Chapter 160 – The Clean-up annihilation war.

Special thank to Lion san and Co. once again…and the editor credits goes to those who're gonna point out the various stupid mistakes I've made.

The Clean-up annihilation war.

From his subordinates, Calgurio had received many despairing reports.

The situation was very grim; it's evident that this war was a failure.

No, that's not all.

It had already reached the point where the odds of retreating out of the forest alive were questionable.

(How did this happen? No, to begin with when did...?)

With this thoughts locked in a desperate loop and failing to break out of it, Calgurio once again evaluates the hopeless situation whilst determining their possible courses of action.

Even though he couldn't do anything to turn this worse case scenario around, as the corps captain he is still responsible for the lives of his officers and soldiers.

That was the one thing he would never turn his back away from.

The first reported had initially intended to convey that the capital-offense troops have engaged with the enemy forces.

The heated battle is on the verge of reaching a deadlock.

Despite their overwhelming advantage in numbers, they couldn't push through the enemy's impregnable defensive formation; the enemy was fighting with fervor.

The sorcery cannon and magician's wide-scale magic were all completely tanked by the enemy's defensive barrier, unable to exert their effects.

Despite being the enemy it was a praiseworthy defensive formation.

Since they have lost contact with the dungeon capturing squad, they could only head towards the capital.

This isn't the time to praise the enemy's defenses.

By the time Calgurio had linked the dots, he had already realized that he was backed against a wall.

But, it was already too late.

The situation had escalated swiftly.

A new enemy had emerged. That troop was the living embodiment of terror.

With an oppressive force, they had begun tramping all over them.

Their numbers hardly reach one-tenth of their own, yet they could do nothing against it.

According to the reports of the energy measurement team, there were several individuals with a vast quantity of magical essence within them.

TN Note: It's over 9000! This never gets old ????

However, the majority of enemy troops, their energy values were comparable to that of their own forces.

The number of A rank monsters isn't a lot.

Yet, the results had unfurled before him, and their own forces were cornered into a corner.

There were even further developments.

From within the enemy's impregnable formation, unparalleled wide-scale magic was unleashed.

Due to the strikes from the enemy magic and Youjutsu, there were a great number of causalities in the empire's forces.

The objective of the purple armored troops was to spread unified fear, causing the empire's armies to fall into confusion, eventually noticing the barrier weakening.

It was a display of brilliant cooperation

However, if it was only to this extent, they could still regroup.

The capital offensive troops vanguard and rearguard have 100,000 soldiers each.

when the vanguards begin to collapse, the rearguards could provide support, change positions with the vanguards and regroup.

This was possible precisely because of their overwhelming advantage in numbers, a sure-win strategy.

(Even if it's only a temporary upper hand, we've preserved the dignity of the Demon Lord)

Once he was aware he was backed into a corner, he had just gained a bit of coverage.

Except said coverage had vanished into thin air immediately right after.

Through the use of telescopic magic, the empire army's advisors including Calgurio were observing the battlefield a few kilometers away.

Everyone was at a loss for words in an instant.

Any remaining feeling of coverage, had immediately dispersed.

The energy measurement team screamed like a madmen and cried out in fear.

"O, order a retreat immediately!!"

They said.

Except everything was too late...

Rather than trying to comprehend the meaning of his words, it was much quicker observing the situation before him.

The rearguard troops who wanted to support the vanguards had all been struck by tragedy.

A type of nuclear strike magic, "Gravity Collapse"

Releasing an absolute energy, a brutal magic that spreads tyrannical violence.

Causing gravitational magnetic fields to run rampart like that of a star, it creates a localized high-intensity gravity field.

Everything in the affected region would feel its effects and be crushed.

If everything keeps on being compressed, all the energy would be pressed into a single point, causing a mini supernova on the ground.

This time, it seems this wasn't the objective of the enemy.

when the majority of the soldiers were crushed to death, the effects of the magic disappeared.

Even so, amongst the 100,000 soldiers, the ones still alive number to...

"A mo, monster. Th…there was just one of the, yet that galactic magic...

A magic that only exists in theory...

It's impossible to use it here, the energy consumption required is astronomical..."

Indeed, Calgurio has knowledge about it.

Theoretically, it was possible, however it's still in research stage.

It wasn't a magic confirmed in the past, but rather the amalgamation of the empire's technology, the knowledge from another world, and a compilation of theories creating a new type of wide-scale magic being researched upon.

TN Note: clearly it isn't

Yet...it was perfectly activated.

And it merely took a single monster.

Demon Lord.

Those words, alongside a realistic sense of fear, had reached the brain of Calgurio.

We, have lifted our hands against someone we should have never laid our hands on didn't we?

TN Note: you think so?

In the first place, to activate a magic of that magnitude, even with 10 magicians it might not succeed.

Its energy consumption couldn't be compared with that of an average nuclear strike magic, and without perfect concentration would only result in accidental discharges of energy.

Even so...to have the ability to stop it completely midway through, it could only be think of as the ability of a inhuman monster.

"However...we still have the scientific weapon the magic canceller..."

"No, we should immediately retreat, Calgurio sama"

The man who suddenly barged into the tent, said this to Calgurio.

When thinking about what the heck were the guards doing, he saw the man,

"A, aren't you Krishna Dono?"

In the Empire's battle for positions, this man would often rank in a high position.

He too had participated in these battles often himself, he was a swordsman you couldn't be careless around.

This man, with a haggard appearance, donned the empire's strongest legendary ranked equipment, and there was a gaping hole at his chest plate.

There were still signs of a death struggle on it.

"Look, Bazan and Raiha are already dead. Colonel Kansas and Major General Minutes too.

In addition, 2 'Otherworlders'. There are monsters in there that can't be taken down even with that kind of power.

We've detected a grand magic just now, but we're afraid that's not the demon lord.

Several Arc demon class monsters had already been identified within the dungeon.

Furthermore, there are even Demon Lord classes. 　That magic we've detected, it's most likely used by one such individual.

Retreat now. There's no shame in this, decide quickly!"

TN Note:…I think the author mixed up Demon lord and demon duke, but the raws say Demon Lord…I might change it to demon duke at my own discretion in the future.

"Not the Demon Lord?

And, there's several more of those monsters?

Demon Lords?!

So it was something on this level...

And above this, the wicked dragon Veldora still hasn't made his appearance...

And the Demon Lord Rimuru hasn't moved yet...

Gather the soldiers, we're retreating at once!"

Out of the three revival bracelets confiscated from Shinji and co, Calgurio had taken one and hid it for himself.

2 were given to the Technology department for analysis, and one of them was given to Krishna.

Since the Emperor's orders were absolute, the Technology department could only hand it over without complaint.

One had been completely taken apart thus this was the only one that could be used, and thanks to said bracelet Krishna was able to revive.

And thus, while the revival effects of the bracelets were confirmed, the replicas having no effect was also confirmed.

the soldiers in the dungeon, in the truest sense of the words, were wiped out.

350,000 soldiers, all wiped out.

Calgurio's complexion paled, but now's not the time for that.

Rather than the dead, those who are still alive are more important.

There are the tank corps and 400 airships, they should first regroup with the them, get a grasp of the situation, and then reorganize the army.

At worse they would retreat back to the empire, but it was much better than complete annihilation.

Calgurio had decided, and was about to give out the orders.

However, it was too late.

"Kufufufu. Now that would be troubling. Why don't you be my opponent for a bit"

The demon had crept in, never allowing their pitiful prey to escape.

Tension was in the air of the Headquarters.

Only a single monster had intruded.

However, the aura emitting from it, was more overwhelming than any monster they've met so far.

A monster with a similar stature to theirs, yet emitting magical essence more concentrated than a gigantic dragon.

Furthermore, it had intruded without anyone noticing.

Even with that kind of aura, he stilled managed to intrude without anyone sensing.

The guards pointed their swords at the intruder.

However, Calgurio's body felt heavy, he couldn't raise his sword as he willed.

"Kufufufu. You inferior trash wish to battle me as equals?"

The red-haired monster, Diablo laughed.

Calgurio looked at Krishna, but Krishna had already kneeled.

Krisha had probably perceived the overwhelming different in ability, and was despairing.

Calgurio held onto a small silver of hope, and tried to negotiate with Diablo.

"Pardon my rudeness, My name is Calgurio.

I am the leader of this Corps, and the highest authority bearer in this operation.

May I please ask for thine name?"

"Oya? You're a polite one.

My "name" is Diablo, a loyal servant of Demon Lord Rimuru."

As Calgurio had guessed, this was a named monster.

Or rather, it would be strange if something of this caliber didn't have a name.

Confirming that the other part had reason and intellect, Calgurio had hopes with the negotiation.

"Diablo Dono, we wish to offer our surrender.

If this battle continues we would have more dead soldiers, your side would also sustain more damages no?

What do you say?

Of course, we would pay compensation, and promise to refrain from all acts of invasion in the future.

No, we could even have an alliance between Tempest and our Empire!

We wouldn't forget this kindness. How about it?

Could you please pass this onto Demon Lord Rimuru sama?"

Considering the current situation, all 350,000 of the dungeon capturing team are dead.

As for the Capital offense team, over half were either dead or could no longer continue to fight.

Unable to contact any other troops, the current fighting forces on hand are 150,000 members including survivors totaling to a little less than 200,000.

There will be a number of causalities should they act violently, so if they want a complete victory this is a considerable proposal.

Calgurio had made a split-second decision, rather than fleeing, he tried to negotiate with Demon Lord Rimuru via an intermediary.

This military operation was a complete washout.

They had completely underestimated the enemy forces.

It was a prided battle force that could have went up against 3 old demon lords simultaneously and still triumph.

Even if they combined all the battle strength of the west, they still wouldn't be able to compare to

one-third of the empire's forces.

They were convinced of absolute victory, yet this was the result.

Demon Lord class, and several more demon lord class individuals, all under the banner of the Demon Lord Rimuru.

TN Note: …yeah, I think デーモンロード should have been Demon Duke…

They should pay compensation here and retreat, then rebuild their forces henceforth.

There are already almost 500,000 deaths, and Calgurio will no doubt be done for, but anymore than this then the empire's backbone would collapse.

Calgurio was greedy, but not incompetent.

That's why, he had offered this proposal.

If the enemy demanded for the lives of the generals, then he must be prepared to sacrifice himself.

But, it's all too late.

"Kufufufu. This proposal, came a little too late.

At this point, you're the only ones alive."

Calgurio couldn't understand what he was told.

The advisors too, were befuddled by his words.

However, Diablo generated a gust of wind with his mind.

*Pachin! And snapped his fingers.

In moments, the tent was blown off, and the outside scenery had entered Calgurio's sights.

And there was, a mountain of corpses.

The soldiers in the middle of their work, laid dead as if they were asleep.

It was almost as if they soul was pulled out of them...

No, their soul was probably actually pulled out, the soldiers were unable to resist and had their souls ripped out by the red haired demon Diablo.

Diablo had no reason to put in time and effort to want the enemy soldiers flee to begin with.

And killing them all would also be troublesome.

And so, as he descended he had also simultaneously activated "End・Of・World", reaping the souls of every enemy soldiers.

In actuality, he could have killed them with madness via 『Demon lord's Haki』, but that would have caused too great of a commotion.

Diablo didn't plan to allow even a single enemy alive.

Precisely because of that, he quickly annihilated the enemy, without a shred of hesitation.

To begin with, he always preferred being a lone wolf.

That is also why he doesn't have his own subordinates.

They are but useless tools that aren't even worth using.

Currently there's been a small fry called Venom who's been selfishly following him around, but if he proves useful then he'll be used.

for Diablo, a tool's worth is in its utility.

That's why useless subordinates are uneeded, he himself too, must prove himself to be a useful tool (lowly servant) to his master Rimuru.

"U,u…..UOOOOOOOOOO!!"

Calgurio screamed, glaring at Diablo as if he was vomiting blood.

TN Note: 絶叫 means "cry of despair" word for word

The rage from having his comrades slain had overlaid his fears in an instant.

At that instant, An awe-inspiring radiant armor had wrapped around Calgurio, and his mind calmed down.

The strongest armor from the era of gods.

Borrowed from the Emperor, A god class equipment.

Permitted to by worn only by the 4 Corps Captains, it was a testimony to the Empire's greatest fighting power.

"Unforgivable, Demon! I'm going to murder you!"

"Kufufufu. That's more like it, now this is getting interesting."

They had a standoff, and the final battle began.

However, it couldn't be called a fight.

That's because, to Diablo Calgurio was nothing more than a lesser life form, even god class equipment is nothing before mighty strength.

Tools only have meaning should you know how to use it.

It's naught but a pitiful tale if an owner couldn't bring out the full potential of his tool.

Calgurio didn't even manage to get Diablo to get serious, it was nothing but the simple reaping of a single soul.

There were 150,000 soldiers of the empire's army encamped outside in the vicinity of dungeon.

Apart from the few of the higher ups, none of them realized what caused them to be annihilated.

In this fashion, the entirety of the empire's forces that came to invade tempest, was completely annihilated without leaving behind any major achievements.

And so the crisis has passed for now.

――In actuality whether this could actually be called a crisis or not is left to the people to determine.

And so the Empire's invasion of Tempest, has ended in failure.

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Note to lion san

You know Lion san, after reading your TN Notes…I think you're forgetting you're suppose to be Karion under a mask, not an actual lion…oh well.

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