Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Salamander's Essence
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“She is in a place you cannot meet.”
-There is no place in this world I cannot go. Do not try to hide her from me.
Salamander’s eyes gleamed sharply.
Far from being afraid, Arthur boldly asked,
“If you can pierce even Lord Lumacas’s barrier, then I will tell you.”
-Lumacas?
“She is under his protection.”
-Ah….
It was because of Lumacas’s magic that he couldn’t sense her presence.
Being under his protection meant he hadn’t yet met the master of the Emperor’s Sword.
‘But if I can sense her presence from this one….’
-Have you seen her incarnation?
“Yes.”
-Was there a flame emblem engraved on it?
“Yes. There was a flame emblem on her forehead. I saw the same one on the blade of the Emperor’s Sword.”
-I see.
The flame emblem proved that Arthur had been chosen by Lady Cassandra.
His power was still insufficient to awaken the Emperor’s Sword, which was why Lady Cassandra remained sealed within it.
With Arthur’s words confirmed as truth, there was no longer any need for hesitation.
Salamander thrust his hand into his chest and pulled something out.
It was an intense flame, like molten lava.
-Take it.
“What is this?”
-It is the source of my power. It will help you awaken.
“Is the reason you’re giving this to me the same as with the others?”
-Yes. The Spirit Kings must awaken for the spirits to regain their original power and stand against the forces of darkness.
“What do you mean by ‘original power’?”
-After the Spirit Kings were sealed, the spirits’ powers greatly weakened. They now manifest only about two-thirds of their true capabilities.
“Hmm….”
Arthur’s expression hardened slightly.
Their current power was already formidable, so he could only imagine how overwhelming it would be at full strength.
And how incredible the Spirit Kings—their rulers—must be. It reminded him of Cassandra, called the Emperor of Spirits.
‘It’s beyond imagination.’
He figured they must possess godlike might.
Arthur gazed at the intensely burning flame in Salamander’s outstretched palm.
‘If I gain that power….’
His desperate longing for the 6th class burned even brighter.
Carefully taking hold of the flame, he asked Salamander,
“What must I do?”
-Swallow it. The energy will then spread throughout your body.
“Hmm.”
Arthur felt a twinge of fear at the thought of putting the intense flame into his mouth.
But though he held it in his hand, it wasn’t as hot as he’d imagined.
Seeing Arthur hesitate, Salamander added,
-Do not delay. The flame weakens over time, and so does its power.
Arthur could no longer afford to waste time.
Resolutely, he swallowed the flame.
He felt a scorching heat travel down his throat and spread through his entire body.
“Urgh….”
Arthur collapsed to the ground.
Keda, who had been silently watching everything, felt his eyes tremble violently.
‘That’s… Lord Salamander’s source of power….’
Giving it to Arthur meant putting him to the test.
The power of a spirit was immense, beyond human control. But if he could master it, he would gain unimaginable strength.
Arthur already transcended human limits. With a spirit’s power added….
Keda couldn’t even fathom how strong he would become.
Only once in history had a human ever gained a spirit’s power.
It was said that the founding patriarch of the Alpha Family had received power from Lord Parsia.
With it, he led the family to prosperity and its golden age.
Thus, the Alpha Family became the mightiest sword of the Nanshar Empire.
But the price had been immense sacrifice. The family records described agony so intense he must have wished for death multiple times.
Thinking of that, Keda couldn’t simply rejoice.
‘Your Majesty….’
“Urgh… Aaaargh!”
Unable to endure the pain any longer, Arthur let out a scream.
Heat surged even to his head, pouring from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
The agony felt like his body was melting away, his mind turning blank.
He summoned all his 5th-class power to control the fire, but it had no effect.
‘Damn it! Now that you’re inside me… you’re mine….’
The more he desperately suppressed it, the wilder the fire raged.
It felt like his body would explode.
‘I won’t give up….’
Gritting his teeth with fierce determination, Arthur fought on.
In the midst of his struggle against the fire, the Tyrant’s power suddenly came to mind.
It had always been his greatest ally in crises and pivotal moments.
‘Maybe this time too….’
The fire’s flames bloomed like a flower, engulfing him.
Amid the excruciating pain of his body burning away, Arthur drew forth the Tyrant’s power.
For a moment.
From deep within his chest, a blood-red aura ignited like a tiny ember.
The flames began to be drawn in and absorbed by the blood-red aura, as if sucked toward it.
The aura grew larger, blazing like flames itself.
The pain gradually subsided.
The flames that had spread through his body were fully absorbed into the blood-red aura, which had swollen to fill his chest. It was then pulled into his heart.
Suddenly, a volcanic heat erupted from his heart.
“Aaaargh!”
Arthur screamed.
His slumped body floated up, limbs splaying wide.
At the same time, the immense heat once emanating from Salamander burst forth from him.
-You’ve done it.
Salamander smiled in satisfaction.
Keda sensed an aura from Arthur so overwhelming it felt like facing a spirit itself.
Moreover, his flame-wreathed, blazing form was no different from an incarnation of fire.
Keda had known he transcended humanity, but now he seemed to have entered the demigod realm.
“Your Majesty….”
Keda knelt on one knee, gazing in awe.
The flames enveloping Arthur slowly faded, eventually vanishing completely.
He descended from the sky to the ground.
His eyes burned intensely like flames, deeper than before.
Arthur calmly met Salamander’s gaze.
“Thank you.”
-I merely did what was necessary.
Their attitudes had completely reversed.
Naturally, Arthur continued,
“With your help, I have reached the 6th class.”
-Once you gain Parsia’s and Earth’s powers as well, you will ascend to the 8th class. Then you will rival Teheran’s might.
“It seems the time has not yet come, since they haven’t given me their power.”
-That is not for me to say.
“Understood. Rest until I call you. It must have taken a great toll.”
-Yes.
Salamander became a small flame and vanished.
Staring into empty space, Arthur added,
“You’ve done well too.”
-Congratulations, Your Majesty. I’ll take my leave.
While Arthur and Salamander conversed, Parsia had erected a barrier of wind.
Thanks to her consideration, only Keda the spirit sorcerer could witness what happened to Arthur.
Arthur looked around and asked Keda,
“How long was I trapped in my subconscious?”
“About ten minutes, I’d say.”
“Good.”
“Are you alright?”
“I don’t feel anything unusual yet.”
Arthur nodded and surveyed his surroundings.
Hundreds of refugees came into view.
He had finished what he came to the Nanshar Empire to confirm, so it was time to return to the Julius Kingdom.
But he couldn’t just abandon these people.
“What should we do with them?”
“The Nanshar Empire is as good as destroyed. Though Emperor Artishan of Nanshar survives, since he abandoned the empire and fled, he is now merely the leader of a mere armed band.”
“And?”
“If Your Majesty permits, I wish to take them to the Julius Kingdom.”
“Hmm.”
The Julius Kingdom had many vacant territories.
If Keda took one and settled these people there, it would be ideal.
Arthur looked at the refugees and said,
“You’re the only one from the Nanshar Empire who can understand and accept them in the Julius Kingdom. I’ll give you a territory—settle with them and lead them well.”
“Your Majesty!”
Keda was startled by the sudden declaration.
“Can you do it?”
Keda placed both hands on the ground and bowed his head deeply.
“Keda Alpha! I shall never forget Your Majesty’s grace and pledge eternal loyalty to the Julius Family, generation after generation!”
“Consult with them first.”
Smiling, Arthur turned toward the Julius Kingdom.
“Parsia, how is the Julius Kingdom?”
A warm breeze blew, carrying her voice to his ear.
-Artishan has advanced on the Kristen capital and it’s quiet there now.
“Good. And Emperor Ruan?”
-A full mobilization order has been issued.
“The monsters?”
-They’re quiet. My scouts report they’ve all vanished.
“A great clash is coming.”
As Arthur’s face hardened,
-There seems to be a variable on Emperor Ruan’s side.
“What variable?”
Arthur was startled by Parsia’s next words, thinking of Valtre.
“So this was the hidden card you kept.”
***
“With this….”
Ruan gazed at the gem stored in his secret chamber.
A brilliant light flowed from the spherical orb, like a mage’s crystal ball, misting around him.
It coiled like a snake, wrapping around Ruan’s body and being absorbed into him.
Feeling his power grow ever greater, Ruan wore a deeply satisfied expression.
“This is the feeling. Heh heh.”
His sinister smile twisted into a bizarre laugh, utterly unlike the Ruan they knew.
He looked like a madman consumed by power.
“Now there’s nothing to fear.”
Ruan grinned maniacally.
Composing himself, he left the dark room.
Returning to his office, he awaited Jangjarban and Altros.
A moment later.
A knock sounded, and Altros and Jangjarban entered.
They bowed politely to Ruan.
“Is the army ready for deployment?”
At Ruan’s question, Jangjarban immediately replied,
“Give the order, Your Majesty.”
Altros followed with equal respect.
“The mage corps is prepared as well.”
“What of the Nanshar Empire situation?”
“At this pace, we’ll arrive at the capital in two days.”
Ruan tilted his head at Jangjarban’s answer.
“Two days, not tomorrow?”
“They’re not just advancing—they’re crushing every territory in their path.”
“They don’t care about losses? He must be drunk on that pathetic power.”
“Quite the opposite.”
“What?”
The smile vanished from Ruan’s face.
Jangjarban continued gravely,
“With the Dark Squad and Spirit Squad at the vanguard, our forces collapse without even mounting a proper defense.”
“What are the territory mage corps doing?”
“They fell helplessly to the Dark Squad’s ambushes.”
“Damn it!”
Ruan’s face twisted in fury.
Artishan intended to wipe out the Oscar Empire’s seed entirely.
They couldn’t afford to wait here for them to reach the capital.
“Prepare to deploy immediately!”
“Yes!”
As Jangjarban bowed and turned to leave,
“Your Majesty!”
A knight burst in urgently.
He approached with a gravely serious expression, as if Artishan had appeared in the capital.
“Grand Duke Natarshian’s forces have crossed the Gopra Mountains into the Tomoya Kingdom.”
“What is this?”
Ruan’s eyes widened as he looked to Jangjarban.
But even Jangjarban had no words for this unexpected turn.
“Verify it at once!”
Jangjarban rushed out.
Ruan trembled, unable to shake the ominous premonition.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the meaningful smile Natarshian had shown at the recent noble council.
It was unlikely, but if he had betrayed him….
Crack-.
Boom!
The armrest Ruan gripped shattered.
These were half the imperial palace’s forces—a devastating loss.
The worst-case scenario loomed.
“Damn traitors….”
Rage boiled within Ruan.
Altros was inwardly shocked as well.
He hadn’t imagined Valtre would prepare so thoroughly.
To think he’d made contact with Natarshian Grand Duke, Oscar Empire’s final bastion….
The situation was spiraling into catastrophe.
He decided to watch silently until Ruan spoke.
After some time passed.
“Lord Altros.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Altros looked at Ruan.
For some reason, it felt like he was smirking slyly.
“I know what you want.”
“What do you mean….”
Ruan rose from the throne and continued,
“Follow me.”