"Hmm..."
Shan frowned. New information had come in from a spy he had planted in Heglatan, and the information was truly troubling.
The intelligence report suggested that there was a large-scale military movement behind Heglatan, and that Blahar was also staying there.
But that was all. Whether it was being carried out in extreme secrecy or not, it was impossible to confirm through the spy line. It was impossible to know exactly what the purpose was or what troops were moving.
It was definitely time for Heglatan to make his move.
With Targayel on the winning side, Heglatan was understandably nervous. They had to resort to whatever means necessary.
Moreover, Blahar was not the type of person to be defeated so easily. Heglatan was definitely preparing one last move to turn the battlefield around.
Shan quietly put the paper down on the table. Then Liv, Elze, Ilwooz, and Hyeon, who were sitting at the table together, looked at him.
Everyone had gathered for the upcoming operation. Shan briefly explained the current situation to the four people. Hyeon, who was resting her chin on one hand on the table, frowned and said.
“That’s a real problem. There’s military activity behind Heglatan. And Blahar’s there too.”
Liv pointed to the map spread out on the table and added to Shan's explanation.
“I think you’re talking about this area. There have been signs of troops gathering in this area recently.”
“It certainly was.”
As Shan looked down at the map, Hyeon said something.
“Shouldn’t we check what that nine-tailed fox has prepared?”
As Hyeon said, confirmation was necessary. Even if we didn’t know what Blahar was doing, it was a huge source of anxiety that we couldn’t just ignore. Liv groaned as she looked at the map.
“But it’s behind Heglatan. It’s not easy to infiltrate...”
In order to reach the rear, they had to either break through the Heglatan camp head-on or bypass it. A head-on breakthrough was virtually impossible, and a bypass would take too much time. If they were to go around it, check the status of the troops in the rear, and return to report, it would take at least a week.
Moreover, even if you were not a very experienced knight, it was difficult to safely infiltrate the rear.
“It’s something that I can’t just ignore and ignore... and Blahar is there too, so it’s even more worrisome.”
After Liv's muttering, everyone fell into silence for a moment. It seemed like there weren't many options. As everyone was thinking about it, Elze opened her mouth.
“What if we could check the rear and send troops to pressure Heglatan at the same time?”
Everyone's eyes widened at Elze's words. Elze began to explain calmly to them.
“If it’s Elijah, we can easily make a detour to Heglatan’s rear. After checking the situation there, if we use the power that Ilwooz showed us this time to send troops to the rear..."
Elze jumped up from her seat and moved the pieces of wood on the table. A shape was created with Heglatan in the middle, surrounded by Targayel on the front and back.
“I don’t think we need to send that many troops to the rear. The fact that it’s a completely unexpected surprise attack is enough to catch Heglatan off guard.”
Elze continued, pushing the piece of wood in front of her forward.
“If you start the attack from the rear and use that as a signal to attack from the front at the same time, you will be able to win without much difficulty.”
Liv gasped and then cautiously retorted.
"But that can only be done by someone who can channel divine power. They must act as a mobile force... And that's not something the Queen can do."
“It is possible.”
Liv's eyes widened at the decisive and cutting answer. Elze looked back at Ilwooz and said.
“I can also put divine powers into my body. Right, Ilwooz?”
Ilwooz looked at Elze in silence for a moment, then answered slowly.
“...That’s right. Lady Elze can also contain divine power.”
Elze was the person brought by Ilwooz. Just like Hyeon, or even more than Hyeon, she was able to receive divine power into her body.
Liv, who didn't know the inside story, was bewildered and didn't know what was going on, while everyone else nodded. However, Ilwooz opposed the operation.
“But it is too risky an operation.”
He calmly expressed his opinion.
“To move a large number of people at the same time, they all need to have some degree of sensitivity to divine power. Ordinary people cannot be moved.”
The priests of the church could easily move it, but it was impossible for ordinary people. However, before Elze could become disappointed, Hyeon stepped forward to refute the claim.
“But isn’t it possible for the knights of Ryeo?”
“...”
At Hyeon's words, Ilwooz looked at her with slightly resentful eyes. Ilwooz didn't want to send Elze away. Hyeon pretended not to notice his gaze and continued talking.
“The people of the Kingdom of Ryeo have been with the religious order since they were young, so they are accustomed to the power of the divine, and their sensitivity is excellent. Ilwooz can easily carry it. I will send the troops to the rear with me and the knights of Ryeo.”
At those words, everyone except Hyeon and Elze's faces all turned gloomy. Hyeon clicked her tongue and spoke as if she were reproaching them.
“Everyone, don’t be so foolish.”
“...”
“We can’t keep the war going forever. And this is the only way we can exploit Blahar’s weaknesses while breaking through.”
Hyeon continued talking, looking at Shan especially openly.
“I trust Erzenes and Elijah’s skills. They have carried out many operations far more dangerous than this.”
Leaving Shan alone, who remained silent until the end, Hyeon turned to Elze and said.
“If there is any danger, even in the middle of the battlefield, feel free to send a signal. I will lead the knights and come to your rescue.”
She added, grinning like a snake.
“If that doesn’t work out, I’ll become a prisoner with you.”
At those words, Elze forgot the seriousness of the situation and just laughed softly.
Targayel eventually decided to follow Elze's plan.
That night, Elze and Shan lay in the same bed for the first time in a long time. The two of them had been too busy fighting to sleep properly.
Even though it was their first time together in a long time, Shan didn't look too happy. He pulled Elze's clothes up and kissed her exposed chest.
“You always take risks.”
Shan said again, pulling hard on the skin and releasing it.
“You have a very strong sense of adventure.”
Red marks appeared where he had passed. Elze spoke quietly, brushing Shan's hair back.
“If I hadn’t been adventurous, I wouldn’t have met you now.”
“...”
His eyes narrowed. Elze kissed Shan first. Their small, fleshy bodies touched softly, and their tongues tangled. The soft kiss tickled her body like a feather. Their lips parted with a slightly wet sound. Feeling a faint excitement, Elze whispered to him.
“When the war is over... I’ll rent a bar in the capital and have a victory party with Elijah and the others.”
Shan's high nose bridge came into view. Elze impulsively reached out her hand. Then, she pressed the tip of Shan's nose with her finger and spoke.
“I’m going to drink it on credit under your name.”
"What?"
Shan answered, biting Elze's smiling finger.
“If you promise to include me, I’ll buy you the whole bar.”
At Shan's words, Elze laughed hysterically. Then she said, laughing like a mischievous child.
“What fun is it if I drink with you? We gather here to have fun, cursing at our bosses.”
“I’ll pretend not to exist. I’ll at least hide and make no sound.”
Elze kissed Shan, who was speaking seriously, with a soft kiss. But Elze did not say that he should come all the way. When Shan narrowed his eyes, Elze suggested a compromise.
“Tell me something other than including you in the party. If you tell me what you want, I’ll do it.”
Shan raised his eyebrows at Elze's words. Elze placed both hands on his chest. Then, supporting his chin, she said, hmm, after thinking about it.
“How about just lounging around at home all day?”
Shan's face relaxed a little, as if the suggestion wasn't so bad. Shan let out a slow sigh. The long breath reached Elze. When she grimaced slightly at the tickling sensation, Shan smiled and caressed Elze's face with her hand.
“...Actually, if I can be with you, I’m happy with anything.”
Shan thought for a moment and then said one thing.
“I want to go on vacation. Just the two of us.”
“Without any escort or escort?”
“Without them, just the two of us.”
“I don’t think it’ll be bad...”
Shan licked between her sunken belly buttons. As Elze shivered, he smiled and said.
“Promise me quickly.”
His hands began to move towards increasingly dangerous places. Elze quickly made a promise as his hands slowly caressed the inside of her thighs.
“Yes! I promise..."
But even though she promised, nothing much changed. Shan didn't stop caressing her.
“Ha, uh...”
Elze inhaled and exhaled sharply. Today, his foreplay was unusually long and persistent. Elze twisted her body in the vague sensations that continued. Her body heated up at the soft and affectionate touch, but there was nothing strong.
He was so annoying that he didn't give Elze the final climax. Elze eventually called his name in a pleading tone.
“Shan...”
Shan didn't respond to Elze's call. Instead, he slipped his hand between her legs and moved it strongly for the first time.
Elze arched her back in surprise at the sudden stimulation. Soon, a tingling sensation spread through her body, and she felt dizzy.
Elze naturally burrowed into Shan's arms. He hugged Elze, who was burrowing into his arms, and bit her neck. The strength of his bite was full of excitement. Shan let out a sigh.
"Ha..."
He breathed lightly. Then he cupped Elze's cheek with his hand and kissed her. Unlike the gentle caresses they had been having up until now, it was a very passionate kiss. Their teeth almost clashed several times. The sticky sound rang obscenely in their ears.
Shan grabbed Elze's wrist tightly. Elze gripped the sheet with her hands in a thrilling pleasure. He suddenly stopped kissing her. But he didn't lift his face. Shan said, their lips brushing each other's lips.
“I don’t know why either, but...”
His violet eyes filled her vision. His violet eyes were dark and sunken, as if they were filled with night.
“I especially don’t want to let you go this time.”
Elze was secretly surprised. Shan's fingertips, which were holding her, were trembling slightly. Shan had been anxious whenever Elze went into battle. However, this was the first time he had shown his emotions to this extent. He was more anxious than ever.
“I love you as a mercenary and a knight. That’s why I send you to the battlefield...”
He slowly dug into Elze. Not long after reaching her climax, her sensitive insides were aching as she was about to receive his penis. Elze let out a shallow moan at the sensation of her flesh being pushed through. Shan continued talking while wrapping Elze’s trembling legs around his waist.
“You know, Elze? If you feel it’s dangerous, call the knights of Hyeon or Ryeo right away.”
He looked down at Elze. His half-downturned eyes looked as if they would collapse at any moment.
“If something happens to you, I don’t know what I would do.”
“...Huh!”
Elze's eyes widened. His thing cut deep into Elze. Following the sensation of the large, slicing, pleasure tore away at Elze's body little by little.
As her head tilted back and her white nape was fully exposed, Shan licked it long. A stinging pain surged as his tongue brushed over the bite marks.
“I’m going to throw away everything, including war….”
For a request, it was a truly gloomy and damp world. Perhaps reading that expression in Elze's slightly shaking eyes, Shan slowly smiled.
“This is not a request.”
He whispered languidly, his lips slowly rising.
“It’s a threat, Elze.”
He thrust deep and hard into her as he whispered a threat. Her lower back tingled, and her body jerked.
The moment Elze's eyes became dizzy from the uncontrollable pleasure, her lower body became completely wet. Every time Shan moved in and out, there was a sound of water. He moved louder as if he wanted Elze to hear, and as a result, lewd sounds continued to resonate.
“Yeah, ugh, haa...!”
It was an act that was almost barbaric. In their promiscuous sexual intercourse, Shan made Elze confess her pleasure. Elze even ended up saying some embarrassing things.
“Ah, there... good...”
Every time Elze said she liked it, Shan would give her great pleasure as a compliment. Elze was completely absorbed in their sexual intercourse. The rough breathing, the wet sound of water, and the moans of Elze and Shan mixed together.
The hand that had been holding Shan's shoulder slid down. As she tried to grab something with hwr flailing hand, she ended up grabbing his butt.
Even in the midst of her confusion, she tried to pull her hand away in surprise, but Shan held hwr hand tightly so that Elze could not pull it away. When she looked up at him with blank eyes, their eyes met. The eyes that were reflected under his slightly furrowed eyebrows were dazzlingly passionate. He stopped moving for a moment and licked hisller lips with his tongue and asked.
“Ha... Elze, you wanted it so badly for me...?”
Then he kissed her deeply and passionately, as if they were having sex. He swirled his tongue around and pulled it in, then sucked her lips roughly and opened his mouth.
“Phew, I’ll give it all to you...”
And he bit the tip of Elze's nose and whispered.
“Take it all, okay?”
The hot flesh inside her stomach started to move again. At first, it pretended to move softly, but soon it showed its true nature and started to move wildly. The genitals that stabbed her everywhere and aroused her sexual senses, arousing her with a cruel and vivid pleasure.
After suffering for a while, Shan suddenly ejaculated. The throbbing penis throbbed and soaked her insides. Feeling his muscles hardening under her palm, Elze also reached her climax.
“Haaak...!”
The dizzying climax rose and slowly subsided. Small sensations tickled her skin and slowly disappeared. Elze lightly kissed Shan and enjoyed the afterglow of the languid lovemaking.
As she waited for her heated body to calm down, something suddenly stirred inside her. Then Shan's thing began to grow in size.
“Sha, Shaan...?”
Elze looked up at him with puzzled eyes. Shan exhaled hot breath and spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.
“What’s wrong, Elze...?”
“Hey, wasn’t it over...?”
“No.”
Shan said with a mischievous smile and a glint in his eyes.
“I won’t let you go easily today.”
It seemed like he wanted to make sure that Elze couldn't go out tomorrow. Elze resisted with all her might, but soon collapsed from pleasure. And in the end, she was helpless and tormented by him all night.
As soon as the operation was decided, everything proceeded quickly.
The Knights of Elijah set out straight to the rear of Heglatan. The army of Ryeo also moved to the rear, in order to minimize the distance that Ilwooz had to move.
This was because the number of people was greater than when moving the priests, and the sensitivity of the divine power was also lower, so the longer the distance, the more difficult it was for Ilwooz.
Since many people were moving secretly, their movement speed was noticeably slow, but Ilwooz and Ryeo's army slowly made a detour and advanced to the rear.
Shan was waiting in the front, ready for battle. As soon as the Knights of Elijah, including Elze, checked the situation in the rear and summoned the army of Ryeo, battle would break out. The moment the signs of battle were felt in Heglatan’s camp, they planned to rush in and join Elze in the rear.
Before Elijah set off, Ilwooz breathed divine power into Elze. As the white light seeped into her body, a warm and soft feeling spread out.
“Elze, as I told you before.”
Ilwooz was worried and asked Elze several times.
“Just stay alive. As long as your soul is still alive, I can heal any wounds you may have. So if there is any danger, send a signal immediately.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not the kind of person who would sacrifice my life.”
At Elze's words, Ilwoos nodded with a somewhat relieved expression. With that, Elze set off right away.
She deliberately did not say goodbye to Shan. She thought that if she saw his face, her heart would waver.
The Knights of Elijah, with only four men, advanced quickly toward Heglatan's rear. To avoid being noticed, they rode horses for a certain distance, and then marched on foot once they got close to Heglatan.
Wearing a long hooded cloak over her head, moving stealthily while sleeping, and marching repeatedly was something that was beyond the physical strength of most people. Even Elijah felt burdened. Ivanna, who was the weakest in physical strength, was practically carried around by Tarkun.
“It’s been a long time since the four of us were assigned a mission alone.”
While marching, Tarkun, who was bored, spoke to Rapine. Ivanna was sleeping soundly on Tarkun's back.
“That’s right...”
Rapine answered in a slightly hazy voice. Listening to their conversation, Elze looked up at the sky.
The night sky, filled with twinkling stars, was beautiful. The only thing that could be heard in the quiet darkness was the sound of footsteps. Elze, who was looking at the moon that was shedding a round light, quietly blinked her eyes. A man who suited the pitch-black night the best came to mind.
Elze, who had been thinking about him for a while, suddenly called out to Tarkun and Rapine, who were walking ahead.
“Tarkun, Rapine.”
“Why, Captain.”
“What’s going on, Captain?”
“If I’m about to get stabbed, you guys should block it by jumping on me?”
“Uh...uh uh?”
Tarkun and Rapine turned to look at Elze. Tarkun scratched his head with a bewildered expression and then asked again.
“Well, if the captain wants it, I can do it of course... But why all of a sudden?”
Elze answered with a serious face.
“I can’t get hurt.”
“??”
Elze sighed and spoke to the two who were looking at her, wondering what she was talking about.
“This is for Targayel...”
Of course, the two looked even more confused after hearing Elze's answer. However, Elze was unable to explain everything to them.
How could she tell them that Shan had threatened to give up the war if she got hurt? Elze simply explained that they should just protect her diligently. Tarkun and Rapine looked at each other with puzzled expressions, but promised Elze that they would do so.
After several days of forced marching, the Knights of Elijah successfully infiltrated Heglatan's rear.
The detour took longer than expected, so a day passed by more than expected. Knowing that the Targayel camp would be waiting for a signal, Elijah moved anxiously. However, as soon as she entered the rear, Elze felt something strange.
“...?”
The rear was so quiet that there was no military movement.
There were only traces of barracks erected, but there were not many barracks or troops actually erected. It was a desolate, almost cold sight. Even if the Elijahs were roaming around openly, there would be no stopping them.
In other words, the faction had already disbanded and was no longer meaningful. The remaining members were merely those who were cleaning up. Tarkun looked around in confusion and muttered.
“Isn’t this wrong?”
Rapine also observed the camp carefully and spoke.
“It seems like the troops have already moved. We’re just a hair behind, so if we pursue now and summon Ryeo’s troops from the rear...”
"For a moment."
Ivanna, who had been quietly following along until now, spoke for the first time. Ivanna looked at Elze and said.
“Captain, don’t you think something is strange right now?”
Ivanna looked around several times, chewed her lips nervously, and then spoke again.
“Judging by the number of barracks, it seems like a lot of troops were staying there, but there’s no sign of cooking. And...”
A look of bewilderment slowly spread across her face. Ivanna's voice began to tremble.
“These footprints, neither horse nor human... There are also large claw marks left on a nearby tree...”
“!!!”
The Elijahs all realized what she was trying to say. Elze felt a chill run down her body. And then she blurted out the word.
"Chimera...?"
Heglatan's chimera experiments were stopped by Elijah. However, it was only a stoppage, and the research that had been done up to that point was not completely destroyed.
In fact, Shan had been carefully investigating the possibility that there were still Chimeras in Heglatan since before the war. The results of the investigation at the time showed that even if there were, there were only a few left, so it was of little significance.
But it was false information. To be precise, only high-ranking officials knew of the existence of the Chimera, to the point where it could not be detected at the spy level.
The experiments have been discontinued, but the chimeras that have been created so far remain...
Elze quickly scanned the empty rear. There were traces of dozens, hundreds of barracks set up. What if all of these were chimeras?
Targayel had no experience dealing with chimeras, save for a few knights. Even if Shan and a few other commanders knew how to deal with them, they could not teach each soldier individually how to deal with them in the chaos of battle.
Leaving aside the response, the first thing that came to mind was its strange appearance, so there must have been many who were frightened by it. The moment Heglatan released the chimera on the battlefield, it became hell for Targayel. Elze swore loudly.
"Shit!!"
Elze looked around. And she saw a few Heglatan soldiers leisurely leading their horses. Elze started to run towards them.
"Captain!"
Elijah and Elze ran in a daze. Elze shouted at Elijah, who was following her.
“We must return to Shan right now!! The last resort that Heglatan has prepared is...!”
Elze closed her eyes tightly for a moment. Then she shouted again in a suppressed voice.
“It was a chimera...!!”
“The weather is nice today, Lord Cirxus.”
Shan simply nodded to Liv, who was speaking to him with a sad smile.
Since Elze led Elijah to the rear, Shan had become really dry. This was Shan's original personality, but Liv, who had recently become more accustomed to Shan being with Elze, was having trouble adjusting. Shan muttered as he looked at the densely packed Heglatan camp on the horizon.
“...I wonder if it will arrive today.”
If there had been no problems, Elijah should have arrived at the rear sometime yesterday morning. But there had been no signal yet.
It would take about half a day to get to the rear if you went straight, but it took several days because they took a big detour to minimize the risk of being discovered. Even though he knew they might be a little late, he couldn't help but feel anxious.
Shan had ordered the entire army to prepare for battle and was waiting. He and Liv had already checked all their weapons and were waiting with their camp fully prepared. They were fully prepared to rush in immediately if the battle began in the rear.
Heglatan also saw Targayel forming his camp and preparing for battle. However, they were only concerned with the front and had no idea that someone would come from behind.
It was the day of the decisive battle, but Shan was indifferent. All he wanted was to quickly end the battle and see Elze’s face. Shan’s eyes, looking at the soldiers lined up like ants, darkened.
How meaningless this is...
He realized anew how much he loved Elze. If he had loved her just a little less, the war would have been over, and he would have kidnapped her and hidden her away in a quiet place.
But because he loved Elze, he also wanted to protect the things she loved. He didn't want to make Elze cry. The thought that it would have been better if there was nothing by her side lingered, but Shan tried hard to pretend not to notice.
He was waiting, chasing away useless thoughts and concentrating on the battlefield. Shan raised his eyebrows.
“...!”
Blahar appeared on the left front of Heglatan's camp. He began to move his troops without any warning.
“Is this a preemptive strike?”
It was typical of Blahar to attack without even the slightest courtesy on the battlefield. However, Elze's signal had not yet arrived. Shan sighed softly and gave orders to Liv.
“They’re already moving over there. We won’t push the front line until the signal comes, but respond from the defensive line.”
As the Targayel camp prepared for an attack under Shan's command, Heglatan's camp suddenly began to split in half. Heglatan split to the sides, leaving the center completely empty. Targayel was in turmoil at this incomprehensible action.
A long howl was heard from somewhere. The howl that stretched across the plain was strange. It was not the only one, similar to the howl of an animal. The howls began to resonate through the plain one after another. Then, thump, thump, the ground shook. The sound of hundreds of heavy footsteps was heard, shaking the ground.
The sight of the monstrous creature that appeared in Heglatan's camp left Targayel's soldiers all speechless.
“Oh, my God... What the heck is that...?”
“Beast? To call it a beast... Ah, Ilwooz!”
It was a huge thing, made up of pieces of various animals glued together. Some had the body of a lion and the skin of a crocodile, and some had the sharp teeth and claws of a giant elephant...
There was no comfort in those who had latched onto him without permission. They were only tormented by an endless urge to kill. Those who began pouring towards Targayel with their eyes gleaming were none other than chimeras.
“Ugh!!”
The frozen Targayel soldiers were thrown into a panic as the Chimera charged at them with terrifying speed. The soldiers abandoned their formation and began to run wild in their own natural fear. Liv called out to Shan in great panic.
“Lord Cirxus! Give your orders!”
“...”
But Shan didn't answer. He just stared at the monsters running wild on the battlefield. Seeing Shan's frozen appearance, Liv called out to him again.
“Lord Cirxus!!”
But Shan was silent. Normally, he would have calmly ordered operations and moved his troops, but now Shan was frozen and just staring at the chimera.
There was no sign that Elijah and Ryeo's army had begun their attack. The Chimera had been advancing from the rear, and Elze was also at the rear.
In screams and the scent of blood, Shan finally opened his mouth after a long time. However, what he let out in his dry, almost brittle voice was not an order.
“Elze?”
At those words, Liv's face turned pale. Liv trembled without realizing it. He had to say something, but there was nothing he could say.
“That, that...”
In front of Liv, who was unable to answer, Shan spoke again very slowly.
“Elze... where is she?”
Shan didn't say much to Liv, who couldn't speak. He closed his eyes for a moment. Then he slowly opened his eyelids again and called her name.
“Liv Cullens.”
Shan pulled out his sword. The sound of the sword being taken out of its scabbard was particularly eerie.
“You take command.”
“Lord Cirxus...?”
“Since the battle has become a melee due to the Chimera, there is no need for a grand strategy. Move the soldiers with the knights who have experience fighting the Chimera as the main force.”
And Shan paused for a moment, then looked at the other side of the plain. To the left of the Heglatan camp, which was divided on both sides, a large flag was fluttering. It was the flag of the Emperor of Blahar. Shan looked at it and said expressionlessly.
“I will cut off Blahar’s head.”
"Yes?"
But Shan was sincere. Liv quickly clung to Shan as he tried to drive away.
“Hey, Lord Cirxus!! If you think about it a little more rationally...!”
“I am telling you this now.”
Shan took a deep breath, then exhaled long and whispered.
“It’s the most rational I have.”
With those words, Shan's steed raised its forelegs with a loud neigh, and before Liv could even try to stop it, it galloped away.
Shan disappeared into the middle of the Chimera, pouring down in an instant. Liv, who was left behind, stared blankly at his back. After standing there for a while, the knight ran to Liv and shouted.
“Lord Cullens!! Give your orders!”
A shouted urgently to Liv, who was still dazed.
“We need reinforcements! Shouldn’t we send a messenger to Ryeo!!”
Liv suddenly came to his senses as if he had been hit with cold water.
"No!"
Liv turned around and said,
“They are already moving to the rear, so it is too late to send a messenger, and they are a last resort for when the madam is in danger, so they should not be touched.”
The knight couldn't hide his frustration at Liv's words. He shouted in a blood-curdling voice.
“What on earth are you doing, Lord Cirxus!”
“Lord Cirxus...”
Liv swallowed hard and said with a completely devoid of playfulness on his face.
"He's crazy."
The words he spoke were comically direct, but no words could express the situation so bluntly.
Liv wasn't joking right now. The knight who was talking to Liv must have realized that, too, because his face turned pale and he shut his mouth.
Liv clenched his teeth. The Shan Kyraxus he knew was a cold-blooded man. If necessary, he could slice off one of his own arms without batting an eye.
But, as soon as Madam got involved, things changed.
To an incomprehensible degree, everything about Cirxus was focused on Erzenes.
“Leave Cirxus alone.”
Liv said, gripping the sword hilt tightly in his hand.
“Right now, he... Even I don’t have the confidence to stop him.”
"But...!"
“He will never die. I can guarantee that.”
Liv's eyes scanned the battlefield anxiously. The Targayel camp was in complete disarray. The Chimera had not yet reached the camp, but the ranks were in shambles, and everyone was running away. Liv muttered as she drew her sword.
“First of all, we have no choice but to hold out as long as possible and wait for Erzenes’ signal.”
Of course, this assumes that she is safe.
But there was no signal from the rear even after a day had passed since the scheduled date. The easiest assumption to make was that they had been taken prisoner, but it was not hard to think of other assumptions as well.
Common sense would have it that the chimeras had come from behind, but it was even stranger that Elze, who was there, was unharmed.
Maybe, really just maybe, Elze...
Liv couldn't think any further. His eyes were darkening, and his stomach was starting to feel queasy. Surely, Lord Cirxus was thinking the same thing Liv was thinking just now.
So he must have run to Blahar. At least to confirm that she was safe and that she was being held captive. Liv cursed.
“Ugh, shit!!”
Thinking about it wouldn't change anything, and Liv wasn't the type of person to seriously worry about something like that. The die had already been cast. Liv decided to trust Targayel's luck a little more.
First, do what you can right away. Liv made a quick decision and put it into action.
“I will take command from now on.”
As soon as he decided to take command, Liv galloped among the knights on horseback, shouting:
“Line up! Line up!! The enemy is nothing but a strange-looking beast!!”
As the command was loudly shouted, Targayel, who had been falling apart without any system, gradually came to their senses. They stopped running and began to pick up the weapon they had put down.
“Aim for the joint! Knights with experience in fighting chimeras, lead the soldiers!”
His throat started to hurt as the dust mixed in. He could taste the pungent taste of blood in his throat. But Liv didn't stop screaming. Even as he ran around the camp without thinking, Liv desperately wished.
He hopes that nothing happens to Madam...
Shan frowned. New information had come in from a spy he had planted in Heglatan, and the information was truly troubling.
The intelligence report suggested that there was a large-scale military movement behind Heglatan, and that Blahar was also staying there.
But that was all. Whether it was being carried out in extreme secrecy or not, it was impossible to confirm through the spy line. It was impossible to know exactly what the purpose was or what troops were moving.
It was definitely time for Heglatan to make his move.
With Targayel on the winning side, Heglatan was understandably nervous. They had to resort to whatever means necessary.
Moreover, Blahar was not the type of person to be defeated so easily. Heglatan was definitely preparing one last move to turn the battlefield around.
Shan quietly put the paper down on the table. Then Liv, Elze, Ilwooz, and Hyeon, who were sitting at the table together, looked at him.
Everyone had gathered for the upcoming operation. Shan briefly explained the current situation to the four people. Hyeon, who was resting her chin on one hand on the table, frowned and said.
“That’s a real problem. There’s military activity behind Heglatan. And Blahar’s there too.”
Liv pointed to the map spread out on the table and added to Shan's explanation.
“I think you’re talking about this area. There have been signs of troops gathering in this area recently.”
“It certainly was.”
As Shan looked down at the map, Hyeon said something.
“Shouldn’t we check what that nine-tailed fox has prepared?”
As Hyeon said, confirmation was necessary. Even if we didn’t know what Blahar was doing, it was a huge source of anxiety that we couldn’t just ignore. Liv groaned as she looked at the map.
“But it’s behind Heglatan. It’s not easy to infiltrate...”
In order to reach the rear, they had to either break through the Heglatan camp head-on or bypass it. A head-on breakthrough was virtually impossible, and a bypass would take too much time. If they were to go around it, check the status of the troops in the rear, and return to report, it would take at least a week.
Moreover, even if you were not a very experienced knight, it was difficult to safely infiltrate the rear.
“It’s something that I can’t just ignore and ignore... and Blahar is there too, so it’s even more worrisome.”
After Liv's muttering, everyone fell into silence for a moment. It seemed like there weren't many options. As everyone was thinking about it, Elze opened her mouth.
“What if we could check the rear and send troops to pressure Heglatan at the same time?”
Everyone's eyes widened at Elze's words. Elze began to explain calmly to them.
“If it’s Elijah, we can easily make a detour to Heglatan’s rear. After checking the situation there, if we use the power that Ilwooz showed us this time to send troops to the rear..."
Elze jumped up from her seat and moved the pieces of wood on the table. A shape was created with Heglatan in the middle, surrounded by Targayel on the front and back.
“I don’t think we need to send that many troops to the rear. The fact that it’s a completely unexpected surprise attack is enough to catch Heglatan off guard.”
Elze continued, pushing the piece of wood in front of her forward.
“If you start the attack from the rear and use that as a signal to attack from the front at the same time, you will be able to win without much difficulty.”
Liv gasped and then cautiously retorted.
"But that can only be done by someone who can channel divine power. They must act as a mobile force... And that's not something the Queen can do."
“It is possible.”
Liv's eyes widened at the decisive and cutting answer. Elze looked back at Ilwooz and said.
“I can also put divine powers into my body. Right, Ilwooz?”
Ilwooz looked at Elze in silence for a moment, then answered slowly.
“...That’s right. Lady Elze can also contain divine power.”
Elze was the person brought by Ilwooz. Just like Hyeon, or even more than Hyeon, she was able to receive divine power into her body.
Liv, who didn't know the inside story, was bewildered and didn't know what was going on, while everyone else nodded. However, Ilwooz opposed the operation.
“But it is too risky an operation.”
He calmly expressed his opinion.
“To move a large number of people at the same time, they all need to have some degree of sensitivity to divine power. Ordinary people cannot be moved.”
The priests of the church could easily move it, but it was impossible for ordinary people. However, before Elze could become disappointed, Hyeon stepped forward to refute the claim.
“But isn’t it possible for the knights of Ryeo?”
“...”
At Hyeon's words, Ilwooz looked at her with slightly resentful eyes. Ilwooz didn't want to send Elze away. Hyeon pretended not to notice his gaze and continued talking.
“The people of the Kingdom of Ryeo have been with the religious order since they were young, so they are accustomed to the power of the divine, and their sensitivity is excellent. Ilwooz can easily carry it. I will send the troops to the rear with me and the knights of Ryeo.”
At those words, everyone except Hyeon and Elze's faces all turned gloomy. Hyeon clicked her tongue and spoke as if she were reproaching them.
“Everyone, don’t be so foolish.”
“...”
“We can’t keep the war going forever. And this is the only way we can exploit Blahar’s weaknesses while breaking through.”
Hyeon continued talking, looking at Shan especially openly.
“I trust Erzenes and Elijah’s skills. They have carried out many operations far more dangerous than this.”
Leaving Shan alone, who remained silent until the end, Hyeon turned to Elze and said.
“If there is any danger, even in the middle of the battlefield, feel free to send a signal. I will lead the knights and come to your rescue.”
She added, grinning like a snake.
“If that doesn’t work out, I’ll become a prisoner with you.”
At those words, Elze forgot the seriousness of the situation and just laughed softly.
***
Targayel eventually decided to follow Elze's plan.
That night, Elze and Shan lay in the same bed for the first time in a long time. The two of them had been too busy fighting to sleep properly.
Even though it was their first time together in a long time, Shan didn't look too happy. He pulled Elze's clothes up and kissed her exposed chest.
“You always take risks.”
Shan said again, pulling hard on the skin and releasing it.
“You have a very strong sense of adventure.”
Red marks appeared where he had passed. Elze spoke quietly, brushing Shan's hair back.
“If I hadn’t been adventurous, I wouldn’t have met you now.”
“...”
His eyes narrowed. Elze kissed Shan first. Their small, fleshy bodies touched softly, and their tongues tangled. The soft kiss tickled her body like a feather. Their lips parted with a slightly wet sound. Feeling a faint excitement, Elze whispered to him.
“When the war is over... I’ll rent a bar in the capital and have a victory party with Elijah and the others.”
Shan's high nose bridge came into view. Elze impulsively reached out her hand. Then, she pressed the tip of Shan's nose with her finger and spoke.
“I’m going to drink it on credit under your name.”
"What?"
Shan answered, biting Elze's smiling finger.
“If you promise to include me, I’ll buy you the whole bar.”
At Shan's words, Elze laughed hysterically. Then she said, laughing like a mischievous child.
“What fun is it if I drink with you? We gather here to have fun, cursing at our bosses.”
“I’ll pretend not to exist. I’ll at least hide and make no sound.”
Elze kissed Shan, who was speaking seriously, with a soft kiss. But Elze did not say that he should come all the way. When Shan narrowed his eyes, Elze suggested a compromise.
“Tell me something other than including you in the party. If you tell me what you want, I’ll do it.”
Shan raised his eyebrows at Elze's words. Elze placed both hands on his chest. Then, supporting his chin, she said, hmm, after thinking about it.
“How about just lounging around at home all day?”
Shan's face relaxed a little, as if the suggestion wasn't so bad. Shan let out a slow sigh. The long breath reached Elze. When she grimaced slightly at the tickling sensation, Shan smiled and caressed Elze's face with her hand.
“...Actually, if I can be with you, I’m happy with anything.”
Shan thought for a moment and then said one thing.
“I want to go on vacation. Just the two of us.”
“Without any escort or escort?”
“Without them, just the two of us.”
“I don’t think it’ll be bad...”
Shan licked between her sunken belly buttons. As Elze shivered, he smiled and said.
“Promise me quickly.”
His hands began to move towards increasingly dangerous places. Elze quickly made a promise as his hands slowly caressed the inside of her thighs.
“Yes! I promise..."
But even though she promised, nothing much changed. Shan didn't stop caressing her.
“Ha, uh...”
Elze inhaled and exhaled sharply. Today, his foreplay was unusually long and persistent. Elze twisted her body in the vague sensations that continued. Her body heated up at the soft and affectionate touch, but there was nothing strong.
He was so annoying that he didn't give Elze the final climax. Elze eventually called his name in a pleading tone.
“Shan...”
Shan didn't respond to Elze's call. Instead, he slipped his hand between her legs and moved it strongly for the first time.
Elze arched her back in surprise at the sudden stimulation. Soon, a tingling sensation spread through her body, and she felt dizzy.
Elze naturally burrowed into Shan's arms. He hugged Elze, who was burrowing into his arms, and bit her neck. The strength of his bite was full of excitement. Shan let out a sigh.
"Ha..."
He breathed lightly. Then he cupped Elze's cheek with his hand and kissed her. Unlike the gentle caresses they had been having up until now, it was a very passionate kiss. Their teeth almost clashed several times. The sticky sound rang obscenely in their ears.
Shan grabbed Elze's wrist tightly. Elze gripped the sheet with her hands in a thrilling pleasure. He suddenly stopped kissing her. But he didn't lift his face. Shan said, their lips brushing each other's lips.
“I don’t know why either, but...”
His violet eyes filled her vision. His violet eyes were dark and sunken, as if they were filled with night.
“I especially don’t want to let you go this time.”
Elze was secretly surprised. Shan's fingertips, which were holding her, were trembling slightly. Shan had been anxious whenever Elze went into battle. However, this was the first time he had shown his emotions to this extent. He was more anxious than ever.
“I love you as a mercenary and a knight. That’s why I send you to the battlefield...”
He slowly dug into Elze. Not long after reaching her climax, her sensitive insides were aching as she was about to receive his penis. Elze let out a shallow moan at the sensation of her flesh being pushed through. Shan continued talking while wrapping Elze’s trembling legs around his waist.
“You know, Elze? If you feel it’s dangerous, call the knights of Hyeon or Ryeo right away.”
He looked down at Elze. His half-downturned eyes looked as if they would collapse at any moment.
“If something happens to you, I don’t know what I would do.”
“...Huh!”
Elze's eyes widened. His thing cut deep into Elze. Following the sensation of the large, slicing, pleasure tore away at Elze's body little by little.
As her head tilted back and her white nape was fully exposed, Shan licked it long. A stinging pain surged as his tongue brushed over the bite marks.
“I’m going to throw away everything, including war….”
For a request, it was a truly gloomy and damp world. Perhaps reading that expression in Elze's slightly shaking eyes, Shan slowly smiled.
“This is not a request.”
He whispered languidly, his lips slowly rising.
“It’s a threat, Elze.”
He thrust deep and hard into her as he whispered a threat. Her lower back tingled, and her body jerked.
The moment Elze's eyes became dizzy from the uncontrollable pleasure, her lower body became completely wet. Every time Shan moved in and out, there was a sound of water. He moved louder as if he wanted Elze to hear, and as a result, lewd sounds continued to resonate.
“Yeah, ugh, haa...!”
It was an act that was almost barbaric. In their promiscuous sexual intercourse, Shan made Elze confess her pleasure. Elze even ended up saying some embarrassing things.
“Ah, there... good...”
Every time Elze said she liked it, Shan would give her great pleasure as a compliment. Elze was completely absorbed in their sexual intercourse. The rough breathing, the wet sound of water, and the moans of Elze and Shan mixed together.
The hand that had been holding Shan's shoulder slid down. As she tried to grab something with hwr flailing hand, she ended up grabbing his butt.
Even in the midst of her confusion, she tried to pull her hand away in surprise, but Shan held hwr hand tightly so that Elze could not pull it away. When she looked up at him with blank eyes, their eyes met. The eyes that were reflected under his slightly furrowed eyebrows were dazzlingly passionate. He stopped moving for a moment and licked hisller lips with his tongue and asked.
“Ha... Elze, you wanted it so badly for me...?”
Then he kissed her deeply and passionately, as if they were having sex. He swirled his tongue around and pulled it in, then sucked her lips roughly and opened his mouth.
“Phew, I’ll give it all to you...”
And he bit the tip of Elze's nose and whispered.
“Take it all, okay?”
The hot flesh inside her stomach started to move again. At first, it pretended to move softly, but soon it showed its true nature and started to move wildly. The genitals that stabbed her everywhere and aroused her sexual senses, arousing her with a cruel and vivid pleasure.
After suffering for a while, Shan suddenly ejaculated. The throbbing penis throbbed and soaked her insides. Feeling his muscles hardening under her palm, Elze also reached her climax.
“Haaak...!”
The dizzying climax rose and slowly subsided. Small sensations tickled her skin and slowly disappeared. Elze lightly kissed Shan and enjoyed the afterglow of the languid lovemaking.
As she waited for her heated body to calm down, something suddenly stirred inside her. Then Shan's thing began to grow in size.
“Sha, Shaan...?”
Elze looked up at him with puzzled eyes. Shan exhaled hot breath and spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.
“What’s wrong, Elze...?”
“Hey, wasn’t it over...?”
“No.”
Shan said with a mischievous smile and a glint in his eyes.
“I won’t let you go easily today.”
It seemed like he wanted to make sure that Elze couldn't go out tomorrow. Elze resisted with all her might, but soon collapsed from pleasure. And in the end, she was helpless and tormented by him all night.
***
As soon as the operation was decided, everything proceeded quickly.
The Knights of Elijah set out straight to the rear of Heglatan. The army of Ryeo also moved to the rear, in order to minimize the distance that Ilwooz had to move.
This was because the number of people was greater than when moving the priests, and the sensitivity of the divine power was also lower, so the longer the distance, the more difficult it was for Ilwooz.
Since many people were moving secretly, their movement speed was noticeably slow, but Ilwooz and Ryeo's army slowly made a detour and advanced to the rear.
Shan was waiting in the front, ready for battle. As soon as the Knights of Elijah, including Elze, checked the situation in the rear and summoned the army of Ryeo, battle would break out. The moment the signs of battle were felt in Heglatan’s camp, they planned to rush in and join Elze in the rear.
Before Elijah set off, Ilwooz breathed divine power into Elze. As the white light seeped into her body, a warm and soft feeling spread out.
“Elze, as I told you before.”
Ilwooz was worried and asked Elze several times.
“Just stay alive. As long as your soul is still alive, I can heal any wounds you may have. So if there is any danger, send a signal immediately.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not the kind of person who would sacrifice my life.”
At Elze's words, Ilwoos nodded with a somewhat relieved expression. With that, Elze set off right away.
She deliberately did not say goodbye to Shan. She thought that if she saw his face, her heart would waver.
The Knights of Elijah, with only four men, advanced quickly toward Heglatan's rear. To avoid being noticed, they rode horses for a certain distance, and then marched on foot once they got close to Heglatan.
Wearing a long hooded cloak over her head, moving stealthily while sleeping, and marching repeatedly was something that was beyond the physical strength of most people. Even Elijah felt burdened. Ivanna, who was the weakest in physical strength, was practically carried around by Tarkun.
“It’s been a long time since the four of us were assigned a mission alone.”
While marching, Tarkun, who was bored, spoke to Rapine. Ivanna was sleeping soundly on Tarkun's back.
“That’s right...”
Rapine answered in a slightly hazy voice. Listening to their conversation, Elze looked up at the sky.
The night sky, filled with twinkling stars, was beautiful. The only thing that could be heard in the quiet darkness was the sound of footsteps. Elze, who was looking at the moon that was shedding a round light, quietly blinked her eyes. A man who suited the pitch-black night the best came to mind.
Elze, who had been thinking about him for a while, suddenly called out to Tarkun and Rapine, who were walking ahead.
“Tarkun, Rapine.”
“Why, Captain.”
“What’s going on, Captain?”
“If I’m about to get stabbed, you guys should block it by jumping on me?”
“Uh...uh uh?”
Tarkun and Rapine turned to look at Elze. Tarkun scratched his head with a bewildered expression and then asked again.
“Well, if the captain wants it, I can do it of course... But why all of a sudden?”
Elze answered with a serious face.
“I can’t get hurt.”
“??”
Elze sighed and spoke to the two who were looking at her, wondering what she was talking about.
“This is for Targayel...”
Of course, the two looked even more confused after hearing Elze's answer. However, Elze was unable to explain everything to them.
How could she tell them that Shan had threatened to give up the war if she got hurt? Elze simply explained that they should just protect her diligently. Tarkun and Rapine looked at each other with puzzled expressions, but promised Elze that they would do so.
After several days of forced marching, the Knights of Elijah successfully infiltrated Heglatan's rear.
The detour took longer than expected, so a day passed by more than expected. Knowing that the Targayel camp would be waiting for a signal, Elijah moved anxiously. However, as soon as she entered the rear, Elze felt something strange.
“...?”
The rear was so quiet that there was no military movement.
There were only traces of barracks erected, but there were not many barracks or troops actually erected. It was a desolate, almost cold sight. Even if the Elijahs were roaming around openly, there would be no stopping them.
In other words, the faction had already disbanded and was no longer meaningful. The remaining members were merely those who were cleaning up. Tarkun looked around in confusion and muttered.
“Isn’t this wrong?”
Rapine also observed the camp carefully and spoke.
“It seems like the troops have already moved. We’re just a hair behind, so if we pursue now and summon Ryeo’s troops from the rear...”
"For a moment."
Ivanna, who had been quietly following along until now, spoke for the first time. Ivanna looked at Elze and said.
“Captain, don’t you think something is strange right now?”
Ivanna looked around several times, chewed her lips nervously, and then spoke again.
“Judging by the number of barracks, it seems like a lot of troops were staying there, but there’s no sign of cooking. And...”
A look of bewilderment slowly spread across her face. Ivanna's voice began to tremble.
“These footprints, neither horse nor human... There are also large claw marks left on a nearby tree...”
“!!!”
The Elijahs all realized what she was trying to say. Elze felt a chill run down her body. And then she blurted out the word.
"Chimera...?"
Heglatan's chimera experiments were stopped by Elijah. However, it was only a stoppage, and the research that had been done up to that point was not completely destroyed.
In fact, Shan had been carefully investigating the possibility that there were still Chimeras in Heglatan since before the war. The results of the investigation at the time showed that even if there were, there were only a few left, so it was of little significance.
But it was false information. To be precise, only high-ranking officials knew of the existence of the Chimera, to the point where it could not be detected at the spy level.
The experiments have been discontinued, but the chimeras that have been created so far remain...
Elze quickly scanned the empty rear. There were traces of dozens, hundreds of barracks set up. What if all of these were chimeras?
Targayel had no experience dealing with chimeras, save for a few knights. Even if Shan and a few other commanders knew how to deal with them, they could not teach each soldier individually how to deal with them in the chaos of battle.
Leaving aside the response, the first thing that came to mind was its strange appearance, so there must have been many who were frightened by it. The moment Heglatan released the chimera on the battlefield, it became hell for Targayel. Elze swore loudly.
"Shit!!"
Elze looked around. And she saw a few Heglatan soldiers leisurely leading their horses. Elze started to run towards them.
"Captain!"
Elijah and Elze ran in a daze. Elze shouted at Elijah, who was following her.
“We must return to Shan right now!! The last resort that Heglatan has prepared is...!”
Elze closed her eyes tightly for a moment. Then she shouted again in a suppressed voice.
“It was a chimera...!!”
***
“The weather is nice today, Lord Cirxus.”
Shan simply nodded to Liv, who was speaking to him with a sad smile.
Since Elze led Elijah to the rear, Shan had become really dry. This was Shan's original personality, but Liv, who had recently become more accustomed to Shan being with Elze, was having trouble adjusting. Shan muttered as he looked at the densely packed Heglatan camp on the horizon.
“...I wonder if it will arrive today.”
If there had been no problems, Elijah should have arrived at the rear sometime yesterday morning. But there had been no signal yet.
It would take about half a day to get to the rear if you went straight, but it took several days because they took a big detour to minimize the risk of being discovered. Even though he knew they might be a little late, he couldn't help but feel anxious.
Shan had ordered the entire army to prepare for battle and was waiting. He and Liv had already checked all their weapons and were waiting with their camp fully prepared. They were fully prepared to rush in immediately if the battle began in the rear.
Heglatan also saw Targayel forming his camp and preparing for battle. However, they were only concerned with the front and had no idea that someone would come from behind.
It was the day of the decisive battle, but Shan was indifferent. All he wanted was to quickly end the battle and see Elze’s face. Shan’s eyes, looking at the soldiers lined up like ants, darkened.
How meaningless this is...
He realized anew how much he loved Elze. If he had loved her just a little less, the war would have been over, and he would have kidnapped her and hidden her away in a quiet place.
But because he loved Elze, he also wanted to protect the things she loved. He didn't want to make Elze cry. The thought that it would have been better if there was nothing by her side lingered, but Shan tried hard to pretend not to notice.
He was waiting, chasing away useless thoughts and concentrating on the battlefield. Shan raised his eyebrows.
“...!”
Blahar appeared on the left front of Heglatan's camp. He began to move his troops without any warning.
“Is this a preemptive strike?”
It was typical of Blahar to attack without even the slightest courtesy on the battlefield. However, Elze's signal had not yet arrived. Shan sighed softly and gave orders to Liv.
“They’re already moving over there. We won’t push the front line until the signal comes, but respond from the defensive line.”
As the Targayel camp prepared for an attack under Shan's command, Heglatan's camp suddenly began to split in half. Heglatan split to the sides, leaving the center completely empty. Targayel was in turmoil at this incomprehensible action.
A long howl was heard from somewhere. The howl that stretched across the plain was strange. It was not the only one, similar to the howl of an animal. The howls began to resonate through the plain one after another. Then, thump, thump, the ground shook. The sound of hundreds of heavy footsteps was heard, shaking the ground.
The sight of the monstrous creature that appeared in Heglatan's camp left Targayel's soldiers all speechless.
“Oh, my God... What the heck is that...?”
“Beast? To call it a beast... Ah, Ilwooz!”
It was a huge thing, made up of pieces of various animals glued together. Some had the body of a lion and the skin of a crocodile, and some had the sharp teeth and claws of a giant elephant...
There was no comfort in those who had latched onto him without permission. They were only tormented by an endless urge to kill. Those who began pouring towards Targayel with their eyes gleaming were none other than chimeras.
“Ugh!!”
The frozen Targayel soldiers were thrown into a panic as the Chimera charged at them with terrifying speed. The soldiers abandoned their formation and began to run wild in their own natural fear. Liv called out to Shan in great panic.
“Lord Cirxus! Give your orders!”
“...”
But Shan didn't answer. He just stared at the monsters running wild on the battlefield. Seeing Shan's frozen appearance, Liv called out to him again.
“Lord Cirxus!!”
But Shan was silent. Normally, he would have calmly ordered operations and moved his troops, but now Shan was frozen and just staring at the chimera.
There was no sign that Elijah and Ryeo's army had begun their attack. The Chimera had been advancing from the rear, and Elze was also at the rear.
In screams and the scent of blood, Shan finally opened his mouth after a long time. However, what he let out in his dry, almost brittle voice was not an order.
“Elze?”
At those words, Liv's face turned pale. Liv trembled without realizing it. He had to say something, but there was nothing he could say.
“That, that...”
In front of Liv, who was unable to answer, Shan spoke again very slowly.
“Elze... where is she?”
Shan didn't say much to Liv, who couldn't speak. He closed his eyes for a moment. Then he slowly opened his eyelids again and called her name.
“Liv Cullens.”
Shan pulled out his sword. The sound of the sword being taken out of its scabbard was particularly eerie.
“You take command.”
“Lord Cirxus...?”
“Since the battle has become a melee due to the Chimera, there is no need for a grand strategy. Move the soldiers with the knights who have experience fighting the Chimera as the main force.”
And Shan paused for a moment, then looked at the other side of the plain. To the left of the Heglatan camp, which was divided on both sides, a large flag was fluttering. It was the flag of the Emperor of Blahar. Shan looked at it and said expressionlessly.
“I will cut off Blahar’s head.”
"Yes?"
But Shan was sincere. Liv quickly clung to Shan as he tried to drive away.
“Hey, Lord Cirxus!! If you think about it a little more rationally...!”
“I am telling you this now.”
Shan took a deep breath, then exhaled long and whispered.
“It’s the most rational I have.”
With those words, Shan's steed raised its forelegs with a loud neigh, and before Liv could even try to stop it, it galloped away.
Shan disappeared into the middle of the Chimera, pouring down in an instant. Liv, who was left behind, stared blankly at his back. After standing there for a while, the knight ran to Liv and shouted.
“Lord Cullens!! Give your orders!”
A shouted urgently to Liv, who was still dazed.
“We need reinforcements! Shouldn’t we send a messenger to Ryeo!!”
Liv suddenly came to his senses as if he had been hit with cold water.
"No!"
Liv turned around and said,
“They are already moving to the rear, so it is too late to send a messenger, and they are a last resort for when the madam is in danger, so they should not be touched.”
The knight couldn't hide his frustration at Liv's words. He shouted in a blood-curdling voice.
“What on earth are you doing, Lord Cirxus!”
“Lord Cirxus...”
Liv swallowed hard and said with a completely devoid of playfulness on his face.
"He's crazy."
The words he spoke were comically direct, but no words could express the situation so bluntly.
Liv wasn't joking right now. The knight who was talking to Liv must have realized that, too, because his face turned pale and he shut his mouth.
Liv clenched his teeth. The Shan Kyraxus he knew was a cold-blooded man. If necessary, he could slice off one of his own arms without batting an eye.
But, as soon as Madam got involved, things changed.
To an incomprehensible degree, everything about Cirxus was focused on Erzenes.
“Leave Cirxus alone.”
Liv said, gripping the sword hilt tightly in his hand.
“Right now, he... Even I don’t have the confidence to stop him.”
"But...!"
“He will never die. I can guarantee that.”
Liv's eyes scanned the battlefield anxiously. The Targayel camp was in complete disarray. The Chimera had not yet reached the camp, but the ranks were in shambles, and everyone was running away. Liv muttered as she drew her sword.
“First of all, we have no choice but to hold out as long as possible and wait for Erzenes’ signal.”
Of course, this assumes that she is safe.
But there was no signal from the rear even after a day had passed since the scheduled date. The easiest assumption to make was that they had been taken prisoner, but it was not hard to think of other assumptions as well.
Common sense would have it that the chimeras had come from behind, but it was even stranger that Elze, who was there, was unharmed.
Maybe, really just maybe, Elze...
Liv couldn't think any further. His eyes were darkening, and his stomach was starting to feel queasy. Surely, Lord Cirxus was thinking the same thing Liv was thinking just now.
So he must have run to Blahar. At least to confirm that she was safe and that she was being held captive. Liv cursed.
“Ugh, shit!!”
Thinking about it wouldn't change anything, and Liv wasn't the type of person to seriously worry about something like that. The die had already been cast. Liv decided to trust Targayel's luck a little more.
First, do what you can right away. Liv made a quick decision and put it into action.
“I will take command from now on.”
As soon as he decided to take command, Liv galloped among the knights on horseback, shouting:
“Line up! Line up!! The enemy is nothing but a strange-looking beast!!”
As the command was loudly shouted, Targayel, who had been falling apart without any system, gradually came to their senses. They stopped running and began to pick up the weapon they had put down.
“Aim for the joint! Knights with experience in fighting chimeras, lead the soldiers!”
His throat started to hurt as the dust mixed in. He could taste the pungent taste of blood in his throat. But Liv didn't stop screaming. Even as he ran around the camp without thinking, Liv desperately wished.
He hopes that nothing happens to Madam...
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