Dark Mage Vol 1 Chapter 15

Right then an ear-piercing warning noise came into the marquis’ ears.

“The b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are coming!”

The marquis cleared his thought and he moved closer to the castle wall.  He stared hard into the darkness.
The magicians and priest that came out for support stuck to his back, and they also watched the preparation going on for the oncoming war.
A groan came out from the marquis’ mouth.

“s.h.i.t.  It’s enormous.”

From inside the darkness, the orc army pushed forth like flood and at a glance the number was very great.
Even Marquis Iramus, who was raised on the battle field, could not fathom the size of the big army.
However, he wasn’t afraid in the least. He knew that the number of soldiers was not important in capturing a castle.  First, he checked the enemies siege equipments.  After staring into the darkness for a while, a somewhat joyous light showed up on his face.

“At least there is some good news in this misfortune.  I don’t see any of their catapults….”

After briefly watching them, he couldn’t tell that they were mostly orc infantry equipped with a light armors.
In front of the army, there were numerous wolf riders, but marquis Iramus was not worried about the lesser beings.
Wolf riders rode wolves to increase their mobility, and they were most definitely a dangerous existence.  However, this was only when they are used on a vast plain.  They were pretty much a useless existence in a siege warfare.  Instead he focused on the location of the ogres that was located at the army’s rear.  Their intelligence was lacking, but they possessed brutal strength.  Marquis Iramus knew that they were a threat in a siege warfare.

“If they attack the castle gate then we are in trouble.”

Ogres were monsters with low intelligence.  In the past, they were the strongest land monster on the Arcadia continent.  However, currently they were the preferred hunting quarry for the knights.  The surest method to validate one’s own skill was to capture an ogre.
Of course numerous knights were killed by the ogres, but on the other hand, numerous ogres were hunted down also.
On this side of the Felucia mountain range, it was almost impossible to spot an ogre.  However, he could see Ogres on the outer edges of the orc army…..  Marquis Iramus shook his head in dismay.

“They have a grudge against us so they must have allied themselves with the orcs.”

Their movement was fairly slow, but ogres had a really tough hide.  If they weren’t all killed by arrows then there was a worry that even one of them could destroy the castle gate. Anyways just in terms of strength, they were very brutal. The marquis immediately ordered his lieutenant to get ready for an attack.

“If the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds charge at us then the company of archer should pick out the ogres and pour a concentrated fire on them.  Also pick out a considerable number of catapults that’ll only aim at the ogres.”

“Understood.”

The preparation was going well since the Kandura soldiers had partic.i.p.ated in battle for a long time.  The defenders of Hartmoose were stirred up while getting ready to fight under the orders of the marquis.

“Crossbows to the correct locations!”

According to the lieutenant’s orders, the cross-bow men that were bound by tradition were dispatched to the castle wall.  They hid their bodies behind a shield reinforced with leather, and the crossbow men took aim.
In their background, the catapults and ballistas were readied.
They were prepared to pour large boulders and catapults on the orc’s troops.
After the preparation was complete, the defenders of the Hartmoose castle held their breath while waiting for the orc’s troops to get in range.  However, something strange happened.

“Oong?” (TLN: = huh?)

A strange light started spreading across marquis Iramus’ face.  The orc army that charged as if they were going to immediately ram into the castle wall suddenly stopped in place.  This  was a strategy that was never seen until now so the defending soldiers were puzzled.

“Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds?”

“Why?”

Usually the orc soldiers, who were attacking the castle, would run a long distance and try to gain entry.  They would use their momentum from running to place a ladder on the castle wall, and start climbing up.  This was their only siege strategy since orcs didn’t have any decent siege equipment.  As a last minute plan, they would aim their catapult towards the inner castle. But their accuracy rate was pathetic so it wasn’t a big threat.

“What are they trying to do…..”

The face of marquis Iramus, who was watching the stalled orc horde, suddenly stiffened.  This was after confirming that none of the stalled orc soldiers had scaling ladders.  He realized something was amiss, but he had no idea what.  The orcs who were in a siege warfare was not using the scaling ladders…
From behind his back, he heard a sound of shock ring out.

“This, this is?”

As soon as he turned his head, a magician’s ghastly pale face came into view.  His face had turned white as a sheet of paper, and his body was trembling.

“What is happening.”

The magician did not reply even after the marquis had asked a question.  He was focused on something with a stiffened face.  The marquis was curious so he followed up with another question.  As if he had just recovered his wits, the magician’s terror filled eyes turned towards the marquis.

“We are in big trouble.”

“Big trouble?  What is happening?”

“We have to immediately evacuate all our soldier out of the castle. Right now. ”

The marquis became s.p.a.ced out after hearing the unexpected answer.

“Are you out of your mind?  You want us to go outside of the castle walls in this situation….”

“However, if we don’t, then we will all die en ma.s.se. Because…”

The magician could not continue talking. Before he could finish talking, a loud noise reverberated from the sky.

Ku-roo-roo-roong.  (TLN: boom or rumble)

Afterwards, the magician’s scream was heard.

“It’s Meteor Storm(TLN: author made the meteor plural, i’ll take it out).  No, you can say it is Meteor swarm.  Someone has cast a terrifying magic on the Hartmoose castle.  Please evacuate all the soldiers.  Soon the Hartmoose castle will turn into h.e.l.l.”

Sadly, the magician’s warning was one step too late.  The attack from Meteor swarm had already started.
Countless number of flaming rocks was descending on the Hartmoose castle as its target.  The meteorites were focused on the soldiers, and their short-lasting screams started filling the Hartmoose castle.

“Help me. Ooh-ahhk.”

“Ku-ahk.” (TLN: dudes dying)

The Hartmoose castle, which had twenty thousand soldiers a.s.sembled, descended into chaos in an instant.  The castle wall had all types of protection magic spread out, but there was no way it could resist the attack from the meteorites.

Ku-roo-roo-roong.

The castle wall helplessly fell, and the soldiers died en ma.s.se.  After watching this, marquis Iramus started trembling all over his body.  At the tail end of his eyes, tears of blood started flowing out.

“D(TLN:was about to say dragon but stopped himself), it was the Dragons.  Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds….”

He didn’t even have the chance to end his words.  One meteorite hit him directly.  The old warrior’s body disintegrated, and it was hard to even see the shape of his body.  The lieutenant barely survived, and he witnessed the old warrior die.  He thought it would be impossible to resist anymore so while shedding tears, he yelled as if his throat would burst.

“Abandon the castle and escape.  Afterwards, everyone retreat.”

Already the soldiers who were looking for a way to live started jumping off the high castle walls.  However, there was no way for them to live.

There was a pair of eyes staring at the Hartmoose castle, which had turned into a ball of fire.  It was a pale youth, who didn’t even bat an eyelash at the agonizing scene.  The person, who had red hair like it was burning, laughed while looking at sea of flame consume the Hartmoose castle.

” It is difficult work.  It is a serious challenge to cast Meteor Swarm for four straight days.”

All the orcs that were spectating had a petrified expression after hearing his words.
What kind of castle was the burning Hartmoose castle?  It was an impregnable fortress created by humans that had sophisticated understanding of siege warfare, and they had put their heart and soul into building it?  Even though Hartmoose castle was taken over, in the past they weren’t even able to properly capture the Milton or Harmel castle. During the past 50 years, there were countless siege warfare, but the truth was they weren’t even able to destroy a single wall of the castle.
However, now they were able to destroy to castles in two days and now they were even able to demolish the Hartmoose castle…  At least to the orcs, this situation was hard to believe.  However this was the truth.  Also, this was possible because of the great dragon that was standing next to them.  That was the reason.  Belkis turned his slightly.  Then he coldly yelled at the orc leaders that were standing in place mindlessly.
“What are you doing?  Release your underlings so they can subdue the living remnants.”

“I, I understand.”

The orc commanders started moving hurriedly.

“All troops go into battle.  Let’s subjugate the humans”

“Rider division.  Stop them from escaping.  Go block their flank.”

Ku-roo-roo-roo. (TLN: sound of mount(wolves) running off)

After the orders were given, the orc soldiers, who were spectators before, darted off simultaneously.  They had to live in the corners of the Felucia mountain range for all these years because of the humans.  Now that they had the chance for revenge, their eyes started burning with anger.

“Wah-ah!  Destroy them.”

“Ku-roo-rook.  Kill the humans.”

The orc army that was known to be unbeaten on the plains started charging forward.  The rider division, who had high mobility, was in the front.  Dust was lazily forming behind them.

“Huk.”

The survivors that had barely escaped the castle turned pale at the sight.  They hand mindlessly escaped the situation so there weren’t many who were equipped properly  Eventually, they didn’t even dare to fight them.  They turned their body and ran.
However, the wolf riders had already blocked off their escape route.  The shadow of death was slowly darkening the human soldier’s faces.

Dok-gosong, who was watching the realistic situation through the magic crystal, could feel his face stiffen.  After witnessing the first defeat in the third calamity, he could feel fear rising.
Dok-gosong had many prior battle experiences, so he could tell at a glance that the humans would not easily survive this situation.  He was shocked the most at the dragon who was able to use an incredible sorcery(TLN: sool-bup) called magic. As person from Murim, this Truvania continent was full of questions.

“It is very terrifying.  The orcs boasts a numerous population.  Also the existence called the dragons has unimaginable destructive powers.  They are in a relationship of coexistence that may mend each other’s weakness.”

“That is correct.  That is why the Truvia continent is in a danger where they are hanging on by a thread. Half of the continent is already in their hands.  We tried to pull together the strength of the left over kingdoms, but it was already not enough.”

Do-gosong suddenly thought about something that didn’t make sense.

“Why didn’t you request help from the Arcadia continent?  The one you call Crossen Magnus should be sufficient enough to help….”

Shrekhiemer’s face was suddenly filled with anger.  This pure anger was towards each kingdom’s monarchs, who made this mess by trying to preserve their seats.  However no matter how shameful it was, he was still his monarch.  He couldn’t bad mouth them in front of the Dok-gosong, who was a foreigner.

“Each kingdom’s monarchs objected to it.  They couldn’t even allow a shadow of Crossen Magnus to show up.  They argued that Crossen Magus would be advanced in age.  They used that reason to squash the idea of asking for help.”

Even Dok-gosong’s temper exploded.  He simply had a violent personality, and the dirty treatment shown by the each kingdom’s monarch was just the worst.

“Crossen Magnus was right, they are d.a.m.n b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.”

Shrekheimer’s eyes widened when the sudden cursing burst forward.  Maybe he was mistaken, but somehow it felt like his inside was unblocked?(TLN: he felt good when mc insulted the kings)  While looking around carefully, he tried to hold back Dok-gosong.

“Please don’t be like that.  The monarchs were the one who took steps to bring you here.”

“Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds?”

“Yes.  We lost our chance to ask for aid from the Arcadia at the insistence of the monarchs.  The dragons are directing the third calamity.  Especially, the sea route is controlled by a silver dragon, who controls water.  He wouldn’t have looked kindly on us trying to get help from Arcadia.   Therefore, the sea route between the two continent is currently cut off.”

At those words, Dok-gosong’s eyes rapidly grew large.

“Then those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are blocking the path between Arcadia and this place.”

“Indeed.  The silver dragon Chronos happens to be an absolute being that has control over water.  He adjusted the tide on the sea route between Truvania and Arcadia.  That resulted in whirl pools forming, and not even one boat could pa.s.s between the two continents.  No matter how big the boat is, it cannot get past the whirl pool.  That isn’t the only problem.  Accompanying the whirl pool, Chronos set up an unimaginable s.p.a.ce distorting magic formation on top of the sea.  Therefore, we aren’t even able to use teleportation to cross towards Arcadia.  To say it again, Truvania and Arcadia right now is perfectly separated.”

The truth delivered through Shrekheimer’s mouth dismayed Dok-gosong .

” It, it is unbelievable.  Even though he is a dragon(TLN:용(龍)) he used the term for asian dragon- think dragon ball), he is able to wield that much power…”

Shrekheimer laughed bitterly after seeing Dok-gosong’s reaction.

“Probably the dragon(TLN: asian dragon) from your world is a different existence from our continent’s dragons.  Dragons cannot be beaten by a single ent.i.ty, and they are a species that boast as being the strongest.”

“I would like to know more about the existence called dragons.”

“I’ll explain.”

Shrekheimer didn’t hesitate and he started explaining about the dragons.