Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Mountains of Corpses and Seas of Blood (1)
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Master.
The god of the battlefield, one who could single-handedly shift the tide of war. A monster who had reached mythical heights in a mere human body.
A kingdom without a single Master couldn't possibly withstand Cain, who had already shattered the wall and ascended to greater heights.
In the end, the kingdom's forces—whose initial momentum had been unstoppable—began their first retreat. But there was no other option.
Even an ordinary Master might have been manageable somehow. They could just keep pushing with an undying body until it gave out.
Even that was a slim chance at best, but Cain was on an entirely different level from other Masters.
"The kingdom's retreating!"
"Don't pursue recklessly. Tending to the wounded comes first right now."
"Y-Yes, General!"
The imperial forces, who had been pushed from the kingdom-empire border all the way to the cliffs in an instant like a raging torrent, responded with eager cheers.
Not only had that monster-like kingdom army finally suffered losses, but they were now in full rout.
But there was no time to bask in the joy of victory. The head-on clash had left them with wounded and even dead.
"Move the wounded quickly! They need treatment right away!!"
"Got it!!"
"……."
Watching his soldiers carry the injured, Cain let out a deep sigh. It felt strangely ironic somehow.
At first, they had been mortal enemies fighting the imperial army with their lives on the line. Now, their positions had completely reversed.
But he had no time for sentimentality. He was the commanding general, with countless lives hanging on his decisions.
Just as he reined in his emotions, a familiar face approached. It was Chris, the knight with his striking golden hair.
"Chris. What brings you here?"
"Came to congratulate you first. Looks like you've finally broken through the wall and reached a higher realm."
"You could tell at a glance?"
"Of course. Though you're not fully there yet. More like one foot in the door……."
Cain couldn't immediately refute Chris's assessment. Compared to Chris and Scardi, he was still sorely lacking.
A true Master, even fresh off the breakthrough, wouldn't have let Andre slip away.
But calling it not a Master yet felt ambiguous too. That liminal state was Cain's current level.
As if he'd been through it himself, Chris nodded knowingly. Which he had, of course.
"You can't wolf down a funeral feast all at once without consequences. But with one foot already in, lifting the other won't be so hard."
"What exactly are you getting at?"
"Let's spar. No holding back this time—full power."
"……."
This guy's still a lunatic.
Cain eyed Chris with weary, hollow eyes. The leech who latched on demanding spars out of nowhere.
Well…… it wasn't for nothing he was called Swordflash. The man was mad for the blade…….
Reading the near-contempt in Cain's gaze, Chris cleared his throat awkwardly before responding.
"I'm not suggesting this just to satisfy some personal craving. Though I won't deny that's part of it……."
"I'd sooner entrust a fish to a cat."
"Apt metaphor…… But I'm serious this time. To fully reach Master, you need experience."
"Experience?"
"Exactly. A Master can fully manifest their inner image. It's usually called the 'Realm of Extremity'……."
"No need to explain. I've been through it a few times already."
How could he forget? Cain had clashed countless times with the Water King and other powerhouses at Master level.
Thanks to that, he'd instinctively grasped what he lacked—something other Masters had that he didn't.
A special power absent in him. In other words, he was a half-baked Master missing only that Realm of Extremity.
"And to awaken that Realm or whatever, real combat experience…… i.e., a spar, is the best way?"
"Spot on. No doubt about it. That's how I became a Master."
"That's how you became one? What the hell does that ominous phrase mean?"
"You know my sister's style."
"Ah."
Swordflash's sister.
Sword Ghost Scardi.
That one word explained it all. A monster like her would've trained him to make even Sparta weep.
Cain sighed deeply. He had no real counterargument. To conquer the kingdom, he needed that Realm—and fast.
"Can't be helped. Seems like there's no quicker way to grasp it."
"Really makes you wonder if she'll ever get married, with that temper. Good thing a fine sparring partner like you showed up."
"……."
Just imagining it sent chills down his spine. He probably never voiced it aloud purely out of survival instinct.
Anyway, Cain had no desire to tempt fate by saying it out loud and confirming his own luck.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ He dreamed nightmares every night. Nightmares of his only sibling, drenched in blood, screaming and begging to be saved…….
But Andre's vision didn't blur over mere nightmares enough to hurl the kingdom's full might at the empire.
The gap in strength between the empire and kingdom wasn't something mere effort could bridge. So he'd made preparations.
He'd reached out to hardliners in the alliance who hated the empire or pushed for aggression, holding discussions.
Regaining his senses, he'd attended the alliance council and, with the other hardliners, strongly advocated attacking the empire.
What had suddenly driven Andre to resolve on attacking the empire was a divine revelation.
[Every time I pray, I hear a voice. A voice promising victory if I offer faithful blood. Am I finally going mad?]
[Your Majesty, why not try it, just in case?]
[Are you telling me, the king, to spill the blood of innocent subjects?]
[My apologies, Your Majesty. But with this foolish servant's wits, I can't see the difference between wartime bloodshed and this.]
Andre couldn't deny it. And despite his best efforts, the alliance remained unmoved.
The hardliners talked big but acted passively. How could he save Anna like this?
In the end, Andre followed the voice, figuring it was worth a shot. But a shred of reason remained.
He selected criminals, deserters—those who'd broken the law and disrupted the kingdom's peace.
Thanks to that, he'd offered far less blood than the revelation demanded. But its power had been beyond imagination.
An undying immortal army. God's army, perfected through divine revelation. That's how he'd seized victory.
'With this, I can win. Crush that wicked empire and rescue my beloved kin from that demon!'
The desires he'd suppressed exploded forth. Buoyed by newfound confidence, Andre spurred the hardliners.
They didn't even need to help directly. Just wait until he racked up consecutive victories against the empire—then move.
The hardliners, who'd scoffed at his arrogant ultimatum, were stunned by the kingdom's string of wins and mobilized their forces.
For the great powers, it wasn't a bad deal either. They could fight without worrying about the kingdom…….
Everything was proceeding perfectly. At this rate, crushing the empire entirely wouldn't be far off.
That's what he'd thought. Until that harbinger of doom appeared, with his ominous black hair and black eyes…….
"Damn it, damn it!!"
"Are you alright, Your Majesty?"
"How could I be! This humiliation…… this defeat……!! And above all……!!"
Terror. Andre barely swallowed the word that nearly escaped his lips. At first, it hadn't even piqued his interest.
It was truly bizarre. Cain Blackguard, the traitor who'd betrayed the kingdom and abducted his kin—an archenemy.
Yet when they met, the man seemed as insignificant as an insect, barely worth noticing. An insect he could crush anytime.
Sure, the strange power killing God's army had surprised him a bit, but that was it.
But that flickering ember suddenly blazed up, hot enough to scorch the heavens and earth.
The sight of him wielding that accursed black aura, massacring God's army, charging straight at him.
"……."
His hands and legs trembled uncontrollably. He found himself glancing around furtively without realizing it.
Looking every bit the beaten dog with its tail between its legs, Andre felt an indescribable self-loathing.
Andre ground his teeth. A torrent of emotions ignited, but in the end, only one path remained.
"……Jerod."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"How's the ritual I mentioned before? Can we activate it immediately upon return?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
His eyes burned with hatred. The last flicker of hesitation and reason was consumed by madness.
Cain Blackguard.
If I can just kill you…… I'll gladly offer everything I have.