Former General Is Undead Knight

Volume 3, Chapter 19: Embodiment of Different Dimension③

Leading the second division of 『Phoenix’s Eyes』, Lambert had already infiltrated Tetomburgh.

Their targets were the twenty sorcerers of 『Devil’s Piper』 who were lying in wait.

The majority of the soldiers from『Phoenix’s Eyes』 had already lost their horses.

Some horses escaped when they were injured, and some died while protecting their masters from incoming spells.

That was just how desperate their situation was.

The fact that none of the『Phoenix’s Eyes』 members died during the battle was already a miracle itself.

Even the sorcerers of 『Devil’s Piper』, who only had to unleash their spell toward the fast approaching 『Phoenix’s Eyes』, were baffled by the other party’s situation.

That was because there were only eleven members in the second division of 『Phoenix’s Eyes』 , including their captain, Kreuz.

With the addition of Lambert, there were twelve of them.

And yet, the number of sorcerers prepared to intercept Lambert and Co. was almost double that.

「W-what are they? How can they… advance while looking so composed?」

The sorcerers muttered as they looked at Lambert’s party with doubtful looks on their faces.

Even from the perspective of the sorcerers from 『Devil’s Piper』, who were already regarded as madmen by today’s standard, Lambert and Co.’s current condition was too creepy.

「GO, O’ BRAVES OF THE KINGDOM!! SHOW YOUR LOYALTY THROUGH YOUR SWORD AND SLAY THE KINGDOM’S ENEMIES!」

Lambert’s warcry resounded throughout Tetomburgh.

His charisma perfectly captured the heart of Kreuz’s subordinates, making it easier for them to accept him as their temporary captain.

And as if reacting to Lambert’s warcry, the soldiers—including Kreuz—raised their swords to the sky and shouted.

「DON’T LET THOSE CREEPS GET CLOSE TO US… TAKE THEM DOWN WITH RANGED ATTACKS! TARGET THE ONE WHO LEADS THEM… THAT TALL FELLA IN FULL-PLATE ARMOR!」

One of 『Devil’s Piper』 sorcerer called out to his surroundings.

The sorcerers swung their canes, firing lumps of ice and fire toward Lambert.

Lambert brandished his greatsword as he ran forward, destroying the incoming missiles.

Lambert erased countless magic bullets that were fired toward him.

「H-HEY, THEY’RE NOT SLOWING DOWN!」

「STOP TALKING AND KEEP FIRING! DON’T LET THEM GET CLOSE TO US!」

The magic bullet fired toward Lambert intensified, raining down like a torrent.

But then, even that was far from enough to land a hit on Lambert.

But then, even if one of those magic bullets managed to land a hit by some sort of coincidence, it wouldn’t even be able to leave a scratch on Lambert’s Organ armor.

「This time, I’ll split their force in two. We’re going to repeat the previous tactic at that time.」

Lambert increased his running speed as soon as he said that.

This action flustered the sorcerers of 『Devil’s Piper』.

Lambert wouldn’t miss such a chance.

「HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」

Lambert swung down his greatsword as he raised a warcry, cutting down the other party who was lining up in horizontal formation.

Lambert’s charge attack hit numerous sorcerers, sending them flying into the air.

But it was still followed by a loud scream.

Three unfortunate sorcerers died on the spot, their bones pulverized by the strength of Lambert’s charge.

Their corpses fell down at unnatural angles, crashing on the ground like sacks of potatoes.

「H-HIIIIII!」

Frightened by Lambert, many sorcerers ran for their lives.

「FOLLOW ME! CATCH THEM ALL!」

The soldiers of 『Phoenix’s Eyes』 followed Lambert’s order and started the operation to catch the escaped sorcerers.

Although the sorcerers of 『Devil’s Piper』 might be able to put up a good fight by using the difference in numbers in this frontal clash, they ended up shrinking in fear in front of Lambert, who was closing in while unleashing his miasma.

A man landed on top of the head of the sorcerer who was trying to escape from Lambert.

He was none other than the man with the mithril helmet, Captain Kreuz.

「It isn’t my style to kill the enemy who has lost their fighting spirit, but you guys are too dangerous to be left to your own devices!」

Kreuz kicked that sorcerer’s head and jumped toward the next sorcerer.

He didn’t wait for the other party to swing their cane. He stabbed the other party’s forehead with his rapier and turned around, removing his weapon and using the residual force to stab into the ch*st of the one who tried to attack him from behind.

Although Kreuz handed over the chain of command to Lambert, his sword mastery reached a whole new level after being cornered in the deathly battle and tasting a defeat in his battle against Lambert.

Lambert charged into the enemy’s formation and crushed their fighting spirit.

Although the sorcerers who tried to escape had to face the swordsmen of 『Phoenix’s Eyes』 first, the latter already knew what they needed to do to counter the sorcerers.

In the blink of an eye, the escapees who rushed toward the direction of 『Phoenix’s Eyes』 were annihilated. The kingdom’s forces finally got the chance to take a breather.

They were already desperate for the chance to come out alive from this battle.

「ANYONE INJURED?! PLEASE COME TO ME FOR HEALING SINCE WE DON’T KNOW WHEN THE NEXT BATCH OF ENEMIES WILL ARRIVE!!」

Swordswoman Frey was calling for her comrades.

The one who bore a deep wound was propped by the other soldiers walking toward Frey.

Although Lambert was observing their condition, he noticed immediately that Kreuz was walking toward his direction and facing the latter.

「What’s the matter?」

「I was already half-prepared to die like a dog, but… I never expected that we’d gain the upperhand against them. To think that we can put up a good fight against those infamous 『Devil’s Piper』’s sorcerers. Nevertheless, it was only possible since you did the heavy lifting, but still…」

Kreuz expressed his heartfelt impression as he sung the other’s praises.

「I personally wanted to kill every single one of them, and yet, four of them ended up getting away. Make sure that you kill all of them next time. Tell this to the other soldiers too.」

「Y-Yes… I see…」

Lambert managed to crush half of the sorcerers by himself and apparently still felt that it wasn’t enough.

「…Armored Swordsman. Just who in the world are you? The fact that I’ve never heard about a swordsman of your caliber until I met you is clearly unnatural. Moreover, you led me and my subordinates to victory, displaying ability beyond commonsense and having the power of those who stand above others. You surpassed me—who was entrusted to lead a unit of royal capital—in every single aspect.」

「My name is Lambert, one of Regios Kingdom’s Four Demon General, Lambert de la Croix.」

Kreuz then smiled wryly after a momentary silence unfolded.

「I see, the reason why I can’t win is because my opponent is the famous great hero of the Eight Countries Unification War. No, my apologies for trying to pry into your identity.」

Kreuz took Lambert’s introduction as a joke.

Since Lambert himself had gotten used to that kind of treatment whenever he introduced himself, he could say his name without any worry.

「By the way, Armored Swordsma— I mean, Lambert-dono…」

The moment Kreuz said this, he felt an overwhelming killing intent from Lambert.

Kreuz, who was exposed to that killing intent, paused and then retreated back.

「Ah, sorry. Did I somehow, made you reca—」

Lambert suddenly turned around and charged toward Kreuz.

Kreuz couldn’t dodge in time, but Lambert shoved him aside, causing the former to roll on the ground two heins (meters) away from his original position.

「GAH! W-What the…」

Kreuz stood up immediately while pressing his flank.

At that moment, he saw a giant pillar of fire arise from where he was just moments ago. That giant pillar of fire now enveloped Lambert.

The flame that struck Lambert then expanded and then exploded, shaving away the ground around him.

Kreuz was taken aback. If not for Lambert shoving him away, he would definitely have died from that ambush.

「A-ARMORED SWORDSMAN!」

「First is one, eh? Good grief, to think that I had to come in person just to take care of one unit of the royal capital’s soldiers. They’re just a little bit better than small fries.」

Kreuz unsheathed his rapier and turned around toward the direction where that pillar of fire came from.

It came from a black hole that appeared in midair.

A ghastly dragon head—whose entire body was covered by a mirror—came from inside that hole.

A ripple then appeared on the fluid surface of the mirror.

Below the black hole was a woman who spoke with a listless voice.

「No way, Armored Swordsman… because of me, he…!」

Kreuz muttered this as he stared absentmindedly toward the center of the shaved ground which was covered by mist.

「Don’t worry about me. Warn your subordinates to stay on guard.」

When the smoke dispersed, Kreuz saw Lambert’s figure standing in his place, unperturbed by the previous spell.