339 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 339: "What Kind of Monster is That?" Harvey clenched his teeth with all his might. If he didn't, he felt a scream would escape his lips any second. No matter how skilled he was as a magician, he couldn't properly follow the movements of an aura user. Yet, he had always had the confidence to face an aura user alone. At the Kassel Mage Tower, there were spells that could be activated merely by designating a target. Most of them were efficient methods, capable of shaking and breaking a human's mind with a little mana. These mental magic techniques were ones he had made plenty of use of even before he became a mage. The power was intimidating enough to make him look down on anyone who wasn't a comrade from the tower. So intoxicated by that power, he had neglected the other major branch of the tower's magic, summoning magic. In fact, he was considered a genius in the tower, having proved that one could become a mage with only mental magic. He had that much confidence. "What on earth is that thing!?" The monstrous face of that superhuman shattered his confidence. Not only had that entity destroyed his protective artifact, the 'Galahad's Mirror'—a gift from the tower master—with the first strike, but it also approached unflinchingly, unaffected by Harvey's spells, slaughtering the knights. 'M-my magic...' It felt like the very foundation of the power he had trusted all his life was crumbling. That sense of helplessness filled him with terror. He wanted to run away immediately. But his pride as a mage and the tower master's command pinned his feet to the ground, preventing him from using that last resort. – The relic of the founding ancestor. It must be found. They had only discovered its location a few years ago. Recently, they reached a dramatic agreement with the empire, sealing off the area where the relic was located and mobilizing a large workforce. It was a mystery even to him how they had managed to gain the support of the Eastern King’s court and even a claimant to the throne. He could only guess that the tower had undertaken a significant gamble. And to ruin such an operation? He couldn't even begin to imagine the punishment he would face upon his return. Death would be a merciful penalty. The worst-case scenario sent shivers down his spine just thinking about it. ‘I can’t let that happen!’ He didn’t care if everyone connected to him was doomed. But the thought of being deprived of his soul’s freedom, his limbs twisted and tormented, used like a puppet until the day his body met its end—he could never accept that. The mere thought of his juniors laughing while controlling him as a battle puppet made his blood boil in fury. That bone-chilling terror suppressed the fear of the unknown enemy. “Then let’s just die here!” Harvey’s eyes glowed red as he retrieved a crimson gem from his robe. Using it meant no return, but it was a million times better than becoming a battle puppet. ‘I can always recreate the core of the magic circle. There are plenty of humans here.’ Surveying the workers hiding around him with a terrified face, Harvey crushed the ‘Essence of Life’ in his hand. Clang. “Huff!” With just a slight inhalation of the red energy that seeped out, his vision turned blood-red. And immediately, he felt a massive power coursing through his veins. It felt like his physical strength had amplified severalfold in an instant. If he could experience this, the knights must be experiencing even more. Harvey began to control the crimson energy with his bloodshot eyes. “Khahaha. I… can… do… it.” The corrupted red magic, under his gesture, started to pour towards the 'knights of the empire.' It was enough. With this level of strength, he wouldn’t need anyone’s ‘consent.’ “D-damn it.” Yassel couldn't help but curse. The despair that consumed his heart made him mutter to himself without realizing. And then at that moment. Boom. “Ugh!” From a formidable impact dealt again, blood spewed from his mouth like a fountain. Boom! His body involuntarily slid backward, regardless of his will. He had no intention of praising himself for maintaining composure and not collapsing despite the cuts and bruises. For in that time, two of his subordinates had fallen miserably. A sense of doom crept over him. ‘Stronger than Lord Greith... Where did such a person…’ Someone stronger than the legion commander of the empire suddenly emerged. And as fate would have it, as an enemy disrupting the empire’s affairs. Gritting his teeth, Yassel once again scrutinized his adversary. A fearsome face, a silver aura. ‘Hold on, I think I’ve heard rumors before.’ Perhaps it was an escape from reality. Instead of charging at the enemy again, the once valiant Yassel fell into thought. Vrrr. Suddenly, an unknown energy penetrated into his body. “Urgh!” At the dizzying sensation, Yassel instinctively tried to expel the energy. He was certain it wasn’t good for him. But his efforts were futile, as the alien energy swiftly spread through his entire body, and soon he felt a violent power racing through his bloodstream. Crack. He sensed that his entire skeletal system was realigning and his body was transforming in real-time. But it was such a phenomenal strength that he didn’t mind. ‘With this power, I can…’ Suddenly, his adversary appeared to shrink, and his confidence surged. His subordinates also seemed to have grown larger in stature. – Kill the enemy! With confidence, Yassel intended to shout. But. “Screeee!” With a hideous cry emerging from his throat, his rationality snapped. Shing. “G-gah.” The breathing of the knight, gasping for air, was abnormal. Even the enemy’s sliced flesh inexplicably grew more resistant. But Logan did not bother with the reasoning. There was no need to show consideration for the suddenly stationary foes. But just as his silver aura blade began to flash again, the bodies of the enemies started to heat up with a crimson glow. Then. Slash. “K-khh!” The resistance of the cut flesh increased incredibly, more than could be believed. “Screeee!” Soon, with an ear-splitting roar, a monstrous creature twice the size of a normal human, glowing a deep red, appeared before him. “What in the world is this…?” Logan's gaze shifted to the mage who had crumpled to the ground in the distance, gasping for breath. He had delayed dealing with him due to his seemingly ineffective gray magic. ‘What kind of trick is this?’ But now wasn’t the time to worry about him; the immediate threat felt far more pressing. Even at that moment— Boom! With a single punch to the ground, the creature that used to be a knight created a crater several times larger than its fist. The force and speed felt several times greater than before, unrefined but formidable nonetheless. The armor barely hanging like rags over its enlarged body no longer seemed laughable. ‘How on earth could this have happened…?’ Logan was utterly baffled by the sudden transformation. The remaining five knights had all turned into monsters. And most concerning of all was— “Graaaah!” Boom! Yassel, whose movements became so fast that even Logan could barely see him, and whose frame dwarfed the other monsters, was the most formidable. Seeing the earth sink where he had just stood, Logan's expression hardened. ‘This could be disastrous...’ As he processed the thought, a fist rushed at him. His silver aura sliced through the fist from an angle. Yet— Sick. Boom! “Graaaah!” The aura failed to sever the monster’s arm completely. With his half-severed wrist dangling, the creature slammed the ground with its fist and, letting out a violent scream, gripped the wrist with its one good arm, thrashing about. In that brief moment, Logan observed the half-cut wrist reattach itself. ‘The resistance and regeneration exceed human levels. This is madness...’ Just as Logan clicked his tongue— “Kyaa!” “Graaaah!” The other monsters began charging at him from behind. Their movements were clearly faster than when they had been knights, albeit chaotic. As Logan steeled himself, seemingly deciding on something, an unexpected scene unfolded. Smack. The creature that once was Yassel began swatting away the smaller(?) monsters charging at it. “Graaaah!” Boom! Smack! “What the—?” It was as if it was warding others away from its prey. When two of the creatures were struck by Yassel's fist and stumbled, falling to the ground, the others hesitated, taking a step back. “Grrr.” “Grrrk.” Seeing the creatures back away with its fangs bared, the monstrous leader turned flagrantly. Poof. A silver aura, now a blade, pierced through the monster’s eye and out through the back of its skull. “Thanks, you idiot.” “Grh, grr?” Fortunately, it seemed it couldn’t regenerate its entire head. Watching the red energy slowly withdraw from the wounded leader, Logan wore a cold smile. “Graaaah!” As the remaining monsters shouted in determination at the fallen leader, they began dropping one by one. “D-don’t come near!” As a desperate shout accompanied a flash of gray, a gray mist momentarily covered Logan’s body before dispersing harmlessly. Logan let out a smirk, approaching the source as if unaffected. The magician, now terrified, collapsed and tried to scramble backward in a panic. “Hiii!” “How pathetic.” “P-please spare me! I’m just a mage hired by the Empire!” “You may have the rank of a mage, but your actions are that of a coward. Judging by your last, futile attempts, you don't seem to have much combat experience, either.” “Yes, yes! I’m a useless man. Please….” If he was this much of a coward, perhaps there was a use for him? Logan entertained a small hope and asked abruptly. “Kassel Mage Tower?” “…Eep?!” Harvey’s eyes widened in shock. “H-how do you know?” “If you offer useful information, I won’t kill you. What do you say?” “W-what do you mean?…” Harvey’s eyes darted as he looked at the numerous workers hidden far away, his face filled with desperation. However— “If you refuse, you die.” Logan’s words were firm and emotionless. “I-I don’t know much.” “A mage, not knowing, huh? Funny. Start by telling me what you know about the ruins here.” With a troubled look, Harvey hesitated, glanced around, and finally lowered his head, speaking in a faint voice. “Can I tell you quietly?” “Fine.” “Come a bit closer with your ear…” Logan frowned slightly, leaning in. Suddenly, a green mist spewed from Harvey's mouth. Hissss. The ground touched by the green smoke melted into darkness, creating an endless pit. However, the sight left a grim look on Harvey’s face. As he spewed the green gas, his swollen, reddened body began shrinking rapidly. Cough. “Damn… this hellish…” At that moment, Logan was already behind him, a silver blade cleanly spearing through Harvey’s chest. The enemy’s aura had shattered his circle, even obstructing his final suicidal attempt. Of course, taking his life was a given result. “I wasn’t lying about letting you live.” “Grh. Grk. Grrk.” Perhaps finding something amusing, Harvey showed a twisted smile, but his voice no longer emerged. However, from his expression alone, one thing was apparent. ‘He would rather die than give information to the enemy. Mage or superhuman alike, hesitations discarded.’ Whether it was due to loyalty or some other reason, the resolve was quite terrifying. “Tch.” Yet now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. “Now, to deal with the witnesses, I suppose.” Logan muttered, seemingly unaware of the impact, glancing around. – Eek! – R-run. – Scatter! Amidst distant, faint cries, the surrounding bushes began to rustle with movement. The laborers who had been hiding scattered in every direction, attempting to escape. Word would spread rapidly that a silver-aura superhuman had slaughtered the imperial soldiers nearby. ‘So, I need to loot the ruins and get out of here as quickly as possible.’ Logan's gaze turned toward the tunnel, where he felt a holy power that seemed to be beckoning his soul.