Chapter 255
Ten Aura Users, mostly middle-aged men in their forties and fifties, stood behind Banatel.
Among them, a knight with brown hair and a dignified appearance glanced at the White King’s Castle and spoke. It was Sir Kamerun, a renowned Aura User from the Kingdom of Hallein.
“Judging by the atmosphere… it seems the Fist King is away.”
Sir Walgran, an Aura User from the Vasily Kingdom, nodded in agreement.
“That seems to be the case. And I only see two Aura Users inside.”
As Aura Users, they could roughly grasp the situation within the White King’s Castle just by sensing the energy. Sir Geblik from the Kingdom of Graim clicked his tongue.
“Wasn’t there supposed to be nearly ten Aura Users in the Duchy of Antares? And yet, after doing all this…”
The ten Aura Users who had arrived with Sword Star Banatel all wore expressions of dissatisfaction.
They were not from the Holy Basutalon Empire but rather famous Aura Users from various nations across the continent.
Understanding that war would be too costly, the Holy Basutalon Empire had chosen to punish Fist King Repenhardt in an equivalent manner. Just as Repenhardt had invaded Zeppelin with a small force of formidable warriors, they decided to gather elite Aura Users and deploy a select group of superhumans.
Currently, there were nine confirmed Aura Users in the Duchy of Antares. Though one had died, it was unclear how many more remained, so at least ten or more Aura Users were deemed necessary on their side as well.
However, even for the Holy Basutalon Empire, there were only eleven Aura Users loyal to the royal family. Though unlikely, if they were all lost in battle, the empire would suffer a devastating blow.
Thus, instead of mobilizing their own Aura Users, the Holy Basutalon Empire sent out coercive messages to nations across the continent.
“To punish the heretic who disrupts the order of the continent and defies Seiya, we ask for your aid!”
Had this been a call for war, other nations could have found various excuses to refuse. But since the empire merely requested Aura Users to carry out punishment, it was difficult to oppose. They weren’t asking for armies, just individuals, making it hard to refute the justification.
Of course, Aura Users were a crucial military asset for every nation, so this was still an unreasonable demand. However, with the Sage of Silver secretly exerting influence behind the scenes, six Aura Users who were loyal to their respective kingdoms had no choice but to comply.
Marrad, a free knight from the Teikan Kingdom, pouted his lips.
“Even in the City of Zarud, there were only weaklings… Do we really have to commit another meaningless slaughter here?”
The Seiya Order had also deployed four Aura Users, including Marrad. However, they were not Aura Users belonging directly to the Order but rather free Aura Users over whom the Order held influence.
There were nearly seventy human Aura Users currently active on the continent. However, not all of them were loyal to a specific kingdom.
Since one had to attain the ultimate mastery of martial arts to awaken their Aura, many Aura Users had a hermit-like disposition, indifferent to worldly power or status. About half of them served as official Aura Users for their respective nations, while the rest roamed the world freely, maintaining a transnational existence.
The famous Fist Emperor Gerard was a prime example.
Although he was originally from the Vasily Kingdom, he had never sworn loyalty to the Vasily King and remained an independent warrior. The officially registered Aura Users in the Vasily Kingdom included Sir Talion, the commander of the knightly order, and two others. Gerard was not counted among them. By that logic, Fist King Repenhardt could also be considered a Vasily Aura User, but no one saw it that way.
Marrad continued to voice his complaints.
“We just need to take down the Fist King. Why do we have to kill innocent people too?”
At his grumbling, Lukawan, an Aura User from Grind Kingdom, a small nation in the southern continent, clicked his tongue.
“We have no choice, do we? The Empire’s demand was to erase everything related to the Fist King.”
None of them looked particularly pleased, having been dragged here by the Holy Basutalon Empire's coercion. In truth, they were disgusted by the empire’s forceful tactics. Using the power of others to accomplish their goals without shedding their own blood—was that not the very definition of a great power’s tyranny?
However, the empire had at least sent Sword Star Banatel, the strongest swordsman on the continent, setting an example with their own forces. That left little room for criticism.
Dekril, an Aura User from the Principality of Chatan, shrugged his shoulders. Though he had left his homeland in disgust, he had not entirely freed himself from its materialistic ways.
“Well, at this point, let’s just wrap it up cleanly and make sure we get paid properly.”
The ten Aura Users strode leisurely toward the White King’s Castle, each drawing their weapons.
About thirty people standing behind them hesitated before stepping back. These were not regular soldiers but rather stable hands, attendants, and servants—individuals provided by the Holy Basutalon Empire to take care of the Aura Users’ needs. After all, they were hosting the "distinguished figures" of various nations; they couldn’t possibly be expected to handle menial tasks themselves.
Still, dissatisfaction was written all over their faces. Even the elderly Banatel let his displeasure show through his snow-white beard.
“Tsk, tsk. This is a holy mission to carry out the will of the divine, and yet look at their attitudes.”
It had been the same in the City of Zarud—an attitude that truly displeased him.
Above the heads of the unmotivated Aura Users, Banatel’s deep voice rang out.
“What are you all doing? Are you really planning to just stand here and wait until that heretical leader shows himself?”
At his rebuke, the Aura Users scowled. Every one of them was used to ruling like kings in their own lands. Since awakening their Aura, they had feared nothing in this world. To be scolded like this, in such a condescending tone, was infuriating.
“Ugh…”
“Damn, it’s been twenty years since someone spoke to me like that.”
“Not even my father dared to talk down to me after I awakened my Aura…”
But Banatel was far superior to them in both martial prowess and experience. He had lived in the same era as their masters, and he was also the strongest Aura User in the Holy Basutalon Empire.
In skill, in legacy, in background—there was simply no comparison. No matter how proud they were, they couldn’t afford to defy him outright.
“Ugh, fine.”
“We’re going, Sword Star.”
“Let’s take care of those first.”
Their expressions hardened, and they gripped their weapons with newfound seriousness.
Each infused their entire body’s Aura into their blades, transforming them into radiant forces of destruction.
Vwoong! Vwoong! Wooooong!
Ten streaks of Blade Aura flared to life before the White King’s Castle, illuminating the surroundings in brilliant light.
* * *
White King’s Castle—Inside
The Duchy of Antares was gripped by terror.
“B-Blade Aura…”
“My god… that many Aura Users…”
From the Antares Knight Order to the castle guards, servants, and attendants, everyone trembled like leaves in the wind as they peered out at the scene beyond the castle walls.
To them, the presence of Blade Aura was nothing new. They had seen it countless times—Fist King Repenhardt and other Aura Users often sparred within the castle, their clashes lighting up the training grounds with explosive bursts of Aura.
So they had never found it particularly terrifying.
But now that it was wielded by their enemies, the story was entirely different.
Each of those warriors was a superhuman, capable of slaughtering dozens, even hundreds, alone.
And now, ten radiant streaks of destruction—proof of those who had reached the pinnacle of martial mastery—burned brightly in the hands of their foes.
“Ugh…”
With a somber expression, Azrael let out a groan.
Even if their opponents lacked an army, ten Aura Users? The Antares Knight Order and the castle guards wouldn’t stand a chance. Just two or three of them could wipe them all out.
‘And on our side… we only have Sir Russ and Sir Tassid…’
There was no way they could match this force. This was an overwhelming power that would require the combined might of every single Aura User in the Duchy of Antares just to stand a chance.
And behind them stood the legendary swordsman—the strongest on the continent—Sword Star Banatel.
‘Even if all of us fought together… we might still not be able to stop them…’
No matter how strong Fist King Repenhardt was, Azrael couldn’t imagine anyone defeating the old swordmaster who had built his reputation across the continent for decades.
Azrael closed his eyes. His chest felt tight.
‘Is this where my fate ends…?’
Now, they were experiencing the same absolute despair that their enemies had once felt before them.
Meanwhile, Russ and Tassid exchanged glances.
‘There’s only one choice, right, Tassid?’
‘There’s no other way, Russ.’
The forces of the White King’s Castle were no match for their enemies. If they fought head-on, they would be annihilated. The gap in numbers, the difference in power—this was not something they could overcome with mere willpower or determination.
But running away was not an option either.
If they abandoned the castle and fled, perhaps the two of them could survive. But in exchange, every single person left behind would be slaughtered.
And that old man standing there… Banatel.
His demeanor might appear solemn, but the killing intent subtly radiating from him made it clear—he had no intention of letting any of them live.
There was only one conclusion.
They had to buy time.
Azrael had already ordered his subordinates to send urgent messages to the Magic Towers across the Duchy of Antares.
If Repenhardt and his party, who had gone on an inspection to Aranan Grad, along with the strongest warriors of various races, could rush back with all their might, then perhaps—just perhaps—there might be a sliver of hope.
Of course, no matter how fast they came, it would still take at least half a day…
“Are we really supposed to hold out against them for half a day?”
Even if everyone gathered, there was no guarantee they could defeat these opponents…
‘Humans truly are terrifying. We had to gather warriors from every race just to assemble this small force, yet they can send ten elite warriors on a whim?’
Russ and Tassid scoffed bitterly, each muttering in turn.
“But we can’t just sit back and die, Tassid.”
“We’ll do everything we can, Russ!”
Resolving themselves, the two warriors exchanged a grin.
Russ and Tassid each drew their longsword and warblade. Then, they leaped down from the castle walls.
“Haaahp!”
“Taaat!”
The advancing Aura Users flinched and halted their steps as the two descended from above.
Russ stepped forward first, swinging his longsword in a wide arc.
Vwoooong!
A crystal-clear Blade Aura, sharp as the open sky, surged up his blade, glowing brilliantly.
“I am Cyrus of Tenes, sword of Antares!”
Tassid raised his warblade, Dakar, high above his head. A flash of light burst forth, and a teal-colored Blade Aura blazed like fire, wrapping around the blade’s edge.
“I am Tassid, warrior of the Blue Bear Tribe!”
Russ and Tassid aimed their Blade Auras at the ten approaching Aura Users.
Then, they shouted in unison.
“I challenge you! Who among you will accept my duel?!”
* * *
White King’s Castle – Battlefield
Despite the overwhelming difference in numbers, Russ and Tassid stood boldly.
Their courage was undeniable.
However, this wasn’t just reckless bravado. They weren’t throwing their lives away in vain.
Unlike other races, humans placed great importance on honor and chivalry. The corrupt knights of the Principality of Chatan might deliberately train in coordinated attacks, but any true knight took pride in their own strength and martial skill. Thus, they considered it disgraceful and cowardly to gang up on a single opponent, even if that opponent was stronger than them.
This applied to both knightly Aura Users and free warriors alike.
In other words, since Russ and Tassid had formally issued a challenge, their opponents would undoubtedly respond one-on-one.
That was exactly what they were aiming for.
With his sword raised, Russ thought to himself.
‘We just need to buy time.’
If they had to face all ten of them at once, no matter how strong Russ and Tassid were, they would fall in an instant.
But in single combat, they could hold out.
And if they could hold out long enough, reinforcements might arrive.
The only issue was that their intent was so obvious—there was no way their opponents wouldn’t see through it…
“Hah! A mere hound of a heretic, nothing more than a lowly beast, dares to speak of an honorable duel? You’re just trying to stall for time—how laughable!”
Sure enough, Banatel saw right through their scheme immediately. Their intentions were practically written all over their faces.
But Russ remained unfazed.
There was a reason Banatel acknowledged it anyway, despite seeing through it.
Banatel scoffed before nodding.
“However, I do not desire a dishonorable victory. Very well! I shall accept your challenge!”
Among warriors, a one-on-one duel was the ultimate test of honor. Due to the nature of knighthood, even knowing it was a ploy, Banatel had no choice but to accept.
Russ hid a triumphant smile.
‘There’s no way someone like Sword Star Banatel would personally lower himself to fight a junior like me. He’ll send someone else instead. That means… we’ve bought some time!’