Chapter 273
Chapter 273
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: One Empire, Three Legends (32)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To a knight, aura was one and the same as their very soul.
The power that defined their life itself.
A bold declaration of self, forged and thrust toward the world.
Whether to call it a shedding of this world or a deviation from it, he wasn't sure.
“Damn... they're tough as hell!”
But the important fact right now was that they were filthy strong.
The knights wielding blue lances rippling with aura, those massive weapons that looked forged from solid metal, weren't fixating on thrusts as their original purpose might suggest.
Whoooosh—!
The weakness of polearms. When you dove in to exploit close-quarters brawling advantages, the base of that heavy, broad lance swept around like scattering petals, crushing flowers in its path.
The elbow guard shattered upon blocking it, the recoil vibrating all the way to the top of his head. Meanwhile, the recovered arm unleashed thrust after thrust like lightning. A miraculous strike born from impossibly honed shoulders.
In exchange for yielding thigh and abdomen, a fist charged with full power slammed into the knight's plate mail, crumpling it along with the knight who soared away—
Crack!
“Guhhh!”
Trading fatal wounds, the knight finally created distance, hurling a spear with all his might that pierced straight through his torso.
Master Knight. Superhumans who established their personal worlds without a single tremor, finally 'severing' parts of themselves from the world.
Dealing with each one required his full effort, and every time, he had to concede several large holes in his body.
Hundreds of such beings. Each transcending humanity, now swinging sword auras at one another.
Blue sword auras crumbled marble staircases into beauty, and a flail smashing down like it could shatter the air itself exploded the garden, sending debris flying everywhere.
---------
- Speed Wagon: The emperor's wives number three in total. The empress who bore the first prince, the iron-blooded woman who ruled the empire's northern local warlords, Athena Tike Matrea. The flower consort, mother to the first princess, second princess, and third prince, Desiara Rim Ashwald. And the mother of the second prince, Anis Terenua. Each backed by different nations and factions. The common thread is...
- Professor: They're not imperial stock. It means none of them are branded from the soul with worship of the emperor that binds these people, or a life devoted to the empire. Positions?
- Speed Wagon: From our current spot, at 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock directions are the empress's palace and the second consort's palace, respectively. Terenua's palace, mother of the second prince, is north of the capital's center, beyond where the emperor is.
- Professor: Three directions centered on the emperor's castle...
---------
Clang!
“Ugh!”
In the brief moment grasping positions via the group chat, another knight charged at him. Armor half-caved in, shoulder barely hanging after a near-severing slash. Firm lips visible through the cracked helmet.
The same gaze as those in Turan. Eyes of men who could discard their lives like pebbles. Entranced by the fire of greater cause, blind to self-reflection.
He narrowly deflected the sword tip that failed to pierce his abdominal guard, then followed the Turan form etched in his mind. The knowledge injected long ago via skillbook, tinkered with in hide and mental space whenever possible, guided his hand.
A deep lunge like charging forward. Right leg extended back, kicking off the ground with full force; right arm drawn like a bowstring, stopping just before the open knight's chest.
Crunch!
The lead left foot dug into the ground, redirecting forward momentum downward around that pivot. The plunging fist drove the knight's body into the earth.
The monk's signature light, springy trained physique, infused with divine power to surpass its weight class in strength—high-speed movement channeling that force into impact without waste upon halt. Earth as anvil, fist as hammer, pulverizing the foe. To normal eyes, it looked like slamming the opponent into the ground left only a tombstone-like victim embedded there—hence the name.
“Monk combat stance. Ro Haram's Hill of Atonement.”
[...Lame name.]
‘Gotta focus, so shut up. Skill names hugely impact imagery.’
No divine enhancement, no light and supple body, but Professor made it possible through sheer overwhelming muscle.
Boom—boom boom boom boom!
Precursors of high-speed movement, thunderous stomps shattering earth echoed in sequence, and knights with crumpled armor smashed into the ground began multiplying in an instant.
Clearing a path. Ignoring intact knights, targeting those weakened from the ongoing imperial throne battle. Reducing numbers by striking fatally in one blow.
Full acceleration and abrupt halts repeatedly tore quadriceps, pulverized and shredded knee joints.
Not charging on instinct and strength like before, but flawlessly unleashing the body’s power via long-established martial forms.
Endless-seeming stamina drained in a flash, hot breath and sweet blood scent spilling from his mouth instantly.
The knight didn't miss that momentary gap from stamina loss. The instant his fist stamped down on the knight's chest, the knight's blade sliced into his shoulder like a shadow.
Slash!
Cleanly severed shoulder cross-section, left arm flying away.
He reached hastily for the flying arm, but an arrow from somewhere knocked it away, sending it back toward him.
[Yggdrasil? How'd you get here leaving Lucilla!]
[Hidden her in the holy city via spirit arts. Numbers are high but mostly civilians and regular soldiers—no one will spot her blended into nature via spirit arts. She was sad, feeling like dead weight every crucial moment.]
[That's not it—why are you here! I told you to stay with Lucilla!]
[My duty. To observe you, learn from you, assist you.]
[You... tin-can elf! Then shut up and hide high somewhere for recon!]
[Planned to anyway. My skill's insufficient to clash with Master Knights.]
Faint traces of Yggdrasil shimmered from the message's mana source, soon leaping toward a nearby spire's rooftop.
Aldrich, Ottoman, and Notum, cloaked in night's darkness, bored through the path he'd cleared toward the nearest consort's palace—that of the flower consort.
The first princess's faction backed by judges, administrators, high nobles, and social circles. Their static nature meant most court mages supported her too, but mind-disrupting forces crippled mage manifestation almost entirely.
Meaning thinnest defenses currently. Reason he'd sent Aldrich's group there.
“Huuu. Hide, regen reserves?”
[Can't quantify. But push like 'eh, whatever' and we're both done here.]
“No joking.”
[For real. Under half.]
“...Fucked. And it's just starting.”
With them sent off, time to break his own path.
Dozens of knights down, but plenty left. And they weren't even all of them.
[Professor, massive golden aura ahead. Group with emperor's power concentrated.]
“Yeah. The real deal's elsewhere.”
As if reading his mind, Yggdrasil's voice echoed from on high.
[Where ahead.]
[Direction of shield-bearing knight fighting dual-wield knight, about 350 paces behind. Lion-helm group.]
[...Ah, those guys.]
Approaching the empress's palace, knights invisible from low ground emerged beyond the chaotic battlefield.
Aura on a qualitatively different level from other knights, rightfully so.
Rippling golden energy.
At its center, a towering man in ornate armor.
“First prince... Gai Nakus Agdan.”
Born warrior, bearer of hegemon traits, the emperor's firstborn. Gripping the empire's military via warlord and hawkish noble support.
His eyes overlooking the battlefield rippled with golden aura like the atmosphere enveloping him.
He smiled, pleased by the situation.
If the throne war boiled down to raw force like this, victory seemed near for he who commanded the strongest knights.
His sword pointed across the knightly battlefield, lion-helm knights on massive black warhorses drawing weapons and charging down.
First prince and his order positioned precisely at the chokepoint to the empress's palace.
[Can't bypass? Tunnel or smash all walls and walls nearby for path. Gut feeling: each matches the power you felt from Edeorna in your first memory-fight. Clashing straight-up means massive losses.]
‘Forget it. Didn't you see just slight chipping on the ramparts earlier? Dwarven architectural pinnacle—durability like adamantium. Could smash, but noise would shatter eardrums everywhere. Takes time too, and they won't just watch idly.’
[So gotta push through them anyway. Then, that thing. Gonna use it?]
‘...Not yet. See how far I can go.’
Hide's tendril from his bosom slyly opened the subspace pouch—clearly anxious.
[Next time, capture big blood-filled mutant alive, chain to cart back, carry as blood bag.]
‘Extract daily and potency drops to 9th-grade mutant swill.’
[Better than none.]
‘...True. Next time, try it.’
Saint wheeling a fat mutant chained to cart, real-time blood extraction. Could pass as blood saint if played right.
Not even that funny, but laughter bubbled up. Adrenaline overload, tension, or actually amusing—who knew.
[Hey. Don't wanna die.]
‘Me neither.’
Feet moved forward anyway—good enough.
Silently eyeing his left arm, Professor shoved it between sharp teeth.
Crunch, crack, splitch—
Powerful jaws tore hide, shattered bone.
Far off, golden eyes watched as he dumped remaining fingers in his mouth, waving at them.
“Recall, you invited us.”
Three invitations from Lucilla all in his subspace pouch.
“Now we've met, gotta greet at least? Got questions too.”
[Like what?]
“Emperor's power. As first prince, direct heir. In curse petal-scattering All Ampria, one with most concentrated imperial power. Curious what he's thinking right now.”
Rip!
Devouring the last fingertips, a new arm sprouted from the wriggling stump like regeneration. Mutant blood dipped some, but efficiency wise, maybe curl and store severed limbs henceforth.
“Let's go, Hide.”
[...Yeah. You look better not thinking than thinking.]
“...If shit, grab and eat from pouch yourself.”
[OK.]
Boom!
Brief rest ended, black monster vanished amid shattering flagstone once more.
Watching, first prince Gai Nakus's lips curled in irrepressible ecstasy.
KABOOM!
Instantly drawn massive curved sword clashed with the black monster's fist, unleashing massive shock.
Between sword and fist, shattered imperial seal invitations scattered.
“Pleased to meet. I'm the saint. You invited.”
“Saint, huh. Heard he was a hulking warrior.”
“See you soon, good spot?”
Grrrrrind—
Forces pressed into opposing shoulders, backlash bursting held breath into the prince's mad laughter.
“Ha, hahahahahahaha! Haaaa... yes! Good spot! Fitting a noble!”
“Best timing too. What's happening in All Ampria—anyway!”
CRASH—!
“Gotta know!”
“Same as always! Keeping empire as empire! Nothing more, saint! Even if tiny thorn digs in, outcome unchanged!”
Golden-eyed maniac Gai Nakus roared as golden aura poured from his massive curved sword.
Professor dodging the waist-bisecting horizontal slash had steel in his eyes.
‘Tiny thorn... First prince knows. Something else crashed this throne war, situation's abnormal!’
And that nonchalant attitude. Knights bloodbathing imperial palace—utterly unfazed!
“...What're the royals hiding!”
“Ahh, stifling! Empire halted in growth, this tiny greenhouse where even imperial blood can't stake lives freely! I shall be emperor, emperor once more, resounding empire's blood and glory across continent! Saint, quench my endless thirst! Free me from it! None can stop me! None! Not father, not empire, not even the god you serve!”
“All you bastards, gone mad! Just blasphemed saint to my face—now it's self-defense! Liberate you forever!”
Golden eyes, faint purple glow peeking between.
The prince reveled in inborn conquest lust. Fixated on subjugating any foe, regardless who.
Words useless now, Professor's strikes sharpened.
Monster's eyes sliced by curved sword, prince's armor shredded by claws.
Both lips curled in savage joy bubbling from within.
Coolheaded special forces. Wasteland survivor. Professor Park.
Something grew inside him. His mutated manifestation. And game-body housing his consciousness.
Something halted just before completion rode primal impulse, becoming something twin-faceted like him.
Amid scattering curse petals. In witch curse webs spreading, heart-realm delving and tugging bit by bit.
-.....Ding.
Amid battle din. Alert Professor missed rang softly.
****