Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Strike Tribe Headquarters
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Strike Tribe.
They had built their villages around the swampy wetlands.
But what they called a village was little more than a cluster of a few mud huts.
They hadn't reached the level of civilization needed to form a proper city, like the crows.
However, a single genius can elevate an entire civilization.
Great Mage Adoris.
The one who pioneered magic among the Strike Tribe.
Thanks to him, the Strike Tribe transformed overnight.
Their civilization still fell short of Havel City, no doubt.
But they had forged a new era through magic.
Especially their combat prowess, which had surged dramatically.
In war, the presence of large-scale magic created a world of difference.
Swinging a weapon once paled in comparison.
To unleashing a single massive spell that unleashed far greater devastation.
As a result, Havel City found itself repeatedly in peril.
Under their barrage, even the crows' martial techniques proved futile.
So lately, voices among the crows called for learning magic.
By capturing a single Strike Tribe mage and prying the secrets from them.
Meanwhile, the Strike Tribe sought a swift and decisive strike.
Before Havel City could mount any defense against magic.
They planned a surprise assault to topple the city.
Just as both sides racked their brains for ways to crush the other.
A man appeared in the Strike Tribe village.
"So this is your village."
"Y-Yes, it is."
A Strike Tribe member with a face as pale as death bowed his head.
He was one of the warriors from the Third Unit—and the most timid of them all.
The one who had screamed "Ghost!" at the sight of Havel. His name was Podellia.
A frail warrior who had only just come of age this year.
"Lord Havel."
At that moment, Owen sidled up and spoke.
"I don't think we should wipe out the entire Strike Tribe."
"Why's that?"
"Because of what's reflected on the upper floors."
Owen glanced at the Strike Tribe with a troubled expression.
"Magic played a huge role in the crows' civilization on the 75th floor."
Havel stroked his chin at those words.
The crows knew nothing of magic, that much was certain.
Which meant they must have mastered the Strike Tribe's magic somehow.
Perhaps some clash had erupted between them later on.
"Did the Strike Tribe stick around on the upper floors?"
"Yes, but it wasn't just them. It looks like various races banded together to form a civilization."
The world had expanded even further.
"Then it's simple."
Havel stretched casually, as if it were no big deal.
"Subjugating the Strike Tribe solves everything."
If they fell under the crows' banner, problem solved.
Owen's face shifted to one of realization: Oh, right.
No one knew exactly how things would play out in the reflections, after all.
"And we can't pass up grabbing those keys."
True enough.
Keys were essential to ascend to the next floor.
Clashing with the Strike Tribe was unavoidable.
"You lot keep watch over these two."
Havel pointed at Merimolly and Barutuga, who had followed without resistance.
Given their strength, escape wasn't impossible.
But Havel didn't sweat it.
Even if they bolted, they'd run into Memento Mori's main force up above eventually.
"Want a little warning?"
At that, the captive Barutuga flashed a mocking sneer.
To grin like that after such a beating took real grit.
"Memento Mori has this old codger they call the Specter."
Barutuga shuddered faintly at the memory.
"Touch the main force, and that geezer climbs the Tower. Even you won't handle him."
A veiled threat.
Havel simply raised his hand.
And brought it down hard on Barutuga's smirking head.
"Gack!"
Barutuga had poked the bear and gotten nothing for it.
"Merimolly. You agree?"
Ignoring the now-unconscious Barutuga, Havel turned to her.
She flinched.
"I-I don't know."
Her voice was barely a whisper.
No firm answer.
Merimolly had felt Havel's power firsthand.
Yet she couldn't commit.
Does that mean this Specter geezer is stronger than he seems?
Intriguing.
And he was curious about Memento Mori's true strength anyway.
Here's hoping they're on par with the Five Great Families' patriarchs.
Havel had faced direct descendants of the Five Great Families, but not the heads themselves.
Rumor had it they wielded power enough to carve up the world.
Time to hurry to Memento Mori's main base.
"Be back soon."
Havel grabbed the spineless Podellia and ventured into the village.
Soon, commotion erupted from somewhere within.
Peering closer, the Strike Tribe warriors were arming up.
Mages, too, were grabbing reagents and staves as they hustled about.
Hiding in a tree near the swamp, Havel cocked his head.
"What's got them riled?"
He asked the Podellia in tow, who stammered fearfully.
"Th-That's them prepping to invade Havel City."
Havel City. The name still grated.
At this rate, the whole kingdom might get renamed Havel.
"Even so, this is sudden. When we left, the invasion was still ways off."
Podellia explained it was a rushed operation.
Something must've happened.
"Podellia, go ask that lone Strike Tribe over there."
Havel jabbed a finger at one straggler apart from the pack.
Podellia flinched, eyes darting.
Was this coward really balking now?
"Th-That one's a female, so... I'm shy."
An absurd excuse.
They all look identical. What's to be shy about?
In this mess, too bashful to question the opposite sex.
What a creep.
Havel tsked and pointed elsewhere.
"Fine, pick any grunt and get the scoop on the invasion."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Podellia shouted and scampered off.
Moments later, he was hauled back by the scruff.
Havel, watching, finally facepalmed.
Wrong guy to spare.
Brought him for being chatty.
What a mess.
Havel pursued, oddly free of dread.
Tailing Podellia a short ways.
He was dragged into a massive building.
Multiple windows, warriors streaming in and out.
Screamed importance.
Bingo.
Havel scaled the outer wall stealthily.
Sliced the window clean with a hand blade.
Slipped into a warehouse cluttered with goods.
Passed through, twisted the doorknob.
A Strike Tribe crossed right then.
"Huh?"
Before reacting to Havel, neck chopped.
Tongue lolling, out cold—Havel chucked him aside.
Out in the hall, Havel unleashed his aura sense.
The whole building snapped into focus.
Podellia located.
There.
Getting grilled on why he returned solo.
The interrogator? High up, no doubt.
Havel strode to a spot.
Tapped the floor with both feet, then hoisted a leg.
"Where."
Light surged into his leg.
"Let's chat."
Leg speared straight down.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Floors of the ten-story building pulverized layer by layer.
Landing amid rubble and shattered ceilings: stunned Strike brass and Podellia.
"N-Nice to meet ya."
Havel waved lazily, yanked a chair, plopped down.
"They call me the Lion of the Night, Havel."
Barging into their house, he grinned without a care.
The shattered ceiling let in gloom to the darkened room.
A gaggle of Strike Tribe executives huddled.
Ceiling debris and dust swirled before them.
Through the haze, their stunned faces hardened.
"What the hell is that guy? Anyone out there? Intruder!"
One shook off the shock and bellowed at Havel.
Outside, voices rose; the door rattled.
But Havel hefted a hefty ceiling chunk first.
Hurled it—perfectly jammed the door.
No opening it easy now.
Havel dusted his hands, eyed the brass.
"Not in the mood for more noise."
Then a sword slashed at his throat.
One exec's ambush.
Blade humming with master-grade aura.
A random exec wielding master aura.
Tower's baseline had climbed high.
Direct hit? Head gone.
If these guys trained pure aura without calamities, even one would've pinned me.
Havel mused coolly.
Sword met neck.
Clang!
The blade cracked on impact, shattering.
Shards flew, nailing an unlucky bystander.
"Aaaagh!"
Face embedded with steel, he writhed.
Havel ignored, fixed on the gawking execs.
They'd swung true.
Yet their aura-packed sword? Shredded.
Absurd.
"What I got..."
Havel raised his hand blade.
Their eyes tracked it up.
"I'll give back."
Chop—severed a neck clean.
Spiiing!
Head airborne, foam bubbling as he crumpled.
Reptilian blood ran sluggish, no geyser—just oozing spurts.
Havel gazed down impassively at the crimson flow, then turned.
Every exec stared, faces rigid.
"Podellia. Where'd you leave off?"
Havel called to the dazed kneeler.
Podellia jolted.
"Uh-Until the Third Unit got wiped... yeah."
Stammer city.
Havel smiled slow, scanned the brass.
"No recap needed, then. Down to business."
Declaration of war.
"That army you rushed for the city strike."
Finger drummed the desk deliberate.
"I'll smash it flat."
Faces blanched by degrees.
They'd glimpsed his power moments ago.
The guy who'd erased the Third Unit in a blink.
No bluff about the army.
"So spill."
Havel's grin turned loaded.
"Your legitimate reason to invade Havel City."
Havel couldn't care less about their true motives.
"If it's something I can fix, I'll handle it."
Crows' wealth? Resources? Whatever.
They needed a fabricated justification apart from reality.
To safeguard their forces whole.