There was a huge difference between a normal unnamed enchanted sword and the sword Caliburn the King Arthur swings around. The sword has both brilliance and power, however, what decided that the sword itself is ferocious is the user himself.
Even so, I brandish my sword and charges at the enemies.
“Topaz, standby for now and recover as much as you can!”
“Asagao…yes…”
Topaz is covered in wounds from her bout with Ivory earlier. I am relieved that Ivory temporarily retreated but it doesn’t change the situation that we are surrounded. Even if we have King Arthur by our side, Daisy’s body as it is has her own limitations.
Basically, there is discordance with their bodies and abilities.
There are thousands of dwarves with the exoskeletal suit that resist magic and there are dozens of golem that could reduce this city in just a mere hour.
Merissa’s arrival helped me take off my mind from Casablanca and Hibiscus as they boarded them in their flying ship. I don’t know if they are invading inside the giant ship of the enemy but it’s most likely the safest place to be right now.
Lady Hinoki and her first son, Leth, are now in a stalemate against some dwarves.
“Hey, Merlin, do you have anything that could actually help me?”
“How demanding, to be honest, none. Unless you want me to mess with space and time here, I’d be glad to.”
“You are really a dick, huh!”
Merlin just shrugs with a smirk and it annoyed the hell out of me.
“Even his highness can’t order me around!”
“Why are you looking so smug whilst declaring that?!”
Are you seriously telling me that I can’t do anything but watch? Sword skills won’t do me any good with such defense, heck, I doubt I could scratch them. It’s all about the weapon that I use and I do not possess anything in par with Caliburn.
No...I’ve got a lot of sword from master, however, those swords are far heavier than I can carry and can prove to be more demerit than an advantage due to the discrepancy in the wielder’s size and weight.
Well…we are talking about swords.
I quickly returned the sword I am holding and retrieved a spear from my dimensional storage. It is an unnamed spear made from wyvern tooth enhanced through alchemy.
“Oh, you can use spear?”
“Not as better when I am using a sword but this will do.”
“I see, I see! Take care out there.”
One of the dwarves standing outside of my barrier immediately reacted as I dash towards him. He brought a huge sledgehammer overhead and swings it down at an unbelievable speed. I maneuver the spear as I see fit and jumped like pole vaulting athlete to go around him.
Since there won’t be anything to cover the back of their knees, as I figured, I swung the spear and cut the tendons, rendering him unable to stand up.
“Gah!”
“Ah, sorry, sorry!”
“Shitty brat!”
I know I am the one who did it but damn…that looks hellishly painful! I can feel my countenance going a bit pale because of the brutality of the attack. Well, right now, I know how to fight back but dodging would be the best challenge for me as they can move as swift as if they aren’t wearing any armor.
I should set the goal in mind of aiding Lady Hinoki and Leth.
I made my way through three, four, five, six, and more dwarves as I move. I carefully stuck their tendons to severe the functionality of their movements, but not severe enough to render healing magic useless.
I took advantage of the swiftness of my spear and my small frame to go around these hulking dwarves. The best option to fight them is by having no contact with their attacks at all. They could blow me away with just their arms. I doubt I’d survived if I receive the full brunt of their weapons.
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Of course, I could also deal with it with a sword, I just realized. But yeah, it’s far riskier for me especially if it gets stuck between the muscles.
It was easier than I expected. It’s just that the elven knights and soldiers overestimated the dwarves exoskeletal armor. It can’t be helped they aren’t fully aware of its weakness yet. However, there are also the golems, so overall I doubt there was any leeway for them to win right now.
“Woah!”
“Got ya!”
I dodge a punch by a hairbreadth. They already knew how I move and it didn’t really take them that much to learn. That punch alone broke my spear by the shaft but I was able to escape by sliding under him. That guy used a feint by pretending that he was about to swing his ax but proceed to throw a huge swing of his fist.
“[Barrier!] [Force!]”
I immediately conjured a barrier an expanded it at a tremendous speed, flinging the dwarf upward. It took me more magic than usual because of his heaviness.
It felt good though, using a classic move to beat someone. I doubt I can do it against more than three of them. Heck, even just one drains me out.
No matter, if we can relay this one on one battle strategy, the elves might have chances against the dwarves with the exception of the golems.
“Next one--!”
WHOOSH!
Eh…?
Something went past beside my face…
“I will be your next opponent. I am called Gordio.”
“……”
Stand in front of me is a guy different from dwarves. He may have the feature such as the ears, however, he is shorter than most. Unlike the normal dwarves whose built are muscularly bulky, this guy has lean muscles, with spectacularly octave biceps and triceps. His trapezoids are like a small mountain and his waist is like a log but spectacularly, has lesser body fat.
“Such…”
“Such…?”
“Such a spectacular body! It’s like chiseled to perfection!”
I blurted out!
I’ve always wanted a body like that!
It’s like an ideal body materialized from my dream!
“Ahahaha! Well, of course! Instead of learning how to temper steel, I trained how to temper my body like steel.”
“Did you have like a strict diet and body training regime to get that toned body?! It’s unbelievable that you are a dwarf! That’s also a lovely tan that you have!”
“I know right! I didn’t drink liquor and such just to harness such my body! I am glad you were able to appreciate my efforts with just one glance! My race thinks that stout and bulky muscle is more ideal. Small creature, you have good eyes!”
“Yes, yes! Will you join my side!?”
“Alright!”
Huh…?
I am not sure about this but last time I checked, I have the worst persuasion skills out of my peers.
“Gordio, I knew you are going to turn side!”
“That’s right, all I need are people I can trust and confide!”
“As if you’d be alive after this!”
“ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA!”
“Gufooo!”
One of the dwarves called out to this guy and started becoming hostile. Instead of the usual ax or club that the dwarves use, Gordio rushes at his own kin with a fist as fast as light. The pure, unparalleled brute force was able to bring utter destruction even with the exoskeletal suit on.
“My comrades under the banner of King Osthorio Talon, come and show your pride!”
A sudden break out within the enemy forces let loose. I can only gape my mouth as I saw how the dwarves started fighting among themselves.
The situation just turned really weird.
“Small one, I admire how you were able to cut through the powerful dwarves. I hope it was the right decision to approach you.”
“Uh-huh…I just appreciated your muscle…”
“Someone who appreciates the enemy in the midst of the battle can be a comrade of tomorrow!”
“I’m still confused! Wait, what the heck is happening! Or are you just tricking us?”
“I want to explain now but we’ll have to drive out the dwarves under the command of the treacherous Stern Lostfell.”
“Eh, but--!”
“No time, small one! Come here!”
Gordio immediately carried me on his shoulder. Before I knew it, Merlin and Topaz are following us behind, deeming that within the shadow of Gordio, they are safe. I can really feel that Topaz is grievously wounded and needed to be tended sooner but for Merlin who hasn’t sustained any injuries, I’m quite furious.
At the very least, Merlin is carrying Topaz around. Truly a useless gentleman…
Noticing the clamor, King Arthur who was locked in a battle with Stern, who is surprisingly capable of holding his ground against a disciplined warrior, started breaking off with each other.
Stern Lostfell is full of cuts and wounds and looks about to fall on his knees while King Arthur, on the body of Daisy, has ragged breathing but sustained no serious injury.
Queen Hinoki who was keeping the dwarves from entering the inner district since from earlier found a respite as the dwarves are having a breakout. The tide was suddenly turned as more than thirty percent of the dwarven force starts turning sides.
“Curses! Osthorio’s loyalist! I thought I’ve wiped that faction!?”
“That only means your plan failed from the start. Not getting rid of any opposition before going to war or almost to no charisma to sway the people’s opinion. All you see in your eyes is power.”
“That’s brave of you to blabber, brat!”
“I have you now!”
While distracted by his own anger, Stern almost lost his head as King Arthur steps in with a flash. Caliburn created a flash of light as it is sewn across between King Arthur and Stern. Stern was able to step back but sacrificed his left arm in the process.
“Guh! Retreat! Everyone, retreat!”
With face distorted in rage to the point his face is like a tomato, Stern shoots out the signal to retreat while also shouting.
“Retreating with your back open. You are dead!”
King Arthur pointed his sword towards Stern and rushes in one straight thrust. The attack is a sure kill thrust as to pierce Stern’s heart, however, before King Arthur could stab Stern, I halt him.
“Stop it!!”
“Wha--?”
King Arthur somersault back to his original place and crouches down. King Arthur turn his sight towards me and started walking.
“I am glad you saw that one.”
“That…one?”
“There was…a string.”
“There was?”
“Wait, you didn’t know?”
“I don’t.”
“Then why did you stop me? Well, it did save me but.”
“That…body isn’t yours. Do you want to dirty Daisy’s hands with your actions?”
“…What of it? This is a war. Her will also wanted to battle against them.”
“……”
There’s just too much for me to absorb but for now, we watch as the dwarves retreat. The giant floating ship disengages with Merissa’s ship and started flying backward. Because of Merissa’s intervention, they weren’t able to fire the massive beam like earlier.
The dwarves that remain are those who gathered under the flag of King Osthorio Talon while all those who left are in the faction under Stern Lostfell.
“It’s over…for now…The Western District was reduced to a rabble.”
Lady Hinoki said with a delicate voice and sat down on the spot. Leth was breathing heavily and the remaining forces with him all collapsed on the ground. Merissa’s ship descends to the ground slowly and the allied dwarves slowly approached Lady Hinoki and kneeled in front of her.
“I believed an explanation is needed. I shall retrieve men from the inner district and rebuild a temporary encampment in here.”
“Very well, Leth. Tell them to deliver more food and resources than what we normally need. Reinforcing the walls isn’t the smart thing to do when we saw their prowess. We have to think of other ways to repel them next time…”
I can see a tinged of frustration in Lady Hinoki’s eyes but she did her best to look dignified in front of everyone. Sweat streams down her countenance and her lips are quivering. I cannot imagine how this loss is biting into her heart right now.
“Not all wars have victors. Not all victories are honorable. What just happened was clearly a battle that includes unknown variables that led to this disarray…However…howeve—“
As King Arthur tried to speak words of comfort, he collapsed on the spot. I rushed to catch the now unconscious Daisy while she was still holding Caliburn in hand.
“Now then, let’s see how this story will unfold.”
Merlin’s words are cold but dead serious as he muttered it quietly with a smile but eyes uninterested towards the world.