Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Taker and the Taken (2)
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"Mana overload? Are you prepared to die, mage...?"
"For His Majesty the Emperor."
"I knew the subjects of the Philius Empire were famous for their fanaticism, but I never imagined it ran this deep."
Baron Sidington's eyes gleamed as he drew a dagger from his waist.
The moment Desia's gaze fell upon the sinister assassin radiating sharp hostility, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, and dozens of lightning spears rained down like a storm.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A deafening explosion shook the heavens and earth, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air. Even after the barrage of advanced multiple chants, Desia sensed that Baron Sidington had survived. He was no pushover.
"Desia... don't push yourself... too hard..."
Raymond spoke in a weary voice. But he knew full well the fate that awaited a mage who resorted to mana overload.
Unlike magic swordsmen, whose mana circuits were tempered by both sword and magic attributes, a mage's mana circuits were far more fragile and couldn't withstand the strain of overload.
That was why, unlike magic swordsmen, mana overload was a taboo among mages—a technique that often led to mana exhaustion and death.
"Hoo!"
A blue aura clung to her exhaled breath. Overloaded mana surged wildly through her body, but her gaze remained fixed on the dust cloud, unmoving.
Raymond's worried voice had tugged at her heart, making it feel like she'd already crossed an irreversible river. But what choice did she have?
To protect the emperor she'd sworn to give everything for, she had no option but to stake her life.
"I'm sorry, Desia..."
Raymond said with effort. But his faint voice didn't reach her. Strength was draining from his body.
It was the toll of pushing through a grueling pursuit while poisoned. All he could manage now was to stand with the support of a Royal Guard sub-baron.
"Ugh..."
He tried to circulate his mana, but instead of blue energy, a groan of pain escaped him.
He wanted to see Desia ascend to grand mage. He couldn't lose her here—but right now, he was powerless.
Raising his head with effort, he saw Desia unleashing a storm of blue mana, simultaneously drawing dozens of magic circles.
This wasn't mere dual chant; it was multiple chant for supreme magic. Even with mana overload, it was a feat impossible without immense talent.
Raymond felt both awe and regret. Ignoring his gaze, Desia completed her multiple chant.
"Judgment of the Azure Flame!"
With her clear voice, the completed magic circles spewed forth blue flames.
"Multiple chant for supreme magic? This is absurd!"
Baron Sidington had maintained his composure even against a supreme mage's mana overload. But now, faced with the storm of blue flames filling his vision, he lost his cool.
"This might be a bit tricky."
Black shadows enveloped Baron Sidington's body. With a short sigh, he plunged through the azure flames. Unfortunately, bloodied as he emerged, another of Desia's magic circles awaited him.
The geometric patterns covering it looked extraordinary even to an assassin with little magical knowledge.
"N-No way... high-tier magic?"
Desia smirked at Baron Sidington's bewildered voice.
"Blizzard."
The high-tier magic erupted. Icy winds laced with blades swept not only Baron Sidington but also the association fighters waiting in the rear.
The frigid chill froze everything it touched, the bladed winds sliced through obstacles, and ice spikes raining from the sky pierced flesh.
In an instant, over ten association fighters lost their lives. Baron Sidington barely survived, but he was a wreck.
"Cough!"
Baron Sidington spat out a mouthful of red blood. Caught in the blizzard, he'd lost his left arm, his lower body was frozen solid, and his upper body's white shirt was soaked red with blood.
"To think you'd even use mana overload, wagering your life... This goes beyond fanaticism..."
Desia gave a bitter smile as Baron Sidington spoke in disbelief.
When Raymond had first unlocked her potential as a grand mage, she'd sworn loyalty to him—but she never imagined it would cost her life.
"But it's not so bad."
The bitter smile on her lips soon softened into a faint one. She wanted him to see her reach grand mage, but dying for someone so precious wasn't so bad either.
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor."
The backlash from the mana overload was setting in. Desia laboriously raised her left hand, aiming at Baron Sidington. An ice spear formed at her fingertips and shot forth.
Thud!
"Ugh!"
Baron Sidington let out a short groan. The sharp ice spear had pierced his heart. With his legs frozen by the cold north wind, he couldn't dodge. His head lolled limply.
He died standing.
"Is it over now?"
Desia murmured to herself, turning to survey the surroundings. The blizzard's north winds had swept the battlefield, wiping out the rear association fighters, turning the tide in their favor.
With some breathing room, Marquis Blizzard was visible charging in with three Royal Guards. Seeing this, Desia finally relaxed.
Her body collapsed weakly. The mana overload had wrecked not just her mana circuits but her insides. She'd held on until now, but this was her limit.
With the Royal Guards coming to aid her precious emperor, she no longer needed to endure. She just wanted to rest.
"Desia!"
Shoving aside the Royal Guard supporting him, Raymond rushed to her falling form. By the time he reached her, she lay on the cold ground, vomiting blood from her mouth.
"Your Majesty! Lady Silvia has cleared the path! We must escape this area before the enemy reinforcements catch up!"
Marquis Blizzard, arriving late, urged evacuation in a frantic voice. But Raymond didn't respond. Silently, he circulated his mana to assess Desia's condition.
'I can save her.'
Raymond's face brightened. Her mana circuits were shattered, causing severe internal injuries, but it wasn't fatal.
There was still a chance of revival. Low odds, but she might even recover her circuits and ascend to a higher realm.
Mages called this 'mana regeneration.' Even if overload wrecked the circuits, as long as it wasn't the worst case, a high-realm mage could aid recovery. Raymond was a half-baked mage, but firmly high-tier—if he could restore her circuits...
'Not only save Desia, but make her a high mage.'
Raymond's eyes sparkled. He scooped up her limp form and mounted his horse.
"Royal Guards, clear the path!"
The emperor's voice rang out. The Royal Guards obeyed. One by one, they fell to the association fighters' blades and spells, sacrificing themselves to secure Raymond's retreat.
The high-tier magic had cowed the Doomsday Association fighters, but they were still numerous elites.
In the end, over ten Royal Guards fell, blood spraying, before a path opened.
"Make way! Dare not block our path!"
Sword Saint Gestain joined after felling five elite Doomsday Association fighters—high and advanced knights.
"We must link up with Lord Cassius's Imperial Army as fast as possible!"
"Hasn't the enemy's formation already collapsed?"
A Royal Guard questioned Raymond's urgent tone.
The mysterious masked foes blocking them were elite, but Sword Saint Gestain and Desia—temporarily a high mage via overload—had broken them.
The enemy lines were shattered, the encirclement broken. They seemed to have lost the will to pursue, so the Royal Guards couldn't fathom why the poisoned emperor was rushing so excessively.
"I sense an ominous presence. A powerful expert is watching us from somewhere nearby."
A chilling killing intent brushed his cheek. Someone who'd long mastered high-tier or above was close.
Raymond scattered trembling glances. His eyes darted around. No sign of the source, but definitely nearby.
"We'll guide you to safety, Your Majesty!"
"Silvia, I leave it to you."
Silvia and Gestain raced ahead. In the safe rear, Raymond placed his hand on Desia's chest and infused mana.
"Ugh... Y-Your Majesty...?"
The pure mana seeping into her revived her faltering heart.
Desia, hovering on death's door, regained consciousness and opened her eyes with effort. The first thing in her blurred vision was the emperor she'd given everything to protect.
"Don't speak. I'll guide you through this."
"Heh heh..."
Though meant to restart her heart and repair her circuits, accepting another's mana brought agony—but fearing Raymond's worry, she forced a weak smile.
"Endure it, Desia."
Most of her mana circuits were a mess, but he'd pinpointed the worst collapse. Restoring that would save her life for now.
Raymond infused mana again.
"Hngh!"
Desia swallowed a scream. Her body convulsed violently from the pain. Raymond bit his lip until it bled.
"Surrender to the mana flow."
"Y-Yes... Hic!"
The paused infusion resumed. Her body twisted unnaturally. Joints bent as if bones would snap, but Raymond's energy rebuilt the circuits, normalizing the chaotic mana flow.
"Haa..."
"Finally catching a break?"
The rampaging energy stabilized as her circuits mended. Seeing Desia's peaceful sleeping face—unlike moments ago—Raymond murmured in relief.
"Your Majesty, no more strain."
A Royal Guard casting recovery magic on him spoke calmly.
"I know. Don't worry."
Desia had passed the crisis. He could relax now.
The one leading the way. No danger lay where her steps fell, so they could trust her guidance.
But this time was different.
"Th-This can't be..."
"Lady Silvia. What is it?"
Gestain was first to notice Silvia's agitation and approached cautiously.
"I can't... find a safe path..."
"What do you mean, Lady Silvia?"
"Exactly that. Every route I pick as safe always has black energy ahead..."
Silvia couldn't finish. Her shaking eyes and trembling shoulders spoke of her panic.
"Report to His Majesty."
"Understood, Lord Gestain."
A nearby Royal Guard headed to the emperor in the rear. Weaving through the battered Royal Guards, he reached Raymond, bowed properly, and relayed the front's situation.
"Someone's there?"
Raymond narrowed his eyes toward the front. The restrained killing intent he'd felt earlier wasn't imagination.
"I'll go forward."
"Your Majesty, it's dangerous."
"We need to assess the situation. Marquis, accompany me with the Royal Guards."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Marquis Blizzard, close by, voiced objection, but Raymond was firm.
The marquis relented. Raymond moved briefly to the front with five Royal Guards.
"Your Majesty! Fall back!"
Silvia, who'd looked glad at his arrival, suddenly paled and blocked him. Gestain also drew his sword, sensing the ominous air.
A deep blue aura blade shone sharply from his sword. Raymond too felt the spreading chill and hardened his gaze.
"Shields of the Imperial Family, protect His Majesty!"
The Royal Guards gathered.
"Show yourself."
As Raymond spoke coldly, someone in a black robe and white mask slowly emerged from the shadows under a tree ahead.
"Greetings, Emperor."
"Doomsday Association?"
"Indeed."
The black-robed man nodded slightly to the direct question and lifted his mask. A burn-scarred face appeared.
"I am Richard Palaer. The man you took everything from."
His meeting with the novel's protagonist was sudden.