Chapter 252

Rustle, rustle.

From the depths of the forest, something was approaching.

It wouldn’t have been alarming if it were merely “something,” but the problem was that it wasn’t just one or two presences.

The ground beneath the Forest of Naga subtly trembled.

The Black Dragon narrowed his eyes.

In the oppressive silence, the faint sound of an advancing army grew louder and began to overpower all other noises in the vicinity.

Clank-clank-clank.

As the sound drew nearer, the Black Dragon finally caught sight of the first shadowy figures.

“Prepare for battle!”

The Black Dragon’s thunderous command echoed across the field.

At his order, not only Ragnar’s troops but also the forces from the other factions snapped to attention.

The closer the enemy drew, the stronger the stench of death grew, assaulting their senses and making their heads spin.

“It smells like my nose is rotting.”

The nauseating stench, unlike anything they had encountered before, heightened the tension among the soldiers.

And then, filling the perimeter, the undead legion finally revealed itself.

“Haaaawwwooo!”

With an eerie howl, the undead began their march of death.

“H-how many are there?”

“Isn’t this too much...?”

The seemingly endless waves of undead continued to pour out of the forest, their numbers growing by the second.

“Haaaawwwooo!”

Their unearthly howls reverberated, shaking the ground and the towering trees of the forest.

“Hiiiik...”

The sight began to break the resolve of some soldiers. What had initially been tension gave way to fear.

In the first line of defense, some soldiers unconsciously took a step back.

‘What in the world is happening inside?’

The Black Dragon wasn’t just focused on the advancing undead army.

Thud! Thud!

Intermittent, massive vibrations emanated from within the forest. Even the Black Dragon couldn’t immediately identify the source.

“Tabek, for now, retreat to your command and focus on leadership.”

“Hmm! Agreed. At least until we deal with these undead, an alliance would be wise!”

The Black Dragon allowed himself a small smile as he watched Tabek retreat.

The beastfolk warriors’ keen instincts would not have missed the colossal presence in the forest.

If anything, their fiery and combative nature only seemed more ignited by the looming threat.

But the Black Dragon wasn’t one to be intimidated.

While other factions might falter under such pressure, Ragnar’s forces exuded an air of sharp, unwavering resolve.

“Forget the beastfolk. Send messengers to the Mage Tower, the Gentleman’s Union, and the Mulligan faction. If they have any sense, they’ll agree to an alliance for now.”

At the Black Dragon’s command, messengers swiftly departed for the other factions.

Though the undead legion posed a serious threat, it was nothing these factions couldn’t handle—at least for now.

‘Judging by the situation, something major must have happened inside.’

The Black Dragon briefly thought of Theo and his group, who had entered earlier, but he felt no particular concern.

Some might call it cold, but for the Black Dragon, it was trust and confidence in Theo’s capabilities.

‘The Black Snows didn’t escape, did they?’

In the distance, a few undead clad in the Black Snow uniform began to appear.

The Black Dragon’s expression turned grim.

‘If the Black Snow ended up like that, it’s likely the elite forces that went silent also met the same fate.’

He doubted any remnants of the elite forces were still fighting inside, especially with even the covert Black Snow agents turned into undead.

‘This only makes the other factions cling to us more.’

The Black Dragon predicted that the growing realization of the undead threat would leave the other factions with no choice but to depend on Ragnar’s forces.

Though they hadn’t fully reacted yet, the shadows of unease began to creep into their expressions.

Still, with no news yet of their elite forces being turned, they clung to a faint hope and accepted the Black Dragon’s proposal for an alliance.

“Tabek! Are you really going to let them have the artifact?!”

“This is a scheme! We can’t keep letting Ragnar control us!”

“At least take command yourself, Tabek!”

The beastfolk, already harboring deep resentment toward Ragnar, voiced their displeasure at the alliance.

But—

“Our tradition dictates that the strongest warrior leads as Warlord. Is there anyone among you stronger than me?”

The beastfolk fell silent.

In both strength and wisdom, Tabek had always been unmatched, which was why he had held the position of Warlord for so long.

“This time, follow my lead! We can settle our dispute with Ragnar afterward. For now, brothers, let us show this massive horde the might of the beastfolk!”

“Oooooh!”

Tabek’s impassioned speech finally swayed the Beastfolk Battlefront to agree to the alliance.

“Mage Tower, Gentleman’s Union, Mulligan—all have agreed to the temporary alliance!”

When the messengers returned with confirmation from all factions, the Black Dragon nodded.

With Ragnar’s forces holding the greatest military strength, they could confidently request reinforcements from the other factions if their own base was threatened.

“Then let’s begin.”

The Black Dragon emerged from his tent and leaped into the air, soaring high above the battlefield.

Drawing his sword, he slashed a boundary line across the forest’s edge and the center of the frontlines before landing back on the ground.

“Listen, allies! If the enemy crosses this line, all aerial forces are to commence bombardment. Ground troops will handle any stragglers. The Stormblade Division and reserve units will remain at the rear to reinforce weakened lines!”

At the Black Dragon’s command, Ragnar’s forces began moving in perfect unison.

Screeeech!

With the roar of dragons leading the charge, the aerial forces from each faction began to rise.

The Mage Tower’s airships, the Gentleman’s Union’s hot air balloons, and the beastfolk’s flying units took to the skies.

Only Mulligan lacked proper aerial forces, leaving the others to dominate the air.

“Impressive.”

Even the Black Dragon couldn’t help but admire the sight.

The diverse and unique aerial fleets flying together made for a breathtaking display.

‘Now, will they cross the central line?’

As the undead began crossing the boundary, the aerial forces moved into action, diving into the battlefield.

“Haaaawwwooo!”

The undead, once sluggish in their advance, began to pick up speed as they reached the central line.

Their gaping maws opened wide as they charged, closing in on the first line of defense at an alarming pace.

‘They’re faster than expected. Have they been enhanced?’

The Black Dragon noticed the eerie resemblance between the undead and the Blood Sacrificed Ones, their glowing red eyes radiating an unsettling aura.

“Let loose!”

Despite their speed, the Black Dragon remained calm.

The first line of shield bearers skillfully held their ground, while the aerial forces unleashed their bombardment.

Boom! Boom-boom-boom!

Explosions from the carpet bombing filled the battlefield as the war against the undead horde began in earnest.

***

Whooosh!

As the bombardment ceased, the terrain near the Forest of Naga had undergone a dramatic transformation.

The magical assault had carved out craters and scattered massive boulders across the area. Dust hung thick in the air, and within the basins, a hellish scene of undead corpses lay strewn about.

Shhhk!

The final remnants of the undead were being swiftly eliminated, their resistance utterly broken.

“Mage units, incinerate all the undead!”

The Black Dragon issued his command.

The stench was unbearable, but more concerning was the lingering miasma emanating from the undead. Purging it quickly was necessary not only to protect the troops but also to prevent it from further sapping their morale.

Rumble...

As the mages worked to dispose of the undead, the sky began to rumble ominously.

The overcast sky, threatening rain, seemed unremarkable at first, and most dismissed it as natural given the unstable mana in the atmosphere, caused by the miasma and the rampaging artifact within the forest.

Yet, the Black Dragon alone stood transfixed, his gaze drawn upward.

He wasn’t responding to something visible or audible.

It was his battle-hardened instincts—his sixth sense—warning him.

A cold sweat ran down his back as he directed his focus toward the forest.

And then, he saw it.

“Emergency descent! All forces, prepare for impact!”

The Black Dragon shouted, his voice filled with urgency, as he gave the retreat order.

‘This is on the scale of grand magic. Damn it!’

Atop a towering tree, the skeletal form of a Bone Dragon came into view, its massive frame unmistakable. Atop the dragon sat a lich, conjuring a massive cumulonimbus cloud above them.

Crackle! Crackle!

Electricity sparked and crackled as the Bone Dragon’s maw opened wide.

Roar!!

The Bone Dragon’s Dragon Roar reverberated across the battlefield.

“Kieeeek!”

The roar sent the beastfolk’s flying units and the drakes of the White Scale Cavalry into disarray, their formations crumbling as their mounts bucked wildly.

And then, the Black Dragon saw it.

“No! Abandon your mounts and land! Now!”

He watched as the lich raised a staff tipped with a gleaming sapphire that discharged a blinding bolt of blue lightning into the storm cloud.

BOOM! BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

The sky erupted in a cascade of lightning, blinding and deafening.

The continuous flashes lit up the heavens as the aerial fleets—airships and balloons alike—exploded like fireworks.

Those who heeded the Black Dragon’s warning managed to abandon their mounts and use mana to land safely, but many were not so fortunate.

Nearly half of the aerial forces were obliterated by the lich’s devastating magic.

“The Bluebeard…?”

The Black Dragon growled, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the lich.

The lich, seemingly aware of his scrutiny, smiled wickedly.

“Bluebeard... Even you have become one of the undead? And a Bone Dragon as well!”

Grid, a member of the Mage Tower and one of Bluebeard’s former subordinates, let out a despairing cry, his gaze filled with anguish and rage.

But the appearance of Bluebeard was only the beginning.

Clack-clack-clack.

The rhythmic steps of more undead echoed ominously.

“The massive undead were just bait, weren’t they?”

The Black Dragon couldn’t help but feel a grudging admiration as he observed the unfolding strategy.

This wasn’t the kind of plan an undead mind could conjure—it was a meticulous and cunning trap.

‘Massive undead to bait specialized units, then disable them with the Dragon Roar, followed by annihilation through grand magic. Hah!’

While the White Scale Cavalry had survived relatively intact, most of the other factions’ aerial forces had been completely decimated.

‘And the terrain is even worse.’

The bombardment had rendered the land uneven, creating deep basins and steep slopes. Deploying ground troops would be exhausting and unsustainable.

The undead, however, were unrelenting.

They didn’t tire.

To stop Bluebeard’s magic, they would have to charge directly and destroy the Bone Dragon’s skull—but simply holding the line wasn’t an option.

Bluebeard’s magic could whittle down their forces from a distance.

Clack. Clack. Clack.

More undead emerged at the boundary.

“Ta-Tan…?”

“Even our proud Chiaak Unit couldn’t escape…?”

A wave of despair rippled through the allied forces as undead wearing the distinctive armor of the elite Chiaak Unit appeared.

Though many had feared this possibility, seeing it confirmed was a devastating blow.

“No… NOOO!”

Cries of anguish and despair erupted from the various factions.

“Gaaaahhh!”

Bluebeard raised his staff, and the jewel atop it radiated a baleful glow.

The undead let out a collective roar, their voices shaking the battlefield as they charged forward.