The flames that swallowed the monsters whole and slightly charred the eastern walls of the county finally de-escalated after a few minutes. The troops who cautiously took covers from the impact of force's brunt gradually went out to check out the remnants of the combustion. Of course, they were expecting to witness some piles of carcasses of monsters turning into dust. But they were busted! No carcasses at all. What they saw made them doubt whether or not their eyes were naughtily playing tricks on them.

  They espied nothing but some strands of mounded flesh fidgeting and thronging into a single gigantic lump. It appeared as though all the burned bodies of the hundred monsters became glued together forming into one dark colossal organism. It was a creature that only a few of them were familiar with. Blood-red body, abnormally tall stature, four protruding antlers in the head, long sharp claws, ominous wings, overbite fangs illuminating in the flames, and pointed nose — it was a red giant minotaur. Traces of burned parts were still apparent on its lower body. Its height was enough to overshadow the walls, allowing it to oversee everything inside the county's territory. In other words, it was an embodiment of disaster.

  This new organism in front of everybody did not just bother them; it even made some of them wet on their pants in fear. The devilish energy exuding from its body was deadly enough that some temple maidens wailed and ran away in panic. And same went on the side of the foot soldiers who were also drawing the remainder of their strength trying to distance away from it. The only ones who remained sanely calm and composed were the three heads of the Orders who tried to take a hold of their raging emotions just to manage the sudden worsening of the situation.

  "U-Unbelievable…!!!"

  "L-Lord Ruthven, I understand your feeling but we're in no position to be overwhelmed at this time of the battle. Otherwise, we'd all be annihilated!"

  "Y-You're right… That's right…" Ruthven muttered in disbelief and shock. "I-I just never thought there'd come a time in my life that I'd witness such a C-rank fire-breathing minotaur…which can potential destroy a city if left unrestrained!"

  "It's now moving! We should brace ourselves…! Lord Ruthven, give your orders! We should keep that thing busy or else it might enter the county!"

  "Y-Yes. That's right… I almost forgot. I'm the commander here, and I'm tasked to protect this county no matter what happens!" His expression, though clearly terrified a few moments ago, suddenly changed. It looked as though he was possessed by some other spirit inside all out of the blue. The usual cowardice completely disappeared. "E-Everyone…! Prepare your positions for assault! We cannot let this thing get past us. Not in our dead bodies! Remember our pledge to this very land! The three Orders have only one mandate and that's to protect this county even if it costs us our lives!"

  """"Raahhhh!!!!""""

  His marvelous speech inspired the broken spirits of the troops. They were ready to offer their lives for the peace and preservation of this county again, just as what their ancestors had sworn before the first generation of the Meinsfield noble family.

  "Alright, all the temple maidens and acolytes, cure the wounded. And those who can fight, follow the lead of Lord Ruthven!" Medici shook his head to cast away the fear and started giving orders to those under him. "Though almost impossible, our mission here is to save everybody. Understand?"

  """"Yes! Leave it to us!""""

  Only some temple maidens and acolytes started running at the lying soldiers to extend their assistance, as others were immobile in fear. They began their healing even though the red gigantic minotaur had just started moving towards them with its threatening gesture and physique. Though terrified, they tried their very best to ignore it at all, as they knew that the other uninjured members of the troops were also preparing to do something about it. Medici, though a full-time priest at the temple, had also been a vaunted martial artist. His only skill named "Ultra Recovery" was exclusively inclined for healing, so he tried his best to reinforce his weaker sides by learning how to fight in the battlefield using some martial arts. He wanted to participate in the fight, however…

  "Father Medici, I know what you're thinking. You're planning to join in the fight, aren't you? Please don't trouble yourself with it. Just leave it to us." Ruthven drew out his aberrantly heavy, rectangular sword. "All of you who are still able to fight, follow me! Let us teach this monster a good lesson…!"

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  """Raahhhh!"""

  "Then, I, Edward, the new leader of the Order of the Peacemaker, shall join this fight! I've promised to Lady Clea that I'd give up my life for this land!"

  "Then, both of us, let's get this over with! I hope you're as efficient as your old man."

  "I can't say for sure, but I've trained my ass in the last few months just to be at least this strong, you know?"

  Father Medici and Ruthven, based on the Alexandrian Threat System, could be classified as D-ranked in strength. On the other hand, the young Edward, though able to put a fight somehow, was not really great in the intricacies of intense fighting, was F-ranked just like any other human being inclined in doing physical activities. He learned how to hold a sword a few months ago, so he was or less able to survive in this plight. But with the appearance of this hideous monster, which looked nothing but an embodiment of violence, he knew that there was nothing he could do. And even if he did something along the way, he knew it would not mean much.

  While they were very much preoccupied on the preparations, the giant minotaur swiftly swayed its bulging arm to the walls. As a result, the walls crumbled down to tiny bricks that further injured some of the men. It was only in a split second and 5 people had already died. The smashed fleshes should have had unnerving effects on the whole troops, but their resolve was unbelievably stern and resolute. Rather than running away, they began their retorting assaults. Some activated their skills and fired water balls, fire balls, lightning strikes, and even heavy rocks to it. Nevertheless, no matter how many wounds this abomination incurred on its body, its superb regenerative ability was too fast that it did not even leave a single scratch. It was at this moment that dawned to them — their lives were done for. There was no way they could subdue, much more kill this overpowered existence.

  "N-Not a bad life at all… I guess this is the end for us…"

  "Yeah… The moment I set my foot on the battleground, I knew I was done for…"

  "You two, it's fine… We'd rendered our service to the county. Everything's well paid…"

  "Pfft. No worries! My wife's gonna be okay on her own. After all, she's hot. She can remarry anytime she wants…"

  "Ooh, exactly! That's what I've been thinking…!"

  The last stand of hope that each of them held adamantly had just been severed. But rather than fretting themselves out, they were in a much calmer state. Maybe due to the fact that they accepted it all with open arms. Or they had been miserably filled with the thought that even if they struggled and exhausted everything with all their might, no fruit would still ever be borne in the end. Grossly futile. They decided to make their deaths as painless as they could.

  "What…? Is this really it? What kind of commander I am if I just let this thing go and run amok inside? After 25 years of service, is this really the end for me…? Father, mother, gramps… have I fulfilled my role adequately? You see… I don't like to hear your annoying complaints when I see you on the other side… In the end, I've successfully thrown my cowardice aside…"

  Ruthven engaged the minotaur in a on-on-one fight. He used his broad sword to prevent the heavy strikes of its claws from reaching the weak soldiers.

  He continued to cover for them in a few minutes while they prepared for a concerted assault. As he relentlessly received the tough and weakening strikes, Ruthven's thoughts were filled with countless memories from the past. Those of which he never really wanted to think about. The image of his strict grandfather, his obnoxious mother who always yelled at his face every minute, and his service-maniac father, flashed before his eyes.

  While all members of the troops, Ruthven included, were contemplating on very important issues that they'd be leaving behind in this world, the green Edward was in deep regret for being unable to enjoy his springtime days. Contrary to public opinion that his father always seemed to have a hard time dealing with him, he was actually an upright man, only that he didn't like the traditional and "old school" thinking that many people around him always adhered to. That included his father's. Thus, he was oftentimes interpreted as a bohemian and outlier by many.

  'Phew…! It's over for us… No. H-Hold on, does this mean that I'd just ridiculously die a virgin? That's terrible! O Great God Alexander, is this a kind of divine joke…? At least give me more years to find some mature, stacked woman with big ass and thighs! Seriously….!? This isn't funny at all…!'