Chapter 1182. Annihilated (2)

Chapter 1182. Annihilated (2)

“

Oooooooohhh

!”

Wiggins furrowed his brow ever so slightly while listening to Vator’s beast-like howl.

“Even though I asked him to keep the noise level down!”

Then again, the current situation didn’t surprise Wiggins. Vator probably couldn’t

see

anything right now, after all!

Vator was one of those

berserker-

type martial artists who rampaged around once the battle had commenced. Someone like that even roused up demonic qi on top of that, so it was unrealistic to expect the big man to think and act rationally anymore.

‘Things would’ve been even more chaotic had I not cast the Silence spell in the area...’

Even for Wiggins, completely blocking off the noise from leaking out of such a large area was impossible. On the other hand, it wasn’t all that challenging to reduce the loudness level.

Whether it was in magic or in reality, the difference between ‘complete’ and ‘not complete’ was so huge that it couldn’t even be quantified in numerical values.

Quietening down this racket by at least half was quite doable for Wiggins. As for the rest, other people would take care of that.

“Master, they say all the residents have been safely evacuated.”

Wiggins glanced behind him when he heard that. Lee Hyeon-Su had scaled the storage’s rooftop somehow and was now standing behind the Englishman.

“What are you doing up here, Mister Lee?”

“A weakling like myself will die instantly even from a stray hit, you know. This spot looked the safest, so here I am.”

“Tsk, tsk...”

Wiggins stared at his disciple with an unimpressed expression on his face, but Lee Hyeon-Su remained unfazed. It was as if he was a man with no shame!

Being weak was perhaps one of the most shameful things for a martial artist, but that concept didn’t apply to Lee Hyeon-Su.

“Master, the Japanese seem a little flustered, don’t they?”

“...Even I’m a little flustered too, Mister Lee.”

Wiggins tutted again while studying the situation on the battlefield below.

Who couldn’t guess that Vator was absurdly strong? Even then, Vator in the middle of a battlefield could unleash much greater strength than what most people expect.

In a few-versus-few battle, Vator should be able to deal with three, maybe four times more enemies than, say, what Bang Jin-Hun could deal with. However, when in a massive battle like this one?

The big man would display the kind of destructive power that the mere likes of Bang Jin-Hun couldn’t even hope to compare.

From the get-go, those who didn’t have the requisite skill to wound Vator’s incredibly tough skin would never win against him in a million years. You could even say fighting Vator was akin to stopping a runaway tank with your bare hands!

At least a tank was at the mercy of the terrain. And there was also a one-in-a-thousand chance of a corpse getting stuck in the tracks after the tank carelessly ran over a person. But not Vator. The big man didn’t even allow such a variable to spoil his fun!

In short, he was a calamity!

Someone like that was currently pouncing on their enemies with his disciples in tow, who all had mastered external arts and demonic cultivation.

The Japanese would obviously be too powerless to stop this carnage.

Even the knight orders, specialized in cavalry and line infantry combat tactics, wouldn’t dream of fighting like Vator and his disciples.

Full metal armor protected knights of Chevaliers from head to toe. Not only that, but these armor were also reinforced through mana. Despite all that protection, though, they’d still turn into hedgehogs in no time at all after getting surrounded by that many Japanese warriors.

However, the hardness of Vator’s unprotected skin easily surpassed the defensive capabilities of heavily armored knights.

‘The more I look at him, the more monstrous he seems.’

The enemy had no answer to this onslaught, but Wiggins didn’t want to criticize the enemy commander for being so powerless. Had Wiggins been in that Japanese’s shoes, he would’ve also failed to find an appropriate response to Vator’s rampage the first time.

Lee Hyeon-Su asked, “Master, don’t you think our army’s commander has gone too deep inside the enemy formation?”

“

Hmm

...?”

Wiggins slowly rubbed his beard.

“Although that’s a slightly old-school tactic, it’s also undoubtedly an excellent way to command your men. A commander isn’t merely a person in charge of decision making at the top. No, they are someone meant to bring victory to your side. Tell me, Mister Lee. Do you think there’s a better strategy than what Sir Vator’s doing right now?”

“...In this place? No, sir.”

“There you go.”

Wiggins chuckled, then took a step closer to the scene of carnage created by Vator.

“If I stay back and spectate any longer, a certain someone will try to bite my head off. It’s about time we prove our worth, then! Vincent!”

Vincent of the Chevaliers heroically stepped forward and shouted, “We’re waiting for your orders, Knight!”

“...Not Knight, but director. I’m Director Wiggins to you.”

“

Ah

, my apologies. Old habits die hard, you see.”

“Yes, it’s the same story for me. Old habits are tough to get rid of, but you should still try to remember my current position. That includes your position, too.”

“Of course, sir!” Vincent replied while pressing his sword-holding hand to his chest.

His armor issued refreshing metallic noises as he performed his salute. Wiggins ended up reflexively smiling at that noise.

“Well, then. What Sir Vator is demonstrating right now... Isn’t that supposed to be our specialty?”

Vincent said, “It’s rather embarrassing to say that after witnessing this spectacle, but... When it comes to breaking through the enemy lines, we don’t wish to fall behind anyone, even if we’re talking about Sir Vator!”

Wiggins slowly nodded. “Then, are you willing to demonstrate that determination for us today?”

“...You mean, like that, sir?” Vincent glanced in Vator’s direction before helplessly shrugging. “Sir, we view ourselves as deeply pragmatic.”

Wiggins chuckled wryly. “Very well, then. Can you tell me where you’d start attacking in this situation?”

“Attacking one side will inevitably push the enemy to the other side, sir. And in the current situation, the enemy ranks will be forced to the left and right of their formation. If it’s up to me, I’d lead my men to break through their flanks.”

“Good. Lead the Chevaliers, Vincent. Wrap this up as quickly and cleanly as possible. Remember, there must not be any losses on our side!”

“I swear upon this weapon, sir!”

“Good. Now, go!”

Without saying anything else, Vincent jumped off the rooftop. At the same time, Mathieu and the other Chevaliers on standby followed his example and jumped down one by one.

After landing on the ground, Vincent circled around and dashed toward the flank of the Japanese. Of course, Chevaliers speedily joined him.

Even though Vincent had not issued any orders yet, the Chevaliers still got into their battle formation while approaching the enemy.

“

Who-whee

...”

Lee Hyeon-Su reflexively whistled after that sight thoroughly impressed him.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

People often posited that westerners were spontaneous and free-spirited while the easterners were too hung-up on discipline and modesty. However, anyone witnessing this scene would never be able to say that again.

Even though Wiggins hadn’t issued any commands yet, the Chevaliers still got into formation perfectly while on the move. That sight demonstrated how harsh their training must’ve been.

Lee Hyeon-Su frowned slightly and asked, “Master, are you going to let them charge at the enemies, just like that?”

Wiggins asked back, “Why? You think it might be too dangerous?”

“Well...”

If this had been an ordinary situation, then Lee Hyeon-Su wouldn’t be so sure. However, in a war like this?

If the Japanese backing away out of sheer fear of Vator coincidentally noticed the Chevaliers closing in to stab them in the back... They would try to fight back with the desperation of people running into their mortal enemies.

Because the Japanese would instinctively understand that being caught in a pincer attack equaled a total and complete annihilation!

“Well, if that’s how you feel, we can always lend an assistance,” Wiggins smirked and shouted, “Mages! Prepare to cast magic!”

“Yes, sir!”

The mages on standby rushed toward the edges of the storage units.

“Cast Binding! Your target area is the right flank of the enemy! Match my timing!”

Without saying anything else, the mages simultaneously began casting the spell.

Although these mages weren’t as good as Wiggins, who could instantly cast magic and use it as another weapon in close-quarter combat, they still boasted enough ability to complete basic spells.

Even such basic spells could display power and utility rivaling higher-tier spells if deployed at the right timing.

...Like right now!

“Get ready...!” Wiggins roared as his hands began glowing brightly. “And... Bind them!”

“Binding!”

The mages extended their hands and unleashed their magical energy. That was when tree roots suddenly sprouted out from the ground and tightly wrapped around the legs of the Japanese warriors.

Just in the nick of time, too, since those Japanese had discovered the incoming Chevaliers and were about to start fighting back!

“Now, charge!”

Vincent didn’t miss this opening and pounced on the enemy’s flank.

With their legs tied up, the Japanese couldn’t offer any proper resistance. That was because the Eastern martial arts were built on the foundation of footwork. Poor footwork would weaken a martial artist’s firepower by more than fifty percent.

In a close-quarter battle with two sides boasting similar levels of strength, the Western martial artists would win most of the time if both sides got their legs glued to the ground. One could say that the situation was like an out-boxer getting pushed to a corner and forced into exchanging a flurry of punches with an in-fighter.

To make matters worse for the Japanese, the Chevaliers were the best of the best France had to offer.

It was obvious how the Japanese would fare when they suddenly found themselves in a fight against an in-fighter two weight classes higher.

Slash!

Vincent’s sword cleanly split apart a Japanese warrior before his eyes. The sliced upper torso flew up in the air briefly before falling back on the ground with a wet thump.

A fountain of blood sprayed everywhere, but Vincent didn’t even bat an eyelid as he continued to charge ahead.

‘When I think about it, isn’t this a strange turn of events?’

Back when Vincent entered South Korea to kill Kang Jin-Ho, didn’t he also run into Japanese warriors on that uninhabited island? In a twisted way, Vincent should treat the Japanese as his benefactors.

After all, if the Japanese hadn’t targeted Kang Jin-Ho back then, they wouldn’t have been the ones getting slaughtered, but the Chevaliers instead!

However, they were enemies now. And Vincent was not the type to show mercy to an enemy. That was what it meant to stand on a battlefield, after all!

Mathieu joined Vincent on the right flank. Meanwhile, the Chevaliers followed their captain in a wedge formation.

These French knights were different to Vator’s disciples, who were rampaging around while relying on their individual strength. On the surface at least, the Chevaliers seemed to be blindly charging ahead, but that was far from the truth.

Chevaliers flawlessly maintained their formation and ruthlessly pushed their way forward deeper into the enemy flank.

Boiling flames of rage and bone-chilling ice simultaneously attacked the enemy's formation from opposite sides.

Lee Hyeon-Su shuddered in excitement at this sight.

Wiggins cried out, “Don’t space out! Mages, get ready for the second round of casting!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Mister Lee!”

Lee Hyeon-Su snapped out of his daze and looked at Wiggins. “Yes, master!”

“Take over the command.”

“Sir? What about you?”

Wiggins smirked deeply and said, “I’ll be preparing something a little more entertaining.”

“I see. Leave it to me, sir!”

Wiggins didn’t issue any further instructions. Detailed orders and instructions were pointless at this stage for Lee Hyeon-Su, after all.

Why? Because Lee Hyeon-Su easily surpassed Wiggins in certain aspects already!

Lee Hyeon-Su might lack battlefield experience, but briefly taking over the command in this situation shouldn’t be a problem. In fact, he probably could do as good a job as his teacher right now.

In that case, what should Wiggins do?

Wiggins’ expression distorted ever so slightly.

‘It’s hard to suppress my urges while witnessing something of this scale!’

Almost two thousand enemies were being pushed into one area.

Typically, such an army should have been spread out over the battlefield. However, the momentum of Vator and the Chevaliers were pushing the Japanese back little by little into the center of their formation.

Whenever he saw enemies bunching up like that, Wiggins just couldn’t control himself anymore.

‘Looks like I can’t call myself human anymore.’

Although others didn’t seem to notice it, Wiggins was acutely aware of the darkness lurking within his heart. Actually, that wasn’t quite right. Wasn’t Vator especially wary of Wiggins at first, precisely because of this darkness?

Vator’s wariness only disappeared after he became convinced that Wiggins would not unleash his darkness against Kang Jin-Ho.

Wiggins meticulously cast his new spell. His old self wouldn’t have been able to do anything in the middle of casting a spell of this magnitude, but not now. Mastering the Twofold Will Art to some degree allowed him to observe the battlefield calmly even while casting a spell.

The mages continued to cast their basic spells in the meantime.

“Binding!”

Bright light and magical energy gushed out from the mages.

“What the hell is this?!”

“What’s going on! Damn it!”

“

Aaaaahk

!”

The Japanese failed to respond to magic they had never encountered before. And that meant they were helplessly cut down by the ruthless Chevaliers.

Just before Lee Hyeon-Su got ready to order the next round of spells from the mages, Wiggins suddenly raised his hands high up in the air.

“...! Everyone, on standby!” Lee Hyeon-Su urgently called the mages back.

Wiggins glared at the battlefield, his eyes withdrawn. But then, corners of his lips suddenly curled up.

He muttered, “Don’t resent me for this. After all, you are the ones who came here first!”

Wiggins pointed at the ground. At the same time, an incredible amount of mana violently gushed out from Wiggins’ body.

“Now, burn!”

All that mass of mana shot out of his fingertip and rapidly flew to the center of the Japanese formation. And then...!

Rumble, fwhoooosh!

A massive wall of flames instantly flared up to swallow everything in the surroundings.

The wharf, previously veiled in the darkness of early dawn, was instantly brightened like the middle of the day. Flames the size of a large house rumbled and roiled before lazily spreading out in all directions.

“

Aaaaaahk

?!”

“No! Save me!”

“The ocean! Jump into the ocean! Hurry!”

The Japanese warriors, engulfed by the flames, screamed desperately while diving into the ocean. As for those who were too far away from the water, they could only roll around on the ground and scream as the flames gradually consumed them.

A Hell on Earth was unfolding in this place!

Flesh was cut asunder. Bones were broken and ripped apart. Bodies were set alight on fire.

As if to prove that there was no such as a ‘gentle’ war, the Korean Martial Assembly used every means at its disposal to punish those daring to invade their land!

“Do not!”

Vator roared once more.

“Let anyone! Leave here alive!”

“

Oooooooohhh

!”

As the Korean martial artists charged at them with clear madness in their eyes, the Japanese warriors gradually fell deeper and deeper into the pit of terror.