389
Chapter 389
THWACK!
When Fritz's head shattered, the knights behind him were startled.
"I-It's an ambush!"
The knights of the Crab Palace were quick to cry ambush, despite being the ones who attacked first.
They pulled out chains with sickles attached from their robes.
The sinister energy rising from the chains suggested they were artifacts imbued with Dark magic.
The knights immediately gripped the chains and threw the sickles toward Zeke.
WHOOSH!
Dozens of chain-linked sickles flew toward Zeke.
King Fist and the Barbarians behind him charged forward.
CLANG!
Even with Dark magic enchantments, the weapons were no match for the Barbarians' robust bodies.
After deflecting the sickles, the Barbarians grabbed hold of their chains.
WHOOSH!
When they gripped the chains and pulled with force, the knights were dragged along.
"AHHH!"
Unable to resist the Barbarians' overwhelming strength, the knights were pulled in as fists flew toward them.
CRUNCH!
The knights' helmets crumpled and their heads were crushed under a single punch.
Following the King Fist, other Barbarians joined the attack.
CRUNCH!
The sounds of armor clashing and bones breaking echoed loudly through the area.
"ARGH! Block them!"
"Signal the mages! Break the barrier!"
Unable to use their Aura due to the barrier, the Crab Palace knights could only be overwhelmed by the Barbarians.
Meanwhile, Reina and the Knights of Tourn could only gape as they watched the Barbarians rampage like wolves among sheep.
'How did Zeke manage to tame these fearsome barbarians?'
As Reina stared blankly at the Barbarians, Zeke, who had been watching from behind, raised his hammer and shouted.
"We're going after the mages above, follow me!"
The Black Sword Knights immediately fell in behind Zeke's command.
Seeing this, Reina addressed the Knights of Tourn.
"I'll help them. Block the Imperial Knights' escape route!"
After ordering the Knights of Tourn, Reina hurriedly chased after Zeke and the Black Sword Knights.
Though they were equally unable to use Aura, the Black Sword Knights members seemed accustomed to such situations, cutting through thick branches and forest undergrowth with their swords without panic as they followed Zeke.
Reina found it strange to move using only her physical strength after so long.
'This isn't the Black Sword Knights' first time in this situation.'
Though they were both Blue Knight rank, the Black Sword Knights members clearly had more practical combat experience from their numerous dangerous battles.
Then Zeke called out from the front.
"Remove your gloves - we'll disrupt their magical power! Block their flanks if they try to escape!"
As he spoke, Zeke threw off his gloves and deployed his magic sealing technique, immediately spreading a suppression field around his body.
WOONG!
Within the field that halted magical flow, the mages couldn't properly cast their spells.
The Dark mages of the Abyss panicked when their magic failed completely, as this was far more powerful and precise than a pure Draker's natural 'magic disruption' ability.
"D-Damn it!"
As the mages tried to flee, the Black Sword Knights members spread out to block their escape routes, led by Liam and Felix.
WHOOSH!
Liam pulled out a dagger and threw it at the fleeing mages.
THWACK!
The dagger struck precisely in the middle of a mage's back.
The swift Felix ran ahead fiercely, cutting off the Dark mages' escape route.
The mages hesitated and tried to fall back to regroup, but other Black Sword Knights members had already appeared behind them, surrounding them.
Just as the Abyss mages exchanged glances and reached for demonic artifacts in their robes...
CRACKLE!
Zeke's Light Mace fell upon the cornered Dark mages.
"GRRRK!"
The mages hit by the lightning of light foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
The Black Sword Knights efficiently bound the fallen mages' arms and legs to immobilize them.
Reina could only watch blankly at their coordinated movements.
Then Zeke approached her and said:
"Reina, follow me. We're going to destroy the center of the barrier."
Reina snapped back to attention and followed behind Zeke.
Deep in the forest, they found a Dark mage holding a demonic artifact surrounded by monsters.
The Dark mage shouted at the monsters:
"Kill them!"
Monsters enhanced by demonic power charged at Zeke and Reina, drooling.
They still couldn't use Aura while under the barrier's influence.
Reina broke into a cold sweat seeing the ferocious monsters.
Then Zeke turned to Reina and said:
"Your power doesn't come from Aura alone. Trust in the sword you've wielded."
Hearing Zeke's words, Reina composed herself and felt her trembling body slowly calm down.
She raised her sword and charged at the monsters.
SWOOSH!
Reina's signature technique - cutting down enemies like a flash of light using body elasticity.
The Flash technique finally revealed its true form.
SLASH!
Reina's sword split the monster in half.
She demonstrated remarkable skill using pure physical strength without Aura.
Reina realized that like Duke's Storm technique, the true power of the Flash technique was rooted in physical strength rather than Aura.
Through this moment of enlightenment, Reina's movements showed superhuman speed.
SWOOSH!
Like becoming a dazzling flash herself, her sword light flickered as she cut down the charging monsters.
Zeke nodded watching Reina's movements.
'With this, Reina has truly reached the realm of a Blue Knight.'
While Reina handled the monsters, Zeke slowly approached the mage holding the artifact.
Seeing this, the Abyss mage concentrated the barrier more intensely toward Zeke.
But since Zeke was using spirit power instead of Aura, the barrier had no effect on him.
He took out his hammer instead of his sword and concentrated his Holy Light power.
WHOOSH!
The hammer flew in at once, containing powerful light energy as it shattered both the mage and artifact simultaneously.
CRUNCH!
The mage's body twisted at bizarre angles as he and the completely destroyed artifact rolled on the ground.k
Then the barrier surrounding the area disappeared.
WOONG!
The knights could use their Aura again as normal.
But the Crab Palace knights had already been subdued by the Barbarians and Knights of Tourn.
Zeke approached the nearly dead Dark mage and read his memories.
'This isn't the main base. It's higher up. Even this one doesn't know the gate's exact location.'
They seemed to have installed a gate to summon monsters.
The plan appeared to be sending monster legions from here down to the Central Continent through the Northern Continent.
After assessing the situation, Zeke stepped on the Dark mage's neck and killed him immediately.
Then he came down with Reina and the Black Sword Knights to where the captured Crab Palace knights were.
He completely burned Fritz Meis's corpse with Divine Flame.
'Fritz was essentially Azmund's confidant. It's like cutting off his right arm.'
Only the Twin Palace and Golden bull Palace remained following the scheming Azmund.
As Azmund's forces attached to Abel weakened, the pressure on the Rom Empire would clearly increase.
Moreover, with Julius's side constantly persuading legion commanders throughout the Rom Empire, Abel and Jiemens's side in Rom would inevitably be pushed into a defensive position as time passed.
After organizing his thoughts and sharing future plans, Zeke captured all the Crab Palace knights and mages and descended from the Ogre Mountains.
He hid the Black Sword Knights and Tourn's banners, raised Crab Palace's banner, and entered their knight camp.
Those who couldn't imagine their commander Fritz was dead readily let Zeke's forces into the camp.
When Zeke, disguised as Fritz using a shape-shifting cloak, entered, the deputy commanding in his place approached.
"Commander! I'm glad you're safe. We received a telegraph from Commander-in-Chief Azmund."
Zeke asked him:
"What did Azmund say?"
The deputy felt something off about Fritz's different way of speaking but brushed it aside and answered directly:
"He said since Reina Draker might be related to Zeke Draker, we should fall back without engaging and observe the situation until he arrives. But since you seem to have dealt with everything successfully, there shouldn't be any..."
Just then, Zeke disguised as Fritz pulled out his hammer.
Seeing this, the deputy's eyes wavered.
"Commander?"
In that moment, Zeke's hammer struck the deputy's head.
CRUNCH!
At that instant, the disguised Barbarians, Black Sword Knights, and Knights of Tourn revealed themselves from their positions.
As the Crab Palace knights panicked at the sudden attack, Zeke used Divine Charisma and Lion's Roar together and shouted:
"Crab Palace Knight Commander Fritz Meis's conspiracy has been exposed to all! The Imperial Army conspired with Dark mages to lead monster legions in an invasion of not just Barkal City but the entire Northern Continent!"
Zeke’s roar spread throughout the entire camp.
To the enemies, it instilled fear, and to his allies, it raised morale. The lion’s roar had worked exactly as intended.
The once solidly formed ranks of the Crab palace knights began to crumble.
However, as they were still one of the most elite forces of the Empire, the Crab palace knights managed to regain their composure after a brief moment.
They quickly assessed the situation and decided to abandon their camp, instead advancing toward the gates of Barkal.
They had judged that it would be better to confront the enemy within the castle.
But just then, the gates of Barkal swung open, and armed citizens began pouring out.
"Kill those wretched imperial soldiers!"
Leading the charge were none other than the dwarven blacksmiths.
They wore helmets and heavy armor, wielding battle axes as they charged at the knights, shouting their war cries.
The Crab palace knights, who had been rushing forward, momentarily faltered in shock and fell back.
At that moment, the barbarian unit under Zeke’s command immediately blocked their retreat and held their ground.
With the powerful barbarians sealing off their escape route, the knights of the Crab palace knights had no choice but to endure attacks from both the rear and the flanks.
As more and more citizen soldiers emerged from within the castle, the Crab palace knights were left with no option but to raise the white flag and surrender.
The citizen army of Barkal erupted in victorious cheers.
As the battlefield settled, representatives of the Barkal Council came to meet Zeke, the man who had orchestrated this outcome.
Zeke looked at the approaching council members with a slightly surprised expression.
"Humans, Naga, and Dwarves…"
They were the same three individuals who had been discussing the Northern Grand Duke at a nearby table when Zeke had dined in Barkal previously.
The human representative bowed his head toward Zeke and spoke.
"Oh, Knight of Salvation. We were surprised to receive the letter you sent to the Council. We sincerely thank you for saving Barkal from this crisis."
Before heading up to the Ogre Mountains, Zeke had contacted the Barkal Council in advance and informed them of his plans.
As a result, Barkal had been able to prepare and organize a citizen militia to counter the knights of the Crab palace.
As the human finished speaking, the dwarf behind him snorted and huffed.
"We appreciate the help, but you’re not here to claim Barkal for yourself, are you?"
At this, the Naga beside him shook his head as if he found the dwarf’s suspicion absurd.
"Sir Zeke Draker, the Knight of Salvation, would never stoop to such petty ambitions. That would never happen. Isn’t that right, Sir Zeke?"
As expected of the intelligent Naga race, the council member probed Zeke with a smooth, polite tone.
"I have no intention of attacking Barkal, so you need not worry."
At Zeke’s words, the human representative nodded as if he had expected this answer, while the Naga, though accepting it, continued to observe him cautiously, searching for any hidden motives.
Then Zeke spoke to them.
"There is one thing I would like to ask of the Barkal Council."
At Zeke’s words, the three council members tensed up.
The human representative responded in a calm voice.
"What is your request, Sir Zeke?"
Zeke gestured toward the captured Crab palace knights and the Dark mages.
"I want you to officially declare, in Barkal’s name, that the Imperial Army colluded with Dark mages in their invasion of Barkal."
The three council members, who had been bracing themselves for a heavy demand, were taken aback by his request.
The Naga councilor looked at Zeke and asked.
"That is all?"
Zeke nodded.
"Yes. If I were to ask for anything else… I could really use a cold mug of Barkal beer right now."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, the dwarven councilor burst into hearty laughter.
"PUHAHAHA! In all my years as a dwarf, I’ve never met a human like you! I like you, lad! Sir Zeke Draker, the Knight of Salvation! I hereby recognize you as a friend of Barkal! Now, come into the city with us, and let’s toast to our victory!"
The Empire, which had planned to invade Barkal, now found its schemes exposed to the entire continent.
As the Dark mages were led away by the council members, Zeke’s eyes glowed sharply.
"Just you wait, Jiemens. I will tighten the noose around your neck even further."