Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Chapter 20: Bloody Funeral (3)
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Leading the momentum of a thousand knights, the Dark Emperor—Hidden Blade—advanced forward. With every step, a sharp killing intent, heavy as if laden with blades, pressed down from above. Yet there was no hesitation in his advance, and the blade of retribution in his hand gleamed even more sharply.
"Fire Strike!"
"Ice Storm!"
The Crimson Tower Lord and Azure Tower Lord completed their spells. A fierce blaze exploded where the Dark Emperor stood, followed by a merciless ice storm that raged through.
The barrage of magic ended, but the Dark Emperor, Hailson, was unscathed. He hadn't even taken a single step. He had simply protected his body by forming armor and a shield from the black aura infused with killing intent.
Not even powerful magic could pierce the black aura's armor and shield.
"Is that all you've got?"
A cruel smile curled on Hidden Blade Hailson's lips. With a flick of his finger, the Imperial Army knights at the vanguard collapsed, screaming shrilly and spewing blood.
"Y-Your Majesty! We must retreat!"
The enemy's power surpassed imagination. As the leader of the Royal Guard, Marquis Blizzard was duty-bound to protect Emperor Raymond. Though dishonorable, he urged retreat, but Raymond's resolve was unyielding.
"How can I turn my back when the vile schemers plotting the Empire's downfall stand before us!"
Raymond shouted, infusing his voice with mana. It was a performance to boost the morale of those around him. Your Emperor leads the charge, so stand firm as well. He didn't say it outright, but his actions spoke volumes.
Though said to be the weakest among the Dark Emperors, Hidden Blade's realm was lofty. Raymond didn't think victory would come easily, but defeat seemed unlikely too.
He knew the novel's settings: as the Emperor of the Philius Empire and the protagonist Richard's class, the Black Swordsman, he was aware of the trump cards at his disposal.
"Rage like a storm!"
He took a step forward and shouted once more, mana surging through him. The colorful magic orbs swirling around him shot toward Hidden Blade all at once.
"Pointless efforts."
Hidden Blade muttered softly and twisted his wrist. Slashes erupted in all directions, cleaving dozens of magic orbs apart.
Watching the mana fragments scatter faintly in the air, Raymond bit his lip slightly.
Even with mana overload, the gap in power was greater than expected. No opening for the Spear of Sacrifice. With things like this, he had only one card left to play.
Raymond swiftly retreated and raised his left hand. The Emperor's banner was resummoned, golden energy gathering. Sensing the ominous flow, Hidden Blade aimed an invisible blade.
"Royal Guard, protect His Majesty!"
Something was about to happen. The gathering golden energy sparked vigilance in Hidden Blade and hope in the Royal Guard and Imperial Army.
At Marquis Blizzard's cry, the Royal Guard assembled in perfect formation. Imperial Army knights drew their swords and charged at the Dark Emperor, Hidden Blade.
"Imperial Army, buy time with your lives if necessary!"
"Long live His Majesty!"
"Long live the Philius Empire!"
Knowing they couldn't possibly match the assassins' absolute ruler, the Dark Emperor, the Imperial Army knights threw themselves forward anyway.
"You small fry!"
With each swing of Hidden Blade's arm, incoming slashes diced the Imperial Army knights to pieces.
The ground was slick with fresh blood, piles of fallen bodies forming hills. In less than a minute, over twenty Imperial Army knights had lost their lives.
Raymond held back his surging emotions at their sacrifice and continued gathering the golden energy without pause.
"What trick are you plotting?"
This didn't feel right. He clearly had something to rely on. An ill omen rose. He recalled being pierced by that white spear. Hidden Blade Hailson roared in fury and kicked off the ground, soaring up to rain down slashes from the sky and end it swiftly.
But it didn't go as planned.
"We are the shields of the Imperial Family!"
"The Royal Guard will protect His Majesty with our lives!"
The Royal Guard swarmed like bees. Though in decline, they were the Philius Empire's elite. Even Hidden Blade, who had reached the Dark Emperor realm, couldn't dismiss their charge lightly.
In the end, he was forced to fall back, and in that interval, Raymond completed his trump card.
"In the name of the Emperor! I promise and engrave victory upon this land—the Empire shall not falter! Imperial Seal!"
One of the Emperor's authorities usable through the 'Silent Absolute One' activated: the Imperial Seal.
High in the sky, the Philius Empire Emperor's crest formed, and golden energy enveloped all the Imperial and Empire armies gathered in the sanctuary.
The Imperial and Empire armies, who had been slowly pushed back, suddenly unleashed superhuman strength and began driving back the Three Kingdoms Alliance forces. Even the fleeing nobles drew their swords to confront the assassins.
Raymond smirked at the sight. His face was pale, but the smile lingered on his lips.
In contrast, the Dark Emperor's expression soured in real time.
'I feel the binding of mana.'
It had to be the effect of that bizarre technique called the Imperial Seal. Faint, but he sensed an energy interfering with mana operation.
On an individual level, it might seem minor, but in group combat, if this effect spread across the field, retreat might become inevitable.
"The Empire may be in decline, but imperial authority endures, is that it...?"
Hidden Blade's eyes gleamed coldly. He had even more reason now to sever the Emperor's life.
A mounted messenger bearing the herald's insignia galloped into the territory army's encampment. Count Invers, who had assembled the cavalry in anticipation of trouble upon receiving word from Count Dancihi, couldn't contain his impatience and rushed to the messenger.
"I heard Count Dancihi led his cavalry toward the sanctuary. What in the world is happening?"
He fired off questions like rapid shots, unable to hide his anxiety. He wanted to bluntly ask if something had gone wrong at the sanctuary, but he couldn't bring himself to voice such irreverent words.
"A bloodwind rages in the sanctuary. Lord Count Dancihi has issued a full mobilization order to the territory."
"A full mobilization?"
Count Invers was stunned by the messenger's words. A full mobilization in peacetime? Even if something had happened at the sanctuary, it made no sense.
"Activation of the Imperial Seal has been confirmed."
"At the sanctuary?"
"Yes."
No further explanation was needed. The activation of the Imperial Seal at the sanctuary meant the Emperor was there.
The Emperor was in that sanctuary where blood winds howled. That fact alone was enough to set the eyes of Count Invers, loyal to the Empire, the Imperial Family, and the Emperor, spinning.
"We must rescue His Majesty from that hell! Knight Commander, hear me! Issue full mobilization to the territory army and station forces at all major routes to ensure no vile traitors escape!"
"As you command, my lord."
Five hundred cavalry departed from Count Invers's territory as well.
Meanwhile, as Count Dancihi's territory army clashed with the enemy, Marquis Creyer's thousand-strong cavalry successfully entered the sanctuary.
"Father, this is..."
"Yes, the Imperial Seal."
Inside the sanctuary, the Imperial Seal shone even more vividly. As the golden energy settled over him, he felt his mana activate.
"What a mess."
"Territory army, intercept the enemies! Knights, with me—we're going to rescue His Majesty!"
Marquis Creyer shouted, mana amplifying his voice. He then set off with the knights to find the Emperor.
"His Majesty is over there!"
In the center amid over a hundred corpses lay strewn, a young Emperor stood. Amid countless powerhouses, he emanated a brilliant aura. It was unmistakably Raymond, who until just two or three months ago still bore the traces of youth.
"Your Majesty!"
Marquis Creyer called out. But the young Emperor, Raymond, gave no reply. He merely raised his left hand, signaling them not to approach further.
"Do not come closer! Invisible blades fill the area around us!"
As doubt began to rise, Azure Tower Lord Risefield Dior issued the warning. Only then did Marquis Creyer sense the unfamiliar, invisible energy permeating the space around Hidden Blade and the young Emperor.
Sharp and hostile. The Dark Emperor Hailson's famed Hidden Blade. The aura of invisible blades dominated the area.
Even the Azure and Crimson Tower Lords could only stamp their feet in frustration, meaning high-level magic offered no solution.
"The scarecrows have all fallen, and no more interlopers will come."
Hailson spoke in a grating voice.
"What now?"
The Imperial Seal's effect shone in commanding large forces. Though the entire sanctuary fell under its influence, the troops actually facing the Dark Emperor were few. They might win the battle, but toppling the Dark Emperor was uncertain.
"Your Majesty..."
Gestain cast a worried glance. After mana overload and summoning the Imperial Seal, his complexion was deathly pale.
"Lady Desia, is destroying that barrier impossible?"
At Marquis Blizzard's question, Desia bit her lip until blood nearly welled. Answer enough.
The Royal Guard leader asked no more and instead raised his hand. Mana infused with frigid northern winds gathered.
He swung, sending icy winds scattering everywhere, but the invisible blade barrier remained intact.
"Marquis Blizzard, don't waste mana—focus on the enemy before you."
Raymond said coldly.
"My apologies, Your Majesty."
"And Marquis Creyer!"
"Awaiting your command!"
Marquis Creyer responded vigorously from beyond the barrier.
"Rescue the other nobles first and form a siege around the sanctuary so not a single one of these vile evildoers escapes!"
"As you command!"
Marquis Creyer moved out. He was wise enough to realize staying offered no help.
Seeing the marquis and territory army disperse, Raymond felt a slight relief. With five hundred knights and five hundred cavalry, their joining the sanctuary battle would bolster the Imperial and Empire armies greatly.
"Finally quiet."
"Sending away reinforcements—are you thinking straight?"
"I don't need them, so I sent them away."
"Overconfidence is unwise, young Emperor."
"Is it?"
After the brief exchange, Raymond raised the Soul Sword. Its calmly tempered interior boiled like a storm.
Raymond's gaze toward Hidden Blade was icy, and aside from the din of battle, silence reigned.
In the suffocating tension, Hidden Blade moved first—or seemed to.
"He's coming!"
One of the Royal Guards warned. Viscount Illusion and Gestain moved first. While the viscount's dozens of afterimages confused Hidden Blade's vision, Gestain closed the distance with a sharp thrust.
"Futile."
Invisible blades pierced the afterimages at once. Viscount Illusion was no exception.
Gestain's iron breastplate cracked with a screech, red blood spurting, but he didn't stop.
"You won't get past me easily!"
Gestain cried out desperately. He had finally met his true liege. For him, he could give his life. Even if he collapsed bloodied, a corpse, he wouldn't let Raymond die.
"You madman!"
The desperate thrust, heedless of life, pierced the Dark Emperor's left shoulder. Possible only because the Shadow Veil was absent.
As the startled Hidden Blade retreated, top-tier magic rained down on him. Desia's eyes gleamed with cold killing intent as she unleashed spells relentlessly.
"Y-Your Majesty!"
Marquis Blizzard cried out in alarm. Leaping over the falling Gestain, Raymond charged at Hidden Blade Hailson like an arrow.
"Royal Guard, cover His Majesty!"
But it was too late. As Raymond closed the gap in one bound, Hailson greeted him with a devilish smile.
Another Hidden Blade barrier formed, blocking the pursuing Royal Guard.
"Alone at last, young Emperor."
"I've just cleared the interference. Dark Emperor."
Raymond's eyes gleamed coldly.
"This technique is a bit dangerous."
Mana erupted from his entire body like an explosion. Maximum mana overload—and the Soul Sword resonated in sync.
Before his eyes, phantoms of a thousand knights appeared, including the seven finest among them. One opened its mouth.
"Heir to the ancient imperial bloodline, noble Emperor who inherits that will... Your mana, infused with fierce will and courage, has awakened us..." "If you desire, you can dispel the darkness before you, but—" "Lastly, we ask. O one who remembers the vow... Can you" "bear this power?"
⟨ Soul Sword ⟩
Just as described in the novel. The combination of the Soul Sword and Black Swordsman's mana overload, with Richard as protagonist—a trump card.
'True Soul Sword.'
The aura of a thousand knights enveloped his body. For an instant, their memories became whole.
"What is this...!"
Hailson panicked. An overwhelmingly fearsome momentum emanated from the Emperor before him. Seeing him instinctively step back, Raymond spoke coldly.
"You'd best brace yourself."
He assumed an attack stance.
"For right now, a 'thousand' knights stand before you."