Chapter 151
AysgAfter the explosion dissipated, only the box remained intact.55woeKe
th7Wx6NThose who had thought the magical stone fusion artifact would have been damaged by the massive explosion burst into cheers at the unexpected outcome.ERsfl
PEzwHm1“As expected of the young master…!”2CxF9
8n4Even the monsters seemed bewildered, as the nearly suicidal offensive had abruptly come to a halt.uPSiMw
Pbd‘No… in this case, it wasn’t the monsters, but the corrupt one controlling them.’CdXZ
urDThey could never have imagined that the box containing the magical stone fusion artifact would be so resistant.6wRk
bxdqi“What kind of traumatic experience made him build the box with an adamantite alloy?”inwHiw
9WS2Mzj“There had been a time when he was transporting something, and under a similar suicidal monster attack, the contents had ended up in shreds.”vXEu4tg
gm3uImzHe had then been forced to cut off a contaminated branch of the World Tree. To make it appear intact, he had to feed it copious elixirs.o9MH
1xrEventually, he purified the corrupted part with holy water and incorporated it into Wooden, but it had not been a pleasant experience.FBE
HIb5Fernan hadn’t forgotten that loss, and he probably never would. Like all losses, it had left a mark.NHHfAZp
xPMi“You had reason to be so cautious. Anyway, thanks to that, we protected it, and we also found out exactly what they were after.”75bW
TXySaying that, Rosalia slowly stepped forward.dQMXC
baHYpThe air shifted. The turbulent magic stirred so violently that some swallowed down a groan of pain.OSpTm4D
IldYBut it wasn’t a change caused by her.FT8XW
36jEBfSClang, clang—haMnf8
KCNqNot far away, among monsters with red eyes glowing in the dark, something began to emerge.QuCCjK
cUKxA suit of armor made of white bones, a war axe forged from strange crimson metal, and an aura of chilling prayer.pL6ncE
B8SicFEA body close to three meters tall, red skin—the very image of a knight, though it was a monster.tRSWGT3
OuWIo“…What the hell is that?”bu4o
u89A54QA demon, perhaps? No, it wasn’t.g3l0F
HQm0g2pThe density of dark magic and bloodlust might have resembled a demon, but the essential pressure was different.BIX
DyNB5exFernan desperately searched the old texts in his memory, but Rosalia spoke first.W1WY7O3
VpCNM“If the documents I read were correct, that’s a Rahnas.”QneG39
okwp7kl“Rahnas…?”EVMKE
IHW“A rank 1 monster.”tf3CQW
qeWFernan swallowed hard.b2LJf
n2IDEThe classification of monsters had been invented by humans, but it generally aligned with reality.cXOWw
M7UwIgAnd rank 1 monsters were the strongest of their species, with records even of demons avoiding them.a5NUQ0
ku8NdxThe prickling sensation on the skin proved those texts didn’t lie.3pLoimW
PYQ“Fernan.”JHwdW
DIWmv“Yes.”Hh2Ql8
x8KlW“I’ll handle that one. Don’t let a single one near my cargo.”W9dX
dHPThere was no time to respond. She was already in front of the Rahnas.eiJx
OhKqBoom!T7x
sbGkQaA massive ice lance immediately enveloped it.Vb0p
gCyThe axe tinged with dark magic cleaved it in half with a single blow.Lbyvk4
9UCaThe ice shards reversed, attacking the Rahnas again, but it withstood them head-on, simultaneously trying to cleave Rosalia in two.fSysK
HH3FVThe figure of ice shattered and exploded in a violent blast.e9jKnXN
JD4G7XA blizzard swept through the underground space, freezing everything in its path.8PwMst
UsSybi“Kugh, fall back!”jsRrdXF
gXm“Get out of the blast radius!”vlC
GfOZSJ3The Golden Turtle Guild members quickly pulled back.ptU4
uAydIVPFortunately, the cavern was spacious, and the monsters couldn’t immediately pursue due to the battle’s shockwave.SyqBs
9WqfBut it only took seconds.W41lpA9
8i4LGrrrk— Kyaaa!yyUB7B
kQS4The monsters broke through the combat zone and charged straight ahead.NfJ
VoqZ8v2It wasn’t hesitation—they had simply needed time to cross the storm.XkA8h8
WJIJM“Form the defensive circle!”SWHqn
gFI“Hold the line!”akEhFfi
3IXCASThe knights stepped forward with sword and shield, the soldiers supported them from behind, and the Dragon God Cult priests invoked sacred flames.m9sIx7
VaEStill, the monsters seemed endless.LgvXf
8vdTfB“Damn it, what is this?! Is this still Vienderk? How can there be so many monsters?”rpYZK4
nu6d6Hb“Stop whining and fight! A single slip and they’ll break our formation!”6tYMB
VHBv“There are too many!”yhCq
zpbWWEV“Doesn’t matter, hold your ground!”FaY
B8GZThe roar of battle shook the cavern until parts of it collapsed, but neither side gave way.u1lPR
a5YUSSlash—HTHr49
3OZ93JTHyde gritted his teeth after beheading a monster that had managed to break through to the carriages.vu6z
4iJrWas this normal? Even assuming the corrupt ones were using underground tunnels to guide them—just how many monsters were hiding beneath the Empire?Kimc7
L4oIcHyde pushed away his fears, focusing on the present.t4R
JQpaiAmBecause the real problem wasn’t the number.s0rf2NE
NjL“Young master, if this continues, the cavern will collapse and the damage will be catastrophic. We need another strategy…”tWo4
9SQod2GHe stopped abruptly.kfysPE
LzIv“…Young master?”SHbOT
qJJBMNpFernan was gone.I4S1N
5qJg“Young master!”BQs79o
zzdtM2oIt was as if he had never been there.wyfSMr
lluFZXs***PLN6P
GXcwh7YSuddenly, a shadow surged from the ground and swallowed Fernan.dtw3
Vt2IePuHe tried to resist, but everything happened so suddenly that his reaction wasn’t fast enough.TeqSdd
0CxFThe sticky demonic energy wasn’t easy to pierce through, and Fernan was dragged straight into the abyss.Mtvh
pJbHFlJIt wasn’t impossible to climb back up, but the speed with which he was pulled downward was far greater.0o7U
t7ynyGIn the end, he had no choice but to let himself be dragged to the depths.ald
JDrYSuC‘Was the fusion artifact never the true target…?’xnzWTU
3GhThen he realized it.hMPpAT
F8lThat trap wasn’t set for the artifact—it was for him.Cgw
ecJr8The artifact had just been a decoy to make him believe otherwise.nbmx7d
rdXbooTap—FUQDJ
OoyNFernan’s feet touched solid ground.aMGxrgg
8f6mcThe only positive was that the land itself wasn’t corrupted by demonic energy.xTyg0Bs
JKdWooden pointed ahead.7UMW
7aT4SsWIn the darkness, several chilling pairs of eyes began opening one after another.lnOhbk6
a4vYw“Pleasure to meet you like this. Is this our first time? But you know, I feel like we’ve already met.”Hy2HuER
vz3YThe one who appeared among the monsters, clapping, was a man.8gX
vGsmOr rather, a human who had sold his soul to demons—a corrupt one.ZJi
8WW“Did you plan all this?”GmR
VRn6a“What exactly? The sea attack? The collapsing ground that dragged you here? Yes! It was all my doing. Remember? I told you—big things were coming from me.”XAHNCM
ZcnHehehe.xHpFa
NLSfThe man, about thirty years old, tilted his head as he laughed.DLz
ilkHis unkempt hair covered half his face.1oRRft5
EH0MwP“Fernan Pellenberg. The bastard who ruined all our plans. If we’d known from the start that you were the real problem—more than Aint Armian—we wouldn’t have wasted so much time.”w7QrxGh
bJc9lI would’ve slit your throat on the spot! Everything would’ve been easier, and the continent would already be in ruins.J8M08R1
x7OvwHehe. He raised a bony finger.fPK9
sld6cKN“Want me to tell you a secret? Truth is, we never cared about that damn magical stone fusion artifact.”Sx6stV
V2K0N0rIt’s not like it held no value.r36PMF
SOM3qDAfter all, that itarium core, combining hundreds of magical stones and absorbing mana, held enough power to summon a demon.4KmkGAB
fZahOf course it was useful to have it—but it was no longer the priority. It had once been, but their goal had changed.9T2RlZ2
Kllk“I know.”HBS1NT
xMZns5B“You know?”7OyPMI
Oy79OJe“Yes. It was just a cover. The real target was me.”rK4Ry2G
e2ZThe corrupt one’s eyes widened.HBgDSl
U8Fhl“How…?”ZM2BbVa
ookm“You said it yourself.”ufYJ
7DcsZ“Right, I did.”K2gHxuS
yxD“But I had already figured it out before that.”Oa8Pv
0qcT6“You figured it out? Really?”qcU4vI
Buqb4“Yes.”YhV9
8qPsEa“Liar!”lqG
lPNSzRumble—vjqKkL6
iIuUDThe man’s scream shook the underground.23SP4
5j4cY5A“You couldn’t have known! I put too much effort into this plan!”a5C
oLf1Y4P“Well, I thought it was a bit too obvious.”NyYZiG
Kz0SMh“Are you calling me an idiot?!”GQT3Fa7
hKE“I never said that.”xupSmD
RodGazFernan added calmly.mSPRUb
86e“But if you feel that way yourself, all the better for me.”c456r
Kg3I“Why you…!”oSZ55
B6LbCrunch—the man bit his lip.qLiT2
LuQ“No one underestimates me!”y4Q
KYpebr“I didn’t either. You just think I did.”cKjME
ZXmuZLa“I hate the Pellenbergs just as much as I hate the Armians!”ETGAQ9v
qHpzr“Thanks for the compliment.”4OJ
xx7“That wasn’t a compliment!”MJa
96VniOHis eyes became bloodshot. The pressure of the demonic magic he unleashed made the air heavier.hB8C
jKaO“I’ve been chosen! I’m the avatar of His Will! And yet a mere human dares to look down on someone who has transcended races?!”4yEQ
F8l“His Will?”q6QdZBq
DjVJ3h“Yes! He, the most glorious one… Wait.”ydfy
XbGwVKvThe man froze.UwCC
sCHv“You’re trying to extract information from me? Damn Pellenberg, sly and vile as always!”X8r
DKU“I didn’t do anything.”EIo
jJt“Shut up! For daring to mock me, you’ll die right here—by my hand!”ztLdYO
OKkAIVWhoosh—asZm
iLtj0The corrupt one opened a book. A thick grimoire, leaking a sinister glow.PRxfmM
iax───!a9ZY
3wL8uUAWith a roar, a black lightning bolt fell in a straight line.kz00J9
Uj27uBut it failed to pierce the rock wall protecting Fernan.4I2kuR
jZni4xK“Don’t underestimate me just because I’ve only recently received the Blessing! Your fate is still to die! Kill him, all of you!”3gPjV
INOIoAt his command, the monsters that had remained still pounced.OAhoP8j
R1Vrhqm“…All of them Barka level or higher?”PoTNU
074Each of the monsters rushing him radiated an extraordinary aura.NnCNeSz
lYut“Exactly. According to your human classification, I gathered only rank 4 and above. What do you think? Think you can handle them? Should be enough to send you to the afterlife, don’t you think?”0aXT
I44LThe man sneered.3Sqawn
Z0z“How did you bring so many monsters into Vienderk’s territory?”UWu
o0agv“Because we’ve been planning this for a long time! Our goal was to bring down the Empire from within, starting with Vienderk. Just imagine—Seir descending and ruining the Continental Conference, and amidst the chaos, hordes of monsters attacking nobles on their way back to their lands. Oops? Should I not have said that?”qOc
tFeOEHis eyes curved into crescent moons.eC8f9M
hWIpF“Well, what does it matter? You’re going to die here anyway, right?”FXBxkOV
PhzFgMSHe nodded, satisfied with his own words.mRWLj
tdUO“In fact, I wanted to be extra sure, so I planned to throw a Rahnas at you. But as you can imagine, summoning a monster of that level isn’t easy.”HXcASZj
QG80uEven if they weren’t demons, they weren’t easy to summon either.3pwx7k0
ADIn“We only have one available now, and I need it to keep Rosalia Vienderk busy. So for you, I’ll settle for less. It’ll still be enough to kill you.”SFn2
rRKK“You talk too much.”alJtq
B1o“I’ll talk as much as I want! Who are you to tell me to shut up?”5pf
OAkThe corrupt one flipped another page. An even larger bolt of lightning fell.MAwH
LOIiF2Fernan raised his staff just in time.35Y
xjNdAt that moment, the glow from the book intensified.7ZGqw9
Mbmdq0K“I lied! We do have one more!”hNa0
FpaY6zClaaang!vQZ4A
OtzzVqIn front of Fernan, a brutal clash of magic and aura exploded in a shockwave.bfm
u7X1A three-meter-tall Rahnas, wielding a war axe, stopped right in front of his face.uhsY0
0wxVW“…!”259L
ePPgpMFernan’s usually unshaken expression cracked. Shards of aura and magic grazed his face.40uyP
q9DOaja“…What the hell? I didn’t know there was another one.”WsH
dd2IP5LStanding between him and the Rahnas was a golem the size of a man.tFrpN
1nuC“…I didn’t know there was a Rahnas either.”yTuC
ujXCIgnoring the cold sweat running down his spine, Fernan raised his staff.QJpE5
Tc8PaLG“…I’ll return your words to you.”Naqe
mhVcHis eyes turned icy.uGh
48YlTy“You die here. And it will be by my hand.”BcRKHQa
KukeTu“Shut up! A mere human dares to defy me?!”fMzX
dRBma8“We can bet a fortune if you want. Because the price of making me spend all this money ahead of schedule will be very high.”IGssq
O5P5wRThat damn bastard deserved nothing less.6Y7gT6
EgLbqXjFernan let all his fury out.TEg4hb
s3nLrzj“Wooden.”51Jm
E3NyHe whispered calmly.7g2
HCFi7“It’s time to show me the swordsmanship you learned from Brother Emond.”TF5DQw
NX1DqBoom!G5B2x
ZOFGl“Kill them all! No, not that one—bring him alive so he can kneel before me.”frCSo
pZLcThat bastard—I’ll kill him myself.7eNJi5
1t3xzasA colossal sword fell upon the Rahnas.Tq8oO0p
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