Overlord - The Lizardmen Heroes - Куганэ Маруяма (читать книги без txt) 📗
The most numerous kind of skeleton wore elaborate breastplates. In one hand they held triangular-shaped shields, kite shields, and in the other hand they held all sorts of weapons. They even carried quivers and compound bows on their backs. These were skeletons which were equipped to be both offensive and defensive, with capabilities to fight at both long and short distances.
Next were helmeted skeletons which wore identical breastplates, draped in tattered red cloaks, holding bucklers and bastard swords.
Finally, and the fewest in number, were the skeletons which were fully equipped. They wore beautiful shining golden full body armour, and held lustrous spears in their hands. Their dazzling fresh red cloaks had not a speck of dirt on them.
Zaryusu observed this much, and discovered a particular fact. He couldn’t help but doubt if he had seen incorrectly, and rubbed his eyes several times. However that remained a reality.
“Eh… that can’t be…”
“H-How is that possible…”
At the same time as Crusch’s exclamation, Zaryusu who had discovered the same fact involuntarily spoke out in a pained low voice. This time, Zenberu replied:
“... Oh, you realised it too.”
Zenberu’s voice was also extremely pained.
“Mmm…”
Zaryusu was done with speaking, and remained silent. He did not wish to speak, because once words came out, he would be terrified. Yet it was impossible to remain silent:
“... Their weapons seemed to be magic equipment.”
Crusch by his side nodded solemnly.
All of the various equipment on the skeleton army carried magic power. Some of the skeletons carried flaming swords, some held blue electricity hammers, and some skeletons even held spears with tips coated in a green light, or had sickles coated in a viscous purple liquid.
“Looks like that is not it. You two should also look closely at the armours and shields. Those… are also magic defensive equipment.”
Hearing Zenberu utter these words, Zaryusu immediately looked closely.
Following this he even more involuntarily let out a groan. This was because Zaryusu discovered that those shining armour and shields looked simply like they were naturally luminescent, and not at all like if the light given off was from the reflection of sunlight.
Just what kind of authority could enable such numerous skeleton soldiers to all be equipped with magic items? If it were simply magic weapons which had heightened sharpness, Zaryusu had heard it was possible for large countries to achieve this amount over a long period of planning and accumulation. However, to enable each magic weapon to have attribute — furthermore to have quite a large variety of effects — was a completely different matter altogether.
Zaryusu thought of the dwarves which Zenberu had mentioned a few days ago.
Dwarves were a mountainous race which excelled in metalworking. During feasts, those dwarves would often talk about the legend of a particular hero— the King who established the great Kingdom of Dwarves, the hero who wore shining metal armour and solo defeated a dragon, then becoming one of the thirteen heroes, ‘Magic Engineer’. Even within the legends told by the dwarves, there were no stories which told of this kind of magnitude of magic equipment preparation — for a legion exceeding over five thousand units.
Then, what was the scene before Zaryusu?
“... Is that an army from the myths?”
If this was not a story from mankind, then it must be a scenario from a mythical story.
Zaryusu’s entire body was trembling. Because he realised that this exceeded his predictions, and they were facing an enemy which absolutely should not be provoked.
However, from the very start, he himself had gathered everybody here whilst carrying on his conscience the fact that they could all be wiped out. How could he, who had started this outrageous battle, be afraid? He had already figured out that the opponent was a powerful enemy which exceeded their imagination. The importance was on what to do now.
“Impossible. That must be an illusion.”
All of the people at the scene who heard these words shortly displayed an expression that spoke “what kind of nonsense are you spewing.” The opponent was indeed silent and immobile, but their existence was plainly clear. They even gave off an atmosphere which caused people to tremble, therefore they could not be a simple illusion.
However, these words would cause confusion, which was why the one who broke the silence was the tribe chief of the Small Fang Tribe. He absolutely could not have gone deranged, which was why he spoke these words.
“What basis do you have for such an assertion?”
Towards Zaryusu’s question, the Small Fang Tribe chief confidently answered:
“We have taken turns in sending out scouts, yet nobody has seen that kind of undead before. With a number such as that, there is no way they could have remained undiscovered. Of course, all of the scouts who were sent out have returned safely.”
“So that is why… however, I don’t think that is an illusion.”
“... But then… no, perhaps it is not an illusion. If it is not an illusion, we can imagine that an underground tunnel was used for their transport. If there is such an underground passage, it could explain why they were not discovered before their arrival.”
“... It does not matter whether they used a tunnel to get here, or whether they flew through the skies. What should we do now? Although they look as if they have no intention of starting the fight, it still feels like they are not here to negotiate.”
“It does seem that way… however, think about the previous situation. I feel that the opponent will initiate some sort of action…”
Zaryusu stared at the skeleton army.
He was looking for the commander amongst the enemy— at this moment, a chilly wind rises. It didn’t stop and continued to blow.
Such a strange and sudden freezing wind could not be a natural phenomenon. It must be created by magic.
“Wind? Eh… that can’t be! This must be another kind of magic… how is this possible…”
Crusch held herself and trembled. The reason for that did not appear to be because she felt cold, therefore Zaryusu asked:
“Crusch, what is the matter with this cold wind…”
“... Perhaps you will have no way of believing this, but hear me out Zaryusu. I originally thought that the climate change in the past was created through magic of the 4th tier, ‘Cloud Control’, but I was wrong. Although ‘Cloud Control’ is able to control clouds, it is unable to generate these kinds of cold wind. Which is why… this is not simply the control of clouds, but actually causing changes in the weather and meteorology. That means, I believe that the opponent has been activating 6th tier magic… ‘Weather Control’.”
However, that kind of magic belonged to a realm that was beyond her capabilities, which was why she lacked self-confidence— Crusch explained this to Zaryusu in a low voice, such that none else could listen in.
Zaryusu knew how shocking it was to have magic in the realm of the 6th tier. That kind of magic was in a realm which could not even be attained his most powerful adversary to date, Iguvua. It was also believed to be the highest tier of magic in this world.
“Is this… the strength of the Supreme One? So that’s how it is… then it makes sense…”
If 6th tier magic could be used, then being hailed as ‘Supreme One’ was no overstatement.
“Hey, hey, hey, it seems that everyone is anything at all but reassured.”
Zenberu’s complaint accurately pointed out the atmosphere in the surroundings.
Cold wind which could not possibly appear at this moment— meant that this was an unnatural change in the environment. This caused the lizardmen’s morale to plummet to the lowest levels.
