Chapter 64

Killian, having returned to the family, visited the Commander of the Knights' Office.

It had been four days since he left for the Arden Mine.

“You resolved it faster than I thought.”

Escardo, after hearing the report, showed a satisfied reaction.

“Did they demand a relationship as equals in the blood alliance?”

“Yes. We will have to show a level of sincerity comparable to what the family's ancestors showed 200 years ago.”

“Then they must have demanded a token.”

“I gave them my name.”

“……”

Escardo was slightly surprised by the calm reply.

This was because it meant the Arden Clan had trusted only Killian, not Eurasia, and made the promise.

‘I heard that Chief Pyrope is stubborn and strict.’

Bastian had also maintained a decent relationship, but that was all.

The relationship between Dwarves and Humans was not one that could easily grow close.

Yet Killian had formed a blood alliance with them and returned in just four days.

‘Was I underestimating his qualities as a leader?’

No, to dismiss it as just that, everything he had shown so far was unconventional.

A brief silence flowed.

‘There's no need to ask any more.’

Killian was the commander of the Annihilation Squad, who could handle the family's affairs on his own.

There was no reason for him, who was not the Head, to pry into the details.

“The atmosphere was unsettled on the way here. Are you preparing for battle?”

“Yes. I will mobilize the Blue Knight Order to strike the Helm Family.”

The Helm Family was a family with a small-scale knight order, located quite a distance from the main castle.

‘The current Blue Knight Order should be able to handle it without much difficulty.’

In the meantime, the Blue Knight Order had achieved considerable growth not only in size but also in quality.

It was safe to say they had completely replaced the position of the former Black Knight Order.

‘Julian is unreliable, but…….’

He had faith that Vice-commander Xenon would lead them well.

“The Red Knight Order will provide support, so there's nothing to worry about.”

“……?”

“Are you not worried about Julian?”

“……”

“Vice-commander Xenon Hertz's skills are quite impressive.”

“He will be able to reach 5-star soon.”

“Yes. I will assign five knights from the Red Knight Order to the Blue Knight Order, so there's nothing to worry about.”

For some reason, it seemed he was misunderstanding his relationship with Julian.

However, it seemed there was no need to correct him.

“What about the Black Knight Order?”

“It is still too much for them to carry out missions alone.”

Paian, who had lost an arm, possessed a 5-star Mana Heart, but his swordsmanship had plummeted to the level of a 2-star knight after losing his arm.

It seemed it would take quite some time for him to adapt to the prosthetic arm.

“Ten days after the Blue Knight Order departs, the Red Knight Order will also move. At a generous estimate, we should be able to deal with all the traitorous families in half a year.”

“Is there nothing the Annihilation Squad can do to help?”

“Dealing with the families will be centered around the three knight orders: Red, White, and Blue.”

‘So he intends to display his power to the Frontier.’

That was why he was taking half a year instead of pushing them into a corner.

“The Annihilation Squad is to keep an eye on the situation around the family.”

“Understood.”

Killian gave a sword salute before leaving the Commander of the Knights' Office.

Left alone, Escardo looked at the map hanging on the wall.

The Continent and the four Frontiers were broadly distinguished.

“This feels strange.”

Eurasia was originally a kingdom based on the Continent, but after being defeated in the war against the Empire, it came to be situated in the barren eastern Frontier.

The same was true for Cornelia, which was situated in the western Frontier.

The other kingdoms that had formed an alliance with them had either been wiped out or scattered, and were now holding their breath, unable to even use their family names.

“Under the name of Eurasia.”

Red Mana rose from Escardo's body like a heat haze.

“I will build a new empire.”

Now, the first step of that task was close at hand.

***

One month. A not-so-short period of time passed quickly.

Killian, who had returned to the Annihilation Squad, spent his time quietly training with his sword in the training grounds.

The eight members of the Annihilation Squad were scattered, carrying out their respective missions, but the one by the commander's side now was Yulian, who had recently returned from the Arden Mine alone.

“Nothing from Pyrope?”

Killian asked, looking at Yulian's newly replaced scabbard.

Over the past month, two additional scabbards had been crafted.

One was delivered to Serena, and the other was the one Yulian had just received.

“He told me to wait without complaining. Something about how rushing could break the magic engraving.”

Yulian grumbled, recalling Pyrope's irritable use of the continental language.

“It's certainly not an item that can be made easily.”

Killian readily accepted the Dwarf's grumbling.

The reason it had only taken two days to create the first scabbard was that Pyrope had devoted his all to the task.

But now that he had resumed trade with Eurasia, he could not focus solely on making scabbards.

‘The volume of steel trade has also increased, so he must be busy.’

It was something to be grateful for that he was crafting them one by one like this.

“Since you have a new scabbard, shall we test it out?”

“Sounds good.”

When Yulian channeled Mana into the scabbard, a Sword Membrane large enough to protect three adults formed.

“At this level, it looks like it could block a 5-star attack several times, doesn't it?”

“It seems so.”

Killian picked up a wooden training sword from the wall and channeled Mana equivalent to a 3-star level into it.

Grip.

Yulian emitted Mana without drawing Aether from the scabbard.

Swoosh.

The range of the Sword Membrane decreased, but the density of the Mana was strengthened.

“Here I come?”

“Bring it on.”

Whoosh.

Killian's charging wooden sword struck the red Sword Membrane.

CRASH!

Yulian let out a groan along with the sound of an explosion.

However, the Sword Membrane, while shaking unstably, did not break in the end.

“It's quite useful.”

If it hadn't been for the Sword Membrane made by the scabbard, Yulian would have had to block the blow by clashing swords directly.

Killian looked down at the broken wooden sword.

‘The power wasn't weak.’

If he could utilize Mana to this extent, completing the Carpe Illusion would only be a matter of time.

“Alright, you pass.”

“Hahaha! I'm the second sword of the Annihilation Squad, Commander.”

Wahahahaha.

Leaving Yulian to laugh his head off, Killian threw the broken wooden sword far away.

“This time, let's test it with mine.”

When Killian channeled Mana into his scabbard, a blue Sword Membrane spread out around him.

It was a space large enough to accommodate five adult men.

“Huhu. I will play along.”

Shing.

Yulian drew his Aether.

Kwoooosh.

Mana, at its full power, imbued the Aether.

‘There's no need for a probing attack against the commander.’

Five times, pouring out all his Mana.

To land a meaningful attack against Killian, he would have to handle at least that much.

Tap.

Yulian stepped back to create distance.

Eurasia Style, Meteor Flash.

CRASH. CRASH. CRASH.

Ten flashes struck the Mana barrier.

However, it was not enough.

Eurasia Style, Red Meteor Flash.

CRASH. CRASH. CRASH. CRASH. CRASH.

Ten thrusts enhanced with red Mana.

He couldn't pierce the Sword Membrane, but it had an effect.

He had seen through the fact that the lower part of the Sword Membrane was particularly weak.

‘I'll bring it down with this attack.’

Kwoooosh.

Yulian focused nearly 70 percent of his Mana into his sword.

He lowered his stance and raised his sword.

The commander standing before him now had taught the individual members of the Annihilation Squad various sword styles that suited them.

What Yulian had learned was a thrusting style of swordplay.

Eurasia Style, Explosive Flash.

Crrrack.

The sword, thrust out as if flicking all the muscles in his body, reached the lower part of Killian's Sword Membrane.

Normally, a huge explosion should have occurred and torn the Sword Membrane to shreds.

But.

“Uh……”

Yulian, checking his sword, made a dumbfounded face.

The spot where the explosion should have happened was empty.

It was because Killian had partially dispelled the Sword Membrane.

The sword, failing to strike its target, was thrusting into empty air.

And.

Fwoosh.

As the range of the Sword Membrane expanded, Yulian, the attacker, ended up being trapped.

“You fall for it so easily.”

Killian grinned as he looked at Yulian's bewildered expression.

“Commander, weren't we supposed to be testing the Sword Membrane's durability?”

“That's too one-dimensional. You wouldn't have been able to break it anyway.”

“……”

The Sword Membrane expanded enough to hold twenty adult men.

Inside it, Yulian belatedly aimed his sword at Killian.

“But you've made a mistake. At this rate, there's no reason to have the Sword Membrane up, is there?”

Eurasia Style, Thorn.

It was the moment Yulian's Aether was about to swing towards Killian's shoulder.

Rumble.

Yulian let out a groan from the sudden pressure.

‘This is…….’

Saaaa. Saaaaa.

His remaining Mana began to flow into various parts of the blue Sword Membrane.

He had manifested Aether's Mana-absorbing ability as a Sword Membrane.

It was a power that would not be lacking even if it were called Carpe.

“Keuk, how can this be……”

“It can.”

Walking towards Yulian, Killian strengthened his Mana.

“Using defense as bait to lure an attack. This is a basic skill any knight should learn.”

“It's not... over yet!”

The moment Yulian, letting out a kiai, was about to use Carpe.

Tap.

Killian's scabbard, which had approached unnoticed, touched Yulian's chest.

Fwoooosh.

“……!!”

His Mana was being sucked away.

The amount being absorbed was so immense that his body wouldn't move, as if he had been poisoned.

‘Ah, no. At this rate, the reflux will…….’

“At this rate, the reflux will start.”

“Keuk……”

Yulian, sensing the pain that would follow, bit his teeth.

But contrary to his expectations, the blue Mana merely faded away quickly.

“Yulian. Looks like you'll be stepping down from the second sword position soon?”

“……”

Killian, who had controlled the scabbard's Mana before he knew it, was smiling.

Why was it?

The former Annihilation Squad Commander, who had scouted him and told him he had a talent for the sword, came to mind.

‘Commander Bastian…… why did you leave so emptily?’

Thud.

His stamina depleted, Yulian collapsed, panting for breath.

For a moment, he looked down at the sight with satisfaction.

‘When will Serena be back?’

It was Killian, thinking of the Annihilation Squad's first sword, who was carrying out her mission alone.

***

“How's the scabbard?”

“It feels like carrying another Aether.”

“I agree.”

Killian wore a satisfied smile at Portran's reaction.

Quite some time had passed since he returned from the Arden Mine.

Following Serena and Yulian, the third sword Philip, the fourth sword Aron, and the fifth sword Portran had also just been given new scabbards.

“I heard the Blue Knight Order completely subjugated the Helm Family?”

“That's right. And I'm told that the White Knight Order, led by Young Master Demian, is leaving Castle Stone to advance on the Avengers Family, but……”

“Why, is there a problem?”

“It seems a high-ranking knight from the Empire is hiding in the Avengers Family.”

“A high-ranking knight?”

“Two 6-star knights.”

“Brother Demian is in for some trouble.”

“Will it be alright not to help?”

Portran asked as if surprised.

It was because he knew that Killian and Demian were on good terms.

“It's the Commander of the Knights' order. The Annihilation Squad is to remain faithful to their respective missions.”

“Understood.”

Without asking further, Portran added a few more reports before withdrawing.

“Things are going smoothly on the Eurasia side.”

They were racking up consecutive victories even without the Head and the Commander of the Knights, who could be called their greatest powers, making a move.

A few days later, Aron, who had returned to the family, visited the Annihilation Squad Commander's office.

“Cornelia's movements are strange.”

“Strange?”

“On the surface, there are no problems. But the security on the western border has suddenly been tightened.”

“Any suspicions?”

“I suspect there might be a problem with the Magic Tower that Cornelia possesses...... I apologize.”

Aron bowed his head for the inaccurate report.

‘So it's a situation that cannot be confirmed even with Aron's intelligence network, which has been exclusively handling Cornelia for a long time.’

Even if Eurasia dealt with the traitorous families, if Cornelia wasn't ready, there could be a setback in the Declaration of the Kingdom.

Killian's gaze turned to the silver ring on his index finger.

“I'll have to meet them.”

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.