Southwest of Crossroad.
Newly assigned to the observation tower, Damien frowned as he climbed the stairs toward the top of the tower.
"Hmm?"
A flash of light flickered far to the south, shrouded in damp darkness.
'Light?'
Damien squinted and examined the area.
Fireworks and flashes of light, accompanied by loud booms, erupted continuously from the south.
'What is going on...'
As Damien hurriedly reached the top of the observation tower, the flash had transformed into a towering pillar of light.
"What on earth is this..."
Damien clearly saw it.
A pillar of light, soaring to an unimaginable height, reached the veil of darkness that covered the sky.
The veil of darkness trembled violently where it touched the pillar of light. The sky shook, and the atmosphere resonated.
The air at the top floor of the observation tower also surged violently, making it difficult to breathe.
The observers who had been watching with telescopes earlier were slack-jawed as they witnessed this bizarre phenomenon.
Damien desperately widened his eyes, trying to discern what was happening at the source of the pillar of light.
However, the mixture of darkness and light, flames and heat, and the ominous ancient magic made it impossible to clearly see inside, even with the sharpest eyesight.
Eventually, the pillar of light gradually subsided, and the area that had briefly brightened was once again enveloped in gloomy darkness.
"..."
Damien glanced at the spot where the pillar of light had touched the veil of darkness and then resumed his observation of the darkness.
Other observers also raised their telescopes and scanned the darkness, but nothing could be seen in the pitch-black night.
Yet, Damien did not move, straining to pierce through the darkness.
In this scene, where time seemed to have stopped, everyone waited with bated breath for hours.
Thud...
A sound echoed.
An unidentified noise reverberated through the ground. The other observers, hearing the sound but seeing nothing, were agitated and flustered.
But Damien saw it clearly.
Thud... Thud... Thud...
From within the profound darkness, the black dragon began to advance once more.
No, it was not the black dragon that was moving.
Thud...!
It was the entire night of this world.
The massive wall of darkness extending from the south, like fingers, like tentacles, like claws, was stretching endlessly, expanding its reach...
It was creeping up, covering the entire world, moving northward.
***
Time passed relentlessly.
The time for the next breath attack was approaching. And Dusk Bringar, who was supposed to stop that breath, had gone missing beyond the teleport gate.
A crisis meeting was held immediately after Dusk Bringar's disappearance, and the following plan was decided.
"Leave it to me."
Torkel.
He was the captain of the Leprosy Extermination Squad and now the vice-captain of the World Guardian Front's melee unit, a shield warrior.
When he used his ultimate skill, he could withstand any attack for 10 minutes - the toughest man in the World Guardian Front.
Torkel would take the breath head-on at the front lines.
"I will hold out."
"...Torkel."
"This is my chance to repay the kindness I've received on this front. I am grateful for this opportunity."
Though Torkel was pleased, Evangeline, who belonged to the same melee unit, felt a pang of bitterness.
She knew that while he wouldn't be harmed, he would feel all the pain.
"But I can only endure; another measure is needed to actually 'block' the breath."
Torkel's ultimate skill, [Man is not Made for Defeat], granted him the miraculous protection of the goddess, making him invulnerable to any strike for a certain period.
However, it only meant he himself wouldn't take any damage.
While Torkel could nullify any attack that hit him personally, it was insufficient to block the black dragon's breath that could burn an entire city.
If the breath descended, Torkel might block some of it, but the rest would still destroy the city.
Thus, the operation was devised.
Thud!
Kellibey brought over the artifact for the ship, the giant siren statue [Sturdy Superstition], on a cart.
"This Nightmare Slayer has the property of being 'absolutely indestructible'. It will withstand the black dragon's breath."
Kellibey looked up at the statue with a complex expression.
It was the keepsake of his son, Kellison, and the last fragment of the airship Geronimo, which had been like another child to him.
"Attach a handle to it and modify it so it can be used as a shield. Other shields won't withstand it anyway. Take this one."
"Thank you."
During the previous battle against the King of Flies, Torkel's body had withstood the attacks, but his armor and shield had been completely shattered.
It would be the same in the face of the black dragon's breath. A shield that wouldn't break was invaluable.
Kellibey asked cautiously.
"You'll have to handle two Nightmare Slayers at once. Can you manage?"
The helmet Torkel wore was also a Nightmare Slayer, [Original Sin], forged from the Goblin God-King's magic core.
Handling two Nightmare Slayers at once would impose an enormous burden that an ordinary person couldn't bear.
"It's fine."
Torkel smiled bitterly.
"I've already entrusted my body to the darkness."
"..."
Everyone shared the sorrow of losing Ash.
Even Torkel, who always devoted himself to the World Guardian Front silently and diligently, was seething with a desire for revenge.
"The Night Bringer's breath has steadily increased in power every 12 hours."
Magicians and alchemists who had been analyzing the Night Bringer's breath flipped through charts filled with numbers as they explained.
Lilly, representing them, spoke up.
"If the increase this time is the same, even if Torkel blocks it initially, the dispersed breath—I'm not sure if 'ricochet' is the right term—could still completely destroy Crossroad."
"So?"
"We need to predict the ricochet path and establish a secondary defense line. We need measures to block the black dragon's breath at this second line..."
Thud!
Someone approached from behind and laid down large shields on the ground.
It was Miller Arian, the King of the Ariane Kingdom. He had changed into armor that now had white fur attached.
He placed one massive ice shield and several smaller ice shields on the ground.
The unique structure allowed them to transform into giant axes when handles were attached.
"These are our kingdom's treasures, the shields and axes known as [Perpetual Snow] and [Eternal Snow]. According to legend, they were taken from the peak of the world in ancient times."
Miller tapped the surface of the shields and axe blades, which exuded a white chill, with his fingertips.
"They boast near-invulnerability to all kinds of flames. They should withstand the black dragon's breath to some extent."
"Are you offering these treasures?"
"Not just offering; I will join the battle myself."
Miller bowed his head solemnly at Evangeline's question.
"Perpetual Snow can only be wielded by the King of the Ariane Kingdom."
"..."
Among the defensive tools available on the front lines, Miller's shields had the highest potential to withstand the black dragon's breath.
Miller's proposal was accepted.
Lilly continued to explain.
"Good. Then we will position Perpetual Snow and Millennial Snow at predicted ricochet points to form the secondary defense line."
"Can you accurately determine these points, Senior Magician?"
"Of course, Acting Commander. We've already analyzed the waveform of the black dragon's breath."
At Lilly's signal, Bodybag brought a large paper and spread it out on the table.
The breath, analyzed over the past two days by all the magicians and alchemists on the front lines, was detailed with complex formulas.
"The breath is powerful, but after being hit five times, we can see patterns."
Lilly pointed to the south on the map and drew a straight line toward Crossroad.
"The black dragon's breath travels in an almost perfectly straight line from launch to impact. With precise coordinates from Commander Damien at the observation tower, we'll place Torkel at the southern edge of the field to block the initial breath."
Lilly explained the operation quickly and succinctly.
"The shield Torkel will use, [Sturdy Superstition], is indestructible. We've analyzed the breath's waveform, so predicting the ricochet paths is not difficult."
She then placed her hand on the central area of the southern field on the map.
"We will establish the secondary defense line at these predicted points and use the ice shields to hold out."
"Will that be enough?"
"No. It will ricochet and disperse once more. We need to establish a third defense line. Here."
Lilly pointed to the front of Crossroad's southern wall.
"Artifacts have already been installed here. All remaining barriers and barricades have been deployed."
The stockpiled artifacts, numbering in the hundreds, had all been used up, leaving nothing in reserve. But this was no time to hold back.
"I will summarize. This operation is to defend against the black dragon's sixth breath. First, Sir Torkel will hold it with [Sturdy Superstition]. Second, the ricocheted breath will be guarded with the ice shields. Third, the remaining barriers and artifacts will block the further dispersed breath."
"..."
"This plan aims to disperse, ricochet, and fragment the black dragon's breath in three stages, ultimately neutralizing it."
The kings, who had been listening to the reckless plan, groaned.
Emperor Traha, who had been silently listening, asked,
"What are the chances of success?"
"Low."
"If we fail?"
"The city will burn, and we will die."
Lilly spoke calmly as she cleared away the charts and papers.
"Humanity, the world, will be doomed."
"..."
"But if we somehow manage to hold out this time, next time... we can strike back at the black dragon."
Next time, the black dragon would directly reach Crossroad.
Then, they could face the beast at the fortress city's walls, their original front line.
The World Guardian Front's last hope—the special task force led by Lucas—would have the opportunity to exact their revenge on the black dragon.
"..."
Traha looked around.
To continue the final chance, a few kings and troops had been sent north... but all the remaining kings and forces stayed here at Crossroad.
If they could withstand this breath, they could launch the final counterattack with everyone.
If they could withstand this breath...
"...Sir Torkel."
The Emperor called softly.
But Torkel did not immediately realize he was being addressed. It was the first time he had heard the title 'Sir'.
"Sir Torkel."
Blinking blankly, Torkel finally realized the Emperor was calling him and quickly knelt down.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I apologize. Please give your command."
"Do your best."
Traha approached and placed a hand on Torkel's shoulder, whispering softly.
"The fate of the world rests on your shoulders."
"...For the grace the Crown Prince has shown me, for the joy this city has given me."
Torkel bowed deeply.
"And to protect the warmth of this world that the Saintess has made me aware of... I will do my utmost."
The words flowed effortlessly from Torkel's mouth, surprising even himself.
Traha smiled and firmly grasped Torkel's shoulder, then nodded to everyone in the meeting room before exiting.
Snowflakes were falling heavily over Crossroad, now in the depths of winter.
As Traha looked up at the sky, exhaling white breath, a lieutenant approached quietly and whispered.
"Your Majesty. The emergency repairs on the flagship Alcatraz are complete."
"..."
"Although it has been decommissioned, if you personally pilot it, it can fly to New Terra. You should depart at once."
Traha turned to look at the lieutenant with sunken eyes. The lieutenant spoke steadily.
"This place is too dangerous."
"..."
"Your Majesty should not recklessly risk your life. If you truly care for the world, you must stay safe. Please."
"..."
Traha did not respond immediately, closing his eyes for a moment.
After a long pause, the Emperor's lips slowly parted.
"...Alcatraz, can it fly right now?"
***
Time passed.
Sixty hours since the black dragon's arrival.
Now, in the dense darkness not far south of the city...
Whoosh-
The black dragon finished preparing to unleash its sixth breath.
And Damien, from atop the observation tower, captured every moment.
Even though it blended with the endless night, Damien's eyes could see through to the essence.
Despite the wavering darkness, Damien could discern how the black dragon gathered its breath and where it aimed.
"Urgent report-! Night Bringer is preparing its sixth breath-!"
The information was relayed directly to Crossroad and to Torkel, who was standing ready with the shield at the southern edge of the field.
Torkel and the shield installation team, having confirmed the predicted path of the breath attack, immediately moved the shield and secured it to the ground.
[Sturdy Superstition] was a massive statue, large enough to be mounted on a ship's bow. Although it was called a shield, it was essentially a colossal wall.
No matter how immense Torkel's strength was, he couldn't hold and wield it.
Therefore, Kellibey and the other dwarves quickly fixed it to the ground and nailed it in place.
"Good luck."
Having finished the installation, Kellibey gave a thumbs-up as he left the area. Torkel nodded silently in acknowledgment.
"Hoo..."
Torkel took a deep breath and looked straight ahead.
Kwaaaaa-!
The final breath that Crossroad needed to withstand was already hurtling toward the city with ferocious intensity.
It was a tremendous black flame.
Despite having withstood attacks from countless legendary monsters, Torkel's legs momentarily weakened under the sheer malevolence of this breath.
"Ugh...!"
Unconsciously gripped by fear, Torkel tightly closed his eyes.
At that moment,
- Welcome to Crossroad!
The image of the prince's innocent, smiling face flashed through his mind.
"...!"
His eyes flew open.
Grinding his teeth with such force that they threatened to break, Torkel tightly gripped the massive statue-like shield installed in the ground and let out a tremendous roar with every ounce of strength he had.
"Come on-!"
Cheoooong!
The gigantic breath collided with the enormous shield that Torkel had raised.