Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Chapter 25 Mad Emperor (4)
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*Kieeeeeeng.*
The Soul Sword let out an eerie wail.
The defensive formation devised by Count Denitz while under the Mountain Duke's command was most perfect when sturdy infantry ranks harmonized with mages to fend off enemy spellfire. Unfortunately, with the mage contingent wiped out by the Shades, it was now little more than a somewhat resilient packed infantry line.
And packed infantry lines were inevitably vulnerable to area-of-effect magic.
As Blade Tempest, the signature advanced spell of the magic swordsman, erupted, the dense infantry formation shook violently.
Without mage support to shield them, the infantry exposed to the wide-area spell died in vain. Red blood sprayed here and there as soldiers collapsed lifelessly.
"Your Majesty! You've expended far too much mana!"
Wide-area spells held the power to reverse the tide of battle in an instant, but they came at the steep cost of immense mana drain.
Raymond's realm was lofty, but the enemies around him numbered in the hundreds, nearing a thousand. Sustaining area spells against them for long was no easy feat.
His vision blurred, and his legs grew weak. Marquis Blizzard rushed over to support him. He'd burned through so much mana that his vitality was ebbing away.
Yet having felled over two hundred foes and shattered more than half the forward formation, the results shone brilliantly.
"Hoo!"
"Royal Guard, escort His Majesty!"
Raymond raised his hand to rein in the rampaging mana. Marquis Blizzard barked the order in a voice laced with frost.
The Royal Guard, who had scattered to reform their lines, rallied once more beneath the Emperor's banner.
"Your Majesty, please rest a moment. The knight order will arrive soon."
Desia whispered softly in a soothing tone.
In the heart of a battlefield where red blood gushed and sharp screams rang out, could one truly take a comfortable break? It might seem unlikely, but with dozens of the Philius Empire's elite Royal Guard at his side, it was far from impossible.
"The Royal Guard will ensure His Majesty a safe respite."
Hearing Marquis Blizzard's words, Raymond perched lightly on a nearby rock. It was but a brief rest to close his eyes and regulate his mana, yet the Royal Guard would defend it faithfully.
"Even a short nap, Your Majesty..."
Desia brushed aside his blood-matted golden bangs, whispering with a faint smile. Raymond nodded with eyes shut, and Desia, who had gazed at him tenderly, turned at the approach of potent mana. Her eyes had already cooled to ice.
"A high mage."
The surging mana closing in rapidly belonged unmistakably to a high mage. Desia, at the pinnacle realm, sensed it clearly.
"Can you handle it?"
Raymond asked quietly, inquiring if he needed to step in personally.
A magic swordsman of advanced realm was a major asset. They'd prove invaluable in hunting a high mage, but Desia shook her head with a bright smile.
"Your Majesty, rest easy. We'll take care of this."
"Very well, it's yours."
"Just a quick break."
The Royal Guard stepped forward. At their center stood Marquis Blizzard, a high mage himself.
"It seems we'll encounter the enemy's high mage before our own knight order arrives."
The knight order led by Imperial Army Commander Cassias was closing the distance swiftly, but the gap between the lines wasn't narrow, so it would take time.
Moreover, with the high mage's emergence came a new mage unit advancing alongside archers to check the knights' charge, slowing their pace.
"This isn't good."
"Has Marquis Blizzard sensed it too?"
"Lady Desia felt it as well? There isn't just one high mage."
At least two high mages, minimum. The silver lining amid misfortune: from the flow of their mana, their realms weren't top-tier among high mages.
'Both far below Azure Tower Lord or Crimson Tower Lord.'
Still, the gulf between pinnacle and high mage was vast. Marquis Blizzard could handle one, but the other would fall to Desia and the Royal Guard.
She bit her lip lightly to steady her nerves and drew up her mana.
Bellphang territory's two high mages did the same. Over a hundred meters apart, the torrents of mana they exuded clashed, emitting a deafening roar.
"Magic firepower clash!"
"Stay back or you'll get caught!"
"Fall back!"
The knights raised their voices. Colliding mana signaled a battle of auras between mages—an opening salvo for an imminent spell duel. Too close, and you'd be swept up, so they pulled the soldiers rearward.
Only Raymond and his dozens of Royal Guard held position.
"Who would've thought the Emperor himself would lead the Royal Guard to the front lines."
"A mad emperor if ever there was one."
Raymond opened his closed eyes and slowly raised his head at the mocking tone. Two blond high mages with stylish mustaches floated in the air.
The brothers looked strikingly similar, and Raymond recognized them instantly. The Mountain Duke had but one pair of high mage siblings under him.
'The Ensl brothers.'
He hadn't expected to encounter the Ensl brothers—early villains from volume 2 who blocked the protagonist's path—like this. He'd figured he'd see them on the battlefield since they served the Mountain Duke, but not right at the war's outset.
Their appearance revealed one thing.
'The Mountain Duke's throwing his full might from the start.'
High mages were strategic weapons. Even a duke of the empire struggled to field more than a handful. Deploying two at the battle's dawn was no small commitment.
"This is the imperial presence. If you crave an easy death, curb your insolence."
Marquis Blizzard stepped forward, radiating chilling menace. The air froze solid.
"Royal Guard! Aren't you the ones overestimating your strength?"
"Unbelievable. Where does that leisure come from? Your vaunted imperial authority has hit rock bottom."
"Imperial authority and the Emperor's name hold no sway over us."
"If you desire a death befitting royalty, kneel, young Emperor."
Ricardo Ensl and Andel Ensl openly mocked the Emperor and Royal Guard. In the end, Raymond rose from his seat.
"I can't just sit idly by."
He'd meant to leave it to his subordinates, but his mind changed. These fools needed a personal lesson in the majesty of imperial authority.
"Desia, provide cover."
No time for protests. Raymond kicked off the ground, hurling himself at the Ensl brothers. Even the high mages faltered momentarily at his storm-like charge.
The knights escorting the pair couldn't even react.
"Don't think you can close in so easily! Emperor!"
The younger brother, Andel Ensl, swung his staff. The covertly prepared high spell completed.
Jet-black flames erupted from the earth.
Black flames—the infernal blaze, a horrific spell. Its firepower dwarfed ordinary fire magic; even a spark touching the body would engulf one in fiery demonic torment in seconds.
"Ngh!"
A groan escaped. Bracing for fractures, he twisted his body unnaturally. Agonizing pain surged. He'd dodged the black flames, but bones had twisted awry. Yet Raymond pressed on undeterred.
"Wind Cutter!"
Landing smoothly, he completed the mid-tier spell. Blades of wind targeted the Ensl brothers. Ricardo Ensl raised a defensive spell against the sharp onslaught, while Andel Ensl ducked behind his brother.
"Magic and swordsmanship!"
"The rumors were true!"
The wind blades were halted by the barrier. In that brief delay, Desia and Gestain joined. Andel Ensl unleashed spells, but they shattered against Desia's shield.
"Your Majesty! I'll cover you!"
Raymond nodded faintly at Desia's cry and kicked off toward the Ensl brothers. Ricardo Ensl tried to block with pinnacle magic, but Desia intercepted midway.
The gap closed in a flash. Andel Ensl lunged forward, rapid-firing spells. Dozens of fireballs flew; Raymond's summoned orbs of varied hues collided with them, scattering mana shards everywhere.
In the chaotic frenzy, Raymond calmly swung the Soul Sword, shattering Andel Ensl's shield.
"Damn it! Brother!"
Even high mages were helpless without time to chant.
Andel Ensl, terrified by the mad Emperor closing in so fast, tried to retreat hastily, but the Soul Sword's eerie wail was a fraction quicker.
*Kieeeeeeeeeeng!*
With a piercing sword cry, the Soul Sword, cloaked in white energy, slashed down.
"Gaaaaaaaah!"
Andel Ensl's left arm thudded onto the cold ground. He sprayed red blood into the air with his scream.
Unlike battle-hardened knights, mages reared in protection often faltered against pain. Andel Ensl was no exception.
"Daaaamn yoooou! Eeeeemperor! You bastaaaard!"
His bloodshot eyes brimmed with rage and murder, spewing curses amid screams. Writhing in agony, he extended his remaining hand, condensing mana—a testament to his high mage prowess.
"I won't tolerate further insolence."
Gestain intervened. The one-armed high knight's sword severed Andel Ensl's right arm as well.
"Kaaaaaaaah!"
Andel Ensl thrashed in madness from the pain.
"Andel!"
Ricardo moved to help, but Marquis Blizzard and the Royal Guard barred his path.
"Damn it! Andel!"
In mage duels, a moment's lapse spelled defeat. Focused on Marquis Blizzard, a white mana blade pierced Andel Ensl's heart.
"Emperor!"
"Insolent fool, this is the imperial presence!"
His chest felt like bursting. His cherished brother died before his eyes, yet he couldn't breach the imperial shield—the Royal Guard.
"Emperor! I'll kill you for sure!"
Ricardo Ensl gathered mana. Signs of forcing a forbidden great spell emerged.
His body might explode from the strain, but with his brother lost, Ricardo saw nothing. Rational thought fled. The instant he poured everything in—
Desia raised defenses as Raymond lifted his retaliatory blade.
"Your Majesty! Evacuate now!"
A hidden Shade revealed himself. Bloodied all over, fresh from fierce combat.
Raymond's gaze chilled upon assessing him. No grave wounds, but unlike before, his black leather armor was torn in places, wounds visible.
Only one unit under the Mountain Duke could push a Shade this far.
"Didn't expect them so soon."
From the setting files, true foes who blocked protagonist Richard. Black guardians of Bellphang Dukedom's shadows—the greatest obstacle preventing total annihilation of Bellphang Shades, unlike Valencia Duke.
"Shadow Special Forces..."
He looked up to see pale-faced assassins in black uniforms. Their bloodstained, shredded attire bespoke a recent clash with Shades. They now blocked Marquis Blizzard to protect Ricardo Ensl.
They weren't mere assassins. An elite mix of mages, knights, and killers like the Royal Guard—the Mountain Duke's secret trump card.
"As expected, Your Majesty knew of us."
"An honor, Emperor of the Philius Empire."
Killing intent dripped from their voices. Enemy territory, yet Raymond was guarded by Royal Guard and Shades. Breaching to this point hinted at the Shadow Special Forces' might.
"Your Majesty, shall we behead them?"
One Shade asked cautiously, but Raymond shook his head. Enemy lines, and Cassias's reinforcements hadn't arrived.
'We could win, but at grievous cost to the Royal Guard.'
Slaughter them at the price of heavy losses, or bide for later.
Raymond hesitated, but needing to preserve Royal Guard strength now, he ultimately abandoned pursuit.