Chapter 295 – Encounter (3)
Countless sword auras reflected in Happen's eyes.
A killing intent that made the nape of his neck tingle.
There was no leisure to calmly calculate and cast a high-tier spell. He immediately wrapped himself in a
For him, that was the best response.
But it was only the best, nothing more.
Crunch!
Sword energy pierced through his magic power.
The barrier shattered, his flesh was torn away.
"Guaaahhh!"
"Aaaahhh!"
Kendras's subordinates died helplessly one after another.
Happen, who had been with Kendras since the Central Continent, was cut into four pieces and perished. A futile end for a seasoned Mage.
The sword aura that had split bone and muscle crashed violently into the ground.
By then, Verden had already risen to his feet.
'The swordsman who kidnapped the lord of the autonomous territory.'
A mercenary sent by the Bohemirn Magic Tower.
The threat had come suddenly, but there was no bewilderment.
Faster than revealing emotion, his body instinctively reacted, and almost simultaneously his mind expanded, rational judgment striking his brain like lightning.
Orient, summoned from subspace.
Pure magic power spewed forth from his heart. His entire mana circuits activated at once.
Along with it, the Mystic Eye manifested, a rounded gravitational shield covering the tip of his staff.
Verden twisted his wrist and waist.
At the same time the massive sword aura reached him, Orient surged upward from below.
A torrent of disintegration.
Kwooooom!
The clash of martial skill and magic.
A tremendous shockwave swept everywhere, shaking the underground chamber.
After a brief clash, the crescent-shaped sword aura gradually disintegrated under the 6th-tier gravity magic.
He admitted, it was indeed a powerful ambush.
But Verden was not so soft as to allow such an attack to succeed.
The problem, however, lay elsewhere.
The already weakened ground could not withstand the pressure.
Boom!!
Part of the floor collapsed at once, revealing a yawning abyss. A natural fissure hidden beneath Wells Town.
And precisely the foothold Verden was pressing against vanished.
His balance faltered. He immediately cast
"Tch."
────!
Sword aura embraced Verden as both plummeted.
In an instant, his figure vanished into the darkness where no light reached. The incident unfolded in only a matter of seconds.
From the banquet hall down to Kendras's chamber, three whole levels had merged into one.
From the ceiling above, small debris fell at irregular intervals.
The one responsible for this chaos, Adrian Chambers, landed upon the ground.
"…Haa."
He was far from being in normal condition.
Letting out a deep breath, he barely calmed the recoil of having unleashed martial skill one after another.
It was then that he sensed the presence behind him.
He lowered his stance, tilting his blade diagonally. The descending path of the mace that had been aimed vertically was redirected without resistance.
"Hrghh!"
Kendras's muscles bulged.
Forcibly reclaiming his mace, he twisted his body, using the weight and momentum in reverse.
The massive blunt weapon slashed horizontally with lethal force.
At the same time, the flames contained within exploded, boosting its propulsion. The distance had already closed, and the speed was immense.
There was no way to dodge.
Adrian drew his sword close and pushed off the ground.
Clanggg!
Flames burst. Adrian was blown back, colliding with the wall.
The breath stored in his lungs was forced out. He steadied his breathing, leaning on his sword like a staff, staggering to his feet.
'Even if he dispersed the shock, that impact was no small thing. Yet he stands again immediately?'
Kendras slung his mace over his shoulder.
"Looks like you came from the banquet hall… What the hell is going on here?"
"Ughh."
At that moment, from the rubble and pile of corpses, Sedwordy rose. Nearby, Palin retrieved his sword and shield, straightening his back.
Seeing the two, Kendras spoke.
"You're alive. More importantly, what happened above?"
"I… don't know…!"
"During the banquet, we were attacked."
The underground entrance had strict security.
And yet, someone had breached it and reached here.
'And nearly annihilated the entire banquet hall single-handedly.'
Even with Sedwordy and Palin, both leaders in their own right.
Though their combat abilities lagged behind, they still carried some renown back in the Central Continent.
Of course, nowhere near Kendras.
'Who the hell is this bastard?'
His appearance was obscured, making it hard to discern.
Long navy hair, a violet aura… it felt familiar yet elusive.
In any case, he could not have reached here by coincidence.
'Then it must be the Bohemirn Magic Tower.'
Circumstantially, that was highly likely. So Kendras did not mind.
If they had sent a mercenary rather than a Tower member, it meant they lacked the leeway to dispatch their core personnel.
Kendras did not deny that he feared the Magic Tower. He had witnessed their power and had been driven to the brink of death.
But if it was not the Tower's direct troops, it did not matter.
In the past, Kendras had made his name known across the harsh Central Continent. He held immense confidence in his own strength.
As composure returned, he saw Happen and the subordinates who had been slaughtered miserably.
"Damn bastard. Do you know how hard I worked to build that foundation?"
Thanks to this, things had become very troublesome.
It would take no small time to replenish that many men.
Veins bulged on the back of his hand, Kendras bared his fangs.
That was the signal.
Kendras, Sedwordy, and Palin moved all at once.
Adrian, facing them, raised his head.
On the edge of excitement and pain. Behind the mask, sky-colored eyes flickered.
Letting out rough breaths, he gripped his sword hilt tighter.
***
The skies above Wells Town.
Two members of the Society streaked across the night sky.
"Ah, damn! I knew it would be northeast!"
Rebecca yelled.
"The answer was obvious from the start, but we wasted magic power and time…! If I had known, I would've just stayed hidden and tailed that man, Asher!"
"Had you done that, you would probably have been caught and subdued again."
At Ethan's pointed remark, Rebecca flinched.
Still, unlike before, there was no trace of fear. Her recovery matched her sharp temper.
"…That time, I was careless. Next time, I wouldn't be caught."
"Ha ha, who knows. Whether Magus or Mage, I couldn't tell for certain, but I doubt you could deceive someone of the 6th tier. Frankly, in terms of tier alone, he stands at a level similar to Master."
Of course, the depth would be different. There was always the gap of years lived.
No matter the overflowing talent, no matter how much effort piled on top, the inner tower built solely by time could not be caught up with.
"Well, we can't jump to conclusions. It's still too early to say we've understood him."
"Hmph, and yet you want to recruit some stranger into the Society? You may have that authority, but isn't this way too hasty?"
"That's why we're watching like this, aren't we? And in the end, the decision lies with the higher-ups of the Society. Still, honestly, isn't he far beyond expectations?"
"Beyond expectations, how?"
"He foiled the terror of Aldamia's Clowns in advance, suppressed the great fire in the autonomous territory, and even kept his promise to tell us his destination. Doesn't that mean something?"
The merchant in the southeast knew nothing.
Ethan and Rebecca immediately went to the village where Big Hand, Jerik resided, and there they found the abbreviation for 'Wells Town'.
A man who knew how to keep his word.
"On the other hand, he also exudes danger. That much you know better than I, Rebecca."
"Shut up."
Rebecca snapped her head away.
By then, they had already arrived at their destination.
Behind, mountain ranges. In front, a wide wheat field. Wells Town lay clearly visible. With almost no lights, the village was eerily quiet.
At that moment.
Kwooooom!
With a thunderous roar, a cloud of dust erupted.
It came from somewhere west of Wells Town. From that direction, magic power and tremors rippled one after another.
"…Seems something has happened."
***
A square filled with dust.
On it, a fierce battle raged.
Kendras gripped his weapon with both hands.
Aura condensed across the entire mace. With intent to crush Adrian completely, he swung it downward with all his might.
Boom!!
The ground caved in, a small storm blasting outward.
Adrian had long since left the spot, taking no damage. Yet the vibrations underfoot threw off his balance, and the onrushing dust cloud disrupted his senses.
A gap appeared.
"Haaaahp!"
With his shield before him, Palin charged.
The moment Adrian was within reach, the aura veil surrounding Palin's shield expanded, striking the air.
Adrian was pushed back by an invisible physical force, bracing with his left hand against the ground to stop himself.
"…!"
Sedwordy's magic.
Sharp spikes shot toward his lower body.
Adrian pressed into his toes, explosively increasing his speed, barely escaping the range.
But the chain of attacks had not ended.
Kendras rushed in and slammed the upheaved ground.
Countless sharp fragments scattered, piercing across Adrian's path.
He swung his sword, deflecting most, but because of that, he was late to respond to Sedwordy's next spell.
Thud!
A shard breaking the sound barrier.
The metal mask crumpled with a low, ringing echo. Adrian staggered at the vibration shaking his skull, but only for an instant.
They naturally faced off again.
Kendras spat and loosened his shoulders.
"Tch, slippery bastard. Thanks to you, the hideout I worked so hard for is a complete wreck."
The underground of Wells Town was not fit for a battlefield.
Especially not for Kendras, who wielded brute strength, and Sedwordy, a user of earth magic.
Chasing the intruder's nimbleness, being driven out here was inevitable.
"As expected, if he's a mercenary sent by the Bohemirn Magic Tower, it makes sense he's skilled."
"What? That bastard's from Bohemirn Magic Tower?"
"Look at the circumstances, it's obvious. Who else but them would want us dead? The incident in the autonomous territory must've bothered them greatly."
"Hmph, in that case… we should capture him alive."
Palin's suggestion was met with agreement.
Not only could they obtain information about the Bohemirn Magic Tower, but it could also serve as an excuse to convince the Magic Tower on Volcanic Island and the Larrian Magic Tower about their current situation.
They would break his limbs, leave only a breath of life.
"..."
Adrian stood silently, gazing at the three.
Targets. Skilled enough, but only that much. Even so, he had shown a gap, had allowed a strike to land.
Was it misjudgment? No.
The cause was far simpler.
'I've grown weaker.'
Sluggish movements, dulled sword strikes, qi flowing less smoothly.
His entire skill had drastically declined. Ill health alone was not enough to explain it.
No, this was a matter of mind.
Compared to before, his concentration had dropped immensely.
Adrian realized the flaw within himself.
And so, for some reason, he did not search for the cause. As always, he emptied his mind, leaving only one thought behind.
The command etched in the magic circle.
[Exterminate the hostile forces of the Bohemirn Magic Tower.]
Therefore—
'Faster.'
His heels lifted from the ground. The air current shifted.
Before the enemies could react, Adrian's figure blurred, and in the next instant, he had already passed Sedwordy.
"…Huh?"
Slashhh!
A belated spray of blood burst forth.
Sedwordy, staff and all, was cut clean in half, his body collapsing.
Better than before.
But still not enough.
'Faster.'
To his side, Palin raised his shield and thrust his sword.
Rather than panic, the choice to counterattack showed sound judgment. But too slow.
A flash of swordlight.
In the time it took Palin to strike once, the rusted blade had swung four times.
Palin's mouth opened slowly.
"Just now, I didn't even see—"
Rip.
From the lines of blood sprouting across his skin, dark crimson blood sprayed.
The light of life extinguished at once. Palin perished, body shredded into fragments.
Two dead in the blink of an eye.
Even Kendras could not hide his shock, instinctively stepping back.
But not because of the gore before him.
"That movement…"
It felt strangely familiar.
A nameless foreboding rose, but it was already too late to evade.
The moment Adrian vanished, a clear presence was felt behind. Acting before thinking, Kendras swung his mace with all his might.
Adrian drew his sword.
His skill was rising.
Still, not enough.
'Faster.'
Violet aura enveloped the blade.
Martial skill, Rampant Dance.
Fingers gripping the mace, thick wrist, knee joints, shoulder tendons—
The blade, leaving a dozen afterimages, severed the critical points of motion in one sweep.
A speed so sharp that even a trained warrior's senses could not perceive it.
"Ghhk, gghhh…!"
The mace fell, Kendras dropped to his knees.
As if paralyzed, he could not even twitch a finger. Raising his gaze with difficulty was all he could manage.
Clink.
Just then, the metal mask fell to the ground.
The combined shock of magic and extreme speed had loosened the fittings. At the same time, his tied navy hair fell loose.
A fierce gaze.
A small scar beneath the left eye.
He looked worn, but the features and face were unmistakable. And that movement, beyond the trail of speed.
One man came to mind.
The mighty figure who had vanished without a trace years ago.
Heavenly Sword, Adrian Chambers.
Suspicion became certainty.
"T—the Central Continent's, Four Greats, why is one here…?!"
That was Kendras's last word.
Slice—
His head fell.
His eyes dimmed, his heart stilled.
Adrian's sword, which had slaughtered the three supported by the Magic Tower, bore not blood, nor oil, not even dust.
The heavy dust cloud slowly dissipated.
"Haa…"
Fatigue swept in after the ferocious movement.
Exhaling a restless sigh, he raised his head. Heavy clouds covered the night sky.
With this, most of the magic circle's commands were fulfilled.
Only one remained.
[Self-destruct.]
Leave no corpse behind, cleanly.
It was simple.
All he had to do was detonate his condensed qi from within.
But then, he sensed a gaze at his side.
Beyond the dust that had yet to disperse, a child blinked, staring at Adrian's silhouette.
'Came out after sensing the commotion?'
At that moment, the command in the magic circle shifted.
[Kill all witnesses.]
His qi twisted on its own. Resistance was meaningless.
The sword aura lashed the air, aimed at the frail neck, piercing flesh and bone as expected. There was no guilt.
For Adrian, that emotion was forbidden.
But there was no blood.
He realized the oddity—then the child's body blurred, vanishing.
"…An illusion?"
He immediately expanded his senses.
To the left, a black-haired man was fleeing with the child in his arms. The use of
'Kill him before he gains altitude.'
As Adrian raised his sword, a torrent fell from the sky. Magic, again.
He evaded easily, leaping onto a rooftop.
Lifting his gaze, there stood a woman.
"There are limits, aren't there? Trying to kill a kid with sword aura? I don't care who you are, you're fucking insane."
Rebecca snarled.
Her expression reeked of loathing for one who had lost all humanity. But Adrian did not respond.
Another witness.
Now the number of targets to kill had grown from one to three. If more townsfolk crawled out, the number would only increase. It didn't matter.
No one could escape the command.
Boom!
He shattered the roof, striking the air.
Without footing, not even half his power came forth, but even that was fast.
Rebecca felt shock at the speed, yet calmly calculated her spell.
Spears and swords of water.
Just before they collided—
Kwooooooom!
The ground erupted, swallowing Adrian whole.
Not stopping there, the manipulated terrain lashed around like whips. Struck, Adrian was slammed into a deserted roadway.
Nearby, Rebecca was smothered in dust.
"Cough, cough! Wh-what the hell?!"
Looking down, she saw a circular abyss without end. In its walls, traces of underground structures filled the hollow space.
For a moment she thought the entire area might collapse, but it was needless worry.
Despite the shock, Wells Town did not stir in the slightest.
'Could it be… this whole place is reinforced by magic?'
At last, she sensed it.
The immense magic power spread widely beneath the underground.
At the center of the vast, hollowed square—
Verden emerged.
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