Chapter 108
After the Red Wolf Knights joined the battle, the situation rapidly deteriorated for the North-Central nobles.
Facing a disparity in the number of knights from the start, the sight of them easily and cruelly cutting down opponents was enough to make anyone lose their will to fight.
They were holding on somehow because it was a defensive siege, but even that was about to collapse.
Their participation had created a severe imbalance in military strength.
“Lighthouse Knights, focus on sticking together and dealing with them!”
Seeing the situation worsening, Rogério immediately summoned the knight order.
There was no solution if they were picked off individually. The Lighthouse Knights had to gather and hold them back.
Just as Kelvin and Diogo readjusted their grip on their swords and stepped forward to face the Red Wolf Knights, someone leaped onto the ramparts.
Cold eyes and strangely upturned lips. The man who possessed something chilling was named Oleg Yankov.
“It’s been a while, Vice-Commander Rogério. I didn't expect to see you again in a place like this.”
It was known that Rogério and about 30 of his knights had vanished, but exactly where they went afterwards was unknown.
“I don't have a hobby of tormenting those who can't resist. The things I saw over there didn't suit my taste.”
“Even so, isn't secretly switching sides like a rat an unknightly act?”
“Is that so? Is cutting down unarmed commoners for fun truly a knightly deed?”
Seeing Rogério, who wouldn’t lose in a war of words, his smile deepened as if amused.
“Let's see if your skills are as good as your mouth.”
“….”
“Were you trying to buy time? I can't play around for long. Because it seems that Karl Meyer fellow is up to something.”
Oleg, with his strange smile, seemed to have noticed that Karl had some ploy, even if he didn't know exactly what.
“Even the great Sir Oleg seems afraid of Commander Karl.”
Pfft.
“Such words.”
Oleg, showing a deep smile, drew a sword from his waist. It was his sword, nicknamed the Red Snake.
Some said Oleg's beloved sword had turned red from soaking up so much human blood.
“Absolutely do not overexert yourselves. Somehow, keep your distance and just stall for time with attrition tactics.”
Kelvin and Diogo, standing behind Rogério, nodded at his instruction.
The three Superior-grade knights surrounded Oleg and slowly closed the distance.
At that moment, a red sword light erupted from Oleg’s sword.
The bodies of soldiers caught in the storm of red Aura, despite being far away, were torn to pieces. Several Lighthouse Knights members avoided instant death but were on the verge of spewing blood from the impact.
The three knights of the Lighthouse Knights, having barely neutralized the attack, thus began their battle against Oleg.
***
“….”
Count Vito struck down one more enemy soldier on the corpse-ridden rampart. His sword was now practically closer to an iron club.
“Ah…!”
He saw Rogério being swept away by Oleg’s red Aura and slammed into the wall.
It was a situation vastly different from what he had thought not long ago – that with them, they could overcome anything.
Three Superior knights, rare to find even one in a poor frontier domain, were barely holding Oleg back, just managing to stay alive.
Vice-Commander Definir, who joined subsequently, was also caught in the lightly flying red Aura and coughed up blood.
“Sir Karl… five days will be difficult….”
It had been three and a half days already, but Karl still showed no sign of arriving.
Oleg seemed to be leisurely engaging with them, and even that looked like it would end soon.
Due to the Red Knights, the casualties among allied knights and soldiers were immense, and the enemy continuously poured through the resulting breach.
“….”
Strength began to drain from his hands.
He had stood and endured for five days without properly eating, drinking, or resting. His body, sustained solely by willpower, had reached its limit.
Though his body had reached Superior rank, he couldn't go on any longer.
“No…! I’m not dead, so I can still move!”
Count Vito gripped the sword he was about to let go of again and tightly wrapped cloth torn from his clothes around his hand.
The Lighthouse Knights members, thought to collapse any moment, were also getting back up, bleeding profusely.
“Hold on! Sir Karl is coming! Sir Karl will be here soon!”
At his shout, a small light of hope flickered in the eyes of the collapsing soldiers.
Kwaaaang!
Just then, Count Vito was hit by something, flew into the air, and slammed against the wall.
‘Damn it… This shouldn't be happening….’
Count Vito’s consciousness began to fade. Just then, he saw blood erupting from Diogo’s chest in his arms.
‘No… must hold on a little longer….’
Just as his vision turned dark red, his sight began to fill with a bright light.
It was a warm light, so familiar and intimate.
“You must rise again, Count.”
A potion flowed into his mouth along with a voice tinged with laughter.
And a brilliant golden light began to fly towards Oleg.
***
The injuries gradually accumulated by Kelvin and the other two were severe.
Even now, with not a single part of their bodies unharmed, they rose and lifted their swords again.
“Let’s end this now.”
Once again, red Aura flew towards the three.
Just then, a middle-aged knight rushed forward and blocked the Aura.
Though he was immediately thrown back, spitting blood.
“Sir Definir!”
They supported each other, got up, and raised their swords again.
Oleg began to feel annoyed.
From some point on, he had swung his sword solely intending to kill them, but it had dragged on for far too long.
“Just die already. I don't want to play anymore.”
With that, red Aura flared up again from Oleg’s sword.
[Yankov Sword Style Secret Technique. Red Fang]
The red snake bared its fangs and flew towards all of them.
Facing a blow of a different caliber than before, the four swung their swords with all their might.
[Lumentia Sword Style Ultimate Technique. Holy Light]
Bright light emanating from the four men blocked the red snake.
The snake seemed momentarily stopped by the bright light, but soon pierced through the light and plunged its fangs towards the four.
Just then, Diogo stepped forward in front of the four and took the red Aura head-on.
Paaaaaat!
Blood burst from Diogo’s chest as he crumpled to the ground.
“Hyung-nim…!”
Kelvin, who was usually closest to him, rushed urgently towards Diogo, but his collapsing body was faster.
“Sir Diogo!”
The others also tried to run towards him, but just then, red Aura flew towards them once again.
“I…! Am Kelvin Menov, the Knight of Holy Light…!”
Kelvin, originally from the Order and able to handle the power of light, had good compatibility with Lumentia Swordsmanship.
Thanks to this, his progress was noticeably faster than others.
Moreover, as a Holy Knight recognized even by the Order for his exceptional talent, Kelvin, who had focused his mind and devoted himself to training, showed frightening growth speed.
‘Strong… too… strong….’
Even for such a Kelvin, the man named Oleg before him was a monster.
Watching the red Aura flying towards Rogério and Definir, Kelvin gritted his teeth hard and raised his sword.
Even if the opponent was strong and he was weak, he could not retreat.
The knights before him now were his family, his brothers.
“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
Just a little faster.
Please, just a little faster.
His body was incredibly slow, and Oleg’s Aura was too fast.
Just when he thought everyone would be lost like this.
Kelvin’s body was enveloped in white light Aura, and suddenly he stood before them.
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
“Cough…!”
The white light and red Aura collided, and blood spurted from Kelvin’s mouth.
‘Blocked it….’
Although just once, he had somehow blocked that guy’s attack.
And seeing the Aura flying towards him again, Kelvin realized he no longer had strength in his arms.
Just at the moment when everything seemed finished.
Kwaaang!
A barrier of light, completely different from theirs, blocked the red snake’s Aura and began to burn the snake away.
A miracle occurred before their eyes.
The unfurled golden barrier even gave off a feeling of warmth.
And standing before them was Karl, whom they had wished to see so desperately.
“Commander!”
Kelvin shouted, looking at the man standing before him as his body collapsed.
“You’re in a sorry state.”
“Why were you so late? I thought I was really going to die!”
Kelvin grumbled.
“Well done.”
Karl’s short praise reached him.
Perhaps it was the first praise he had ever heard.
“Hey, if you’re going to praise me, do it properly. What’s with ‘well done’?”
Although Kelvin grumbled, anyone could tell how happy his heart was.
Oleg, who had been watching with his arms crossed, frowned once before opening his mouth.
“So you are Karl Meyer.”
“That’s right.”
Ending the very brief exchange, the figures of the two men flew directly towards each other.
Kwaaaaaaaaaang!
The red Aura and golden Aura collided, and a tremendous rupturing sound echoed all around.
Masters who had surpassed humanity.
It was a duel between those who stood at a high level even among them.
The two had already descended below the ramparts and clashed swords dozens of times.
“Sir Karl has arrived!”
The moment a soldier witnessed Karl’s golden Aura and shouted, the ramparts were covered in cheers.
Following that, dust clouds began to rise in the distance, far from the two engaging in combat.
“Mercenaries! The mercenaries have arrived too!”
As the dust cloud cleared and the flags of various mercenary corps fluttered in the wind, the soldiers let out another cheer.
Along with that, the North-Central soldiers holding out on the ramparts began to regain their strength.
“Hold on! If you die now, you won't even be able to close your eyes out of regret! Hold on no matter what!”
While they rallied their spirits once more, the mercenaries who joined the battle began to strike the northern nobles' forces from the rear.
“Interesting.”
Oleg, sensing the situation turning strange, gave a peculiar smile.
“Always looking on the bright side, aren't we?”
Karl’s calm remark fueled Oleg’s cold fury.
It was already too late to escape anyway. Oleg had no other options left.
Instead of speaking further, Oleg flared up his red Aura.
And a single red snake began to undulate along his sword.