Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: Julius Kingdom
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"Right, the master of this place!"
As soon as Arthur summoned the K1 Rifles into both hands, he pulled the trigger on Faron.
Tututututututu-!
Faron had some grasp on the bizarre weapon, so he deployed his ultimate defensive spell, 'Absolute Shield'.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang-!
An enormous force poured down.
Every time an aura blade struck, cracks spiderwebbed across the shield.
'No way...'
He had expected it to be stronger than the attacks from those earlier foes, but he never imagined that tiny thing could damage a barrier capable of withstanding a 5th Class attack spell.
If he stayed put like this, he'd be done for without a doubt.
Faron bellowed at his subordinates.
"How much longer until the mana recovers?"
"It's almost there. Just give us a little more time, please."
"Hurry up!"
Faron decided to use the mana he had been saving for a counterattack.
Creeeak-.
The moment he heard the mana barrier cracking, he deployed another Absolute Shield.
He planned to focus on defense himself while leaving the offense to his subordinates.
The enemy had impressive attack power, but it was unlikely his defense was equally formidable.
As was typical for most knights or mages, excelling in one area often meant mediocrity or worse in others.
So he judged that the barrage of 4th and 5th Class attack spells from over ten mages would give them a solid chance of victory.
"How long do you plan to make us wait!"
At Faron's shout, his subordinates' eyes flashed.
With their mana recovered, they drew it up in unison.
Flames and frost formed in their palms, and they immediately began casting 4th Class attack spells.
Dozens of fiery spears and ice lances materialized in the air and hurtled toward Arthur.
Arthur, who had been pouring fire on Faron, swiftly redirected his muzzles toward the incoming threats.
Tutututututututu-.
Like clay pigeon shooting, he didn't miss a single one, blasting them all away.
In the meantime, Faron gathered all his remaining mana to prepare a decisive strike.
Lightning crackled in his palm.
Due to insufficient mana, it wouldn't exceed 5th Class by much, but a surprise attack would surely take Arthur down—he was confident of it.
The lightning morphed into a long spear and hovered above his head.
"Shall I take an arm first? Lightning Spear!"
Paaang-!
The lightning spear shot toward Arthur like a bolt of light.
But Arthur was a battle-hardened veteran.
Even as he blocked the onslaught before him, he had pierced through Faron's intentions.
The instant Faron attacked, Arthur dismissed one K1 Rifle and drew his dagger.
Just before he parried the lightning-infused spear with his golden-aura-wrapped dagger!
He felt wind gathering around the dagger.
It was Pharsia.
She was lending her power.
Arthur was certain.
No attack could harm him.
"Get lost!"
The dagger clashed with the lightning.
Kwaaaang!
A powerful shockwave erupted.
The spear form dissipated, but the lightning's power didn't vanish—it surged along the dagger toward Arthur's hand.
Then it stopped dead.
As if blocked by some invisible force.
Arthur realized it was locked in a tug-of-war with Pharsia's power.
'Couldn't push it back in one go?'
Arthur glanced at Faron, still maintaining his shield.
With double casting producing this much power, he was at least on par with Millerph—or better.
'At minimum, 7th Class.'
The moment he entered the castle, the sprawled corpses and the stench of blood had ignited his rage.
He had ordered Blissan and the Assault Squad following behind to handle the enemies outside, then headed underground alone.
Descending, he steeled himself not to lose control no matter what awaited him.
If rage overtook his reason, the worst could happen.
He only wanted power, not to become a berserker, so he hardened his heart.
Fortunately, the barrier held, but assessing the Valtre Mage Corps' full strength made him realize his earlier overconfidence.
The foe he faced now—if he didn't go all out, he might not just fail to win; he could lose.
"I'll fight you properly."
Arthur's eyes turned icy as his aura surged.
Faron felt an ominous premonition at his reaction but shoved it aside in his mind.
Just before his subordinates' attacks reached Arthur!
The golden aura flowing from Arthur blazed intensely, enveloping him.
Then 'Fire Lance' and 'Ice Spear' bombarded him.
Kwang! Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
A deafening explosion shook the ground.
Acrid smoke from the blasts filled the underground, but it posed no issue for Faron and his men.
They cast light spells to secure visibility, then peered ahead, imagining Arthur's mangled form.
"......!"
He stood there unscathed.
"H-How...?"
Even Faron was stunned.
He had expected 'Aura Armor' for defense.
But that couldn't block a barrage of 4th Class spells.
He would have needed 'Defense Armor', on par with Absolute Shield...
'What the hell happened?'
Faron's mind reeled, but he didn't miss Arthur's movements.
Arthur dangled his dagger low, glaring at him.
Meeting those murder-filled eyes, Faron flinched involuntarily.
"Damn it!"
'To show such disgrace in front of my men?'
To reclaim his pride, Faron dropped his shield spell and addressed Arthur.
"You must know that those who commit wrongs must pay the price—that's the way of life."
"Don't flap your loose lips."
"What!"
Who had ever dared speak to him like that?
Not even his lord, Valtre Marquis.
"Your arrogance pierces the heavens. Then again, gaining great power young must make you feel like you own the world."
"Not at all."
Faron's eyes flashed at Arthur's words.
"I'm just getting started."
Arthur swung his dagger.
A golden aura blade arced in a sharp crescent toward him.
"As if!"
Faron vanished, and Arthur's aura blade slammed into the door.
Kwang!
The door remained intact despite the attack, and Faron's subordinates unleashed theirs.
"Fire Lance!"
"Ice Spear!"
Attacks rained from all directions.
Arthur recalled the hellish scene inside the castle and burned with fury.
His rage boiled his mana, continuously fueling his immense power.
He dodged the incoming spells nimbly while summoning a Sig Sauer.
He closed in on them, inflicting initial wounds with his dagger, then finishing them off decisively with the Sig Sauer.
Faron's subordinates realized this was no foe they could handle with their power.
From then on, they schemed to escape rather than attack, waiting for Faron—who they assumed was lurking somewhere—to strike.
As their assaults ceased, Arthur scanned the surroundings.
All dead, only five left.
Six, including the one glaring at him by the door beyond them.
Arthur knew Faron's location but didn't attack.
He planned to clear the small fry first, extract all needed info from him, then deal with him last.
Using him as a hostage to demand accountability from Valtre? Not a chance.
Having trampled what was precious to him, he was just another enemy.
Arthur asked the hesitant foes eyeing him warily.
"Deciding how you want to die?"
"Shut up!"
One launched a surprise 'Fireball'.
"Yes, thrash about to survive however you can. That way, my rage might ease a bit."
Arthur swatted the fireball with his fist, then acrobatically closed in front of him.
He mercilessly slit the man's throat with his dagger and said,
"Next train to hell departing."
Arthur charged them, swinging his dagger.
One by one, they fell without fail.
Faron, hidden by 'Invisibility', watched silently without even breathing audibly.
If his mana recovered, he couldn't kill the enemy, but they could escape.
He had to inform Valtre about the Julius Count Family's bizarre weapons and Arthur Julius.
These foes were far stronger than anticipated—especially Arthur Julius...!
Suddenly, Faron's eyes widened in shock.
"What were you thinking?"
Arthur was before him, thrusting his dagger.
Unable to hide longer, Faron raised a shield spell to block.
He then dispelled Invisibility and prepared an attack spell.
Lightning sparked in Faron's hand, swiftly enveloping it.
Mana was only half recovered, but he believed this would deliver a solid blow.
"Take this! Ridein!"
Faron thrust his hand toward Arthur's head.
Paaat-.
A massive bolt of lightning streaked toward Arthur.
Normally, it would crash from above, but as a high 6th Class attack, it required vast mana.
This was a modified version to match his current reserves.
Arthur felt its overwhelming power, hairs standing on end.
Aura Armor couldn't block it.
As always, dodging and countering was best.
But for some reason, he didn't want to.
He craved a head-on clash to affirm and prove his strength.
In that fleeting moment, myriad thoughts flooded his mind.
Pharsia appeared before him.
-I'll block it.
Then Arthur's eyes blazed fiercely, his hesitation vanishing.
"Out of the way!"
-......!
Pharsia looked slightly puzzled.
Arthur passed through her like a ghost and continued.
"I have to repay this myself!"
Gripping his dagger tight, Arthur swung full force at the incoming lightning.
Paaang-.
It cleaved the air, striking the bolt.
Kwaaaang-!
Immense shock traveled from his wrist to shoulder to head.
His right arm felt like it would sever, his skull like it would burst in agony.
'I... won't... back down...'
He clenched his teeth harder on the dagger.
What had pushed to his chest slowly repelled the lightning, then split it asunder.
Kwang!
The bolt exploded and vanished.
"H-How...!"
Faron was aghast.
Even diminished, it shouldn't have been blocked by a dagger.
For the first time, Arthur's fearsome power terrified him.
That sparked a ripple in his chest, planting fear.
"Y-You... are..."
The moment their eyes met, Faron collapsed trembling.
Arthur's eyes blazed red with rage and killing intent, hot steam issuing from his mouth.
Like a dragon after breathing fire.
Had a gold dragon reincarnated as a human?
Rumors of him uncovering Teheran's hidden power flooded his mind.
Suddenly, 'Devil's Follower' came to mind.
He had dismissed it as the emperor's fabrication to pressure the Julius Count Family.
But facing Arthur, it felt plausible.
If true, from now on, they needed to target Arthur Julius over the emperor.
His betrayal had incurred this wrath.
Looking at approaching Arthur and his fallen men, despair darkened his vision.
'Your Excellency, I think you've made a mistake.'
As Faron's face grew gloomier, Arthur closed in and plunged his dagger down.
Puk!
His arm severed clean. Blood fountained from the shoulder.
Delayed pain twisted Faron's face grotesquely.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
He rolled on the floor, screaming madly.
Arthur ignored him completely and walked to the door.
He then gazed at the Hangul inscribed below the dragon emblem.
[Whoever violates this shall surely die.
Arthur Julius]
Previously, Valtre Marquis's envoy squad had ransacked the castle, reaching here and trying to enter.
Then Medlin had implored Arthur to protect this place above all.
He had engraved it to never forget.
'Mother...'
Placing his palm on the dragon-embossed section, the door gleamed.
The underground barrier dissolved.
He pushed the doors open with both hands.
Through the widening gap, he saw Medlin kneeling in prayer.
Then Aild, Ban, and many others tearfully watching him.
His heart ached for the casualties, but protecting them swelled it with emotion.
As his eyes grew hot,
Pharsia's urgent voice rang in his ear.
-Hurry and escort Young Master Aild upstairs. Jackal is in critical condition.
"Damn it!"
Arthur's face twisted.