◆ Port Suluard, West Coast ◆
“Have the residents been evacuated?”
“Yes! The defensive line is also fully established!”
“Good! Listen up! If we are breached here, countless lives will be lost! What we are protecting is the culture, wealth, pride… and lives we have built over the years! We must defend it at all costs!”
Six hundred ballistae and catapults have been set up along the coast. The Avangarde and Negesta allied forces total 21,000 strong, with over 2,000 C and B-Rank Adventurers. The main force of A-Rank Adventurers is stationed on the eastern front. The remaining Kashiram troops should be deployed far to the west. There were concerns about whether they would launch an attack here. While we have considered the possibility of an assault from the eastern coast, we haven’t allocated as many resources there. This coast faces directly towards the Ballad Continent, making it the only logical point of attack. This was Prime Minister Belmund’s judgment. I suggested that there might be a chance they could flank us from the opposite coast, but Belmund dismissed it, stating that a large force attempting to do so would be impossible to hide, and he doubted that the beasts from the Garden of Beasts would resort to such roundabout tactics.
It is largely thanks to his efforts that we have been able to coordinate with various nations and deploy such a formidable force in such a short time. To be honest, I don’t particularly like that man, but I acknowledge his skills.
“Lord Kirkton, our Negesta forces excel in close combat. We will maintain the front line as much as possible, but we ask that you handle any breaches.”
“That was the plan, Captain Kant. The cavalry from Kashiram should be in the same formation. If we survive this battle, I would love to share a drink with you.”
“That is my hope as well. We must win at all costs!”
“I’m, I’m getting nervous…”
“Pull yourself together, Lieutenant Ritta. The A-Rank Adventurers will handle the large Floor Monsters, and we will do what we can. Besides, we have S-Rank Adventurers from various nations with us.”
Normally, I would scold her, but Ritta’s squad often performs better when encouraging each other. Meanwhile, our nation’s proud S-Rank, Tiferia, is yawning despite the situation. Dressed casually and wielding only her sword, she stands out among our armed forces. On the other hand, the S-Rank from Negesta is impressive. Standing boldly at the front lines, he shows no fear against the approaching beasts.
Fist Saint Baran, who has over a thousand disciples, attracts many warriors from abroad seeking his teachings.
“Oh dear, is it really okay for him to be so far forward? Well, well…”
“Tiferia! You should move up too! With you and Lord Baran, you can shut down most of our opponents!”
“Speaking of which, where is Rua? I would love to talk to her again.”
“Listen up!”
It’s pointless to argue. However, once the battle begins, she will undoubtedly perform brilliantly. I know I shouldn’t worry, but anxiety lingers.
“…Here they come!”
Flying through the air, swimming through the sky and sea, these monsters are far beyond my understanding at this point. There are likely monsters lurking beneath the surface as well.
【Vampire Beast ×325 has appeared! HP 1120】
【Great King Elephant ×70 has appeared! HP 4050】
【Winged Cheetah ×450 has appeared! HP 1020】
【Burst Boa ×236 has appeared! HP 1870】
【Soldier Leo ×499 has appeared! HP 805】
In terms of numbers, we are overwhelmingly superior. However, we must not forget that their individual strength is completely superior to ours. Moreover, the monsters approaching now are likely just the first wave. A massive horde of monsters is still advancing from the rear.
It feels strange to say this after coming this far, but the situation is dire. Especially the Great King Elephant, which possesses the power to easily breach castle walls on its own. The Burst Boa, true to its name, is a terrifying monster that can obliterate its opponents with explosive magic upon charging.
Even after enduring a storm of fire from our catapults and ballistae, they continue to advance, finally setting foot on the sandy beach. I knew it would be better than nothing, but the results are truly minimal. The ballista bolts fail to penetrate the Great King Elephant’s thick muscles, and the Burst Boa, despite not being in its favored terrain, effortlessly dodges our attacks.
【Ballista and catapult support fire! Dealt 71 damage to the Great King Elephant! HP 3979/4050】
【Ballista and catapult support fire! Dealt 137 damage to the Vampire Beast! HP 983/1120】
Against monsters like the Winged Cheetah and Vampire Beast, we can still slow them down somewhat. However, neither Captain Kant nor I expected much from that. The real challenge begins now.
“It reminds me of my youth… Come on! Is it you who will be my first opponent?!”
【Baran’s Straight Punch! Dealt 1899 damage to the Vampire Beast!
Vampire Beast defeated! HP 0/1120】
With a single punch, Baran crushed the Vampire Beast’s long fangs, halting its rapid approach and ending its life.
“Too easy! Way too easy! Next!”
【Baran’s Straight Punch! Dealt 1926 damage to the Burst Boa!
Burst Boa defeated! HP 0/1870】
Baran calmly faced the Burst Boa’s charge while maintaining a crouched stance. His fist had enough power to counteract the Burst Boa’s explosive attack.
When it comes to destructive power, he is said to be among the top S-Rank Adventurers. Meanwhile, our own S-Rank…
“Oh dear, oh dear, this is a bit too much, too much…”
【Tiferia’s One Tempo Kill! Stopped the Winged Cheetah’s breath! HP 0/1020】
【Tiferia’s One Tempo Kill! Stopped the Burst Boa’s breath! HP 0/1870】
It may seem like she is lazily throwing out half-hearted strikes, but her results speak for themselves. While yawning, she swings her sword with one hand, effortlessly halting the massive bodies of the approaching monsters, causing them to collapse one after another.
Her reach is even enough to hit the Winged Cheetah soaring in the air. If I were to fight her, I would need to devise a strategy to counter that skill to even stand a chance. The precision with which she strikes the different weak points of each monster is not solely due to her skill.
For Tiferia, these monsters are merely fodder. However, the main force is surely closing in.
“Everyone, please stay together! Leave that Vampire Beast to the archers, and focus on the monsters that are getting closer!”
“…Too much biting.”
I feel quite anxious, but it seems Ritta is managing well. I was worried for a moment, but she clearly possesses talent. In fact, her training and effort far exceed those of an average person.
The previous captain used to say that diligent mediocrity surpasses lazy genius. That is why I have never given up on Ritta until now.
However, facing monsters of the Vampire Beast class is still a tough challenge. If Baran or Tiferia were to let one slip by, it would become a threat to her. Other soldiers can handle Soldier Leo, but when it comes to that class…
“Ugh! I-I messed up…”
“Stay strong!”
Thanks to the two S-Ranks on the front lines, it may not be apparent, but casualties are mounting. The Great King Elephant, in particular, is a monster that should only be faced by parties of B-Rank or higher. Just its front legs crashing to the ground can send dozens retreating in fear.
I, too, find it difficult to face that beast. Just dealing with the Vampire Beasts is overwhelming. On top of that, I must ensure the command structure remains intact.
“Fall back for now! Leave the Great King Elephant to the S and A-Ranks!”
“You really are a hard taskmaster…”
【Mugen’s God of War Fierce Palm! Dealt 1320 damage to the Great King Elephant! HP 2730/4050】
While it may not be a fatal blow, Mugen’s strike had enough power to topple the Great King Elephant. The numerous monsters behind it were caught beneath its weight, resulting in more than I expected.
“Can you calm down a bit?”
【Mugen’s Binding Path! Great King Elephant ×2 is now paralyzed!
Vampire Beast is now paralyzed!
Winged Cheetah is now paralyzed!】
“Please don’t overdo it, okay?”
【Casting Angel Recover! All soldiers’ HP fully restored!】
“First, let’s stop those restless feet of yours!”
【Laurel’s Dull March! The speed of the Vampire Beast has significantly decreased!
The speed of the Burst Boa has significantly decreased!
The speed of the Winged Cheetah has significantly decreased!】
I was grateful that Mugen had managed to restrain the movements of two Great King Elephants. Facing such powerful monsters, the soldiers were holding their ground largely thanks to Yuyu’s support from the rear. With her healing magic and Laurel’s melodic assistance, we were somehow managing to keep things even.
“Anyone struggling against such elephants should just go home.”
[Shinbu’s Clone Slash! Inflicted 230 damage to the Great King Elephant! Inflicted 592 damage to the Great King Elephant! Inflicted 351 damage to the Great King Elephant! Inflicted 599 damage to the Great King Elephant! Inflicted 670 damage to the Great King Elephant! Inflicted 773 damage to the Great King Elephant! Inflicted 411 damage to the Great King Elephant! Inflicted 898 damage to the Great King Elephant! Defeated the Great King Elephant! HP 0/4050]
“Wow, as expected of the A-Rank’s third place…”
The soldiers gasped at Shinbu’s godlike prowess. With a mournful roar, the massive body of the Great King Elephant toppled over, surrounded by a multitude of Shinbu’s clones. Each slash overlapped, carving into the beast as if peeling a potato. With its body quickly whittled away, even the Great King Elephant would stand no chance.
“The battle is about even for now. But…”
The problem lay in their numbers. Watching the endless stream of monsters landing, it felt as if they would never run out.
“Hee hee hee! Is this what I think it is? Did they gather to welcome us? The monkeys are gathering, gathering! Kiki kiki kiki!”
“You’re the monkey, Sogokku.”
“Oh right, right. Let’s make a grand entrance with Chohakka and Gojou!”
“Ohhh!”
The moment we feared had finally arrived. Monsters that could speak human language—just that alone made it clear how different they were from the rest. They had humanoid forms with green skin that seemed to swim through the air as if underwater. With bird-like beaks and webbing between their fingers, they were a sight to behold. There were also monkey-like creatures with long limbs and stout, pig-like monsters walking on two legs. Compared to the Great King Elephant, their scale was smaller, but this was where we had to dig in.
“Oh my, what clever little monkeys you are!”
[Tiferia’s One Tempo Kill! The Monkey King Sogokku dodged effortlessly!]
The monkey monster nimbly hopped around, dodging Tiferia’s invisible strike as if it could see it coming. It then turned to head towards our rear.
“Oh dear, oh dear… What should we do?”
“That was close! It was definitely the right call to ignore it! I had a bad feeling about that lady! Kiki kiki kiki!”
“Tiferia! Stop it!”
“I’m here!”
[Baran’s Aerial Assault Kick! The Monkey King Sogokku dodged effortlessly!]
Even Baran’s spinning kick in mid-air was evaded by the monkey monster, which landed on the sandy beach in a bridge position. Just as I feared, it wasn’t their strength that worried me, but their intelligence. Unlike the Great King Elephant, which only charged forward, these monsters could deal significant damage. They aimed for our rear support rather than the heavily fortified front line. It was extremely dangerous for those unskilled in close combat to face such creatures.
“I won’t let you!”
“Oh, is that the Nitouryuu technique? The idea that wielding two weapons makes you twice as strong is so monkey-like! Kiki kiki!”
[Kirkton’s Twin Bind! The Monkey King Sogokku dodged effortlessly!]
Even my prized skill, using one blade as a decoy to strike with the other, was easily evaded by the monkey monster, which twisted its body with a mocking ease. Its exceptional physical abilities, combined with a primal fighting instinct far surpassing ours, reminded me of the terrifying nature of creatures specialized for combat.
“Alright then, let’s make them despair for now. First, this one.”
“Wha—my weapon!”
The sword held by one of my soldiers was snatched away by Sogokku before I knew it. He raised the blade and began to swing it around playfully, and in the next instant, it was at my nose. I barely managed to dodge, but it grazed my cheek. That was of little concern, as the blade continued its path, piercing one of my soldiers behind me.
“T-Commander…”
My subordinate collapsed, instantly lifeless from the fatal wound. He had been so excited about the child he was expecting. I could see his wife waiting for him to return. Such thoughts crossed my mind, but this was a battlefield. It felt cold, but there was no time to mourn. I had barely escaped death myself. The weapon wielded by the monkey monster had somehow extended to dozens of times its original length, reaching me from that distance.
“Get away from it! Everyone, retreat!”
“Too slow, you flat-faced monkey! Kiki kiki kiki!”
[The Monkey King Sogokku’s Attack!]
With a sword that seemed capable of cleaving through the sandy beach, he spun it around. That simple motion, combined with the length of the blade, multiplied its lethality many times over. Only a few soldiers had the foresight to distance themselves. Those who couldn’t escape were cleaved in half, while others who jumped to evade lost limbs instead. The area became a circular execution ground, covered in the bodies and blood of those who had been dismembered.
“It… hurts… so much…”
In an instant, many of my subordinates had perished. Was it my carelessness, or something else? There was no time to ponder. What was the next move? How could we defeat him?
“Ukyakyakya! I have the ability to change the length of anything, you know.”
[Tiferia’s One Tempo Kill! Stopped the breath of the Monkey King Sogokku! HP 0/3470]
“Your back is unguarded, too busy chatting away…”
“I’m sorry, Tiferia…”
The monkey that had been stabbed from behind by Tiferia fell face-first into the sand. But that wasn’t all; the monsters landing on the beach were mostly taken down by her and Baran, and even the beasts were starting to lose momentum.
S-Rank. For them, who far surpassed ordinary humans, the monkey that could change the length of its sword was irrelevant. They were humans who could take countless lives with a single strike, far exceeding the monstrous capabilities of the creature that had just killed dozens.
What kind of fate had brought that girl, Rua, and the others into being? The immense power that everyone desired. Those who could wield it—how did they perceive this scene?
“Kirkton, we should pull Ritta and the others back, don’t you think?”
“Yes, that might be wise… It could be a losing battle.”
“No, it’s more than that. Look over there.”
“Ahhh! Kiki kiki kiki!”
The annoying laughter I thought I would never hear again. Ridiculous. Impossible. It had to be a different kind of monster. Because there were not just one but several monkeys over there, twisting the necks of C and B-Rank adventurers. Three, four, five of them. The one Tiferia had just defeated seemed to have found new toys to play with and was now causing chaos.
“Listen to the whole story. I have the ability to change the length of anything. You should be careful, you know? Kiki kiki kiki!”
“More troublesome than the numbers is the fact that they’re increasing. I can handle this alone, but it’s the others I’m worried about. Oh, I’m really worried. Sigh…”
Indeed. It was not something a captain should say, but what could I do? It was a cliché, but frankly, it was beyond human comprehension.
“Sogokku, I hear humans like to introduce themselves when they meet someone for the first time. Let’s do the same.”
“Yeah, let’s do that. Listen! We are the rumored…”
“Supernova born from the Garden of Beasts!”
“Sogokku!”
“Chohakka!”
“Gojou!”
“We are the Three Beast Warriors of the Garden of Beasts!“
Monkeys, pigs, and fish-like monsters with green skin struck poses, flaunting themselves before us.
“Captain! We can’t hold on any longer! Orders!”
“Captain! The defense line has been breached! We need your orders!”
“Captain, we should retreat! Captain!”
“Kirkton, Captain!”
What was the next move? I didn’t know if there was one, but I was the captain. I was responsible for the lives of my subordinates, the Captain of the Avangarde Kingdom’s army, Kirkton. I steeled myself and called my heart back to the battlefield.
“All units, retreat!”
“How admirable, Captain. You care for your subordinates, and you can’t help but feel attached to them. But you know, Captain, this is a battlefield. All we think about is how to kill our opponents.”
The creature that introduced itself as Goujo, a green fishman-like monster, leaped into the air and swam through the sky as if it were underwater. Its speed was so swift that there was barely a moment to react. With claws that tore through life like parting water, the fresh blood splattered around, and Goujo wore a cruel smile, as if relishing the carnage.
“By the way, what’s that? Isn’t it hard to fight in something so thick? Oh, I get it! That’s armor, isn’t it? Pansard said humans are weak and die easily, so they desperately wear all sorts of things to protect themselves! Ah ha! Ah ha ha! Ah ha ha ha ha!”
“…Humans are—”
“Huh?”
“Humans are not like you beasts! We fight with pride for the things we must protect! Don’t look down on us! What we defend are the culture, wealth, and lives we have nurtured until now! Right, Captain Kirkton?”
“R-Ritta, Captain…”
Standing firm before the blood-soaked Goujo, Ritta held her spear steady. Goujo tilted its head repeatedly, genuinely unable to comprehend.
“Irene, Shuri, please provide support! Everyone else, stand back to back and be ready to respond from all directions! If we use the spear’s range to keep it at bay, it shouldn’t be able to close in on us easily!”
Though her eyes were slightly misty, Ritta continued to issue commands beyond her own squad. The others, who had once looked down on her, took her words to heart and reformed their formation. Even those who had mocked her now recognized her worth. Ritta’s rallying spirit was enough to boost their morale significantly.
“…Ah? Am I being made fun of?”
It seemed Goujo was still pondering the meaning of Ritta’s words. Despite being able to speak human language, its intelligence appeared lacking, or perhaps it simply could not grasp our human ethics. Either way, I had no desire to make it understand, nor did I believe it could.
“Pansard said that humans can bounce back quickly because of their mindset. They’re simple, foolish creatures, so they won’t understand unless you beat them down.”
“Ah ha! So that means those guys are idiots, huh?”
“Exactly, Goujo. They are foolish and weak. They deny the law of the jungle, decorating their words with pretty phrases. Truly pitiful, ignorant, and hopeless beings.”
“Ooh, as expected, Chohakka is smart!”
“The strong survive, and the strong are revered. That means we are great. Got it, you foolish monkeys? Now, let’s increase our numbers a bit!”
【The Monkey King Sogokku has appeared! HP 3470】
【The Monkey King Sogokku has appeared! HP 3470】
【The Monkey King Sogokku has appeared! HP 3470】
【The Monkey King Sogokku has appeared! HP 3470】
【The Monkey King Sogokku has appeared! HP 3470】
Sogokku plucked out its own body hair and blew on it, transforming each strand into a monkey-like monster. Even one of these creatures was already overwhelming; now there were several more. The total count had reached around ten. Even Ritta, who had been so fired up, instinctively took a small step back.
“Though they’re a bit weaker than me, the main body, they’re still formidable.”
Now, what to do? Just as I was pondering this, further despair descended upon us. From the distant sea, something leaped out, sending up a spray of water, and then it landed, kicking up a massive cloud of sand. Once the sand settled, a bipedal tiger emerged. However, it was a giant tiger, several times larger than the Three Beast Warriors. Its tail split into three, and it boasted muscles akin to a human’s. This was on a completely different level than the Three Beast Warriors. I could sense it instinctively; just seeing it made every hair on my body stand on end, and I began to tremble involuntarily. Just like when I faced the Funeral Knight, I was completely overwhelmed by fear.
“Oh, you arrived quickly! By the way, where are the others from the other battalions?”
“They’re coming slowly. I couldn’t wait, so I rushed here. Sogokku, where’s that Rua girl?”
“Seems she’s not here. Maybe she got scared and ran away.”
“Not here, you say?”
There was barely time to think about the danger. The giant tiger’s fist struck the sandy beach, creating a shockwave that felt as if something colossal had fallen. The sand formed a circular depression, and seawater began to flow in. Its strength was enough to alter the terrain. I was certain of it.
“This is the main force of the Garden of Beasts…”
Sogokku, who had quickly retreated, was overwhelmed by the creature’s brutality, letting out a pathetic sound. The law of the jungle seemed not to apply solely to us against them; even among their kind, it was evident.
“Then what the hell am I here for?! I thought defeating the Twelve Demon Generals would mean facing a better opponent! I have no use for weaklings! You pathetic scum!”
“Calm down, Glade-sama!”
“Come out, Rua! I can’t hold back any longer!”
When it began to rampage, I could see seven or eight people fall victim to its mighty arms. No, it didn’t seem like it intended to kill them; they just happened to be in the way of its indiscriminate fury. I was losing my grip on reality, forced to view it objectively.
Baran and Tiferia broke through the chaos. Baran’s straight punch collided with Glade’s fist, but even the Fist Saint was overpowered, his right arm shattered in a single blow.
【Baran took 1939 damage! HP 2372/4311】
“Ugh! This power is incredibly dangerous! Tiferia! Kirkton! Gather everyone together! This opponent… is formidable!”
“Ugh, this is really troublesome. Ah, come on…”
Tiferia sighed, her weariness evident, but her eyes remained fixed on the monster before us. It had been since the Combat Tournament when she fought Rua, hadn’t it? No, even then, Tiferia hadn’t truly intended to kill her. That had been merely a match. But this was different; what lay ahead was a genuine fight to the death.
Master Knight, Tiferia. If she were to get serious, she would likely surpass even Baran. Yet, getting her to that point was no easy feat.
“Oh, there’s something decent here.”
“…Oh? Well, that’s good.”
Tiferia looked up, hearing a unique rhythmic sound from an artificial object above. She shielded her eyes from the sun to confirm it.
“Is that… an airship from the Kingdom of Metallica?!”
The oval-shaped flying object was undoubtedly heading our way. By the time Glade noticed it, the silver-winged relief was already close enough to be clearly seen.
Why was Metallica here? No, there was no need to think about it. This could be, just maybe, a turning point.
“Rua, Roel… Did you really manage to do it? To ally with the Kingdom of Metallica…”
The airship seemed to be an anomaly to the beasts, as monsters like the Vampire Beasts and Burst Boars all turned their attention toward it. However, naturally, there were those who welcomed it.
“Something feels like it has some bones to it, huh?”
Glade thrust his fist forward, aiming at the airship.
Monster Compendium
【Great King Elephant HP 4050】
A wild elephant that has become feral, having evolved over many years after tasting blood. Its destructive power is immense, and its thick skin is impervious to ordinary blades. It is so ferocious that it can annihilate a small town, leading some regions to worship it as a god of calamity, offering food and people to prevent its wrath.
【Winged Cheetah HP 1020】
The fastest animal, having evolved over many years to prey on birds. Though it has wings, it actually moves as if running through the sky. Its ability to hunt Kaiser Eagles in packs makes it a true aerial predator.
【Burst Boar HP 1870】
A strong individual among the Great Boars that possesses magical power. With a charge that surpasses the Great Boar and the ability to unleash chaotic bursts of magic, once it goes on a rampage, it can devastate the forest.