Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: With Water (3)
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The fact that the Gaud Family's mansion had been fortified simply meant the Gaud side had stationed their troops inside and were hunkering down for a siege. It wasn't a structure built for defense from the ground up, so there was no way it could match a real fortress's fortifications.
Even so, the sight of their grand gate—befitting the Gaud Family's prestige and far from shoddy—being blasted open in a single strike sent shockwaves through everyone. Narok morale skyrocketed, while Gaud spirits plunged.
"And you said we wouldn't even need the water cart this time."
Bruno marveled. It was the first time he'd seen Galen's magic in proper action beyond a quick demo.
"How much stronger would it have been if you'd brought the cart?"
"Just having more water doesn't make it indiscriminately stronger. There's a limit to how much I can handle."
Galen brushed it off casually.
"In that last battle, the spirit mage was frantically setting fires everywhere, so I kept water nearby for quick responses. But now we've got the luxury to take our time."
Thanks to the spirit, he no longer needed to lug around cumbersome gear like the water cart. Still, no need to broadcast the spirit's existence by bragging about it. If he ever had to use a ton of water, disguising it as the cart would be smarter.
But as he'd told Bruno, there was no rush right now. The ambient moisture alone was plenty for the power he wanted. If things got dire, he could always siphon a bit from the spirit.
"Even accounting for that, you seem stronger than during the subjugation. Must've had quite the breakthrough."
"That might play a part, but I'd say the environment's influence is even bigger."
"Wasn't it just as dry back then, except for the troll fight?"
"Dry? Look how humid the air is. It's all water."
Galen answered Terti's mild puzzlement. The breakthrough talk was a deflection, but the environment was legit. The humidity in a seaside port battered by ocean winds couldn't compare to deep in the mountains after days of trekking.
They kept advancing steadily on the mansion amid the chatter.
Narok forces didn't charge recklessly just because the gate was down. Dangers like crossbows still lurked. No point breaking their tight formation against enemies holed up inside.
As they neared the gate, makeshift barricades piled up behind the shattered remnants came into view.
Galen raised his hand again.
The water pooled on the ground from the gate breach surged up once more.
Kwaang!Kwang!
What kind of threat were those hasty barricades? The whip-like water pillars sent them flying with explosive bursts. The path cleared with absurd ease.
Silver warriors crossed first, followed by Bronze shieldbearers. A small formation took shape around the gate, then key figures like Galen, Terti, and Bruno entered.
Gaud forces were arrayed in a loose semicircle overall. The mansion grounds were vast, but not an empty field, so it wasn't a proper battle line.
Bruno scanned the area, locked eyes on one spot, and bellowed.
"Marcus!"
The burly musclebound man had lungs to match. Did Silver-level body enhancement boost vocal cords too? No need for a megaphone.
"Quit hiding like rats and come out front!"
"Bruno, you bastard!"
A thunderous roar echoed back from ahead. Marcus Gaud, current head of the Gaud Family.
"You trash our gate and now spout nonsense?!"
"Forgot who struck first already? Losing, so now you play dumb?"
"Shut your trap! Who's losing?!"
"Losing? Your precious spirit mage lost!"
The strongest weapon was truth. Marcus couldn't deny what everyone knew.
Unable to retort, he just fumed. Bruno laughed uproariously at the sight, then shouted again.
"Drop the tricks and bring your elites! Unless you want to get all your underlings killed!"
"One lucky win and you're cocky? Fine, think I'm scared?!"
Marcus raised his voice in feigned fury but inwardly cheered. He'd responded quick before Bruno could backpedal.
Win here, and he could turn the tables. Tough, sure, but better than sitting idle and losing.
Bruno knew that too. Ordering a full assault would rack up hundreds of casualties—bad for profits and rep. Best to crush elites cleanly for the optics.
Interests aligned, elites from both sides stepped forward.
Twenty-six from Gaud, twenty-eight from Narok. Including family members and mercenaries, every Silver-rank in Nijerte was here.
Narok had a slight edge in numbers, but group fights were unpredictable. Not just personal duels repeated.
'If I weren't a mage.'
Galen chuckled inwardly and fell back a bit. Terti, after a quiet word with Bruno, joined him.
Meanwhile, elites glared daggers, spreading out in lines.
Tension hung thick... briefly.
"Charge! End these filthy Gauds here!"
"No retreat! Stop the Naroks cold!"
Bruno and Marcus led the brutal clash.
Less flashy than the warehouse brawl days ago. Fire had dazzled eyes then, and Bronzes had swelled the scale.
But quiet didn't mean harmless. It felt refined, compressed—like coiled steel.
Chaeng!Chae-chaeng!Ka-kang!Kang!
Before Redna jumped in, sides were even, they'd said. The deadlock proved why. No easy kills—just endless weapon clashes.
Galen eyed the fray briefly when Terti whispered.
"Got a read."
"Who first?"
"There. The brown bushy-head fighting our blond."
"The one who just slashed at the shoulder?"
"Yep."
Pre-discussed with Bruno for tactics: target Gaud Family warriors max.
Terti's chat with Bruno had ID'd them.
Not much to ID anyway. Those guarding Family Head Marcus were Gaud's, like Narok's around Bruno.
Terti's pick: most evenly matched foe. Close fight meant any slip hurt bad.
Galen confirmed, dangling his left hand.
Pretending to gather water, he subtly reshaped the spirit. From bracelet, it flowed down like water, pooling on the ground into a newborn-head-sized orb—not adult-sized.
Then it rolled toward the target. Slithering looked suspicious, so Galen nudged it with Water Flow Manipulation.
"Odd attack this time?"
Terti didn't suspect a spirit—Galen often made water orbs. Just puzzled it didn't look threatening.
"That slow, and it'll pack power?"
"Of course not. It's water, not fire. Rolling won't scare anyone."
"Then?"
"Can't risk hitting allies with a normal shot."
"Ah, fair point."
Water Flow Manipulation could hurl fast, but no guarantee on Silvers. Warriors lived by reflexes.
One-on-one, miss and retry. Group fight? Miss could tag friendly. Unacceptable.
"Just need to tip the scales lightly—no need to overcommit."
"Not like the troll drowning?"
"Nah, that's too brutal. No need."
Chatting, the spirit rolled steadily to point-blank.
Both warriors spotted it but ignored—too busy.
Galen snapped his fingers lightly.
Puh-huuu!
The spirit sprayed a water jet. Water Flow Manipulation boosted speed on launch.
Far shots risk missing? Close range solves that.
The Gaud warrior, laser-focused ahead, had no dodge time.
Thwack!
Jet nailed the face. Head snapped back.
Not a compacted slug—continuous stream—so raw power wasn't devastating.
But it stung, blinded eyes, choked nose and mouth.
In a knife-edge duel, that gap was huge. Narok warrior, less rattled, pounced instinctively.
"Gahk!"
Gaud couldn't evade—sliced clean. Clutching spurting neck, he collapsed in shock.
"Sneaky way to fight. Even I'd struggle reacting in a stalemate."
Terti admired. Galen shrugged.
"Just enough to tip balance. Next target?"
"Right one. Black curly-hair."
Spirit rolled sideways. Hit spot, jetted face again—Water Flow Manipulation speeding.
"Wh-what... Graaak!"
Effect flawless. Deadlock shattered; Gaud crumpled ridiculously easy.
'This is too convenient.'
Before, he'd gather, aim, speed water manually.
Spirit shortcut tons. Command 'spray water,' tweak speed with Water Flow Manipulation—done.
'Spirit Creation mana separate from Water Flow Manipulation. Divvy tasks, save mana on latter.'
Might need to avoid casual practice to conserve.
Anyway, Galen toyed with foes, wielding eased Water Flow Manipulation freely.
Gaud Silvers, sensing threat after two down, tried big dodges.
Simple: tweak direction too, not just speed.
Splaaash!
Straight jet whipped like a lash at the nape. Panicked Gaud ducked—Narok closed low, ended him easy.
Two more exchanges same way—all Gaud Family Silvers. Five precious Silvers down in moments.
"Damn it, over trash like that?!"
Left alone, Marcus roared in rage. If it'd been Redna's killer wave, fine—but punked by puny water? Blood boiled.
"Trash? Then how worthless were your men to lose to it?"
Bruno sneered. If Galen were weak pulling tricks, maybe—but after frontal smash? Laughable to diss magic.
"Shut up! Not over!"
"It is. Your defeat."
Marcus matched Bruno evenly once, but cornered flailing tipped scales fast.
Momentum lost, never regained. Pressing Bruno finally...
Shlik!
Traded arm slash for Marcus's head.
Gritting pain, Bruno hoisted the head by hair and roared.
"I, Bruno, have beheaded Marcus!"
"Gaud's Family Head is dead!"
"Surrender!"
Battle over.
Core crushed, numbers against—Gaud remnants dropped weapons, yielded one by one.
"We won!"
"Waaaaah!"
"Narok forever!"
Hundreds bellowed cheers echoing mansion-wide.
"Man, didn't even draw my sword."
"Free wins are the best."
Terti muttered awkwardly; Galen chuckled.
Amid chaos, he slyly recovered the rolled-up spirit, then glanced at his status.
Spirit Creation Lv.5
Progress to next level:11%
Growth proceeding smoothly.