Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Beast VS Monster
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Neigh-!
At Dark's shout, the Britannkers suddenly skidded to a halt, rearing up on their front legs or swerving sharply.
“What the hell's wrong with these bastards!”
It was then that Mullan grimaced and yanked on the reins.
Kasan, who possessed the second-sharpest senses in the Devil Squad after Dark, yelled out.
“Ambush!”
“...!”
Only then did the Devil Squad sense the enemies' presence and leap off their Britannkers in a flash.
The moment they all landed on the ground, they drew their swords and assumed defensive stances.
“Ugh!”
“Damn it!”
But daggers were already embedded in Mullan and Ratiel's shoulders and arms.
The Devil Squad members' faces twisted at the sight.
Piercing through their armor meant these weren't ordinary foes.
Thinking of how they would have fallen to the ambush without Dark's warning sent chills down their spines.
It was the first crisis they'd faced since reaching the Sword Expert realm.
Kasan gripped his sword tightly.
“These aren't ordinary bastards.”
Ratel and Mullan yanked the daggers from their shoulders and grabbed their own weapons.
They then glared at the black-clad figures.
Cold eyes devoid of any emotion, a composed demeanor.
Yet their presence burned like flames, filling them with both fear and tension.
These were on a completely different level from any enemies they'd faced before.
“Where the hell did these guys come from!”
“Stay sharp.”
Ratel pulled his shield—practically an extension of himself—tight to his chest.
The others stared down the enemies, tense and alert.
Groooowl....
The foes let out eerie growls as they closed in, then vanished in an instant.
“...!”
The Devil Squad's eyes widened.
They quickly clustered back-to-back, scanning their surroundings.
“Damn it.”
“I can't sense their presence at all.”
It was then that Perry's face filled with panic.
“Above us!”
Kasan whipped his sword up over his head.
Clang!
He barely parried the attack.
His comrades managed to block theirs too, but the enemies vanished once more.
If this kept up, they'd get hit eventually.
They had to find a way to break this situation.
“Run to the castle!”
“...!”
Everyone's eyes snapped wide as they whipped their heads toward the voice.
Dark was racing toward them like a shot, enemies hot on his tail.
“Run! These aren't foes we can handle!”
“...!”
The Devil Squad members' faces twisted.
Blizan immediately came to mind, and their eyes turned to Perry.
As if reading their thoughts, Perry bolted straight for the castle.
The enemies reappeared, launching attacks.
“Block them!”
Kasan swung his sword, while Ratiel charged forward with his massive shield out front.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The enemies' strikes hammered into the shield.
But the tremendous shock rippled through their entire bodies.
“Guh.”
Mullan and Kasan leaped out from behind Ratiel's shield, thrusting their swords.
But the enemies moved too fast to track with the naked eye.
“This is insane! Raaah!”
Mullan roared, swinging his massive Bastard Sword wildly in all directions.
It wasn't about taking them down—it was to disrupt their attacks any way possible.
While he swung relentlessly, Kasan and Ratiel exchanged a glance and lunged at one foe.
“Take this!”
Kasan thrust with all his might.
A faint aura shimmered along the blade, loaded with power.
The enemy simply stood there, watching.
‘Got you!’
Just as the sword reached the enemy's chest!
Roooar!
The enemy bellowed.
“...!”
An overwhelming pressure erupted.
Kasan’s sword didn't pierce the chest—it bounced off from the sheer repulsion.
As the enemy punched at Kasan, Ratiel dashed in front, shield raised.
Boom!
“Damn it!”
Ratel was sent skidding back with his shield from the monstrous impact.
“This can't be real.”
“Monster....”
While Kasan and Ratiel reeled from the enemy's insane strength, their faces contorting,
“Aaaargh!”
Dark plummeted to the ground in front of them.
“Dark!”
Kasan and Ratiel's eyes bulged.
His body was covered in sword gashes and drenched in blood.
Worst of all, a dagger was deeply embedded in his left shoulder, blood pouring steadily.
If they didn't treat it soon, it would be fatal.
Mullan, who had been parrying attacks from the rear, spotted Dark and bellowed like thunder.
“I'll kill you bastards!”
Eyes blazing, he charged the one who attacked Dark and swung his Bastard Sword with full force.
Whoosh-.
It sliced through the air.
The enemy roared and thrust its dagger.
Boom!
The Bastard Sword bounced off the dagger.
“You crazy bastard!”
Mullan slammed his other Bastard Sword down on the enemy's head.
Boom!
Again, the enemy parried with its dagger, then barreled into Mullan's chest, slamming a shoulder tackle.
Thud-.
The hefty Mullan went flying limply.
“Shit.”
Ratel's face twisted.
They were too strong. Way too strong.
Groooowl....
Their backs prickled until the enemies snorted and growled.
While checking Dark's condition, Kasan asked Ratiel,
“Perry?”
Ratel glanced toward the castle.
He was almost there.
But the enemies were right on his tail.
One wrong move, and they'd catch him before he even reached the gates.
“Just a bit faster....”
“Hah, hah.”
Perry's breath burned in his throat. Slowing even a little would mean getting caught.
“Damn it!”
He poured every ounce of strength into his sprint.
But after burning so much energy in an instant, he couldn't accelerate or even maintain speed.
Toward the Horcamun tribesmen visible beyond the half-open gates, he screamed with all he had.
“Blizan-!”
No one turned, as if his voice hadn't reached.
“Shit!”
It was then, as Perry's face twisted,
A stinging pain shot through the nape of his neck.
“Ugh.”
A flying kick sent him tumbling forward.
Boom!
More enemies roared, striding up to stomp on Perry's back, then plunging their gripped daggers down with reverse grips.
Stab!
The dagger sank deep into his back.
“Aaaargh!”
Perry's scream erupted.
Another enemy stomped madly on his ankle.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The bones shattered like dry twigs.
Perry's mind went blank white from the agony; he couldn't even scream anymore.
He just shed bloody tears.
“Damn it!”
Ratel, watching the scene, saw his last hope crumble and collapsed in despair.
Kasan, staunching Dark's bleeding with his hand, frowned and asked,
“What's wrong?”
“Perry....”
“What!”
Kasan's face darkened instantly.
But there was no time to check. The enemies closed in, licking their chops like predators.
Ratel had lost all will to fight, and Mullan was too stunned to rise easily.
As despair shadowed their minds,
Mullan, sprawled on the ground, arduously extended an arm, pointing backward with a finger.
“Th-there....”
“What?”
Kasan whipped around.
Far off, Blizan was bursting from the castle.
“Ah!”
“...We're saved.”
Mullan flashed a relieved smile as his arm dropped limply.
Kasan had to hold out until Blizan arrived.
Ratel reignited his resolve, gripped his shield, and struggled to his feet.
“I'll... hold them off somehow.”
Boom!
One enemy lunged at Ratel, dagger thrusting.
Ratel raised his shield in a flash.
Boom!
He staggered back.
He grimaced at the ferocious attack.
This level of power matched Helot's.
He'd hold as best he could, but three minutes was the limit.
“Hmm....”
Ratel seemed to ponder carefully, then hardened his expression with resolve.
He pulled his shield tight to his shoulder and said to Kasan,
“I'll draw their attention. Wake Mullan and run.”
“What?”
“Do as I say.”
“What the hell are you planning?”
As Kasan's eyes widened, a silver aura bloomed from Ratel's body, unleashing a powerful presence.
‘What the—?’
Before doubt could cloud Kasan's face, Ratel charged the enemies.
Boom!
The enemies roared back and rushed him.
Ratel hurled himself at them, shield first.
Thud!
He tumbled to the ground entangled with them.
“Ratel!”
Kasan's eyes bulged.
Clinging to his shield as he rolled, Ratel yelled,
“Don't dawdle!”
“Damn it!”
Kasan minimized Dark's bleeding while approaching Mullan. He shook him awake.
“Get up! Come on!”
“Ughhh....”
As Mullan regained his senses and propped up his upper body, Kasan urgently shouted,
“Grab Dark's legs!”
“Wh-what?”
Mullan glanced around and spotted Ratel being trampled.
“Ratel!”
“No time—pick him up!”
“What're you saying! What about him?”
“Pick him up, now!”
“What the hell are you trying to do!”
Mullan's eyes bulged as he continued,
“You can't mean! Leave Ratel and run?!”
“That's what he wants!”
“Are you insane! I'd die first before abandoning him!”
He snatched up his fallen Bastard Sword and charged the enemies.
“Ratel!”
As Mullan rushed in, only one of the three met him head-on.
Boom!
Sword clashed with dagger, sparks flying.
“Yeah, take this too!”
He gripped both Bastard Swords in his hands, merged them into one, and swung with all his might.
Monstrous power rode the air-slicing blade.
The enemy didn't dodge, raising its dagger to parry.
“Like hell!”
Mullan gritted his teeth, pouring in even more force.
His armor-clad forearms bulged massively as a faint orange aura flickered along the Bastard Sword.
“I'll smash you!”
Boom!
Roooar!
The dagger shattered, and the blade struck the enemy's chest.
It flew into the air before crashing to the ground.
“...!”
For a moment, the enemies attacking Ratel froze.
Grooo....
Groooowl....
They slowly turned toward Mullan.
As clear panic flickered across them,
The one Mullan struck sprang up, howling savagely.
Roooar!
The other two bellowed in response.
Their hoods fell away as they gaped their mouths.
Bloodshot red eyes, mouths torn to the ears, and flat, orc-like noses.
These weren't human—they were monsters.
Mullan glanced back.
Kasan stood there cradling Dark.
“Fuck! What're you waiting for?!”
“I'm not leaving! Die together, live together. The Young Master always said we're one!”
“Slippery bastard! Glad you remember now.”
Mullan smirked, peering past at Perry.
Blizan was fighting the enemies there.
Even outnumbered, he wasn't pushed back. Then Blizan snapped one foe's neck.
The enemies facing Mullan saw it and suddenly roared, charging toward Blizan.
“Huh? What the—?”
Mullan blinked in confusion, then heard Ratel's groan and rushed over.
“You okay?”
“I'm dying....”
“You idiot! Why play the hero when it doesn't suit you.”
“...Where'd they go?”
“They're piling on Blizan.”
Mullan eyed Blizan beyond the sprinting foes.
‘You're our only hope.’
“What the hell are you bastards?”
Boom! Boom!
Blizan unleashed a barrage on the remaining one.
It was like the thing was clad in iron plating.
But each fist that landed drew screams and staggers.
Blizan slipped behind it, grabbing its waist.
“Die.”
He yanked it up like uprooting a tree, flipped it over his head, and slammed its skull into the ground.
Splat-.
Its head exploded.
“Weaklings picking fights.”
As Blizan rose and wiped the enemy's blood from his face,
Bukas and Alteon came running, shouting.
“Boss, behind you!”
“Behind?”
Blizan turned.
New enemies leaped from somewhere, charging in.
Roooar!
Crack.
Blizan exuded killing intent, clenching his fist.
“You bastards.... Think I'm easy prey?!”
Crack!
With a sound like tearing air, lightning-wreathed fist swung forth.