Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: River of Blood
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“Who the hell!”
Valtre felt like he was going mad from the situation crashing down on him.
The false rumor that he had attacked Israelton Castle had spread like wildfire throughout the Oscar Empire.
He had tried to contain it somehow, but that was no longer possible.
Marquis Tano, stationed at the border, had begun to move.
He had immediately issued a total mobilization order and begun preparations.
In the office, Chief Mage Hoan and his escort knight Camel awaited Valtre's command.
Valtre sat on the throne, his face grave as he sank into deep thought.
It was either that novice or Artisan.
One of them had undoubtedly framed him.
If it was Arthur's doing, he needed to somehow reveal the truth to Marquis Tano and clear his name. If it was Artisan, he had to redirect his forces not toward Tomoya Kingdom but to the Namshar Empire.
But the incident had erupted so suddenly that he could do nothing.
“This is driving me insane.”
Camel glanced at him cautiously before speaking.
“Your Majesty, what's done is done. Our only option now is to fight back.”
Hoan quickly added his piece.
“Just now, a large force departed from the Kristen capital toward the border.”
“They're filling the gap left by Marquis Tano's troops, I suppose. So, who was it? Marquis Mandora?”
“It's Duke Sahaza who has mobilized.”
“Duke Sahaza?”
Valtre's face twisted.
The fact that a man who rarely moved at all had done so meant he had grasped the gravity of the situation.
Then what orders had he given to Marquis Mandora?
It was time to think from Emperor Ruan's perspective.
Knock knock.
A knock sounded, and the office door creaked open ominously.
Valtre spotted the knight entering and felt a bad premonition.
Sure enough.
The knight rushed forward, bowing deeply.
“Your Majesty, Marquis Mandora's forces are crossing the Gopra Mountains!”
Valtre shot to his feet.
Sending troops to the border and to him as well meant Emperor Ruan intended to sweep him away alongside Marquis Tano this time.
“Damn it!”
Even the sliver of hope he had clung to for clearing his name vanished.
His rage then turned to venom.
“If that's how you bastards want to play it...”
“Issue your orders!”
Camel dropped to one knee and lowered his head.
“Take the Busta Knight Order and confront Marquis Mandora.”
“Yes, sir!”
“And Count Hoan, gather the knight orders from each territory and come with me to face Marquis Tano.”
“Understood.”
Everyone swiftly departed.
Left alone, Valtre headed underground through a secret door.
There hung the Tomoya family's treasure: a suit of silver armor.
The armor gleamed transparently like crystal, radiating a mystical aura even at a glance.
Beside it stood a red sword.
Known as the Explosive Sword, it acted as a catalyst to draw out his power to its limits.
That was why, after awakening his strength, he had stored it here alongside the armor.
The time had finally come to wield this blade.
“It's been a long wait.”
The moment Valtre gripped the sword, the red blade flashed as if welcoming him.
Then its power flowed through his hand into him.
He felt his suppressed strength stir, his blood heating up.
“Just hold on a little longer. I'll let you run wild soon enough.”
Valtre sheathed the sword in the scabbard at the armor's waist, and the power subsided.
The scabbard, integrated seamlessly with the armor, suppressed the blade's energy.
Even if the power raged out of control, the scabbard could calm it, so with just the sword and scabbard, he feared nothing.
“I had planned to eliminate Ruan first, but Marquis Tano will do nicely. It'll serve as a powerful warning to him.”
Valtre smirked coldly.
***
As tension gripped the Oscar Empire, Arthur stood on a cliff overlooking the Kanura Continent.
“There are even more now.”
Monsters had already been innumerable before.
But now, it seemed the entire continent was blanketed in them.
And there were far too many that appeared stronger than ogres.
Above all, hundreds of griffons filled the skies.
Even if the Empire pooled every ounce of its strength, it couldn't hope to stop them.
The situation was worse than he had imagined.
He scanned for any that might be the Demon King's familiars, but none stood out.
The Demon King's familiars didn't seem to be there.
They were likely scattered across the continent, carrying out their individual missions.
And the Demon King himself was probably possessing Emperor Ruan, or Altros, or perhaps Artisan.
Yet gazing at that place sparked a sudden thought.
Since it hadn't recovered its strength yet, might it be hiding in the safest spot possible?
What would be the safest place for the Demon King?
If it was hiding there, then all those he had suspected as the Demon King were probably just its familiars.
“Hmm...”
For now, he memorized a few visible details, planned to sort out the Empire's situation first, and decided to return later.
That was when Arthur turned around.
Unwelcome guests had appeared before him.
An ogre, an owl bear, and even a troll.
They weren't fighting each other but glaring at him instead, so it seemed a griffon empowered by the Demon King's forces somewhere was commanding them.
Sure enough.
With a flurry of wings, a griffon appeared above them.
In the past, he might have trembled in fear and desperately plotted an escape.
But now was different.
“Shall I test my power after so long?”
He drew up mana and summoned K1 Rifles into both hands.
The monsters bristled with killing intent in response, and the griffon let out a shriek.
Kieeeek-.
At once, the monsters charged at Arthur.
White light gathered at the muzzles of the K1s aimed at them, and aura bullets fired.
Tutatatatata-.
The aura bullets streaked forth like flashes of pure white light.
Pewpewpewpewpewpew-.
He unleashed a merciless barrage that turned the area into a wasteland.
Even the massive ogre collapsed helplessly, while the others burned to ash and vanished.
The power of the light spirit, Nigras, was tremendous.
The griffon circling overhead, seeking an opening, dove with talons extended like arrows.
Arthur didn't dodge; he blocked the talons with one K1 and thrust the muzzle of the other into its belly.
“Get lost.”
Tutatatatata-.
Riddled with holes, it crashed to the ground and burst into flames.
Then it too turned to ash and disappeared.
Having dispatched an entire monster squad in an instant, Arthur calmly turned back to gaze at the Kanura Continent.
They must have heard the gunfire.
The griffons could have flown over to attack, but they didn't budge.
That sight only deepened his suspicions.
“Are you really there?”
***
As Marquis Tano's massive army advanced into Tomoya Kingdom, an eerie silence fell over everyone.
Tano Grans.
Second in the Empire's hierarchy.
Known as the Massacre of the Battlefield, he was one of the Empire's ultimate powerhouses alongside Jangjarban.
His rage had erupted.
En route to Tomoya Kingdom, he razed any territory that had betrayed Emperor Ruan to the ground.
Consumed by fury, he destroyed everything in his path.
On the fifth day since departing the border.
Tomoya Kingdom's border came into view.
Spotting tens of thousands of troops assembled before it, Marquis Tano immediately summoned his knight order captain, Montera.
A burly man on a massive horse approached.
“You called?”
Tano spotted Valtre in silver armor ahead at the border.
“There he is.”
“Just give the order. I'll capture him and deliver him to Your Excellency.”
Montera glared fiercely and bowed deeply.
Marquis Tano scanned the border with sharp eyes.
He could tell the knight orders of families subjugated by Tomoya Kingdom had been fully mobilized.
In terms of skill alone, they were no match for his forces.
But their numbers were more than double, and the terrain put him at a disadvantage.
He had to fight uphill.
Burning with rage over his family's death and facing his enemy, he knew he had to stay calm above all.
“Form a defensive line and advance until we're in the archers' range.”
“Yes, sir.”
Montera promptly assembled the defense unit.
Soon after.
Marquis Tano's forces advanced with a defensive wall, followed by the archer corps.
Watching the scene, Valtre sneered mockingly.
“Hold the assault team at the ready.”
At that moment.
Camel had arrived at the Gopra Mountains entrance with the Busta Knight Order.
They planned to camp here and ambush Marquis Mandora's forces when they appeared, crushing them in one strike.
Trevik, ranked fifth, was a powerhouse, but as rank six himself, and having gained enlightenment for his ultimate technique, they would be evenly matched.
Moreover, the Busta Knight Order had a special preparation.
He was certain this would be their grave.
As they held their breath, watching the front.
Step step, step step.
The sound of the knight order's footsteps approached.
Camel raised his hand, and the entire order drew their prepared weapons.
Crossbows.
Unlike standard ones, these were twice as large and loaded with three bolts each.
They aimed toward the mountain entrance, waiting for the enemy to appear.
Then.
The Espana Knight Order emerged.
Camel leaped up and shouted.
“Fire!”
Pewpewpewpewpewpew-.
Hundreds of bolts flew toward the Espana Knight Order.
Pewpewpewpewpew-.
The surprise attack felled the knights helplessly.
Danekt yelled.
“Shield unit!”
Men bearing shields the size of a person rushed forward to form a defensive wall.
“Rapid advance!”
At Danekt's command, the shield unit pressed on.
Camel's ambush had succeeded, but their swift response limited the damage.
“Busta!”
At his roar, the knights discarded their crossbows and drew swords in unison.
“Charge!”
Uwaaaaaah-!
The Busta Knight Order surged forward with ferocious momentum.
“Halt!”
At Danekt's cry, the Espana Knight Order stopped.
Then another voice rang out.
“Fire!”
Fireballs flew from behind the defensive wall.
“There are mages! Front defense unit! Archers, focus on the rear!”
At Camel’s orders, the soldiers moved with disciplined precision.
As befitting a marquis's forces, they traded blows evenly without faltering.
Trevik, watching from the rear of the Espana Knight Order, drew his sword.
“I'll carve a path. Prepare the follow-up attack.”
“Got it.”
Huan drew his hands from his robe and gathered mana.
Trevik pulled his sword back over his shoulder like drawing a bowstring.
It was the preparatory stance for his ultimate technique.
Seeing it, Danekt planned to push hard once the ultimate attack ended and bellowed.
“Assault formation!”
As his order fell, the knight order shifted formation, their momentum surging fiercer.
Camel sensed something ominous as their aura suddenly intensified.
‘Something's up!’
He quickly scanned them and spotted Trevik.
And the blade pulled back over his shoulder, dyed deep blue.
“Damn it! Everyone, evade!”
As he shouted, Trevik cried out.
Brengried First Form.
Sword of Destruction.
Pang-.
The deep blue sword aura shot forth like lightning.
Then Huan rose into the air, hurling the massive orb in his hand toward the Busta Knight Order.
“Fire Rain!”
A shower of flames rained down on the knights.
Boom!
Kwaaaaang-!
As the Busta Knight Order's defensive wall crumbled, Danekt shouted.
“Dead Point!”
The knight order charged ferociously.