Chapter 179

Chapter 179: Sweep away thousands of troops

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"What are you talking about? Isn't this very common?"

"—Impossible! The shockwave appeared the moment you touched the ground, without even a moment's delay… Oh, I think I understand. It can be activated instantly, but does it require physical contact with the ground?"

He analyzed the situation while stepping back, then pulled the bowstring to its full extent and fired again.

Six arrows shot forward, accompanied by various spells cast by the magicians—fierce winds, fire, ice, and the most fundamental yet effective offensive magic.

However… with just a gentle wave of the hand—

A surge of distorted gravity roared into existence. The spells manipulating matter and the energy-based attacks collapsed in an instant, while the arrows were effortlessly suppressed, pinned to the ground as if bound by an unseen force.

"I've read about you in the reports… You're Ludwig, aren't you? One of the Three Great Knights."

"Who are you? Tell me your name!"

Ash's playful expression made Ludwig tense. He drew his bowstring taut once more, but this time, he didn't immediately attack. Instead, he gave a warning.

"Stop! Otherwise—"

"There is no 'otherwise.' Surrender, and I will grant you the chance to be 'reborn.'"

Before Ludwig could finish his sentence, Ash interrupted him. A suffocating pressure filled the air.

It was as if the very fabric of space itself was being mercilessly compressed.

And it wasn't just an illusion—this was literal, crushing oppression. The magicians standing beside Ludwig trembled, their bodies faltering under the overwhelming force, despite desperately attempting to resist with their magic.

Their breathing became ragged, their lungs struggling as though the air itself had been squeezed from them. As Ash stepped forward, the pressure escalated bit by bit. Within moments, two of them could endure no longer, collapsing to the ground.

"Lord Ludwig!!"

"—Run away!!"

"We have to stop him!!"

The five remaining magicians—acutely aware of the difference in power between them and their opponent—exchanged glances before launching a full defensive spell in unison.

A massive translucent, light-blue hexagonal barrier expanded into a dome, encasing Ludwig and his allies, bearing the full weight of the oppressive gravity on their behalf.

However, maintaining such a high-level defensive spell consumed an immense amount of mana. Ordinary magicians could only sustain it for mere seconds.

The two knights guarding Ludwig quickly attempted to evacuate him as the pressure momentarily weakened.

But then—

A resounding bang shattered the momentary stillness.

The defensive barrier fractured under the mounting pressure as Ash approached, cracks spreading across its surface.

A sound that should have been no more than a sharp crack reverberated like thunder, shaking the magicians to their cores. The sudden impact sent an excruciating shock through their bodies, nearly bursting their eardrums. Their thoughts blurred, their judgment dulled under the sheer force of the pressure.

And yet—

Even in agony.

Even in despair.

The magicians refused to surrender.

Gritting their teeth, they struggled to hold on, desperate to push through the suffocating force long enough to get their master out of harm's reach.

Their gazes remained locked on the figure steadily approaching—

A looming specter of death, drawing ever closer.

Although the barrier held back the crushing pressure, they all knew the truth.

If they dispelled it now—even if their mana could soften the impact—they would still be slammed to the ground in an instant.

They had only one chance.

The moment the barrier shattered, they had to counterattack immediately. If they failed—

They would all die.

But was a counterattack even possible?

The magic their enemy wielded was unlike anything they had ever seen.

There were no incantations.

No visible spell circles.

Nothing.

That should be magic that controls matter… or something similar. But magic like that should have some kind of mechanism or limitation—a way to directly manipulate mana.

And yet, for some reason, they just can't find it.

What is it? What's the missing piece? There should be a path to victory… It should be possible. But—

No.

Even if there is a way to counter it, can a magician's body withstand the impact of a sudden fall from high altitude?

—For a moment, everyone was completely disoriented.

The onslaught of unanswered questions clouded their already dizzy minds, turning their thoughts into a muddled haze.

And in the next instant—

Bang!

The magic circle shattered.

Darkness filled the magicians' vision as their legs buckled beneath them, their bodies slammed to the ground under the immense force. A mouthful of blood spilled from their lips.

If nothing unexpected happened… that blood was from their lungs.

---

Amidst the chaotic battlefield, where the earth had been torn apart by falling meteorites, distant beasts had already begun their descent from the cliffs.

The once-disciplined army instantly dissolved into panic, their screams and cries blending into the cacophony of war.

And with them—

The bloodcurdling roars of monsters echoed across the battlefield.

Even from a distance of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of meters, Ludwig, with his keen eyesight, could see them clearly. The flickering firelight illuminated the monstrous figures that had inexplicably emerged from the forest.

They tore through the ranks of his soldiers.

Men were flung aside like ragdolls, their bodies crushed, torn apart, or toyed with before being discarded.

Meanwhile, at the kingdom's checkpoint, the thunderous sound of hooves shook the earth.

Countless cavalry were charging forward.

The vanguard had already lost their will to fight, breaking apart after sustaining massive casualties.

The two legions positioned in the rear—those who had entered the canyon—were already in chaos after being struck by the meteorites. And now, they were being ambushed by a horde of monsters.

And from the front, enemy cavalry was closing in.

At this rate, the entire force would be wiped out.

The enemy wouldn't miss this opportunity.

If Ludwig himself failed to escape, the remaining defenders would lose their backbone.

The pass behind them would fall.

And his family's lands would be annexed.

These magicians, too, were the hope of the family.

Including the two who had fallen earlier, they had already lost seven elite magicians. The knights who had been struck down earlier—whether they were alive or dead—remained unknown.

If they were all wiped out here, even if his son managed to escape, the family would be left in ruins.

After all—

Chasing a magician in such an open space… it didn't seem to make much sense.

With that thought, Ludwig ignored the knights' desperate pleas.

He turned his gaze to the boy who was squinting down at the fallen magicians.

Then, abandoning his escape, he pulled off his gloves and threw them at him.

"You must be a noble as well— I challenge you to a duel!"

"…A duel? Now? In the middle of this?"

Ash glanced at the gloves, which hadn't even landed at his feet, and sneered.

"Are you joking? Even if I grant you the chance, do you think you can seize it?"

"I've already figured out the mechanism of your magic."

"Each time the range of your gravity magic expands, it happens the moment your feet touch the ground during movement. The speed and distance of your steps remain consistent. In other words, while your magic is powerful, in order to extend its area of effect, you must maintain the exact same movement pattern every time. So now, I—"

"Ah… wait a moment."

Ash shook his head and chuckled.