Chapter 239
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 239
Chapter Title: Staged Combat
Oscar and Lucas, father and son, had risen to their current position by leading Philippa's territorial expansion.
Their achievements included reclaiming lands abandoned and overrun by demonic beasts and dealing with local lords who oppressed their people amidst the civil war.
At first glance, it might seem like the work of the Union, but it was ironic that the results greatly benefited Philippa.
This was because Philippa was an organization born from Duke Silas's fury, one that claimed the legitimacy of Rhodes.
Thus, even with their somewhat ambiguous stance, they had no trouble blending in.
However, to the Grave faction, which held key positions within Philippa, it was only natural that the father and son duo were a thorn in their side.
Oscar would often advise Silas, questioning the chairman's proper role or the justification for the civil war, and he frequently criticized Symes, telling her to stop the needless slaughter.
Amidst all this.
While Rhodes was being torn in two, Oscar, having failed to persuade Chairman Silas, had set a goal to end the civil war early by carrying out his last resort tonight: the chairman's assassination.
Around this time, his friend appeared as if on cue to create the perfect situation, and Lucas was inwardly pleased.
Though the sword strike was far too fierce for a welcome.
Meanwhile.
‘Has he gotten bigger again?’
Loan, too, was marveling at Lucas.
The sheer force of the attack, which completely obscured his vision as it flew toward him, was quite remarkable.
He was overwhelming even without using his primary weapon.
After being apart for a while, sparring with various people, and striking down with his sword countless times to raise pillars of mana,
Loan belatedly realized that Lucas's physical abilities had reached a considerable level.
It was likely thanks to systematically training his mana and conditioning his body from a young age—though it came with the side effect of fearing his father.
On top of that, the way Lucas used mana was exceptionally specialized for physical combat.
It was hard to say he was taught to be that way; Vice-Commander Oscar's swordsmanship was quite refined and orthodox.
Perhaps his rebelliousness toward his father and his habit of neglecting school to wander outside the system from a young age had influenced him.
It was likely that such complex factors formed the basis for Lucas's explosive movements.
Even now, Loan was putting on a show, watching Lucas's downward strike until the last second before narrowly dodging it.
*CRRAAASH?!*
Seeing the floor shatter and debris fly, he thought it was a good thing he hadn't tried to block it.
But it was too early to be surprised.
Lucas forcefully twisted his waist and swung the longsword embedded in the floor sideways.
His strength and mana gathered at the sword's tip, aiming for Loan's waist.
There was no need to judge it as killing intent.
As always, it was simply his sincere desire to destroy everything, laid bare.
‘Right… he never did anything half-heartedly, even as a kid.’
When they were on the same side, he had found it exhilarating, but facing him as an opponent, it was truly menacing.
Even knowing it was an act.
Thanks to this, the onlookers had no doubt about Lucas's sincerity.
If anything, suspicious gazes were directed at Loan.
Those watching the fight leisurely from a distance—the nobles aligned with Philippa and the members of Grave who had secured positions within—began to murmur.
"Wasn't he supposed to be a mage?"
"His sword skills are impressive, but… why isn't he using magic?"
"It must mean he's being pushed that hard. Not even giving him a chance to chant."
"You could say he's identified his opponent's characteristics and is responding appropriately."
The reasonable suspicion turned back into praise for Lucas.
But the woman named Symes, who had created the magic barrier, said nothing.
She likely had a fair amount of information on Loan, so she would find this strange.
‘Should I make it look more convincing?’
Just then, Lucas's sword strike came rushing in, ignoring the Domain.
Loan deflected it with Sheville.
He extended his left hand to the side, conjuring a fireball above his palm.
A fireball itself might be a trivial spell, but to cast it without an incantation amid such a dazzlingly fast exchange of offense and defense meant he had reached a considerable level of mastery.
Indeed, many noticed and were astonished. Symes was one of them.
But to Lucas, it was a familiar sight.
As Loan conjured the flame, Lucas didn't miss the slight opening at his left shoulder.
Lucas's mana layered itself over his solid muscles, like wearing multiple Aura shields.
If he lacked the posture and time for a sword strike, he might as well use his body as a weapon.
*BOOOM!*
He slammed his body straight into Loan's.
The explosion erupted because the fireball detonated between them.
The aftermath was far more significant than the fireball's own destructive power, because the moment the ball of fire shattered against Lucas's Aura barrier, Loan had released Convection, creating a firestorm in all directions.
The soldiers on guard quickly covered their faces from the heat and sparks, shuffling backward.
Loan created just that much distance—
—and created the impression that he had narrowly avoided Lucas's attack.
He had gotten close to the stairs where Chairman Silas was, but Loan acted as if he had no interest in that direction.
He rushed at Lucas again. Lucas had already completed his leap.
*CLANG! CL-CLANG!*
Sheville and the longsword clashed relentlessly.
A sharp energy, failing to make contact, swirled around them.
‘Incredible…’
Loan marveled at Lucas's 'pure strength' and 'talent for combat.'
His attacks were improvisational and hard to predict. Though at times, his body's flexibility couldn't quite keep up with the flexibility of his thoughts, making it seem like brute force.
Even so, the resulting chain of attacks was filled with the power and spirit to crush his opponent.
‘He’ll get even stronger if he gets angry.’
While Loan was inwardly proud of his friend,
Lucas felt the same.
He had found it quite trying to carry out missions alone with his father all this time.
He had been inwardly frustrated from the lack of a proper fight.
So now, Lucas was so thrilled his heart was pounding. He felt like the blood was dancing in his veins.
As their swords clashed, he felt a sense of awe at how outstanding Loan's skills as a swordsman had become, and at his strength that didn't waver even when Lucas attacked with all his might.
And so.
In the brief moments between their swords clashing, Loan and Lucas looked at each other and smiled.
But no one noticed.
A dazzling light and crimson flames, a shimmering haze of Aura, and frost magic that froze the floor and air ran rampant between them, blinding the onlookers.
"Crazy. Is that level even possible at their age?"
"I didn't think it would be like this…"
Those engrossed in the battle let out gasps of admiration, unable to hide their awe.
Their positions changed moment by moment, and the space they used grew wider.
This reached its climax the moment Loan's fist transformed into a giant rock and struck Lucas.
*KWAANG!*
Lucas's body flew into the distance and slammed into the stairs of the dais.
However, no physical impact reached the upper part where Silas was, as if there was an invisible barrier.
Lucas got back up and deliberately ground his teeth.
Watching him from afar, Loan dismantled Sheville, spread his arms wide, and floated slightly off the ground.
The Domain that rose from beneath his feet created a whirlwind, looking like a prelude to some incredible magic.
But the moment a certain spell flowed from Loan's lips—
—some of those with a deep knowledge of magic couldn't hide their horror.
O sword of meteors that cleaves the night sky,
I beseech your permission with my strength and will.
Sever the lives that flow like the tide,
and bring crimson darkness upon the land.
Bring forth the karmic flames of purgatory.
Scorch…
Before Loan's chant was even finished, people began to scatter.
Those who didn't understand blinked and looked around.
Someone with knowledge of magic incantations kindly shouted.
"It's Meteor! That madman is casting Meteor!"
A 5th-Circle flame-type area-of-effect attack.
A spell of destruction known to all, even without having experienced it.
And it was about to be unleashed here. If it manifested, it was obvious that not only the living, but the very building would be turned to dust.
*Woooooong—*
Indeed, a crimson whirlwind rose around Loan, the atmosphere ominous.
At this, the soldiers who had been forming the perimeter of the duel exchanged glances and hastily retreated.
The moment a path opened up.
Loan stretched both hands toward Lucas.
A massive gust of hot wind spread out from Loan like a wave in all directions.
Those who couldn't escape in time were hit by the wind and screamed in premature terror.
Even Symes, who had been watching their fight with an arrogant demeanor, turned pale.
Feeling she couldn't stop it, she enveloped herself in a mana barrier and threw herself toward where the crowd was pouring out.
At the same time—
—Oscar suddenly roared and leaped onto the dais.
"Protect the Chairman!"
Lucas, on the other hand, leaped toward Loan with his sword extended.
"Hyaaaah!"
All this happened the moment Loan stretched out his hands.
But no meteor fell.
The hot wind Loan had generated was merely to disable the magic barriers and wards constructed in the space.
In this way, he eliminated the crude barrier magic meant to protect Silas and also erased the ward that would block outside intruders.
*Fzzt- Crackle? CRACKLE—*
Symes felt something was wrong and stopped abruptly. The moment she turned her head and witnessed the magic circles she had constructed being destroyed,
Lucas used Loan's Domain to launch himself away.
He swung his sword at Symes with blinding speed.
*Shlick—* Just as Symes's head fell to the floor from the truly merciless strike,
on the dais where the formless barrier had vanished, Vice-Commander Oscar pointed his sword at Silas's neck and spoke.
"Chairman Silas. I, Oscar of the Union's Faith Division, am here to hold you accountable for the Rhodes civil war. As of this moment, you are…"
Loan looked into Chairman Silas's strangely vacant eyes and suddenly felt an odd sensation.
It felt like some unknown power was pouring toward him.
A power without substance.
It was an incredibly dark, heavy pressure.
‘What…’
Unable to identify it, he could only look around with a puzzled expression.
Lucas, having retrieved Symes's head, was walking toward Loan when their eyes met.
"Meteor? Isn't that a bit of an over-the-top signal? I was scared to death, thought a real meteor was about to fall."
Loan couldn't return his friend's smirk with a smile of his own.
The pressure was now beginning to feel like a wave. He even felt that if he stood still, he would be swept away by it and suffer a terrible fate.
Seeing an expression on Loan's face he had never seen before, Lucas tilted his head.
His eyes were looking at him, but they seemed to be seeing something else entirely.
"Loan?"
The moment Lucas approached Loan with a worried expression and reached out his hand,
Loan's body stretched out like a beam of light for an instant, then vanished from sight.
This power pressing down on him.
It happened the moment he realized it was occurring not in the physical world, but in the spiritual realm.
‘What is this…’
Having become light again, Loan looked back.
In that place still composed of countless clusters of light, beyond it, lay the source of the ominous feeling from before.
It had no substance yet. It hadn't had any particular effect on him. He couldn't even guess what it was.
But for some reason, he felt as if some being was about to push aside that light and suddenly reveal itself.
Suddenly, Aul knocked on his consciousness several times, seeming anxious.
It was telling him to dodge, but he didn't know where or how.
Just then.
-This way!
Someone called out to Loan urgently.
He looked and saw a familiar figure in the distance. A perfect appearance.
‘Me?’
Loan instantly poured toward himself, and a moment later, he realized it was his own reflection in a mirror.