Chapter 135 : Chapter 135

Chapter 135

“Brother, it’s been a while.”

The man who applied for the Annihilation Squad.

A dwarf, carrying a battle-ax as tall as himself on his back, looked up at Killian.

“What are you doing here all of a sudden?”

At the question, Almadin burst into hearty laughter.

“Me, use magic tool, become 6-star. But, alone, 6-star, cannot reach.”

Almadin continued speaking in his broken continental tongue.

“Father said, to grow, need much experience. Just in time, Brother Yulian, recommended Annihilation Squad. Father, agreed.”

He added that Pyrope had firmly stated that since he could gain plenty of experience under Killian, he shouldn't return until he had mastered 6-star, if he wished to inherit the position of chief.

‘Well, we have a relationship that’s more than just an alliance now.’

The Arden Steel produced by the dwarves was an important resource for Eurasia as well.

Because of that, after their relationship improved, Eurasia's knights had been periodically taking responsibility for their safety.

From Pyrope’s perspective, there was no need to keep the warriors confined to the mines.

‘This is good. I should take this opportunity to bring in a few more dwarves from the Arden Clan.’

If Almadin, the great warrior, integrated well into the Annihilation Squad, I would be able to accept a few more of the clan’s warriors in the future.

“You pass the interview.”

“Uhahaha. As expected of you, brother. I will do my best.”

“The practical test is still left, so wait.”

“Huh?”

Leaving the tilting-headed Almadin, I looked at the next applicant.

His skin was so fair it was hard to believe it was human, and his ears were pointed.

The slender man raised the bow he was holding to his chest in a show of respect.

“A child of Elvenheim greets the Annihilation Squad Leader of Eurasia.”

Elvenheim was a kingdom of elves located on the southern frontier.

“Being a half-elf, I have no surname. Please call me Id.”

The man, who inherited half human and half elven blood, politely introduced himself.

It was a fact I had already confirmed through the documents.

“Serena recommended you, I hear?”

“Yes.”

Id replied concisely.

Eurasia had been trying to create an information network in the southern and northern frontiers for some time.

Since the Empire had all but taken control of the continent, the plan was to increase the number of allied nations on the frontiers as much as possible.

It had fizzled out with Bastian’s death, but since Killian’s appointment, they had been trying to form the information network again.

The half-elf before me was one of the results.

“I’ve heard the story. You have a 6-star Mana Heart, and your specialty is the bow, correct?”

A shortbow in his hand and a longbow slung across his back. A dagger was fastened to the belt at his waist.

‘A 6-star archer. A valuable resource.’

I also confirmed that although his main weapon was a bow, he could use Carpe.

With a little training, he would be a great help in forming Carpe Illusion.

“Pass.”

“Thank you.”

Id bowed his head deeply and went to stand next to Almadin.

The only one left was a man whose body was covered in black leather clothes.

“I am Raven.”

The fine muscles visible over his leather clothes showed that he did not neglect his training.

“5-star Walker, Raven. A recommendation from Orchid Owl?”

“That is correct. The Guild Master told me to convey that she is waiting for you to keep your promise.”

“She’s sending her subordinate to watch me, in case I don't keep my promise?”

The promise referred to Cornelia's pendant.

She had sent a person because there had been no contact even after the matter in the Flask Mountain Range was concluded.

“She also said that I should join the Annihilation Squad to be of help to Sir Killian’s grand plan.”

“If that’s the case, you should have sent a 6-star resource, not a 5-star one.”

“…….”

“Alright. Any other message to convey?”

“She said my body may become Sir Killian’s, but I should not permit my heart.”

Raven also added that he must receive a vacation once a quarter to meet Orchid Owl.

“Even so, if you still want me, I will gladly offer my life.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

In Raven's eyes, I could feel the unique madness of Orchid Owl.

‘He’s completely smitten.’

He seemed like Julian, who had recently been in an unrequited love that could not be fulfilled.

‘There is a risk of information leaking to Orchid Owl’s side… well, that can be solved by restricting his mission assignments.’

It was not a bad addition, as I would be able to receive information from Absinthe more proactively than before.

However, not everyone possessed the same generosity as Killian.

“Watch your mouth in front of the Commander.”

Serena, who was beside me, warned in a cold voice.

Despite being exposed to the fighting spirit of a 6-star knight.

“…….”

Raven only glanced at her out of the corner of his eye before turning his gaze back to Killian.

“Your guts are acknowledged. You pass.”

“Thank you. I will do my best to assist……”

“It’s too early to be thankful yet.”

“……?”

“Now, we will have the entrance test.”

It was the moment Killian was about to go and draw a wooden sword from the training ground.

“Commander.”

At Serena's call, Killian looked back.

“Haven't you been handling an excessive workload since returning from the Holy Nation?”

“It's fine. It’s also a good way to warm up……”

“Please leave the entrance test to me.”

Her gaze was directed at Raven.

His thoughtless words towards Killian seemed to have earned her dislike.

It suddenly reminded me of when I first met Serena.

“Aether does not suit you.”

“Fourth Young Master, you are slow to grasp the situation.”

To think that the knight who had been colder to me than anyone in the Annihilation Squad was now angered by disrespect towards me.

‘Serena, Serena. You've changed a lot too.’

A pleased smile lingered on my lips.

In any case, the entrance test was just a pretext to warm up.

‘I was planning to loosen up for the first time in a while……. Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter.’

A dwarf who was comparable to a 6-star knight with the help of his magic tool, the battle-ax.

A half-elf who had lived for over 100 years and forged a 6-star Mana Heart on his own.

A 5-star Walker directly under Orchid Owl.

All of them were skilled enough to act as members of the Annihilation Squad.

‘I was planning to accept all three of them into the Annihilation Squad anyway.’

Serena’s swordsmanship was growing at a pace that surprised even Killian, so on this occasion, it wouldn’t be bad to watch the entrance test led by her.

Nod.

Having made up his mind, Killian accepted her proposal.

“Thank you.”

Shing.

Watching her draw Aether, Killian met the eyes of each of the three prospective members.

“Some of you may already know, but Serena here is a 6-star.”

“Young human, impressive.”

Nod.

“…….”

The three men responded with different reactions.

“The time limit is 5 minutes. If you land a significant blow on her during that time, you pass. If you leave the training ground, you are disqualified. You may form a team, or you may face her relying on your individual capabilities.”

Raven, who seemed to be thinking about something, opened his mouth.

“If it's a significant blow, may I cut her?”

“Of course. If you can, that is.”

“Understood.”

“Then, let’s begin.”

Killian stepped back from the center of the training ground.

Simultaneously.

“Carpe.”

Green mana covered the training ground.

A mana release one step ahead of even Julian or Philip, who were also 6-star knights.

“Ooh.”

The moment the impressed Almadin drew his battle-ax.

Serena's Aether, which had already approached right in front of him, was swung.

Clang!

Almadin's sturdy body was sent flying, weapon and all.

Tumble, tumble, tumble.

The dwarf's body, unable to control the recoil, rolled off the training ground.

She had disqualified him in a single blow with a sword imbued with haki.

“Failed.”

Almadin shouted as if it was unfair, but Killian's gaze was already on Serena's next move.

Ting. Tang. Tiiing.

Serena deflected arrows while closing the distance.

If Carpe hadn't been deployed, if Id's movements hadn't been restricted by her Carpe.

‘She wouldn’t have been able to close the distance so easily.’

Shhhk.

The sword membrane created by Aether's scabbard cut off Id's retreat.

Id threw away his bow and belatedly drew his dagger, but.

“Kuh……”

He was seen coughing up blood just by blocking the haki-infused Aether.

Bang!

A follow-up back kick sent the half-elf flying out of bounds.

“Failed.”

Apart from his 6-star rank, it seemed he had little practical combat experience.

It was confirmed that he had obtained his current rank relatively smoothly, as befitting a long-lived race.

Less than a minute after the test began, two applicants were knocked out.

Now, only Raven was left.

Shhhk.

The presence of the Walker, who had hidden his body with stealth, disappeared.

Shwick.

Suddenly, the green mana scattered as if it had been cut.

It was because Raven had severed the lines of mana.

“Are you trying to break through Carpe and induce a reflux?”

The corner of Serena's murmuring lips twisted.

“Foolish.”

She had experienced reflux to the point of being sick of it through sparring.

“At this speed, you won’t be able to induce a reflux even if a whole day passes.”

Confidence born from skill is not called arrogance.

Squeeze.

From the body that had forged a Mana Heart.

From the sword made by a master and the scabbard made by dwarves.

Fwoooosh.

Perfectly controlled green mana was emitted.

“Carpe Illusion.”

The lips of the 6-star knight who had begun to handle haki moved.

The green mana that had dominated the training ground began to shimmer and take form.

Shwick. Shwiiick.

The Walker's slashes, cutting the mana lines, gradually slowed down.

Shwiiick. Shwick.

By the time that act had faded to the point of feeling futile.

“Green Zone.”

Serena's ultimate technique was complete.

She had achieved Carpe Illusion with just her sword, scabbard, and her own mana.

Ssssss.

In that moment, a jungle unfolded around them.

The branches and vines of the densely packed trees moved as if they had a will of their own.

Squeeze.

The Walker's stealth was dispelled as he touched a tree branch.

Squeeeze.

A groan escaped the Walker's lips as he was bound by vines.

‘That Serena, she’s amazing.’

Just handling haki at the 6-star level and being a medium for Carpe Illusion was already enough to make the title of ‘genius’ insufficient.

Now, she could unfold Carpe Illusion without the help of other Annihilation Squad members.

Of course, its completeness was lacking compared to what superhumans could unfold.

But to point that out, one would have to be at least a Walker who had mastered 6-stars.

Raven was not.

Thwack.

Fixing the formula by driving Aether into the training ground, she headed towards the bound Raven.

“Did Orchid Owl tell you not to permit your heart?”

Wham.

The thrust-out scabbard struck Raven in the abdomen.

Drip.

Blood trickled from the corner of the Walker's mouth.

“There is no need for you to permit your heart.”

“I am……”

“Today, a new pain will be carved into that body of yours.”

Crack.

The Walker's face snapped to the side from a fist that struck his jaw.

“Keoheok.”

Every time the scabbard struck a vital point, Raven coughed up blood.

By the time the floor of the training ground was soaked with the blood the Walker had spat out, 5 minutes had passed.

“Stop.”

At Killian's voice, Carpe Illusion was dispelled.

Thud.

The Walker's body, its freedom restored, collapsed to the floor.

Tremble, tremble, tremble.

At the sight of the convulsing Walker, Almadin's and Id's faces hardened.

Looking at them, a harmless smile spread across Killian's lips.

“Welcome to the Annihilation Squad.”

***

Time passed, and the new year dawned.

The height of winter.

When a fierce snowstorm swept through, pure white snow hung like clothes on the branches of the bare trees.

In the season of raging cold.

Dignitaries and their entourages from various countries gathered at Eurasia's main castle.

The capital, Brussels, was filled with an excited atmosphere ahead of the banquet, and the heat generated by the countless people began to melt the winter snow.

“It's been three years since I was reincarnated, I suppose.”

A low murmur.

With the new year, Killian turned twenty-two.

And.

The week-long banquet hosted by Eurasia began.

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