A War Has No Beginning.
An imposing pillar of ice stands tall on the horizon, warning us with its majestic presence that we're too late to reflect on our actions. The battle has already begun, and we find ourselves lagging behind, failing to take any measures.
"We're under attack!" I shout vehemently, watching through the window as the ice mine activates. These incredibly dangerous mines, powered by Puck's mana, have been my latest creation, capable of obliterating anything within a one-meter radius and erecting colossal ice pillars that reveal their location.
I've become more adept at spellcasting, and Beatrice and I have put in a lot of hard work on this project. These mines absorb mana, regardless of the amount, and activate, intensifying their destructive power.
A pillar of such magnitude can only be the work of a human. There's no other explanation. I had strategically placed these mines throughout the village under Roswaal's domain, all in anticipation of this moment. I'd identified every place where Petelgeuse left his mark in the novel, and all that was left was to set the traps.
"It's too early!" Rem exclaims, visibly worried. Emilia seems to be trembling, but I can't afford to pay her attention at this moment.
"I'll go first, Emilia!" I shout, catching her gaze. "You know what to do." I take Beatrice's hand, and we leap out the window, plummeting from the fourth floor. There's no time to waste.
Beatrice immediately understands my intentions. "Murak!" she exclaims. In an instant, our weight dramatically decreases, thanks to her magical intervention.
I, on the other hand, use wind magic to counteract gravity and propel us upward. Fixing my gaze ahead, I utter a defiant cry: "Forward!" A powerful gust of wind emerges from my back, propelling us forward with fervor.
I speed toward the village with Beatrice in my arms, praying that the situation isn't as dire as I fear. From up high, I can see several ice pillars emerging, indicating that the situation is far more serious than I had expected. I have no idea how many cultists might be involved.
"What if the whale appears too?" I briefly think, but I quickly dismiss that possibility. If it happens, we'll have no choice but to flee.
In a matter of seconds, I reach the village, and from the heights, I witness the chaos that has erupted. It's only been an hour since the girl's arrival, and all of this is already happening. People begin evacuating as they've been taught, running toward the school, but with the small army we have, we can't protect everyone.
The cultists are heading straight for the pillars, in the direction of that cave.
The soldiers strive to organize themselves, but the evacuation complicates their efforts.
"Bang! Bang!" Gunshots resonate in the surroundings as I ponder my next move.
Waves of desperate people rush toward the school. The soldiers fight with all their might, aided by several earth mages who, while not trained as soldiers, create cover to assist in the construction of barricades.
The cultists must traverse a plain path with a radius of thirty meters, making them an easy target. The soldiers huddle together, continuing to fire relentlessly. I estimate it will take them more than ten minutes to evacuate the people, especially the children, so I must remain vigilant, watching from above to ensure no one gets hurt.
"This spell consumes a great deal of mana. If you keep protecting everyone, you won't have enough to defend yourself," Beatrice complains.
I don't respond to her words. I know I'll need mana to fight, and this time, the assistance I have is not sufficient. Emilia must tend to the wounded and serve as the last line of defense for all. We can't ask for help from anyone; Roswaal is unavailable, and due to our contract, Beatrice cannot attack.
I click my tongue, regretting my foolish mistake. When forming a contract with a spirit, it's crucial to consider that the more restrictive the conditions, the stronger the bond with the spirit. This means that both the spirit and I will impose the conditions, but what I didn't know is that it depends on what I'm thinking at that moment.
Probably, due to the influence of alcohol, I didn't think things through properly and let sentimentality guide me when I proclaimed from the depths of my heart that I wouldn't use Beatrice for attacks. The contract was formed with that initial condition, although it states that Beatrice can defend herself if her life is in danger.
So, as I watch the people evacuate, I seek a way to circumvent the contract's rules. I can't make Beatrice have intentions to attack if she doesn't provoke defense, meaning Beatrice can only defend herself and others.
I can use her abilities to attack, but they must be employed by me, which means I can use yin magic, but I must first grasp how to use it; I barely know two spells.
Spirit users don't need to understand magic, as the spirit itself processes the spell, but that counts as an attack by Beatrice. The effects of the spells diminish as we move away, so the farther I am from her, the less of her magic class I can utilize.
Beatrice can only obtain mana from my gate, which means that even though she absorbs it, I must be near her to store it. Therefore, using her for healing should be reserved for wounds that Emilia cannot tend to.
We don't have healing mages, as none wanted to work with us. The best I can do is assign Beatrice the task of healing the wounded, reducing the number of casualties. Moreover, she can also defend herself, so there shouldn't be any problem.
Though I do not comprehend the intricacies of yin magic, the fact that Beatrice wields the power of water magic expands my possibilities. From the residences, I observe a woman clutching a baby, running desperately toward the school, while the cultists appear to be infiltrating from other directions. A cultist drops from the roof and positions himself in her path.
"Damn it!" I exclaim, a sense of anger welling up within me as I witness the situation. With a burst of determination, I sprint towards them. The woman starts to flee in the opposite direction, but the cultist hurls a knife that embeds itself in her back. Despite this, the woman doesn't cease her flight, prompting the relentless pursuit of the cultist.
The woman's harrowing cries for help mirror her desperation just as another cultist steps in her way. I prepare my weapon, aim for the cultist's chest, and pull the trigger.
BANG!
The bullet slices through the air with frenetic speed, leaving behind a trail of scorching energy. Its unyielding trajectory ends by piercing the cultist's chest, who instantly falls while his mask tumbles, his eyes reflecting surprise and pain. However, the cultist pursuing her doesn't halt, propelled by a wild determination, he lunges at his prey with another knife in hand.
Bang!
The deafening gunshot shatters the silence, and the bullet finds its lethal mark in the cultist's head, causing him to crumple to the ground, incapable of carrying out his sinister intent. The courageous mother, despite the knife lodged in her back, clings to her child with unwavering strength, her face displaying a mixture of pain and determination.
I kneel beside her, offering my support. She raises her head to meet my gaze.
"Everything will be fine; let me help you," I assure her, taking the embedded dagger and offering my arm for her to bite down on. "When you feel the pain, bite with all your might."
The woman nods, left with no choice but to trust me. I need her to release all her pain to prevent her from fainting. With a swift motion, I remove the dagger's hilt while she bites down, her cries of pain intertwining with her baby's cries.
"Beatrice, heal her," I command.
Beatrice promptly tends to her wounds, and the woman's fear subsides as she loosens her bite. Once she's been mended, she releases my arm, and I cradle her in my arms, beginning to run towards the school.
"Are you the last one?" I inquire, trying to gain an understanding of the situation amidst the urgency.
"Yes! My husband is fighting, so I had to come from the factory for my child," the lady responds with a fearful tone. "I don't know where the nanny is, but there were traces of blood on the floor," she adds, her voice quivering.
She seems to be the last person from the residential area. However, the security squad must be arriving at this moment to assess the situation. As I run, I do not spot any more cultists, leading me to assume that those two were the only ones in this vicinity.
Finally, we arrive at the school, where a squadron is guarding the people. Fortunately, the cult hasn't yet reached us. The tension in the air is palpable, and unlike the attack of the beasts, this time we are taking proactive measures.
Nonetheless, this doesn't imply that the situation is any less precarious. I leave the lady, who thanks me while taking my hand, unaware that I'm bleeding, likely due to her bite. She attempts to say something, but I hasten her to enter the school directly.
Next, I approach a soldier who is part of the defense squad under Measure T01, commanded by Alsten.
"Soldier, where is Captain Lucas?" I inquire, while the soldier renders a military salute.
"General!" The soldier responds crisply. "Captain Lucas is at the rear of the school, securing the entrances and placing the agreed-upon protections."
In coordination with the established plan, we have strategically placed mines of lesser potency at possible points of entry. These traps are designed to disable and detain attackers without causing lethal harm. The safety of the people is our utmost priority.
At that very moment, Captain Lucas makes his appearance. Lucas is a man who has proven his worth in combat; his personal history propelled him to leave his occupation as a lumberjack and join the army. The harrowing experience of his daughter's abduction during the battle against the beasts ignited an unshakable determination within him.
Lucas, Petra's father, is a brave man who, driven by his own helplessness, found the motivation to take action and contribute to the fight. His example has left a lasting impression on many of us.
Seeing me, Lucas solemnly and respectfully executes a military salute.
"General Marco! The installation of the traps is complete," Lucas reports with a serious gaze, revealing his unwavering commitment to the mission and the protection of all present.
Lucas retrieves a cartridge from his pocket, unveiling what he had requested from the mage Yang, who trains Petra. His face lights up with excitement as he hands me the cartridge.
"The cartridge is ready!" Lucas exclaims proudly, presenting it to me.
Beatrice inspects the cartridge, assessing its quality and confirming its effectiveness. While she is not compatible with Yang magic, we have discovered the possibility of infusing objects with this magic, thanks to Roswaal, a mage with extensive knowledge in the field.
Roswaal has introduced us to an expert capable of performing this task with mastery, and we have hired his services, offering him a generous salary. Furthermore, we have proposed that he becomes Petra's mentor, a proposition he has accepted on the condition of excluding Petra from battles until she is fully prepared.
One of the standout features of Yang magic is its ability to counteract miasma more effectively than any other form of magic. Mages with a Yang affinity are less affected by the mental corruption of the miasma, rendering them more resilient compared to other mages.
Motivated by this information, I resolve to infuse the bullets with Yang magic to confront the cult. However, the production of these bullets is exceedingly costly and intricate. It demands an astronomical amount of mana and the expertise of a specialist to execute. I possess only five bullets, but I hope they will suffice to weaken Petelgeuse's soul.
Taking Beatrice's hand, I ascend into the air to deliver a speech and boost everyone's morale. From this vantage point, I can see that Emilia and Rem have arrived, signifying that it's time to take action. While the sound cannot be amplified by the wind, it aids in carrying my words.
I infuse mana into my vocal cords, concentrating on what I'm about to say.
"Soldiers!" I declare with a resonant voice that reaches the ears of all, including the enemies. "We have been vilely and dishonorably attacked, and now we face a tight situation."
The soldiers don't lift their gazes; they continue firing in the face of the imminent cultist onslaught, retreating due to their overwhelming numbers.
"Fear not! It's time to display our strength! These are not humans; they are monsters we have tirelessly trained for," I continue, creating multiple fireballs that explode, eliminating several cultists. "They are weak! We are stronger! For our families! For Irlam!"
"For Irlam!" echoes throughout the town. The soldiers prove their mettle as they fire upon the cultists.
The soldiers' resounding battle cries fill the air, their excitement palpable as they utilize all the resources at their disposal. Furthermore, the new prototypes make their appearance: the artillery squad.
Four cannons emerge, specially designed and created for mass attacks. It's time to demonstrate that we haven't wasted our time.
I descend alongside Beatrice, who appears reluctant to stay behind. Unfortunately, there are many wounded, and several people have sustained severe injuries. Emilia is the only one capable of healing, but if she does it alone, she won't be able to tend to everyone.
Rem will join me in battle since I need someone to support me in whatever comes our way. Beatrice can't fight, so it's best for her to stay behind to heal and protect the wounded.
Emilia immediately starts healing the injured. Over fifteen people lie wounded as the soldiers continue to defend. Any injured soldier is tended to and swiftly sent back into combat; there's no time to waste.
Beatrice looks at me as I prepare to depart. She hands me a black crystal, which becomes my ace in the hole for this battle.
"If you die, I'll never forgive you, in fact," Beatrice declares with a desolate look.
I take her cheeks and force a smile. I gaze into her eyes with determination.
"I won't die without telling you first," I assure her, turning away from Beatrice without addressing Emilia.
Puck appears at my side, his gaze complex, but he seems willing to assist in some way. It's strange that he hasn't appeared until this moment; he's been acting peculiar lately.
"Puck, I need a favor from you," I tell Puck, who looks curious.
I trot while Puck accompanies me, both of us heading towards the location of the artillery squad. Puck is a key force, and I know that if I leave him to battle an enemy finger, he can overcome it effortlessly. There are still several hours until sunset, but I must also consider the distance he can operate.
"I need you to stay with Alsten, you know him. I need you to support him in his fight against Petelgeuse's fingers," I ask of Puck, who seems to be contemplating.
He feels indebted to me for all I've done for Emilia, so if he helps me with this, we'll call it even. At this moment, Alsten isn't capable of defeating an enemy finger on his own. The only thing bolstering him is his divine blessing, but he lacks the means to vanquish an enemy finger.
If Emilia were in the fight, things would be simpler, but our shortage of healers limits us in that regard. Frederica has gone to rescue the people who haven't yet joined Lucas's squad, so only Rem and I remain as external forces.
"I understand. If it's just about exterminating those scum, it won't be a problem," Puck affirms with a smile.
An enemy finger should be arriving at any moment, so I need to join the artillery squad. Petelgeuse grows stronger as his fingers die, so the best way to kill him is to do so before all his fingers are defeated.
But first, I must find him before all his fingers are vanquished.
Puck looks at me for a moment before disappearing, leaving me with these words.
"Marco, Emilia has grown so much. I appreciate everything you've done for her. I'll help you with everything this time. I'll be a good father for the first time," Puck says with joy.
I arrive at the location where they are setting up the artillery. There are four cannons since the fifth is reserved for another situation. The cannon I decided to build is based on a model used in the First World War.
Medieval cannons pose many challenges in terms of reloading and firing, so for this situation, it would be more practical to use mortars. However, I couldn't figure out how to integrate black powder into the explosion, so it's not viable until I improve the powder.
I used a 155 mm Model 1917 Schneider howitzer, which was an artillery cannon used during the First and Second World Wars. Since I still don't have the capability to use projectiles as they did back then, I modified it to use iron balls. Black powder has many imperfections that prevent me from advancing in that aspect.
The first to greet me is the artillery captain, a brave woman with brown hair who enlisted in the army. This talented woman demonstrated exceptional skill with projectiles and easily masters parabolic equations, making her an expert in launching cannons and maximizing their use.
Sofia greets me with a military gesture and requests orders.
"Fire at the crowds. We've trained enough to strike fear into the enemy," I instruct her.
Firing upon a specific enemy is a complicated task, so employing the cannons against Petelgeuse's fingers is rendered impossible. Hence, I require them to inflict as many casualties as possible. Everyone readies themselves, on the brink of firing when suddenly several trees are hurtled in our direction.
"Goa!" I exclaim, conjuring a fireball that detonates one of the trees. It bursts with the force of the impact, while the others crash violently to the ground, raising dust and debris.
Almost like a nightmare, five cultists rise into the air, floating as if they are levitating. To me, it's evident that the situation has spiraled out of control.
"VAAAST!" resounds in everyone's ears, the cry of several monstrosities beyond our comprehension.
The cultists begin to laugh, while the soldiers stand there, watching the situation slip from their grasp. A staunch resistance has just been obliterated by monsters far surpassing their might.
"Such a shame! Such a shame! Such a shaaame!" one of them advances, and for the first time, I can perceive Petelgeuse's authority.
More than hands, it's as if he has several arms extending from his being. These arms have a color that absorbs light, shrouded in a faint violet mist that creates an aura one would only encounter in their worst nightmares.
The scene unfolds with everyone looking on in terror, powerless in the face of this dire situation. We must battle against five of Petelgeuse's fingers, knowing that the original is growing stronger as the fingers meet their demise. There is no time to lose. It's time to put my devised plan into action.
"Fire the cannons!" I command, attempting to instill reason in everyone.
BOOM!
The cannons resonate with a deafening roar, and iron balls hurtle at breakneck speed, striking the ground and the approaching cultists. Now it's time to fight, for these individuals are far weaker than Betelgeuse. It's time to annihilate them.
Though I'm aware this only empowers Betelgeuse further, I cannot allow them to massacre the entire village.
"Keep firing!" I shout, trying to galvanize everyone into action.
Now is not the moment for hesitation. At the very least, I must attempt something. While I have not yet completely mastered it, I know I can do things I couldn't before. Before me lies a plain that stretches all the way to the forest. I must traverse the cultists and reach the finger.
"MURAK!" I cry, and then employ wind magic to propel myself toward the first finger.
I advance at great speed. What the spell accomplishes is not reducing my mass but diminishing the effect of gravity upon me. By reducing gravitational acceleration, I can move faster. However, I must be cautious not to decrease it too much, for it would propel me backward with the weapon's recoil.
Without soaring, every step I take, I propel forward with the power of wind magic. I evade the cultists who pounce upon me as I draw closer to the fingers. There's something I learned from Emilia: if I infuse mana into my body, it will gradually enhance my physical attributes. I can still improve further and become stronger.
At a height of nearly six meters, the finger before me senses my presence and removes its mask, revealing a woman with half her hair burnt and half of her face disfigured. Her eyes seem on the verge of popping out of their sockets as she gazes at me with fury.
"Traitor! Traitor!" exclaims the monster before me.
I ignore her words and press on. She deploys two additional arms from her back and hurls them at me. Thanks to wind magic, it's as though I'm skating on the earth. With brief bursts, I change direction swiftly, causing the arms to collide with the ground. Earth is thrown into the air, while she immediately directs her authority toward me.
In that very moment, I leap, but my progress is halted by one of the arms gripping my leg and arrogantly drawing me closer to her body.
"Traitor! Traitor!" that monster keeps repeating while looking at me with disdain.
I grip my rifle firmly, patiently waiting for the opportunity to have Petelgeuse's finger right in front of me. Upside down, I wait, ready to fire. I scrutinize the finger closely, its face marked by lacerations and blows, while it continues to babble words of treachery.
Without letting the opportunity slip away, I aim my weapon directly at the finger as it begins to laugh maniacally.
"What will you do with a mere stick? Traitor!" it exclaims, laughing with a twisted contempt.
With determination and without hesitation, I pull the trigger. A dry thunder echoes in the air, followed by the woman's head exploding violently from the impact of the bullet. In that same instant, the hand that held me vanishes, and the other fingers look at me with fury as they prepare to attack.
I plummet towards the ground, but I have no choice but to rely on my mana to avoid a fatal fate. I concentrate my strength and lessen gravity as much as possible, feeling intense pressure within. As I descend, two arms lunges at me, attempting to grasp and halt my descent.
"Murak!" I shout, unleashing a shockwave with a potent magical thrust that propels me in the direction of the forest, away from the fingers and their deadly reach.
Two of the fingers start attacking me in the air, but by sheer luck, multiple ice spikes suddenly emerge, slamming into the fingers and mercilessly piercing them. The fingers' defense attempts are in vain, as the quantity of spikes is so overwhelming that they pierce through, causing their imminent destruction.
Amidst the frenzy of battle, Puck gazes at me with a playful smile. Though I have not yet fully mastered Beatrice's magics and have only scratched the surface of her vast powers, combining spells consumes a great deal of my mind and energy. Nevertheless, I feel a growing confidence in my ability to face any challenge.
I direct my gaze towards the people cowering in terror under the fingers' assaults. Despite their fear, it's time to continue the fight. I infuse my voice with mana, and, with all my might, I shout an order that resonates on the battlefield.
"Fight!" I shout vehemently, letting my determination echo in the air, injecting courage into the hearts of all present.