---
Two forces were moving closer and closer to one another, with a battle becoming more and more imminent as time passed.
The LEGENDARY King Roark Belmont had begun moving his forces to be stationed between the snowy mountains of Valen County and Shadow Dukedom, where the Legion of Demons was bound to pass as they neared the Frozen Kingdom.
The Battalion Commanders of EPIC rank had taken up multiple defensive positions as they waited for the arrival of their enemies on the cold battlefield.
Back in the Frozen Kingdom, the recently initiated Royal Guard that was formerly called Captain Ryner was on cloud nine as he circled the manor of the former Princess Adelaide that was now the Crown Princess. He had never thought in his wildest dreams as a mercenary that he would come to guard such a noble person.
Since the word of the King, the guards surrounding the Snowy Peak vastly increased as much of the forces of the kingdom were moved out to meet the coming enemies. Ryner could see the veiled face of the princess on the terrace of the Manor that seemed to be staring at a direction outside the kingdom.
He wondered, 'What thoughts would the princess be deeply thinking right now? Would it be of her family that was setting out to battle, or the people she would be in charge of in the future?'
The Royal Guard was wildly imagining many things that could have been passing through the mind of his revered Princess, but he could never imagine that all of his guesses were completely off.
---
Adelaide was repeating the last message that had come across the communication medallion that was connected to another person miles from here.
The last message she received informed her that something unexpected had occurred, but it was something good that would boost their power against the demons even further. The Sir mentioned that he would try to finish it in as little time as possible, and then come to reinforce the battalions of the Frozen Kingdom against the demons.
She had never once lost confidence in him, his actions continuing to show just how expansive his strength was. She even wondered if he was just over preparing for the coming fight.
The many things that had occurred were all due to the chance meeting they had some weeks back. Since then, a dangerous threat had been taken care of and she was given an even higher position. She smiled in wonder at her unique skill and the man that made it possible. Everything she gained would all be given to him, as she wouldn't have any of it without him.
He was the person that had saved her from certain doom. Even now, the battle that many people were despairing at, she was not too worried about it. She didn't worry about the fate of her father, nor of her younger brother that was acting as a commander. She could care even less for the worm of an older brother that was taken along as well. Her grey and murky fate had slowly been changing over the past days, and so would the fate of the kingdom.
She was even thinking further ahead past this battle as she sent commands to her people to start preparing a few things that would be instituted and used after the end of this battle. Her unwavering trust in one person was something impossible to find unless someone was uniquely in her position.
---
Roark looked to his first son that was riding on a horse beside him with a calm expression. He knew his son very well, and forced himself not to show any affection after the reprimanding actions he took. Stripping him of his right to rule was more than enough for now.
"You will follow me closely and learn how I command the forces. Your position in the future will be a Battalion Commander as soon as we get the resources to increase your rank."
There was a brief silence as the King's voice rang out in Aeneas's ears before his reply came.
"Yes, Father."
The eyes of King Roark turned into slits as he carefully looked at his son that seemed to have lost all emotions.
"Take this opportunity to learn and leave your mistakes behind. All I am doing is for the good of us all. This, you will understand in the future."
The conversation finished as the King kicked his horse and moved forward, checking on the movement of his forces. Prince Aeneas followed close behind, a barely discernible whisper leaving his lips.
"I'll be doing what is best for all of us too, father."
---
The human army moved to their positions as the Demon Legion continued to pass through the cold mountains.
At the forefront were red beasts that carried many figures of demons. The five-meter beasts had thick black fur and seemed like bulls, these were the [Demon Ox] that were commonly used as the mode of transportation for demons.
Droves of them stepped on the icy ground as a low thrumming hum could be heard from the mouths of demons.
GHUUUUUM!
Some were riding on the [Demon Ox], those of lower tiers were walking on the icy ground with an impassive expression, and others were high in the sky bracing the cold winds with no problem. Other beasts such as large [Komodo Dragons] and [Mephitic Turtles] were dangerously carrying even more demons as they moved forward.
GHUUUUUM!
With every step they took, the thrumming hum rang out again, scaring any nearby beasts and leaving behind an imposing air as the army advanced. The average height of these demons was two meters, with some exceptional ones slightly taller and bulkier. Most had fair faces with variations of horns pointing out from their heads. Their bodies were covered in dense red armor as they carried heavy weapons or unstable staffs in their hands.
Among their forces, bulky Orc Commanders and Goblin Kings could be seen, with a variety of other powerful species standing by their side.
Demon King Gremory was seated on an exquisite chair atop an even larger reptilian beast as he enjoyed being fed delicacies. The closer he neared the lands of the Frozen Kingdom, the more excited he became. He had to relieve his hunger multiple times because of it.
He really was too excited as he looked forward to the show about to play. A malevolent smile appeared on his face as he thought of faces these humans would make as this play reached its peak. Haha, this battle couldn't arrive soon enough!
Chapter 105 - Making History I
Powerful figures were watching the ending of a perilous battle with rapt attention. In the scene being shown on the wide glass mirror at the depths of one of the Spiritual Lands in the North, a large [Walrus] was seen rolling with its last breath.
In the destroyed grassland, the bodies of a [N.a.k.e.d Molerat] and [Polar Bear] could be seen alongside poisonous puddles of pus and molten ground. The thick skin of the walrus was finally pierced as even with its resistance to the cold, frozen gashes were present all over its body as it vehemently moved even to its last essence.
An excessively large incarnation holding a sword was shooting down like a star, the blade aiming true and bringing an end to the second stage of the Trial of Supremacy.
The weakened bodies of the three beasts that were participating in the trial flashed out soon after as they breathed heavily, still recalling the feeling of the cold blade, poisonous breaths, powerful falling icebergs, and chasing lines of thunder and lightning.
This was not to even mention the feeling of despair as they watched their enemy constantly heal from the wounds they inflicted as if it was nothing. Their origins were severely weakened as a part of themselves was taken with their deaths. This was something they could not control, and had to act as the defenders the moment they chose to contend for the seat of the champion.
The transparent woman overlooking this particular trial was looking closely at the dissipating incarnation as the human grandly appeared in the trial space. His face looked somewhat weary, and yet seemed excited at the same time. She smiled at this sight and sent out a command.
"The final stage will start in an hour. You, you, and you…"
Her hands pointed to multiple figures of the beasts that were watching the matches so far as they rose up somberly. If this human were to really pass the Trial of Supremacy, the consequences f
or them would be huge. They would not allow this to happen.
---
I was holding down my ever so increasing excitement as the fight between three EPIC beasts finally finished. I had gained two more EPIC skills that were in no way less powerful than the ones I continued to receive from this floating land that was actually a Spiritual Land.
The beasts this time dropped a skill or an item each on top of the cores, making me assume the area I was transferred in was similar to a dungeon as the repetition of getting 2 skill books or items from EPIC individuals did not repeat itself.
This would be fine though, as there should be a ton of surprises I don't currently know, and would find out as soon as the next stage is finished. No new contenders or a change of scenery occurred as it seemed like I would be given a breather.
I've been making sure to hold back and not show all of my cards as I wasn't sure if the powerful woman controlling things or the beasts could observe everything in here. [Corrupted Sword Saint's Incarnation] was turned off as I observed the new skills and items while absorbing the EPIC cores to max my attributes.
From these last three beasts, as well as the first [Winged Spider] I faced, I was able to gain two items and skills on top of a few cores.
[Bone Spears] :: Your knowledge of death is increased as the bones of the dead form at your command. Soul Burn effect is applied to those struck.
[Bear Emperor's Fur] :: The luminous fur of the Bear Emperor surrounds you and grants you protection. +300% Defense. All Body Covering is applied.
The items were even more exquisite.
[Rat King's Mask] :: Has the effect of completely concealing your aura and changing your face.
[Primatic Guardian] :: Forged from the extremely tough skin of a mammal, it never breaks from attacks of the same level.
My excitement couldn't be kept down because of these new spectacular skills and items. I patiently waited for the final stage to arrive as I was expectant of how many beasts I would face before passing this trial. Something like this could only be passed by the toughest beasts that dominated the EPIC stage with their defense and offense, and I was bulldozing my way through because I had just that and even more.
I would be careful not to show too much to this powerful figure that attributed my quick rise of power to a unique skill. Even more of my attention was placed on this idea of a Spiritual Land. If the least of the rewards was something that helped beasts advance to the next rank, what other rewards were there?
I didn't wait too long as a bit over an hour later, the scenery around me changed once again. This time, a snowstorm was active all around as I appeared atop a frozen mountain. I looked forward to the next opponents as I activated my old and new EPIC skills together for the first time.
The incarnation of the corrupted sword saint descended as my body fully gained control of the massive 8-meter figure. [Bear Emperor's Fur] was cast next, the incarnation undergoing a change once again.
This time, sleek white fur sprouted out, fully covering the entirety of the large body, even the horn on top of the head seeming like a furry white bump. The fur glistened in the light as [Absolute Zero ] was also activated, increasing the glorious white sheen even more. I equipped the [Prismatic Guardian] shield and watched as it expanded to five meters, becoming the same size as the blade I held.
I looked like a glowing white-furred beast as my large figure towered in the snowy surroundings while holding a long blade and a large shield. The environment even further improved the roiling storm of destructive ice elements caused by [Absolute Zero] to go wild.
I was fully ready as five figures flashed into the frozen mountains nearby. The [Emperor Penguin] was at the forefront as it looked at me with extreme caution, its eyes that normally shone with arrogance fully alert.
The other four were the [Arctic Wolf], a [White Mamba] that was larger than 10 meters with the most vicious yellow eyes I've come across, a [Snow Leopard] with glistening white fur, and a dangerous [Wood Frog] that shone multiple bright colors of light.
The fight began rapidly, with the beasts not even getting near me and separating far from each other, circling me on the frozen mountain peak. The [Emperor Penguin] at the lead had his body shining in a dense silver light as its large flippers shone menacingly, its voice ringing out.
"I won't be the cause for the incident of the first human owning a Spiritual Land. Prepare yourself, as we will be going all out."
The cold voice was heard clearly from this sleek beast as the moment it finished, its large figure disappeared. I smiled at the encirclement of beasts as I felt all the skills wrapped around me. The large blade in my right hand glistened as I also disappeared through [Instant Transfer], my first target being the poisonous [Wood Frog].
Chapter 106 - Making History II
[Enfeeble] was the first skill that landed on the poisonous [Wood Frog], unexpectedly slowing it down and causing it to lag, allowing the swing of my sword to pierce into its body and leave a gash. Each swing of my sword carried with it an S rank skill I didn't think I would be using, [Smouldering Sword Strike], that added another layer of damage to the already destructive sword.
I flashed away in an instant as attacks from the other four beasts landed in the location I was just in, [Crisis Avoidance] working in full force letting me know where they were all coming from.
[Instant Transfer] was used repeatedly as I flashed to the [Arctic Wolf] next, stopping the deadly ice beam it was about to shoot out once again. I used another skill I never thought I would have the chance to use to smash into the face of the wolf with the full force of my boosted physical damage by using the rank S [Shield Slam] I received and never used a while back.
BOOM!
The strike reverberated out as the wolf's mouth lost a few teeth and became bloody. [Corrupted Sword Saint's Incarnation]'s physical damage and speed boosts were nothing to laugh at.
I was watching the entire battlefield with constantly shifting [Regal Archer's Eyes] as I saw attacks honing in my location again, this time the [Emperor Penguin] flashed right above me letting out a deadly strike with its wide flippers. The other three beasts neared the location to land their attacks as I smiled and transferred away once more.
Their attacks only met air, but not for long as a humongous [Iceberg] smashed into the location that I just left.
BOOM!
The impact caused the beasts to become disoriented and lose their momentum as jagged glacial spears pierced onto some of them, and they were about to rise when the shadow of the 30 meter [Iceberg] appeared again.
RAAAAA!
A screech came out of the [Emperor Penguin] as a hazy silver light emanated outward from his body and covered the nearby beasts, transporting them far away in an instant.
BOOM!
The iceberg smashed down to one unlucky [White Mamba] that wasn't close enough to the penguin.
Without letting them have any time to recoup, the large white snake only felt pressure as above the broken glacial chunks, a [Poisonous Breath] barreled down towards it from the mouth of the Plague Bearer.
The battle was fast-paced as I acted to be sure that no time was given while I flashed around all over the snowy plain. [Thought Acceleration] was churning at full capacity as my white-furred figure flashed at the poisoned and injured [White Mamba], and the blade layered with destructive ice elements pierced its disoriented head from top to bottom.
SQUELCH!
A horrid sound came out as the blade jaggedly tore apart the head of the beast, the Freezing Touch spreading throughout the muscle and brain matter, finishing it instantly. I pulled out the large blade and stood upright, looking at the four remaining beasts at a distance. A dense essence of light had already flown in my storage pouch. That was one down.
My next target was the [Snow Leopard] that had been shooting what seemed to be a combination of wind and ice blades to every point I appeared. They appeared as jagged crescent blades that exploded on impact. I instantly flashed to its lo
cation as my sword deflected the icy blades that appeared right in front of it.
The Plague Bearer was getting ripped apart as it held off the three other beasts behind me, soon exploding in a shower of poison that showered everything nearby. It was fully summoned again in the next second as I continued to slash even faster at the leopard in front of me.
All of its evading was for naught as the storm of destructive ice elements slowed it down, with every strike that landed wounding it even more. When it seemed to be making its last-ditch attempt and a green light surrounded it, [Enfeeble] was cast and the momentary delay would be all I needed.
[Bone Spears] was casted as more than ten extremely large spears letting out pulsating dark energy rushed towards the beast. Multiple rifts had also appeared behind it as flames and lightning pierced it from the back, with my sword coming down from the front.
BOOM!
A whining sound was the only thing that was then heard as the second beast fell, essence filling up my storage pouch once again.
The [Emperor Penguin] appeared a moment later as its flippers struck out again, the deadly light collected on it being able to slightly injure my large body that was layered with a ton of skills.
I observed the other two beasts to be tangling with my Plague Bearer, so I simply sent another [Iceberg] their way to keep them busy. Both my summon and beasts were smashed down, with the summon exploding right after to just increase the pain before it reappeared brand new in a few seconds.
My frozen sword met the strikes of the penguin as we moved around at high speed. Each strike was deadly enough to shave off the surrounding landscape and leave behind restructured frozen landscapes as the penguin disappeared and reappeared multiple times around me. Any strikes of his that landed would quickly be closed up by the constantly active [Saint's Return].
The battle continued like this as the two other remaining beasts, the [Arctic Wolf] and [Wood Frog], blasted out of the frozen glaciers. The sight that met them only caused them to despair as the Plague Bearer was right on top preparing another poisonous breath, while near them were the two bodies of dead EPIC beasts that were moving again, their eyes blank and bodies a deadly shade of green.
Infinite Mana In The Apocalypse c1-705 Page 46
