Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: 49. Ashen Mage (2)
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“Sir Livingsman!”
The urgent voice of the Ashen Mage, Marquis Ridicro, rang out.
Even amid the relentless barrage of spirits and spells, he deployed a defensive magic over Livingsman to protect him.
Dozens of layers of shields materialized in front of Livingsman in an instant.
“You thought that would be enough to stop me? If so, I’d love to tell you you’re gravely mistaken.”
Raymond raised his left hand, murmuring to himself. Life force had already gathered in his left hand, taking the form of a white spear.
The Spear of Sacrifice.
The devastating technique that had pierced even the Shadow Veil of the Hidden Blade, Haison, manifested once more.
The moment they saw the spear brimming with its vivid white energy, not only Livingsman but also Marquis Ridicro, standing a short distance away, went pale.
Livingsman thrashed desperately to escape the Eternal Chains, his face twisted in anxiety.
He struggled with all his might, but the chains binding his arms and legs didn’t budge an inch.
“D-Damn it……”
Livingsman spat out a rough curse. There was no way out. All that remained was to await death.
Despair filled his eyes. His gritted teeth, as he fought the terror of death, were clearly visible.
But mercy had no place for enemies. Raymond hurled the Spear of Sacrifice in his left hand toward Livingsman without hesitation.
“Guh—ack!”
The white spear pierced through the stacked layers of shields and embedded itself in Livingsman’s chest. His heart was ruptured in a single blow.
Livingsman let out a short scream and vomited a mouthful of red blood.
Even if he had ascended to the transcendent realm of Sword Saint, his body was still that of a ‘human.’ With one of his vital points—his heart—destroyed, he wouldn’t last long.
Only after Livingsman’s breath fully ceased did the Eternal Chains release his limp corpse.
Raymond’s gaze now turned to the Ashen Mage, Marquis Ridicro. He chewed his lips, his face etched with shock.
“I’d heard the rumors, but I never imagined you could wield the ‘Spear of Sacrifice’ and ‘Eternal Chains’ so perfectly…… I admit it. Your Majesty, I underestimated you.”
Marquis Ridicro spoke in a trembling voice. True to his status as a grand magus, he had recognized the ancient spells that once shook the world at a glance.
“Sorry, but you’re too late.”
Raymond replied coldly. He slowly closed the distance toward Marquis Ridicro, with Gestain following behind.
The high mages drew up their mana, and Sylvia summoned a horde of wind spirits.
“You think this meager force can defeat me, a grand magus? If so, allow me to remind you that it’s nothing but overconfidence.”
As if to prove his own power, Marquis Ridicro stirred his mana. But Raymond, who knew the world’s lore, saw right through it—this was all bravado.
He was currently expending a massive amount of mana just to maintain the grand barrier isolating the capital’s central district from the outside world.
If he had gone all out from the start, the three high mages and one high elf spirit summoner wouldn’t have lasted this long.
The Ashen Mage, Marquis Ridicro, was a grand magus renowned in the lore for his prowess in barrier magic.
But unlike other grand magi, he had no hidden trump cards—a rather dull trait.
Of course, in this situation, that boring setup was a stroke of luck for Raymond.
“We’ll see. Time will tell who’s overconfident.”
Raymond said. Even if Marquis Ridicro had no aces up his sleeve, Raymond and Gestain—not to mention the high mages and Sylvia—were all exhausted. It wouldn’t be an easy win.
The combo of Eternal Chains and Spear of Sacrifice could silence most foes in one strike, but the mana cost was so prohibitive it couldn’t be spammed.
In fact, Raymond’s remaining mana was so low now that using Eternal Chains again was tough, and even the Spear of Sacrifice—substitutable with life force—could only be fired once more at reduced power.
Using life force alone for the Spear of Sacrifice might boost its output, but the risk of passing out was too high.
He couldn’t afford to lose consciousness in the heart of the enemy capital with the battle unfinished, so sticking to mana, even if lacking, was wiser.
‘But Marquis Ridicro’s not faring much better.’
Raymond’s eyes gleamed coldly. As he took a step forward, the Ashen Mage unleashed a chilling killing intent and swung his staff.
That single motion shook heaven and earth. Pillars of flame erupted from the ground.
“Your Majesty!”
Desia’s voice rang out. Shields formed, blocking the flame pillars.
“We’ll cover you!”
This time it was Berenus. He and Risefield unleashed powerful attack spells toward the Ashen Mage.
Ice and fire danced in a spectacular display, targeting the Ashen Mage. The magic from two tower lords at such lofty heights was formidable—even a grand magus like Marquis Ridicro couldn’t ignore it.
“Damn it!”
Marquis Ridicro cursed and erected shields. Normally, he could’ve countered while defending, but maintaining the massive barrier over the central district made counterattacks impossible.
Defending against Berenus and Risefield’s spells was his limit. Seizing the opening, Raymond and Gestain closed in.
Marquis Ridicro’s eyes locked onto the pair. Raymond hurled a supporter he’d conjured with max mana, disrupting the marquis’s vision.
With top-tier and high spells raining down and supporters obscuring his sight upfront, Marquis Ridicro—who couldn’t unleash his full power—was at his wit’s end.
“Gestain!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
While controlling the supporters with his left hand, Raymond spotted an opening in Marquis Ridicro’s defense and shouted.
Gestain must have seen the tiny crack in that mountain-like guard too, as he responded vigorously and kicked off the ground.
Gestain’s body shot forward like a bullet. The sword he swung shattered Marquis Ridicro’s shields.
“Th-This……”
A bewildered voice escaped him. Then Raymond leaped over Gestain’s head and swung his Soul Sword at the Ashen Mage.
“Arghhh!”
A scream of agony echoed as red blood sprayed into the air. His shoulder had been deeply slashed.
Marquis Ridicro staggered back, his face contorted. All his defensive spells collapsed.
“B-Blin……”
“Not a chance!”
“Gah!”
Marquis Ridicro tried to blink away, but Sylvia was faster. Her arrow struck his abdomen.
Blessed by high spirits, the arrow moved near supersonic speed. The Ashen Mage, unable to go all out, couldn’t block it.
Blood poured from the deep gash in his left shoulder, and he staggered with an arrow in his gut—a pitiful sight.
“Cough—hack!”
Marquis Ridicro coughed violently, spewing red blood. The shoulder wound was deeper than expected. His mind grew hazy, vision blurring. He hastily staunched it with magic, but he’d lost too much blood already.
He needed proper treatment, but with Raymond and Gestain eyeing him, he had no time to chant recovery spells.
Just fending off the two swordsmen and the high mages’ attacks was overwhelming.
Escape crossed his mind, but it was impossible. Chanting blink or similar would slacken his defenses, and the high mages’ spells would pierce him instantly.
“Surrender, Ashen Mage.”
“You think I will?”
Marquis Ridicro replied coldly to Raymond’s words and smirked.
His eyes turned red. Sensing something ominous, the three high mages simultaneously erected powerful shields.
“Your Majesty!”
Desia blocked Raymond’s front, layering more shields. Then mana surged wildly from Marquis Ridicro’s body.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rocked the area as the Ashen Mage’s body burst apart. It was a massive blast, but the preemptive shields from the three high mages kept the shockwave from reaching Raymond.
“The barrier is collapsing.”
Gestain said. Raymond looked up. The gray barrier over the central district was fading.
“The barrier’s down! All forces! Advance into the central district!”
Marquis Crayer, who’d been pacing outside due to the barrier, personally led his knights and cavalry through the gates.
Kasiyas’s Imperial Army, having defeated Edriger’s Black Legion, rejoined Emperor Raymond.
The remnants of the Black Legion—fewer than a thousand after their defeat—retreated to the royal palace while the Philius Imperial forces assembled.
“Press on to the royal palace.”
Raymond ordered calmly. The Philius forces that entered the central district marched en masse toward the palace. No Edriger troops stood in their way.
With the Black Legion routed by the Imperial Army, the garrison and militia surrendered one after another. Only a handful remained in the palace.
Inside the royal palace of Edriger Kingdom’s audience chamber.
King Calvern and the nobles were gathered. Unable to know the situation outside, they eyed each other anxiously.
The nobles wanted to flee, but with the king and royal guard holding firm, they had no choice but to stay.
How much time passed in that heavy silence? Finally, the messenger they awaited burst into the chamber.
“Sir Livingsman has fallen!”
Expecting victory, the nobles’ faces darkened at the report of crushing defeat. Their last hope had shattered pointlessly.
“Your Majesty! You must escape at once!”
A noble wearing the insignia of a count raised his voice.
His concern for the king was overshadowed by his own desire to flee.
“Your Majesty! The enemy is at our doorstep!”
“With even Sir Livingsman down, there’s no stopping the Philius Imperial Army!”
The nobles raised their voices one by one. Their transparent eagerness to run irritated King Calvern.
“The palace is surrounded! Where do you suggest we flee?”
The nobles bowed their heads at the king’s exasperated roar.
As he sighed shortly at the sight, a man in black robes appeared in his view.
“The End Society……?”
He didn’t know the man’s name. But King Calvern wasn’t unconnected to the End Society, so he easily recognized the black-robed figure as one of theirs.
What puzzled him was that the Society’s members had never revealed themselves before other nobles until now.
“Who are you?!”
The royal guards drew their swords en masse, radiating menace.
Despite the sharpened auras of the royal guards, the masked Richard remained calm.
“Today, I pronounce your doom.”
“What?”
“Attack!”
The royal guards moved—or tried to. In that instant, Richard was already upon them.
“Gahk!”
A swung sword severed a guard’s neck. Sword flashes rained down, blood spurting from the guards’ bodies.
“Aaaah!”
“Mercy!”
Unlike the steadfast King Calvern, the nobles bolted for the doors at the unfolding massacre.
“It’s futile. I’ve pronounced your doom. No one escapes this place.”
The doors opened, revealing black-robed swordsmen. They slashed indiscriminately at the nobles.
“Arghhh!”
“Sp-Spar……”
Screams erupted. Nobles collapsed in pools of blood. Having annihilated the royal guard, Richard advanced on King Calvern.
No one remained to guard the king.
“How can the Society do this to me?”
“You know too much. Unlike Sellion.”
At Richard’s words, King Calvern quietly closed his eyes.
Even Duke Alipis belonged to the End Society—expecting his aid was futile.
“This ends it.”
The knell rang once more.