Chapter 621

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Translator: uly

Chapter: 621

Chapter Title: God's Atlantis

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〈 Chapter 621 〉
621. God's Atlantis

"Now! Erect the barrier!!"

At his shout, the assassins made eerie movements. They seemed to surround me, then suddenly scattered. And just like that, the surroundings plunged into darkness. We'd been trapped in a barrier. 'Assassins using a barrier, of all things.' It wasn't surprising. If anything, it was impressive that assassins were employing something like this. I turned my head to the side. Ridella was trembling, gripped by anxiety.

"Why are you so scared?"

"I-I've heard about this barrier before. No matter who the target is, the elite assassins of the Thirst Legion always kill them..."

"That's an exaggeration. Or maybe they only use this trick on mediocre foes."

I extended my left hand and grabbed her shoulder, pulling her into my arms. The dagger of the assassin targeting her from the left sliced through empty air.

"Ah...!"

They weren't just after me. From the Thirst Legion's perspective, Ridella was a traitor. 'I can't let these bastards steal my fuckhole.' I swung my sword, stabbing the assassin who had gone for Ridella. Blood sprayed as the corpse crumpled to the ground. 'This isn't some impressive barrier. It's just an illusion that fools the eyes. The assassins are merely hiding their presence and waiting for an opening.' There were several ways to break this barrier. The old me would've blasted lightning in all directions like some electric rat from a cartoon, electrocuting the hidden assassins. It wasn't a bad method. Just inefficient, with way too much mana drain. I lifted my right foot high. The Heavenly Demon Energy churned within me. Any more than this, and I'd suffer internal injuries. 'Is this my current limit? Even with the Heavenly Demon Divine Art at SSS rank, it's still not enough.' Still, I could manage one step.

Boom.

The moment I stomped down, pressure exploded outward, shattering the barrier. Light returned, and dozens of assassins spat blood as they tumbled across the ground.

Normally, deploying the Heavenly Demon Sovereign Step should let me dominate the entire space from the start. But my power fell short of that.

"What trick did you use...!"

The master of the Thirst Legion ground his teeth as he rose from his seat. Blood streamed from his mouth, nose, and ears.

"Can't you tell? I used a movement technique."

"Don't fuck with me...! You think a mere movement technique could smash our barrier?!"

"It was a low-level barrier."

There was no reason to keep him alive any longer. I swung my sword, severing his head.

'Now to deal with the rest.'

I went through the fallen assassins one by one, killing them off. They'd tried to kill me—no mercy for scum like that.

After slaughtering every last assassin, I looked up.

A small castle stood atop the hill. Baron Estor was surely inside.

"Let's go, Ridella."

"W-Where to?"

"Where else? That castle."

"Are you really planning to kill Baron Estor...?!"

"He's the one who hired assassins to kill me. Can't leave him breathing."

"It might not even be Baron Estor who placed the request."

"It's him nine times out of ten."

I could tell just from the resistance at the castle gate.

A mere baron blocking a knight of Balderte over some petty reason? If he had a clear conscience, he wouldn't even try.

The path to the castle wasn't quiet.

Curious citizens stared at me and trailed behind like ducklings. I ignored them. They weren't blocking my way, so no need to kill them all.

Ridella walked beside me with her eyes squeezed shut. Her expression said it all—she thought her life had gone completely off the rails.

Knights and soldiers waited at the castle entrance.

Five knights in armor with swords drawn, poised to charge. Behind them, over five hundred soldiers stood in formation.

I drew my Flame Lotus Sword. The moment my hand gripped the hilt, the air grew tense, on the verge of erupting.

"I am Golber, knight of Baron Estor. What is your name, sir?"

One knight stepped forward. A middle-aged man in his forties. My senses told me he was the strongest among them.

"Sung Yu-jin, knight of Duchess Elena Balderte."

"Sir Sung Yu-jin. I'll be direct: leave."

"Hm? Leave?"

It was unexpected.

I'd smashed the gates and killed soldiers. From Baron Estor's view, his territory had been invaded. Retaliating against an intruder was a lord's duty.

"Baron Estor has decided to let this matter slide."

Not a rational call. And there was only one reason for it.

'Baron Estor is terrified.'

In a way, it was wise.

But I had no intention of backing down.

"Is Baron Estor inside? I want to meet him. Requesting a private audience."

"Impossible. The baron is bedridden with illness and needs rest."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Think I don't know why you're requesting a private audience with Baron Estor?"

Golber and I glared at each other.

"Sir. Leave. Baron Estor has let this go, so you have nothing to fear."

"I'm not letting this slide."

"We'll compensate you. Twenty million penni, right now."

Two hundred million won.

But my eyes remained ice-cold. They'd tried to kill me, and this was their offer? Twenty million penni? Clearly, neither the baron nor this knight had their heads on straight.

"You're insulting me. Do I look like some money-grubbing knight?"

"I've heard you're a knight blinded by women."

"......"

Couldn't deny the truth.

"Twenty million penni could buy you all the beauties in the city. And sir, think of the soldiers you've killed on your way here. Baron Estor is yielding quite a lot."

"Yielding? Hilarious. To me, it looks like desperation to avoid death."

"Sir! Do not insult Baron Estor!"

"Baron Estor dies by my hand today."

Black sword aura manifested along the blade.

Golber's face stiffened at the sight. He drew his sword, conjuring blue sword energy.

"He's got captain-level strength! Don't let your guard down! And don't retreat! Our lord is Baron Estor! Protect him with your lives!"

Golber shouted to rally the soldiers. But it had little effect. Their lord was cowering inside—morale wasn't rising anytime soon.

I charged at Golber, sword leading. With low enemy morale, taking out the leader would make the rest easier.

Golber's sword clashed with mine and bounced away. Half the blade had been sheared off. His sword energy couldn't withstand my aura. And his sword was mass-produced junk at best.

'Still, his skill is decent.'

The other knights joined in, but Golber kept blocking my strikes.

'Though he's at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his limit now.'

Golber's sword shattered.

I sliced through the armor of two charging knights on my flanks and thrust into Golber's abdomen.

"You're... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not going...!"

Even as he died, Golber clamped his arms around me. My brow furrowed. His grip was no joke—shaking him off wasn't easy.

"Now! Ignore me—kill him!"

"Yes, Sir Golber!"

The knights and soldiers rushed me without hesitation. It looked pre-planned.

I inhaled deeply, erecting a protective barrier to weather their attacks. The soldiers' spears were a non-issue, deflected easily. But the knights' sword energy pierced through.

'Just shallow cuts, though.'

I channeled the accumulated damage into my blade tip and swung in a wide arc. Black sword energy lashed out, carving through the enemies.

Dozens of soldiers, knights included, fell dead.

"Aaaargh!"

"T-This is insane!"

With their commanding knights wiped out, the soldiers lost all will to fight. They dropped their weapons and fled in every direction.

I didn't bother chasing them. There were more important things than hunting down grunts.

I entered the castle.

The trembling steward dropped to the floor the moment he saw me.

"K-Knight of Balderte! Mercy, please!"

"Take me to Baron Estor. Do that, and I'll spare you."

"Right away!"

The steward made a smart choice. I followed him while groping Ridella's breasts.

The steward opened a large wooden door engraved with ornate patterns.

It was Baron Estor's bedroom.

The baron knelt on the floor, as if he'd known I was coming.

"W-Welcome. I am Baron Estor. It was all my fault. Please, spare my life!"

I smirked, withdrawing my hand from Ridella's chest and drawing my sword. Shring. The cold ring of steel leaving its sheath.

"Pathetic. Baron Estor, isn't it too late to apologize and beg for your life?"

"S-Sorry! I had no choice! The crown prince pressured me to kill you! It was all his orders! He's the real culprit! I was just his pawn!"

"I know a bit about the crown prince myself."

The blade touched Baron Estor's shoulder, slowly sinking in with gentle pressure.

"Aaaagh! Aaaaaagh!"

He screamed loud enough to shake the castle. His arms flailed, legs twitched, but he couldn't escape my sword. I focused to keep him alive, twisting the hilt.

"The crown prince promises rewards to disloyal pawns like you. And you? No loyalty to him at all."

"Guhhh... Spare... me..."

"What'd he promise? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Money? Territory? Some special item?"

"A viscountcy... and lands...! Guh!"

"That's it? The crown prince really underestimates me."

I pondered as I eyed Baron Estor.

Troublesome. Just kill him now?

No, too easy. This bastard hired assassins on me. He didn't deserve a quick death.

"...Steward."

"Yes!"

"Bring Baron Estor's family. You wouldn't say he's a bachelor, would you?"

"Right away!"

"Run if you want. I'll hunt you down and kill you. But no easy death then."

"N-No, we won't! Just wait a moment!"

The steward bolted out. I continued slowly twisting the blade in the baron's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠body.

Moments later, he returned with the family. Less than five minutes, and they looked roughed up—coercion used, no doubt.

'Not my problem.'

I yanked the sword from the baron's shoulder and scanned the family.

A brown-haired middle-aged woman. She'd poured money into her looks—appeared early to mid-thirties. Noble wife material, stunning beauty.

A younger brown-haired woman. Stunning looks. Big tits, blue eyes I liked.

And a young man. Had to be the heir.

Without hesitation, I severed the young man's head. It rolled across the floor.

"Ah... aaa...!"

The middle-aged woman collapsed as if fainting. Baron Estor, despite his son's death, just watched me nervously.

I looked at the baron's wife and daughter.

"I'll give you two a chance to live."

I swung the bloodied sword. Baron Estor's left leg came off. A warning for them.

"Strip."