Chapter 117
Claaaaang-! Clang!!
A sword and a spear struck at each other.
The Golden Lion's Golden Cloak Qi quivered like a field of reeds, and Lutheon's spear shot out.
And soon -
Crack, crackackack! Crumpt!
Claaang-!
"Kahak...!"
A powerful explosion pierced the golden cloak. The mantle made of sword energy covering his armour collapsed, and the bloody face of the Golden Lion lay half exposed inside his half-broken helmet.
"Ugh, ah... huff!"
Claaaaang-!
Slaaash!
The sword and the spear collided again.
Another explosion of sand covered the air, before slowly beginning to settle down, and the scene inside became visible.
"This is it, Big Brother."
That of a fallen Golden Lion, and Lutheon pointing a spear at his neck.
"How did you..."
"I've already devised a way to destroy the family's secret art, the Golden Cloak Qi. I know all about what you can do, Big Brother. You've mastered the secrets of the family. But you don't know what I can do, do you?"
That was the difference between them.
Combat starts with knowing your opponent's strength and preparing countermeasures.
The Golden Lion's defeat had been certain from the moment he'd neglected that, being overconfident in his own strength.
Golden Lion Ruen -
He bit his lip so tightly that blood oozed out.
"You've always been jealous of my talent, Big Brother. That's why, after what happened that day, you left me alone to die."
"..."
That day -
Something taboo had happened in the Ruydren family.
Murder of relatives.
And stealing an enemy armament.
The honour of the Ruydren family rested in how long they'd fought for the kingdom. Somebody had entered the family treasury where the spears of defeated enemies had been stored, including the one that'd been the best and the most famous, responsible for shattering innumerable swords.
The Explosive Spear - Ames.
It was Lutheon who'd taken it.
And he hadn't shown any mercy to the relatives who'd tried to block him, either.
"..."
"You looked so shocked and quiet that day. At first I thought it was because your only brother betrayed his family and his country. But that wasn't why, was it, Big Brother?"
Ruen and Lutheon.
The two brothers of the Ruydren family.
Their amicable relationship had first soured because of the issue of succession.
When Ruen had overheard his father talking to the elders, he'd been shocked.
"There was talk among the elders that I might be chosen as the heir."
Ruen, who'd always been proud of his younger brother's talent, had to face the idea that he might lose everything to his own brother.
Because his brother was a genius.
Born with the best martial talent.
Whereas Ruen had only inherited the talent expected of a descendant of the family's direct line.
It was natural that he'd become jealous of his own brother.
And when that incident happened -
Ruen had felt a sense of surprise and relief.
It was an undeniable fact.
"Were you glad I was gone?"
"..."
Because his younger brother was no longer in the picture, Ruen was able to learn the art of the Golden Cloak Qi and became the only heir to the family.
"Yeah. I was proud of you -"
The Golden Lion removed his hand from the half-broken helmet and slowly stood up.
"- But I was jealous at the same time. I was nervous. It was an absurd feeling. It was just childish jealousy. I was afraid of losing something that I only had a chance to get because I'd been born a little earlier."
However, even though Lutheon disappeared and Ruen received many things, he could never feel satisfied.
There was a lump of discontent left in his chest.
He couldn't get rid of it at all.
Its name was dishonour.
"It was a disgraceful act."
So -
The Golden Lion struck at Lutheon's spear with his sword. A golden mane once again filled in and wrapped around his half-broken armour.
"I will defeat you, and restore my honour!"
"...!"
Claanngg-!!
Sparks fluttered in the air.
"Lutheon!!!"
The golden mantle burned like flame.
The golden divine power, which had seemingly weakened just now, was again shining as brightly as ever.
"What the..."
Lutheon was perplexed.
Could the aura of a man who'd collapsed a moment ago change so much with just a thought?
But even if it could, so what?
He'd long since understood Ruen's swordsmanship.
The same went for the Golden Cloak Qi.
"Nonsense. What's so important about honour when no one's there to see it? Are you going to cry for honour even in the face of death? Futility will still be your only answer!!"
As Lutheon's spear was about to strike -
Boom! Thooooooommmm!!
An intense and domineering energy swept through the battlefield. Ruen and Lutheon, startled, couldn't help but tremble for a moment.
This was the energy of the Light Dragon that they'd felt before.
But it was now much more intense.
Containing a purer spirituality.
Had a new Master been born?
However, they were inside a great desert, brought about by a clash of sanctuaries.
There was no way to reach the outside.
While both were wondering how things were going -
"The sanctuary..."
Rrrriiiiippppp.
A great crack rent the sky and the earth, and the scenery began to shatter like shards of glass.
Crrraackkkkk!
The sanctuary had been released.
And what became visible -
Was the dignified figure of Callius, holding the Light Dragon Sword.
His Highness Chloe had fallen down.
Callius looked at him calmly.
As well as the half-destroyed royal castle.
Most of the imperial soldiers hadn't been able to escape death, and the remaining spearmen as well the empire's Masters were still locked in struggle.
Among them, Callius' presence, exuding power like a dragon, surged unparalleled.
'Is this another failure?'
Lutheon's face contorted.
Again.
This time too, it was Callius who'd ruined the operation.
Lutheon's eyes grew darker.
The target of the killing intent flashing in his blue eyes was naturally none other than Callius.
Callius von Jervain. One day he'd definitely -
"A gap."
"?!"
Snikkkttttt!
Clang-a-clang-clang!!!
There'd been no forewarning.
But due to his sharp senses, Lutheon was able to hurriedly swing his spear to stop the lethal attack.
A mysterious man who'd struck at him a dozen times in an instant -
His identity could be guessed from the scar on his nose.
'Gradas... Genos...!'
Cat Walk Genos.
Taking his sword from his arms once again, Genos unleashed a tremendous strike.
His speed was above Lutheon.
There was no sound, so it was very difficult to pinpoint his actual location.
Hundreds of afterimages appeared around Lutheon at the same time.
"Tch!"
Lutheon tapped the ground with his spear.
Thud!
Snap! Craaaaaaaackkkkk!!
Covered by the smoke from the explosion, Lutheon tried to make his escape.
But the Golden Lion wouldn't so quietly let him go.
"Lutheon!! Are you running away?!"
"See you next time. Big Brother."
Next to Ruen, who angrily slammed the ground, Genos exhorted.
"Remember your knightly duty, Golden Lion. Now is not the time to act on grudges."
"... Indeed."
The Golden Lion, who was about to ask why Genos wasn't giving chase, shut his mouth once he noticed the man's condition. His body was covered in wounds, as if he'd fought through a whole series of battles.
His ally had obviously been fighting some very strong enemies.
Ruen's emotions had simply slipped their leash a little because of Lutheon, but he hadn't lost his reason.
"Things aren't looking too good. That Callius managed to block the enemy soldiers, so the queen is safe for now. A lot of the imperials are dead, and we'll deal with the rebels soon. The main issue, is the Masters."
It was still a crisis.
But things had changed.
It could now also be called an opportunity.
"If we can deal with one more of the empire's Masters, this invasion will stop being a problem."
"Only one more?"
Did that mean a Spear of the Empire had already been broken?!
"It was quite the tough fight, but the pope won. Although many were sacrificed in the process."
"!!"
"Gerald doesn't seem to be doing too well."
Still, victory was in sight.
Although the royal castle was destroyed, the queen was unharmed and their Masters were still alive.
The empire had once again failed to overthrow Carpe.
On the contrary, they lost one Master.
Now -
If there was one thing that was bothering Ruen -
"I hope the count doesn't go crazy."
Genos also agreed.
Helena and Esther didn't know what to do either.
All of them, along with the knights around them, began to keep an eye on Callius.
「Light Dragon Sword - Balamuth」
Grade - Vision
Infused Soul - Light Dragon Balamuth
A sword made from the flesh and soul of a legendary dragon, called the Light Dragon.
Unique Ability - A Matter of Madness
「A Matter of Madness」
• You can use the power of the legendary dragon through the sword.
[Dragon Claw」
• Unleash a portion of the power of the Light Dragon's claws.
「[Dragon Roar」
• Unleash a portion of the power of the Light Dragon's roar.
「[Dragon Breath]
• Unleash a portion of the power of the Light Dragon's breath..
[The Light Dragon, Balamuth, is trying to steal your body.]
[You resisted.]
[The Light Dragon, Balamuth, is amazed.]
[He makes another attempt.]
[You resisted!]
[The Light Dragon, Balamuth, partially acknowledges you.]
"Whew..."
『Dragon Might』
• The essence of a dragon's power. Dragon Might springs from the heart. They imbue their hearts with the power of nature, and from there conserve and exert their strength.
[You manifest Dragon Might.]
[All physical abilities are awakened.]
[You are using Dragon Might as a human. You will experience extreme pain after using it.]
[Caution]
[The greater a dragon's power, the greater its rage.]
The boiling power all over Callius' body -
Was incredible.
His original physical strength had already undergone a small but permanent increase, and when awakening was added through Dragon Might, that gave him double the gains.
This was power close to a Master.
「Callius von Jervain」
「Occupation」 - Pilgrim; Inquisitor-Captain
「Spirit」 - Level 3
「Divine Power」 - 3832/16934
「Talent」 - [Bard's Blessing][Instinctive Intuition]
「Characteristics」- [Verse of Grace] [Nobility's Duty] [Scapegrace of the Count Family] [Death Verse Composition] [Prodigal Son of the Order] [Gluttony] [Tricolour Eye] [Pheromone] [Dragon Rage] [Dragon Might]
「Constitution」 - 『Smelting Bones』
「Ability」
Strength - 87 (30) ▶ 102 (30)
Agility - 60 (30) ▶ 86 (30)
Skill - 17 ▶ 19
Health - 61 (30) ▶ 89 (30)
Faith - 95
'That's a tremendous jump.'
As expected of the power of the Light Dragon Sword.
A unique sword that could only truly be used by stabbing it into his own heart.
It'd made his body undergo a surprising transformation, akin to being born anew.
Although the sword's true strength could only be shown while it was stabbed into his heart, not free in his hands like right now.
"Grrr, grrrrrr!"
Callius, looking at His Highness Chloe who was still somehow holding after taking a Dragon Roar head on, stabbed the Light Dragon sword back into his heart, and took out the Thunderbolt Sword from thin air.
"A Matter of Madness."
Crackackackackack!
If one took out the sword from the heart and used it with their hands, its strength will decrease.
But what if they kept it stabbed into their heart and used some other sword?
The power would double.
The full prestige of Dragon Might -
Poured into the Blue Thunderbolt Sword.
Crackackackackackackacklllleeee!!
Baaaaaaaaaaannggggg!!
It was a true disaster.
No different from the mark of nature's wrath.
"Ahhhh!!"
His Highness Chloe was swallowed by the blue lightning. Imprisoned within the dazzling shackles of azure thunder, he still struggled, but without the Light Dragon Sword he could no longer endure.
"Graaahh..."
The prince's eyes rolled up and he collapsed.
An ordinary human would've already turned into charcoal, but not him.
'He's still alive.'
Even without the sword, the traces of the Light Dragon left behind in his body had made him survive.
His Highness Chloe, his body smoking and charred, was still breathing weakly.
『Main Quest』
[The Prince Trapped in Madness]
Status - Complete
As soon as the quest completion window popped up, Callius looked around.
"..."
"..."
Helena, Esther, and the rest of the knights were all looking at him.
Their eyes held uneasiness and fear, accompanied by a kind of determination.
Callius' eyes, their grey pupils now slit vertically like a dragon, watched them tense.
"Is this it?"
Said one of the knights.
What did that mean?
"Can't be helped."
"We have to stop him."
"Protect the queen."
There seemed to be a misunderstanding.
Callius, already sure of his aim, ignored the approaching knights and headed towards the most dangerous opponent.
"Eh!"
"He's fast!"
Step.
The landscape changed in an instant.
His awakening, along with the increased stats from the Dragon Might, filled Callius with an unprecedented sense of omnipotence.
In that brief moment -
Bridging the gap between him and the enemy with a single leap that was close to instantaneous, Callius struck.
Swooooooosh!!
Claaannggg!
"Ugh...!"
Freak Spear Paceton staggered from the sudden sword attack.
Gerald, who'd fallen down at one side, was breathing heavily.
"You bastard!"
Freak Spear Paceton's eyes opened wide.
Because what he was feeling - was Dragon Might.
Meaning his assailant held the Light Dragon sword.
Therefore Chloe's rampage, possessed by the Light Dragon, must've failed.
Paceton so concluded.
But that wasn't important right now.
The new Light Dragon was blocking his path, exuding an unusual energy.
'Impossible. This...!'
Vertically slitted pupils.
A feeling of pressure as if he was standing before the maw of a dragon.
Paceton erased the thoughts about his rival's life and death from his mind.
In front of him was an enemy of the empire.
His instantaneous judgement was that it was a dangerous foe who couldn't be given any breathing room.
Aware of his duty as a Spear of the Empire, Paceton released his power without limit, forgetting the pain and fatigue he'd suffered in his battle with Gerald.
The Freak Spear took an opening stance[1], inviting his opponent to start.
Noting that, Callius glanced at the fallen Gerald, and saw that the man was still breathing heavily.
'This is the best outcome.'
The man had been destined to die here in the first place.
Callius had managed to save him instead.
His opponent was already covered in wounds.
To such an extent that he might not be able to walk away even if Callius stood still and let him go.
Although, if Callius acted hastily, he himself could be the one to die here.
This outcome should've been enough to satisfy him.
But that boiling power -
The power of the Light Dragon inside his veins inflamed his greed.
Callius drew his sword.
"Dragon Breath."
The sword cleaved the spear in twain.
Snikttt!
"Unbelievable!!"
Today -
The empire lost two Masters.
Editor's Notes:
[1] 기수식 (lit. starting ceremony), when a martial artist makes a flashy but non-aggressive ceremonial move to indicate the start of the fight. No straightforward translations come to mind.