bookpower Chapter 287 287: Erwin, Is That You?
Chapter 287 287: Erwin, Is That You?
Alise spoke aloud the word on the entire city's mind, "Yes, the final battle is coming."
Shakti and Adi of the Ganesha Familia.
Asfi and Falgar from the Hermes Familia.
Ottar, Allen, and others of the Freya Familia.
Riveria, Gareth, Ais, and Raul of the Loki Familia.
Some quietly checked the state of their weapons. Some trembled, unable to calm themselves. Some closed their eyes, awaiting the moment to come.
Fear and tension, fighting spirit and resolve.
The air of the central square filled with every kind of emotion.
"So this is the final battle..."
The city's intact clocks rang out. The long and short hands overlapped, marking the beginning of a long day.
Every gaze turned toward the south gate of the Tower of Babel, where the adventurers had assembled.
With his back to the gleaming white tower, Finn's calm voice rang out, "Everyone, listen to me."
At once, the noise subsided, ebbing like the tide.
Finn, enduring the sharp glares of countless adventurers, showed no fear as he continued, "We've uncovered the enemy's true goal. The great struggle, everything up until now, from the first fierce battles to this very moment, has only been preparation."
Adventurers stirred uneasily, wondering if their commander had misspoken.
"The enemy's real aim is to summon the Greatest Evil from within the Dungeon." Finn declared the conclusion he and Loki had reached in the war room.
"Evilus has violated the taboo, sending an evil god into the dungeon, using it as bait to draw the Greatest Evil to the surface."
"Ha!?" Kaguya froze.
Not just her, shock rippled through the adventurers as confusion overtook them.
The claim was so outrageous that Asfi couldn't help but shout, "Wait! Summon the Greatest Evil? That's no ordinary monster, is it!?"
"I won't go into the details of their summoning method. But the reconnaissance team has already confirmed the target within the Dungeon." Avoiding wasted time, Finn gave only the facts.
The reconnaissance unit had departed the surface two days prior.
After Alise and the others repelled Olivas' assault, Finn had noted something off about the simultaneous ascensions that had occurred that night. Acting on his own judgment, he ordered the team into the dungeon.
What they returned with was this:
"At noon today, the target reached the 24th floor, destroying each floor in its path as it advanced without pause."
Listening to Finn's words, Akira stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"I didn't expect a monster capable of skipping floors. The dungeon is truly outrageous."
Originally, Akira had planned to wait until the surface battle with evilus concluded before calling upon Zald and Alfia to deal with the monsters bred in the dungeon. But the fact that this thing could climb upward was beyond even his imagination.
"According to the reconnaissance team's report, the target is a super-large monster. Judging by its speed and the scale of destruction left in its wake, the Guild has judged that the combat power of the Greatest Evil is equal to, if not greater than, monster rex of the deep floors."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Then, all at once, an anxious uproar spread like wildfire.
"No way. That's impossible."
"So the evil god of evilus is personally taking action, trying to drag monster rexes, disaster-bearers, to the surface!?"
Falgar froze, while Asfi's lips trembled as a wail escaped her throat.
"So, then the enemy's real objective..."
Amid the swirling panic, Alise, quicker than anyone else to connect the fragments, forced the final conclusion aloud.
Before Finn could speak, Akira answered without a flicker of hesitation, "Yes. Their goal is to destroy the Tower of Babel from below, bringing all of Orario down with it."
"What do we even do now!? The enemy has not one, but two monsters already on their side. Just those two alone could crush us, and monsters are still pouring out of the dungeon." Lyra, feigning panic, cried out after Akira's confirmation.
Akira added with a mocking sneer, "Exactly. There's nothing we can do. So, what do you say, Finn!?"
The feigned panic spread in an instant, infecting those nearby. The atmosphere in the square grew heavier, suffocating with unease and dread.
"Lyra, Akira! Even if it's true, stirring up panic like this is reckless." Ryuu snapped sharply, her eyes burning with urgency as she tried to hold morale together.
Akira simply patted her waist, leaning in with a low whisper, "Relax. I'm only being sarcastic."
"Huh!?" Ryuu's ears twitched in disbelief.
"I'm just playing the villain. You'll see soon enough, there's a reversal coming."
The look of rage and despair that had twisted Lyra's face melted away, replaced by a sly, confident smile.
And as if in rhythm with her words, Finn raised his fist high.
"Face the attack head-on."
The words struck like lightning, silencing the chaos. All eyes turned to Finn.
"Next, we will split into two divisions: a surface unit and an underground unit. One will repel the evilus forces assaulting the city. The other, an elite squad. will descend into the dungeon to annihilate the Greatest Evil."
His voice carried firm resolve, each word sharpening the blurred edges of fear into steel.
"Both threats aim for the Tower of Babel. To preserve Orario, we must block them and destroy them separately."
Murmurs rose.
"Divide forces? That's insane!"
"Flanking? From top and bottom!? How could we cover each other!?"
"If either side collapses, Orario is doomed."
Asfi's voice cracked, Falgar groaned, and Shakti's frown deepened with the weight of the risk.
"That's easy for you to say." Akira's biting tone echoed everyone's doubts.
Yet Finn's eyes never wavered. "Then let me declare this. If anyone can do it, it's us. No, it must be us."
His voice cut through the unrest with unwavering conviction. "This will be the greatest battle humankind has faced since the dawn of the Age of Gods."
His clear, lake-blue eyes swept over the adventurers. "Who else could carry this burden? If not Orario, then who?"
The murmurs fell away, silence swallowing the crowd.
Finn's unshaken voice lifted higher, seizing their hearts. "Let me ask again: are you willing to lose like this!?"
Throats trembled. Eyes widened. Faces hardened as the tide of emotion turned.
"Know this well, everyone here is already a loser!" Finn roared.
"Stray dogs, crushed in that hellish night! Look around! Do you see the ruins left behind?"
"Look behind you! Is your beloved still there!?"
Teeth clenched, fists tightened. For many, the ones they wished to protect were gone. Devoured by fire. Lost in that hell. Their grief now ignited into rage.
"Then who shall avenge them? Who shall avenge you?" Finn thundered.
The answer burst from the crowd like a flame.
"It's us!!!"
"Only by our hands can we prevent that nightmare from repeating! Only by rising now can we bury that shame beneath victory!"
The square trembled as fists rose.
"We've already tasted defeat! Now, we'll forge our disgrace into strength and strike them down! Show your courage, adventurers! Tenacious beyond all others! Madmen who gamble everything to survive! Prove who stands at the end, the real victor!"
His words became fire, and the fire became a storm.
"This city, this promised land of heroes, Orario itself! That is what we defend!"
A thunderous roar shook the heavens.
"OOOOOOOOOH!!!"
The adventurers howled together, their spirits igniting as one.
Akira muttered, half in awe, "This is something I could never do."
At most, he could only whisper: The world shouldn't have to be like this.
Far to the northwest, within a moonlit church, Zald chuckled as the roars echoed.
"A fine speech before war. Quite moving."
"As always, your kind are smooth-tongued little creatures." Alfia said calmly, closing her eyes as she faced the night sky.
Then, at last, Finn raised his spear high and shouted, "The enemy is evil! Then by the name of the noble Star Goddess, I declare war!"
"The battle for justice begins now!"
The city shook to its core. Thus began the struggle between justice and evil, the greatest war Orario had ever known.