Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Facing the Chieftain
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Boom-!
A massive explosion that seemed to shake the entire mountain rang out, causing Isaac—who had been charging ahead—to halt in his tracks.
The sound had come from the direction where Rian had gone.
“Lord Rian?”
At that moment, someone came galloping up from behind toward Isaac.
It was Derek, the former platoon leader of Eagle Company.
“Isaac, head straight to Rian right now. We’ll hold this position.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“There are far more troops here than over there. They won’t dare attack recklessly. But if there’s a barbarian who can wield Aura on Rian’s side, the situation could turn dangerous.”
He was right.
Of course, the chances of a warrior who could handle Aura emerging from Porhen Gorge were slim.
To them, Porhen Gorge was as vital as life itself.
But wars were always fought with “variables” in mind.
If a barbarian warrior capable of wielding Aura appeared in a lightly defended spot, not only the sentries but even Rian rushing to their aid could lose their lives.
Isaac nodded.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Hurry. I’d go myself, but I don’t know the terrain...”
“Don’t worry. See you soon.”
With those words, Isaac immediately turned his troops around and retraced their steps. And then, he flinched.
He didn’t have Rian’s knack for carving paths where none existed.
Still, right now... something felt off.
‘Ominous.’
What was this feeling?
The explosive roar from earlier still lingered in his ears.
Unless it was some artifact or magic tool, there was only one thing capable of producing such a blast.
The explosive power of a weapon infused with Aura.
Was that why?
“Any stragglers, don’t force yourselves to keep up. You won’t be able to fight properly if battle breaks out.”
Isaac’s grim voice sharpened the eyes of the soldiers behind him.
They knew what was in his heart right now.
Brandt spoke up.
“Then may I take the lead?”
Brandt was as swift and terrain-savvy as Rian.
In this situation, he was the only one Isaac could trust to guide them.
Isaac nodded.
“Please do.”
“I’ll find the fastest route.”
Whoosh!
With that, Brandt leaped down into the pathless mountain trail below.
And behind him,
“Follow close.”
Isaac and the Arrowhead Unit soldiers charged toward Rian.
* * *
The moment he faced the enemy, it felt like standing before a colossal beast.
Gulp.
‘...That’s him.’
Rian recognized him at a glance.
The creature was the chieftain ruling Porhen Gorge.
Purely by aura, it felt similar to Galrel, the great warrior he’d met in Saleron.
Drip.
Even at this distance, the pressure was suffocating, as if he’d be seized any second.
But the standoff didn’t last.
“SHA WKQDK.”
“Graaaargh-!”
Thud thud thud thud thud thud!
The instant the beast muttered something, dozens of barbarians behind him charged forward.
The rugged terrain was no obstacle to them.
Their homeland was rugged terrain like this, after all.
“Gab! Flank left and rendezvous at point 4! Everyone else, move right to point 4—no looking back!”
“Yes!”
“What about you, Deputy Commander?”
While Gab swiftly replied and moved out with five squad members, Gerard glanced at Rian as he asked.
Rian had aimed his bow at the charging barbarians while ordering them to flee.
Rian’s eyes flashed like a blade.
“Go-!”
Gerard flinched and stepped back at the shout. But soon, he joined the other five squad members and bolted in the direction Rian indicated.
‘Point 4 is downhill from here.’
It was the most efficient way to escape the uphill-strong barbarians.
The problem was...
Heh.
Altomers, grinning at him as if his prey were already caught.
Without hesitation, Rian nocked three arrows and drew.
Screeeeech-!
Thud thud thud-!
At this closing distance, such obstacles were no hindrance to Rian.
The moment Rian’s three arrows pierced the bodies of the lead barbarian warriors,
“Sorry, but I have no intention of getting caught. Not by anyone.”
Rian pulled a round object from his belt and hurled it to the ground.
Pop-!
The orb burst on impact, releasing acrid smoke that spread rapidly on the wind.
Whoosh!
“ANJDI! ANJ!”
“DKSQHL! DJELSI-!”
The barbarians’ panicked shouts echoed through the sudden white fog enveloping the area.
They charged blindly through the smoke,
“Gah-!”
“SNSL-! SNDNDDKVM-!”
But soon began collapsing in agony.
The fog was a mix of powdered dried mandarak grass and alchemists’ artificial mist.
The artificial mist clung persistently, maintaining obscured vision like a natural fog even in the wind, unlike regular smoke.
The powdered mandarak grass added searing pain.
It probably felt like getting pepper sprayed in the eyes.
Rustle rustle-!
But this wouldn’t hold the barbarians for long.
It was just a stopgap.
‘Pull away as far as possible and link up with the main force.’
He honestly hadn’t expected the enemy’s overall commander to be here.
‘They went all-in.’
If he’d known, he would’ve handed over the supplies and struck Porhen Gorge directly.
The chieftain’s combat prowess was that threatening.
Tadak!
Rian gritted his teeth and fled.
His senses, heightened by Rikall’s ring, were locked solely on Altomers.
Drip.
The moment the beast moved, Rian whipped around and nocked another arrow.
Its single leap had closed the distance dramatically.
‘Monstrous bastard...!’
Aura users’ physical abilities were unpredictably superhuman, depending on their mastery.
This one was mid-tier at best.
The problem was that even mid-tier Aura to Rian right now was near-catastrophic.
“Run’s over?”
“...!”
The beast, now much closer, spoke to Rian.
They were still dozens of meters apart, yet its voice rang as clear as if whispered in his ear.
But Rian’s shock went beyond that.
The beast spoke flawless continental tongue.
Rian glanced sidelong at it and replied.
“Don’t smirk like that. The last barbarians who acted cocky like you are buried in the dirt.”
“Your prattling fades on the wind without even Aura—you’re just a greenhorn. I had hopes for the ‘forest monster,’ but disappointing.”
Unlike Altomers, who infused his words with mana, Rian’s voice didn’t reach him.
It couldn’t.
They were at least twenty meters apart. But even that gap closed in an instant.
Boom!
Altomers kicked off the ground in a massive leap.
Its bulky frame sprang up like a coiled spring. In that moment, Rian knew.
He couldn’t just run anymore.
‘Time to gamble.’
The silver lining: the enemy didn’t know he could use mana.
A slim chance, but it might create an opening.
Scriiiing!
Rian slid to a halt mid-stride, dropping low as he drew an arrow.
Altomers had closed over ten meters in one bound.
Given the distance, Rian had only one shot.
Creaaaak-!
Rian nocked three arrows and pulled the string with all his might.
Walter’s bow bent nearly to breaking, boasting its resilience.
His hands trembled, but Rian locked eyes on Altomers.
The beast charging at him raised its bloodied sword.
Heh.
Confidence filled its face.
Against an archer who couldn’t use Aura, it was impossible to lose up close—that certainty shone through.
‘Once.’
Just block the arrows once.
No, even if not fully, as long as no vitals were hit, it was over.
Altomers finished his calculations.
He concentrated Aura in his legs, awaiting the attack.
The instant he deflected the arrows, explode Aura, close in, and slash.
That would end it all.
Creak!
Rian twisted the string slightly with the arrows nocked.
Snap-!
Screeeeech-!
The three arrows left Rian’s hand, streaking toward Altomers at blinding speed.
Altomers’ pupils dilated massively.
“Huhak-!”
The distance was short, but the arrows were faster than imagined.
What kind of bow was that?
Could arrows fly this fast?
His mind blanked white for a split second as he summoned all his Aura and swung his sword.
Kwa kwa kwa kwang-!
The upward slash scraped the ground, forming a faint sword barrier.
Amid flying gravel and dirt, the sword’s wind pressure blocked Rian’s arrows. But,
Slash-!
He jerked his head, but one arrow tore from the corner of Altomers’ right lip across his cheek.
His face twisted grotesquely at the unexpectedly lethal attack.
“You dare, you kingdom scum-!”
Rumble rumble rumble!
A tremendous aura erupted with his roar.
The air quivered from the Aura release.
Altomers glared, intent on crushing Rian in one blow, at where he’d been.
“...!”
Gone.
Fled in that brief moment?
‘No way.’
Physically impossible.
Altomers scanned around frantically. Then,
Chill-!
A shiver raced from spine to scalp. He whipped around, sword raised.
Rian had circled behind him, dagger in hand, lunging.
‘It didn’t run!’
He’d charged right after shooting?
Altomers bit his lip at the unforeseen maneuver.
“RKAG DNTMQ QHSMSRK-! (How dare you mock me-!)”
Altomers roared and swung at Rian.
The judgment was threatening, but Rian’s dagger was faster.
Crimson Aura flickered along Altomers’ blade, radiating death.
The moment his sword would bisect Rian, whoosh-!
Swish!
“...!”
Rian vanished before his eyes, and the sword cleaved empty air.
In this magical disappearance, Altomers’ mind went blank. And then,
“Uwaaaaaah-!”
A roar from above—Rian plummeted onto him, plunging the dagger into the gap between neck and shoulder.
Stab!
But as it sank in, Altomers twisted away and backhanded Rian with his arm.
Thwack-!
“Guhk-!”
It was an Aura user’s strike, even if with his arm.
Several ribs cracked at least from the impact.
Rian crumpled to the ground, frowning.
‘Damn...!’
Giaf’s bracelet—no, Rikall’s bracelet now.
Using Rikall’s bracelet for a short teleport to dodge and counterattack had worked.
The problem: he hadn’t finished it cleanly.
“Guh...!”
As he tried to rise, breath caught and agony wracked his body.
“DLFJ...... WNRUFSHAL......!”
Altomers yanked the dagger from beside his neck, staggering.
A deeper stab or a slash would’ve killed him outright.
His bloodshot eyes blazed with raw killing intent.
Rian felt his body freeze under the Aura user’s pressure.
Even uninjured, blocking its attacks was impossible—let alone now.
“Kehek!”
Rian, rising, vomited blood and collapsed.
Cracked ribs had pierced organs or worse.
As Rian slumped, Altomers pressed his wound with his left hand to staunch the bleeding and snatched up his fallen sword.
“You... you can use mana? I don’t know what spell you pulled, but twice? No chance.”
Altomers raised his sword.
“Die, forest monster.”
As his blade fell toward Rian’s head,
“Looord Riaaaaan-!”
A tearing shout—petite Isaac hurtled toward them at incredible speed.