Chapter 175: Just Right (3)
Chapter 175: Just Right (3)
“Cough… Ugh….”
Staggering through the aftermath of the explosion, Marquis Luid looked more like a walking corpse than a living man. It was a miracle he was even on his feet.
It was only natural. Had he not been wearing the magic-infused armor crafted specifically by the Tower of Truth, the horrific blast would have left nothing of him behind.
“Are you alright?”
When Count Gilsian approached to check on him, Marquis Luid nodded and muttered in a trembling voice.
“Se… phiroth.”
A faint green light emanated from his chest and enveloped his entire body.
Then, something incredible happened.
The areas of his body that had been mangled and torn by burns began to regenerate perfectly. Even his scorched hair was restored, strand by strand, to its original state.
Finally, having fully recovered his physical condition, Marquis Luid let out a small sigh.
“I never imagined I’d be forced into a life-or-death gamble at my age.”
“But it worked out, so that is a relief.”
“Indeed. This is all thanks to the grace of Lord Yupinel.”
At Count Zigler’s words, Marquis Luid gave a smirk.
“It’s thanks to this.”
With that, Marquis Luid pulled a small pendant from beneath his armor.
The pale green pendant was not a magical tool made by the Tower of Truth. It was an ancient artifact.
Once a day, it was a recovery-type artifact that could perfectly heal anyone, even someone on the brink of death, as long as they were still breathing.
As a treasure of the now-fallen Kreutz Kingdom, its value was beyond measure. Marquis Luid had been granted this treasure as a reward for his achievements during that war.
In truth, he had kept it on his person thinking he might never actually have a reason to use it in his lifetime. But…
“Thanks to it, I’ve caught a big fish.”
Marquis Luid wore a satisfied smile as he looked toward the area still thick with smoke.
The attack had been so monstrous that even he, protected by magic armor, had been pushed to the edge of death. Patrick Schneider, who hadn't even been wearing proper armor, wouldn't have even a corpse left.
Would people ever know? Just what kind of monster that Double Dragon was, and the potential he held?
Aside from those present today, perhaps no one would ever know. Because that potential had been snapped here, before it could ever truly bloom.
For such a figure to emerge from a small nation is nothing short of a calamity. I’ve done a good thing for the country.
The moment he relaxed his guard, watching the smoke gradually clear…
Flash!
A streak of light flared from within the smoke.
Marquis Luid reflexively tried to raise his shield, but…
Ah…
It wasn't there.
He had neither sword nor shield. Failing to realize that fact became the final mistake of Marquis Luid’s life.
Squelch.
The flashing light sliced clean through Marquis Luid’s neck. Even after passing through, the light continued on for a long distance before slamming into the ground on the far side.
Boom!
And then, the sound that followed was…
“Cough… Hack… I really almost died there.”
It was Patrick’s voice.
“My God….”
“Lord Yupinel. How can this be…?”
Count Gilsian and Count Zigler stared at the reappearing Patrick in utter disbelief.
Patrick forced himself to stand up and spoke.
“I thought something felt off. Dammit, you hid a trick like that for yourself while pretending to go for mutual destruction? No wonder I was fooled.”
In Patrick’s hand was the artifact that had been hanging around Marquis Luid’s neck. He had snatched it at the same moment he took the man's head.
Then, Patrick gave a smirk.
“Sephiroth.”
In that instant, Count Gilsian and Count Zigler were horrified.
“Gasp!”
“Noooo!”
Patrick grinned at their shocked reactions. Now you bastards are all dead—wait, what?
“What? Why isn't this working? Cough… I feel like I’m about to kick the bucket right now. Hey! Hey! Are you ignoring me?”
No matter how much Patrick shook the pendant, it was useless. The healing power of Sephiroth could only be used exactly once a day.
Patrick didn't know that. But Count Zigler and Count Gilsian did.
Still, they couldn't help but overreact in their sudden shock. If Patrick Schneider were to fully recover in this situation? Just the thought of it made them shudder with uncontrollable terror.
But it was alright.
Thank goodness.
What a relief.
Sephiroth’s effect was once per day. There was absolutely no way Patrick Schneider would recover his body and stand before them again. Therefore…
“Why?”
Count Zigler and Count Gilsian, who were slowly shifting into combat stances, both flinched simultaneously.
Patrick, who had just terrified two 7-Star Knights at once, spoke with his usual smirk.
“Think you can take me?”
Patrick’s physical condition was a mess. Arrows were lodged in various parts of his body, and he was covered in wounds, large and small, from the battle.
But the internal injuries were even more serious than the external ones. In the process of tanking the magic with his body, he had deployed his Protective Qi at full power, but it hadn't been enough to offset all the impact. The moment the shock exceeded the defensive limit of his Qi, his internals had been rattled, leaving him in a terrible state.
This is why I usually dodge instead of blocking…
He’d had no choice this time. He never imagined the man would go for mutual destruction without the actual resolve to die, relying on such a cheap trick. Because he hadn't felt any suicidal resolve, his reaction had been dulled. But…
What’s done is done…
He knew well from experience. In times like this, you had to act even tougher.
Thus, he spoke to the enemies who were looking at him with expressions of sheer exhaustion.
“Well then….”
With a playful smile on his lips, Patrick continued.
“Shall we keep going?”
In that moment, everyone facing Patrick as an enemy felt goosebumps.
How could they win? No, was it even possible to win? Was that thing really human? Could he be a demon or a devil, which is why he wouldn't die by normal means?
Fear and desperation bred ridiculous delusions. And eventually…
“U-Uwaaaah!”
“Run away!”
A few deserters appeared among the soldiers. As if it were contagious, a large number of soldiers threw down their weapons and fled.
“What are you doing?!”
“You fools! Maintain the formation!”
“Do you all want to die?!”
The knights tried to stop the soldiers. Some knights even drew their swords and cut down soldiers as an example. But…
“Don't give me that crap!”
“How are we supposed to kill that thing?!”
“Why don't you do it yourselves?!”
Rule by fear does not work when an even greater fear stands before you. To the soldiers of the Caesar Kingdom, Patrick was now perceived as something massive and terrifying that must never be opposed.
Ultimately, the encirclement, unable to be controlled, crumbled. And then…
“Everyone, cease combat!”
The final blow landed.
The voice coming from the sky belonged to a mage draped in a deep indigo robe. Dozens of magic swordsmen followed behind him as guards as he flew through the air.
They landed lightly on the ground and spoke.
“Both sides, stop fighting. In the name of the Tower of Truth, no further combat will be tolerated.”
Count Zigler bit his lip hard and stepped forward.
“What is the meaning of this sudden interference?! Why is the Tower of Truth meddling in this affair?”
At Count Zigler’s words, the mage spoke.
“I am Wade Porter, a mage of the 6th floor of the Tower of Truth.”
“Wade Porter… You?”
Count Zigler was astonished. Being on the 6th floor of the Tower of Truth meant a status at least equivalent to a Count among nobles. Furthermore, although it was his first time seeing him, the name Wade Porter was one he knew.
“Are you truly that Wade Porter, one of the direct disciples of the Seven Sages?”
“I am.”
“…….”
Count Zigler bit his lip and fell silent. At this point, this wasn't an opponent he could suppress with authority.
The Caesar Kingdom was a country that was particularly sensitive to the authority of the Tower of Truth located within its borders. Although the Tower didn't belong to the kingdom and was merely leasing the land, the Caesar Kingdom gained immense benefits just by its presence.
Count Zigler spoke with a frown.
“Will you first explain the reason? Why have you suddenly intervened in this battle?”
Wade Porter replied.
“The Double Dragon over there is a guest formally invited by our Tower of Truth.”
“What?!”
“I do not know what misunderstanding has led the Kingdom to be hostile toward the Double Dragon, but please clear the misunderstanding and withdraw now.”
Count Zigler’s jaw dropped. After a moment of failing to grasp the situation, his face turned beet red as he shouted.
“Are you in your right mind?!”
As Count Zigler roared, Wade Porter’s smile vanished, and he spoke with a stern expression.
“Watch your words. What I am saying now is on behalf of my master.”
Grind.
Count Zigler gnashed his teeth. Now that the other party had invoked the name of the Seven Sages, he really had to be careful with his words—even if he was a 7-Star Knight.
“We have already lost too much. Because of that Double Dragon, we have lost Count Spike and Marquis Luid.”
“Even Marquis Luid?”
It seemed even Wade Porter hadn't known this. Out of the nine 7-Star Knights the kingdom possessed, they had lost two. Among them, Marquis Luid was a figure of an even higher caliber.
At this point, it wouldn't be strange if the Caesar Kingdom wanted to tear Patrick apart alive. But…
That’s your problem.
Wade Porter’s master had told him to bring the Double Dragon back safely by any means necessary. Thus, he was simply fulfilling his master’s command faithfully.
“As far as we know, Count Calvin Spike died as a result of a fair duel.”
“That is a matter the Kingdom is still investigating.”
“And this battle was likely not started by the Double Dragon either. Was it not you who formed an encirclement and attacked him?”
“It would have been fine if he had just surrendered quietly.”
“Cough, hack… Would you have done that?”
Patrick, who had been quietly listening from the side, chimed in. Even while dying, he couldn't stand being wronged. Staying silent when treated unfairly was the twelfth thing Patrick hated most.
Was it the eleventh? Dammit… my head’s so fuzzy I’m getting confused.
Patrick’s head was spinning, and he just wanted to throw everything aside and lie down. But he couldn't let his guard down yet.
It seemed April had successfully delivered the letter, and the Tower of Truth had stepped in as planned, so things were okay, but he had to remain vigilant until the very end.
The heated argument between Count Zigler and Wade Porter was finally reaching a conclusion.
“In any case, we will not permit any further attacks on our guest. If you still insist on using force, we will have no choice but to respond with force as well!”
As Wade Porter spoke, the magic swordsmen behind him activated their Soul Weapons in unison. They were signaling that if the kingdom pushed further, they would fight.
At that sight, Count Zigler bit his lip hard.
How dare these people…
The number of magic swordsmen looked to be over thirty at a glance. With their encirclement crumbled and having been tormented by Patrick all night, could they win against them? No, regardless of winning or losing, how would they handle the aftermath if a battle broke out here?
Just then, Count Gilsian approached his side and spoke.
“It would be best to withdraw for now.”
“Count Gilsian!”
“If we don't withdraw here, we’ll have to face that monster again on top of the Tower of Truth.”
“…….”
“Do we have a chance of winning?”
Count Zigler squeezed his eyes shut. Thinking coldly… really coldly… if asked if they had a chance of winning…
“Lord Yupinel….”
They didn't.
As those words escaped him along with a sigh, Patrick spoke with a grin.
“Oh, looks like you’re leaving?”
“Double Dragon….”
“Why are you calling me? Want more?”
“Today’s humiliation….”
“I will never forget.”
“…….”
“Is that what you were going to say?”
“…….”
“It’s always the guys running away who have to say one last thing to save their pride, cough, hack… Ow… I’m really gonna die.”
Seeing him vomit blood, the thought of just fighting crossed Zigler's mind. But…
“Why? Want to throw everything away and settle this one-on-one, you and me? I’m down for that.”
He couldn't bring himself to answer ‘Fine’ to those words. Even facing an opponent who was vomiting blood and dying, he couldn't be certain of victory.
Watching him tremble with humiliation and disgrace, Patrick spoke.
“Kid. When you’re leaving because you’re outmatched, just shut up and go. No matter what you say, it just sounds like a dog barking.”
Snap!
He clenched his teeth so hard it felt like they would break. Then, turning his back, he commanded.
“Clean up the scene. We are withdrawing.”
“Yes, sir!”
He was even displeased with the knights who answered as if they had been waiting for that command, but…
There is nothing to be done.
Thus, the desperate battle between Patrick and the Caesar Kingdom’s army ended.
In terms of pure numbers, the force had been over 10,000. It was a battle that mobilized multiple knight orders, mages, and even four 7-Star Knights.
The result…
Over 1,500 total dead. Among them, over 80 were knights.
And crucially…
Marquis Andrea Luid.
Count Martin Tonius.
Two more 7-Star Knights had died.
It was a crushing defeat for the Caesar Kingdom.