Volume 4 Chapter 102 The Scorching Sands and the Djinn꞉ IF
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After exiting the blazing Northern Base.
Kian’s senses, which had been saturated with the light of flames and the searing heat, were jolted by the sudden shift as he stepped onto the military road.
The path, carving a gentle curve around the mountain’s slope, was pitch black and bone-chillingly cold. It had been freezing near Gorgon Temple last month, but now it felt worse; a piercing wind howled down from the heights.
”The others are here!” Rita whispered sharply as she ran alongside Kian.
”Commander Circe and Scipio are both there. It looks like the Commander is safe,” she added.
”They’re fighting. They’re surrounded, nmo¹,” Kian replied.
Through Asterios’s heightened senses, Kian could smell the copper of blood and hear the clash of steel. He felt the presence of powerful defensive magic and the buildup of a mass incantation from the mountain slope.
”Rita, the mountain peak. We’re taking out the enemy mages first,” Kian said.
”Understood,” Rita replied.
Kian forced his heart rate to climb. He pushed the spirit factors within him to the surface, drawing a massive surge of magic power from his Spiritual Vein²s. In that instant, the mages on the mountain and the assault force under fire on the road likely sensed his presence.
But that was fine. Asterios has no need to hide. This radiance, a power akin to divine authority, brings despair to the enemy and hope to allies.
”Composite Secret Technique: Drawn Blade³,” Kian muttered.
The mages on the mountain were three kilometers away. Perhaps they were already within range; beside Kian, as he let his magic power flare, Rita refined a massive amount of her own. Hers was entirely self-generated. Her beautiful features froze into a mask of killing intent, and with her characteristic, spring-like footwork, she veered off the road and onto the slope.
Unlike her, as she continued to accelerate, Kian crouched low on the spot, bracing for a leap. He grunted under the strain. Muscles swelled. Hooves dug into the earth. Generating a magnetic field with lightning, he kicked off all at once.
”Nmooo!”
The wind lashed against Kian’s body. The mountainside blurred past. Acceleration, acceleration, acceleration.
Just as the dark thicket spread beneath his feet, he saw the crimson flares of magical combat ahead. Kicking the very air, he accelerated again. Rita had already landed. A brilliant flash she released illuminated a point in the thicket. It seemed Kian’s presence was so overwhelming that they couldn’t accurately gauge the approach of Rita, who arrived first. The mage group was likely a highly trained unit of warrior monks, but they were being slaughtered by Rita before they could even switch from their staves to their scimitars.
A few warrior monks tried to back away to put distance between themselves and her. Kian landed directly on top of them with a crack of thunder.
A mere landing. That alone was enough to annihilate the remaining monks. A few with better reflexes tried to deploy a ‘Wall’ toward the sky, but even if their focus had been as fast as Sarah’s, Kian would have trampled them right through their defenses. Their fates had been sealed the moment Rita and Kian launched their staggered assault.
”Commander! Everyone!” Rita cried out.
No looks were exchanged to confirm the kill. Even before Kian had fully landed, Rita had spun on her heel and was racing back down toward the road. Below the slope, the assault force appeared pinned down, surrounded by hundreds of warrior monks. However, most were disposable pawns. Now that the mages on the mountain had been crushed, all that remained was a mop-up operation.
”Rita!?”
”Is that Rita?”
”She’s… she’s here!” Shark sputtered, her voice a muffled mess.
”Rita, you… you came for us!”
The faces of everyone lit up as Rita blew away dozens of monks in a single strike. Commander Circe, the dark elf who had been maintaining a defensive barrier, looked at Rita and Kian with relief. The others guarding Circe-Eugenia, Shark, Meimei, and Caesar-turned toward Kian with looks of utter shock. Caesar was an elite knight who had been on suspension for trying to kill Kian during a game of tag, yet even he looked stunned.
”Is that Asterios?” someone gasped.
”R-Retreat! Fall back!” the enemy shouted.
”I’m not letting you get away, nmo! Nmooooooo!”
”A-Asterios… Gwaaaaaaaaaah!!”
The enemy commander was trampled instantly. Clad in lightning, Kian charged headlong, sending a silhouette in monastic robes flying into the air with a single, vicious tackle. There was no need for a finishing blow; those blasted dozens of meters into the air died instantly, their bones shattered.
”Nmooooo! I won’t forgive anyone who lays a hand on Crete, nmo! I’m gonna beat you to a pulp, nmo! Nmommomomomo!”
Swinging his massive twin axes wildly, he turned every fleeing monk into mincemeat. Asterios knew nothing of refined technique, so he moved with the senseless, chaotic violence of a child throwing a tantrum. That said, a being of monstrous strength acting out a tantrum is terrifyingly effective. It was, quite literally, a mess of wasted motion that somehow wasted everyone in its path.
Wait, what does that even mean, nmo? Kian wondered to himself.
Rita decapitated the final five, ending the skirmish.
”Sorry to keep you waiting, nmo!” Kian said breezily.
But as it turned out, the girls of the Lightning Knight Order swarmed around Rita instead.
”Rita!” “Rita!” “You saved us! That was a close one desuno⁴!”
”General Asterios, for real?” one of the guards asked.
”General, did you come to save us?” another added.
Instead of the girls, Kian was surrounded by the men of the guard. Asterios already smelled like a wild animal; now it just smelled like sweaty soldiers.
”I thought we were goners desuno!” Meimei cried.
”Meimei, I’m glad you’re safe,” Rita said.
”Heh, you idiot. You’re late!” Caesar barked.
”Caesar. My apologies,” Kian replied.
”Glargh… sputter… cough!” Shark wheezed.
”Hahaha, I still have no idea what you’re saying, Shark,” Kian laughed.
”General, Sir Scipio is heavily wounded!” a soldier from the guard shouted, grabbing Kian. “Can you do something?”
In the center of the circular formation lay a blood-soaked half-elf. His face was battered, and his abdomen had been deeply slashed. Now that the fighting had died down, a healer from the guard was kneeling over Scipio, beginning a healing spell.
”Lady Circe!” Eugenia screamed.
The dark elf who had been holding the barrier collapsed. It wasn’t a lack of magic power. Kian’s eyes narrowed at the pungent odor lingering in the air.
”It’s likely the poison of Old Man Umar,” one of the guards explained. “Elves are incredibly weak to poison. Especially mineral poisons or synthetic ones created during alchemy… Lady Circe and Sir Scipio were the first to notice the air contamination. But…”
”It… it is no problem,” Circe said, pushing Eugenia back and managed to stand, though she was unsteady. “Before the contamination became too severe, I used wind magic to blow away the fouled air. I inhaled a little and my throat is ruined, but I am… alright.”
She broke into a pained cough mid-sentence. Still, she knelt beside the dying Scipio and activated her healing. His organs began to regenerate visibly, but since it wasn’t a Restoration Curse⁵, the lost blood didn’t return. Seconds later, he went from the brink of death to a pale, gasping four-eyes.
Is this an ‘Asterios Chance’? It’s painful, but I have to do it. Aggro management, aggro management.
”U-shishishishishi! Shitty four-eyes, you look even weaker than usual, nmo,” Kian mocked.
Scipio said nothing.
”What’s wrong? Say something back, nmo! Talk back to me with that nasty mouth of yours like always, nmo!” Kian prodded.
”Boy, leave it at–” a guard started.
”Shut up, old hag! If you die, I won’t forgive you, nmo,” Kian snapped. “Don’t you ever think that coming home alive is a disgrace, nmo. If you die, it’s over. For you, and for Crete. So live, no matter what! Never let go of life of your own accord! Do you understand!?”
Scipio didn’t answer. The dark circles under his eyes trembled, and he slowly closed them. He wasn’t dying; he was trying to conserve his strength.
”First aid for the wounded! Once everyone’s breath is steady, we head for the pier! We have a large reserve ship docked there!” Rita commanded. “Commander, take this neutralizer. And a potion to boost metabolism. Please swallow.”
”Thank you, Rita. This helps,” Circe coughed.
Kian stood up from Scipio’s side and scanned the group. “You lot were lucky, nmo,” he said.
”Lucky? Nothing about this is lucky desuno!” Meimei snapped. “Look at how many people are severely injured!”
Kian shook his head. “You’re lucky you were attacked here. If you’d been lured closer to the Southern Base, Mansoor would have killed you all, nmo.”
”General Asterios,” Rita said, her fox ears twitching.
Because I was in my Asterios state, my senses were dialed up to eleven from the heat of battle. I had noticed before she did.
”Nmo. It’s Mansoor. He’s coming with his elites. The plan was likely to lure you further in and crush you. Nmo,” I said.
”M-Mansoor is coming?” someone whispered.
”I’m not scared at all desuno!” Eugenia cried, pulling out her magic staff and glaring toward the mountain ridge. “He’s everyone’s enemy desuno! We’ll take him down instead!”
”Well said, Eu! Let’s get payback for the Vice-Commander!” Caesar shouted.
”That is mere bravado, Eugenia, Caesar,” Rita said, her voice stern.
”Boy, Rita. Mansoor is coming, isn’t he?” Circe asked.
”Yes, Commander,” Rita replied.
”I see. It is regrettable, but we retreat,” Circe said. “Prioritize the evacuation of the wounded. Those who can still fight, support General Asterios and me from the rear. We must not lose a single person, Scipio included. The people here are the future of Crete.”
The way there had taken Kian and Rita only an instant, but the return journey was agonizingly slow, as a quarter of the unit was severely injured. Fifty-five people had internal organ damage. They were in a state where their wounds were merely closed, requiring two healthy soldiers to support them on either side. The rest had ‘only’ broken bones.
Partway through, Guria and her Black Panther Tribe guards caught up, but it felt like a drop in the bucket. Even if they somehow shook off Mansoor, what would they do about the enemy fleet firing magic from the east and west of the island? Unless something was done about them, Kian and the others wouldn’t even be able to leave.
One possible way would be to find and destroy the source of the Teleportation Inhibition Barrier⁶ hidden in the thicket. However, rather than finding multiple hidden sources, it was more realistic for Kian and Rita to split up, charge the fleets, and assassinate the mages. In fact, that was exactly what Kian planned to do once they reached the Northern Base.
”Circe, are you okay?” Kian asked.
”I… I am fine,” she replied. “It was a lapse in judgment. It has been centuries since I became immortal… to think I have become so dull to the scent of death. No, the poison of Old Man Umar that can foul this body to such an extent is truly impressive.”
”Is this the time to be praising the enemy?” Guria asked. “Umar is on the enemy side, but his son Kian is an ally…”
”What’s with you all of a sudden, Princess?” a guard asked. “Defending that hero who isn’t even here?”
”It’s no use. They’re catching up, nmo,” Kian interrupted.
Kian looked over the ridge. It had been five minutes since the retreat began, but the enemy was fast. They felt more skilled than any of the monks they had fought so far. In contrast, there were only about twenty of them. Or rather, it felt like there were only about twenty.
Mansoor’s presence had vanished like smoke. They were warrior monks, after all; it was only natural they could use stealth. Warrior monks are strong in a frontal assault, but being stalked from the shadows is far more troublesome.
”Lord Asterios, Rita. Where is Mansoor? I can’t sense him at all,” Guria whispered.
”Don’t let your guard down,” Rita warned.
The coastline lay to their right, the mountain slope to their left. The Northern Base was still far off, and the darkness hide everything.
”Did Mansoor retreat?” someone asked.
”Not a chance, nmo,” Kian replied. “He’s definitely slipped away from those twenty following us and is circling around to strike our flank, nmo.”
Circe vomited for the third time. The poison was likely being metabolized, but each time she retched, her strength was chipped away. Circe didn’t possess the same physical toughness as Kian or Rita. She was roughly on par with Aliona.
Guria rubbed the back of the old mage as she spat up. Beside her, the Black Panther Tribe warrior’s whiskers twitched.
”Hey, this is bad. Something… something dangerous is nearby!”
”Don’t let your guard down-nmo! Mansoor might be—-Eugenia!! Get down!”
Caesar and Shark were carrying a blood-stained Scipio. Beside them, a red-haired girl guarding them with her magic staff drawn turned around, blinking. “Huh?”
In that heartbeat, Kian used ‘Shadow Pursuit’ to Leap move to the center-flank of the retreating Crete army. He used brute force to tackle Eugenia, who was already activating her Physical Ability Enhancement. Within a fraction of a second, he pushed off her and glared toward the shoreline.
Confused cries rose behind him.
Rita had shoved Scipio, Caesar, and Shark all to the ground at once. Scipio’s ‘glasses’ tumbled across the dirt with a clatter.
”—-“
”—-“
Beyond the darkness.
A ‘shadow’ that had looked like a coastal rock shifted slightly.
White hair, a mustache stained with returning red. Crimson eyes glowing with a predatory light.
It was Mansoor.
The phantom clad in black monk’s robes was already swinging a black magic sword.
’Magic sword of Black Onyx. Do not let your trajectory falter!’
(I know.)
The moment their eyes met, Kian blurred to the side.
Using high-speed movement, he let the Kharab Severing Magic Sword strike empty air. He had used the sheer momentum of his move to blow Scipio and the others back (Mansoor had likely targeted him first as a guaranteed kill). With that, the evasion was complete.
”—-!”
Mansoor’s eyes widened at the speed of the reaction.
”…Hmph. I see.”
But that surprise lasted only a few Leap moments. The phantom, holding the Severing Magic Sword with Immortal-Slayer properties, swung the blade down in a trajectory meant to pierce both Circe and Guria simultaneously.
”Ah…”
Circe had sensed it with a veteran’s instinct, but the defeat came because Guria’s concentration had broken for just a Leap second. Paralyzed by Kian and Rita’s sudden actions, she couldn’t react.
Because she’s immortal.
Because ‘I’ (Watashi) won’t die, probably–.
Based on that gamble, Circe shoved Guria away with all her strength.
In that instant.
The Dark Elf magician was riddled with holes and erupted into a blast of gore.
”Ci–“
”COMMANDER!!”
Rita screamed. Eugenia, Caesar, Shark, and Meimei-who had been out in front-all began to scream a moment later. The cornerstone of national defense, a pillar equal to Asterios. More than that, the old woman who had been everyone’s spiritual support had been blown apart before their eyes.
Except for Kian and Rita, likely no one knew the true nature of the Black Onyx Magic Sword, so they didn’t believe Circe was truly dead. Yet, they all shrieked in unison.
”Tch, get back-nmo! You guys can’t handle him! Keep your distance! Support with magic!”
There was no time to mourn the dead. At that same moment, Kian caught the shadows of veteran warrior monks who had short-range teleported onto the mountain ridge. All of them were master-class. Moreover, they had far more combat experience surviving death zones than the monks of Jibril.
”Kill them, my men.”
Mansoor bared his teeth and leapt from the coast onto the military road. An enraged Rita charged him. Mansoor’s magic sword clashed with Rita’s scimitar. The magic sword was stronger, but Rita made up for it with a massive discharge of magic power.
Catching the fox-girl swordsman’s blade at close range, Mansoor let out a cry of joy.
”A sword! You finally switched to that…! Hahaha, what a fine Sword Aura! Nizaam, your disciple has grown splendidly!”
”I’ll kill you. I won’t forgive you!”
Rita’s voice was crushed. Guria had collapsed over the remains of Circe, hyperventilating in a wordless scream. Kian wanted to help, but he had to deal with the twenty elite warrior monks appearing on the ridge.
’It’s okay. I’m here. Let’s handle this calmly.’
(Who are you talking to? I’m not going to panic.)
’Well, that’s reassuring. Let’s do this, pig-d**k.’
”Yeah.”
(Secret Technique)
’Star’s Song. –Secret Technique’
Asterios always receives mana from the Spiritual Vein. Meanwhile, the independent right arm sucks up mana through a different stage. Facing the warrior monks charging down the mountain, Kian leveled countless invisible blades of ki toward them.
(‘Heavenfall’!)
”Heavenfall”
”—-!” “…!?” “What, needles!?”
The Crete soldiers were too distraught over Circe’s death to notice. In that gap, he would wipe out the enemy with his signature move. Over a hundred invisible blades from Kian and Talia combined deployed behind his back.
Launch.
Being hardened veterans, a few leapt wide, but the rest were caught in the carpet-bombing of the Secret Technique ‘Heavenfall’ and vanished into the shockwaves.
Good, that’s nearly half of them–that thought lasted only a moment before the low groan of a conch shell horn echoed from the shore behind them.
”Haha, you are already finished!”
Mansoor laughed loudly while locked in a struggle with Rita.
”Asterios! If you don’t want your allies to die, try shooting down a great magic like you did before! But my magicians are a different breed. I wonder how many meteors you can crush! It’ll be a sight to see!”
”Tch.”
’…Kian. You handle the meteors. Deal with the remaining monks after. Sacrifices are… unavoidable.’
As Talia’s voice echoed in his mind, a scream erupted from Asterios.
(No, I’m Asterios. Then who is–)
He protected his allies from the oncoming monks. He released a massive electrical discharge to pin down the enemies lurking in the dark. In that extreme state, what Kian saw was Rita forcibly blowing Mansoor back.
”Ngh!?”
”I won’t let them die…! Not a single one! I will protect them!”
Rita’s heart gave a violent thud. Simultaneously, her mana release began. Just like the crimson Asterios Kian had shown before, Rita’s white body began to glow like a star in Scorpius. Her hair stood on end, and black lightning crackled around her.
”This is…” “Old Man Nizaam’s…” “The image… it overlaps…”
The warrior monks who had been lunging at the slow-reacting Eugenia and the wounded stopped in their tracks. Kian let out a roar and charged. They were too close to his allies to use ‘Heavenfall’. He had to cut them down one by one. Talia caught his intent and used Heat Manipulation magic to create chains of crystallized air, keeping the enemy at bay across a wide area.
”Ha! Shall we dance, Nizaam’s ‘daughter’!?”
Mansoor sneered as he watched Rita extend eerie black mana like tentacles. His red eyes sparkled at the sight of Azrael’s strongest being revived in this world.
The air…
Screamed.
From Rita’s staggering mana release, even Guria began to bleed from her ears. Rocks shattered under the pressure, and grains of sand floated silently into the air. It was like a poltergeist caused by a mage who couldn’t control their power. Rita had lost her usual demure appearance; with her hair standing up, she had become a crimson demon god.
”Composite Secret Technique.”
”Haha!”
Mansoor fired a barrage of ‘Shots’. However, the old man’s long-range attacks simply dissipated against Rita’s violent mana release. The attacks weren’t even reaching her. The phantom’s expression twisted in shock, but it quickly turned back into a mad grin that said, “Now this is worth hunting.”
No one could get near the enraged Rita anymore.
”Composite Secret Technique: ‘Final Draw’.”
Rita’s yellow eyes glowed dully. Her heart, her arteries-everything was visible through her translucent white skin. It wasn’t brave; it was an unnervingly abnormal sight. Less a person, more a doll designed only to unleash a technique. A mass of killing intent refined to the absolute limit. That was what she had become.
White steam billowed up around her.
Final Draw.
Literally, the blade of the end. There would be no next move. The secret technique Nizaam had created to challenge the golden age of magicians was being reproduced.
Kian couldn’t see the start of the motion. Even he couldn’t grasp it. He simply felt that he was going to die.
I’m going to be cut–.
A shock he hadn’t felt since his first fight with Natra.
Suddenly, time stopped.
”Searing Sands, Smokeless Phantasm: Demon Djinn Blade” ⁷
── Ifrit ⁸ ──
A whisper was left behind, like a cruel prank played by the wind.
”────────”
She appeared instantly before Mansoor’s eyes. A dark blur cut through the air with a heavy, predatory hum.
Rita had already sheathed her blade.
She remained in a low draw stance. As if time itself had skipped a beat, she stood before the monstrosity.
”────”
Sound died.
Mansoor’s form shattered into mist, blown away.
And then…
Before Rita’s eyes, a black blade of pure energy-reaching dozens of feet into the sky-manifested. It cleaved through the beach, the dark sea, and the ships of Mansoor’s mages approaching in the distance.
A strike quieter than the Windsong Blade ⁹.
But that was only because she had performed the draw at a speed that left sound itself behind.
A thunderous roar.
The sea split.
Rita had cut the very ocean.
The seabed was visible. Rocks were ground to dust. Every creature swimming or crawling there was annihilated. The ships beyond were split clean in two, disintegrating in mid-air. With a deep, bone-shaking rumble, the walls of the sundered sea rushed back to seal the wound. It was a divine-era technique of such majesty that it was a tragedy it happened under the shroud of night.
”Ka… Kakakakaka!” Mansoor’s fading voice mocked.
”Tsk, he got away!” Rita barked.
She stamped her foot in frustration, looking up at the sky.
”Nizaam’s daughter…! You exceed my expectations. Splendid. It was like watching him in his younger days,” the voice echoed.
Switching gears, Rita walked briskly back toward the group. Only seven of the veteran warrior monks remained, but seven were no match for the likes of Kian and Rita. They chose immediate retreat, but Rita mercilessly tore through their retreating backs.
Mansoor’s presence vanished utterly.
Once he confirmed this, Kian rushed to Eu, who was nearby. “Casualties?!” he asked urgently.
* * *
In the distance, the constant sound of explosions echoed. Within the military port of Northern Base, the struggle against the High Magic continued.
Kian and Rita had crushed two prongs of the enemy’s assault and cleared the base of intruders. Because of that, the Crete army had somehow avoided total annihilation.
But they were barely holding on.
There were no signs of protection barriers being raised. Every Crete mage on the ships had either been hunted down or turned into sea-drift at the bottom of the ocean.
All that mattered now was how many reserve ships remained.
Depending on the situation, they might have to leave the wounded and have those who could swim flee into the ocean. If Talia’s seventh magic sword, ‘Water Moon’ ¹⁰, had been here, the story would be different-but there was no use crying for the moon. That blade was far beyond Kian’s current reach.
”Circe! Circe…! I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! I was just… I was spaced out…!” Guria sobbed.
”It’s alright, Princess. Lady Circe won’t die from something like this,” an officer said.
”That’s right! Lady Circe is immortal!” another added.
The wounded woman let out a wet, ragged cough.
”General, we should leave the wounded,” one of the elite guards whispered into Kian’s ear, his face twisted in agony. The young ones from the Lightning Knights heard him, but not a single voice rose to reproach him.
Northern Base had fallen back into a fiery hell, and the warships in the strait were decimated.
If they tried to flee on a large vessel, they would be subjected to a relentless, staggered barrage of High Magic from behind. On the open sea, it would be impossible for even Kian and Rita together to keep shooting down every incoming spell.
”We don’t abandon our people-nmo,” Kian said firmly.
”Rita, but… like this… it’s impossible-desuno,” Guria replied.
Rita looked at the horizon. “No, we won’t abandon them. There’s a way out.”
At Rita’s words, the black panther tribesman guarding Guria knitted his brows. “Where? You’re not suggesting we go hunting for the source of the anti-teleportation barrier inside that thicket-the enemy’s stronghold-while being bombarded by localized magic, are you?”
”No-nmo,” Kian said.
Those who were uninjured gathered, moving away from the allies who couldn’t walk. Kian looked at them each in turn.
”Rita and I will charge the enemy lines to the east and west.”
”What…?” Guria gasped.
”We’re going to hunt the mages casting the spells-nmo,” Kian continued. “While their attacks slacken, you lot get on whatever reserve ships are left and get the hell out of here-nmo.”
”Heh. It seems the General and I are of one mind,” Rita said with a sharp laugh.
Her magic power had been depleted by that last strike, but it was steadily recovering. As long as her body didn’t fail due to hunger or blood loss, she could keep fighting.
”No… you can’t! You can’t do that!” Guria screamed.
Soon after, the members of the Lightning Knights crowded around Rita. “You’re saying we should just leave you behind-desuno? I absolutely won’t allow it-desuno!”
”Don’t you dare try to play the hero! If you die, it’s over-desuwa!” another knight shouted. “That’s how my father and mother died! I’m totally against such a moronic plan-desuwa!”
”Everyone, calm down,” Rita said. “Kian, do you have a death wish? Let’s think of a way for everyone to be saved.”
(Nobody’s worried about me-nmo, I see,) Kian thought.
‘Well, considering your past behavior…’ a voice in his head mocked.
(It’s not my fault-nmo!)
‘You’re the one who came up with “Operation Holy-Dark Woodie,” you know…’
”Rita, reconsider,” Guria pleaded. “Charging deep into enemy lines to kill mages… you’ll never come back alive!”
”You saw my strike just now. I am not like you fragile creatures. Killing those mages will be child’s play.”
”But you’re still flesh and blood! If you get hit, you die!”
”Guria, this is something someone must do,” Rita said, placing her hands on Guria’s shoulders. “If we stay here, everyone except General Asterios and myself will be wiped out. On the other hand, if we strike the mages, everyone might live.”
”But-!”
”No ‘buts.’ Listen to me.” Rita looked her in the eye. “Guria, you must not die. Now that Lady Circe and Lord Scipio have fallen, who will support the aging King Minos? Your younger sister in the capital?”
Guria flinched.
”Medea is also heavily wounded. You are the only one who can lead.”
Rita turned to the others. “General Asterios says he has no intention of claiming Guria for his own.”
A stir went through the crowd, but she shouted, “Listen! As long as Guria lives, the sovereignty of Crete remains intact. Even if Lord Scipio dies, even if Medea’s wounds worsen, the kingdom stands. You must rally around her to oppose the Azrael ¹¹.”
Rita continued fervently. “Win the Western Church to your side. Seek reinforcements from Chatillon. Ask Lord Kian for help. One of them will surely aid you. If you struggle desperately for Crete’s freedom, that passion will move the world.”
”Rita…” Guria whispered.
”It’s not just Guria. All of you are the foundation. Crete is not merely the land within its borders. It is the people. You, who live in Crete and hold the pride of the Cretan people-you are Crete.”
Rita spoke with a slow, deliberate weight, as if accepting the burden of the entire world. “Go. Do not look back. Leave the rest to me and General Asterios.”
”You think it’s okay to separate me from Guria-nmo?” Kian asked.
”It will be fine,” Rita replied instantly. No one raised an objection. “At the very least, the man I have seen on this battlefield has been a rational hero who truly cares for Crete.”
”Is that so-nmo? Maybe I played it a bit too serious-nmo. Well, I’m the one who suggested the plan, so there’s no point in second-guessing it now-nmo.”
”Rita…”
”Guria, General Asterios will see that you live. If so, fulfill your duty as one who survives. You must be the one to bring everyone together. Become a magnificent Queen.”
”Rita!”
”Go. Meimei, Shark. I entrust Princess Guria Selda to you.”
”Understood-desuno,” Meimei said.
”I won’t forgive you if you die,” Shark added. “We’ll wait until the very last second. You must come back.”
”Aa,” Rita said.
Rita nodded firmly and gestured toward the northeastern pier.
Taking that as the signal, everyone except Kian and Rita suppressed their magic output. Vanishing into the shadows, they began to bypass the harbor of Northern Base.
”Well then, shall we-nmo?” Kian asked.
”Indeed.” Rita cracked her neck.
Kian looked up at the thicket stretching deep into Northern Base and Gorgon Mountain ¹² beyond.
”So, who’s charging where-nmo?”
”You take the east. I go west,” Rita said.
”Shidarkan is in the west-nmo. The east is just the remnants of the Mansoor Army we already beat-nmo. The distance back to the ships is further in the west, too.”
”That is fine. I have no intention of returning anyway. I cannot cut Shidarkan, but I will cut down everyone else and fall right there.”
”Are you sure about that? What about Guria and everyone’s wishes?”
Rita looked down at her hands. “Nizaam’s obsession is rooted in me. I am the killing blade he tried to leave for the future. Such a thing is better left to end. But if I must die, I want to die fighting for my comrades.”
”……”
”I cannot grant everyone’s wishes. It is better that way. They will be fine from here on out. I pray for it. Lord Kian and Lady Talia will help Guria.”
(Aside from me-nmo, you’re counting on “him” too, huh? What exactly did you two talk about during that “Woodie” operation?)
Rita looked at him with a hint of bashfulness. “Time is short. Let’s go. General, since you are immortal, you’ll probably just be captured and sent to a lab, but if you get cut by that Black Onyx magic sword from earlier, perhaps we can return to the Spiritual Vein ¹³ together. If that happens, let us talk at length on the other side. It seems… I may have misunderstood you.”
She offered a small, sad smile, said “Gomen,” and leaped toward the enemy.
She was gone.
Left alone, Kian looked back at the road they had traveled. He had to do his job. He had to watch out for the Mithril ships and annihilate the mages.
—
Summary:
Kian (as Asterios) and Rita launch a devastating counter-attack on a group of enemy mages to rescue Commander Circe’s unit. Despite the victory, Scipio is gravely wounded and Circe is poisoned by Old Man Umar’s toxins. The group begins a slow, perilous retreat toward the Northern Base’s pier while the elite enemy commander Mansoor stalks them from the shadows.
The elite enemy commander Mansoor launches a surprise attack that results in the brutal death of the commander Circe. This loss triggers a terrifying transformation in Rita, who unleashes a hidden, body-altering secret technique. Kian struggles to manage multiple threats as Mansoor prepares to call down meteors.
Rita executes a divine sword technique that splits the sea to halt the enemy fleet, saving the remnants of the Crete army. Realizing they are still trapped, Kian and Rita decide to stay behind to assassinate the enemy mages so the others can escape. Rita gives an emotional farewell to Princess Guria, entrusting her with the future of Crete.
—
Trivia:
- Kian is intentionally using ‘aggro management’ by acting rude to Scipio to keep him awake.
- The enemy used synthetic/mineral poisons specifically because elves are weak to them.
- The Teleportation Inhibition Barrier is the reason they can’t simply warp away.
- Mansoor is using ‘Invisibility/Stealth’ (隠形), which makes him undetectable even to high-level senses.
- Mansoor specifically targeted Scipio first because he was a ‘guaranteed kill’.
- Circe sacrificed herself because she believed her immortality might save her, or she prioritized Guria’s life over her own gamble.
- Rita’s transformation is so intense it causes physical damage (bleeding ears) to those nearby just from the pressure.
- Kian uses a joint technique with Talia called ‘Heavenfall’ which consists of invisible ki blades.
- Rita’s skin becomes translucent during her ‘Final Draw’ state, revealing her internal anatomy
- Caesar, who is helping now, previously had a ‘suspension’ for trying to kill Kian.
- The ‘Windsong Blade’ is mentioned as a baseline for the power of Rita’s new strike.
- Talia’s ‘Water Moon’ sword is currently out of reach for Kian.
- Rita acknowledges that she is essentially a living weapon created by Nizaam.
- The protagonist Kian is referred to as General Asterios by the Crete forces.
- The ‘Black Onyx’ sword has the power to potentially kill Kian permanently by returning him to the Spiritual Vein
—
Character Insight:
Kian is fully inhabiting the ‘Asterios’ persona, balancing beastly violence with calculated psychological ‘hate’ management to keep his allies motivated. Circe shows her pride as an ancient mage by refusing to show weakness even as her body fails due to the poison.
Rita moves from being a cold weapon to a selfless comrade, choosing to die to protect Guria’s future. Kian shows a surprisingly rational and heroic side, though he still maintains his crude internal monologue.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The ‘nmo’ tic is a play on Kian’s Minotaur-like transformation (Asterios), bridging the gap between a fierce warrior and a somewhat goofy animalistic trait.
The ‘pig-d**k’ insult (Buta-chinpo) is a recurring vulgarity used by Talia to keep Kian grounded/annoyed during high-stress combat.
The ‘Operation Holy-Dark Woodie’ (Light & Darkness O-Chin-Chin) is a recurring gag that highlights the tonal dissonance between Kian’s crude nature and the serious plot.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Rita – Female warrior monk with fox ears, last direct disciple of Nizaam, wears a fox-ear hooded jacket. A ‘killing doll’ beastman created by Nizaam.
• Eugenia – Red-haired girl with a ponytail, serving as a messenger pigeon for Sir Scipio.
• Mansoor – Crimson-eyed elder monk and Azrael’s Divine General from the Shakerdoust domain near Dacia. Wielding mist form, blood-drinking, rapid healing. He ties to allies like Ryoma and Hanami Tsai. First appearing in Vol. 4 Ch. 25. Quick tag: vampiric red-eyed grandpa-general who mist-forms and drinks blood, obsessed with rescuing his captured son unlike other human monks.
• Mag – The wolfwoman under Yelmar—the one who was caught by Kian’s group earlier.
• Kharab – The enemy who stole Talia’s soul and possessed her body; referred to by the Black Onyx Spirit; defeated by Kian.
• Nizaam – A former member of Azrael’s Twelve Divine Generals and the current head of the Malc family, though he has passed both titles to his daughter to return to the battlefield. He is a prominent warrior noble in Azrael, known for his love of beautiful boys and fierce battles.
• Talia – A high-ranking vampire spirit currently possessing the body of Lyritisse. In this form, she has flaxen hair, blue eyes, and thick lips.
• Kakaka – Male. Top warrior of the Cat Beastmen Tribe. Known for his agility and precision in combat. Relationship: Part of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.
• Shidarkan – Gloomy, bearded son-in-law of the Malc family (Flora’s clan); once a modest Malc magician, ordinary next to Shajar’s elites. Attends the Cyclops Island war council after losing his wife, Flora, and sisters-in-law in the northern base’s destruction. First appears Vol. 4 Ch. 45. Reminder: bereaved Malc son-in-law—sober, doubtful, and dim but dutiful.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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