novelraw Chapter 183 : Chapter 183
Chapter 183 : Chapter 183
Chapter 183
Western Front.
Zodiac gritted his teeth and moved his feet relentlessly.
Sweat-soaked hair swayed, and beads of sweat fell.
It wasn't just sweat that was falling.
“Cough……”
Aron, clinging to his back, spewed a mouthful of blood.
“Sir Aron, just hold on a little longer.”
The safe house Hennessy had set up was nearby.
There was a Warp stone there, so if they made a few stops, they could travel to the Pantera Temple.
He encouraged Aron to keep his consciousness from fading.
‘The Chief Priest of the Pantera Temple has a close relationship with the commander.’
They wouldn't be turned away easily.
Gulp.
Aron vomited blood instead of answering.
A clear, serious injury.
Even with the Head Apothecary's recovery potion, it was only delaying death.
‘Damn it… how did this…….’
The Annihilation Squad had been ambushing numerous supply units since the war began.
In terms of achievements, he could confidently say they had accomplished deeds equivalent to a thousand knights.
As such, the enemy's response was also getting stronger.
At first, it was just one high-ranking knight guarding, which then increased to three, and later from five to ten, but they were no match for the Annihilation Squad.
Then, superhumans started appearing in the supply units.
Superhumans were beings of a different level, but thanks to Serena, who had left to report to the main force and then rejoined, they were able to hunt them without difficulty.
All members of the Annihilation Squad were skilled 6-star individuals.
Three of them had learned Carpe Illusion, and in Serena's case, the members evaluated that she had reached the skill level of the former commander, Bastian.
To be able to hunt superhumans without the Annihilation Squad Leader.
It was truly a gratifying thing.
Zodiac was once again amazed by the insight of Killian Eurasia, who had grown the Annihilation Squad from a state of near-annihilation to its current form, and his loyalty boiled over for having been chosen by him.
They had hunted three superhumans like that.
Two Sword Masters and one Arch Mage.
He thought that if the Annihilation Squad's success continued, the victory of the main force fighting at Delanor Castle would not be impossible.
It seemed they weren't the only ones who thought so.
As usual, the Annihilation Squad discovered a supply unit heading for Delanor Castle.
The scale of military supplies, including provisions, was considerable.
The banners held by the soldiers were stamped with the insignia of the Heinrich Imperial Family.
“At a rough estimate, it’s enough for the Imperial army to continue the war for a fortnight.”
“The number of escort knights is not large for the scale.”
The transport personnel numbered a hundred, but half of them were not mana users.
What they needed to be wary of were two 6-star knights and one 7-star mage.
Considering their coordination, it was a number worth taking on.
“It’s a trap.”
Serena said.
“It’s a trap.”
“A trap it is.”
“It’s a trap.”
All the members of the Annihilation Squad, including Zodiac, agreed with her.
But the scale was too large to just let it go.
“If we let those guys go, it will be the main force that bleeds.”
Even if it was a trap, they couldn't just let them pass.
That would be the same as denying the existence of the Annihilation Squad.
The others didn't think differently.
“It’s unanimous.”
The decision was quick, and the raid was successful.
Serena's Carpe Illusion robbed the enemies of their five senses, and in that gap, Yulian's Carpe Illusion trapped the Arch Mage.
Immediately after, Aron and Gala split up and set fire to the military supplies.
While the low-ranking knights and soldiers were in disarray, the two of them each took on a high-ranking knight, while the others focused on hunting the superhuman.
Just then.
“……!!”
Aron and Gala, who were supposed to deal with the high-ranking knights, were sent tumbling to the ground.
It was revealed that the one who appeared to be a high-ranking knight was a superhuman.
‘How?!!’
The Annihilation Squad used a magic tool personally crafted by Cornelia for detection.
The enemies had somehow deceived the Annihilation Squad's detection, and a large number of high-ranking knights and mages who had been hiding revealed themselves belatedly.
Serena’s decision was immediate.
She and Id synchronized their mana and stood against the two superhumans.
At the same time, Yulian and Philip blocked the original target, the Arch Mage, while Raven and Almadin held back the knights and mages.
Zodiac and Portran, who were fighting alongside them, seized the right moment, hoisted Aron and Gala onto their shoulders, and ran.
‘At this rate, we’ll be annihilated.’
No matter how incomplete a superhuman Serena was, and no matter how good her compatibility with Id was.
‘She cannot handle two superhumans.’
The same went for the four Annihilation Squad members, including Yulian.
They couldn't hunt the Arch Mage on their own.
Nevertheless, there was only one reason they blocked the path.
To sacrifice themselves to create an escape route for the other four.
But Zodiac's escape was too early to be called a success.
‘Pursuers are on us. It’s impossible to shake them off in this situation.’
But if he was caught, he wasn't sure if Aron would even hold on.
“Leave… me… and go……”
Aron, who had realized the situation, said weakly.
“You’re talking nonsense. Use that time to hold on to your consciousness.”
“At this rate… we’ll be caught… together……”
“Right. It will be difficult to break through the encirclement at this rate.”
Stop.
Zodiac stopped in his tracks.
“So please just bear with it for a little while.”
Fwoosh.
He deployed his Carpe.
For a moment, the blue mana dominated the area.
Five knights revealed themselves.
He sensed the mana of those caught in his Carpe.
‘Four 5-stars, one 6-star.’
It was a daunting number for him to face alone.
‘I might die.’
He was not afraid of death.
It's just that.
He only remembered the encounter with the one who had once made his heart race.
“Watch your tongue towards the Matriarch, Fourth Young Master.”
At first, he had thought that someone who had been ignored by the family had belatedly formed a Mana Heart and was clumsily baring his teeth.
“You too are not worthy of bearing the name of Eurasia.”
He was not.
He was more like a knight than a thoughtless brat, contrary to the rumors.
“Zodiac Stern. The legitimate son of the Stern Family and a knight who has mastered the 5-star.”
When he realized that the attitude of the one he had thought arrogant was confidence, Zodiac revealed his name and paid his respects.
“To think a legitimate son of a family is a guard knight, are you on a knightly pilgrimage or something?”
He was not so clumsy a knight as to be swayed by such blatant mockery.
“What a shame. A fellow who should be training to aim for a superhuman is playing around with a woman's influence.”
Even considering it was a provocation, his voice was tinged with deep disappointment.
Someone who had reached a level equal to his own spoke of superhumans as if they were nothing.
That image felt surreal.
That must be why he fell for the provocation.
“Zodiac Stern. How about learning properly under me? I’ll train you properly.”
As their swords met, he realized.
It started as a provocation, but the emotion in his words was not entirely false.
“Since when did the Stern Family become a subordinate of Sepia.”
He was genuinely feeling sorry for him.
He had insightfully seen that a talented knight was coveting clumsy power instead of training himself.
“The one I serve is the Head of Eurasia. And also the Mistress of Eurasia.”
He had made an excuse.
Words spoken to deny the reality of being blocked by a wall, wasting a long time, and doubting his own path of the sword.
“Useless wordplay is not needed.”
He was not so foolish as to fail to grasp the true meaning.
“I will cut out the rotten flesh of Eurasia.”
He just didn't hide his true intentions.
Words and actions that neither he nor the other Eurasia brothers could ever make.
“An arrogant statement.”
Immediately after.
In the battle to assert their respective wills, Zodiac was defeated.
“You won’t be able to overcome the wall like that.”
He.
“……”
Killian Eurasia had proven it.
He subdued the Matriarch, took the Blue Knight Order as his force, and achieved military merit in the subjugation war.
He proved himself time and again and became the Annihilation Squad Leader.
He became a superhuman, and a pillar of Eurasia, which had become a kingdom.
And so it had come to this.
“The same goes for me.”
A transcendent smile played on his lips.
Superhuman .
A state of mastery that he once thought was not just a dream, as his former commander had said.
He had thought it was worth a try after becoming a 6-star knight.
‘With so many opponents.’
Zodiac took a deep breath, observing the enemies before him.
‘The commander would have told me to surpass my limits.’
He was a person closer to the word ‘transcendence’ than anyone else.
He, who had been chosen by him, would have to do the same.
“Carpe Illusion.”
He spoke the name of the incomplete technique.
“Blue Sword Style .”
The blue mana deployed by the Carpe condensed.
Carpe Illusion was the materialization of a mental image.
That was why most Carpe Illusions, which consumed a large amount of mana, had a vast range.
He was different.
It was not as overwhelming as Killian’s, not as wide-ranged as Serena’s, did not completely bind one person like Yulian’s, nor was it as stable as Philip’s.
It was just that, in his desire to resemble the knight he held in his heart, to materialize his sword, he condensed the mana that formed the Carpe into his body, dramatically increasing his physical abilities.
‘The lack of mana is supplemented by Aether and the scabbard.’
Even that was incomplete, and the time allowed was just over a minute.
‘My body won’t be able to withstand it for longer than that.’
Zodiac’s body moved swiftly.
First Group.
From left to right, from bottom to top, he drew Aether in the air.
Fwoosh.
The mana spewed out by Aether took the form of flames.
Blue Flame.
The ability of the sword Killian had used in the past.
The temporarily reproduced technique blinded the 6-star knight.
Zodiac’s sword turned to the others.
First Flash .
One knight was pierced by Aether.
Second Flash.
He repelled two knights, causing a reflux.
Eurasia Style, Thorn.
He rushed in and cut the neck of one who was getting up.
Half-turning.
Eurasia Style, Blue Thorn.
He cut down the fellow who tried to defend, sword and all.
Four knights became corpses and tumbled to the ground.
At that moment, the Blue Flame flickered.
Zodiac swung his sword instinctively.
Clang!!
The sword of the knight who had broken through the Blue Flame was thrown back.
Kagagagak.
For a moment, he matched strength with the 6-star knight who rushed at him with fiery eyes.
Claang. Clang.
He endlessly exchanged blows with the enemy.
Each downward strike was heavy.
A 6-star Master.
‘To think a knight of this caliber was deployed for a mere pursuit.’
It seemed they were quite a nuisance.
Zodiac smiled faintly and parried all his blows.
He unleashed several Ke and Shik techniques.
Exceeding his initial expectation, the Carpe Illusion was maintained for an extra 20 seconds.
But until then, the only significant impact had been a deep cut on the opponent's waist.
And then.
“Keuk.”
Zodiac, unable to withstand the sword strikes, rolled on the ground, spitting blood.
The Carpe Illusion was released, and a reflux surged.
His whole body felt like it was twisting from the backlash of using the strenuous technique.
The knight was walking towards him, shouting.
He had to raise his sword to fight back.
“……”
There was no strength in the hand holding the sword.
His body just trembled shallowly with spasms.
‘Is this it?’
The enemy’s sword, which had approached at some point, was raised above his head.
‘Sir Aron, I am sorry. I am sorry, Commander.’
While calmly accepting death, he did not look away from the descending sword.
Suddenly, the face of the knight who had raised the sword stiffened.
The moment a red line appeared on his neck.
Thud.
“……”
Roll, roll, roll.
A head rolled on the ground and got caught on Zodiac’s foot.
Thump.
Someone was standing behind the knight who collapsed belatedly.
“Hello?”
A bright smile.
“You are……”
“You’re quite messed up~”
It wasn't difficult to recognize that the nature of that smile was madness.