Epic of Caterpillar
chapter-455

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In a few minutes, we reached the outside of the Moonfang's capital, where the citadel was at the center, in front of the large western-style castle, build from bright brown bricks and having several smaller constructions surrounding it.

The capital was surrounded by giant walls made out of gray bricks, which seemed to have been enhanced by magic barriers and defense strengthening spells.

The place seemed lively, but the people inside were completely unaware of the darkness lurking from behind.

I detected several entities that possessed some slight Divinity related to Geggoron, his pawns. There were thousands of them, these were most likely the monstrosities, which were now truly possessed by a split soul but were mutated through administrating Geggoron's divinity into normal citizens.

Monstrosities seemed to have mimicry abilities, being able to take back their previous appearances and pretend to be the same people that they were before.

The walls were filled with Nightmare Hunters posing as Knights, the armor that they wielded was in truth grotesque exoskeletons. And at the center of the capital, the grand castle, there were stronger presences inside, at least four were remarkable, while the rest seemed weaker and not as strong.

Due to Led Zeppelin's ability to conjure Illusion Attribute spells to become almost invisible, it seems that we had been undetected.

I glanced down below as I realized that there was a large Nightmare Barrier protecting the entire city.

"Hm… now, how should I go into this?"

"All of the monstrosities and Nightmare Hunters are mixed with normal citizens… even if I were to destroy the castle, those monsters would begin to crazily devour the people just to spite on me. Geggoron had most likely guessed my intentions already…" I said.

I decided to sit down on the floor as I began to rack my brain.

"I need to find a way to save the citizens, which will be mine and are important to become stronger by obtaining worshippers, while the Monstrosities and Nightmare Hunters don't realize this… how could I separate them without creating panic or chaos?" I wondered

I had many skills and abilities. Certainly, there should be a certain combination that could grant me the ability to do so… or should I just give up, and blast the castle with a powerful attack while waiting for the best?

No, I do not usually like to think like this.

I wonder if Geggoron has detected me yet… It seems that he was mostly unaware of my position this whole time. Perhaps my Mirage Magic is strong enough to even deceive gods.

If that is the case, it should be strong enough to brainwash even Monstrosities and Nightmare Hunters to an extent, as they are only mutated citizens and not true Geggoron's Split Souls.

"Honey, how about you use your Mirage Magic? Could it be possible to brainwash the entire capital by using it? We would help you as well" said Zehe.

"I was just thinking about that, Zehe… But we would need to destroy the Nightmare Barrier without letting the people panic" I said.

"The only way of doing that is by using brute force and Divinity Devouring…" said Brontes.

"I have the skill as well! I could take care of the barrier!" said Rimuru.

"I think my Psychic powers could work in conjunction with your Mirage Magic, Kireina," said Nanako.

"It would be nice if Mady was here," said Altani.

"Yes, I just called her," I said, opening a portal to my Inner Realm, where Mady emerged from, floating. The eyes of her tentacles glanced at her surroundings and then at the city.

"I never thought that you would call me for something like this. I suppose I am still useful" said Mady, with a teasing smile.

"Don't say something like that, you're always useful, Mady..." I said.

"I was kidding~ So this is Moonfang? Quite smaller than I imagined…" she muttered.

"Ah, Mady-chan!" said Gaby, the rest of the girls greeted her with various hugs.

"Am I as missed? A-Anyways, let us begin preparations…"

After Kireina devised a strategy, she and her wives quickly began preparations. Rimuru alongside Kireina's second body decided to be the ones who would break the barrier. Meanwhile, at the same moment, as the barrier was broken, Kireina would use the Slime Clones she had spread around alongside Mady's Illusion Floating Octopi and Nanako's Floating Divine Eyes to activate a large magic circle surrounding the entire capital.

This magic circle was constructed for a few minutes, and it needed carefulness above all.

Mady could summon special servants name Illusion Floating Octopi, which were able to share her Mana from almost any distance, and could conjure Illusion spells of their own.

Nanako had a similar technique using the psychic powers of her eyes, which let her summon floating eyeballs made out of psychic energy.

Alongside Kireina's Slime Clones, which were shaped as phantasmal bats, capable of conjuring a wide variety of spells, they placed each of the little servants above all of the capital.

By using Nefertiti's masterful control over Light Attribute Magic coupled with Ismena and Kireina, they managed to camouflage each clone, making the light cross their bodies without blocking the sun from the capital, becoming undetected and invisible.

Things were finally done, and Kireina prepared Led Zeppelin by feeding her a large amount of her Mana.

Meanwhile, she used her second body to move alongside Rimuru towards the center of the citadel, almost touching the Nightmare Barrier. The two were covered in several coatings of Illusion Magic, to become undetected as well for the most part.

Kireina's first body gave the signal, as both her second body and Rimuru combined their Auras together alongside their Magic power, activating the 'Divinity Devouring' Skill and coating the effects of such skill around their abilities.

Both extended their arms into giant tentacles covered in armor and scales. Kireina's arms were using the powers of the Calamity Abyss Demon body parts, greatly enhancing herself with them.

"Now, Rimuru!"

"Yes, Masta!"

Releasing several techniques at the same time charged with the destructive effect of Divinity Devouring, both of them released an impactful blow that weighed several tons over the Nightmare Barrier.

CLASH!

The powerful blow made the entire Barrier tremble desperately, releasing cracking sounds that filled the ears of the citizens.

Crack, crack!

"What is going on?"

"What is that?!"

"An enemy… an enemy attack!"

Crack, crack!

As if breaking glass, the Nightmare Barrier began to fall into pieces over the city, crushing a few houses and a small number of citizens and monstrosities alike. Kireina had already predicted these losses and did not mind as long as the majority were to be saved.

Even the Monstrosities and Nightmare Hunters were confused and hadn't received any of Geggoron's orders yet!

"What should we do?"

"Who is attacking?"

"Why hasn't master detected this?"

"Now, girls! Calamity Abyss Demon Lustful Brain!"

"Alright!" said Mady.

"Leave it to us!" said Nanako.

Kireina commanded the girls to release their mana into the giant and invisible magic circle, connecting with each small servant. Meanwhile, Kireina increased the power of the Illusion Magic by generating a gigantic mass of grotesque brains floating in the sky connected to her body, their power amplified her Illusion Magic several times!

She also infused her own mana into the magic circle, as it began to function, releasing a massive amount of pink mist that quickly covered the entire capital in the spawn of a few seconds!

The people were even more confused, and could not help but breathe the mist as they needed oxygen.

The mist smelled sweet and had a floral scent.

Every citizen or monster that smelled it was 'enchanted'… an alluring fragrance as they had never smelt before.

The people's eyes turned pink, even the monstrosities and Nightmare Hunters. No one was an exception aside from Geggoron's Split Souls inside the castle, who quickly began to leave the castle, running towards the city to see what was happening.

Both monsters and citizens stood still, glancing at the sky.

Although Geggoron's Split Souls were not affected, they also sensed something strange about the mist!

The hypnotized and 'enchanted' people glanced at the pink sky, seeing the mirage of Kireina, in her utmost splendor and beauty… their master.

"Master… Kireina" said every citizen and monster at the same time.

"Good! Good boys and girls~ Please, leave the city for your master, okay~?" asked Kireina through the mirages.

"Yes… Master Kireina" they said, nonchalantly.

All of the people and monstrosities worked together and organized, beginning to leave the city! Even the gates of the walls were opened by the Nightmare Hunters working in there.

"It's a success, gu!" said Rimuru, glancing from above.

"Indeed, but the rats came out of their nest," said Kireina's second body, glancing at the castle.

"Let's continue the plan, it's not over yet!" said Kireina's first body, flying towards the castle with the rest of her wives.

As long as she kept that giant floating brain in the sky, the spell would still be functioning for a prolonged period.

Kireina decided to send Nanako and Mady to administrate the people that will appear on the outskirts of Moonfang while also taking care of the monstrosities and Nightmare Hunters while they were hypnotized and defenseless.

The four 'remarkable' presences that Kireina had sensed appeared.

"How did she appear?! She broke the Nightmare Barrier out of nowhere, completely undetected to us! And even leisurely prepared that giant magic circle?! How could the main body not alert us of this beforehand?!" shouted a giant Lion Beastmen who had his entire fur covered in the colors of the deep night. It wore simple leather armor that covered some areas of his gigantic and herculean physique while wielding two gauntlets. His eyes were crimson red, this was Vasipheus, the Eldest Lion Prince and oldest brother of Cathin.

"This is… To think that this worm had such magic capable of being completely undetected by our godly sight!" shouted a lioness beast woman. She had a giant-like body of over three meters as well, had bulging muscles all around her body as her long and white hair waved through the wind. She had aquamarine eyes and distinguished beauty, with pale-white skin, almost transparent. Her pawns had long and white nails, alongside her feet and her tail. White fur covering them up to her elbows and knees. She was Dalia, the current Queen of the Moonfang Kingdom and 'adoptive mother' of Cathin, although she had barely interacted with him throughout her entire life.

"We cannot wait in here, or else the main body's plan might end shattered! Let us destroy this magic circle right now! Move, you useless pawns!" shouted the biggest Lion beastmen in the group, the current King of Moonfang and father of Cathin, Lionel, often called the 'Beast Lion King', his body bypassed the three meters of tallness, almost reaching four.

His muscles were gigantic and imposing, and his entire body was almost completely covered in golden and shiny fur. Unlike the rest of the Beasts, he had the head of a real lion. This was due to his recent evolutions, which had transformed him into a Monstrous Beast Lion. His entire body exuded an aura of pressure and intimidation. The sovereign of all the beastmen of Moonfang.

"Yes, father! I will destroy it for Geggoron-sama!" shouted the fourth 'remarkable' person, another Lion and the one known in the entire Kingdom of Moonfang as the 'Golden Adamantine Claws Lion King', Drarus one of the oldest princes of Moonfang.

Drarus's entire fur was a golden color, shining brightly through the reflected light of the sun. He had naturally developed claws made out of golden adamantine, essentially making them as strong and resilient as 'Legendary' Rank weapons. His eyes were fierce and crazed, with the color of boiling blood. He bared his fangs as his mane went crazy, his entire body was engulfed in a terrifying blazing Aura.

"Graaaaaah! Blazing Lion Uppercut!" he shouted, jumping with enough strength to shatter the entire floor where he was standing, a shockwave strong enough to destroy most of the surrounding properties while setting them on fire due to his crazed Aura.

He flew at max speed towards the sky, targeting the magic circle above him.

However, instead of the magic circle, he was greeted with the sight of a giant brown mace clashing over its face. An incredible weight greeted his head as its entire body was sent blasted like a bullet back to the floor where he belonged.

CLASH!

"Mmgghh?!"

Boom!

Drarus quickly recovered from the injury as his flesh was engulfed in Geggoron's split soul aura, recovering the wound. He glanced above to see the one behind that attack.

"Kireina said that I could have some fun with the 'big guys' in here! Don't worry, I'll make sure to NOT be gentle, hahaha!" laughed Lilith, as her scaled tail waved around, she was currently floating in the sky by using her Levitate Ring.

"That's one of Kireina's allies…!" shouted Lionel, recognizing her appearance from the shared memories of Geggoron with everyone else.

Appearing at the sides of Lilith were Charlotte, Brontes, Nesiphae, Nixephine, and many other girls.

"This… she brought them all?! This gotta be a joke!" shouted Dalia, baring her fangs.

"Should we escape?" asked Vasipheus.

"No! We have been granted a few artifacts by Geggoron-sama… it seems that he wants us to try and defeat Kireina… Wait, where is she?!" Asked Lionel.

"Kireina-sama is busy preparing a domain to trap all of you inside! Oh, she's done, guu!" said Rimuru, as she appeared from above the four lions. There were also another five more of Geggoron's Split Souls behind them, but their strength was not as remarkable as these four.

"What? Her Domain?" shouted Dalia, glancing at the sky as space itself changed…

Then, Kireina's first body appeared inside of her domain, while her second body leisurely walked around the castle of Moonfang, going deep into the stairs that led to the underground, looking for something.