Chapter 218
Chapter 218
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 218
Chapter Title: Phoenix Unleashed
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Thud!
The ogre's head hit the ground.
Skevin shouted at the top of his lungs, his face flushed with exhilaration.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
“What’s that!”
“What happened!”
The Death Knight Order’s gazes turned to him, and their jaws dropped at the sight before them.
“An ogre…”
“The Captain…”
One who had witnessed Skevin’s ultimate technique cried out in excitement.
“It was a phoenix! A phoenix flew out from his sword!”
“What?”
“The ultimate technique…”
“The Captain finally too!”
The symbol of a Sword Master and absolute power!
If that was truly unleashed, it meant he had entered the ranks of the absolute powerhouses.
The ogre, once called the king of the forest, had been reduced to a mere pathetic monster.
Uwaaaaaah—!
The knights, plunged into a frenzy of excitement, let out roars.
Their fighting spirit soared to the heavens.
Even the monsters who had halted everything to watch them recoiled and stepped back.
Skevin spurred his mount and leaped down from Storm.
He then charged toward the fallen ogre and severed the necks of the remaining two.
With all his might, he bellowed.
“Advance!”
For the golden glory—!
The knights responded in unison, shouting fiercely as they charged at the monsters.
They unleashed merciless attacks, pressing forward with terrifying ferocity.
Kraaang!
Kraaaang!
The monsters screamed in terror.
Though brainwashed by Colephton, the primal fear surging through their bones had awakened their instincts.
Under the barrage of attacks, they crumbled helplessly.
“Don’t let a single one escape!”
Skevin kept shouting to rally them, fueling the knights’ morale.
He wanted to join in wiping them out, but using his ultimate technique had imposed restrictions on his movements.
Since it was his first time, he had no idea how long recovery would take.
So he focused on boosting the Death Knight Order’s morale like this.
While the Death Knight Order was mopping up the monsters.
Duke Terry and Pigealo were leading their forces toward the Tomoya Kingdom.
The two men heading back to the battlefield wore complicated expressions.
‘We didn’t find evidence that he’s the Demon King’s familiar.’
‘Why the false report?’
They rode on in silence.
Pigealo, who had been hoping Duke Terry would speak first, could no longer hold back.
With a resolute expression as if he had made up his mind, he looked at Duke Terry.
“Your Excellency.”
Duke Terry halted his horse and looked at him.
Having anticipated the question someday, he opened his mouth calmly.
“You pondered it longer than I expected.”
“You seem to know what I’m about to say.”
“You’re asking about what happened in His Majesty’s tent?”
“Why did you file a false report?”
“Hmm. If you want to hear my answer, steel yourself first.”
“……!”
Pigealo’s face darkened slightly.
“It’s serious enough to shake everything we’ve built.”
“Eugh…….”
Pigealo steadied his heart and nodded.
“When His Majesty faced Natarxian, he used the power of darkness.”
“……!”
Pigealo’s eyes widened in shock.
It was absurd.
The power of darkness?
Though at war with the Oscar Empire, the Demon King was the common enemy of the continent.
How many had died, how many trembled in fear because of the Demon King?
It was impossible to believe that the emperor of the empire, who knew this better than anyone, had become the Demon King’s familiar.
“You must have seen wrong.”
“I hope so too.”
“Then, the conversation you exchanged with Arthur Julius on the battlefield—is that related?”
Duke Terry nodded in response.
“His Majesty was absent from the field because he was fighting Natarxian, or so he claims.”
“That means…….”
“We must assume the Tomoya Kingdom’s leadership likely views Artisan as the Demon King’s familiar.”
“How did this…….”
Pigealo was dumbfounded.
‘The man who considered the honor of a knight his utmost glory, enduring all hardships with the pride of Oriharukon…’
He couldn’t believe it without seeing it with his own eyes.
Pigealo glared with bulging eyes.
“So, did you find concrete proof?”
“Not yet, but he didn’t join us this time either.”
“Wasn’t that unavoidable for tactical reasons?”
“True, but for the usual him…….”
Duke Terry trailed off.
“Eugh…….”
Pigealo’s gaze deepened.
The shocking, unforeseen words not only stunned him but shook—nay, rattled—his faith in Artisan.
‘What is this feeling?’
He had believed his loyalty to Artisan was eternal.
Yet why was his heart wavering at Duke Terry’s words?
Had he harbored subconscious distrust toward Artisan?
“Eugh…….”
Pigealo let out a low groan.
In truth, Artisan’s lack of frontline presence in the Tomoya Kingdom battle had been deeply disappointing.
Though he had served at his side for so long, this was far from the man he knew.
The Emperor of the Namshar Empire!
A figure synonymous with absolute powerhouses.
On the battlefield, he led the charge, bolstering knights’ morale by pressuring foes, even plunging alone into the enemy’s heart to behead their commander.
That was Artisan Sharman, the ideal of the Namshar Empire’s emperor.
And he understood why Duke Terry had hesitated at the end.
This operation didn’t align with the Namshar Empire’s style.
Knights sought victory through frontal assaults, not ambushes or exploiting weaknesses.
‘His Majesty knows that better than anyone…….’
What had started as an attempt to dispel doubts only amplified them.
‘Damn it!’
Duke Terry’s chest tightened as he saw Pigealo’s face twist.
He seemed plagued by the same unresolved suspicions.
Soon they would face the Tomoya Kingdom’s forces.
He wondered if Arthur Julius had seized it.
If so, he was curious—and secretly expectant—how he would navigate this situation.
‘Show your capability. Make a situation where everyone has no choice but to acknowledge you.’
***
“He’s here!”
The scouting knights returned, shouting.
The knights on standby in combat formation drew their swords.
Ahead of them stood Arthur and Natarxian, waiting for the enemy.
After a few minutes.
The Namshar Empire’s banners fluttered in the sky as their knights appeared.
Duke Terry and Pigealo led the knights.
Five Sword Masters followed behind them.
Unlike before, Duke Terry’s Carmen Knight Order was positioned at the vanguard.
Behind them came the Tornado Knight Order and tens of thousands of soldiers, armed with grim determination.
It was a massive force that belied their previous heavy losses.
“No sign of Artisan.”
At Arthur’s words, Natarxian nodded.
“He might be watching from the rear, biding his time.”
“Biding his time…….”
Arthur thought of Colephton.
From their previous encounter, the bastard was cunning.
Knowing his own power, a frontal clash was unlikely.
He would rely on schemes to strike at weaknesses.
But no scheme would work against Arthur.
That scheme would become his own grave.
‘No matter how he thrashes, he won’t escape my palm.’
Arthur curled his lips slightly and looked at Duke Terry.
Placing the Carmen Knight Order ahead of the Tornado Knight Order likely carried a message for him.
As he pondered what it might be.
Parisia’s voice rang out.
-Colephton is heading to the Tomoya capital.
‘Just as expected.’
Arthur smirked and locked eyes with Duke Terry.
Even across the distance, they exchanged something with their gazes.
‘So that’s what it meant?’
Arthur flashed a meaningful smile and turned to Natarxian.
“I’ll take the Demon King’s familiar.”
“Then I’ll handle those guys.”
As Natarxian drew up mana to prepare for battle, Arthur shook his head.
“Buy as much time as you can. I’ll bring him here.”
“Here? Why……?”
“Someone wants it that way.”
Arthur spurred Khan toward the capital, summoning spirits along the way.
Parisia, Earth, and Salamander appeared before him.
Salamander spoke on their behalf.
-What do you need us to do?
“Inform Demian of this, and block him until I arrive!”
-Understood.
They shot toward the capital like streaks of light.
***
At that moment.
Colephton infiltrated the castle with his assassination squad.
The squad scattered upon entry, moving to kill enemies.
At first, screams echoed from various spots, but then they abruptly ceased.
The situation should have been chaotic, yet it was eerily quiet.
The castle seemed deserted, with no one in sight.
‘Where the hell are they hiding!’
Colephton’s plan was this:
Eliminate the capital’s commander and that Valtre bastard, then sweep away the knights.
But it was too quiet.
As if they had anticipated his arrival and emptied the castle.
Rushing down the long corridor, a massive door appeared ahead.
It seemed to be the king’s office.
Killing intent emanated from within.
‘Hiding here, eh.’
Colephton charged and kicked the door open.
Kwang—!
The door flew off its hinges.
As soon as he entered, arrows rained down from all sides.
Pewpewpewpewpew—.
It was like an arrow storm.
“Pathetic fools.”
Colephton sneered, standing motionless without any defense as the arrows struck.
The arrows bounced off before even touching his body.
Defense Armor had activated.
As the arrow barrage ended, aura-clad spears flew from all directions.
Those attacks also failed to pierce the Defense Armor, shattering entirely.
The onslaught happened in an instant, but it inflicted no damage on Colephton.
“Kuahaha! See that? My absolute power!”
The attacks stopped, and dozens of knights ahead aimed their swords at him.
“Heh.”
Colephton grinned wickedly, cracking his knuckles.
Demian, following Arthur’s orders, had selected only elites from the Kingdom Knight Order and waited here.
Moments ago, he received word from the wind spirit Parisi that the Demon King’s familiar had infiltrated.
Thus, he had prepared meticulously, awaiting the bastard’s arrival.
“Just as he predicted.”
“Where’s that hotshot hiding?”
As Colephton approached mockingly, the surrounding knights unleashed their auras in unison.
But it had no effect on him.
“Trying to face me with vermin like you? This wounds my pride.”
“What would a Demon King’s familiar know of pride?”
Demian glared with venomous eyes.
“So you knew.”
Colephton continued with a sinister smile.
“And yet you’re not afraid? Guts spilling out, or driven mad by fear!”
He thrust his fist toward Demian.
Paaang—.
With a roar, a black aura fist hurtled forward with deadly momentum.
Demian’s face hardened.
Yet he showed no intent to dodge, standing firm and staring straight ahead.
‘What?’
Colephton tilted his head.
The aura fist flying toward Demian collided with something in midair.
Kwaaaang!