Chapter 85: Signal Fire

As the demon soldier touched the blue light wall of the Allied Forces, he fell, emitting black smoke.

Seeing this, the soldiers behind him panicked and stopped in their tracks. The front line inched closer to the wall as they were pushed from behind but managed to stop just in time.

However, there was no time for relief. This time, the Allied Forces threw red stones into the air, drawing arcs with them as they soared from the other side of the wall.

The pomegranate stones that flew over the wall fell on the heads of the Kingdom’s army and the demon’s army gathered near the light wall.

“It’s bad. Mia, protect Karla and the others with a barrier.”

I used the “Router” skill and hurried towards Arthur. Currently, Arthur was not under the protection of Mary’s “Magic Sheath” skill. Without invincibility, he wouldn’t come out of that attack unscathed, no matter how strong he was.

It’s no use… I won’t make it in time.

Explosions and tornadoes raged everywhere, and the soldiers’ screams echoed. I managed to endure it with the “Wall of the Heart” barrier, but there was significant damage all around me.

“Arthur are you okay?”

“…Sorry. My left leg is injured. Rather than worrying about me, it will be difficult to recover if I take another attack like that. Do you have any ideas?”

The Allied Forces, without concern for our situation, began preparing red stones for pursuit. They were determined to thoroughly crush us in this opportunity.

Damn it, we’ve been completely cornered. Everyone understood the direness of the situation. Even the tough warriors who had fought relentlessly, covered in blood, wore expressions of panic and fear on their faces.

“It’s hopeless… There’s nothing we can do to turn the tide of this battle. We’ll be annihilated…”

At that moment, I felt the wind from above.

Raising my head, I could vaguely see something.

Could it be…

“Gwaaaaaaaaah!”

Suddenly, a roar shook the ground to its core, emanating from the sky. Light and wind merged and pierced through the battlefield.

The eyes of everyone present turned to the sky, their faces filled with astonishment and hope.

A dragon with massive wings spread wide descended majestically. Its scales were a deep crimson-black, and its fiery eyes radiated courage to some and despair to others.

The massive body of the dragon glided along the battlefield and blue light wall created by the Allied Forces, mirroring its path. It gleamed with red-black scales from its chest to its neck, and it breathed down a breath of flames.

The flames unleashed from its mouth emitted intense heat, distorting the surrounding air. The ground, enveloped in flames in an instant, had the soil evaporate, smoke rising, and finally turning into a red-black liquid resembling lava.

The staffs of magic tools that had been thrust into the ground, along with the remaining soldiers of the Allied Forces, were swallowed by the lava as they melted away.

“Ridoooooooo! You came!”

Karla’s voice could be heard from afar. Responding to it, cheers erupted from the demon army and soon spread to the Melkid Kingdom’s army as well.

Did we make it in time? Moreover, it arrived at the most critical moment!

Rido had sustained severe injuries while rescuing Karla and escaping from the royal capital of Melkid. To ensure Rido’s safe return to the demon territory, we had been on separate missions from that point onward.

When we parted ways with Kuzuha at the Underdeveloped District, Rido had returned to the village near the training facility.

Upon receiving the message, the Demon King had treated Rido until night in the village.

Although I had heard that he would be dispatched as reinforcement by the Demon King, I couldn’t be happier about the timing of his arrival!

“Karla, can Rido use the breath attack again? If possible, I’d like to ask for one more.”

“That attack consumes quite a bit of magic power. He can’t do it again so soon.”

I guess it can’t be helped. Using Rido alone for annihilation won’t work. In that case, that massive body will be a perfect target.

“Understood. Make sure Rido doesn’t charge the enemy! Stay at a distance where the pomegranate stones can’t reach and intimidate the enemy. Also, is Mary safe?”

“Yes, she’s safe. Kuzuha treated her with her mystic arts… There’s something I need to talk to you about regarding this later,” 

For some reason, even though I couldn’t see Karla’s face, I could tell she was giving a disgruntled look.

From the ground that had dissolved due to Rido’s breath attack, an uncomfortably intense heat permeated the surroundings. It was suffocating.

However, thanks to that, the balance of power had shifted dramatically. The blue light wall disappeared, and it seemed that the Allied Forces had lost about thirty percent of their soldiers.

Karla and Arthur didn’t miss the opportunity presented by the enemy’s hesitation and issued orders for a counterattack.

“Arthur, are you okay with your injury? I’m heading your way now.”

“Sorry, I’ll be fine. I’ve closed the wounds with a potion, but it seems my left leg is broken. Of all times…”

“Don’t worry. Kuzuha can heal it. I’ll send Mia and Kuzuha your way, so don’t push yourself until then.”

I cut off the telepathic communication with Arthur and informed Mia of Arthur’s condition, asking for her assistance.

Now then… it seems like I should join in as Arthur’s protector.

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