Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Permitted Prey
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"Th-this... I have to let them know right away."
Viscount Tolstain, the court mage and most trusted servant among Duke Hanskain's invisible underlings.
He had only stepped out of the secret mage tower for a few days to conduct magic experiments, but the world had changed.
The royal family and Royal Guard, who had been reduced to crippled shells by Duke Hanskain and the noble factions,
had transformed.
Sharpened to a lethal edge, they had seized—without regard for noble status—everyone who had mocked and humiliated the royals.
Noble privileges meant nothing.
Rebels were sentenced on the spot and beheaded.
Tolstain stood trembling, clutching a single Lumicar he carried for emergencies.
Uncertain when the Royal Guard might burst in, he glanced at the door sealed tight with magic, then hurled the Lumicar out the open window.
'I can't even cast Fly...'
The palace had become a fortress.
Ancient walls bristled with archers and soldiers armed with every manner of weapon, glaring watchfully.
Thud! Thud!
"Traitor Court Mage Tolstain! By order of the king!!"
"Huh?!"
As he pondered escape, the tower door rattled as if about to shatter.
"Break it down!"
"Yes, sir!"
The voice of a Royal Guard knight rudely ordering the breach of a room belonging to Tolstain, who held a fairly important position among the court mages.
Boom!
Crack!
An axe infused with mana cracked the door warded with a lock spell.
Boom! Boom!
Repeated axe blows followed.
The blade, glowing blue with mana, pierced the door, flaunting its murderous intent.
"Ugh..."
Terrified by the sight, Tolstain collapsed, whimpering in fear.
Even as a 5th Circle mage, he knew there was no escaping this.
The moment he cast Fly, massive crossbows and archers would turn him into a pincushion.
KABOOM!
The sturdy door shattered with a deafening crash.
Step by step.
A dozen Royal Guard knights entered, blue mana blades drawn.
Drip, drip.
Overwhelmed by their fierce presence, Viscount Tolstain wet himself.
"Bind him!"
The knight issued the cold command.
Clink, clink.
It was over in seconds.
Remnants scattered across Habis Kingdom.
In territories where lords had marched out to suppress the revolt, all bowed to the royal decree.
And in a speed that stunned everyone, thousands of nobles and their families who had sullied the royal name were dragged to the palace or stripped of titles and reduced to slaves.
It was an unprecedented, radical decision and action no one had foreseen.
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Pew!
'Yeah, fire away!'
Sky knights loosed Blessed Spears from far beyond range, too hasty.
Glowing blue with mana, the spears hurtled harmlessly past me, dipping toward the ground far below.
'Time to start the harvest.'
A quick glance back: aside from about thirty wyverns, no more pursuers.
I'd baited them just right—close enough to catch, but not quite—and these fools had followed deep.
'Right on time.'
At my command, five wyverns waiting high in the sky revealed themselves.
Beastkin who had slaughtered dozens of magical beasts during the recent monster subjugation.
Even five was too many; their claim that hunting beasts was the easiest thing in the world forced even master hunters to shut up and acknowledge them.
"Bebeto, climb!"
I tugged the reins lightly, guiding Bebeto's head toward the sun.
Flap, flap, flutterflutterflutter!
The immense muscular power in his mighty wingbeats.
It felt like we could reach the sun itself as Bebeto shot straight up into the sky.
A maneuver unique to Bebeto, no other wyvern could match.
In an instant, the pursuing wyverns lagged far below.
'Too bad.'
Others might hunt wyverns to enrich their lands, but I couldn't just devour the pitiful wyverns of Habis Kingdom without reason.
Lord Rosiat's pleading face flashed before me.
Whoosh.
After shaking off the enemy wyverns and climbing, Bebeto's head slowly whipped through the air.
'.....!!'
Bebeto's signature: the vertical dive rollercoaster.
My heart pounded with anticipation of the thrill.
Blessed Spear in my right hand, reins gripped tight in my left.
"....."
As Bebeto's massive body twisted halfway to level, a momentary weightlessness—like floating above the sky.
Swoosh.
But only for an instant.
The second his head dipped toward the ground, chills raced across my skin.
Shrieeeeeeeeeek.
Wings tucked, Bebeto plunged like a reinforced bomber toward the earth.
Flutterflutterflutterflutterflutterflutterflutter!
The cape around my neck whipped wildly, threatening to tear in the deafening roar of wind.
'Ooooooh!!!!!!!!!!!!!'
A flight stunt producing exhilaration no 21st-century ride could match.
Without the Air Plate and helmet, the pressure would've shredded my body.
'Eat this!'
My new wyvern and sky knight hunting method.
I'd pondered how to take down hordes of wyverns.
Especially since capturing them unharmed was key—turning sky knights and wyverns into fools without injury.
And I'd devised it.
"Light Missile!"
A Light Missile with no physical power.
Infused with moderate mana, it flashed white light, streaking through the enemy wyverns.
'One, two, three, fourrr, five! Now!'
We dove suddenly overhead; the sky knights flailed in panic.
Too fast for spear throws—me and plummeting Bebeto.
"Air Boom!!!!!!!!!"
An Air Boom spell cast while hurling bait spears.
Flash!
The spear rocketed toward the lead wyvern.
Magic orbs of light trailed it.
KABOOOOOM!
It exploded.
A 4th Circle alteration spell: Air Boom.
No real damage, but perfect for startling foes or scaring monsters.
Compressed mana-air boomed like an explosive, dominating the sky.
Kweeeeeek!
Kiaaaaaak!
Whine, whine, whiiiine.
Sudden blast damaged the wyverns' hearing.
Sky knights fared no better.
Clutching helmets, they writhed atop their mounts.
I could imagine their agony just watching.
"Wind Arrow!"
"Wind Arrow!!"
Controllable Wind Arrows whistled.
Ears ruptured by the blast, sky knights dropped their spears.
Clamping hands over ears, most plummeted to the ground.
Beastkin zipped in beside staggering wyverns.
They cast Wind Arrows flawlessly.
Killing intent absent, heavy 5th Circle Wind Arrows—thick as orc legs—struck sky knights one by one.
Exceeding Air Plate limits, the knights fainted dead away on the spot.
'They're damn useful.'
Like the beloved house guardian, the beastkin handled things steadfastly and cleanly.
They knocked out every staggering sky knight atop the wyverns.
"Wind Press!!"
A courteous Wind Press for wyverns scattering wildly, formation lost.
Kweeeek!
Kiaaaaaak!
Sonic assault followed by Wind Press; wyverns screamed, flailing midair like drowning birds.
Boom! Thud! Thud!
One by one, they smashed into the earth under our Wind Presses.
'If there'd been more, it'd have been tough.'
Sky knights unprepared for this unknown tactic.
Only someone with Bebeto's flight prowess and my ability to cast stable spells in unstable positions could pull it off.
Clink, clink.
Hundreds of waiting knights and soldiers emerged to collect fallen wyverns and sky knights.
As ordered: holy water for wyverns' wounds, potent sedatives forced down throats.
Sky knights stripped bare, mana cuffs applied.
'Heh, jackpot.'
Nothing free here.
Even if Lord Rosiat begged, minimum(?) courtesy demanded results.
"My lord! Enemies approaching."
Sedlian's voice from the magic communicator in my helmet alone.
'Let's make today count.'
Weather turning colder.
Snow could sicken my troops; time to end it.
'200! Repeat: you're all dead!'
I spurred Bebeto toward Gadein Castle's skies.
To decide Neruman and Habis Kingdom's fates in one decisive battle.
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"Hmm....."
Arriving at the plain before Gadein Castle with his troops, Duke Hanskain unwittingly sighed at the fortress-like gray stone bastion.
An inexplicable dread welled from his gut's depths.
It had started last night upon seeing that man.
"Your Excellency, the sky knights aren't returning."
His shadow-like adjutant gazed darkly beyond Gadein Castle.
About thirty sky knights had pursued Neruman's Lord Kair.
Not one returned.
"They may have chased deep; no panic."
'No way all of them.....'
He urged calm, but fear circled his mind.
'No matter. Once Gadein falls, Neruman ends.'
No sign of Neruman's over forty sky knights, but he wasn't afraid yet.
With castle knight sky knights added, forces remained intact.
"What are your orders?"
"Have the soldiers rested?"
"They've eaten; ready for battle now."
Even without the report, Hanskain assessed well.
Despite forced march, troops looked spirited after meals and brief rest.
"Enemy movements unchanged?"
"Only archers and few infantry on walls. We can take it before sunset on your command."
The confident adjutant earned a nod.
Whatever their plan, Gadein was underdefended.
Bypassing for Denfos would've been impossible without splitting forces—which they hadn't.
Neruman's northern elites couldn't be pulled either.
Monsters and starving Temir wolves lurked.
"But something suspicious."
"Suspicious?"
"More military horses in stables and scattered than expected."
"That's not suspicious—it's fortunate."
Domain nobles and knights more reliable than fool courtiers.
They stood guard around the duke.
'No more delay. Attack now.'
Sun past zenith, tilting west.
Night battle risked friendly fire; avoid it.
"Transmit attack order. Leave fifty wyverns for air defense; all others bomb the castle. Ground troops except cavalry charge siege simultaneously with wyvern launch. Execute immediately. My knights, follow me airborne!"
"Yessir!"
Duke Hanskain's command echoed.
Waiting knights roared vigorous loyalty.
Bwooo! Bwooo!
Attack horns wailed across the plain.
Pre-discussed strategy: wyvern-owning nobles and sky knights launched one by one.
Clang, clash.
Soldiers grabbed weapons after short, sweet rest post-meal.
Supplies cut; fail to take the castle, starve tonight—they knew.
"Centurions forward!"
"Shield wall up front!"
"Carlo territory troops to left flank now!"
Miscellany or not, Habis soldiers formed attack positions crisply under knight orders.
Winter-dry earth churned to dust underfoot.
Oblivious to the party awaiting them atop that place called Gadein.
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"We bypass."
Leading castle knights, Daterian ordered his waiting men as Habis suppressors moved on Gadein.
Their goal: secure priestess Armis of Orosi.
Thus positioned at Habis rear.
Far enough from Gadein view.
'This war feels off.'
Daterian the cleric recalled last night's ominous dream.
Impaled through the chest by a blue-mana spear—vivid horror.
Dream or not, the chest-gaping agony lingered post-wake.
"Hya!"
All castle knights mounted.
Daterian whipped his horse, taking point.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Castle knights followed like hounds chasing prey.
Kreeee!
Overhead, ten temple wyverns flew low defensive formation.
Toward Denfos' hills, not battling Gadein...
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"Impressive."
On the ramparts beside me, Sedlian marveled at the encircling tens of thousands.
Even top mercenaries rarely saw such mass battles.
Plus wyverns launching steadily.
Merging with dozens airborne, they formed winter migratory flocks—vast swarms.
'Come. I'm hungry.'
No mercy in the coming fight.
Half-hearted mercy would wound my knights and soldiers.
Clink, clink.
Hidden castle knights quietly took positions on ideal ramparts and towers.
Our ace in the hole, unveiled now.
Knights slotted beside regular troops, one by one.
Exactly 1,000.
Each held a death spear to drag enemy wyverns to hell.
Pew!
Taut string twang from adjacent tower.
Dwarf-forged anti-wyvern heavy crossbows loaded with mithril-tipped bolts.
"My lord, time to launch. Enemy wyverns prepping bombs."
Chilly sky dotted with thunderclouds.
Some wyverns in defensive squadrons; others clutched boulders, logs in talons, launching.
Like crows he'd seen, gray wyverns filled the sky.
Heart pounded.
Calm as I tried, this decided my fate, Neruman's, Habis'.
Life-or-death bouts: winner laughs, loser silent.
Cold corpses speak not.
"Good luck."
"We'll bring you victory, my lord!"
"Yessir!"
Sedlian's confidence backed by knights' hearty loyalty cries.
Pweeeee!
Long whistle pierced.
Rooooar!
Flutterflutter.
Bebeto burst from hangar, roaring long.
Flash.
I leaped from the tower.
Thud!
Bebeto's back underfoot.
Click click—safety harness secured—I soared skyward.
Time to start the perfectly prepped party.
Whirrrrr.
Chill winter wind skimmed the tense, murderous plain.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Enemy infantry advanced like starving ants, shields foremost toward the castle.
Kwaaaaa!
Kreeeeee!
Skies filled with wyverns sensing decisive battle cries.
"Heh....."
Cold laugh escaped helmet.
Racing heart now burned hot.
Blood surging now was a feral beast's crimson fury...
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'What the hell are they doing?!'
Duke Hanskain launched atop his beloved wyvern.
High up, Neruman plains and Gadein Castle lay in full view.
Only one wyvern hovered over the castle: Lord Kair's hybrid.
Rising high, fleeing toward distant skies.
'What is this dread's source...'
Born thrice near death.
Once in pre-duke fratricide; once post-duke by assassin; last, years ago, mystery poison.
Never such body-wide foreboding.
Overwhelming force advantage obvious.
Advancing infantry beyond strong—beautiful; launching wyverns empire-defying.
Yet uneasy.
Thirty-plus wyverns and sky knights chasing Kair vanished; yet Kair appeared on his hybrid.
And thousands atop Gadein walls.
No match—yet dread persisted.
'No. Impossible to lose.'
Raw power gap insurmountable—even for 8th Circle mage.
Flutter, flutter.
Ground assault wyverns neared Gadein clutching rocks, logs.
Hanskain trailed rear with thirty-odd subordinate wyverns.
Few needed.
One morale-crushing bombing ends it.
Swooooosh.
Shrieeeek.
Wyverns neared castle skies, diving.
High drops risked wind deviation; close to 200-300 meters overhead.
Over a hundred wyverns tucked wings, bombing.
Rare spectacle.
'Just nerves. How could those scraps take wyverns—Gah!'
Few archers, heavy crossbows visible—no threat.
Arrows couldn't pierce wyvern armor, let alone skin; non-tracking bolts wouldn't down wyverns.
Then—hundreds of flickering mana glows snapped him alert.
Spearmen amid wall archers.
Familiar mana blazed from their spears.
'Bl-Blessed Spears!!!!!'
Not one or two.
Around a thousand Blessed Spears, mana-charged.
Enough to equip fifty wyverns fully.
'Oh god...'
He remembered.
Hers mercenaries joining Neruman—all elite mana-users.
Flash!
Pewpewpewpewpewpewpew!
"No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Hanskain's agonized scream burst from his helmet.
Simultaneously, hundreds of radiant blue Blessed Spears launched skyward from the walls.
A thousand thunderbolts rising from earth to heaven.
Toward over a hundred diving bombers.
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Thud thud thud thud.
Kiaaaaaak!
Kwaaaaaak!
Kaaaaaak!
Instant.
A thousand Blessed Spears poured on diving wyverns laden with stones and logs.
Spears seized from enemy sky knights transformed in 1,000 elite knights' hands to hellspears.
No dodging.
Vast sky or not, bulky wyverns couldn't evade the dense Blessed Spear net.
Some sky knights activated armor—but wings unprotected.
Close-range Blessed Spears ignored wyvern armor easily.
Boom! Thud! Thud!
'Yes!!!'
Unforeseen tactic wiped wyverns from sky.
All struck, plummeting.
Of bombing wyverns, ten survived.
Wings torn, they dropped loads, tails between legs fleeing.
Rider and mount alike lost minds to sudden terror.
'Here they come.'
Then I saw them.
My proud domain sky knights emerging distant, perfectly timed.
Raiker and Baron Jenis squadrons from Ciaris Fortress; Sir Shailt's from Orak Castle.
Denfos wyvern squadrons awaiting orders.
Beastkin beside me now—total forty-seven wyverns.
Tightening net on Habis trash panicked by allies' annihilation.
"Bebeto, let's go!"
Called Bebeto, who'd flown stealthily till now.
Rooooar!
Bebeto's signature roar.
Rippling wing muscles danced beautifully.
Swoooooooosh!
Cleaving sky winds.
My permitted prey awaited below.
A single terror-struck soul lost in heavens.
'......'
Duke Hanskain gaped, eyes glazing at carnage.
Wyvern horde filling sky moments ago—gone; only sixty-seventy air defense wyverns flew pointlessly.
Swoooooosh.
Splat!
"Kraaaaaak!"
Not all.
Infantry advanced to one klick from Gadein.
Massive arrows pierced clusters, skewering dozens.
Swoosh! Splat!
"Arrrgh!"
"Kraaaaaak!"
Not one or two.
Monstrous heavy crossbow bolts at steady pace.
Advancing ranks holed everywhere.
Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud!
Then visible.
Castle gates flung open; thousands of cavalry charged.
Habis lines toward them.
"Haa....."
Must block cavalry—yet long sigh escaped.
Head pounding, Hanskain squeezed eyes shut.
Thud!
Kiaaaaaak!
"Fl-Fly!"
Couldn't even close eyes.
Sudden rear scream.
Whirling, Hanskain froze.
Duke's sky knight cast Fly for emergency flight; his wyvern struck rear by Blessed Spear, plummeting.
"Wy-Wyverns!"
Unknown wyvern group appeared rear.
Swoosh!
Clang!
Side spear glanced off wyvern armor, sparking.
'Encircled!'
Incredibly, dozens appeared coordinated.
Fewer than Habis—but disciplined flight, attack posture pure terror.
Habis sky knights, morale crushed, fled tails tucked sans retreat order.
'Lo-Lost.....'
Hanskain grasped dread's source.
Believing he'd attacked Neruman, he realized they'd been spiderwebbed.
Thud thud thud!
Thud!
"Kraaaaaak!"
"R-R-R-R-Retreat!"
"S-Save me!!"
Ground chaos matched.
Ground troops watched kingdom wyverns fall.
Half-mad from heavy bolts, then trampled by thousands cavalry—total rout.
Nobles' retainers dropped vital weapons, fleeing blindly back.
Dust billowed everywhere.
"R-Retreat! Back to kingdom, all!!"
Hanskain's retreat order.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Kweeeeeek!
Air formation collapsed too.
Vast sky, yet swarming foes clouded sky knights' judgment.
Retreat dissolved defense; each spurred wyvern toward enemy-free directions.
'Oh god!'
Rare plea to deity.
Hanskain turned back, leading last wyvern-controlling guard sky knights.
Mere mealtime passed—yet irreversible defeat engulfed him.