Chapter 108: Sweeping Through the Battlefield
Throughout key positions in and around the ruined town, soldiers from the three noble houses, the local militia, and Sect disciples were strategically deployed. Thanks to the soldiers' previous efforts in neutralizing the more significant threats, the mission had thus far progressed without excessive difficulty.
On one particular battlefield, gunfire echoed alongside a flurry of magical and martial attacks. The Gold Star rifles proved especially effective, easily piercing layers of Ki, magic energy, and even the thick hides of formidable beasts. The White Star Radiance, the Soloman faction, and the Aka Boshi faction divided into smaller units to efficiently eliminate enemy forces.
Leading the infamous group of 18 children—now known as the Black Reaper Corps—were Kageha and Kuroha, guiding them as they continued to demonstrate their growing prowess.
"Block that beast, Number 14! Pierce it from behind. Squad Five, assist Squad One and reroute the demonic beasts from the south! Kuroha, with me," ordered Kageha.
After a few coordinated attacks utilizing their respective skills, the beasts were swiftly slain.
"Excellent work," Kageha commended with a curt nod.
Suddenly, a Thunder Hawk descended from the sky, its power comparable to that of a Gold Tier 1 creature.
"Look out!" shouted Kuroha, as she and Kageha moved to intercept. Just as a group of four children braced for impact—
Schwiiing!!
A surge of black Sword Ki sliced the Thunder Hawk cleanly in half. The source of the strike, standing some distance away, was none other than Zoro.
"Zoro Aniki!" shouted the Black Reaper Corps in unison, their voices filled with admiration.
Zoro gave them a cold glance and muttered sternly:
"That could've cost you your lives. Stay alert, or you'll become a liability."
Without another word, he walked off. The group shouted again, this time louder and more resolutely:
"Yes, Zoro Aniki!"
Kageha noticed Kuroha's unusually enthusiastic expression as she joined in, her zeal matching the others'. With a faint smile and a shake of his head, he let it be.
In another part of the battlefield, Ramiro fought alongside the Leon Barony soldiers and the infamous "Ramiro Fan Club."
—León Dragon Spear Arts: Impacto Perforador Dracónico—
Ramiro, driven by wrath, charged forward. His spear pierced through three demonic beasts—one of them a Gold Tier 1—annihilating them in a single motion.
—Winding Thrust
—Charging Impact—
Two Fanged Elf women dealt a devastating double-blow to a massive boar-like beast.
—Elven León Dragon Spear Arts: Earth Tormenta de Impacto Mundial—
Seralily, having trained in her own variation of León Clan's techniques, sent four beasts flying with a devastating earth-based assault, smashing them into others nearby.
—Torrent's Call by the will of the deep…
…WaterPulse: Crash Down—
Sofia chanted a powerful water spell. A giant, vibrating sphere of water appeared 20 feet above the beasts and dropped with massive force. It crushed and drowned them, ending with a small watery explosion that left a deep crater.
"Hahaha! Good work, ladies. Now let's clean up the rest!" Ramiro said with a wild grin, eyes gleaming.
"Yes, Papi Rami!!" the four women shouted.
"Ahh, with that mask on, it's hard to recognize you, Young Master Ramiro. Se ha vuelto tan fuerte ahora!" laughed the Leon captain.
(Translation: You've become so strong now)
"Sí, amigo. Let's crush more of 'em!" Ramiro replied enthusiastically.
Elsewhere, Talia coordinated with Micca and two of Christy's friends alongside Baron Emerson's troops under Captain Moorlock.
Talia and Micca provided ranged magical support, while the other two, focused on close combat, fought alongside the Ki-users in the military.
"Sergeant, have Squads Four and Five move 30 paces southeast. Prepare to strike once they lead the beasts into the trap," ordered Captain Moorlock.
"Sir, yes, sir!" came the response as orders were swiftly executed.
After a strategic combination of lures and detonations, the demonic beasts were decimated.
"Great work. Let's assist the next zone," Talia said.
"Yes!" the women responded, the soldiers syncing seamlessly with them.
Across the battlefield, both the Soloman and Aka Boshi factions showcased overwhelming strength, leaving the soldiers in awe. To them, Sect disciples truly lived up to their legendary status.
High above, aboard the Sword Bird, Shirleaf, Amberleaf, and Joe-Pine launched aerial assaults. Magical vehicles piloted by soldiers bolstered the air combat.
Shirleaf spearheaded offensive aerial magic. Amberleaf focused on healing and support spells. Joe-Pine defended the team and launched attacks when needed.
However, the most fearsome group was a quartet who stole the spotlight:
—Binding Vines: Surround and crush!
—Rain of Fire Bullets!—
Shayleaf and Erica unleashed devastating magic, trapping and burning foes.
—5th Bright Brilliance Sword: Radiant Fang Spiral—
Christy, with enchanted gloves, used glowing, rainbow-colored Ki-infused hands like swords to tear through the battlefield at blinding speed. Her Aka Boshi no Tengan shone brilliantly.
—3rd Bright Brilliance Sword: Solar Bloom Cascade—
Elton, moving even faster, unleashed petals of glowing light with each strike of his Blue Heavenly Destroyer Sword, slicing through enemies like a storm.
Suddenly, Shayleaf used wind magic to shield and transport herself and Erica to Elton's side. Erica, meanwhile, chanted an extended spell. Christy channeled the White Star Speed and Sword Aura Transformations—techniques she somehow learned from Elton—and launched into the air, crashing down with immense force.
Her Red Magic and Ki-infused attack shook the ground, forcing three Gold Tier 1 and one Gold Tier 2 beast out from underground. Wounded and disoriented, the monsters were caught in Shayleaf's binding and vitality-draining magic.
As the enemies prepared to retaliate with ranged attacks, Christy had already repositioned. Elton sliced through their counterattacks with ease.
Erica was finally ready.
"Already, you trash beasts? Eat this!"
—Lightning Ignition Barrage—
Fifty lightning orbs soared into the air before slamming down, decimating the beasts and others trying to flee.
"Roooaaaar!"
Screams of dying beasts echoed. Christy swiftly finished the four elite beasts using Palms of Chaos. Elton, a blur of motion, cut down the remnants.
"Let's follow Brother Elly!" Shayleaf shouted, casting another wind barrier as she and Erica sped off.
"El Onyem! Slow down—we're supposed to kill them together!" Erica pouted.
Christy, smiling and eyes glowing red, gave chase.
"Let's not be outdone! Kill!" shouted Captain Bruesell, his voice brimming with violent glee.
"Kill!!!" echoed the soldiers.
Within three days—far sooner than anticipated—the mission in this region was completed. They then deployed to reinforce other combat zones.
In a field littered with debris and corpses stood the wounded Black Reapers, flanked by Kageha and Kuroha, both lightly injured.
"Church monsters… To think some of you were here," Kageha muttered, standing over a kneeling, dying man.
"…I don't want to hear a damned word from traitors… Did you think I wouldn't recognize fellow Church members, just because you wear masks?" spat the bloodied man.
"Hahaha… That wretched Church treated us like experiments. Maybe we owe them something… but they took so much from us and even more—from Aniki!" Kuroha snapped, her laughter turning to fury.
"…You must mean that monster… How ironic. The Church's own weapon turning on them… pathetic," the man gasped with a twisted smile.
"We'll rescue the children in the underground chamber after we finish cleansing the rest of you," Kageha said coldly.
"…Do what you want…" the man muttered before collapsing in death.
From the shadows, Zoro stepped into view. His aura was suffocating, his face concealed.
"A monster, huh? Then this monster will slaughter every last piece of the Night's Light Devouring Church if it's the last thing I do."
The twins stiffened at his sudden presence. They couldn't see his face, but they were certain—he was smiling.