Infinite Evolution Hunter - Chapter 143
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
143
“The interference magic that sent people who entered the Gate to the Empire? I destroyed the magical device at Burwick Nest Port on my way here. It won’t be operational for quite some time.”
I spoke as casually as if I were mentioning snacks I’d bought on the way, and Carlton’s expression went blank with shock.
“The situation has changed! Open the Gate immediately and load the Army onto the warships! We’ll land and launch a full assault! It’s time to strike down those brutal Empire bastards with the hammer of justice!”
Carlton snapped back to attention and shouted. The Gate had become useless, making it difficult to secure supplies and troops, but that problem was now solved.
“Waaahhhhh!!”
“Let’s go, let’s go! Move out!”
The Western Continental Alliance, composed of diverse races, moved with perfect synchronization.
“Please come this way. I’ll open the Gate for you immediately.”
I followed Carlton to the magic circle.
“Please contact Jae-in and let her know my situation.”
Standing before the Gate the mage had opened, I spoke to Carlton.
“Understood. And please take one of these communication stones. Long-distance communication won’t work on Empire soil due to their interference magic, but if there are Alliance forces within a hundred kilometers, a green light will appear on the stone. When it does, infuse it with mana and you’ll be able to communicate.”
“Thank you.”
“We’re the ones who should be grateful. Thanks to you, we should be able to turn the tide of war. Then, may fortune favor you.”
“And you, Carlton.”
I finished the hurried farewell and crossed through the Gate. I was worried about Bae Na-young.
As I emerged from the Gate, Alliance soldiers stood in disciplined formation, swords and spears in hand.
“Ji-seok, we received word from Carlton beforehand.”
The Wolf Beastman Commander, who appeared to be the leader, bowed respectfully.
“It’s good to meet you. I apologize, but I have no time to waste—I must head to the Eastern Continent immediately.”
“Head in that direction and you’ll reach the Eastern Continent by the shortest route. Bae Na-young’s forces took the same path. May fortune favor you.”
“Thank you. Then I’ll be going.”
After exchanging farewells, I launched myself toward the sea. I shot diagonally into the sky like a rocket, then continuously pushed off against the air to accelerate further.
“We deploy as well. All prepared warships, set sail!”
The Western Continental commander issued the order to advance the moment I departed.
Flying through the sky, the Eastern Continent came into view before long.
Based on Bae Na-young’s personality, she would have headed straight for the heart of enemy territory.
I set my course toward the Imperial Capital and raced across the sky.
Though I was flying at considerable altitude, the weather was clear without a single cloud, so the ground below was plainly visible.
The Empire’s forces were positioned long and wide along the coastline.
That vast military presence testified to the Empire’s power. But.
Beyond the troops lay a small village that revealed the Empire’s true face.
The ground was cracked from drought, and corpses lay in the streets, yet no one paid them any attention.
If someone with abilities like Aqua existed, they could not only draw fresh water from this saltwater sea, but even create small rivers.
Even without that, with forces of that magnitude, the possibilities would be endless.
I couldn’t comprehend why the Empire would wage war while letting its own citizens die.
I saw a small child lying on its side facing what appeared to be a mother’s corpse, and I descended from the sky.
Boom!
The landing was louder than I’d anticipated. I’d need to practice better control of my strength.
“Is there anything else you wish to take from us?”
The Child remained motionless, only his eyes following me.
Though he appeared no older than an elementary school student, his tone was far too mature for his years. His voice, stripped of all emotion, carried the rasp of disuse—as if he hadn’t spoken in a long time.
“What?”
“We’ve already surrendered all our provisions to the Imperial Army. We have nothing left.”
“I’m not with the Imperial Army.”
“I see. Nothing changes. There is nothing here. Unless you desire this worthless life we have left?”
His words carried a directionless fury and accusation.
“How many people are here?”
“I’m not certain. There were two hundred before, but I don’t know how many have survived now.”
After hearing the Young Boy’s words, I pushed off the ground and took flight once more.
After flying for roughly five minutes, I spotted a Forest. Five minutes for me, but far too distant for villagers to reach for hunting.
But that wasn’t the only problem. In those mere five minutes, I discovered several more villages in similar dire circumstances.
“Damn it… this is endless…”
I sensed the life force throughout the Forest and located the largest creature.
In the Forest’s heart, I found an enormous bear. As it clawed at the trees, its paws reached ten meters high.
I drew my blade and severed its neck in one stroke.
Grasping the bear’s fur as blood poured forth, I launched myself skyward once more.
Boom!
I descended upon the nearest village.
The villagers seemed uncertain whether to fear me or the massive bear’s corpse more.
I sliced one of the bear’s legs with my sword. That alone weighed several hundred kilograms.
Used wisely, it would sustain them for quite some time.
Then I fired an Aura beam at the ground.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Crash!!!
The villagers covered their heads and collapsed to the earth, crying out weakly.
I continued firing Aura, decomposing the soil as I bored deeper.
Whoooosh
Water gushed forth from the hole I’d carved, striking the groundwater below.
I carried the remaining bear to another village and repeated the process.
Finally, I descended before the Young Boy I’d first encountered.
He stared at the bear in momentary shock, but his eyes quickly gleamed with hunger. Yet, seeing himself succumb to greed while his Mother lay dead filled him with revulsion, and his face twisted. His manner of speech—he was no ordinary child.
“Survive, if only for your Mother’s sake.”
“Who are you?”
“An enemy of the Empire.”
“Why do you help us?”
“I suppose… I simply couldn’t walk past this.”
“It means nothing. With this, we might survive a little longer. We’ll eat and gather strength to find more food—perhaps we’ll last weeks or months. But the moment the Imperial Army arrives and requisitions everything, it all ends.”
“Don’t worry. The war will end soon.”
I pushed off the ground and took flight.
As long as the Emperor lives, this war won’t end. So there’s only one thing to do.
I was already heading to the Imperial Capital to find Bae Na-young, so our paths aligned.
* * *
Bae Na-young and the Purple Goddess Church volunteer corps advanced toward the Imperial Capital with unstoppable momentum.
“Goddess! Imperial Army forces have been spotted ahead! A Master is with them, they say!”
Billy relayed the scout’s report to Bae Na-young.
“If we don’t deal with them, they’ll obstruct our path. We’ll strike before we’re attacked. I’ll go in first, so follow behind me.”
“It’s dangerous! We should go first.”
Bae Na-young always charged in first, but they always tried to stop her.
“Billy, you know how strong I am, right?”
“… I’ll follow right behind you.”
“You understand? We minimize unnecessary casualties among the enemy. But if our forces seem even slightly endangered….”
“I understand.”
Bae Na-young cast levitation magic and flew low to the ground.
The first magic I learned was flight magic, born from deep regret at having to watch Jae-in fall helplessly. Of course, magic wasn’t something one could master in mere days through sheer determination, but my understanding of magic had already transcended human limitations.
I descended gently from my low flight and walked forward.
When a woman approached alone, the Imperial Army initially didn’t show much caution.
“…It’s…. It’s the Purple Witch! Battle stations!!!”
A soldier recognized Bae Na-young. The Purple Goddess Church had already spread across the Eastern Continent, and the soldiers believed the dark reputation spread by Imperial Army officers.
They said she cursed humans to death and transformed them into undead servants. Moreover, those who died this way were bound in eternal servitude.
Soldiers stepped forward with spears and swords drawn.
From the rear, archers drew their bowstrings and prepared to cast magic.
However, purple mana rippled from Bae Na-young’s body like concentric circles spreading across water. The moment the mana touched the Imperial Army, every soldier who was about to attack collapsed into sleep.
“Fall back…. Retreat! Regular soldiers, fall back! Only knights and above remain in front! Where is the Master?!”
From the forest behind the soldiers fleeing in panic, the Alliance forces burst forth.
One reason Bae Na-young’s forces maintained their undefeated streak since landing on the Empire was this coordinated movement.
Bae Na-young applied mental interference to provide real-time combat information to all troops, making the unit move like a living organism.
Even the lowest-ranking soldiers received instructions in their minds about when and where to attack, allowing them to crush the enemy with maximum efficiency.
Of course, this was only possible because the Purple Goddess Church followers willingly permitted her to interfere with their minds.
“Those who wish to live, drop your weapons! Those who resist will all die!”
Though fewer in number, the beastmen and other races with superior basic abilities crashed like waves against the Imperial Army’s rear.
While Bae Na-young drew attention from the front, the Western Continental Alliance suddenly emerged from behind, and the Imperial soldiers fell without resistance.
“…We can’t…. win….”
A soldier dropped his spear and retreated backward.
Shing!
A massive halberd slashed across the throat of the retreating soldier.
“Those who flee will have their necks cut by me. Fight! For His Imperial Majesty!”
It was Jackson, one of the Empire’s Masters and known as the Butcher.
The Imperial soldiers faced a dilemma. Ahead lay the Western Continental Alliance, behind them stood Master Jackson, who killed his own men without hesitation. Jackson earned the epithet “Butcher” because of his notoriously vile temperament.
The Imperial soldiers’ dilemma was short-lived. They surrendered to the fear Jackson instilled and charged at the Western Continental Alliance.
“Push forward!”
Both armies collided in a test of raw strength.
However, with Bae Na-young single-handedly neutralizing nearly half of the Imperial Army, and the Western Continental Alliance moving with organic coordination through direct mental commands, they overwhelmed the Imperial forces with ease.
Jackson charged toward Bae Na-young, who advanced like a living nightmare. He understood that without capturing her, this battle could not be won.
“You witch! Today is your last! Priests!”
Multiple priests who had been casting healing spells on their allies layered blessings upon Jackson in rapid succession.
“The Butcher approaches!”
“Protect the Goddess!”
Dozens of soldiers, led by Billy, threw themselves in front of the charging Jackson to block his path—even though they knew full well they could not stop their master.
Seeing Jackson rush toward her, Bae Na-young withdrew the violet mana that had been dispersed widely, drawing it in like a black hole. Yet the Imperial soldiers already fallen remained unable to rise.
As Bae Na-young pointed her staff at Jackson, a torrent of mana—dozens of times denser than what had been spread before—engulfed him.
The priests’ protective barriers, layered thickly around Jackson, shattered like thin glass.
Though violet mana washed over him, Jackson felt nothing.
“Ha! Is that all?! Die, witch!”
Jackson brought his halberd down in a decisive arc aimed at cleaving Bae Na-young in two.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————