World War

The castle that had always seemed so high.

When he’d visited as an envoy, Rakis’s castle that had been absurdly mountain-like seemed ephemeral as a grain of sand today.

“King Pernok’s concerns have become reality.”

Ludmila surveyed the castle Demos had vacated.

“The 13 Lord of that castle must certainly have headed to Barganta.”

“Then, Master. Shouldn’t we also return?”

“Since Tyr has also turned their backs on us, it wouldn’t be strange to return immediately. But Duke Flemyr is turning his horse’s head to defend against the enemy’s attack.”

“What about Tyr?”

“Since King Pernok said he’d block them, that side is no longer our concern.”

Sallio and various guild leaders dispatched from Barganta didn’t seem worried either.

Ludmila put his adjutants and disciples at the vanguard and shouted.

“Though a 13 Lord has left, Rakis’s castle is no place to underestimate! Conquer it within half a day!”

“Yes!”

Ludmila shot forward first, coiling water around his gloves.

BOOOOONG-!

Though alarm bells rang from the castle that detected the attack, Ludmila’s momentum didn’t wilt.

‘Thousands of troops have entered defensive formation. About 20 high-ranking mages. They have siege weapons too, but a castle without a 13 Lord cannot cope with a Magus.’

No one could stop Ludmila.

‘To use the nation as bait to lure out 13 Lords and strike empty castles. He was already formidable as a mercenary, but this is beyond imagination. Pernok!’

As if paying respect to Pernok, Ludmila kicked off the castle wall, leaped up, and threw a punch.

WHAAM!

Water bursting from his fist exploded like a waterfall and swept across the tower.

Mana cannons whose fuses had been lit and various siege weapons were soaked with water and neutralized.

“Follow the Duke!”

“Raise shields and pound the castle gate!”

“Everything’s wet! The enemy’s siege weapons are finished!”

The moment Ludmila trampled the castle wall in one breath, the soldiers’ morale pierced the sky.

Especially, the tactics of the mercenary guild leaders who were Pernok’s retainers stood out.

Having fought siege battles several times during Illumina’s civil war, they knew well how to attack castles.

They mixed their various magics together to pound the castle’s seams, corners, and ground, even shaking the castle walls, then while receiving support from long-range mages’ interception, enhancement-type mages leaped up the castle walls.

Thanks to Ludmila dealing with the enemy’s high-ranking mages, allied enhancement-type mages led by Sallio leisurely occupied the castle walls while deflecting arrows.

“Nothing but iron swords! Push through!”

Sallio charged while bursting the waves gathered in his hammer. The guild leaders also led their respective guild members to attack key strongholds as if showing off their experience.

The castle wall commanders couldn’t keep pace and were swept away by the freewheeling tactics of scattering between guilds then gathering to break through.

‘Good.’

He seemed to understand why Pernok had bestowed titles on them.

“Dieeee!”

Ludmila grabbed a commander charging from the tower with one hand and twisted.

THUD!

After throwing the commander whose limbs had shattered outside the castle wall, he shouted.

“The enemy’s defense commander is dead! Open the castle gate and make this place our castle!”

The moment Ludmila planted Rezhen’s flag, Sallio who’d somehow arrived planted Barganta’s flag beside it.

When Ludmila looked back, Sallio grinned.

“We occupied it together.”

The nation that occupies the castle possesses it.

But what if two nations unite to occupy a castle?

‘So this is why he attached his close aides to me.’

The more he thought about it, the more his tongue stuck out.

Though Ludmila had been active, since Pernok’s close aides had mixed in together to occupy the castle, they’d have to discuss this castle’s disposal again after the war ended.

“King Pernok is terribly greedy.”

“He didn’t become the Mercenary King for nothing.”

Ludmila smiled wryly.

“I understand. For now, let’s quickly turn this castle into a stronghold. Don’t touch a single hair of the castle’s citizens.”

“What shall we do with the soldiers?”

“Kill all the commander-level ones, and after disarming the common soldiers, gather them in one place.”

“Yes!”

Sallio led soldiers and quickly stabilized the castle.

Ludmila looked from the tower toward the route leading to the next castle.

‘This castle is ultimately Rakis’s outskirts. Only after quickly striking out from the coast can we also head to the next castle.’

After organizing his thoughts, Ludmila called his adjutant.

“Can you spare about 5,000?”

“Yes. No problem.”

Ludmila nodded.

“Assign 10 level 7 mages together. Lead 5,000 troops and support the coast.”

“Understood!”

The adjutant descended the tower and reorganized forces.

And around sunset, they selected those with fast feet and headed to the coast.

CLANG!

As sparks flew from clashing weapons, Demos bit his molars hard.

‘Blood Sword… Flemyr.’

No matter how mobile cavalry were on the plains, they couldn’t surpass the enemy’s indiscriminate bombardment and firm shield techniques.

Ultimately, a thoroughly mixed melee unfolded as Flemyr wanted.

If they fought long against Barganta’s army that outnumbered them by 2 or 3 times, his side’s defeat was certain. The only person who could create variables here was Demos alone.

Since Flemyr also knew the enemy’s last resort, he clung on persistently.

“The old man has incredible strength!”

“Rakis’s 13 Lords fall short of rumors.”

Jet-black currents gathered in Demos’s spear. Though it was a special-type Magus Arts that dyed things black and corroded them upon contact, Flemyr’s sword didn’t rust.

Because blood surging from the battlefield gathered in the sword and created a bright red blade that severed everything.

Slash!

When the black current split against red mana, Demos broke into cold sweat.

‘I’m the type that continuously consumes, and Flemyr is the type that absorbs mana from blood. A prolonged battle is disadvantageous for me.’

Demos abandoned the thought of reorganizing forces.

Not only did he lack leisure, there was no way to save the forces being devoured.

‘Quickly kill Flemyr and escape.’

Ultimately he chose the method of giving up cavalry and beheading the enemy commander to aim for the future, but Flemyr also sensed an ominous current.

The black current from Demos’s spear refined into minute needles.

The moment one touched these invisible minute needles, the opponent would corrode without even screaming.

He judged that Flemyr couldn’t dodge the minute needles pouring like rain from a distance of merely ten paces. But Flemyr also activated Magus Arts.

Blood overflowing on the battlefield embraced his body together with the sword.

When Flemyr’s eyes turned red, Demos was shocked.

WOOSH-!

Red afterimages trailing tails sliced through all the minute needles.

The sword swung indiscriminately without any form or style was like a storm.

It looked like a madman with disheveled hair rampaging.

Above all, his mana surged explosively.

Mana rivaling an S2 Magus dyed the sword as thick as if blood would drip and shot forward.

Slash!

Demos’s spear split in half.

As the black current scattered, a red trajectory crossed Demos’s center.

Thud!

The Blood Sword pierced through Demos’s magical barrier and penetrated from abdomen to back. When he raised the sword upward in that state, Demos split with eyes wide open.

Flemyr stabbed his sword into the ground and panted.

“…Sssup, huff… huff… huk…!”

The moment Blood Sword surpassed a certain state, it absorbed all surrounding blood and enhanced the caster.

At this time, the caster obtained mana several times stronger but became unable to breathe.

The activation time of power obtained at the cost of tremendous shock striking the heart was merely 2 minutes.

If he couldn’t settle the match within that time, it was a ‘berserk’ state where Flemyr would die instead.

“Huff… hufff… sssup… haaaa…”

Flemyr, who swept down his chest area, looked around the plains with a pale complexion.

It had somehow been organized.

“We killed the enemy commander!”

When Flemyr squeezed out his last strength and shouted, both enemy and ally looked here.

And stark contrasts formed on faces.

“Those who lay down weapons right now shall be spared!”

Though he shouted while barely lifting the sword where not even blood drops gathered, Rakis had no intention of retreating.

Everyone was charging at Flemyr regardless of Demos’s death.

“Protect the Duke!”

“Annihilate enemy forces!”

Barganta’s army unilaterally ravaged the enemy whose formation had collapsed.

Around sunset, the plains were filled with corpses of humans and horses.

“My lord! Everything’s been handled!”

“The commander-level ones?”

“We killed every last one! It’s a great victory!”

When the adjutant shouted joyfully, Flemyr exhaled a long breath and stood up.

“Prepare immediately.”

“Are we going to the castle?”

“No. We head to Tyr’s army.”

“Didn’t His Majesty say he’d go there?”

“Yes, he said he’d handle it alone. But as a retainer, how can I stand by and let my lord enter enemy lines alone?”

“However, we must support Duke Ludmila…”

“He doesn’t need us to eat one empty castle. If our help had been necessary in the first place, messengers would have already arrived. Seeing there’s no contact, he’s safely occupied the castle, so we won’t go to the castle but serve His Majesty.”

The adjutant said with a firm expression.

“I’ll organize forces within 30 minutes!”

“Hurry. His Majesty and Tyr may have already clashed.”

“Yes!”

Not long after sounding victory, the adjutant’s voice echoed across the battlefield. The soldiers couldn’t even complain about being tired.

At the words they must serve the king, everyone without exception gripped weapons.

Flemyr barely controlled his mana and mounted his horse.

“We shall punish the traitor Tyr and serve His Majesty, making known the alliance army’s dignity to Rakis!”

Flemyr gripped the reins.

“We condemn Tyr!”

Four days were enough for Jan to seize the 100,000-strong army.

The mage transformed into Pernok staged an attack on the reception room, proclaiming Suira and the retainers’ deaths to the soldiers.

Though those who’d witnessed the night’s commotion uniformly said they’d seen Pernok, thousand-man commander-level personnel of each unit couldn’t accept this.

“This doesn’t make sense.”

“How could King Pernok who’s crossing the center come here!”

“Why is only His Highness here without injury?”

Then, the Jester deployed another 13 Lord.

Viscount Marmosa.

His Magus Arts was ‘brainwashing’ that changed lies into truth.

He made those who’d witnessed the disguise artist’s appearance believe it had truly been Pernok.

Commanders who came to voice doubts were all brainwashed and spread through each unit, propagating this absurd lie as truth.

Simultaneously, Jan sent letters making the capital’s kingdom army advance toward Barganta.

Days later, when all confusion was organized and replaced with anger toward Barganta, Tyr’s kingdom army also held a military dispatch.

Now only the 100,000-strong army here remained.

Jan raised the King’s Sword and shouted.

“We shall punish Barganta who betrayed us, proving that justice lives in this land!”

At that time, the 100,000-strong army revered Jan as king.

With everyone gone now, they judged that the next royal succession candidate Jan’s military might was sufficient to lead them.

Thus on the day Tyr’s kingdom army departed, the 100,000-strong army also advanced toward Barganta.

However, they stopped without even going several days.

A familiar figure stood at the route leading to Barganta’s northern border.

“Pernok?”

In an instant, Tyr’s 13 Lords burst with bloodlust.

‘That person is Pernok?’

‘It’s my first time seeing him directly.’

‘If I kill Pernok, I too can become a marquis.’

Jan didn’t block the 13 Lords.

Rather, his mana surged sharply.

“It took quite long. With no time to spare, shouldn’t you have departed earlier? Dawdling like slugs while even bringing Rakis’s 13 Lords.”

Jan ground his teeth.

“When I heard Tyr would bring you along, I was concerned this kind of thing would happen. I’m sorry it actually occurred. And thank you.”

Three 13 Lords and a 100,000-strong army.

And Jan who continued surging.

Before forces sufficient to subjugate a nation, Pernok calmly clenched his fist.

“Thanks to Tyr designating Barganta as an enemy, I too can take your seas and lands without hesitation.”

“Pernooook!”

The moment Jan’s scream-like shout burst out, the 13 Lords moved.

Pure white butterflies and flocks of birds suddenly appeared in the empty sky.

Magus Arts the Jester had intervened in mana and manipulated into forms.

Those touched by these would explode or have mana seep into their bodies to later receive the Jester’s interference.

Pernok glanced at the sky dyed white, then released magic.

Bang bang bang bang!

Hundreds, thousands of magic absorbed through wars began bursting as they met the pure white Magus Arts.

‘Indeed, as reported, he wields various magic. That has already surpassed the category of Double. It’s certainly special-type magic that can manipulate all natural elements.’

The Jester raised all mana.

Anyway, even if he collapsed exhausted on this spot, there were plenty behind to resolve it.

‘Just exhausting his mana is our victory.’

There was no reason to know how Pernok knew to stand here.

What mattered was that he’d now walked into a deathtrap.

The Jester’s lips tore at the fact he could kill the variable Chris most guarded against.

BOOM!

White flashes exploded and scattered in all directions.

Beyond the overflowing fragments, Pernok’s mana was completely cut off.

‘Has his strength run out?’

The Jester had also consumed most of his mana.

Naturally he thought Pernok had also used considerable mana.

But when Pernok took one step forward, the Jester felt inexplicable chills.

That overwhelming presence transmitted to all the 13 Lords.

Thud.

The moment a light stomping sound was heard, Daas reflexively reacted.

He erected a barrier in empty air.

That place was a sanctuary-like space where the Jester hidden by assimilating with surroundings through intervention lay concealed.

However.

Boom!

The barrier shattered the moment it was erected.

The air pierced and the hidden Jester’s appearance was revealed.

BANG!

In the blink of an eye he crashed to the ground.

Pernok landed together and firmly stepped on the back of the Jester’s head.

“…?”

Though they’d watched the series of processes, not only the 13 Lords but even Jan didn’t understand.

They’d merely reflexively responded after something stimulated mana.

When they tried to move their hands, the Jester had already collapsed under Pernok’s foot.

And they witnessed something inexplicable.

Grayish smoke rose from Pernok’s body lacking mana and began pressing down mana.

“Magus Arts that intervenes in everything touching mana as well as objects. Not bad.”

“Th… this… let go…!”

Boooom!

When Pernok added strength to his foot, cracks in the ground starting from the Jester’s face spread in all directions.

“What I need isn’t such Magus Arts though.”

“Grrrrrr!”

The moment the Jester ground his teeth and tried to rise, Pernok added spiritual power to his foot and stomped down.

Thud!

The back of the Jester’s head burst and fragments scattered in all directions.

When he absorbed the spiritual power and mana flowing from the Jester’s body that had died without recourse, his synchronization rate rose by a full 1 percent.

Pernok smiled and looked back.

The 13 Lords and Jan’s shoulders flinched.

“How long will you just watch?”

Since justification was given, Jan’s role was finished.

Pernok had absolutely no intention of leaving the sprout called Tyr united with Rakis alone.

He entered Full Body Weaponization state and looked at enemies indifferently.

“Come.”