Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint
Chapter 333: The Song of Wither And Fireblast (1)

The Primarch of Fire and Explosions, the Fireblastarch.

Just from hearing the name, he seems like someone with a fiery temper.

Considering how Unique Magic can subtly influence one’s personality, it wouldn’t be surprising if he exploded at the slightest provocation.

What’s more concerning than his temperament, however, is the fact that he carries explosives.

The only thing more dangerous than someone hot-headed is someone hot-headed with bombs—while the former might kill themselves with their temper, the latter can take down others with them.

One’s own life may be one’s own business, but killing others is a different story.

Terrified, I was about to close the tent and hole up when the chief burst out of the tent.

“Don’t act recklessly! Our enemy is the Fireblastarch!”

Standing in the middle of the street, the chief yelled at the fleeing people, trying to halt their retreat.

“All his troops carry propulsion units made personally by the Fireblastarch! Running is futile, so stand your ground!”

Maybe he was actually making the most logical call.

Explosions were threatening and noisy, but they were not as dangerous as they seemed.

Explosions spread outward, their heat radiating in all directions.

Even a small amount of Qi can deflect shards and waves of heat by utilizing the principles of Qi Deflection.

The real threat isn’t the rockets, but the lunatics using them.

Against them, sticking together and resisting would be far more advantageous than scattering and being picked off individually.

But humans are only half-rational.

“Don’t make me laugh! You go fight if you want. I’m out of here!”

If everyone worked together, they might stand a chance against the Fireblastarch.

But if they escape while everyone else fights, their safety will be guaranteed.

This dilemma led the Dholes in the camp to choose flight over fighting.

As a result, the camp was defeated before the battle even began, left without anyone to fight on its behalf—or to ensure its own safety.

“Everyone, head for the north gate!”

“Then why are you heading south? Trying to use us as bait, aren’t you?”

“Shut up! Just go through the nearest exit!”

Their quick thinking was only used to deceive each other.

The shouts turned to accusations.

Meanwhile, everyone clung to their belongings as they ran, showing remarkable consistency in their greed.

The alchemists with their market stalls were late to leave, only now packing their things to flee.

The chief shouted at them.

“Idiots! Don’t go! It’s safest here! Here is…”

｢Here is where the Witherarch is! The antithesis of alchemists!｣

- Whoosh.

At that moment, a rocket sliced through the tent, landing right in front of the chief.

The alchemists scattered in panic.

The chief could have dodged too, but he stood his ground

He had faith in the person who had his back.

Bracing himself, he infused his Qi into the tent, positioning himself in front.

And then.

“…In front of me…”

The flame in the rocket’s core extinguished.

Not only that, but the igniter and brass cylinder that produced the flames crumbled, unable to maintain their form.

The fire became ashes and smoke and the metal rusted, disintegrating into fragments.

As everyone watched the scene, mouths agape, Peru stepped out from the tent into the street, crushing the rusted metal underfoot.

She muttered softly.

“…Nothing shines.”

The rocket, broken and rusted in an instant, left the alchemists murmuring in fear.

“The Witherarch?”

Seeing Peru’s appearance, the alchemist merchants showed mixed emotions—relief at surviving and fear of permanent loss.

This was fear born of understanding, rather than instinct.

They backed away, clutching their possessions tightly.

The reason was simple.

Peru’s power as the Witherarch could render the precious metals and items alchemists held entirely “useless.”

In the Fallen Dominion, “useless” took on a different meaning.

With alchemy allowing materials to be reshaped at will, metal always retained its value by weight since it could be reprocessed.

If it was no longer needed, it could simply be transmuted again.

But Peru could erase even the value of weight, leaving behind only rusted, unusable scraps.

“We… we survived…”

“B-But that power….”

Faced with the dilemma of saving their lives or their precious belongings, the alchemist merchants hesitated.

Good grief.

They were even weighing their lives against their wealth.

I could give them the answer myself.

“Hey! Over there! Instead of thanking us for saving you, you should be…”

Just as I was about to scold them and use them as a shield for my benefit, something fell from my torn sleeve in small, charred pieces—a square card’s scorched remains.

That pattern… a diamond?

Oh no!

“NOOOO! MY DIAMOND CARDS!”

Oops.

All diamond cards were made of transmutable Alchemic Steel, highly susceptible to Peru’s power.

It crumbled just from being within range of her!

Even my clothes were corroding!

The Clover cards were imbued with mana and the Heart cards for storing drugs were more stable, but they wouldn’t last long either.

I hurriedly stashed my cards deeper inside my sleeve and shouted.

“Stop using your power! My cards—they’ll all be gone!”

“…Ah.”

｢…I ruined everything again. No use in creating anything…｣

Peru withdrew her power, looking down ruefully at the scraps.

But the power of corrosion doesn’t simply end when withdrawn.

Once metal starts to rust, it accelerates until it’s completely useless.

Heartbroken, I sifted through the remnants of my Diamond cards.

It felt like my own heart was crumbling.

The alchemists, seeing my ruined cards as an example, finally made a decision.

One of them stepped forward to speak.

“Witherarch. Pardon me, but if you remain here, we have no choice but to leave.”

It sounded nonsensical, but here in the Fallen Dominion, different rules of reason applied.

And Peru, bound by that very logic, understood.

“…I understand.”

“However.”

The alchemist continued,

“Your power should be effective against the Juggernauts as well. If you could drive back the Fireblastarch, we would greatly reward you.”

In other words, they didn’t want to lose their lives or their money, so they wanted her to fight for them.

Here was an alchemist ordering a Primarch of the Fallen Dominion around.

Where did he get the audacity?

But surprisingly, in this country, this worked.

｢The Witherarch Peru has neither wealth nor authority. Her ability to destroy and decay everything prevents her from accumulating wealth or forming alliances. Give her a pittance and if things go south, just run. She has no way to hold us back.｣

This land operates on a peculiar economic system.

Lacking money, influence, and the ability to amass either, Peru wasn’t welcome here.

She was feared for her power, but even that wasn’t enough to live in the Fallen Dominion.

Despite their transparent request, Peru seemed willing to oppose the Fireblastarch.

But,

“…I can’t fight.”

｢…The Primarchs produce valuable resources… when I fight, even if I win or lose…｣

All value erodes.

In the Fallen Dominion, no matter who fought or looted, everything could eventually be repurposed as something else.

But Peru’s power eats away at the Dominion’s assets simply by using it.

She was the ultimate enemy of alchemy, the antithesis of the Fallen Dominion itself.

So, Peru couldn’t fight.

Instead,

“…If you can drive him away.”

She looked directly at me.

“…I’ll cooperate. Anything.”

Interesting.

Now she’s the one who requested something from me.

This is mildly irritating.

Still, let’s consider it an investment.

After all, it seems like the Fireblastarch is already on a collision course with us.

I pulled out one of the remaining Diamond cards.

One of DIamond, crafted in the Abyss and imbued with Tyr’s blood, had survived Peru’s power.

Transmuting the card into a skewer, I twirled it in my hand.

“Understood. Hey, you alchemists. Make sure to have my reward ready, and don’t even think about stashing away your goods.”

An alchemist, who was indeed planning to hide his wares, flinched and shouted.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Me?”

It’s only proper to answer when asked.

Holding the skewer firmly, I posed dramatically.

“I’m the apostle of peace, here to protect the peace of this world.”

“Woof! Woof woof! Fire! Fire! Woof woof!”

Right then, Azzy came running over, her fur covered in soot.

She was barking loudly, dashing straight toward me.

Perfect timing.

I’m a little slow on foot, so I’ll borrow some help.

“For the sake of peace, I’ll borrow this for a moment.”

I said this, heading toward an abandoned cart.

Someone had fled, leaving the cart behind and taking only the horse.

Climbing onto the cart, I tapped my foot and called out.

“Azzy, let’s do the dogsled! Take me away!”

“Woof! Just this once!”

Azzy, charging like the wind, dropped down in front of the cart and took hold of the handle with her mouth.

Although it was a heavy cart meant to be pulled by two horses, it felt light to the Dog King, who lifted the front wheels with ease.

“Let’s go!”

“Woof!”

At my signal, Azzy kicked off the ground with a powerful lunge.

Who decided only hooved animals could pull carts?

Any animal capable of pulling could pull a cart, and a dog was no exception.

After all, even humans pulled carts when they had no beasts.

And the Dog King, who took the form of a human, could do it better than anyone.

- Thud.

With a jerk that threw me backward, the Dog King’s Sled raced through the streets of the Fallen Dominion.

As I sped along, voices of astonishment echoed from behind.

“Is he insane? Making a dog beastkin pull a sled!”

They all sound like the Regressor.

That’s all they have to say?

As if the Regressor is the normal one here.

Tsk. Let’s see them when I return.

***

Outside, a mad chase was underway.

Over a hundred Dholes were scattering like rats.

They moved fast enough that capturing any one of them individually would have been difficult.

“Tweeettt! Do you think you can escape? First wing, cover the left! Second wing, cover the right! The rest, spread out in between!”

However, the opponents weren’t alone.

“Keh-heh! Do you think you can escape from Lord Rocket’s Winged Assault Squad? Ignite!”

Every single one of them was equipped with strange propulsion devices.

Flames erupted, revealing shadows hidden in the night sky.

The Winged Assault Squad flew through the air with large wings adorned with rockets.

They didn’t flap like birds. Instead, they angled their wings to ascend in unison before calling out from their high point.

“Now! It’s hunting time! Go! Slash, cut, and plunder!”

“Tweeeeett!”

Dozens of fiery trails lit up the sky as the Assault Squad, equipped with heat-powered thrusters descended with mad glee.

In a coordinated slaughter, the Dholes were attacked indiscriminately.

The wings spread wide, legs swung, and blades attached to the tips slashed through the Dholes’ bodies.

A Dhole, struck with a blade, let out a scream as they rolled across the ground.

There was no need for a finishing blow.

They were running at full speed when they were struck with unbelievable force upon descent.

Even if a miracle happened and they survived the fall, they’d have to surrender. Without a mount in these wastelands, one was merely prey.

One Dhole managed to pull off an impressive maneuver to evade a member of the Winged Assault Squad, but what would be a lifetime boast was merely one attempt for the squad.

The member of missed clicked his tongue in disappointment but moved on while another squad member readied himself to dive once more.

If a squad member missed, they simply passed it to the next in line and moved on to the next target.

Rising again and diving, the waves of wings brought bursts of blood with each dive.

The Assault Squad more than earned their name in this massacre.

“Run! Run for your lives!”

“Save me!”

The Dholes were too disorganized to stand against the Winged Assault Squad’s aerial attack, falling easily as they tried to flee separately.

One Dhole, spotting a gap in the encirclement, cried out.

“Look over there! It’s clear!”

That direction was south, the way to the Military State.

It was an obvious trap that even a fool could see.

But they had no other option.

Desperately, the Dholes headed that way.

Leading the Third Wing, “Wing” Rodry watched them flee and laughed heartily.

“Kihihi! Yes! Run toward the Military State! Your only hope lies that way! Hahaha!”

As he reveled in the hunt, one of his “Feathers” flew up beside him.

Matching Rodry’s speed, the Feather asked.

“Captain, won’t they veer off once they’re out of range?”

“Kihit! Sure, they might try, but they’re running in such a hurry, without enough supplies or food to travel far. They’ll have to cross the border to resupply and double back before long!”

From the outset, given the Fireblastarch’s strong stance, the Dholes only had one option: raid the Military State and sell the stolen steel under the guaranteed rights.

There was no assurance those rights would be 100% protected, but it’s different for the Primarchs who possess Juggernauts.

If they want to avoid losing their Juggernauts, they’ll protect them and enforce those rights.

The Dholes knew this well.

It was why they had no choice but to head for the Military State—not to pillage but to safeguard their assets.

Rodry understood this point well.

“Our duty is to give these pigs a good lash! Let’s go, everyone! Let’s give them some motivation to pillage!”

The Third Wing Captain flew ahead and the other Assault Squad members followed his lead, laughing.

The well-fed are often slow to hunt.

So they’ll rip open their bellies and take everything.

***

Yet they were unaware.

Of what lay hidden among those fleeing Dholes.