Chapter 31: Madly Charging to Educate the North!
He charged like a madman! Anything blocking his path was smashed aside with the Fist of the Thunder God, and he spurred his horse straight toward the command tent.
The flustered expressions on their faces were quite the sight. These were supposed to be allied reinforcements, yet here he was, barreling through at full speed and obliterating everything in his way. Marquis Resid's main camp was thrown into utter chaos.
Kaboom!
Activating Thunder God's Fist, he unleashed it in the widest possible arc. They wouldn't die, but every single one convulsed from the electrocution. Unfortunately, some who got in the way were inevitably struck down and killed.
He had to wipe out the command staff before the armies fully clashed.
"Get out of my way, you traitor bastards! Anyone who blocks me will be branded a rebel, and their entire clan exterminated!"
"Eek!"
Whoosh!
He led with his ultimate killer move: the Emperor's Battle Axe. Forged entirely from gold and adorned with flashy decorations, this axe was far too heavy for practical combat. And being pure gold, its durability was laughable. Still, its ostentatious design made it unmistakable—anyone could see it was the symbol of military command the emperor had entrusted to him.
"It's the emperor's battle axe!"
"No way... has our marquis really rebelled...?"
"It's the emperor's army! Step aside!"
Even he had to admit he was rampaging like a lunatic. By now, the gods should be going wild, showering him with karma...
Bang!
The karma he'd been craving poured in.
[The God of Destruction and Regeneration, Mahadev, has sponsored you with 22,000 karma.]
[The Goddess of Love, Venus, has sponsored you with 25,000 karma.]
[The Goddess of Abundance, Demeter, has sponsored you with 20,000 karma.]
[The God of the Sky, Jupiter, has sponsored you with 30,000 karma.]
[The God of Giants, Talos, has sponsored you with 26,000 karma.]
[The Fairy God, Rebra, has sponsored you with 20,000 karma.]
[The Goddess of Wisdom, Bibian, has sponsored you with 120,000 karma.]
"......"
He knew the gods were crazy bastards, but seeing them lose their minds over a scene like this was something else. This time, the "emperor's army" cheat key made his insanity possible, but once the war ended, satisfying them might be the real challenge. Build-up tech trees could get boring—that was the worry.
Hmm, think about that later.
Bam!
He finally crashed into the spot where the command staff was gathered. The moment he leaped off, his horse's back snapped, tumbling aside in tragedy—but a mere beast sacrificed to thrill the gods? A beautiful offering.
Clang clang!
The knights charged. Blue sword aura and lightning energy swirled around his fist. A direct hit would wipe them all out, so he slammed it into the ground instead.
Kabooooom!
"Gasp!"
"What a madman!"
A massive crater formed. Dozens of meters wide, it proved no one could survive a direct hit from his fist. About time a new god took notice...
[The Fist God Temur is watching you.]
[Your life has been added to Temur's favorites list.]
[Oho! So you're the disciple mastering my fist arts! I'll be keeping an eye on your life!]
[Temur has shown you favor.]
[The perk 'Storm Fist' is unlocked.]
[Synergy perk: Flame Storm Fist activated.]
"Oho! That's what I'm talking about!"
The Fist God had added his life to his favorites. He'd only mastered beginner Fist God techniques so far, but Temur seemed to see him as a prized disciple. Not bad at all.
Pondering how to deal with the stunned nobles, the massively built Temur tossed him a sweet windfall.
[Temur has gifted you a Lucky Random Box.]
A random box! The kind where you never knew what you'd get. No physical form—it had to be opened consciously, probably. Not a bad haul today.
Anyway, time to wrap this up properly. Leaping over the crater, he slapped Marquis Resid's shocked face in one go.
Smack!
Did he overdo it? His hand felt the heavy impact. That should've caved in a normal man's face and killed him...
"Gaaahhh!"
Spurt! Marquis Resid spat blood and flew back.
Crash!
"......!"
"That mad bastard! He hit the Northern Commander...!"
"Oh ho, so anyone defending Marquis Resid is part of the rebel scum? Guess you all need a taste too."
The nobles didn't sit idle, of course. As they charged with weapons drawn, he shattered them all with Thunder God's Fist.
Crack crack crack!
"Impossible!"
Maces, swords—everything shattered, sending them tumbling. The nobles couldn't hide their horror. Their guarding knights were already down, and the soldiers, hearing cries of "rebels," milled about in confusion, unable to even draw swords.
The nobles were quickly surrounded. Knights bound, nobles punched in the face, teeth flying as they rolled.
"Ugh."
"Groan."
Marquis Resid crawled to him like a worm.
"Why...?"
"How's it going, traitor scum?"
"Khuh! Why are we traitors?! You think you'll get away with this?!"
"Boys, bind them! We'll educate them soon, but too much blood loss would be a hassle."
"Right away!"
Nobles and knights smashed, commanders too. Soldiers too scared of the "rebel" cries to approach. Rommel Marquis and his knights took charge, corralling the troops. Kainus efficiently separated nobles from soldiers. Knights jailed underground, nobles dragged bound to kneel in the lord's castle.
Thud! Boom!
"Kneel, traitor scum!"
"Damn it all! What did we do to deserve this?! Viscount Aron! If you push like this, even our Northern Army can't— you want your clan wiped out?!"
Marquis Resid bellowed, utterly indignant. Fair enough—a fresh viscount daring to touch the empire's northern boss.
If he'd landed normally, he wouldn't pull this madness. But no choice. The madder he got, the more the gods went berserk. Couldn't stop.
His rampage was possible thanks to his overwhelming power. He could kill any framer, even the emperor. Rumors of divine favor helped smooth things over too.
If someone really gunning for him attacked? Cross that bridge later. Worst case, lead his forces abroad and return.
"Grab him."
"Yes sir!"
Rommel swiftly seized Marquis Resid's head. The man looked ready to die of frustration—especially losing command without a fight.
Perfect height for a knee strike. He delivered.
Squelch!
"Gweeeek!"
"......"
Marquis Resid's teeth all flew out, bloodied—over ten at a glance.
"Cough! Cough!"
"Quiet now. Marquis Resid, let me explain why you're a traitor. If the emperor came personally, you'd send just your knights?"
"Ugh... I'm the emperor's subject too. You know I'm loyal. I'd rush barefoot to greet him. What does that have to do with now?!"
"What's this?"
"Who doesn't know? The battle axe symbolizing the emperor's authority!"
"The emperor appointed me Northern Conquest Army Commander and gave me this axe. You obey it like the emperor himself. As a loyal subject, you should've come out to greet this imperial relic. But you didn't! And he named me Supreme Commander—yet you acted independently before any council! How, unless you plotted rebellion?!"
"Aaaargh! You mad bastard! Is that even human talk?!"
Thwack!
"Gweeeek!"
"Gonna have to teach you properly?"
Pow pow pow pow!
Fearing the Fist God might feel neglected, he hauled the man up and pummeled with fists. As expected, Temur loved it.
...Was that it? No sane gods indeed.
After a thorough beating, Marquis Resid slumped like an octopus. Occasional spasms—he'd die if more, so he stopped.
"Cecilia!"
"Yes, my lord!"
"Heal him. Can't have him dying."
"Why not?"
"Er... right?"
"Y-You crazy bastards. Cough!"
Light from Cecilia's hand enveloped Marquis Resid. Once somewhat recovered, he just glared silently. One more word, and it'd be fists again.
"Marquis Resid, feeling hard done by?"
"Ugh. Never such humiliation."
"One question. Got a Count Abon under you? In your northern alliance."
"Cough... Count Abon is my right-hand man. No way he too...?"
"Ah, so he's your right-hand?"
"Yes! You damn cur!"
"Caught red-handed? Count Abon was raising an Odin cult in his territory! Know what that means? The giant gods' state religion is Odinism. Harboring spies. And he's your right-hand? Hahaha!"
"......"
Marquis Resid's face twisted horribly. Even he knew it could be spun as colluding with the giant gods.