Raising the Northern Grand Duchy as a Max-Level All-Master Chapter 201



Chapter 201

#201. The Dark Empire (2)

As time passed the battle at the Habana Viscounty increasingly favored humanity.

The seemingly endless onslaught of monstrous legions from Hell gradually began to thin out.

“What? Is that all?! This is nothing!”

With boosted morale the soldiers advanced even faster.

“Elisha! Elisha! Get out here you dumb idiot woman!”

Carpe bathing in demon blood shouted loudly with excitement.

“Let’s see how strong you’ve become after sacrificing your soul your subjects and your family! You bitch!”

Did Carpe’s call reach her?

Goooooo

“Ooh! Here I come!”

An overwhelming presence descended from the sky.

Pewpewpewpow!

This presence nullified everything around it.

Three airships in the sky instantly caught fire and crashed

Kwaang- Koom!

while five ground titans stopped functioning due to mysterious malfunctions.

[Well~ Carpe~ it’s been a while.]

At the same time an utterly inhuman horrifying monster revealed itself.

Its grotesque octopus-like lower body was disgusting yet strangely one could easily guess what it once was.

“F*ck… Did you end up uglier than me?”

Carpe looked horrified at Habana.

[It’s because someone kept interfering with my children’s plans to not go to the Imperial Capital.]

The duchess glared with hatred muttering through gritted teeth.

[If we had conducted the ritual in the capital instead of here I wouldn’t have ended up like this.]

Her gaze wasn’t on Carpe but fixed on Entaire far behind.

“…”

Entaire silently stared at his ex-wife.

The killing intent of a being beyond human made his arms and legs tremble violently and he felt like fainting at any moment but he couldn’t retreat.

[Dad…]

[Father… Father…]

Because of the anguished expressions of his children who became part of Habana.

[Hohoho! Look at this~ They still call you ‘father’ even though they figured out the truth long ago~.]

Habana smirked bitterly having noticed where Entaire’s gaze lingered.

“Once… I deeply regret ever being married to you and sharing flesh.”

Seeing this Entaire closed his eyes tightly and turned away.

“Elisha.”

Even for Carpe the former comrade-in-arms and rival of the duchess these emotions were the same.

“…I regret ever thinking of you as a decent noblewoman a decent woman or a decent knight.”

[I never thought of you that way either? You’re just a crude smelly ugly piece of trash.]

“Alright let’s settle this today.”

Carpe said this then began activating something.

Pwoooosh!!

[?!]

The clothes she wore glowed transforming instantly into the full-body magical armor Force.

* * *

The old capital of the Ragolte Empire.

Imperial Capital Goite.

In the half of the empire foretold to face calamity the aristocratic council kingdom alliance theocratic church and Lenslet army had been laying siege for years.

And among them the most heavily surrounded place was naturally the Imperial Capital.

Here was where the emperor resided where the archbishop was present where the last sighting of the imperial chancellor occurred and where Doom the duke of darkness and the emperor’s champion Richard stood guard.

“The battle has begun at the Habana Viscounty.”

However the first battle didn’t start here in the capital but far south.

“Urgent report! The battle has also started in the eastern fallen lands of Duke Doom’s territory! There’s no sign of Duke Doom himself who seems to be still in the capital!”

“Combat has also begun in the direct jurisdiction of the old imperial church! A suspected demon resembling Cardinal Marcus is battling the highest inquisitor of the theocratic church!”

Subsequently reports of battles breaking out across the empire came in.

Junior magicians holding magic communication devices frantically sent and received messages everywhere and special courier horses galloped tirelessly.

“It’s unusually quiet here.”

“Main characters always appear last after all.”

Amidst the chaos elsewhere the capital remained eerily silent.

The black cocoon covering the capital had vanished leaving the city submerged in ash-gray depths yet there was no significant movement.

“Should we attack first?”

“Us… Hmm? Would they even listen to us?”

Though newly crowned as emperor by the aristocratic council’s recommendation Julian the unfortunate emperor with no power turned around with a blank expression.

Behind him stood various colorful banners.

There were banners of noble families constituting the imperial aristocracy flags of allied kingdoms and the sacred standards of the theocratic church.

“I’m just a decoration. Merely a piece of decoration.”

However among those many banners and soldiers there wasn’t a single banner for Julian.

He was merely a puppet symbol set up by the imperial aristocracy a scapegoat.

“Your Majesty…”

“Will you still be called ‘Your Majesty’ after this war ends?”

Tears welled in the eyes of one of the few remaining loyalists near Julian making his expression murky.

“Well at least I won’t starve to death. Thanks to the past efforts of caring for the common people I’ve gained some support. Hahahaha!”

If Professor Arad saw such a Julian he might comment “Wow… The Japanese emperor’s authority is stronger than yours?”

“By the way… They’re not here.”

“Who?”

“Lenslet.”

“Huh? Isn’t the Lensretian Knights already stationed here?”

“Not them the real Lensretian army.”

“The real one?”

“Yeah it doesn’t make sense for the most magically advanced nation to only send a few knights here.”

“True other kingdoms and houses brought all their Titans and airships.”

All around decisive weapons cultivated with the full strength of Arcadia’s humanity were lined up.

Officially it was to stop the Dark Empire but realistically it was different.

Simultaneously gaining combat experience for future wars among humans and enhancing the prestige of houses and kingdoms.

“Lenslet… What are they plotting? Although rumors about the non-human issues in the Southern Continent have spread did they really betray humanity?”

“Impossible… That would make them enemies of the entire continent.”

Still not a single airship from Lenslet had arrived leaving commanders like Julian puzzled.

“Well it seems we can handle things without their help anyway.”

The loyalist glanced around confidently.

With these decisive weapons alone they could decisively defeat any enemy.

“Hmm restraint? Even if they take all the credit it won’t benefit them much right?”

As soon as Julian’s muttering ended

Gurrrrrr

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Movement occurred within the gray depths where the capital lay submerged.

* * *

Dark Emperor Khanbraman of the Dark Empire read the signals coming through mental communication.

‘Elisha has started moving.’

The duchess who went down to her own viscounty to catch her children who wouldn’t come to the palace was the first to move her troops.

‘She must be struggling more than expected already using her true form.’

After all they couldn’t have been sitting idly while such blatant actions were taken.

‘Especially Lenslet! If Arad of Lenslet is involved he must have prepared extensively.’

Using the annoying rebellion forces of the aristocracy!

Deploying the bothersome Badenheim!

The northerners must have prepared thoroughly.

[Khhhuuuu.]

Khanbraman rose from the deep abyss like a black hole.

[So this is the power of transcendence?]

His body and soul overflowed with energy.

New knowledge and information unknown until now imprinted themselves in his mind.

[Hmph…]

First he looked up at the sky.

The structure of this world the composition of the planet containing this world the distance of the moon in the sky the size of the sun…

How many planetary systems existed in the universe was instantly transmitted to his mind.

[Ah! We were so insignificant!]

It was well known that the world was round.

But the fact that this round world wasn’t even the center of the universe but merely a speck of dust was truly shocking.

[At the same time all things are so small yet precisely constructed according to intricate rules.]

Next Khanbraman focused on the dust before his eyes.

Instantly seeing it at the nanoscale progressing further to molecules atoms quanta and finally mana units.

The world was a mere illusion created by the vibration of incredibly tiny things.

[Sufficient indeed. The value of offering all my followers and half the nation as sacrifices is more than sufficient!]

Khanbraman valued this intellectual shock more than the transcendent power.

Paaat!

Unfolding wings of dark energy he ascended into the sky.

[Ohhh!]

[You’ve arrived!]

The subordinates who awakened earlier greeted him.

[Your Majesty.]

First Doom the grand duke who became a transcender equal to the emperor saluted.

He appeared much the same whether in life as a human or now as part of the abyss.

As always a massive greatsword hung on his back.

The only difference was that he wore a complete suit of dark-gray plate armor dripping with black energy.

[Eternal allegiance! Your Imperial Majesty!]

Next a robed lich deeply bowed to Khanbraman.

Chancellor Karaso.

[Just as when I was human even now as a demon I will serve Your Majesty as my master.]

The emperor’s champion and renowned royal knight Richard was also among the abyssal beings.

Richard carried twin swords at his waist wore a deep hood glowing with blue eyes and donned leather armor.

[For greater glory I follow the savior emperor draped in ugliness.]

Lastly Archbishop Theresa drew the sign of the cross toward the Dark Emperor.

She looked so holy that it was hard to believe she was the main culprit behind these atrocities.

Her pristine white priestly robes of the archbishop remained spotless and the gentle halo above her head emitted a divine light as if she were a proxy of God.

Yet all of this felt oddly awkward and alien.

[Go.]

Khanbraman briefly responded to the four kings awaiting him and the army forged from the abyss.

——-!!

Then an indescribable scream of the soul erupted throughout the capital beyond the limits of human language.

Grururururur

A tide of ashen gray began to flow.

Zzzzzzzzzz

Black flying objects swarmed like locusts in the skies over the capital.

[This is the capital the capital of the Dark Empire. It’s incomparable to other magical realms.]

The magical realm of this land that gave birth to the emperor and the four kings was of a different league compared to others. There were far more numbers and especially the power was several levels higher.

[Let’s see how much preparation you’ve done.]

Khanbraman and the four kings hovered in the sky beginning their observation.

Creeak Creeak Creeak Creeak Creeak

The endless dark army produced from beneath the capital spread out in all directions to swallow the world.

[Hmm?]

Suddenly Khanbraman spotted familiar flags and a man outside the capital.

Ah… Long time no see son.

There stood his son and crown prince Julian wearing an emperor’s crown and mantle that looked completely out of place.

[Your situation doesn’t seem too good does it?]

A sardonic smile formed on the Dark Emperor’s lips.

[But don’t worry son. An even more terrible situation will unfold soon.]

Khanbraman deliberately excluded his son Julian from this abyss.

It was certainly not out of any last love for his son.

When he was still a human emperor Prince Julian constantly challenged his authority.

What if that guy entered the abyss and somehow became a transcender surpassing him?

In the new world there must be only one absolute ruler—himself.

[You’ll soon miss your current predicament.]

Perceiving another huge explosion starting at the outskirts of the capital

[Hmm you did prepare somewhat. Airships and giant soldier constructs.]

The Dark Emperor showed amusement upon seeing this.

[Not perfect but decent enough.]

The hearts of Khanbraman and the Four Kings raced.

[That’s the level we should expect.]

[Was worried they hadn’t improved at all but fortunately.]

[Things are getting interesting now.]

Dark and sticky blood began boiling violently.

They wanted to dive right into the battlefield and indulge in destruction and slaughter.

Such an entertaining spectacle was too precious to leave to lowly footsoldiers.

[However… Those guys still haven’t shown up.]

But they restrained themselves.

The most important enemy. The most irritating enemy. The juiciest main dish.

The ruler of Lenslet and Professor Arad still hadn’t appeared.