The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley”

Chapter 449: The Devil King’s Army’s Advance

“”OOOHHHHHH!!!!””

Following Asley’s signal for the battle’s commencement, humanity roared.

“”GAAAHHHHHH!!!!””

And before everyone’s eyes, a roar of a hundred million monsters echoed — a sound that would remain forever etched in their memories.

Yet, right here and now, no one retreated. The battle here today was one to secure a lifetime, and everyone knew that. That was precisely why no one backed down.

“LET’S GO!!”

Bruce began to sprint.

Right now, he was not the world’s greatest special forces captain nor the Silver Special Forces Captain.

He was Asley’s best friend — the Bruce everyone knew and loved, simply rushing into danger as he always did.

Each member of the main force activated their physical enhancement abilities, and from the rear center, numerous support spells reached the main force.

“Trample them.”

With Lucifer’s signal, countless monsters — goblins, orcs, ogres, Alphas, Betas, and Cleath’s summoned lesser Devilkin all began to charge.

Bruce’s expression remained unchanged even in the face of this ground-shaking march. The faces of those following him — Blazer, Betty, Haruhana, Ryan, Argent — also were unaffected.

This was because they believed in Bruce, who believed in Asley, and vice versa.

Asley, floating in the sky, placed his staff on the Magic Table, and then he began drawing more Spell Circles.

The Black Emperor Warren had said this to him: Upon the battle’s commencement, he was only allowed to act once.

After all, any other action would be obstructed by Lucifer. This decision was based on the fact that Lucifer had such intentions.

And so, Asley, with the determination to support Bruce and the others who believed in him at all costs, chose the most potent magic he could wield.

“Rise, A-rise, A-rise! Gate Eater: Count 12!”

Pitch-black threads of magic weaved past the main force like needles through fabric.

The size of the Gate Eaters, heading in twelve directions, far exceeded its previous iteration. On the balcony of Regalia Castle, Billy, Cleath, and Idïa were struck wide-eyed by the colossal magic accompanying the main force’s spear formation.

“What… is that…!?”

“It’s the same magic that we use…? No, it’s a darkness beyond that…!”

“One arrow… became thirteen!”

While the three were astonished, Lucifer merely watched with delight.

“Fascinating. And… there is still one more.”

Lucifer focused on the space where Asley was.

Apart from the twelve spells invoked by Asley’s hands and eyes, there was another spell circle.

“”What!?””

The three Devilkin were shocked by the presence of that thirteenth spell.

“Ah, the staff…”

Lucifer immediately saw through the technique.

Hearing his words, Billy realized something.

“…! A staff, when released from the caster’s hand, is not supposed to contain any arcane energy. However, by using the magic table, that energy can be supplied… He must have pre-released his arcane energy, then drew a three-dimensional Spell Circle with that staff…! And he did it for such a complicated spell while his hands were occupied…!?”

Billy was left speechless.

“Hehehe… Even with all my might, I might not be able to rival his magic invocation technique.”

“”…!?””

Lucifer admitted that Asley surpassed him in certain aspects — It was an abnormality clearly evident to the Devilkin camp. Still, that was what Lucifer had just said.

Billy, Cleath, and Idïa, along with their astonishment towards Asley, now feared Lucifer, their Devil King, even more.

After all, what he had just said was proof that even Devil King Lucifer acknowledged Asley, the Eternal Fool, as a genuine adversary.

[[…They both are impossibly powerful.]]

While feeling fear toward Asley and a sense of reliance on Lucifer, the underlying fear persisted.

Their allies wriggling down below were disappearing before their eyes, swallowed by Asley’s Gate Eaters as they flew ahead of Bruce’s advancing force.

Before long, the remaining group of monsters and Bruce’s main force were close to clashing.

It was at this moment that Asley’s thirteenth spell came into effect.

“Rise… Point Lock! Code: Monster!”

The targets were the monsters closing in on Bruce’s main force. It was a powerful control spell — hit by that, the monsters came to a halt.

“”OOOHHHHHH!!!!””

Facing Bruce and his group, the monsters then moved uniformly, coerced by the effect of Asley’s magic.

Bruce and the others continued their charge exactly as Asley had instructed — straight ahead, plunging into the fray.

“SHAAAAAAAAA!!”

Bruce and his companions overcame the initial collision by mowing down, blowing away, slicing, and crushing the frozen monsters.

As if to dispel the images Bruce had witnessed the night before, Asley’s support was unprecedented, helping everyone, especially Bruce.

The most critical point in the war was this collision. If swallowed by the enemy army here, the main force would suffer devastating damage. On the other hand, once they managed to plunge deep into the Devil King’s army, they would become a potent poison for their enemy.

Watching from the center, Warren the Black Emperor exclaimed in admiration,

“Excellent… Truly an excellent opening move, Asley!”

Asley, his sweat glistening in the air, had accomplished this feat.

The credit went not just to Asley’s abilities but also to the comrades who trusted him.

Everyone had charged at the Devil King’s army without hesitation, an achievement that could not have been achieved overnight.

If either strength or trust were lacking, this reality would not have unfolded. This was truly another one of Asley’s footprints unto this world.

“Hey, I’m not slacking off over here, either! C’mon! Giving Magic! Magic Shift!”

Tūs, situated at the center, laid two large Spell Circles beneath him.

Giving Magic restored diminished MP, while Magic Shift allowed others to use Tūs’ arcane energy. By doing this, they prevented the overall depletion of arcane energy. 

Naturally, every mage had their own Circle of Giving Magic beneath them.

It was the case everywhere — the left and right flanks, as well as the central front and rear.

“Here we go…”

Lylia, mounted on Weldhun the Crimson King Ox, whispered as she drew both Giorno’s sword and her own.

Leading the Five Sacred Beasts, she assumed responsibility for all the army’s maneuvers.

“All we need to do is make sure things happen the way you want them to, Lylia. And what I can do to help with that… is charge ahead!”

The remaining four Heavenly Beasts responded to Weldhun’s fervor:

“Now, let’s rip them apart,” Kokki said.

“All the monsters have gathered here. Isn’t it a good opportunity? Let’s destroy them in one fell swoop!” Kohryu declared.

“This battlefield… Now this is a place worthy of gambling our lives in…!” Haiko affirmed.

“We’ve prepared for this. Now, all that’s left is to do it,” Shishichou, said.

Then, Lylia — as the fighter who had overcome thousands and thousands of battles — let out a resounding cry,

“KILL–“

“”–EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!!!!””

It was the ultimate intent to kill, declared simultaneously by Lylia and the five Sacred Beasts without signaling one another.

As Weldhun began to charge, all the Beasts started running, following Lylia the Fighter into battle.

Watching this, Lucifer spoke while keeping his eyes on Lylia.

“Lloyd.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Immediately responding, Leon shivered under Lucifer’s cold gaze.

“Fight her.”

Lucifer said, pointing at Lylia.

“Yes.”

Among those present, Leon was the only one capable of facing Lylia head-on.

Moreover, dodging the attacks of the other Heavenly Beasts while fighting Lylia would be even more challenging.

It could be said that Lucifer was publicly acknowledging Leon’s talent. As such, Cleath looked on with frustration.

Leon used Levitation and headed toward Lylia.

Cleath, looking at him go, seemed to realize something. He chuckled, and Billy caught on to that.

[Ah… he sees the possibility of Leon dying at the hands of Lylia. Does he believe he can monopolize Lady Idïa’s attention by doing so? Hmph, truly an irredeemable fool. To think one could survive this battlefield today without any thought is so ridiculous… Besides, this applies to Lady Idïa as well.]

Lucifer, seemingly seeing through even Billy’s calculations, lifted the corner of his mouth ever so slightly.

He then issued instructions to Billy,

“Billy, to the left. Finish what you started — bury the Rat’s disciples on their right flank…”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Cleath, to the right. Rip apart their left-flank’s Duodecad misfits.”

“Yes, my lord!”

They both nodded slightly at Lucifer, then immediately disappeared from view.

Idïa, the last remaining, turned to Lucifer.

“What of me?”

“Use this.”

Lucifer flicked open his gray mantle, revealing a Spell Circle on his back to Idïa.

“What did you…!?”

“It will be over soon. And once it is done, join up with Leon and deliver the finishing blow to Lylia.”

In response to his instructions, Idïa showed Lucifer an unsettling smile.

“Yes, my lord.”

Like the three before her, Idïa bowed and vanished into the Spell Circle.

The only one left in this place was Lucifer. One man kept glaring at Lucifer incessantly.

“Hurry up and come. I will put an end to this, Asley.”

Lucifer, gleefully watching Asley gradually approach from the sky, looked forward to the clash between the Devil King and the Fool — a clash that was just moments away.

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