Chapter 88
8e7“So you’re saying that guy is a Corrupted?”aTL7U
FK8“Yes.”l7Hsa
0Tpn“He really is a Corrupted.”vMC
9u5XtCrash!I2uhOL
7M1HmlThe massive rock shattered. Fragments flew in every direction, but a translucent ice barrier stopped them.ngdgXtE
9M3SKD“You! Who the hell are you? How dare you attack me?!”R5fOwe7
4Pc6AfBairan, unscathed but completely enraged, shouted with murderous fury.kkCvCLu
E1qAB“Looks like you still don’t understand the situation.”PSq1D
CwLADS“What did you say?”O2C1
Hjt7The three warriors protecting the desert nomads removed their robes and turbans. But their appearances didn’t resemble nomadic clansmen at all.S28IeYo
Qg4jkED“You…! You’re not from the desert!”ysjow7
ILjV“Of course not. I’m from Pellenberg, she’s from Bercheff, and the other from Vienderk.”46LktT
mZWb6“Don’t give unnecessary information to the Corrupted, Fernan.”mqCe
v7Q3cs“Fernan Pellenberg, you said?”ANg
n2OJ4ra“And now you’ve given the Corrupted my name.”5vjcs
w1XlYC“Enough, both of you. This isn’t the time to argue in front of the enemy.”lEXdJ
ZWxpcAJThey were Professor Rosalia, Fernan, and Luina, disguised as desert guards.PA8
a6yOoOne day earlier, they had infiltrated a nomadic clan in the southern Taklakan desert.2an
3iPiYw3Although the clans were hesitant to allow an army into their camps, they agreed to cooperate due to the deep hatred they held against the monsters. And now, the time had come.QiU1
1tXO“How the hell did you get here?”hg6GI
HZms“Does it matter now? I don’t think so.”fiPK5n
XKSDFernan shrugged. The rumbling of the ground, which had felt distant before, was now right upon them.VLX
y7yyoBairan belatedly remembered that the two great knightly orders of Altrierc were charging in this direction.b52
06iFPo“Damn it!”ZE0VC
sxQbNWhy, how, for what—none of that mattered now. With his life on the line, there was no time to hesitate.Qke3iZ
PhU“Shit…!”0yD2WE
ZQD2pHFweeeet—FMR6jJ
rUNAvsBairan whistled.3hEtDi
04qqhFZ“He clearly blew air, but there’s no sound. It’s more like a strange energy, different from mana, spreading out in irritating waves.”27o
GwEtq7C“He mixed in corrupted magic.”qyC
iWA“Interesting.”RFIm
onPThududududu—hoofbeats and monster roars merged into one.XloOAg
k8b“Kill them all! Buy me time to escape!”fqUOmbu
TJkrDozens—no, hundreds—of monsters burst onto the sand.XzK
36WyI2e“Shouting your plans in front of the enemy—is that stupidity or clumsiness?”xsnekx
YeZ“Aren’t they the same?”IvzFH
4uE“Means he’s hopeless.”wLYz7
ye8Om9pA staff appeared in Rosalia’s hand. The magic crystal at its tip glowed softly. Ice spread from the arid ground, trapping Bairan’s legs.uAKT4zr
JTA9sb8“Useless trick…!”R8joi2p
vjTX6But the ice shattered easily. Luina thrust her blade toward where Bairan stood, but he had already leapt back like an arrow.cZbd1ar
VIw3BAnd at that moment—Ul9
sblk────!LMqsMqQ
OwKXpjBoooom!Q8S
W3RjNeighhh—Q3FZyOL
C3bJy0Groaaar!r7TilLZ
eKSThe lances of the two knight orders clashed into the monster horde. It was only a brief pause, a momentary recoil to gain more force.E88Y
g4pXThe Iron Knights and Wild Blood Knights tore through the monster lines like sharp knives slicing through fish.QhxY
p7j6lVBefore the gaps could close with more monsters, Altrierc’s elite soldiers surged in.VVAz0
eCmns“Impressive. Altrierc’s reputation is well deserved.”w6T
GjFLuina exhaled with genuine admiration at the knights’ charge.jyKZnO
vPEo“So, do you think Aint Armian and Ludger Schwaben can take down that fool?”abftD
tDORosalia showed no surprise that her magic had been broken. In truth, she hadn’t failed—she had let him escape on purpose.EB6J
ts0She, Rosalia Vienderk, the youngest professor in Academy history, could’ve stopped him if she had wanted to.Zv8J
EdFp“I couldn’t have defeated him.”09D3
OyHu5Sw“Me neither.”YbbG
zzRwFFThe power Bairan had displayed, even for a moment, far exceeded Fernan’s expectations. It was no wonder he had been the one leading the Monster Wave in the region.2vme
k3FfiB“Not even I could guarantee victory.”sfL
0bQRosalia lit a black cigarette as she spoke.r0t
RZ1Being a professor at the Academy required many qualifications, but the most important was strength. And she was considered a future Archmage. If even she said she couldn’t guarantee it, then the Corrupted was truly dangerous.IuTfgF
B8qBF“Maybe Professor Grad could.”gcoh2vE
AUQ0TRPhysically, Grad was even more formidable. His hiring had been decided almost entirely based on his raw power.rQ9C66n
kf6v“So he’s not an opponent for mere students.”7Lx
EZpU“But we have Armian.”zEa0tu
xxAaMw“Right, the power to break down corrupted magic.”5EW
o1ZZcQ6That was why Armian was called the natural enemy of demons—before the holy light he emitted, neither demons nor their servants, the Corrupteds, could use their full power.fZz
bimb“I suppose this was your idea.”JRUzx
DUQveThe strategy was clear: Rosalia and Fernan would block from the front, the Iron and Wild Blood Knights would flank, and the Corrupted would have no choice but to flee backward—where the Academy students waited.Iskp
zF1rJUD“The students came for experience. Facing a Corrupted will be the best one yet.”qzeUwJ
MuY“And you?”yQL
99nxyhv“I’m not particularly skilled in battle.”pPo
DYVHvj“Luina.”lpc
kVykVTq“At the Academy, we were taught that knights and mages must fight together. At least one knight should stay here.”cAhPWWC
xt2et“I’m enough. How arrogant.”iN8dx7Z
4FG6Rosalia clicked her tongue but didn’t argue further.inKX
4We1“And you, Professor? Why are you here?”3FWw
AVd“I can’t leave the students alone.”jGewVRT
ahmYE“Did Professor Grad order it?”QgEp0
xSjRosalia didn’t answer, but that was answer enough.ese
e8RB‘Do well, Aint Armian.’QQArKT
CGQ2Fernan looked in the direction the Corrupted had fled.mjOC
nDWwMaybe this was no longer just Aint’s stage—but for all the Academy students. Even so, this was the best Fernan could do: set the stage for Aint to gain experience and use it as a stepping stone.8E6bsh
V70‘And I also made sure Luina stayed here…’c3yZ6za
qKHLhtIn truth, Luina’s presence was the result of his request.7e8
DMoIj“I trust Professor Rosalia, but I thought it would be best if a knight stayed as well, just in case.”pol3
8s7bm5h“…Understood.”lujgfmg
exI2S“Then I’ll take care of finishing off the monsters.”CaXOKM
dwrLuina ran toward the front. Each flash of her sword reflecting the sunlight marked another monster falling.kh2lVDn
YLyZ“You too, go.”Ehw8t
5UnO“Me too?”HF0
iYuKcNt“You said the students came for experience, and you’re one of them.”3XqO
P0q“I’m too tired. Can I rest a bit?”zGWOmn
xbs8Q“Rest from what?”2Olf
nH3Q5B“……”faif
vMGnUnder the pressure of her gaze, Fernan had no choice but to raise his staff.I01nBl
Igqr7t***FMPaNz
EZKtw— He’s here.q4O
zSNrEven if Gardner hadn’t said it, Aint could feel it too.Bgyb
P7jAThe approaching enemy tried to be discreet, but by moving so fast, he couldn’t completely hide his energy.S7RQ
QhHnzmAt least not from Aint or Gardner, both highly sensitive to demonic magic.6j0
6H4yWlY“He’s coming.”ZLD0Ut
QOzNlAint drew his sword. He took position and swung a vertical slash.NKz
Zy0SgOkSlash!JJZeFZw
w86NTPThe sand split, and the strike hit the Corrupted. With the shockwave, the figure that had been sneaking in was revealed.sJvx24
gara“That stench…! It’s you! You’re that cursed blood!”3ezvoa
jehw4The instinctive repulsion and the corrupted magic being devoured by the light were enough for Bairan to instantly recognize who had blocked him.05ec7tW
K4xHqLAnd he also saw the others waiting.GGp
6MAy“A trap? So you knew I’d come this way and waited for me!”AjEhkxQ
VqMZODamn it. Though he had dreamed of facing Aint Armian, he couldn’t feel joy.5hDvh
qN77eEIf it were just Aint, maybe—but there were too many obstacles. And he couldn’t ignore Altrierc’s forces closing in from behind.3Mo
OpmjHe had no time to waste here. Capturing Aint was important, sure, but what good was glory if he ended up dead?YNo4L
YSfNot even by surrendering his soul to the demon and gaining power had he escaped death.YiQw2mj
DWyOIZ“I don’t have time to play with you…!”rWfOE2
Zi7XFtAt that moment—D9I
NvG“Oh, you don’t? What a shame, because we’ve got plenty of time to play with you.”LdsJtu8
YGGSpears of wind burst out and attacked from blind angles. As he barely dispersed them with a wave of corrupted magic, a lightning bolt struck him.M95e
xXIvAnd before its echo faded, a white flash hit him.RmBk
dEJkqIt was absolute frost that froze everything.yke6R
Rsh“Damn it…!”O4E57x
uNOm“Hold still and freeze, filthy Corrupted.”eIGGIQk
dT5nEzbThe owner of the cold was Ludger Schwaben, extending a staff with one hand.CYr
YYZF“Miserable insects…!”S6w2G
I7nLBut Bairan wasn’t so easily broken.aBBj9
6Feb3GCrrrk—fIseHs
f13olXVBlack scales covered his body. From his back sprouted dozens of corrupted magic tendrils, like tentacles.Yyy
nIbHis freezing body flared with heat.Srkeh8
PyNa7“It’s useless!”Uqwk
bxu6OPqBairan’s roar echoed. The vibration, charged with magic, struck the students’ eardrums.IyVrxv
JWBNyIG“Ugh…!”ktxt
QxC“Kyah!”6c9SL
us5lH6Some groaned and collapsed, but Ludger stood firm.wNEU5AW
FbHr0“No, it’s not useless.”uGr
7ZgORealizing he had to go all in, he poured all his mana into the spell. The ice ray intensified.fesUl
LcUThe Corrupted’s heat began to die, and frost crept over his body.VcqKMe3
F8W1C6I“Kuugh…!”fK3xZa
fXRslAzThe mana drain was brutal, and Ludger staggered. Using ice magic in a blazing desert was extremely inefficient.Okw
rXHWEEven so, he pushed his mana heart to the limit.V7UAJh
hZW4XCJStill not enough?TfajH7
X02He recalled what Fernan had taught him in such moments.xs2V4o
cgR5He opened his subspace and drank a potion. His hands were already covered with rings and bracelets embedded with magic stones.QcqGBUy
E2nsZaThe artifacts shone intensely and began injecting mana. The nearly extinguished ice ray flared back to life.50t7g7q
xAK5But even so—G9PjY
Wb8“You insolent worm!”l8v5k
EwgBiiFLudger’s spell had failed to completely freeze the Corrupted. Bairan resisted and advanced slowly. Frost formed and cracked on his skin in cycles.bL8jUvb
5wLT“What a monster…”IV8
07HtkkZLudger’s face twisted, and without realizing it, he let out a bitter laugh. His mana heart was pounding as if it were about to burst. His head throbbed with pain as he struggled to control the flow of energy from the artifacts.L3gk
pGeh3JA thin stream of blood ran from his nose.gKLu5h
jYM0His hands and feet trembled.Si0
fb1OYtaThis was his limit.qRqM7xu
6BOR2zAnd still, the enemy wasn’t frozen.a09JZu
f7CCA true monster.FqM2Xv9
8nmIkGWAt last, Ludger understood why demons and Corrupted were called the true enemies of humanity.hwMU
ZfrdJ7The pain in his chest and head, the blood soaking his clothes—it didn’t wipe away his smile.Q6koeMC
zVBXJBHe hadn’t fully frozen him, but he had slowed him down.y7Fr
aOSilYThat was enough.MwEs
zBMAint.qLFCZ
kbhFGhSAlmon.ybFPy
8bEakVerian.xH7Al
08vD2sAlia.Kleyi
913rThey were students, but already surpassed many knights.9QT
pqdGSo4All of them charged at once, while the other mages began casting. A storm engulfed the Corrupted, and through its gaps, the swords pierced.QpT
FkjCEClang!VGjPgw
UK5riAs he watched the battle, Ludger tossed away the overloaded artifacts.GsI9osU
fvd9V“With that, wouldn’t you say I contributed the most?”qtR8
iXSe“Undoubtedly, your spells slowed him down a lot.”O2T
KucG0nProfessor Grad, who had remained hidden until then, appeared beside him.7ySF
YcAeoqn“Your role was crucial. The timing, also perfect.”MmPVT
8OjW03Not far away, the presence of the knight order could be felt. And in plain sight—the Iron Knights.HyvmDN
E7ySxdThey had seen Ludger’s magical prowess firsthand.gIVBt4
8WLVMn“But in the end, you rushed it.”Dncd
IAzpFlash!SIa48X
T9bt9aA radiant light swept away the corrupted magic.RArrd3D
WP50i“Humans always remember the ending.”qioc7
Gk6OGAint Armian, cloaked in a massive white aura, raised his sword. The scene evoked the image of the legendary first Emperor himself.jfOcw4C
qLezEveryone held their breath.UvxMYwp
YXqOLudger bit his lip.03c65
QrR“I should’ve held back and appeared at the end…”llhcH
LB5k“Even then, nothing would’ve changed.”AhLY
W7CSV7Beginning or end—the result would be the same.njbVKAL
YrWHe didn’t have the power to kill the Corrupted.Az4GM
MIBmPEdHis magic wasn’t cold or piercing enough.I2e
Hvk7XDAnd that went for all of them. Even Aint—if not for the fact that he possessed a power that directly countered demons.Dgijsy7
JCJ3“Are you frustrated?”i56
yWm“I’d be lying if I said no. But I didn’t come out empty-handed.”vbDrm
yIPyLudger stared at Aint’s radiant aura.LAy3uc
NYc8Y‘The swordsmanship of the Armians… when was it restored?’6tYckn
yCTVThat bothered him more than his own achievements being overshadowed.huD
alSV‘And Fernan knew about it beforehand?’sUT9
lwFoyThat fox.fKOZ
fqEywpaLudger chuckled to himself.zt0Q
QpaTd“…This can’t be! I won’t die here!”8v7T0b9
aJotThe Corrupted roared in desperation. His body deformed even further, and his magic turned wild.gLSY2
gtEbmehBut Aria’s wind cut him down.zGPYy
McdaCarlo’s lightning tore through him.a1vp8
zzycAint’s flash accelerated his collapse.gz9b4
41kwwxVAnd the blades of Almon and Alia left no opening untouched.67T9DfQ
czWR“You damn…!”FK1w0
I1FFGb“I’m a professor. And for now, their protector.”EODfv
p8BgIG“Monster…!”GVKX
ygsV“Isn’t it an honor to be called that by a Corrupted?”KZr
9BU6MbThere were dangerous moments, but Grad always disrupted the flow at the critical second.DaOqx
gTWThe Corrupted was hunted without mercy.84P6Q1Z
3x7f5And while Ludger’s magic didn’t defeat him, it played a decisive role—it had weakened him.sWb
9mE“No… no… I can’t die here! Save me! I’ll give you anything you want!”Nnmqz3E
6JC0ktBairan spat blood and pleaded, eyes overflowing with desperate hunger for life.RzRrM
p3J7“You really think we’d trust a Corrupted?”tkzgfL7
H4e3“I was just following orders! The demons… against the demons…!”4adC71L
2gIu9t— Disgusting. Finish him. Corrupteds always lie. Not worth speaking to them.DFh1e
i37Aint didn’t respond. He didn’t need to.UOmqHTU
qSvHis sword would be the answer.BKe3obl
XPj0G75Slash!FDXU
tOSkFThe blade flashed.evbnUhR
KvLTlT8“Ah.”eVJipap
YotA thin line opened across the Corrupted’s chest.r46Sdj
Thp7N“Gyaaaah!”p9hqJ1
3QpThe wound split wide, spewing black blood. With one final scream, the Corrupted collapsed backward.mETK7r
hg0DAint stepped on his chest and raised his sword.LgD9AtS
gtCW“Woooooohhh—!”Y9mMJ
yN7A“Long live Aint Armian!”bKL
VIsOvl“The Corrupted has fallen!”8Qq
8spThe Iron Knights’ roar echoed across the desert.ICh
qBzl“Stop! Don’t kill him! He mustn’t die!”JRbE
zFZsrtW“…Ah, right.”dJq8s
zw0pCAt Fernan’s belated shout, Aint quickly lifted his foot.6pbbOjR
rtTmX“…Uh.”97zgSlF
2F83k0He scratched his cheek awkwardly.kCd
SF5DCB‘Maybe it’s already too late?’jTjG
Oi7txQL— Bah, it was pointless anyway. Corrupteds don’t confess anything, even under torture; they’ve got prohibitions etched into them.j8Y
0OZU5VL— That fool doesn’t even know.i4rnRTH
xk6y‘Still… I don’t want to fight with my senior over this…’kvbQ
GIsAint took out a potion.e9O
r51Q“What if I give him this? Will he recover enough to interrogate him?”35hsqHD
kGw1— You going to torture him?I29
l6nRv— Would be fun to watch a Corrupted suffer.KTE3KW
n5gw“…Doesn’t seem like it.”BONd4uv
1vAoPAint let out a quiet sigh.6kimwo
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!