I close my eyes for a few seconds, allowing thoughts to flow through my mind. Why do I find myself in this situation? Why must I face these overwhelming challenges?
The longing for happiness and tranquility wrestles with the adverse circumstances surrounding me. There never seems to be a moment of lasting peace...
My eyelids open again, and my attention focuses on a particular knight. Among the crowd, a man limps towards us. We get close enough to hear his words amid exhausted sighs.
"They killed him! They've killed Rort, our squadron leader!" His eyes reflect devastation, and his fists clench with anger. "The whale attacked vertically, snatched Rort and seven other comrades. It ripped the earth and swallowed them..."
A shiver runs down my spine as I listen to his account.
The knight mentions that Rort sacrificed himself to inflict damage on the beast. A desperate and heroic gesture echoing sadly in the air.
The loss of the squadron leader has left a deep void in the ranks of the knights.
Morale has been severely hit, and spirits waver. Three shots remain with the magical cannons, and their ability to cause damage becomes crucial at this moment.
Without Anastasia, the number of available mages is limited, leaving us heavily reliant on Emilia and her seemingly inexhaustible mana reserves. I could also contribute, but even physical cannons have their limits.
Projectiles are scarce, with only enough for three additional rounds, excluding the enhanced version with a single projectile.
The mist has started to dissipate in large quantities, raising unsettling questions. Have the anti-mana crystals effectively absorbed it? Or has the whale absorbed the mist to recover in some way?
The uncertainty surrounding the nature of this monster and its tactics only adds to the sense of imminent danger.
The knights, whose gazes oscillate between sadness and anger, need a reason to press on. Crusch, with a hint of guilt in her eyes, seems to share the weight of the situation.
Despite not having shared many interactions, I feel that somehow, I can understand her better as time goes on.
A mutual understanding seems to emerge between us, based on shared experiences and the burdens we carry.
At that moment, an inner force compels me to raise my voice. I gather mana in my vocal cords and, with passionate intensity, exclaim, "They are knights, whose lives are intertwined with death at every turn!"
My voice resonates with determination.
"Let's rise! Let's fight in honor of the fallen!"
The eyes of those present turn towards me, but it's Crusch who joins in the call, her voice filled with firmness.
"We cannot afford to surrender now!" Crusch clenches her fist with determination. "We must avenge our comrades! Let's return with the head of that beast!"
The effect of our words spreads, injecting a new sense of purpose into the torn hearts of the knights. The surprise on their faces transforms into renewed determination.
Although I know our words won't affect everyone equally, we need to awaken the spirit of vengeance and resilience in this dark hour.
"Forward!" shouts Crusch, pointing in a random direction as we cannot see through the mist. "Lead the wounded towards the camp."
Immediately, I take steps to coordinate the camp's location. I ask Alsten to communicate with the mages to use fire magic and find the cannons' whereabouts.
Even though the mist has dispersed, the distance we've covered is considerable, and we need to locate the cannons before the enemy attacks again.
The whale is showing stealthy attack patterns, indicating it feels threatened by us in some way. Its reluctance to approach the artillery may indicate fear of that particular area or even the possibility of absorbing the mist to recover.
Whatever the situation, we know we need a shift in the dynamics of this battle.
We continue advancing, inspiring the knights around us with a new purpose. At this moment, revenge and determination are our most powerful allies.
That internal attack, though uncertain in its effect, should at least be causing some damage, or so I hope. The advantage of the irons embedded in its flesh is that they will continue to inflict constant damage.
I'm not sure about the exact morphology of this beast, but I hope it's similar to that of a whale in that aspect.
Does it have internal organs?
It would be ideal, although based on what I've seen in the animated series, I can't assert whether it has organs or not. However, I wish to be wrong.
"Escort the wounded! Prepare to depart!" My voice resonates with authority, urging everyone to mount their dragons.
Soon, a massive fireball rises in the air, a signal that it's time to move.
We instruct the remaining knights to advance quickly, and during this journey, my mind occupies itself with the reasons behind the diminishing mist.
The lack of mana generation by the monster may indicate that our plan is working, not necessarily due to the inflicted damage but rather the disruption of its flow.
Internal injuries and bleeding should be accumulating, especially if this creature has organs. If it has an anatomy similar to a sizable living being, then our plan might succeed.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle cuts through the air, drawing our attention upward. We didn't notice it as we advanced, but a strong wind rushes from the sky.
We momentarily halt our march, only to witness the rapid descent of the whale towards the artillery location.
As I look up, I confront the magnitude of its form and the wounds that mark it. Blood begins to drip to the ground as it advances, a striking and sinister image in equal measure.
Despite our approach, we are still about a kilometer away, but given its rapid progress, it will take only seconds for it to reach the artillery location. The mist is clearing even more, revealing part of our surroundings.
"Let's try to intercept it!" shouts Wilhelm, whose voice is laden with a mix of anger and determination.
"Get out of its range! We're in the firing zone!" My voice rises with urgency, dividing our men into two groups as we distance ourselves. Crusch stays by my side as we move away from the imminent danger, and Wilhelm takes the other flank.
The whale seems to completely ignore us and continues its course towards the artillery.
We seize this opportunity to retreat and gain time.
However, we watch with unease as the colossal monster approaches its target. The idea of the artillery being hit by its charge is a possibility we do not wish to contemplate.
"Up!" My hand extends to Crusch, and my eyes reflect the seriousness of the situation. "Quick!"
She leaps toward me, taking position behind me, and in response to my request, I use murak to reduce gravity in a circle around us. Although using murak in this way consumes more mana, it is necessary for our next move.
Grímnir responds to the change in conditions by accelerating with astonishing speed. The wind becomes cold and piercing as our speed increases. Crusch, surprised by the sudden acceleration, holds on firmly.
In a matter of seconds, we find ourselves alongside the great whale. Grímnir has endured the change without losing balance, surpassing even my expectations.
The comparison between our dimensions and that of the whale is as absurd as ants trying to bite a giant, but it's in that thought where I find my inspiration.
Ants also have their way of fighting.
Grímnir responds to my command and continues to advance, while I release even more mana to maintain murak. The dragon's acceleration becomes even more impressive, and the wind grows even more intense as we get closer.
The whale remains by our side, its massive size intimidating, but instead of discouraging me, it fills me with determination.
Crusch seems to grasp my plan and takes steps to prepare herself.
She rises slightly in her seat, bracing herself as she charges her attack. The wind tosses her hair, but her fiery and focused eyes reflect her dedication to this moment.
Together, we prepare for the next move.
"Take this!" Crusch exclaims as she moves her arm, releasing a blade of wind that impacts the creature's side.
The wind blade momentarily halts its advance and causes the whale to stagger slightly. The creature emits a cry of pain, and a profuse amount of blood begins to spurt, staining the ground with its presence.
However, despite its injury, the beast persists in its trajectory, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.
Unable to continue, I end the murak effect to decrease our speed. Using murak in this way, over broad areas, requires considerable effort and leaves me with a feeling of weakness.
I am far from Beatrice, and maintaining my mana level is challenging.
"The... mist..." I murmur as I observe how the mist seems to be slightly less dense.
At that moment, the whale takes advantage of the surrounding mist to heal its wounds and replenish its mana.
My mind goes on alert. Is it trying to deplete our resources? Or is it preparing for a final attack? We continue following the beast, with the knight's squad maintaining a safe distance behind us. Wilhelm and his squadron should be advancing towards the camp as planned.
The whale's speed begins to decrease, allowing us to move out of the artillery firing range. At that moment, the knight's squad joins us, preparing for the imminent confrontation.
Bulges start to grow on the whale's skin, and the forming cavities begin to rotate. In the blink of an eye, the beast is covered with these protrusions, and surprisingly, we all stop attacking, bewildered by this strange reaction.
A tense silence fills the air as we wait for the next move.
At that moment, I feel the need to take drastic measures. I charge my voice with mana and impulsively turn my body, placing my hands over Crusch's ears, catching her off guard.
"COVER YOUR EARS!" I shout with all my might, releasing mana with all the power I can muster.
EEEEEEEEEEEEE
A piercing scream extends through the environment, reverberating in the sparse mist and vibrating the air with its power.
The sound is so loud and unpleasant that I feel like my eardrums are about to burst, creating a sensation of vibration even in my body.
However, I don't yield to the pain and continue releasing mana, lightening the effects of the noise while reinforcing my body with magic to withstand the pressure.
The knights around me obey my order and cover their ears, dropping their weapons due to the impact of the noise. However, given the proximity to the noise source, their protection seems ineffective.
I use my mana to try to mitigate the effect on Crusch, but she struggles with all her might to endure it.
"AAAAGGHGHGHAAA!" The scream of one of the knights joins the chorus of desperation. The others also start to give in, unable to withstand the auditory assault.
The dragons halt in their tracks, affected by the sound, resulting in several knights being thrown from their mounts as they plummet to the ground.
Grímnir valiantly struggles to maintain composure, but the strength of the noise is overwhelming.
However, as expected, I don't feel the effects of this ability on me.
The reason behind this immunity is uncertain, but it becomes clear that the archbishop's abilities have no impact on me.
It's a fact I should study further later. If this immunity is due to not being from this world, then it could be a valuable clue.
However, I also consider the possibility that the Witch of Envy is the cause of these disturbances, adding an additional layer of mystery to the situation.
The whale continues to accelerate its pace, expelling more mist as the scream persists, albeit muffled due to the dispersion caused by the surrounding mist.
"Doesn't... it affect you?" Crusch asks with an evident wince of pain, although she maintains her firm position. Her expression reveals her suffering as she struggles to stand strong despite the torturous resonance.
I watch as Crusch disengages from my hands and descends from the dragon to attend to the wounded.
"The magic used directly affects the mind and soul. The greater strength or control you have over magic, the more resistant you'll be," explains Crusch as she begins applying techniques to incapacitate the affected.
It's evident that several of the knights who fell during our approach still need urgent help. Not all the dragons halted their advance, so there's likely more injured people along the route we covered.
The knight's squadron in this area was quickly decimated, and I am unaware of the situation with Wilhelm and his group.
The knights continue to be in a state of hysteria, screaming and inflicting damage on themselves in an uncontrolled manner. Their actions seem to indicate that they are immersed in frenzied desperation.
They tear at their faces and strike anything within reach, blood starting to flow from their eyes and ears, further fueling the collective hysteria.
The situation is chaotic and alarming.
There is a team assigned for these situations, but the mist is thicker than anticipated. Right now, we need to transport them all to the healing camp, but they must overcome this obstacle to do so.
Healing mages are scarce and valuable, so it is crucial to protect them from any threats.
Crusch's worried gaze meets mine as she calls out, "Marco!" she exclaims, a mix of concern and uncertainty in her voice. "Will they be okay there?"
I understand her concern, as she has not witnessed the true extent of Emilia's power. Emilia's impression is often underestimated due to her appearance and aura, which can seem childish and innocent.
However, this is a grave mistake because it is precisely this appearance that makes her dangerous.
For my part, I remain calm and direct my attention towards the direction where the whale is.
Although I can't do much to heal the people affected by the scream, I trust that Emilia and the artillery will soon take action and regain control of the situation.
She may not have fully grasped that characteristic, that kind of aura that inadvertently leads her to be underestimated by those around her. In various situations, that peculiarity proves to be her best ally.
It's in the least expected moments when her true potential emerges from the shadows and eclipses everyone around her. Her ability knows no bounds, and while it may require extra effort, she never gives up in the face of difficulties.
A self-sufficient smile forms on my face, a smile that only those who know her prowess in Irlam would understand.
I watch as she tries to comprehend the reason behind my gesture, although in a matter of seconds, she exhales with resignation, unable to articulate words.
Finally, the roar subsides, giving us a brief moment of respite. From here, at a safe distance, I can perfectly see the artillery and the rest, as well as the advance of the whale, which is getting closer to them.
The whale has penetrated a dangerous range, and its response is the release of a dense mist, accompanied by the firing of multiple projectiles and a devastating breath that ravages everything.
"No!" Crusch's shout resonates with authority, followed by an uneasy look directed towards me. For Crusch, her mistrust is an understandable reaction; trust must be built with tangible evidence.
"Marco, are you absolutely sure that...?"
Our trust relationship is in the process of full construction. I know she trusts me to a certain extent, but it requires even more for her to fully trust our strategy.
Meanwhile, the whale releases more than a dozen mist ball, distributing them to the locations where the artillery is positioned.
"If the artillery doesn't fire, then...!"
"The whale is cautious; even if they shoot, I'm sure it will dodge or find a way to counter it. It won't be fooled again by past tactics. Even if they manage to inflict severe wounds, it won't be enough to annihilate her. This could be the imminent conclusion. Therefore, attacking from this perspective proves to be our worst strategic choice."
Crusch is aware of it, but her skepticism pushes her to consider dire scenarios.
"You shouldn't underestimate your opponent. In terms of combat power, she's not behind you." My lips curve into a self-sufficient smile, intrigued by what is about to unfold.
The whale begins to zigzag while continuing to launch mist balls. Before these can impact, several ice pillars emerge one after another with astonishing speed, stopping the mist bullets with fierce determination.
The surprise on Crusch's face is palpable; the speed of the projectiles should not be underestimated, and creating so many pillars at such a speed demands a considerable consumption of mana.
The whale approaches ever closer as it continues its onslaught.
I trust in her ability to react; I trust her beyond anyone else in this world.
"UL HUMA!" A shout resounds and reverberates in the surroundings, even though we are separated by almost two hundred meters, its intensity and clarity are undeniable.