526
Thud!
There was a dull noise as Kevin's body slammed into the ground. After falling, he died after a few convulsions.
The final order to receive the emperor's edict became Kevin's last words.
The warlord of the vanguard, who came to attack the Sword emperor castle, met his death with a single sword.
The emperor's vanguard soldiers couldn't take their eyes off Kevin's corpse for a while. It was hard to accept his death even after seeing it with their own eyes.
It wasn't because there were many people who usually respected Kevin, or because he had a deep friendship.
More than 90% of the vanguard soldiers did not understand why Kevin died.
'What just happened?'
'Did the warlord really die? Seriously...?'
At the moment when the rank-file knights had doubts, two beams of light flashed again on the walls of the sword emperor castle.
The second sword shot spread wider than the first, slashing both wings of the red dragon and leaving a glowing trail in the sky.
[Roar-!]
Eventually, even the red dragon lost its wings and fell to the ground, and all the vanguard soldiers realized that it was Dante's sword technique that killed Kevin.
"Did the dragon not heed my words? I told you not to dare look down at the sword emperor castle."
He seemed to be speaking in a low voice, but the voice filled with energy spread throughout the plain.
Now those who dared to look down upon the Sword Emperor Castle were all gone. Instead, Dante looked down on all of the vanguard soldiers from the top of the castle walls.
It was only then that the vanguard soldiers could feel that the place they came to attack was the sword emperor castle.
At that terrifying awareness, the rank-file knights froze for a moment. Some primal fear, derived from the name 'Hairan,' was piercing their minds.
"From that wall... he shot the sword? With this speed and power?"
Scott Harlow, the commander of the Central Knights, spoke, and other key knights shook their heads as if shocked.
"It's no joke, he is the successor to the Sword Emperor."
"Dante Hairan. I always remember him as dignified and gentle, but seeing him like this, he's truly a formidable beast….."
Not only the rank-file knights, but also the commanders felt a chill run down their spines.
Dante had become one of the most famous figures in the Empire, skipping generations and becoming the young patriarch of Hairan.
From the moment he became young patriarch, various rumors followed Dante. Such as his small physique, weak stamina, and handsome face, which did not look like a naturally boneless man, made people doubt Dante.
Moreover, Dante did not frequently participate in the Empire's martial arts competitions. Even those were mostly private contests, so few people knew Dante's true skills.
But those who had seen Dante's sword, witnessed his growth, unanimously gathered and said:
The next World's First Sword has already been decided.
In the midst of the cold silence, only the screams of the fallen red dragon filled the plain.
Mages hurriedly casted healing magic and tried to attach its wings, but it was not enough.
"I am Dante Hilan, the young patriarch of Hairan and acting lord of Sword emperor Castle. Explain why the Imperial Army has come to seek the Sword Emperor Castle."
Scott Harlow stepped forward.
"Scott Harlow of the Central Knights! Sir Dante, don't do this. You are going down an irreversible path. His Majesty has ordered the war to stop as soon as Hairan returns the White Stone!"
"There is no such stone, Sir Scott Harlow. Even if there were, the emperor can not treat Hairan like this."
"Sir Dante! You still have a chance. As a martial artist who has always admired Hairan, I hope that the Sword Emperor castle will return to the arms of the people and His Majesty!"
"Chance? Do you not know that the emperor is blinded by power and intends to break the pillar of the empire? If that's really the case, I will give you one last chance. Drop your swords immediately and surrender. I will spare everyone. But if you choose to join the emperor knowing his intentions...."
Dante raised his aura and continued his words.
"Not a single one of those who put their swords on Hairan will survive. The fact that you are merely compelled to obey orders cannot be considered as any excuse. All of you...… are knights."
Even if they were just ordinary people, there was no room for leisure against more than a thousand knights.
Rather, they needed to be eliminated as quickly as possible before the main force arrived to make the next battle less burdensome.
From the moment the emperor's purge began, Dante was determined to kill and die. Even if he had to kill a thousand, ten thousand, or more people, Dante had no intention of stopping before the emperor.
'Damn it, I don't know about Sir Ron, but I thought Dante Hiran would give me a little room for conversation. There will be no answer to this. In the end, does he choose to perish...…'
It was then.
One of the rank-file knights standing in the formation dropped his sword on the floor.
Clatter!-!
In an instant, everyone turned their heads toward it.
"I... I can't fight Hairan. If Hairan hadn't stepped up in the Shuka battle, our entire clan would have been annihilated."
"What is this...!"
Clatter, clang!
Starting with him, the rank-file knights dropped their swords to the ground like paper soaked in oil catching fire.
"I can't fight Hairan either. The reason I was able to become a knight as an orphan was because of Hairan's knight scholarship support."
"I was also supported by Hairan's scholarship…."
"I'm also indebted to Hairan…."
More than half of the rank-file knights dropped their swords like that. It happened in less than a minute.
"Pick up your swords immediately!"
"You madmen! Do you all think you can defy the emperor's orders and still survive?"
The commanders of the vanguard were at a loss for words in the face of this sudden turn of events. The rank-file knights who had discarded their swords even went so far as to kneel.
Dante killed the warlord of the vanguard with a single sword, and with just a few words, the vanguard's morale was completely demoralized.
Commanders such as Scott, Marvin, Gloria, and Roya had never imagined a case like this.
They didn't know what to do, and just looked at the knights who threw away their swords and the Sword emperor castle alternatively.
'This is insane!'
Scott gritted it.
It was because he knew better than anyone that if they showed this kind of appearance when the main force arrived, the commanders as well as the rank-file knights would not end up with simple punishment.
Squeak-!
Scott swung his sword and struck the neck of a knight who had dropped his sword. The decision had been made.
"What kind of insolence is this in front of the traitors? All those who have abandoned their swords will be promptly executed!"
The knights of the sword emperor castle hadn't even drawn their swords yet, but blood fountains were spreading throughout the camp of the emperor's vanguard.
The knights who abandoned their swords did not resist. Therefore, the vanguard knights found it difficult to suppress the uneasy feeling in their hearts as they wielded their swords to kill their fellow knights.
"You fools! Do you think anything will change by doing this? When the main force arrives, Sword Emperor Castle is doomed anyway!"
In fact, the commanders of the vanguard army had been uneasy from the moment they set foot in this place.
Kevin Perral of the Dragon King Knights lacked the skills and virtue to assume the role of warlord, and most of the 1,000 rank-file knights were composed of those who received the grace of Hairan.
The results were evident: Kevin Perral rushed forward like a lightning bolt and met his death, and the knights, refusing to fight, were now offering their necks.
When the situation reached this point, the commanders couldn't shake off the feeling that the emperor's intentions were hidden in the composition of the forces and the selection of the warlord from the beginning.
"Damn it, pick up the sword...!"
Already, the necks of more than fifty knights had been severed.
The commanders of the vanguard army and the squad leaders who did not throw away their swords seemed like they were about to lose their minds.
The words "irreversible" seemed more fitting to them than to Sword Emperor Castle.
"Sword emperor castle!"
When Dante shouted, the knights waiting in the castle climbed up the walls all at once.
"Rescue those who have not forgotten the grace of Hairan. And cut down those who stand in the way."
As soon as the order was given, the knights on the wall threw themselves into the plain.
At the same time, the castle gates opened and knights poured out from there. Those who came out of the gate were in charge of breaking through, and those who jumped out were in charge of the siege, and a formation was established in an instant.
Just as Dante was about to step forward, Shuras Helter grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Young patriarch, don't step out. The main force will arrive soon, so you should save your stamina until then. Excluding the five sword saints, the only one who can handle the top knights of the main army is you, young patriarch."
Both body and mind.
Dante was barely keeping his cool. He tried to run right away to save the people who remembered the grace of Hairan died in front of him, but he, who was weak by nature, was already exhausted from the meeting.
And Dante is the strongest knight and the acting lord of the Sword Emperor castle along with the five sword saints of Hairan, who are currently Ron's henchmen.
"... I see."
The Five Sword Saints of Hairan were not currently in the sword emperor castle.
There is hope as long as they all return safely and Dante can fight at his best. All the knights of the sword emperor castle thought so.
In Dante's place, half of the patriarch of the thirty clans threw themselves to the ground.
The battle with the vanguard army was flowing into a one-sided victory for Hairan. Although there are dragons, mages, and war equipment, there is too much difference in the number of knights.
However, the goal of Hairan's knights was not to annihilate but to rescue the knights who had abandoned their swords, making the suppression less quick.
Hairan currently lacked an outstanding knight capable of overwhelming the battlefield. If Dante played that role it would be an instant, but considering the main unit Shuras' judgment was 100% correct.
"For the glory of Hairan!"
"Those Imperial dogs dare not speak of honor!"
By the time the evening battle was over, the suppression was coming to an end.
All that was left was a few key knights, one dragon, and about ten mages including Roya.
On the other hand, there were only a handful of casualties among Hairan's knights. Over a hundred rank-file knights who abandoned their swords were rescued, and the battle with the vanguard is a complete victory.
However, around that time, the knights who were guarding the side and read gates of the sword emperor castle were checking the main force of the Imperial army that had begun to appear in the distance.
"The main force of the Imperial Army is approaching!"
"About 20 Golden Dragon-class artillery pieces have been confirmed! We will activate the defense equipment!"
Not only at the side and rear gates but also beyond the main gate, the support of the main force of the Imperial army was approaching.
The earlier report of at least ten times the size of the vanguard seemed to be true.
At first glance, the number of knights narrowing the siege of sword emperor castle is well over 10,000.
"... The rescue operation is over. From now on, we will begin the annihilation operation."
Dante said as he looked at the newly appeared enemies.
527
Enemies were taking positions everywhere. Knights on guard continuously reported the scale and dynamics of the enemy, communicating swiftly.
"Activate the defense equipment!"
"Helter clan, draw out your sword!"
"Lofermos supports the rear. Assemble!"
Whoa-!
The defense artifacts installed in the sword emperor castle activated, causing vibrations and resonant sounds. The blue shield of the artifacts and the white sword shield casted by the knights quickly enveloped the entire Sword Emperor Castle.
Dante was watching the reinforcements that appeared at the main gate.
More than 5,000 knights and mages, and about 20 dragons. And more than four fifty cannon of the Golden Dragon-class or higher.
Even though it calls itself an 'Empire', it was pushed back by Runcandel and Zipfel, and now it fall behind even Kinzelo.
Still no one denies that Vermont was one of the four major factions. Regardless of the quality of troops, the Empire was the only force that could mobilize so many people in a short period of time.
Dante's eyes looking at the emperor were filled with bloodlust.
Even though the Imperial Army was surrounding the Sword Emperor Castle with well over a unit of ten thousand soldiers, Dante and the Hairan's knights were not at all intimidated.
Since the appearance of knights and mages in the world, there has never been a war where the number of heads was the most important factor.
In front of a superhuman, even thousands of rank-file knights below the 5-star were no different from fallen leaves and bugs.
Although Dante is not yet a superhuman, he possesses a sword comparable to that. With the five sword saints, including Dante, and other Hairan knights, suppressing those numerous rank-file knights was not a difficult task.
The crucial factor was the enemy commanders. If all the knights and mages who could shake the battlefield alone were eliminated, they could win even if the numbers were overwhelming.
And Dante estimated that there would be around a hundred such individuals.
The main force of the Imperial Army entered the plain in front of the main gate.
And among them, there was a huge cannon led by five dragons and a hundred knights.
"Young patriarch, that's...…!"
The main cannon of the Imperial Guard.
It was the 'Dragonlance', a war equipment exclusively for the emperor, which only existed in the empire. Originally installed at the center of the Imperial Palace, the cannon had firepower comparable to Zipfel's battleship Kozec.
Since it has been removed from the imperial palace, the dragonlance cannot exert its full power.
However, the appearance of the dragonlance meant that the emperor himself had stepped forward.
"Confirm the loading of Dragon Lance!"
The voices of the knights watching the dragon lance were trembling. It was only a matter of time before it could break through the current defense artifacts of the sword emperor castle, which were still not fully restored even though they can't face the Golden Dragon-class cannons properly, but the dragon lance was on a completely different level.
Dante silently gazed at the rear of the dragon lance.
Somewhere across the plain, it seemed as if he could see the Emperor, with a face soaked in greed and arrogance, waiting for the victory report while sitting on a high platform.
"Young patriarch! Dragon lance soon...…! Avoid it!"
"To them."
Dante slowly drew his sword.
Ching...…!
The moment Dante's sword was wrapped in brilliance, the ominous noise of the dragon lance covered the battlefield. A slight earthquake occurred across the area, and those who were fighting turned their gaze towards Dragon Lance.
"I will show you the dignity of Hairan."
Kwaaaa-!
The dragon lance spewed out a huge mana projectile. The place where the projectile landed was exactly on the top of the castle wall where Dante was standing.
The layered shields of the artifact shattered like glass.
It was so fast that those who did not reach the level did not follow it with their eyes, and the cannonball of the dragon lance seemed to destroy the sword emperor castle in one blow.
Dante did not dodge.
The moment the projectile from the Dragon Lance approached dangerously close, he swung his sword.
Sword emperor Secret Technique
Heavenly flash - Dante Hairan
The cannonball of the dragon lance split in half.
Even the knights standing right next to him couldn't perceive the moment Dante swung his sword.
All they could do was watch the cannonball split in half follow the trajectory of Dante's sword that soar into the sky and disappeared.
And, true to the name of the secret technique, a long and radiant streak remained in the darkening sky.
Everyone on the battlefield looked up at the light for a moment.
The sword of Hairan, which everyone in the empire looked up to, was right there.
For a few seconds, time seemed to stand still, and those on the battlefield felt only the beating of their own hearts.
Awe.
Recalling the word that Hairan symbolizes in the Empire.
Wow-!
The knights gathered under the flag of Hairan shouted in unison. Then, as Dante jumped off the wall and stepped out onto the plain, the approaching enemies hesitated and stopped moving.
"I have no intention of showing mercy to those who have forgotten their honor. So if you're afraid, run away. Hairan will not pursue those who back down."
The knights gathered behind Dante.
"Young Patriarch... Are you okay?"
The assault squad leader said as he looked at Dante's face. Blood dripped from his blue lips. However, Dante nodded his head rather lightly.
'Even with the technique my grandfather tailored for me, to think that it would come to this after using it only once.'
While everyone around him was in awe, Dante knew better than anyone that the true power of the Heavenly Flash was not something he had fully displayed.
It was regrettable.
It wasn't the regret of not being able to execute a better sword, but the sudden realization that he could no longer devote himself to this land, to his grandfather, to the knights and retainers.
'For some reason, my body feels lighter….'
Perhaps it was because he carried everything that his ancestors and grandfather had built and protected, accepting the prospect of death, that Dante entered a kind of awakened state.
Until the war was over, he felt confident that he could maintain the best sword he could execute, even at the cost of his life.
"First, I will destroy the dragon lance. I will break through to the front, so the assault squad follows me."
As the knights of Hairan began their charge, the Emperor monitored the battlefield in real-time from the rear.
"Oh, oh oh…! Indeed, Sir Ron's successor is truly remarkable!"
Standing next to the Emperor was Jonsina Perral, the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Army and the leader of the Dragon King Knights of the Imperial Army. Unlike the emperor who was very excited, he had a dark face.
Jonsina Perral was the reason the Emperor appointed Kevin Perral as the warlord of the Vanguard Army.
He believed that the death of his kin was necessary to alleviate the guilt of the Imperial Sword of Justice.
"You must have just heard the report, Sir Jonsina Perral. Dante Hairan killed your younger brother, and killed even the rank-file knights who tried to keep his faith in Hairan...."
Jonsina nodded heavily.
He was not a fool.
The reason why the emperor put his younger brother in the vanguard, the fact that Dante couldn't have killed the rank-file knights, and how unreasonable this purge was. Jonsina Perral never knew.
"I definitely gave Hairan a chance. However, what returned was the neck of your younger brother and the betrayal of the faith. If we don't finish this today, that venomous, arrogant wolf will plunge the entire empire into death and terror."
Yes, Jonsina followed the Emperor not for personal reasons. He followed because it was a path for the Empire, or more precisely, for the people of the Empire.
"Your majesty."
"Tell me, Sir Jonsina."
"Please keep your promise. Also, ensure that they keep theirs…..."
In response to those words, the Emperor smiled slyly.
"Certainly!"
As Jonsina stood up and headed towards the battlefield, the Emperor waved his hand in farewell. And as soon as Jonsina disappeared, he erased his expression.
Dante and the knights of Hairan were already moving toward the dragon lance with blood all over their bodies. All of that blood belonged to the rank-file knights who threw themselves in their way.
Except for the vanguard, all the knights of the main force believed that Dante had killed the knights who were trying to keep the faith with Hairan.
There was no time to correct misunderstandings and reveal the truth in the midst of brutal and ruthless battle.
The rescued hundred or so knights ultimately couldn't survive the onslaught of sword strikes and magic. In the new battle that started as soon as the main force arrived, the knights of Hairan couldn't afford to carry them all. It was because the main force arrived earlier than expected.
In the eyes of the Imperial army's main force, it seemed as if Hairan had indiscriminately massacred the vanguard.
If disobeying the emperor's order was death, and fighting against Hairan was death, then the latter was better. In order to avoid a future in which all of their relatives and kins were executed as traitors later.
Blood and war create madness. The knights who blocked Dante's path, even while facing imminent death, had chosen madness over fear.
So did Dante, who was cutting them.
The path of righteousness.
The words that summarized the humanity of the character Dante were dyed red and dark.
'How many have I cut down already?'
Even at the moment of sudden doubt, Dante's sword dropped the necks of those who rushed. The burden of guilt, heavier than blood, pressed on his back, yet he couldn't bring himself to acknowledge it.
Like many others swept up in the war.
Dante was naturally replacing that huge guilt with hatred.
'I can't turn back now. Me and my clan and grandfather never betrayed the Empire. Why do you try to stab us with your swords...!'
Swish-!
Dante paused for a moment, taking a breath, when there were about five hundred paces left between him and the Dragon Lance. Until then, the assault squad following Dante was unharmed.
However, as he attempted to move forward again, someone infiltrated their flank.
"Argh!"
"Stop them!"
Golden-armored, they were members of the Imperial Guard. As soon as they appeared, they swiftly cut down the two Hairan knights who were at the rear.
Dante stared blankly at the dead knights of Hairan for a while.
"There's no devil like you, Dante Hairan. Was everything you've shown so far fake? I never knew you'd be so familiar with killing innocent people... Huuk!"
Dante rushed at him like a shot and thrust out his sword. The opponent showed no sign of panic, but as Dante increased his speed, his arm was soon severed.
The Imperial Guard knights, who had appeared confidently, could not help but flinch at that moment.
The knight that Dante crippled in just a few seconds was 3rd division leader.
"Shut up. I have nothing to say to trash like you."
Dante said in a cold voice as he beheaded him.
"You bastard!"
"Young patriarch, we will take care of this place. Go to Dragon lance!"
Without hesitation, Dante stepped forward, leaving the knights of Hairan behind.
He realized that if he hesitated even a bit, the Hairan knights would die faster.
He also seemed to be able to hold on to the spirit that was on the verge of going insane if he continued to cut through those who got in his way.
528
The swords of the Imperial Guard rushed to Dante, who was left alone.
The knights of the Hairan assault squad were blocking them, but the sheer numbers of the Imperial Guard were overwhelming.
In addition, the rank-file knights continued to attack Dante.
Every time Dante moved, sharp flashes of light accompanied his actions.
Each time more than one knight died.
Even though they knew they were no match for him, Dante couldn't fathom the relentless charge of the rank-file soldiers, akin to moths to a flame.
'I can't afford to go easy on them...!'
The sword of the Imperial Guard was visible between the bodies of the rank-file soldiers who had just been cut down.
Dante reflexively turned his head to avoid it, but the blade grazed his forehead, leaving a trail of blood running into his eyes.
An opening was created when Dante took a moment to wipe away the blood, and the Imperial Guard seized the opportunity.
Even Dante would not have been able to avoid a fatal wound if it hadn't been for the dragon sword armor, another secret technique of the sword emperor.
The blue band of aura that wrapped around Dante's body blocked the blade of the Imperial Guard.
The band of aura didn't stop there, but instead pierced the chest of the imperial guard like a thorn.
The golden armor was mercilessly pierced and blood poured out.
Three other Imperial Guard knights who had pushed their swords together with him also suffered fatal injuries or were forced to retreat.
Of course, the Imperial Guard was made up of talented people who are incomparable to rank-file soldiers.
Some had passed the Runcandel's cadet exam in their youth, and they were often evaluated as geniuses or prodigies.
However, standing next to Dante, they seemed like rank-file soldiers.
Talent, effort, the will to overcome one's natural limitations, the determination to stand on the battlefield until now – Dante surpassed the Imperial Guard knights in every aspect.
"Do you really think you can kill me? Is that why you're throwing yourselves at me? You're nowhere near capable. At the very least, you should be at the level of the Imperial Guard Captain...!"
Dante stopped talking and looked at a man standing in front of a dragon lance.
The Imperial Guard Captain, Alton Hairan. He was Dante's uncle and had been flagbearer of Hairan before joining the Imperial Guard.
"Stop, Dante."
Dante let out a mocking laugh.
"Alton Hairan, my uncle. Grandfather always found you pitiful, but I tried to understand and respect you. The reason you became a member of the Imperial Guard wasn't because you didn't have the qualifications and potential to become the patriarch of Hairan... I thought it was another form of loyalty towards the clan and the empire."
Dante slowly moves towards Alton.
Those who were still alive among the imperial guards and rank-file soldiers who rushed at first continued to extend their swords, but Dante took their breath away without taking his eyes off Alton.
"Grandfather was right. You're just trash who couldn't have anything in Hairan, so you became the emperor's lapdog for a meager bit of power."
"If you stop now, everything can return to its place. Dante."
"Ha, what?"
"Meager power? I am the Imperial Guard Captain. If you show your intention to surrender even now and hand over the white stone to His Majesty, Hairan can continue to exist as a pillar of the Empire. I swear by my name. Just stop. Stop now. This massacre doesn't suit you. Everything can be forgotten."
"Hahaha…!"
Dante's face contorted.
"You're crazy, Alton Hairan. How many do you think have already lost their lives? If I stop, will they come back alive? Will the fact that the emperor branded Hairan as a traitor disappear?"
Nonsense!
Dante shouted with bloodshot eyes.
"The fight will not end until one of us, Hairan or the Empire, is destroyed."
"Foolish... don't you feel any responsibility as the young patriarch? If you don't stop, Hairan will be destroyed! Even its history will be erased without a trace."
Dante lunged, extending his sword.
Alton deflected Dante's sword head-on.
Clang!
A loud noise and shockwave erupted, and the knights of the Imperial Guard attempting to assist Alton couldn't approach hastily.
Argh-!
Dante spat out a mouthful of blood.
Blood flowed from his eyes and ears, and the hand gripping the entangled swords seemed on the verge of snapping, as if the bones could break at any moment.
"And what do you think you can achieve with that body? What choice have you made as the young patriarch? Aren't you just plunging yourself and the clan members into a senseless massacre? Even though the path for everyone to live is right in front of you!"
As if there was no point in answering any more, Dante silently swung his sword.
As Alton said, it seemed that his weak body had already passed its limits.
However, the fact that he was still moving his rattling body so sharply implied that Dante was passing through a certain point as a martial artist.
Unlike the blood pouring from his body, Dante's sword was emitting stronger and brighter light. It was digging into Alton faster and sharper.
The wind let out a shrill scream as the blades collided and cut through the air.
Fragments of sword energy bounced in all directions, forming a vortex, and the ground beneath the two of them was constantly upheaved by their footsteps.
The nearby knights stayed at a distance, waiting for the shockwaves to weaken. For those who hadn't reached a certain level, it was a fight they couldn't dare to stand near.
It didn't take long for the outcome of the match to come.
Just as Alton was about to execute Hairan's secret technique, Dante caught up with him by slashing his wrist.
Thud-!
Dante's blade, which stabbed Alton in the back and escaped through his chest, was stained dark red with blood.
Dante turned his sword, and Alton flinched and shook his head.
The blood flowing from Dante's forehead continued to spread through his eyes.
In an instant, several memories of his childhood with Alton flashed through his mind.
The moments when Dante looked up to him as his uncle and how he struggled to push away the inferiority he had for his nephew as his uncle.
But he had come too far for his sorrow.
Dante wasn't really sad at the thought that floated like a bubble bursting on the surface of the water for a moment.
"Alton Hairan, Hairan has never abandoned you, but you abandoned Hairan. Hairan has never betrayed you, but you betrayed Hairan more than anyone else. Even this death is not enough to pay for that sin."
"Cher, ha...."
Alton was also recalling something similar to what Dante was thinking.
He wasn't as strong and resilient as Dante. That's why he left Hairan, just a moment ago he suggested saving Hairan, and now he was speaking his last words.
"Stop... it."
Swoosh!
Dante withdrew his sword, and Alton fell forward and convulsed.
Stop it, Zipfel is coming...… Dante.
The voice of his imminent death was so feeble that he could barely open his mouth.
Dante hadn't heard that Zipfel was coming.
Even if he had heard of it, it wouldn't have changed his resolve.
When Alton met death, the emperor's army had no choice but to be greatly shaken.
No one expected that the captain of the Imperial Guard would be killed like this. The one currently breaking through the battlefield wasn't Ron but Dante.
"Assault squad! Keep supporting the young patriarch!"
Like a ghost, Dante started rushing towards the Dragon lance again.
At this point, the nearby rank-file soldiers regained the fear shrouded in madness.
They dared not confront the young patriarch of Hairan.
Hundreds of rank-file soldiers waiting at dragon lance stepped back, and only high-ranking knights, including the Imperial Guard, barely aimed their swords at Dante.
The dragons behind the dragon lance let out a roar.
The dragons fired their breaths at once, and at that moment, the knights of another assault squad who had just arrived, protected Dante with sword shields.
"Go, young patriarch!"
The knights of Hairan were not all monsters like Dante. The assault squad was barely holding their breath. The situation was complicated as the Red Dragon-class and Golden Dragon-class cannons aimed at Dante were flying from everywhere.
When the dragon lance is destroyed and the Five Sword Saint arrives...
The Hairan knights shot their sword energies at the dragons.
Dante narrowed the distance with the dragon lance by cutting off the remaining fire of the dragons.
While Dante and the assault squad cleared the road, Dragon lance fired two more shells at sword emperor castle.
The castle wall where Dante was standing had completely collapsed, revealing the interior of the castle.
Dante wasn't fighting with the aim of defending the castle, but Ron, who had lost consciousness, was present within the deepest part of the castle.
As a member of Hairan, and as the grandson of the Sword emperor.
Ron is still Dante's greatest hope.
Ron was still unable to regain consciousness as the sword emperor castle was being destroyed, but Dante believed that Ron would awaken before the end of the war.
When he wakes up, he will show what weight the name Sword Emperor carries to the enemies of Hairan...… Dante believed so.
If there wasn't even that hope, his weary and battered body would have collapsed on the cold ground long ago.
"Haa, ha...!"
Dante exhaled heavily, gripping his sword.
The dragon lance was right in front of his eyes.
Seeing it up close, the dragon lance looked enormous and emitted an indescribable ominous aura.
I cut it with a single sword
The secret technique of the sword emperor, Heavenly Flash cut through the middle of the dragon lance, leaving a shining afterimage.
The dragon lance, split in half, collapsed on both sides and crushed the rank-file soldiers and mages who could not escape.
Dante knelt down for a moment, concealing his body in the dust and smoke that scattered as the dragon lance fell. Then, before the enemies could see his condition, he rose again, steadying his trembling body.
It was the moment when Hairan achieved a small victory in this war.
"Young patriarch has defeated the captain of the Imperial Guard and the Dragon lance!"
"The emperor's dragon lance has collapsed... … !"
But at that moment.
Kwaaa-!
Kwaaaaa...!
Somewhere, the sound of an explosion echoed.
Although the distance was far, it was the exact same sound as when dragon lance spewed cannonballs.
When he turned around, he saw the protective shield of the Sword Emperor castle and the outer wall collapsing.
'There's... another Dragon Lance?'
There was only one Dragon Lance in the Empire.
However, in preparation for such a moment, the emperor had made replicas of the dragon lance using Zipfel's ability.
"Aagh!"
"Ha, ha... The second dragon lance has been confirmed at the back gate!"
"Hensirk Magic Corps, Lilista Magic Corps are operating dragon lance! At least the 4, no, 7, 9...… !"
Dante was too far away for the urgent voices of the vigilante knights to reach.
However, even without hearing their reports, he could tell that the situation was not just wrong but far worse.
"Sword emperor castle protection can't be possible! We must evacuate!"
"Medical staff, medical staff…!"
"Where are we supposed to evacuate to? Hold your positions! Protect even if you have to die!"
"Scatter! Scatter, so they can't target us with cannon fire!"
It felt like the blood in his entire body was turning cold.
'Should I continue to advance and aim for the emperor, no, the sword emperor castle, the knights of Hairan, my grandfather…!'
Nausea rose within him.
He had to somehow pull himself together and deal with the situation. It couldn't end like this, so futilely.
Dante was engulfed in despair, and the Emperor smiled. However, both Dante's despair and the Emperor's smile.
It was just for a fleeting moment.
From beyond the rear of the sword emperor castle, a huge stream of shining swords was cutting down the dark night sky fiercely.
A unique blue color created by mixing lightning energy and aura.
There was only one person in the world who wielded such a sword.
Because of that everyone standing on the battlefield who witnessed the sword were able to understand in an instant.
Jin Runcandel had arrived.
529
Dante couldn't take his eyes off the blue sword that started from the far end of the rear.
Everyone in the clan risked their lives, so he didn't want to survive cowardly alone.
However, the blue sword that Dante saw with his own two eyes felt like a light that cut through despair.
'Jin... !'
Jin did not receive Dante's letter.
Even if he received it, he and his people would surely have come to aid the Sword emperor castle.
Hairan!
We have come!
Jin shouted with determination, and the entire battlefield vibrated with his voice. Even Dante, standing alone at the forefront of the battlefield, could hear his friend's voice clearly.
The Imperial Army in the rear looked up. Jin was standing alone on the cliff towering high behind the Sword Emperor Castle.
"The Vamel Alliance and the Tikan Kingdom will defend the sword emperor castle with Hairan now."
Blue-pale sword Sigmund, the thunder sword bestowed directly by battle god, was stained with sharp lightning bolts.
The dragon lance cannon, which was aimed at the back gate, was hurriedly aiming at Jin.
"So, all enemies open the way."
Aaaah-!
The moment the dragon lance cannon fired, Jin's sword emitted light.
Runcandel 5th secret move
Light-speed Thrust – Plutonian
The light from a single sword lit up the night sky for an instant.
And the projectile of the dragon lance disappeared without a trace, leaving only the sound of the explosion.
It was swallowed up by the sword energy of the Light-Speed Thrust.
The sword energy that swallowed the projectile pierced the protective shields of the knights and mages of the imperial army and even completely destroyed the dragon lance.
It happened before the sound of the explosion could disperse into the air.
Those who witnessed it couldn't understand what was happening.
Just looking at Jin's movements and at the lighting and aura remaining on the straight line between the cliff and the broken dragon lance.
They could only infer the fact that he had thrust his sword once.
But the shock didn't end there.
"Aagh!"
"W-What is this...!"
Lightning began to pour out at the strike point of the light-speed thrust, where the dragon lance was shattered.
The original light-speed thrust was just an insanely fast thrust, as Talaris said it. However, Jin's Light-Speed Thrust, named after his brethren, carried the fierce energy unique to Plutonian Swordsmanship.
The ruthless power of a race that once ruled and dominated as the sole victors.
The blue lightning bolts were trampling on the knights and mages of the imperial army. They had no means to defend themselves against its power.
With a single sword, the rear ranks of the imperial army collapsed.
Both allies and enemies, feeling the thrill from Jin's sword, could only think the same thing.
This is the kind of knight that overwhelms the battlefield.
Jin raised his aura again.
And he fired a series of light-speed thrusts until the cliff collapsed because it couldn't support the force.
The blue flashes falling on the battlefield looked like a punishment from a god in the eyes of the enemies.
It seemed like they were paying the price for daring to betray Hairan as a part of the Empire.
It seemed like they were being punished for not confronting the Emperor's tyranny as a human who was safe within the shield named Hairan.
The cliff collapsed after five more light-speed thrusts.
And the fact that the cliff has collapsed means that the monster would now directly sweep through the battlefield.
The enemy's fear had to be weighed heavily.
Plutonian swordsmanship was created solely for conquest and destruction. There was no martial art more specialized for war in the world than that.
As soon as Jin entered the battlefield, the number of deaths changed.
Lightning bolts fell every time lightning energy spread, and when lightning bolts poured, dozens to hundreds of enemies either died or were so severely injured that they could no longer fight, lying on the ground.
Not only the rank-file soldiers but even the knights who considered themselves part of the Imperial Army dared not block Jin's path. If they were recklessly engaged, their entire bodies would burn before they could even clash swords.
Screams loud enough to pierce one's eardrums echoed.
But Jin couldn't hear their screams.
Only the harsh voice of his friend whose heart must have been torn apart by the madness of war, broke his heart.
"Back off, you bastards. How could you guys do this to Hairan...…!"
Even in defeat, people were witnessing another name called Runcandel.
The dragon lance aiming at the back gate and the entire cannon of the Golden Dragon-class or higher followed Jin's movements.
In the first place, the dragon lance that Dante slashed in the front line was nothing more than a deception. Much more dragon lances were being deployed in the rear and on the sides.
More than fifty dragon lances were being loaded.
In addition, the enemy commanders were also prepared for a joint attack.
"Jin Runcandel! Are you aware that the people you are killing are the troops of His Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Vermont Empire? Runcandel is now intervening in the Empire's civil war, do you understand what that means...?"
The commander of the Lillista Magic Corps couldn't finish her words.
Jin immediately fired another light-speed thrust in the direction where the voice came from.
As soon as she died, the knights of the Central Knight Order, about a hundred of the key figures of the Imperial Army as Dante had anticipated, formed a formation to block Jin.
Jin snorted.
"The fact that you can die by hand of a Runcandel on the battlefield is the highest honor garbage like you can have."
The Knights of the Central Knight Order did not add any further words like Lillista's commander.
It was because they knew it at a glance. No matter what they say, Jin won't stop.
"So I don't want to give you bastards even that honor. That's the price you pay for forgetting honor."
As soon as Jin finished talking.
Boom! Sizzle!
Sudden cannon fire from somewhere rained down on the knights of the Central Knight Order.
It was a dragon lance. The knights hurriedly threw their shields and swung their swords, but the flagship cannon fire boasted by the Empire claimed their lives.
'Damn it, why is dragon lance doing us!'
'Hensirk Magic Corps wouldn't make such a mistake. Could it be...!'
Jin smiled coldly and shrugged his shoulders.
"I clearly shouted that we came, not just me. Did you commanders forget that?"
Sizzle, boom!
The firing of the dragon lances continuously rained down on the Central Knight Order.
The person aiming the cannon at them from the rear-left side of the battlefield was not the imperial army.
"It's a hit! Hehe, my lord will praise me, right?"
Amela laughed and loaded the next cannon.
Great mercenary Amela, as soon as she entered the battlefield, she swiftly assessed the enemy's equipment and began confiscating them one by one.
"Old man Valkas, that one. That one looks usable. Hand it over."
"…Fine."
"It would have been better if the cuties had brought it to me instead of old man Valkas, but our Proch cuties are organizing the side battlefield well."
Valkas, the leader of the Black Kings, and Amela, the great mercenary.
The two people who could be called the incarnation of war were also stirring the rear battlefield with Jin.
Realizing this fact belatedly, the Imperial Army once again felt a horrifying sensation as if blood was draining from their heads.
Valkas lifted the dragon lance pointed by Amela's finger.
He lifts the huge cannon lead by Hundreds of rank-file soldiers, as if it's a little heavy rock.
The number of troops has no meaning in front of a human who has risen to the ranks of superhumans.
"It's nothing compared to the Black King Cannon No.1, but this isn't bad either. I'll take a few of these and hang them in Tikan when the war is over! Fire, fire!"
In the end, the dragon lances operated by Amela annihilated all the knights who stood in the way of Jin before thirty seconds had passed.
"ugh… uh… Kuh."
Jin didn't even cut them directly, as he said.
No glorious death in battle by the hands of Runcandel was left for them.
"Even if you die, apologize for what you guys have done. And hope that Dante doesn't die or get hurt. If such a thing happens, I will not only exterminate your families but also your relatives and their kin..."
At those words, the knights of the Central Knight Order couldn't believe this was the end even facing death.
It was a deep and dark voice that anyone could not think of as a lie if they heard it in person, and it was the threat from pure-blood Runcandel.
When Jin started to move again, the imperial troops surrounding him backed away.
The plain was wide, but it seemed like there was a cliff right behind them. If they continued retreating to avoid Jin, they might fall off that edge.
However, their footsteps did not seem to be heading forward at all.
The Emperor's command and the madness of war were overshadowed by a massive, terrifying shadow approaching step by step.
When they thought they were going to face Hairan without Ron, all of the imperial troops were confident of victory.
They thought that the sword emperor would eventually come to an end in front of numerous dragons, knights, mages, and the strongest war equipment of the empire including dragon lances.
That is why the imperial army attacked the sword emperor, even though they knew that this purge was in no way reasonable.
Regardless of right or wrong, standing on the losing side in a war will ultimately only bring death and destruction.
The moment they defend Hairan, they will also become traitors and get executed.
However, they overlooked that Hairan is not alone.
They did not recognize the relationship between the young patriarch of Hairan and Runcandel's 12th flagbearer that was thicker than blood.
Therefore, now the conviction that 'they cannot win' and the despair were weighing down the Imperial Army. Beyond that, even questions arose.
Could the Empire continue to exist as it had after today?
They wanted to confess their sins immediately and plead to stand on Hairan's side now.
They wished to speak with a humble voice, admitting they followed the Emperor's orders only because they lacked the strength, and in reality, they respected Hairan more than the Imperial family.
There was no way Jin and Hairan wouldn't entertain such ridiculous pleas.
They knew better than anyone that claiming to have just followed orders was no excuse.
Some lost their minds and sobbed uncontrollably, while others dropped their weapons, trembling all over.
Some shouted, but it was not to fight the opponent, but only to lose reason and turn into a frightened beast.
"I swear in the name of Runcandel's 12th flagbearer. Run away, I won't pursue you. However, any enemy remaining on the battlefield will die without exception. But I think...."
It seems better to die here than to endure a lifetime of disgrace and self-loathing.
Jin continued talking and glared at the enemies.
Those who saw his gaze keenly felt the harsh reality.
Whether facing him or running away, there was only hell awaiting them.
530
The psychological pressure was unbearable for the culprits.
The Imperial Army started this war without any justification, reason, or hatred.
Those who participated in the fight, choosing the side of victory or defeat like children picking sides, had no unyielding willpower or burning fighting spirit.
All the rank-and-file knights and mages in the rear battlefield had completely lost their morale. It happened within the first thirty minutes after Jin appeared.
As Jin started to move forward again, the rank-and-file knights and mages who had been standing there, or rather, were quite far away from Jin, split apart and avoided him.
Whether you fight or run away, it was hell.
Not a single rank-and-file soldier chose to face him. Those with unsteady legs dashed out of the battlefield as if insane, and those who couldn't do that were crying and crawling.
True to his promise, Jin didn't pursue those fleeing enemies.
However, the enemy commanders couldn't do the same.
"These lunatics...! Fight! Those who run away will die by my hands!"
"Do you think you can bear the crime of defying the emperor's orders? It's better to fight and die, that way, you can prevent your bloodline from being exterminated!"
Despite the vicious orders of the Imperial army commanders, the rank and file soldiers did not stop fleeing.
It has already been decided which of the two is more frightening, the Emperor or Jin Runcandel.
In the end, the commanders began to directly cut down the fleeing knights and mages.
However, even after the scene continued, the rank and file soldiers did not stop leaving the battlefield.
When the situation reached that point, the commanders had no choice but to fall into a panic. The knight of Runcandel, whom they couldn't handle even if united, was approaching, but the formation had already become so scattered that it could hardly be called an army.
All that was left was the major knights, Hensirk, and Lillista Magic Corps.
But all they could do was prepare for death.
Most of the dragon lances, which were the greatest power, were destroyed or taken away, and Jin was not tired at all even after fiercely firing decisive killing moves, and was pressuring them with bloodlust.
They couldn't receive support from the front or the sides of the battlefield.
The front was still being held by Dante, while the flanks were organized by the Proch Sibling, Kashmir, Alisa, Yulian, Kuzan, Gilly, and others.
Even the Imperial forces in the rear were attempting to use the refugees from the Sword Emperor Castle, who hadn't left yet, as hostages.
It could become the worst case scenario later, but they thought it might be a way to shake up the situation.
But even that was going to be a failure because of Jin's companions.
"Mesa, Scott! You two and your crew should prioritize the protection of refugees. Bellop, you and I will take care of the enemy commanders!"
Luton Ferman, the former enforcement knight of Runcandel, and the youngest division.
They were also participating in this war.
Having undergone hellish training under Luton, and being guardian knights of Runcandel in the first place, the Imperial knights in the rear couldn't be their match.
Like that, Jin and his companions were all smashing the battlefield while shouting.
"For our Lord!"
"For our Lord and Hairan!"
"Rescue our allies, take care of the wounded!"
Since the rank and file enemies were running away, the shouts grew louder than the screams.
Everyone knew that the war would not end in victory so easily. However, the knights of the sword emperor castle now had hope that they could get out of despair and head for victory.
"The dragon lances are gathering at Lady Amela! Currently, eight cannons, and the number keeps increasing!"
"She didn't die in the Gaifa Islands, did she become a subordinate of the 12th flagbearer…!"
Amela's abilities shine particularly brightly in large-scale warfare. She was continuously gathering Dragon lances using her own murky energy and the power of Valkas.
At the same time she was remodeling them at a rapid rate. Dozens of hands made with murky energy were moving busily, removing broken lances, parts of other cannons, and items prepared in advance and attaching them to the stolen Dragon lances.
"Howitzer cannon complete! My Lord, we're almost ready! If you give the order, I will start the frontal cannon fire support!"
Jin nodded his head, and Amela saluted as she raised her hand out of her bush suit.
"Order received! Look forward to Amela's exciting cannon fire support!"
The dragon lances raised their cannon barrels in unison, following Amela's hand.
"Bang!"
Kwaaaaah!
Eight dragon lances simultaneously fired into the sky at an angle.
The cannon fire seemed to go beyond the castle, far in the front, to the place where the emperor was.
Despite having no sight at all, Amela fired without hesitation.
She was measuring the precise distance where her allies wouldn't be harmed just by the vibrations on the battlefield.
It was no lie when Valkas assessed that no one could match Amela when it came to war.
Dante caught his breath and looked at the cannon fires falling like meteors over the Imperial army in the distance.
It was seen that the cannon fires were blocked. The best of Hensirk and Lillista Magic corps were spreading a protective shield.
However, the dragon lance was originally the empire's strongest weapon of war.
It wasn't something mages could block so easily, and even more so when eight cannons were firing at the same time.
The mana of the Imperial magic corps was amplified to the point where even the knight could feel it, and rank and file soldiers could see it with their own eyes.
As far as Dante knew, the Empire did not possess that level of technology. The ability to amplify mana on such a scale was almost unheard of in academia and history books.
Zipfel.
Only they could do such a thing.
Dante did not heed Alton's warning, but he was confident that the Emperor had struck a deal with Zipfel.
'All for that white stone...…!'
The white stone, that object had been dyeing Dante's inside black since before the war began.
And as the cup of war spilled, the hatred and anger that originated from the white stone were growing faster and faster.
It wasn't that Amela's dragon lances were failing to inflict any damage on the Imperial army.
The elite members of the Magic corps were only protecting the emperor and other important personnel, but did not protect the lives of the rank and file soldiers.
Dante gripped his sword again.
Dante, who felt no emotion at the deaths of the imperial infantry and mages exploding before him, rather suddenly became afraid of himself being surrounded by a pleasant feeling of death.
The war was only just beginning.
"Get out of the way, I will kill the emperor."
The Imperial Guard and infantry scattered as Dante pushed forward with his sword.
After a while, a large man appeared between them.
"... Sir Dante."
The leader of the Dragon King Knights, the Imperial Sword.
Jonsina Perral blocked Dante. His blue armor shimmered even in the dark unlike Dante, who was covered in blood and looked like a demonic creature.
Jonsina's heroic stories and various legends had instilled dreams in countless knights around the world. Although his individual strength did not receive relatively much attention due to being overshadowed by Ron, Jonsina was a role model for knights.
Dante, too, held great admiration for him. That's why a bitter laugh escaped him.
"Ever since Kevin Perral came… I expected you to be in the Imperial Army too. But when I saw you standing in my way, I couldn't help but feel disgusted, sir."
Pit-!, Dante spat blood.
Jonsina raised his aura instead of answering. The ground in the vicinity vibrated, and small mounds of rocks scattered and rose.
"Did you harbor a long-standing sense of inferiority towards my grandfather? Or did you want to see the Perral clan replace Hairan as a pillar of the Empire?"
Dante's voice trembled with the sense of betrayal.
It was because he was sure that even if the entire Dragon King Knights thoughtlessly followed the emperor's orders, Jonsina would not forget his honor.
Just as Dante was about to mock him again, Jonsina vanished from his sight. When he hurriedly looked at him, Jonsina's greatsword was already falling onto his shoulder.
Thunk, thud—!
The blow dislocated his shoulder immediately. Dante was pushed back, crashing into the ground, and Jonsina's sword energy poured down on him.
Dante quickly fixed his shoulder bone and stood up, and deflected the sword energy. His two wobbly legs seemed to lose their balance at any moment.
It is the sword of the imperial sword. Dante couldn't easily fend off the attack with the body that was on the verge of breaking.
"Stop it."
"Either this guy or that guy is just telling me to stop when you guys stabbed the sword emperor castle first. Aren't you ashamed, you hypocrite!"
Dante rushed at him screaming, but Dante's sword could not pierce Jonsina's greatsword.
Every time they exchanged a sword, Dante vomited blood as his bones and organs were shaken, and Jonsina couldn't even lose his breath.
It was like an iron wall. Jonsina was showing a distinct difference in skill compared to the knights he had faced so far.
"Please."
"Ha, please?"
"I don't want to see you die."
"You speak as if you are looking after me, leader of the Dragon King Knights... It may look amusing as I get tired and vomit blood..."
Dante's body was stained with an aura.
It was a sign that another secret technique of the Sword emperor was about to execute. And Jonsina knew the price for that sword.
Dante's life.
"Are you just going to die with me? How long are you going to be stubborn, Dante Hairan! Rather than clinging to illusions, plan for the future!"
You are the lord of the sword emperor castle!
Jonsina shouted with his eyes wide open.
"If you die, Hairan can't stand up again. Why do you keep throwing yourself into the darkness one inch ahead? Do you think this is what Sir Ron wants!"
"How dare you call my grandfather's name from your filthy mouth...!"
[Mya-!]
At that moment, as soon as the rear battlefield was cleared, Shuri, the ruby cat that ran without rest, threw herself between Dante and Jonsina.
Jin was riding on Shuri's back.
Dante recognized that Jin had come since the first time the blue sword lighted up the night sky, but he hadn't expected him to clear the rear so quickly and come to him.
Also, Dante didn't even think that Jin would join him on the front line.
That's how deeply he was trapped within his inner turmoil.
The future of Hairan and the knights who follow Hairan rests on him. He already realized that it's impossible for him to survive alone.
"Dante."
Jin spoke as if he understood Dante's inner struggles.
"If I had only intended to save you, I wouldn't have bothered coming. I came to save both you and the sword emperor castle. So now, don't fight as if this is the end. Don't forget that there's a future ahead."