Escalation

Three capable people equal to or above Silver priest level.

Behind him crouched his faction, and ahead were the people.

The Magus Arts deployed in the castle was Deep Night’s domain.

The moment he escapes this, the Magi’s indiscriminate magic power will erase the castle.

His worries were brief.

Even if opponents were three Magi, Pernok had no thought of retreating.

The Magi who boldly revealed themselves without caring about the disturbance didn’t try to hide their identities.

No, perhaps they might try to devour Pernok and this castle whole and erase the traces.

‘Did he say he supports Vans?’

A group of Magi supporting Vans.

There’s only one force that can conduct such a bold attack.

“Was it Rakis?”

“I’m called Count Morpheus.”

The man at the rear began flowing out chilling magic power.

Resolute will to definitely kill also transmitted from the Magi on both sides.

“Invading another nation. Rakis won’t be unaware of the meaning of these words?”

“Prince Pernok, it’s not only you. Since comrades who’ll die together are waiting above, if you obediently present your neck, I promise to send this castle off painlessly.”

The three Magi’s magic power knocked on Deep Night.

The moment space rippled in thick magic power.

“You bastards will definitely regret today.”

A sharp wave occupied above the three Magi’s heads.

Pedson’s Magus Arts Deep Night can explode space’s magic power in desired forms. It also freely moves all things belonging to space.

Sudden explosions swept over them repeatedly.

But they who burst through the smoke rushed at Pernok without a hint of confusion.

“As expected, not only enhancement-type.”

Morpheus pointed at Pernok with his finger.

“Double is definite as per information.”

In an instant, his eyes darkened.

Magic power covered his eyes like thin fog.

In a situation where he couldn’t see, his skin stung.

He felt sickles squeezing from all directions.

No matter how much Magus Arts, they can’t even cover Observation Eye activated by spiritual power.

Clang!

Pernok swung the glove left and blocked the descending sickle.

“The Rakis Magus wielding a sickle. Blue Sword Bülk.”

A tingling resonance transmitted to his wrist riding the sickle.

He captured the chilling magic power rising from the lower right.

‘Bülk’s sickle transcends space. It’s also possible to segment the sickle and launch fragments.’

The Rakis barons’ and viscounts’ Magus Arts are in a state where each nation shares information to some degree.

Though count rank and above are veiled, Pernok roughly guessed the principle of Morpheus’s unique Magus Arts.

‘He covers eyes. Something like a curtain. No, that’s merely miscellaneous skills derived from Magus Arts.’

The blue light surrounding Morpheus’s soul stands out.

Among natural-type mages, those who handle water and ice commonly held such light.

‘A natural-type Magus or one handling similar elements.’

Pernok shook off 4 consecutive strikes in an instant and soared into midair.

The curtain blocking his eyes was cleanly washed away.

‘Though I can control magic power this delicately within my domain, that distance is about 20m. The moment I exceed that range, he can’t use derivative skills.’

“You seem to have leisure to look away!?”

Space tore and Bülk’s sickles attacked from all directions.

Pernok grabbed Bülk’s arm as if he’d waited and pulled him forward.

“Neither of us has anywhere to flee in midair.”

He intended to use Bülk as a shield as is and descend toward Morpheus, but another Magus squeezed Pernok’s surroundings with sticky liquid.

“That applies to you, bastard.”

The hand gripping Bülk became empty.

Before he knew it, he was casually hanging the sickle on his shoulder on the ground.

‘Even when grabbed, the space-moving Magus Arts activates as is?’

Simultaneously burning into his head the space Magus Arts’ application method not in the information, mucus stuck to Pernok.

Hissss!

When sounds of burning in midair were heard, Raina the liquefaction Magus Arts user wore a fishy smile.

She judged Pernok completely melted without even leaving form. But Morpheus indifferently flicked his palm.

Clang!

Ice surged and blocked the sword strike that rose riding the shadow.

Bülk and Raina who reacted to the sound looked at Pernok occupying Morpheus’s rear before they knew it.

“Space application…… did you imitate it after seeing Bülk?”

When Bülk and Raina thought they’d seized victory, it was a winning move he activated.

Though it was an assassin’s method of mixing shadow magic with Deep Night to move the body to desired places, Morpheus still wasn’t easily caught.

“Ice, no, steam.”

“Let’s call it water.”

Thin air currents were swirling around him. That serves as an automatic defense barrier role detecting and blocking all approaching things.

Though Morpheus’s magic’s foundation was water, he employed unique techniques using natural-type divided into multiple branches.

“Your nerve, Magus Arts’ application methods, there’s nothing to criticize. The more I see, the more regrettable.”

Blue air currents overlaid Deep Night.

In a world as if a pale sky arrived, Morpheus’s chilling voice echoed.

“Abandon one arm.”

Instantly, Bülk’s magic power that had been spreading around condensed on the sickle.

Magic power density thick enough to believe even an S2 Magus flashed radiance.

Boom!

Radiance rivaling Bülk blocked the sickle that reached his temple.

When everyone noticed, rags-like robes were fluttering beside Pernok.

It was a Magus’s capability comparable to Morpheus.

“These crazy bastards.”

The murmur was heard by everyone in this place.

And Morpheus’s group fell silent.

They seemed flustered that this unfamiliar person who suddenly penetrated through one part of space wasn’t their ally.

“They launch hands first without looking ahead or behind.”

“Who the hell……”

As if ignoring Morpheus’s confusion, the unfamiliar person burst out roughly stepping on the ground.

He struck down a greatsword bearing bluish radiance on Bülk.

BOOOOM!

All directions were wrapped in violent magic power as if a storm swept through.

Enemy or ally.

That wanderer-like person definitely conveyed to Pernok simultaneously with bursting out explosive sounds.

“High priest.”

He was the Holy Kingdom’s Magus.

But among the Holy Kingdom’s Magi Pernok knew, there was no one like him.

Because on the day Klein died, he’d watched all the Holy Kingdom priests’ Magus Arts.

‘Though they’re complicated bastards.’

He had no leisure to ponder deeply.

Just now, the magic power Bülk condensed on the sickle was a double-edged sword that ate even his own flesh.

Using space as propulsion, the blood vessels in the arm that swung the sickle rotated at high speed burst out.

If the Holy Kingdom’s Magus hadn’t blocked in the middle, one arm might have necrotized.

Bülk who tried to take Pernok’s life at the cost of an arm rather was swayed by variables eating his fighting power.

His appearance blocking the greatsword with one remaining arm looked difficult.

“Was there another Magus in Pernok’s faction!”

At Morpheus’s voice that seemed reproachful, Raina answered while minutely spreading mucus.

“It’s a Magus not included in the information!”

Very fine things like saliva droplets.

They spread thinly and squeezed Pernok and the Holy Kingdom’s Magus.

If not for Observation Eye, he wouldn’t have even seen them approaching.

Boom boom boom!

Pernok burst Over Impact and blocked the minutely spread liquid. And he headed toward the Holy Kingdom’s Magus who distanced from Bülk and stepped back.

“Are you Silver priest level?”

“Would I be worth comparing to that shame?”

This Magus unknown even to Rakis definitely revered God of Dawn.

“Type.”

“Enhancement.”

“How many can you face?”

“Even the one injured bastard isn’t easy.”

“I can’t kill all those bastards…… Then, I’ll shake them so they can’t snoop around.”

Detailed plans weren’t necessary.

The two people who only exchanged the most necessary things ran separately.

The Holy Kingdom’s Magus burst blue radiance toward Bülk and Raina.

Pernok entered Circulation Link heading toward Morpheus.

Vrrrooom!

The magic powers supporting space all being sucked into Pernok’s glove made Morpheus’s spine creepy.

‘Were there other means besides magic power that dominated this space?’

Though he came keeping enhancement and peculiar types in mind, vast magic power beyond imagination gathers toward Pernok.

When it burst out in one instant, he couldn’t even guess to what scale it would expand.

‘Is he planning to blow away even this castle?’

But to call it an extreme measure, the newly intruding Magus bothered him.

His appearance deploying greatsword techniques facing Bülk and Raina was unusual.

Looking at that blue aura immune to natural-type despite being enhancement-type, Pernok seemed confident he and the Magus would absolutely not be swept up in this mysterious power.

‘A type that thoroughly drives only at opponents.’

Morpheus felt Pernok’s Circulation Link was a desperate move and concentrated the blue draped over the domain in the center.

‘I’ll trap and burst it as is.’

Blue covered Pernok.

When Pernok trapped in the blue sphere extended his fist, Morpheus grinned.

That sphere is a kind of reflection barrier.

The moment he bursts power inside, all bombardment will focus on the trapped person.

It was the moment he judged Pernok who didn’t stop Circulation Link would self-destruct.

Whoom……

The power gathered in the glove in an instant scattered while trapped inside.

Perhaps from forcibly swallowing the power trying to burst out, bloody tears flowed from Pernok’s eyes.

And.

BOOM!

Explosive sounds surged from all around Morpheus.

“Kuk!”

Explosions that pierced even the automatic defense barrier dyed Morpheus’s arms and legs in pitch-black dots.

Soon the dots expanded as surfaces and tried to rush to Morpheus’s heart.

Bang!

Morpheus who released the sphere shouted while barely suppressing darkness that penetrated his body.

“Point B!”

Simultaneously, the greatsword the Holy Kingdom’s Magus swung struck down on empty space.

Bülk and Raina fled tearing Deep Night without looking back.

Morpheus who’d already driven out all darkness wiped blood flowing from his lips and glared at Pernok.

‘Too many variables.’

He’d intended to process quickly and escape, but Pernok’s resistance was fiercer than expected.

Rather, if he’d been alone, he would’ve continued combat.

But the existence of the Magus who intruded simultaneously when Bülk burst his winning move bothers him.

‘If there are additional forces not in our intelligence network……’

He must finish work without 13 Lords’ sacrifices.

If he’d continued combat like this, definitely one person would’ve died.

‘Tsk, did the empire’s intelligence rust?’

Morpheus left staggering Pernok behind and escaped Deep Night.

Simultaneously, all deployed domains released.

Pernok shook trembling hands and forcibly held his spirit.

‘That was shallow.’

After focusing Morpheus’s nerves with Circulation Link’s massive power, he aimed for his blind spot with Deep Night.

Though Pernok’s insides flipped from stopping Circulation Link midway, Morpheus had to suffer even worse erosion.

But Morpheus responded faster than Pernok expected.

Though darkness that stuck once shouldn’t be easily shaken off, Morpheus concentrated magic power at his heart the moment Deep Night burst and blocked penetration.

And from the heart, he extended magic power to his limbs, recovered Magus Arts circulated externally, and shook off Deep Night from outside the body.

Dangerous and bold, but thanks to that, Morpheus could escape Pernok’s Magus Arts with light internal injuries.

“They aren’t ordinary bastards. Were such Magi hiding in Illumina?”

“It’s Rakis.”

“Rakis……”

“Count-level senses are indeed different. It’s been a while since someone more vicious than Silver priest.”

“Stop muttering about that silver bastard?”

“Are you God of Dawn’s cleric?”

“I was a battle cleric guarding borders, but I received the High Priest’s summons and became a priest.”

He who brushed off the greatsword placed his palm on Pernok’s back.

When bluish aura seeped into Pernok, his mind cleared and internal twisting began recovering.

“My Magus Arts handles healing and combat simultaneously. Since it’s also not well known externally, I came receiving the High Priest’s errand this time. Call me Jean.”

“I’m Pernok. Let’s talk separately inside.”

And Pernok who turned around shouted to Sallio.

“Attend the honored guests and calm the castle interior! Also gather the guild masters to discuss the future!”

“Yes!”

Sallio took the flustered honored guests and exited the mansion.

Pernok indicated the broken mansion to Priest Jean.

“Let’s go.”

“You’re a prince who likes quite shabby places.”

Pernok and Priest Jean entered the office inside the mansion.

* * *

Jean was a secret Magus in charge of border defense.

Unbefitting a cleric, he was assigned the role of hiding and killing enemies infiltrating the rear, and even Rakis didn’t know his existence.

Even inside Dawn Temple, there were many who didn’t know his name, but with Silver priest’s death, he came to gain a new name.

“At the Grand Temple council, we recognized you as priest, Dawn Temple’s only Magus. From now on we’ll call you ‘Jean.'”

Priest Jean who received Arisha’s summons headed directly to Illumina.

“Please convey this letter to His Highness Pernok.”

Meanwhile, Pernok’s prestige was shaking the world, and since he was holding a banquet, entering this marquis territory wasn’t difficult.

“……Then, Magus Arts deployed. I watched the situation a bit, but it seemed you’d die, so I intervened immediately. If the person to deliver the letter to dies, wouldn’t it stain my first career?”

“For a priest, you covet honor quite a lot.”

“I’ve been stuck at the border for decades. Because of that silver idiot, Dawn Temple’s glory is now nosediving to the ground. I have to do something.”

Pernok smirked.

“By the way, why is Rakis acting like that? No matter how much they gathered only war-mad evil spirits, I don’t think they were such thugs as to openly strike a nation’s prince?”

“I sent people, so we’ll know the reason soon.”

“If Rakis is twisted, it’ll be a bit troublesome but…… well, the High Priest must’ve judged wisely.”

Priest Jean took out a thin letter envelope from his bosom.

“Whatever it is, the high priest instructed me to receive a reply.”

Pernok opened the envelope and checked the contents.

Where the Holy Kingdom’s light dwells, temples shall be built.

The Holy Kingdom promises to do its utmost to protect our nation’s well-being.

A simple sentence written on one sheet of paper.

It was an alliance intention to fully cooperate with Pernok in exchange for building temples.

Pernok burned the letter and recalled Rakis that suddenly attacked.

“This is doable.”