This Bastard is a Dark Mage! (2)
Ghislain wasn't taunting Gasqot out of some twisted hobby—it was necessary.
'Ugh, I need to catch my breath.'
By creating an artificial mana core, he had pushed Astion's body beyond its natural limits.
Of course, his body was bound to suffer from the strain. He had taken down more than half of the enemies, yet quite a few still remained.
The knights of Fenris had managed to subdue the high priests of the Salvation Church by working together. The ones standing here now were fewer in number than the Fenris knights but slightly superior in rank.
Fighting such opponents inevitably drained even someone like Ghislain.
'Well, I expected as much…'
He was confident he could win even if he fought them head-on, but there was no need to engage in an exhausting battle when an alternative existed.
He knew that displaying dark magic would provoke a reaction. As expected, Gasqot had a fit, frantically trying to prove his so-called innocence.
"This bastard is a Dark Mage! I saw it! I saw it with my own eyes!"
"......"
The knights still looked confused. Among them were knights dispatched from other noble houses.
Gasqot was a renowned knight. They couldn't understand why someone of his stature was obsessing over such nonsense at such a critical moment.
But for Gasqot, whose honor was as weighty as his reputation, this situation was unbearable.
Ghislain poured oil onto the fire.
"Why are you suddenly making up such a 'lie'? We're trying to kill each other anyway. What does it matter if I'm a Dark Mage or not?"
The knights, unconsciously, nodded in agreement. They had just accepted the enemy's words.
That sight drove Gasqot further into madness.
"You bastard! Are you mocking me?!"
Suppressing resentment was difficult enough, but it became even harder when one's dignity was at stake.
Seeing Gasqot seething with rage, Ghislain provoked him once more.
"If you're too scared to fight me, just say so. Don't waste time with nonsense."
"You… You insolent…!"
"You've been hanging back, just waiting for me to wear myself out, haven't you? Is that why you're stalling?"
"S-Shut up! That's not it!"
"Then come at me. If you're scared, feel free to gang up on me."
Ghislain smirked and beckoned with his fingers. The provocation worked like a charm.
"Fine! I'll kill you right here and now!"
Gasqot, his face flushed red, unleashed his full power. His sword shot toward Ghislain with tremendous speed.
Clang!
The two warriors clashed once more.
The other knights hesitated, instinctively stepping back. The fight had suddenly taken on the air of a one-on-one duel.
Even Yulian and Kyle withdrew, watching the battle unfold.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Gasqot, his mind clouded with fury, still believed he had the upper hand.
'His movements are slower than before. He must be exhausted from fighting off the group attack.'
Indeed, Ghislain was being pushed back ever so slightly.
Gasqot was a knight whose pride exceeded that of his peers. Though rage and frustration had fueled his initial charge, his thoughts soon shifted.
At first, he had planned to attack alongside the other knights. But as the duel continued, he realized he could win on his own.
Had his opponent been at full strength, Gasqot wouldn't have stood a chance in a one-on-one fight. He wouldn't have lasted long. But with Ghislain weakened, his chances of victory had significantly increased.
'This is my chance to elevate my honor!'
Not even dozens of high-level knights and two peak high-level warriors had been able to bring this man down. But if he could defeat him alone?
Even considering his opponent's weakened state, it would earn him endless praise. As a knight, how could he pass up such an opportunity?
Gasqot pressed his attack, shouting with conviction.
"I will end this! Maintain the perimeter so he can't escape!"
The knights, slightly bewildered, followed his command. After all, Gasqot was the strongest among them and held command over the group.
Though more than half of them had been defeated, they had enough numbers left to form a solid perimeter. As the knights swiftly moved into position, Yulian and Kyle found themselves trapped inside the encirclement.
Since containment was their goal, combat did not resume immediately. The two watched Ghislain with wary eyes and growing concern.
'He'll be fine… right?'
'Wait, is this the part where we need to escape?'
Ghislain was visibly being pushed back. Naturally, the two couldn't help but worry.
Boom!
As the stage was set, Ghislain smirked. Gasqot was undoubtedly strong. If he experienced a breakthrough now, he could surpass his limits.
But that had yet to happen. And that meant a massive gap still remained between them.
Boom!
Sparks flew as sword and staff collided.
Gasqot's blade carved through the air like lightning, relentlessly pushing Ghislain back. Having reached the peak of the high-rank level, his swordsmanship seemed nearly flawless.
Ghislain continuously retreated, skillfully parrying with his staff. With each impact, fiery sparks scattered into the air.
"As expected, you're pretty good. You'd make an excellent corpse, don't you think?"
"You bastard! You really are a Dark Mage!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Even the knights surrounding them had to take a few steps back from the sheer force.
Fwoosh!
Suddenly, Gasqot's sword grazed Ghislain's left shoulder. At last, Ghislain had taken his first wound.
Gasqot's eyes shone with exhilaration. He could actually win. He saw the possibility.
Ghislain swiftly thrust his staff forward. Gasqot barely dodged, twisting his head to the side. Just as he prepared to counterattack, Ghislain's quiet voice echoed.
"Enchant Fire."
Fwoooosh!
In an instant, Ghislain's staff became wreathed in flames. Gasqot felt the heat sting his face as he instinctively leaped back.
"Urgh!"
The sheer intensity of the flames made his helmet and shoulder guards glow red-hot, threatening to sear his skin.
He expelled mana to block the heat, then hastily discarded his helmet. But the moment he did, Ghislain's staff struck.
Boom!
"Urgh!"
The blow landed against his side, sending pain surging through his body. Somehow, it wasn't just the impact—heat and force combined to penetrate deep within him.
Still, Gasqot endured. Gritting his teeth, he swung his sword once more.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Each time Ghislain's staff moved, trails of fire followed like the tail of a comet. His fluid movements seemed almost like a dance as he effortlessly drove Gasqot back.
The sudden reversal left Gasqot utterly disoriented. The oppressive heat made countering nearly impossible.
'H-How can he use magic like this…?'
Gasqot had assumed that forcing close combat would prevent spellcasting. Even if magic were used, he believed he could power through it.
But this… this was something else entirely. The flames were so intense that just approaching was a struggle.
The longer the fight dragged on, the worse it became. He had to expend more mana to withstand the heat.
"Urgh…"
Gasqot clenched his teeth. Despite reinforcing himself with mana, the burning sensation seeped through his armor. His stamina and mana were depleting at an alarming rate.
Never before had he seen a mage wield magic like this. It was unpredictable and impossible to counter.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
With every clash, despair crept further into Gasqot's face.
No matter what he tried, nothing worked.
He was outmatched in skill, overwhelmed by his opponent's combat style.
Every time his sword met Ghislain's staff, waves of unbearable heat assaulted him, making him feel as if he were burning alive.
It was only natural. Ghislain was pouring an immense amount of mana into maintaining the flames. Conventional magic wouldn't affect someone like Gasqot.
The sheer output was enough to fuel large-scale spells. The resulting heat was monstrous.
Boom!
As their weapons collided once more, Gasqot staggered backward, struggling to maintain his balance.
He gasped for air, his lungs already feeling like they had been scorched black.
Gasqot, his face twisted in pain, hastily opened his mouth.
"Everyone... Ugh!"
Boom!
Just as he was about to call for reinforcements, Ghislain's staff came flying toward his head. Gritting his teeth, he blocked the attack. If he showed an opening now, his skull would be shattered. Defense had to be his priority.
Ghislain poured his mana into his staff and swung it with full force.
Boooom!
Gasqot blocked again. But this time, Ghislain pressed down with sheer strength.
As the scorching heat grew closer, Gasqot groaned.
"Urgh…!"
Even though he had blocked the attack, the heat was unbearable. What was even more terrifying was not knowing when those searing flames would come crashing down onto his face.
His opponent's attacks were too bizarre—he had to prepare for every possibility. Gasqot tried to retreat just in case.
That was until Ghislain let go of his staff.
"Huh?"
Gasqot, who had been exerting all his strength, suddenly found his sword swinging upward. The force pressing down on it had vanished. It was only natural for his stance to crumble.
Seizing that moment, Ghislain reached behind his waist and swung a hand axe.
Thud!
Like a bolt of lightning, the axe buried itself into Gasqot's neck. But, as expected of a high-level knight, he didn't die immediately.
He had already drawn upon all his mana, and somehow, he managed to endure.
"Urghh!"
Gasqot gritted his teeth, his face contorted in agony. He poured every bit of his mana into his neck, preventing the axe from sinking in further.
At the same time, he swung his sword in an attempt to shake Ghislain off. But once again, Ghislain was faster.
Thunk!
Ghislain's other hand plunged into Gasqot's abdomen—his fingers once again shrouded in ominous darkness.
Gasqot saw it.
The blackened hand.
"Ugh…"
Blood gushed from his mouth as he let out a pained groan. An eerie sensation spread through his body as if something was taking hold of him.
With his fading vision, Gasqot glared at Ghislain and muttered,
"You... really are... a Dark Mage…"
Thud!
With that, Gasqot collapsed. Despite fighting with everything he had, he had ultimately failed to surpass the towering wall that was Ghislain.
"Hah…"
Ghislain let out a deep breath, forcing down the blood rising in his throat. He couldn't afford to show weakness here.
Now was the time for confidence.
He slowly picked up his fallen staff, straightened his posture, and declared,
"Surrender. You cannot defeat me."
"....."
"If you insist on fighting, I won't stop you. But, of course, you will all die."
The knights' expressions hardened. Ordinarily, they would have fought to the bitter end, but their morale had already hit rock bottom.
They had come here believing they could subdue even a superhuman, but their opponent had far surpassed their expectations. Worse still, their commander, Gasqot, had died spewing nonsense.
Clang.
Someone dropped their sword.
Even with thirty remaining knights, defeating a monster that a hundred had failed to take down was simply impossible.
Dying here wasn't an option either. In this era, knights didn't chase after glorious deaths.
Too many had already perished in meaningless battles against the demonic realm. The idea of prioritizing one's life over honor had long since taken root.
Clang. Clang.
One by one, they lowered their weapons.
Their fighting spirit had evaporated, replaced by the instinct to survive.
Seeing the knights surrender, Ghislain smiled.
He was relieved he wouldn't have to exert himself further.
Now, it was time to wrap things up.
He approached Gasqot's fallen body and placed a hand on it.
Fwoooosh!
In an instant, mana surged as Gasqot's corpse was pulled into thin air.
It had been absorbed into Ghislain's subspace.
"This thing really is way too convenient."
Among all spells, spatial magic had always been the one Ghislain envied the most. Watching Jerome and Vanessa carry their belongings effortlessly had only fueled that envy.
Subspace magic was a 6th-circle spell—it wasn't something one could simply learn and use right away.
But now, he had reached the level where he could wield it freely.
The knights, watching Ghislain store a corpse so casually, were filled with doubt.
"Why is he taking the body…?"
"C-Could he really be a Dark Mage…?"
"Then… was Commander Gasqot telling the truth?"
The knights exchanged uneasy glances. But none of them dared to take action.
'It's too late now.'
'Not like we can win anyway.'
'If he really is a Dark Mage, retaliation would be even worse…'
As they remained silent, Ghislain turned his gaze toward Count Swipel.
The count, trembling uncontrollably, was practically foaming at the mouth.
"D-Don't come any closer!"
He had deployed all his knights for this operation. Now, most of them were dead or critically wounded.
Ghislain lifted his staff.
"You should have been grateful. I saved your life and helped you gain territory."
"Ugh…"
"I expected you to pull something like this, though. If you wanted to capture me, you should have brought at least two hundred men."
"P-Please spare me!"
Before Ghislain could respond, a voice suddenly rang out from behind him.
"Do you finally see the difference in strength?!"
It was Dark, who had silently approached and was now shouting triumphantly.
"I-I was wrong! I'll give up Crest Territory! Just spare my life!"
"Denied! Did you really think you could do this and walk away unscathed?! What are you waiting for, Master?! Kill him already!"
Ghislain shot Dark a sidelong glare. The demon immediately quieted down.
But Ghislain didn't disagree with him.
There was no reason to let a man like Swipel live.
Still, he wouldn't kill him just yet. That would be handled outside.
"For now, let's make sure he doesn't run away."
Ghislain grinned and raised his staff.
Crack!
"Arghhhhhh!"
With a casual swing, he shattered the count's leg.
The man collapsed, screaming in agony.
Ghislain then grabbed him by the collar and began dragging him out.
[Notice: Thank you for supporting my translations! I've launched a new website to host all my novels in one place. I will continue posting chapters here until I can update the links on Novel Updates. In the meantime, visit my new website "https://revengernovel.com/" and enjoy 5 extra chapters for free! Buy and Read all available chapters of the novel: https://payhip.com/revengerscans ]