My Alter Ego’s Path to Greatness

#267

Defense Game (1)

A small, nameless island located in the northwest of the Aeon Continent.

“It’s moving noisily.”

A man in his 30s, standing precariously at the edge of a cliff, looked towards the beach and muttered lowly.

He stared at the place endlessly with his tired golden eyes, not even paying attention to his dull blonde hair fluttering in the wind.

With deep eyes filled with complex emotions.

‘I thought it had been a bit quiet recently.’

The continent in the direction the man’s eyes were looking.

For a while, it seemed like the whirlwind of madness was subsiding, but this time, an even more deadly energy was spreading.

The source of the energy was quite far away from this island, but the limitations of distance meant nothing to him.

He is the strongest race, once even called the protector of the world.

Among them, it was Shurihatgen, the proud Elder Dragon of the Gold Clan.

“Immortal King…”

He gritted his teeth softly as he remembered the terrible monster of the abyss, the enemy of his race.

For him, who had lived for a long time and lived the entire process of his clan’s prosperity, decline, and destruction in life itself, the existence of the Immortal King was like a reproach.

However, Shreehartgen swallowed down his boiling anger and looked away again.

Right now, he was not in a position where he could act freely just because he was angry.

Previously, it was to ensure that the clan’s legacy would not be cut off in one’s generation.

Now, to protect the last descendants of the clan and pass on as much as possible.

‘Anyway, there’s no way I’ll be of much help if I go now.’

He quietly closed his eyes, contemplated his inner self, and smiled bitterly.

A dragon heart filled with enormous energy.

However, the distorted flow that occurred as an aftereffect of the Great War turned it into a time bomb that could explode at any moment.

Normally, he could have used his overwhelming magical power to suppress him, but there was no way he could do that even during an intense battle.

‘It doesn’t have much life left and it can’t fight… It’s literally a waste product.’

Because that was the situation.

I was all the more willing because I was destined for such a vain and miserable end.

The Dragon God sent a descendant who could entrust the future of the clan to him.

And that you can help him grow.

Schrihartgen glanced down at the bottom of the cliff.

Even on an island surrounded by all kinds of barriers, he was in a place where a particularly dense magic circle was installed.

It was like a surprise gift to him.

Horus, the hatchling of the Gold clan.

Woooooung—

The energy of the area around the training center inside the magic circle resonates.

Soon, various energies, attracted by the overwhelming affinity, appeared in the form of a halo of light and began to dance.

Attribute powers such as fire, water, wind, and earth, as well as pure mana that had not been processed in any other way, rushed to surround and swirl around the person at the center.

“Analgesic!”

To the five or six-year-old kid who earnestly closed his eyes and let out a strange, tongue-in-cheek expression.

“…That’s amazing.”

And Schrihartgen, who was looking at the scene of Horus’s training on the cliff, once again expressed the admiration he had already expressed several times.

The basis of words, including Yongeon, was to project one’s will into the world and force the phenomenon to happen.

Of course, it was a high-level mystery that could not even be started without the power to control the surrounding energy and the mental power to express one’s will…

‘Is it an innate talent? The growth rate is much faster than expected. Even for a dragon, it’s abnormal.’

Horus was already an infant hatchling and already possessed all of his abilities.

No, if we were to look at that level alone, it could be said that we had already surpassed the Child level of childhood a long time ago.

‘It’s been so long since I started training properly that I can’t believe I’m already at this level…’

It was a growth rate that even Shurihatgen, an old dragon who had lived for thousands of years, could not understand.

If we continue like this, it won’t be long before we reach the level of Juvenile.

“Ah—thank you, Dracalion.”

As expected, this could only be seen as the blessing of the Dragon God.

He must have felt sorry for the situation of the dragons that were becoming extinct, so he personally gave them a great talent to rebuild the clan.

‘I will do my best until I die to help ease that child’s burden.’

Immediately after reaffirming his resolve, he caught a glimpse of the direction of the continent, jumped off the cliff, and approached the training ground.

To give some advice to Horus, who seemed to be having trouble concentrating on his training for some time.

‘It could be because he’s still young. Of course, it’s not a big problem, but it’s important to keep your mind together in this practice.’

But he didn’t know.

The reason why it felt like Horus was subtly distracted right now.

That he was concerned just a moment ago… in an incident that occurred beyond the sea.

***

When the fight between heroes and giants was in full swing.

Hans, who immediately returned to immortality after canceling the summons at the edge of the abyss, continued to watch the situation, looking for an opportunity.

If the situation doesn’t work out, I’ll intervene right away and kick the guy.

His existence was Heinrich’s ‘last resort’ in case of emergency.

‘Of course, if that had happened, things would have been very different from now.’

In that sense, it was a very satisfying development that he was able to cleanly deal with the revolutionaries before he intervened.

Thanks to this, not only did he gain considerable notoriety once again, but he was also able to lay the groundwork for the next scenario.

[I admit it. Heinrich, the Knight of Light. You have done very well so far. [To the extent that it far exceeds this body’s expectations.]

As he left for the border of the abyss, he had behind him an immortal army that had already been in perfect condition thanks to the preparations made in advance.

The king who led them arrogantly declared.

[I didn’t know that the ‘prophecy’ would be so disturbing.]

“As long as the Lord’s will is with me, nothing will happen the way you want. “Immortal King.”

[Kkekekekeut— That’s great confidence. Yes, that’s why I prepared it.]

A cold tension covers the hall.

He let out a goosebump-inducing laugh that seemed to have come from hell and slowly stretched out one hand to the side.

[Bonus stage.]

And then.

Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa —

snap your fingers filled with dark magic.

Strange waves spread in all directions through the sound.

Pajijik—pajik!

In the aftermath, the crack in the space where he appeared began to crack and expand in size.

[Keheeeeek!]

Clatter-clack!

[Quwook—]

Chuck—Chuck—Chuck—

And from within, the neatly lined up army of immortals poured out in unison.

Tens, hundreds, thousands, and ten thousand….

The increase gradually decreased after reaching the ten thousand mark.

The sight of undead of all sizes, shapes, and characteristics, all clad in a dark aura of death and exuding black magic, aroused tremendous pressure and fear in the viewers.

[Beyond protecting against most attacks, it often destroys invading groups. In addition, he actively used the prophecy and moved the armies of each country to prepare for places beyond his reach.]

Even as the immortal army marched in line, Hans continued speaking calmly.

[Is it getting boring quicker than I thought? At this point, I felt like something needed to change. The reason I accepted the bet in the first place was to have more fun.]

“…So what do you want to say?”

[Ah, it’s no big deal. [Just…]

At the center, the immortal king and the hero are glaring at each other and having a conversation.

Even as Heinrich stepped forward and continued his conversation calmly, those gathered behind him were hastily preparing for battle and preparing for the battle that would follow.

They formed a formation, recited a spell, and held their weapons tightly.

[I’m just trying to increase the difficulty a little.]

As the atmosphere gradually escalated, the Immortal King spoke meaningful words.

At the same time, some of the city officials behind him slowly began to run forward with their troops.

Kugugugoong—

dududududu—

the priority goal set for them.

Toward Tarak Castle.

“What?! “They’re heading to the castle!”

“That wall is at its limit now! “If I leave it like this…!”

“charge! “We will break the brunt of their actions!”

Those who were taken aback by the daunting wave of undead quickly moved.

However, even in the meantime, the warrior party with the immortal king in front of them could not move carelessly.

I just have to trust and leave it to others.

[Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk Of course there will be no all-out war through the Principality of Rohan as promised at first. Just like it has been up until now.]

“Ha!”

Selection of attack location is also random as before.

The method of invasion only changed slightly.

From sporadic raids across the entire continent to massive waves focused on one point.

[Oh, additionally. As time passes, the scale of the invasion will continue to grow.]

So it would be better to hurry before it becomes more unstoppable.

The Immortal King, floating in the air, looked down at the warrior party and let out a grim laugh.

[Then today is also a monumental first day. Should I just say a quick hello and end this?]

As soon as those words were finished, an enormous amount of black magic was instantly amplified.

And then.

Kwaaaang—!

A huge explosion erupted again in the place that had been the site of a fierce battle with a giant.

And so—the final defense game to speed up the scenario began.

***

Push—! Kwakagagak!

The sound of metal grinding against the ground rang loudly along with the sound of steam escaping.

“Ugh!”

“Is this okay?”

The noise, which continued for a while, gradually stopped, followed by the voices of a young man and woman.

“Yeah yeah… it’s okay. Lord of the Chamber of Commerce.”

“Hmm, I don’t think it’s all that good. Is the shock absorber still insufficient? “We need to strengthen this area a little more.”

Hubert and Diana fled from Tarak to avoid the giant.

Using the power of their special suits, they quickly flew south, but something went wrong with the aircraft and they had just made an emergency landing on a hill on the ground.

Perhaps because I used too much force to get out of the guy’s hands, the suit ended up spreading.

“Ugh… I think I’m going to throw up more than that…”

“I think we can do it over there. Would you like a pat on the back?”

“Oh no… “I’ll just take care of it. Ugh!”

Immediately after Diana, unable to finish what she was saying, hurriedly ran to a nearby bush.

An unpleasant sound came from beyond.

Hubert, who was lightly wary of his surroundings, quietly shook his head.

‘Well, it must have been my first time on a flight like this.’

Besides, Diana has a special sense of smell, but isn’t she just an ordinary girl physically?

Even though the shock of high-speed flight was offset to some extent with protective magic tools, there were limits.

‘No, on the contrary, I am proud of the fact that we have endured until now.’

If I were to be rude while being held in his arms while flying…

‘Ugh, I’m so glad.’

He nodded seriously and looked again at the metal parts of the suit covering his body.

Unlike the two deep grooves that were left on the floor due to the sudden landing, there was no minor damage to the soles of the metal boots.

But the only thing that was fine was its appearance.

“I did it just in case. “This can’t even be recycled.”

Hubert frowned as he looked at the results of his “analysis.”

Perhaps because the aircraft’s potential had been pushed to its limit, not only the mystery that Howard had planted inside by using the “Craftsman’s Soul”, but even the unique properties of the material had been completely depleted.

It was as if all those precious and rare metals had been turned into miscellaneous iron.

‘There’s nothing I can do about it. Still, the performance has been proven, so let’s pay more attention to the next one.’

He had come to that conclusion deep down and was taking off his suit, which was now scrap metal, and putting it away in subspace, when Diana, who had disappeared beyond the bushes, staggered towards him.

His face became even paler, as if he had gone through a fierce struggle with his upset stomach.

“…Excuse me, Mr. Merchant.”

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes, I’m feeling better now…”

Since his expression wasn’t okay at all, Hubert quietly handed the potion to him instead of continuing.

It could have been seen as excessive for motion sickness, but it was nothing to him.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally took it and drank it down, quietly expressing her gratitude.

Even if I were to remain weak in the current situation, I would only become a burden.

“What should we do now?”

“Hmm.”

Afterwards, Diana, whose complexion recovered a little, looked around carefully and sighed.

All I can see right now are trees and hills.

Because it flew in the sky and moved in a straight line, the carriage path was not visible.

“Let’s move to a nearby city first. “Well, there must be Lionar City around here.”

“Wow… are we down there already? Ugh, that speed… I don’t want to go through that again…”

At first, I went as far south as possible just in case, but now that I think about it, I think it was too much.

Wouldn’t it have been okay to stop and wait in a nearby city?

‘That’s just a consequential story, but let’s see, let’s go in this direction…’

Hubert and Diana ended up enjoying an unexpected hike like that.

That time.

The area near Tarak where they had left was becoming a mess in real time.