Devouring Monarch: Rebirth of the Profane Phoenix - Chapter 500

Chapter 500: The Undead Tide
A grim sky, dark and with grey clouds billowing in the distance.

Rain poured down onto a large, empty plain covered in dull, lifeless grass and surrounded by hills. Suddenly, the rumbling sound of footsteps echoed, and thousands, tens of thousands, marched towards the short. A large port, filled with hundreds of ships created of bone and weathered wood.

Anduil, with his dull purple eyes, sat atop a carriage pulled by undead horses.

His face was pale, yet the anger from defeat was fresh in his mind. He watched as a figure stood on top of a hill overlooking his army. He felt the power this one radiated even as he looked upon him. Asura’s silver eyes pierced him as the wind blew his pale, silver-white hair to the side, revealing long, pointed ears that revealed his elven blood.

“It seems that the main forces have failed to destroy that accursed glade!” An undead spoke in a slurred and stuttering voice.

However, the current ruler of the Demon Empire, Anduil, showed no emotions on his pale face, yet the bloodshot purple eyes revealed his true anger.

‘This is the man who stole Xavida, who took everything from me! Asura Phoenix!’ He thought with gritted teeth. However, now was not the time to attack an opponent he had no clue about. The moment would come, though…

As Anduil’s carriage came to a stop, the now undead city filled with corpses and terrified demons. He climbed down and roamed through the streets, and it was already the dead of night.

“Today, we will show those foolish humans that our empire is not one to look down upon! That person will protect us and ensure victory!” His voice echoed while the surrounding people hid their faces and just nodded in agreement.

The undead were blindly loyal to the one who created them. Meanwhile, he forced the living into submission.

“We shall fight against these foolish idiots! Those who wish nothing more than to turn us into their mindless slaves! We’ll join him so we may attain our vengeance! Under his name!” Anduil’s voice rose higher until it rumbled throughout the port city.

A booming echo sounded as hundreds of thousands clashed their weapons against the ground. The vast army of undead was flooding onto the ships, and hundreds of battleships and broken demon dreadnaughts transformed into magical ghost ships. Even ships from hundreds of years ago now floated with an undead soul controlling them.

“Let us go forth and crush them!”

This moment was the beginning of the war between the Demon Empire and Silvara.

***

“Asura!” Lorem burst into the current meeting room.

“Lady Lorem, the king is currently absent!” Danos called out while he sat with the remaining knight who served Asura. They all seemed to have grim faces.

The amount of enemy ships outnumbered them, but the undead legion caused the weaker knights and soldiers to feel terror. Danos flicked his red hair back and sorted the documents ahead of him. “I believe his highness will be at the peer, right now.”

“Thank you, Lord Odon.” Lorem quickly left the room with a bang.

“Vergil, how are the defensive cannons?” Danos asked, removing his gaze from the door with a frown.

The blue-haired knight couldn’t help but look awkward. “The dwarven technicians say they are good to go, but we’ve also started pulling the previous catapults from the storage to make do. Otherwise they will crush us with sheer numbers.”

“Ugh….”

“Don’t dwell on it, Danos.” A handsome male with no hair, his body like a bear, but when it came to tactics, Belial Montclair seemed to have grown into his own. “I will take care of the port defence.”

“Are you sure, Belial… if they break through you will suffer great losses…”

“Alexander, will you fight with me, brother?” Belial replied to the man who showed concern. It was a partnership formed back in the Eastern Monster Forest. “My knights are great defenders, but your archers and crossbowmen will be a great asset.”

The many knights, once childish fools, grew without much of Asura’s help, but when they saw his actions and how he sacrificed himself before the knights and soldiers. It became clear what kind of lord they were serving, and their paths changed, helping them mature in his absence.

“Belial… I would follow you to the end, no matter what we must face.”

“Hahaha, Alexander and Belial are like lovers as usual! So dramatic.”

“Shut up, Manfried Gotshold!” Danos narrowed his eyes, hair flickering with flames.

Since they began to work well together, of course, each knight had their affinity. Manfried was a maverick, but no one could deny the help he gave the moment combat started.

“Manfried, are you jealous I asked Alexander instead of your great Silver knights?” Belial chuckled with his hearty laugh.

“…”

However, because Manfred didn’t answer and became quiet, the truth seemed to be revealed. Manfried was like a younger brother with whom all the knights enjoyed messing. Yet he truly wanted to be like Belial after the dangerous battle where they lost many troops. It was Belial who saved Manfried’s life.

“Idiot… of course I do!”

“Oh my god! Manfried is blushing. Get a video stone!” Louis Devereaux, the assassin with great charm, chuckled; his knights were dangerous because their proficiency was assassination and murder. “However… on a serious note, we have discovered the best method of slaying the undead.”

“Oh?”

“Please tell us, Louis!”

“Ahem!” Louis cleared his voice while standing up and tossing several parchments to the others. “So, for those with holy magic, or fire magic burning them works the most, even the aura of a warrior or knight is enough. Then cutting off their heads for the humanoid undead.” He then began to create images using shadow magic.

Images of undead dragons show a core located under their neck, embedded in their chest. Then, other larger monsters seemed to have the same core. “As you can see, to kill stronger evolutions of undead, you need to crush their cores. The issue with ghost ships is that only divine magic can destroy them easily, but it takes a bishop level Rank 7 to do that.”

“Phew… this is great information.” Danos nodded, his hair flickering with fire.

“It seems the battle will be difficult.” Vergil muttered while looking at their formations, his gaze looking at the sea, once blue and beautiful, now dark grey and filled with corruption.

“Our king worries that another enemy might appear. Thus, he asked us to make plans that did not include him.” Alexander nodded while reading and remembering what Asura had told them.

“It seems that the battle isn’t simple, for now… Belial and Manfried, please protect the peer and coast. Louis and Alex, can you use your knights to help the duchess and admiral when the undead try to board their ships.”

Danos took a deep breath and realised how difficult this battle would be. “Meanwhile, Vergil and I will act as support for the king.”

It was impossible to count the total enemy troops.

Yet the Silvara navy and coastal defence force only numbered fifteen thousand, and there were more valkyries and private troops, but those wouldn’t arrive for at least another two days.

All the knights stood up together—they understood each other well. The clang of armour focused gazes as they held their swords.

“Everyone, this is a decisive battle that will spell the future of this continent, and our kingdom becoming an Empire in it’s own right.” Danos stood up and drew his sword. “We fight not for ourselves, but for our king, our queen, the people and our future!”

“FOR OUR FUTURE!”

***

A lonely figure stood atop the hilltop overlooking the peer and shoreline. His silver hair fluttered in the wind while he watched the distance with a concerned gaze.

“Asura.”

Turning around, Asura looked down to see the beautiful red-haired phoenix approach, her dress flowing in the breeze as she stepped towards him. The moment she arrived, he wrapped his arms around her curvy frame while letting out a sigh.

“Lorem, how are you feeling? I really didn’t want you to fight.”

Her scarlet eyes narrowed happily to his words. She knew how hard he fought alone. Even though they offered him their bodies and souls, he would never abuse them. Yet she wanted him to trust her…

“Our children will not suffer that easily. They would want their mother to help you.”

He smiled brightly. It was always like this. Lorem had become far more intelligent and mature than when they first met. She always dispelled the negativity.

“Thank you, my beloved,” He whispered gently. “If I think back to the past… do you remember the simple days back when all we did was read books and argue about dinner?” he asked jokingly, trying to ease the pressure weighing down upon them.

Yet they both knew that the threat they faced would not vanish so quickly. The two felt immense pressure when Anduil’s army of death appeared.

“Haha… me, you and Helia. Before this happened, before we lost our world.” Lorem gazed at the sky, now filled with dark clouds and rumbling thunder. “I am just happy we reunited…”

“Lorem, I am afraid… to let you all down.”

He rarely showed his weakness. Asura knew he must remain strong despite feeling confident… when faced with such an army. His feeling of dread continued to grow.

“It is okay to doubt, to feel weak. Asura, understand that we do not expect you to be a god… to never lose.”

“Then what?!” His face looked shocked, turning to gaze at her with wide eyes.

“Just remain beside us, never forget us, and love us.”

“Ah…” He couldn’t help but laugh at his stupidity; this simple fact made his head heavy. A smile crept up his face as he held the back of her hand. “Well, how could I ever forget you all, even if I was to die and only meet you in 10,000 years. I will never love anyone else but you all.”

“Then nothing matters. Just remember… you’re not alone anymore; we fight alongside you.” She kissed him gently and wrapped his hair around her fingertips. “We must ensure our children have the best father… even if you die, I will burn all my power to bring you back. If that fails, then Helia will do it. Should she fail Verana… so understand, we will NEVER let you go.”

“Agreed…”

Her words were true, even if it pained her to say it, for without him, there would be no point in living.

“…Let’s fight together until the end!”

“A-ASURA! LADY LOREM! THE ENEMY… THE ENEMY HAS BEGUN MOVING!” A knight rushed, breathless and covered in sweat.

“Well, Lorem… will you join me in battle?” He asked. His doubts still existed, but thanks to Lorem’s words and knowing the women who supported him existed, he could face them head-on.

“It’s my pleasure, Asura.” Her seductive voice echoed at the edge of the cliff.