The opponent in the forty-sixth defense battle is the Rat Legion.
The legion worships the "Great Mother Rat," the mother of all rats, as its lord and god. It is the embodiment and collective force of all rat-type monsters.
Swoosh...!
The Rat Legion, rising from the black lake with foam, was an orderly sight.
Enlarged Ratmen stood heavily armed at the forefront, followed by agile Ratmen in bone armor forming ranks.
And behind these elite troops was...
Rumble!
A thunderous sound accompanied the appearance of an unbelievably massive cart.
On this cart was a huge mound of flesh, almost the size of a small mountain.
Near the top of this colossal flesh, there was a small head breathing heavily, wearing a crown made of bones.
This being was the Great Mother Rat.
The mother of all rats and the commander of the monster legion.
Even at this moment, the Great Mother Rat's enormous body functioned as a biological factory.
Newborn rats clung to the thousands of nipples on the Great Mother Rat's body, instantly growing huge due to the mysterious magical efficacy contained in the milk.
These rapidly grown rats fell off the cart and were flung backward...
Squeak!
Squeak, squeak, squeak...!
Forming a circle, they started devouring each other in a gruesome cannibalistic selection process right behind the cart.
After surviving this horrific colosseum of blood and flesh, the strongest of the generation joined the seemingly endless army of the Rat Legion.
Thus, the legion was composed of elite Ratmen at the front, the Great Mother Rat in the center, and an endless horde of ordinary giant rats at the rear.
This was the Rat Legion, our opponent in the defense battle.
"They're numerous."
Riding La Mancha in the sky and observing these monsters, I spoke in an indifferent voice.
Though they are extremely numerous, they pale in comparison to the monster composition of the previous defense battle where all the zombified monster legions swarmed us. We have also already prepared countermeasures against the Rat Legion.
However.
"...?"
As I carefully observed the monster legion, I noticed something strange.
Only then did I recognize a familiar figure at the front of the Great Mother Rat's enormous cart.
"..."
The one silently looking up at my airship was none other than the masked clown.
Realizing his identity, I muttered his name reluctantly.
"Crown..."
Crown appeared the same as usual, except for one thing. His previously pure white mask was now covered in shadows, turning a flickering dark gray.
"..."
"..."
We briefly stared at each other from afar.
Crown slowly turned his gaze away, and I did the same, stepping back into the airship.
I gave a concise command to my subordinates watching me.
"Prepare for bombardment!"
I don't know why that guy is there, but my job is clear.
Kill monsters, save people.
To achieve this goal, I will do anything.
"We're starting the rat hunt now...!"
"Yes!"
"Prepare for bombardment-!"
Soon, I received a report that preparations were complete, and I extended my hand forward.
"Commence bombardment immediately! Turn them into cinders!"
At my command, La Mancha's bottom hatch opened, and the stored explosives fell onto the heads of the monsters.
And simultaneously,
"Hoo..."
Crown put a flute to his mouth,
Beeeep...!
He blew a long, sharp sound.
"Squeak...?!"
"Squeeeak!"
Immediately, the Rat Legion changed their formation.
They swiftly changed course to avoid the direct hit of the bombardment, while the rear rats covered the front rats, serving as meat shields.
Fweee...
Boom! Boom, boom, boom!
Under the rain of explosives from La Mancha, the Rat Legion continued advancing despite the damage.
The endless horde of ordinary rats sacrificed themselves as shields, while the Great Mother Rat and the elite Ratmen began a steady northward march.
All under the meticulous command of Crown's flute...
"..."
Coldly watching the battlefield, I turned to the side and spoke.
"Prepare Plan B."
Every remaining stage is a life-and-death battle.
To survive, to win...
"We will pour everything we have."
***
Three days later.
Having finally breached all our bombardments, defenses, and obstacles, the Rat Legion reached the southern plains of Crossroad.
Of course, it wasn't without damage.
Most of the ordinary giant rats had perished. They had been lavishly sacrificed as meat shields to protect the Great Mother Rat and the elite Ratmen, which was expected.
And the Great Mother Rat as well.
"Squeak... squeeeak..."
She was dying.
She had been our main target for the past three days. Especially with Damien's precision sniping, no matter how many meat shields were used, hits could not be avoided.
Despite enduring dozens of Damien's sniping attacks, the Great Mother Rat was still hanging on due to her innate extraordinary toughness and overwhelming vitality.
But that, too, had its limits.
The Great Mother Rat could no longer birth new rats, nor could she feed the ones already born. The newborns only screamed for the milk that no longer flowed.
And- the elite Ratmen at the front.
Thousands of well-trained giant Ratmen had successfully preserved most of their strength and reached the southern plains.
We'll inevitably have to engage in a major battle with them.
"Squeak, squeak...!"
"Squeak... kill... squeeeak...!"
The Ratmen, excited by the sight of human walls, had their eyes turn red.
They were momentarily regrouping, but once the command was given, they would immediately charge madly towards Crossroad.
And before that, I...
"This is Ash 'Born Hater' Everblack, commander of the World Guardian Front."
I initiated a conversation.
Walking alone to the center of the plains, I planted the staff I was holding into the ground. The staff emitted my magic, forming a magical flag.
"I request a 'commander's conference' with the commander of the monsters!"
"..."
As soon as I made my request, an uneasy silence enveloped the entire monster army.
I waited calmly, and soon, a response came.
"Accepted."
Crown emerged, parting the Ratmen horde.
Slowly advancing to the center of the plains, Crown stood before me.
"Crown."
"Ash."
We silently gazed at each other for a while.
I observed the ominous black shadow covering Crown's mask, and Crown glanced at my eyes and chest.
"Changed the color of your mask?"
I joked first.
"Yeah, sometimes you need a change. You can get tired of drinking only white tea all your life, right?"
"..."
"You need to try black tea, blue tea, and red tea. How about a bright green mask next?"
Crown chuckled at my joke and tapped his dark gray mask with his fingertips.
"This is the work of the Demon King, Ash. By his will... I must now move as his puppet until the end."
"..."
"The Demon King has entered the nightmare to find someone he's been searching for, as he always does... And I am left to lead the remaining battles."
Upon hearing about the Demon King's actions, I closed my eyes briefly and then opened them.
Indeed...
We are all similar.
"...It hasn't been long since the Black Dragon Battle."
Crown looked me over and smiled faintly.
"In that short time, your soul's light seems to have grown stronger."
"Is it that obvious?"
"Why don't you look in a mirror? Just your gaze already exudes divine power."
No need to look in a mirror.
The power of the two dragons I've embraced and succeeded, and the numerous crowns I've worn, are gradually assimilating with me.
Deification.
My soul has already entered the transcendent stage. I am moving further from the human framework.
But I am suppressing this divine power as much as possible.
To retain my humanity. To remember my human purpose.
And...
Because it's not yet time to use this power.
"Indeed, with your current self..."
Crown murmured bitterly.
"You might be able to kill my sister."
"..."
"You might be able to grant her peaceful rest at the end."
Crown nodded slightly.
"All I want is for her to escape this long nightmare and sleep in peaceful dreams. Can you promise to help, Ash?"
"No."
I denied his words.
"Crown. What you truly wish for isn't such a mere escape through death."
"...?"
"You want your sister to regain her name, her life, her smile."
I smiled gently.
"That's what you truly wish for."
"But, that's...!"
"I will save her."
Reaching out to the trembling Crown, I continued.
"Nameless."
"..."
"You."
"...!"
"And everyone in the Lake Kingdom suffering under that hell. And..."
Crown's eyes widened behind his mask as he heard the last name I whispered.
I smiled brightly.
"Everyone within my reach. I will save them all."
"You..."
Mumbling incredulously, Crown's mouth opened in disbelief.
"You're really insane...?"
"You didn't know?"
I smiled confidently.
"I'm the craziest bastard around here."
"..."
Shaking his head slowly, Crown drew his flute.
"Your arrogance is unbelievable, but... You've proven yourself by achieving everything so far. I can't dismiss it as mere nonsense."
"Starting to understand me now?"
"But, to achieve that arrogance, you must first overcome the invasion I'm leading."
Removing the jaw part of his mask, Crown slowly brought the flute to his lips.
Beeeep-
As Crown played his flute, the Ratmen behind him all glowed with red eyes.
"Sorry, but no holding back, Ash."
With red eyes glowing behind his mask, Crown spoke in a harsh, broken voice.
"To reach that miracle of saving everyone within your reach, you must tear apart this foolish clown's final act with ease...!"
I smiled broadly and swung the staff horizontally.
The magical flag waved like a wave along the trajectory of the staff.
It was the signal to fire.
"I'll show you, Crown."
Facing the Pied Piper and the Rat Legion behind him, a vision from a long time ago overlapped in my mind.
I shouted powerfully.
"That I'm no longer the rookie commander from Stage 2, with a clumsy defense line...!"
Crown and I locked eyes.
The Pied Piper and the Banner Holder of Humanity.
In the next moment, countless monsters charged behind us, and cannons and arrows rained down like a storm.