Dungeon of Niflheim

479 Chapter 479: The frontline troops

“......You think an upper B-rank will come.” The moment Hamon uttered those words an eery silence filled the room and cold sweat started to accumulate down everyone’s necks.

Upper B-rank monsters were something none of them could contend against, even Hamon would only be able to at best survive for a time. Everyone else would be swatted like flies given the difference in strength. Just like how Frost and the other Majors could easily cull scores of C-rank monsters an upper B-rank monster could do the same to them.

Individually monsters are always stronger than sapients of the same rank and unless one was a very rare talent and or equipped with armour, weaponry and skills beyond their means they would lose 10 times out of 10. A monster’s rank was equivalent to a party of sapients and only by working together would they be able to go against the monster’s superior physical traits, size, mana pool and tenacity.

An upper B-rank monster would generally need a group of similarly strong sapients armed to the teeth to be taken down effectively as when one rises to such levels of power numbers tend to become a pointless endeavour. Such a monster could literally steam roll forward and blow apart the northern wall and there’d be very little they could do about it. The only option would be to send their strongest fighters to forestall its advance.

If they wanted to take down such a monster, Hamon, Ryuu, Halgrave, Maggie and likely another two or three of the stronger Major level fighters would be required and not all of them would return. Unfortunately, such an endeavour would be impossible as there would be more than just an upper B-rank monster to deal with.

“.... Yes, given the current trend it’s highly plausible for an upper B-rank to arrive as well as more mid B-ranks. In my opinion this frost monarch is but the first of the stampede’s truly heavy hitters as from Frost’s intel there’s also that frost giant Valend who is yet to arrive.” Ryuu responded with a serious expression.

“Hamon you are our strongest trump card and the only one who could possibly contend against such a monster so we can’t have you risk yourself any further..... Leave the frost monarch to Jessie and I.” Ryuu thumped his chest and revealed a fierce will through his gaze that caused Hamon to be momentarily stunned.

“Haaaaaaaa fine, the frost monarch will be left to you and Jessie however if it’s too much I’ll...”

“That won’t be necessary.” Ryuu cut Hamon off. “We’ll get it done regardless of the cost.” Ryuu was determined to do his part even if it meant overextending himself. His daughter was behind the shelter that was the northern wall and he’d die before letting the stampede reach her.

.....

Jessie who was standing by Ryuu’s side looked towards him in shock before sighing and showing a complicated expression in her eyes. She then also thumped her chest displaying her determination. The mage commanders would take care of the magically inclined frost monarch.

With the most pressing match up resolved, Hamon proceeded to match up the remaining B-rank monsters and Major level fighters. Frost surprisingly was given a rather important role, he was assigned to take out the eldest rindar, a monster that normally would be beyond his capabilities given how green he was into B-rank but thanks to its extensive injuries they should be rather evenly matched. Plus given the hatred it still held towards him drawing the rindar out shouldn’t be that difficult.

A meeting that started with a heavy pall of dread was now filled with fire and determination, everyone in the room was ready to risk all they had against the enemy.

Once the meeting was brought to a close all the officers made way for the food court with powerful steps. The very best food with the very best effects was prepared, energising the officers and generating a war induced pressure around them. The regular soldiers and the citizens who were just notified about the emergency sheltering couldn’t stop their hearts from lurching at the sight and a single word rang in their minds over and over with resounding booms, WAR!

Clang! Clang!

Sizzle! Sizzle!

The citizens orderly made for the emergency shelters with complicated expressions, doing their best to remain calm while those who still needed to be present such as the smiths and chefs put all they had into their craft. Fires roared as high-quality food was cooked in giant woks and pots without end, filling up each and every soldier’s belly so as to provide them with strength for what was about to come.

It was these men and women that would endure in the next few waves. The frost monarch being an intelligent commander with an eye for patience would continue to send swarm after swarm of replenishable chaff to eat away at them piece by piece until the mighty frontline was nothing more than a fractured mess.

They knew it, the chefs and smiths knew it and the monsters certainly knew it but nevertheless these men and women ate with gusto and sported fierce expressions as they willingly prepared for such an eventuality. Whether they last until reinforcements arrived was not dependent on the efforts of their upper ranked elites but primarily on them. As long as they stood strong the B-rank monsters would be wary to attack and time would drag on.

Weapons, armour, ammunition as well as anything else that could help increase their strength was given freely. Several hours later the war horns sounded once again, and the men and women of the frontline grabbed their gear and made their way through the gate and stood in front of the northern wall.

Fierce and determined expressions could be seen on the faces of each and every man and woman standing there. They stood ramrod straight in a devasting formation that screamed war and a thick pseudo aura coagulated around them as their wills united and their bloodlust took form.

The frontline though lower in numbers than earlier looked far more powerful and not just because of this almost palpable bloodlust that struck fear into the hearts of the lesser monsters gradually charging from behind the treeline but because of their equipment. Each and every person on the frontline had their primary weapons repaired or replaced, granted secondary and in some cases even tertiary weapons as well as had most of their armour replaced with dense heavy metal that abandoned speed for endurance. Like the shell of a turtle, they would withstand the onslaughts and protect what lay inside.

“Tsk!” The frost monarch who saw the newly outfitted line-up from within the trees clicked his tongue in annoyance, this would make his chipping away at the chaff much more difficult and time consuming. A couple of his direct subordinates even reported that they could see magic devices on some of the soldiers that weakened magic. Seemed they prepared for any untoward magic attacks.

The frost monarch didn’t expect Furano to still have such reserves but, in the end, this was a good thing, the town was likely pulling out all the stops in a last-ditch effort. He relaxed into his ice formed throne and ordered the replenishable chaff to charge like before, his tactics not changing in the slightest.

For three hours the endless horde charged out from behind the treeline and sunk their teeth into Furano’s frontline infantry. The turtle shell held strong for the most part but in the last hour cracks appeared due to repeated damage and exhaustion.

By the time the drums beat the losses stood at 112. Not as bad as the dawn wave but still painful.

The exact same happened during the next wave that occurred less than 3 hours later. The monster horde repeatedly smashed against the defences of the frontline with reckless abandon.

200 died, a number that was hard to ignore when they lined up once again for the following wave.

The frost monarch who was starting to get antsy revealed an insidious smile as he leaned forward on his throne.

“Not much longer now hahahahahaha.” He laughed evilly with a glint in his eyes. The B-rank monsters who had been remanded to the forest couldn’t help but shiver in anticipation. The strong smell of blood and the war fervour in the air was hard to resist but finally it seemed as though they would once again be able to take to the stage.

“When is Valend due to arrive?” The frost monarch asked one of his direct subordinates after rising to his feet. He stood several metres tall and had a body made of ice. He looked like a very heavily armoured knight.

“He is set to arrive in the early hours of tomorrow, Lord Frostine.”

“Good, good we’ll soften them up some more tonight and deal the final blow to their frontline at dawn tomorrow hehehehehe.” Lord Frostine chuckled as he walked forward, finally going to reveal himself to his enemy.

The fourth wave of the day was underway and the losses from the previous waves forced Frost and the elites on the ground to be stretched thin as they filled the gaps.

Hamon and Douglas stood on top of the wall with deep frowns running the numbers in their heads over and over again, never getting a positive result.

“Hamon look” Suddenly Douglas spoke and pointed towards the treeline.

“So, he’s finally decided to openly relish in his achievements.” Hamon’s fists clenched hard as Lord Frostine made his entrance, standing tall with a smirk on his face as the other B-ranks revealed themselves.

“Seems the next phase will begin soon.... Jessie are you ready?”