Three-Way Alliance

Flash wrapping even mana’s storm tore the atmosphere.

At the sight of all demon beasts touched inside being swept away, each guild’s sub-leaders and executives shouted.

“High-concentration mana storm!”

“Behind trees… get as far away as possible!”

“Ruuuun!”

Human shouts and demon beast screams ran rampant.

No person existed to maintain formation before disaster.

The storm releasing the melee swallowed up to a 300-meter radius.

RUMBLE!

Roars impossible to watch with open eyes overturned heaven and earth.

Mages sat down in panic or desperately resisted.

The storm that flickered like lightning lasted about a minute before disappearing.

Each guild entered lull while blankly looking at the scorched terrain.

In the place where dust cleared, only one person stood.

“Huff, huff.”

Pernok covered in blood all over his body trampled Demon Knight’s bones.

Sallio and Enri were sprawled on the ground like rags while exhaling only feeble breaths.

The two’s gazes turned toward Pernok raising the skull sword.

“Different… magic…”

“Beyond… Double…”

They guessed Double while watching Pernok face Jake.

They judged he handled physical enhancement magic and unique-type magic hiding appearance together.

They thought even so he wouldn’t exceed the level 6 mage category, but this flash now completely overturned the two’s expectations.

Spiritual Law – Divine Punishment.

In the Netherworld it sweeps away souls, but here it changed to powerful destruction art roaring like lightning.

Though he thought the aftermath where mana intervened transformed original Divine Punishment, Pernok felt satisfied with this might.

‘Divine Punishment is the tyrant’s power wrapping everything and driving straight into souls with doubled force. Spiritual power originally takes no form, but the moment mana intervenes, form is created. Though regrettable it strikes flesh not souls, the destructive power is so good it’s unbelievable for the current synchronization rate.’

Pernok gently hid his trembling fist behind.

‘However, spiritual power doesn’t embrace my body like mana. Where it mercilessly swept through can’t recover even with mana. This would be hard to use even once a day with current synchronization rate.’

Must bring infinite spiritual power in his soul to this body, but with minimum synchronization rate, he can barely deploy this technique.

Using it with minimum conditions accompanies considerable danger.

‘After appropriately using Over Impact and magic, I should utilize Divine Punishment as a trump card until synchronization rate rises.’

Not bad for first use in the living world.

Pernok who checked his body condition surveyed surroundings.

Guild members were dazed, and Sallio and Enri barely kept eyes open like they’d faint.

Moans leaking through half-open mouths let him guess the two’s pain.

“Wounds on the body matter less than mana circuit damage.”

Pernok wore the skull sword at his waist.

“The attempt was good. However, strategies you can’t block even knowing are only possible when your skill is superior to opponents. After first crossing swords, you should have revised conceived tactics to raid after I fought Demon Knight.”

“Damn it…”

“Retreat isn’t humiliation. Apparently you’re only familiar with stamping-down tactics. I’ll thoroughly educate you under me going forward on not properly utilizing tactics in this good environment.”

“Wait… for…”

Sallio and Enri rolled their eyes back while spewing bloody foam.

“Mana backflow phenomenon! Take them to heal!”

At Pernok’s shout, guild members’ minds snapped awake.

However, while only aiming weapons at Pernok, they watched each other.

Because it was a situation losing both today’s purpose of suppressing Pernok and the skull sword.

They were hesitating whether to form an encirclement again.

“Demon beasts whose Demon Knight control ended become berserk! If not now, you can’t take these two out!”

Eventually deputy guild leaders shouted while squeezing their eyes shut.

“Escort the guild leaders!”

“Descend to the castle!”

Pernok disappeared in the opposite direction from them.

“Guild leaders’ treatment is priority!”

“Escape before demon beasts awaken!”

While guards watched all directions, guild members began securing Sallio and Enri.

The expressions of those giving simple treatment to Sallio and Enri hardened.

Mana core condition was so seriously bad they’d have to focus only on recuperation for at minimum six months.

Throughout descending the mountain range, Clarity and Hunting Net were silent.

* * *

Rio greatly welcomed Pernok’s safe return.

“You’re saying you suppressed those two so they can’t budge?”

“Is there a problem?”

“No! None! Very good!”

“I heard you stirred up some work meanwhile…”

“Because you produced more results than expected, Lord Pernok, I easily accomplished it. Hereafter, we’ll likely monopolize all this region’s demon beast material business rights.”

When Pernok is active in the light, Rio finishes work in the shadows.

At Rio’s method without even a shred of error, Pernok smirked.

“Mana circuits are tangled. I must rest for a month too.”

“Rest well! I’ll fill contribution even if I have to work Hallam!”

As soon as Pernok shut himself in his room, Rio moved swiftly.

First, he appropriately embellished the mountain range’s collision and spread it to mercenaries.

“Did you hear the Beast’s rumors?”

“Ah! That he clashed with Hunting Net and Clarity?”

“That was a duplicate request. Demon Knight subjugation at that!”

“I saw directly! The Beast brought the skull sword to the association window! That ominousness still gives chills!”

“Then Clarity and Hunting Net were pushed by Bayble?”

“Bayble was handling the request.”

“He faced Clarity and Hunting Net alone?”

“Then Sallio and Enri’s appearance not showing…”

“The Beast! The Beast conquered A-rank guilds!”

Just throwing one stone on the water’s surface, rumors swelled uncontrollably.

Mercenaries’ moods were uncomfortable since Clarity and Hunting Net usually monopolized quests.

Since material to tear into appeared, rumors expanded beyond what Rio wanted.

Hallam made a sour expression.

“Do we need to go this far?”

“What?”

“Clarity and Hunting Net’s clients. I recruited them as you ordered before. We’ll win anyway at this rate, but aren’t we pressing too hard on people who’ll become family?”

Rio clicked his tongue.

“Being that naive, will you gain Lord Pernok’s favor, I wonder?”

“What?”

“Listen well. Those blockheads are the type to immediately charge if you yield even slight gaps. Must stamp them so they can’t even squeak before Sallio and Enri wake.”

Rio tried digging in even more tenaciously at the victory advantage caught with difficulty.

“Three-way alliance? The purpose is good. But the ultimate goal is ‘merging’ guilds without problems. Noise mustn’t arise in the process and after. Must make them into allies who’ll jump in more courageously than anyone when the guild leader orders. So we must imprint on them.”

Rio’s eyes were fierce.

“You were defeated. If you want to preserve even remaining honor, quietly accept results.”

Hallam sometimes felt relief at the fact this terrible Rio is on the same side.

“If demons exist, that would be the advisor.”

“Don’t talk like someone else’s business. When guilds merge, a system will be newly established, and many people will be under you, Hallam. If Clarity and Hunting Net’s deputy guild leaders are stronger than you…”

“Won’t happen!”

“…Right? Since we’re establishing discipline, instead of saying useless things, fill contribution while training, Deputy guild leader Hallam.”

When Rio’s smile deepened, Hallam flinched his shoulders and went outside.

“I should whip that person more.”

Hallam is kind to allies and charges with resolve to stake even life toward enemies.

Seems he’s trying to give affection since Clarity and Hunting Net will become family, but what truly arrogant thinking.

Even fish caught in nets must have bones removed before putting in mouth.

Seems he must plant diverse thinking methods in Hallam who thinks and moves with only one thing.

“Soon I must meet Count Borden too, and finish business with the association branch leader, and secure Clarity and Hunting Net’s clients to our side…”

While Pernok slept, Rio moved busily.

Guild restructuring and business expansion to be born after the three-way alliance.

He went back and forth between association and castle focusing on these two points while firmly laying foundations.

* * *

Pernok’s fame rose daily.

Before long among mercenaries, Pernok was being called Beast King.

“You’ve done something useless.”

“What’s more important than fame to mercenaries? Now just hammer in the wedge.”

As soon as Pernok shook off his sickbed and rose, saying he’d loosen his body, he consecutively succeeded at high-rank quests.

Not enough with that, he began scraping together named requests.

“While Sallio and Enri lie down now, Clarity and Hunting Net can’t continue high-rank quests. Release mid and low-grade quests to mercenaries and we move focusing on high-rank.”

“Yes!”

Though Clarity and Hunting Net’s guild members continued mid and low-grade requests, it couldn’t match contribution Pernok earned in one go.

Though he leisurely performed high-rank quests while also letting Bayble guild members build experience, the gap opened absurdly wide.

Not only because of Pernok’s unparalleled abilities.

Clarity and Hunting Net were only temporary alliance, originally a relationship competing with each other.

While Pernok played above, the two guilds fought each other with reddened eyes below to obtain even remaining quests.

But they absolutely couldn’t handle the gap widening from Pernok without Sallio and Enri.

Eventually, Sallio and Enri who opened their eyes could only watch Pernok’s hardened advantage.

Even in situations where victory was certain, Pernok continued quests.

Harsh subjugations continued reducing even rest time to grow guild members.

When about half a year passed, only five including Hallam were breathing beside Pernok.

“From today I’ll designate you as three-way alliance executives.”

Now even combining Clarity and Hunting Net’s contribution couldn’t match one Pernok.

He was unparalleled, and was stepping on the level 7 mage threshold.

Rio utilized heightened fame to make the demon beast material workshop the castle’s best.

He concluded continuous demon beast material contracts with veteran mercenaries and began extending hands even to Clarity and Hunting Net’s business places.

When nearly a year passed, only Bayble’s magnificence overflowed in the mountain range.

Pernok called Rio and Hallam.

“Assemble guild members.”

“Yes!”

All Bayble guild members gathered.

They whose eyes sharpened from harsh training followed behind Pernok in orderly appearance.

Hundreds from Clarity and Hunting Net’s affiliated guilds gathered before the association.

“Alliance leader is proceeding! Move aside!”

The moment Hallam shouted resonantly, gazes gathered this way.

Though Clarity and Hunting Net’s affiliated guilds ground their teeth, they opened the path one by one.

Pernok entered the association only accompanied by Rio and Hallam on both sides.

It was a form where reception desk’s Ramut faced Enri and Sallio.

Pernok penetrated between them and strange tension flowed through the hall.

Bayble 25000.

Clarity 11235.

Hunting Net 11200.

One year’s contribution Ramut showed without words was Pernok’s complete victory.

“Any complaints?”

Pernok looked at the two alternately.

“None.”

“Nope.”

Sallio had a hollow expression, and Enri showed resigned appearance.

“Just remember this one thing.”

Pernok said indifferently.

“Betrayal is death.”

At the appearance confidently talking like try if you dare, Sallio and Enri shook their heads.

‘We lost.’

That one statement just now hammered the wedge.

They saw his abilities, competed, directly felt them.

Confidence entering even knowing the trap.

Thoroughness stamping down with full power to the end.

Various magic they couldn’t dare guess.

He was a person with vessel too large to place under their command.

Pernok passed the two and stood before Ramut.

“There’s something I want officially approved by the association.”

“Please speak.”

“Bayble, Clarity, and Hunting Net here become one from now.”

“These three guilds?”

Pernok resolutely shouted.

“A three-way alliance.”

* * *

That day.

Where numerous crowds gathered, Bayble, Clarity, and Hunting Net’s merger was declared.

Under the association’s approval, Sallio and Enri served Pernok as alliance leader.

The new three-way alliance guild name is Named.

A massive guild possessing two level 6 mages and five level 5 mages with Pernok as the axis was born.

Named’s birth spread beyond Rezhen to each nation.

One day when mercenaries’ membership inquiries continued endlessly, another shocking news burst out.

“The mage association recognizes Pernok as a level 7 mage.”

Less than a year after becoming level 6, Pernok toppled another wall.