21st Century Archmage-Chapter 159: Blitz
“Nngh!”
Lulled by the comfort of being on Imperial territory, the Bajran Skyknights did not even run patrol flights and were fast asleep. Only the soldiers dispatched from the surrounding territories burned the midnight oil as they stood watch over the long night. Unable to resist their yawns, they struggled to keep their drowsy eyes open with no mind to appreciate the scenery of dawnbreak.
“Huh?”
One of the soldiers looking into the sky while stretching stiffened in place.
“What’s wrong?” asked the soldier keeping watch next to him, following his comrade’s gaze. “Ah!”
“T-Those aren’t birds, right?”
Appearing far away in the dark red, brightening sky was what appeared to be a flock of birds. But there were simply too many of them to think they were birds. Or rather, the soldiers were all too familiar with the creatures approaching at an incredible speed.
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaahhh!”
Their first instinct was to scream. They might be clueless soldiers, but even they were capable of realizing that the wyverns flying from the brightening Rual Mountains weren’t Bajran wyverns.
“E-Enemy appearance! Enemy wyverns have appeared!”
“It’s an air raid! Air raid!!!!!!”
The soldiers screamed at the top of their throats.
“Uwah!”
“Wyverns are coming!”
Everyone awake whipped around at the screams of the soldiers standing watch, raising an uproar of panicked shouts with rapidly blanching faces.
“W-What?!”
Roused by the ear-piercing shrieks of the soldiers, Skyknights jumped out of their tents. Most of them had disregarded the on-duty regulations and came out in their pajamas, their airplates cast aside.
“Ahh!”
“T-Those are—!”
The Skyknights simply stared in shock, unable to even think of running to their wyverns and getting on. At the head of the unidentified wyverns flying their way was a unique hybrid wyvern, its golden stripes on black clearly visible in the crimson wash of the rising sun.
“K-Kyre has appeared!”
“The Lord of Nerman, Kyre, is attacking!”
Having figured out their enemy’s identity, the Skyknights rushed to their wyverns. Many of the wyverns were resting with their saddles entirely off to prepare for the big attack tomorrow. Fewer than half of the wyverns were properly fitted for battle.
Flash!
Just then, the mana-imbued Blessed Spears in the hands of the Nerman Skyknights coming right into effective range blazed forward at the Bajran wyverns dazedly waiting for their masters.
Schwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip. Schwip schwip schwip schwip schwip.
A great procession of spears whizzed through the air like murderous hail falling on a clear sky.
* * *
Kweeeeeeeeeeeeehhh! Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!
The horrible death cries of the wyverns that were hit filled the camp.
Because of the Empire’s power, the wyverns had never fought a real battle before, much less experienced the pain of a wound inflicted in battle. To allow for a comfortable rest, over half of them weren’t wearing wyvern armor. Deadly spears full of mana rained down on their utterly defenseless bodies, plunging in so deeply that only the hilts could be seen.
“W-What’s going on!”
Last night, Poltviran held a drinking party using the meeting with the nobles as a pretext and went to sleep with a lovely woman in his arms. Although the broken flag had injured his face, the best quality holy water and an imperial cleric was always prepared around him, so the wound was healed to perfection. In this early morning, far earlier than his usual wakeup time, his eyes opened to the ear-piercing shrieks of wyverns.
“Your Majesty!”
The exclusive tent of the Emperor maintained a balmy temperature within, as it was fitted with temperature control and silencing magic to ensure a comfortable rest. However, that comfortable warmth was dashed away when Silveron opened the tent door without permission, his face pale.
“What’s going on! What’s all this ruckus so early in the morning?!”
Poltviran relished sleeping in. Having been denied that, he snapped at Silveron with a surge of irritation.
“T-That person has appeared. Your Majesty must run away at once!”
“That person? And what would I run from?”
This was Bajran territory. Poltviran couldn’t understand Silveron’s sudden words.
“The Lord of Nerman, Kyre, is attacking with wyverns. Your Majesty must leave this place at once and seek safety.”
“W-What did you say?!”
At the mention of Kyre, Poltviran kicked away his sheets and jumped to his feet, exposing the naked body of the unconscious, pitiful young girl who hadn’t been able to sleep a single wink last night because of the Emperor’s lust.
“What are the knights doing?!”
“We were ambushed, so they are currently fighting. However, the situation is extremely unfavorable.”
“That bastard, I’ll…!”
Fueled by boiling rage, Poltviran sprang out of his tent without even wearing his airplate.
“Your Majesty, it is dangerous!” Silveron stopped the Emperor, his face white with alarm.
“Even if there was an ambush, how could the Empire’s knights…”
Riiiiiip! Boom.
Poltviran was on the verge of yelling angrily when suddenly, a spear plunged its way through the tent’s shielded magic fabric and embedded itself deep into the demon beast hide on the ground.
“Kyaaaaaaak!”
“Protect His Majesty!”
“Get in the air! Get in the air and counterattack!”
From the new hole in the tent, came miserable screams and the hoarse shouts of knights.
“Gah!”
Only then did Poltviran realize the urgency of the situation. His face turned as colorless as Silveron’s.
“Your Majesty, are you alright?” The tent door opened, and a group of Imperial Knights and the Tower Master of the Imperial Magic Tower, Marquis Kermon, came inside. “Your Majesty, we must leave this place using teleportation magic immediately. Going by wyvern is impossible.”
Having confirmed that the Emperor was safe, Marquis Kermon recommended a quick escape using teleportation magic. It was an unwritten law that the Tower Master of the Imperial Magic Tower always went wherever the Emperor went. The only 7th Circle mage who could cast teleportation magic in an emergency was the Tower Master.
Kwaaaaaaaaaak. Kyaaaaaaaaaak.
“Uwaaaaagh!”
“Guh!”
An endless chain of wyvern and human screams from both sides of the battle could be heard outside.
“T-Take Us to safety at once…”
With his life on the line, Poltviran panicked, seeing nothing else but his own survival.
“Silveron and just two knights, follow us.”
In preparation for a day like this, Kermon always kept a teleportation magic scroll on his body. Even with the scroll, only a mage with the same number of circles as the engraved magic could use it. Also, the number of people it could transport was limited. As soon as the Marquis spoke, Silveron and two Imperial Knights rushed to his side at the speed of light.
Swish.
Kermon pulled out a mithril alloy scroll from the hem of his robe. A dizzying array of magic circles was drawn precisely on the scroll. He brought his mana staff, which was fitted with a Grade 2 magic crystal, to the center of the scroll.
“Teleport!” he cast without delay.
Flaaaaaaash!
A tremendous amount of blue light poured out of the scroll upon activation.
Bzzzzzzt.
The runes engraved on the scroll gave off a golden light, and shortly afterwards, the Emperor, Marquis, Count, and two Imperial Knights disappeared from the tent.
* * *
Schwip schwip schwip schwip.
‘Impressive!’
Our surprise attack was launched at an opportune time, but the Empire’s true power was not to be underestimated. Of the wyverns scattered over the wide plains, around a hundred of them escaped our initial salvo and managed to go aloft. The knights hadn’t forgotten all the battle regulations. They were sleeping next to their wyverns instead of somewhere else like careless idiots. As soon as they left the ground, they hurled spears at me and the Nerman knights.
Flaaaaash!
‘That light is…!’
I was evading the flying spears and about to attack back when suddenly, an incredible amount of golden light came from one of the tents.
‘7th Circle teleportation magic…’
I was so shocked that for a moment, I forgot I was in the middle of a battle. That was 7th Circle magic, something I longed for in my dreams, and the characteristic color of teleportation magic was gold.
‘He got away.’
It was a shame. There was only one reason why 7th Circle teleportation magic would be cast here. The cheap-ass Poltviran had abandoned his knights and fled for his life.
Schwip schwip schwip schwip.
“Shield!”
Cla-cla-clang.
In a matter of moments, at least 300 wyverns either died or were rendered unfit for battle even before they could get in the air. However, the surviving Bajran knights swiftly flew up and were putting up a courageous fight. I had to get my head back in the game and complete what I could of the objective. Casting Shield, I repelled a volley of spears.
And then, I raised two spears, one in each hand.
“Eat this!”
I hurled the spears towards two of the enemy wyverns flying towards me.
‘I’ll crush you all to pieces!’
We had to inflict maximum damage to the forces here in order to secure Nerman’s peace in the future. The number of wyverns left was basically proportional to Poltviran’s arrogant power, and I intended on thoroughly destroying that power.
This was imperial territory. There was no such kindness as mercy for wyverns that we didn’t need to keep alive.
* * *
“Enemies are coming! Prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!”
Fort Davincion was the headquarters of the Bajran Empire’s Southern Corps, located only 20 km from the border with the Kerpe Kingdom. From the fort came a knight’s mana-charged shout.
Hearing the cry to prepare for battle, the Bajran soldiers ran to the walls with their weapons like they had been trained to do.
“…..”
After going up the fort walls to take up their positions, they stiffened in place upon seeing what was ahead.
Clunk clunk clunk clunk!
Davincion was an important fort manned at all times by 40,000 of the 140,000 elite troops that made up the Southern Corps. Despite their impressive fortifications, a massive army was surging towards them like a swarm of ants, having crossed the border without sound or notice to advance confidently on the fort.
“A-Are they crazy?!”
“Commander, what should we do?”
An army of the Kerpe Kingdom had crossed the border to invade imperial territory. The Commander in charge of Fort Davincion and the General of the 3rd and 7th Regiment of the Southern Corps, Count Juarez, was in a state of shock, his big body shaking.
He had never even considered that Kerpe would dare to invade. Not long ago, he had received intelligence that a suspect group of soldiers were gathering near the borders. However, he ignored it, thinking it was an annual event to exterminate the monsters that came rampaging out of the Kovionne Mountains in the winter. But those kingdom knaves actually crossed the borders to launch an ambush, something that should have been close to impossible. Even amidst his shock, rage was blazing up inside him.
“Send out the wyverns and destroy them!”
100 of the 300 Corps wyverns were sent to participate in the Nerman offensive at the Emperor’s command, and another 50 had been sent to occupy the Krantz Kingdom, but the Davincion had 80 wyverns, and there was a minimum of 70 wyverns in the nearby forts.
“As you command!”
Juarez gave the order to attack, looking at the stupid kingdom soldiers who dared to attack with infantry alone.
“My god… What’s that…?”
However, his confidence did not last long. Grey shadows slowly took form above the heads of the Kerpe Kingdom soldiers.
“It’s the Kingdom’s wyverns!” yelled the adjutant general in alarm.
The number of wyverns wasn’t at the level where they could be easily counted. The Kerpe Kingdom should have depleted most of their wyvern forces from sending a considerable number for the Nerman subjugation, but an enormous number of wyverns were flying over in formation. There were no less than 200 wyverns out there. Juarez, who had given out an energetic command just moments ago, looked at the enemies with fearful eyes.
A moment later, he squealed, “P-Prepare my wyvern. Prepare my wyvern!!!”
The Kerpe Kingdom was invading the Empire with deliberate intent. Possessed by the fear that he might die a dog’s death if he stayed here, Count Juarez only had one thought in his mind.
If he didn’t run, he wouldn’t be able to see the sun rise tomorrow.
* * *
Reaper Scans
* *
Schwiiiiiiiiiiiiiip.Booom.
“Kuaaaaaagh!”
“C-Counterattack! Don’t panic and defend the walls to the end!”
At the Krantz Royal Castle, the headquarters of the Bajran Empire’s occupation force of the Krantz Kingdom, another battle raged on.
The King had died and the Crown Prince had escaped with the majority of the kingdom’s Skyknights, so the occupation force hadn’t met much opposition to speak of. The majority of the kingdom nobles had also surrendered, and none resisted, so the men of the occupation force spent their days in idle enjoyment, taunting the women of the castle or stealing things. But then, hundreds of Krantz Kingdom wyverns appeared without a sound. They took advantage of the fact that the 200 Bajran wyverns stationed in the kingdom were scattered in important forts to launch a surprise attack.
Kyaaaaaaaaaak.
Even now, a fierce battle, no, a massacre, was underway in the sky above the castle. The occupation force had hastily gone aloft upon discovering the enemies, but before they could finish going into formation, the Krantz Skyknights fired a full volley at them, resulting in a massacre.
“YEAAAHHHH! Beat back the imperial scum!”
“Let’s serve His Highness the Crown Prince with our own hands!”
The sky hadn’t been the only place where enemies appeared. The Bajran Empire occupation forces dumbly watching the aerial battle from the walls heard a great cheer below them. Thousands of civilians appeared near and far, all armed with shields, swords, and spears, as if they had prepared for this moment.
Thud thud thud thud thud. Thud thud thud thud thud.
That wasn’t all. A group of cavalry appeared on the other side of the castle walls, numbering well over several thousand.
“Surrender! You no longer have any wyverns to protect you!”
Craaaash.
As the last Bajran wyvern fighting above crashed to the ground and the surviving few fled, a few people below chose that moment to shout at the remaining occupation forces. In fact, they were Krantz elite soldiers that had hidden among the populace.
Clang. Clatter.
The soldiers knew exactly what a battle without the help of Skyknights looked like. Moreover, this place wasn’t the Empire, but enemy territory. When someone threw down their weapon in fear, the clatter of steel on the ground was a signal to the other 50,000 men of the occupation force to give up the defense.
“YEAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!”
“Long live the Krantz Kingdom!”
“Long live the Crown Prince!!”
All of the people at the Krantz Royal Castle and the former kingdom soldiers knew. They knew that the wyverns flying above them with the Krantz Kingdom flag hanging from their bellies were Krantz knights under the command of Crown Prince Veyons.
* * *
“A spirit has appeared.”
“Mages have engaged in the attack!”
The flustered voices of my flight leaders buzzed in my helmet.
‘As expected of the Empire.’
I did receive training in Bajran at one point. The strength of the Empire could not be underestimated.
‘Those guys are the problem.’
The one-sided slaughter that couldn’t be called a proper battle ended, transitioning into a fierce fight from both sides. Around ten territory knights who hadn’t gotten used to wyvern flight yet were hit by enemy spears and either made emergency landings or crashed. At the center of Bajran’s counterattack were the Skyknights of the Imperial Guard. They were our first target, but a good 50 of them managed to safely go aloft.
‘Huhuhu.’
It was clear that they were aiming for Bebeto and me. At least ten wyverns had already crashed down with spears in their bellies after charging at me like moths to a flame.
I drew out my mana. There were also Bajran summoners who hadn’t managed to get in the air manipulating Shuriels from the ground, but I didn’t have time to deal with them. My focus was on the Black Wyverns making up the core of the Bajran counterattack.
“Hasifor, send a volley to the blackies. All flight leaders, unleash a concentrated attack on the Black Wyverns!”
“Got it, Master.”
“Yes, sir!”
Only a few words were needed. The five beastmen warriors who always shadowed me, forming one flight, began to charge towards the Black Wyverns.
“Djinn, help me out a little.”
Whoooosh.
Shuriel and I were on friendlier terms, but this was no time to play around.
At my call, the high spirit of wind, Djinn, opened the dimensional gate and appeared with a whirr. A strange pattern was reflected in the air as sunlight passed through its transparent body.
“Scatter all those Black Wyverns!”
A huge amount of mana instantly disappeared from my mana core.
“Urgh…” I groaned. I was no stranger to the feeling, but I couldn’t get used to it at all.
Kyaaaaaaaaaaa. Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
The high spirit Djinn leapt in no time at all into the midst of the Black Wyverns flying in defensive formation. With a powerful burst of wind, Djinn instantly dispersed the flight formation.
“Now! All forces, fire spears at the Black Wyverns!”
As the Black Wyverns flailed, the formation splitting apart, I gave the command for concentrated fire.
Fwip fwip fwip fwip fwip fwip.
Over a hundred spears whizzed forward. It would have been difficult to find an opening if not for Djinn, but as soon as my knights saw the opening, their spears hurtled towards the hearts of the prized Bajran wyverns.
‘Fuck off!’
Schwip, schwip, schwip!
Of course, I also busily hurled spears.
Craaash! Fwooooosh. Bzzzzzzzzzzt.
‘Woah!’
In the middle of our salvo, magic flames and explosions of electricity suddenly burst out. The beastmen had charged straight ahead at my orders and cast 5th Circle spells, setting wyverns ablaze midair and starting to torture them with electricity.
‘As they say, there’s courage in ignorance.’
I did order them to go to the front and attack the Black Wyverns, but the beastmen really did make it happen.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
A wyvern turned into a rotisserie chicken by Burn Flare flapped its wings pathetically in the crimson flames, crashing to the ground.
Boooooooom. Kyaaaaaaaaak.
There were also wyverns twitching from electric shock. Wyvern armor might be made of mithril alloy, but from 5th Circle magic onwards, the armor’s defensive ability was dramatically reduced. As such, the wyverns that took a frontal hit of Lightning Cross were nose diving to the ground, frothing at the mouth.
‘Time to finish this!’
Once the Black Wyvern flight at the center of their offense faltered, the attacking Skyknights clustered nearby panicked. I smiled wickedly at one such panicking flight of ten or so wyverns. They were about 300 meters away. After hurling two spears in quick succession, I cast the flashiest of the 6th Circle lightning spells.
“Lightning Rain!”
Mana realized into deadly form flew like a lightning bolt right into their flight path.
Boom! Booooooom! Baboooooooooooom!
As they avoided my spears in a panic, the mana of magic exploded flashily all around them.
“Gaaaaaaaaagh!”
Kaaaaaaaghhhh!
Wyverns and knights alike were struck by hundreds of watermelon-sized Lightning Rain “drops” and screamed in agony. Because I had put all my strength into the spell, an area of around 50 meters was popping off like a fireworks show.
Schwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip. Kauuuuuuuu!
Only after the Black Wyverns fell apart and spells burst out in quick succession did the Empire’s knights lose themselves to fear. Turning their reins, they began to rapidly flee the battlefield. As the first wyverns began to turn tail, the others followed suit like a line of toppling dominos.
“Flights 1 and 2, chase the enemies to an appropriate distance to prevent reformation. Flight 3, end the lives of the injured enemy wyverns and collect the Blessed Spears.”
“As you command!”
An aerial battle wasn’t much different from a ground battle. If there wasn’t an overwhelming difference in numbers, victory was decided by fighting spirit. The imperial troops that broke and turned tail first completely forgot their fierce charge moments ago and fled for their lives every which way.
‘What a shame.’
Hundreds of injured wyverns were flailing on the ground. Regret began to set in. First and foremost was my regret in not being able to give that damned Poltviran a proper nosebleed. The second regret was that if time allowed, we could easily reeducate the injured wyverns and turn them into our own forces. However, we couldn’t dawdle here. We decisively carried out our blitz, but dozens of Nerman wyverns were wounded or dead. In addition, I heard that the magic tower had dispatched upper-circle mage Skyknights. If something went wrong, being greedy would result in much bigger losses for us. It looked like around 200 wyverns had fled. If they came back bolstered by wyverns from the surrounding territories and magic tower Skyknights, victory couldn’t be guaranteed.
‘My job here is done. Hardaim, it’s time for your part of the deal.’
Kweeeeeek. Ba-ba-ba-bam. Kyaaaaaaaak.
The air was filled with the final cries of Bajran wyverns that had become sitting targets for my Skyknights, who had received the command to kill. In no time at all, every wyvern in the sky was a Nerman wyvern.
And like that, under the blessing of the sun, which had parted the red curtain of dawn and stepped onto land, the battle came to an end.
