Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: The Opening of the Era of War (3)
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“Jump!”
Before he could even confirm Talaran slamming into the ground, Rokan’s body was already airborne.
“Gua……!”
“I surrender!”
Boom!
Rokan’s massive battle axe smashed into the ground beside him. The sheer force was enough to crater the earth.
The guy spat out a huge mouthful of blood, his face paling as he bowed his head. Rokan accepted it calmly.
[Your duel ends due to the opponent’s surrender declaration.]
[The winner is Rokan.]
“Next.”
Having wrung a surrender from Talaran, Rokan arrogantly scanned the surroundings. He wasn’t stopping at just defeating him—he called forward another High Master, Delas.
But it wasn’t mere bravado. The duration of his Storm Incarnation was still far from over, and if needed, he could instantly trigger Berserk.
The others didn’t know those details, but his momentum alone was terrifying enough. None of them felt they could win.
“I concede defeat as well.”
That was why Delas admitted defeat without even fighting. His spirit was already broken, and even if he won, nothing would change.
But Rokan seemed displeased by that.
“What, did I hear wrong? You’re surrendering without even trying? You’re the type who’d sell out the country.”
“N-No, that’s not...”
Delas panicked at Rokan’s aggressive words, but Rokan showed no sign of stopping.
“Come at me, you bastard.”
Since they’d come this far, Rokan decided to finish it properly.
A few skills were on cooldown, but he still had Storm Slaughter left, and with his current item power, he wasn’t inferior to any High Master.
[The duel between Rokan and Delas will begin in 10 seconds.]
[Duel conditions set. Delas: Defeat if HP falls below 5% of maximum. Rokan: Defeat upon death.]
[The duel begins. Prepare yourselves. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Begin!]
Rokan had forcibly initiated the duel. Once more, blood flew in a fierce clash.
* * *
“Ugh......”
After finishing the second duel, Rokan took a brief rest before sequentially dueling over thirty Masters.
The results were, of course, Rokan’s overwhelming victories.
Even without Berserk, his titles and item effects made them no match for him.
After that wild frenzy, Rokan returned to the command tent with a refreshed expression. Talaran, Delas, and the rest of the Masters guarded it, groaning with battered faces and bodies.
Bruises covered their faces and entire bodies, their bones aching, but Rokan hadn’t permitted any healing.
The pain of defeat had to be etched deep into their bones.
It wasn’t wrong, but after being beaten so brutally and dragged here by force, they were compelled to join Rokan’s ‘faction.’
“Phew, Marquis. But we’re knights, not nobles...”
“Oh, right. Then become nobles starting today.”
[Granted the rank of Viscount to Master Daltan.]
“Gasp!”
Master-level knights could basically claim a Viscount rank or higher anytime they wanted, but they had all forsaken titles to man the front lines.
But Rokan was a Marquis who could arbitrarily grant ranks below Viscount. Regardless of their objections, he forced the titles upon them and pulled them into his faction.
Some resisted, but this was the front lines. Fists outranked laws here.
“What, wanna get hit again, or just do it?”
“This is all for defending Kazantia, so just do it.”
“You can leave the faction after a set period anyway. Quit whining and do it! You wanna make me repeat myself, punk?”
Bowed by persuasion, threats, and violence, the knights all fell under Rokan. Once all thirty Masters received titles and joined the faction, special notifications appeared.
[You have formed a faction with ten or more nobles.]
[Faction level rises.]
[Various faction bonus effects increase.]
[Current faction level: 2]
[You have formed a faction with twenty or more nobles.]
[Faction level rises.]
[Various faction bonus effects increase.]
[Current faction level: 3]
[You have formed a faction with thirty or more nobles.]
[Faction level rises.]
[Various faction bonus effects increase.]
[Current faction level: 4]
In an instant, the faction level jumped three stages. Corresponding faction bonuses were applied—extra bonuses for territory management by nobles in the faction.
[Received LV 4 Faction Leader bonus.]
And Rokan got an even more special bonus. Greater effects than other nobles in his faction.
“What’re you waiting for? Join!”
“Us too...... really?”
Rokan didn’t stop there, pulling in the remaining two High Masters as well.
They already held honorary Earl ranks without needing Rokan’s grant, but as influential High Masters, they’d avoided factions to prevent tilting the power balance.
But now, Rokan was pressuring them to join his.
“Marquis, even so, joining a faction is......”
Talara now spoke politely, but Rokan loomed over them.
“Me.”
His voice was coldly restrained, conveying his displeasure.
“Do you think pulling you into my faction means I’ll do something, or not pulling you means I can’t do something?”
“......”
No long persuasion was needed. They’d experienced it firsthand. They knew better than anyone that Rokan could do anything, with or without their buy-in.
Unless it was a coup.
“No, sir. We’ll join.”
But if he tried that, they wouldn’t go along. Even bound by the faction name, they retained personal freedom within it.
Even if branded traitors by Rokan’s schemes, they joined with resolve to surrender without resistance.
[Incredible feat! You have subordinates more powerful than yourself.]
[Incredible feat! You are the leader of the third largest faction in Restonia.]
[Two titles combine.]
[Acquired title ‘Three Great Lords.’]
[You are the first to acquire this title.]
[Three Great Lords][Unique+]
You are the leader of one of Restonia’s top three factions. All nobles will look up to you, watch you warily, or fear you.
You are the first to acquire this title.
[Effects]
-20% amplification to abilities of subordinate nobles within range
-Select three subordinate nobles for [Subordinate Summon] to your side
-Your abilities amplify more the greater the number of subordinate nobles within range
-Buff skills gain 50% increased effect on subordinate nobles and their soldiers
-This title is automatically revoked if your faction falls out of the top three.
‘......This is straight-up broken.’
He hadn’t even hoped for this much. He’d just thought raising the faction level for bonuses would be nice.
But he’d snagged the ‘Three Great Lords’ title and insane powers with it.
‘That changes everything.’
Rokan’s eyes gleamed as he reassessed the situation.
“Alright, everyone—‘conscript’ troops.”
“......Yes, sir?”
“......Ah!”
Some got it right away, others didn’t, at Rokan’s first order after pulling them in.
But regardless, Rokan handed each a pre-prepared pouch of money.
“Conscript.”
“Conscript.”
“Conscript!”
Attitudes varied, but they all started conscripting. Soldiers soon poured in from one side.
With conscripting nobles at Master level, every recruit was a Class Expert powerhouse.
“Ah, so that’s why......!”
Only then did they realize why Rokan had granted titles and money pouches to enable conscription commands.
To bolster their sorely lacking manpower through conscription, unlike other races.
Previously, as non-nobles, they lacked conscription rights—or the funds even if they had them. But with Rokan as their backer, it was feasible now.
“Hold on, you two—‘recruit’ instead.”
The High Masters got an even special perk.
They could conscript but also recruit up to Master-level talents additionally.
Soon, Talaran and Delas shouted the recruit command, and lists of recruitable talents appeared.
“Oho.”
The lists were naturally shared with faction leader Rokan. Various specialized talents showed up, but Rokan selected four.
Elemental Sorcerer, Barrier Sorcerer, Enhancement Sorcerer, Thief.
Not the strongest Master classes, but Rokan was thrilled. They weren’t just four more Masters.
“Hey, change all your Master skills.”
After the brawl, Rokan dropped casual speech and unleashed more shocks.
Those were the Master skills that had brought them here. Secret combinations they were proud of—and now he wanted them changed?
Even if they did, no guarantee of better ones.
But Rokan was firm.
“You think mid-tier Master skills are gonna cut it? Delete them now!”
Coldly judging their skills, he thrust a scroll at each.
In the short duels, he’d analyzed their specialties and styles, assigning fitting Master skills.
With past-life memories of countless advanced combinations, handing them good ones was easy.
“This is......!”
Veterans who’d toiled through research and errors to reach Master saw the scrolls’ value instantly.
“We’ll do it!”
They flipped attitudes fast.
Pride in their skills had made them resist, but now they all declared they’d delete and learn Rokan’s.
“Do whatever.”
“......”
But Rokan’s response was nonchalant now.
That threw them off.
“Uh, Marquis. So the skillbooks......?”
“Why ask me? Get ‘em yourselves.”
“What......?”
They’d assumed skillbooks too, since he’d funded conscription. His retort stunned them.
Ridiculous to expect, really.
“I could sell them if you want.”
Smirk.
As they faced reality, Rokan pulled a paper from his pocket with a sly grin.
A contract.
Insanely pricey skillbooks—completing those combinations was beyond their funds.
They hadn’t levied taxes as new nobles, and Master stipends went to living with soldiers. No quick cash.
So Rokan would lend it.
Using their bodies as collateral.
“So, gonna sign or not?”
He shook the deal that ensnared their souls.