Transformed into Cosmic Horror in a Sci-Fi Universe – 57
EP.57 The Great Elf War
The Great Elf War. It was a name that perfectly encapsulated the magnitude of the conflict. It was a colossal war involving the ruler of the southern hemisphere, Muwan, and the alliance of Lasi, the representative of Lumolasi, and Rodri, the priest of the Holy Nation. The battle between these two forces lasted for a staggering five years.
Considering that their population was relatively small, numbering in the millions despite their vast territories, and that the number of warriors capable of fighting was just under 100,000, the war’s duration was remarkable. The reason was simple: the elves’ bodies were incredibly strong and resilient. Additionally, they possessed the power of spirits bestowed by Rios, allowing them to quickly recover from most wounds and continue fighting.
With both sides engaged in a war of attrition without actually depleting their forces, it was inevitable that the conflict would drag on.
“This won’t end at this rate.”
“Moreover, we are on an expedition. Although we are rotating our troops through supply lines due to our numerical advantage, there are limits to this approach.”
“Hmm…”
Muwan’s side was in a state of emergency. The longer the war dragged on, the more disadvantageous it became for them. Being on a distant expedition, they had to rely on supplies from their far-off main base. Initially, they managed through looting and hunting, but as the war extended, even that became difficult.
Naturally, the supply units were heavily guarded, but that also consumed manpower. They couldn’t continue like this indefinitely.
“If this goes on, we’ll eventually be worn out.”
“We need to break through, no matter what.”
Under the pressure from his officers, Muwan clicked his tongue. He knew it too. If they stayed like this, they would lose. But launching a full-scale frontal assault was also risky. While they had the numerical advantage, it was common knowledge that the besieging side needed more troops. Considering this, their advantage wasn’t overwhelming.
Their armament wasn’t significantly different either. Unlike at the beginning, the enemy had made substantial advancements in weaponry over the five years of conflict. Moreover, the Holy Nation’s Sacred Army, with their superior ability to wield the power of light spirits, made their armament even more formidable.
‘If only it were like when we first arrived…’
When the war first broke out, Muwan’s forces had a clear advantage. That was until Rodri’s Holy Nation intervened, using the power of light spirits to repel them. Even then, they still had the upper hand. But the sudden appearance of the Holy Nation’s reinforcements caused them to act cautiously, dragging the conflict out to this point.
‘Damn it… If only we had ignored them and pushed through when we first arrived.’
Had they done so, they would have suffered significant losses, but they would have likely secured victory. Their unnecessary caution had brought about this prolonged struggle.
“…Alright, we advance. All troops, advance and sweep them away. Before it’s too late.”
“Understood.”
“We obey your command, my lord.”
In the end, Muwan ordered the charge.
Muwan decided to take a gamble before it was too late. More precisely, he thought… ‘We’ve lost this time anyway. So, I’ll inflict as much damage as possible to delay their recovery, then return to prepare for the next battle.’
He planned to use the soldiers participating in this war as pawns, sacrificing them while he retreated to his homeland to prepare for the next conflict. If they won, that would be great; if not, inflicting significant damage on the enemy would force them to spend time and resources on recovery.
‘Soldiers can be replenished. Weapons can be remade.’
To Muwan, soldiers were mere expendables, like bullets in his gun. Once they served their purpose, they were discarded. Even in discarding them, he aimed to maximize their utility.
Thus, the next night, Muwan’s army launched their assault.
“Uwaaaaaa!”
“Kill! Kill them all!”
Bang! Bang!
Shuuuu—Boom!
Predictably, Muwan’s army began to falter. Despite their numbers, their armament was now on par with the enemy, and the Holy Nation’s Sacred Army was present on the opposing side. The power to wield light spirits was a significant advantage for the enemy.
“There is no retreat! Just break through! If we break through, we can win!”
“Uwaaaaaa!”
Despite this, they did not stop their charge. They appeared fearless in the face of death. And that was accurate.
Muwan’s soldiers charged relentlessly, as if they had no fear of death. They were driven by the belief that breaking through was their only path to victory, even if it meant sacrificing themselves.
At that moment, they did not fear death. Euphoria, numbness to fear, and excitement coursed through them. This was due to the extract of the ‘Aslo Fruit,’ known for its potent effects, which Muwan had secretly mixed into their meals to ensure they wouldn’t retreat even if the battle turned unfavorable.
“Heh heh, yes. Fight like that. Die gloriously as my stepping stones.”
Watching this, Muwan began to slowly retreat, aiming to escape the battlefield.
“Hahaha! We will be victorious!”
“Charge! Charge! Chaaaaarge!”
The soldiers and officers, intoxicated by the Aslo Fruit extract, did not notice Muwan and a few high-ranking officers slipping away. They enthusiastically charged towards their deaths.
“What, what are these crazy bastards!”
“This is… could it be…!”
However, Lasi, understanding the current situation, quickly realized that the soldiers were in a frenzied state due to the Aslo Fruit extract.
“Priest Rodri! Use the power of the light spirits to dispel their drug-induced state!”
“Hmm? Drug-induced state? Understood.”
Although Rodri didn’t fully grasp Lasi’s instructions, he trusted her judgment, which had never been wrong. Rodri summoned the highest-ranking light spirit and spread a vast power of light across the battlefield.
“Purify everything. Oh, spirit of light!”
Fwaaaah─!
“…Huh?”
“Wha-what?”
The purifying light dispelled the effects of the Aslo Fruit extract from Muwan’s army. With the effects gone, they could now calmly assess their surroundings. They realized they had been recklessly charging towards certain death.
And then, another realization struck.
“He’s gone. Lord Muwan is gone.”
“What… he made us charge and then ran away?”
“He even drugged us so we couldn’t tell what was happening.”
The soldiers, realizing what Muwan had done to them and that he had fled, were left in a state of shock. A commander who drugged his troops and sent them to their deaths while he escaped—such a despicable elf being hailed as a conqueror now seemed utterly foolish.
“We surrender.”
“…We surrender. Please spare our lives.”
Naturally, they all surrendered, and thus, the Great Elf War, which had lasted for five years, came to an unexpectedly anticlimactic end.
“The soldiers are doing well, right?”
“Don’t worry. The effects of the Aslo Fruit last quite a while.”
Muwan, grinning as he led his soldiers to their doom, was a pitiful sight. Yet, he rationalized it as a necessary step to achieve his ambitions.
‘Yes, this was unavoidable. The soldiers would be happy to die as stepping stones for a conqueror like me.’
With such thoughts, Muwan continued his march. Just a bit further, and he would reach the dock where the supply unit’s ship awaited.
But then…
[You despicable scum.]
“…?! What, what is this?”
Suddenly, a voice directly echoed in the minds of Muwan and his high-ranking officers. This sensation was familiar.
‘Rios, the god…?’
The voice of Rios, the god of elves and light spirits, was unmistakable. It was the same voice that had granted them knowledge and power.
‘Has he come to aid me?’
Initially, Muwan thought so. In his arrogance, he believed that the god had come to save him from this humiliating defeat and retreat. But, of course, that was not the case.
[I tolerated the war among kin. But this… this crosses the line. How dare you abandon your loyal followers and flee alone? The war you started, the soldiers who risked their lives for you?!]
“Argh?!”
At Rios’s rebuke, Muwan and his high-ranking officers felt an excruciating headache, causing them to collapse on the spot. The pain was as if their heads were about to split open. Muwan, in disbelief, questioned Rios.
“Why… why are you doing this? Am I not your servant? I’m only acting to fulfill my ambitions. What’s wrong with that…! Is it because they have a priest? Are gods supposed to play favorites?”
Crackle!
Despite overcoming the headache and growling in defiance, all he received was even greater pain.
“Aaaaargh…!”
[You have crossed the line. Your existence is no longer necessary. You are a detriment to the future of the elves.]
“…What?”
Muwan tried to ask what he meant, but he couldn’t. Because right after hearing that voice…
Pop!
His head exploded, and he died instantly. Muwan, the conqueror who ruled the southern hemisphere of the elf planet and harbored ambitions to dominate the entire world, met a lonely and unremarkable death in a quiet forest, known to no one.