350 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 350 Resounding Force Head, heart, groin, arms, and legs. A ferocious strike targeting seven points of the body all at once: Vortex. This was the signature move that earned Gritt Einzhein his ominous titles, such as the Knight of Slaughter and the Demon’s Spear. It was notorious for either killing outright or leaving no trace of the body if even one strike wasn’t blocked. However, Logan countered it with a simplicity that belied its destructive power. Rumble. From the holy sword in his grasp, a colossal sword of a giant sprang forth like a towering pillar. A radiant silver pillar tinged with ‘yellow light,’ recognizable only to the few aura users, but they could only concentrate on defending against it. BOOM! The giant’s sword clashed with the seven aura spheres, creating a deafening roar that reverberated through the stone chamber. “Ugh!” “Nngh!” Both sides were repelled away from each other, while the knights of the 1st Legion, who had charged at Logan, lost their balance and tumbled due to the shockwave. It was then that the madness began to fade from the faces of the fallen knights. “Huh!?” “Why… Why am I here?” Confused, the knights' gazes soon converged on one spot. The mages they thought were allies. Yet, by then, the mages had already halted their barrage of spells and gathered in one place. A peculiar gray magical energy ominously surged from where they gathered, chilling the hearts of the knights who had already been played once. However, the protagonists of the recent clash were too preoccupied to pay attention to the mages. It was Gritt who regained his composure first. “Impressive!” A hint of surprise crossed Gritt's face, who had been relentlessly attacking out of fury. Yet, without hesitation, he charged again. In contrast, Gale and Logan were forced to momentarily gather themselves, having temporarily released their seals. ‘Tsk.’ Though he wanted to avoid revealing his true power, Gritt Einzhein was not a foe to be taken lightly, even at a reduced level. A formidable warrior even among the elites. Logan understood he needed to respond with equal force. ‘This is more than I bargained for.’ Just as Logan furrowed his brow and prepared to raise his sword once more... "Power Word: Obey!" From amongst the retreating mages came a bizarre shout that resonated throughout the area. A glance revealed a gray pentagram drawn beneath the mages' feet, from which an immense surge of magical power erupted. Even before the astonishment subsided, the immense energy transformed into a colossal gray lightning bolt aimed directly at Logan. Flash. So potent that it made Gritt, who was charging in, assume a defensive stance, the energy struck Logan, and a thunderous voice echoed in his mind. – Obey!! Bzzzz. A sound so overwhelming, it rattled his ears and disoriented his sense of balance. It felt like being hit with an intense sonic attack. Then, in that moment... "Stop, Count Gritt! We've subdued him!" The self-assured voices of the mages directed at Gritt, who was preparing to strike again, drew attention. 'Hmm?' Gritt hesitated, and although Logan saw the opening, he remained motionless. ‘Could it be...?’ The vast gray energy swirling in him was unsuccessfully attempting to encroach into his mind, disintegrated by his force. Though he still didn't understand what the source of power Zibrick Cassell mentioned was, his ability to easily dissolve the energy suggested his power was their antithesis. Yet, Logan opted to stop obliterating the energy and watch the situation unfold. "What are you saying, Garres?" Gritt glared at the mages with fiery eyes as he remained cautious, unsure why Gale wasn’t moving. Five mages, not just two. This implied that at least three of them could deceive even his senses, leaving him at a disadvantage to confront them now. Despite this, Gritt’s pride and the humiliation of his subordinates prevented him from yielding. Ignoring his emotions entirely, Garres smiled and replied. "It means he can no longer resist our words." “...What nonsense is that?” To Gritt, it was an utterly ridiculous claim. The surviving knights wore bewildered expressions as well. "Allow us to demonstrate." Garres turned confidently, and an elder mage nodded with a grim smile. A chilling voice reverberated. – Sever your left arm. Gale immediately raised his sword. Slice. “Gasp!” Without hesitation, Gale swung his sword, a bright red stream of blood spurting from his left arm. Yet, as per the mage's command, his arm was not fully severed. Only a shallow cut bled, dripping below. “...Grrrr.” Gale’s left hand gripped his right, his eyes bloodshot with exertion. As Gritt and the knights frowned at the grisly sight, the mages were both surprised and somewhat admiring. To them, the silver aura blazing from the sword seemed slightly different. – Enough. Await further orders! The voice with its peculiar resonance continued, and Gale, though groaning in agony, stood straight and drove his sword onto the floor. Thud. He knelt on one knee, gripping the sword embedded in the stone chamber’s floor. Anyone could see the strain in his inflamed face and bulging veins that his actions were against his will, yet his body remained motionless. "The holy sword’s resistance is... remarkable." "Incredible. To endure this much with a spell consuming five Bloodstones." "Indeed... It's fortunate we came." The low murmurs of the mages reached his ears. Though much of it was unintelligible, the certainty that these eerie figures had complete control over their target was beyond doubt. Yet, Gritt found this ludicrous conclusion deeply unsettling. A knight who had once matched him in battle had become a puppet in an instant. His distaste for such sorcery, which went beyond mere animosity toward an enemy, flared within him. To mask his displeasure, Gritt found his feet automatically moving toward Gale. "Then I suppose I'll have the final say." But his path was blocked by an unexpected voice. "Hold back, Count. A subdued enemy can be more useful as a tool, don't you agree?" The voice's suggestion made Gritt narrow his eyes. "...What use would leaving him alive be?" "We must find the treasure of the ruins, no? Surely you don't think that sword is all there is?" Gritt's expression hardened at the thought. "And besides, the strength of a transcendent is valuable even to the Empire, is it not?" "Even if we bring one of Liberty's transcendent fighters to the Empire, what of it?" Garres offered a sly smile. "There are methods. And mind you, the resources invested in this endeavor are not insignificant—bringing him back alive is the least we can do to break even." Break even? ‘A knight of transcendent strength is likened to some unknown resource?’ Gritt's features stiffened further at the thought. But Garres, indifferent to his discomfort, continued speaking in an even more unsettling tone. "You do realize, don't you? Our existence is sanctioned by the Emperor himself." "How dare you!" Gritt's voice instinctively carried a lethal undertone. Simply referring to his liege, the ruler of the world, as the Emperor? His loyalty, independent of martial prowess, reflexively poised a spear at Garres's throat. "My apologies, I misspoke. Of course, I meant His Imperial Majesty's sanction." Cluck, cluck. Garres clicked his tongue mockingly, showing no trace of remorse. Reluctantly, Gritt chose to take a step back. "…Watch your words, mage." The distaste was so great that he didn't even want to speak the man's name. "Ha ha. Of course." But whether Garres understood his sentiment or not, he merely laughed. Annoyed by Garres’s demeanor, Gritt turned his head away. ‘As long as the objective is fulfilled.’ The enemy who dared tarnish the Emperor's dignity was thoroughly subdued. The mages who controlled the knights and employed bizarre sorcery were still allies for now, so there was no immediate need for antagonism. ‘It's not due to a lack of strength that I'm retreating.’ Gritt rationalized this to himself, grinding his teeth inwardly. He then strode towards the kneeling enemy. “So, that sword is indeed the treasure of the ruins?” "Indeed. It's probably why he could contend on equal footing despite his previous state." Garres's remark made Gritt tilt his head in thought. From the few exchanges he shared in battle, it was clear that this man's strength wasn't purely reliant on an artifact. Such prowess, reaching the upper levels of aura user, couldn't easily be mimicked by a mere 6-class artifact claiming to be an ancient relic. Yet, if Garres's words held truth... ‘Such a treasure would be a worthy offering to His Majesty.’ This thought provided some solace to his unsettled mind. But just as he stood before the kneeling enemy... “Invisible Hold.” “Terrible Blind.” “Mind Breaker.” – Kyah! Amidst a chorus of eerie incantations, his body froze, his vision plunged into darkness as a phantasmagoria of specters clawed at him. ‘What!’ The sudden turn of events. Yet Gritt's powerful mind and force instinctively disrupted the magic trying to invade his psyche. It was fortunate he'd been keeping his force heightened, lest the subdued enemy make a move. However, even a few seconds of faltering proved disastrous. Thunk. “Kuh, kuh!” The enemy's two-handed sword, once kneeling, drove its way through Gritt's chest. “Commander!” “Sir!” – Hold your positions. Despite the knights' cries and attempts to rush in, the elder mage's following command made them halt like puppets. "We can just erase their memories afterward." "Just some insignificant knights…." "The Emperor won't even notice…." "Certainly…." The sinister whispers of mages filled the ears of the dying Gritt, his vision capturing the stupefied expressions of his immobilized subordinates. ‘No—No.’ An intolerable scene. In this dire reality, Gritt's eyes flared open in defiance. If he could, he wished nothing more than to rise and cut down these raving mages, but his gravely injured body refused his will. “Grr, grr…” Both resentful and powerless thoughts escaped only as groans, yet a quiet voice reached his ear as his consciousness began to fade. “Goodbye.” Meeting the gaze of 'reddish-brown' eyes, oddly clear for someone supposedly subdued, Gritt let out a faint laugh. The demise of those who orchestrated this was almost visible to him. ‘...Fools.’ With a thump, the Spear Gritt Einzhein slumped to the cold stone floor, but no mage mourned his passing. – Come here. "Well done. Gale, was it?" "What need is there for a name when you’re just a combat puppet?" "In honor of reclaiming the progenitor’s relic, perhaps." "Combat puppets need identifiers too." Only those celebrating the smooth course of events remained. Given that not all mental suppression was complete, a few knights stood trembling like logs, their faces flushed, appearing almost more human. "So this is the holy sword…" "Yet why does it seem less reactive?" "Must be your imagination." – Hand over the holy sword. Gale approached the mages with the sword aimed at them, as if under command. And yet, the mages continued to look upon him with nothing but amused expressions. "It seems we've imbued too much magic." "Indeed. Perhaps it's affecting his intelligence." "Perhaps command him again to offer the hilt." "Wait. Just a moment…" Flash. Sluice. At the very instant Garres hesitated, sensing something amiss, a beam of light from the greatsword described a vast arc in the air. A crimson arc that cleaved through the mages' necks and torsos. “Gah, guh…” “How could…!” The mages fell with disbelief in their eyes. In their final vision, they caught a glimpse of Gale's face, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "It was hard to keep up the act." A voice only they could hear, yet the dying mages were already beyond responding. ‘Now it’s your turn to disappear.’ With a wry smile, Gale's expression twisted into a scowl as he let out a fierce cry. “Raaagh!” He unleashed a silver tempest from the greatsword. BOOM. The bodies of the mages, clinging to the last threads of life with feeble magic, were pulverized until nothing was left. And then, he yelled out in wild abandon. “UAAAH!” His beast-like wails echoed as he dashed out of the stone chamber, past the fortress walls, like a madman on the loose. The arena had witnessed a succession of unimaginable upheavals. “W-what on earth…?” “Commander!!” “Damn it!” “Those mages were up to something!” Only a few remaining knights of the 1st Legion, just beginning to break free of the mages’ spell, were left to comprehend the situation.