Chapter 12

 

Overwhelming.

 

Despite being just bugs in name and appearance, it’s size is like watching the Titanic.

 

It was so huge that you couldn’t even see it all at a glance.

 

Rather, the size of the knights rushing towards it looked like bugs.

 

“…Can we really defeat that thing?”

 

The emotion Seo Woojin felt facing Draconis was fear.

 

Oh, I’m going to die here! The terror of impending death.

 

But in front of that creature, the only thought that came to mind was awe.

 

‘Acts of nature, that’s what it is.’

 

People don’t charge at typhoons and earthquakes thinking they can conquer them.

 

That’s just asking to be called crazy.

 

In Seo Woojin’s eyes, the knights charging at the Ice Bug looked just like those crazy people.

 

“…I don’t know.”

 

Irene had tremendous pride in the Blue Shield Knights.

 

They believe they are the best and the strongest knights.

 

Even so, she couldn’t be sure.

 

To the extent that the subjugation has not been successful until now.

 

“But this time, it will be different.”

 

This time, there was a stronger Van Slaine.

 

So, she wanted to believe they could catch it this time.

 

Even if it was to honor the spirits of the fallen comrades and soldiers.

 

Seeing Irene talk with a determined expression, Seo Woojin inwardly sighed.

 

He knows the knights are strong.

 

But the size of the Ice Bug truly made him doubt if it was a creature that humans could face.

 

Even if there’s a Van Slaine.

 

Seo Woojin watched ahead with a worried look.

 

* * *

 

“Disperse.”

 

“Spread out!”

 

Van Slaine’s small command echoed thunderously through Testeron.

 

At the same time, dozens of knights spread out to the left and right.

 

Each one of them was a skilled individual capable of effortlessly hunting creatures like Trangas.

 

The knights ran around the Ice Bug as if the blue wind had taken shape.

 

At a speed that was almost unbelievable for a person to run, they dashed forward.

 

Suddenly, the ground shot up in front of them.

 

No, what shot up wasn’t the ground but large tentacles.

 

The tentacles of Ice Bug that had been hiding underground revealed themselves to block the knights’ charge.

 

“Unit 1, block!”

 

Those at the forefront swung their swords.

 

Compared to the size of the tentacles, their swords seemed like needles.

 

However, the result was unexpected.

 

The thin and small needles were slicing the tentacles into pieces.

 

Roarrr!

 

As one tentacle was mutilated and fell to the ground, the Ice Bug let out a painful scream.

 

Yet, there was no joy among those fighting.

 

There were still hundreds of tentacles remaining, and the main body, larger than all of them combined, remained intact.

 

The tentacles fell all at once.

 

This pressure felt like something even a seasoned knight couldn’t handle.

 

However, instead of being confused or overwhelmed by fear, they raised their swords.

 

Whaaa-!

 

Wind blew from the tip of the swords.

 

Initially feeble compared to the tentacles, it soon turned into a typhoon, sweeping everything away.

 

Kwa-gwak-!

 

In front of it, the tentacles were powerless.

 

Things larger than most houses were literally torn to shreds.

 

“…Damn.”

 

However, Testeron’s expression wasn’t favorable.

 

“It’s too easy.”

 

Even Van Slane seemed uneasy, furrowing his brows.

 

“That’s right.”

 

It was too easy, even though it was supposed to be easy.

 

The strength of the Ice Worm was only its size and tentacles. If that was all, there would be no way it could have resisted the extermination efforts so far.

 

“It seems like it’s baiting us.”

 

“Does that mean…”

 

“It was five years ago, I think?”

 

At Van Slaine’s words, Testeron’s face stiffened.

 

That was the year with the highest number of casualties since Massive Guardian began its subjugation.

 

“There’s one more.”

 

“We need to halt the advance immediately.”

 

Testeron said urgently.

 

If a situation like back then were to occur again?

 

He didn’t want to imagine it.

 

At that time, even Testeron had almost died.

 

But Van Slaine shook his head.

 

“It’s done.”

 

The events of five years ago were an unforgettable scar for Van Slaine too.

 

Nevertheless, his attitude was calm.

 

“Clear the way, leave the rest to me.”

 

“My lord!”

 

These were words that Testeron, who served him, could never accept.

 

“It’s an order.”

 

Obeying the lord’s command was an absolute proposition that must be upheld as a knight.

 

Van Slaine comforted Testeron’s conflicted shoulders.

 

“No need to worry.”

 

“I will follow.”

 

In the end, Testeron compromised by committing to protecting the person he served until the end.

 

Van Slaine showed a benevolent smile as always.

 

“Open the path!”

 

Testeron’s shout once again shook the battlefield.

 

The swords of the Blue Shield Knights swung for their lord.

 

Tentacles were severed, and black blood stained the blue armor of the knights.

 

However, the knights did not stop their movements.

 

They bit their lips to wield their swords once more, risking their lives to clear the way.

 

“Argh!”

 

One person, two people at a time

 

Knights began to fall.

 

Although no one had lost their lives yet, it was inevitable that casualties would occur at this rate.

 

Nevertheless, the knights pushed forward even more aggressively.

 

Only to open the way for Van Slaine.

 

And,

 

“For Sion!”

 

It was Gerard.

 

Despite his uncle-like appearance, Gerard’s shout was filled with a knightly dignity more than anyone else.

 

“For Sion!”

 

The frozen ground heated up.

 

The gleam of swords flashed, melting the eyes that were filled with the sweat and blood of the knights.

 

And finally…

 

“Go.”

 

Van Slaine moved.

 

* * *

 

“Crazy….”

 

Seo Woojin didn’t blink for a second.

 

No, he couldn’t.

 

The knights’ struggles were enough to ignite a fire in his chest, which had been indifferent to everything until now.

 

Growl—

 

It was the same for Irene, who was next to him.

 

Angry at the fact that she couldn’t be there with them, she clenched her fists and chewed her lips.

 

“The knights are truly amazing.”

 

“We are amazing.”

 

The inland knights had an awe-inspiring presence that could not be imitated.

 

Always risking their lives in battles against monsters, something only those who continued to fight could do.

 

Irene sincerely thought so.

 

“The cowards in the central region won’t even be able to hold a sword properly.”

 

Seo Woojin nodded.

 

Certainly, the Blue Shield Knights seemed somewhat different from those they first encountered when they were summoned.

 

‘It’s the same with just training ignorantly.’

 

So, they must have been able to demonstrate such strength.

 

Seo Woojin felt a sense of relief, realizing the power of the knight order was more formidable than he had vaguely imagined.

 

“No!”

 

Suddenly, Irene screamed.

 

“W-what’s happening?”

 

“It’s not just one!”

 

Irene began to panic as if sensing something.

 

“If it’s not one?”

 

“Two. Maybe more!”

 

She had experienced a similar pattern of battle before.

 

Back then, Irene lost someone like a mentor.

 

That’s why, no matter what happened, she wanted to seek revenge right there…

 

With the thought that the nightmare of that day might repeat, Irene unconsciously rushed out.

 

It was an action she should never have taken.

 

Abandoning the command to protect him by Seo Woojin’s side.

 

But it meant the situation was urgent.

 

“Huh? Hey, wait a minute!”

 

Seo Woojin, bewildered, hastily followed her.

 

“Oh, damn!”

 

He wasn’t unaware of why she was behaving like that.

 

‘She must be trying to warn me it’s dangerous.’

 

But he couldn’t understand that.

 

Because if it were him, he would somehow avoid the danger.

 

Moreover, since he hadn’t participated in the battle, wouldn’t staying still keep him out of danger?

 

Yet Irene was running towards that place on her own.

 

It was an utterly incomprehensible action.

 

And what was even more incomprehensible was,

 

“Damn, I’m running after her!”

 

For some reason, he found himself following Irene.

 

It was the same as when he stood in front of Draconis.

 

He moved before thinking with his head.

 

He could have stopped his legs now, stood in place, and observed.

 

But Seo Woojin kept running.

 

He even pulled out the sword he had stored.

 

‘I don’t know.’

 

Safety first.

 

He used to be indifferent to others and only cared about his own safety.

 

On Earth, he has once or twice pretended not to notice high school students stealing money on the street.

 

Because he didn’t want to end up in trouble for no reason. 

 

Seo Woojin had that kind of personality.

 

However, here, he casually jumped into a place where he might die without a care.

 

“No, is it really nothing?”

 

His heart pounded like crazy.

 

Whether it was because he was tired or because he was scared, he didn’t know.

 

Although Irene in front of him gradually became more distant and faded away, Seo Woojin didn’t stop chasing after her.

 

It was clear that he was crazy.

 

Not just Irene, he himself was the same.

 

Otherwise, there was no way he would act like this.

 

And not just once but twice.

 

Seo Woojin continued to curse inwardly as he ran.

 

Until the ground shot up in front of him.

 

“Uwaaaah!”

 

He rolled on the ground.

 

Suddenly, the ground shook, and it shot up into the sky. Seo Woojin still didn’t have the ability to withstand it.

 

Having fallen, he quickly stood up, skillfully pointing his sword forward.

 

As expected, there was a single Ice Bug that had revealed itself outside the ground.

 

“…Is this for real?”

 

Because of that, he got separated from Irene.

 

Not only knights but not even a single soldier was in sight.

 

A situation where only the Ice Bug remained in front of him.

 

Although smaller than the person fighting the knights, it was still bigger than Drakas.

 

Seo Woojin felt himself too small.

 

The knights fought well even in such a situation, but it was impossible for Seo Woojin.

 

‘Should I run away?’

 

There was no chance of winning in a fight.

 

No, the fight itself couldn’t even take place.

 

If it just swung its tentacles, he would become calamari.

 

There was no time to avoid or dodge.

 

So, the only option left was to run away, but that seemed unlikely as well.

 

The gaze of the Ice Bug was precisely on Seo Woojin.

 

“Ah, I’m screwed.”

 

He spat out the curse he had said when he was first summoned.