Chapter 265: Beyond the Mist (3)
X5IEM“Are you sure this is Imperial territory?”qyv
p5HcC“I don’t know.”TnYcZq
AXgG9f“It doesn’t matter! Let’s just fight! As long as we kill Imperial bastards, it’s fine!”SKbTJR
LOp“Right? Let’s go!”rI2bg
ExV“For Briol!”bY7
TmV“For Briol!”eCD
U2M2bThe Briol army always kept extremely high morale.lkZ
VoAU0vThe reason was simple.GR2
cDAa1uPThe noblest blood was the one leading the charge and facing the enemy head-on.7SP2rp
KZqYuri Briol never hid nor prioritized his own safety. Nor did he allow the enemy to pass by without confronting them.OoHVA33
bdwHe always advanced directly into the line of fire.mXBXU
7LYIf a member of royalty was willing to risk his life, how could the troops fear death?7hDka1C
rSf0i“Leave none alive!”VanBIM
GwQdYuri’s roar was followed by a war cry.l2sh
Z6PAeyThe Imperial army could not organize a true counterattack. Even under the emotional suppression imposed by black magic, their movements were chaotic and disordered.QuQm7
zdFxThey clearly had not expected such an attack.BlBLWP
5a3kHnYuri’s stratagem had worked to perfection.xByzBi
KAh4X7As he ran a black-armored knight through with Guilty, Yuri smiled.7ZGIahh
g61“Aren’t you glad to see me?”GWib
Tbb8H“H-how… how are you here…?”h54
iLTZcv“Surprised?”ip8
GYfCCA gush of blood escaped the knight’s mouth.07cT9G
aSQ8d“What’s wrong? Your friends too busy holding the defense in there?”h3rE
DKBsC“Keugh…”JsXH
d2KB4BG“I know everything, bastard.”OlA1C
CW7FYuri kicked him in the abdomen, knocking him down as he pulled his sword free, and advanced toward another knight further back.b5Dvi
1VPqcuoThis one was retreating, swinging his sword blindly. Yuri stayed just outside his reach, following without rushing, until the man, panicked, shouted:1x1i7d
qaR“It’s Yuri Briol! Gather here! Surround him!”tLT
wcbe2KtKnights in black armor began to close in.yDcS
br08WYYYuri also shouted:xcd
VnvONwJ“They want to kill me! Come protect me quickly!”oJqieMs
tbVBut only one person appeared at his side.VTAS0w
BQPZ“Why is it just you, Jared?”yXtUb
eASZn“How should I know?”RYGju
r2ZUKYuri had advanced so far that the Order of Vengeance was locked in close combat behind him, and Laurent, who was nearby, didn’t even flinch at hearing his request.Eo8qoi
1mQ8pZJared shrugged.wBcY
sr4aUVW“Two are enough, aren’t they?”LDL0DR
mXxr“Yes, let’s say they are.”GpfIkaj
WMGLcAlthough several Imperial knights had surrounded them, the two broke through on opposite sides and shattered the formation in an instant.NNOZQp8
QsTIZ4A“I’ll take the front! Everyone follow me! We’re going to crush the Empire!”cygq
3vf0“Yes, sir!”Nry
UxhbWith his shout, Yuri unleashed his Whirlwind Sword Technique, shredding everything around him.67Rd
1euSbImperial soldiers were reduced to dozens of pieces, slaughtered mercilessly, and the Briol army surged forward like an unstoppable wave.dFAR3X
UicJdThe Empire could not maintain its formation and began to collapse. Briol, for its part, took advantage of the breach Yuri had opened and drove deep in, annihilating the enemies.xw9jj
X4dFrom time to time, monsters created by the Empire appeared, flailing tentacles, but Yuri slammed them to the ground and tore them apart, spraying their fluids everywhere.jvAxyNC
HjXTKf“We don’t need prisoners! Leave no survivors!”frdaH
oPbolThe entire Imperial formation was collapsing.POZc
MlYQBy this point, Yuri had already fulfilled his role—he had cracked open the enemy’s shell and left the soft flesh exposed for his allies to tear apart.Ikz
uiJCcW3But he did not stop.LaE
77bsSIn the middle of the battlefield, he walked calmly, observing each enemy.2qYoN
UqwINo average Imperial knight now dared to even approach.8WY
QQNpQ“They’re all so boring.”1DTgK92
8wtOHe saw no one truly strong.vVu2Mdq
l5Mo1EUntil—ZSDF
PdeCe“Yuri Briol!”K0L2
MRm8Mys“Oh.”bjQed
SR0Just as he let out a disappointed remark, someone shouted his name and rushed at him. Yuri turned, expectant.ainTcPH
gKWlOxA knight in a black helmet was charging toward him.a1sF
A8rJ“Die!”V54
8hwhI“All fine, but your line is way too cliché.”HqZU
3glRThe knight leapt and brought his sword down hard. Yuri blocked it sideways with Guilty.z6wx
Ig9ASparks flew.URP
IfUYuri frowned—each strike was heavy, a sign that this was not a weak opponent.uSY
zQzIn fact, he was among the strongest he had faced.tbRX4I
mQ7nytAs they exchanged blows, Yuri asked.dHq
fh5“What’s your name?”cB2tN
2jbCsEc“Jesquil!”ZIg
QlIj“Your rank?”x4jmi
bGAs“Knight Commander!”XN86IE
RVN2Ngt“Of which squadron?”ok5A
FFCUS4“That’s none of your business!”nOC
bUUu“For someone who doesn’t want to talk, you answer quite a bit.”iVI
EJ0fZ“Shut up!”MUsVWl
2oghDrdJesquil used centrifugal force to launch fierce, almost acrobatic attacks.kq3m
dgAjLQAlthough he wasn’t large, his control over his center of gravity was excellent, and each strike came down with the force of a bear’s swiping claws.EbNSzjZ
xds7Yuri blocked repeatedly, then stepped aside and drove his sword into the opponent’s abdomen.MeAL
YxLhBJesquil arched backward, letting himself fall.WGhWhN
4Ai“Huh?”o7ti
lQrmyMtBefore Yuri could react, the knight pushed off the ground with his hands and launched both legs at him.B97so3j
GJgaWELAn unexpected counterattack.L3z6w
6V5cbYuri took the blow to the chest and fell.fGgZ
RKqZ5“Tch.”Pt3z0h
vhUEsTo make matters worse, he tripped over a rock and ended up on the ground. Jesquil brought his sword down to finish him.qzVfe
kOj“Wait!”G8f
zrHsYuri rolled across the ground to dodge. Jesquil pursued.rjNO5x
yMTj3tRolling like a stone, Yuri slipped out of the enemy’s reach and, in a brief breath, got back to his feet.gIlU
mPf“Phew…”vENhtW
gdxIThen he saw it clearly—Jesquil’s face was grotesquely distorted, not from the strain of battle, but because his facial muscles were deteriorating.tTio
G6BmHis body was decomposing in real time.hWZzdL
97e4z“Is this also a black magic trick?”3iJNP
mhNS“Shut up!”mjM4
NiEBM5rHis voice was horrible, with destroyed vocal cords and skin sagging like that of an old man.u8YN
70mJT“Pathetic.”oiXV
7G2RJesquil was burning his own body to extract power, a sight as tragic as it was revolting.16OHwp4
w5bO4SYuri curled the corner of his lips, with a new hatred toward Cedric.DVKAfYf
jYvepT“I understand you, Jesquil. I’ll give you a quick end.”mvJ
fVnzO“Shut up, shut up, shut up!”hYLzvz
QiD2Ignoring his screams, Yuri opened his eyes wide. His vision entered the domain of the soul.dXj
w7ms9OThe field was saturated with black magic, and Jesquil’s was the densest and most repulsive of all.CcJ6
4oSU“Disgusting.”NmRH
oNmGripping Guilty tightly, Yuri unleashed his Cut of the soul and the heart, raising a blade of energy.Nrvu
otlGX“Rest already, Jesquil.”DSrK
SYFeAnd then, a flash of sword light crossed the air. The black magic energy controlling Jesquil was split in two; the lower half sank into the earth, and the upper half faded into the sky.R9eb0
37TmKylYuri closed his eyes and opened them again.Tfj
tgnV7His vision returned from the domain of the mind to the real world.xetn
1k4Jesquil’s body, cut in two, shot upward. Blood and entrails rained down like a storm.VkE
JGrkXIt was a brutal scene, but on the battlefield it was nothing out of the ordinary.b6nPuB
5xUfEven the common soldiers barely glanced at Jesquil’s body flying through the air before resuming the fight as if nothing had happened.dig
B1hYuri walked past the lower half of the body lying on the ground. There were many more like him who would continue to fall.GfZz4D
negMMUntil he killed Cedric.5dYsZGY
VOdX6y“Wait for me, Cedric.”ziQks
A7RwSzSpitting the curse in a low voice, Yuri roared and rushed forward.THtD7K
q7gOpNot even the Imperial soldiers, who had lost their fear, dared to stand in his way.AGQS
lzKEach time he swung his sword, blood and flesh fanned out.RGAql
NQr2I“Leave no one alive! Kill them all!”ORt
pT18i***qg4
138“The flowers have withered. Better plant new ones.”sxedmxH
L7A“I will.”ey0WV
V05Q“Remove that tree.”HOwT6K
23c2z“Where should I move it?”cVUW
w39HLk“Anywhere, as long as I don’t see it.”9nAvVI
xWplwCedric strolled through the Imperial Palace alongside Emperor Ivar.pPNGO
32vo0The palace servants, controlled by black magic, showed not the slightest suspicion toward him.Jy0X
0gc9NqIt didn’t even seem strange to them that he acted as though he were the true master of the palace.yPKwkIy
3UdSSdp“Let’s leave the garden, Ivar.”WWZo
SQgnpbl“Yes.”t0uFWDf
KcskEtCHe treated him condescendingly, as if calling for a servant.9afW
LnC“Explain to me what happened.”EwD4Dwa
qrDAGL“Pardon?”CN1kgs
3juCedric reprimanded him, showing for once some emotion in his voice.jlQ
5Ygo9f“I want you to explain why the Briol army is at the eastern front.”PJXd
7CM“I… I don’t know…”9uaP
xUTSzT“If you don’t know, then who will?”EUFCCw2
w4kIvar lowered his head.ZEIn
QFK“They were supposed to enter deep into the Empire. What are they doing in the east?”okdOKmU
6ixYaiThough he asked, Cedric already knew the answer.FuJz2F
YiI9lwYuri had deceived him.ovvSSF
kLEUpon discovering Asana’s betrayal, he had used her against him, leaking false information.ft38G1f
jEJS49AWhile the Imperial army erected unnecessary defenses, Yuri moved to the eastern front to launch a surprise attack.l1vJKfJ
j8X9hcCedric didn’t need a report to guess how many casualties it had caused. They might even have been annihilated.5dz2dPG
yPOIf that were the case, it meant a third of the Empire’s forces were dead.d5whpm
dCsjMxRecruiting more humans was not difficult, but losing the creatures he had created with black magic was something he found truly regrettable.xbqshEB
M5W8“I’m sorry.”6Lck2
wJ2aIvar, controlled by Cedric, kept bowing his head.fmNy
jgwvKxq“It’s all my fault.”Jpwi
mFFg0x2“At least you know.”bzsu
oeveyQ“Yes. It’s my failing.”Qn3R
Kjbze0oWhen Ivar knelt on the ground, Cedric lifted him up.lub9m
YOa“Stand.”5e0
urSKLS“Forgive me.”NuRciG
RZZiyLK“In the end, it’s not like you could have done much. I didn’t expect Yuri to notice Asana’s betrayal either. He’s worthy of being my brother, don’t you think?”xL9Bg
D6NgYzL“That’s right.”fgGfpU
q5YEmapIvar responded mechanically to his words.eifRd
fYPtp“But there’s a limit to patience. If I leave it like this, that man could truly get in my way.”6Jj
7kgjFigCedric murmured to himself.kmhA
lP1RIRA“I can’t keep tolerating him.”xqgkMSb
vmlHHe had planted Asana as a spy to hinder Yuri, but he had ended up being the one outplayed.HWqFAn0
OQwDqKONow that it had come to this, he had to crush him, even if it meant forcing the situation.R8T
buhTrDMThen Ivar spoke.PBCn9
uhJ“That’s why I sent Hasan for you.”o5p6F
fl5jOS“Hasan? Where?”QZn7sO
rn1KgA“To where you had instructed me earlier…”0wcou
EPlZ5“Ah.”Hwgf
FjxNJKCedric nodded. He remembered an order he had given Ivar some time ago, and it seemed he had carried it out.SlO54rJ
hitbl“Well done.”MYyLo
icxAs much as he valued his brother, he could no longer take blows without striking back.WJ8bfV
HlWJvGVThat was why Cedric decided to target another goal—the royal palace of Briol.mDMyok
9IntS“Hasan and his group of assassins must have already infiltrated the royal palace. They should be executing the plan as we speak.”Rm3e
kqCk“Perfect.”eWO
FLZtAt that moment, Briol was defenseless—its main forces had departed to attack the Empire.aEvrx
hLX7tCedric took the opportunity to send Hasan and his assassins, strengthened with black magic, to the royal palace.U7eaEh
92soTheir mission was to kidnap Joshua, and if anything went wrong, to kill him to complete the objective.VsvSR6
eaS“Everything will be decided soon.”FAakn
KjfsCedric smiled calmly.447
RQ72AyAlthough they shared blood, he felt no affection for Joshua.Nksmw
Pu0VwHHThere was only one person he cared about—Yuri Briol, the only one who escaped his calculations.jzuE6Q
dl8F7DiHe was curious to see Yuri’s face upon receiving the news of Joshua’s “accident.”sL5hkiR
nskjFinally, in good spirits, Cedric placed a hand on Ivar’s shoulder.zRZ
T4JKv“Well, good work, Ivar. This is the best one could expect from you.”ZiQ
2HIB8“Yes, that’s right.”NiiE
I546kq“Then, how is that matter going?”GcU
KObh“Which one?”DbIoI
OKkY“The statue.”3zk4S
NENIt“Ah… yes.”SzF5
KOvu9MIvar’s eyes trembled, and he began nodding repeatedly, almost convulsing.56Te6
onhyTx“It’s going well, very well.”qEzz
efKAHe seemed frightened.Glt486
yRy0Who could imagine that the emperor who ruled the Empire would make such a face?6Y1Mq
kCp7Cedric nodded.tmPLLtK
Ic69t“Good. When Hasan finishes, inform me immediately.”JhgTY9
EPQ9“Understood.”3s3
cYlFBS***nZO
JTzghUHasan observed the royal palace of Briol as he adjusted his mask.SeZ
N97VML1“Begin.”hAivMP
44ybS“Yes.”lS9d
C7ptbWhen he spoke, the assassins hidden in the shadows replied in unison.NO5
0o66vV“Our target is the king, Joshua Briol. It won’t be difficult.”7DMi6
3gCtbNeither Fiore Briol nor Yuri Briol was in the royal palace anymore. There was no one capable of stopping them.FAwCSw
QzNQQIt seemed the mission would be easier than expected.enZq
c2jx3Hasan murmured to himself.q4uxgFK
sP2W“It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”jeLEqnZ
pJ7EWhen he was still an apprentice, he was chosen as a great warrior by Georg, and had a trial by combat against the young Yuri Briol.zgtKVOi
Od1pHe lost.5p7C
UtVIt was a defeat he would never forget.1oroO
04IS8Every time training became unbearable, he remembered that day and clenched his teeth.VFt5JF
tLQ6MToday, he finally had the chance to return the humiliation.8LPF
5OVChtHasan smiled maliciously.ZKkXNG0
CjoljsoHe was curious to see Yuri’s expression if he kidnapped his brother.octfQLE
e16V“We’ll see each other soon, Yuri Briol.”AEBPyq
VdkAs soon as he moved, the assassins followed like shadows.hrGx
AadTgThe royal palace of Briol was shrouded in mist.OwpKZxV
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