Chapter 161: Like a Double Wicked Candle

Whirrrrrrrr.

A blue ball of mana the size of an adult's head was hurtling my way, clearly showing the characteristics of a pure wind spell.

I gulped.

This was the prepared magic the 7th Circle mage had cast after recalling his Shield.

'Bebeto, see you alive on the other side!'

I didn't want this to happen, but I had taken the enemy too lightly. Even though I knew that the magic towers were sending support, I never expected that a mage on the level of a Tower Master would show up here.

The price for that mistake was this sudden crisis.

I activated my mana core to its utmost, preparing to take the brunt of the incoming spell, which was definitely 7th Circle wind magic. It reached me in seconds, drawing in all of the surrounding mana like the eye of a storm.

'It's coming!'

The spell unfolded with incredible speed. Due to my intense concentration, my eyes were clearly able to pick up everything they saw. It was... a marvelous sight. Mana molecules on a different level from 6th Circle mana joined and then exploded outward. Dominating the area in mere moments, the magic surrounded me, filled with the caster's will and almost nuclear mana.

"Barrier!!!!!"

That was the greatest defense magic I could cast.

Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrr!

The mana core at my waist drew mana from my upper and middle danjeon, throwing it all into the Barrier spell.

Ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!

In all actuality, a Barrier just to protect me would be no problem. It was obvious that the wind spell was unfolding on a large scale with me at its center. If I cast a tightly-knit Barrier just large enough to cover myself, I could protect myself with mana to spare. However, I had to protect the large Bebeto from the spell as well.

An intensely milky-colored Barrier formed under the storm of wind blades, presumably the 7th Circle Wind Storm. And in that moment, my entire body became one with the magic. Because I had to protect a three-dimensional space and not just the space in front of me, my mana connected to the spell like it was my blood.

Even as I concentrated, I raised a spear in my hand.

If we made it out of here... I would chisel my name in the mage's mind the moment we were free.

* * *

"Foolish bastard. Kukuku."

Trevelyan chuckled as he watched Kyre cast Barrier to meet his 7th Circle Wind Storm.

Mana circle superiority was an absolute law. This wasn't a low circle, but the 7th Circle, where exponential amounts of mana were used. It was like heaven and earth compared to the 6th Circle. The density and quantity of the activated mana were incomparable.

Kyre's Barrier was fairly impressive on its own, but that was all. How could a 6th Circle spell possibly block a 7th Circle one?

Ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnngg.

Trevelyan's Wind Storm descended on the Barrier.

Swoooooooooooooooooooosh.

The shrieks of fierce wind blades pierced his ears. Hovering in stationary flight, Trevelyan gleefully imagined the Lord of Nerman being ripped into tiny pieces.

Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaash!

As spell met spell, a tremendous explosion filled the air, caused by a clash of mana quantities so great they could send a castle wall fortified with defensive magic flying in one hit.

Claaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang.

His Wind Storm, which had perfectly absorbed the surrounding mana, encapsulating the Barrier with a blast of blue light. That was accompanied with a cacophony of metallic shrieks. It was impossible to see what was going on within. As the offensive and defensive spells collided, the entire area was covered in an impenetrable storm of lights.

Claaaaaaaaaaang, craaaaaaaaaack.

'He's lasting longer than I thought.'

The duration of a spell was proportional to the mage's mana quantity. Since Trevelyan wasn't at the highest level of the 7th Circle, his Wind Storm had a duration of about 20 seconds. Trevelyan had been closing his eyes with a smile, but a flash of doubt appeared in his expression. Most 6th Circle Barrier spells would have been ripped to pieces upon impact, but the clashing noises hadn't stopped.

The other mages had already transitioned into stationary flight. If they got any closer, it was possible they could be dragged into the storm. They observed the 7th Circle spell with half-lidded eyes like onlookers instead of people in the middle of a battle. Even for mages within a magic tower, 7th Circle magic was not something they could see on an everyday basis, so they were admiring the blinding but magnificent world of magic an archmage had created with relish.

"Ah!"

"Ahhh!"

However, their bliss was short-lived. The watching mages exclaimed in shock. Although they were in stationary flight, because of the Wind Storm unfolding just 300 meters away, their wyverns were buffeted by strong winds. But the gusts and light disappeared all of a sudden, signaling the end of the magic's duration.

GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

The thunderous roar of an enraged wyvern blasted into the ears of the dazed mages.

"OI, YOU LITTLE BITCHES! EAT THIS!"

One man's hoarse shout rang out in the sky. Flying past the area that had been a battlefield of magic just moments ago was a wyvern and the man riding it. The wyvern's armor and hide were marked with hundreds of cuts, and blood had covered its entire body.

And yet, still did it fly, charging directly at them.

Kyaaaaaaaaak! Kweeeeeeeeeeeh!

That wasn't all. Five Gold Wyverns and Skyknights appeared behind the bloody black hybrid wyvern, plunging into the midst of the stationary mages in moments.

Sch-sch-sch-sch-schwip.

As they hovered in a daze, spears whistled towards them. Trevelyan and the mages, who had never doubted their victory, felt their bodies instantly stiffen in fear.

* * *

Reaper Scans

* * *

Baaaam!

A spear plunged right into the body of the mage that had fired 7th Circle magic on me. I couldn't see his expression because of his helmet, but it was probably filled with incomprehension, not understanding what had just penetrated his body.

Baam! Babaam! Kweeeeeeeeeeek!

"Uwaaaghhhhh!"

The slaughter did not end there. Thanks to Wind Storm being focused on me, the beastmen hadn't taken much damage. They shot into the loose throng of mages, throwing their spears as soon as they could.

'Shit! You're all dead.'

I could feel my nose dripping with blood from each nostril. Anger filled me from head to toe. Bebeto wasn't in good condition either. His armor and body were shredded while enduring the 7th Circle spell, and blood was flowing like water from his torn hide.

Sch-sch-sch-sch-sch-schwip!

I fired my spears as quickly as my two hands could grab them. The mages still maintaining stationary flight were no different from stupid flies that had come into range of the flyswatter.

"My liege! Please leave the attack to us and withdraw!"

"My liege! We've returned!"

Just then, an endless barrage of worried voices from my flight leaders, who had returned from their pursuit and recovered their formation.

"Kill them all. Don't let a single one survive!"

"YES, SIR!"

I gave a cold-hearted command, and the knights' cries of furious loyalty rang inside my helmet.

* * *

"Y-Your Majesty, I believe you must return to the Imperial Palace at once."

"What happened?!"

Unable to shed his bad habits, Poltviran was groping the body of one of the beautiful maids serving in Fort Central. When Silveron and Marquis Darvasin opened the door to his room without even knocking, he yelled in alarm.

He might have suffered a loss, but if the Three Kingdom Coalition conquered the empty Nerman, there would be no better result. Even Kyre's morale would be completely broken by the sight of Denfors razed down to the ground. As such, Poltviran was greatly displeased when Silveron urged him to return to the Imperial Palace with an urgent expression.

"Answer me, what happened?!" shouted Poltviran at Count Silveron, who was trembling, unable to speak.

"T-There's been a rebellion! According to the emergency magic communication that just came in, the kingdoms have declared war on the empire and have begun to cross the borders. In addition, the Royal Castle in the Krantz Kingdom was recovered by Crown Prince Veyons and his forces! The entirety of our occupation force has been imprisoned!"

Poltviran took in a huge breath of shock, his eyes growing wide.

The rebellion of the kingdoms was something he had never imagined. He felt his consciousness growing faint for a moment.

"Please, may Your Majesty return to the Imperial Palace at once to protect your safety. Your Majesty must declare a state of emergency for the entire army and gather the strength of the lords."

Silveron wasn't an idiot. Even in this moment of crisis, he was very clear on how he should act to save himself.

"Q-Quickly prepare my wyvern! Quickly!!!!!"

Even if they flew quickly, the capital was a 3-day distance from Fort Central. If the three kingdoms had truly declared war, there was no safer place than the capital.

* * *

"Phew..."

Only after landing Bebeto at his hangar in Nerman Castle did the breath I'd been holding finally come out.

'I can't do that ever again.'

The hair-raising and blood-boiling way that moment had felt was still vivid in my mind. Slapping Poltviran across the face was fine and dandy, but the sudden attack of the magic tower mages nearly sent me into the embrace of God.

Flap flap, flap flap flap flap.

When Bebeto landed, all of the territory's knights landed as well. I didn't know how the situation would develop, so I had all of the Skyknights land in Nerman Castle's covert.

'30 died...'

It was a paltry number compared to the enemy's losses, but still, 30 Skyknights passed away. Their short lives ended from the impact of landing even before holy water could be used.

"My liege!"

"Lord Kyre!"

"Hyung!!!!"

As if they had been waiting on the edge of their seats for my return, welcome faces like Derval, Aramis, and Igis came running to my side.

'Still, we're lucky it was only that.'

If Duke Hardaim hadn't shown up with his offer, either today or tomorrow, Nerman would have been up in flames. What would have faced us was a massive attack of over 1,600 wyverns assisted by mages. I knew in my heart that the death of my knights was not in vain.

"Well done, my knights. I command you to rest until additional orders!"

"Yes, siiiiiir!"

Having jumped from their wyverns and gathered around me, the knights loudly shouted a salute to my command.

'Come! No matter who you are, I will give you a big welcome!'

The greater the oppression, the stronger my will became, like a candle with a doubled wick.

* * *

In the Garvit Duchy, located in the northern region of the Bajran Empire, Duke Garvit clicked his tongue at the pressing situation of the Empire that was being swiftly reported to him.

Just what hurdles had the Empire overcome to reach its current position? About 330 years had passed since the first emperor, Alvatreon, founded the Empire. He defeated the monsters charging down from the Litore Mountains and repelled the invasion of the Temir, bringing about the birth of the Great Bajran Empire within the whirlpool that was the continent.

Actually, Bajran's land was not as big as the Laviter and Opern Empires. However, the loyal vassals who held Bajran in their heart served the Empire and Emperor with their utmost loyalty, meriting Bajran its empire name.

But that mighty empire was crumbling in the span of days. The cause was the tyranny of Poltviran, the first and only tyrant in all of the Empire's history. The kingdoms that were tied to Bajran by blood and friendship turned their backs on the Empire, and the main force of the Emperor and the Bajran Empire was destroyed by a single territory.

"The Emperor is secluding himself in the Imperial Palace, and the nobles are refusing to cooperate with their armies... Difficult times are ahead."

Due to the command of the late Emperor Havitron, Duke Garvit's forces were still sound and whole. His current forces were made up of the 200 duchy wyverns and the 150 reserve forces of the 9th Regiment assigned to the North, as well as the 250 or so wyverns belonging to the minor nobles following him. In total, it was a force of 600 wyverns, a number with which one could fight a kingdom.

'The Emperor's missive, huh...'

He fell into a moment of contemplation. Duke Garvit had used illness as an excuse to avoid participating in the Nerman subjugation. As a result, the duchy's knight order was still whole.

However, Emperor Poltviran had passed down an edict. Normally, it would have been sent through communication magic, but the duke had deliberately rendered the magic communication channel unusable. As such, the Emperor's edict was passed down by lumikar, coming on the heels of the news that Nerman's lord had scattered the Emperor's Skyknights like fallen autumn leaves and each of the kingdoms had risen up in rebellion as if they had been waiting for their moment.

The Emperor's command told him to immediately come to the capital and participate in subjugating the rebels.

"Even lumikars lose their way sometimes."

Riiiiip.

Of the various documents around him, the one Duke Garvit ripped up was the edict sent by the Emperor.

He had already made up his mind. Even if he were to gather the North's forces and go to the Emperor, it would be difficult to do anything about the spirited kingdom armies. Rather, simply staying here would restrict the advance of the Kuviran Kingdom.

"I have to serve the true emperor now."

Garvit had already erased Poltviran from his mind. He thought of the prince who was still young, but bore the strongest resemblance to Emperor Havitron's character.

"Count Kyre, I will leave His Highness in your care for a little longer."

However, it wasn't time yet. Duke Garvit was waiting, waiting for the elimination of the useless nobles and the ignorant emperor left in Bajran.

He silently closed his eyes.

If the soul of Emperor Havitron, may he rest in peace, still lingered in the world, Garvit prayed earnestly for him to watch over Nerman, for the sake of Bajran and the Prince.