Chapter 49: The Steel Conviction
Its truly a relief that this battle isnt being shown to the civilians.
Orpheus, who was watching the battle between the necromancer Deus Verdi and the Mage Magistrate Tyren Ol Velocus, shared his candid feelings.
If the masses had witnessed this, their fear of dark magic would only have intensified.
Lightning and storms, terror and chill
Necromancers were generally known for merely imbuing their mana with malice to execute destructive spells.
But whaty before his eyes seemed nothing short of a natural catastrophe.
The Grand Magus and his apprentices had already sprung up from their seats, analyzing the multitude of spells raining down.
It appears that the main spells are Prophet Bentons unique magic of Wave of Terror and the de Storm that Grahan used to employ.
All these unique spells from past criminals. Can this truly be the spectacle produced by a single individual?
M-Master.
......
Standing here, witnessing firsthand how many have been executed here, one cant help but feel aplex swirl of emotions.
The great spells of powerful figures, long lost in the annals of history, manifested as their unique, awe-inspiring selves, assaulting Magistrate Tyren.
Even for an Archmage, replicating this spectacle would be nigh impossible.
And yet, hunched within that storm, Tyren stood like a steel statue, facing everything head-on.
But.
In the end, this battle was a race against time.
Continual resistance alone wont bring victory, especially in this execution ground where countless have already perished.
If Tyren remains passive, his defeat will only be more inevitable.
And he knew that too. Thus
Bang!
Amidst the ferocious bombardment of magic, he, somehow, took a heavy step forward.
<strong>* * *</strong>
For a spirit to use its own mana, a strong will is required.
Generally, that will is rooted in resentment.
Only when the resentment is so profound that it can substitute for a physical body can the spirit use its own mana in its spectral form.
For example, the woman with a half-burned face, who was currently apanying Illuania was such a case.
Otherwise, shed be no different from ambient mana drifting in the atmospheremerely more concentrated.
Thats why it was surprising.
Many of the departed souls in the execution ground had, surprisingly, left the world without any lingering regrets, finding their own peace.
It seemed they had each closed their eyes in their own individual moments of realization.
Some had closed their eyes entrusting their lingering concerns to posterity, despite their sorrow.
Others, having lived a carefree, hedonistic life, closed their eyesughing, thinking, Ive had my fun; time to go.
Some weed their own death, saying they could finally return to the embrace of God.
If not for Lemegeton, known as Spirit Stone, awakening these spirits would have been a failure from the start.
[It feels like my head is going to explode!]
You wont die.
The Dark Sage possessing me was aiding in the conversion of numerous souls mana into magic.
I wasnt the one fighting.
After awakening the spirits and transforming those souls whocked resentment into clumps of magical mana, they would go forth and fight of their own ord.
Chieftain Katoler became a violent bolt of lightning, striking down upon Tyren.
Pirate King Oulman transformed himself into a pistol bullet,unching forward.
Prophet Benton became a massive wave of fire, sweeping across thend.
Strategist Foltman turned into a spear of ice, stabbing Tyren from a blind spot.
Grahan of Silence became a de-like storm, preventing Tyren from stepping forward recklessly.
[Really, this is incredible.]
.
Finding a moments respite, the Dark Sage opened her mouth while observing the spectacle before us.
[Youve far surpassed the standards of a necromancer.]
Its because of Lemegeton, and the advantage of this location yed a significant role as well.
Even as I gave a candid yet cold assessment of myself, the Dark Sage didnt disagree.
After all, the advantage of the execution ground as a location had led to this result. Magistrates knew about this advantage as well, but they still chose this ce to maintain the formality of an execution.
They were paying a steep price for it though.
[Did you enjoy beheading me?!]
[O, Magistrate! Raise your head once more! Why does that staff remain silent!]
[Kekeke! Idiot! Youre impressively good at taking hits!]
Tyren, who was hunched over, remained utterly still. The giant mana that was tearing through the sky had now be eerily calm.
Tyrens magical armor had already begun to distort. Scratches and scorch marks were spreading from all directions on armor that everyone thought was imprable.
Then, Tyren, coiled up like a hedgehog, slightly lifted his head.
Although countless spells obstructed my vision, by a twist of fate or mere coincidence, our eyes met.
I reached out my hand.
Come.
Boom!
The heavy footsteps, seemingly of a giant, pounded against the ground as he advanced. From that point, a torrential gust of mana began to clear a path.
The concentrated mana expanded violently, forming a transparent tunnel, and carving out a singr passage.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dering the moment of reckoning, Tyren straightened his back and began to advance.
[Stop him! Stop that bastard!]
[Where do you think youre going!]
[Tyren! Look into my eyes!]
Countless evil spirits began to rush towards Tyren once more.
The tunnel of focused mana had undoubtedly yed a significant role for Tyren. Had he stayed put, he might have been buried and perished right there and then.
It had at least allowed him to escape the encirclement.
But it couldnt offer more than that.
The tunnel created by the torrent of mana began to crumble under the heavy onught.
Just a few steps and once again, he was subjected to a bombardment of magic spells.
Ugh, weak!
Even as he shouldered it all on his broad back, Tyren did not falter.
His sturdy legs showed no signs of stopping despite their trembling.
You think this is enough to stop the execution!
Boom!
With each step, the ground beneath him caved in. The mana was so potent it pushed away the iing spells.
It was no longer mere mana.
It was something else, intermingled with determination and belief.
A transcendent will, something youd only see in the departed, was fiercely present in Tyrens eyes.
So this was it! The weight of death Ive been carrying!
Boom!
Lodging the staff in the ground, Tyren pulled himself, advancing forward.
Is this all! The culmination of my deeds, the countless lives Ive taken to protect the kingdom!
The magical armor that had been shielding him was already tattered, failing to perform its role.
The edge of his cloak was fraying, and the shoulder armor was crackedthe broken pieces falling to the ground.
If its really the weight of my KarmaIts light!
He didnt even have the energy to wipe the blood streaming from his forehead. His vision was tinged with red, making it hard to see clearly ahead.
Infinitely! Its infinitely light!
The steps of the Magistrate were consistently moving forward.
His heavy, conviction-filled steps never hesitated as they approached me.
To protect the kingdom called Griffin. To uphold the justice he believed in.
Tyren Ol Velocus was a man who embodied righteousness to the point of being rigid.
Ive borne the grudges of a hundred, and saved a thousand souls! Deads! How dare you obstruct my path!
[Where do you think youre going?!]
[I will kill you! I will stop you!]
[Your debts have not yet been cleared!]
The mana of the resentful spirits wasnt infinite.
As their firepower gradually weakened, the spirits stopped pouring out crude spells and began to cling directly to Tyren.
They grabbed at his feet, hung onto his shoulders, wrapped their hands around his waist, and strangled his neck.
It was as if countless evil spirits were trying to drag him to hell, and Tyren was resisting their pull.
As the Chief magistrate, he had executed many.
There were those who may have been wronged, and those who rightly deserved death.
Not only were there criminals who had vited the kingdomsws, but there were also generals from rival nations, and chieftains of immigrant tribes who had lost in war.
Undoubtedly, each had their own story.
But my intent wasnt to alleviate the resentment of these spirits.
I was simply unleashing all of my prowess as a necromancer to defeat this man named Tyren.
Remarkable.
Thus, I couldnt help but genuinely admire.
The sight of him bearing the hatred of countless deceased souls to protect the Griffin Kingdom...
It reminded me of the legendary titan, As, who held up the sky in myths.
Boom.
Finally.
His steps had reached his destination.
Standing before me, his appearance was utterly wretched.
His armor and staff were shattered, and the mana hed focused on for defense waspletely drained.
Sweat and blood stained him, and ragged would be an understatement for his scorched body.
For the... kingdom.
His trembling hand lifts, and his hefty fist gently touches my chest.
Struggling, he rasps out a few words with a voice as if choked by dust.
Execution... must be...
My clothes were stained, soaked with his blood.
Thud.
And that was it.
In the end, once
Just once, after touching me, he falls to his knees, head bowed low.
A faint breath was the only indication that he still lived.
But his limp body signaled he had passed out.
An eerie silence enveloped the surroundings.
Magistrates who had been observing the execution rushed forward.
Their faces were filled with awe and respect, and some were even shedding tears.
Seeing their leader, who hadnt retreated an inch even when facing the formidable dark wizard dubbed the evil of the kingdom, their emotions seemed overwhelmingly stirred.
Swish.
As one person saluted Tyren,
Swish, swish, swish.
Others followed suit, directing their salutes toward him as well, filled with reverence.
Even in dire circumstances, his unwavering adherence to his own beliefs and justice was undoubtedly noble and worthy of praise.
Thus, I too ced my hand on my chest and bowed.
I respect Your steel conviction.
<strong>--- End of The Chapter ---</strong>
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