Osian cut down enemies with his sword. The Void Soldiers could do nothing. Before the power of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, they were no different from moths flying toward the sun.
Thanks to that, miraculously, the damage to the Border Guard led by Colonel Ernst was minimal. The only damage they suffered was entirely from the aftermath of the contaminated, eroded land.
That didn't mean they just sat idle. The number of Void Soldiers was large. Black Star Corps members were mixed in among them too. The Border Guard continuously spewed fire from their gun barrels. They didn't spare their latest weapons.
'Certainly, having rear support does make things easier.'
Osian saw the distant area become engulfed in a sea of flames. The Void Soldiers crumbled instantly before the tremendous firepower. If some unusually strong individuals survived, those became Osian's responsibility.
Though Osian had fought alone until now, he couldn't deny that receiving help like this was easier.
'What if I received even more support? Or if there were additional reinforcements.'
Osian shook his head. If he hoped for that unnecessarily, it would only create needless lingering attachment and regret in his heart.
In the first place, wasn't he the one who flew here first? Resolving this situation even an hour sooner was the priority.
'Solenon is definitely the one behind this incident.'
Solenon had instigated Joseph to use his own people as sacrifices to open the door to the Stellar Veil. However, the door hadn't opened completely. If it had, Glamhator would have appeared in his true form rather than as an avatar.
'There's still time. If we stop it midway, we can at least avoid the worst-case scenario.'
So they had to keep moving forward.
"The capital is visible!"
Colonel Ernst shouted from beside him. The contaminated capital came into view. The capital of the Bayenlus Kingdom, with its history and tradition, was renowned for being extremely beautiful. Having once been an empire where the emperor resided, they had devoted their utmost efforts to building it as beautifully and majestically as possible.
That's why it boasted such magnificence that it was treated as one of the finest legacies in architectural history. That capital had completely changed.
"Good Lord."
All the Border Guard soldiers fell into despair. Their capital, evaluated as the most beautiful in the world, had become something reminiscent of the entrance to hell.
Structures like jet-black towers rose irregularly, and everywhere black tentacle-like mirages writhed.
Black swarms of wind-like things whirled here and there, and an endless stench rolled in.
More terrible than that was the wide-open sky.
"The sky is... torn."
The sky was already darkened by the aftermath of erosion and was torn vertically in a long rip.
Beyond the torn sky, an endless void-like darkness was visible. At the sight that transcended human cognition, some weak-hearted soldiers collapsed on the spot and retched.
"Is it truly the end of the world?"
Colonel Ernst muttered in a helpless voice. Instead of answering, Osian gazed beyond the rippling jet-black darkness.
Even with his strength-enhanced naked eye, he could barely see that in the immensely distant place, a battle was taking place. The ancestors forming the Stellar Veil were fighting against the outsiders.
'Glamhator said that he came down first. That means, are other Star-Crushing Generals fighting to enter there?'
There was still a chance. Osian raised his sword.
The power of the Sun, Moon, and Stars exploding from the sword's tip pushed away the surrounding darkness. The reason returned to the soldiers who had fallen into despair.
"Everyone listen. There's still a chance."
Everyone's attention focused on Osian.
"The Stellar Veil is being maintained. The great ancestors are fighting to prevent enemies from entering. So we too must move right now. We must stop the terrible ritual being conducted within that capital."
A resolute light appeared in the soldiers' eyes and those who had collapsed rose again.
Osian walked at the forefront.
Behind him followed Colonel Ernst and the Border Guard. They advance toward hell. Yet what they seek to seize is life. Is life at the end of hell? They don't know. They simply advance.
"They're coming!"
A soldier who had checked the capital with binoculars shouted. The gate of the capital—no, it could no longer be called a gate.
What had originally been a magnificent wall had twisted and mutated, transforming into the form of a dense forest. Black holes like breathing pores were dotted all over the surface. They varied in size, but even the smallest was large enough for a person to enter.
From within them, Void Soldiers poured out.
"Colonel Ernst."
"Yes, Lord Osian. Please speak."
"How many people reside in the capital?"
Ernst spoke with a hardened face.
"At least 3 million."
"Then we can assume that many will come at us."
The soldiers' expressions grew heavy. 3 million. That was the estimated number of people who had stayed in the capital. That was just the minimum; there would be far more.
All the people residing in the capital had been entirely consumed by erosion and become Void Soldiers. In contrast, the Border Guard numbered 120,000. A fight between at least 3 million and 120,000. And they weren't even on the defensive but in an attacking position.
It was truly a suicidal act.
"Let's go."
Osian walked at the forefront. As he stepped forward, pure white waves spread widely around him. A light of hope arose over the Plains of Destruction. The soldiers gained courage from that sight. The flame in their hearts blazed up.
"All ammunition! Fire!"
Colonel Ernst commanded. Following his command, tanks and mortars spewed fire. Shells laden with intense gunpowder traced parabolas across the air.
They passed over the running Osian and poured down toward the Void Soldiers. A rain of steel fell, and sprouts made of flames bloomed. The flames of purification burned the darkness and gifted the enemies with searing pain.
Shing.
Colonel Ernst drew the sword at his waist.
"All forces!"
The infantry took their positions in unison. Their movement had not a single error.
"Charge!"
The infantry rushed out. They followed closely behind Osian. Like people who had found a lamp in the darkness. Like people chasing fire.
Osian felt a considerable weight pressed down on him. Behind him were 120,000 soldiers that trusted and followed him.
One who becomes a lamp must show an appearance befitting that role.
"I will open the path."
Though his voice wasn't loud, it was enough for everyone on the battlefield to hear.
Swoosh!
Osian swung his sword. The soldiers running behind him momentarily felt the illusion that the world had been cut in half and split diagonally.
Rummmble!
The terrible wall beyond collapsed along the trajectory where it had been cut. The Void Soldiers and Black Star Corps caught in it had already disappeared without a trace.
Waaaaaaah!
The Border Guard, having gained courage, accelerated their running speed even more.
The Border Guard broke through the wall and pushed into the center of the capital. The momentum was good, but the fight was much fiercer.
Inside the capital were stronger Void Soldiers and Black Star Corps members. There were also giant monsters of forms they'd never seen before. One moved its building-sized body. It was smaller than a giant, but from a human's perspective, it was a size they had to crane their necks to look up at.
It was unfazed even by tank attacks. Rather, black smoke arose with each step it took. Its fists crushed tanks, and soldiers were swept away by the smoke from its footsteps.
"Don't stop! If we fall, our families will all die too!"
Colonel Ernst shouted spiritedly. However, his voice was more exhausted than before. His uniform was torn in places and blood flowed from his forehead. He too had accumulated considerable damage even amidst the fierce battle.
But Ernst didn't stop. It was because Osian was walking at the forefront.
Swoosh! The giant's neck was cut. Its massive body crumbled, swallowing the Void Soldiers swarming below.
Osian gestured toward another place. Solar Swords appeared and shot in the direction he gestured. Black Star Corps members who had been rushing from beyond the contaminated buildings all burst apart from the Solar Swords.
Light spheres formed in the air, engulfing the surrounding area in solar flames.
[This is remarkable.]
At that moment, a voice rang across the battlefield. It wasn't a sound made vocally. It was as if speaking directly into everyone's heads.
Osian stopped walking. At the location leading to the center of the capital, darkness squirmed and rose.
What revealed itself was a man. A handsome youth with long, splendid-looking golden hair. Osian recognized who he was at once.
"Solenon."
[Strongest knight. You've finally come this far. And leading those fellows at that.]
Solenon was no longer an old man. He had regained the youth of his prime. Along with the eternal life he so desired.
"You bastard...!"
Colonel Ernst vomited his anger at seeing the source of all this. The other soldiers were the same. Their gun barrels were aimed at Solenon.
[Not exactly an action I'd recommend though.]
Solenon spoke in a benevolent voice but that voice was covered by gunfire. Solenon's body burst repeatedly. The areas hit by bullets turned like black mud but it recovered instantly.
The wounds regenerated and even his clothes returned to their original state.
[First, before having a conversation, I'll need to instill something called manners.]
Solenon raised his finger. Just a finger. Aiming with it, Solenon swung his arm widely. A jet-black torrent gushed from his fingertip.
"Everyone evade!"
Colonel Ernst shouted but it was too late because the black torrent had already swept diagonally in a long arc.
Kwaaaaang!
A massive explosion occurred. Solenon's eyes widened and an interested smile formed at his lips.
The attack he had swung was blocked by a gigantic pure white shield generated in the air. It was Osian's doing.
Osian, who had released the shield, glared at Solenon. Though he had stepped forward to block as much as possible, there was still damage. He looked back. Soldiers swept up in the aftermath lay dead, torn to pieces.
Right. Just the aftermath. If it had been a direct hit, that alone would have inflicted devastating damage on the Border Guard.
"We had matters to settle between us."
[Between us. Yes. You've really gotten me good.]
"I don't know about that."
[Of course you wouldn't. But you've thoroughly disrupted the plans I prepared. Do you know how many plans I had to revise and rack my brains over?]
"That's not my concern. If you dislike using your head that much, I'll make it easy for you."
Osian rushed at him fiercely. Self-introductions, the opponent's purpose and such—that was all unnecessary conversation. Cutting away all of that, he would carry through with only one will.
Kill the enemy.
Solenon smiled but eeriness also surged forth. At the sight of Osian charging straight at him, his instinct stirred.
Though he had become an immortal body, he was not immortal before Osian. He understood it mentally too. It was the same for the priests and bishops of the Eternal God Church. They possessed life force transcending humans, but they vanished before Osian's sword. Even that Red Eternity was defeated by Osian within the dimensional rift.
[You plan to kill me and stop the ritual. After all, the path to the heavens hasn't fully opened yet.]
Solenon rather ostentatiously retreated backward. Though he had come out as if to fight, what he chose was flight. Osian's eyes intensified. He dares to show his back and try to flee before a knight?
[So I must hold out as much as possible. It's not I who must face you. It's another existence.]
Solenon laughed. Something was falling from beyond the torn sky. It was a black meteor.
Taking advantage of the widened gap in the Stellar Veil, part of the Void Legion was crossing over.
Among the black meteors, a particularly gigantic one fell as if striking directly at Osian. It wasn't a coincidence. That meteor had sensed Osian's existence and was falling as if targeting him.
"I'll cut it."
Osian's choice was the same. A meteor? Let as many of those fall as they want. He just needed to cut them all down with his sword.
Osian swung his blazing white sword toward the meteor. Starlight exploded and the meteor split in half. No, it should have split in half.
"Truly strong. To think there would be such a powerful being on this planet. I wondered why Glamhator, who went down first, suddenly disappeared—was it because of you?"
Something inside the meteor blocked Osian's sword. Simultaneously, as the meteor shattered to pieces, it revealed itself.
It looked like some kind of structure carved from jet-black obsidian. Perhaps this was what it would look like if two stems twisted together and intertwined.
The structure starting from the left leg intertwined at the center to become the right arm. The structure starting from the right leg intertwined at the center to become the left arm. Completed by crossing like that, it resembled human form. But the arms and legs were sharp like blades, and the face too looked like a flat, sharp helmet. At the center that seemed to weave the structure together was a black sphere like a Void Soldier.
'A new Star-Crushing General!'
And he wasn't the only Star-Crushing General.
"I wondered why the Primordial Void took interest, but to think such a being existed."
A voice similar to a woman’s was heard from the air.
There was a woman wearing fluttering clothes. However, she wore a blindfold covering her eye area, and on the blindfold floated a single giant eyeball. Around her rippling garments were four additional arms. The woman held different musical instruments in her six arms.
Two more Star-Crushing Generals, just like Glamhator, had appeared.