NOVPUB#125
The Great War of long ago, and the emergence of the Great Rupture.
These two unprecedented tragedies in history left indelible scars on this continent.
Casualties numbering in the millions, and mountains of corpses filling the land.
And the monsters that flourished by feeding on those corpses, gnawing away at the land and life itself.
Though twelve heroes closed the rift, and countless human hands rebuilt civilization, the scars of the Great Rupture have not yet disappeared.
Like an old scar remaining on this continent, it continues to bare its claws against humanity.
Boom—!
Western Kalhyram Empire.
The demilitarized zone established by agreement with the Westraine Republic.
In the wasteland where the scars of the last war had not yet faded, consecutive explosions shook the sky.
“One leg has been neutralized! Enemy monster changing course!”
“Maintain firepower! Prepare binding spell formation! Push it in like this!”
Those firing magic while their magic imprints glowed were the Imperial Special Magic Forces.
Hundreds of mages in black uniforms were now holding back the monsters rushing toward the border settlement.
“Graaaaargh—!”
When dozens of flames blocked its path, the enraged monster howled and thrashed about.
A giant monster that appeared to be 10 meters tall, slowly crawling on four legs.
From hundreds of holes on its back, gaseous pollutants were continuously pouring out.
“Distance to the settlement?!”
“Two kilometers ahead, sir!”
“Then we have to block it here.”
The one who clicked his tongue shortly after receiving the adjutant’s report was Special Magical Power Unit 1st Battalion Commander, Guille.
Looking at the monster surrounded by Special Magic Unit members, he couldn’t shake off an uneasy feeling.
‘This monster is different from the ones we’ve seen before.’
Originally, the monsters they had faced were in the form of human bodies haphazardly stitched together.
However, this one before them was different.
Body organs formed according to purpose, and systematic movement patterns even while rampaging and howling.
This monster had some clear purpose.
While thinking this and commanding his soldiers.
Aah, Guille. Can you hear me?
A magical power communication came in from Matt, the 3rd Battalion Commander directing the fire support.
“How’s the situation there?”
– All residents have been evacuated. Long-range bombardment spell formations are also ready.
Swift and precise measures, just as he had trusted.
Guille, who sighed as if relieved, immediately shouted to his soldiers.
“All units brace for impact! Fire support battalion’s bombardment spell is coming!”
“Already? Damn!”
“All units maintain distance! Evacuate from the danger zone!”
The members quickly changed formation and maintained distance upon hearing Guille’s words.
While watching this, Guille’s eyes narrowed as he looked above the giant monster’s head.
“Ortega-!”
Guille shouted, unable to hold back any longer.
At his cry, one mage poked his head out from atop the giant monster.
Special Magical Power Unit 2nd Battalion Commander.
It was Ortega, the overall commander of the assault force.
“You crazy bastard! Didn’t you hear the order to evacuate?!”
“Just wait a moment! We’re almost done here-!”
Ortega grinned, showing his teeth with his face covered in monster blood.
Despite being repeatedly warned to wear a gas mask, he never listened.
‘With a Battalion Commander like that, no wonder all his subordinates have loose screws!’
While Guille, who oversees both the fire support and assault battalions, was thinking this, Ortega aimed two shotguns at the monster’s head and pulled the triggers without hesitation-
Boom–!
With a thunderous sound, the upper part of the giant monster’s body completely flipped over.
“Armor destroyed! This is its weak point! Light it up, Matt-!”
– Reception good. Starting bombardment in 5 seconds.
Then we should run right now!
Ortega shouted as he jumped down from the monster’s back.
After confirming the monster writhing in pain, Guille gave hand signals to his members and activated his magic imprint.
“Bind it.”
Whoosh–!
Dozens of magical power chains unfurled simultaneously, completely entwining the monster’s body.
[Helios’s Reins], a binding spell formation that spreads into dozens of strands to restrain the monster.
When it saw the magical power chains binding its body, a bewildered look flickered in the eyes of the monster that had been writhing in pain.
Coordinates confirmed.
Then, what happened next was…
Boom boom boom—!
“Graargh?! Graaaaargh—!”
Dozens of bombardments falling from the sky pounded the giant monster’s back.
What awaited the monster that collapsed to the ground, unable to withstand the impact, was an even greater number of explosive spells.
The magic released by the fire support battalion from the rear was turning the giant monster’s huge body into ashes.
“Whew-! Now that’s what I call fireworks!”
Ortega laughed while watching dozens of magical power lights and explosions.
Guille, who appeared behind such an Ortega, sighed deeply and opened his mouth.
“What kind of Battalion Commander runs out alone causing trouble? Where did you leave your unit?”
“My assault battalion members? Our capable adjutant is commanding them. It’s good for me, and the kids say they prefer it that way?”
Is that something that should come out of a Battalion Commander’s mouth?
While muttering that, Guille looked to one side, and the assault battalion members who had been annihilating small monsters gave a slight salute as they passed by.
A blonde woman with an awkward expression at the lead.
Seeing the assault battalion’s vice Battalion Commander, Guille could only sigh as if giving up on saying anything.
“Still, with this, we’ve cleared out all the monsters in the border area.”
The one walking over from a distance saying that was Matt, the fire support battalion commander.
Looking at the rifle that still hadn’t cooled down, the spell that had pierced the monster’s back was his work.
“The unit members’ proficiency is at its peak, and only small fry remain. Now I can finally start taking my backed-up leave.”
“Matt, how many days of leave have you accumulated?”
“57 days. You?”
“31 days. You know when I punched that knight bastard before? Because of that, Erich cut 20 days. Ugh, that devil…”
“No, that was clearly your fault…”
Are these really the officers in charge of their units?
Watching the two chatting about trivial matters, Guille could only sigh as if they were hopeless.
‘But still…’
However, that was only for a moment.
Watching the members busy with monster corpse disposal and decontamination work, Guille felt deeply moved.
‘We’ve become incomparably stronger than before.’
That applied to himself as well.
The five strokes of imprints emitting magical power light on Guille’s arm.
Already, a sixth imprint was being created for him at the imprint workshop in headquarters.
‘Six stroke. When I reach that level, at least in terms of firepower, I won’t fall behind that guy.’
And most importantly, the power of the Special Magical Power Unit.
Beyond thousands, approaching ten thousand members, along with the systematic training and imprints given to them.
Seeing the growing Special Magical Power Unit and himself, Guille occasionally recalled when they first met.
Eugene, Guille, Ortega, Matt, Erich.
Five cadets gathered in a dirty trench hole, passionately engaged in discussion.
“The unit those cadets envisioned has now… become one of the empire’s strongest military forces.”
The Special Magical Power Unit was transforming into a massive military organization encompassing both the Magic Corps and Knight Order.
If the integration plan distributed to high-ranking officers is implemented, that power would become even greater than now.
An unprecedented mage force that no military power in the empire could match.
And the one holding the spearhead of that force was none other than his friend Eugene.
‘Though he doesn’t say much to us… his goal is clear.’
Although it wasn’t a topic he often brought up with his subordinate officers, Guille could instinctively grasp Eugene’s goal.
The empire’s summit.
That his friend was looking at a realm he himself couldn’t even imagine.
Then what should he do?
While Guille was lost in thought looking at the sky…
“Ahhh?!”
“What’s going on… Ugh?!”
“This is crazy, what is this…!”
Commotion arose among the members who were extracting the mana core from the monster’s corpse.
“What’s happening?”
This mission had only selected members with over a year of field experience.
They had carefully chosen tough individuals who wouldn’t flinch even if covered in monster innards, so why the screams?
Thinking this as he approached, the members under his command in the 1st battalion pointed to one spot with frowning faces.
“This is…”
Where the members’ fingers pointed was the giant monster’s heart.
What was protruding from where the mana core was located… 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝑚
“An imperial soldier?”
Though it was a hideous sight buried in flesh and tumors, Guille could recognize it immediately.
The barely maintained human face and the dog tags around the neck.
Lifting the dog tags that were partially blackened, Guille immediately asked the surrounding members.
“Has this dog tag’s identity been confirmed?”
“We’ve sent an information inquiry request to headquarters. We should receive a response soon, but…”
The Special Magic Unit 1st Battalion Commander’s orders were one of the top priorities for implementation.
One of the members with their hand on their imprint immediately relayed the response from headquarters.
“According to the military number check, this person’s name is Miller. Private First Class from the Imperial Army 21st Division. And…”
“And?”
When Guille asked again, the member with a hardened expression slowly opened his mouth.
“…He was a prisoner captured by the Republic who was never returned.”
“…!”
A prisoner captured by the Republic was found in the monster’s heart.
Hearing those words, Guille looked at the dead monster with a hardened expression.
“Though it was publicly known killing, now we even have physical evidence.”
The settlement established in the border area.
The bizarre-looking monsters that attack them constantly.
And the strange rumors flowing from those who subjugated these monsters.
“Evidence that the Republic is using captured Imperial soldiers… to create artificial monsters.”
Behind Guille who muttered this through gritted teeth, the other two slowly revealed themselves.
“Tch, there goes our leave again.”
“Not like we were expecting it anyway. Just hope we don’t lose more days.”
The two people sneering with stiff faces.
Looking back at them, Guille slowly opened his mouth.
“Our Division Commander who was dispatched to Korhonen, what’s he doing now?”
“After completing the mission, he’s currently returning. Given the timing, he should arrive at headquarters tomorrow, but…”
At his adjutant’s immediate response, Guille sighed softly.
“Not sure if the timing is good or bad.”
Muttering these incomprehensible words, Guille spoke to his adjutant.
“Gather the monster’s tissue samples, the soldier’s identification, and the dog tags. These will be important evidence.”
“Understood.”
“And report to the staff officer headquarters as quickly as possible, Erich…”
A strange tension crept into Guille’s head.
Two years since the wars between the Empire and Republic had subsided.
The armistice agreement was no longer being renewed, and tensions between both countries were growing day by day.
Guille could be certain.
This news would surely become the spark for another war.
But at the same time, Guille thought.
Probably Eugene.
And they… would see this situation as an opportunity.
“The Republic has been diverting Imperial Army prisoners. They’ve been conducting human experiments on them.”
If they’ve found a spark, what to do with that spark was in their hands.
“This is a serious violation of the agreement… and will become justification to invade the Republic.”
And he needed to turn this spark into a flame.
For his superior waiting at headquarters.
