Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Chapter 34: Festival of the Dead (2)
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"I had a bad feeling, so I came to check... and it turns out to be even worse than I imagined."
Raymond, dressed in the golden-and-crimson imperial uniform, muttered to himself.
After clashing with the undead army that had appeared for the first time in a century according to the novel's lore, a sense of foreboding had gripped him. He'd moved ahead first, accompanied by the Royal Guard.
But upon arrival, he found over six thousand undead—equivalent to an entire legion—brutally ravaging the Golden Grass Clan's city.
The Golden Grass Clan's forces were far from insignificant, but they were no match for an undead horde that refused to stay down.
Moreover, the undead ranks included a Death Knight who had reached the Sword Saint realm—a force that couldn't be ignored.
"That uniform... You're the emperor of the Philius Empire?"
Greed flickered in the green glow leaking from the helmet's slits. The deep green aura blade cloaking his sword burned even more fiercely.
"I pronounce your doom."
Gilliam's aura began devouring Raymond's Soul Sword. Though the mana sword forming the Soul Sword was more potent than those of typical high knights, it couldn't withstand an aura blade.
As the clash dragged on, the Soul Sword's mana sword started to erode.
"Guh... Ngh!"
A groan of agony escaped him. Gilliam wasn't just repelling the Soul Sword with his aura blade; he was also pressing Raymond with sharp momentum and malevolent energy.
"Your Majesty!"
Gestain, arriving late after rushing to the emperor's side, hurriedly intervened. He unleashed a brilliant aura toward the Death Knight radiating an eerie aura.
"A Sword Saint?"
Gilliam stepped back to evade the aura. As his green-glowing helm turned in surprise at the sudden Sword Saint's appearance, dozens of ice spears infused with chilling menace rained down from above.
Boom!
At the same moment, blue mana erupted beneath his feet. Two supreme-grade spells. But the assault didn't end there—advanced and supreme-grade magic stormed in like a tempest.
It was the combined work of the Azure Tower Lord and Desia.
"Insolent fools!"
Gilliam swung his sword in cold fury. The barrage of spells shattered futilely against the Sword Saint's aura blade.
But the two archmages had never intended to challenge a Sword Saint with mere advanced spells. This was just a diversion to buy time for Gestain and the Royal Guard to pull Raymond to safety.
"I'll handle this!"
"Your Majesty! You must withdraw!"
Gestain blocked the path ahead, while the Royal Guard urged retreat.
Knowing full well the prowess of a Sword Saint, Raymond didn't resist and complied with the Royal Guard's insistence.
"Royal Guard, support Gestain!"
Even as he fell back, Raymond couldn't shake his worry for Gestain, who now faced a Sword Saint-level Death Knight.
It was impossible not to worry. Gestain had only recently ascended to Sword Saint, and his foe wasn't a mere human but an undead.
"As His Majesty commands!"
"We'll support the Sword Saint!"
Those among the Royal Guard wielding swords and spears stepped forward, and at the same moment, Desia and Risefield's magical barrage ceased.
"Y-You..."
The trembling voice from behind belonged to Rainkio. Though he'd just lost his king and comrades amid the chaos, he couldn't fail to recognize the golden uniform before him.
In Philius Empire territory, only one group wore golden uniforms: the Royal Guard. And only one commanded them—the emperor of the Philius Empire.
"I am Raymond Philius, current emperor of the Philius Empire. The Imperial Army is en route to purge this wicked horde, so rest easy."
"Ahh..."
Rainkio swallowed back the tears welling up.
Now that he looked, he could even sense the "Blessing of the Eternal Forest" emanating from the emperor. This was a blessing no one could receive without the World Tree's firm approval.
Scenting that familiar World Tree aroma, Rainkio felt reassured. Bearing the "Blessing of the Eternal Forest" meant recognition from the World Tree itself—and for elves, that signified someone worthy of trust.
"Incoming!"
The conversation couldn't last. Gestain's sharp warning rang out, followed instantly by a thunderous explosion.
Boom!
Gilliam's body launched upward—a move so swift even Gestain couldn't react in time.
"Above!"
"He's targeting His Majesty!"
The Royal Guard moved in perfect unison. Those guarding the emperor acted first.
Nine Royal Guards, their radiant golden cloaks billowing, kicked off the ground and soared upward.
"Protect His Majesty!"
Marquis Blizzard shouted. An icy gale swirled with frost, but Gilliam—chilled to the bone—plowed straight through. His green aura shielded him.
"Attack!"
The nine Royal Guards in the air charged Gilliam. They moved as freely aloft as on the ground. But it wasn't enough.
"Gaaah!"
"Argh!"
A flash of sword light erupted from Gilliam's blade, and blood fountained from the Royal Guards' bodies. Six perished in a single blow. The remaining three, critically wounded, plummeted while spraying blood.
"Your Majesty!"
Desia swung her staff, conjuring a massive mana shield to block Gilliam's path. The Azure Tower Lord and Risefield then unleashed the Azure Tower's secret art.
Kaboom!
Thunder roared as lightning crashed from the sky. The world flashed white for an instant. The shockwave rattled even Desia's advanced barrier spell, sweeping the ground.
"Huff... Hah..."
The Azure Tower Lord steadied his ragged breathing after expending excessive mana in one go. Beside him, a voice of admiration reached his ears.
The Azure Tower's secret advanced spell, "Lightning of Absolute Penetration," had struck. Even an undead Sword Saint shouldn't emerge unscathed.
Desia, the Azure Tower Lord, and the Royal Guard thought so—and relaxed.
But...
"Everyone, stay sharp! It's not over!"
Raymond remained vigilant. Having read Empire of the Dead to the latest chapter and even perused the setting materials, he knew exactly how threatening an undead Sword Saint could be.
It wouldn't fall to an advanced spell like the Azure Tower's secret art.
Sure enough, a black-gauntleted hand thrust out through the fading white flash. Most of the gauntlet had melted from the lightning's fury, revealing a grotesquely decayed fist.
"Support!"
A sharp cry, and fire-attuned mana coalesced around them. It formed projectiles aimed at Gilliam but scattered futilely against his ominous green aura.
Slash.
The follow-up aura blade cleanly severed the barrier spell. Before Desia could complete a second one, it targeted Raymond.
"Your Majesty!"
Marquis Tempest kicked off the ground, closing the distance in a flash.
"Tempest!"
As the marquis thrust his sword, a storm erupted. Razor-sharp wind blades howled, but Gilliam stood unmoved.
"You bastard! You won't lay a finger on His Majesty!"
"Marquis Blizzard! You'll get caught in it!"
Marquis Tempest tried to stop him, but Marquis Blizzard pressed on. Knowing his body would be torn apart, he threw himself forward to save Raymond. The wind blades slashed mercilessly across his flesh.
Skin split, red blood sprayed, yet Marquis Blizzard didn't falter. Driven by one resolve—to save the emperor—he pierced the storm of blades.
"Your Majesty! Let me be your shield!"
His subordinate, clad in blood-soaked rags, his body mangled, offered himself as a shield. How could a ruler retreat now?
Raymond grabbed Marquis Blizzard's shoulder and pulled him back, stepping forward himself. As cold resolve gleamed in his eyes, he swung the Soul Sword at the Death Knight, Lord Gilliam's neck.
It was a sharp strike, but Gilliam blocked with an aura-clad gauntlet.
It failed to pierce the aura. But it bought time. Gestain approached from behind with murderous intent. Now they were safe.
"How dare you thrust that rotten flesh toward safety!"
Gestain's aura blade severed Gilliam's left arm. It thudded onto the cold stone floor. But the decayed flesh spilled not a drop of blood, and the spectral soul felt no pain.
No pain meant swift follow-up. Before Gestain could recover his sword, Gilliam's aura blade pierced his abdomen.
"Guh... What?"
It was a duel of Sword Saints, but Gilliam was undead, Gestain a living human. The gap proved decisive—Gestain was doomed to lose.
"Mortal scum, how dare you!"
"Grrrgh!"
Undead blades often carried curses. Gilliam's was no exception. A curse of agony wracked Gestain's mind.
"Your Majesty!"
"Withdraw!"
The distant Royal Guard rushed forward to block. Gilliam tossed the limp Gestain aside and turned back toward Raymond.
Tension gripped the Royal Guard under the Death Knight's ferocious aura, but they showed no intent to yield. Their eyes burned with steely resolve, each steeling themselves.
"I'll... assist..."
Rainkio struggled to his feet. A fire spirit dwelled in his sword.
"Is this the might of the Philius Empire's royals? If this is your full strength, I'm sorely disappointed."
"How dare—Gaaah!"
One Royal Guard baron charged in rage but was bisected by Gilliam's aura blade.
"Do undead feel emotions?"
"Of course. They're merely dulled. And just now, I felt disappointment at your frail display."
"Then it's time you felt fear."
Raymond unleashed the aura of a thousand knights. Mana surged wildly; his sturdy mana rod as a magic swordsman screamed as it channeled the flow.
"Mana overload...?"
Gilliam hurriedly withdrew his sword. Too late. The overload was complete, poised for full assault.
Raymond raised his left hand. Hundreds of fireballs manifested from the sky and rained down, but Gilliam's green aura didn't even waver. Whether the lich had intervened or not, the severed left arm had reattached.
'Even an advanced spell via mana overload is useless...'
The "Baptism of the Flame King" had failed, suggesting his flesh and armor were reinforced with magic tools or rituals.
'I need a one-shot kill technique.'
The only option that came to mind was the "Spear of Sacrifice." But its backlash was severe—missing would leave him vulnerable.
'No choice but to use Eternal Chains.'
He had no alternative but to reveal his hand. Raymond extended his left hand, drawing mana. Vast power gathered instantly.
"This is..."
Before Gilliam could finish, the magic circle completed. Space tore open, unleashing pitch-black chains that surged forward.
"Begone."
His heavy voice swung the green aura blade at the chains, but contrary to its momentum, they didn't sever.
"It can't be cut by aura blade?"
"The sole secret art that binds even divinities. Did you think aura could sever it?"
Raymond smirked at Gilliam's evident panic. It wasn't over. The Eternal Chains pressed relentlessly, finally binding him.
"Impressive. I never imagined you'd wield a unique secret art."
"Too early to be surprised."
He had another unique secret art—one most couldn't even dream of possessing. Slowly raising his left hand, white energy coalesced into a spear shape.
"No way..."
The green glow in the helmet flickered uneasily. It recognized the white spear as unique-grade power.
"That's right."
No need for long explanations. Raymond hurled the Spear of Sacrifice with force, piercing Gilliam's heart.
The spear's mana spread like poison, destroying every magic circle animating his dead flesh.
Unable to resist further, Gilliam slumped in the chains. As Raymond released his grip, the spear and chains faded away.
"Cough!"
Blood poured from his mouth—the backlash of the Spear of Sacrifice.
Raymond didn't hide the pain. He even let Rainkio see it plainly.
There was one reason.
The sight of him pouring blood and giving his all for others was a noble scene worth witnessing.