World's Strongest

“Duke! You mustn’t go like this! You must kill at least Pernok!”

Despite Owen’s desperate cry, Chris showed no signs of stopping.

“The throne will fall into Pernok’s hands!”

Without looking back, Chris answered indifferently.

“That’s right. Since Vans died, now the only competitor for the nation is Yuliana. But it’s self-evident that Pernok heading for the royal capital will wear the crown.”

“That’s right! If we leave him alone, Pernok will swallow Illumina!”

“But is there a situation that improves if Yuliana becomes king?”

“Even Yuliana together…”

“After killing both, who remains?”

“Queen Phillena! Please help her become the true king! Then the relationship between Illumina and Rakis will become even stronger!”

Chris chuckled.

“The commander is now a Rakis person, so why worry about Illumina’s safety?”

“Do you truly intend to accept me as a Rakis noble?”

“It’s hard to take back words once spat. If the commander betrays my faith, I too have no choice but to think differently.”

When Chris placed a hand on his shoulder, Owen flinched at the creepiness.

“N-no. How could I betray the duke when you saved my life? I merely judged this nation’s future and Rakis’s peace would continue together…”

“That’s not a problem for the commander to worry about. And Phillena has no value to be made king.”

“…Yes?”

“Since Vans died, she’ll fight Pernok with fire in her eyes. Pernok will also wage battle with Phillena bringing the Holy Kingdom and Rezhen. It’s already a problem that left our hands. Rather, what comes after is important.”

“After?”

“Do you think the sun rising the day Pernok seizes the royal capital will truly be Illumina?”

“What do you mean…?”

“He seized territory, people, and army. Moreover, judging from that strategy, I wonder if he’ll truly continue Illumina’s competition.”

Owen couldn’t understand Chris’s meaningful words.

“Those with power lightly twist laws and common sense. At least for Pernok who possesses all elements necessary for ‘founding a nation’, this country will become a new testing ground.”

“…?”

“You people forget too easily. That guy is the ‘bastard’ you abandoned.”

Chris recalled the potential and various Magus Arts Pernok possessed.

It was like a treasury of Magus Arts that couldn’t be expressed with the word Double.

He no longer tried understanding how he possessed such Magus Arts.

What’s important was that Pernok’s fangs that didn’t shrink even against the strong would reach Rakis.

At least 5 years.

He felt that for the Pernok he’d meet again to point a sword at his neck, 5 years were necessary including even Arisha.

“Illumina is attractive as a forward base. I have no intention of giving up. But it seems we must recover with our own hands the promise Vans couldn’t fulfill. You too know this and forget all of Illumina’s glory.”

And the two ran in the opposite direction from the royal capital.

A cold smile formed on the lips of Chris hurrying return to Rakis.

Rezhen dispatched a great army totaling 30,000.

Ludmila’s adjutant led the great army, and beside him was the pale-faced Ruin.

“I’m glad you’re safe, Your Highness.”

Pernok swept over Ruin with Observation Eye.

The circuits were tattered, and mana flow was thin and narrow.

Like this, invoking Magus Arts seemed difficult.

“This is Marquis Marshal, Duke Ludmila’s adjutant.”

“I’ve heard much about you. I’m Marshal.”

“I’m Pernok. Let’s enter inside and exchange situations.”

The three who finished light handshakes entered the sixth castle.

At the place where all leadership gathered, Pernok boldly occupied the head seat.

“How is the situation on Rezhen’s side?”

Everyone’s gazes stuck to Marshal.

“With the association’s help, we overcame the major crisis. Prince Salavan subdued Zayl and is solidifying power by occupying the royal capital.”

“The king?”

“We confined him to a room. As soon as Duke Ludmila fully recovers, we’ll finish all procedures.”

“Was Duke Ludmila injured?”

“Rakis’s Marquis Breia came.”

Pernok nodded and turned his gaze to Ruin.

“Did you kill Breia?”

“It was a mutual exchange. It was the first time I saw someone fight at ease within my ‘Loss’.”

“It must have been a difficult opponent, you worked hard.”

“Not at all. Since my skill didn’t meet expectations, it seems I must refine mana for the time being. However, the forces were quite numerous.”

While examining faces, Ruin saw the white-veiled woman and rigidly stiffened.

“…Will you explain?”

Pernok explained about joining with the royal army and the encirclement to kill Vans.

When he said that while everything was occurring as intended, an unimaginable variable called Chris popped out, and thanks to Arisha and Rezhen joining he could catch his breath for a while, Ruin let out a sigh of relief.

“I’m grateful for the Holy Kingdom’s grace.”

“Not at all. Everything is thanks to Your Highness sending the letter.”

Everyone in this place was puzzled.

How did the Holy Kingdom that hadn’t even mentioned the word alliance for long years come to follow Pernok?

Pernok indifferently disclosed the answer to this.

“I permitted establishing the Holy Kingdom’s temples in Illumina.”

“Your Highness, that…!”

“Many opposed due to concern that the people might follow faith and look down on royal authority. But when have we ever walked only the right path?”

Pernok continued while sweeping the crowd.

“If everyone worries before starting, we can’t advance together with anyone.”

“The Holy Kingdom has absolutely no intention of intervening in royal authority. We merely want to release the long-stagnated Holy Kingdom.”

When Arisha stepped forward and spoke resolutely, the group had to calm their uncomfortable hearts.

Because everyone knew there was no future without Arisha in the situation where Chris stepped forward.

“Until now we had no time to greet while each handling assigned roles. Ruin who newly assumed as association head is also my person.”

“Is the previous association head’s unseemly death related to Your Highness by any chance?”

When Flemyr asked carefully, Pernok responded with a smile.

“Hmm… I thought you’d have pulled some strings. But I didn’t imagine it was this scale.”

“Duke, you don’t want to say mediocre words now about properly holding the competition, do you?”

“Not at all. I’m merely surprised that Your Highness who seemed uninterested in alliances with foreign countries is establishing solid alliances.”

“Illumina now establishes hierarchical relationships parasiting on great powers. But I created equal relationships standing shoulder to shoulder.”

“I’ll ask just one thing.”

“What?”

“After occupying the royal capital like this, what do you intend to do with Princess Yuliana?”

“If she points a blade at me, she’ll receive the same treatment as Vans.”

Flemyr swallowed a groan.

‘Yuliana will surely draw her sword toward Prince Pernok to seize the throne. Keeping this in mind, he created forces to oppose Tyr by cooperating with Rezhen.’

It essentially meant he’d kill Yuliana.

If the Holy Kingdom and Rezhen joined, even Tyr couldn’t stop Pernok.

“Furthermore, I’ll newly reform everything in Illumina.”

“Does that… mean you deny Illumina’s values?”

“That’s right, Duke. Even if we inherit Illumina now, history will ultimately merely repeat. Therefore, the moment I take over the royal capital, I’ll commence work to expand Illumina’s territory to the coast and birth it as a new nation.”

Everyone nodded as if they knew.

Flemyr too had guessed.

Pernok was a bastard, and his hatred toward royals was exceptional.

He’d thought that the moment he grasped royal authority, Illumina until now might disappear.

He’d hesitated about taking Pernok’s side because of that.

But he witnessed right before his eyes the reality that Rakis passed through easily and the nation could no longer function.

To Flemyr in charge of the nation’s laws and order, Illumina was like a lump of rotten pus.

Though painful, it must be cut and torn.

“The nation’s name will change. We’ll create new history with new mindset. However, this much is certain, Duke.”

Pernok shouted forcefully to the veteran.

“Everything composing Illumina will join the new nation. We’ll inherit the people, territory, existing proper laws and culture and newly change them.”

“Why do you tell me such words?”

“After raising me to the throne, aren’t you thinking of withdrawing?”

“…”

“It means if you drew your sword, work to the end for this nation’s people and pride. From what I see, you still fly vigorously. Isn’t it early to pass the title to your son?”

Flemyr answered with silence.

The word founding a nation probably struck as considerable shock.

But there was no leisure to care more about that reaction.

If he couldn’t accept, after seizing the throne, he could send him off promising the ducal house’s revival.

The problem was Rakis.

It was unknown what influence Chris’s terrifying capability and the newly reorganized 13 Lords’ behavior would have on the world.

“When competing with the High Priest, I saw Chris’s Magus Arts. Amazingly, he even possessed a special constitution.”

Arisha tilted her head.

“A special constitution?”

“Those eyes were special. As if seeing through even the principles of all magic’s core.”

“Eyes that see through magic… I’ve never heard of it. Isn’t mimicry Chris’s Magus Arts?”

Pernok shook his head.

“His Magus Arts was a system of ‘bestowing’ something to long needles.”

The situation imitating Time Magus Arts came to mind.

Then, Chris certainly examined Pernok’s mana, put the same flow into a long needle, and shot it at the ground. If it were simply mimicry, there was no reason to continue cumbersome work.

“He sees with eyes and grasps, then bestows similar flow to objects and triggers. This is the peculiarity I grasped about him.”

Arisha reviewing the battle nodded.

“Though I can’t be certain, if that’s true, Chris is a walking magic tome itself. I think I saw a similar constitution in the Genesis Library.”

“Can you share the content with me?”

“I’ll organize and tell you.”

Pernok nodded and placed papers piled high on the table.

“Though we say the typhoon passed, there’s no guarantee sprouts will emerge in the remaining place. We eliminate together bastards rooted in this barren land.”

Information about Illumina’s royals and their factions was written on the papers.

“I’ll advance to the royal capital. You divide forces to capture all this nation’s rotten royals.”

“What if resistance intensifies?”

When Sallio asked with a stiff expression, Pernok smiled coldly.

“Kill those who resist on the spot.”

“Yes!”

“Since meaning may fade if the Holy Kingdom and Rezhen interfere in royal capital occupation, I hope the two nations block the border garrison from heading to the royal capital.”

Arisha shook her head.

“I’ll remain by Your Highness’s side. Because Chris might come again.”

“Do as you wish.”

Arisha withdrew with a faint smile.

Pernok spoke to the heated crowd.

“Dream-like things became reality. But until we grasp everything, don’t let down your guard and thoroughly destroy.”

Pernok lightly struck the table and grinned.

“Let’s go. To grasp our glory.”

While Pernok announced Vans’s death and added justification together with Flemyr.

Simultaneously, he divided 10,000 forces to command sweeping remnant forces and royals hiding in each territory.

And Pernok’s main force of 30,000 headed for the royal capital passing through already occupied castles.

“Keke… My glory was right before my eyes…”

From the carriage, Gram let out breathless sounds.

His life pierced by Chris seemed about to run out.

“That monster blocked my path again… Ah… What shall I do with the payment I should receive from you…”

“Instead, I promise. I’ll surely kill Chris.”

“Kekeke. Your Highness, should I convey thanks?”

“It was a partnership. Though not a trust relationship, I judged it had value to join hands to the end.”

“I’m grateful. Then can I receive my payment in advance?”

“Kill Chris now?”

“It’s not such a heavy price.”

Gram’s pupils were covered in gray.

“I evacuated my family to Illumina just in case. In exchange for helping you until now, can you protect them?”

At the appearance seeming to worry whether they’d be discriminated against for being Rakis people, Pernok answered resolutely.

“I hold no personal grudge against you. I don’t feel much gratitude either. Everything was transactions, and connections must be clearly made and severed. Since I couldn’t make you duke, I’ll embrace your family.”

“Kekeke. Thank you…”

Amidst things becoming blurry, Pernok’s appearance was seen clearly.

Though hard to describe in words, something surrounding him emitted white light.

‘This guy is the only one. The bastard who doesn’t despair seeing Chris but rather sends ecstasy…’

If the monarch’s majesty took tangible form, would it be this feeling?

As if his eyes would be blinded by light, Gram slowly closed his eyes.

“Not only Chris…”

“…?”

“…Be careful of His Majesty. He is the Hegemon Emperor… truly the incarnation of war…”

Gram’s hand dropped down with a thud.

Simultaneously, when he absorbed the surging spiritual power and mana, the synchronization rate surged to 64 percent at once.

The First broken in half tried connecting as one, and Pernok finished preparations to reach one step higher.

The Great Gate.

The moment he broke all the skilled ones positioned there, he could leap even higher than now.

“I’ll use this Magus Arts profitably when shattering Chris’s heart.”

Leaving Gram who closed his eyes comfortably behind, Pernok descended from the carriage.

And standing at the front, he aimed his sword at the Great Gate rising as if piercing the sky.

“Kill those who resist, and show mercy to those who surrender!”

Spiritual power enough to make the artifact tremble formed at the sword tip.

“From now on, we punish the queen!”

When he drew the sword downward, pure white lightning struck from clear skies.

It swept away all castle walls and positioned enemies without losing momentum, causing even the Great Gate prepared for Magus Arts to form spider-web cracks.

When he poured Over Impact accomplished through Circulation Link there.

Crack crack crack bang!

The Great Gate broke easily enough to surprise even allies.

Pointing at the utterly confused enemies, Pernok rushed out first.

“Sweep them all away!”

And the great army of 30,000 trampled the royal palace guards and advanced.