Chapter 286:


    Isaac was also utterly exhausted. Blood streamed from his eyes, nose, and mouth.


    “Ah… This is brutal. I’ve really overdone it.”


    “What… what is this?”


    An, gasping for breath, tried to grip his sword, only to realize it was already shattered, and his arms were broken. In contrast, despite his insides being torn to shreds, Isaac was still standing, holding his sword.


    At this point, the oue was clear.


    What Isaac had visualized to create his new advanced sword technique was a ck hole.


    If the opponent was as fast as light, then all he had to do was devour that light. It was an absurd conclusion, but Isaac, in true Codex of Light Pdin fashion, had reached it.


    Isaac wiped away the blood from his nose and licked it with his tongue.


    Given that Isaac’s swordsmanship consumed only satiety and imposed minimal physical strain, it was clear just how reckless his endeavor had been. Fortunately, thanks to the Intestines of the Dead God, his internal injuries were healing rapidly, but if something had gone wrong, he might have copsed from hunger right in front of An.‘Isaac’s Swordsmanship: Event Horizon’ was not all that different from Elil’s swordsmanship.


    If Elil’s sword was overwhelmingly fast, then Event Horizon was overwhelmingly heavy.


    At its core, it was just a simple downward sh.


    But the unique reality-warping effect of advanced swordsmanship,bined with Isaac’s experience as the Nameless Chaos, wasyered onto it.


    However, Isaac was confident that the only beings capable of blocking this downward sh would be angels.


    Of course, the power was far less than Isaac had expected.


    ‘Maybe… 2% of the power I hoped for?’


    In any case, it was a sess, 1% for managing to execute it and another 1% for surviving the attempt.


    It was a sword technique conceived to face angels or gods, not mere mortals.


    Although its performance had a long way to go, it was a first step.


    Isaac struggled to stand, ring at An.


    “What now, An? Do you still think this fight isn’t over?”


    “…”


    An’s fighting spirit hadpletely vanished.


    If he still had the will to fight after witnessing that, Isaac would have admired him. But Isaac was also out of energy to continue the battle.


    Finally, An spoke.


    “Did you spare me on purpose?”


    Isaac shrugged.


    “Maybe?”


    “Why?”


    “Come on, An. I’m being vague on purpose. If I say I spared you, it’ll hurt your pride, and if I say no, I’m afraid you’lle after me againter. As you can see, this technique isn’t something I can just throw around anytime. I’m exhausted.”


    An remained silent at Isaac’s chiding.


    He epted the oue and chose to retreat gracefully. Before withdrawing, An addressed Isaac one more time.


    “Isaac, surrender.”


    “Again with this nonsense?”


    “If you surrender, I will personally ask the Khan to guarantee you the rank of Manho, no, a general. It’s an honor and position hard toe by for an apostate. Besides, you’re not really a Pdin of the Codex of Light anymore, are you? You could even prevent the destruction of the Issacrea estate if you make the decision.”


    “…”


    Isaac merely smiled, giving no answer. An found this frustrating.


    Despite Isaac’s impressive disy of power, as he himself admitted, the sword technique was not something he could use at will. At most, he might use it once or twice more before being crushed by the Olkan army. Wouldn’t it be better to surrender?


    An couldn’t understand Isaac’s stubbornness.


    “Let me put it the other way, An. Surrender.”


    “…What did you say?”


    “Surrender, and I’ll offer you the position of our vige’s chief guard. The current chief would step down willingly for you. We don’t have a standing army of a thousand, and in peacetime, it’s usually about five hundred, but still, it’s a respectable title in these parts. Plus, we don’t discriminate against different faiths.”


    “What kind of nonsense is this…!”


    “Alright, understood. Take care.”


    Leaving those words behind, Isaac disappeared into the forest.


    An stood there with a baffled expression, staring nkly at the spot where Isaac had vanished.


    ***


    Isaac managed to rescue Hesabel and Nel safely, but that was all.


    The shamans, the Keshik, Sahn Khan, and the Netherworld had utterly neutralized the resistance of the Issacrea forces. Having reached the point where he could no longer fight, Isaac abandoned his guerri tactics and retreated to the Issacrea estate. Though news of An’s defeat spread, the Khan merely judged it as a mutual defeat and ordered him to recover.


    With the guerri forces wiped out, Isaac ordered the remaining troops in the fort to withdraw as well. A final stand could only be made at the Issacrea estate.


    Only within the monastery, where all the priests and Pdins offered protection, could they avoid the shamans’ curses and sorcery.


    “As expected.”


    Sahn advanced, swiftly upying the copsing Issacrea territory. Now, only the bridge crossing the valley remained between them and thend known as the Issacrea vige. As expected, the bridge had been destroyed.


    “They’re desperate, so this was inevitable. Construct a makeshift bridge.”


    Sahn Khan, without much emotion, ordered the carpenters to build a temporary bridge. With the thick trees growing in abundance, finding timber was not difficult. The destruction of a centuries-old bridge bought the Issacrea estate only half a day’s time.


    Finally, the orcs set foot on the Issacrea estate.


    Exactly two days.


    Within the time that Kraxal had predicted, the Khan’s army had entered the Issacrea vige. No matter how skilled Isaac was, he couldn’t hold back a flood by himself.


    “If the left wing’s nking maneuver is timely, aplete encirclement will be established. Even the Grail Knight will find it hard to escape.”


    Sahn was quite impressed with Isaac’s resistance.


    He hadn’t expected such a small force to dy the massive army of the Olkan Code for several days. He was even more surprised when he heard that An had challenged Isaac again but failed to defeat him.


    Now, the army was marching toward the adversary who dared to defy the Olkan Code. Sahn was eager to see what the Grail Knight would do next.


    The vige was already deserted. As a result, the orc army marched into Issacrea without any resistance, making it seem more like a triumphant procession than an upation.


    There were no roars, no bloodshed, no plunder, or arson. This ce was to be used as their forward base, so it was only natural.


    Sahn Khan watched the advancing army, then shifted his gaze further ahead. On a position overlooking the valley where the vige was located, there was a castle. He knew it had been converted into a monastery, but it was clearly a formidable fortress.


    Of course, a few cannon shots would reduce it to rubble.


    “All the remaining forces must be inside.”


    A powerful holy presence could be felt from the castle. It was no surprise, given that all the sacred artifacts, Pdins, and priests Isaac had gathered were likely holed up in there.


    Sahn Khan nced at his general shaman, Teherma.


    Teherma stared at the monastery for a moment, then shook his head in disbelief.


    “The miracles and sacred artifacts of various faiths are intricately interwoven. I cannot unravel it alone.”


    “Is it thatplex?”


    “Miracles of the Codex of Light, the Shield of the Protector from Elil, the White Purification Doctrine of the Salt Council, and even runes engraved by the World’s Forge. To mix all this without causing conflict, it’s incredibly rare, even worldwide. The castle itself could be considered a sacred artifact.”


    Teherma’s eyes sparkled with interest and excitement as he spoke. There was a mix of reverence as a priest, curiosity as a schr, and greed as a plunderer.


    However, Sahn had no choice but to betray those emotions.


    “Given that the food is still rotting, we cannot stay here long. Prepare the cannons.”


    “Ah…”


    Teherma sighed regretfully, but there was no helping it.


    They hadn’t brought many heavy cannons due to the need to quickly cross the rough mountains. However, the five cannons they had were enough to destroy the fortress. Sahn briefly considered using the Netherworld but decided to save it.


    ‘If we pound the fortress with cannon fire, the Grail Knight will respond. I’d like to see if the sword technique that brought An to his knees can withstand the Khan’s arrows.’


    The cannons lined up, all aiming at the monastery.


    Just then, the monastery door opened slightly. And from within, a lone figure walked out.


    “Cease fire.”


    “Hold fire!”


    Sahn gave the order to halt and watched the approaching figure. He walked neither too fast nor too slow, as if he were out for a stroll, heading straight toward the orc army. With his keen eyesight as a nomad, Sahn immediately recognized the man as the famously handsome Grail Knight.


    ***


    Isaac walked slowly, but Sahn did not rush him, nor did he send soldiers.


    In this situation, when amander stands alone before an army, the meaning is clear. To the Grail Knight, who was practically crawling to them in submission, Sahn generously allowed the time to approach.


    Finally, Isaac stood alone before the orc army.


    Despite the countless orcs Isaac had killed and tormented, no one hurled insults or threats at him.


    Partly because he stood before the Khan, but also because Isaac exuded an unusual sense of intimidation.


    Two figures on horseback rode up to Isaac. They were Kraxal, the Manho, and General Shaman Kima. They red at Isaac, who hade out unarmed, with stern expressions.


    Kraxal, acting as the Khan’s envoy, spoke first.


    “You seem quite bold for someone surrendering, but it’s toote. You’ll have to surrender your life. In return, we’ll spare the vigers. They’ll have to work as ves for the Khan for a while, though.”


    Isaac tilted his head, looking at Kraxal and Kima with a derisive expression. Then, as if losing interest, he turned his gaze behind them.


    “If you’re not the decision-maker, bring me someone higher.”


    “What did you say?”


    “I have an offer for the Khan. You’d just have to run back and ask him anyway, right? Don’t waste time; bring someone who can answer with a ‘yes’ or ‘no.’”


    Kraxal wondered if Isaac had lost his mind from fear and despair. It was so absurd that he couldn’t even ask if Isaac could see the tens of thousands of orc troops bearing down on him.


    Kima spoke up instead.


    “If it’s surrender, we can make that decision.”


    “Really? You can decide on surrender? That’s great.”


    Isaac cleared his throat and then shouted loudly.


    “The Olkan Code will surrender immediately. I will ensure you all return safely to your wastnd. However, Sahn Khan muste forward, kneel, and apologize to the destroyed cities and the murdered residents. He must also promise adequatepensation, and—”


    “Enough, enough!”


    As Isaac began to spout nonsense, Kraxal, horrified, cut him off. But despite his interruption, a low chuckle echoed from behind.


    It was the sound of Sahn Khan’s satisfiedughter.


    The Grail Knight had not disappointed him. There was only one more thing to confirm. If Isaac could prove he hadn’t lost his mind, Sahn nned to keep him around for a long time.


    Stifling hisughter, Sahn waved his hand.


    Thud, thud.


    Suddenly, eight Keshiks moved forward past Kraxal, approaching Isaac like shadows. Though they weren’t on the level of An, they were among the elite of the Keshiks.


    One of the Keshiks spoke.


    “We have orders to teach you manners by cutting off your knees and arms.”


    At the same time, the orcs notched arrows on their bowstrings, and the shamans began chanting spells. Kraxal expected to witness the brutal annihtion of Isaac, feeling a pang of regret.


    Why had he spouted such madness, leading to a pointless death? It would be an unfortunate end for a great warrior, a worthy adversary of the Khan.


    “Did you really think you could stop the Khan’s millions-strong army with mere pebbles and a handful of troops? Did you think stuffing madness into that tiny head of yours would aplish anything?”


    As Kraxalmented Isaac’s fate, Isaac scrunched his face as if he was listening to utter nonsense.


    “What are you talking about? When did I ever say I’d stop you with just those troops?”


    “Then how—”


    “I’m brave, not insane.”


    At that moment, Kima suddenly flinched.


    Kraxal recognized that reaction well. It was what happened when someone suddenly received an overwhelming influx of souls. Just as Kraxal was about to ask what was wrong, Kima began to move his lips, turning his gaze to the west.


    “The army nking from the left wing…”


    Thud, thud… The ground began to rumble softly.


    While everyone’s attention had been focused on Isaac, a massive dust cloud had risen from the western side of the Issacrea estate’s valley. It was a new force charging forward after crushing the Olkan Code’s army, which had been circling to cut off the retreat.


    Ba-ba-ra, ba-baam!


    A resounding trumpet st echoed, throwing the orcs into confusion. Only the shamans, well-versed in other religions, understood the meaning of that trumpet.


    “…Elil?”


    Knights of Elil were charging forward with fierce speed. Finally recognizing the situation, Kraxal urgently ordered his troops to prepare for battle.


    But then, another thunderous roar plunged them into deeper chaos.


    Boom! A thunderous sound, like the boiling of hell, echoed from deep within the earth. As the shockwave rippled through the ground, the orcs found themselves involuntarily copsing.


    Soon, frantic shouts and screams began to echo from behind.


    “The World’s Forge! The Dwarves and Lycanthropes of the Forge Order are emerging from the caverns!”


    The basics of strategy never change. The only way to wisely confront a massive army is with an evenrger one.


    Isaac had been well aware of that fact.


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