Chapter 153
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Monster
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Each one was a magic formation comparable to those between the 4th and 5th circles.
Everyone present was stunned by the fact that, even as he shattered the ritual magic formation with overwhelming calculations, he still had this much computational power to spare.
It was a feat where the slightest delay or misstep could trigger a backlash, causing him to bleed from every orifice and die without it being the least bit strange.
Immense computational ability and comprehension, along with overwhelming mana.
At this phenomenon that was utterly impossible the moment even one of those faltered, the mages sat down with their mouths agape, muttering to themselves.
"Mon...ster."
"What..."
To be precise, it was a level that only someone who had attained the enlightenment of a 9th-circle mage could perform in parallel—but there was no way ordinary mages would know that.
Leon's current realm was the 7th circle.
Even overloading the circles with special techniques, the 8th circle was the limit.
Yet there was a reason this was possible.
[Interference] [Synchronization] [Shatter]
⟨ Declarations from the Hall of Truth ⟩
It was the Declarations he had obtained while receiving the distant memories from the Hall of Truth.
Declarations required no complex words.
A single phrase infused with will would overlay the power of that Declaration, causing the magic's output to rise to extremes.
Of course, from the perspective of those on the receiving end, no matter how vast their mana or superior their calculations, they looked ready to vomit blood wondering how on earth it was possible.
"R... Run?!"
The mages realized something had gone terribly wrong and turned to flee, but spears of lightning created by the magic formation pierced them all at once.
Even the mages conducting the ritual couldn't withstand it and collapsed, while among the knights, the weaker ones blocked one or two strikes before being skewered and meeting their end.
In the hellscape that unfolded in an instant, the only survivors were Vania Remilish and Sword Master Rophal, who had unleashed his indomitable spirit to protect Vania despite his grievous wounds.
Of course, even polite words couldn't describe Rophal's condition as anything but dire.
As living beings and humans, there had to be a limit to one's total power.
In truth, amid that sudden massive battle of attrition, Rophal had consumed a colossal amount of aura.
But Leon showed no change from the beginning.
How could a human's aura keep pouring out endlessly like that?
Such doubts arose, but he couldn't afford to stand idle.
He hurriedly pulled something from his bosom and activated it, sending a bizarre whistling sound echoing throughout the entire castle.
It was essentially an alarm summoning every soldier in the castle during an emergency.
Rophal wiped the blood trickling from his mouth and stared down at his hand.
Had his hand ever trembled like this after reaching Sword Master?
No way. There hadn't been many threats capable of endangering a strategic weapon like him.
Yet his body now shook like prey before a predator.
"All the castle's forces are heading here right now. If you want to live, I recommend fleeing."
He wasn't sure if the bluff would work, but if it drove him away, it would still be a win.
But Rophal's hopes were in vain.
"Call them all. No need to hunt them down one by one."
This was a monster who dismantled a massive ritual magic formation while battling a Sword Master.
There was no way such a monster would retreat easily.
Luna felt deeply anxious.
Watching Leon reveal such a massive torrent of emotions brought her nightmares surging back relentlessly.
Even after so much time had passed, they remained vividly etched in her mind.
-"Angel, you're pretty, so it's okay."
-"Angel, take this gift."
-"Came again today."
The image of that boy approaching with a foolishly radiant smile.
The way he paid no mind to her coldly brushing him off without a single reply—those memories lingered perfectly.
And when the comfort she thought eternal finally vanished, the sad expression he wore as he looked at her was burned deeply into her recollection.
-"Angel, I hate you for staying motionless in this situation. I resent you—not just for refusing to help, but for casting us out of paradise."
Stop. I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention.
I just didn't know... I was only upholding the divine will.
-"Even so, I like you. No, I love you."
Those were the last words she had heard from the boy.
They ruthlessly tore at her heart.
After that, she rejected the divine will for the first time and walked the path of corruption.
Vast ages had passed since then, but to Luna, it felt like something that had happened yesterday.
Receiving love hurt.
So instead, she would give it.
Even if that boy and Leon were different.
If their essence was the same, then this time, she would love him first.
And she wouldn't hide that intention.
It was one fallen angel's atonement—and her way of handling the emotions she had only realized after everything ended.
That's why Leon's intense emotional display filled her with dread.
The boy who had said those final words with a sad face must have felt something similar.
She vowed never to repeat that mistake.
Still so immature in everything, she felt a bone-chilling sadness every time Leon showed such a side—blood turning cold throughout her body.
His expression barely changed, but the aura emanating from Leon felt just like back then.
She had to save Arsha. Otherwise, the illusion gripped her that she would lose another she cared for.
Slowly, she approached and supported Arsha's broken body.
Arms, legs, ribs—no bone was intact.
With some ligaments torn, even walking would have been a nonstop chain of excruciating pain.
Honestly speaking, the mere fact that she was alive was a miracle.
A child around eleven years old with such injuries would normally groan for a few days before dying.
And the bigger problem lay with her mind.
The aftermath of that massive mental shock had struck beyond the psyche into her very soul.
The Kraken, the primary cause of the mental collapse, was dead.
But whether her already shattered mind would recover was left to a miracle.
In other words, even a slight delay might have meant losing Arsha forever.
Soon, presences began approaching from all directions.
This Remilish Castle was practically the entirety of the island's military might.
Naturally, the number rushing in at the alarm was beyond imagination.
Their armament made it clear they were prepared for war at a glance.
From regular soldiers to knights and mages.
Varied types, but Luna's concern wasn't their threat.
"Leon."
"Take Arsha and go first."
"No."
"Go. Can't control my power right now."
Luna sighed at Leon's firm demand.
There was more to Leon's words than just psychological factors.
Continuous overexertion in such a short time—perhaps backlash from recently learning magic—meant his power control was no longer what it used to be.
He was in a situation needing rest but getting none.
She scooped up the limp Arsha into her arms and turned her gaze toward Merrill and Rebecca.
"We'll follow."
If both Leon and the others had resolved for all-out war, she couldn't stop them.
No, she had no intention of stopping them. Arsha's condition was truly horrifying.
She had heard from Melissa that even when fighting Leon's uncle, Tibel Cascadia, he had charged in without hesitation and cut them all down.
"You think you lot can escape from here?!"
At Rophal's shout, Leon assumed his stance.
Rophal's eyes flew wide, sensing the ominous aura.
"Defensive formation!!!"
The Sword Master felt a chill at the action and yelled urgently, but Leon's sword had already swung.
Before the knights could raise their swords or the mages cast defensive spells, it happened.
Craaaack!!
With an eerie sound, one flank of the forces was swept away, spurting blood fountains without even a scream.
Many who instinctively sensed the threat chose evasion over defense, scattering in all directions to survive—but those who couldn't were fully exposed to the attack and collapsed.
Hard to believe it had happened in an instant, the gathered forces glared with bulging eyes.
Among them, the most shocked was none other than Rophal.
"The realm of Domain..."
As a Sword Master, he could perceive it.
He seemed to grasp the level of realm behind the devastation Leon had just wrought, struggling to continue speaking.
"Go."
At Leon's following words, Luna scooped up Arsha and led Rebecca and Merrill, plunging swiftly into the emptied flank.
Even as the four escaped, no one managed to catch them.
It was due to Leon's presence at the center of the destroyed ritual formation—sword in hand, radiating an icy menace.
They say controlling power is harder than growing it.
I agree to some extent.
In my case, regaining memories instantly floods this current body with immense power, amplifying the issue.
'Librarian, the side effects of regaining memories seem pretty severe.'
The burden is indeed considerable.
Recommend postponing the recovery of the next hall's memories.
I've managed to adapt so far, but anything more is hard to control.
In fact, even swinging my sword once has elemental mana rampaging wildly on its own.
Fortunately, since I've experienced higher realms, handling lower ones like magic or aura is relatively easy.
To think I'd be on the verge of being devoured by my own power if careless.
If the me from Labyrinthos heard that, he'd scoff.
Even back then, I never handled multiple powers simultaneously like this.
The number of forces swarming around is overwhelming.
Have I ever fought so many enemies at once?
At least not since returning from Labyrinthos, I think.
What does it matter?
By the time I found Arsha in that coffin, I'd already made my decision.
"Your actions right now could escalate into a major diplomatic incident."
Unless they were oblivious, they seemed to have noticed—with our matching gray hair, sky-blue eyes, and similar features—that Arsha and I were blood kin.
"So?"
"Drop your weapons and surrender immediately. It's true you're strong, but do you think you can win against the entire Phainas Archipelago?"
"So?"
He spat it out again, and Rophal's face twisted.
"You mad bastard... Do you think your nation will go to war for you?"
In a past war between the Phainas Archipelago and the Central Continent, a needless war of attrition dragged on, claiming countless lives.
Because of that, neither the archipelago nor the Central Continent was particularly fond of war these days.
No, war has always been like that from the start.