Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Bloody Funeral (4)
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The momentum shifted. Sweat beaded on the Dark Emperor's forehead. He had no intention of yielding in this battle of auras, but the intense energy radiating from the young emperor instinctively made him step back.
'What in the world is that overwhelming aura?'
The Dark Emperor, Haelson's red eyes trembled with unease. Trained since the age of five and living as an assassin for twenty years since fifteen, he had never felt such terrifying killing intent before.
The Imperial Guard and Royal Guards were just as stunned. Seeing Raymond in a form they had never witnessed before, the anxieties they harbored vanished in an instant.
"Young emperor, what the hell are you?"
Unlike before, this was no longer disdain. The low, gravelly voice carried unmistakable fear.
"Who knows."
Instead of answering Haelson's question, Raymond curled the corner of his mouth into a chilling smile.
That sight was so eerie that Haelson kept retreating. Only belatedly realizing the barrier's presence did he halt his steps, but he had already shown his pathetic side.
"Damn it..."
Haelson spat curses in frustration. He had never trembled like this in a mere clash of auras. He tried to steady his quivering legs, but they wouldn't obey.
Ignoring his instincts screaming to dispel the barrier and flee, Haelson slowly advanced toward Raymond.
The closer he got, the stronger the killing intent bore down on him, amplifying his terror. To shake off this emotion, confrontation was the only way.
Hidden Blade Haelson gripped his prized invisible daggers in both hands and kicked off the ground. The distance to Raymond closed in an instant.
Raymond read every single movement. Normally, he wouldn't even catch the afterimages, but with the Thousand Knights fully aligned now, it was different.
'I see it!'
Raymond retreated with light steps while detonating his gathered mana.
Boom!
The pure mana explosion briefly threw Haelson's vision into chaos. In that gap, Raymond summoned mana once more to complete his spell.
He thrust his left hand forward. A red magic circle formed at his fingertips, unleashing a torrent of scorching flames. It was the supreme-grade spell 'Storm of Blazing Flames', made possible by the mana surge that elevated his realm by one step.
"Planning to break through?"
Raymond narrowed his eyes and stared ahead. The 'Storm of Blazing Flames' completely dominated the front. Detouring was impossible; the only option was to retreat. But Haelson, who had been backing away earlier, had unwittingly put pressure on himself.
Having pierced through his fear to barely close the gap, there was no way he would retreat again.
"Graaaah!"
Even without the Shadow Veil, a master of the Dark Emperor's caliber could form armor using aura or mana. Clad in black energy armor, Haelson tore through the Storm of Blazing Flames and swung both arms at Raymond.
Dozens of perfectly concealed slashes targeted his arms, legs, heart, and throat. Their speed was blinding, their ferocity unmatched, yet Raymond's lips held a leisurely smile that never faded.
That sight only provoked Haelson further.
"Damn it!"
Haelson cursed as he swung his daggers in a frenzy. Despite the assault of invisible slashes, Raymond held his ground without a flicker.
"Light, yet unshaken."
Like reciting an incantation, he took a step forward. Moving lightly yet steadily straight ahead, he swung the white Soul Sword gripped in his hand.
A single storm—it whipped up winds from a blade honed to razor sharpness.
It happened in an instant. With just one swing, a white flash erupted, unleashing a fierce gale that swept away every one of Haelson's slashes.
"Wh-what...!"
Defense was not the end. From the storm's center, a sharp white mana sword thrust out, aiming straight for Haelson's throat.
Haelson hastily raised his grotesquely bent dagger to block, but Raymond retracted the mana sword and unleashed a chained attack.
Raymond's combos were lightning-fast, his sword strikes razor-sharp, and his vision thrown into disarray by the multicolored magic orbs exploiting every gap from all directions.
Even an assassin who had reached the Dark Emperor's realm had limits to his concentration. In the end, Haelson yielded his left thigh to an attack from one of Raymond's supporting magic orbs.
"Gaaah!"
A scream burst forth. Though armored and shielded by black energy, Raymond's magic orbs were far from weak. A burning pain like fire scorched his thigh, disrupting his stance. And Raymond did not miss that opening.
Approaching with light steps, Raymond severed Haelson's left arm with the Soul Sword in a single flash.
It happened too suddenly for even a scream. No, there was no time to scream.
Before the severed arm could hit the ground, Raymond pressed his chained attack.
The magic orbs generated at his sides targeted Haelson in unison.
"You think I'll go down like this?!"
"Don't think that's the end."
Having temporarily fully assimilated the Thousand Knights' experience, his footwork and swordsmanship were near perfection. He blocked all the magic orbs, but the Soul Sword plunged into Haelson's abdomen.
"Cough!"
The pain was excruciating. Haelson spewed red blood from his mouth. Losing an arm and having his gut pierced were already fatal wounds, but Raymond did not stop.
Mercilessly withdrawn, the mana sword now targeted Haelson's throat.
'Too... late!'
That was the end. His throat deeply slashed by the Soul Sword infused with white mana, Haelson's head lolled limply, and his body collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
"It's over..."
As he ceased channeling his energy, the white glow forming the Soul Sword scattered in all directions. Raymond steadied his ragged breathing. Though he had used mana surge and enhancement magic, his body's limits were clear when employing the full arsenal of the Thousand Knights' techniques.
'This should resolve itself with time.'
He could only hope that ascending to the knight's realm would activate his body or that reaching the mage's realm would improve the efficiency of his enhancement magic, but that was not a problem he could solve right now.
"Your Majesty!"
As Hidden Blade Haelson's breath cut off and the barrier collapsed, Gestain and the Royal Guards rushed over in a heartbeat. They supported the emperor as he began to slump powerlessly.
"Check His Majesty's condition!"
Arriving a step behind Gestain and the Royal Guards, Desia Heli hastily examined Raymond's state.
Raymond was covered in blood but had not sustained severe injuries. The Azure Tower Lord, who had been nearby, soon joined and began fussing noisily.
"No need to fuss."
Raymond spoke in a calm voice.
"Focus on the battle. It's not over yet."
He waved off the Royal Guards' support. He looked ready to collapse from exhaustion at any moment, but he was the emperor of the Philius Empire. He could not show weakness.
He lifted his head toward the sky. Fortunately, the Imperial Descent was still holding.
"All Imperial Army and Empire forces within the sanctuary—do not let a single enemy escape alive!"
His mana-infused shout rang out sharply, reaching every Imperial Army and Empire soldier fighting inside the sanctuary.
"We obey the imperial command!"
The battlefield was chaotic, but the response came through clearly. And how much more time passed? While maintaining the Imperial Descent under the Royal Guards' escort, Raymond received a report that all assassins inside the sanctuary had been eliminated.
"Is it really over..."
Relief washed over him, bringing with it the fatigue he had forgotten. As the Imperial Descent lifted, Raymond let go of the tenuous thread of consciousness he had been clinging to.
"Your Majesty!"
Gestain supported the powerlessly collapsing Raymond, but he had already lost consciousness and gone limp.
"Royal Guards, escort His Majesty!"
At Marquis Blizzard's shout, the Royal Guards swarmed in. Those wearing golden masks and cloaks surrounded him protectively, like guardians.
"Sir Gestain! Even if the enemies inside the sanctuary have been subdued, remnants may linger elsewhere. We must escort His Majesty to safety."
Gestain nodded with a grim face at the words of a certain Royal Guard viscount.
Marquis Crayer had just joined and reported that engagements were still occurring outside the sanctuary as well, making it urgent to relocate Raymond to a safe place.
"I'll guide the way."
Silvia ran up and bowed her head. The Royal Guards shot her suspicious glances, doubting her abilities, but Gestain was different. He knew why Raymond always entrusted her with pathfinding.
She was the one who walked ahead, sensing all dangers first, warning of them, and avoiding harm. Her abilities were desperately needed now.
"I leave it to you."
"Don't worry."
She safely guided Raymond and his escorts all the way to the central city of the Danichi Barony. The escorts, on edge fearing enemy encounters, could only relax after confirming the central city's gates opening.
Upon arriving in the Danichi Barony's central city, Raymond was immediately taken to the lord's castle. The city's finest clerics, healers, and mages swarmed to examine and treat his condition.
"How is His Majesty?"
Risefield Dior asked the clerics, healers, and recovery mages emerging en masse from Raymond's chambers. A middle-aged man who appeared to be the highest-ranking among them spoke calmly.
"All external wounds have been healed, but he has depleted his vitality far too much. He must rest for the time being."
Everyone gathered in the corridor let out sighs of relief. Having lost their emperor not long ago, they could not afford to lose the new one before the pain had even faded.
"We know the sanctuary situation is urgent, but we must not disturb His Majesty's rest."
All nodded at the high cleric's words, but
"His Majesty has awakened! He says only the minimum personnel may enter."
Alex Tiringger, the longtime attendant who had served Raymond since his days as the 5th Prince, emerged from the door with a pale face and relayed the emperor's words.
Even in his exhausted state from severe vitality depletion, ordering only minimal personnel inside clearly meant he wanted reports on the sanctuary. The escorts and attendants, feeling sorry for the emperor yet selecting the bare minimum for reporting, entered.
Desia led the way, cautiously opening the chamber door. The door opened slowly, revealing the interior.
Raymond lay on the wide bed by the window, his complexion so pallid that Desia couldn't hold back a low groan of pity.
"Your Majesty..."
Perhaps sensing the worried gazes, Raymond, who had been looking out the window, turned his head toward Desia.
"I'm fine, so don't worry."
His complexion was deathly pale, but his voice was calm and carried strength. As the attendants approached, he propped himself up slightly, leaning against the bed.
"Report the sanctuary's status."
"All enemies inside the sanctuary have been eliminated, but our Imperial Army and Empire forces have suffered heavy casualties."
Marquis Blizzard paused briefly before detailing the damage. Raymond squeezed his eyes shut.
This was only because the Imperial Descent had been activated. Without any preparation against the enemy, it would have been certain defeat.
"My brothers?"
Raymond's question carried multiple layers of meaning. It inquired about the survival of the 1st Prince and 4th Princess struck by the Dark Emperor's blow, while also confirming whether the now-confirmed traitors, the 2nd and 3rd Princes, had been hunted down.
"Sir Gestain, you report."
Marquis Blizzard stepped back, and Gestain came forward.
"Her Highness the 4th Princess perished at the scene. His Highness the 1st Prince was transported to this central city's lord's castle but remains in critical condition. The 2nd Prince—no... Deneb and Aloken are currently being pursued by the Shades."
It was concise yet well-organized. Aside from using the titles 2nd and 3rd Prince, the report was unremarkable. Raymond nodded calmly at Gestain's account.
Having obtained the most crucial information on the other royals' fates, he wanted to rest, even briefly. Though the situation was urgent, the clerics had emphasized rest, so everyone quietly left the chamber without a word.
Alone, Raymond silently stared at his right hand. His vitality was depleted, but he could feel another energy gathering abundantly.
'My dominance is recovering.'
Was it because he had slain the Dark Emperor? He didn't know the exact reason, but his dominance was undoubtedly recovering at an abnormal rate.
"Wonder if this is enough to awaken them."
The tombs of past emperors, and the Royal Guards in suspended animation underground with them—perhaps he could rouse them.