Volume 3 Chapter 186 Quest： Black Ice Sudden Rain 3️⃣
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In the fake river, sinking into the evening purple, many black shapes got swallowed by the dark.
The water’s surface, showing the purple sky, kept calm waves like usual.
Then, many black cat-like heads popped out.
Their yellow eyes flashed, then vanished back under the water.
This slow river current near a place called Azancourt, just in front of Ramsey, was once a peaceful trading spot.
Merchants from the Steel Tiger Tribe and Ramsey met there by the hill’s foot.
A dock made it easy to reach—a shallow, well-kept place.
When Oswald guarded, he always watched this crossing.
But now, with him gone, Beastmen warriors used this way to threaten Ramsey’s fort—the main defense.
”No one here. Let’s move up,” Fraus said, flashing a yellow light on the water as he reached out to signal his group.
His sharp ears caught noises from about 300 Izerland soldiers on the hill.
The smell of food cooking mixed with alcohol.
Someone played lively music on an instrument.
Loud, rude laughter echoed around.
Among the sounds were strange cries—maybe from people on drugs.
”Those regular troops?” a young black panther warrior whispered next to Fraus.
”They look weak compared to Oswald’s men,” he added.
”Don’t get careless,” Fraus said quietly, landing on the riverbank.
There were no guards anywhere.
With so much noise and drinking, that made sense.
Still, Fraus felt the anticlimax deep inside.
”Anyone sworn not to harm women, raise your hand,” Fraus said, turning in his plain white shirt and pants, an ice magic sword on his back.
Out of the 50 black panther warriors who landed, ten lifted their hands a little.
”Anyone sworn not to attack enemies who retreat?” he asked next.
Five hands rose slowly.
Fraus nodded once.
”Remember the faces of those who made these vows,” he said calmly.
This was their usual pre-battle check.
”Reports say there are three witches from Izerland,” Fraus said, voice low. “They serve the Margrave directly. Only the chosen get such skills. They trained like Barghest did. We must kill them first. If we stop them, the enemy can’t use big magic attacks anymore.”
As for Lord Kian and his magicians—the Azraelian witch and the Eastern witch—
They already knew their locations from captured servants.
Arminus was heading there.
No problems on that side.
No one in this world can kill Arminus.
Even the Knights of the Sun Oswald couldn’t catch Arminus blending into night’s shadows.
Lord Kian, slower in reaction, couldn’t catch him either.
(Even if caught—)
”‘The immortal’ Fraus,” the lieutenant whispered, crouching close.
He had strong beast blood too, almost like a black panther like Fraus.
Water dripped from his black beard as he spoke.
”We never heard your Geass before.”
”No need to say it,” Fraus answered quietly.
”This ambush vow—is it sure not to cause trouble?”
”Why ask that?” Fraus asked calmly, a small chuckle inside.
Maybe the vow’s details got out.
Many were old comrades; some might feel uneasy.
”N-no, nothing. If it doesn’t affect the ambush, I have no complaints,” the lieutenant said quickly.
Fraus narrowed his eyes and breathed cold air, frosting his wet fur.
He kept calm but showed sharp teeth in a smirk.
”Let’s go. Time for battle.”
Fraus ran silently.
Fifty warriors followed like shadows.
If the Wolfmen mercenaries were a silver storm, Fraus’s group was a black storm.
They climbed the hill quickly, jumping one by one into the camp ahead.
The Izerland soldiers in camp finished eating and relaxed.
It was early for sleep, so they stayed awake but careless.
They didn’t know talks with the alliance and Eleonora failed.
No surprise they felt safe.
(The regular army has 300 people. We have less, but…)
”Yawn… Maybe time to sleep… wha—!?” one soldier said, surprised.
”Huh? What’s that? Yikes!?” another yelled.
”Gah!? E-enemies!? Gyaaah!?” a third shouted.
Fraus’s warriors jumped at the soldiers trying to reach their tents.
The warriors wore no armor.
The enemy blades bounced off their strong muscles and thick fur from their enhancements.
No attacks even landed—they were too fast and strong.
Fraus sprang at five soldiers cleaning pots.
With one swing of his ice sword, he cut off all their heads before they noticed him.
A pot dropped.
A cold wind blew out the campfire, freezing it instantly.
Five magician black panthers put out all campfires and torches.
Darkness swallowed the camp.
Roars of anger mixed with screams.
Chaos and blood filled the air.
The enemy didn’t know what hit them, falling quickly to Fraus and his group.
”What’s happening!?” a wild boar Beastman shouted, rushing out from a tent.
Around him, about 20 crossbowmen stood ready.
He scowled, ugly face twisted, swinging his halberd.
”Attack! ────── Attack! Enemy attack!”
Black panthers beside Fraus dashed, flipping through the night sky.
One swung his longsword down fast, surprising the wild boar Beastman.
”───────!”
The boar blocked two black panthers with quick moves.
True to its nature, it had huge strength.
Fraus stopped, holding his magic sword.
Two warriors landed softly beside him, low and quiet.
”I believe you are Lord Bertrand du Guesclin,” Fraus said coldly.
”…! Line up single file! Form line! Crossbows ready!” Bertrand shouted.
”I’ll take that man’s head,” Fraus said with a cruel smile.
He ordered his two warriors to attack at once.
”Kuh…!” one flew overhead, aiming for Bertrand’s neck.
The other crawled low, aiming for his ankles.
Bertrand backed away, swinging his halberd to block the flying attacker.
But he couldn’t stop the second panther hitting his exposed thigh.
”Commander!! Damn it!!” a soldier yelled.
(Too slow.)
Fraus swung his ice sword.
Power exploded from the blade.
Countless ice spears shot from the feet of crossbowmen behind Bertrand.
The lightly armored crossbowmen were pierced instantly, unable to fight back.
”Run! Run away!” Bertrand yelled, face hard with resolve.
Behind the pierced crossbowmen, an old woman magician in black robes fainted.
A fool who didn’t know the battlefield.
”Escape! Run to checkpoint!” Bertrand yelled, swinging his halberd to hold off the panthers.
One black panther threw a knife casually, hitting Bertrand’s bare right thigh.
”Bertrand!!” someone shouted, panic in their voice.
”Gah! Run!!” Bertrand gasped, clutching his leg.
”────────!” The old witch moved fast, scanning the dark camp carefully.
The distance between Fraus and the old witch was ten meters.
The ice spears stopped a quick chase, but the old witch couldn’t catch Fraus anyway.
She lunged for the magician’s staff leaning against the wall of the shelter, rolling forward.
But panic made her flick the staff the wrong way, sending it rolling away.
Still, she didn’t give up or lose hope. She bit the staff and turned it back toward herself, pointing its tip to help Bertrand.
”────!?” The old witch’s eyes widened when Fraus already landed before her.
His strange young dark blue eyes stared.
A crossbow shot came from the side, but Fraus ignored it, catching all the arrows with his left hand and crushing them.
”Ah… Aaaaaah!” The witch cried out, fear filling her eyes.
She poured magic power from her staff, activating earth magic.
The wind scattered the magic power on her dark fur, weakening the attack.
The stone spear she made was the best choice in that moment.
But Fraus stopped the stone spear with the coarse hair on his belly.
The rock smashed against the scales on his stomach and broke.
”……!”
”Hiiiimeee!” Bertrand shouted loudly.
Fraus swung his magic sword up, piercing the powerful crossbow arrows covered in magic words, freezing them in ice.
Then, carelessly, he swung his blade toward the old witch’s neck.
Fraus’s arm bent with a whizzing sound.
”────” The old witch’s lips moved softly, calling someone’s name.
”────!”
She felt the wind just before.
Something flew toward her.
But without fear, Fraus cut off the old witch’s head.
He tried to decapitate her.
Suddenly, Fraus felt his right arm disappear at the shoulder.
”Fraus!” The lieutenant shouted urgently.
”No problem.” Fraus said calmly.
Dodging Bertrand’s attack from behind, Fraus turned his back.
A new crossbow appeared behind the old witch.
Fraus clicked his tongue and dodged arrows left and right, retreating toward his team.
Ice-like scales grew on Fraus’s cheek, and his missing arm started healing right away.
”Sniper.” Fraus said coldly.
The old witch, still healing Bertrand with magic, knelt in front of him.
Bertrand stood guard in front of her.
Ten crossbow soldiers stood behind them.
Fraus pointed to a big oak branch in the forest with his left hand as black panther warriors gathered around him.
”There. Shoot it down.” He ordered.
A black panther magician cast a spell.
The rest of the warriors charged forward.
Suddenly, a rain of arrows fell.
They weren’t from the crossbow soldiers.
Someone on top of the oak tree—likely a magic archer—attacked.
Countless glowing blue arrows shone like stars, piercing near Bertrand and the witch.
Some arrows exploded on impact, kicking up dust two meters high.
Because of this heavy long-range attack, the black panthers changed their target from Bertrand and the witch to the magician in the tree.
”Surround them! Take them down!” Fraus’s lieutenant shouted from the side.
”Don’t freeze! Move separately! Scatter! Scatter!” he barked.
”Arms of earth, feet of earth,” a female voice began chanting.
The sound echoed across the bloody camp at dusk.
”────! Tch! Be careful!” someone warned.
”Let the mistletoe’s pulse replace the heart.
Return, giant of the earth.
I, descendant of the spirit tree,
Call you from the abyss.”
The ground shook in front of the soldiers moving toward the oak tree.
The earth axis wobbled, and the experienced warriors stopped and jumped back.
”Fill it, close it, fill it again.
Borrow the teeth of the dead and give birth to a cry.
────Activate, clay golem. Chesed, Vav, Tiferet.”
The chant ended.
The earth rose on the hill.
Rock golems about three meters long crawled on all fours.
Dirt fell from their backs.
The thumping of many hearts glowing green lit up the hill.
Each wore a mistletoe crown.
Under the crown, a giant eye appeared where the face should be.
The eye spun wildly, then fixed on the black panthers, the white of the eye clear.
One golem ground its jagged square mouth and opened it wide.
A deep, thunderous roar shook the air.
”Damn it!” A black panther warrior charged the tall golem.
A green pulse beat at its heart.
Thinking it was weak, he stabbed his longsword deep.
”Huh?” The golem didn’t stop.
It raised its arm.
Another warrior cut off the golem’s arm trying to help.
”────!? Gah…” they gasped.
Suddenly, arrows from the oak tree hit them.
Two were torn apart gruesomely at the golem’s feet.
The golem’s severed arm started to heal.
The rock soldiers stomped forward, charging Fraus and his group.
”────!” A scream came from behind.
Fraus jumped sideways.
Two black panther magicians, slow to react, flew headfirst into a black thicket.
”……Who are they?” Fraus asked quietly.
In the back, allies fought fiercely with the magician in the oak tree.
Ignoring them, Fraus fixed his gaze on a small shadow that silently appeared from the campsite.
He called out softly.
”────”
It was a girl.
She wore black cloth armor like a monk’s robe.
In her right hand, she held a sinister purplish-red sword.
She held it like ready to spread a wing and slowly moved closer.
”────”
”……”
”────”
Five black panther warriors kicked the ground at once.
They floated lightly in the air, so light the wind barely touched them.
They aimed their strikes at the girl’s neck from every side.
But the girl—
”Yaaaa────!” she shouted, leaping with a speed beyond human.
With one jump, she sliced them all into tiny pieces.
”────!”
A cold chill ran through the warriors facing her.
Even in darkness, her sword strikes were invisible.
The girl carelessly splattered blood on the ground.
Then she turned her sharp eyes to Fraus and the others, searching for the next target.
* * *
(I will handle the first part. The rest of the sixteen are Rufna’s job.)
Natra jumped over a corpse and threw a knife without much effort.
Her magic flared, and the knife exploded in front of the black panther warriors.
They tried to block with their thick fur.
But three warriors caught unguarded had their heads blown off.
Two others nearby were knocked down by the blast.
”────!”
The warriors cried out strangely and attacked in chaos.
Though they seemed organized, the black panthers fought mostly alone.
They didn’t coordinate like the silver wolves.
Natra leaned slightly to the right, dodging the first attack.
At the same time, she cut off a warrior’s head.
Right.
Left.
Step by step, she walked slowly but sped up at every enemy strike.
She dodged and cut down attackers in a smooth rhythm.
Enemies came from all sides.
She used ‘threads’ to keep them away.
For those getting close, she turned the ground into a muddy swamp with earth magic.
They got stuck and she smashed their heads with a blast.
It was like their attacks couldn’t touch her.
If you fight her, you die──.
This was no battle.
It was a one-sided massacre.
She was just clearing enemies steadily.
The brave black panthers shook with fear.
After four were blown apart and seven cut down, they stopped their wild charge.
They surrounded her and pointed their blades threateningly.
If they chose defense, she would attack more.
(Secret Technique)
Natra wrapped spiraling energy around her legs.
Five meters away.
Seven enemies left.
Three lined up straight.
They were her target.
(‘Pursuit of the Shadow’)
Azrael’s sword art.
The second secret technique.
Her ‘Leap’ style, trained with her master on the beach, made her body vanish.
”────…” she whispered as she moved.
She gave them no chance to react.
The Beastmen couldn’t even see her move.
Her speed was a mix of refined ki and strong activation effects.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps──Natra’s body flickered like a phantom shadow.
Before the fourth step, she was behind the seven black panthers.
Three heads flew off.
Their bodies fell.
The afterimage of her third step disappeared.
The shadow caught up, merging with her fourth step.
”────!”
”────!?”
”That one!”
A magic soldier turned quickly and cast magic.
Natra canceled it instantly with her magic sword’s power.
She sliced the necks of three black panther magicians with a mid-range strike.
They trusted their magic-repelling fur too much.
But Natra’s Impact Strike held a different magic strength.
It wasn’t weakened at all.
Facing the last man—Fraus—Natra pointed her magic sword at him.
”Surrender, General Fraus?” she asked sharply.
”Hahaha. No chance,” Fraus laughed.
He summoned an ice magic sword and took a stance.
Yellow light flickered under his narrow eyes.
”A rare quality after a long time…!” he said.
”Look around. Your squad is wiped out,” Natra said, her black eyes burning bright.
Behind Fraus, the last black panther lieutenant was torn apart by a golem.
He screamed in pain and fear before dying.
”Forty-nine dead. No exceptions except you,” Natra stated calmly.
”Then I’ll take your two heads as tribute to our fallen comrades,” Fraus growled.
”Rufna, cast the enhancement spell on me,” Natra ordered.
Blue and red ki wrapped around her body, boosting her strength.
”Hmph──” Fraus vanished, leaving a blast wind behind.
His speed was incredible—faster than any black panther Natra had killed.
Probably faster than Juji’s speed, Sir Kian’s before, she thought.
Natra dodged the cold blade falling from behind and squinted as she pulled back.
Ten strikes in one second.
The air buzzed with sounds as blue sword flashes cut ten arcs.
Natra blocked some and dodged others with quick steps as she fell back.
Like a wild cat stalking its prey, the attacks piled up.
But Natra’s reaction was faster as she jumped back, avoiding the strikes.
”Ooooooh!” Fraus shouted.
”────”
Holding his ice magic sword with both hands, he swung a final blow.
It was a powerful strike, like shadows rising beneath Natra’s feet.
Natra stepped back quickly.
Metal clashed with magic sword in a close fight.
Then the balance changed fast.
Natra dodged sideways, pushing Fraus forward.
She kicked his knee, making him kneel.
Before he could escape, she slashed deeply from shoulder to heart with her magic sword.
”────…”
She cut off his head quietly.
Natra stared down at Fraus’s body falling to the ground.
”I couldn’t see what you were doing at all,” Rufna said softly.
She climbed down from a strong oak tree, putting her magic bow away.
”……”
Rufna gently placed her hand on Natra’s shoulder.
Natra frowned, staring at Fraus’s remains.
”Anyway, good job. Now, should we check for survivors?” Rufna asked.
”Nah, Rufna,” Natra said firmly.
”Huh?”
”Fall back now.”
”What?” Rufna blinked.
”Fall back!” Natra grabbed the dark elf magician’s arm and jumped backward.
Just a moment too late, a blue tail appeared from the dark and swept the spot where they stood.
”It hit…” Rufna groaned, clutching her shoulder that felt like it might be dislocated.
Natra threw Rufna behind her forcefully.
She aimed her magic sword and looked up.
”────!”
The blue sky was falling.
Natra thought this as huge wings covered the night sky.
Her breath turned white.
Diamond-like dust scattered everywhere.
The sky changed from deep blue to pale white, reflecting campfire lights.
A huge figure descended before Natra’s eyes.
A long tail.
A smooth, strong body.
A head crowned with ice like a crown.
Sharp claws tore the summer grass.
Seasons changed suddenly.
It felt like midwinter.
Cold wind blew hard.
Frost spread on the ground.
”Dragon (Naga)…!” Natra gritted her teeth.
Before her stood a majestic dragon with blue and white scales.
It spread its wings in the sky, swinging its tail left and right.
Trees fell instantly from the sweeping blows.
Its size made it hard to tell how far away it was.
The whole body was too large to see at once.
The blue icy dragon, shining yellow eyes, lowered its head near Natra.
”To die once──that is my vow (Geass),” it said.
”──── General Fraus, right?” Natra said quietly, her eyes sharp.
”When was the last time I died?” the dragon asked without moving its mouth.
Only cold white air came out.
Fourteen thick big scales showed up on the dragon’s body. One cracked and broke into pieces in the air.
”By dying, I can release the ‘evil’ inside me,” the dragon said calmly.
”――――.”
”This power is too strong. It is the vow (Geass) I gave myself,” the dragon added quietly.
”My lady!” Rufna shouted, staring up at Fraus — the Ice Dragon — with steady eyes.
”Don’t stop! Help me now!” Natra called out.
”Ha, haah?” Rufna’s voice was fierce as she looked at Fraus.
”I will hunt this down! No more will die!” she said, firm and loud.
”…Got it! Break all 13 scales! If not, it will keep healing by using magic from the Spiritual Vein!” Rufna jumped up onto the oak tree.
The golems rushed forward, grabbing the dragon from all sides.
Fraus swatted them off with its tail and wings, looking annoyed.
”Support Lady Natra! Form a line! Crossbows, get ready!” someone shouted.
”Natra.” The dragon’s mouth said her name.
”Is that your name?” the dragon asked.
”――――.” Natra silently took her stance.
She gathered her energy and focused hard.
Bertrand lined up the crossbow soldiers again.
Fraus hit the last golem with its tail and threw it toward the soldiers.
A scream rang out.
Natra stabbed her magic sword into the ground.
Countless shadow thorns rose up, blocking the golems.
Rufna’s meteor magic hit the dragon’s side in return.
(If Sir Kian was here, he wouldn’t run away now.) Natra thought quietly.
She looked at the three witches holding their staffs near Bertrand.
Holy Squad rushed to join them from the checkpoint.
(I will beat it. I can do this!) Natra told herself.
──You are not like others.
──You can do what humans cannot.
──Believe in your power.
──Protect the weak.
Use your strength for what is right.
Her mother Talarene’s voice echoed in her mind.
Natra remembered the words from when she was little.
That old Natra is gone, but those memories live in her blood and bones.
”KYAAAAAAN!!!” The dragon’s roar sounded like ice cracking.
Many magic circles floated behind its wings.
Ice blocks moved, ready to fire.
But Natra saw a vision of Kian, standing tall against a huge enemy.
Her heart filled with courage.
Now, she could swing her sword faster and stronger than anyone.
She was sure of it.
”It’s a showdown!” Natra yelled, raising the thorn-covered magic sword near her ear.
She changed her gathered magic into a huge black blade.
* * *
”Sarah, Linca, go back!” Kian shouted as he sank into the swamp mud, pieces of her flesh falling off.
He yelled at the two female warrior monks breathing hard before her.
”────!” “Eh…?” Sarah jumped back right away.
Linca, wearing ‘Penetration,’ froze and didn’t move.
Then, a strong black tail swung carelessly right in front of Kian.
”Agh…!” Sarah cried, rolling on the ground with her shoulder hurt by a thorn.
Linca was hit sideways by the tail through ‘Penetration.’
The defense failed.
Linca’s body, wrapped in a white cloak, bent in a “K” shape.
Pieces of flesh fell off, and she was thrown into the swamp.
The black tail broke and fell after hitting the ‘Penetration.’
”Not bad,” someone said.
From the dark night, a huge figure appeared.
Sarah gritted her teeth and stood up, looking at the sky.
A three-headed dragon covered in many black scales.
The middle head had yellow eyes like Arminus.
It looked down at them.
”The vow’s binding is gone. After many years, I can show my full power,” the dragon said calmly.
”This is…!”
”Kian, take Ms. Linca and run!” Sarah jumped aside, grabbing the Windsong Blade and its holder.
”I’ll hold them! Hurry!” she said, voice strong.
”Ugh… Cough…” Linca weakly raised her body, losing her left arm.
Her torso was torn and bloody.
If she hadn’t fused with Night Wraith, she would be dead.
”Sir…Kian!” Linca called Kian’s name, coughing up blood while grabbing her arm.
”Are you running, Kian of Izerland? Sir Juji told me! Now show me your last trick! Which is stronger—my body or your sleep magic?” the enemy taunted.
”No, you must escape!” Sarah said, drawing the Windsong Blade, ready to fight.
”I can hold them for two minutes. You escape with Nue!” she ordered.
”Sir Kian… let’s go…” Linca whispered weakly.
’You can’t escape. It’s too late now,’ Talia whispered close to his ear.
Kian didn’t need to hear more.
He never planned to leave Sarah behind.
”……” He stepped forward, pulling out a small vial in front of Arminus — the transformed dragon.
He saw shock in Sarah and Linca’s eyes when they understood what he would do.
”Oh…?” Dragon asked.
”It’s you who are running away,” Kian said calmly.
He opened the vial of Talia’s Elixir.
Without waiting, he drank it all in one go.
”I will protect both of you,” Kian promised.
The change started.
His brain burned like fire.
”Run fast! I don’t know what will happen to me! Hurry!” he shouted.
”Kian!” Sarah cried.
”Sir Kian!” Linca shouted.
’This one will support you!’ Talia’s arm wrapped around her neck.
Strangely, warmth came from the dark hug.
”────”
The dragon spread its wide wings and faced Kian.
It hit the swamp hard with its tail and showed its fangs.
A loud roar echoed.
Over a hundred black scales shone with rainbow colors.
One scale cracked like black onyx tears.
His mind turned red.
Kian let out a terrible growl, one even he feared.
Long sharp fangs showed from his mouth.
His back felt like it was burning.
White wings grew on both sides of his body.
Seeing this, he thought, “It looks just like Azrael.”
That was his last thought.
To protect the two women, Kian let out his ugly beast side.
Notes:
• Azancourt – A location mentioned by Kian when discussing his terrain survey of Ramsey’s wetlands. Likely near Ramsey.
• Fraus – Male. Son of Arminus. Member of the Black Panther Tribe. Shares his father’s enhanced physical abilities and combat prowess. Relationship: Subordinate and family to Arminus.
• Arminus – Male. Leader of the Black Panther Tribe. Possesses extraordinary physical abilities, enhanced by the tribe’s unique technique that repels energy and magic attacks. His speed and strength surpass those of High Warlord Isthbaran. Wields the magic sword Balmung, capable of cleaving through an ice dragon with a single strike. His black fur provides camouflage in low visibility, making him nearly undetectable. Relationship: Leader of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.
• Bertrand – The recent knight recruited by Maribel from bandit. He is from boar tribe and have goblin-like face.
• Juji – Male. Leader of the Wolfmen’s ‘Jinsou’. A skilled warrior with sharp senses and combat abilities. Relationship: Part of the Beastmen Alliance’s delegation.
• Linca – Jibril’s favorite girl. High-ranking warrior monk woman from Shin, with strong abilities like ignoring attacks and poisons.
• Nue – A Shikigami summoned by Linca. It has the appearance of a monster with a tiger’s limbs and a monkey’s head. Nue is a powerful but dangerous creature that requires a skilled magician to control.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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