Chapter 65 - 65

The Zombie Chimeras emerged from the nightmare forest, a relentless force that struck down the overcharged squad of the Denver House within seconds. The ground trembled under the weight of their monstrous bodies as they swarmed the unsuspecting soldiers, tearing through their ranks with savage efficiency.

Hundreds of chimera zombies overpowered them, leaving no chance of survival, even with their overcharge abilities. The soldiers fought valiantly, their weapons clashing against the unholy abominations, but it was like trying to stop a tidal wave with a single hand. The chimera zombies tore through the soldiers at an alarming rate, leaving a trail of blood and carnage in their wake.

In mere minutes, the human armies were cut down by half of what they were at the start. The knights, usually at the forefront of every battle, found themselves being pushed back, their armor no match for the relentless onslaught of the Zombie Chimeras.

"Fall back, everyone! Retreat to our side!" The knight captains bellowed as they witnessed their soldiers falling rapidly. Their voices carried authority and valor, but even they knew the dire situation they faced.

"I will hold them back. All soldiers, retreat immediately! Get the injured to the back lines," Grad, commanded as he drew his second blade, engaging the Chimeras despite his fatigue. He was a formidable warrior, his blades moving with deadly precision, but even he could not withstand the unyielding tide of the undead.

"Soldiers, fall back immediately!" Frank's voice echoed across the battlefield as the soldiers regrouped, returning to their previous positions. The chimera zombies halted their attack and retreated into the forest, their eerie growls lingering in the air.

"Huh? The big zombies have retreated?"

"Sir, they've returned to the forest."

As soon as Derein, saw this, she immediately understood the opposite team's strategy.

"He wants to turn our soldiers into zombies," Derein declared, her eyes narrowing as she analyzed the situation.

"How do you know?" Grok, the king renowned for his strength and wisdom, asked, opening his eyes and focusing on Derein.

"Sir Grok, you are awake! Oh my God, thank the heavens!" One of the healers rushed to Grok's side, her relief evident on her face.

Grok stood up with the help of the healer, glancing at his bandaged legs. He offered a slight smile and spoke, "Well, those seem like some serious side effects, huh?"

"You used forbidden skills and killed hundreds of our soldiers. That's not how a king behaves, I believe," Derein said with a neutral expression, unable to ignore the consequences of Grok's actions.

"Well, I am not a king on the battlefield. I am just a normal soldier, just like them. I saved my friend and your future husband from death's grasp," Grok acknowledged, realizing the price he had paid for his power.

"We lost this battle. They are too many. If we keep fighting here, they'll overwhelm us. If we push them back, those abominations will emerge from the forest and slaughter our soldiers relentlessly. He can easily kill all of us, but he wants us to suffer a slow death, transforming into his zombies," Derein explained grimly, her mind racing for a viable strategy.

"Well, they will not succeed," Grok declared, determination gleaming in his eyes as he stood up, not willing to back down.

"Sir Grok, you are still hurt. You can't return to the battlefield," a young girl, about 13 years old, tried to stop him, her eyes filled with concern.

Grok smiled warmly at the girl and patted her head. "If I don't fight today, your families will have to fight tomorrow. You don't want that, do you, kiddo?"

"But you are injured," the girl protested with genuine worry.I think you should take a look at

"I know. This is the life of a king. You're born on the battlefield, and you die on the battlefield. Thanks to you, I can fight once again. So, thank you, kiddo," Grok expressed proudly with a warm smile, his heart touched by the girl's concern.

"Please take this if you want to fight," the girl offered a slick-looking necklace with an angel figure in the middle.

Grok took the necklace, feeling a refreshing sensation in his body. "This is a healing over time artifact?"

"Yes, sir. My mother gave it to me before I left home and came here," the girl said with a mix of pride and sadness in her voice, knowing the importance of the necklace.

"But I can't take it. Your mother gave it to you, little one," Grok attempted to return the necklace, not wanting to accept such a precious gift.

"Sir, my mother gave this to me so she wouldn't have any regrets if I die on this battlefield today. But I will be at peace if you fight for us today," the girl said with a tearful smile, her voice filled with determination.

Derein felt moved by the girl's selflessness. "Sob-Sob How cute of her. You should accept it," Derein encouraged, her heart touched by the girl's act of bravery.

"Alright, today this king is indebted to you, kiddo. If I survive this battle, I will repay you many times over," Grok promised, knowing that he couldn't let her sacrifice go in vain.

"Please survive, Sir Grok. I will be waiting here for you," the girl said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"If only I had a daughter, I can guarantee she would've been like you," Grok remarked, wearing the necklace around his wrist, the angel figure shining in the moonlight.

"So, what's with this figure? Is she a goddess you worship?" Grok inquired, looking at the figure hanging in the middle of the locket.

"Yes, sir. She is the goddess of fortune, Maria. She stands with those who lose on the battlefield and blesses them with her soldiers to help turn the tide. It is said that she sends her holy blessed soldiers from heaven to assist the side being bullied on the battlefield," the girl shared the story of the goddess Maria, her voice carrying a mix of faith and hope.

"Well, I hope she sends some of them here," Grok stated, tapping the girl's head one last time before leaving the camp with Derein.

"The moon is out," Grok observed with a smile as the rain stopped and the sky cleared, revealing the moonlight that bathed the battlefield in an ethereal glow.

"Sir, your royal sword is here," a soldier rushed towards the camp, presenting Grok with a slim, double-edged sword with intricate engravings.

"Ah, my one and only partner, Lina," Grok spoke, taking the sword from the soldier's hand, its steel gleaming under the moonlight.

As Grok held the sword, a loud sound resonated above the battlefield.

Cawwwww

The moon was shining brightly, blood was flying over the battlefield and soldiers were dying endlessly.

King Grok has taken his royal sword in his hands but before he could've unsheathed it, a loud sound was heard from above the battlefield.

*Cawwwww*

Everyone looked above and noticed a big three eyed raven flying high in the sky, covering the moon with it's wings and riding above it, was it's owner.

A man wearing a steel plated mask on his face, he was wearing normal cloths, white shirt, Black pants and black coat but the environment around him was different.

He didn't seemed neither like a foe nor like an enemy. He wasn't emitting any bloodlust.

The raven was moving towards the human front lines.

"What is that ?" Grok asked Derein.

"Don't know but i don't think he is from their side and even if he is from their side, he is coming here to talk, i think." Derein answered.

"Well, let's see what-"

*Thump-Thump*

Before gork could've completed his sentence the rocks near the battlefield started vibrating.

"What is happening ?" Derein asked.

"I don't know but whatever it is, it's coming from that direction." Grok answered as he pointed towards the outskirts of the capital.

Suddenly the man riding over the black raven jumped off of it.

"Shit, i think he plans on clearing our front lines." Derein spoke as she pointed her bow towards the falling man.

"No, He is not a zombie. He is a human, don't shoot. I will go their by myself, you take of the things that are coming from that side." Grok said as he immediately started running towards the front.

"Okay and please don't get Killed or i will kill you this time." Derein shouted.

*Boom*

The man landed on the front lines of the humans, where the house of undead's soldiers were killing the zombies with their utmost energy.

"Who are you ? Answer or die." Frank immediately pointed his sword towards the man wearing the mask.

"Your father." The masked man spoke.

"What ?"

Suddenly a force of ogres covered in full plated mithiril armours, riding on the direwolfs appeared on the north side of the battlefield.

The Ogres stopped as they saw that Derein is blocking the way with many soldiers of the house undead behind her.

"Who are you ? State your purpose." Derein asked as she pointed her bow towards no.300 who was riding on her Red direwolf.

No.300 jumped off of the direwolf and came closer to Derein.

"Don't come close, tell me who you are or i will eliminate you right now." Derein shouted.

"Master." No.300 pointed towards Anon who was talking to frank at the front lines.

"What ?"

In the middle of this Grok reached on the front lines and saw frank pointing his sword at the masked man.

Frank who was still trying to figure out who he was suddenly looked at the Ogres standing on the north of the battlefield.

"Are you...?" Frank immediately understood that the man standing in front of him was none other than Anon himself because only he had the power to call over 50,000 ogres with a single call in the whole kingdom.

"Yes, now back off."

"Who are you again ?" Grok asked as he tried to be smart in the middle of the conversation.I think you should take a look at

"Yes, Sir." Frank said sheathing his sword back.

"What ?" Grok asked witha confused expression.

This man just said, back off and he listened to him so easily ?

"Soldiers of the undead house, back off. We are going back to the backlines." Frank shouted.

Every single soldier from the house of Undead listened to Frank's orders and started falling back.

"Frank what are you doing ? Is he on our side ?" Grok asked.

"It doesn't matter. If he is on their side, then there is no means in fighting and If He is on our side then there is no need for us to fight. I am backing off with my house and believe me you should back off too, believe on this one there is no good in getting our soldiers killed for no reason." Frank explained to grok as he tapped him on his shoulder and left.

Before leaving Frank turned back one last time and asked Anon, "Sir, one question if you don't mind. What side are you really on ?"

Anon didn't said anything and just summoned his sickles of death as he turned towards the zombies.

"Hahaha, it's time to see the real fight." Frank laughed as he left.

All the soldiers from the noble house of Undead who were with Derein aslo backed off to the backlines, listening to their family leader's command

"Soldiers, March Forward." Anon shouted.

The ogre warriors walked from in between the soldiers with their mithiril armours and their sharp weapons shining in the moonlight.

Some had axe pairs in their hands, whereas some of them hand swords, morning stars and spears.

"What is happening ?"

"Who are they ?"

"I don't know, but look their skin is green. It means they are monsters."

"What are they planning on doing ?"

"I will say this just once, get your soldiers to the backlines or mine will not differentiate while killing." Anon said as he looked at grok and the other knight captains.

"How do we believe-" before grok could've even completed his sentence, Anon disappeared from his position and appeared behind grok, his sickles around grok's necks.

The incredible speed surprised even grok.

"Y-You, what are you ?" Grok asked.

"I would've killed you, if i wanted to. Just get your soldiers back and let me handle this." Anon said as he removed the sickles from grok's neck and went back to his previous position.

At this moment, grok's eyes only focused on one thing and that was the necklace that the little girl gave him.

"Y-Yes... Everyone Back off. It's an official order back off." Grok shouted.

"But sir-" One of the knight captain tried to interrupt but before he could've said anything else geok interrupted him in the middle of his talk.

"Just do as i say. We don't have many options." Grok spoke.

Everyone backed off to the backlines and the zombies again started coming towards the continent.

"Soldiers get ready."

"Yes, Master." All 50,000 of them spoke at the same time, giving goosebumps to every soldier present on the battlefield.

Anon activated his skill.

"Soldiers, Valheim." Anon shouted.

Amidst the chaos of battle, Anon stood like an unyielding force, his voice cutting through the din of the battlefield. "Soldiers, Valheim!" The resounding cry ignited an inferno of determination within No.300 and the formidable Ogre warriors. With a battle cry that shook the heavens, they charged at the relentless zombie horde, unleashing their might with an unparalleled ferocity.

In a realm where a human knight could only hope to slay five to seven zombies at most, the Ogres were a spectacle of devastation, each warrior dispatching 10 to 15 undead foes at once. Their sinewy muscles and formidable weapons carved through the enemies like a hurricane, leaving trails of shattered corpses in their wake.

Yet, Anon was on an entirely different level. The mysterious warrior was a whirlwind of destruction, an enigmatic force that seemed to transcend mere mortals. Each zombie that dared encroach upon his Domain faced instant obliteration, their heads severed cleanly from their bodies with a single deft stroke of his blade.

The sight left onlookers bewildered and awestruck. Queen Derein turned to King Grok, her expression a mix of astonishment and curiosity. "How is he doing that?"

"I-I don't know," King Grok stammered, his gaze fixed on Anon's relentless prowess. "His speed, his strength... it's overwhelming, and his techniques are beyond comprehension."

The battlefield was a symphony of chaos and fury, but Anon moved with a grace and precision that seemed to defy the laws of physics. He danced amongst the zombies, leaving a trail of decapitated bodies in his wake. The sheer mastery of his swordplay was both terrifying and mesmerizing.

"We can't simply stand back and watch," King Grad remarked, observing Anon with a mix of awe and concern.

King Grok hesitated, recalling the warning Anon had issued. "He cautioned us against interfering. His ogre soldiers might mistake us for enemies in the midst of the chaos, and that could be disastrous."

"True," King Grad acknowledged, his eyes never leaving Anon's relentless performance. "But such a display of power... it's remarkable."

"He warned us of the consequences," Queen Derein chimed in. "For now, let us bear witness to his prowess."

The battle raged on, and as the Ogres' might pushed the zombie horde back toward the border of the nightmare forest, King Grad prepared to join the fray. The temptation to aid Anon was strong, but he resisted, knowing the potential consequences.

"Frank, should we not help him?" King Grok inquired anxiously.

Frank's eyes gleamed with confidence and amusement. "No need, your majesty. He won't fall easily. He's made of mithril, a force to be reckoned with."

"Mithril?" Both King Grok and King Grad echoed in disbelief.

"Indeed. Watch," Frank said, directing their attention back to Anon.

As Anon reached the edge of the nightmare forest, the zombies inexplicably froze in place, their undead march coming to an eerie halt. Even the ogres ceased their assault, awaiting Anon's command.

"Master," No.300 spoke with reverence, halting her attack on the zombies.

"Prepare yourselves," Anon ordered, his voice echoing with authority.

"Yes, sir," No.300 responded, her grip on her axes tightening.

From the depths of the nightmare forest, hundreds of zombie Chimeras emerged, charging with newfound fury towards the Ogres. But this time, it was different.

"Soldiers, activate your cores!" Anon's voice thundered across the battlefield.

The ogre soldiers wasted no time, tapping on the blue cores embedded in their armors. A surge of magical energy flowed into their bodies, infusing them with unparalleled power. Their weapons glowed, the enchantments etched upon them awakening with a luminous brilliance.

The ogres erupted into triumphant laughter, invigorated by the surge of power coursing through their veins. Anon's mastery over the monster cores had unlocked their true potential, rendering them virtually unstoppable.

"Your majesty, this power is overwhelming! I feel like tearing through anything in my path!" One of the ogres bellowed with adrenaline-fueled exuberance.

"Then seize the opportunity, son. Embrace the battle," Anon said with a knowing smile. And in an instant, he vanished from his position, reappearing amidst a trio of charging chimeras.

Before the bewildered creatures could react, their heads were severed from their bodies, leaving their lifeless forms collapsing in his wake.

"Impossible! His speed is beyond human!" King Grok marveled in disbelief.

"In times like these, you must become a monster or wield one," Derein said with a subtle grin, acknowledging the unprecedented power of Anon and his ogre soldiers.

Empowered by the magical energy coursing through their bodies, the ogres surged forward, effortlessly dispatching the chimera zombies with newfound ease. The battlefield became a symphony of destruction, and the Ogres reigned as the harbingers of doom, shattering the undead onslaught.

Within the hidden laboratory of the nightmare forest, a man with blonde hair clenched his fist in frustration. "Damn that kid! Why does he keep interfering with my plans?"I think you should take a look at

Unyielding in his determination, he manipulated a lever on the control panel, seeking a way to hinder Anon's relentless advance. "I won't rest until this kingdom lies in ruins. I'll stop at nothing to achieve my goal."

As if in response to his declaration, the zombie Chimeras suddenly changed direction, converging on Anon like a tidal wave of death.

"They're targeting the masked man!" Queen Derein observed, recognizing the shift in the undead's focus.

"Should we intervene and assist him?" King Grok asked with concern, ready to join the fray.

"No," Frank asserted, halting King Grad's advance. "Let us witness this display of power. This guy won't falter easily."

A wicked grin etched across Anon's face as he stared down the horde of charging Chimeras, his sharp teeth glinting in the midst of chaos. To the untrained eye, it might seem like madness, but to those who recognized true power, it was the mark of a fearsome and unstoppable force.

Amidst the chaotic battlefield, Anon's commanding voice rang out once more, exuding a potent mixture of confidence and determination. "Excellent. Magnificent. Last time, I lacked full control over my mind, but now, I know exactly what I'm doing. Come, you bastards! I'll show you who I truly am!"

Derein's brow furrowed as she observed Anon from afar, concern etched on her face. What could have brought about such a radical transformation in him? Yet, she couldn't deny the power he wielded. In this dire confrontation with the undead hordes, they needed every ally they could muster.

"He's not moving from his spot. Is something wrong with him, Frank?" Derein asked, seeking her trusted advisor's insight. Frank, ever composed, watched Anon attentively, waiting to see the full extent of his abilities.

"No, wait. Don't do anything," Frank advised, recognizing that Anon was about to unleash something extraordinary.

A message materialized in front of Anon, a testament to the dark powers at play within him.

[SCYTHE OF DEATH: FINAL FORM]

Anon's voice reverberated through the battleground once more, his words carrying the weight of impending doom. "Let's roll, you bastards!" With a swift, graceful motion, the sickles of death in his hands merged once again, forming the awe-inspiring Scythe of Death - darker than the blackest night and as profound as the abyss.

"Ogres, get down!" He commanded, recognizing the immense destructive force about to be unleashed. The ogres, unyielding in their loyalty, immediately obeyed, crouching low to the ground.

"Everyone, down!" No.300 echoed, and the entire band of ogres followed suit, taking cover.

Anon seized the scythe's handle, his grip resolute. With an effortless yet powerful motion, he executed a 360° spin, like a malevolent whirlwind, aimed squarely at the encircling undead menace.

In the blink of an eye, a tremendous burst of dark energy erupted from the scythe's blade, a cataclysmic wave of death that swept across the battlefield. The zombies and chimera zombies, surrounding Anon from all sides, were obliterated in an instant, their lifeless forms falling like discarded puppets.

As the spinning came to an end, nothing remained in the vicinity but the grim remnants of the once-ferocious undead horde - an eerie silence replacing the tumult of battle.

"Hahaha... This is exhilarating!" Anon's voice resonated with amusement beneath his mask, the darkness of the battlefield contrasting with the wicked grin that formed beneath it.

The onlookers, awestruck and shaken by the devastating display, struggled to comprehend the source of this newfound power. "What in the world is wrong with him? Where did he even come from?" King Grok questioned, astonished by the extent of the carnage before them.

"Hahaha, he never disappoints," Frank chuckled, his respect for Anon's abilities deepening.

"Frank, remind me again, what's your relationship with this guy?" Grad inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"Oh, Sir Grad, he's just a friend of mine," Frank replied nonchalantly, though even he couldn't fully fathom the extent of Anon's prowess.

"Well, you better invite him to the after-party," Grok said with a laugh, the tension momentarily lifted by the thrill of victory.

However, Derein's expression remained solemn and resolute, her mind absorbed in a quandary. "No, we must eliminate him," she declared with a stern expression, causing a ripple of astonishment among the assembled leaders.

Frank, Grok, Grad, and the other knight captains stared at Derein, their faces filled with tension. "Queen Derein, what are you suggesting? Are you proposing that we kill an ally who has aided us in such dire circumstances?" Grad asked, seeking to understand her reasoning.

"Yes, that is precisely what I'm suggesting," Derein replied, her voice unwavering, eyes scanning the aftermath of destruction around the Place. 

In the aftermath of their heated discussion, tensions simmered within the war room. The air crackled with a sense of urgency and impending conflict. Derein, the queen, leaned against the massive wooden table, her expression resolute. She glanced around at her advisors, her eyes locking with each one in turn. They all knew that their decision today could shape the destiny of their kingdom.

"That guy commands those Ogre monsters, and they are slaughtering these zombies like ants. Our soldiers were struggling against the zombies moments ago. Have you considered what might happen if he decides to turn against us?" Derein's voice echoed through the room.

All eyes were fixed on Anon, the enigmatic figure who held such power over the monstrous Ogres. The room fell into a heavy silence as Derein's warning struck a nerve, the gravity of the situation settling upon them like a suffocating fog.

"She's right, I believe," King Grok added his agreement, his deep voice resonating through the room.

"Hmm, it's one of the possibilities. I can't say for sure," King Grad weighed in, his regal countenance masking his uncertainty.

"I think I'll trust my queen's judgment," Derein's Knight Commander spoke, pledging his loyalty.

"Me too. I believe we should eliminate him," the leader of the House of Alchemists chimed in, her keen mind assessing the situation.

"Me too."

"We will help as well," others in the room joined the chorus, aligning with Derein's decision to kill Anon.

In just ten minutes, the entire room had come to a unanimous decision to eliminate Anon. The atmosphere was charged with adrenaline and the anticipation of a dangerous undertaking.

Amidst the fervent agreement, a dissenting voice stood strong. Frank, a distinguished and cunning figure, remained seated at the far end of the table, seemingly unaffected by the overwhelming consensus. He was known for his shrewdness and pragmatism, a man who played the political game with a calculated hand.

"Frank, you're the only one left. Are you with us or against us?" Queen Derein inquired, her emerald eyes scrutinizing him.

"Well, count me and my house out. I don't want to die so young," Frank chuckled, seemingly unfazed by the gravity of the situation.

"What nonsense? He's just one, and we are many. Why are you still taking his side?" Marinda, the leader of the witch house, expressed her disbelief.

Frank leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and determination. "That's my decision," he maintained.

His defiance provoked the ire of some in the room, but Derein held up her hand, silencing them. "Put your swords down," she commanded, her regal authority demanding obedience.

The men hesitated, their hands gripping the hilts of their swords. But when Derein spoke again, her voice like a steel blade, they relented and withdrew their weapons. Frank's unwavering stance had won him a temporary reprieve.

"Why? Why do you believe in him so much? Can he save you from all these men here?" Derein inquired, her eyes sharp as she sought to break Frank's faith in Anon.

Frank's gaze met hers, his voice unwavering. "He can," he answered confidently, refusing to falter.

"He can't, Frank. He alone can't stand against so many soldiers. He needs those ogres to do his bidding. He may have one or two tricks, but he can't save you against my army," Derein tried to reason, her tactics in full display.I think you should take a look at

But Frank's belief in Anon ran deep, rooted in a profound understanding of the young man's abilities. "No, you won't understand. Okay, I can do this. I won't tell him anything about your plan, and you won't involve me in all of this. I'll remain neutral. Is that good?" Frank proposed, seeking a middle ground.

Derein considered his offer, weighing the risk of losing an ally who held valuable information. "Accepted, but if you tell him anything, death will be the last thing you need to worry about," she warned with a steely glare.

"Don't worry, he doesn't need my help to survive an ambush," Frank assured, leaving the tent with an enigmatic smile.

As Frank exited the war room, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Idiots. Why would they want to eliminate someone who just saved their asses and someone who can kill them without blinking?"

Meanwhile, in the heart of the Nightmare Forest, a separate battle was unfolding. An ominous laboratory hummed with dark energy as its mastermind, a blonde-haired man, reveled in his plan's failure. But rather than despair, his countenance bore a twisted grin.

"Well, since my plan has already failed because of this Anon guy, why not punish him for his interference," the blonde-haired man mused, his voice laced with malice. His hand hovered over the control panel, his fingers poised to unleash chaos upon his enemies.

Before he could act, a chilling voice interrupted him, "Or die here by my hands."

The man whirled around, his eyes widening in shock as he beheld the figure standing behind him—a fearsome warrior named Mike, whose loyalty to his master was unwavering.

"What the... How did you get here? No, how did you even find me?" the man stammered, fear creeping into his voice.

"My master has ordered me to keep you alive as long as you cooperate with me. The choice is yours. Press down that lever or live," Mike spoke with a chilling calm.

"I choose both," the man declared, his grip on the lever tightening.

"Okay." In a flash, Mike vanished and reappeared behind the man. But before he could strike, the man disappeared, reappearing where Mike had stood.

"Oh, nice skills," the blonde man taunted, his smile never faltering.

But Mike wasn't so easily deterred. He dashed toward the man with deadly intent, but once again, the man vanished, transforming into a cloud of white smoke that dissipated into the air.

"This motherfucker," Mike cursed, failing his master's task and knowing that he would face the consequences.

Meanwhile, back in the underground city, Sephie noticed something peculiar amidst the chaos of the zombies. Amongst seven trees, only six spawned zombies. The seventh tree, larger than the others, stood silent, an eerie stillness about it.

Investigating further, she dispatched Mike to explore the enigmatic tree. As Mike approached, he noticed a hidden hole in the trunk, carefully concealed by sticks and leaves. Curiosity piqued, he followed the trail, leading him to the mastermind behind the ominous laboratory.

However, just as he was about to apprehend him, the man vanished without a trace, leaving Mike seething with frustration.