Chapter 138: 4-star (3)
r31XA rain of monsters was falling from the sky.9RsCn
L5cHAlong with the army the roaring demon endlessly vomited forth, the number of corpses raised by the Archlich exceeded the hundreds.kJcavY
hZV2vEach monster was weak enough to be easily defeated, but when they formed an army, even veteran mercenaries could do nothing but flee, panting for breath.ExxU5
vkdV6However, those gathered there were only the brave.aZtJ
CF5THVaGuided by the heroine Rodelia, together with the veteran special forces, the finest soldiers of Count Belmierd, and the Beldern mercenaries who had spent their lives hunting monsters, they were people who knew how to wield their swords even when a horde came crashing down upon them.MnnXN
qBtlOBefore the Beltus mansion became a nest of monsters, all of them wore determined expressions, ready to end everything.GTi
vKYhThe blood of goblin corpses mingled with the night air, the wings of monstrous bats tore apart, and the fangs of trolls wielding broken spears shattered.RIOt7C
KBrDRoTEven so, the wave of monsters did not lose momentum. Rodelia clicked her tongue at that absurdly overwhelming offensive.m1cKh
fpz3Y9w‘An Archlich and high-level demons… there’s a limit to how long we can keep killing these endless pests…’lXifz
Cf2rV9RShe dodged the blade of a resurrected goblin’s axe and swung her Sacred Blood Sword, cleaving its neck in two.IhiP
2JLKNwThen, as she lifted her gaze toward the railing of the second floor of the grand hall, she saw Dereck drawing his sword under the moonlight.eMaDy
IUe‘We must aid Baron Ravenclaw and eliminate the source of all these monsters. Subduing Grand Duke Beltus is the top priority…’hns
7L7Grand Duke Beltus was a five-star mage, someone Dereck could not face alone.O36DQy
5QSkYBut to get close to him, they first had to eliminate the Archlich controlling the first floor of the main hall.0CKAW
qErOoOqThat chilling high-ranking monster seemed determined not to let anyone approach Dereck, commanding all the soldiers on that floor.Myzur
9mTBreaking through was no easy task. That creature not only endlessly resurrected corpses but also cast advanced magic itself.0Ou97
miTZ3‘First… that Archlich…’R1S
vYzfgCVWith that thought, Rodelia brandished the Sacred Blood Sword and charged toward the Archlich.x079
cAmzhWhoosh!p210iV
8L11KXOn the railing of the second floor of the grand hall, Grand Duke Beltus, facing Dereck, had the veins in his eyes bulging as dark red magic enveloped him.zZVymH
sRzICZAThat nobleman, saturated with an overwhelming amount of necromantic energy, was astonishingly struggling to maintain control.ycE
nKIDCIEven with the traces of madness that Fina had deliberately injected into him, a five-star mage somehow managed to resist.cJBE
WyXHowever, his physical state was far from normal. He coughed up blood, his fingers trembled, and saliva dripped from his mouth—fighting against the madness of that necromantic magic was no simple feat.Pmc80C4
jxsc3R“Ha… Huff… huff…”r8v
dMnkeNi“…”672qj
tzh0“You… you… planned this?… turning my mansion upside down… and… doing this to me…”1S3U
w0tDereck, with a cold gaze, took a combat stance and answered briefly.xy6
1rX“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”0C1P
4pR“That… necromancer… that woman must have… another purpose… besides killing me… Huff… Huff…”ONzr
7H1It was at the moment he had drawn his sword to kill Dereck that it all happened.EzUBXpA
eiMZYiVThough he found no clear proof, it was too much of a coincidence. He was convinced Dereck was involved somehow.MZMYj
KBijeDereck feigned innocence.rnZ
jtSV5HPBut judging by his cold eyes, he did not seem unrelated to the situation.TO3Bdl
Zhp0j1Grand Duke Beltus gnashed his teeth as he glared at him.kxUzq
GbPt“You… damn you…”aWXYjsp
KjU“…”tPl
mEg8GDP“You’ll regret angering me for the rest of your life… Even if I end up in this miserable state… even if I’m falsely accused of some absurdity… I’ll drag you… I’ll drag you with me to hell…”FSnBa
xuoeWNDGrand Duke Beltus had manipulated countless people like chess pieces, killed those who no longer served him, framed his rivals, ruined families, and ruled with bloodstained hands.wv8S
iqSHowever, Dereck had no intention of condemning him morally or speaking righteous words.FVsQB
L8w3JmHaving been entangled with the nobility for quite some time now, he understood.v21sKNO
rsPbNo one who lived by power was completely clean. One way or another, everyone had blood on their hands, committed dirty deeds, or sometimes looked away from the right path.9d8sS0
SSfDereck also had blood on his hands since his mercenary days and was by no means blameless.o3TZmmn
ws4e6wWThat’s how the world was. Perhaps Grand Duke Beltus had merely been fighting in his own way to rise within that mire.0RpfYAS
bwPqw1Of course, for those who had suffered under him, it was a matter of hatred and pain, but in the end, he was nothing more than a man who knew no limits to his ambition.B01s2S
jXemqwJBorn of noble blood and gazing at the stars with a desire for greatness.tVGPu
07XUIt might have seemed romantic, but hadn’t he considered the price?RbrypDx
AxUz1“You talk too much, Grand Duke Beltus.”pE0G
xtq2IHtWhen Dereck’s eyes glimmered, Beltus’s pupils widened for an instant.teYOTg6
Y9QCome to think of it, Dereck had never criticized his evil deeds or atrocities.9IE
o7jhp35The reason he pointed his sword at him did not stem from a moral conclusion.4GG
5gqIq3It was something far more primal.KQk98V
nAIYcLIf you point a sword at someone, you must be prepared for the blade to turn toward you as well.WcwK
N32WdThat was all Dereck was saying.kNb0Ix
IJGJUl“Did you not wish to seize the southwest of the continent and, beyond that, make your name resound throughout the world with power and authority?”Trgp0ic
jk2C“…”nac
vyNs0BJ“Did you truly think such ambition could be achieved without facing a crisis?”yLpFVRd
2imQJust as Dereck had once reached toward the heavens, dreaming of attaining seven-star magic, this man, too, sought to climb endlessly toward that unreachable sky.KAIq
CrVRhF7He cared nothing for the cruel circumstances that arose in the process.UI7
EKQwVbIf their paths crossed and one had to fall, at least Dereck had no intention of being the one to do so.tkOnLA7
UwOThat was why Dereck drew his sword, pushed off from the ground, and charged toward Grand Duke Beltus.Je5ptcj
64i3jYTWhoosh!L8RL
4o2Fiery, human-shaped spirits rose around the duke.liM
rP792yxEach of them, equipped with high-grade armor, was the result of four-star summoning magic.Nc0
hA3kSwoosh! Clang!DZq
9J9KfBut before the spirits could even draw their swords, they were all engulfed in frost.KqoA
8xt6SIIt was the three-star combat spell “Freeze.”iFkPcY
lyUThe memory of when Siern had instantly mastered the magic that had taken him a lifetime to learn flashed through his mind.87RMy
4vRJyCrackle! Swoosh!meGw
WCM1lIn an instant, everything around the railing froze, even the feet of Duke Beltus, fixed to the floor by ice.NVAy03
Yd4j5iUBut the duke invoked the two-star combat spell “Burst,” shattered the ice, and stepped back while launching more spells.VZr
Vp5Four swords rose from the ground, aiming to pierce Dereck’s body, but he rolled over the ice and dove to the side.TiuNe
JecgEPThud! Thud!IbV6p
jcsEYTThe emerging swords shattered the frozen floor.S9N
53TiDuke Beltus didn’t waste that brief moment and conjured new magic.GZn
HJtvIThough his own mana was nearly depleted, he forced himself to use the necromancy Fina had driven into him.ClL
g5MugeUGrand Duke Beltus was a being completely different from the mages Dereck had faced before.1rkOw
kLWpGuIf he hid his skills or hesitated even for an instant, his life would be in immediate danger.deZ6IG
8OL0KHe had to give it everything.aeC
Qx6UPtTo squeeze out every last drop of strength from his very core and clash with the sole determination to kill his opponent.ixP
0z9UzpNIf he lost focus for even a moment, the blade would pierce his neck.96fq
iA4YThat sharp sensation, like walking a tightrope suspended over lava, ran through his body, raising every hair on his skin.Qeurs
POFUDeath was close.NfivcIN
G38Ironically, the closer he came to it, the more alive he felt.XS141K1
Nqa8r– Clang! Clang!hxslLMH
EN0– Boom! Bang!hpCH
210Grand Duke Beltus began summoning all kinds of weapons.5fgf4
jM4nSteel swords, spiked spears, golden arrows, sharp scimitars, maces, and throwing weapons—so many that they surrounded the area like a storm.EeVMN3
oX1XoBefore Dereck could cast a defensive spell, his body was covered in cuts. The speed was so great he could barely react, but he broke through the wall beside him and hurled himself inside, securing a safer position.1Ex0
6ErLX“Damn you… You have no idea what you’ve done! I am fundamentally different from you—in nobility and in the magnitude of my ambition! I… have been chosen by this era to reach greater heights…”vzQ
nWX8Madness and desire.DTHkvf
Sp97The flames burning in Grand Duke Beltus’s eyes began to shine with an even more ominous energy.6qyPkfg
52fzBoom!Utj2Hy0
hnDmAnThe inside of the wall where Dereck hid was a luxurious bedroom.ubdK
n5ucEpThe fist of the enormous demon, roaring as if covering the sky, came crashing down upon the room.Fpkdg
GWfbRumble! Boom!QTEy
qF2j0jThat mansion belonged to Grand Duke Beltus, so he knew every corner of it.YcGkLo
vC6FvAll the summoned creatures moved according to his will; even the demons and monsters were under his control.IgFP
jNpgFIOne way or another, this was Beltus’s domain—it was no exaggeration to call it the kingdom he himself had built.FVg
q4nSHis magical level was five stars, and the entire battlefield was his territory.dlh2
9cfFacing him one-on-one in such a place was an impossible task.55VUIX1
4hy7However, Dereck, without changing his expression, leapt out of the room.rJf1LC
VXemrzThud! Bang!aGH
dkmHe rolled once across the floor and ran down the corridor.mTMitr
VBFy7bTThe grand hall on the second floor was too wide; the open space allowed Beltus to deploy multiple summons simultaneously.ogJzdJf
DNCtZxTTo gain an advantage in battle, that space had to be restricted.8E4W4
3ygThe surest way to do so was to draw him into a narrow place.BPc
vJtW“So… you’re using your head… Kuhk… Huhk…!”TEED67
RuCAs he pursued him, an intense pain from the necromantic magic struck Grand Duke Beltus’s mind once again.uJC
XoVBlood began to flow from his nose, and the veins in his eyes bulged even more.usR
jwxZpEhAmid the burning and agony, Beltus barely held onto his sanity.U4Bg
YHUuHe was a man destined to climb higher. He would not fall so miserably.XaV
RYFqvzhClenching his teeth with that resolve, he used levitation magic and soared into the corridor.woUsM
TEU9Os6Hwaaak!ncsc1
4hgMagic enveloped his hand as he gripped the five-star magic weapon Light of the Empire.r0GMw
VCbh6Although it was an inferior replica of the original, its power was still worthy of a weapon of war.GKsfLCr
rTGAnyone struck directly by that staff would die instantly.zZH3e8Q
tOWmhTo prove it, the amount of energy radiating from the staff was far greater than before.TYS
thEA4Boom!6eRFRM
ZQvaDereck, running through the corridor, analyzed every corner, searching for an opportunity to counterattack.6fxdnI
U7PLuxurious carpets, curtains, and all kinds of antiques decorated the hallway.rcJZH4
dcXAlthough he couldn’t examine the layout of every room, most appeared spacious.c3kdQ5
BuOkfIAt the end of the corridor were the outer stairs, the servants’ tool storerooms, the Grand Duke’s office, and several empty rooms.Y5pgBWs
9D1Mhq‘Haa… Hoo… Hoo…’s4ab6
jDhZDereck was breathing heavily.ROL1kiZ
tnAAs he advanced, various monsters emerged to intercept him, but he cut them down one by one with his sword.aA0kn
HLtDHis movements were so fluid it seemed as if nothing could hinder him.p2KH4en
n4LA2vYBut if he let his guard down for even a second, it would all be over. Beltus’s combat magic far surpassed that of any ordinary mage.4Ga
CLNB1pFCold sweat ran down his back; the chill of death coursed through his body.BkINW45
JVULife or death.TA0
UgeA battle on the edge.Yaq
Nk422A sharp, bluish sensation he hadn’t felt in a long time.AzqP
L3hqJlMAs a child, it had been part of his daily routine—whether hunting goblins or facing trolls, he always had to risk his life; a single mistake could cost him an arm or a leg.kA7X0m
swauThat feeling of walking along the edge of an abyss sharpened all his senses to the limit.y42D2
qAG6Only amid danger and such fierce battles could he burn his entire being.w9hD9
7t1dHNThe acute sense of crisis, like needles pricking every pore, spurred him on even more.K0jKs
NSAbn— Pull everything from deep within, defeat the superior beings, and remember that feeling in your hands. I know better than anyone the pleasure of that moment.jrHdE
cSy— Killing is something pleasurable. Though you don’t seem like the type to let yourself be swept up in that pleasure.L3gR5Fz
t5NzThough he could not agree with Fina’s deranged words, he had to admit there was some truth to them.AKDE5v
ZKVtOOnly in extreme situations, at the brink of death, could one glimpse the realm beyond one’s limits.4l34
nZWpVNBy pushing his body to its utmost in every exchange, Dereck was reaching the summit of his own extreme.ezzB
N4jBoom! Bang! Crack! Snap!8DEVk
6xPe14fHigh-powered spells flew at incredible speed, destroying the corridor.MYbf
IMY3Though combat magic wasn’t his specialty, the Grand Duke’s destructive power surpassed Dereck’s.rQDay
DvaCrack! Snap!QvxX
srILVAnd his way of using magic was completely different from that of ordinary mages.NBSP
62gBXaHis power had no defined limits; he mixed combat, confusion, and summoning, transcending the magical system itself.QP94yRN
dT95HThe system accepted in this era was nothing more than a structure established by a genius named Adelbert.IUIaTQ5
8bqipXkBut the magic of those who grasped its true essence existed on a level others could never reach.dOHHA63
cS1hwThe fireballs he hurled contained Fina’s necromantic power—they weren’t flames that burned flesh but energy that devoured the soul and vitality.fFbkiH
T7SHT9The floating swords were imbued with confusion magic—illusions mingled among the real blades, and if you tried to dodge them with sight alone, they would cut you in an instant.t9bT5Z
zxMnSnap! Crackle!jwWRw
LPlET6gDereck rolled across the floor to dodge a slash and cast a spell, launching fireballs toward Beltus.Wkf3VH
mTNSnap!5exxkB
UMdb38cBut Beltus destroyed them in midair with a mere furrow of his brow.Qmpu9G0
VyvOulKHe had never seen such manipulation of magic before.fpTR
barerdmIt was, without a doubt, the result of the duke’s countless years of research.BMeZ
291byDereck’s arm trembled.K5GpX
aWa1OzHis pupils dilated once more.0ECB
y3ASeeing his reaction, Beltus smiled with bloodstained lips.8ddQ
wdG0BB5“What’s wrong? Do you finally understand the difference between you and me?”pkKJ47
hTLA being two levels above.8Xn3
a2DzNo matter how much of a genius Dereck was or how fast he grew, he could never reach a fully developed five-star mage.imEjSQ
IAeDid he understand that now?kRb
VDgaPxVSeeing his astonished expression, the Grand Duke raised his voice.iljrQ
DEOf7“Gaah… you… will never follow in my footsteps… Die here…”6v5re
rODzHFrom his staff, an even greater surge of magical energy began to burst forth.6zFWKr
qOE9Three-star summoning magic—Stone Turtle, Shadow Spirit, Magic Crow, Flame Wolf.CHphC
BUIf8uASo many creatures appeared it was impossible to count them.t6V
KrS74vBut Beltus didn’t use them directly.bVY
GBTqRInstead, he drew out a greater power and fused all those summoned beings together.WFj
PUiVR1A fusion summoning spell.vGley
pJUK90XA type of incantation nonexistent in any book.DGCygj
QmjUN7Fina had once told him that to reach rank four or higher, one must touch one’s own domain—no longer bound by any system or formula.fWo5Oj
T68EAjIf up until then you had been running along a path laid out for you, from four stars onward, you had to forge it yourself.fV2
tstMAs proof of that, Beltus’s magic was filled with unpredictable variables.Ah9sc4
g3jH55Dereck’s arm trembled even more.k3rgKu
VjrnnThe duke, noticing his condition, smiled madly.zPey
tuW“You must be terrified. Now you understand how arrogant you were.”tKWL
WNv3ABBang!lwf7q
DZZWithout giving him a chance to breathe, the demon’s fist descended from the sky once more.PdY4gT
48MsuHe had to fight not only the duke but also all the entities he had summoned.KW3lm
eWg1FIt required reaction speed beyond human capability.6Yba
YSyAnd even so, Dereck managed to evade and avoid a fatal wound.oIdB
3iAfeStarlight filtered through the shattered ceiling.mbmKG
i6NThe fused being’s joints were all twisted, and from its body flowed energies of various elements.AVU
Z95F3It was a half-wolf, half-human creature.mfVJf
LbTjWhen it spewed fire, Dereck—who had just dodged the demon’s blow—was struck head-on.z7y75
G2syRTCrash! Bang!n0d0c
XPQWith superhuman reflexes, he shielded himself with magic, barely escaping death.yYc5f
03SL5KBut the pain in his shoulder burned like fire, and his bones creaked as if several had shattered.XbITS9d
F5wfThe moonlight, filtering through the broken roof, illuminated his figure against the wall.laji
ZvQQgiXCovered in dust and debris, breathing heavily, Dereck was clearly on the brink of death.EV7
Dg3o“Ha… ha, ha…”jv2
shbThe madness of necromancy began to devour Grand Duke Beltus once again.d7Ua4R
HGSv1Drooling, his face twisted, the archmage still resisted.Og25
MA9G“Yes… those are the emotions befitting your level… fear… dread before death… ha, ha… tell me… how does it feel to face it?”A2eI
DSGThroughout his life, many young nobles like Dereck had dared to challenge him.QX1MxFW
2FZ1wAt first, they carried pride and determination, but in the end, when crushed, stripped, and threatened at swordpoint, they all trembled the same way.AKaZU
K6YDereck was no different—or so Beltus believed.jxpBp
owKHe delighted in watching that youthful arrogance crumble.Mm89m
pbaHe enjoyed seeing Dereck covered in dust, trembling with wide eyes.CuDGwJs
O1xtf7And just as he let out a mad grin—bqM9Y
YxNJfZb“Yes… this is exhilarating…”1NKIQG
zxBBbhxHe noticed something strange.ChNzVm
OTmBAADereck’s hand was trembling, yes—but not from fear.WgN
5CbMadness takes many forms.nQNrlke
CXJmeMAnd Dereck was no exception.VoG5oFq
z5uJd8“What…?”PqcC
CEfCrackle, pop.IVwfk9
1bQjNDereck was a reserved man, but that didn’t mean he never smiled.Z6eT4r
H9PUHe smiled when it was necessary.Vun
l1jBVQcAs a noble, it was something he was expected to do.bZECBb
ACAUCqSometimes, he even showed an elegant and serene smile befitting a refined gentleman.uVi
4AUtkbBut the smile he wore now was not one of courtesy.yzm
JdoZIt was something far more primal.tZ5q
1suyD8tDuke Beltus’s eyes widened in shock.8Fd2
wuUIn a situation where anyone else would see death before them, in an environment dominated by overwhelming power—Dereck was thrilled.401a3RQ
fbIvAItIt was the tremor of one who had glimpsed a higher level of magic.u3tIS
hQcuMore than fear, it resembled the ecstasy before awakening.rTSLyO
TiHpGrand Duke Beltus was not the only madman there.Nm2zf
amCIt was the first time Dereck had witnessed such magical manipulation.gt5
DRsYkuThe first time he had seen a summoning of such magnitude.N6CYKK
MzCTwThe first time he had observed a magic weapon of that power.rAX3idK
OXuS7The first time he had faced such a complex fusion.5s52bTh
wj6F5DFor someone who had felt stagnation, as if trapped behind the wall of three stars, this experience touched him directly.JNvFiy
UZlsWhat filled Dereck’s mind as he slowly rose was not fear but the pure exhilaration of a mage who had discovered a new horizon.8UpA
AXbviNH“Yes… your way of using magic is unique… I think I’m starting to understand it… interesting… truly interesting…”9kTlrV
ceuMAnd seeing that spark of talent, growing like a sponge absorbing everything, it was the other who felt fear.GRHj2b
1zdAGrand Duke Beltus suddenly realized it.f45Ovur
VYEZThat man had to die—here and now.eJNur
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