Chapter 157 : Chapter 157

Chapter 157

The Annihilation Squad Leader's personal training ground.

Fwhooosh. Fwhoosh.

Aether cut through the air.

The mana flowing from his body became one with the sword, shaking the air.

The energy of an awakened Superhuman mixed with mana and enveloped the entire training ground.

“Silvana, you’ve done something interesting to my body.”

The battle that took place in Serena's Mind Image World.

There, he had cut down the will of a God.

While he was at it, he had even taken the Curse of Grotesquery that was eating away at the God's will into his own body.

Afterwards, since the queen who had synchronized with Yggdrasil seemed unable to contact the God, Killian thought Silvana had simply vanished.

That wasn't the case.

‘That being, she has definitely settled somewhere in my body.’

Otherwise, there was no way to explain the Divine Power he had begun to feel within his body.

Even though he hadn't forged a Hollyheart.

‘To think there’s Divine Power dwelling in my mana.’

It was still a faint amount, but possessing both mana and Divine Power simultaneously was an unprecedented event.

“If I do this right, I might even be able to use Authorities.”

The Authorities of the Gods, which he hadn't been able to use properly since his reincarnation.

Originally, he had planned to master how to use them with mana, but at this rate, it would be fine to learn how to use them with Divine Power.

Besides, Authorities were also deeply connected to the soul.

‘The class of my soul might have risen a little.’

With his current body, which had become a Superhuman by mastering the 7-star, he could only reveal a tiny fraction of his thousands of years of class.

However, getting involved with transcendent beings seemed to have influenced the growth of his class.

The thought that he might be able to imitate an Authority was gradually solidifying into conviction.

Silvana, the God of the Forest.

Her Authority was Growth.

If he succeeded, he could turn even desolate lands like the eastern frontier into a great wilderness like Elvenheim.

And even if he failed, it would become the starting point for creating a new Carpe Illusion.

“Shall I give it a try?”

He closed his eyes while gripping the sword with both hands.

He gathered mana into Aether.

The gathered mana spread around, dominating the area.

‘Now, to add Divine Power to this…’

Just then.

A cold wind brushed against his skin.

When he turned his head to the back of the training ground, Escardo was there, having concealed his presence.

“Commander of the Knights?”

“It seems I have disturbed you.”

Escardo said with an apologetic look.

His gaze shifted from Killian to Aether and its scabbard.

‘Such concentration that the flowing mana was cutting through the air. I’ve missed a good sight.’

Just as Escardo was regretting the spectacle he had missed due to his carelessness.

“If you don’t mind, I would like to cross swords.”

“……”

The Commander of the Knights and the Annihilation Squad Leader.

A spar between the Kingdom's second and third swords was not something that could happen often.

“I haven’t used my sword in a while, but.”

The corners of Escardo's mouth quietly curled up.

“It would be good to test our skills after so long.”

He too was a knight by nature, and his heart pounded at the prospect of facing a knight who had begun to make a name for himself.

“This is the Annihilation Squad Leader's training ground. I will concede the first attack.”

“You insolent fellow. You've gotten bold since I last saw you.”

Escardo replied to Killian's challenging statement with a voice full of anticipation.

The time he had placed Killian under an Order of Confinement years ago was still vivid in his mind.

‘Back then, I never imagined he would become what he is today.’

He had thought it would be a relief if Killian could at least forge a Mana Heart and protect himself.

After Killian received Aether, he had simply hoped that he wouldn't lose his life.

‘Looking back now, it was excessive worry.’

Killian had always been one step ahead of what he thought.

Overcoming numerous hardships, he had now become an indispensable pillar of the Kingdom.

As the Royal Commander of the Knights and his godfather, how could he not be pleased?

“A fine stance.”

Shing.

Escardo drew the sword from his waist.

The sworn brother of Simon Eurasia and the eternal heir of the Schtenberg Family.

Red mana rose from his treasured sword, which had made a name for itself on the continent.

‘Escardo Schtenberg's Sword.’

A personal weapon that looked like a mix between a greatsword and a long sword, the very blade that earned the knight the moniker ‘Ghost Sword’ on the continent.

Killian tensed his body as he took in the sight of the sword.

The red mana flowing over the blade shook the atmosphere.

And the moment the sword was lifted.

Fwoooosh.

The soaring red mana instantly dominated the training ground.

“Carpe.”

Slowly steadying his breath, Killian released his own mana in response.

Blue mana enveloped his body and shone.

He imbued his mana with Haki.

Rumble.

A massive energy spread out from him, pushing back the red mana.

“You’ve grown incomparably stronger than you were during the war.”

Escardo congratulated Killian on his growth.

“You too, Commander of the Knights, seem to be on the verge of a great achievement.”

“Indeed.”

In that moment, his benevolent gaze changed.

Clang!

The two swords clashed, and the sound of metal echoed throughout the training ground.

‘Fast.’

He endured the impact transmitted through his arm and the pressure that followed.

Before he could even shake off the sword, the red mana raged and the next attack followed.

Clang! Clank!

Sparks flew as the two swords clashed.

‘Fast and heavy.’

A sword similar to that of the Black Moon Tribe's chief, Drago Nightforge.

But Escardo surpassed him in both speed and weight.

‘I heard he served as the Annihilation Squad Leader two generations ago... He has mastered the principles of Hyang in his sword.’

Hyang was originally a training method for Walkers, focusing on footwork and swift sword techniques.

If a knight learned it, it could have the adverse effect of making their sword lighter.

Escardo was different.

Claaaaang!

His two eyes, enhanced with red mana, seemed to see right through Killian's movements.

‘Even among 7-star Masters... is he still a step ahead?’

“Your movements are good.”

Escardo Schtenberg's Sword, having read the path of Aether, swiftly closed in.

The red mana was calm yet sharp.

Killian's Carpe was torn apart by the sword, which was like the claws of a beast.

Eurasia Style, Blue Thorn.

Eurasia Style, Red Thorn.

Kwaaang!

Eurasia Style, Wave.

Eurasia Style, Yeokhae.

Not just simple sword strikes, but a barrage of attacks condensed with experience and skill were exchanged.

Eurasia Style, Yaswae.

Eurasia Style, Paswae.

The sound of blades clashing echoed as the two knights swung their swords.

Escardo's eyes gleamed.

‘This is certainly different from what Bastian used.’

Feeling a pressure as if he were facing Simon's sword, he gradually increased his speed.

Killian showed that he could keep up without falling behind.

In the center of the training ground, neither of them yielded a single step.

“I didn’t know you would have grown this much.”

Escardo commented, catching his breath.

Kwang!

When the two swords clashed again.

“Not yet.”

Killian’s blue mana and Escardo’s red mana intertwined, filling the training ground.

Aether began to absorb the red mana.

‘So he’s finally using the sword’s ability.’

Just as he nonchalantly tried to push the sword away and maintain distance.

Rumble.

Killian released the mana from the scabbard, and sword membranes unfolded to Escardo's left and right.

A petty trick to restrict his sword swing.

But even that, when used by a Superhuman, becomes a stepping stone to perfecting the sword.

Eurasia Style, Explosive Flash.

Aether, with mana condensed at its tip, was thrust forward.

Realizing there was no space to dodge and no time to defend, Escardo.

First Flash.

He could only thrust his mana-wreathed sword forward in response.

KWANG!!

He was pushed back a step by the repulsive force.

Killian, too, seemed to have taken a couple of steps back.

Escardo smiled bitterly.

‘It makes me want to use Carpe Illusion.’

If he did, he would be able to see the end of the sword that Killian had reached.

However.

‘Doing so would likely result in injury.’

Escardo lowered his sword first.

“Excellent, Killian.”

Killian smiled, lightly catching his breath.

“I thought you would bring out Carpe Illusion.”

“I wanted to, but today doesn’t seem to be the day.”

“……?”

“I have something to ask you about the time you were out of sight for a while.”

The Annihilation Squad Leader had no obligation to report even on his personal movements.

Escardo’s words were direct.

“Some time ago, I felt a wave of mana from the Head Apothecary's Office.”

“……”

“Princess Sharle was staying in the Head Apothecary's Office until recently, wasn't she?”

‘Don't tell me he came here knowing something about Hazard.’

“I know that you are giving the Head Apothecary some kind of enlightenment, and that you are close with Princess Sharle.”

“……”

“But Killian, don’t trouble the Head Apothecary too much.”

“……?”

“Is the marriage burdensome because of Eurasia’s situation?”

“Yes…?”

“Is it because you feel burdened to reveal your relationship that you are using the Head Apothecary's Office as a meeting place?”

“……”

“Ahem.”

Escardo, after a slight cough, showed his usual benevolent face.

“Before I am the Commander of the Knights of the Kingdom, I am your godfather. And before you are the Annihilation Squad Leader, you are a prince of the Kingdom, full of vigor.”

“That... is true.”

“Just trust me.”

Escardo's voice was still calm, but what he wanted to say was clear.

“I will somehow bring the marriage arrangement with Cornelia to a good conclusion.”

It seemed he was gravely mistaken about something.

But trying to explain here risked exposing Hazard's identity.

Killian remained silent for a long time before opening his mouth.

“I understand.”

“Yes. That is enough.”

Escardo, nodding with a satisfied expression, continued.

“It's late, but I will tell you why I came. I have something to discuss about what happened in the southern frontier, in the Fiorellan Kingdom.”

The Fiorellan Kingdom was a kingdom adjacent to the southern frontier, with which Eurasia was discussing an alliance.

It was also the closest place to Elvenheim, located on the frontier.

“A Superhuman from the kingdom was killed in the mountain range adjacent to Fiorellan's capital.”

He said it happened in the Oran Mountain Range, on the opposite side of the fairies' territory.

It was information that even Killian, the Annihilation Squad Leader, did not know.

‘Is this a matter being discussed secretly between the kingdoms?’

Killian mulled over the meaning and asked.

“Was it the Empire's doing?”

“No, a monster.”

“If a kingdom's Superhuman was killed, it's highly likely it was the ruler of the mountain range.”

“That’s what one would normally think.”

“Are you saying it wasn't?”

“Traces of the ‘Knight Slayer’ were found on the monster that hunted the Superhuman.”

“……”

Killian's eyes sharpened.

The battle in the Kurt Mountain Range came to mind, and his scar throbbed.

“I heard that numerous knights who were scouting the Oran Mountain Range lost their lives.”

In the process, one of the kingdom’s only two Superhumans was also sacrificed.

“Fiorellan’s Superhuman was undoubtedly killed by the Knight Slayer. But the one who created the Knight Slayer was the Arch Lich.”

Arch Lich.

A being born when someone who was an Arch Mage in life coveted an immortal existence.

Also the creator of the Knight Slayer and the being that Simon Eurasia had cut down.

‘The Arch Lich in the Kurt Mountain Range was 8-star.’

And now, this Knight Slayer was said to be strong enough to kill even a Superhuman.

‘The Fiorellan Kingdom can never subjugate it on its own.’

Escardo described the Knight Slayer's appearance, adding that it was presumed to be a Chimera, the same as the one he had faced before.

“The Fiorellan Kingdom has made a secret request to Eurasia.”

“If that’s true, it would be dangerous to send the White Knight Order or the Black Knight Order.”

Demian and Paian.

The two princes were excellent knights, but not Superhumans.

At a time when a full-scale war with the Empire could break out at any moment, they were forces that could not be lost.

The Annihilation Squad was currently on a new mission.

Escardo should have been reported and would know.

Therefore.

“I will go.”

“No. This case will be dangerous for you as well.”

He couldn't send the kingdom's secret sword into the jaws of death alone, Escardo added quietly.

“I shall go with you.”

“Yes…?”

“There is no need to report this to His Majesty separately.”

“……?”

“If we report it, he’s the type to say he’ll go himself. That won't do anymore. Absolutely not.”

Escardo muttered with a strange expression.

The Annihilation Squad Leader and the Commander of the Knights of Eurasia.

It was the moment the two knights' secret mission was decided.