Chapter 211
Chapter 211
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 211
Chapter Title: Arrival of the Julius Knights
-----------------------------------------------------------------
▣ Chapter 211
***
“How many survived?”
Heric’s question drew a frantic response from the mage corps member.
“Fewer than thirty, sir.”
“And the enemy?”
“We inflicted near-total annihilation.”
“Near-total? What do you mean by that?”
Heric’s sharp question prompted the member to explain the situation.
The Nanshar Empire’s spirit mages had suddenly pressed forward with overwhelming force.
Among them, the lead spirit directing the assault unleashed its most powerful attack, pinning down the mage corps.
As the mage corps suffered helplessly without any chance to counter, the commanding spirit suddenly vanished.
Though only one spirit was missing, the enemy’s offensive power plummeted, their flawless coordination crumbled, and the pressure eased.
Seizing the moment, the mage corps pushed back desperately and wiped out the rest.
However, since the core of their attack—a key enemy—remained, they hadn’t declared full annihilation.
“It just left the battlefield?”
“If it had gone to support elsewhere, that would make sense, but we confirmed it didn’t appear anywhere.”
“I see…”
Heric’s gaze deepened.
Could this have something to do with His Excellency suddenly withdrawing from the battlefield?
He wanted to check, but as the battlefield commander, he couldn’t leave his post.
‘Where in the world is His Excellency and what is he doing?’
As worry clouded his face, a Kingdom Knight Order member rushed up in panic.
“The final defensive line has collapsed!”
“What about the Valkyries?”
“They’ve moved to the front lines to hold them off, but the enemy’s attacks are too fierce, and their numbers are overwhelming.”
“What about the other territory’s knight orders?”
“No reinforcements have arrived.”
“Damn it!”
The situation was spiraling into disaster.
He feared the enemy’s relentless assault would push all the way here.
Even if he stepped up then, it wouldn’t change much.
Opposing them with the dwindling forces would just be a pointless death. Retreating to the castle and holding out until His Excellency returned might be the wiser choice.
What would Natarshian decide?
No, if he were here, this situation wouldn’t have arisen, and Heric wouldn’t be agonizing like this.
The mage corps casualties wouldn’t have been so heavy either.
Considering each point fueled his anger.
‘This is driving me mad!’
Heric’s face twisted.
“Something’s charging in from over there!”
A knight pointed toward the left mountain range.
Heric quickly cast Hawk Eye magic and looked.
A person riding a massive horse…!
Heric’s eyes widened in shock.
“Damn it!”
He spurred his horse and galloped toward it.
The knights guarding Heric followed without understanding.
“Just a bit more.”
Damian tugged Kan’s mane, urging him on.
The faster he pushed, the more speed they gained.
As Arthur had said, this beast was astonishingly fast.
Even galloping at high speed over steep, treacherous mountain paths, Damian stayed glued to the saddle without slipping.
It even felt comfortable.
“We’re almost there. Hang on just a little longer.”
As Damian spoke to keep the unconscious Natarshian in his arms from fading out, a group appeared ahead, charging toward them.
At the same time, a reddish light leaked from the horizon as dawn broke.
Revealing the group’s identity.
Damian shouted loudly upon spotting Heric.
“Sir Heric!”
Hearing the cry, Heric—too impatient—kicked off his saddle and leaped.
He then cast Fly magic and shot toward them like an arrow.
Kan slowed upon seeing Heric approach at high speed, then halted.
As Heric landed in front of Kan, Damian dismounted swiftly and helped Natarshian down.
“Sir Damian! What happened?”
Heric rushed over in bewilderment.
Damian laid Natarshian on the ground.
“He used his ultimate skill back-to-back with Mind Sword!”
“No!”
Heric hurriedly cast Recovery magic.
Natarshian’s pale complexion gradually improved.
While Heric treated him, Damian asked the following knights.
“How’s the battle going?”
“The final defensive line has been breached!”
“What about the Valkyries?”
“They’ve been thrown into the front line and are holding as best they can, but the enemy outnumbers them vastly.”
“Damn it!”
Damian turned to Heric.
“Please look after Father.”
He swiftly mounted Kan.
“Gonna borrow you for a bit.”
Hrrrngh!
Kan snorted in displeasure and reared up powerfully on his hind legs.
His upright stance like a person startled the knights’ horses, scattering them in panic.
Then he slammed his front hooves down, bucking.
“Damn it!”
Damian fell off Kan.
As he scrambled up to remount, Kan howled and charged toward the battlefield.
“Why alone…!”
Arthur flashed in his mind.
He’d said he’d confirm and follow—probably reached the battlefield already.
Thinking of his overwhelming power brought unconscious relief.
“Phew, good.”
“Pardon? What do you mean, Captain…?”
As one knight tilted his head, Damian instructed them.
“You lot stay here. Guard while Sir Heric treats His Excellency.”
Damian mounted Heric’s horse and galloped to the battlefield.
***
“Hmm.”
Arthur had arrived near the battlefield and was assessing the situation.
Mostly Nanshar Empire knights and soldiers, blocked by Tomoya Kingdom knights, with a group resembling combat mages providing support fire from behind.
But the numbers were vastly unequal.
Tomoya was barely holding against their human wave tactics, but it looked ready to break.
Once they fell, the capital would be overrun in moments.
Among the Nanshar forces stood those classified as their strongest—about ten of them, radiating an aura nearly matching the Dark Squad.
Tomoya knights couldn’t keep up with their movements, relying on second-line combat mages just to hold them off.
And the biggest question on his way here:
Who commanded the Nanshar Empire’s forces?
Even without an artisan, their numerical superiority should only stalemate, but they were overwhelming Tomoya.
There had to be a capable leader.
‘Who could it be?’
Arthur scanned the Nanshar rear.
He spotted a white-haired knight, guarded by others, briskly issuing orders.
Muscular build, sharp eyes—impressively placing reinforcements precisely, sometimes launching aura blades for major damage.
“Starting with you.”
To halt the battle, Arthur decided to neutralize him first.
The issue: slipping past all those eyes to reach him.
If spotted, they’d swarm like dogs, forcing him to strike back.
But if only the artisan was the Demon King’s familiar, no need to cross swords with these troops.
Like Tomoya Kingdom, Nanshar Empire could be absorbed.
To face the Demon King’s monster legions, he needed every soldier possible.
“Hmm…”
As Arthur pondered.
Hiiing-!
‘That sound!’
Arthur whirled toward it.
Far off, Kan charged, skewering Nanshar soldiers.
“Perfect timing.”
Arthur decided to help Kan arrive more easily.
He summoned the K1 Rifle and fired into the sky.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-.
The roar echoed.
Eyes that had been on Kan turned to him.
“What the—?”
“Who’s that guy?!”
“Kill him!”
Nanshar troops surged from all sides.
“Moths to a flame.”
Arthur unleashed on them.
Aiming for sword hands or legs to disable without killing.
With Arthur’s aid, Kan broke through the fatigued soldiers easily and reached him.
Kan’s ferocious momentum was terrifying.
Enemies collapsed at the mere sight, losing all will to fight.
Hiiing-!
Kan neighed vigorously, overjoyed at seeing Arthur.
“The other two?”
Kan nodded energetically.
“Good work!”
Arthur grinned and mounted.
He aimed the K1’s barrel at Duke Terry’s position.
“We go straight there.”
Hiiing-!
Kan reared and thundered forward.
Pff-pff-pff-pfft-!
He plowed through blocking soldiers.
“Arghhh!”
“A monster!”
“Report to the Duke! Hurry!”
Soldiers screamed hoarsely.
***
“That’s… Britannica?”
Duke Terry had been watching since the earlier roar.
The armor of the rider on the massive Britannica left a strong impression.
Dragon-mouth helmet, black plate.
Above all, golden aura rose from him.
Wasn’t golden aura the signature of the Oscar Empire’s imperial family?
Could Emperor Ruan have appeared?
But Ruan’s armor was gold, helmet different.
Then another name came to mind.
Arthur Julius!
‘Why is he here?’
Confusion crossed Duke Terry’s face.
He tore through charging soldiers too easily.
“Not one of ours means enemy.”
Duke Terry drew up mana.
His sword gleamed deep blue.
He extended it beside his shoulder, waiting for entry into his dead zone.
Moments later, as massive Britannica entered, he raised the sword 45 degrees.
Partlanga Style First Form.
Wave Sword!
He slashed diagonally sideways.
Deep blue flashed.
Aura surged like crashing waves.
Slower than other ultimates—slower than normal attacks even.
But it carried tsunami-like pressure.
Arthur, veteran of countless ultimates and master of Shattering, felt no fear.
Shattering was simple: overwhelm with greater power.
Normally, he’d counter with RPG-7, his strongest summonable weapon.
But another idea struck.
Arthur drew his dagger from his back.
Golden aura wrapped it, blazing like flame.
Having reached supreme Sword Master realm at 6-star, he wanted to test aura blade power.
Perfect opponent appeared.
Strong, but not overwhelming.
The current white-haired knight fit.
No doubt of failure; he anticipated massive power.
“Come on.”
Flaming aura swirled intensely.
The wave rose like a wall, crashing down.
“Go!”
He thrust the dagger hard.
Golden light flashed like lightning, forming a shape.
Dragon’s head!
Fierce eyes, gaping maw baring fangs.
It shot forward, clashing with the wave.
Flash!
Kwooooom-!
Deafening explosion and shockwave erupted.
The dragon head bit through the wave wall with sharp fangs.
A golden streak pierced toward Duke Terry.
“…!”
Duke Terry, never imagining his ultimate broken, stared in shock.
As the dragon gaped to swallow him.
It suddenly shot skyward.
Terry’s horse panicked and convulsed; he fell off.
“Ugh…”
A low groan escaped unwittingly.
Then immense presence loomed.
Britannica and the man.
Arthur Julius looked down at Duke Terry.
“Order your troops to retreat if you want to live.”
From Arthur, Duke Terry sensed not just fear, but absolute dominion.
On another level from the artisan.
“Why are you here…!”
Dudududududum-.
The ground shook like an earthquake.
Even battling knights paused, staring toward the vibration.
Across the vast plain between Gopra Mountains, dust clouds rose from something charging.
Behind them, a reddish sun slowly rose.
Revealing the group shrouded in darkness and sandstorm.
Red flags with gold dragons!
Britannicas and Giant Wolves charged ferociously, their riders radiating terrifying aura from afar.
They were Julius Kingdom knights.
Duke Terry’s face twisted.
“Allied with Tomoya Kingdom?”
Arthur met Duke Terry’s eyes with piercing gaze.
“I’ve come to kill the Demon King’s familiars.”