"Or we all die together."
At my words, the banquet hall froze over coldly.
What broke the silence was Kellison's short laugh.
"Ha! Such a bluff."
The Dwarf King stroked his curly golden beard and glared at me.
"A monster causing the end of the world? Haven't we fended off such insignificant foes at this small frontline for the last few hundred years? Even if you make such an exaggerated claim..."
"It's because of that monster that Fernandez is causing such a havoc."
I said calmly, hands clasped behind my back.
"The monster that has been suppressed at this frontline is the one that will destroy the world. Believe it or not, this is the truth."
"...!"
"A picture is worth a thousand words... Rather than telling you a hundred times, it would be better to show you once."
Just then, the doors of the banquet hall burst open,
"Your Highness!"
Soldiers poured in urgently.
"Report from the scouting party! Enemy monster troops have come into visibility! They are rapidly approaching the southern wall!"
"How long until the first wave reaches our fire net?"
"30 minutes!"
"Understood. I'll be right there."
After sending the soldiers back, I looked around the banquet hall and smiled faintly.
"This is good timing. Would you all like to see for yourselves?"
Kellison swallowed dryly.
"See what?"
"The 'part' of the enemies that this frontline has been holding back... the ones that will destroy the world."
I pointed towards the open doors of the banquet hall.
"Since you've come to the Monster Front, you should see the famous monsters here, right?"
***
I led the kings up to the southern wall.
There was no need to prepare telescopes.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dududududu-!
The dust clouds stirred up in the distance by the running monster legion were clearly visible to the naked eye.
The monsters, extending their chitinous legs like claws and rushing towards humanity's walls, were spiders.
This defensive battle, Stage 21's monsters were the 'Red Spider Legion'.
A subspecies of the Black Spider Legion that we faced during the tutorial, they were more agile mutants. With thinner armor, but significantly higher mobility.
'Originally, they should appear in the third year...'
Was it because the Black Spider Legion was annihilated during the tutorial? These bastards came out earlier than expected.
Sssss!
Thousands of spider monsters poured into the plain in front of the wall.
Their individual single eyes flashing, they bared their sharp mouths, smacking their lips, and revealed hostility towards humans.
"This is..."
"By the gods, real monsters."
"What is this number...?"
The kings who followed me up were sweating cold sweat in panic.
Their complexions turned pale in front of the absolute, unconditional killing intent of the monsters.
At least those who had come to aid during the Goblin Legion's wave had fought battles throughout this region, so they were a bit better off, but they were just as taken aback.
Goblins are a concept similar to a natural disaster that still exists today.
But the spiders standing outside the wall now were real 'monsters' that only existed in ancient legends.
"Thi, this is, Prince Ash."
Kellison looked at me with a face slick with cold sweat.
"That, I get the intention, but isn't this too dangerous? Let's go inside..."
"All forces-!"
I commanded, ignoring him.
"Prepare for battle!"
"Your command!"
Lucas, following my command, shouted even more resoundingly.
"Prepare for battle! All forces, to your positions-!"
Click! Click! Click!
My extremely well-trained soldiers took their positions on the wall.
The cannons, now numbering in the hundreds, aligned in a row, preparing to fire, while the ballistae and artifacts were also ready to be shot at the monsters.
The hero parties, each assigned their tasks in advance, stood at strategic points on the wall, waiting for the monsters to approach.
"Even if they are a subspecies, their basic nature is not different from that of the black spider bastards."
Estimating the distance to the monsters, I spoke.
"These are monsters we have already faced. We are well aware of their weaknesses."
Lucas nodded at my words.
Only eight humans survived the tutorial battle against the Black Spider Legion.
But the tactics against the Spider Legion, shared by those eight survivors, were well known to the thousands here.
All that sacrifice,
All that time,
Nothing was in vain.
"There's no need to fear."
I commanded.
"Let's smash them to bits!"
Yes-!
The soldiers responded with a heavy shout, and
Dududududu-!
Simultaneously, the vanguard of the Red Spider Legion entered the range of our cannons.
They were lured into the kill zone, tangled horribly together, roaring.
Kieeeek!
It was a horrid cry I hadn't heard in a while.
I twisted a smile and raised my hand high, then swiftly thrust it forward.
"All forces, fire!"
"Fire!"
"Fire-!"
Along with Lucas and the soldiers' backing chorus,
Boom! Baboom-!
A deafening explosion rang out, and hundreds of shells were fired.
The startled kings covered their ears, hunched their shoulders, and ducked. I smirked. They would have to get used to this noise quickly.
The fired shells poured over the heads of the monsters,
Boom! Kaboom!
Causing tremendous explosions.
Our Crossroad's pride, the crossfire, shredded the front of the monster legion.
However, the Red Spider Legion is a top-tier monster legion. Stopping them with fire nets alone at the kill zone has its limits.
Kieeeek!
Dudududu-!
Sure enough, piercing through the thick smoke, they rushed out.
The Red Spider Legion, a faster mutant than the Black Spider Legion with thinner exoskeletons.
A direct hit by a shell meant instant death, but the chance of evading a direct hit was higher.
Bang! Kaboom-!
Thousands of red spiders charged across the southern plain, cutting through the flames erupting in all directions.
"Hic...!"
"Wow, wow...!"
The kings panicked, seeing the monsters rushing up close in no time.
Some trembled their legs, some turned to descend the wall right away.
Click-
But the staircase down was tightly blocked by the melee troops, including Evangeline.
Evangeline smiled broadly at the kings, who looked at me in confusion. I spoke indifferently.
"The safest place is right here on the wall, where our entire force is."
"...!"
"Don't think about going anywhere, and watch till the end with your own eyes. This is the battle always fought here at the Monster Front."
I thrust my hand forward.
"Ballista unit! Fire-!"
Sssssack!
Thududududuk...!
As soon as my command was issued, hundreds of ballistae on standby spat out large arrows.
The soldiers' proficiency in equipment and aiming skills were unbelievably great, even to my eyes.
The ballista arrows pierced through the red spiders, pinning them to the ground.
"Artifact unit! Operate artifacts at individual discretion!"
"Yes! Activating artifacts as pre-set in sequence!"
Pregnant Lilly, even with her full-term belly, responded and activated the artifacts with the alchemists on the wall.
Kiiiiing!
From SSR-grade to N-grade, various artifacts emitted light one after another, and all sorts of debuff magic and active attack spells erupted in succession.
But- nevertheless.
Despite the standard defensive tactics of the kill zone-cannon-ballista-artifact combo, the Red Spider Legion ultimately broke through the southern plain.
Even as they fell into the densely placed obstacles and traps on the plain, they managed to reach the wall.
Kieeek-!
The spiders, either drenched in spilled blood or naturally red, roared savagely right below the wall.
Up close, their grotesque appearance was even more vivid.
The kings seemed eager to flee, but the way back was blocked, and more importantly... it was now a matter of pride.
In a gathering of kings of various realms, fleeing in fear would be utterly laughable.
Thus, they couldn't run away, and the defense continued.
The Red Spiders that reached the wall began to climb up one by one.
The melee troops stepped forward, killing them one by one, and the corpses of the fallen spiders piled up below the wall.
But the number of spiders climbing the wall was increasing.
There were no casualties yet, but a fierce battle was already unfolding on the wall.
However, the frontline was still holding strong...
"Waaaah?!"
Suddenly, Kellison screamed in terror.
Everyone turned to look, and saw a Red Spider climbing up next to where the kings were gathered.
There was no time for other soldiers to intervene. The nimble Red Spider that climbed the wall lunged straight at Kellison-
Thump!
But in that moment, Kellibey's hammer struck, shattering its jaw. Pieces of the monster's blood and exoskeleton splattered everywhere.
Kieek...
The spider let out a feeble cry as it collapsed in vain. Kellison blinked with round eyes in shock.
"Father?!"
"Shut up and get down, you fool! More are coming!"
More Red Spiders using the same route continued to climb up.
Thump! Thump!
Kellibey swung his hammer in succession, crushing the spiders' jaws and protecting his son.
A similar scene unfolded nearby.
Flash-!
With lightning-fast flashes, Verdandi decapitated the Red Spiders climbing the wall.
In each hand, she wielded a dagger.
Queen Skuld, looking at her sister, opened her mouth in surprise.
"Sister..."
"Are you hurt? Stay still. I will protect you."
Even while handcuffed to her sister, Verdandi elegantly wielded her daggers, slicing through the Red Spiders.
The spiders that reached the area where Poseidon and other kings were gathered...
Crash-!
Kuilan crushed them with his fists.
"Urat-cha-cha!"
As Kuilan shouted cheerfully, throwing his punches,
Crash! Baboom...!
A dozen spiders burst instantly.
The other kings gaped in awe at his extraordinary martial prowess. Kuilan, thrilled, shouted out.
"These things, they're like water balloons, not monsters! It feels great to take them down so cleanly!"
Thus, the spiders approaching the kings were quickly dealt with.
"That seems sufficient."
Watching the situation, I turned to the side.
"Damien."
"Yes."
Damien was standing by my side. I gestured towards the southern plain.
"Take care of the boss monster."
"As you command."
Click-
Damien pulled out his magic gun [Black Queen] and aimed towards the distant southern plain - towards the forest.
After taking a breath, he pulled the trigger in one swift motion.
Bang-!
Blinding flames erupted from the muzzle, and the magic bullet shot out like a beam of light.
'The Red Spider Legion shares the same weakness as the Black Spider Legion.'
Watching the trajectory of the magic bullet, I thought.
'They are a hive mind, individual creatures lack the ability to think. And by killing the commanding unit - the queen, their movements will cease.'
And the location of the queen had, in fact, been determined long ago.
Sssssack-
Damien's magic bullet traced its unique trajectory, aiming for its target.
It was aimed at the head of the Red Spider Queen, hiding in the forest.
Kyaaaa-!
The queen's agonized scream rang out, and then,
Whoosh...!
Damien's magic bullet mercilessly tore through the Red Spider Queen's core.
--TL Notes--
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