After that, the battle could be easily handled for a while using the royal scepter.
We designated enemy legions that we could snipe the weaknesses of based on our current situation, applied the dark event to amplify those weaknesses, and then took them down one by one using appropriate strategies.
***
Stage 42.
The designated nightmare monster legion was the 'Earth Shadow' legion.
A kind of ghost-type monster similar to the Phantom King legion, it has the ability to hide within shadows.
In other words, it's weak to light and also...
It's particularly vulnerable to holy power.
This means that the Zenis and Rosetta duo, equipped with the 'Oath' set, would play a significant role in this battle.
"Is that why you threw us to the front lines, Your Highness?!"Rosetta shouted in a sharp voice, and Zenis swung his holy spear, floundering.
"Wait, is this okay?! How can this even be?!"
Although the two were surrounded by shadows.
They were utterly annihilating the encroaching shadows, showcasing an overwhelming display of power.
The shadow legion, each individual was weak, relying on numbers to overwhelm. Each individual had low stamina and not very strong attack power.
Rosetta's iron whip tore through a shadow, and the [Oath of Protection] healed Zenis's minor injuries by the same amount as the damage inflicted. The [Oath of Healing] then unleashed that healed amount as damage to attack another shadow...
Zenis's spear pierced through a shadow, repeating the same process.
Rosetta and Zenis each unleashed this infinite chain reaction on their own. From the bracelets on their wrists, beams of holy light continuously shot out, burning the shadows.
Shadows exploded around them, and nearly half of the shadow legion was burned away by the duo's efforts.
We could easily finish off the remaining half.
"Even so, please refrain from putting us on the front lines in the future, Your Highness..."
The priest duo, drenched in cold sweat, returned.
Rosetta muttered with a pale face. No matter how great the Oath set's effect was, being surrounded by a monster horde was not a pleasant experience.
I nodded, patting their shoulders.
"This battle was special, and I'll place you according to the time and situation."
This battle was set up to test the limits and effects of the Oath set.
Just then, Hannibal popped in between the two weary priests, leading them off to 'let's have dinner together!' and walked toward the Crossroad town.
"Um...?"
Hannibal had a very shrewd look in his eyes...
"Well, whatever! Anyway, one more down!"
Stage 42, cleared!
***
Stage 43.
The designated nightmare monster legion was the 'Iron Horse' legion.
A literal legion of horses made of steel... with the boss unit, the Iron Horse King, being a monster that looked like some sort of train.
This train-like creature could only run on designated 'rail tracks,' which the regular iron horses around it would transform into with their bodies.
Once the Iron Horse King passed over these tracks, the iron horses would revert to horse form and follow the group.
This odd way of advancing made the monster group incredibly fast. They could cover the distance from the Black Lake to the Crossroad in a day and a half.
'What kind of ancient era did this world have...'
What kind of monsters are these? It's ridiculous.
Junior, standing next to me, added an explanation.
"There are records in the history books, apparently they were magical creatures developed as transportation in one of the ancient magical kingdoms... After that kingdom perished, they went rogue and became monsters."
"A magical civilization's Terminator, huh. Robots are scary..."
We were currently aboard the airship 'La Mancha.'
The Iron Horse legion, having just left the Black Lake, immediately started laying tracks and began running, with La Mancha in the air ready to chase them.
"We'll follow the plan I explained earlier."
I looked back.
There, standing awkwardly, was my captured monster, the Dullahan Legion Commander, fidgeting with the boomerang in his hand.
Having lost his body, he was currently using parts of armor we obtained from Stage 41, attaching his head to it to function as his body.
"Go, Dullahan!"
"Do you really think... this will work..."
"It absolutely will! Now go!"
The Dullahan looked reluctant but eventually did as I said...
Pop.
He detached his head and attached it to the boomerang.
With the top of his head on the boomerang, and his neck facing the air.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Watching this bizarre scene, the surrounding people had strange expressions. They also looked at me, who had ordered this plan, with incredulous looks.
Hey, don't look at me like that. Just call it thinking big!
"Let me explain the plan one more time!"
I crossed my arms and explained.
"When you throw this head-boomerang at those iron horses, Damien will time his shot to decapitate an iron horse. Then you will attach your head to the empty neck!"
"..."
"Once you switch heads, you can use your special ability to take control of the monster's body. After that, you'll actively hinder their advance! Can you do it?!"
The Dullahan's head on the boomerang shut its eyes tightly.
"...I'll try."
"You can do it, Dullahan! The commander believes in you! Let's show them what we can do!"
The Dullahan, standing awkwardly, threw the boomerang with his head attached high into the air.
Whoosh!
The boomerang spun as it flew toward the Iron Horse legion. The Dullahan's head also spun, shouting 'I'm getting dizzy!'
"Damien!"
"Yes!"
Damien, who had been on standby, observed the target through the sniper scope...
Bang-!
He fired a shot.
The bullet narrowly missed the boomerang, then flew ahead and precisely decapitated an iron horse at the front.
As the iron horse, made of steel, lost its head and began to stumble, the boomerang with the Dullahan's head attached flew in and snapped onto the empty neck. Click!
"Take this, horse-head man! It's a new head for you!"
As I made an incomprehensible quip, the strange looks around me deepened. But isn't the result all that matters?!
"Uooohhh!"
The Dullahan roared, having taken control of the iron horse's body.
With a human head on a horse's body, he kicked back and struck another iron horse running behind.
Crash!
The struck iron horse rolled on the ground, causing others to trip and fall, eventually getting crushed by the Iron Horse King coming from behind.
"Well done!"
As I shouted in delight, the Iron Horse King moved.
This rampaging train, with a giant horse head decoration, quickly accelerated and caught up to the Dullahan-iron horse from behind.
"That's enough! Call for retreat!"
I shouted, looking to the side, and the waiting Banshee commander began singing in a high-pitched voice. Thanks to [Heavenly Voice], it was a very beautiful voice.
"Come back~ to the airship~"
Oh, what a lovely song.
The retreat signal echoed, and the Dullahan manipulated his head-attached boomerang to separate from the iron horse's body and soar into the air.
Boomerang, [Wait and See] special ability.
It always returns to the user's hand.
The boomerang, spinning, returned to the airship, and the moment the Dullahan's head detached, the Iron Horse King crushed the betrayed iron horse's body underfoot.
"Perfect timing!"
Seeing the successful retrieval of the Dullahan's head, I gave a thumbs-up.
"..."
"..."
The Banshee and the Dullahan seemed noticeably depressed, but isn't this a good thing?
"Your Highness. The front of the Iron Horse King... the horse-head decoration."
Then Damien suggested.
"I think I can shoot and destroy it. If we attach the Dullahan there, we might be able to take control of it."
"...!"
I looked sharply at Junior. Junior nodded reluctantly.
"Normally, destroying the head decoration wouldn't be enough to stop the monster... but the Dullahan has the ability to take over 'headless bodies.' Theoretically, it's possible."
I gave a thumbs-up to Damien this time.
"Nice idea, Damien! You get the Think Big title!"
"Huh? Oh, thank you...?"
Damien tilted his head, but he smiled, knowing it was a compliment.
Originally, we planned to continue wearing them down with the same method, but Damien's suggestion changed the strategy.
Bang-!
Damien's shot destroyed the horse-head decoration on the Iron Horse King's body, and the Dullahan's boomerang with his head flew in and snapped into place.
"Is it a success?!"
I shouted, and at the same time,
"Uooohhh!"
The Dullahan, having taken control of the Iron Horse King, roared and turned the rampaging train's path sharply.
Crash! Smash!
The iron horses caught in this derailment screamed as they were destroyed. Well done, little train Dullahan!
The enraged iron horses then charged at the Iron Horse King. Nightmare legions are particularly intolerant of traitors.
The monsters roared, desperately trying to kill each other.
"Hang in there~ hang in there~"
The Banshee commander hummed a strangely weak-sounding support song, and I clapped my hands and shook my shoulders in time with the tune.
'I love it when monsters fight each other!'
This is called Monster Infighting in game terms, and I really enjoy situations where
they turn on each other!
"..."
"..."
"Hey, why are you looking at me like that? Anyway, we solved it!"
I protested under the surrounding sullen gazes.
The Iron Horse King, having stopped without more tracks, was rolling on the ground. The other iron horses stomped and kicked it violently.
We watched the monsters fight each other until they were exhausted, then dispatched our preserved troops to easily finish them off.
Stage 43, cleared!
***
Stage 44.
The designated nightmare monster legion was the 'Kun' legion.
A giant fish said to come from the Eastern Continent, which transforms into a gigantic bird called Peng.
There is a fish in the northern sea whose name is Kun. The size of this fish is unknown, several thousand li in size. Kun transforms into a bird called Peng. The back of this bird is also unknown in size, several thousand li. When it exerts all its strength to fly, its wings spread wide like clouds covering the sky.
A famous opening passage from the Zhuangzi's Wandering on the Way. Why does such a creature actually exist...
Of course, it's not as absurdly large as in the legend, but it's still an ultra-giant monster that changes from a fish to a bird.
'It's best to defeat it when it's in the fish state before it transforms into Peng.'
The problem is that it transforms into Peng as soon as it comes out of the Black Lake.
So... we prepared something simple.
Bubbling...
The surface of the Black Lake began to boil,
Splash!
A gigantic fish, Kun, leaped out.
As it began to transform into the enormous bird Peng upon touching the world's air, all its scales shining,
"Jörmungandr!"
I shouted, throwing the underwater serpent with all my might.
"You transform too-!"
--TL Notes--
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /MattReading