Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 619: Defensive War (Part 2)

A day had passed since the Third Army led by Ambose joined the Fourth Army and broke through the Eivelis Empire’s defenses at the entrances. Along with that, countless breaking news had started to pour in.

[Breaking News. Asgan Continent’s Embrou Attack Station lost helplessly…]

[The enemies that defeated Embrou Attack Station have taken over and started to gather in the attack station to form a defense line.]

[Asgan Continent has reported two million casualties, comprising of NPCs and players, in just two days.]

[As time goes by, the Luvien Empire’s Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Army will be able to join forces with the advance party. There is an estimated 2.5 million number of soldiers that would gather and advance toward Lumatri Fortress to attack Ellie.]

[Eivelis Empire’s Empress Ellie has ordered her troops to gather in Lumatri Fortress, leaving only the bare minimum number of troops in Eivelis Empire and the rest of the fortresses and attack stations.]

[Eivelis Imperial Army is obviously waiting nervously for the Luvien Imperial Army’s move.]

[The casualties from Eivelis Empire are expected to reach 800,000 after half a day.]

[Luvien Empire’s raging fury. Will Eivelis Empire truly meet its end?]

[Will today be the day that Sword Emperor Ellie is deposed?]

Articles like that kept on pouring out. As for the scenario, it was flowing just like how Joy Co. Ltd. had planned it.

***

Lumatri Fortress was built in a round shape, just like a colosseum, and was the most appropriate fortress for ‘defense’. Archers and mages could stand on the ramparts and keep the incoming enemies in check and stop their advance, by casting magic or using their siege weapons through the gaps in the walls. On top of that, Lumatri Fortress was a legendary fortress that had endured and survived with its solid walls in the Asgan Continent for hundreds of years. Right now, this very same Lumatri Fortress was being shaken by the might of the Luvien Imperial Army’s millions of troops.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

Amidst the downpour of magical attacks and baptism of arrows, Ellie cried loudly, “Mages!!!”

The mages immediately cast shields to defend them from the magical attacks and arrows that were pouring down on them.

“Keuaaaaaaaaack!”

“Aaaaaaack!”

“Keook!!!”

However, some of them were still able to pierce through the gaps of the shields and through their allies.

Ellie looked at the battlefield. The scene in front of her was a very fierce and cruel one. The Luvien Empire’s troops kept on advancing and pushing them back. If they were not able to stop them, then the Lumatri Fortress would collapse and this large army would advance toward Eivelis Empire.

“Endure! You have to hold out somehow!”

The troops struggled hard to endure after hearing Ellie's cries. However, large Meteors, one of the highest tier of magical attacks, suddenly appeared in the skies and began their descent.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaam—

The mages tried their best to stop the descent of the Meteors. Among them stood Ali, who was shouting, “Diss! Diss! Diss! Diss!” shooting down the Meteors in the skies with Diss. However, the problem was the number of Meteors. There were around twenty meteors falling from the skies. Ten of them were able to reach their targets, breaking down the walls of Lumatri Fortress.

Baaaaaaaaaaang—

Booooooooooooom—

“Euaaaaaaaack!”

“Keuaaaaaaacak!”

“For Eivelis Empire!”

“Protect the broken parts of the walls, one way or the other!!!”

The enemies tried to push through and enter through the broken parts of the walls. The troops quickly fill the gaps. Of course, among them were many members of the Dark Breaker Team.

“Gasp, gasp… Stop them from coming in!”

“Damn bastards!!!”

There were many prominent and strong people from the Dark Breaker Team, who were actually the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. However, the problem was the number of their enemies and their strength.

The Luvien Imperial Army was originally much more powerful and more systematic than the Eivelis Imperial Army. Even now, their numbers were much larger than the Eivelis Imperial Army and the allied forces combined. Their war looked like a fight between an elephant and an ant.

Genie bit her lips tightly, ‘This is a fight that we can’t do anything about.’

She could tell that it was a battle that they could never win, even though they were able to create a remarkable feat by sweeping away the First and Second Army. These feats shocked the entire world and made them recognize the Eivelis Empire. But that was all.

‘The Eivelis Empire…’

Today would be the day they meet their end.

‘No.’

Genie shook her head fiercely. She could not think like that. Genie saw the veins on Ellie’s neck pop out. Everyone from Beyond the Heavens knew that Ellie was one of Minhyuk’s most beloved and cherished people. That was why…

‘What in the world are you doing?!’

Genie could not understand Minhyuk. After blowing up the remnants of the First and Second Army, Minhyuk went back to the Abyss while leaving this message behind…

[Ellie noona has to win this war. That’s why I’m going to make a weapon for noona.]

Making a weapon for Ellie? Did he think that a single sword would be able to change their odds in this war?

At that moment, a huge number of enemies charged through the cracks in the broken walls. Most of them were legends from their own nations.

Fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh—

“Keuaaaack!”

“Ughhhh!”

“Aaaaaaack!”

The Eivelis Empire was helplessly pushed back by the overwhelming force. Not only that, the powerhouses of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom were all tired from engaging in long battles. That was on top of the legends not being easy to deal with. Of course, they had Kimaris and Gorfido, who were Absolute Supreme rank individuals, but even if they were that strong, it was still too much for them to fight against that many troops.

As time went by, the injuries that the members of the Dark Breaker Team incurred kept on increasing. In the end, Genie had no other choice but to make a decision for Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.

“Dark Breaker Team. Stand back and reorganize!”

“Genie, if we do that, then…!”

“I know. But you have to keep in mind that our people are important too.”

“…”

Genie’s judgment was cold-hearted. However, it was also the correct judgment. In the end, the Eivelis Empire and the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom were two separate entities. If they were to lose one of their Named NPCs while fighting here, then they would suffer a negative impact in their kingdom, a huge effect.

“Your Majesty Raldo, please step down.”

“Alright.”

The Dark Breaker Team began to fall back to reorganize. Hence, the balance, which was being maintained tightly in this tug-of-war situation, completely collapsed.

Genie looked at the scene sadly. But there was nothing else that they could do. If the members of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom were there, someone might have died. Although she had made that cold-hearted decision, she hesitated. Genie just could not move her steps away.

That was when she felt a soft touch on her shoulders. When Genie turned around, she saw Sword Emperor Ellie behind her.

“Your Majesty, why are you here?” Genie’s voice trembled. Ellie was not supposed to be here.

Ellie smiled softly at her, “Genie. Every time I see you, I feel like I’m looking at myself.”

“…”

Genie bit her lips tightly. This was the first time that Ellie called her by her name. The love and the hatred that was staining her voice made Genie feel tense and nervous.

“I want to ask you for a favor. When this war is over, I hope that you can take care of my people. Please take some to the Dragon King, some to Lumae Kingdom, and some to the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom.”

Ellie had seen these people desperately try to fight and protect Eivelis Empire. And these people were crying out her name, ‘For Her Majesty Ellie!’ as they fight and die on that battlefield. Boys that were only sixteen or seventeen were dying on the battlefield for her. But this war was not meant to protect her, but to protect her people. She was trying to carry too much on her own.

‘This is…’

Sword Emperor Ellie was the most beloved NPC in Athenae. Who was hailed as the NPC with the highest potential? That was her. Sword Emperor Ellie. She was empress and now she would become the Continental Emperor. The very same ruler that ruled her people, but now she would be ruling the entire continent.

“…I accept… your commands… Your Majesty,” Genie said, bowing her head.

Ellie slowly walked forward, a gentle smile on her face while giving her orders, “Everyone, fall back. From now on, all of you will retreat under the command of the Dark Breaker Team. This is an order, and those that violate this order will face immediate judgment.”

”…!”

“…!”

“…!”

Everyone was shocked at Ellie’s orders. Then Ellie ran toward the gaps of the broken walls. There were many Supreme existences that stood beyond that wall that saw Ellie running toward them.

“No way. Is she trying to do what I think she’s trying to do?!”

“Keuhahahahahahaha! This is very interesting!!!”

“Sword Emperor Ellie. You’ll taste this sword!!!”

Unlike the retreating troops, Ellie was charging forward. And among those that were called the Supremes, there was someone who was called the Supreme of the Bow.

Thump—

“Huh?”

That guy’s head was instantly cut off and his last vision was that of the ground. And someone called the Great Mage…

Stab—

“Urk…?”

…got stabbed in the abdomen before he could even cast a barrier.

She was flying. Ellie was flying around beautifully like a butterfly and swinging around her sword like a viper.

“Heaven Tearing Sword.”

Slash, slash, slash, slash, slash!

Hundreds of red sword beams flew out of Ellie’s sword and tore the entire area apart. She stood there, blocking the area in front of the broken walls. With her standing in that area, the charging Luvien Imperial Army started to falter. They numbered around two million, but they were backing away because of Ellie’s fierce momentum.

The commentators were shocked to see the Eivelis Imperial Army begin to retreat.

[It seems like Ellie is prepared for death.]

[I think she has decided that any more sacrifice would be meaningless. It’s stupid but I feel a bit strange.]

[Protecting her people at the risk of her own life and fighting against her enemies all by herself until the very end, without losing her pride as a swordsman. That’s a sword master.]

[Sword of Emperor Ellie. She is truly the star of Athenae.]

The entire world trembled at Ellie’s might.

The retreating troops would be spread out through different kingdoms with the help of the Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. Now, the Eivelis Empire would be empty. But she believed that this was the right decision.

The commentators started to make their predictions.

[A large number of Legendary NPCs will be coming soon.]

[The number, I believe, will be able to easily exceed 200.]

[Will Ellie be able to win against them?]

But contrary to their expectations…

[…?]

[…?]

[Why aren’t they coming?]

The Legendary NPCs were not coming despite the golden opportunity that was presented in front of her.

Meanwhile, in the Luvien Imperial Army’s camp, all of the Legendary NPCs were delighted. They now had the opportunity to take the neck of Sword Emperor Ellie.

Count Kraka was born from a prestigious swordsman family. He dreamt of becoming a sword master. but his skills were lacking. However, he was much stronger than any of those people that have mastered the sword. He was also one of the few people that hurriedly joined the hunt for Ellie.

But then, suddenly the horse fell with a scream.

“Hihihihihiiiiing!”

“Urkkkk!”

Count Kraka, who was able to safely land away from the horse, could not understand what just happened. When he checked the horse, he saw that all of its legs were cut off.

“…What is this?”

Doubt was evident from his face.

“Get out of the way, porter!”

At that moment, the soldiers that rushed out in a panic shoved an old porter aside. The vessels on Count Kraka’s neck popped up, “Who in the world did…?!”

Just when he was shouting, something suddenly pierced through his heart, blood soaking through his armor.

“…this?”

Fall—

Count Kraka fell down. And all over the place…

“Marquis Aevrine has died in battle!!!”

“Crazy Demon Febnir has also died in battle!!!”

“The Imperial Mage Commander Echei…!”

Sounds of disbelief rang loudly. Wherever people died, a mysterious ‘old porter’ would appear and disappear.

And the Third Army Commander Ambose? He looked at Ellie with clenched fists and bit his lips tightly to the point that blood started to drip down his chin. This was because what was happening in front of him was just like the downfall of his kingdom. Just like them, the Luvien Empire pushed their kingdom until they perished.

But it was different. His king had surrendered. He surrendered and allowed them to become slaves. But Ellie was determined to fight until the very last moment. As he watched this scene, Ambose felt a flame blazing in his heart.

However, at that moment, Ambose was reminded of his family that was being held hostage by the Luvien Empire. But then, Porter Ban held a spear out to him and said, “Commander, You’re a spearmaster, aren’t you?”

Ambose was also a genius commander, a commander that fought to protect his kingdom.

“Are you going to keep fighting for the people that took away the lives of your comrades?”

“…”

Ambose hated it. However, he was in no position to stop fighting. All he could do was to fight for them. Why was the old man asking him this? Ambose looked back at Porter Ban.

“But they are holding my family hostage.”

“They have been rescued.”

“…!”

Ambose was shocked.

“Beyond the Heavens’ Informant Abel has rescued them.”

“…Beyond the Heavens?”

Ambose was not an idiot. His thoughts started to churn. The old man with a spear. An old man that was good at making coffee. And the old porter with black hair on his head.

“You…”

“Ayaaa.”

Old Man Ben grinned softly. Spear God Ben was the father of all of the spearmen in the Asgan Continent. But after he broke through the chains of humanity and reached the realms of the Spear God, Spear God Ben became the father of all spear masters.

“Are you going to take a step back?”

“…Spear God. What choice can I make?”

“Follow your heart.”

Graaab—

Ambose grabbed the spear tightly.

“I have a plan. We have to assassinate all of the commanding officers here.”

“How should we do it?”

“Simple,” Spear God Ben said, a small smile on his face.

***

One of the soldiers rushed to the place where all of Luvien Empire’s strong men had gathered.

“Commander Ambose is asking you to come discreetly to the back. He said that you will strike Ellie from the rear!”

“Commander Ambose?”

“Alright.”

They were people that also hated Ambose. That was why they were ‘secretly’ gathering to make a plan that would kill both Ellie and Ambose. When they moved to the rear, they were shocked.

What they saw there was an old man with his spear hanging on his shoulder at a steep angle. Behind that old man was a mountain of corpses. The corpses of all of the ‘legends’ of the Luvien Empire.

And in front of Spear God Ben was his first disciple since gaining his new mantle. He was the Sky Spear, and the God of Tactics, who was now going to move to Beyond the Heavens Kingdom, Ambose.