Chapter 293
Chapter 293
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 293
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-4. Blue Spear Knights
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Iris wore an expression that said she was curious to see just what I was up to. Watching her look dumbfounded, Judah used Carpediem's <Subordination> on her.
Subordination wasn't much different from hypnosis.
The Carpediem ring on his finger released a eerie purple energy like mist. Since they were running, the purple energy trailed behind like wind and melted into the air. At the same time, Iris's eyes, which had accepted the subordination, began to swirl with the same bewitching light emanating from the ring. She, who had been running smoothly, suddenly staggered and clutched her head with her left hand. Her furrowed brow suggested she was in pain.
"......"
"Shall I stop?"
At Judah's words, Iris seemed deeply conflicted. She appeared to be questioning whether she should accept this suspicious magic. Since it was her choice, Judah said nothing more. It seemed better to let her decide for herself rather than try to persuade her with empty words. After biting her lip in resistance, she narrowed her eyes and accepted Carpediem's power.
[[Moonlit Iris] has been successfully subordinated.]
It worked.
[
[As an additional reward, your level has increased by 2.]
[[Moonlit Iris] can no longer harm you unless she dies and does not revive.]
[Affinity has slightly increased due to the effects of <Subordination>.]
Judah skimmed the rising messages and nodded at the unexpected rewards, then immediately used Valentine's <Lend>.
The method was simple—just think about it. A hologram window appeared before his eyes, displaying the subordinated target.
[Moonlit Iris]
Without a moment's hesitation, he selected Iris, and a list of fragments available for lending appeared.
[Eighth Fragment - Guardian, Lucien Ardahan]
[Tenth Fragment - One yet Ten, Altemia]
[Thirteenth Fragment - Beast of Wrath, Yakal]
[Twenty-Second Fragment - Rudmillan]
Looking at the window, a chuckle escaped him. In ways like this, it really felt pointlessly game-like. Hearing the laugh, Iris shot him a side glance from beside him, looking wary of any funny business. He quickly lowered his raised lips.
He selected a fragment right away.
Naturally, it was the [Tenth Fragment, One yet Ten, Altemia].
It was the fragment with the prefix gained from offering a sacrifice to Bell-Terre. The moment he chose it, a ornate pattern etched itself onto the back of Iris's left hand. The pattern glowed red and forcibly injected information about the fragment into her.
"Ah!"
It wasn't a groan from pain. This was the second time experiencing the sensation of usage methods and information about a fragment seeping into her mind. Iris realized Judah had truly lent her the fragment, and she understood why he had given her this one.
Spreading her hand, Altemia was summoned into her palm. The dagger extended its beautifully crimson blade, but it looked awkward in her unfamiliar grip. Soon, however, she wielded it with skilled movements.
"......"
Iris stared down at the dagger quietly before glancing at Judah. Her eyes held the wonder of beholding a mystical creature.
"It was real."
"I don't lie to comrades, even if I deceive others."
At her soft mutter, Judah smiled. Iris gazed at him quietly and gave a small smile. When her rarely smiling face made his eyes widen, she quickly schooled her expression. In a curt voice, she continued.
"...I'll be back."
Knowing how to use the fragment, Iris moved immediately to recover her stamina. The gathered soldiers and Blue Spear Knights would serve as her offerings. Not far off, the knights and soldiers who would face her were spewing blood and roaring. Their cries were nearly wails.
There was no time to watch Iris massacre them. Blue Spear Knights and infantry units were closing in from the left and front. Flying javelins and arrows were a bonus.
"Kill them all! No need to leave a single one alive!"
Did they really think they could kill him? Judah gave a wry smile at their shouts and gifted Lucien Ardahan to the unit pressing from the left. The massive golem emerging from the rift charged imposingly, slamming its huge fist down on them.
He then plunged into the frontal unit to clear a path as quickly as possible. By then, Iris had already dealt with the right-side unit and appeared to help. She seemed to have fully recovered her stamina through Altemia.
"I'll take the fragment back, so don't rely on it too much."
"Yes."
After cleaning up the surroundings, when he spoke to Iris, she replied in a slightly regretful tone. He reverse-summoned Lucien Ardahan, who was guzzling mana like water, recovered more mana with Valentine, joined the Wraith Knight, and kept running without rest.
No time to rest. The end of the black land was gradually coming into view. Judah glanced back. Far off, one figure was closing in fiercely amid a haze of black dust. Trampling over corpses, he wore gleaming golden armor and a fluttering red cape, impossible to miss. His face was hidden by his helmet, but Judah recognized him instantly.
Basilisk, leader of the Emperor's direct guard, [Spear of Judgment].
'The old man's tireless.'
He remembered checking his [Status Window] last time—his overall stats reduced by about 15% due to aging—yet he was hot on their heels. While Judah and Iris had recovered stamina via Altemia, Basilisk had no such means, yet he pursued relentlessly. Fortunately, there was still distance, but clashing with blocking Blue Spear Knights and infantry would naturally close the gap, leading to a fight.
'Troublesome.'
Could he take him down quickly with Iris?
"Is fleeing south the right call?"
Lost in thought while checking the map, Lime suddenly spoke from where he was piggybacked on the Wraith Knight. Turning to look, Judah first noticed Lime's slightly pale face. Was being carried uncomfortable? Or was he scared of falling? Nodding affirmatively, Judah replied.
"Then how about teleporting with magic?"
"You can use teleportation too?"
"Yes... Well, I can, but those transparent boxes like before make it impossible. And my proficiency is low, so I can't jump straight to another region. If they have a mage, our position will be exposed quickly."
Ho.
Judah knew Lime was a high mage but hadn't expected spatial teleportation. It had drawbacks, but escaping this area made them minor. Judah nodded.
"Sounds good. Can you use it right now?"
"Since I'm preparing while moving, it takes a bit of time. And I have to stop when activating..., so if one of those boxes appears then, it might fail."
"No problem. Iris or I can smash it. The distance is still considerable, so if we maintain it, we can teleport before the cube deploys."
"Then I'll prepare now. It'll take about 10 minutes."
10 minutes?
'A bit long.'
Lime closed his eyes and focused immediately. He first cast a protective barrier on himself and the Wraith Knight against potential arrows or spears. They kept moving without stopping until Lime finished preparing the teleport. Iris handled enemies appearing on the right, while Judah took left and front.
Naturally, Judah shadow-stepped into the approaching Blue Spear Knights on the left, slicing them down, when he absentmindedly checked the and spotted a blue dot—ally—right beside him, hidden by red dots before. Turning, a Blue Spear Knight was at that position.
'Blue Spear Knight? Jeanne?'
Judah's eyes widened. Swinging Yakal, wreathed in dark red energy, to behead the foe, he hastily slashed upward instead. The antenna-like crest atop the helmet snagged on Yakal's blade and snapped off. As Judah paused, the knights—thinking it a chance—thrust spears over their dead comrade's corpse. He summoned Altemia, which he'd lent to Iris. A message appeared that Iris could no longer summon it. He slammed the bloodied Altemia into the gore-soaked ground, and instantly, the blood everywhere erupted into hundreds of sharp spikes.
Spurt—!
Pierced by spikes—few as three, up to over ten—the Blue Spear Knights gurgled like zombies, "Grrrk, grrraaah," and slumped. Only the presumed Jeanne and Judah remained.
"...I never thought we'd reunite like this."
"Me neither."
"Worst possible."
She sounded like she might cry. Feeling bitter, Judah looked around. Other units approached, while Iris and Arhil's group had distanced but stopped, watching. Arhil shouted for him to hurry.
"I can't just let you go."
"I know."
"Here I come."
Declaring her honest intent to attack, she charged. Like the others, her speed surged momentarily as she swung her shield to bash. Normally, he'd use [Shadow Sword 2nd Form - Slash] to cleave shield and all. With Yakal's recognition granting <Glorification>, it was feasible now. Even without, Altemia offered many ways to kill her.
Watching her approach shield-first, Judah bit his lip hard and pulled Yakal close. Black mana coiled around the blade, forming a lance. He thrust the conical spear-form Yakal at the shield that once protected Arhil.
The shield crumpled inward, unable to withstand, then shattered, piercing her left shoulder. With his left hand gripping Altemia, he deflected her stabbing spear.
Kwarang!
Then, Judah saw three slashing waves heading toward him and Jeanne. He'd wasted nearly 60 seconds here because of her, and Basilisk had arrived. Judah kicked her hard away. Kicking her gut, Yakal reverted to sword form and pulled from her shoulder. Her weakened left hand dropped the shield. He stomped and yanked it free, sending her tumbling back.
Kwarang!
The slashes closed in instantly. He could dodge, but it'd catch Jeanne, so he poured mana into Yakal, advanced, and used [Sword Demon Secret Technique - Linked Form, Bloodwind].
Kihiaaang!
With a eerie cry, crimson slashes erupted from Yakal. They collided with explosive booms, whipping up violent winds. Dust from the slashes obscured vision. Eyes watering from grit, but sensing a powerful presence right before him, Judah leaped back. Immediately, a sharp halberd pierced the dust and smashed the ground where he'd stood.
Boom!
The earth cratered like it collapsed. Raising the halberd that struck the ground, he faced the emerging knight.
"Ha, finally caught you!"
"Basilisk...!"
"Basilisk? Who do you think you're calling so casually, brat."
He spoke with clear displeasure.