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Chapter 311 part 3

The battle between the allied forces of the Arkrest Kingdom and the Romal Empire wasn’t as coordinated as one might expect from a coalition.

It was simply that both countries’ armies marched toward “Megesus,” a hypothetical battleground in The Dark Wilderness, at the same time.

Whether the Demon King’s Army would act collectively or divide its forces was uncertain, but whichever strategy they chose, they could inflict attrition. The alliance was considered beneficial enough given the potential advantages.

In reality, the anticipated situations culminated in the Demon King’s Army intercepting both countries’ armies advancing from the southwest and southeast in the Megesus District.

The Demon King’s Army, numbering 320,000, faced 167,000 from the Arkrest Kingdom and 180,000 from the Romal Empire, totaling 347,000. Although the allied forces slightly outnumbered the Demon King’s Army, the numerical difference was negligible when considering the disparity in individual strength and technology.

Furthermore, the Demon King’s Army was led by Demon King Yaheim, who departed from the royal capital. The commander-in-chief for the Arkrest Kingdom was Crown Prince Sperion, who had secretly visited the Romal Empire and returned in kind. The Romal Empire’s commander-in-chief was Princess Asteria, who left the large offensive against the southern rebellious forces to her uncle, Grand Duke Linosart.

All were key figures whose deaths on the battlefield would directly lead to national emergencies.

The key figures gathered in the Megesus District battlefield included not only the current or future leaders of the three nations but also the Demon King’s Army’s six Demon Generals, each a leader of their respective race, the Arkrest Kingdom’s greatest force Ark Witch Merle, and the majority of the Romal Empire’s Twelve Wing Generals, essential to their military.

Should any of these figures die or become incapacitated, it would greatly impact any future wars, even if the current conflict among the three nations were to end.

First and foremost was the desire for victory on this battlefield, with many hoping for significant results that would lead to further battles and cause considerable damage to other countries.

So, what happened in the actual battle?

The Demon King’s Army, possessing many flying demonic beasts, held an overwhelming advantage in aerial combat over both countries. However, this was offset by the strength of the dragons from the Mores Mountains and the persistence of the faux dragons against them, leading most of the aerial forces to be allocated to the Arkrest Kingdom’s side.

Those composing the Demon King’s Army’s air power, who weren’t faux dragons, could have complained about having to fight against the mighty dragonkin. Yet, some even welcomed the opportunity to face formidable foes and teased their faux dragon counterparts about gaining the honor of legitimate dragon slayers.

For the Arkrest Kingdom side, having witnessed the battles between faux dragons and true dragonkin, the Demon King’s Army’s move seemed almost harmonious. However, for the Romal Empire, uncertainty prevailed until they actually entered the battlefield, with their few aerial battleship crew members and dragon knights anxious yet excited.

The battle in the skies over the Arkrest Kingdom’s Army and the Demon King’s Army, centering around true and faux dragons, unfolded with a ferocity surpassing the Agrarian Campaign.

The aerial forces gathered by the Arkrest Kingdom’s nobility were committed to supporting the ground forces and the dragonkin of the Mores Mountains, keeping their distance from the main aerial battlefield.

Even so, the vast number of stray bullets exchanged at various altitudes created a dangerous situation where they could be struck down before even engaging in proper combat.

The flames, ice, water, wind, lightning, poison, gravity, heat, light, darkness, dragon-language magic, and even the miracles performed by the evil gods through the faux dragons were unleashed incessantly from the battle’s outset.

Had the attacks of the dragonkin and faux dragons been directed at the ground from the beginning, the Megesus District would have transformed into a vast, hole-ridden land unrecognizable from its original form. The area was already a plain with short grass, with the rest being a mere slightly undulating wilderness.

The dragonkin of the Mores Mountains, having exerted their full strength in the Agrarian Campaign, approached the battle, later known as the “Megesus Engagement,” with even greater determination. Their intense effort imprinted a deep sense of awe in the hearts of their supposed allies from the Arkrest Kingdom and the observing Romal soldiers.

The dragonkin fought with such fervor partly because Mazfelo, one of the Demon King’s six generals who reigned as queen among the faux dragons, personally led the deadly aerial battle.

The skin-chilling cold wind, the warmth of the sun blocked by thick grey clouds, and the absence of any warmth to ease winter’s chill were palpable on the battlefield. The winter that had come to The Dark Wilderness, the Arkrest Kingdom, and the Romal Empire seemed decisively refused by the Megesus District’s sky on that day, for it was too harsh, too vicious, and too violent.

Mazfelo, leading the evil dragons, faux dragons, and Nyvern, had released her transformation into a dragoness on this battlefield. With her body adorned with purple-centered and red-edged scales, she spread her enormous wings. Using her immense Dragon King-class magical power and refined techniques, she bombarded the dragonkin of the Mores Mountains with intense disease poison and magic.

Mazfelo and her high-ranking faux dragon entourage, including missile golems transported by wyverns, shot down the first three waves of guided flying objects. This exposed the frailty of the Arkrest Kingdom’s divided weaponry.

「”Dragonkin, remnants of the ancestral dragons, thought they could defeat us by merely swarming. Let them rot in my poison!”」

Mazfelo ejected a plague-causing toxin from her massive body, comparable to a large sailing ship, and released it toward the wind dragons in sight.

Her toxin, turning a portion of the sky a poisonous purple, loomed over the unfortunate wind dragons. These dragons, considered wise, stood apart from their lower counterparts, but Mazfelo, a higher-ranked being comparable to a Dragon King, possessed enough power to instantly kill a yellow-scaled wind dragon.

At the moment the yellow-scaled wind dragon braced for death from the encroaching wave of disease, a deep red flame skillfully dodged her from behind, splitting in two and colliding with the wave, annihilating the disease with its high heat.

「”You there, Ibira, if I remember correctly! You’re no match for her. Retreat and take care of the Nyvern. Our wyverns alone can’t suppress the bombardment of the humans below!”」

It was Vaje, clad in crimson flames like armor. Despite his one-sided comments, Ibira, the yellow wind dragon, obediently complied, especially after he had just saved her life. Recognizing Vaje’s overwhelming strength through her previous battles and the recent exchange, she harbored no resentment.

For Vaje, Mazfelo, next to Demon King Yaheim, was the most valuable target on the battlefield. For the dragonkin, descendants of the ancestral dragon, the existence leading the faux dragons on the Demon King’s Army side was like the embodiment of their abhorrence.

Beyond their racial enmity, Mazfelo’s combat prowess posed the greatest threat in aerial battles. Her sheer release of disease poison alone could instantly kill humans and seriously challenge the stronger dragonkin.

Conversely, for Mazfelo, Vaje was also a priority target. The key to Arkrest Kingdom’s air power lay in the Mores Mountains’ dragonkin, and many faux dragons and evil dragons had fallen to Vaje.

Mazfelo’s hostility toward Vaje, avenger of her fallen comrades and descendant of the loathed ancestral dragons, knew no bounds.

The two dragons, sensing each other’s enmity, instantly shifted positions and began exchanging fierce magical barrages and breath attacks, their killing intent infused in their crimson and purple magical energies. At their rank, a single stray shot could devastate a city.

It was fortunate for Mundus Carnus and the Barony of Berne that the battlefield was in a desolate corner of The Dark Wilderness with no inhabitants. At least, they would be spared the effort of excavating the land.

「”Ungrateful purple! If it weren’t for the great ancestral dragons, you counter beings wouldn’t have been created. You could have been endearing if you cried in gratitude, but how dare you burn with such ungrateful hostility!”」

「”Remember me, Mazfelo, the Sixth Demon General, you little crimson girl. Until the moment your marrow and heart are corroded by my disease and you die in agony, remember the name of the one who will turn you into ashes, Vaje. You’re nothing but a disposable toy for the evil god who created you, fit only for his stomach or amusement upon death!”」

「”Hmph, if I don’t respond to being named, I might be reprimanded by the Seven Original Dragons. My name is Vaje. Remember the name of the dragon who will turn you to ash. After all, upon death, you’ll either end up in your creator’s stomach or be played with as a disposable toy. You’d want to know that much!”」

In truth, Vaje was correct about Mazfelo’s post-mortem fate. Demons and monsters created by their creators to serve as sustenance after death were bound by an unavoidable fate unless something extraordinary occurred.

Vaje, speaking of Mazfelo’s death as certain, could have provoked further anger from Mazfelo. However, Mazfelo, seemingly enlightened, launched countless spears of hardened disease poison, adding,

「”You have no friends, do you? With such a foul mouth and strong spirit, no man would be your mate.”」

Enraged by Mazfelo’s clearly pitying words, Vaje screamed in defiance, mixing superheated flames with his shouts.

「”I do have friends!”」

This flame, released by Vaje in that moment, was the hottest since the battle began.