Episode 708
Chapter 179: The Inescapable Trap (7)
Before launching their operation, the temporary alliance’s greatest concern was the involvement of the Malefactor.
“Of course, we can’t rule out the possibility that the Malefactor’s condition might change while we’re operating in Licarton. But since it already went berserk once, it’ll need some time to stabilize. From what I see, there’s no need to worry too much—unless we’re planning to fight in Licarton for days on end,” Orgal had said.
As long as Rosa herself didn’t enter the battle, the chances of success would rise dramatically.
Although Dipus had inherited some of the Malefactor’s powers and wielded transcendent strength, he was currently incapacitated due to eternalization.
Even if he were fully functional, no one believed he could single-handedly handle the top-tier forces of the temporary alliance.
Of course, there were other powerful figures like Fadler and Lionel, as well as the Chaos Army, but without the Malefactor, they felt confident they wouldn’t be overwhelmed.
Slowly, the steel gates began to descend.
They split into two as they touched the sea’s surface—one leading to the Hupester waters where Cosmos and the prisoner rescue team would head, and the other opening into the heart of Licarton, where the adolescent hulk would enter.
“Cosmos, stay sharp,” came the order.
“Don’t worry, Captain Mary. This fleet of Cosmos has never been captured. So just focus on yourself—you’re not fully healed yet, are you?”
“My lord, I shall return safely.”
[Valkas and Veil muttered under their breath.]
“Me, guarding a bunch of pirates…”
Their role was to escort Cosmos’s fleet safely back to Licarton’s shores before rejoining the main force.
“These aren’t just any pirates—they’re the most critical personnel for prisoner transport. Protect every single ship until the allies open the path to Licarton’s harbor. Not a single one is to be destroyed.”
[Tch, fine, got it.]
“And make sure you both return safely—Veil, Sir Valkas.”
The adolescent hulk turned its bow to the right.
For a while, words of good luck were exchanged, and the ships advanced toward their respective gates.
4:15 a.m., northern border of Licarton.
About an hour had passed since the temporary alliance’s operation began in earnest.
Jiple’s fleet was smoothly breaking through the anti-air defenses.
Though it hadn’t shown its full might during the all-out assault—having been bested by Ram—the Jiple fleet was undeniably humanity’s greatest military force.
The relentless onslaught of chaos dragons and black ships were nothing more than moths drawn to flame, turning to ash in an instant.
To break through the fleet’s defenses, a transcendent being like Fadler was required.
“Maybe Orgal was right—the Malefactor’s previous rampage is why Runcandel is just trying to buy time by wearing down our forces…”
Veradin said as he spread a magical map.
There was still no significant change in Licarton’s desperate situation.
“Dante Hiran, what do you think? Are they stalling for time, or is this a trap?”
Dante turned his head to look at Veradin.
Normally, he might have paused to ponder Veradin’s unusual demeanor, but now was not the time.
“I think it’s the latter. Just a hunch.”
“Me too. At this rate, we should reach the First Prison Camp that Orgal and Zephyr discovered within thirty minutes. But have the prisoners already been moved?”
“Should we speed up to check? Even if it’s a trap, we have to push through to Licarton Castle beyond the prison camp. Our mission, along with Jiple’s, is to rescue prisoners from the first and second camps and then support the Jin and Bamel alliance.”
“True. By now, Jin and Tikan’s forces should be entering Licarton’s center. I agree with your plan. We can’t afford to cautiously probe for traps. Besides, if it’s not a trap, it means the Four Riders are still focused on recovery, which could be our chance.”
At Veradin’s command, the fleet increased its speed.
Kieeeek! Crack!
Fragments of black ships shattered against the shields, and corpses of chaos dragons constantly obscured their vision.
About ten minutes later, Jiple’s fleet spotted the First Prison Camp hidden behind the Chaos Barrier.
The number of attacking chaos dragons and black ships had drastically decreased, no longer posing a threat.
“I wonder if the prison’s grotesque appearance is the Malefactor’s will or just the Four Riders’ personal taste. I’ll have to ask when we meet.”
From above, the interior looked nothing like a typical prison.
At the center inside the barrier stood a colossal tree, like a fortress.
Its branches were heavy with translucent black fruit, each seemingly imprisoning about fifty captives.
Giant monsters in humanoid form were seen plucking the fruit one by one, but they showed no reaction to the fleet’s arrival.
Only the prisoners inside the fruit reacted violently.
Though their voices were inaudible, the prisoners pounded and scratched the insides of the fruit frantically upon seeing the fleet.
The blood that flowed stained the fruit a deep red in moments.
Veradin looked down with little emotion, but Dante’s fists trembled.
Most of those prisoners were from the Empire.
“Hm, this is strange. The despair in Licarton is thickening the moment we arrive, Dante Hiran.”
It should have been the opposite.
The prisoners’ feelings upon seeing Jiple’s fleet should have been relief—‘We’re saved.’
But the despair shown on the map only deepened, and Dante suppressed his rising anger as he scanned the ground again.
As he heightened his senses, he thought he could faintly hear the prisoners’ voices.
Don’t come. Stay away!
Though too faint to be certain, their gestures were unmistakable.
They weren’t just pounding and scratching the fruit—they were wildly waving their hands as if to say, “Go back!”
‘…Ah, now I understand why the despair is thickening. The Four Riders must have warned the prisoners beforehand that coming here would lead to a trap. Or they’ve been brainwashed.’
It was the latter.
The Prophet had manipulated the minds of the prisoners in the First Camp, implanting the belief that the temporary alliance’s rescue was futile.
The alliance would fall into a trap and die right before their eyes.
That was the message.
“Captain Soga! Magic detected! Mana is spreading from the prison!”
A mage shouted.
If it were a trap, they expected chaos energy or an army to descend on the fleet, but instead, magical energy was radiating outward in all directions.
“Deploy maximum shields.”
Fortunately, the fleet’s shield reinforcement outpaced the conversion of the prison’s mana into magic.
A massive net of magic rose from the prison, encompassing the entire fleet, but it posed no real threat.
The net clung to the shields but lacked the strength to restrict the fleet’s movement.
“Storm-form chaos energy incoming!”
“It’s not strong enough to break through the shields.”
As the mages reported, a storm of chaos energy struck the fleet.
It staggered slightly but, like the magic net, wasn’t powerful enough to penetrate the defenses.
‘What does this combination of magic and ambiguous chaos energy mean?’
As the despair on the map thickened relentlessly, Veradin suddenly looked up, as if realizing something.
“Captain Soga, we can break through. Give the order.”
“No, hold the entire fleet! This is an illusion spell.”
“An illusion spell?”
Dante looked at Veradin in surprise.
“Yes. I never thought I’d see a lost dark realm illusion here. Listen carefully! To the prisoners, it will look like we’ve been utterly annihilated. That’s why the despair levels are rising even though we’re fine.”
It was accurate.
Right now, the prisoners were witnessing an illusion crafted by the Prophet’s plan.
In their eyes, the entire fleet was exploding and crashing.
“Then can’t we just push through the remaining chaos energy and show them we’re okay, Lord Veradin?”
“It’s not that simple, Dante. If we do that, the illusion controlling their minds won’t break. Even if we rescue them and tell them it’s okay, they’ll remain trapped in the illusion. The despair will only grow.”
“…What should we do?”
“We have to dispel the spell, not overpower it. The net covering the fleet… our mages must unravel it one thread at a time.”
“Is that the only way? I don’t know much about magic, but that sounds like it’ll take forever.”
“Exactly. At least three hours. If we want to shorten that time, we could just kill all the prisoners. Dead prisoners would be freed from the illusion, so despair wouldn’t increase.”
“That’s unacceptable.”
“I thought you’d say that. But this is exactly the trap we predicted. The intent is obvious—they want to buy time, to delay our advance. Probably because the Four Riders themselves are injured. We haven’t received any news of their recovery even right before the operation started.”
“So, it’s a choice between rescuing the prisoners and playing into the Four Riders’ hands… or sacrificing the prisoners to reach Dipus faster?”
“Exactly. That’s why I ordered a halt for now, but honestly, I’m conflicted. It might be better to sacrifice the prisoners and push forward—to eliminate Dipus.”
“We cannot allow ourselves to kill the prisoners with our own hands,” he said.
“So then, you need to give us some reason. Tell us why we should knowingly fall into Dipus’s trap.”
Dante glared at Veradin.
But soon, he regained his composure and replied calmly.
“I am both an individual and a guardian of the empire, a descendant of the Sword Emperor. It’s a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but I am quite a unique existence.”
“I think I know where this is going. You’ve piqued my interest a little—go on.”
“After Jin first speculated why the Evil God uses Joshua, Orgal said that the despair of a special being strongly influences the Evil God’s completion. So, my despair might have the same effect. If we kill the prisoners and move forward like this, my despair will grow too great.”
Veradin blinked a few times as he looked at Dante, then answered.
“Alright, I’ll accept that. It makes sense. From now on, all fleet mages will prepare to dispel their spells immediately. All unit commanders and senior mages, report to the flagship. I’ll demonstrate.”