The afterglow of the setting sun dappled upon the Lifaus Plains, dyeing the entire Flugel's Tree a golden hue. After several hours of trekking, Natsuki Subaru's party had finally arrived at this decisive battleground.
"All units, assemble! Rendezvous with the advance force!"
Crusch's voice echoed across the plains. The subjugation party quickly merged with the pre-deployed advance force and began to orderly conduct final pre-battle preparations: weapon checks, supply inventories, and final tactical confirmations. According to the intelligence provided by Natsuki Subaru, the White Whale would appear after nightfall.
Natsuki Subaru, having just finished the strategy meeting, was now standing beneath the legendary giant tree.
"This is too exaggerated... This Flugel's Tree is at least 200 meters tall, equivalent to a 70-story building in my previous life. Standing below and looking up, it's just like looking at a skyscraper."
Natsuki Subaru tilted his head back to gaze at the towering Flugel's Tree and couldn't help but sigh in admiration. The massive trunk would require dozens of people to encircle, and its winding roots were coiled on the ground like giant dragons. As a landmark of the Kingdom of Lugnica, this towering ancient tree on the Lifaus Highway played a key role in the original story. It was precisely by blowing up its roots and causing the giant tree to fall and heavily injure the White Whale that an opportunity for Wilhelm's fatal blow was created. It could be said that without this giant tree, the White Whale subjugation in the original work would have been difficult to succeed.
"You seem to be in a good mood."
Crusch's voice came from behind. Today, she had changed into a set of light, silver-grey battle armor. Her long, jade-green hair glowed with a soft halo in the sunset, and the sheath of the sword at her waist was engraved with the Karsten family's lion crest.
"Miss Crusch." Natsuki Subaru retracted his upward gaze and said with a smile, "I just find this tree unbelievably magnificent. Standing before it, humanity seems so small."
"It is indeed breathtaking." Crusch's emerald eyes reflected the silhouette of the treetop as she said softly, "It is said that this Flugel's Tree has been growing for over five hundred years, witnessing countless historical changes."
"Five hundred years, huh..." Natsuki Subaru stroked his chin thoughtfully. "That's even older than the history of the Kingdom of Lugnica. Speaking of which, in my hometown, people would worship such ancient trees as gods."
"Oh?" Crusch tilted her head slightly, a strand of her jade-green hair blown to her lips by the wind, which she gently brushed aside. "Your hometown has such a tradition? This is the first I've heard of it."
"Yes," Natsuki Subaru nodded, his gaze returning to the mottled bark of the ancient tree. "People believe that ancient trees have spirits and can protect the peace of the land. During festivals, villagers would pray under the tree."
"I see." Crusch responded softly, unconsciously moving a little closer, the faint, elegant scent from her hair lingering at the tip of Natsuki Subaru's nose. "Then, I hope this ancient tree can also bless us with success in subjugating the White Whale."
"Rest assured!" Natsuki Subaru unconsciously clenched his fists and said with confidence, "With Miss Crusch and Mister Wilhelm in command, plus the elites of the Iron Fang, we will definitely win this battle!"
Not to mention my current level 34 strength and my comprehensive knowledge of the White Whale's weaknesses. Barring any accidents, we can definitely slay the White Whale this time.
"Speaking of which, our ability to make such thorough preparations this time is all thanks to the crucial intelligence about the White Whale that you provided." Crusch's emerald eyes looked directly into Natsuki Subaru's, the afterglow of the sunset plating her heroic features with a golden edge. "If not for your intelligence, we wouldn't even have been able to confirm the White Whale's specific appearance location."
"Well... I was just saying what I knew." Natsuki Subaru scratched his head modestly. "The real tactical deployment was handled by Miss Crusch and Mister Wilhelm. Besides, providing intelligence on the White Whale was part of our alliance agreement. I don't want to be called a person who breaks their word."
"No... to protect the people with a sword is originally the duty of the nobility." Crusch's hand rested lightly on her sword, the lion crest on the sheath gleaming in the twilight. Her voice suddenly became solemn. "And your intelligence about the White Whale is a personal promise between you and me. These two things absolutely cannot be lumped together."
"..." Natsuki Subaru looked at the heroic Crusch before him, a ripple in his heart. He hadn't expected Crusch to value her promise with him so much. Such magnanimity and bearing, no wonder she's a strong contender for the throne.
Suddenly, an uncontrollable thought surfaced in Natsuki Subaru's mind: If I hadn't met Emilia first, perhaps joining Crusch's faction would have been a good choice.
But Natsuki Subaru quickly shook his head, dispelling the thought.
"What's wrong?" Crusch keenly noticed Natsuki Subaru's unusual behavior and tilted her head to ask.
"Nothing." Natsuki Subaru quickly came back to his senses and changed the subject. "Speaking of which, Miss Crusch, are you nervous? We're about to face the White Whale."
"Nervous?" Crusch was slightly taken aback, then a rare, gentle smile appeared at the corners of her lips. "Perhaps a little. But more than that, I feel anticipation—anticipation to personally end this four-hundred-year-long nightmare."
"That's true." Natsuki Subaru looked at the gradually setting sun and slowly said, "But with Miss Crusch and so many reliable companions here, I believe we will definitely succeed."
"Let's hope your auspicious words come true." Crusch bowed elegantly, her armor making a crisp sound. "Then, I will go for a final inspection. Please prepare yourself as well. The time for the decisive battle is approaching."
"Alright."
Watching Crusch's retreating back, Natsuki Subaru took a deep breath. The slightly cool evening wind on the plain made him feel even more awake.
This time, I must eliminate the White Whale!
As night deepened, a bright, clear moon hung high in the sky. Natsuki Subaru's party had been lying in wait near Flugel's Tree for a full six hours.
In the ranks, a young warrior nervously wiped his spear and said with some doubt, "The White Whale... will it really appear here? We've already been waiting for six hours..."
"Rest a hundred percent easy, kid." A scarred old veteran beside him grinned and clapped the young warrior's shoulder forcefully. "Has anything Lady Crusch personally guaranteed ever gone wrong?"
"Exactly!" another warrior with a full beard gripped his long spear, its tip glinting coldly in the moonlight. "Didn't Lord Natsuki Subaru also say? That monster will definitely appear. We just have to wait to give it a good one!"
"..." The young warrior wanted to say more but was interrupted by a clear female voice.
"Hey, hey, you few!" Mimi hopped down from a dragon carriage, her orange cat ears twitching in the moonlight. "Lady Crusch and big brother both said the White Whale will appear, so it will definitely appear! Mimi can guarantee it, meow~"
"My sister is right." Hetaro followed calmly behind, his voice young yet full of conviction. "Neither of them are people who speak irresponsibly."
"..." The young warrior lowered his head in shame.
The fully armed subjugation force waited with bated breath, the air thick with tension. Natsuki Subaru stood at the forefront of the formation, looking up at the bright moon in the night sky, and thought to himself: "According to the original story's plot, the White Whale will indeed appear here... But if my intervention causes the plot to deviate, that would be terrible."
"No... there shouldn't be a problem." Natsuki Subaru shook his head, forcing himself to calm down. Even without the intelligence I provided, Crusch and her team, through long-term reconnaissance, had already locked down the general area where the White Whale appears, right around here. It's just that the time and place I gave were much more precise than what they had originally gathered.
At this moment, everyone was quietly waiting for that moment to arrive. The tension before the decisive battle enveloped the entire area. The warriors, having rested in shifts, were full of spirit. Even the Earth Dragons, obedient to the cavalry, were now snorting, waiting for the command.
The night wind howled, and clouds drifted by. Every time the moonlight was obscured, someone would nervously look up, afraid of missing the sign of the White Whale's appearance.
"Hey, look over there! Is that something?" a young warrior suddenly pointed to the distant sky.
"Calm down, that's just a dark cloud." The old soldier patted the young warrior's shoulder. "When the White Whale appears, Lord Natsuki Subaru and the others will be the first to spot it."
"..." The young warrior nodded awkwardly.
"The time for the White Whale's appearance should be around now." Crusch walked to the center of the formation, her voice steady and powerful. "Everyone, raise your guard, but do not excessively consume your stamina by being overly tense."
Then, she turned to Ferris beside her and instructed, "Ferris, I'll leave the healing work to you."
"Leave it to me, Lady Crusch." Ferris, who was usually lively, had also put away his smile, his cat ears alertly pricked up. "But... you must be careful too." Ferris was well aware of his great responsibility as a healer; the number of casualties in this battle depended largely on his performance.
"Mm." Crusch nodded slightly, lightly caressing the lion crest on her sword's hilt, a habit she had developed since childhood. She was confident that victory would be theirs, but she was also soberly aware that it would not be without cost. This confidence stemmed from her trust in Ferris, and... the precious intelligence provided by Knight Natsuki Subaru.
"Miss Crusch." Natsuki Subaru quickly walked through the ranks of waiting soldiers and came to Crusch's side as she was inspecting.
"What is it, Sir?" Crusch stopped, her silver-grey light armor making a faint metallic sound with her movement.
"I suggest we immediately bring the Magic Stone Cannons to the highest state of readiness." Natsuki Subaru pointed to the night sky, half-covered by clouds, his tone solemn. "According to the intelligence I have, the White Whale's first wave of attacks will most likely come from the air." It's known that in the original work, the White Whale swooped down from above the clouds; we must guard against that in advance.
"Your concern is well-founded." Crusch nodded slightly, the moonlight flowing over her exquisite armor. Then she turned to the messenger who followed closely behind her and ordered, "Immediately notify all Magic Stone Cannon units to get into position. Focus on defending against aerial attacks. Ensure that each squad has at least two mages maintaining a defensive barrier."
"Yes, Your Grace!" The messenger saluted and quickly ran off.
"Also, I have already had Ferris set up three first-aid stations in the rear, each equipped with sufficient healers." Crusch's emerald eyes looked directly at Natsuki Subaru as she said slowly, "By the way, do you have any other suggestions?"
"Oh, this is already very comprehensive. Miss Crusch's deployments are always so thorough." Natsuki Subaru looked up at the increasingly dark night sky and continued, "Now we just wait for that big guy to show up."
"Yes..." Crusch also looked up at the sky, the moonlight casting a faint shadow on her exquisite profile. "This time, we must end this four-hundred-year-long nightmare."
The two stood side-by-side, the night wind blowing through their robes.
At the very front of the formation, Wilhelm stood as still as a statue, the six swords at his waist gleaming coldly. This Sword Demon exuded a fierce sword aura, waiting only for the moment of a life-and-death battle with his sworn enemy.
"Mister Wilhelm looks ready to kill..." Natsuki Subaru muttered under his breath.
"Sir Wilhelm has been waiting for this moment for fourteen years." Crusch looked at Wilhelm in front and said softly, "Today, he can finally fulfill his wish."
"Indeed, Mister Wilhelm has waited too long for this moment." Natsuki Subaru nodded gently in agreement, his gaze turning to the upright back of the old Sword Demon in the distance. But... he's waiting to take revenge on the wrong target. The one who killed Theresia wasn't the White Whale at all, but the Witch of Vainglory.
And so, time passed slowly in anxious waiting, the tense atmosphere almost solidifying. Crusch's hand tightened on her sword. At this moment of extreme tension—
"—Screee!"
A piercing shriek suddenly tore through the night sky, the sound wave hitting everyone's eardrums like a physical object. Many new recruits in the subjugation party instinctively ducked their heads, and even the battle-hardened veterans couldn't help but tense up.
"Is it here?" Natsuki Subaru's eyes narrowed, a sharp glint in his dark pupils. His powerful perception poured out like a tide, instantly covering a radius of several hundred meters.
"All units, on alert!" Crusch's cool voice echoed in the night sky.
The well-trained subjugation force immediately formed up, the sounds of metal clashing and footsteps intermingling.
However, one minute passed...
Two minutes passed...
Two and a half minutes passed...
The surroundings were still terrifyingly silent, with only the rustling of the night wind blowing through the grass.
"Hey, old timer, do you think that monster is really coming?" A young, freckle-faced warrior asked the old soldier beside him in a low voice, a clear waver in his tone.
"Shut up, rookie!" The old soldier glared at him fiercely, but his sword-gripping hand also tightened unconsciously. "Lady Crusch and Lord Natsuki Subaru both said it would come, so it will definitely come!"
"B-but we've been waiting for so long..." the young warrior swallowed. "What if the intelligence is wrong..."
"Nonsense!" a scarred warrior next to them interrupted gruffly. "Lord Natsuki Subaru is a master who can even defeat The Finest Knight. How could his intelligence be wrong?"
Even Crusch, at the side, frowned, turning to look at Natsuki Subaru with a questioning look in her eyes. "Sir..."
"The White Whale is above!" Natsuki Subaru slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed on the night sky like a torch.
The moment his words fell, an suffocating fluctuation of magical energy suddenly descended.
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