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Mount Kuguse, at the foot of the northern side.

“Did they also manage to prepare themselves over there? How cunning,” Julian looked up at the mountain and muttered to himself.

A group of buildings, resembling solid rock, protruded from the lush green landscape. It was evident that these structures had been swiftly constructed as a defensive stronghold through the use of magic.

“My Lord, the mountain monsters are approaching us,” a kneeling knight reported.

Driven by an unknown terror, several monsters were desperately advancing toward them. Although they didn’t appear to be Variants, these frantic monsters possessed the determination to overcome any obstacles in their path.

“This is quite a lax way to initiate the battle… Transfer the power of the Regalia to me, Dog.”

Monica stood beside Julian, her hand gripping the weaponized form of Wisdom Eye Vortex as she floated ethereally in mid-air, reminiscent of a crucifixion.

Her eyes clouded with despair, she stared fixedly at the ground. Bound by the power of the Enslavement Collar around her neck, her hands moved in accordance with Julian’s orders, disregarding her own will.

A soft ripple-like sound echoed in Julian’s ears, followed by a shimmering, lake-like radiance that enveloped him. It was as if he was on the brink of an explosive release, infused with an overwhelming power capable of subduing all in its path.

While the Regalia could be repurposed for combat, the lineage of those capable of wielding it was typically reserved for royalty or prominent nobles. In essence, engaging in battle with Regalia often meant that someone of great importance (and in some cases even a nation’s ruler) would be thrust onto the front lines.

As a result, the majority of the Regalia were designed with the functionality to bestow their powers upon others. While the wielder of Regalia would still need to face the battlefield, this provision ensured a certain level of safety and security.

However, Julian’s decision to harness the power of the Regalia at that moment was driven by the belief that wielding the Regalia’s power directly, without relying on the terminal that was Monica, would allow him to fight more efficiently.

“First, a single strike,” Julian willed, and instantly, everything fell into place as he intended.

A rushing surge of water burst forth, mowing down the earth and sweeping away trees and grass, spreading out like ripples. It collided with the approaching monsters, transforming into a wave of slaughter.

An immense wave rose from the earth.

Sprays of blood mixed in the air.

Shredded pieces of flesh scattered like twigs.

In an instant, with a single strike, the monsters were swept away.

“Go! I shall pave the way. You all just run through there,” Julian commanded, and the army was set into motion.

Julian and Monica took the lead, accompanied by a skilled group of around 80 knights proficient in both close combat and magic.

Following closely behind were approximately 2,000 soldiers forming the vanguard, with an additional 5,000 troops held in reserve.

The composition of the forces may seem unorthodox, but the crux of the strategy relied on Monica’s (or rather Julian’s) Regalia. The primary objective was to pave the way with the power of the Regalia, clearing any obstructions that stood in their path.

Only the red dragon would possess the ability to halt the Regalia at this point. However, in such a scenario, Julian himself would be tasked with stopping her. The subsequent engagement would then become a clash between two armies, where numerical superiority would play a significant role.

As for deploying the remaining forces, it was more prudent to wait. Mounting a coordinated frontal assault in the treacherous mountainous terrain would yield limited results. Moreover, the number of individuals capable of effectively countering the Variants’ attacks was scarce, making this approach all the more critical.

“Hmph!”

A resounding boom echoed as water gushed forth from an unseen source.

Merely by Julian’s desire, the formidable might of water, one of the primal forces of the world, surged forth, altering the landscape before them.

Even the resilient trees as tough as adamantium, nurtured by the dragon aura within Mount Kuguse, succumbed to the swirling tempest unleashed by the Regalia. Julian paid little heed to the presence of hidden assailants or traps from the start, but even launching a surprise attack would prove difficult in these circumstances.

The army pressed forward, steadily advancing along the path.

—Surely they won’t allow me to reach the fortress unchallenged. No, that seems unlikely. They are likely to use strategic defensive positions, aiming to exhaust us before launching their counteroffensive. Right around this place…

The remnants of an ancient road traversed a gentle valley.

As the vanguard, led by Julian, ascended a long, gradual slope, numerous figures came into view ahead.

“Enemy attack…!”

The air reverberated with a synchronized chorus of bowstrings snapping.

Ambushed archers unleashed a volley of arrows upon them.

Among the conventional means of ranged attacks on the battlefield, cannons held the longest range, followed closely by bows. In mid-range combat, magic wielded formidable power, but beyond that distance, it was the domain of archery.

The arrows, released in rapid succession, followed a trajectory that maximized their range, gracefully arcing along the natural contours of the terrain.

However, their power was low.

The elite knights donned armor crafted from resilient metals such as mythril and orichalcum, further fortified by enchantments. Piercing through such armor and inflicting significant damage upon these superhuman warriors required not only the archers to wield extraordinary bows but also to deliver direct shots instead of relying on gravity. In the battles between these superhumans, the effective range of the bows proved to be shorter than their maximum range.

Curving shots would likely result in the demise of mere foot soldiers, having little impact beyond that.

However, if there were hidden mechanisms within the arrows, the situation would take a different turn.

The descending arrows left trails of lightning in their wake, approaching like a flurry of shooting stars.

These arrows were crafted with thunder magic imbued in their shafts, ready to unleash their magical power upon impact.

“Meaningless!”

Julian roared, and a chilling gust flashed by.

Every incoming arrow was effortlessly deflected, shattered remnants falling gracefully to the ground.

Yet, the archery itself served as a diversion.

In that very moment, as Julian took down the arrows, the surroundings were bathed in a soft pink hue—a breeze carried the tinted wind from the side.

Julian’s icy and tornado-like magic absorbed the peach-colored wind, enveloping the area.

“What’s this? Pink powder…?”
“Is it poison!?”

The knights braced themselves, particularly the mages who prepared healing and defensive spells, but this was no poison. In fact, it posed a more formidable challenge than mere poison.

It was a lure and stimulant designed specifically for enticing and agitating monsters, employing the pheromones of Paralyzing Bees. While lure pheromones were typically used to attract and capture or exterminate monsters, the objective, in this case, was entirely different.

“ROOOAAR!”
“GROOOAAAAAAHHHH!!”

A sickly sweet fragrance permeated the air, swiftly followed by the resounding cries of beasts.

“Variants!”

Grotesque monsters emerged, some resembling bulls with more than ten horns sprouting from their bodies, while others were bird-like creatures with enlarged legs and hooked claws. They revealed themselves in a state of heightened aggression, ready to launch their ferocious assault.

Of course, Julian attempted to deal with this situation.

“ROAARRRRRRR!”

However, it wasn’t just the Variants that emerged. A deafening, angry roar filled the air, sending shivers down everyone’s spine.

It possessed an overpowering presence that made every living being instinctively aware of their own insignificance. Some soldiers crumbled, their knees giving way as they trembled, shields raised in fear.

A dense shadow, darker than the surrounding clouds, descended upon the ground.

With a powerful beat of its wings, a colossal figure clad in deep crimson appeared before them.

The red dragon, soaring high in the sky, now fixed her piercing gaze upon the people below.

“So, you’ve come, Dragon. If you dare to stand in my path, you too shall become fuel for my glory!”

Yet, Julian maintained an audacious smile in the face of it all.