# Enhanced Translation
Ivan Petrovich had a saying he used to repeat like a habit.
"A warrior should not be defined by who they have defeated, but by who they will defeat next."
That's why his introduction was quite different from other strong fighters. Instead of boasting about who he had slain or what famous warriors he had defeated, he would simply state:
"I am Einarr of Droan. Come."
"Fight, and live to become a hero."
"Or die, and become eternal in legend."
His attitude remained the same whether addressing a common soldier or standing before the Seven Dragon Generals.
The warriors of Droan fight only for death. They take up arms seeking the death of their enemies, and their own death as well.
No, not even death could stop their struggle. Their faith guarantees eternal warfare even after death.
Watching his attitude, Enrique Sergeyevika once smiled and told Ivan:
"We're no different."
"Do not mourn those who have gone before us."
"Know that we stand in the same ranks as they do."
This is, therefore, a story about how to accept death.
# EP40. The Ranks of the Dead (1)
"What... what is this?"
"It's a seal. Quite a high-level one... it's created almost a vacuum inside? Um, it's the kind of spell typically used to preserve delicate artwork."
Elfihera Grikenkos furrowed her brow in front of the ornate door that seemed completely out of place in this abandoned building.
It was a gleaming door, the only thing shining brightly in this dusty, neglected ruin. It was sealed with magic, and there were clear signs that maintenance staff had regularly visited to clean the surrounding area.
Why would they create something like this in the middle of ruins? What purpose could it serve?
Yu-jin carefully suggested:
"Since this was the Counter-Intelligence Command, they might have hidden some extraordinary artifact here."
"Why would they leave it here? Shouldn't they have taken it when they relocated headquarters?"
"Maybe it's an artifact that can't be moved, or perhaps it's something so precious they wanted to hide it. The Counter-Intelligence Command headquarters was such a well-known location that they would have needed to prepare for enemy raids."
"Then, the 'possibility of victory' that Yuri mentioned..."
"Could it mean utilizing whatever artifact is stored here?"
That seemed highly plausible. They nodded and gathered around the door.
All the skeletons that had been inside the building had been eliminated. Each one had physical disabilities, making them easy to deal with. (At the same time, they tried to ignore the disturbing fact that so many bodies with disabilities had been secretly buried here.)
"Can you break this seal?"
"You're not asking me, are you?"
Oskar de Satieon's question made Elfihera laugh.
"What do you take me for? I'm a Grikenkos. An elf, no less. Do you think I'd struggle with a seal made by humans?"
She placed her hand on the seal and closed her eyes.
"It'll take just 5 minutes, so wait patiently. I've broken divine seals before, you know."
"The Counter-Intelligence Command headquarters?"
Ivan frowned as he listened to Enrique's explanation. Why would they go there?
That place had outlived its usefulness except for its symbolic value. The Counter-Intelligence Command had already relocated its headquarters outside the city, and the building that remained downtown was nothing more than an abandoned structure scheduled for demolition.
Since it would be absurd for an intelligence agency to be located on a main street, the old Counter-Intelligence Command building was in quite a remote area even by Pritzenkaya standards. It was surrounded only by sparsely populated slums.
He remembered that. It couldn't have been built in a good location. When the Counter-Intelligence Command was recognized as an independent department, Crown Prince Alexandr Kirillovich Krasilov's power was quite strong, making it difficult for the Counter-Intelligence Command, which reported directly to Elizabeta, to secure a good location for their building.
So it wasn't a strategically or tactically significant target. Then why choose that place?
'Since Yuri would be with them...'
Almost everyone in the group had completed tactical doctrine courses at the Knight Faculty. Even though faculty-level urban tactics were only basic education, there was no reason to set the Counter-Intelligence Command area as an operational target even at that level.
So it wasn't likely that another member of the group had suggested that area. In a life-or-death situation, only Yuri could confidently impose such an "irrational choice."
It was likely due to Yuri's transmigrator special ability, [Never lose when there's a chance of victory]. That means there must be something in that area.
Damn it. There was. Just one thing. The only "significant thing" in that building.
Ivan immediately started running. Enrique and Isabelle de Etoile hurriedly chased after him in confusion.
"Why? What is it?"
"The Nameless Cemetery."
"What?"
"The only thing of value in the old Counter-Intelligence Command building!"
Ivan gritted his teeth as he ran.
The place where the bodies of all fallen members of the Annihilation Squad were interred. The cemetery of the nameless. A memorial site unknown even to their families, accessible only to those who had shared the same battlefield.
After demolishing the old Counter-Intelligence Command building, it was scheduled to become a proper cemetery. If times had been just a little more stable, it would have happened long ago.
Elizabeta's reign had been marked by incidents occurring almost monthly. As the last commander of the Annihilation Squad, she had declared she would take care of the fallen, but there were too many crises demanding her attention.
So the old building had been left abandoned. Except for the securely locked inner sanctuary, it had essentially become a derelict structure.
Ivan felt anger tinged with deep guilt for having forgotten about that place.
If they were too late. If at that time...
"That's still there?!"
Enrique also exclaimed in shock as she ran.
When a dragon's corpse is raised as undead, it becomes a terrifying monster. When a knight's corpse is raised, a death knight rises. In other words, necromancy is greatly influenced by the material used.
Even zombies raised from ordinary citizens' corpses are tenacious and powerful enough that civilians find them difficult to handle. Trained soldiers could deal with them adequately, but civilians encountering them in darkness would be helplessly overwhelmed.
If even zombies are that dangerous, what about raising the corpses of the Annihilation Squad?
The Annihilation Squad specialized in infiltration and sabotage. Since they were directly trained by Enrique, they had inherited all her strengths.
This means they are most powerful when targeting cities. Their purpose wasn't war but "annihilation." A darkened metropolis would be like a playground in broad daylight to them.
Enrique ran in a state of near despair.
If they were too late.
If during the time she had been hiding in fear, the enemy had already awakened "those who went before." If he was using them as servants to devour the city.
All of this would be her fault. Enrique bit her lip as she ran.
Ivan had memorized every district of Pritzenkaya. This was a basic skill that needed no further explanation.
So the darkness-shrouded city couldn't slow his pace. Once Enrique had decided not to conceal her presence, it didn't take long to cross the city.
Enrique transformed into a bat and flew through the sky. Her speed was overwhelming even by superhuman standards, but Ivan ran at almost the same pace, leaping from rooftop to rooftop.
Isabelle, riding on his back, could barely hold onto him against the rushing wind.
"Enrique."
"I see it!"
Soon the silhouette of the old Counter-Intelligence Command building appeared. Ivan took a great leap and cleared the high fence without needing a foothold.
His landing was quieter than a piece of cotton falling. The moment his feet touched the ground, he tossed Isabelle aside and drew his axe.
Enrique, who had landed beside him, sharply scanned the building.
"I smell blood. Lucia's scent."
"Are we too late?"
"No, it's fresh blood. Let's go."
No response was necessary. The two moved simultaneously, almost seeming to vanish. Left alone, Isabelle stared blankly at where they had been before letting out a hollow laugh.
"So you were holding back when running with me."
The corridor was filled with signs of battle. Even while running, Ivan could read the traces and deduce what had happened.
The remains of skeletal soldiers, the direction of destruction, fragments and battle marks on walls and floors—all clearly indicated, like fingerprints, who had fought how and where they had gone.
He had "seen" the fighting styles of all group members before. Since trained agents never forget what they've seen, he could clearly visualize what formation and tactics the group had used as they fought their way through.
"That way."
Enrique pointed in the same direction. Ivan ran alongside her, biting his lip anxiously.
Soon, he heard the sounds of battle. The noise was muffled, dampened by magical interference. Sound barrier? Presence concealment? Something similar.
As they got closer, the nature of the sounds became clearer. They're still fighting. That's Oskar and Yuri's swordsmanship.
Good. They weren't too late.
Ivan momentarily ran ahead of Enrique and turned the corner of the corridor.
Beyond the broken seal, a garden stretched out.
At the entrance to the garden stood a solemn statue. A familiar face. Sasha. A statue modeled after his face looked down at the entrance.
They even made something like this.
Below it, a phrase engraved in Elizabeta's handwriting was visible.
[Now I finally mourn willingly for those who have gone before.]
[You who stand here. You are seeing the price of peace, so you must revere it.]
[Elizabeta Kirillovna Krasilov]
He could understand the feelings with which she had created this place. Despite being indoors, a vibrant garden with rows of tombstones was visible.
The epitaph on every tombstone was the same: [Nameless Hero].
The Annihilation Squad, about 700 people. This was their resting place, which was scheduled to be reopened more grandly than any national cemetery once construction was completed.
So she had prepared all this.
Ivan briefly reflected before turning his gaze.
The time that had been segmented by maximum acceleration slowly returned to normal. Only then did the fighters, who had seemed frozen, notice his arrival and step back.
"Commander!!"
"Lord Yeremov!!"
The group cried out. They were rejoicing with relief and gladness. Fortunately, no one appeared to be seriously injured.
Ivan's gaze shifted. He confirmed the face of the one who had been pursuing the group until just now.
A pale face with sharp jawline, slicked-back blonde hair. Tall and slender build.
And,
A face filled with shock.
"The Spider... Ivan?! You're, you're alive?!"
"So it was you."
Ivan took a step forward, gripping his axe. The creature stepped back nervously. Ivan scanned the cemetery once more and growled lowly. How dare he, in this place. How dare an undead.
How dare he, to his comrades.
"Your death will be far from peaceful."
The vampire froze like a frog facing a snake, confronted by those hate-filled eyes.
It felt like his mind was clearing. Extreme anger tends to make one's mind calm. Rather, this was an appropriate situation for battle.
Ivan's time flowed slowly once again.
In the moment time segmented, Ivan was already gone from that spot.