In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 76 A Divine Strike! The Demise of Ursus!

"What?! The Emperor of Letania is at the front lines?!"

When Grand Prince Baikal, commander of the two army groups of Ursus, learned of this from his personal guards, he even doubted his own ears.

Not only him, but also the Ursus Imperial Guard general beside him, Herag.

And Kal'tsit, the military advisor sent by the Empire. All three showed expressions of surprise and disbelief.

"This is unusual."

Kal'tsit frowned slightly and reminded Grand Duke Baikal, who was looking excited beside her:
"Based on the information and data we have, this Emperor of Letania doesn't seem like the kind of commander who would personally go to the front lines."

"Although he did lead the most elite armored forces in the war that destroyed Victoria, that was in the rear command post or in extremely difficult-to-conquer warships."

"Perhaps this emperor was blinded by rage?"

General Hrag, though middle-aged, still handsome and with an extraordinary bearing, offered his guess:

"Our intelligence reports that, in a fit of rage, the emperor had the former White Queen torn to pieces."

"—But apart from that, he did not kill any commanders, or even those who advised him."

Kal'tsit, who never expected her opponent to be a fool, said with a cool, furrowed brow:

"He is a cautious emperor, not the kind of person who would reveal such a basic flaw."

"Your Excellency, please be careful. Letania may have changed its tactics."

"...Lord Kal'tsit is right."

Grand Duke Baikal nodded in agreement with Kal'tsit's suggestion, but after some hesitation, he still didn't want to let such a good opportunity slip by.

"But in any case, we have to verify the authenticity of the intelligence."

"Moreover, our defenses are impregnable. Even if Letania invents some new weapons during this time, it would be difficult for them to tear our lines apart in one fell swoop."

"If that emperor is truly blinded by rage and exposes himself to the front lines..."

"We will have a chance to capture him in one battle!"

Just as Grand Prince Baikal made up his mind and was about to order his subordinate, Hrag, to lead the Imperial Guard in a surprise attack.

Another piece of military intelligence brought by a bodyguard plunged Baikal and his companions into suspicion once more.

"Your Majesty, the formation of the Letanian army has changed once again!"

"They moved the warlock legion to the front, surrounding the emperor! It seems they're casting some kind of large-scale Originium Arts spell!"

"what?!"

The continuous stream of unbelievable news left even the three highly experienced commanders somewhat bewildered.

The monarch is exposed at the front, with a vulnerable army of warlocks placed in front.

If they hadn't known that they were fighting against the iron-blooded monarch who had destroyed Kazimierz and Victoria and ruled half of Terra, they would have been completely unaware of this series of arrangements.

They thought it was some kind of formation set up by someone even more foolish than a child.

But before they could react, the silent battlefield was suddenly filled with the sound of instruments playing out of place.

"This is……"

Kal'tsit's lynx ears twitched slightly, and soon, recognizing the melody, her expression changed drastically.

"This is—Leytania's 'Golden Melody'!"

"But, the melody seems to have changed?"

But how is this possible?

Others may not understand, but Kal'tsit knows very well.

"Golden Melody" not only represents the laws of Letania, but also the strongest spell that Letania can construct!
To use a simple analogy, Letania is like a classical music orchestra.

The "Golden Melody" is the most comprehensive piece of music composed by the Letania band.

With each tower, a mobile city, and a piece of land added to Letania.

It's like adding a note, a musical instrument, to the "Golden Melody".

But how easy is it to continue a piece of music that is already considered perfect?
Adding notes arbitrarily can disrupt the harmony of the music.

Adding instruments indiscriminately will greatly increase the difficulty of the performance, and if not performed well, it will affect the beauty of the music.

This requires not only exceptional musical talent from the creator, but also keen insight and powerful control over magic.

However, in Kal'tsit's view, this Leitanian emperor had only demonstrated talent in steel, industry, and military reforms since he came to power.

He had never achieved anything significant in Letania's areas of expertise, such as magic and music.

but now……

Listening to the brand-new "Golden Melody" playing in my ears, the melody, which was perfectly balanced and harmonious, was no longer elegant, but instead filled with a solemn and murderous aura like a military formation.

Kal'tsit's brow furrowed even deeper.

Besides the Witch King, who else has the ability to modify the "Golden Music"?
Moreover, just how terrifying power can the revised "Golden Melody" unleash?

"Your Highness, the situation has changed. I suggest that all troops be withdrawn from the trenches immediately."

Kal'tsit, whose intuition was constantly warning her, immediately offered her opinion to Grand Duke Baikal beside her.

However, Kal'tsit was met with a cold look from Grand Duke Baikal.

"Lord Kal'tsit, are you asking me to hand over this steel trench to the Leitanian army?"

"Yes."

Kal'tsit offered no rebuttal, ignoring Grand Duke Baikal's anger and calmly continuing to offer her advice:
"At least this way, you can preserve the strength of your army group. Under the powerful firepower of the two Ursus army groups, you will be invincible."

"But if the 'Golden Symphony' tears apart your steel trenches, your army group will suffer heavy losses."

"At that time, not only this defensive line, but the entire Ursus Empire will probably be destroyed because of your judgment."

“You cannot afford this price, Grand Prince Baikal.”

"—Hmph, I don't believe it! These Lytanian warlocks can tear apart the ironclad defenses that Ursus has spent years building!"

However, Kal'tsit's advice had the opposite effect.

The Duke of Ursus rejected Kal'tsit's proposal without much deliberation.

"This front is not just an undefended vanguard of the Gauls! It's a true iron trench!"

"Unless the Witch King arrives, there's no way he can tear our battle lines apart in one blow!"

"Send my order!"

Grand Prince Baikal gave the order and instructed his personal guards:

"No matter how fierce the enemy's offensive may be, hold your ground in the trenches. Do not pursue them without my order!"

"Order the artillery to target the Lytanian sorcerer formations and bombard them, preventing them from casting spells!"

"I refuse to believe that they can perform while enduring artillery fire without the White Queen!"

It should be said that Grand Prince Baikal's deployment was without problem, and was even very conservative and restrained, which was completely inconsistent with Ursus's previous combat style.

It is clear that although he did not take Kal'tsit's advice, he was still extremely cautious about this unknown spell.

Kal'tsit understood his actions.

After all, even Kal'tsit herself had begun to doubt her own guesses.

A single blow shattered the steel trenches.

Could that emperor, who was suspected to be a descendant of the witch king, really do it?

……

Meanwhile, you, standing proudly before the army, are surrounded by your elite legion of sorcerers.

This elite legion of warlocks consists of members who have undergone rigorous testing and selection processes; each member is a true elite.

They didn't discriminate based on race, gender, or whether they were infected.

You have only one request for this elite legion of warlocks.

That is absolute mastery of music and Originium Arts.

They held various musical instruments in their hands: cello, clarinet, tuba, saxophone...

They infused magic into music, transforming musical notes into destructive energy powerful enough to kill; every note they played was flawless.

However, even this elite legion of sorcerers, chosen from among hundreds, was relegated to the outermost perimeter of this grand ensemble, becoming the most insignificant bass player in the symphony.

[And in the innermost circle were Letania's true elite, the Golden Law Guards.] [The instruments they played were each unique, with more distinctive timbres, forming a clearly defined part of the ensemble's sound.]

And at the very center, conducting this grand performance, is none other than you.

[Using Victoria's "Breath of Kings" as your conductor's baton, you single-handedly brought together this performance of Originium Arts, which accommodated tens of thousands of people, into one!]

This scene was enough to make even a warlock think he'd gone mad, unwilling to believe it was real.

Each person's Originium Arts are different, and some even conflict with each other. It's simply impossible to fuse so many complex Originium Arts into a single power.

Moreover, the mere fact that one person needs to master such terrifying and vast Originium Arts is enough to cause any sorcerer to suffer a backlash and explode.

The last person to achieve this was the most powerful sorcerer on this land—the Witch King.

And now, you are the second.

[Even after you, during this time, used the knowledge and power of the "Sounds of the Mortal World" to revise the "Golden Melody."]

The magic you now possess is far more terrifying than the blow the Witch King unleashed that annihilated the Gallic vanguard!

Letania, ruled by the Witch King, was merely a small kingdom that had lost Syracuse.

And now, you rule a vast empire encompassing half of Terra!

[You spent ten days gathering all the "melodies" of the empire you now possess into the "Golden Melody."]

[Under the terrifying influence of your "sinful talent" and "stubborn thirst for revenge."]

[The most magnificent and dangerous spell of this land has begun!]

"Fire! Fire now!"

"Aim at the warlock legion, fire!"

At this moment, the Ursus Legion finally reacted, and a continuous barrage of artillery fire was directed at you.

However, those shells didn't even have time to reach your army formation before they were all neutralized by the aftershocks of the "Golden Melody."

The Ursus Legion can only watch helplessly as you complete this grand performance.

"Now, are you ready, Ursus?"

Are you ready to face the most heart-wrenching cries, pain, and destruction of this land?

As the performance neared its end, you, captivated by its beauty, couldn't help but smile.

You are waiting.

[I eagerly await the moment when this terrifying spell under your control is unleashed. What kind of hell will this trench before us transform into?]

[I eagerly await the cries of agony and panic that will erupt from the Ursus people once this spell is cast.]

It's hard to describe that feeling, that pure joy of achieving something supreme.

But one thing is certain.

[The moment you possess terrifying, world-destroying power, and wield the highest authority in this world.]

Perhaps the last vestige of your humanity has vanished.

The man named "Qi" may already be dead.

Standing proudly here is the Emperor of the Holy Empire of Letania, who thirsts for revenge!

"Don't blink, Ursus people, witness your death, your destruction!"

"A hymn of death for this land!"

[With your maniacal laughter, the "Golden Melody" finally slipped from your control.]

The "Golden Melody," a masterpiece embodying countless terrifying Originium Arts, has been transformed into a magnificent and beautiful golden rainbow under your reshaping.

The golden rainbow rose higher and higher into the sky until it transformed into a golden line in the air, at which point it gradually came to a stop.

Soon, before everyone's eyes, a golden waterfall composed of countless golden rays descended from the sky.

For a moment, everyone was captivated by the magnificent scenery, forgetting to blink, forgetting to move, and even stopping their breathing.

Unbeknownst to everyone, beneath that dazzling golden light lay a terrifying source of destructive energy.

Finally, golden light spilled onto the steel trenches of Ursus.

In an instant, a white light blinded everyone.

It was as if, at that moment, everyone was forcibly pulled into a white, silent world.

But this tranquility lasted only a fleeting moment.

Because the next second, destruction and death would pull everyone's minds back to reality.

"boom----!!!"

An explosion and collapse, powerful enough to shatter eardrums, resounded across the land!

This devastating blow caused Mother Earth to weep and tremble.

The powerful tremors caused trees to fall and mountains to be destroyed.

Even the fiercest winds scatter in fear, and the flowing water flees in panic.

[If it weren't for the shield formed by the golden light at the forefront, which blocked most of the aftershocks, people would likely have been swept away, and even the chariots would have overturned.]

No one knows how long the terrifying aftershocks lasted.

Only when the trembling of the land gradually subsided did everyone see the scene before them.

The supposedly impregnable, indestructible steel trenches of Ursus have long since vanished.

Instead, a bottomless ravine stretched across the earth, as if it had been torn open!

It was as if a giant from the universe had slashed this land with a colossal axe.

Where the axe blade had struck, there was no life, no steel, and no remains.

It's as if this ravine has been here all along, for thousands of years.

But all the survivors present knew that this ravine, several kilometers long from the opposite bank, was by no means a masterpiece of nature.

Rather, it was created by your devastating blow—a divine masterpiece!

"Ah."

Hahahahahahaha!!!

Looking at the "masterpiece" you had created, you burst into laughter.

Your laughter is so joyful, so pure.

But your unrestrained laughter can make even your most fervent followers tremble and feel fear.

Everyone witnessed your divine miracle.

At this moment, in their eyes, you are the only god in the world!

Let's cheer!

[With unrestrained laughter, you open your arms to this vast world, displaying your supreme masterpiece to all.]

"For your emperor! For this feat! For this prelude to the destruction of Ursus—"

"Cheers!!"

"—Long live the Emperor!"

It is unknown which fanatic was the first to come to their senses, but with a heart-wrenching, frenzied howl, they ignited the fuse of this feast.

Following closely behind were waves of worship, like a surging tide!

"Long live! Long live!! Long live!!!" XN
The shouts of "Long live!" rose higher and higher.

All fear, dread, terror, and madness... have transformed into reverence and faith in you at this moment!

Everyone is expressing their godlike reverence for you with self-destructive screams and frenzied, addictive cries!

Some people even find it difficult to control their excitement, resorting to self-harm such as scratching their scalps or biting their fingers.

And you, you simply let the wind whip across your face, letting yourself immerse yourself in this supreme worship.

You felt it—a true sense of satisfaction.

This is everything you wanted.

This is your climax.

(End of this chapter)