43 - The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Family Wants A Divorce

In a stark contrast to her usual tone, Silvanna spoke with a voice that was calm and slightly melancholic. "It's the name of the beast that Wolfdren Caldias hunted when he was establishing a base in the North." "Bricala?" "The protector of the icy lightning? That's what it meant, I think. That's why they named the Greater Cluster Lord after it." "It was a disaster of a creature. Back then, I couldn't even think of confronting it with my skills." "Was it that formidable?" "If you had seen it, you wouldn't say that." Roaaaar! The creature's roar buried Silvanna's voice, a voice from memories past. The relentless lightning seemed to be guarding Bricala, and in its eyes, perched atop a spire, was the fragile barrier of Malidand. “We, we need to run-!” Isaac grabbed Sharen by the shoulders as she muttered in terror. He shouted through gritted teeth at the fear-stricken Sharen. “If we run, who will fight that thing?” “……!” “I know it's frightening, but we must do it.” If the barrier falls here, the front line is breached. The cascade of destruction could spread unfathomably far. Nearby villages could face annihilation. The only somewhat fortunate thing was that the creature was injured. Blood dribbled down, flowing along the spire, and its roar was tinged more with pain than menace. However, the situation could also be dire. 'Despite its wounds, it still holds such power.' With its last breaths, it summoned every reserve of strength left in its colossal form. "Where's the captain?" He searched for the captain in charge of the remaining troops. Distraught, Jonathan responded. “He, he was at that spire over there.” Even at this distance, the charge of the lightning was numbing, threatening to paralyze. If he was under the creature's spire, assuming his death is prudent. “Raise your spears!” Isaac shouted fiercely, veins standing out as he strained against Bricala's thunder. “The main forces are coming! Hold the line and don’t let it cross the barrier!” Isaac, who had witnessed the battles against the transcendent beings many times. While it would be ideal to maintain a pre-established chain of command even in this chaos. The commander's fate was unknown, and it was uncertain who was next in charge. In such a situation, the loudest voice should seize the flag to swiftly reorganize. “Raise your spears!” “Defend the barrier!” “The main force will arrive soon!” As the son-in-law of Helmont and a comrade-in-arms, Isaac had earned their trust, and they began to rally to his orders. Bricala noticed the troops gathering around Isaac and snorted. Its breath crackled with static electricity, dangerously sparking in the air. Electricity began to course through its body again, and its thick muscle veins bulged. “Scatter! Scatter!” The urgent cry propelled the soldiers to hastily spread out along the barrier. At that moment, like a bolt of lightning, Bricala landed where the concentrated soldiers had just been. Ba-BOOM! The barrier was damaged but not to the point of disrepair. Dust, debris, and electrical sparks scattered in all directions. In that chaos, Bricala's gaze fixed on Isaac standing ahead. “Grrng.” Crackle! “Grrk!” Being this close, the sensation was anything but mild. It was almost unbearable, with a scorching pain in his eyes as if they would burn away. Closing his eyes was not an option. At that moment, Bricala's fist would mercilessly crash upon his entire body. “Red Blaze!” When everyone was frozen under Bricala’s intimidating presence and electricity. The first to move, surprisingly, was the youngest girl present. A red-orange light erupted from her greatsword, enveloping Bricala. The blazing force consumed nearby electricity as it reached Bricala. “Rrraaaawr!” Bricala brushed it off and slammed its fist in fury onto the ground. “Wh-What’s wrong with it?!” Sharen's cry asked if this wasn't too much of an overreaction. But Isaac had a hunch. “Rihanna and the Helmont knights were the main force. Perhaps it’s enraged because you wield the same power.” Among its wounds, there would likely be marks left by Helmont. Indeed, Bricala’s gaze was now locked on Sharen. It charged at her, exhaling static electricity, placing its four hands on the ground like a beast. “Jonathan, assist!” “Glory to the Great Helmont!” Jonathan quickly stood beside Sharen, driving his greatsword into the ground as a barricade. Sharen immediately followed suit, supporting her greatsword with her shoulder. Bam! Bricala’s fist simultaneously clashed against the two swords. “Graaaah!” “Cough! Gah!” Despite the fierce impact, they remained unyielding. Their red blazes combined, forming a sturdy barrier, yet the creature had four fists. Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Unceasing and rapid, it pounded them. “Do something!” “I think I'm going to die!” Before they could yell, Isaac had already leapt forward. Springing off Jonathan’s shoulder, he soared upward. In the electrifying air that pierced his entire body, Isaac drew his sword from his waist. ‘I won't make a mistake this time.’ The chance to redeem his past errors against Northemus had arrived - the strongest strike he could muster. The moment he drew his sword from its sheath, known as ‘Iai’ for its precision and swiftness. The blade flashed with a silent brilliance, slicing through the electricity, aiming for the creature’s thick neck. Slash! Isaac did not err. If the Great Master had witnessed, she would have applauded the precision of this perfect ‘Iai’ executed with exact direction. Crackle! But only a faint scar, too faint to be called a wound, remained on its thick neck. ‘The electricity dulled the blade…?!’ In the moment it was drawn, the sword didn't withstand even a fleeting instant. It was precisely because Isaac had insisted it be made so lightweight. Though remarkably light, the durability was, unfortunately, dismal. “Roooaar!” The beast let out a furious roar. Even it knew—it was mere moments away from losing its head. One of its hands, reaching for the greatsword, diverted its course and swung towards Isaac. He thought, for a moment, that he was going to die. Just before the fist reached him, it shuddered and halted. Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Distracting it, other soldiers had thrust spears into its back. Thanks to them, Isaac, untouched by the beast's fist, managed to land and breathe a shaky sigh of relief. “Isaac! Are you alright?” “Thank goodness!” The two who approached him as he caught his breath against the ground seemed relieved. Just as he was about to apologize for squandering the chance they’d given him. “...Isn’t it cold?” Isaac mumbled as he brushed his hand across the ground. The static still left his hand tingling, yet the chill seeped through his skin. “Of course it’s cold—!” Sharen's sentence trailed off. The white mist surrounding them wasn't simply stirred by chaos; it seemed intentionally conjured. “What’s happening?!” “Ah! It’s freezing!” Even numbed senses from battle felt the biting cold. As Isaac's eyes widened, he recalled the story he had once told them. ‘The first Caldias intentionally cast magic on the walls to manipulate the climate and protect the kingdom.’ If there was more to it...? If the walls sensed danger and a spell was triggered, or, If the sorcery, disrupted by the creature's electricity, was now spiraling out of control. Regardless of the cause, “Get out of the barrier!” Staying here was perilous. The disconcerting sound of ice creeping from somewhere sent chills down his spine. His soles were sticking fast to the ground. The boots made for the North were durable and sturdy, allowing him to pull free with effort, but— They needed to move away from the barrier immediately, or they would freeze to death. “Graahhhh!” Bricala's scream echoed from behind. Turning, he saw it trying to tear its feet free, large chunks of flesh ripping as it struggled, clearly in agony. Exposure to the barrier's cold affected even it. ‘Wait, if I can hold it here—’ It could be stopped. Not just halted, potentially frozen and subdued entirely. Dragging it down meant more danger. Placing it in a wider area than the barrier would only allow it to rampage. ‘That's unexpected.’ Always watching the backs of his comrades charging into life-and-death battles. Mysterious Isaac. Many praised his great wisdom, yet, Isaac often stood idle, watching their desperate struggle, feeling useless. He constantly asked himself: Could I do that too? Could I wield the sword and stand in the front lines? Could I charge forward, without hesitation, into a deadly conflict? ‘Truly unexpected.’ Literally, for even without pondering, Isaac was already sprinting toward Bricala. ‘All I have is a worn sword and a pulsating surge.’ He drew forth the pulsating surge. His previous sword was unserviceable due to the creature's surrounding electricity. Gripping the surge with both hands, he planted himself before Bricala. The beast attempted to leap into the fort to escape the barrier. “Where do you think you’re going!” Isaac swung the surge mightily, and the creature’s thigh was sliced. Though the gash stretched long, no blood flowed. The wound froze even faster than the blood could spill. “Growl!” Perhaps that’s why, It didn’t seem to hurt much, and it swatted a dismissive arm to strike Isaac. Predicting its reaction, Isaac stepped back swiftly, readying his sword once more. “Roooooar!” Another thunderous roar. Bricala seemed to question why Isaac blocked its descent below. Staying here meant the death of both. “Ha.” It was meant to be a smile that twisted his lips, but his cheeks were too rigid from the cold. His black hair rimmed with white frost. Was it hypothermia? His strength gradually waned. Yet Isaac did not retreat. “Until one of us dies—or both—.” The words couldn't continue through the cold, seizing even his lungs, but the intent was clear enough that Bricala charged, lightning leaping from its form. And then, Two red shades of blazing force poured from behind. “For crying out loud!” Cloaked in a red-orange blaze, Sharen appeared surprisingly unscathed compared to the others. She wrapped herself in the blaze like armor. A common technique, but hers interwove with extraordinary precision and intricacy, partially shielding her from the biting unnatural cold. It was a technique Sharen devised to avoid freezing as she did in previous battles with giants and yetis. “Why’d you rush in alone!” As Sharen drew near, Isaac felt a warmth flowing through him. Her blazing force had an effect, calming his trembling hands. Another blaze arrived, dark and viscous, belonging to Jonathan. Unlike its usual volatile and porous state, It was as ferocious and wild as a beast. Struck by it, Bricala slid backward over the wall like ice. “Isaac—!” Jonathan, standing beside Isaac. The whites of his eyes vanished, leaving only an ominous black as Isaac had once seen before. “Pant! Pant! If—if I become one of the transcendent—!” Before Jonathan, tearful and imploring, Isaac bopped him on the back of the head and shouted. “You said your heart is made of roses! Get a grip!” At that, Jonathan bit his lip with elongated fangs and cried out. “Roooaaar! Glory to the Great Helmont! My heart is made of roses!” “…He’s like a fanatic.” Sharen, a direct descendant of Helmont, muttered under her breath, but Jonathan feigned deafness. In any case, his obsession with Helmont was what kept him anchored to sanity. The two blazing forces of different colors enveloped Isaac. Thanks to this, he could withstand the cold to a certain extent. “Grrng.” However, the problem lay in the fact that the beast, possessing a measure of intelligence, saw this as a breakthrough. It weaved through the falling blue crystals. Mana. The sheer magnitude of mana was so immense that it became visible, surging towards the beast. “Gasp!” “A bit unsettling, isn't it.” Even Sharen and Jonathan were momentarily gripped by fear, and even Isaac, not usually attuned to mana, could perceive the density and concentration of the creature’s overwhelming mana through his skin and eyes. And then. “Raaaaawr!” A gigantic blue lightning bolt fell as if to crown Bricala’s head. At first, it seemed as if it was inflicting harm upon itself. Indeed, it did suffer injury. Yet. “Grawr!” Drooling slightly. What would usually be dismissed as trivial and unsurprising now appeared otherwise. “It’s not freezing.” Isaac's murmur saw the other two nodding swiftly in realization. The beast’s saliva was not freezing. The electricity surrounding its entire body was more intense than ever. The dense white mist lingered around Bricala without daring to touch it. By enduring self-inflicted damage, the beast cloaked itself in electricity, overcoming the cold. Just like— “It’s akin to my method.” As Sharen used her blaze to dispel the cold. Bricala, once again freed in its movement, began charging toward the three with thundering steps.