions.
Pillars of water, whipped by the wind, swept around the fortress wall.
The destructive magic obliterated the Destruction Blood Heaven Demon Array.
It took less than ten minutes.
“It was broken through in an instant.”
As powerful as the Destruction Blood Heaven Demon Array was, it also had clear weaknesses.
The sources that formed the formation were easy to find.
Thus, one had to keep pressing so the enemy could not dismantle it.
‘She’s stronger than expected.’
What she showed while fighting the Orc was not her full strength. She had thoroughly concealed her abilities.
“We’ve been outmaneuvered.”
【What do we do now?】
“We surrender.”
Drag it out as long as possible, and if it doesn’t work, give up and surrender.
That was the last order the Hero had left.
With the Hero gone, there was no one who could stop the Naga Queen. Just as Ropenheim was about to leap from the wall to surrender cleanly—
The Vampires clinging to the wall retreated.
【We’re pulling back.】
With that, they turned and left the wall. The Naga Queen, watching, tilted her head.
【What are you guys doing?】
【It’s Lord’s command. Return immediately.】
【What?】
The Vampires transformed into bat form and withdrew from the battlefield.
【Crazy woman.】
With that, the enemy’s firepower, which had momentarily faltered, resumed in full.
The firepower previously aimed at the Vampires now rained down on the distant Nagas and Elves.
At the same time, the fallen Orc sprang up and charged at the Naga Queen.
【I’m overflowing with strength! UOOOOOOO!】
They secured the sacred relic and returned to the fortress wall at the center of the forest.
【UOOOOOOO!】
【Cut it out already, you Orc bastard!】
The Orc clung madly to the Naga Queen, and the Naga Queen, using her magic, sent the Orc flying.
Then the Orc would spring to his feet, drink a potion, and charge at the Queen again, repeating the cycle.
“You’ve returned?”
“Yes. Thanks to your defense, we got what we wanted.”
“I saw the Vampires retreat just now. Was that your doing as well?”
“They were on the way out, so I took care of it.”
“And the crazy recovery rate—that’s your influence too, right?”
At Ropenheim’s endless questions, he smiled wryly and nodded.
“Yes.”
【Master.】
Anne approached and bowed her head.
“You’ve worked hard.”
【No, I was only doing my duty. But if I may, could I return ahead of you?】
“Suddenly?”
【With the changes that occurred this time, I think I can heal Ropenheim’s illness much faster than expected. If you permit, I’d like to go back now and begin the research right away.】
“Really? Then hurry on. Elder Ropenheim, you should go with her.”
“…Does that mean I might get my Manahole back?”
【Yes. Absolutely.】
With his voice trembling, Ropenheim followed Anne as they departed. I looked out over the battlefield.
The Orc was still stubbornly holding out against the Naga Queen, but it was only buying time, not winning by strength.
“Teleport.”
Using magic to leap through space, I appeared before the fallen Orc.
“You did well. Now, rest.”
【I’m sorry…….】
“No, you held out admirably.”
I encouraged the Orc, then turned to face the Naga Queen.
[Activating Golden Dragon Eye.]
[Lord of the Third Forest, Rynne (SS)]
-Queen of the Naga Race and Lord of the Third Forest.
-Irritated.
-Overall Ability: SS+
-Potential: SSS
-Possessed Items: Wave Trident, Water Spirit Necklace.
-Possessed Skills: Blessing of Water (SS), Rough Wave (SS)… Breath of the Lake (SS), Magic Scale (SS), Mana’s Blessing (SS)
A Lord specialized in water.
In fact, she was easier to handle than the Vampires.
“Let’s finish this quickly.”
If I wanted to conquer the Second Forest before the day was over, I’d have to move fast.