080. Monster Castle 2
Pirenchi Castle's structure was simply divided. The first and second floors held 4th- and 5th-grade monsters. The third and fourth floors housed 3rd-grade assassins. And the leader among those 3rd-grade assassins was the one who had blocked Odekus's attack.
A knight clad head to toe in armor, mounted on a purple horse. Behind him, a horde of cavalry caught the eye. And in their hands, they gripped swords, spears, axes, shields... a variety of weapons.
There were easily more than thirty of them. Odekus matched them in size, but that was only when speaking of individuals. His pupils shook at the sight of the cavalryman even larger than himself.
'He blocked my attack...!'
It was just as he thought. The knight before him had casually deflected Odekus's axe with a single sword. Odekus prided himself on his strength.
"You dare challenge me with raw power?"
Gritting his teeth, Odekus pressed his axe against the knight's sword once more. But it was all for naught. The sword didn't budge an inch. It felt like pushing against a solid statue.
'Impossible...'
As Odekus's pupils wavered, Bin furrowed his brow at the sight.
'Not yielding even to a superior-grade weapon. This is better than expected.'
Bin smiled as he eyed the knight before Odekus. In contrast, Odekus's hands began to tremble as he stared at the knight. Only then did regret flood his chest.
'To think the ones on the third floor were this strong...'
* * *
Just a few hours earlier.
Odekus, who had entered Pirenchi Castle first with the scouting party, swept through the second floor and thought to himself.
'Feels like we're wrapping up with just Division 5. In that case...'
He glanced at the stairs leading upward. At first, it was mere curiosity. What kind of monsters might lurk above?
Thud. Thud.
As Odekus climbed the stairs to the third floor, he sensed it. Magi far fainter than expected.
'What? This is nothing.'
He peered through the small glass pane at the door's center. Before him lay piles of weapons.
'That... those are...!'
In that moment, Odekus was certain. If he could claim those weapons... he could boost their chances of mission success even further. No more string of failures.
In the end, Odekus opened that door.
Creeeak—
* * *
One knight glared at Odekus with bloodshot eyes, as if ready to sever his head at any moment.
Bin eyed the thirty-odd cavalry before him and thought.
'Death Knights.'
Also known as black knights who staked their lives for their master. With superior physical prowess and equipped with weapons, they were no easy foes.
Bin's gaze settled on the one before Odekus among the many Death Knights.
'That must be Jack.'
Pirenchi Castle was ruled by three monsters. One was Jack, leader of the cavalry. Blue armor. Red swords shaped like tall cones in both hands. His magi alone outshone the other Death Knights.
The 5th Division knights eyed the imposing cavalry with unease.
"M-monsters using weapons...?!"
"Not just magi—their gear looks at least mid-grade, no, superior-grade...!"
As the knights sized up the cavalry, it happened.
Clop. Clop...
The cavalry's horses charged forward. Their target: the nearest one, Odekus.
With over thirty cavalry bearing down, the 5th Division knights gulped and clustered around Odekus.
Clop. Clop...
In an instant, swords, spears, and more hurtled toward Odekus.
"Can't let them run wild."
The 6th Division's pride, the Ten Mages, raised their staves and chanted. White light flashed from the staves, and purple tentacles wrapped around the cavalry.
"..."
As the cavalry twisted left and right, it happened.
Shhhk.
With a faint sound, the 6th Division knights' eyes widened.
"...!"
The binding spell had broken in under five seconds.
"M-magic doesn't work...?!"
"What the hell are these things?"
"Do their armors have magic resistance...?"
The 6th Division knights had good reason to be shocked. It was the binding spell from their pride, the Ten Mages. Even most 4th-grade monsters couldn't break free. Yet these had escaped in mere seconds.
That meant they were above 4th-grade. Especially one— the binding had no effect at all. Unlike the black-armored cavalry, it was Jack in blue armor.
Jack, eyes bloodshot, rumbled in a deep voice.
"Those who disturb His Majesty's peace shall be punished at once."
Clop. Clop.
He charged at terrifying speed. Target: Odekus.
But the O-Fang Knights wouldn't stand by as their captain suffered.
A massive O-Fang Knight leaped toward the oncoming Jack.
"Captain!"
"We'll help!"
"These cavalry scum."
The O-Fang Knights formed a horizontal line, raising massive shields to block Jack's path.
But they couldn't stop Jack, leader of the 3rd-grade assassins.
Slash! Slash! Slash...!
Jack's thick red sword pierced five shields in succession.
Thud! Thud! Thud...!
Like ripping through thin paper.
The O-Fang Knights collapsed one by one, blood spilling from their mouths. Holes larger than fists gaped in their shields and hearts—traces of Jack's sword.
It took Jack less than five seconds to claim the lives of the 4th-grade O-Fang Knights.
Gulp.
The 5th Division knights swallowed unwittingly, losing their will to fight.
"N-no way...!"
"The O-Fang Knights, just like that...!"
To the 5th Division, the sight was devastating. Those shields blocked even the fangs and claws of average 3rd-grade monsters. And the O-Fang Knights were superiors they hesitated to even address casually.
Yet Jack had swatted them like flies.
Meanwhile, Bin and Hite protected the 7th Division knights while fending off the cavalry.
Clang! Clang!
Hite grimaced as his spear clashed with the cavalry.
"These bastards aren't ordinary...!"
Bin turned to him.
"Hold out a bit longer."
Crunch. Crunch.
Bin froze the cavalry before him with a single swing of his greatsword and spoke.
"You have a plan...?"
Before Hite could finish, he trailed off at Bin's gaze. Bin's eyes brimmed with certainty. He had surely mapped out the next move.
The 7th Division wasn't the only one in dire straits.
As cavalry raised swords to strike the 6th Division knights, white light shot toward them. A spell from the Ten Mages.
The white magic arced around the sword and struck a Death Knight's helm.
Thud.
The dull sound revealed the high grade of their armor.
"All that armor..."
"Superior-grade armor?!"
"This won't be easy..."
Alenda frowned at the sight.
"We're in trouble..."
Superior-grade armor likely had magic resistance.
Thud. Thud.
The cavalry's hooves drummed in their ears. Alenda's face hardened. He realized these were leagues beyond the chimeras they'd faced. And that the Black Wolf Division might be annihilated here.
Then, among the cavalry, one exuding stronger magi caught his eye. The leader, Jack.
Alenda focused and muttered.
'Opening.'
With the word, massive carnivorous plants appeared beside Jack. Unlike those against the chimeras, liquid dripped from their maws, melting the ground.
Shhhk.
Black clouds gathered on the ceiling—a spell from the Ten Mages.
They spoke with grim resolve.
"They won't last this time."
"We'll show them the 6th Division isn't to be trifled with."
As the Ten Mages and Alenda finished, lightning and liquid spewed from the plants toward Jack.
As the ground melted, Jack's shadow stretched long. He slipped into the shadow at his feet and emerged from the one at his head. His special ability.
Easily dodging the 6th Division's assault, Jack growled low.
"In the king's name, I shall judge you."
Swords, spears, axes on the floor rose into the air. They surged toward Alenda and the Ten Mages.
Shhhk. Shhhk.
Alenda and the mages' eyes widened behind their barriers.
"Th-that's...! 2nd-class knight territory!"
Manipulating distant objects with mana. Unquestionably 2nd-class domain.
Yet Jack wielded it. Meaning his power matched 2nd-class.
Before Alenda and the mages could recover from shock, their barriers shattered against the wall.
Boom!!
The roar echoed through the second floor as Alenda and the Ten Mages fainted, embedded in the wall.
The 6th Division knights were stunned.
"Captain and the Ten Mages...!"
"We're done. No way we beat those monsters..."
But Jack's assault didn't stop. He turned and charged someone.
Clop. Clop.
"Those who disturb His Majesty's peace."
Jack's bloodshot eyes fixed on none other than 5th Division Captain Odekus.
Odekus glared back. Shields now enveloped his body.
The 5th Division Captain Odekus's Opening: Iron Wall.
Face flushed, he bellowed.
"You dare harm my men!"
Enraged by Jack taking the O-Fang Knights' lives. But Jack paid no heed.
Clop clop clop.
Slash! Slash! Slash...!
Three dull impacts followed.
Cling! Cling! Cling...!
As Odekus blocked with his shield, he jerked his head back and screamed.
"Arghhh!"
At his feet lay his right arm, still clutching the great axe.
The 5th Division knights gasped in horror.
"Captain's arm...!"
"Even with Opening... the gap doesn't close."
Drip.
Odekus's blood pooled on the floor, but Jack didn't blink.
Meanwhile, the 7th Division frantically blocked the Death Knights.
Hite's voice rose.
"Reform lines—no encirclement. Groups of ten."
Clang! Clang!
Hite defended with his superior-grade weapon from the forge.
Bin spoke to him.
"Hold the 7th Division for a moment."
"Yes, Captain."
With that, Hite clashed blades with a Death Knight.
Clang! Clang!
Jack looked down at Odekus coldly.
"Judged."
As Jack raised his red sword, it happened.
'Change.'
Bin murmured softly, and black barriers filled the area. Odekus—arm severed—and Bin swapped places.
In that instant.
Shwoooosh!
Black sword wind erupted from Bin's blade, vast enough to engulf Jack entirely.
'Magi...?!'
Jack hesitated in shock. A human had used it.
He assumed he'd block it easily, like the others.
Shrieeeek!
"...?!"
But reality differed. His red dual swords were slowly pushed back. Unbelievable power.
"Impossible...!"
The sword wind tore into him.
Shrieeeek!
Black blood cascaded from Jack like a waterfall.
Drip.
Unlike before, black aura surged around Bin. Luminare was already opened.
"Urgh...!"
Jack barely withstood the sword wind. Then, armor ripping sounds assaulted the ears.
Tsss.
In that moment, a massive black sword wind pierced Jack's body.
Thud!
Jack's head drooped as he gazed emptily at his bisected form.
"My king... forgive me..."
As Jack fell, his purple horse panicked with shrill whinnies.
"Hiiing! Hiiing!"
It had never faced such a thing in ages.
Bin's right arm had swollen. The sword wind from Opening infused with Mana of Strength. And he'd used runes too. A surprise burst of maximum power.
The other cavalry were dumbfounded by Jack's death.
"...!"
Their overwhelmingly strong leader felled in one strike.
Bin ignored them, lowering his gaze.
"Then. Let's begin."
Codic, now in gust form, approached Bin.
"Yes, my lord!"
Codic's ring flashed.
Then.
Crunch. Crunch.
Jack's fallen armor began to move.
Bin murmured lowly.
"Rise, Jack."
As Bin finished, Jack stood and rumbled deeply.
"You called, my new king?"
Jack thrust his sword into the ground and bowed to Bin. The cavalry stared in shock.
"...!"