[Translator: Dawn ]

[Proofreader: Alissa ]

Chapter 23: [STAGE 1] Boss Raid

Gwoooh-!

A giant phantom in giant armor.

The boss monster of Stage 1, 'Specter Knight', let out an eerie roar.

Rumble-!

When the Specter floating in the air fell to the ground, the whole area shook as if there had been an earthquake. We staggered all at once.

'That's insane!'

When I saw the monster stand on its feet, my fingertips trembled subconsciously.

That thing is indeed huge.

It was about the height of a three-story building, but a little shorter than this fortress wall.

The eye level of us standing on the fortress wall and the monster standing in the field was almost the same.

Ready the cannons and ballistae!

I shouted at the soldiers who were stunned by the great majesty of the boss monster.

We have to kill it before it reaches the wall! Hurry-!

The flustered soldiers hurriedly went to the cannons and ballistae and started loading them.

However, we had moved the defense equipment to the back side because of the close combat we just had, and by the time we finished preparing, the Specter Knight had already come right under our noses.

A deep blue flame blazed in his gigantic helmet.

'For fuck's sake, don't get scared!'

I barely held back the urge to step back.

Don't fucking get scared by its looks! That bastard's only a boss monster of Stage 1. Even if it is buffed with the boss monster effect, it's only a level 25 mob!

Fire! Don't hold anything back, pour everything on it-!

At my command, the frozen soldiers ignited their cannons in unison and pulled the ballistae's strings.

Boom! Boom!

Thwap! Thwap!

The cannons were fired, and arrows were ejected from the ballistae.

Kboom!

The accuracy of the shots fired was very high since the target itself was large. Dozens of cannonballs and arrows struck the body of the Specter Knight.

Flames and smoke billowed over the gigantic armor.

But the monster's armor was thick. No significant damage was done.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Specter Knight continued to walk forward as it was fully taking the firepower from our soldiers.

'Disgustingly tough, aren't ya?!'

However, in the first place, the purpose of the cannons and ballistae was to slow down the monster's movement as much as possible. I glanced to the side.

Lily!

Y-yes, Your Highness?

Lily's complexion was pale because she was using fire magic until a moment ago. But what can I say, Lily? You gotta do what you gotta do.

How's the third artifact? Is it still in adjustment?

We just finished its adjustment a minute ago!

Activate it right away!

Lily gave a hand gesture to the alchemists. The alchemists activated the artifact they just finished adjusting.

Vooom-!

Magical light leaked out from the light blue Hextech equipment.

It was the third artifact to be repaired.

R-rank artifact, Mana Amplifier!

Its effect was simple. It increases the magic power of one targeted unit by 100%. It can only be used once.

It was only a one-time usage booster, but its possibilities were endless depending on how and when it was used.

Jupiter!

I turned back. Jupiter was staring at the Specter Knight with her one and only eye squinted.

Have you rested enough?

Of course, Your Highness.

Spark!

Electric current sparked from the fingertips of the Electro Wizard.

I've recharged much more than enough, it's about to overflow.

Jupiter was in perfect condition. I pointed my hand at the chest of the approaching Specter Knight.

Focus your firepower on his chest plate. Feed it your most powerful attacks.

Vooom-!

The Mana amplifier was activated. And the target was Jupiter!

A pale blue light covered Jupiter's body. Jupiter closed her eye once and opened it.

This is great. It's like I'm back in my prime.

Jupiter, under the effect of the artifact, clenched her fist and grinned viciously. I nodded.

I beg you, do it with your full power.

Be careful of the lightning strikes, Your Highness.

As Jupiter went forward, thunder rang out in the distance.

I ain't taking responsibility even if you end up being electrocuted!

As Jupiter stretched out her hands in front of the monster, dozens of bright yellow lightning bolts fell from the sky.

Boom-!

Jupiter's 1st skill, [Bleaching Zone], struck the Specter Knight.

Originally, it was an AoE skill, but the Specter Knight's size was large enough to take dozens of lightning strikes all at once.

Gaah!

The charred Specter Knight let out a groan of pain.

Thunderbolts struck the chest plate accurately while beating the Specter Knight.

The chest part of the huge armored knight started to fall apart.

Inside the chest where the armor had fallen, the silhouette of a ghost was swirling. And the spirit core, its weakness, was also clearly exposed.

The spirit core cannot be damaged properly by ordinary soldiers' attacks. It could only be damaged with magic attacks, or

Demian, shoot it!With broken overpowered traits like [Thousand-Miles Eyes].

Demian had been assigned to a ballista in advance.

A white light flashed from Demian's large brown eyes, and his slender finger pulled the ballista's trigger.

Twang-!

The accurately-fired arrow pierced the spirit core of the Specter Knight.

Crash!

The spirit core was shattered, it sounded like glass breaking. The Specter Knight twisted its body painfully.

Grwaaah!

Its roar of pain swept across the battlefield.

[Translator: Dawn ]

[Proofreader: Alissa ]

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'Did we kill it?!'

That wasn't the case. It managed to endure.

A blazing fire roared wildly inside the Specter Knight's helmet. I guess it's mad now.

Damn it, we lack just a little bit of damage!

Gwoooh-!

The Specter Knight let out a vicious roar and raised the giant sword in its hand.

I couldn't help but drop my chin at the sight of the sword casting a shadow all over the wall.

The fortress wall would collapse if it got struck by something like that!

Jupiter, one more time!

As I hurriedly shouted, Jupiter, who was charging mana for the following magic spells, raised her hand.

Lifting your weapon in this lightning weather Now you're asking to be electrocuted, imbecile!

Rumble!

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Her 2nd skill, [Bleaching Again].

The artifact's effect had worn off, but the firepower with only the buffs from the party synergy and my trait was enough.

Dozens of blue lightning bolts pierced the Specter Knight's body. Even the spirit core, which had already been severely damaged, was completely destroyed.

Gwah Gaaah

However, even as the Specter Knight fell, and as it struggled to strike down the huge sword in its hand

The gigantic sword was about to hit the fortress wall.

I clenched my teeth. There's no way to block this one!

Everyone, run! Run from the trail of the blade-!

The soldiers screamed and ran from the wall.

Aaah!

Get out from its range-!

Demian and Jupiter grabbed Lily's wheelchair and ran away together.

Your Highness, we must avoid!

Crash!

Immediately after, the huge sword of the Specter Knight slammed down the wall.

Lucas hurriedly covered for me, but fortunately, there was a distance between where the sword fell and me in the first place. So a direct hit was avoided.

However, just the vibrations caused by the sword hitting the wall had left me and Lucas rolling all over the floor. Ouch!

Oh my lord, my back

Are you okay, Your Highness?

I'm fine! How's the fortress wall?

Rumble

As the thick dust gradually lifted, I saw the sword of the Specter Knight half stuck in the wall.

The Specter Knight with the sword knelt on its knees and sat outside the wall.

Its spirit core was completely destroyed, and the ghostly flames waving in its helmet were extinguished.

The boss monster of the stage was finally taken down.

Clunk, clunk

At the same time, pieces of armor fell from the Specter Knight's body. The armor began to collapse in an instant.

Kyaaah!

After all the pieces of armor fell to the floor, the ghosts inside the armor spread out all at once.

Hundreds and thousands of ghosts spread out like a thick, poisonous mist, then flew in all at once in search of the nearest human.

The human who stood closest to them was on the wall.

Straight toward me.

Kyaaah-!

The scene where hundreds and thousands of ghosts were rushing toward me was terrifying.

Hundreds of distorted eyes, noses, mouths, and thousands of bizarrely broken limbs struggled in search of their victims.

However, I was calm. Because I already knew this pattern.

Upon the death of the Specter Knight, it casts a wide area fear or confusion spell. It was like the last struggle before its death.

It was not an attack that dealt damage.

It was just an attack with a status abnormality that lowered the morale of the opposing side. It could destroy your mind if you were exposed to it for too long, though.

Your Highness, it's dangerous!

It's fine, Lucas.

However, mental status abnormalities are no threat to me.

The terrified Lucas tried to block for me, but I pushed him away.

And I stood up straight with my eyes wide open toward the crawling phantoms.

From here on, it is the territory of humans.

All the phantoms rushed toward me, but

Keeeng-!My passive skill, [Indomitable Commander], activated as it scattered white light everywhere, completely offsetting the effect of their curses.

The phantoms couldn't pass through me and were shattered in front of me.

I exclaimed as I stood up and blocked the ghosts with my whole body.

Away with you, monsters!

Kyeeh Aaah

Even the last ghost rushed at me and was blown away like smoke.

After all the ghosts disappeared, silence lingered around the area.

The soldiers who had been hiding in various places on the wall raised their heads one by one. Those who had fled under the fortress walls also climbed back up one by one.

What happened to that giant monster?

The ghosts?

His Highness got rid of them

I-is it over?

As the ghosts disappeared, and Jupiter removed the lightning magic, the dark clouds lifted from the sky.

And the sun shone through the clouds.

As if the darkness that had descended was a simple lie, the bright sunlight shone on the wall.

I stood on the collapsed wall and looked down at the soldiers coming up.

When I turned around, I saw the sword of the Specter Knight that had penetrated halfway into the wall.

A lot of thoughts crossed my mind, such as how to fix this heavily damaged fortress wall, and how to deal with the loss of troops today.

Instead of such thoughts, I smiled broadly and raised one hand upward.

We won!

I added on to the soldiers who looked up at me blankly.

We have survived!

The sunlight shining between the clouds reached my head.

And we will continue to win! And continue to survive!

The fear gradually disappeared from the soldiers' eyes.

I clearly saw the joy of victory filling their eyes.

Whether it was because of my passive skill or my speech skill, it doesn't matter.

Let's defeat the monsters!

I just shouted with all my might and sincerity.

Let us live on!

[STAGE 1 CLEAR!]

[STAGE MVP Jupiter (SR)]

[Leveled Up Character]

Ash (EX) Lv.8 (3)

Lucas (SSR) Lv.29 (2)

Jupiter (SR) Lv.36 (1)

Lily (R) Lv.19 (2)

Demian (N) Lv.20 (5) (1st class advancement is available!)

[Dead or Injured Characters]

Jupiter (SR): Minor

Tain (N): Dead

Ron (N): Dead

Jiya (N): Dead

Peke (N): Dead

[Acquired Items]

Living Armor Magic Crystal: 172

Magic Core of the Specter Knight (SR): 1

[Clear reward has been sent. Please check your inventory.]

R-rank reward box: 2

N-rank reward box: 3

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>> [STAGE 2: Knight of Steel]

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