Reborn As Noble

Chapter 420: Holding the Line ( 420 )

The Halfling captain raised his sword high.

”HOLD OUR GROUND—UNTIL REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE!”

”YES, CAPTAIN!” The soldiers echoed back with force, gripping their weapons tighter.

The battlefield churned with chaos, but the Halfling formation held strong.

On the rear flank, a Halfling priest stood atop a small rock formation, arms lifted high. His robes billowed in the wind as he began a powerful chant.

”O light of the roots, shield our hearts and flesh—Sanctum Aegis!”

A soft golden glow spread from his staff, forming a shimmering barrier dome around the forward lines—protecting the shield units from incoming mana arrows and buying time for recovery.

Meanwhile, healers dashed between the fallen, placing glowing hands over wounds and pouring in life mana. Some soldiers stood back up, gritting their teeth and returning to the front.

”Get back in line! We need everyone holding the gate!”

The archers, perched on wooden towers and rooftops, released another volley, targeting the second wave of Amazarak troops.

”Arrows up! Fire in groups of three!”

At the gate itself, the shield bearers pressed forward, their thick tower shields closing ranks like a steel curtain.

Each impact from enemy spells and arrows echoed against the walls, but still—the gate held.

”STEADY!” the captain called again.

”IF WE BREAK, THEY TAKE THE TOWN!”

Kenjirou, standing amidst the haze of mana and blood, let out a harsh, angry shout—his grin now twisted into a sneer.

”STUPID WEAKLINGS!!” His voice cut through the battlefield like a blade.

”YOU SHOULD ALL JUST SURRENDER!!”

He pointed his divine sword forward, dark energy crackling violently across its edge.

From behind the walls, the Halfling captain shouted back without hesitation—

”NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT, WICKED HUMAN!!”

”TO THE LAST BREATH!”

Kenjirouʼs smirk returned, wild and bloodthirsty.

”Then DIE with that pride!!”

He raised his hand high, signaling to the massive force behind him.

”WARRIORS—CHARGE!!”

”ARCHERS—RAISE AND FIRE!!”

”CRUSH THEM ALL!!”

The Amazarak army surged forward like a wave of darkness.

The ground shook as thousands of warriors, mages, and berserkers charged, screaming war cries. Their eyes burned with bloodlust—some driven by loyalty, others twisted by Kenjirouʼs celestial aura.

Behind them, Amazarak archers loosed volley after volley of darkened mana arrows, aiming high toward the Halfling defenses.

”Shields! Hold!”

”Mages! Strengthen the barrier!”

”Healers, prepare the backline!”

The Halflings gritted their teeth as the golden barrier shimmered under the strain of incoming fire.

Explosions rocked the front line. Some Halfling warriors were blown back—but the formation held.

The gate rattled, and the shield wall pushed forward again.

”STAND FIRM!!” the captain bellowed, sword still raised.

Kenjirouʼs expression twisted in fury as he watched the Halflings still standing—still resisting.

”Why… wonʼt… you… just fall!?”

His left arm—a blackened artificial limb gifted by Queen Zephyra—pulsed violently with surging dark mana. The runes along the joints glowed red, flickering like the eye of a demon.

He slowly raised the arm toward the massive town gate, where the defenders had formed their tightest shield formation.

The air warped with heat and malevolent power.

A deep, rumbling hum filled the battlefield.

”Letʼs end this pathetic defense.”

A massive dark fireball—far larger than any standard spell—began forming at his palm. The very ground beneath him cracked and scorched.

Kenjirouʼs grin widened, his eyes glowing crimson.

”DIE, YOU WEAKLINGS!!”

With a roar, he launched the massive dark fireball toward the town gate.

FWOOOOM!!!

The sky turned black for a moment as the flaming sphere ripped through the air—then—

BOOOOOOM!!!

A massive explosion erupted at the gates.

Wood, stone, and bodies were sent flying in every direction. The shockwave shattered nearby structures and tossed defending Halflings through the air like ragdolls.

The golden barrier cracked—and shattered.

The gate had fallen.

Smoke filled the entrance. Screams rang out as the shield wall broke, defenders scrambling to regroup.

From the haze, Kenjirou licked the edge of his divine sword, a wicked glint in his eyes.

Then—he vanished.

A blur of black shadow and crimson mana.

He reappeared inside the breach, swinging his sword with brutal speed.

One Halfling warrior fell. Then another. Then five more.

Kenjirou danced in the smoke like a demon unleashed.

His laughter echoed across the ruins of the gate.

”AHAHAHAHA!! YES! BREAK MORE! SCREAM LOUDER!!”

The front line collapsed in panic.

The wicked hero had entered the town.

Meanwhile – Halfling Capital City, Royal War Chamber

The grand chamber was thick with tension.

Tall pillars of carved whitewood lined the hall, and maps filled with glowing mana routes, troop placements, and war zones hovered midair—constantly shifting.

At the center of the room, pacing back and forth like a caged beast, was King Gurdan of the Halfling Kingdom. His royal cloak dragged behind him with each heavy step, his muscular halfling frame radiating pressure—not just from command, but from something deeper.

The Celestial within him pulsed silently beneath the surface.

His jaw clenched as he stared at the war map, where a red marker now burned where their border wall had fallen, and a second marker flickered at the next major trade town under siege.

Gurdan gritted his teeth, pacing faster.

He slammed a fist down on the side table, causing the war map to shimmer.

”They already took the wall... Now theyʼre pushing into one of our strongest defensive towns?”

His military advisor, a cloaked halfling general with scrolls in hand, stepped forward carefully.

”The enemy force is led by the twisted human… the wicked hero, Kenjirou.”

”I know who he is,” Gurdan snapped. His eyes glowed faintly—just for a moment—as if something beneath his skin stirred.

A tense silence filled the room.

He turned sharply.

”How many troops do we have left?”

The advisor straightened his back and answered firmly,

”Eight hundred thousand, Your Majesty. More are being prepared as reserve units.”

Gurdan nodded, sharp and immediate.

”Send reinforcements. I want one hundred thousand troops moving toward the trade town immediately.”

”Y-Yes, Your Majesty!”

”Tell the commanders to dig in. Delay that maniac at all costs.” His tone darkened.

”If the trade town falls… the road to our capital will be wide open.”

The advisor bowed deeply and turned to carry out the orders.

Gurdan looked back at the map—at the flickering red light where Kenjirou now rampaged.

”So… this is what happens when a celestial falls into the hands of a lunatic.”

He clenched his fists.

”Very well, Kenjirou. Letʼs see if you can handle a real army.”

( End Of Chapter )