Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Martial King's Declaration
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And.
—...Ah, I see. This sword strike... one of the Lichtenauers, is it.
The expectations they had held were shattered, utterly and miserably.
—A sword strike I haven't felt in ages. Yes... this arrogant, heavy blow. Even after all these years, its nature remains unchanged, Lichtenauer. I had thought that if anyone were to stand in my way again, it would surely be you lot.
Even faced with that terrifying strike that transcended Paon's very perception.
—But alas, it's a pity. It stirs old memories, yet fails to instill any greater fear in me.
The exalted Earth Dragon evaluated it as if appraising the paltry achievement of a child who had given their all.
—If this is the best you rabble can muster... I can't help but be disappointed.
He pronounced judgment calmly.
—Ar Kandor.
"Speak, O Exalted Dragon."
—I've changed my mind. A feast is fine, but... I wish to quietly enjoy the game with these worthy foes who withstood my black flames and bared their fangs at me.
The Earth Dragon swept his cold gaze over the surroundings as he spoke.
—Clean up these unworthy vermin. And prepare a fine meal for me.
In accordance with the Earth Dragon's solemn will, Ar Kandor knelt on one knee and replied politely.
"As the Dragon wills."
Even with the harsh command to face several times their number in enemies without the Earth Dragon Karaktus's aid, Ar Kandor showed no sign of discontent.
He knew.
The exalted Earth Dragon was merciful to his faithful servants.
Ssssh!
The Earth Dragon addressed his servants, who faced far more vermin than their own numbers.
—However, you all seem hard-pressed like this. Allow me to lend a hand.
Woooong!
As the Earth Dragon flicked his hand, an immense surge of mana began flowing into the Great Veil's monsters.
"Gr, grruk...?!"
The trolls' and ogres' muscles swelled as if about to burst, their thick hides growing even tougher, impervious to blades.
"Th-this...?!"
The dark elves could scarcely contain their bodies, brimming with ecstasy from the spirit power filling their minds.
"Keeek!! My body feels light! I want to rampage!!"
The small, agile goblins moved with even greater swiftness, like elf rangers.
—This should suffice. Ar Kandor, my loyal servant who has waited centuries for this day.
"Speak, O Exalted Dragon."
—Once more, clear the path for me to soar over this land.
'...Finally!!'
A stream of awestruck emotion poured endlessly from the skull whose expression was unreadable.
"With pleasure, I shall obey your command!"
Woooong!
Unprecedented power began emanating from the mage who had endured ages across eras.
Centuries ago, a genius mage renowned in his time, captivated by the Earth Dragon's overwhelming might... he had chosen the forbidden path of immortality.
Magic began manifesting from the hands of the immortal Arch Lich, Ar Kandor.
To erase the enemies blocking the exalted Dragon's glorious path ahead.
"...Entertaining."
Paon, lord of the Lichtenauer Martial Clan, gazed down at his hand.
Sky Wall, Heavenly Barrier.
His sword was a wall in the sky, in the truest sense.
Not just to the myriad monsters of the Great Calamity, but to the powerhouses of the other three continents who eyed the Southern Continent greedily.
And so, Paon felt an utterly unfamiliar emotion for the first time in his life.
The Lichtenauer Martial Clan had been born to 'protect' the Aslan Kingdom from the Great Calamity's monsters, by its very nature.
Yet even before coming of age, Paon had found no great value in the act of 'protecting.'
Not because he saw human lives as worthless as flies.
Simply because, to Paon, 'protecting' something was far too easy and straightforward.
Golden Eye, the unparalleled warrior in orc history.
Sea King, the conqueror born a mere swamp monster who crossed the Amatres River to subjugate the seas.
Both were monstrous figures rare even in Agena's history.
Yet even they did not view the world from the same vantage as Paon.
Paon's realm was that lofty.
If one were to imagine a single other soul in Agena's history who saw the world from Paon's perspective...
It would be only Lucas Alexei, the Hegemon who first unified the Northern Continent and founded the vast Crohokar Empire.
Thus, Paon regretted never meeting Lucas before his fall—a lifelong regret.
He was a man who had stood at the same height, yet walked a different path.
He crushed without mercy what opposed his will, rebuilt it, broke limits again and again, living a life like blazing flame.
Thus... Paon wanted to ask Lucas one thing if they met.
How could one who reached such heights live with such burning passion.
But that wish went unfulfilled.
Regrettably, Lucas Alexei had crumbled to the schemes of vulture-like foes, becoming a star in the sky and vanishing into history's shadows.
Thus, Paon still sought the answer to what drove him to live so fiercely.
But right now.
Paon faced, for the first time in his life, a foe stronger than himself—strong enough to destroy the kingdom outright—and thus confronted the mission to 'protect' it for the first time.
Thump, thump!
His heart, stilled by boredom, began to race, and a long-vanished heat rose from his chest.
Paon sensed it instinctively.
If he overcame this grueling, far-from-easy battle now...
He would glimpse the emotion that the Northern Continent's Hegemon, Lucas Alexei, must have felt while living so passionately and dominating an era.
...Grip!
His hand tightened on his beloved sword, Sky Wall.
"Hear me, warriors of the Lichtenauer Martial Clan."
Gazing at the empowered Great Veil monsters charging stronger, Paon drew forth majestic aura and declared.
"With the squads at the vanguard, the full forces of the Lichtenauer Martial Clan shall unite with the Golden Heaven Chain and Turbulent Flow forces to annihilate the enemy. Show anything less than them, and I shall never forgive it."
Woooong!
An overwhelming presence transcending human limits erupted.
"Fear not the Earth Dragon."
An immense existence, scarcely inferior even to the supreme being of dragons, one unbelievable for a mere human, dominated the battlefield.
"Never forget who stands beside you."
Shing!
Paon's hand and Sky Wall pointed at Karaktus.
"I am the Martial King."
Clang! Shing!
As if Paon's grandiose declaration were the signal, the squad leaders who hadn't flinched at the black flames led the Lichtenauer warriors in drawing their weapons as one.
"For the Lichtenauer Martial Clan!!"
"""For the Lichtenauer Martial Clan!!"""
Dududududu!
The battle-maddened warriors, fear forgotten, charged at the empowered monsters.
The Lichtenauer forces charging from the right toward the Great Veil's dark elves.
Seeing their surging momentum, Sea King grumbled.
"...Keruk! He hogs all the glory. Damn showoff."
Of course... that earlier strike that seemed to bisect the Earth Dragon was on another dimensional level.
But that didn't mean he wanted to lag behind Paon.
"Agreed."
Crack, pop!
Golden Eye, pushed back long across the ground leaving deep tracks while blocking the black flames, rolled his stiff neck and chimed in.
"The Martial King's power is indeed formidable, but we can't just wag our tails like dogs. We'll show the Golden Heaven Chain warriors plainly on this battlefield."
Smack!
"That only I... am fit to be the true master of the Great Calamity."
...Snap!
A vein bulged on Sea King's temple at Golden Eye's words.
"Hey, shit-brown eyes. Been away so long you've lost your edge?"
"And you, soaked in brine so long your brain's pickled in salt. If not me, who dares claim mastery of this land?"
"Hoo..."
Sea King glared murderously at Golden Eye, who met his gaze unflinchingly.
But only for a moment.
Both smirked and walked toward the Earth Dragon.
"Let's drop it. Clashing over kingship with that ancient relic in front would just prove we're unfit as kings."
"Fine, whatever."
They could vie for true kingship after shoving that ghost of old back to hell.
Fwoosh!
As if by agreement, Sea King and Golden Eye charged at the Earth Dragon.
Unlike Paon, they offered no flowery speeches.
Monsters had their own way.
No need for blather—just show it cleanly with action.
His subordinates could handle the theatrics.
"Good grief, look at that... Our boss just charges in without a thought again?"
Iron Mask scratched his head in disbelief, watching Golden Eye charge alongside Sea King as if in competition toward the Earth Dragon.
What leader dove headlong into danger without a care?
Especially the head of a mega-force like Golden Heaven Chain.
You needed gravitas, substance.
"That's exactly why we follow him, isn't it?"
Iron Mask smirked at Dong-ah's words, spear slung over his shoulder longer than his body.
"Well, yeah, but still."
Lately, he'd racked his brains with Mangryang's great warriors and political messes... but that rhino-like charge was Golden Eye's true form in their memories.
No matter the mighty foe.
Unyielding, fighting at the forefront for the orcs.
"Alright. Boss seems thrilled for once... Shall we back him up without getting in the way?"
Iron Mask meant for Dong-ah to lead the tribe together.
But alas.
"Heh heh! Handle it yourself."
Dong-ah ignored him.
"Truth is, I've been itching since earlier... Can't hold back anymore."
From facing the Earth Dragon's black flames, the thrill surging through his body wouldn't subside.
"Going."
Ignoring Iron Mask's reply, Dong-ah plunged into the oncoming Great Veil trolls.
Groooar...!!
Muscles twisted so the spear tip and shaft reversed, released in one burst.
Shrieeeek!!
"Grrruk!?"
Trolls cried in bewilderment at the tearing air and sudden torso pain. Then.
Splurt!
The Earth Dragon-blessed trolls' hides split into thirds in an instant.
"Ahahahahaha!!"
Dong-ah, drenched in troll blood, laughed maniacally like a war ghost possessed.
"Lordy... What a mess."
Iron Mask turned from the hyper Dong-ah to see Eun-i, usually quiet, locked in fierce combat with fourth finger Galtrou on his ring finger.
"Fine, do as you like."
Sighing at the rampaging orcs, Iron Mask eyed the trolls advancing on Golden Heaven Chain beyond their reach, eyes gleaming.
"I'll do my part."
Central zone.
As ogres and goblins charged, a particularly massive ogre and sly-faced goblin stood out up front.
Changji Tumgrok and Soji Sniglin.
...Crunch!
Seeing their mocking expressions reignited the fury in Twin Ghosts Lucius's chest.
The Iro forces boasted top strength on the main island, barring Hasfel's guards, in raw power.
Recalling how those vermin had toyed with them filled him with the urge to tear them apart now.
...Grip!
Perhaps sensing his vicious aura, hands gripped Lucius's shoulders.
Ilryong Maximus and Oryong Regulus.
"Lucius."
"...I know."
No words needed; Lucius understood their intent fully.
Infuriating, but in massive wars like this... dragons outshone ghosts.
They wielded wisdom and strategy, unlike mere sword-swingers.
"...Regulus, Maximus. Give the orders."
Lucius quelled his rage and said.
"Treat me as the sword in your hands and swing freely. Handle me however. I'll obey gladly."
No, not quelled...
"But promise one thing."
...a colder fury was more apt.
"Make sure my blade sinks into those two scum's necks. I'll slice them thin, pickle them in Amatres River water for salted fish."
The two dragons smiled faintly at the snarling Lucius.
"Gladly."
As long as he didn't go rogue... no blade in Turbulent Flow rivaled Lucius.
"Best of luck, Ghost."