The Black Fog that Devours - CH 112

First, let’s start off with the territory that is reigned by Kurokiri.

(Third person POV)

“Hostiles attackkkkkk!!”

In the quiet port city, the person who is on the watch resonates widely.

The residents of the city, on the other hand, are lethargic, assuming that the monsters are under the authority of the Fog King like always.

However, that person’s subsequent comments refute their preconceptions.

“The enemy comes from the east, from the sea!”

On the city’s eastern outskirts. This is where the monsters of the “Crawling Octopus King of Chaos” are proliferating, and at the same time, the Pacific Ocean, a valuable source of income for this port city, is spreading out.

Ships that had sailed out to sea had previously been assailed, and even hooked fish had been targeted by the monsters. Nevertheless, there has never been an instance that could be classified as a hostile attack.

And this time, the guard referred to it as a hostile attack on purpose. If that’s the case, what should come after this guard’s words are…

“The number is over a thousand! I can’t even count them!”

…Words that are nothing but despair.

[[ーーーーーーーーー！？]]

The hitherto serene port city erupts in a tumult of commotion at once, and residents who lack combat capabilities flee to shelters as if stung by a hornet, while those who are competent in contending rapidly prepare themselves and rush out.

Two guys, clad in well-worn equipment, approach the port in an unhurried manner among the hubbub. Although their movements are distinctive, they are not the kind that can be imbibed overnight, but rather those of seasoned warriors.

“Are those the hostiles? There are so many of them.”

One of the men, a man over 30 years old, mutters as he spots a myriad of shadows emerging from the horizon.

“Hmm. I propose that we abandon the port and begin sequentially cleaning out the monsters that have made it to the land.”

The other man, outwardly over fifty years old, answers in response.

“I will now assume command of you all! We will all prevail in this battle!”

[[Yesssssssssss!]]

Upon hearing the older man’s words, the warriors collectively raise a war cry.

These two men, both past their thirties, are called Tachikabe Tsuyoshi and Otachi Mamoru. Formerly serving in the army, they had engaged in battles with the Ogre King and Snow Sage’s subordinates, as well as being involved with the Kirijin, who are under the control of the Fog King.

“Erect barriers, have non-combatants fall back and contact the government. There is a multitude of other things to be done! Everything starts before the fight! Do not miss any of them!”

[[Understood!]]

Following Otachi’s instructions, the warriors mobilize to fulfill their respective roles.

While some produce stone walls with their skills, others use ≪Visual Enhancement≫ to survey the enemy’s formation. And there are those who employ their skills to create alternative weapons, while others contact the government for reinforcements. Among them, some check one another’s offensive procedures in preparation for battle, whereas others lead non-combatants away from the battlefield.

Then the battle ensues.

(Izumi POV)

I create an axe with a length longer than my body from my left arm, the so-called “Poleaxe,” via ≪Bio Weapon Creation Axe≫. By using that axe like a vaulting pole, I ride on the back of Giant Mist Wolf who is on the “Long-distance Transportation” together with me.

“Ready…”

At the same time as I mutter this and hoist the axe in my right hand, Moyasuke, the name of the Giant Mist Wolf that I am riding, along with the other wolves in my company, howl wildly.

We are then engulfed in light.

(Third person POV)

“Damn it! What a number!”

Tachikabe curses involuntarily while repelling the Hangyojin who is attempting to climb over the wall by ≪Small Shield Barrier≫ generated on the backs of his hands.

“But there is no other way around. If we don’t do this, all of us will face death. ‘Firing squad! Simultaneous sweep the enemies with volley fire’!”

Following Otachi’s ≪Command≫, the warriors who have mustered up their remaining power unleash their marksmanship skills in unison, thereby ripping many of the monsters away from the barrier and sending them screaming as they collapse, while the surviving ones also converge on a single point.

“Continue, ‘Melee force! Pincer attack’!”

When the monsters are massed in one spot, melee specialists from the left and right, while striking at their wounded bodies, cut their way through to the other side, trampling the adversaries with assault-type members at the vanguard.

“Phew. How many waves has this been? Commander Otachi.”

“No idea. But we have already made it to this stage that it is too complicated to even count…”

After the majority of the opposition has been annihilated, and even those who still had a few breaths left were eradicated by another long-range assault, the two men catch their breath.

However, the battle is far from over.

“Here comes the next one! The number is…”

On the contrary.

“Including the giant octopus, the number is over 200!”

The foes still retain their strength.

“Tsk… this is strenuous indeed.”

“Expecting reinforcements is… an inane plan. ‘Everybody prepare for battle’!”

These people, though, will not surrender. They will continue to fight to safeguard their city, even if it entails losing their lives.

All of their hopes are then acknowledged.

The plaza is abruptly awash with light.

The warriors brace themselves at the sight, wondering if a new enemy has pulled some kind of trick.

Nonetheless, what materializes from the light is neither a new threat nor an adversary’s attack, but a pack of wolves shrouded in fog. On the back of the wolf, the largest of the pack is a girl with a white poleaxe.

“Assault…”

The wolves charge at the adversaries en masse in response to the girl’s command.

In terms of military power, the girl’s group is evidently inferior to the other. But the wolves invariably pounce on the enemy in pairs and undoubtedly undermine the momentum of the opposition.

In the midst of it all, the girl casts an eye in the direction of Otachi and company once before issuing an order to the wolves on her mount to rush towards the giant octopus.

“Hah! Let’s follow suit! Our dignity will not permit us to be rescued by the Demon King! Go!”

With that, Otachi sends out a cry to those who can move and runs out as well.

Thereupon, the tide swiftly shifts.

The wolves steadily erode the momentum of the hostiles, and where their momentum is sapped, the humans’ flood in for the attack, overpowering them.

And the battle with the giant octopus is…

“Let’s go… Moyasuke.”

“Woof!”

Izumi and Moyasuke, the Giant Mist Wolf, endeavor on their own.

(Izumi POV)

One of the octopus’s innumerable limbs slams against us.

“Dodge it.”

“Gau!”

I give Moyasuke a command, and the latter evades the giant octopus’s attack by a hairbreadth.

“Hmph!”

“ーーーーー！？”

Then, at the place where its attack is avoided, I swing my poleaxe with ≪Muscular Strength Enhancement≫ and hack off the leg of the giant octopus.

“The first strike… second, third.”

Moyasuke subsequently leverages his[i] speed to circumvent the limbs of the rampaging giant octopus, and in passing, I handle the Pole Axe like a handspike and cleave off its legs.

“ーーーーーー！？”

Each time one of its legs is torn off, the giant octopus emits an inaudible shriek, but I ignore it and press on with the aggression.

Then, with a timing impossible to elude, the giant octopus’s onslaught is imminent towards me.

I leap in front of Moyasuke and attempt to block the attack with my poleaxe.

“Oops, protection is my duty, you know. ≪Knight Shield Barrier≫, ≪Enlarged Barrier≫.”

But, before I can do so, a man steps in front of us and, with a towering barrier, intercepts the giant octopus’s assault.

“‘That big octopus is the last one! Fire three volleys without hitting the girl!’”

From the top of the building, a distinguished-looking old man raises his voice and exercises ≪Command≫ and the surrounding people carry out the attack in accordance with his instructions.

Although I momentarily look in that direction wondering what has become of the other foes, it seems that they have already been eliminated.

And when I redirect my sight, several explosions have been triggered by the attacks of large number of individuals.

“Let’s go!”

That is when I realize this is my chance. Therefore, I dash up to the body of the giant octopus with the support of Moyasuke.

The people in the vicinity are swallowing with bated breath as if wondering what I am about to do.

“≪Bio Weapon Creation Axe≫ Custom – ‘Heavy Bone Axe’.”

At the top of its head, I discard the poleaxe and generate a new axe from my right arm.

That axe is composed of bones that are more densified than ordinary ones, and its edge and handle are thicker and broader than those of conventional axes.

Yet, it is unnecessary for me to carry it.

All I have to do is simply let the weight of the axe do the work and orient it so that the edge accurately penetrates the surface of the octopus.

“Fall…”

“!?”

As my “Heavy Bone Axe” drives into its head, the giant octopus screeches, but it doesn’t end there, continuing to dig into its head and splitting the octopus in half by its weight.

Then simultaneously with the downfall of the giant octopus, cheers erupted from the humans in the periphery.

T/N:

[i] The gender is not revealed but I don’t use “it” for animals unless the relationship is not personal