Chapter 313: Winged Heavenly Being Subjugation (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 313: Winged Heavenly Being Subjugation (1)
Black Stone.
It was the largest dark-gray volcano in the world, boasting an altitude and surface area unmatched by any other mountain. The vast wilderness once traversed by the Floating Islands was merely a fraction of Black Stone’s reach.
Standing at the mountain's center, the sheer, overwhelming scale of the terrain made one feel as though they were standing upon a boundless, flat expanse. However, as one drew closer to the crater, the slope sharpened into a precipitous, towering incline that finally evoked the true sensation of a mountain.
Near the summit, the air grew so thin that an ordinary person would find it difficult to draw a single breath.
Paaaah!
Somewhere within Märchen Academy, the Heavenly Clock emitted a blinding light, sending a brilliant white shockwave rippling across the entire world.
It happened in an instant. The flow of all supernatural forces—mana included—was plunged into absolute chaos. Consequently, every magic tool that sustained the infrastructure of cities across the nations ground to a halt.
“It has begun.”
Near the crater of Black Stone, at an altitude where breathing was still possible, the Allied Forces of various nations stood in formation, prepared for battle.
The Imperial Knights of the Zelver Empire, the Holy Knights of the Holy Kingdom of Bardio, and the Frost Legion of Düpfendorf.
Among them, the Knight Commander of the Zelver Empire looked up at the sky, now filled with a shimmering white aurora.
“Now, it starts.”
Hwaaaaah!
The heavens split open, and a radiant pillar of light poured down toward the crater of Black Stone.
“All troops! Prepare for battle!”
“Prepare for battle!!”
The Allied Forces drew their weapons in a single, rhythmic motion.
—When the Heavenly Clock activates, it becomes difficult to manipulate mana properly. Fight as if magic never existed in the first place.
Isabel Silverwolf, a Legion Commander of Düpfendorf, recalled the instructions of Isaac, the Ice Sovereign.
“The mana is growing chaotic. Just as our Lord said.”
The mana did not circulate as smoothly as she intended. Channeling ice mana into her double-handed axe, Farahorn, felt incomparably more taxing than usual.
Following Isaac’s orders, the Allied Forces had been organized with a focus on pure physical prowess. The wizards had merely assisted in the journey to Black Stone.
“They’re coming! Defend Black Stone!”
The sound of flapping wings filled the air.
Heavenly beings clad in silver armor descended, riding the radiance of the heavens. Each wielded a weapon imbued with Divine Power as they charged toward the human coalition.
To craft the Spear of Longinus using the mana flowing within Black Stone, any and all obstacles had to be cleared.
War was inevitable.
Kuuuuuuuu!
“Is it an earthquake?”
The mana inside Black Stone surged, causing the ground to heave and tremble. With the center of the Allied Forces in disarray, the heavenly beings seized the opening, striking with swords and spears.
The knights responded instantly.
Chaaang!
Hwaaaah!
As weapons clashed, the flood of Divine Power caused secondary shockwaves that sent the knights reeling.
The effect of the Heavenly Clock disrupted the Divine Power of the heavenly beings as well. However, most of the skilled rebel forces under Vuel managed to stabilize their power to a level usable in combat.
The screams of knights echoed, and blood splattered across the gray stone.
Rumble.
Roots of verdant green mana stretched out from the ground, knitting the wounds of the injured knights.
It was Kaya Astrea’s plant magic. Under the protection of the Allied Forces, she provided healing from the rear. While the Heavenly Clock made standard magic difficult to handle, fairy powers were less affected. Kaya’s role was that of a primary healer, as her plant magic held the highest rank among restorative abilities.
Chara-rang!
Dorothy’s starlight magic struck the heavenly beings.
Although its power was significantly weakened and failed to pierce the armor of the heavenly army, it was still more effective than most elemental magic. Dorothy played a supportive role, using her starlight to dent armor and interfere with the enemies' movements.
“Magic has become ridiculously hard to use!” Dorothy forced a smile as she strained to draw up her mana.
The two female students, both Fairy Kin, had joined the Allied Forces following Isaac’s orders. They were devoted to their respective roles.
Chaeng!
Isabel blocked a heavenly being’s slash with the broad blade of her axe.
[What are you? Is this the work of the Ice King, whatshisname?]
“You dare call our Lord ‘whatshisname’? Just because you have a mouth, you think you can say whatever you want, you damn bitch!”
A vein throbbed in a cross-shape on Isabel’s forehead.
To her, Isaac was a transcendent being, a living legend. Serving him was the greatest honor of her life. To hear such a person referred to so crudely made her blood boil.
She poured every ounce of her strength into her ice mana.
“Know your place!”
Kaaang!
Isabel swung Farahorn with explosive force, knocking the heavenly being back. A fierce cold spread from the impact, though it seemed to have little effect on her opponent.
Isabel bared her sharp, protruding fangs, snarling like a wolf.
“Magic really doesn’t work on them. Annoying bastards.”
The heavenly beings’ armor was designed to maximize elemental resistance—crucial information Isaac had already provided to the Allied Forces.
“Do not falter! Defend Black Stone! For the Ice Sovereign!” Isabel roared, swinging Farahorn once more.
The Legion of Düpfendorf shouted in unison, throwing themselves into the fray.
*
Meanwhile, in the solitary cells of Düpfendorf.
A heavenly being cut down the guards and threw open the door to a dark cell. Light flooded the cramped space.
Methel Valencia sat there, dazed.
She had finally escaped the nightmare. Thanks to the Heavenly Clock, even the power of the Vorpal Sword had been disrupted, allowing her to awaken from her mental prison. However, the lingering trauma of countless repeated wars left her mind clouded.
[It is an order from Lord Vuel. Methel, arm yourself immediately and follow me.]
Hearing the voice of the male heavenly being in silver armor, Methel looked up.
[Lord Vuel…?]
Staring vacantly into the distance, Methel murmured the name. Gradually, the light of life returned to her eyes.
Under the command of the Heavenly God, the heavenly beings had waged endless, grueling wars against countless races. Their God regarded all death, suffering, and tears as mere expendable resources.
Their God had to be dragged down. Today was the rare, one-in-a-million chance to do it.
Methel rose from her seat. As a soldier of the heavenly rebel army, she was prepared to sacrifice her life.
*
Across the world, people stared in awe at the sky where the white aurora danced.
Instructor Ronzainus prepared to leave Märchen Academy. He looked down at his hands; his Divine Power was in disarray, and even his immortal power was currently failing him.
He had to be prepared to face death today.
By now, the rebel army following his Vice-Commander was likely engaged at Black Stone. It was fine. As long as they weren't facing monsters like Isaac the Ice Sovereign, the heavenly beings were far superior to humans.
Soon, when Black Stone’s mana erupted, there was a high chance the Elemental Kings would join the fray. That, too, didn’t matter. Vuel was confident he could defeat them all.
Boom!
Two heavenly beings smashed through the outer wall of the office, scattering pure white feathers across the floor. They knelt on one knee, paying their respects to Vuel.
[We have come to escort you, Lord Vuel.]
One of the heavenly beings held the blood-soaked Phantom Cat, Cheshire, in one hand. The cat had been monitoring Vuel but had been caught off guard and ambushed during the chaos of the Heavenly Clock's activation.
[Meow… it hurts so much…]
[What should we do with this magic beast? Shall we kill it?]
When the subordinate asked, Instructor Ron shook his head.
[There is no need. Let it go.]
[Yes, Lord.]
In any case, once the spear to drag down the Heavenly God was forged, all life in this world would perish. Unless faced with an unavoidable obstacle, Vuel did not wish to engage in needless slaughter.
The heavenly beings understood his ironic mercy. They wanted to bring down their God because they were exhausted by endless war. This was a fight to end the slaughter once and for all.
The heavenly being tossed the Phantom Cat against the wall. With a dull thud, the cat hit the stone and slumped helplessly to the floor.
[Meow… Alice, Isaac…]
The Phantom Cat tried to reverse-summon itself, but the Heavenly Clock’s interference was too strong. Even after constructing the spell, its mana was too disrupted to trigger the transport. All it could do was mutter the names of its masters.
[Let us depart.]
Instructor Ron—or rather, Vuel—assumed his true form and walked toward the shattered wall. The two heavenly beings followed.
Vuel spread his four pairs of wings, and feathers glowing with Divine Power fluttered in the wind. They kicked off the ground and soared into the sky.
Booom!
In the blink of an eye, they vanished, leaving a sonic boom in their wake as they sliced through the air toward Black Stone.
However, just as they cleared the perimeter of Märchen Academy—
Whooosh!
From above, the power of nightmares rained down like purple flames, blocking their path. Vuel instinctively deployed his Divine Power to shield himself and his subordinates, halting mid-air.
They flapped their wings and looked up.
A black dragon enveloped in reddish-purple flames was glaring down at them. It was the nightmare dragon, Jabberwock. Standing atop the dragon’s head, clutching the Vorpal Sword, was Alice Carroll, the Ruler of Wonderland.
Her cold gaze was fixed on Vuel.
[A nuisance. Take care of it.]
[Yes!]
One of Vuel’s subordinates surged toward Alice.
At that moment—
Boom!!
[…!]
The other heavenly being was struck by a kick imbued with violent wind mana, slamming him into the ground below.
Surprised by the sudden ambush, Vuel turned his gaze in confusion. Standing there was a blond boy he had never seen before.
[And who might you be?]
The boy was wrapped in an unremarkably ordinary aura of wind mana.
When did he get here? Did we fail to detect him? Is our mana perception delayed?
No. It wasn't a delay in perception. The boy had reached the heavenly being and launched his attack the very instant he released his mana. It was an inconceivable speed, enough to catch even Vuel off guard.
The boy reached Vuel like a speeding bullet, throwing a wind-imbued punch. Vuel caught the fist with ease, blocking the strike.
Boom!
The condensed wind mana in the boy’s fist exploded, but it was ineffective against Vuel’s defenses.
However, Vuel found the boy’s presence irritating. He didn't rely solely on mana; even with the Heavenly Clock active, his mana efficiency was so high that he maintained perfect control. He was even using hand-to-hand combat to compensate for the lack of raw magical power.
It wasn't the fighting style of a typical wizard. It wasn't even that of a magic knight. If the elite Class A students distinguished themselves by mastering conventional methods, the boy before him was a wizard forging his own independent path.
“Ha! So now even the instructors are enemies?”
The blond boy, Tristan Humphrey, let out a scoffing, arrogant laugh.
“You people never get tired of this, do you!”
Tristan launched a blur of kicks, aimed straight for Vuel.