<Chapter 53. The Final Stage - 4>

She was the Spirit Princess, the Spirit General, and the Spirits' Springs' contractor. The Immortal (a never before seen species), Dana, suddenly raised her head. She'd gotten the signal. Ever since she'd come here, she'd been waiting for that signal.

"The Hero is calling us. It's time."

[Zenon's gone to the front.]

[Yeah, I feel like Paul Zero's calling us.]

The Spirits' Spring spirits had prepared for battle as well. No, perhaps they had waited for this moment over any other. Their hatred and anger towards those who'd abandoned and imprisoned them! They had nurtured their anger and hatred until it was ready to explode!

"Are you all ready? You remember what he said, yes?"

[We know.]

[I'd like to kill all the humans, but... I know that we can't.]

As the spirits were abandoned by humans, their anger was indiscriminately directed at all of mankind. But if they weren't careful, then they would bring ruin to humanity.

Lee Shin Woo had used their anger to goad them on and had turned their anger towards someone else. He limited their targets and had reset their goals. As a result...

[In order for our descendants to live on the surface, we must...]

[Side with the humans.]

[We'll act like we're on their side.]

[We'll give the humans who embrace us another chance.]

[If they accept us, that is.]

[But we can't forgive the Emperor and his associates.]

The spirits, all pumped up, each had something to say. Yeah, that was plenty. Dana smiled and turned around. Sinea flew beside her.

[When's our turn? When can we meet Paul Zero again?]

"We have to wait a little longer. When the humans begin to despair and start praying for their salvation... that's where we come in. To disavow the Emperor and all that's under his control."

[As expected of Paul Zero. He's trying to change everything with one single battle.]

"But still, the Empire's vast. Though this battle will determine the fate of the Empire, if the battle takes place in an isolated location, it will be difficult to overturn the common perception that has developed over many years with just one battle."

[Yeah.]

Sinea agreed and gazed at the spirits that filled the Spirits' Spring to the brim. Right now, they were divided into two groups. One group would participate in the battle between the humans and the undead in order to restore the spirits' status and the other...

"The rest of the Imperial Army's elites will be in this battle. Miss Jin Jin made it that way. Therefore, the forces protecting the cities (the soldiers and the knights commanding them) are minimal."

[That's probably true, but... those soldiers won't attack us, right? Not only are the soldiers citizens of the Empire, but attacking them will cause the people to hate us more, no?]

"You're right. That's why the golems are going to attack the Imperial Army."

[...?]

Seeing Sinea's head tilt, Dana smiled faintly and continued.

"The Hero, through Rem, has already taken control of all the golems within the Empire. With the addition of his innate elements, even the Emperor cannot retake control over the golems. Those golems, which are spread all across the Empire, will attack the Imperial Army all at once... How do you think the people will react?"

[They'll lose all faith in the Emperor! ...But so many people will die!]

"It's ultimately all just an act. Our true goal isn't the soldiers, who're just following orders, but the vested rights of the ruling class. The golems were ordered to execute the corrupt nobles and knights only. And after killing them, the golems will act like they're turning against the people as well, but then..."

[That's where we come in?]

"Exactly. We'll destroy the golems and save the people. If we maximize the Spirits' Springs' mobility and the golems match our movements, then it's certainly possible. It'll be quite the show."

[You're actually calling it a show...]

It was just a poor show. However, it would still fool the people. When the golems drew near, the appearance of the spirits, who would appear like lightning and rush to their aid...

Contrary to the Emperor or the nobles, who were afraid of the spirits' power and ostracized them, the people were taught that the spirits were wrongful existences. The nobles that had abandoned them and the spirits that had saved them; it was clear which side they'd choose. Even more so once the Emperor and the nobles that had abandoned the spirits were out of the picture.

[But Dana, you must know that even if things go according to plan, that...]

"...There's nothing we can do about the resulting casualties; they truly are 'unavoidable casualties'. If we took into account the lives of each and every soldier, then we wouldn't be here right now. The Hero is also aware of this fact."

[Wow, Paul Zero will really go to Hell when he dies.]

"Hoo, hoo. Don't worry. I'll follow him down to Hell and assist him.]

[Dana, you still don't know Paul Zero well enough yet. One day, Paul Zero will control Hell too.]

"Oh my, it'd be well worth assisting him then."

[Haha.]

The two women smiled meaningfully and turned towards the spirits. Their power then simultaneously took control of the spirits.

"Everyone, get ready! The stage that the Hero has prepared for us... It requires our very best acting!"

[Chin up, everyone! This is the first step towards our future!]

Whereas, Shino Rendu was speaking to his own troops, though its purpose was different. Countless Pauls were following him! ...And there were countless more undead following behind them, trying to kill them!

[Is that the fastest you can go!? If you're that slow, then those undead bastards will catch us!]

[No, sir! We can run even faster!]

Obviously, the Pauls were undead, so their stamina was limitless. To be more specific, of the two domains that governed one's body... defense and stamina, stamina was essentially limitless. This was why it was so difficult to face an undead in combat.

If the undead weren't able to catch them now, then they would never be able to catch the Pauls in their game of tag. Honestly, this short play of theirs had gone on for two hours already. Thousands of Pauls were being chased by tens of thousands of undead... What's worse, their pursuers' numbers were continuously increasing!

[We'll kill all of the underground's undead. We'll erase all proof of the curse's existence! Us! That's our job. That's what Paul Zero ordered us to do!]

[For Paul Zero!]

[His great goal of purifying the entire Empire... All of our efforts have been for this!]

[Lord Paul Zero, we're right here!]

They uttered such nonsense that it was difficult to distinguish whether they were his troops or a part of his fan club; regardless, the Pauls continued to run diligently! They looked quite funny, but the result was by no means a joke. Looking back, Shino Rendu was shocked.

'To think that I would be able to do something like this... No, this is also Lord Paul Zero's will. He really is amazing. No one could've ever imagined it. To think he'd both be the one who caused the war that would decide the continent's fate, as well as the one who would end it...!'

Through this battle, Lee Shin Woo was attempting to eliminate all of his enemies on the surface and underground, and simultaneously eliminate all sources of the curse. That was also the reason that he'd ordered the Pauls to 'lure' so many of the undead over.

[Not yet. We haven't gone east yet. Draw out all of the undead hiding about. Bring out all of the undead that are snooping around the city walls!]

[Uoooooooh! You cowards! The Heaven Defying General is calling you! He told us that he'd take you to the surface!]

[Follow us. You poor souls who've lost your egos! We will bring you true salvation!]

[G-Guooooh...!]

[Kuaaaaaah!]

Obviously, this was happening all across the Underground Empire. Shino Rendu was but one of the brigades luring the undead; there were also a small handful of elites with exceptional aggro abilities that lured thousands of undead towards them.

Lee Shin Woo had meticulously divided the Underground Empire into parts and had sent his Pauls off into different locations. He'd ordered his Pauls to lure the undead to the surface. Several of the Heaven Defying General's corps were currently fulfilling this order of his!

Though their locations and their destinations differed, the result would be the same. They would lead the undead to the surface! Before proceeding with this mission, Lee Shin Woo had dug several passageways to the surface.

He had set up these regional passageways so that they would gather in one single location! The golems had been helping him with this for months now!

'Leading all the underground's undead to the surface. And bringing them peace once they get there...'

All would dance upon his stage. What was the difference between them and Shino Rendu? At the very least, Shino Rendu knew what his role in all this was, and he had been prepared for his role beforehand.

'It's ironic. They had dreamt of returning to the surface, but they'll be killed after getting a taste of it.'

The relationship between Seira Von Retadane and Shino Rendu was also ironic. When they were still alive, nothing he said got through to her, yet after dying, they became true comrades.

'Though she rejected me outright, and our goals are a lot different from when we were still heroes... Ha, thinking about this now is pointless...'

He was getting emotional; it was unlike him. His personal feelings weren't anything compared to Paul Zero's orders. Only by following his orders could he obtain that sweet revenge he'd been waiting for!

Shino Rendu smiled bitterly, urged his skeleton horse to run faster, and yelled to his troops in a booming voice.

[This is where it all starts! Once we get to the surface, we have to act like we're on the same side as them. Remember what Lord Paul Zero told us! We're going to push them. To peaceful salvation...!]

[Lord Paul Zero's salvation...!]

[And thus, peace will be restored to the Empire...!]

Mm, it really was a religion. A true pseudo religion. One where the believers had to sacrifice themselves...! Shino Rendu, who wasn't aware that he was one of them, just smiled bitterly.

But then... before they had even moved out, the hero Lloyd was screaming.

"Lee Shin Woo went to the imperial palace by himself!? ...What are you even talking about!? Didn't you say we were going to fight against the Imperial Army now!?"

"Oh, so you didn't know yet. My bad."

Whereas, Kratia, who was responsible for explaining the battle to them, expressionlessly struck her forehead, and began explaining whilst retaining her expressionless face.

"We're going to follow him slowly. While Shin Woo keeps the Emperor busy, we need to drag out all the forces within the capital and lure them underground."

"Will that even work!?"

"It will."

Kratia, with the Mana Radar that Lee Shin Woo had entrusted to her (as he said he didn't need it anymore), discerned that a huge amount of undead were moving and smiled slightly.

"You'll see soon enough."