411 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 411 “Grrrr…” Crack. As the Imperial army approached, Tir, standing beside Ronian, exhaled a thick killing intent, causing his form to swell to nearly three times its size in an instant. Ronian knew well that this arrogant divine beast could change its size at will, yet this was the first time Tir had released such a potent aura even before the battle started. “What’s wrong, Tir?” “Grrrr…” Unfortunately, Ronian, unlike his brother, couldn't read the thoughts of a divine beast. So, he took it as a mere sign that the approaching Imperial forces were more dangerous than before. This reasoning allowed him to maintain a confident smile. “Let them come. We will win.” “Grrrr…” Tir shook his head as if implying something else, but Ronian couldn't afford to waste time trying to communicate amidst the enemies closing in. He drew his sword, leaving Tir behind. His beloved sword, Mane, which fit perfectly in his hand, glowed with a brilliant orange aura, more potent than any artifact, as it absorbed his strength. “Hear me out!” Taking a step back to let his father, the Duke Padric McLine, hold the forefront, Ronian, effectively the commander of the third McLine Legion and the King's brother, stood out. Now known as the “Knight of the Sunset,” thanks to the orange aura and the royal family's characteristic red hair and eyes, Ronian instantly captured the attention of his allied forces. “The enemy we've defeated before has returned crying, bringing friends. Is anyone here afraid of them?!” “Hahaha!” His exaggerated rebuke, met with equally exaggerated laughter, eased the tension of the impending battle slightly. “Come on, let’s kick those cowards back again! We protect our land!” “Uraaa!!!” “Fire!” Observing his son, rousing the morale of their troops with vigorous enthusiasm, Padric gave the order to attack. Suddenly, volleys of quarrels and Liberatio’s bombardments fell. It did not achieve the same fiery effectiveness as in the North, mainly because the leadership had anticipated as much, showing no signs of faltering. This steadfast confidence stemmed from their overwhelming superiority in superhuman power. In the rough battles prior, they had managed to eliminate no less than five enemy superhumans. One remaining, Commander Matt Dickerson, was nearly reduced to a corpse after an encounter with Viktor, who only recovered from his injuries a day before. ‘Even if the Imperial Guard's remaining two have joined here, I'm confident we'll achieve a landslide victory.’ Ronian alternated his gaze between Viktor and Tir, smiling with self-assurance. Another reason bolstered his confidence: the strategy shared with him by his brother a few days ago. - Change the target of the weakening spell formation to exclude only those with the mark of the flame. It will increase the mana stone consumption, but the mages should manage that adjustment. His brother might have worried about the possibility of pointless waste, but Ronian dismissed it as excessive caution. ‘My brother’s strategies have never failed before.’ Though some ignorant folks dismiss them as reckless, the results speak for themselves—the brother is indeed the hero bestowed by the heavens, whose plans could not fail. Ronian believed this wholeheartedly. His brother would have been embarrassed if he knew his thoughts, while Padric might have reclaimed the command he had relinquished upon learning of his son’s bold mindset. Fortunately, Ronian never voiced these thoughts aloud. His resolute belief practically radiated confidence, upping the spirits of those around him. As anticipated, the Imperial knights, confident due to their removed golden dragon insignia, were caught off guard. “Huh!?” “W-what is this!?” “By His Majesty’s intent!” As soon as the imperial knights set foot on the walls, gasping in disbelief, they were met with a merciless wave of sword strikes waiting for them. “Aaaah!” “Damn it!” “The spell formation is still…!” Even with two new legions joined, the Southern Conquest Army had already lost nearly equivalent forces in the previous skirmish. Amidst this, as the knights mounting the walls crumbled more easily than before, the early advantage swiftly tilted toward McLine. However, the tide began to shift as mages retrieved the wall of wind one by one and supported the front-line knights and soldiers. Another unexpected variable emerged. Ronian, slicing through enemy knights on the wall, froze at the sight of auspicious red light shooting up simultaneously from five locations. “Five of them!?” It was easy enough to identify the Seventh Legion Commander, Graeme Peterson, and the two accompanying figures. They were already known as the Imperial Guard’s superhumans, and even unidentified, Ronian easily deduced their identities. Their attire mirrored that of the known Imperial Guard superhumans. ‘So, the Empire hid two more superhumans? Hmph, as expected of them.’ Though a formidable variable, at that stage, Ronian still felt they could be dealt with. Their side also had five superhumans, including himself, Viktor, Teronan’s Iron Wall Latin Lawrence, Mage Gustaf, and Wicken Kalia. Add to that the mighty divine beast Tir, who had vanquished three superhumans in the last battle stationed right here at Fortress Armor. However, this somewhat complacent assessment was soon overturned by what followed. “Aaaah!” “Superhuman!” “Here too!” Suddenly, dark crimson auras began sprouting up everywhere, indiscriminately cutting down their knights. Even more surprising was the abrupt increase in the number—six in total. Adorned in pitch-black armor with their helmets firmly on, their identities were impossible to discern. “What the hell…!?” Judging by their dark crimson aura, they didn’t belong to any known Western legion. But if that’s the case, it made even less sense. Advertisements "So many aura users?!" Even for the Empire, it was unbelievable. It wasn't as if they could mass-produce superhumans overnight—how could they field so many? Stunned by the sudden doubling of enemy superhumans, Ronian momentarily froze. In that instant, a blade sliced through the air towards him. "Die!" Swish. "Guh." The instinctual counter-swing left a cut on the cheek of the fallen Imperial knight. The searing pain snapped Ronian back to his senses. "You damn bastards!" Ssss. In an instant, the Galaxy Blade technique was activated. Six gleaming swords of aura appeared around Ronian. Having allowed an attack prior, he had lost his element of surprise. "It's the enemy commander!" "Knight of the Sunset!" "Kill him!" Despite witnessing seven aura swords, the Imperial knights charged at Ronian with sheer desperation. Ronian, wielding seven swords as if they were a part of his mind, was now beyond the point of letting his guard down. Swish. Slash. The swords, swung as one, laid waste to the immediate area. Splat. Blood sprayed from various angles simultaneously. "Argh!" "Guh, huh." Imperial knights clutched their necks and hearts, collapsing in a circle around Ronian, creating a vacant space. "A m-monster…" The charging knights froze in their tracks. But Ronian's eyes were not on them; they rested on the new superhumans appearing. Among them, the most notable was a figure with a brilliant cloak and a red aura burning on an axe. "Knight of the Sunset? Ha." The superhuman of the Imperial Guard mocked him, approaching confidently. Ronian couldn't recall his name, but the vivid aura on the axe made it clear he was a high-ranked aura user. 'Damn!' A formidable opponent—and by rank alone, even higher than himself. Advertisements Yet Ronian had no choice but to focus on something else. If this unknown figure was a high-ranked aura user, then what of the others... Sensing the apprehension in his eyes, the strongest ally responded. – Awoooooooo! 'Tir!' Tir, who had been ravaging enemy forces without restraint, now dashed toward the owners of the crimson auras. His body, now larger than a bull and fur turned a deep crimson, surged forward. The three-headed form with twelve menacing red eyes. Like a monster from legend, Tir shot toward the enemies like a black comet. This overwhelming presence implied that Tir's hidden strength far exceeded expectations. Additionally, the energy overflowing from his body was not the divine power that rumors suggested, but a thick, sticky malevolence. At that moment, his brother’s warning resurfaced. – Unless it's the worst-case scenario, prevent Tir from revealing his true form. Yet... ‘I reckon this is that worst-case scenario, brother.’ Ronian banished his brother’s voice from his mind. A crimson aura axe loomed directly in front of him, demanding his immediate attention. “Brat, I’ll kill you!” Crunch. "Get lost!" Gritting his teeth, Ronian unleashed his full power against the approaching superhuman. The secret technique, Blue Slash Sevenfold, a fusion of divine swordsmanship and Galaxy Blade, was executed skillfully. Waves of orange aura fiercely rushed toward the enemy. Boom boom boom! "Gah!" The enemy, shocked by the unforeseen aggressive strike, swung his axe. The red aura from his axe collided with the orange waves. Absorbing the shock, Ronian propelled himself backward, glancing once more toward Tir. ‘What?’ For some reason, the owners of the crimson auras were all advancing on Tir. Perhaps it was fortunate they weren’t scattering to assault other superhumans or forces. Yet each emitted an aura suggesting they were far from novices. Even with Tir… ‘Six is too many!’ Ultimately, Ronian made a decision. "Viktor!!!!!" His close friend, fiercely engaged with another Imperial Guard superhuman nearby. Ronian shouted, pulling his friend's attention with urgency. Advertisements “Help Tir!! I'll handle this!" “Gah!” Viktor responded with a pained grunt, a long gash now across his arm from a momentary lapse. Though deep enough to split his armor, it healed instantly. The astonished enemy exclaimed. “What? Are you even human?” There was no time to heed the enemy's words. ‘Why?’ Even amidst the urgency, Viktor’s red and blue eyes bore curiosity. The opponent he faced was a high-ranked aura user. The superhuman with the axe pursuing Ronian seemed of similar rank. Could Ronian, only a mid-rank, handle both of them? But a glance, a nod from Ronian, revealed it all. The dark auras around the transformed Tir were overwhelming in number. His friend’s urgent shout laid bare his intent. With his exceptional regenerative abilities, Viktor was better suited to deal with weaker numbers, while Ronian excelled in handling fewer but stronger foes thanks to his overwhelming burst strength. ‘Even with the weakening spell formation.’ ......though it would still be extremely dangerous. “Hang in there!” “You too!” Trusting his friend with two formidable foes, Viktor turned his attention. ‘This is the best course.’ His determined steps quickened.