Chapter 43
----------------------------------------------------------------- Translator: Diva Chapter: 43 Chapter Title: Forgotten Field -----------------------------------------------------------------
Talia stared in wide-eyed terror at the pitch-black figure revealed beneath the fading light of the setting sun.
The massive body encased in scales coiled tightly like a volcano on the brink of spewing lava, then shot up high into the air. At its apex perched an enormous reptilian head that glared down at them with flashing red eyes.
Talia's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground with a thud. The monster, snorting hot breath, unfurled wings shrouded in black membrane, plunging the entire world into inky darkness.
Barkas drew his sword and barked in a sharp voice,
"Prepare the subjugation gear immediately!"
No sooner had his order rung out than knights burst forward amid the scattering, panicked crowd.
They surrounded the beast, driving iron stakes into the ground like huge nails, then linking thick iron chains to their ends. Moments later, dozens of steel harpoons flew toward the monster's colossal body like arrows.
Talia clamped her hands over her ears. The creature, rearing its head high, unleashed a thunderous roar from its maw.
Each time the heavy body bound by dozens of chains twisted violently, the earth trembled, and several stakes ripped free, unable to withstand the force, launching into the air.
"Everyone, take cover!"
As someone's shout echoed loudly, the monster snapped its restraints and swung one wing fiercely.
Talia screamed. The flap of its wing swept away a couple of tents, sending six or seven servants who hadn't braced themselves flying like scraps of paper.
One of their bodies rolled to a stop near her, twisted at an unnatural angle. It was like something out of a nightmare.
"Bring more gear!"
Barkas's gruff voice pulled her fading consciousness back. Talia forced strength into her trembling legs and barely managed to stand. With a dazed expression, she watched as he charged toward the rampaging monster like a streak of lightning.
He was hurtling straight at the beast's enormous maw, its body alone seeming to exceed thirty cubets—roughly nine meters—in length.
"Barkas!"
His name tore from her lips like a scream just as the monster's wing whipped toward him like a lash.
Talia watched the scene in horrified eyes.
The black wing, vast enough to blot out the sky, engulfed Barkas's body in an instant. Her world turned pitch black too. But in the next moment, the pale blade in Barkas's hand sliced through the thick membrane like paper, tearing it long.
Barkas, having severed the wing horizontally in a flash, followed through by cutting the thick bundle of muscles connecting it to the body.
The beast, deprived of one wing in the blink of an eye, lost its balance and staggered wildly.
Seizing the opening, Barkas drew a chain sickle from his belt and hurled the hook-shaped blade into the hideous maw packed with needle-like fangs. He then slid sideways, linking the chain to a stake fixed in the ground, and yanked it with brute force.
The monster, its lower jaw pierced by the chain sickle, collapsed limply like a fish hooked on a line. Talia gaped in astonishment at the superhuman strength from his lithe, dancer-like frame.
Barkas gripped the iron chain with both hands and bellowed to his men,
"Finish it off, now!"
Dozens of harpoons soon embedded into the monster's body.
The black-scaled beast writhed desperately with its house-sized frame, but it was helpless against the relentless barrage.
In moments, the creature resembled a giant porcupine, its tongue lolling out as it slumped onto the ground. Only then could Talia finally exhale the breath she'd been holding.
"Are you all right?"
A Guard Knight who had rushed over in a fluster looked down at her with worried eyes. He must have been searching for her and hurried to the battle site, as he still clutched a sword in one hand.
He sheathed it hastily and reached out to help her up.
Talia slapped his hand away roughly and approached Barkas, who was retrieving gear from the monster's corpse.
Barkas, coiling the loosened chain in one hand, glanced up and down at her with just his eyes. Even his dry gaze, like inspecting an entrusted item, didn't spark anger this time. Without thinking, Talia asked in an anxious voice,
"A... are you okay? You're not hurt anywhere?"
Examining him closely with trembling eyes, she spotted a dark red bloodstain on his neck.
Talia reached out and touched his neck. Fortunately, it didn't seem to be his blood. As she sighed in relief, a sharp sting prickled her scalp.
Lifting her gaze, she found Barkas looking down at her with slightly widened eyes and quickly lowered her arm.
His silence made sweat bead from her pores. Was it absurd that the woman who slapped his face or threw things at him daily was now pretending to care? Flustered, Talia mumbled an excuse,
"I... I've known you for nearly ten years. If someone like that keeled over right in front of me, it'd mess up my sleep. I don't want nightmares because of you."
"...I won't be appearing in Your Highness's dreams, so that's fortunate."
For some reason, his usual snide reply brought her a wave of relief.
Talia let her shoulders, aching with dull pain from being so tense, droop.
As Barkas watched her quietly, about to say something, a scream echoed from afar. Talia whipped her head around and gasped. Black monsters now blanketed the sky.
The Guard Knight muttered in a dazed voice,
"Wyverns at this time of year..."
"No time to wonder—fetch the subjugation gear! Your Highness, this way."
Barkas, instantly regaining his composure, issued sharp orders and gripped her wrist, striding across the camp.
Talia stuck close to his back, her feet burning as she hurried. The air reeked of blood and smoke everywhere.
Chaos. The chaos they'd waited and waited for had finally erupted.
But she felt no joy. Only bone-chilling terror coursed through her veins.
"Sir Sheerkhan! We've set up a defensive wall over here!"
As she watched the monsters smash wagons and tents indiscriminately with frantic eyes, someone shouted loudly.
Barkas immediately turned that way.
"Do not leave this spot under any circumstances."
He led her half-dazed self to the center of the camp and spoke in a firm tone.
Talia looked around. A group of people had taken shelter in front of dozens of wagons lined up like a barricade.
"The wagons have defensive magic artifacts installed. You'll be safe here."
"W-what about you?"
Ignoring her question, Barkas turned away.
Talia grabbed him desperately.
"Are you insane? Where do you think you're going?!"
"The defensive magic won't last long. We have to deal with the beasts before then."
He pried her hand off firmly and ran toward the fray.
Talia stared blankly at his retreating back, then chased after him frantically.
"No! Don't go! Barkas! Barkas!"