Fort Helm

Rammus Trading Company.

With wealth built through trading grains and ores with other nations, they swept through the southeastern region’s commercial world of Rezhen Kingdom.

But what was more famous than that was strict discipline.

Unlike other trading companies, at Rammus, no one could leave the region without the company head’s permission.

A ruthless command system like the military.

Despite forcibly binding company members, the fact that not a single one tried to leave Rammus suggested the company head ‘Rasel’s’ capability.

Recalling various anecdotes about Rasel and Rammus Trading Company, Kelt asked with a worried expression.

“Rammus… Trading Company, right?”

The Rammus emblem came from a level 4 mage killed by Pernok.

For a mage’s individual deviance, the number of subordinates brought was many.

The possibility of someone’s instigation was high.

No matter how he thought about it, there was only one person wealthy enough to move Rammus’ elite mages.

“For now, that possibility is high, but.”

Pernok examined the only clue salvaged from the corpses, Rammus Trading Company’s emblem.

“We need to see more.”

Unlike until now, the attackers left a clue.

Why did thorough bastards make such a mistake?

Could they have thought this many was enough?

Was it a symbol born from confidence?

If not that…

“But for Rammus Trading Company’s emblem to suddenly appear…”

“Let’s confirm.”

Pernok put the emblem in his bosom.

“Whether Rammus is really the mastermind. If that’s right, why they’re targeting Banteras from that side, which seems to have no connection with relics.”

Digging into that reason felt like Pernok would obtain lost records or more efficient clues.

Moreover, the mages’ condition was quite sweet. He was thirsty for training anyway.

There was no need to refuse when they continuously threw prey.

“I’ll identify the mastermind. Leave all possibilities open and prepare.”

“You’ll really let yourself be attacked?”

“Any problem?”

Kelt was at a loss for words.

Though ignorant of magic, seeing Pernok’s exploits, it didn’t feel like recklessness.

“Tell me honestly. What level are you?”

“Currently level 3, but if conditions are met, I could be level 4.”

“Hah…”

A level 4 mage at such a young age.

Talent who would receive precious treatment as an apprentice knight right now even entering the castle.

While surprised, relief swept through his chest.

There was reason for Pernok’s confidence.

“From now on there’ll be no leisure.”

“No need to think difficult. We just do as we have been.”

Pernok felt presences moving secretly.

“Let’s pull out how much they’re hiding before us.”

* * *

Attackers burst out regardless of day or night.

When he tried to capture and extract information, they ate poison hidden in molars and died themselves.

At the attitude as if negotiation and compromise would never exist, Pernok smiled.

‘Quite a greedy bastard.’

Ordinarily they’d show their face out of curiosity, but the opponent persisted in a method of killing and extorting rather than keeping this side alive.

‘They have quite many cards too.’

Ultimately, level 4 mages were the enemy’s limit.

Countless enemies charged, but they only sent one level 3 or 4 mage with numbers filling headcount.

But quantity warfare had no meaning to Pernok.

Proceeding with combat using mana and spiritual power stolen by killing mages, avoiding ordinary people’s eyes and taking brief rest alone recovered the body’s overload.

Though mental fatigue surged, even that created ecstasy when seeing his own growth.

Synchronization Rate – 11%

The Observation Eye began examining to even more detailed domains.

‘Quite many this time.’

He recognized terrain accurately even in the middle of the night.

Where who hid, even the path mana flowed and killing intent were distinctly marked distinguished by color.

‘A general offensive?’

At a glance there were over 100 people. Among them, 2 level 4 mages.

Even Pernok might be swept away as is if he collided head-on.

But turning back wasn’t easy either as that side wasn’t simple.

’50 people in the rear. Among them, 1 level 4 mage.’

Sufficient fighting power to battle, but the problem was the possibility of others quickly joining when facing them.

‘Dozens on both sides… 10 level 3 mages…’

Surrounded on all sides.

Whichever place he struck, they’d join from other directions.

An excessively thorough encirclement to face just two people.

‘They exceeded a trading company’s scope.’

Trading companies that sailed could possess more private soldiers than ordinary companies.

Befitting rough sailing, the number of private soldiers permitted by the castle was also greatest among southeastern region companies.

But the personnel mobilized in this current encirclement far exceeded the castle’s permitted range.

Not the company itself’s forces alone.

‘As expected, not just Rammus. The mastermind cooperates with Rammus or has power to command them.’

Several factions besides Rammus that knew Banteras existed.

Pernok turned his head east.

Just then, splendid fireworks burst within the castle.

It was Kelt’s signal.

From the start, Pernok hid Kelt in the castle.

And he told him not to shoot up anything at the set time if signs of knights or forces coming from the castle were visible.

Bursting fireworks now meant there was no movement at the castle.

‘This many bastards formed an encirclement near the castle, yet the castle stands by. Either the attackers bribed the castle lord, or they were in cahoots from the start…’

Pernok smirked.

‘…Not bad. I can leave without aftermath even killing several bastards.’

Pernok scanned the killing intent seething from all directions.

Exactly one place existed where the encirclement was thin.

‘Now they can’t hold out without revealing themselves.’

Pernok, who smacked his lips, dug into the encirclement’s weak part.

* * *

[Western Z-01 point!]

An urgent shout transmitted through transmission magic to all mages.

Level 3 mages narrowing the encirclement from western vicinity reacted first.

‘At minimum a level 4 mage.’

‘Skilled at person-to-person combat.’

‘Type not accurately grasped, but estimated as physical enhancement.’

‘There’s also a report of using nature type.’

‘Keep possibility of double in mind.’

They recalled information obtained from failed attackers in their heads.

Even in a sudden situation, they absolutely didn’t panic or disturb formation.

Though this was merely a journey to kill just two people, already many colleagues died to Pernok.

Just as Pernok didn’t know the attackers’ identity, the attackers also merely guessed Pernok’s true ability.

And the moment they arrived at the scene, they faced an intense shock to the degree their guesses tangled.

Crack!

Zelto, a level 4 mage who was the rear encirclement’s commander, had his neck broken by Pernok.

“Enhancement type!”

Zelto was an owner of monstrous strength who crumpled even metal lumps with one fist.

Seeing Pernok, who grabbed that Zelto with one hand and broke his neck, anyone couldn’t help but mistake him for enhancement type.

Moreover, Zelto’s subordinates were all torn and cooling coldly…

“Erect a wall!”

“Disallow close combat!”

The mages divided into three branches.

Enhancement types positioned while erecting a wall at the forefront, and deployed nature types and archers on the hill.

With shield soldiers and warriors keeping positions on both sides, orthodox but solid formation was completed.

“Burn it!”

Flames rode the forest and brightened the dark night like bright day.

As soon as vision opened wide, arrows drew beautiful curves.

Iron arrows heavy just to look at, when overlaid with wind magic, swept the battlefield at fierce speed.

Bang!

However, the roar burst from the wrong place.

“That bastard…!”

Pernok, who broke through the wall in the blink of an eye, was twisting an enhancement type’s neck.

“Pressure him!”

The risk of sweeping even allies was high.

Nature types and archers stopped in aimed state, and several warriors descended to join enhancement types.

They didn’t need to kill Pernok. They judged support would come seeing this flame anyway if they just tied his feet.

‘That bastard’s monstrous strength and speed are overwhelming.’

Their judgment to restrict close combat wasn’t bad.

It was even luxury to ponder whether Pernok’s magic specialized in something among enhancement types.

So they missed one thing while concentrating on what was before their eyes.

Information that he used nature type magic.

The possibility of double.

BOOM!

A stone pillar suddenly soared from the region where left rear shield soldiers were.

The ground began splitting as if an earthquake occurred, then balancing became difficult to the degree aiming points blurred.

“It’s magic!”

“A nature type mage is hiding!”

The moment they judged Pernok had a collaborator, they scattered in all directions.

Team form of 4 people per 1 group.

Though they watched all directions as if familiar with unexpected situations, a mage who didn’t exist from the start couldn’t appear.

It was worth Pernok shaking the battlefield with magic ground collapse.

Ultimately, the firmly gathered formation split and revealed those gaps wide open.

‘Only handle mages.’

Pernok dug into the middle of enhancement type mages.

Inducing close combat with them and absolutely not separating so rear support couldn’t come.

‘The frontline deployment’s weakness. Once they start entangling together, they can’t properly utilize tactics they worked hard to make for fear allies might get hurt.’

With rear support delayed, youngsters who enhanced bodies with magic couldn’t handle Pernok’s heavy physical techniques.

Mana Reinforcement clashed with enhancement types like a fish meeting water and easily broke them.

There was no need to move to strength contests.

Using Mana Reinforcement’s power concentrated in one point, he mercilessly broke enemies’ joints.

“Kraaak!”

Twisted moans echoed everywhere.

No matter how physically enhanced mages were, they couldn’t rejoin twisted joints in a twisted state.

“Damn! Shoot!”

When five enhancement types fell in an instant, rear support split into teams burst from all directions.

Magic and arrows mixed and fell like a shower, but Pernok used an enhancement type mage as a shield to block everything.

“Grrk…”

Absorbing mana and spiritual power from dead mages and immediately granting physical enhancement magic to Mana Reinforcement.

Pernok swept the divided enemy rear forces before reloading occurred.

Crack!

Eerie sounds came from everywhere.

In this battlefield where even shield soldiers and warriors were divided, archers and nature type mages specialized in rear attacks became Pernok’s excellent prey.

“Th-this…!”

Those left couldn’t grasp the thread.

This place’s commanders were mages.

While being swept to death by Pernok right now, there was no one to properly issue commands.

Shield soldiers and warriors deployed to help mages while wavering couldn’t withstand Pernok’s overwhelming power and died bursting.

Should they encircle?

Should they support offering their lives?

Or should they flee as is?

During the eternity-like instant passing by, the last remaining mage was sorted out.

“Kugh!”

Pernok acquired nature type magic, Incinerate.

Incinerate was magic that manipulated flames existing around.

When Pernok clenched his palm into a fist, embers spreading in the forest combusted at once.

The moment deep night fell, Pernok spread his fist wide.

Whoosh!

Gigantic flames blazing like flash burst in all directions.

“Kraaaak!”

Whether hiding behind shields or standing with backs to walls.

Any struggle was meaningless floundering before the fire demon.

“H-how…”

A mage whose both arms burned and couldn’t even lift a sword glared at Pernok with shocked eyes.

He was surprised at simultaneously handling enhancement and nature types, but couldn’t believe the appearance not tiring at all while using wide-area magic hard to use twice.

This mana quantity exceeded level 4.

“5, level 5?”

Though he came up with an answer in his own way, that too was wrong.

The mage wouldn’t know even in death the fact that Pernok absorbed dead people’s spiritual power and mana.

Snap!

Pernok, who broke the shocked mage’s neck, absorbed the corpses’ spiritual power.

Synchronization Rate – 13%

He crossed another level’s wall.

But Pernok had to pick up a sword rolling on the ground without time to be immersed in emotion.

‘What is this?’

It wasn’t the level 4 mages first grasped.

Not mana, and he didn’t even turn his back on subordinates.

Something unusual was charging from the north.