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Chapter 226: The Spider and the Empress (3)
Clank, clank.
With each step the iron knights took, the sound of tal echoed through the vast hall.
They were not knights rely clad in steel armor, but knights whose very bodies were made of iron.
A type of golem.
And if one were to consider the ability to create such golems...
‘The power of the Earth God.’
Yes.
The god among the Seven who governs earth and tal.
There was no doubt these beings were created using the power of the Earth God.
‘Is this the so-called Blessing of the Seven that the Empress possesses?’
A ridiculous blessing that allows one to harness a portion of the Seven Gods' power.
Narrowing my eyes, I turned my gaze toward Callia, the Empress, who was reclining lazily on the throne.
"Heh. It’s only natural to be srized by my beauty, but…"
With a languid smile on her lips, Callia rested her chin on her hand.
"You don’t have the luxury for that right now, do you?"
Srrng!
The iron knights drew their swords.
Platinum-colored aura surged along their blades.
‘Golems wielding aura, huh?’
I let out a soft chuckle and lowered my stance.
Boom!
With a rough stomp, I dashed forward.
Despite my sudden charge, the iron knight swiftly swung its sword without a hint of hesitation.
"But that won't be enough…"
Crunch!
I grabbed the platinum-aura-infused sword with my bare hand.
The dull tallic clang that rang out was far too thick for it to have been caught by an unarmored hand.
Berald’s Martial Arts.
Sword Breaker.
Crack!
I snapped the iron knight’s sword in half with my bare hands.
Losing its balance, the knight stumbled forward.
I grabbed its head as it fell and slamd it into the ground.
"It’s nothing but a pile of scrap tal."
Boom!
With a heavy crash, the knight’s head was utterly shattered.
"Oh?"
Callia's drowsy eyes suddenly glead with interest.
"Looks like the rumors weren’t exaggerated after all."
But.
"The test has only just begun."
Snap.
With a flick of Callia’s fingers, the surrounding iron knights rushed in all at once.
Their number—thirteen.
"Hah…"
Slowly inhaling, I summoned the Primordial Fla.
"Burn."
Fwoosh!
Ashen flas coiled around my body.
Thick gray smoke rose from my pores.
‘For now, just an ignition.’
There was no need to reveal more than necessary for such a trivial "test."
Whoosh!
One knight lunged straight at , swinging its sword imbued with platinum aura.
At the sa ti, two knights flanking crouched low and thrust their spears.
A perfect coordinated attack—so precise it was hard to believe these were re golems created by divine power.
There wasn’t a single gap to escape.
‘If there’s no gap…’
I’d just break through.
Ashen Fla Sword, Third Form.
Fla Spear.
A concentrated burst of ashen fla pierced through the charging knight’s body.
Imdiately, I leaped high into the air.
Clang!
The two spears that had been aiming for my sides clashed, forming an X.
Tack!
Like an acrobat, I landed atop the crossed spears, gripping my sword in reverse with its tip pointing downward.
Ashen Fla Sword, Fourth Form.
Fire Rain.
The flas spread outward from my sword.
Using the crossed spears as a foothold, I propelled myself even higher.
High enough to touch the ceiling of the hall.
Then, gripping my sword in reverse like a thrown spear—
I hurled it toward the ground.
Fwooooosh!
A downpour of ashen flas rained down.
The iron knights, clustered together in formation, were impaled and lted by the fiery deluge.
"…Hah."
Callia let out a soft exclamation as she watched them fall.
Her gaze seed to say: "This is a re candidate? And the lowest-ranked one at that?"
"Hmm. Now I see how you managed to break Marianne's barrier."
As she nodded from her throne—
Tack!
I landed back on the ground and imdiately launched forward.
My target was the last iron knight left unscathed.
Or rather, the one I had intentionally left standing.
‘She asked to put on a show.’
How could I claim to have done so properly with just a handful of broken scraps?
"Hah…"
I surged forward, channeling the ashen fla into my fist.
With a powerful step, I drove my fist straight into the knight’s abdon.
Boom!
Its torso exploded, sending a blast of fla shooting past it.
At the end of that fiery trajectory stood the golden throne—
Where the Empress sat.
"Hmm?"
Watching the approaching flas, Callia’s lips curled into a deep smile.
"Now, this is an entertaining little performance."
She didn’t even flinch as the fire closed in.
Just before the flas could reach her—
Whoosh! Clang!
A maid in a frilled black dress suddenly appeared, intercepting the attack with a spiked mace.
Boom!
The impact dispersed the ashen flas into the air.
"…How dare you aim at Her Majesty the Empress?"
A woman with black hair and thick-rimd glasses glared at fiercely.
"Aim at the Empress? I rely targeted the last iron knight."
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"Hah. And you think such a feeble excuse will work?"
Gripping her spiked mace tightly, the maid stomped forward.
In the blink of an eye, she was upon , swinging her weapon straight for my head.
But just as her attack was about to land—
"lina. That’s enough."
"Your Majesty! This person is a traitor who aid for your life…!"
"I clearly commanded you to stop."
"……."
Grit.
The woman called lina ground her teeth fiercely before finally withdrawing her mace.
"…If you act rudely before Her Majesty Callia again, I won’t stand by next ti."
With a cold warning, lina turned and walked towards Callia.
"Heh. You’re usually so calm, yet whenever it’s about , you get excessively worked up."
"Her Majesty is the pillar supporting tens of millions of citizens in the empire. You should be more mindful of your conduct…."
"Ah~ how noisy. I’ve heard that too many tis, I’m sick of it."
Callia waved her arms dismissively, looking exasperated.
"Anyway…."
Lying sideways on the throne, Callia slowly sat up straight.
"Gasp…!"
Seeing this, lina’s eyes widened as her jaw dropped.
"Why are you so shocked?"
"Y-Your Majesty…! You’re sitting up straight again!"
"…Is that so surprising?"
"I—I had assud Your Majesty’s back was completely shattered, making it impossible for you to sit properly!"
"…It seems to that you are being the more disrespectful one here."
Tsk.
Clicking her tongue, Callia narrowed her eyes and turned her gaze towards .
"Rumors truly can't be trusted."
With a deep smile, she continued.
"You’re even more impressive than I’d heard."
Even though she hadn’t used even a fraction of the power of her so-called "Blessing of the Seven Stars," the fact that I had so easily wiped out a golem created by the Earth God’s power was—
‘Interesting.’
Callia’s eyes sparkled as she gazed intently at .
"Now then, may I finally hear the reason you summoned ?"
"Hmm. Speaking before I’ve given you permission… how bold."
Callia smirked in amusent, her voice carrying its usual leisurely tone.
"I’ll be direct, since explaining everything is botherso."
She reached out a hand toward .
"Would you consider joining the Imperial Court?"
"…Joining the Imperial Court?"
"I an, beco my servant."
"……."
The servant of the Empress.
"I’m from the Republic."
"Heh. Your origin is of no concern to . After all…."
"Because to Her Majesty, everything except yourself is insignificant?"
"Precisely."
An unexpected recruitnt offer.
And not from just anyone—but from Empress Callia herself.
That ant I could probably secure quite a high-ranking position within the court.
‘What should I do?’
Of course, I had no intention of accepting.
But if recruiting was the reason I had been summoned, rejecting her outright might lead to a response like, "Then there’s no reason for you to stay. Leave."
‘That would be a problem.’
I needed to remain in the Imperial Court to track down traces of the Eternal Order.
I couldn’t afford to be expelled by the Empress.
"……."
While I was considering my response, Professor Elisha stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, I apologize for interrupting, but…."
"I do not recall permitting you to speak."
"Candidate Dale is currently a third-year student at the Hero Academy. According to the Tri-Nation Agreent, recruitnt offers are prohibited before graduation."
"I…"
Callia raised her hand.
Snap.
With a simple flick of her fingers, a blue aura engulfed Professor Elisha.
"Khh, ugh…!"
Unable to breathe, she clutched at her throat, gasping for air.
"I said, I did not permit you to speak."
Callia’s platinum eyes glead coldly.
The blue aura thickened, and as if she were drowning, bubbles of air escaped from Elisha’s lips, floating in the air like soap bubbles.
"So, your answer…."
Fwoosh!
Suddenly, fierce embers engulfed Professor Elisha.
The blue energy constricting her throat clashed with the flas, intertwining.
And then—
"…Huh?"
Callia’s Blessing of the Seven Stars was devoured by the embers and dispersed into the air.
"You erased the Blessing of the Seven Stars…?"
For the first ti, the ever-leisurely Callia's face hardened in disbelief.
"How did you…."
"I refuse."
"What?"
Ignoring Callia’s narrowed gaze, I approached Professor Elisha.
"Gah!"
She coughed violently, gasping for breath.
"Are you alright?"
"C-Candidate Dale…."
"There’s no need for you to speak."
I gently patted Professor Elisha’s back as she struggled to breathe.
"…What did you just say?"
Empress Callia narrowed her eyes dangerously.
"Did you not hear ?"
I turned to face her and clicked my tongue.
"I said no. I won’t be your servant."
"……."
A heavy silence filled the grand hall.
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