The Greatest Warrior of All Time Returns
Chapter 258

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Chapter 258

In this war, the reason we were able to access information about Coral more easily than expected and predict the enemy's movement routes was precisely because of that.

After all, there weren’t that many possible routes for such a massive convoy to travel.

So as long as we understood the terrain well and had it mapped out, figuring out their movements wasn’t all that difficult.

The reason Coral failed to throw off Bata’s pursuit came down to one thing: whether or not they had someone capable of doing it.

“Well then, let’s continue discussing how to attack the capital fortress. Lord Leon, please take a seat.”

As I silently took a seat, the atmosphere shifted as if the people themselves had changed, and everyone focused intently on strategizing.

“First, we should concentrate on the western gate, which is the weakest point...”

“That would be no different than charging in head-on. From what we've gathered, the fortress is heavily guarded. If we want to minimize losses, attacking the eastern gate would be a better option...”

“We could divide our forces into two.”

The great wall surrounding Coral's capital had five gates in total.

There was the main southern gate, the eastern and western gates on either side, and two smaller gates in the southwest and southeast.

Originally, there had only been three entry points to the capital, but it was said that the two additional gates were constructed after Coral seized control.

Naturally, since they were not part of the original design, those two gates were the most structurally vulnerable.

But the Bata forces didn’t even consider them.

And with good reason—aside from the nearly impregnable southern gate, the other two were located at the end of narrow paths, and beyond them lay maze-like streets that made actual entry incredibly difficult.

So realistically, the eastern and western gates remained the most viable targets.

“What do you think?”

At that moment, Duke Berli’s eyes turned to me.

“My thoughts, sir?”

“Yes. I’m quite curious what the young lord thinks.”

At his prompt, I looked down silently at the map of the fortress.

And then I said, simply:

“In truth, the southern gate offers the most direct path straight into the royal palace once breached.”

“That’s true. But it's also the most difficult of all to break through.”

“That’s correct. However, if I were to lead the charge, I would choose the southern gate.”

Murmurs spread through the room.

Some expressed concern that I was taking things too lightly, others looked as if they couldn’t comprehend what I meant.

“Everyone quiet. Well then, if that's what you think, I assume you have your reasons?”

“As you said, the southern gate is indeed the hardest to break through. It’s not just the solid walls and complex terrain—there’s also the massive defensive barrier that extends over the walls and even into the sky.”

There’s a reason it’s called the Unyielding Fortress.

The ancient barrier, which had existed since long ago, was said to rival even the one that protected the Holy Kingdom’s capital.

According to records, this fortress had once repelled an army of 200,000 using only 5,000 defenders.

“There’s no need to complicate things. When the gate is breached, the most direct and unobstructed route to our goal lies through the southern gate.”

But if we follow that logic, we must also confront one problem.

“But again, the southern gate is said to be nearly impossible to breach.”

“That place held off 200,000 troops with just 5,000! I understand what you’re trying to say, but...”

Naturally, the room filled with opposing voices.

“Why worry about that?”

At my question, everyone looked stunned.

“I wouldn’t have brought it up if I didn’t already have a way to deal with it.”

At that, a heavy silence fell.

* * *

The ancient barrier protecting Coral’s capital fortress was almost unimaginably strong.

However, for all its might, it wasn’t entirely perfect.

It did have a weakness—if overwhelming physical force was applied.

The problem was the scale of force required.

If it could be broken by mere brute force, it would’ve collapsed long ago, and probably multiple times at that.

But to this day, there are no records of the barrier ever being broken.

In other words, while its weakness was technically physical force, the threshold it required was on a level far beyond conventional means.

And sustained attacks wouldn’t work either.

The only way to break it was with a single, overwhelmingly powerful strike.

Not even sword masters had been able to crack it, which left very few possible solutions.

“You know as well as I do that this barrier can't be broken by ordinary means. Even if, by some miracle, we manage to compromise the barrier, there’s still the problem of the impenetrable gate and the wall.”

Duke Berli’s objection was valid.

At this point in time, there truly was no way to breach the southern gate.

But I wasn’t concerned.

“Grivy.”

“Hm? Didn’t you say we’d play later?”

“The situation’s changed. Can you do the toad thing?”

At my question, she looked up at me with clear, innocent eyes and nodded.

“Yeah. Grivy likes toads.”

Suddenly, Grivy popped up from the ground, startling Duke Berli, who stared at her wide-eyed.

She looked like someone who had been buried alive and was now poking her head out.

But even though she emerged from the earth, not a speck of dirt clung to her.

She was perfectly clean.

“See the wall and that big gate over there?”

“Yup.”

“You’re going to open it now.”

“Okay.”

Grivy answered casually and then ran off toward the fortress wall.

I stared blankly after her.

“Is it really okay to just let her go like that?”

Duke Berli asked.

“Yes. She’s a spirit.”

“A spirit... I’ve never seen one like her.”

It wasn’t just Duke Berli.

Even the generals, knights, and soldiers assembled for the attack looked baffled.

To break that massive defensive barrier, we needed a single, overwhelming physical blow.

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Things like sword auras, Qi strikes, or powerful spells were all meaningless.

That’s why there was no better candidate than Grivy for the job.

As I watched her tiny legs move quickly across the ground toward the fortress, I reached out my hand.

It was time to use the trick I had thought of the moment I first summoned Grivy.

[Spirit Evolution]

A massive surge of spirit mana gathered at my fingertips.

At the same time, through the invisible thread connecting Grivy and me, that spirit mana began flowing into her at incredible speed.

In an instant, her form began to swell—growing larger and larger until she stood over 20 meters tall.

Perhaps it was because the now-giant Grivy was bounding forward with a bright, cheerful expression and thunderous footsteps, but the soldiers guarding the city walls were visibly terrified.

But that wasn’t the end.

“Grow.”

I invoked the power of Word Command I had been saving and directed it at Grivy.

Simultaneously—

[A slot for a Fusion Ability is currently empty. Would you like to register a Fusion Ability?]

A message from the Codex appeared before me.

I currently had two Fusion Ability slots.

One had already been filled with the Song of Suggestion.

Now, I would use the remaining one.

“Register.”

As soon as I gave the command, Grivy's entire body shone with light, and her form began to expand at an unbelievable rate.

Her already colossal 20-meter body grew even further in a flash of light—and when it reappeared, everyone who laid eyes on her could only stare wide-eyed, mouths agape.

Grivy had grown to nearly 500 meters in size.

“Wheee~!”

With a delighted shout, she lifted her enormous, pale hand into the air.

Realizing what she was about to do, the soldiers on the city wall screamed in terror and scattered in all directions.

“A new house!!”

With her childlike voice full of innocence and glee, Grivy slammed her palm down onto the southern gate and the surrounding section of the wall.

CRAAAACK!!!

In physics, kinetic energy is determined by mass and velocity.

Potential energy, likewise, depends on mass, gravitational acceleration, and height.

Grivy, the earth spirit, now nearly 500 meters tall, wielded a massive body filled with incredible weight and speed.

Her palm, descending from such a height, delivered a blow amplified by sheer physical force far beyond anything they had ever seen.

The mighty defensive wall, which had stood strong for hundreds—maybe thousands—of years, crumbled like dried jerky under the absurd force of her strike.

“Let’s go.”

Fusion Abilities occur when a specific power is combined with a Word Command, resulting in a phenomenon far beyond the original scope of the ability.

Grivy, already specialized in physical force as an earth spirit, had her power enhanced and transformed by the Word Command, creating a level of strength far greater than I had anticipated.

With a mere swipe of her enormous hand—this wasn’t just any earth spirit, after all—it was Grivy herself.

Even the mighty fortress wall was no match.

The massive gate and southern wall, once the pride of the impregnable fortress, were shattered and collapsed.

Those who had put their faith in the strength of the wall stood stunned, unable to comprehend what they were seeing.

“Let’s go.”

I tilted my head toward the stunned Bata troops.

“The gate is open.”

Even if we’d figured out how to deal with the barrier, the wall itself was an immense defensive structure.

But thanks to Grivy’s strike, not only the barrier but a large part of the wall was now completely destroyed—leaving the capital wide open.

“All troops!!! Advance immediately!!”

Duke Berli drew his sword and gave the command, leading the charge.

The troops swiftly followed him in.

After destroying the wall, Grivy was enveloped in light and vanished into the earth like mist, then peeked her head out next to me.

“Daddy… I’m sleepy…”

“You deserve some rest. You did great. I’ll give you something yummy later.”

“Okay…”

With a drowsy smile, she disappeared back underground.

Leaving her behind, Luna and I also started moving.

With the biggest wall broken, there was nothing Coral could do anymore.

Bata’s forces advanced rapidly, using the shortest possible route to surround Coral’s royal castle in the blink of an eye, crushing any resistance in their path.

Since most of the enemy forces were concentrated at the east and west gates, if we finished this before they could return—it would all be over.

As I passed the debris of the shattered wall, I paused in thought and extended my hand.

BOOOOOM!!!

I raised an enormous wall of earth to block the pathways leading to the east and west gates.

They’re going to have a hard time breaking through that.

Though a total mobilization order had been given, the response from Coral’s citizens was lukewarm at best.

This was the royal family that had bled them dry for years.

And now they were being asked to risk their lives for them? When everything was already falling apart?

Some citizens were even seen cheering for the approaching Bata forces.

That kind of public sentiment—it’s almost impressive how badly they’ve mismanaged things.

The remaining Coral forces put up a desperate fight, but with even their Sword Master gone, there was no way they could stop Duke Berli.

Once we entered the capital and reached the royal palace, we saw countless knights, swords drawn, surrounding a single man.

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