Debuff Master

Chapter 726

As the allied forces held their ground at the O’Toul Fortress near the border to repel the invasion of the Zavala Kingdom, Queen Brunhilde dutifully carried out her role as the Proatine Kingdom’s queen.

Her duty was to protect the kingdom’s capital, Preussen, against the enemy in case of an attack.

To fulfill her duties, she donned her armor for the first time in a long while and left the palace with her Holy Sword: Phoenix in hand. She mounted her long-time steed, Hyperion, and led her knights throughout the capital on patrol.

During her rounds, she noticed a curious sight in Preussen’s main square.

For some reason, hundreds of people were kneeling on the ground and praying

‘What’s going on over there?’ she wondered.

In the end, she decided to investigate the matter and steered Hyperion to fly overhead the square to get a better view of the gathering.

Then, she saw that the people were praying fervently in front of the statue of Siegfried prominently situated in the square.

“Your Majesty! Please lead us to victory!”

“Please protect us from the enemy!”

“O, Great King! Please shield my son from danger on the battlefield!”

“We pray for victory.”

“I beseech you! Vanquish our enemies and return our sons safely!”

The people poured out their hearts and prayers for victory into the silent stone figures, and it was truly an extraordinary sight.

Why?

It was all because most people would seek out a temple or a shrine of their faith to pray, but the people of Proatine were different. They prayed not in temples or shrines of their respective gods but before the statue of their king, Siegfried van Proa.

The Proatine Kingdom was a land of religious freedom, without any state religion, so anyone was free to practice and worship whichever gods they believed in. Their choice to pray to Siegfried rather than any other god showed just how much love and loyalty they had for him.

The Proatine Kingdom was flourishing under Siegfried’s rule, as he had greatly improved the kingdom's economy, established effective institutions, and invested generously in welfare programs. Moreover, he also ensured equal opportunities for both nobles and commoners, promoting people based on merit rather than their social status.

Moreover, Siegfried had earned the respect and reverence of the people across the continent as a hero. He had stopped—well, unintentionally—the invasion of demons, saving the entire continent from a continental war.

To the people of Proatine, Siegfried was far more deserving of their faith than the distant gods they could not see or feel.

‘My King, there’s no doubt in my heart that you will triumph. How could you possibly lose when so many people believe in you?’ Brunhilde thought with unshakeable faith while watching the people fervently praying.

Then, she steeled her resolve and gave the signal to Hyperion to resume their patrol over Preussen. She was armed with renewed vigor and determination after seeing the sight of the people’s unwavering devotion toward her husband and king.

***

“Eh? What the hell is going on? Why is it increasing so much all of a sudden?” Siegfried muttered, stunned by the sudden surge in Divine Power.

[Alert: Your Divine Power has permanently increased by 3!]

[Alert: Your Divine Power has permanently increased by 1.5!]

[Alert: Your Divine Power has permanently increased by 19!]

[Alert: Your Divine Power has permanently increased by 2.22!]

(omitted...)

[Alert: Your Divine Power has permanently increased by 1!]

He'd usually obtain minuscule increases in his Divine Power, and they were mostly in decimals. For some reason, however, his Divine Power was skyrocketing today.

Siegfried was surprised because the messages did not make any sense at all.

He was neither a Holy Knight nor a devout follower of any sect. In fact, he did not even practice any religion in the real world. So this unexplained surge in Divine Feeling was not only bewildering but something utterly foreign.

“What the hell...?” Siegfried muttered while observing the tidal wave of Divine Power settling into his mana hall. It was an unknown force that he couldn't quite understand or use. Divine Power was simply an irritating and persistent unwanted distraction in his eyes. Unfortunately, he didn't have the luxury of time to dwell on it.

“Three! Two! One! Fire!”

Seung-Gu’s voice boomed in the air, signaling the start of the artillery barrage. The thundering booms of artillery shook Siegfried awake, and he quickly dismissed the message windows cluttering his eyes to focus on the battle once again.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The hundreds of cannons situated on top of the walls of O’Toul Fortress fired in unison, unleashing an overwhelming bombardment on the Zavala Forces.

However, the Zavala Forces did not back down.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Their thousands of cannons returned fire, and their shells made a beeline for the fortress. The sheer disparity in firepower was so overwhelming that it seemed as if the walls would fall from a single volley.

However, the O’Toul Fortress had a protector capable of saving it from the thousands of shells flying toward it.

“Bo... Kaa-ra!”

Duke Decimato clasped the Lich Skull Staff he had received as a gift from Siegfried and chanted a spell.

Bo... Kaa-ra...!

The Lich Skull Staff echoed the same incantation and amplified Duke Decimato’s spell, but that was not the end of it...

Wooong...!

Duke Decimato channeled mana into the Third Eye embedded in his left palm, which he had taken away from Count Arial.

“Woh doh-bah goh-stow foo-pawok...!”

Woh doh-bah... goh-stow... foo-pawok...!

As soon as Decimato and the staff completed their spell—

Shooooom!

—a translucent barrier materialized in front of the O’Toul Fortress.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The shells fired by the Zavala Forces struck the shield and detonated upon impact.

Decimato was a Great Wizard, and he single-handedly conjured a defensive barrier strong enough to withstand the enemy’s bombardment from thousands of cannons.

However, the Zavala Forces were relentless.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

They continued their assault, regardless of whether there was a barrier or not. The mighty Zavala Forces were determined to shatter through anything the opponents put up against their attacks as they launched round after round of attacks until their cannons were red-hot and their ammunition ran out.

The relentless bombardment caused a thick cloud of smoke to blanket the O’Toul Fortress.

C-Crack...!

The protective barrier around the O’Toul Fortress finally shattered into pieces. It couldn't withstand the ceaseless barrage from the enemy.

On the other hand, the Zavala Forces’ cannons had reached their limits. Their bombardment had lasted for so long that the barrels of their cannons had grown red from heat, temporarily putting them out of commission.

***

“I-Impossible!”

The Supreme Commander of the Zavala Forces, General Andrei (★★★★), was stunned. The Proatine Alliance had just withstood their artillery bombardment using a vast barrier.

Did it make sense that a barrier withstood more than ten thousand shells? The only possible explanation could be...

“Could it be...? Is there a Great Wizard among the Proatine Forces?”

General Andrei speculated that a Great Wizard was among the Proatine Forces, as blocking the bombardment of the Zavala forces required not just any talented magician but one formidable such as a Great Wizard.

Sure, it was possible that one single powerful magician could lead dozens or hundreds of magicians in chanting a synchronized spell to erect such a powerful barrier, but that was highly unlikely.

The Proatine Kingdom was a fledgling power, at best a rising nation, and it meant it was unlikely they had such a vast number of magicians. Therefore, he concluded that it was far more likely that they had a single Great Wizard in their ranks rather than an army of magicians.

“Signalman!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Report to base that the Proatine Alliance has a Great Wizard among them.”

“Yes, sir!”

“I’m certain that His Majesty will see to it that we persuade that Great Wizard to join us once the Proatine Kingdom falls.”

General Andrei dispatched the signalman and immediately issued his next command.

— All units! Attention!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The magical speakers set up throughout their camp amplified his booming voice.

— CHAAAARGE!

Shockingly, General Andrei gave the order to attack despite suspecting the presence of a Great Wizard. Others would probably think that he was too ruthless, but this was the kind of ruthlessness one ought to expect from the supreme commander of a great power.

What about the extraordinary magician on the enemy’s side?

It didn't matter. He had absolute confidence in the might of the Zavala Forces.

Thus, he ordered the attack without the slightest bit of hesitation.

“Chaaaarge!”

“Onward! Let’s go!”

“Attack! Attack!”

“Advance, mighty soldiers of the Zavala Kingdom!”

“For His Majesty the King!”

“Attaaack!”

The Zavala Forces surged forward en masse toward the O’Toul Fortress at General Andrei’s command, signaling the start of the siege.

‘I’ll kill them all.’ Siegfried clenched his +13 Vanquisher’s Grasp and placed down both Blaze Field and Shadow Hell. Then, he began striking down the oncoming soldiers who dared to scale the fortress walls.

But that was not the only thing he did...

Krwaaaang!

Siegfried jumped down and struck the ground using Splitting Heaven and Earth, slaughtering the enemy soldiers around him. Then, he immediately used Absolute Zero to freeze the ones swarming toward him before mercilessly smashing them to bits.

Sseuuuu...!

He activated Eraser Swarm, erasing the very existence of the enemy soldiers who dared to venture too near him. His comrades were just as dominating on the battlefield as him. The three Masters, Loengrin, Nanuqsa, and Beggarius were unrivaled as well.

They matched Siegfried’s ferocity, obliterating the invading enemy soldiers.

This shocking news quickly reached General Andrei’s ears.

“What? There are four more Masters among the enemy ranks?”

“Yes, sir!”

“T-That... That makes no sense...”

General Andrei found it difficult to believe the report, so he grabbed a pair of binoculars and scanned the chaotic battlefield.

“T-This is absurd! How can a small kingdom have four Masters?!” he exclaimed, taken aback by what he was witnessing with his very own eyes.

He was seeing it with his own eyes, but it was a sight that defied all logic. Even the great powers on the continent struggled to muster a single Master, but this small weak kingdom had four of them.

“Deploy the Iron Knights! Request additional reinforcements from the kingdom! Order the Iron Knights to engage and neutralize the enemy Masters if they can to protect our soldiers!”

“Yes, sir!”

The Iron Knights were the pride and core strength of the Zavala Kingdom. They were a formidable force that trampled on their enemies on the battlefield.

These knights were finally unleashed on the battlefield, signaling the true start of the siege on the fortress.

“Aaah!”

“Ack!”

“Nooo!”

“S-Spare me!”

Siegfried was busy decimating all enemies in his path when he was struck by a wave of danger, forcing him to instinctively leap back up the fortress walls.

Thud!

A massive broadsword struck the spot where he stood just a few moments ago.

“...!”

Siegfried’s eyes shot wide open.

Thud, thud, thud!

Dozens of knights, clad head-to-toe in full plate armor, descended from the sky, landing on the fortress walls.

“King Siegfried van Proa.” One of the knights pointed a broadsword at Siegfried, and his voice sounded deep and menacing as he declared, “In the name of the Zavala Kingdom and His Majesty the King, I hereby sentence you to death!”

With that, the knights charged at Siegfried at the same time.