Chapter 192: Stay Away From Me, All of You. (3)


    The surroundings fell into a heavy silence.


    Ghiin had just killed the five strongest knights in the area with only a few moves.


    No one had imagined the battle would end so quickly despite the five-against-one odds.


    Count Cabaldi’s soldiers, their faces pale, began retreating step by step.


    Even calling him a monster felt inadequate.


    Who in the world was this person, and how could someone of such skill invade this ce?


    After dealing with Cabaldi’s knights, Ghiin wordlessly waved his hand forward.


    It was a gesture that seemed to say even speaking to them was a waste of time.


    Immediately, one of the Fenris knights shouted loudly.


    “Alright, let’s sweep the rest of them away!”


    In stark contrast to their enemies, the Fenris knights wore expressions full of confidence and pride.


    The moment Ghiin’s hand dropped, they released their mana andunched another attack.


    “Hahaha! As expected of our lord!”


    “It’s amazing every time I see it!”


    “The best! The best! I’ll try to keep up!”


    Bolstered by Ghiin’s exploits, the Fenris knights tore through the battlefield like fish in water, their morale soaring to new heights.


    Cabaldi’s soldiers tried to hold out somehow, but it was futile. The defensive line, despite being reinforced with theirrgest deployment of forces, was crumbling with ease.


    Jaimon, who had been observing the situation, closed his eyes.


    “It’s over.”


    From the beginning, this was an enemy he could not hope to handle.


    Even though it was a surprise attack, it had only been a few minutes since the battle began, yet they were already suffering near-total annihtion.


    With his limited ability, all he had managed to do was endure long enough to swing his sword a few times.


    Even he didn’t realize how remarkable that feat was.


    The only thing that worked in their favor was that the Fenris forces had no archers, meaning those outside the castle walls were momentarily safe from attack. This allowed them to buy a little more time.


    But even that wasing to an end. Infantry weren’t idle for long.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    As the castle walls werepletely overtaken, the Fenris forces began pounding their war drums, signaling the movement of infantry on both nks.


    It seemed they had even prepareddders in advance.


    Soon, the soldiers outside the castle would begin climbing the walls. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the gates were breached.


    At that moment, a thunderous cheer echoed in the distance.


    “Waaaahhhh!”


    Realizing the meaning of the distant roar, Jaimon’s eyes flew open.


    It was reinforcements. Their allies wereing. For the sound to be this loud, it was a signal to hold out just a little longer.


    “If we can hold out, we can push them back.”


    It would take time for the Fenris forces to climb the walls. If their allies arrived before they could fully breach the defenses, there was a chance to drive them back systematically.


    To prevent that, the castle gate had to be defended at all costs.


    If the gate was opened and the massive enemy forces outside flooded in all at once, even the reinforcements would be unable to avoid annihtion.


    ‘If only we can hold out just a little longer… just a bit more.’


    As Jaimon agonized over the situation, a sudden idea shed through his mind.


    The urgency of the moment had made him overlook the mechanism on the gate until now.


    “The gate! Destroy all the cranks for the portcullis! Make it impossible for the enemy to open the gate easily!”


    The gates of Cabaldi Castle were exceptionally thick. To counter battering rams, the portcullis inside was also built with incredible thickness.


    As one of the finest iron-mining regions in the north, the castle had spared no expense in using steel.


    To lift the heavy portcullis, four cranks had to be operated simultaneously.


    If the cranks were destroyed, the gate couldn’t be opened through ordinary means. Even those inside would need to break through the mechanism to open it.


    Repairing the damageter would require significant resources, but it was far better than allowing the castle to be overrun.


    Crash!


    The knight stationed near the gate,manding their forces, acted without hesitation upon hearing Jaimon’s order. He smashed all the cranks controlling the portcullis.


    It was his final act.


    Crunch!


    “Tch.”


    Ghiin clicked his tongue, having just missed stopping the knight by a hair’s breadth.


    His body was drenched in the blood of his enemies, staining him a deep crimson.


    “The enemymander’s pretty sharp. So, there’s someone here capable of thinking on their feet, huh?”


    Though he had briefly shed with a few knights, the engagements hadsted only moments, as he overwhelmed his opponents with extraordinary speed.


    Yet the enemymander had managed, in that brief window, to reduce the forces on the wall and devise a strategy to dy them at the gate.


    Typically, those on the receiving end of such a surprise attack would either scatter in confusion or retreat. Though an enemy, themander’s quick judgment and decisiveness were worthy of respect.


    “Breaking through this will take time.”


    The castle gate’s design made it far from easy to breach.


    Even if Cabaldi’s reinforcements arrived and the gate was eventually forced open, the Fenris forces would have to push in waves.


    In that case, they wouldn’t be able to fully leverage the advantage of theirrger numbers.


    Ghiin scanned the surroundings.


    The ambush had been a resounding sess. Their side had suffered no casualties, while the enemy was nearly annihted.


    The decision to deploy a small elite force had resulted in a momentary destructive power that was second to none.


    “Hmm, is this as far as it goes?”


    But sustainability was now the issue.


    In the short time since the battle began, the knights had expended nearly all their mana.


    Their exhaustion was evident, as the light enveloping their des was growing faint.


    If they pushed themselves any further in this state, they’d inevitably copse, coughing up blood.


    Fighting against the approaching enemies in their current state was impossible.


    Ghiin turned his gaze back toward the castle walls.


    Although their forces were climbing up diligently, Cabaldi’s main force would arrive before they could all get over the walls.


    ‘Too slow. Still not good enough.’


    It couldn’t be helped. The troops had been hastily assembled from various ces, so theycked proper training.


    Of course, even if they reinforced their numbers through the walls, they wouldn’t lose the fight. However, doing so would inevitablye with casualties.


    From Ghiin’s perspective, where conserving his forces was a priority, that was far from an ideal oue.


    The best course of action was to open the castle gate quickly, form their ranks, and overwhelm the enemy with superior force.


    “Ha, it’s tiring, but there’s no other choice.”


    Ghiin let out a small chuckle.


    Even without opening the gate, victory was already within reach.


    Even if Cabaldi’s main force arrived, they wouldn’t be able to defeat the Fenris forces. However, there was no reason to ept unnecessary losses when he had a method to preserve his allies.


    Though it was unfortunate for the enemymander, this situation was already one Ghiin had anticipated.


    Perhaps there was a more refined and efficient way, but as far as he was concerned, this was the best approach for now.


    “Stay away from me, all of you.”


    Ghiin waved the knights around him back and extended his sword forward.


    * * *


    Jaimon, nervously watching the castle gate, let out a shout of triumph when the Fenris forces stopped their movements.


    “We did it! We did it! At this rate, we can hold out until reinforcements arrive!”


    The reinforcements were moving faster than Jaimon had expected. As expected, Cabaldi’s soldiers had earned their reputation as a strong northern force.


    “Opening the gate won’t be easy.”


    Even if the enemy could all use mana, breaking through that thick portcullis and castle gate would take hundreds, if not thousands, of weapon strikes.


    That would buy them enough time for reinforcements to arrive.


    Of course, even with the gate blocked, they would have to engage in chaotic skirmishes with the enemies climbing over the walls again, and given the disparity in strength, victory couldn’t be guaranteed.


    ‘The odds of defeat are probably higher.’


    But if the chance of victory could be increased, even slightly, then choosing that path was the right thing to do.


    And that was where his role ended.


    “I guess I’m going to die soon.”


    Jaimon muttered to himself with a self-deprecating smile.


    The opportunity to escape was long gone. The Fenris forces were already climbing over both sides of the walls, and the soldiers defending them had been annihted.


    Even his personal guards had gone down to defend the gate, leaving Jaimon entirely alone.


    If he had intended to flee, he should have done so at the very start of the battle.


    But had he done that, his forces might have been annihted even faster, and the gate destroyed.


    “This was the best I could do.”


    As amander, he had done everything within his power. It was simply that the enemy was far stronger than he could have ever anticipated.


    He had to find satisfaction in at least slowing them down, even briefly.


    Jaimon let out a deep sigh, drew his sword, and turned to face what awaited him.


    “Is it my turn now?”


    In front of him stood an assassin, her face hidden behind a ck mask, her body cloaked in a robe.


    In a resigned tone, Jaimon asked, “May I know your name?”


    “……”


    “I’d like to at least know who killed me.”


    “Belinda.”


    “It’s an honor to be in by someone of your skill.”


    After a brief hesitation, Belinda spoke.


    “You appear to be themander here. How about surrendering and cooperating? You seempetent enough, so maybe we’ll spare your life. Thanks to you, we’re running a bit behind schedule.”


    “That won’t happen.”


    “If not, you’ll die here and now.”


    “How can one be called a knight if they fear death? My only regret is that I cannot serve my lord any further.”


    With an expression devoid of hesitation, Jaimon raised his sword.


    Srrkk.


    Belinda made no further reply as she vanished into the shadows.


    She had offered him a chance, thinking he might be useful in stabilizing the castle after its capture. But since he refused, that was the end of it.


    Once Belinda made a decision, she never wasted energy on regret.


    sh!


    With a single gesture, blood gushed from Jaimon’s arm.


    ng! ng! ng!


    A relentless flurry of attacks followed, forcing Jaimon to stagger backward repeatedly.


    As a knight of the realm and the Master of Arms, Jaimon was skilled. But he was no match for Belinda, who had grown even more formidable than before.


    ng!


    Jaimon barely managed to parry one of Belinda’s daggers when—


    Fwoosh.


    Her robe fluttered, and from within, several more daggers shot out.


    Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!


    “Ugh!”


    And with that, the fight was over.


    Jaimon, pierced by the daggers, fell to his knees, blood pouring from his wounds.


    His vision flickered as he blinked several times. In a fading voice, he muttered his final words.


    “Because of Baron Fenris… the north will fall into chaos…”


    And with that, Jaimon breathed hisst.


    * * *


    In the modern era, the term “Master” was more of a title than a designation of skill.


    This was because there were no clear standards to define the mastery of a field.


    As such, even among those referred to as Masters, there were differences in skill.


    The title was more a matter of recognition by the people, based on an individual’s aplishments, fame, and demonstrated abilities. People simply acknowledged them as deserving of the name.


    There was once a clear standard for mastering the pinnacle of swordsmanship.


    Now, however, few people even knew of it.


    Wooong.


    Ghiin infused mana into his sword.


    As more mana gathered, the de began to tremble, taking on a faint crimson glow.


    This was the so-called “Mana de,” considered the hallmark of true knights.


    Wooong!


    But Ghiin didn’t stop there. He poured even more of his mana into the sword.


    The de’s trembling intensified, and its glow became increasingly radiant.


    The knights watching nearby gazed in awe, their eyes reflecting their amazement.


    The light emanating from the sword grew so bright that it began spreading outward, illuminating the surroundings.


    Wooong!


    The light, which had spread outward, suddenly shrank back, bing even more intense than before.


    Thepressed mana, unable to withstand the overwhelming force, threatened to burst out in every direction.


    But Ghiin focused his mind, pulling it back andpressing it once again.


    Mana’s endlesslypressed power.


    By now, the crimson glow emanating from his de was no ordinary light.


    It was so bright, like the zing sun, that the onlookers squinted their eyes and instinctively stepped back.


    Even so, Ghiin continued to repeat the process without pause. His expression was as cold and unmoving as a marble statue.


    This wasn’t a technique that could be executed by recklessly channeling vast amounts of mana.


    It required control over one’s power, an understanding of its principles, and a fierce, unyielding determination to manifest one’s realization into the world.


    All of these elements needed to align perfectly.


    Wooong! Wooong!


    And Ghiin had mastered them all.


    The only thing hecked was sufficient mana.


    Even so, for this brief moment, he could wield the technique—thanks to the Blood Python’s venom, which had drastically amplified his mana capacity, and the rigorous training that had strengthened his body to endure the strain.


    Thepressed mana, after being condensed to its limit, began to change form.


    Fwaaaash!


    The light took on a new shape. It was no longer just a faint glow clinging to the sword’s edge.


    The knights who witnessed it let out startled cries.


    “Wh-what is that?!”


    “M-mana… how can it stretch out so far…?”


    “The light… it looks like it’s burning!”


    The light, which had previously flickered like smoke, now extended far beyond the sword’s length, stretching straight ahead.


    It shone brighter and hotter than the sun, evoking awe and reverence in all who beheld it. It was an energy so overwhelming that none dared imagine touching it.


    This was a de capable of cutting through anything.


    A refinement of mana that surpassed its limits—the ultimate expression of power.


    A technique that trapped the principles of the world within one’s will and redefined them anew.


    A de of light. The Aura de.


    Throughout the ages, its name had varied, but the most renowned term came from the ancient empire, which called it by this name.


    In the ancient empire, only those who could wield the Aura de were acknowledged as true masters.


    “Phew…”


    Ghiin gripped the sword imbued with aura with both hands and slowly pulled it back.


    Each movement of the de released tiny, brilliant particles of light, scattering like a trail of stars.


    The sight was so mesmerizing that everyone present stood transfixed, their gazes fixed solely on Ghiin.


    Leaving the spellbound crowd behind, Ghiin took a deep breath, then swung his sword swiftly toward the tightly sealed castle gate.


    Fwaaaaash!


    A blinding light instantly enveloped everyone’s vision.


    And as the light faded—


    Boom!


    The castle gate, now cleaved in two, began to copse with a resounding crash.