BEHIND THE FRONTLINES

Twin Dragon Formation was built on the principle of two leading Mages supported by five hundred others. Its strengths lie in its speed and agility, while its overall strength and durability are quite low. Parsia and Ayya stood side by side, encircled in magical runes floating mid air, as they felt Mana surge toward them. Behind them, sitting cross-legged, were five hundred other Mages, all with their eyes closed, pouring their Mana into the formation.

Parsia and Ayya waited in silence, feeling each other’s hastened heartbeat, as they gazed into the distance. Formation was directly connected to Lynne himself, so they were able to see everything through his eyes for the time being. The sight of the sea of white-clad figures standing on the opposite side gave them a slight fright, but neither let it show on their faces.

“… he has a plan, right?” Ayya asked, smiling nervously. “He’s not going to just blindly rush into them, right?”

“Who knows?” Parsia chuckled bitterly. “Considering it’s him, everything is possible.”

“Aah, you befriended a troublesome guy,” Ayya sighed, exhaling deeply. “Couldn’t you have befriended some good-for-nothing Prince that just lazes around his chambers?”

“Eh, I wanted to see people that aren’t the exact copies of me.”

“You shouldn’t have at least gone the complete opposite route.”

“I probably shouldn’t have,” Parsia chuckled. “But it’s too late for regrets now. Somehow, I want to see… just how high can he go.”

“Hm,” Ayya nodded, smiling. “He gives off that kind of a feeling.”

“Get ready,” Parsia said, his expression growing determined. “They’re coming.”

“INCOMING!!!” a familiar voice, filled to brim with determination, desire and certainty reverberated throughout the entire Paradise, destroying whatever little shards of doubt remained within the hearts of those that heard, including Parsia and Ayya.

As if a knot was unwrapped around their minds, their expressions relaxed and their eyes gained clarity. Pushed by the sheer force of that roar, the two beckoned back with roars of their own, soon followed by the roars of those behind them, and then roars of the entire Paradise. Although much weaker, they resonated with Lynne’s, as if to push back the strength he gave them right back at him. Without hesitating, both Ayya and Parsia immediately sat down cross-legged and focused on manipulating Mana flow of the formation, summoning mirages of Twin Dragons above their heads that tore through the space, appearing outside the defensive formation, at far right of Lynne’s position.

Seeing him suddenly bolt straight at the heart of the enemy, both Ayya and Parsia smiled bitterly, but said nothing as they immediately moved behind to support him. Whatever stragglers managed to shove their way past him, they’d immediately kill themselves. However, that wasn’t to say that they were able to stop everyone.

Just as Lynne summoned two massive Chakrams, their far right side was invaded by nearly fifty white-clad figures. The Twin Dragon’s mirage danced and coiled through the air, spewing flames at the scorching desert, while the white-clad figures suddenly clasped their hands in unison, bringing forth a massive, golden buckler that repelled the flames with ease.

From the sea of them struck a single person, wielding gigantic claymore, spewing sword lights like spit at the Twin Dragon. Each hit resonated through the formation, spreading the pain through all five hundred people, while Ayya and Parsia received the brunt of it. Hunching over, both almost spat out a mouthful of blood, forcing it back down their throats.

Roaring inwardly, they pushed the Mana’s flow even further, causing the Twin Dragon’s mirage to grow to twice its original size, to nearly three hundred meters in length. Its tail swept down like a blade, cutting ten figures apart into a crimson rain of blood. However, other white-clad figures immediately assailed back, sending forth a barrage of spells. A massive, fifty meters thick ice spike struck through the air, etching itself within the mirage, causing the Twin Dragon to spasm.

At the heart of the formation, Ayya was unable to hold it anymore and spat out a mouthful of black blood, her face growing paler.

“IT’S NOT ENOUGH!!!” Parsia roared, looking worryingly at her. “SWAP!! POUR MORE MANA!!”

At his command, the hundred most exhausted quickly swapped with another hundred, causing formation’s Mana flow to speed and clear up. Well outside, in the desert, the Twin Dragon’s mirage struggled against the barrage of ice spikes, flaming pillars, sword and spear lights. Dragon’s crimson flames doused the sky like ocean’s waves, crushing downward in a majestic fashion.

The white-clad figure who wielded a gigantic claymore paused midair and took a deep breath before brandishing the sword’s handle tightly. Mumbling something in a low tone, his eyes suddenly shone with brilliant light as his sword got entangled with spreading vines. He then began swinging it, forcibly enduring the sword’s recoil, as vines ran outward like serpents toward the Dragon, wrapping themselves tightly around its neck, pushing him down toward the ground.

The Dragon roared, pulling back desperately as it spewed more and more flames, using its sheer size to swipe the desert beneath with its tail. Sand turned into a sandstorm as tail burst apart the ground, creating one crater after another, struggling to break free of the entangling vines.

“Not bad,” the white-clad figure mumbled, his forehead covered in sweat. “The formation’s heads are pretty strong. Eron, ask for reinforcements immediately! We can’t break through!”

“Yes, Captain!!” a voice replied from beneath as a shadowy figure sprinted backwards toward the main force.

On the other side, both Ayya and Parsia were sitting in a small pool of black blood, while behind them nearly fifty people have already toppled over, dead or dying. Throughout the magic circles laid at the harsh stone ran scarlet blood like river, as more and more reddened cheeks turned pale and cold. Despite the fact that people switched in and out constantly, Parsia knew it was far from enough. Shit, couldn’t have that brat given me a more compatible formation?! Doesn’t he know my main Law is Thunder?!

As he thought about it, Parsia suddenly jolted his head upward. Glancing at struggling Ayya, he grit his teeth and suddenly unclenched one of his fists. Swiping through the pool of blood beneath him with his finger, he began writing runic characters midair, as quickly as he could, as the formation’s foundations shook, seemingly ready to collapse. Frightened, Ayya opened her eyes and glanced at him, wondering what the hell was he doing. As she recognized the runic characters he was writing into the formation, she smiled lightly and nodded, suddenly bursting out with massive amounts of Mana, pouring it all into the formation. That King sure didn’t make it easy for us… she thought as she struggled to retain consciousness.

* * *

Chief Trios and the Commander stood side by side, encircling a small breach in the formation with nearly two thousand of the strongest Mages. All were on high alert, waiting for anyone to breach through to pound him back to the ground. Although nervous, neither of the two showed it on their faces; behind them were mostly youths half their age, and they relied on the two of them as pillars to stand strong.

“This… this is kind of amazing, isn’t it?” Chief Trios suddenly said, smiling.

“What is?” the Commander asked.

“I never thought that, in my short life, I’d get a chance to participate in such a high-ranked battle. Let alone have a chance to actually make a difference in the outcome.”

“Ha ha, aye, you and me both, my friend.” the Commander said, laughing away the anxiety. “We can’t slack, seeing how our little King is pouring everything he’s got for us, right?”

“He’s truly amazing,” just like Parsia and Ayya, the two of them were able to see the ongoing battle outside through Lynne’s eyes; the latter was currently summoning a mass of 48 scythes around him, mowing down hundreds by hundreds. “Whatever comes through, we kill it. That’s all we have to do. That’s the only job he’s given to us.”

“Aye,” the Commander nodded, his eyes shining in strange light. “Do not stumble, do not fall. That is all.”

“INCOMING!” a nearby voice jolted them awake as Lynne’s warning resonated inside their heads about figures that managed to break through.

“PREPARE!!!!” the Commander roared atop his lungs, his voice shaking the earth beneath itself. “AND KILL!!!”

Just as the white-clad figures poured in through the breach, they were besieged by a hailstorm of spell arts, arrows, spears and even throwing knives. Explosions ensued one after another, sending out resonating shockwaves, but not a single white-clad figure remained alive after the mass of attacks. However, not a single of the two thousand relaxed, their muscles still tensed, eyes focused onto that small breach. They all had but a single thought: Kill whatever comes through! Kill them all!

* * *

Median was standing at the front of five thousand strong army, his eyes closed, mind focused. Just like other leaders, he was able to see the current state of the battle outside through Lynne’s eyes. As Lynne suddenly threw himself into the heart of the fray, Median couldn’t help but flinch as his heart froze for a moment. King or serf, Lynne was, after all, his only child; however strong the latter may be, to Median, he was still a small, weak babe. Yet, just as he was about to order artillery support, he saw a spectacle that his mind could barely process.

Lynne unleashed barrage of attacks and, without holding anything back, mowed down opponents one by one. When he ordered the artillery support, Median immediately replied; despite being tens of miles away from Lynne, the support was facilitated through a two-way formation. Both outside and in, like a spacial tunnel, two formations were lain. As Median’s group poured in their Mana and Spell Arts into their side of the formation, that same amount was converted outside and procured into a gigantic, golden pillar of light that smote whatever stood in its way.

Then, just as Median relaxed, he saw Lynne throw himself ceaselessly toward the heart of the enemy, using his bare fists to shoulder all the darkness that is besieging them. Pride, worry, nervousness… one emotion after another surged within Median’s aging heart but, above all, his eyes shone with purity of love. Only then and there did he realize Lynne had truly grown into a man he could no longer do anything for but encourage with ordinary words. Good, he thought, holding back a barrage of tears in his watery eyes. Dad can now rest… knowing just how far ahead of me you’ve gone.

* * *

Y’se was standing far above in the clouds, holding the Divine Wall Formation in place as she opened up a small breach. Opposite of her, nearly five miles away, floated the Hyorn’s Patriarch, his expression solemn. When the formation opened up at a small place, he immediately realized what was their plan, but couldn’t help but scoff in his heart.

“Really?” he spoke to Y’se while ordering his own men to attack. “You’re handing over the Tower’s fate into the hands of a child?”

“Eh?” Y’se looked at him strangely. “Child? No way, no way.” she shook her head, smiling. “I’m handing it over to my lil’ bro.”

“… if you’re that eager to die, then we shall accompany you!”

“You’ve really grown old, haven’t you?” Y’se sneered. “But, I’ll be honest with you: even I don’t know what’s he planning. So, you and I will both be reacting in a same way hence onward. It’s going to be a blast!”

“… today, young Queen, is the day you die. Nothing else matters.”

“Oh?” Y’se arched her brows gently, still smiling. “Looks like Lynne really pushed you over. What the hell did he even tell you to get you so riled up?” Is she playing with me? The Patriarch thought, a hint of anger in his expression. Or does she truly not know? It doesn’t matter. I can’t take any chances.

“You better hail your friends and family down here,” the Patriarch said, sneering back at her. “Otherwise, this will be a goodbye party.”

“You keep on saying I’ll die and whatnot,” Y’se said relaxingly. “But, do you even know how to kill me?”

“Hm?”

“Surely, you don’t think that someone following the Law I am is that easy to kill, no?” Y’se chuckled. “Beneath the sky, there’s a good old saying that you ought to reflect upon: fear the Flames, respect the Thunder, revere Space; all the same, you can kill them...”

“… but run away at the sight of Reductio, for there death does not lie.” the Patriarch finished, frowning. “Considering you’ve ascended only recently, I assume you didn’t have enough time to properly set up the Clones. How many do you even have? Ten? Twenty? That’s fine. I’ll just kill you that many times, and we’ll be over with it.”

“Ha ha ha!!” Y’se suddenly burst out in a majestic, mocking laughter as she pointed at him. “You really are a senile fool! Who the fuck do you think I am, hairless shit?! I’m Y’se Iylox, Queen of the Tower of Knowledge, the Crowned Ancient and the Divine Guardian! Ten? Twenty?! Ha ha! Add two-three zeros on there, and you’re just about right, old man.” her words caused Patriarch’s face to distort, as if he had just been doused in boiling water, his eyes flickering with shock. “However many of my side you kill today, those that matter will survive, old man.” Y’se said, still smiling. “Shouldn’t you, instead, be calling your friends and family down here? Now, that would surely be a sight to behold.”

As the battle unraveled beneath, eyes above watched patiently, observing every little detail while also waiting for someone other to join. However, all remained peaceful above the skies, despite how many eyes tuned in to watch the onslaught beneath. Only when the mass of army suddenly disappeared from their sight, and the eyes couldn’t see them anyplace, did the sky rumble slightly, as if asking the very simple question: where did everyone go?