Even though we were still a good distance from Ark, the dark clouds gathering all around felt ominous.
I knew all too well.
Those clouds weren't just weather.
"Well, this works out."
["Huh?"]
"A perfect chance to test the power of the Turncoat Legion."
["…You're not seriously suggesting we charge headfirst into the middle of the Wave, are you? No way, right?"]
"Come now. We've done it before."
["Even if we've done it before… this is right after a massive battle!"]
While Esther was freaking out, Turncoat King spoke in approval.
["A fine idea. Evaluating one's legion is a ruler's duty, after all."]
"Now there's someone who gets it."
["…You're insane. Seriously."]
In the last battle, Janus had devoured not just the Bone Lord but also Turncoat King.
The power Janus had gained now went far beyond what a "Beyond-Grade Beast" could ever express.
'At this point, even soloing a boss-tier monster wouldn't be an issue.'
The Bone Lord and Turncoat King were among the most powerful beings in The Defense universe.
To consume both was to become a one-man army.
'Then…'
I eyed the approaching mass of storm clouds on the horizon.
As expected, following the recent quintuple Wave, this one was not a Multi-Wave.
Yellow-26 Stage.
The 26th Wave.
By all appearances, it was a standard Wave. But I approached it with a different mindset.
If my theory was right—and the Waves were more like a countdown than something to be cleared—then my approach needed to change.
'From now on, forget trying to minimize damage or balance power politics—focus on ending Waves as fast as possible.'
Yes, one could argue that neutralizing the Wave quickly was protecting Ark.
But that subtle shift in strategy would mean everything for how I moved.
Until now, I had prioritized containment—keeping beasts from spilling into other zones.
But that was over.
Now, it was about kill count.
'Fast as possible.'
The plan was set.
Now came execution.
"Let's go."
At my command, Horus veered its head toward the swarm of clouds.
"Hm? Oh, right."
Behind me, Turncoat Rook, Turncoat Knight, and Turncoat Bishop adjusted course.
"…So, this is the king's decision?"
"King, my ass. He's just a moody boss-man."
"You've not changed, Rook."
"Shut it. Go play loyal subject all you want. I'm not playing."
"Even so, you've still become one of the king's men."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say."
Rook and Bishop exchanged growls.
Even from their names alone, it was obvious—they were long-time rivals.
["Tsk… Bickering like kids."]
Spoken by Esther, who looked more like a kid than anyone here.
'No need to drag Turncoat Queen or the Immortal into this.'
They were useful, yes—but summoning them would be a hassle.
Especially Queen, who had business back in Ark. No need to waste her time.
'It's better for both me and Ark if she focuses on the Rose Cross Knights for now…'
Then—
["Master!"]
"Ah."
Esther's shout snapped me out of my thoughts.
It hadn't been long, yet we were already within striking range of the airborne beasts.
'Damn, that was fast.'
Well, of course it was.
After the Bone Lord hunt, I had distributed Janus's power among the Turncoats—including Horus.
"Let's begin."
As I spoke, Rook and Knight arrived at my side and unfurled their jet-black wings.
They, too, had received Janus's power—more than enough to match Horus's speed.
"Of course he goes charging in…"
"Royal command. You're bound to follow."
"I said, I'm not playing your dumb king-and-vassal game!"
Rook roared and launched forward.
The speed was monstrous.
He was proving, with force, just what power he had gained from the battle.
"Trying to steal the spotlight?"
"..."
Bishop and Knight followed immediately after.
BOOOM!
All three Turncoats launched nearly simultaneously, creating a shockwave of sonic booms.
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK—!
And with it, shattered remains of beasts once known as monsters tore through the air.
Just their movement had created this much destruction.
'Impressive…'
But that was only the beginning.
As Rook ripped into the swarm, bone tendrils erupted savagely from his entire body.
Shhhk-shhhk-shhhk!
Once bone parasite monsters reach a certain point, the way their tendrils grow and behave becomes entirely unique—shaped by what they've consumed, where they've survived.
So then, what did Turncoat Rook's inner world look like?
The answer stood before me now.
RUMMMMBLE…
A tree.
Massive. Deep-rooted.
RUMMMMMMBLE…!
Titan Bone Bloom.
Giant Tree Manifestation.
A towering bone tree emerged from Rook's core.
'So, this is what lies inside him…'
Bone parasites at this level projected something from within—an essence.
And this tree was Rook's.
[KRAAAHHH!]
[SCREEEECH!]
Dozens—no, hundreds—of flying beasts crashed against his tree and fell.
Wings torn. Bodies pierced.
The tendrils branching from the tree held their ground like limbs—but even that was a nightmare to the beasts.
[KGGGHH…]
[KAAAK! KAK!]
Even dozens of Grade-3 and higher flyers couldn't leave a scratch on Rook's tree.
Its unshakable bulk spoke volumes about his hunger for power.
["Unbelievable… That's really Rook?"]
Even Esther, who'd known him for ages, couldn't believe it.
Proof of just how much power Rook had gained from the last fight.
["Excellent. A worthy vassal indeed."]
"Not that he'd agree with you."
["Hm."]
Turncoat King chuckled, only his mouth emerging from Janus.
A grotesque sight.
["The other vassals have arrived as well."]
As he said, Bishop and Knight weren't sitting idle.
They didn't reveal inner constructs like Rook.
They simply fought—piercing and devouring with ruthless precision.
THUNK, THUNK—CRACK!
Giant axes and whips sprouted from their arms, lashing out.
SMASH!
The sheer weight and violence of the weapons tore through the flying beasts.
One-sided slaughter.
And as the battle dragged on, the Turncoats only grew stronger.
That was the nature of bone parasite monsters: fight, consume, evolve.
["…Truly moving."]
"Enough watching."
["You're taking the field yourself now?"]
"Yes."
I looked over the battlefield—Turncoats versus the swarm.
'I've seen enough. Their strength is proven.'
Each one now possessed boss-tier firepower.
And thanks to the Skull Turncoat traits layered on top, they were even more effective during the Waves, where enemies came in endless numbers.
'Time to get involved myself.'
For now, I stashed away the Zeus-444 Railgun.
Janus had gained absurd power. It was time to fight using only that.
"Janus."
[Gi-git!]
Massive wings unfolded from my back.
The Wings of Ankelenth—now far larger than ever before.
'A larger hitbox is annoying… but it doubles as a shield.'
Wrapping yourself in giant bone wings was actually a smart defensive move.
And given what wings are meant for… their new size was no mystery.
───────!
There was no sound.
Or rather—the sound was late.
The speed unleashed through the Wings of Ankelenth had shattered the sound barrier.
[KAHH…!]
[SKREEEEE—!]
All I'd done was unfold my wings and cut straight through the front.
But the shockwave alone sent beasts dropping like flies.
Wings shredded. Ears ruptured.
'Hmm…'
Still, I wasn't satisfied.
Janus's power had grown too vast—too unwieldy for its own mind to fully control.
Well, of course. He had consumed both the Bone Lord and Turncoat King.
'I'll need something more.'
But I wasn't worried.
That's what Turncoat King's mind was for.
During the Bone Lord fight, I'd separated the Turncoat King's body and will temporarily. But to truly harness him meant using that will as a regulator for Janus's power.
"Ready?"
["I always have been."]
"Good. That's what I wanted to hear."
[Gi-git!]
Janus stepped forth—now fully assuming the form of a true king.
===BREAK===
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