Chapter 214 - Hellfire
"Here it begins!"
"Alright, if it turns into a close-quarters fight, we'll join in."
First, we need the Crimson Knights to draw the enemy's attention sufficiently.
The first strike was a terrifying blow, accompanied by immense magical power.
The magic, tracing a mountainous trajectory, struck the center of the military barracks.
An instant later, what swept through to this distance was not a heatwave but a chill.
The freezing cold spread over a wide area.
Despite the usual climate being oppressively humid, the place hit by the magic turned into a frigid wasteland. The scene, now frozen white, was chilling.
A few seconds after the initial strike, countless spells rained down. It was a barrage of hundreds of magical attacks.
The assault, including large-scale magic, primarily struck around the enemy barracks.
The military warehouses, which stored supplies, were generally built to withstand heavy damage. Destroying them with long-range attacks was difficult, so when magic was used, it was either to damage the soldiers or target less fortified structures.
The destruction was horrifying.
Although the garrison's number of troops seemed low for an expeditionary force, the initial strike alone seemed to have decided the outcome.
The Crimson Knights, the mightiest knight order of the Kingdom of Brenark, lived up to their reputation. The last time we met, I thoroughly defeated them, which was a while back. According to Rosmerta, they had been elite forces even then. After their defeat, they resolved to rebuild from scratch and underwent intense training. They've also gained extensive combat experience since then and have significantly improved.
However, from the battered barracks, Imperial soldiers began to emerge.
They're not to be underestimated. Soldiers of the Empire, which dominates the western continent, are not weak. The battle won't be decided by long-range attacks alone, so they'll have to fight in close combat as planned.
Regardless, the number of troops was far fewer than expected, and half of them were away on other missions. Given the significant damage from the initial strike, they should be manageable.
Soon, the vanguards of both armies clashed.
"Can't wait much longer. I'm getting antsy."
"Yeah, just a bit more. Be flexible on the field and signal if anything happens."
The enemy's supply warehouses were numerous.
Our targets were food, weapons, armor, medicine, magical tools, vehicles, and anything else we could find.
Acting as a group would be inefficient, so we divided roles and operated individually.
While Graylease and Mia monitored the movements of both armies and any irregularities from here, they also confirmed our progress.
We could wreak havoc freely, leaving the situation assessment to them. What a relief.
"Shall we go?"
"Seems like the right time."
"Given the spectacle, they won't notice us causing chaos in the rear."
"Let's go then."
"Ani-sama, I'll join you later."
"Sure, see you later."
With that, she ran off.
Even during battle, supply depots at the edge of the camp can't be left unattended.
There are personnel managing supplies and arranging them as needed. Injured soldiers are moved to the rear, and medics come to fetch healing potions. People also come to exchange magical tools, weapons, and armor.
These people are a hindrance to us. To ensure a smooth operation, a diversion is effective.
Albert and Verone, acting as decoys, unleashed flashy destruction without hesitation.
Albert's lightning strikes sent military vehicles flying, while Verone's barrage of fireballs set everything ablaze.
We bypassed the commotion and headed for the less crowded warehouses, exchanging only a glance.
The first warehouse we reached was the largest. It was the food storage, our top priority.
Upon breaking in, a quick glance revealed mountains of grain, barrels of salted and pickled foods, and bottles.
There was an overwhelming amount. It exceeded our expectations.
With about four thousand troops stationed here, the supply seemed excessive for merely sustaining them. It looked like enough to support several tens of thousands. While precise calculations were impossible, the estimate seemed reasonable.
Considering the current stage, the enemy forces here were supposed to be the vanguard. The actual number of troops confirmed this.
However, the situation suggested there were more supplies than needed for the vanguard.
The main expeditionary force was still being organized, but based on this, their arrival seemed imminent.
If we could destroy the supplies for the main force as well, that would be a significant bonus. It could be a good start.
"Haha, what a haul! This is going to be fun!"
"Burn it all to the ground. I'll handle this. Everyone, take care of the rest!"
With Ophelia's determination, the vast supplies would be reduced to ashes.
The supplies weren't limited to food; weapons, armor, and other items were also in large quantities. We needed to divide the work and act quickly.
Valeria, with her Collapse Magic, was perfect for demolition.
Liliane, usually calm, would enthusiastically join in the destruction.
While it's a waste to destroy supplies, we couldn't afford to carry them away.
After parting ways with the others, I decided to search for the medicine storage.
We could handle the destruction, but it would be better to achieve even greater results.
"... Is this it?"
After wandering around, randomly causing destruction, I finally found what I was looking for.
The entrance was carelessly left open, likely due to the chaos caused by our members and the Crimson Knights.
Upon entering, I found a large stock of healing potions.
The wooden crates were piled high, filled with various healing potions.
"Let's see what we have here."
I took control of the healing potions.
Most were low-level potions. About thirty percent were seventh-level wound healing potions, and around twenty percent were sixth-level. The remaining forty percent were for various conditions and diseases, with about ten percent being fifth-level wound healing potions.
Higher-level potions, if they existed, were probably stored elsewhere due to their value.
Well, I've got a good grasp now.
"Time to test this out."
I infused my magic into the healing potions, bringing them under my control.
What I planned to do was alter them.
Modifying someone else's potions would be terrifying from their perspective.
I hadn't done this before, but with the current state, it was manageable.
"Yep, it worked."
A quick test confirmed it. It was surprisingly easy, but this was a dangerous ability. If discovered, I could become a target for various factions. It was a risky skill, but for me, it was just another reason to be cautious.
Keeping it a secret was crucial. Now, let's get to work.
But what should I change them into? A powerful poison could be misused, so let's turn them into plain water. It would be worthless. This way, it could be perceived as a swap rather than a modification.
I'll also destroy about half of them. A few intact supplies in the midst of destruction would give the enemy a false sense of relief. When they discover the potions are just water, they'll be disappointed.
After using a few and finding no effect, they'll likely investigate the rest. Healing potions, even at a low level, are expensive. A budget-conscious military would not waste them, so they'll have to go through the trouble of verifying them. This would add to their burden more effectively than simply destroying everything.
Even if the plan fails, it's not a big loss. The effort required from me is minimal.
With renewed determination, I made the healing potions ineffective and casually used a thorn spell to cause further damage. This alone would inflict significant losses.
This was my first attempt at modifying potions, but it was a skill unique to a specialized mage. It was satisfying in its own way.
While it felt good, I also needed to be cautious. Despite my extensive training, I am not omnipotent. There are limits, and some things are beyond even my capabilities.
For instance, developing a potion to revive the dead is currently impossible, and it's unclear if it will ever be possible. I can't generate potions inside my body either. If I could, it would have given me a significant advantage in combat. However, this is a restriction of potion magic.
After interrupting my thoughts, I left the medicine storage and continued causing major damage to buildings, supplies, vehicles, and personnel. I saw a signal flare, likely from Mia or Graylease.
"Is that an irregularity?"
The light pattern indicated a contingency, not an immediate retreat.
The destruction of supplies was sufficient. I needed to assess the situation and return quickly.
By the time I returned, I was already deep in enemy territory.
On the hill, everyone was watching the horizon.
"Ani-sama, the enemy is approaching."
In the distance, a large group was heading our way. The number of vehicles from the north was staggering.
"Their reinforcements are moving too quickly. This seems to be part of their planned movements."
"Is this the main force of the eastern expeditionary army?"
The main force was supposed to be still forming. However, based on the situation, they were already organized and heading to reinforce the garrison. Now!
"What a stroke of bad luck. Perhaps the diversion in the north wasn't as effective as we hoped."
We had planned a significant distraction in the north, led by Anastasia Union and her forces. I didn't think her efforts would be weak, but the Empire's military power exceeded our expectations.
"Beyond what we can handle. Should we retreat?"
"We can't abandon the Crimson Knights. They might not have realized the situation yet."
"There are also the Rebel Army and the suppression forces in the south. Even if they retreat, there's no easy escape."
Given our awareness, the main force must also know of our presence. With buildings burning, any abnormality would be noticed. They wouldn't let us retreat easily. They would pursue and potentially encircle and annihilate us.
While we could escape, abandoning the Crimson Knights was out of the question. They were vital to the future of the Kingdom of Brenark and the resistance against the Empire. Losing them would be a significant blow, both militarily and politically.
We couldn't let Rosmerta or the Oversta Duke suffer. A failed preemptive strike would be disastrous politically.
Worst-case scenario, it could lead to Rosmerta's and the Oversta Duke's downfall, plunging the Kingdom of Brenark back into chaos.
This was a significant loss for the Kikyo Society as well. We needed the Crimson Knights to return with their achievements intact.
We had no choice but to fight.
Could this be Rosmerta's trap? Even if it was, we couldn't abandon the Crimson Knights. We had to help them. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but it's too late to change anything now.
Our mission was already a success. We destroyed vast supplies and decimated the vanguard. We had bought enough time to prevent another invasion and possibly caused enough disruption to spark conflict within the Empire.
All we needed now was a safe return.
With these maximum results, we had to ensure our safe return for the Kikyo Society's benefit.
"... Graylease, can you assess the enemy's strength beyond their numbers?"
"They're still far, and they're in vehicles. It's hard to be specific, but as the main force of the expeditionary army, they likely include elite knights. Given the Legisamo Cartel's influence, the knights are strong, and the commanders are likely to be exceptional warriors."
"Guess so. Yukari, what do you think?"
Meanwhile, the enemy soldiers below were holding their ground, as if waiting for reinforcements. The Crimson Knights had shifted to block their retreat.
They must have known the reinforcements were coming.
If left unchecked, Flannel and the others would be crushed.
If the Crimson Knights, the Kingdom of Brenark's strongest force, were wiped out, it would not only fail to stop the Empire's advance but could even boost their morale.
Replenishing supplies and recreating a knight order of their caliber would be far more difficult. The Empire would have no reason to back down.
We had no choice but to provide support.
Damn Rosmerta. I doubt she anticipated this, but we ended up in a quagmire.
"Ani-sama?"
The approaching force was in the thousands, a well-trained and experienced military force from a militaristic nation. Unlike the weak soldiers we previously fought in Retnark, these were a different caliber of opponent.
Even if we helped the Crimson Knights retreat, we had to stall them. Otherwise, they would pursue relentlessly. We needed to buy time or inflict a significant blow. And we had to do it with just ten of us.
This was a daunting mission.
It was a reckless challenge, both subjectively and objectively.
But, you know what?
That's what makes it exciting.
My reluctance was burned away, replaced by rising excitement. My heart raced.
"Everyone, are you tired of running?"
I recalled the southern forests.
We ran from ant swarms, centipedes, and undead. Most of our long journey was spent fleeing.
After that, we fought a major battle and caused some chaos within the Empire's territory.
But was that enough? Was it really enough?
The destruction of supplies went as planned, but now we face a new challenge.
We have no choice but to act. It's not just about doing what we must; it's about embracing the challenge.
Despite the difficulties, a positive attitude is essential.
Stay tuned for the next chapter, "Hellfire," where the intense battle begins!