Chapter 239
Chapter 239
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 239
Chapter Title: 92. Overlord Banner (7)
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As he cast the Authority Word Command, Corey felt an unidentified energy erupting like molten lava from the Dragon Word organ beneath his neck.
It resembled mana but carried a purer, more primordial sensation.
"Ahh..."
Kill.
This word was imbued with the intent to slay the enemy.
The primal authority of destruction began to pervade the surroundings.
At that instant, the five knights felt a visceral wave of disgust crash over them.
"...!"
Corey's 'Authority Word: Kill' was incomplete, so it couldn't deliver actual death, but even its mere harbinger was enough to shatter the enemies' minds and bodies.
The imperial knights instinctively recognized, deep in their subconscious, that 'death' had approached right up to them before receding.
Their bodies stiffened, and they were seized by a neurotic obsession that they had to escape this situation, losing all composure in the process.
Chaos erupted.
It was the perfect opening for Rolang.
Covered in wounds, he pressed forward, spraying blood, and plunged his sword into the body of the panicking knight.
"Gahk...!"
Another knight fell.
These were opponents he wouldn't have slain so easily under normal circumstances, but the Dragon Word held tremendous power.
Slumped on the ground, Corey watched the battle unfold.
Rolang swung his sword in a dazzling flurry once more.
Blades clashed, and clashed again.
The explosive sounds of metal colliding echoed relentlessly through the mountains.
A brutal melee ensued.
In the end, flesh was torn open, and blood sprayed into the air.
Rolang spat up blood.
"Hoo, hoo..."
He had killed four knights so far.
Only one remained.
The last imperial knight glared at Rolang and raised his sword.
"You're next."
Rolang muttered under his breath as he took a step forward.
Though his injuries were far more severe, he didn't wait for the enemy—he strode straight into the opponent's domain.
The imperial knight swung his sword on instinct.
Rolang defied his instincts.
Protecting one's body was a natural reflex for any living being, yet Rolang offered up his own flesh to strike at the enemy's vital point.
Rolang's sword pierced the knight's throat; the knight's blade sliced into Rolang's side.
One collapsed, and one slumped down.
Life and death were decided.
Corey rushed to Rolang's side.
"Are you all right?"
"Get lost."
Even in that state, Rolang scowled and menaced Corey.
"I told you I'm done traveling with you..."
"Y-Yes."
"I said scram right now..."
"Got it, got it."
Ignoring Rolang's reaction, Corey examined his body.
"You're ignoring me...?"
"Stay still."
With all the imperial knights dead, Corey could now use magic. He first staunched the bleeding, then poured healing mana into the wounds.
The injuries were too severe for any noticeable improvement.
"What a mess..."
Corey looked up.
The five horses the imperial knights had ridden were still there.
"Sir Rolang. I'll stop the bleeding, so bear with the pain."
"What are you—"
"Get up. We're riding."
Corey helped Rolang onto a horse and mounted in front of him. The horse accepted its new rider without resistance.
Just before departing, Corey glanced back.
The other four horses stared at him blankly.
Horses were valuable beasts.
Trained warhorses even more so.
In the past, as a servant to Brioll's prince, Corey had wanted for nothing, but now every day was a struggle for survival.
Rolang spoke.
"Kuh... If you're going, then go. Why hesitate...?"
"Ah, just wait a sec."
Rolang might have intimidated Corey before, but now he was covered in wounds from head to toe.
"You sure talk a lot."
"You little shit..."
"Good with curses too."
Corey dismounted, tied ropes to the reins, and linked all five horses together. Then he climbed back onto the horse carrying Rolang.
"We're off. Bear with the pain."
"..."
Corey urged the horse forward.
Each jolt drew groans from Rolang. Thanks to Corey's magic, the bleeding and wounds didn't worsen.
Corey gradually picked up speed. The horses broke into a gallop.
Clop, clop, clop.
"Kek! Kek! Ugh!"
"Hya, hya, hya."
"I'll kill you..."
"Hya, hya!"
"Ugh! Kek!"
Yuri crushed the small nations of the alliance like leaves in the wind, steadily collecting their banners.
Some, however, reacted strangely.
"Why, why aren't they coming? We sent them..."
"They were found dead in the mountains."
"What? All of them?"
"Yes. All five."
"What do we do?"
"We have to send our own guys..."
"They won't blame us, right?"
"No choice."
Overhearing their whispers from the corner, it seemed the knights sent by the Empire had met with some accident.
In the end, five unprepared knights took the field, their skills so lacking that Brioll's side easily secured a 3-0 victory and claimed the banner.
Only one banner remained.
Two days until the Overlord Banner tournament's deadline.
Ahead of the final bout, Yuri cautioned the Revenge Knights.
"Don't let your guard down until the very end."
It was more a promise to himself than anything.
The five participating in the Overlord Banner had grown confident from their victories. At this rate, they'd win the final tournament without issue.
But the Empire was no pushover.
The thought of what tricks they might pull before the last Overlord Banner match kept Yuri on edge.
"Yes, yes. Of course."
Jared, meanwhile, flashed a relaxed grin and urged his horse on.
"Win the final Overlord Banner match, and our mission's done. Let's stay sharp just a bit longer. It'll be over soon. Over. Then we can rest."
At this pace, they'd reach the final nation, Endia, by evening at the latest, morning after if delayed.
Victory in the last Overlord Banner match would make them the Overlord Banner's owners.
It was a feat for the history books, but to the Revenge Knights, they just wanted to rest soon.
"By the way, don't you want to try assembling the banners before then?"
"No need."
Yuri had once tried piecing together the collected banners into the Overlord Banner, but it hadn't worked.
After that, he hadn't bothered inferring their shapes.
No particular reason.
He just felt it'd be easier once the mission was complete.
"We'll assemble them all at once later."
"Sounds good."
"Yeah..."
After riding in silence for a while, Yuri spoke up again.
"Jared."
"Yes."
"One question."
"Ask away."
"Suppose you were in the Empire's shoes. How would you stop us?"
"Can't be done."
"Just think about it."
"Hmm..."
Jared tilted his head.
"Me? I'd keep it simple."
"Jump into the Overlord Banner tournament?"
"Nah, no need. One banner left, two days remaining. In this situation, just block the road."
"How?"
"Send anyone."
"Who would you send?"
"Plenty of strong ones in the Empire. Like the Black Knight, or that ogre..."
After a moment's thought, he decided.
"Ah, I'd send the Black Knight. The ogre's too dumb to handle cleanup. That shadow whatever's a secret weapon, so keep it hidden. Black Knight's the safest bet. Like in Bezos."
"I see."
Yuri fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"Then, if the Black Knight shows up here, what should we do?"
"Up to you, Your Highness. Can you win?"
"Not sure."
"Lose?"
"I'd have to fight to find out."
"Take long?"
"Probably."
"Then we split up."
Jared grinned.
"While Your Highness fights, the rest of us race ahead, finish the Overlord Banner tournament, grab the banner. Win or lose, we complete the Overlord Banner, right?"
"Exactly."
"Why ask, though?"
"Because it seems to be happening right now."
"Pardon?"
"Listen closely."
Yuri rode on calmly as he spoke.
"When I give the signal, scatter and regroup in Endia. Wait until tomorrow. If I don't show, hold the Overlord Banner tournament yourselves."
"Huh?"
"Do well. You're in charge."
"Suddenly what—"
Yuri spurred his horse ahead alone.
Only then did Jared spot the mysterious figure standing far down the road.
Mounted on horseback, both he and his steed were clad head to toe in black armor, resembling a dark half-man, half-beast apparition.
Jared realized who it was.
"For real...?"
The Black Knight.
He was waiting in the middle of the road for the Revenge Knights.
Yuri raised a hand without looking back. It was a hand signal.
"Yes, sir!"
Jared wheeled his horse around to face the Revenge Knights trailing slowly behind. They focused on him.
"Scatter. Regroup in Endia."
He relayed the hand signal.
The Revenge Knights moved as one, their signaling system perfected over time.
Questions could wait. Orders were to be followed.
The Revenge Knights dispersed in all directions, scattering like a defeated army in flight.
"Your Highness, we'll go ahead and wait!"
Jared gave Yuri a final salute before veering off the road. In an instant, Yuri was left alone on the path.
Yuri approached calmly.
The Black Knight drew closer.
Once within earshot, Yuri straightened and spoke.
"It's been a while. Good to see you, Black Knight."
The Black Knight responded to Yuri's greeting.
"Likewise."
Yuri drew nearer.
He looked exactly as he had in Bezos: black armor, black mask concealing his face. A razor-sharp aura radiated outward, dominating the area.
To counter it, Yuri summoned the energy of Heart-Soul Severing.
The two Ten Strong clashed domains.
"What brings you here?"
"Seemed like you were up to something interesting."
"Not particularly."
"My job is to stop you."
"The Emperor's orders?"
"..."
"No answer. I thought Black Knights only followed the Emperor's commands. Got a new master?"
"No need for more words."
"Dodging the question."
Yuri nodded.
"We all have our circumstances."
"Appreciate the understanding."
As he dismounted, Yuri filed away one piece of information.
The Black Knight wasn't following the Emperor's orders now. Either the Emperor was dead, incapacitated, or perhaps being blackmailed using the Emperor's safety as leverage.
Yuri asked abruptly.
"Did Cedric threaten you?"
Expecting surprise, he got calm instead.
"Don't lead the witness."
"Fair enough."
Yuri gave up cleanly and drew Guilty.
He'd grown much since then, but fighting the Black Knight was still a gamble.
He'd been one of the Ten Strong for ages, top-tier even among them. No glaring flaws like Yalta or Donchichi.
Solidly strong, no openings.
Yuri exhaled deeply and gripped Guilty's hilt.
"Same for me..."
Steeling himself, Yuri murmured to himself, closed his eyes, then opened them.
His pupils, now in the Heart-Soul realm, scanned the Black Knight from head to toe.
No aura of darkness.
It was a bittersweet relief.
Good that the Black Knight hadn't fallen to corruption, but regrettable that they had to clash like this.
"Black Knight, before we fight, can't we talk..."
"Not listening."
The Black Knight shook his head and raised his sword. A mana barrier erected around him, blocking not just sword aura but sound itself.
In an instant, their domains fused.
Yuri stared at the Black Knight, then lifted the corner of his mouth.
The Black Knight was no fool. He simply followed his circumstances.
Only one choice remained.
This world couldn't be swayed by words. In these dark times, one had to enforce their will with the sword.
Yuri checked the sun's position, then raised Guilty straight.