Chapter 177
It was a pain that felt like his body was being torn apart.
‘...This is unbearable.’
He had thought he had endured all kinds of agony before, but this was on a completely different level.
It felt as if his body was being broken down into pieces.
Especially the lower abdon, where his mana hole was located—
The pain there was beyond words, as if a heated chunk of tal had been shoved inside him.
Yet, despite the excruciating pain, he couldn’t scream or even move.
It felt like he was bound, unable to even twitch a finger, as he endured what seed like hellfire.
Then—
Ssssssssssssss.
A faint chill began to seep into his chest.
Unlike the fire raging inside him, it was a delicate coldness.
But it moved precisely, passing through the burning areas, weakening the flas little by little.
Wherever the cold passed, the pain subsided slightly.
‘What... is this?’
He had no idea what it was, but the cold was spreading faster.
Soon, what had started as a single stream branched out like a river, flowing through his entire body.
Shuuuuu!
The force grew stronger, gradually engulfing the inferno raging in his lower abdon.
‘This...’
It was an incredible sensation.
His crumbling body began to piece itself back together, and the burning pain was replaced by cool relief.
What had once been pure agony now felt almost refreshing, as if strength was returning to him.
He had no idea how much ti had passed.
Even the oppressive weight pressing down on him began to lift, and his heavy eyelids beca lighter.
“...Ah.”
As he slowly opened his eyes, Damian exhaled a quiet breath.
It felt as if sothing that had been blocking him had been cleared away.
At the sa ti, he felt the weight of many gazes on him.
“He—he’s awake!”
“Damian-nim! Are you conscious?!”
The murmur of voices filled the air as Damian slowly sat up.
The soft surface beneath him was a pile of his comrades’ coats, and before him were the faces of his unit mbers.
“...What’s with all of you?”
Why was there so much commotion?
But as he asked, his mories returned—
Piaren’s aura.
“...Right.”
That devastating barrage of blades...
‘Did I use aura again?’
If so, then the pain he had experienced hadn’t been a dream. His unconsciousness must have been a result of that.
Swoosh.
Damian glanced around at his n.
Then he turned to Dianal and asked,
“What about our fallen from the enemy’s aura?”
“There were none. You protected all of us, Vice Commander.”
“...”
That was enough.
Even if his body had been torn apart, if he had saved them—
‘Then it was worth it.’
Finally...
He had protected them.
Unlike his past life, this ti, he had saved his subordinates. That ant everything to him.
Damian lowered his head in relief and took a deep breath.
But then—
“You’re awake.”
“..mander.”
Hearing Kiaran’s voice, Damian slowly straightened up.
He expected his injuries to make movent difficult.
Yet—
‘My body... feels light?’
Could it be related to that strange cold?
As Damian frowned in confusion, Kiaran gave a faint smile.
“Seems like you’re in good shape.”
“Yes... What happened?”
“The Duke of Hainel arrived.”
“The Duke of Hainel?”
Damian’s eyes widened in shock.
Why would Duke Hainel be here at this mont?
Kiaran shook her head.
“I don’t know the reason either. But he treated you and is currently in mana ditation. He’ll be out soon, so be ready to greet him.”
“...Understood.”
Damian nodded.
He was curious as to why Hainel was here, but more than that...
‘It seems I owe him again.’
Most likely, if not for Hainel, he would have never woken up.
That darkness, that sensation of his body shattering—
It was terrifying.
Yet, Hainel had pulled him back.
The Duke of Hainel had saved him.
“Vice Commander, are you truly all right?”
“Yes, completely. I could fight right now without any issue.”
Damian answered honestly to Dianal’s concern.
He felt no injuries, no exhaustion—only a renewed energy.
Looking at his soldiers, Damian spoke.
“You all did well. It was a tough mission, but you endured it.”
“No, Vice Commander!”
“If not for you, we’d all be dead!”
Terka stepped forward, his voice firm.
The terror of facing an Aura Master was beyond words.
But Damian knew—
This experience would make them stronger.
Then, a mont later—
“Vice Commander, over there...”
Jerka pointed toward sothing.
As Damian turned, he saw Hainel approaching with several knights.
Without hesitation, Damian walked toward him.
“Are you feeling well?”
“......I am indebted to you once again. Thank you for your help.”
Damian bowed his head respectfully to Hainel.
But Hainel shook his head.
“No, many lives were saved thanks to you. And...”
Swoosh.
Hainel turned to look at the ruined streets of Nardern.
Not long ago, this city had belonged to the Empire, but now the Allied forces had taken complete control.
For over a hundred years—
The Empire had never lost its territory to an invader.
Yet now, history had changed.
Hainel glanced at Damian with a satisfied smile.
“You’ve achieved a great deal.”
“I didn’t do it alone.”
“Of course, rember that. No matter how strong one is, nothing can be accomplished alone.”
There was also a warning in those words—not to take on too much by himself.
Damian nodded in understanding.
“But how did you end up here, Hainel-nim?”
“I originally intended to go to the Artian Kingdom... but he went there instead.”
“...He?”
“Baroque Kingdom’s Second Aura Master. Anubel Verharc.”
At that, Damian rely nodded silently.
“That man is the Empire’s Second Aura Master, Calon Xanthos?”
Srenzkanal, Artian Kingdom.
Though the scars of the previous invasion had not yet been fully erased, much of the city had been restored.
Having already arrived, Anubel narrowed his eyes as he watched the approaching Imperial army.
‘Just as expected...’
The mont Artian’s Aura Master, Celestine, left for the Empire, a call for aid had arrived from Artian Kingdom.
It was clear the Empire would advance as soon as she departed.
And their army was highly likely to include an Aura Master.
That was why they had requested aid.
An Aura Master alone was enough to shift the power of an entire nation.
It was not an easy request, but Baroque needed Artian’s support in the future, so Anubel was dispatched.
And now...
“Let’s prepare for battle.”
“Agreed.”
At Anubel’s words, Artian’s commander, Ursen Dorenpulk, nodded.
“Attention, all troops! Prepare for battle! We will ensure the Empire’s invaders never cross this land again!”
“Uoooooooh!”
The soldiers stationed within the fortress roared in response, raising their morale.
Ursen then turned to Anubel.
“The Empire’s Aura Master, Calon, is yours to handle. We trust you.”
“Of course.”
Anubel moved forward, glancing at the elite soldiers he had brought.
Against an army with an Aura Master, castle walls ant little.
He had to engage directly and suppress the enemy’s aura.
“If I kill him... I’ll claim all the glory.”
Anubel’s fighting spirit flared, eager for battle.
His opponent was the notorious Calon Xanthos of the Empire.
Despite his own prowess, Anubel had always been overshadowed by Hainel in Baroque.
He believed himself stronger, yet Hainel received all the fa.
But if he could defeat the Empire’s Second Aura Master here...
“Heh... I can’t wait to see how people react.”
Anubel drew his sword and mounted his horse.
Creak.
As the fortress gates slowly opened, his fierce aura surged, and he rode out toward the battlefield.
With Nardern swiftly conquered, the Allied forces now advanced toward Everblade.
From the beginning, Everblade had been their true objective.
If they could capture it, they would have the Empire by the throat.
Not only was it close to the capital, but beyond Everblade, a straight road led directly to the heart of the Empire.
Thus, focusing all efforts on its capture was crucial.
But then—
“Urgent news! Urgent news!”
A ssenger raced toward Kiaran’s advancing forces.
The ssage was from Celestine’s army.
Kiaran tilted her head as the ssenger arrived.
“Has General Celestine taken Statznal?”
Given her reputation, overcoming Statznal should not have been difficult.
Especially with an army of seventy thousand at her command.
However, the ssenger dropped to one knee before Kiaran and spoke urgently.
“The battle in Statznal was intense... but General Celestine Favela has suffered a severe injury in her fight against the Empire’s Aura Master, Alexandro Falcoz.”
“...What?”
“The Allied forces are retreating, but the Empire’s troops are pursuing relentlessly, making the situation dire.”
Kiaran’s eyes widened at the unexpected news.
Hainel, standing beside her, spoke.
“We cannot attack Everblade with just our current forces.”
“No, we lack the numbers. We need Celestine’s army to reinforce us, and Statznal must be secured before we can proceed.”
Everblade was of utmost strategic importance, both for the Empire and for them.
They could not afford to leave their rear vulnerable.
That was why they had targeted Nardern and Statznal first—to eliminate future threats.
At Kiaran’s response, Hainel nodded.
“Then we must go.”
“Yes.”
Kiaran turned to her troops.
“We move to Statznal imdiately.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)