Chapter 118 : Chapter 118

Chapter 118

Isaac Heinrich.

As the second son of the imperial family, he was born under the gaze of many.

Before he was even two years old, countless royals and nobles had already pledged their loyalty to him.

By the time he was ten, he had adapted to a life filled with burden and pressure.

Even if it was loyalty to power and not to him, he was of a constitution that enjoyed the attention, and he had enough talent to compete for the throne.

That must have been why. He was intoxicated with the feeling of being an emperor while still a prince.

With a single gesture, a royal from another country was beheaded, and at a playful command, an entire kingdom was engulfed in the flames of war.

Overwhelming power, infinite support, and a privilege stronger than anyone else's.

The imperial family was a good place for talent to blossom.

“Your Highness has more aptitude as a knight than as a mage.”

The court mage who said so was beheaded.

“Y-Your Highness is talented in both magic and swordsmanship.”

The court knight who said so was also beheaded.

“Who do you think you are, to dare evaluate someone’s talent?”

In the end, Isaac chose his own path.

Mages, who had to compute formulas, had quick minds but frail bodies.

Therefore, the path of a Sword Master, which allowed one to maintain a vigorous body until a late age, wouldn't be so bad.

Perhaps the fact that the First Prince, Crusty Heinrich, was walking the path of a mage also influenced his choice.

After making his decision, everything went smoothly.

Countless Superhumans of the Empire came seeking to be his master, and the foremost among them was the Black Duke.

“I will support Your Highness from behind.”

The master of the Black Magic Tower and holder of the title of Duke, an Arch Mage who had achieved 8-star.

The Black Duke, who was in charge of Isaac’s education, declared that he was the material of an emperor.

The meeting of a genius of the ages and one of the continent’s most prominent masters.

There was no greater fortuitous encounter.

Thus, Isaac reached 6-star at twenty-five, and mastered 6-star at twenty-nine.

But perhaps there was a reason why people referred to 7-star as Superhuman.

Unexpectedly, he failed to reach 7-star for the next three years.

Faced with a wall for the first time, he resented the heavens, but believed there was a way out.

After all, he had a master for times like these.

“Your Highness is doing sufficiently well. In about 5 more years, you will ascend to the level of a Sword Master.”

After a few question-and-answer sessions, the Black Duke asserted this, but.

It was an unsatisfactory answer.

“Are you looking down on my talent?”

Isaac gritted his teeth and rebuked his master.

Five years. Some might say it was unbelievably fast, but he was no ordinary knight.

‘In that time, the competition for the throne will intensify.’

Crusty, who was only two years older than him, had recently reached 7-star.

And yet, it would take him five more years?

The Black Duke’s words were the same as telling him to admit that his talent was inferior to Crusty’s.

“I cannot wait for five years. You must find a way, Duke.”

“……”

The Black Duke, who had been silent for a moment, opened his mouth.

“If that is the case, my research may be of help to Your Highness.”

“Research?”

“How fortunate.”

“Explain it so I can understand.”

He did not know much about magic, but he knew that the magic of those belonging to the Black Magic Tower was called black magic and specialized in dark arts and summoning.

He also knew that the Black Magic Tower strengthened the Mana Heart through experiments.

The Superhuman he desired, the level he sought to reach with the talent he prided himself on, was not like that.

“Surely you’re not telling me to become a half-baked Superhuman?”

Though he would seek enlightenment from his master, he had to overcome the wall with his own strength.

He was a being destined to reign over countless monarchs.

“It would be troublesome to be a half-baked Superhuman. I’m sure you are aware of that fact, Duke.”

The answer that came back to his accusatory question was something he had never expected.

“Are you aware of the Grotesquery?”

“……?”

The unidentified being that had brought down the Kingdom Alliance, which had shaken the Empire more than 200 years ago.

That the curse left by the Grotesquery still lingered in the world, and that the Black Magic Tower was researching it.

“It is not an incomplete Superhuman.”

“……”

“Your Highness will become the progenitor of a new humanity.”

The Black Duke continued in his characteristic gloomy voice.

Less than a year after that.

Isaac Heinrich reached 7-star.

***

[Name Search Magic is activated.]

[Confirming marital relationship between Sharle Cornelia and Killian Eurasia.]

[Bloodline authentication complete. Synchronizing with the Magic Tower’s mana.]

The now-familiar text appeared before Killian’s eyes.

He also took in another Carpe Illusion that was confronting his own domain.

Overlord.

The Mind Image created by a single human who sought to reign over numerous kings.

The giant tower supporting Isaac from behind was what was called the Black Magic Tower.

[Grrrrr.]

Before him, countless undead were rising to their feet.

“Well, I’ll be.”

It was as if he was surrounded by a great army.

“He forms a domain with mana and commands the undead with Evil Energy, is that it?”

He had seen many Mind Images, but this was a fresh sight.

Killian, who had formed a Shik with violet mana, activated his detection magic.

‘The average ability of the undead is around 4-star.’

They were not at a level to be ignored, but also not at a level to exchange swords with directly.

‘Is the problem their numbers?’

Roughly one thousand.

Moreover, a few of them were emitting 5-star and 6-star level Evil Energy.

‘If I unleash Ke and Shik, they are no great opponents but……. if I clash with them, that would be what he wants.’

After exhausting his stamina cutting down the undead, he would have to face a 7-star master knight in a tired state.

His Carpe Illusion possessed enough power to deal with large numbers, as well as to face a Superhuman.

A Mind Image is the materialization of a conviction and will firmly embedded in the soul.

“He has every right to be confident.”

Using Total Solar Eclipse without Aether would only waste mana and stamina.

Ping.

The arrows of the skeleton archers, formed in ranks, were fired.

Killian moved his mana-enhanced legs.

Swish, swish.

Evasive maneuvers at a speed unbelievable for his large frame.

Following that, a Death Knight’s sword ki was fired.

Hwoong.

He dodged it by tilting his head back.

Then this time, attacks from countless undead, including a magic-using Lich and others whose killers were unknown, poured down like a barrage.

Kugugugu.

Killian swung his Haki-clad greatsword and crushed dozens of undead, but.

Kwaaaaaa.

As black mana bloomed from the Black Magic Tower and the bodies of the undead emitted Evil Energy in response.

The cut and broken bodies were restored as if by magic.

“So, do you think you can reach me?”

“What a bluff.”

If they recover when cut, he just needed to press on so relentlessly that recovery would be impossible.

Eurasia Style, Violet Wave.

Swaaaaa.

As the wave of violet mana surged, the undead army was swept away.

It seemed at least a hundred had been annihilated.

At that moment, Isaac, who had moved to the side as if he had been aiming for it, thrust his sword.

Kugugung.

He deflected it by emitting Haki.

“I hadn't heard there was a knight among the direct descendants. A magic swordsman……. The sight of you struggling to survive is quite amusing, isn't it?”

It seemed the man had mistaken him for a direct descendant of Cornelia upon seeing the Violet Magic Tower.

Indeed, without being a direct descendant possessing a medium, it would be difficult to materialize a Mind Image of this level.

Kwang.

He swung his sword back without correcting the misunderstanding.

Two streams of Haki clashed.

Kwang!

Two wills collided.

‘What’s this?’

Jureuk.

A trickle of fresh blood flowed from the corner of Killian's mouth as he was pushed back.

Unlike him, who had suffered an internal injury, Isaac’s face was calm.

His body was connected to the mana emitted by the Black Magic Tower.

‘It’s not just supplying mana.’

“Who are you standing blankly in front of?”

Soon after, the moment their swords crossed.

Kwajik.

Killian rolled on the floor from a kick that aimed for a momentary opening.

He hastily rolled his body to evade the following sword strike.

‘Strange.’

His speed and strength, which had been equal, were starting to be pushed back little by little.

‘Why?’

Hwoong.

Killian unleashed sword ki, keeping the charging undead in check.

With a single swing, about thirty undead were torn apart.

Immediately after, he deflected Isaac’s sword aiming for his waist.

Kaang!

“……!!”

It was definitely the same attack as the first time.

The mana he used was being recovered through the Violet Magic Tower.

Geugeugeuk.

Isaac’s sword, in their contest of strength, felt heavier.

‘Could this guy possibly… have an ability like Total Solar Eclipse…….’

The Black Magic Tower and the undead. The Superhuman who commands them.

The algorithm of the Shik seemed to be organizing in his head.

“You’re quick on the uptake.”

Kwang!!

Killian’s one knee buckled as he blocked the sword.

Geugeugeugeuk.

He used the force that was trying to bring the sword down on his shoulder to his advantage and cut Isaac’s side.

It was the first time in the exchange that he had inflicted a significant wound on the enemy.

Isaac’s face contorted.

But that was only for a moment.

Saaaaa.

The wound began to heal with the Evil Energy that bloomed from his body.

“Are you a Troll?”

“Your words have become quite casual. Is the mercenary game over?”

A game, he says.

Watching Isaac, who had fully recovered in a short moment, Killian organized his thoughts.

‘This domain has at least three characteristics.’

One.

The Black Magic Tower provides Isaac Heinrich with infinite mana.

Two.

Isaac Heinrich can summon or command undead using Evil Energy.

Three.

Isaac Heinrich’s body possesses a regeneration ability on par with a high-level monster in this place.

And now.

He became certain of the fourth characteristic.

‘The more undead fall, the lower the level of my body and mana becomes. It must be activated through the Black Magic Tower as a medium.’

Mana and Evil Energy.

The combination of the two is natural.

A complete form.

He hated to admit it, but his skill was not something to be belittled as half-baked.

The man before him possessed skills that were not lacking even against him, who possessed Aether.

‘Sharle is barely holding on against Mainz Kimbel.’

Their objective was to hunt Isaac before the Barrier was dispelled.

‘It’s not going as planned.’

He had climbed the Flask Mountain Range, hunted a good number of Superhumans, and additionally dealt with the Piece of the Grotesquery, but.

He couldn't even cut down the man right in front of him.

‘Should I just drag on time and then withdraw?’

It was when he was thinking of a second-best plan.

The letters of the Magic Tower appeared before his eyes.

[Two towers are resonating.]

“……?”

[Detecting Sharle Cornelia’s mana.]

[The domain ‘Violet Magic Tower’ is synchronized.]

‘Did Sharle pull another trick?’

Just then, he saw another domain with his own eyes.

Sharle, using the Violet Magic Tower and Total Solar Eclipse.

She was fighting on equal terms with Mainz Kimbel.

For someone who wasn't even a knight to use the formula of Carpe Illusion, and even imitate his Aether.

She was a woman brilliant enough to remind him of his own ancestor.

“Haha.”

A laugh escaped him unwittingly.

It seemed to the prince that he looked like he was giving up in despair.

“If you’re trying to beg for your life, it’s too late. The Black Duke can sufficiently research your corpse.”

“Don’t misunderstand.”

“……?”

“It seems I need to get serious as well.”

Killian acknowledged that the enemy before him was not someone he could face by imitating someone else.

Seureuk.

He released the mana that was forming his Polymorph.

“……!!”

The prince’s eyes twitched.

His face showed that he had never thought he was being fought while in Polymorph form.

“Yes……. Now the question is answered.”

A smile formed on the prince's lips.

“Did you think I would show you mercy if you showed that form?”

“No. It seemed an half-hearted sword would be insufficient.”

Yes.

A half-hearted sword is not enough.

It was the same when he faced Agnil, who was sealed in the Brussels underground, and when he faced the hybrid that awoke in the Flask Mountain Range.

‘This man is also an enemy I must face with all my strength.’

An enemy so arrogant that he could clearly shape his twisted conviction.

‘The resonance of Sharle's and my Shik is likely thanks to the pendant.’

Sharle Cornelia had become able to use Carpe Illusion.

If so, the reverse should not be impossible.

Sareureureureu.

He drew in the lacking mana using the Violet Magic Tower.

“No matter how much you struggle, you will eventually submit to me.”

At Isaac’s words, Killian scoffed inwardly.

Before him was a being who had lit the lamp of mana.

A being who had given birth to numerous Ke and Shik.

“In whose presence are you making threats?”

“Heinrich Ke.”

He ignored the man preparing some new technique and reinterpreted the Shik.

Soon, recalling a certain woman he had met in the Secret Repository.

With her descendant as a medium, with the Magic Tower as a medium.

He crafts the complete formula used by a single mage.

‘Diana Cornelia.’

The main magic used by the iron-blooded queen who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the undefeated knight.

Cornelia Style.

Sun Magic.

“Solaris.”

Hwareuk.

A sun materialized from violet mana.

Illuminated the domain filled with black.

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