Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: The Day My Nosebleed Burst
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'My lord, where are you!'
Roar. Roar.
Even amid the dark clouds, the acrid flames devouring the monsters' corpses lit up the shadows.
Sky Knight Sedlian, who had taken off from Ciaris Fortress.
His heart ached at the news that even the Ciaris soldiers didn't know their lord's whereabouts.
Kayer, the lord he had chosen, abandoning even his family's vengeance.
A lord younger than him by far, yet possessing charisma that overwhelmed all and a warm heart that flowed gently.
He widened his eyes and scanned every direction.
Roooooooar!
'Bebeto's roar!'
True to his size, one and a half times larger than other wyverns, Bebeto's cry shook the heavens and earth.
"The lord is over there!"
Sedlian channeled mana to shout to the squadron following behind.
Flap. Flaaap.
Gripping the reins tight, he accelerated.
Praying for the safety of his one and only lord in the world.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Boom!
'Damn it...'
These were magic beasts that knew how to use their wits properly.
Perfect coordinated attacks—one diving in to rescue another in peril.
He wanted to sweep them all away, but only seven lay fallen on the ground so far.
Over ten more remained, and he could sense a boss-level beast lurking unseen in the darkness.
Roooooooar!
As his mana dwindled, Bebeto roared above in alarm at the explosion.
The loyal beast circled the clearing's skies, watching over him.
'One, two, three!'
Knowing he wasn't alone sometimes unleashed tremendous power.
He had no idea where the beastkin were, but Bebeto alone steadied his heart.
Flutter.
Ssk, ssk, ssk.
The magic beasts encircled him, emitting unintelligible cries.
The one with long horns sprouting from its head and a sharp face like an iron skewer looked the strongest.
Long scythe-like arms with sturdy claws, a hunched upper body longer than its lower half, yet a stable stance.
'I'll take you out first.'
His mana was nearly gone now.
He could hold out for maybe ten minutes at best.
Before then, he had to load as many of these magic beasts as possible onto the express train to hell.
Grrrrrrumble!
The beast growled low, displeased at his glare.
Swoosh.
Zzzip, zzzip.
In that instant, the swift beast charged at him like lightning.
'Where the hell are you spitting that from, you filthy thing!'
At the same time, the scorpion-tailed one behind spat venom at him.
'Uraaaah!'
Incredible speed for their bulk—the magic beasts' movements.
Clang!
His sword bounced off the iron-barrel arm.
Sizzle.
'That's some acid, forget hydrochloric.'
He shifted positions clashing with the beast, and its poison stinger hit where he'd stood.
The ground bubbled, spewing green toxic fumes.
'Goodbye, speedy!'
No matter how monstrous, it wasn't ready to face him, a master swordsman at human limits.
After a dozen slashes, its guard dropped, and he cleaved its waist with a poison-laced blade.
Crunch.
A solid feel, like cutting rock.
Grinding his teeth, he severed the iron-bar waist completely.
Spluuurt.
Darker blue blood than any monster's gushed as the speedy beast split in two.
Ssshh.
As he finished it, exposing an opening, sharp claws lunged at him.
'Hup!'
No room for even a moment's lapse.
Gritting his teeth, he blocked the enraged skewer-horn's claws.
Clang!
'Ugh!'
Immense pressure in his hands.
Nausea confirmed damage to his internals.
Swoosh.
Failing its attack, the beast's red eyes glared murderously.
Whoooosh.
Suddenly, a black shape from the dark.
He hastily blocked the flying object.
Boom!
"Gah!"
'T-Tail!'
Shockingly, an unseen steel tail had ambushed him.
Drip.
Blood poured from his mouth.
The fury of a nosebleed like the one from childhood, after so long.
Suddenly, he recalled the beating from the Triad thugs before coming to this continent.
'You're next!'
Grrrrrrumble!
Delighted at his blood, the beast shrieked.
Flash!
He kicked off.
He couldn't hold out any longer.
Just beat this one and bail.
Whoooosh.
As he lunged, it anticipated, kicking off to meet him midair.
Its three-meter arms writhed forward first.
'Eat this!'
His ultimate technique, unused till now.
'Ghost Meteor!'
A secret art only Blade Masters could unleash.
Flash!
Nine solidified blade swords bloomed from his sword like a ray piercing the dark.
Clang. Thud!
A few strands stretched like taffy off its steel fists, while others slammed into its open torso with heavy ruptures.
"Bebeto!!!!!!!!!"
Mana down to mere drops.
He bellowed at full force to Bebeto circling above.
Roooooooar!
Sensing the crisis in his call, Bebeto roared powerfully and dove.
'These guys are seriously tough.'
A bone-deep feel of the magic beasts' true power.
Rather than relief at outmatching monsters, a chill of fear gripped his chest.
If these magic beasts had joined the fortress assault instead, Ciaris would already be monster fodder.
Flap, flap, flaap.
Roooooooar!
Bebeto's wing gusts above.
"Fly!"
He cast Fly with his last mana drops.
Whoosh.
Magic lifted his body afloat.
With the strong one shredded to pieces, the beasts halted their assault, staring blankly.
'Hang tight, bastards! I'll be back!'
Glancing back at them mid-flight to Bebeto.
".....!!!!!"
Then, a black streak hurtling from the dark toward him.
Roooooooar!
'C-Crazy!'
He was already seven meters up from the ground.
He saw it.
A winged magic beast, four meters tall, lion-headed with a black scythe-wrapped body.
Its gaping maw bristled with shark-like fangs, front claws gleaming blacker than night.
'D-Damn it!'
An unexpected counter from the magic beast.
He'd known a sneaky one hid, but not timed so perfectly.
Roooooooar!
Bebeto roared in shock as it flew at him.
But his body wouldn't move.
Mid-Fly spell, not on ground—movements were stiff.
Plus, no mana left to fuel Fly.
He raised his sword.
Flash!
Regretfully, he hurled it at the oncoming beast's maw.
'Damn!'
Just a plain hunk of metal, no mana infused.
No expectations.
'Armis!'
Armis's face flashed in mind.
She'd be praying to the gods for his safe return right now.
Rooooaar!
Chilling killing intent from below.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
'Spare me just once! I'll do anything!'
The merciful goddess Neran's round golden cross surfaced in thought.
Sliiiice.
Splaat!
".....?"
A sudden sharp wind-cut, then a short fleshy burst.
Screeeeech!
Followed by the beast's agonized wail.
'Huh?'
He whipped his head down.
'T-That's!'
A spear embedded in the black lion beast's torso, humming with mana light.
"My loooord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
A familiar, desperate voice calling him.
'Sedlian!'
Whoooosh!
Thud thud thud!
Krrrack!
Clang!
Blast Spears raining down relentlessly on the ground.
'Ugh! My cute little ones!'
Sedlian, who miraculously saved his life, plus over a dozen wyverns and Sky Knights entered his view.
Not just them—dozens more wyverns soaring in under the now-cleared moonlight.
His chest swelled.
His knights, gathered for him alone.
"My loooord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"My loooord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Their cries, laden with worry, echoed through the skies.
'Thanks! Let's live it up together.'
All the stress he'd endured vanished.
Moments ago on death's door, now only surging joy remained.
Tap.
He settled into Bebeto's saddle.
"Ah....."
Indescribable peace.
Roooooooar!
Bebeto roared in joy at his safe landing.
"Attack!"
Sedlian hurled a Blast Spear at the beast that attacked him, screaming.
Swoosh swoosh.
Furious indiscriminate strikes from the enraged Sky Knights at his peril.
The clearing became a wasteland; over ten beasts too slow to flee were skewered into roasts by Blast Spears.
Turning peril to fortune.
The beasts gathered to kill him alone, and using his life as bait, most were wiped out.
"Whew....."
A long sigh escaped.
It felt good.
He realized once more in this moment—gratitude for being alive.
'Still, I hope the beastkin are okay?'
A quiet worry crept in.
No matter what anyone said, he was their lord.
Lord of all who lived and breathed in Neruman.
Kayer de Neruman—that was his name.