Chapter 28 – Decisive Battle (Part 1)
A cold, blue air hung over the field.
The morning mist had vanished with the wind, leaving the battlefield fully exposed.
However, this only stirred irritation and unease in Poro’s heart. He had not been able to sleep, as suffocating tension clung to him throughout the night.
‘What the hell do you mean by this!? Deciding to send a representative and settle this with a duel!?’
After the meeting had ended and the Hero returned, he had made an announcement that left the soldiers astonished and suspicious.
‘Why are we being told this? We were able to crush them so thoroughly during the day. Why then…’
‘Mr. Poro. While I have not told you all before, I was actually using a certain divine vessel.’
The Hero’s voice was hoarse, but still carried a distinct strength.
He no longer seemed like someone who was merely a puppet.
‘I was using an ability that allowed me to rewind time whenever I failed.’
‘Re-rewind time!? But that is… Even at the magic academy on the central continent…it is something that only exists in theory…’
While Poro was not as shocked as Ditore, who was a royal magician, he could also understand that this was a tremendously powerful ability.
‘Then there is even more reason for us to push on! We should keep going until we win!’
‘Wait, Captain. The Hero had an ability to rewind time. Perhaps that means we cannot win, no matter how many times we try?’
Leodor, who was a former miner, could read subtle clues and get straight to the point.
‘Perhaps it will be better to just show you.’
‘…Hey, what is… This can’t be real.’
Farnan’s face froze over. The tall, handsome man who had once worked in a traveling troupe, looked intently at the battlefield that was displayed before him.
‘The divine vessel being used by the kobold was granted to him upon the death of the former villager Hero. That is something that cannot be undone. The necessary anchor required for the reversal has already been removed.’
‘In other words, without any of us knowing, you have all been inviting great danger to us.’
Meshe said. The Hero nodded silently.
‘So what does that have to do with the duel?’
‘It is quite simple. This is also the last resort for the monsters as well. Only the demon general and the kobold are capable of fighting us on equal footing. If they miss this opportunity, they will never have another chance at victory.’
Vengras explained calmly.
Now that Poro thought about it, it had been Vengra’s intelligence that had first drawn him into joining the army.
‘Well, it is almost refreshingly straightforward. If I am being honest, I never liked this ‘reset’ divine rule to begin with. A battle must have real tension.’
Ekbert said. While one might expect a general to act more seriously, his ability to repel the attacks of the former village Hero had been impressive.
‘This battle will only happen once. There will be no save or reset.’
‘What do you mean? By fighting while erasing your advantage?’
‘That is…’
‘Because the enemy god sealed it away. Their divine rule has bound the power of our Hero.’
The Hero raised his head, and the strategist nodded silently.
‘Please. Lend me your strength…for this battle.’
While looking at the sky, now dyed crimson, Poro recalled how the Hero had bowed deeply before them.
“What a joke… It’s too late…”
If he could make such a humble venture, he should have done it sooner. Trusting them at a time like this?
When Poro could no longer stand the sight of him.
“Captain, we are ready.”
Turning towards the voice, he saw that his comrades were fully equipped and looking back at him with serious expressions.
From behind them, the Hero and his party emerged from his tent.
“Hero! Grant us victory!”
“Strike down the demon general and bring peace to this land!”
The soldiers knew nothing. Officially, it had been explained that the monsters, in their final act of defiance, had requested a duel. And the Hero had accepted it in a show of mercy.
It was almost enough to make Poro laugh.
Eventually, when the Hero approached them, Poro stepped forward and began to walk on ahead.