novelraw Chapter 57
Chapter 57
“...!”
Kapo’s eyes widened.
The moment he perceived something flying from the strange object held in the man’s right hand, he instinctively swung his sword.
CRASH!
Kapo fell from his horse and rolled on the ground.
The Knight Order following behind witnessed the sight and were aghast.
“Captain!”
Arthur didn't miss the opportunity and shouted loudly.
“Charge!”
The moment Arthur's command fell, Drakan raised his spear high.
The spearhead pointed towards the sky.
From Drakan’s eyes, a cold, sharp aura flowed, imbued with intense bloodlust.
The knights following him were no different.
Drakan gazed at the approaching enemies in front and murmured, “Finally, we... have emerged into the world.”
He pointed his spear at them and shouted like thunder.
“Javelin Assault!”
At that, over thirty Giant Wolves charged forward from the left flank.
The knights riding them charged forward, spears extended.
As they drew closer to the enemies, they converged towards the center, gathering their spears into one point.
They became a giant spear and rammed into the enemies.
CRASH!
“Aargh!”
“Uwaaah!”
The enemies' horses were impaled by the spears and collapsed, and javelins flew without fail at the dismounted knights.
Drakan watched one flank crumble and shouted once more.
“Javelin Assault!”
This time too, over thirty Giant Wolves charged forward from the left flank.
The Steel Knights, seeing the sight, cried out loudly.
“Those are spears! Spears!”
“What are you talking about?!”
“It’s the Phoenix Knights’ unique attack method, the Javelin Assault!”
“Javelin Assault!”
Instantly, the faces of several knights darkened.
It was a legendary offensive tactic said to pierce through any defensive barrier.
“Aargh!”
“Help me!”
The desperate screams of their comrades from nearby plunged them into fear.
Their spears were fearsome, but what made them even more terrifying were the Giant Wolves.
The beasts mercilessly tore at their fallen comrades.
More died from being mauled by the beasts than from being impaled by spears.
“Damn it!”
“Captain...”
It was then that the Steel Knights were in disarray.
BOOM!
Kapo’s black spear pierced through a Giant Wolf’s head.
Red blood splattered everywhere.
Simultaneously, the Giant Wolves' movements froze like stone, and they stared at the black spear.
The black spear, wreathed in dark blue Aura, shot skyward before plunging straight into the ground.
*BOOOOOOM!*
With a tremendous explosion, a terrifying force burst forth and engulfed the surroundings. No one moved; their gazes were fixed on the black spear. It was deathly silent, not even a whisper of breath could be heard. Only the Giant Wolves growled with intense bloodlust, glaring at someone.
Everyone's gaze turned to that spot.
“...!”
The hardened faces of the Steel Knights brightened.
“Captain!”
“The Captain is alive!”
Uwaaah!
The Steel Knights’ morale surged, and their fighting spirit blazed.
“Let’s bring them down!”
“Form a defensive wall and the assault team, line up!”
Seeing the Steel Knights quickly reorganizing, Drakan shouted so loudly his throat might burst.
“The Empire’s Spear!”
At that, the men riding Giant Wolves simultaneously shouted, “Invincible!” and rampaged through the area, unleashing merciless attacks.
Their movements, one with the Giant Wolves, were incredibly agile, and the Giant Wolves’ attacks, combined with their spears, were monstrously powerful. There was no defense, only offense.
As the Steel Knights were helplessly crumbling before the Lannister Knight Order.
Kapo stood up and faced Arthur.
His appearance, clad in golden armor and mounted on Britanniker, was so magnificent it brought to mind the Emperor of the Empire.
The aura emanating from him was also intense, and more than anything, the way he attacked was something Kapo had never experienced before.
Although he had blocked the attack, his sword, forged from mithril and special steel, had broken.
Even with Aura wrapped around it.
It was as powerful as a 6th-class mage’s attack.
Kapo met Arthur’s sharp gaze, visible through his helmet, and asked, “Who are you?”
“Arthur Julius.”
“Are you Count Malcolm’s son?”
“I am.”
“You have a remarkable son. But if the source of that power comes from a demon, then my thoughts change.”
Bloodlust flowed from Kapo.
“A demon, you say...”
Arthur gave a bitter smile and looked beyond the hill. The banner of the House of Count Yarve was rising above the horizon.
“Let’s end our conversation here.”
Arthur drew his Mana to its maximum.
At that, a golden Aura shimmered around his body like a heat haze.
“The demon’s power is indeed formidable, to achieve this level of accomplishment at your age.”
Kapo threw his broken sword aside and extended his arm, and the black spear, embedded in the ground, flew into his grasp as if drawn by a magnet.
Thwack!
Kapo gripped the spear, lowered his stance, and adopted an offensive posture.
“I’ll face you properly.”
“That’s what I want.”
As Arthur aimed his muzzle at him, Kapo charged.
“...!”
He was so fast it was difficult to follow with the eyes.
‘Was he this strong?’
As Arthur’s face hardened, Khan quickly backed away.
As his field of vision widened, Kapo’s afterimage was caught.
‘Left! Right! Then this time...!’
Arthur swung his dagger towards the left like lightning.
Clang!
He blocked the spear.
Next, a thrusting attack flew in like a flash of lightning.
Clang! Clang-clang!
Arthur parried them all with his dagger and shouted, “Khan!” As if reading his mind, Khan quickly turned to the left. Simultaneously, Arthur anticipated Kapo’s movement and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
His prediction was accurate.
Kapo appeared there.
However, far from being flustered, he wore a calm expression, as if he had expected it.
“I won’t fall for it twice.”
Kapo rapidly spun his spear, deflecting the Aura.
Dark blue Aura flared like flames from the spinning spear, tracing a circle.
“Take this!”
Kapo swung his spear with all his might.
A ring of Aura, imbued with formidable power, flew forth.
The power felt several times greater than an Aura Blade launched from a sword. Its speed was also tremendous.
“Get away!”
Arthur kicked off Khan and dismounted, avoiding the attack.
It was then.
Kapo charged as if he had been waiting, thrusting his spear like lightning.
CRACK!
It flew in with a sound of the atmosphere tearing. Arthur parried with his dagger with all his might.
CRASH!
Arthur was sent flying backward with an explosion and crashed into the ground.
“Ugh!”
Before he could even feel the pain, Arthur sprang up and looked at Kapo. Blood surged to his throat from the recent impact.
‘As expected.’
He was incomparably stronger than Yakim.
Despite drawing his Mana to its maximum, he was outmatched in strength.
He had expected a difficult fight, but he hadn’t anticipated such a vast difference.
‘Find a way.’
Arthur’s eyes shone sharply as he thoroughly scrutinized Kapo. But, befitting a supreme powerhouse, he could find no weakness.
‘Then I’ll just have to create one.’
As bloodlust entered Arthur’s eyes, he charged at Kapo.
He instantly closed the distance and slashed his dagger diagonally like lightning.
But Kapo didn’t even blink.
He calmly twisted his body to dodge and struck Arthur’s shoulder with his spear.
Clang!
Arthur was pushed far to the side.
Then Kapo swung his spear in a wide arc, tracing a parabola.
Arthur blocked the spear, which flew in tracing a dark blue Aura line in the air, with his dagger.
Clang!
“Ugh!”
He was sent flying backward by the impact.
The difference in strength was starkly evident.
“Considering the merits the House of Count Julius has established for the Empire, I will kill you in a single blow.”
Kapo extended his spear forward and waited for Arthur to stand.
Arthur spat out the blood pooled in his mouth.
Ptui!
The dagger, which he expected to be shattered by the spear’s attack, was intact, but with it, he couldn’t defeat Kapo.
Arthur tightly gripped the Sig Sauer.
“Alright, I’ll face you my way.”
It was when he stood up.
“Go to hell!”
Kapo thrust his spear with all his might.
At that, an Aura Blade surged from the spearhead and flew forth.
Arthur threw his body sideways with all his might.
*CRASH!*
The spot where he had been was deeply gouged, as deep as a grown man's height.
It was truly an astonishing attack.
But Arthur was not one to be intimidated by it.
When he was on Earth, he was always pushed to the worst situations, but he found their weaknesses and ultimately brought them down.
It was then that Arthur was about to stand up.
ROOOOAR!
The Lannister Knight Order charged at Kapo.
From all sides, Giant Wolves charged with bared fangs, and the knights thrust their black spears with all their might.
“Monsters like these!”
As Kapo’s eyes flashed, he swung his black spear in a wide arc.
Aura Blades poured forth like beams of light.
Swish-swish-swish!
ROOOOOAR!
The Giant Wolves were riddled like honeycombs by the Aura Blades.
The knights also had their necks and arms severed.
“Aargh!”
“Uwaaaah!”
Drakan, who had been indiscriminately attacking the enemies, grimaced at the screams of his comrades.
Seeing his companions, with whom he had shared joys and sorrows, dying so miserably, his eyes blazed with rage.
“Son of a bitch!”
He radiated a fierce bloodlust.
Ron, seeing his family fallen on the ground, howled, radiating a chilling aura.
AWOOOOOO!
At that, the Giant Wolves fighting the enemies simultaneously froze and followed with howls. Wolf howls echoed from all directions.
Simultaneously, Giant Wolves gathered around Drakan, radiating a terrifying bloodlust.
The knights realized that they had designated Kapo as their common target.
But their opponent was a Sword Master!
They had to stake their lives.
Fear washed over them, but they did not stop the Giant Wolves. Instead, they gripped their black spears tightly, trying to overcome their fear.
They cried out their pride in their hearts.
‘The Empire’s Spear!’
The strength that had sustained them, the pillar of their lives.
Every time they recalled it in their hearts, an infinite power seemed to well up within them. It was the same now.
Fear vanished without a trace, replaced by a singular resolve to defeat that man! Their bloodlust focused on Kapo.
“Hmm...”
Kapo wore a surprised expression.
Although they were enemies, they were pressuring him, a Sword Master, with sheer force of will alone.
In contrast, the Steel Knights were crushed by their ferocity and strength, having lost their will to fight. The difference was stark.
‘They truly deserve to be called the Invincible Knights.’
Kapo had always dreamed of having subordinates like these.
But the gods had not granted him such a blessing. Instead, they had given him power to replace them. The absolute strength of being ranked 10th in the Empire!
“Come.”
Dark blue Aura blazed intensely like flames on Kapo’s black spear.
“I will strip you of the title, Invincible Knights.”
Drakan’s eyes grew cold as he raised his right arm, gripping the black spear, to shoulder height. Then he leveled it horizontally with the ground. The knights all followed suit. It was when dozens of spearheads aimed at Kapo.
“He’s my prey.”
A chilling voice was heard from behind them.
‘What was that?’
Drakan flinched in surprise and looked back.
From among the knights, Arthur stepped forward, exuding a golden Aura. With each step, a heavy aura pressed down on the surroundings.
‘His aura suddenly changed...’
Arthur, now in front of Drakan, glared at Kapo, letting the Sig Sauer hang down.
‘This aura...?’
The Mana’s energy was similar, but there was an unsettling, chilling sensation.
Kapo raised his guard, placing his spear before his chest to prepare for any sudden developments. Arthur glared at him, listening to Teheran’s voice echoing in his mind.
-Rage! That is the source of your power!
He looked at the knights fallen in gruesome states around him, and the dismembered Giant Wolves.
“Hmm...”
Arthur’s face twisted.
Simultaneously, a searing rage surged from deep within his chest.
“These people...”
He clenched the Sig Sauer tightly, gritting his teeth.
“To protect them, I need to be stronger...”
The golden Aura intensified, and its light gathered in his right hand.
At the same time, the form of the Sig Sauer transformed. Arthur’s eyes widened at the sight.
It was the K1 rifle he had used while serving in the Republic of Korea Special Forces.
The Sig Sauer had become a K1 rifle.
‘No way!’
He recalled Lumacas's words that the absolute power he had gained held infinite potential.
He felt like he understood what it was.
Weapon Evolution!
Click-clack—.
Arthur looked at Kapo and gave a chilling smile.
“Shall we begin the hunt?”
He tightened his grip, loaded Aura into the magazine, and pulled the trigger.