Chapter 47:Bruno: Broken, Yet Standing

POV: Overview

On the battlefield, the war roared like a living storm. Countless beings collided in the chaos.

The Barony had deployed its full strength: 51 warrior-level combatants and six at Almost-Baron level.

On the ground, Doctor Malven faced four Almost-Baron beasts. Surrounded, pressed on every side, he fought with everything he had. Still, he was at a severe disadvantage. Use his Count form? It was too early—the final, most dangerous card.

Elsewhere on the field, Tyler battled ten almost-Second Level beasts. Even with his spirit familiar, he was being pushed to the limit. Pressure was insane. And unlike Malven, Tyler didn't even have a partial Count form. What trump cards did he hold?

If nothing changed… he would die.

Behind them, hundreds of soldiers advanced in tight formation. Orders were clear: hold the line. Only the strongest moved forward to face high-level beasts.

At the vanguard, brigades collided like human walls. The beasts charged the shield wall, trying to break through to the inner lines. But the formation was brilliant. When the front line wavered, others stepped up to take their place.

In the second rank, poisoned spears were launched with precision. The third line, armed with shields and swords, braced for melee.

From the walls, arrows, spears, nets, and magical projectiles from pressure cannons rained down. The horde seemed endless—but so was the defense.

In the skies above, carnage persisted.

Countless familiars fought to the death against demonic flying beasts. Thanks to their bond with masters, they could return to their spiritual object before true death. That made them berserkers, fighting to the limit—unless a Third-Level beast appeared. Then, they could truly die.

Flaming birds, winged tigers, three-tailed wolves, infernal lions, golden sub-phenix… It was a magical inferno in air and on land.

In a secret chamber deep in the wall, six conjurers—a warrior and five almost-warriors—performed an ancient ritual. Three magical circles glowed beneath them, filled with spirit crystals.

Energy was violently drained. The soldiers, under immense pressure, didn't falter. Their bodies trembled, but their determination was unwavering. Vitae gushed from their cores, feeding arcane symbols that pulsed with color—as if judging the conjurers' courage.

In another hidden room, four Warrior-level elders channeled energy into a strange weapon—a massive harpoon encircled by fifteen barbs.

The artifact, known as the Bifurcation Star Cannon, absorbed vitae and even the core of a Third-Level beast. But still remained inert.

"Shit… we have to activate it," muttered one elder.

"It's been hours, and we barely know the progress," replied another.

"It doesn't matter how slow… with it, we can contain up to fifteen Almost-Baron beasts. Do whatever it takes."

Explosion on the Vanguard

Back at the front, the battle raged. Then—BOOM!—an explosion rocked the line. Smoke. Disorientation.

Soldiers tensed. Was it an enemy? No time to check.

Thankfully, it wasn't. Three golems emerged from the blast site, marching toward the battlefield.

But the good news came with disappointment: only one was truly Almost-Baron level. The other two barely matched a Warrior-Commander. The power gap was vast—and in this war, even 5% could be decisive.

Even as reinforcements, it deflated the generals. Still, there was no time for complaint. Everyone—from weakest soldier to highest baronet—was under immense pressure.

In the air, the stench of blood was suffocating. The glacial field was stained red. Soldiers spat curses, tense, wounded, furious.

---

POV: Soldier

In my brigade, it was my turn at the front. Shield up, sword at my side.

I thrust. I sliced. I pushed. The blade always returned bloodied. No matter where I struck—there were more beasts.

They came like an infernal army of ants.

"DIE! DIE! DIE!" we roared in unison, pouring hatred and fear into each strike.

My sword pierced without pause—1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 times. But they kept flooding in. I advanced over piles of corpses, maddened.

PAHH!

A demon elephant, near Second Level, smashed our shield wall. I was thrown into the air along with dozens of soldiers.

BLEGH!

Blood spurted from my mouth. My left arm… floated meters away.

"I'm going to die?" I thought, drowning in despair.

No.

But I'll take him with me.

My Blood Star shattered.

Crack. Crack.

Vitae erupted through my body. Rage eclipsed pain.

For honor. For my brigade. For my family.

My sword glowed with pure Vitae. I charged the mammoth. Piercing its entrails—and in the next moment—the drop of True Blood inside me exploded within it.

BOOM!

I died. But I took that elephant and a pack of beasts with me.

My brigade gained time to retreat.

That was enough.

---

POV: Bruno

My eyes stared in disbelief at my left arm on the ground.

"How…? That damned bat?"

BLEGH!

More blood. I was shredded.

Deep gashes, armor torn. My wings… obliterated.

That sonic blast had ravaged me.

I stumbled back. From my dimensional ring I took a flask: 20 liters of Second-Level beast blood. I downed it in one go.

Then I shoved a crystal into my mouth. Vitae burned through me. The pain… excruciating. But no choice.

I summoned Ignis and Astrel.

HIIII!

GRAAWWW!

Wyvern's roar. Phenix's whinny. As loyal as ever.

"Let's go," I murmured.

Our fusion began—more natural, deeper this time. Vitae danced around us.

But the enemy held pressure. Borugs attacked from both flanks. I used the Flame Lord's Charge.

This time, I didn't win. The clash resulted in a draw—tilted toward my defeat.

And then—BUUM!—another sonic burst slammed into me.

Even mid-transformation, I staggered. My flame aura faltered; my mind… blurred.

"Bruno!" Ignis screamed in my head.

It was a mental assault.

That beast—that infernal bat—aimed to shatter our sync. Lose the transformation now, with my wounds and Vitae surging through me…

I would die.

I finally saw the enemy clearly.

Not a common beast.

Larger than any Borug. Huge ears. Blind, black eyes. Emitted a deep, hypnotic growl.

It had hidden from the start. Disguised itself as a lesser beast.

But it was the strongest. The true predator—smart, patient.

From the beginning…

I was the prey.