Crusch's amber eyes reflected the massive shadow swimming in the sky. "As expected... there are three White Whales."
Even though she had learned this fact from intelligence reports, witnessing this unnatural sight firsthand still sent shivers down her spine.
The scene on the battlefield was eerie. One White Whale lay on the ground, barely alive, its dark red blood pooling and expanding. In the sky, the second White Whale stared intently at the Expeditionary Force with its intact eye. And in the depths of the azure sky, a third massive shadow could be vaguely seen swimming among the clouds.
"Wilhelm-san," Carlisle said, wiping his blood-stained longsword, "how about we collect some interest from this clone first?"
The old Sword Demon did not reply, but the look of vengeance in his bloodshot eyes answered Carlisle. He raised his longsword, and the blade descended like lightning.
"Swish!"
The White Whale clone's massive head was severed with a sound, crashing heavily to the ground. The splattered blood dyed an area tens of meters crimson. This shocking sight invigorated the morale of the army, which had been shaken by the appearance of the second White Whale.
Crusch seized this opportunity, leaping onto her Earth Dragon. Her voice, like a war drum, resonated across the battlefield.
"Soldiers! Look closely! This demon beast that has rampaged for four hundred years is not invincible!" She pointed her sword at the White Whale's severed head on the ground. "We just subjugated one of its clones, and our losses, are nearly zero!"
The soldiers gradually ceased their commotion, and a spark of hope reignited in their weary eyes.
"The mystery of the White Whale has been completely unraveled by us! Its cloning mechanism, its mist, its movement patterns, all of these are within our grasp!" Crusch's voice grew more impassioned. "The first one has fallen, and the second and third will surely follow suit!"
She raised her longsword above her head.
"Remember what you are fighting for! For the loved ones taken! For the forgotten comrades! For all the lives and souls trampled by this demon beast!" Her roar echoed across the plain. "Today, here, history will be rewritten by us! Victory, will surely be ours!"
"Oh oh oh oh!!" A thunderous war cry pierced the sky, and the soldiers' weapons were drawn in unison, their metallic clanging like a prophecy of victory.
Carlisle and Wilhelm exchanged glances, simultaneously adopting their battle stances. The Iron Fang mercenaries had already regrouped, their wolf-like mounts letting out bloodthirsty growls.
In the sky, the second White Whale seemed to sense the threat, letting out an angry wail. The decisive battle had only just begun.
Crusch raised her longsword again, its blade wreathed in azure wind magic. With a clear shout, a horizontal sword aura burst forth, ignoring distance and striking directly at the White Whale high in the sky.
At the same time, Patrasche, carrying Subaru and Rem, galloped once more, the golden light of her eyes reflecting the fires of the battlefield.
"It really came!" Subaru looked back at the second White Whale clone, which was hot on their heels. She deliberately raised her voice. "Hey! Is this all the 'Mist Demon Beast' is capable of? It's not even as good as a guard dog! A wild dog chasing prey would at least bark a couple of times!"
This sharp taunt seemed to enrage the White Whale. It let out a deafening roar, and its pursuit speed suddenly increased.
"Magic squad, prepare!" Crusch seized the moment, pointing her longsword at the sky. Behind her, dozens of robed mages simultaneously cast spells, their incantations echoing across the battlefield. The barrels of the magic railguns began to hum dangerously, and blue charging light flickered at their muzzles.
"El Goa."
With a synchronized chant, dozens of scorching fireballs shot into the sky, tracing dazzling arcs. At the same time, the railguns let out a deafening roar, and the specially made magic shells, though fired later, struck first, hitting the White Whale's massive body. Before the explosion's flames could dissipate, the volley of fireballs arrived, and a second round of explosions completely engulfed the White Whale.
"Woooooah----!" Amidst the mournful wails, some young soldiers began to cheer, waving their weapons, their faces filled with the joy of victory.
However, Carlisle frowned. He keenly noticed that despite the immense power of the attack, the White Whale did not fall. "So that's it... those furs are anti-magic material; conventional magic can't harm it in the slightest."
"Wilhelm-san," Carlisle turned to the old man beside him. "Are you ready?"
"Of course."
Wilhelm tightened his grip on his longsword. Carlisle understood and began to form hand seals.
"El Murak."
A magic circle unfolded beneath their feet, and the next second, they shot into the sky like arrows from a bow, leaving a brilliant trail of magic in their wake. From the ground, it looked like two meteors soaring upwards, heading straight for the injured White Whale.
"For Theresia!" Wilhelm roared, his blade plunging deep into the White Whale's back. Carlisle, like a blue stream of light, rapidly weaved around the White Whale, each sword strike precisely severing crucial muscle tissue. Blood poured down like a storm, dyeing the plain below a dark red.
The White Whale thrashed in pain, trying to shake off the two 'uninvited guests' on its body. But Carlisle was prepared. He continuously adjusted the parameters of his gravity magic, ensuring that the two of them remained firmly attached to the White Whale like maggots. From the ground, one could only see two streaks of light constantly circling the White Whale, each flash adding a gruesome wound to the demon beast.
"It's over!" Carlisle suddenly accelerated, appearing like a phantom before the White Whale's eyes. With a flash of his sword, both massive eyeballs burst simultaneously. The now-blind White Whale immediately fell into a frenzy, crashing wildly through the sky, yet unable to shake off the two grim reapers on its body.
Carlisle seized the opportunity, leaping onto the White Whale's head, and plunged his longsword down with his full weight. "Fall!" With a furious shout, an astonishing monstrous strength actually forced a change in the White Whale's flight path. To everyone's astonished gaze, the massive demon beast crashed down like a meteor, kicking up a sky-darkening cloud of dust.
When the dust settled, Carlisle and Wilhelm stood proudly on the White Whale's shattered body. The second White Whale clone was already on its last breath, without even the strength to struggle.
"We won! We won again!" The soldiers erupted in deafening cheers, some even embracing each other in tears of excitement. However, Crusch's expression was grim. Her gaze was fixed on the sky, where the figure of the last White Whale was gradually blurring among the clouds.
"This isn't good... Is that guy... trying to escape?"
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
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