Chapter 406: Continental Conquest (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 406: Continental Conquest (5)
He stepped out of the room.
Having finished his conversation with Roman Dmitry, Chris walked away with a complex expression, eventually stopping at a quiet, secluded spot.
He let out a deep sigh.
His eyes clouded with deep thought, he turned to look back down the hallway he had just walked.
How on earth can you live such a life?
It was staggering.
Ordinary people usually sought power for similar reasons: to secure a comfortable life for themselves, or to live as rulers commanding those beneath them. The privileges of the strong were a highly alluring reward. However, what Roman Dmitry pursued was entirely different. Rather than desiring a life ruling over others, he sought to reach the absolute peak simply to ensure his domain would never be violated.
Come to think of it, Roman Dmitry had no worldly desires.
From his days as the heir of a remote barony to his current position, he had never indulged in common luxuries, let alone issued an unjust command to his subordinates. Whenever he made a decision, everyone agreed. The reason no one objected when he rejected Marquis Memphis's proposal was due to their absolute trust in him.
But why?
If he had no intention of enjoying the fruits of power, why was he fighting so desperately to reach the very top?
Strangely, during my conversation with my Liege, I felt a sense of lack. An emptiness—an unfulfilled emotion that remains unsatisfied even after reaching the summit. The reign my Liege desires is a complex matter. Placing the world beneath his feet doesn't mean he intends to enjoy that life. Instead, he believes that merely establishing an untouchable domain is a life lived for himself. To never be in danger. More precisely, to ensure that no one else is ever put in danger. That must be what truly matters to him.
It couldn't be called a life lived for others, nor could it be called a life lived solely for himself.
In that ambiguous realm, Roman Dmitry shouldered the burden of absolute solitude for the sake of himself and those who followed him.
In truth, it was an inevitable outcome.
Just as no one could treat the Emperor of an empire lightly, it was only natural that people would grow uncomfortable around Roman Dmitry as he climbed toward the peak. As Roman had said, because he was a being who held the power over life and death, no matter how hard he tried, the gap born of their difference in status could never be bridged.
"I was truly foolish."
He chuckled.
The fearful gazes directed at Roman Dmitry—it was an unsolvable problem.
Amazingly, Roman had already known this. By naturally accepting that fear, he had established a system to rule Dmitry. Chris couldn't possibly know what kind of life Roman Dmitry had lived in his past life. He couldn't know that because Roman was someone who could never live with anyone above him, he could never stop fighting, even if he didn't desire wealth and glory. What was certain, however, was that their recent conversation had sent massive ripples through Chris's heart.
Lately, Chris's mind had been in turmoil.
Ever since Kevin defeated Ares, Chris felt that far from achieving his own dreams, he was instead being caught up to.
When I first swore loyalty to my Liege, I didn't do it out of some grand sense of devotion. I had resolved to leave whenever I achieved my goals as a swordsman. Yet, the insignificant slum boy I met back then has now grown strong enough to threaten my position.
He had been unable to sleep for several nights.
He was angry.
Their starting points had clearly been different, so the thought that Kevin might have overtaken him plagued his mind. Yet, amidst those dark thoughts, a strange feeling had lingered. A peculiar sense of relief. At first, he hadn't understood this emotion, but after his conversation with Roman Dmitry, he could finally identify its true nature.
It must have been a sense of relief born of belonging. Putting aside our rivalry, if Kevin is strong, it ultimately benefits our Liege. Without even realizing it, I was happy for Kevin's growth.
Over the years, his experiences had accumulated layer by layer.
Chris, once merely a talent from a remote region, had made a name for himself across the continent. Now, he was no longer just a single swordsman, but a commander carrying the lives of many on his shoulders. As time passed, his goals had gradually shifted. Though his desire to surpass Roman Dmitry remained unchanged, he now wanted to help Roman achieve his desires, even if he himself could never fulfill his own dream. That was why he felt relieved. The fact that Kevin had grown stronger meant they were one step closer to Roman Dmitry's dream.
He stared blankly back at the path he had taken.
Though Roman Dmitry stood alone beyond it, Chris no longer felt any worry for him.
"I was mistaken. Just because people fear you, my Liege, it does not mean their devotion to you will waver. I will stand by your side. I may not be able to shoulder the burden you carry, but even when all your goals are achieved, I will still be Roman Dmitry's sword."
He turned his gaze away.
A sudden urge to swing his sword in the training ground washed over him.
Even though he now understood the source of his relief, Chris had absolutely no intention of easily giving up his position as second-in-command.
* * *
A few days later.
A fortress in eastern Kronos.
Watching the surging soldiers of the Kingdom Alliance, Viscount Ernesto's eyes filled with grim determination.
To think they reached this place in less than a month. We probably won't last more than a few days before we crumble.
He had heard the rumors.
It was a binary choice.
Those who raised the white flag survived, but those who resisted to the bitter end were utterly slaughtered, unable to hold out for even a single day. In truth, he wanted to surrender as well. However, due to the orders handed down from the Kronos high command a few days ago, Viscount Ernesto was stripped of that choice.
If he raised the white flag, his family, who had fled to the capital, would all be executed.
Furthermore, they had warned him that everyone associated with him would be put to death. Thus, even knowing it was a suicidal endeavor, he had no choice but to remain in the fortress. What he had to do now was clear. Only by resolving himself to death and leaving behind a definitive achievement could his surviving family receive the protection of the Kronos Empire.
Viscount Ernesto called his adjutant.
"Are the preparations complete?"
"Everything is ready. Once the fortress falls and the enemies rush inside, the magic bombs installed throughout the stronghold will detonate, wiping out every living soul within. It is a foolproof plan. Since we have staked our lives on this, even Roman Dmitry won't be able to escape unscathed this time."
"...I see."
He nodded.
Death was drawing near right before his eyes.
Although he tasted the metallic tang of blood from biting his lip, Viscount Ernesto tried his best to appear composed.
It was then.
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
The enemy halted their march.
They formed ranks just outside of range, and as rumored, a messenger from Dmitry stepped forward to offer terms of surrender.
And then—
"Cut the bullshit! I am a noble of Kronos!" Ernesto roared. "Do you think someone born of the noble bloodline of a great empire would surrender to uncivilized bastards of unknown origin?! We will fight to the bitter end! I, a descendant of the Ernesto family, will show you clearly that the Kronos Empire will not fall so easily!"
The negotiations broke down.
Up to this point, everything had gone exactly as expected.
However, what followed was different.
Step, step.
A man walked toward the fortress walls.
With his red hair fluttering in the wind, the man was not Roman Dmitry, but Edwin Hector.
* * *
Following Valhalla's official statement, Edwin Hector had joined the Allied Forces.
Walking forward under the collective gaze of both armies, he recalled the orders he had received from Roman Dmitry.
"Currently, the Kronos Empire is backed into a corner. If there are those who refuse to surrender despite knowing their disadvantage, they are highly likely to try and inflict damage on us even at the cost of their lives. Before we bring down the enemy's fortress, use your magic first to eliminate any potential variables."
He came to a sudden halt.
The Kronos Empire's forces hastily attempted long-range attacks, but the Phoenix mages deployed defensive magic to buy him time to cast. Edwin Hector stared straight ahead with cold eyes. During his time at the Phoenix Magic Tower, he had mastered their secret techniques, and by absorbing the Master of the Sky Magic Tower, he had entered a whole new realm.
"Burning."
Whoosh! Whooooosh!
His hair fluttered amidst the rising flames.
Staring ahead with eyes dyed crimson, he entered the realm of the 8th Circle through the effects of Burning.
"Volcano."
Boom! Rumble, rumble!
It was a colossal explosion.
The ground around the fortress walls erupted, and bright red lava surged up like a fountain, raining down upon the heads of the Kronos Empire's soldiers. It was a truly horrific sight. The soldiers who hastily raised their shields melted along with them, and the fortress walls—which had been protected by defensive magic—crumbled in an instant.
With just a single spell, screams echoed from all directions.
Edwin Hector did not stop there; he conjured a storm of magic power and dispersed it throughout the stronghold.
Swoosh, swoosh.
Inside the fortress, he traced the flow of mana.
The strategies available to the Kronos Empire were limited, and those who chose to fight to the death were highly likely to attempt a suicide attack. It was just as he expected. The volatile energy of magic bombs was detected all over the fortress. Edwin Hector gathered his mana and unleashed a spell targeting the entire structure.
"Blackout."
Frizzle.
The magic bombs lost their power.
If there had been a mage stronger than Edwin Hector present, they might have blocked the Blackout, but Edwin Hector's presence—having entered the realm of the 8th Circle—was overwhelming. While it was impossible to perfectly neutralize every single magic bomb, the vast majority of them lost their charge, rendering Viscount Ernesto's plan a complete failure.
At that moment—
Boom! Rumble!
"Argh!"
"The wall has collapsed!"
Due to the intense heat exploding from beneath the earth, a section of the fortress wall crumbled with a deafening roar, exposing the interior.
Atop the remaining walls, the faces of Viscount Ernesto and the Kronos Empire's soldiers turned deathly pale. They had prepared for this battle with grim resolve. Their noble sacrifice—to lay down their lives for their country and their families—was utterly crushed from the very beginning, brutally shattering their will to fight.
The stage was set.
A tide of soldiers quickly surged forward, rushing past where Edwin Hector stood.
"All forces, charge!"
"Charge!"
At the vanguard of the Allied Forces, Chris rushed toward the enemy lines.
* * *
Swish, swish, swish.
He deflected all the incoming arrows.
The expressions of the enemy soldiers were a mix of terror and venom. Their determination to take at least one enemy down with them was cleanly severed the moment Chris reached their lines.
Flash! Slash, slash, slash!
Blood splattered.
After instantly slaughtering the first dozens of soldiers he encountered, Chris aggressively carved his way into the dense enemy formation. It was different from his usual style. Unlike Kevin, who charged forward recklessly, Chris typically controlled his tempo, keeping an eye on the entire battlefield as he fought.
But this time, he did not.
Charging at the enemy like a wild horse let off its leash, he severed the heads of every foe he encountered.
"You crazy bastard!"
"Attack!"
In the heart of the enemy lines, foes were everywhere his eyes could see.
No matter how many he cut down, they kept rushing in endlessly. Yet Chris simply stepped over their corpses, pressing forward as if refusing to take a single step back. He paid no attention to what was happening behind him. Although the soldiers who followed were carrying out a slaughter of their own, Chris, consumed by an intense desire, thought of only one thing.
Flash!
"Argh!"
He slashed the chest of an Aura Swordsman.
The Aura Swordsman, who had been desperately swinging his sword while screaming, had his wrist severed in an instant by a follow-up attack. It was a terrifying speed. The opponent couldn't even react to block a single strike; the combo that slashed his chest and then severed his wrist occurred in the blink of an eye.
Gradually, the proportion of Aura Swordsmen increased.
This meant he was drawing closer to the enemy commanders. Chris, drenched in blood, only increased his speed.
He slashed.
He cut and cut again.
Figures who surely held high status in Kronos died in vain.
His speed, which even Ares had found overwhelming, had reached its absolute peak. No one could stop Chris's martial might as he raged on as if trying to prove something. To even stand a chance against him now, one would need someone on the level of the deceased Count Castro. Because of Chris alone, the sea of enemies parted to both sides.
Finally—
Slash!
The Knight Commander's head flew into the air.
With their last bastion dead, Viscount Ernesto's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.
"...To think he is this overwhelmingly powerful."
He was horrified.
It was beyond imagination.
While all the rumors he had heard praised Roman Dmitry, in Ernesto's eyes, even Chris possessed a majesty akin to the legendary figure. It had been an impossible fight from the start. When Marquis Memphis ordered a fight to the death, he had never expected people like Viscount Ernesto to achieve any real results. It was merely to buy time. Their role was nothing more than sacrificial lambs to slow the enemy's advance.
Grab.
Chris grabbed him by the hair.
Viscount Ernesto was dragged up helplessly, and just before Chris severed his neck, his eyes met someone else's.
Kevin.
Around Kevin, corpses were piled high.
Having just decapitated a soldier, Kevin was staring at Chris with a strange look in his eyes.
Chris smirked.
And then—
"I, Chris, have taken the head of the enemy commander!"
Slash.
He severed the neck.
Blood sprayed like a fountain, drenching Chris's face.
"Waaaaah!"
"Sir Chris has killed the enemy commander!"
"We won!"
All eyes focused on him.
The soldiers of the Allied Forces erupted in cheers all at once.
Toward Chris, who had put an end to the battle by killing the commander, they expressed their heartfelt respect.
In that moment, sparks flew in Kevin's eyes.
* * *
Chris's attitude was unfamiliar.
Kevin felt a strange sensation.
At first, he hadn't understood the silent message directed at him, but then he realized that Chris had been viewing him as a rival ever since the incident with Ares. He was thrilled. It was truly an incredible thing that someone he could never have dared to look up to when he was just a slum boy now treated him as an equal.
However, a fire quickly ignited in his heart.
Boiling with competitive spirit, sparks flew in Kevin's eyes.
"Are you challenging me right now?"
His words were drowned out by the cheers of the soldiers.
Though they couldn't exchange words, their gazes clashing in midair spoke volumes of Chris and Kevin's true feelings.
Kevin smiled.
In this battle, Chris was the undisputed protagonist of the victory.
Having taken the enemy commander's head at the vanguard, he deserved the spotlight. Normally, Kevin would have accepted that fact without a second thought. What mattered to Kevin was winning the war. In a situation where they crushed the enemy under the name of Dmitry, who achieved how much merit was of little importance.
But from now on, it was different.
"Fine, let's do this. Let's see who achieves more in the battles to come."
His face contorted fiercely.
His competitive spirit had been set ablaze.
This was a variable that Marquis Memphis could never have anticipated.
It was the moment the rivalry between two beings—who would plunge Kronos into shock and terror—truly began.