Chapter 78: Assault (6)

 

With Damian’s act of killing Walter, the incident in Legion’s forest seemed to be drawing to a close. However, this did not mean that the issue was entirely resolved.

 

Toward the man racing atop the trees, modified creatures charged from all directions.

 

In the forest, this man was on the chase for one of the masterminds behind the unfolding incident. Gwen, with his elusive maneuvers, easily dodged the monsters’ assaults and swiftly countered, slicing down the creatures one by one. His sword strokes, delivered while sprinting atop trees, were unstoppable and precise.

 

Some met their end with a single slash, their bodies severed into pieces. Others, perhaps with their tendons severed, could no longer pursue Gwen and plummeted to the ground below.

 

If he was his usual self, Gwen would have followed them down to ensure their end. But at this moment, incapacitating them was enough. After all, it was the life of the magician controlling them that mattered, not the lives of these monsters.

 

Having diminished the number of monsters for over ten minutes, Gwen noticed a significant reduction in their count. The ones he had just slain were likely the last under his intuition.

 

Only one remained now—the suspected magician who had controlled them all.

 

With no more obstacles, the distance between Gwen and the mastermind had decreased to a point where he could visually confirm his presence. Spotting a figure in a black robe concealing his face, Gwen instantly knew it was his target.

 

This wasn’t an unfounded certainty.

 

The man, almost advertising his position, did not hide his presence. Gwen’s intuition was directed at the man before him.

 

Identifying the magician’s location, Gwen swiftly drew a throwing knife from his waist and hurled it toward him.

 

The knife, emanating a thick green aura, flew with wind-like speed, lodging precisely in front of the magician’s head. The man, who had been moving from tree to tree, had no choice but to halt due to the knife suddenly in front of him. Soon, the gust emanating from the embedded knife thrust him to the ground.

 

A shadow of a sword loomed over the falling magician. The sound of the sword, intermixed with the wind, sent chills down the magician’s spine.

 

With storm-like ferocity, the sword descended toward the magician’s head.

 

Yet, the swift strike did not cleave the magician’s head.

 

Despite the blade being sharp enough to slice through solid wood in one swing, it was halted by an unforeseen transparent barrier. However, even with the barrier holding the blade, the magician continued to plummet. Gwen pressed on, driving both the barrier and the magician into the ground.

 

A deafening thud echoed, vibrating throughout the forest.

 

The ensuing dust cloud momentarily obscured their figures, but it was quickly blown away, revealing the two men facing each other.

 

The magician, who should have been pinned to the ground by Gwen’s sword, stood on his feet before Gwen, his robe covered in dirt, as if having used some magic.

 

Until now, he had been so focused on advertising that he hadn’t realized Gwen was approaching him. When the magician met Gwen’s gaze, there was a fleeting look of surprise. However, Gwen soon noticed the slight upward curve of his lips.

 

Dusting off the dirt on his robe, he looked at Gwen, who was holding his sword, and let out a faint smile.

 

“So, I tried to catch a dragon and ended up with this mere wyvern. Well... It’s decent. Being the Knight Commander of Kraus, you’d make a good companion in the underworld.”

 

“Looks like the insignificant one here sure talks a lot. The demonic magician, William Cromwell.”

 

“There’s no need for formalities if you know my name. Convenient.”

 

Gwen once again surveyed his surroundings with his senses.

 

Due to the thick magical atmosphere of the Luneproud Mountains, the range he could sense wasn’t vast. However, he trusted his instincts. Aside from himself and the demonic magician, William, in front of him, there was no other presence.

 

The demonic magician drew strength from the creatures they controlled. But why would William, who knew his weaknesses better than anyone, do something like this?

 

Gwen knew that he had killed many of William’s creatures by the time he confronted him, but he did not believe that was all he had. After all, he was the archbishop of a heretic religion that had been declared an enemy of the royal family. It might be mere bravado, but he judged it was more likely he had other cards to play.

 

He steadied himself, glancing at the dagger Damian had given him, which was now lodged between him and William.

 

The red gem on the dagger, even without light, shone brilliantly on its own.

 

***

 

While Gwen maintained his utmost concentration, William, on the other hand, seemed relaxed, as if he knew exactly what was on Gwen’s mind. He knew that today might be his end, but his life wasn’t what was important to him.

 

‘The diversion is successful.’

 

Ironically, the reason for William’s smile was none other than Gwen’s presence.

 

Contrary to Gwen’s assumptions, William had moved all his controllable creatures elsewhere. Not only were his forces confined to the forest, but his main army of creatures was already marching towards Legion’s camp.

 

Whether the assault succeeded or not wasn’t the point. He knew it likely wouldn’t.

 

In the camp, the formidable Black Dragon, Arthur Kraus, stood guard, and with him, the renowned southern noble warriors and their troops. Just the Black Dragon alone was nearly omnipotent, and with the presence of the renowned warriors and their troops, victory was near impossible.

 

Yet, he had deployed his forces for one reason: to divert their attention from the forest’s interior. That was what William wanted.

 

Naturally, in pursuit of the root cause of the incident, they would eventually move into the forest. But in the face of an attack, their attention would inevitably be on the creatures.

 

Even for someone as powerful as the Sword Master, whose martial prowess was said to touch the heavens, it would be the same. Moreover, being the lord of the south, he couldn’t easily abandon his post until the situation stabilized.

 

Of course, with his prowess, suppressing the monsters wouldn’t take long. However, he had reasons to buy time, even if it meant going to these lengths.

 

There were two variables, and two uncertainties in William’s plans.

 

Firstly, for some reason, his connection to the monsters was not recovering as it should. He could issue sporadic commands, but the detailed control he once had was now impossible. Under normal circumstances, he could have expanded his ‘network’ to command even the wild monsters around him. However, just maintaining this weakened connection was draining.

 

But this wasn’t the main issue.

 

After all, William wasn’t seeking victory. All he wanted was for a war to break out between the monsters and the Southern army. The only regret was the time wasted when he wasn’t in command. From his perspective, every extra moment he could gain was crucial.

 

The second uncertainty was the chase of the head of the Black Dragon Knights, considered one of the southern region’s most formidable forces, following right after the Black Dragon himself.

 

This second problem could uproot William’s entire plan. Hence, he could smile upon seeing Gwen attacking him.

 

He didn’t hide his presence, inviting the chase. However, he couldn’t be sure if Gwen would actually pursue him. If, by any chance, Gwen met the princess and the prince, all of William’s preparations would have been for naught.

 

‘But now it’s done. The Wyvern has flown here, and now the princess and the prince are unprotected.’

 

All uncertainties were eliminated.

 

Except for Gwen, no one else in the forest could face Walter. His skills were undeniable, and unless something unexpected occurred, he would successfully complete his mission.

 

In light of this fact, William laughed, seemingly forgetting Gwen was pointing his sword at him. William, who had sent his main force—the monsters—to the camp and was prepared for destruction, and Gwen had a difference that wasn’t easily bridged by mere determination.

 

“You really were all talk and no substance.”

 

“HAHAHAHA! Foolish bastard. Go on, keep babbling as you please...”

 

But he laughed.

 

It was a life already forsaken, and with his plan having succeeded, he didn’t care if his throat was slit right then and there.

 

“That damned laugh of yours is rather grating.”

 

Until that voice echoed.

 

Looking up at the sky, William saw the owner of the voice, a man standing with the sun behind him.

 

With the sun shrouded, the man seemed to gaze down on the world from a celestial realm. His eyes resembled that of a dragon scrutinizing its prey from high above.

 

No, that man was surely a dragon.

 

William recognized him. During the plotting of his plan, he’d often referred to the Black Dragon, and it was indeed this man he referred to. Perhaps the saying “words bear fruit” was apt for this situation. The bluff he had made in front of Gwen had materialized.

 

“How... how are you here now...!”

 

“Hmm? Where’s that confident laughter from before? Now you’re trembling like a scared little whelp?”

 

Did it scare him?

 

Such crude words for one ruling a territory, but this was the definitive proof that he was Arthur Kraus.

 

William’s face contorted sharply upon hearing the voice. Not because he felt insulted by Arthur’s words, but because his mind was filled with disbelief. Why was someone who should be tied up at the front lines right before his eyes? His shock was palpable.

 

As Arthur reached out, a dagger embedded in the ground was drawn into his hand.

 

As the dagger settled in his grip, the red gem embedded in its hilt shone brighter than ever.

 

“The family’s sacred relic is rolling on the ground... Ugh, I shouldn’t have entrusted it.”

 

“...I apologize, Lord.”

 

“I wasn’t talking to you. No need to be concerned. It was meant for the one I entrusted it to. I clearly told him never to let it leave his side…”

 

Tsk-

 

The sound of a tongue clicking softly echoed in the woods. The two seemed to have forgotten their purpose, casually conversing with William caught in the middle.

 

Arthur’s words and actions didn’t seem like those of someone who had just been in a battle. The clothes and armor he wore were pristine, without a speck of blood, making one doubt if he had indeed rushed directly from the forest.

 

However, William dismissed such thoughts. If Arthur didn’t fight, he would lose his respect among the Southern families. While the reason Kraus could rule in the South was due to his immense strength, his role as the protector of the South was the most significant, and Arthur couldn’t neglect this duty.

 

Trying to make sense of the situation, William stared at Arthur, grasping onto his sanity, which felt like it could snap at any moment.

 

Regardless of how events had unfolded, the Black Dragon’s entry into the forest was undeniably too early. William had faith in Walter’s skills, but if he hadn’t dealt with the prince and princess yet, their plan was in jeopardy.

 

‘I must somehow buy time.’

 

William acted swiftly.

 

As he made up his mind, he focused his magic power into one spot. True to his reputation as a demonic magician, able to monsters in legion with his craft, the magic power contained within him was extraordinary. Adding the divinity granted to him as the archbishop, the sheer force he emitted made the forest tremble.

 

Aware that the situation was shifting, Arthur, who had been consistently ignoring him and conversing with Gwen, finally turned his gaze to William.

 

“You’re too late, you fool!”

 

Having concentrated his magic, William’s body became akin to a ticking time bomb.

 

The power he unleashed made him so volatile that the slightest touch could devastate the vicinity. No matter how transcendent, no one was invincible. Being this close, William was confident he could inflict significant damage.

 

Any careless swing of a sword might set off an explosion. They might be aware of it, but given their nature, they couldn’t simply walk away. William was sure he had set up an undeniable trap.

 

“All this time, you’ve been so noisy.”

 

Yet, as life rarely follows one’s desires, William was met with a very different expression from Arthur than he had expected. Arthur glared at him, looking genuinely annoyed by the ruckus next to him.

 

With the dagger in his hand, Arthur lightly drew a line in the air.

 

Watching Arthur’s casual gesture, William, who was previously radiating threatening energy, now stared with a stunned face. As expected, Arthur had drawn his sword, but he didn’t release any blade energy and simply waved it in the air. To William, this action was utterly incomprehensible.

 

Until his field of vision was suddenly split in two.

--- END OF CHAPTER ---

 

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