03x32 - Blood and Life

[bunniefuu]

Burst Element.

Wh-What's that?

Due to a drought of spatial dark power
of unknown origin,

our wide-range incineration projectiles
failed to activate.

Immediately afterwards,
a large-scale att*ck by the enemy

destroyed 90% of the demi-human unit,

70% of the ogre archer unit,
and over 30% of the dark mage unit.

What do you mean,
a drought of unknown origin?

That ridiculously massive formal art is what absorbed
every drop of spatial dark power in the ravine!

But that's impossible.

An art of that scale, not even I...

So who was responsible?

Blood and Life

Welcome back. You did well.

The enemy has retreated.

You brought us this victory.

Lady Fanatio, the battle isn't over yet.

We must use healing arts to consume the sacred power
that formal art generated so the enemy can't reuse it.

After all, their main forces, the dark knights
and the pugilists guild are still untouched.

Everyone who can move,
take the wounded and fall back!

Monk unit, focus on healing the wounded
until all spatial power is depleted!

And watch for any movement by the enemy!

I'm going to report to
the Knight Commander.

Can I leave things here to you?

You did well, too, Amayori.

Go back to your bed and eat your fill.

Mentor?

Eldrie!

You're not injured, are you?

Right. I haven't sustained
any major wounds.

But I should have perished in battle.

What are you saying?

Your duty is to lead the guards
until the battle is over.

I failed to carry out my duty.

Not only was my camp
breached by the goblins,

their chief was brought down by Sir Renly.

How shameful is that?

I betrayed your expectations of me.

To think I had presumed to seek her
heart... her love. It's beyond laughable!

I have no right to call
myself your disciple!

You... You did well.

I, the guard unit, as well as all the
people of the Human Empire need you.

Why are you being so harsh on yourself?

Need? For my strength?

Or...

Your life must almost be depleted.

So why are you standing there unarmed?

I'm the chief of the ogres, Furgr.

The chief of the ogres?

A member of the land of
darkness's Council of Ten?

I saw.

That light art... it was
you who unleashed it.

That power, that appearance...
it's you, the Priestess of Light.

If I take you back with me,
this w*r will end.

The ogres can return to the grasslands.

What are you talking about?

Priestess of Light? This w*r will end?

Curse you! You lowly beast,
how dare you spout such drivel!

M-Mentor!

Why?

I am indeed the Priestess of Light.

Tell me, where will you take me?

Who is it that seeks me?

Emperor Vecta.

The emperor only wants
the Priestess of Light.

He'll grant any wish to the one
who captures and delivers the priestess.

The ogres will return to the grasslands.

Raise horses, hunt birds, and live.

You don't resent me?

It was I who massacred your people.

The strong carry a burden
as heavy as they are strong.

I also shoulder the burden of chief.

That's why I'm going to capture you,

and take you with me!

This soul, at least,
can fly to the grasslands.

Emperor... Vecta.

So you're saying the reason your strategy
failed and a thousand dark mages perished

was because the enemy absorbed and depleted the
spatial dark power before us, is that right?

Yes!

That's correct, Your Majesty.

I wasn't informed that, even with the pontifex
gone, the enemy still had a mage of that caliber.

Is there no way to
replenish that dark power?

Unfortunately, sir.

In order to replenish enough spatial
dark power to annihilate the enemy,

we'd need ample amounts of rich land and sunlight,
but both are absent from the b*ttlefield.

I see.

But from what I see, there's no grass or trees in
this land, and the sun seems to have already set.

What power source were you going to use
to attempt to cast this large-scale spell?

Well, the blood spilled by both the demi-humans
and enemy soldiers, and their expired lives

became dark power and had filled the air.

Blood and life, huh?

Dee Eye Ell. Would 3,000 be sufficient?

What?

That would be enough, Your Majesty.

Priestess of Light?

Yes. I don't recall ever seeing such a name
in any of the history books,

but there's no doubt that
it's what the enemy commander desires.

Commander... the Dark God Vecta, huh?

I find it hard to believe.
A god has been resurrected.

Little one. Let's assume that Dark God
Vecta has descended to the Dark Territory,

that he's seeking the Priestess of Light,
and that this priestess is you.

The question is, how will that
affect the current battle situation?

There's no question that the five tribes of the
land of darkness are after the Human Empire.

But if Vecta's target is
the Priestess of Light...

Uncle. I shall breach the enemy lines alone,
and head to the edge of the Dark Territory.

If it's the Priestess of Light
that the enemy commander seeks,

then he'll definitely pursue me
with a considerable force.

Once enough distance has split them, please
counterattack and annihilate the remaining enemy forces.

Not to mention, the World
End's Altar is in the Dark Territory.

All right. As soon as this transmission ends,
I'm going to return the FLA rate to 1,000.

So take Alice and head
to the World End's Altar!

What do you mean, head to...

Listen! Once you exit the Eastern Gate,
the Altar's due south—

If I go there, perhaps...

Fine, then.

But you're taking a third
of our troops with you.

But...

I can't have you spare a third of your men!

The enemy still has more
than 30,000 troops left.

I don't think that many would come
after you if you're the sole decoy.

Only if a big enough number fled together
would it work to split them up.

You do have a point, but...

Also, I have one more condition.

What's that?

I'll be joining the raid unit.

Dark Territory Orc Tribe's Camp

Orc Chief Lilpilin.

You're to offer 3,000 sacrifices to be the
foundation of the dark mages' att*ck art.

Th-That's insane!

We all came here to fight!

Not to pay for your failure with our lives!

This is an imperial order
from the emperor himself.

Chief.

We have no choice
but to obey the emperor's orders.

Lenju.

I and 3,000 of my troops
will gladly give up our lives.

For the emperor and for our tribe.

Lil.

I believe.

That the souls of not just humans, but of orcs
will be sent to the heavens after they die.

Let's meet again there someday.

I'm so sorry, Len.

Forgive me. I'm so sorry.

Gather 3,000 of your troops in close formation
100 mels before the ravine within five minutes.

That is all!

All right, let's head out!

Eldrie.

Our goal as the raid unit is to split the
enemy forces and destroy the individuals.

After we've passed
through the Eastern Gate,

the guard unit, the monk unit and the
Supply Corps are to head south immediately.

If there's favorable terrain,
deploy the troops and get into position.

Until then, we four elite knights
will act as a diversion.

We're going to defend this location with our
lives. Everyone, return to your positions!

Everyone, return to your positions!

System Call.

Transfer Human Unit
Durability. Area to Self.

Generate Umbral Element.

Form Element, Worm Shape.

Long live the orcs! Glory to the orcs!

Lenju!

Damned humans... damned humans!

Curse those damned humans!

This sound... is it group
chanting of a formal art?

Impossible! There's not enough sacred power left
in this area to cast a large-scale formal art!

Those bastards! What have they done?

What power!

Ah, how magnificent!

This devastating spatial dark power.

Madam Chancellor, there are
Integrity Knights approaching ahead.

This deathworm curse att*ck
can't be blocked by swords or armor.

You damned Integrity Knights...
you'll see what we can do!

Don't rush! Let them get close enough!

Not yet.

Not yet.

Now! Fire!

Get close and lure them this way!

Pull up!

No...

Little one!
It won't work! Not that move!

Eldrie?

Go!

No! Eldrie!

Divine serpent of ancient times!
If you claim to be the king of the snakes,

then let's see you devour that horde
of mere worms completely!

Release Recollection!

This way! You vile insects!

Not yet! I can't fall just yet!

Lady Alice...

Eldrie!

Eldrie!

Eldrie! Your eyes... open your eyes!

I won't allow it!
You're not going to leave me like this!

Mentor... are you safe?

Yes. Yes, I am safe, thanks to you!

Didn't I tell you that I needed you?

Lady Alice, there are more...
far more people who need you.

I was such a selfish person...
to think I could keep you all to myself.

I'll give you whatever you wish for!
So come back!

You're my disciple, aren't you?

I already have more than enough.

Eldrie! Eldrie!

Don't cry...

Mo... ther.

Eldrie.

After all the havoc you've wreaked...
don't think you're not going to pay!

Amayori. Takiguri.

Charge at full speed.

It can't be! Impossible!

To extinguish the deathworm curse,

whose priority level should allow it to devour
the Integrity Knights and the ground troops...

Just what kind of art did they use?

Retreat! All hands, retreat!

You're not getting away! Fire!

Enhance Armament!

sh*t! Damn! I'm not going to die!

Not in a place like this!

I'm going to be empress of the world!

L-Lady Dee!

What are you— P-Please stop...

System Call!

My name is Alice!
Integrity Knight Alice Synthesis Thirty!

Proxy of the three gods who protect
the Human Empire, the Priestess of Light!

All those who stand before me,
brace for my holy authority

to vanquish every last one of you!

Alice.

Alicia.

Next time: Sword and Fist.