Chapter 235: The Genius Tamer of the Academy
Despite his magic output being halved, Han Siha’s control over his power had grown far beyond what it once was.
Even with only half of his magic, Han Siha was not being pushed back.
Unlike two years ago, when he recklessly poured out magic, he could now use it far more efficiently.
As Basilus and Kloshti cleared the waves of enemies, Han Siha supported the battle from the rear.
Rumors that he could easily uproot a couple of trees with his magic were true.
Moreover, Han Siha wielded the heirloom of Castica.
He swung the Wave Blade in his hand toward the empty air.
With a crack, the ground split open, creating a massive chasm that swallowed a squad of knights in an instant.
Without warning, the ground beneath their feet gave way, burying them alive.
“Ahhh!”
Soon, even the sound of their screams was cut off.
Han Siha effortlessly created a deep pit with a flick of his hand and then sealed it shut.
It was a technique he had practiced hundreds of times, and in this desperate moment, the power was amplified, aiding him.
It was magic reminiscent of Adela, the Earth Mage.
To be able to perform such feats with what was essentially a piece of metal was nothing short of a miracle.
The technique perfectly compensated for his weakness in wide-area magic.
Han Siha sheathed the sword at his waist and picked up his staff once more.
‘How did they get this close?’
Bang—.
Han Siha raised a barrier against the mage charging at him.
As the mage’s attack bounced off the barrier, Han Siha closed the distance.
He dealt with such tricky opponents who preferred close combat using his own magic.
His innate magic was rarely overpowered; it was only a matter of experience.
That was still true, even with his power cut in half.
Crackle—.
Han Siha summoned electricity at maximum output and instantly closed the gap.
The enemy, realizing Han Siha’s move was too late, tried to erect a wall of blades, but Han Siha was faster.
Without hesitation, Han Siha thrust his staff into the enemy’s heart.
“Gah…!”
The knight who charged at him next met a similar fate.
Han Siha spun and struck the knight down with a blow to the head.
“You underestimated the top student of the Academy!”
He shouted confidently.
But soon, he found himself scowling.
These bastards.
They just keep coming, don’t they?
Han Siha gritted his teeth and hurled the Wave Blade, charged with magic, at a dark sorcerer aiming for Solia’s back.
Boom—.
With a loud explosion, the enemy was sucked into the ground.
Solia glanced back at him with a startled expression, but she was also too busy dealing with the swarming enemies.
“Phew…”
Han Siha took a deep breath and retrieved his sword.
The number of enemies had dwindled compared to before.
Should he be grateful for this? Or should he feel relieved?
He still couldn’t decide how to feel about the seemingly endless procession of enemies.
“Urk!”
Han Siha dodged to the side to avoid a magic arrow aimed at him.
Anything could happen at any time on a battlefield.
Given the circumstances, he was practically fighting alone in an open space.
Abaddon was surely watching from somewhere.
Surely targeting him.
“Ahhh!”
It was exhausting just dealing with the grunts charging at him like moths to a flame.
Han Siha batted away the oncoming arrows with his staff, yelling in frustration.
It felt like he was slowly losing strength, caught in the enemy’s net.
Like a bull in an arena, charging at every red flag until it was drained—
Then, when he was finally exhausted, they’d corner him and take him down easily.
“You don’t need to resort to such cowardice to beat someone like me.”
Han Siha scoffed under his breath. If this was Abaddon’s strategy, then he’d certainly fallen for it.
He felt a renewed sense of helplessness.
“At this rate, I might pass out before Abaddon even gets here.”
He was reaching his limit.
If Abaddon attacked him now, he wouldn’t even be able to resist.
All he could do was keep fighting out of sheer desperation.
But this much firepower wasn’t enough.
‘Han taesu needs to get here soon…’
Just when Han Siha was clinging to his last hope, utterly exhausted—
“Huh…?”
Han Siha swallowed nervously and looked up.
There was some commotion in the distance.
* * *
Han taesu walked through the scorched earth of Castica, now in ruins.
This was the land he had cultivated and protected for over a decade.
In all that time, no one had dared to trespass on his land.
And if anyone had, they would have been reduced to ashes.
The Blood Count.
Just as when he had subdued the necromancers and the entire Academy staff at Ardel, it was expected that another bloody storm would follow.
But Han taesu walked calmly.
He walked, and walked again.
Han taesu extended his hand toward the enemies.
Then—
Fwoosh.
Soldiers in his path turned to ash and vanished.
“W-what is that?”
Spontaneous combustion.
The enemy forces were beginning to panic over this unfamiliar form of attack.
It wasn’t just the regular soldiers.
Han taesu’s expression remained cold as he began to sweep through the knights.
There was no hesitation in his actions.
Crackle.
As the sound of fire crackled, acrid smoke began to rise from the places Han taesu passed by.
The enemy soldiers, their faces pale with fear, turned and fled.
“Ahhhh!”
Han taesu extended his staff toward the fleeing soldiers and chanted a spell, killing them instantly.
He was the same Han taesu who had once single-handedly annihilated the necromancers and wiped out the entire power grid.
These worthless minions who couldn’t even cast proper spells were no match for him.
The dark sorcerers were no different.
Those who knew Han taesu’s name were paralyzed with fear, unable to move from their spot.
“R-Run…!”
The dark sorcerers’ worst enemy.
Even if ten of them attacked at once, they could not defeat Han taesu.
The reason ordinary mages struggled against dark sorcerers was simple.
Lack of experience.
The tactics used by dark sorcerers were endlessly tricky and unfamiliar to ordinary mages.
That’s why they often fell victim to unexpected and decisive ambushes.
But Han taesu knew how to block every type of curse they used.
Having fought hundreds, even thousands of battles against them, he was familiar with all of their tactics.
Even if they managed to curse him, he could dispel it easily.
But most of the time, the sorcerers couldn’t even land an attack on him.
He was an opponent they couldn’t touch.
Han taesu’s power was overwhelming.
He burned arrows out of the air without even flinching and struck down his enemies with a cold, detached expression.
He continued to advance silently.
He had no interest in the small fry.
Han taesu was conserving his strength as much as possible, waiting for one person.
“Show yourself.”
Han taesu spoke, his voice heavy with a deep sigh.
“You came here, didn’t you?”
They had been each other’s nemeses since the founding of this country.
But now, he remembered his old enemy, who had likely grown stronger than him by consuming the power of the Cube.
Since the war began, Han taesu had suspected that this moment would come.
That’s why Han taesu was certain Abaddon was here.
If it were Abaddon, he would surely show himself here.
And Han taesu’s expectations were correct.
Suddenly, a fierce wind blew.
Han taesu looked down at his billowing robes, waiting for Abaddon’s words.
Abaddon’s voice carried through the magic, conveying his intent.
– It’s been a while.
A chilling voice laced with a hint of mockery.
Everyone on the battlefield froze at the cold tone.
Even in the chaos of the blood-soaked battlefield, that one sentence rang clear.
Han taesu responded calmly, almost muttering.
“It has been a while.”
Abaddon, who had disappeared after being exiled from the Ardel Empire, had returned stronger than ever.
If he had known Abaddon would return this powerful, he would have killed him no matter what.
Han taesu bitterly regretted his past mistake.
But he spoke in a steady voice, forcing himself to stay composed.
“Did you come to kill me?”
Abaddon must have had a reason for orchestrating such a grand spectacle.
Abaddon hated him deeply; perhaps he had dreamed of this revenge.
However, Abaddon’s answer was not what Han taesu expected.
– I have no interest in you. Nor do I care about your land.
Abaddon, who planned to take over the entire empire, had no reason to pour all his forces into seizing just Castica.
Though Han taesu had vaguely guessed as much, he hadn’t known the exact reason.
– There’s only one person I want.
The fact that Abaddon’s target was none other than his son.
– Han Siha. Hand over your son.
The mention of his son’s name from Abaddon’s mouth made Han taesu’s eyes widen.
It was puzzling that Abaddon even knew Han Siha’s name, let alone that he would invade Castica and risk everything just to take his son.
“Why… on earth…?”
Han taesu, uncharacteristically, was deeply shaken.
Anything else could be targeted. If it was a fight directed at him, he would gladly accept.
But when he heard that his son was being targeted, he lost his composure.
His gaze turned toward Han Siha, who stood frozen.
“….”
Abaddon had already surrounded the entirety of Castica.
Whether they won or lost the battle, heavy casualties were inevitable.
Abaddon could curse the entire town at will or slaughter innocent residents.
Only a handful of mages and knights skilled in magic might withstand such curses.
But civilians had no defense against Abaddon’s magic.
Abaddon intended to massacre the entire population.
Though Han taesu was a cold-hearted count, he loved Castica deeply.
Abaddon knew this, and he used it to threaten Han taesu.
Would he be willing to watch Castica’s people die and his land turn into a living hell?
Abaddon’s chilling voice taunted Han taesu, causing everyone around to tremble in fear.
“…Count?”
The soldiers standing beside him murmured nervously, watching Han taesu’s reaction.
Han taesu gritted his teeth.
Abaddon was a master manipulator.
He had succeeded in plunging everyone into terror without even using his powers.
To dangle the future of an entire territory over his son’s life.
It was a twisted plan that was so like Abaddon.
Han taesu clenched his jaw and slowly lifted his head.
“No matter how you try to threaten me, it doesn’t matter.”
Did Abaddon think this would work as a threat?
Even if he lost Castica,
even if he became the ruthless count who abandoned his land,
He had no intention of surrendering his son.
Han taesu smirked coldly as he responded.
“Do you think I would ever give him to you?”
At that moment, a chill wind swept through.
Han taesu spoke in a calm voice.
“You’ve finally arrived.”
At some point, Abaddon had appeared right in front of him.