I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy-Chapter 701

Of course, Thesaya knew that couldn’t be the case. There was no way the Platinum Dragon, said to be in a deep slumber, would suddenly awaken and appear here.

Besides, it was far too small to be a dragon. With its shape distorted by the clouds, it was likely even smaller in reality. And yet, the figure that seemed to have spread golden wings wide resembled a dragon far more than any human ever could.

"Great Warrior!"

The shout from behind reached her ears just as the flashing light in the clouds finally faded.

Moro and Selim came to a halt first, and soon after, the entire procession stopped.

"The Great Warrior is flying through the clouds! Damn it, Karha!"

"Has he finally become a god?"

"O Demigod of Thunder and Lightning!"

Gasps and shouts, large and small, rippled noisily through the ranks. It was clear that more than a few had caught sight of the golden shimmer in the sky.

After all, Ian was the only one who had vanished into the storm clouds alongside the archdemon. It was only natural for them to draw that conclusion. Thesaya herself had done the same without hesitation.

"What on earth... is that..."

A dazed voice slipped out from behind Mev’s visor.

Thesaya turned to her. "Can’t you tell just by looking? Ian was summoned by the Platinum Dragon before. It must have bestowed something else on him again. Just like that golden shield."

Mev paused, then let out a low gasp as she looked back at her.

Meeting the eyes visible through the beak-shaped visor, Thesaya smiled faintly. "It seems he’s obtained power befitting the title of the Agent of the Platinum Dragon. Well, he’s done more than enough to earn it. So, Ian didn’t tell you anything either?"

After a brief moment of thought, Mev answered, "Not a word. Not about what he received from the Platinum Dragon."

Even so, her voice had regained its composure.

Thesaya snorted quietly. "So he didn’t tell you either. Typical Ian..."

From beyond the towering inner fortress and the massive wall blocking their view, faint screams drifted in.

Explosions and monstrous roars from atop the wall drowned out most other sounds. Only Thesaya, with her fairy senses, could barely make them out.

"Thesa?" said Mev. She had sensed something ominous in Thesaya’s sudden reaction.

Just as Thesaya looked back at her and swallowed dryly, a heavy vibration rippled through the ground.

Boom!

This time, Mev felt it as well. Her head snapped forward, and Thesaya’s did the same.

The massive gate set into the center of the wall came into view. The firmly sealed gateway, shaped like a giant slab of metal, was shaking.

Thesaya narrowed her eyes. The center of the gate appeared to bulge outward, ever so slightly.

"Continue what you were saying," said Mev. She was already looking at Harald’s adjutant, who had been standing there, dazed, staring at the sky.

Startled, the man flinched. "Yes! Understood!"

He hurried over, skidding to a halt before them. "He said the monsters outside might break through the gateway and enter. So he ordered you to divide the forces as you see fit to defend it."

"That gateway?" asked Edith, clearly shocked.

Lucas, standing to Mev’s left, let out a low groan. "That thing is a masterpiece of the dwarven craftsmen. Unless a meteor falls on it—"

"Even without a meteor, there’s plenty of magic that can break it," Thesaya said, her eyes still fixed on the gate. "Especially dark magic."

As if to answer her words, the gateway shuddered heavily once more.

This time, feeling the vibration clearly through the ground, a lament escaped from behind Lucas’s visor. "I thought the monsters would climb over the wall."

"Either way, do we really need to divide the forces?" Thesaya asked, lifting her gaze toward the wall. "Ian is dealing with Akihatara. The garrison alone should be enough now."

Above them, explosions large and small continued without pause, and the ballistas fired relentlessly. More importantly, the number of monsters in the sky had noticeably decreased.

"No," Mev replied firmly. "A demon might remain. Or, as Sir Lucas said, monsters could climb over the wall."

Her gaze returned to Harald’s adjutant. "Guide us. We’ll dispatch troops. Wait in front of the inner fortress entrance."

"Yes. Understood!" The adjutant straightened and turned at once, sprinting off while shouting for the soldiers hauling supplies to hurry.

Rumble, boom!

Almost immediately after, the area flashed once more. Mev reflexively looked up, her eyes narrowing. The roiling storm clouds were rotating like a massive vortex, growing lower and thicker with each passing second.

Rumble... Boom—

That was likely why neither the archdemon nor Ian’s silhouette could be seen anymore, even amid the flashing lights and thunderous roars. Only faint glimmers of purple, red, and gold shimmered within. What was truly happening inside was something only those fighting within, and the gods above, could know.

As another wave of noisy shouts rose from the legionnaires, Mev turned her gaze away.

"I’ll send the mercenary corps, the defense forces troops, and two centurions up there," she said firmly. "Commander Edith, will you take command?"

Edith met her gaze and slammed a fist against their breastplate. "Gladly, Vice Commander."

As he pulled the reins to turn his horse, Mev raised her clenched right fist high above her head. The shouts rippling through the legion died down at once.

Lowering her arm, she raised her voice. "Mercenaries! Defense forces! Two centurions! Follow Commander Edith! You will defend the wall!"

"Yes, understood!"

"Let’s move! Move!"

Immediate responses rang out from the rear. Caleb and Trude were already shouting orders.

While several groups rushed to comply, the mounted centurions exchanged glances. It was obvious they wanted to remain below.

Thesaya’s eyes sharpened instantly. "If you believe those orders apply to you, then move. Or are you planning to defy the Vice Commander?"

The icy edge of magic in her voice left no room for argument. The two centurions, Valeri and Garson, clicked their tongues and reluctantly turned their horses.

"Why are we the ones being sent up?"

"Look on the bright side. From up there, we’ll get a better view of the demigod killing the archdemon."

"That actually does help a little."

The barbarian warriors followed behind them, grumbling as they went. Their lack of urgency was likely due to the Blessing of Battle. The boiling fighting spirit had numbed fear entirely. Of course, it was also because they were certain Ian would win.

"I’ll send the priests as well," Cherwyn said from behind. She had already risen and was signaling toward the brazier wagon.

Catching Mev’s gaze, she tilted her head slightly. "The soldiers up there will need the Blazing Goddess’s blessing too."

"Moving the braziers won’t be easy," Mev replied.

Understanding the meaning behind her look, Cherwyn smiled. "Don’t worry. We’ll send torches instead. As for me, I’ll remain here and focus solely on prayer. Sadly, my body isn’t what it once was."

"Then I’ll go up too—"

"Priest Miguel, you’re staying to guard me."

"Yes..." Miguel had tried to slip in at the last moment, only to be shut down immediately.

Clicking his tongue, he lowered his head. It was obvious he wanted to go. In truth, it was the most sensible reaction. What awaited beyond that trembling gate was painfully clear.

"That alone will be a great help, Saintess," Mev replied politely.

They were not empty words. Judging by her performance in the earlier battle, Cherwyn had already done more than enough. Now, simply maintaining the Brazier’s Blessing and the Ember’s Blessing was sufficient.

Boom, rumble...

As Cherwyn turned her gaze away with a faint smile, another heavy vibration rolled through the ground.

Mev glanced toward the group moving off toward the inner fortress, then tugged Selim’s reins to bring it alongside. Turning back to the legion, she raised her voice.

"The gate will collapse soon! Rebuild the formation and prepare for battle! Execute!"

"Execute!"

"Everyone, break and regroup!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

The centurions watching her shouted in unison, and the legion surged back into motion.

"We’ll head to the rear. Please, both of you, stay safe," Miguel said as he pulled the reins.

Mev watched the brazier wagon turn away, then shifted her focus back to the legion.

Boom! Rumble—

As the area flashed once more, she spotted Nasser approaching on horseback in the distance, with Mukapa running behind him.

Mev briefly checked the supply wagons moving toward the rear alongside the warhorses.

"It really looks like he intends to finish it up there. I can feel an enormous amount of magic and chaos. And divinity as well," Thesaya murmured.

She was staring up at the storm clouds, which were slowly sinking as they traced a massive vortex.

Mev kept her gaze forward as she replied, "If they fought below, too many would be caught in the aftermath. He’s planning to kill the archdemon on his own."

Her eyes settled on the shaking gate beyond.

"We have to protect this place. So that Ian’s efforts aren’t wasted."

"How touching," Thesaya said teasingly.

Then she smiled oddly, looking the same way. "Can you draw that sword again?"

Mev turned to her. Thesaya was clearly referring to the divine sword at her waist.

Placing her left hand on the pommel of Blazing Judgment, Mev nodded. "Yes. I should be able to use it about two more times."

If I absolutely must.

She left those words unspoken.

Thesaya nodded, one corner of her mouth twisting. "Then be ready to draw it at any moment. I’m fairly sure it’s a demon smashing that gate right now."

Only then did Mev’s eyes twitch as she looked back at the gateway.

As her gaze sharpened, Thesaya continued, "You probably can’t see it yet, Redhead. The gateway is folding little by little. Or rather... it’s crumpling."

"You’re right," Mev murmured.

The center of the sealed gateway was bulging outward more and more. Cracks spidered across the metal plates, and dust puffed from the seams between the gate and the wall.

It clearly wasn’t being struck by a battering ram.

"My lord!"

Hoofbeats thundered from behind as Nasser’s voice carried over.

Mev turned just as Nasser pulled his reins and slid to a halt. "Her Highness is safe. She’s retreating to the rear with the supplies."

"Thanks for looking out for her," Mev replied. The princess’s safety was no small matter to her.

Nasser responded with a grin.

Shifting her gaze past the running Mukapa, Mev raised her voice. "Everyone, prepare! The gateway will collapse any moment now!"

The legionnaires who were rebuilding their formation became noisier.

"Hurry! She says it's going to be breached soon!"

"Come here! Stand straight!"

They lined up tightly in multiple layers, stretching left and right. It was only possible because the buildings near the inner fortress had already been cleared away. In any case, they would soon be able to block the entire area.

Mev glanced toward the sacred flames flickering in the distance.

"This isn’t the time to be putting on airs, Snub-Nose. You know that, right?" Thesaya snapped at Mukapa.

Adjusting his grip on the battle hammer with both hands, the orc warrior nodded. "Do not worry, Elder. I will do my part."

"You’d better. Because this might be worse than we expected—" Thesaya’s eyes twitched.

Clang! Crunch—

Thesaya’s head snapped forward as an ominous crash erupted from the gate.

The massive doors were now deeply caved in at the center, the thick metal plates completely crushed. The wooden reinforcements within must have shattered entirely.

As Mev stared, Thesaya clicked her tongue and murmured, "As expected. It’s going to collapse far faster than we thought."

At the same moment, lightning flashed across the sky.

Rumble!

The gateway crumpled like a sheet of paper. Beyond the widening gap, a flickering purple light flashed vividly for an instant.

Boom—

Immediately after, the gateway split apart as if torn in half, the impact shaking the earth itself. Purple-tinged dust billowed thickly through the ruined opening.

Rumble...

Only a few would have noticed that crushed bones and flesh were heavily mixed in with it. As the area around the gateway darkened again, beyond the dust cloud, countless purple glints shone.