Chapter 159: The Shifting Era (6)
After the meeting with the grand elders, Martin made his way to where Solenne was staying.
Thud.
As soon as he arrived, Martin collapsed onto the floor, sitting down heavily. His face was visibly marked by exhaustion.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you this worn out, Martin,” said Sien.
“Phew. I’d rather fight a dragon again. Facing seven 9th Circle powerhouses at once is mentally draining,” Martin replied, letting out a tired sigh.
“You’ve really worked hard. That aside…” Sien trailed off, casting a hesitant glance at Solenne.
There were many things she wanted to ask, but she couldn’t help but be cautious. After all, the subject involved killing her friend’s father.
“Both of you have already apologized to me, haven’t you? Please, don’t feel the need to tiptoe around me. Speak freely,” Solenne said calmly.
“Phew. I’m truly sorry, Solenne. And thank you for your understanding,” Sien said, her voice heavy with guilt.
“That alone is enough,” Solenne replied with a bittersweet smile.
Sien bowed her head slightly, then continued, “How did the meeting go? Judging by your expression, it seems things turned out as you hoped.”
“More or less. Everyone decided to sever ties with the allied forces of the other races,” Martin said.
“I see… So that’s how it ends,” Sien murmured.
“It was necessary to take a firm stance. Only then can we avoid incurring the wrath of the Imperial Family. As part of that, I plan to destroy their villages,” Martin added.
“What?!”
“What are you saying, Martin?” Both Sien and Solenne were visibly shocked.
Solenne, in particular, who had remained composed even when Martin spoke of killing her father, now felt a deep sense of betrayal.
“Of course, I won’t burn down the World Tree. And when I say ‘destroy,’ it’ll merely be for show. The moderate elves and dwarves have already been arranged to live temporarily in Altair Village and Ranens Village, so there’s no need to worry about their residences,” Martin explained.
“What exactly are you aiming for, Martin?” Solenne asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Vwoom.
Martin opened a subspace and retrieved a stack of documents. He had requested this investigation from the Dark King before coming here, and these papers were the result.
“There isn’t a single noble in the Empire who doesn’t know about my close ties with the elves and dwarves. Some of them are planning to claim that I’m the one secretly backing the allied forces of the other races.”
“They’re insane!” Sien exclaimed, her expression incredulous.
Martin nodded slightly. “While it wouldn’t matter much what lesser figures say, their propaganda could sway public opinion, which would be troublesome.
That’s why I need to take a decisive stance. It’s a necessary step for the future.”
Maintaining good relations with the elves and dwarves was undoubtedly important.
However, the most critical factor when establishing a new empire was the trust and support of the Imperial citizens. Ignoring such accusations openly would only lead to greater complications.
“Once again, I assure you, I won’t truly destroy the villages. I swear on my family’s name and my own, Solenne,” Martin said firmly.
“Hah. You really are carrying a heavy burden, Martin,” Solenne replied with a sigh.
“This is nothing compared to what you’ve been dealing with,” Martin said with a wry smile.
However, the smile quickly faded as Martin reached into the subspace again and retrieved another set of documents.
“I need to ask you something, Solenne. Is it true that the allied forces of other races have human collaborators?”
“Wouldn’t that be considered treason?” Sien asked, her face hardening.
“It likely is,” Martin responded with a nod, his eyes fixed on Solenne.
After closing her eyes briefly, as if deep in thought, Solenne spoke. “I intended to tell you about this anyway.
As you suspected, there are forces supporting the allied forces. And I believe you’re already familiar with the person involved.”
“Who is it?” Martin asked.
“Muller Altaria. He introduced himself as the leader of a secret society called Cry for Freedom.”
Gasp!
Sien flinched at the unexpected name. Martin, however, only nodded, seemingly having anticipated it.
“Can you tell me exactly what he said?” Martin pressed.
“Most of his conversations were with my father, so I don’t know all the details. But I do know this: he warned us that the nobles aligned with the 1st Prince planned to request reinforcements from the elves and dwarves in the south. Their goal was to use us as sacrificial pawns to break through the Klaus family’s frontlines.”
“What else did he say?”
“He proposed a deal. If the allied forces were established, he would reveal the locations that would suffer the greatest losses when the Imperial Family launched its counterattack. He even offered to guide them personally.”
“And what about Grand Elder Marcel’s plans?” Martin asked.
“My father promised to minimize harm to civilians. He said they would retreat quickly after seizing territories,” Solenne replied.
Whistle.
As soon as Solenne finished speaking, Sien turned to Martin.
“Now that I think about it, didn’t you say the 3rd Prince is stabilizing the regions that have been devastated?”
“That’s right. As a result, his reputation among the citizens has been improving. With the administrative void left by the deaths of the lords, he’s likely solidifying his base using those two territories,” Martin explained.
“That’s outright treason… What are you going to do?” Sien asked.
“While I’ve gathered testimonies, it’s not enough. I’ll need concrete evidence before making a move. Only then can I strike decisively,” Martin replied.
Sien fell silent at his response.
Martin then turned to Solenne and bowed his head slightly. “Thank you for the information, Solenne.”
“That man used my father and countless kin as pawns for his gain. He must pay for his actions, and that’s why I’ve told you this. There’s no need to thank me,” Solenne said.
“That much is certain. I promise it will happen,” Martin vowed.
Muller Altaria.
If he had simply submitted, Martin might have forgiven him. But Muller hadn’t, and for the sake of the future, Martin would not let him go unpunished.
Swoosh.
Concluding the conversation, Martin stood up.
He wanted to stay longer, but there was still much work to be done.
***
The final fortress guarding the Imperial capital of Raize, Varehein.
The allied forces of other races, who had wreaked havoc across the western regions, were now converging here.
Breaking through this location would grant the allied forces access to Raize City—and possibly even capture the Emperor.
However, this time, the fortress did not fall so easily.
The reason was simple. While the original troops stationed there were highly disciplined and well-trained, the arrival of reinforcements led by Claudia had significantly bolstered their defenses.
Among the reinforcements was Countess Irina von Minert, who wielded her power as a 9th Circle master to its fullest.
BOOM! BOOM!
Hundreds of swords, each uniquely shaped, rained down like bullets, indiscriminately targeting the enemy.
Even more astonishing was that every sword was enveloped in a violet aura blade.
This was the culmination of her swordsmanship as a 9th Circle powerhouse combined with her unique ability, Smith of Blades.
Her opponent, Grand Elder Marcel, was not idle. Chanting quickly, he slammed his staff into the ground.
BOOOOM!
Thick tree trunks erupted from the earth, intercepting the barrage of swords.
Explosions echoed ceaselessly as shockwaves rippled through the battlefield.
Neither Irina nor Marcel paid any mind to the chaos as they focused intently on their duel.
“Haaah!”
For the first time since the war began, Marcel let out a battle cry.
Brilliant light radiated from his entire body as the severed trees grew thicker.
Almost simultaneously, the branches moved like serpents, their tips glowing with a pale green light.
‘He’s using magic to mimic aura. And this isn’t even the end of it.’
Irina’s prediction was correct.
The pale green tendrils intertwined with one another, forming a massive net that was further reinforced with branches. It descended, aiming to ensnare not only Irina but the entire fortress.
“A commendable attack, Grand Elder of the elves!”
FLASH!
Light burst above Irina’s head, and a massive sword, 20 meters in length, materialized.
But it didn’t end there.
VWOOM!
Additional swords appeared and fused with the giant blade, increasing its size even further.
Enveloping the weapon with her violet aura blade, Irina swung it with all her might.
BOOOOM!
Marcel’s attack was shredded to pieces by the enormous blade.
‘So this is the true power of a human powerhouse.’
Blood trickled from Marcel’s lips.
It was the first time since the war began that his full-strength attack had been repelled—and the first time he’d suffered internal injuries as a result.
‘But I cannot afford to lose.’
Marcel knew there was no future in which he survived this war.
Even so, he could not allow himself to fail here. At the very least, he had to show the Emperor the depth of their rage.
To achieve this, Marcel was prepared to use any means necessary.
Resolute, Marcel chanted another spell and drove his staff into the ground.
Once again, thick trees burst forth from the earth, but this was only the beginning.
FLASH!
Brilliant light flared, and multicolored flowers bloomed across the branches.
Moments later, an overwhelming amount of pollen spread, carried by the wind toward the fortress.
“All soldiers, hold your breath and retreat! Mages, use wind magic to disperse the pollen!” Irina commanded urgently.
Her decision was aimed at saving as many lives as possible, but it came at a cost.
Some of the pollen entered her body.
‘Ugh!’
Quickly circulating her mana, Irina burned away the pollen within her. She then cloaked herself in an aura blade to prevent more pollen from entering.
Still, she couldn’t avoid the effects of the poison she had already inhaled.
‘My mana flow is disrupted, and my physical capabilities have decreased. What an annoying ability.’
A bitter smile spread across Irina’s lips.
She had read reports detailing how Grand Elder Barthez and Nicholas von Royce had faced this ability, Blessing of the World Tree.
She had thought she understood it, but now she realized her mistake.
Of course, retreating was not an option.
“I trust you won’t call me a coward, human knight. On the battlefield, the only thing that matters is victory.”
“Far worse happens on the battlefield. A knight complaining about this wouldn’t deserve the title.”
FWOOOSH!
Violet mana surged around Irina, creating a storm of energy centered on her.
Marcel’s eyebrows twitched.
‘Even with the poison in her system, she’s still this strong?’
He was genuinely taken aback by her resilience.
“Being surprised by something this minor, Grand Elder? You won’t last long if you intend to build an empire. The world is filled with monsters far worse than me.”
“That’s good news for me. Once I surpass them all, the Empire’s people will experience true terror.”
“Then come and try!”
Irina launched herself into the air, striking toward Marcel.
The two 9th Circle masters clashed fiercely, exchanging relentless blows.
Their battle continued until sunset, when both finally withdrew.
It marked the first time the allied forces’ advance had been halted.
However, neither Irina nor Claudia celebrated.
Marcel’s magic had poisoned countless soldiers, rendering them unfit for battle.
The next battle was already a cause for concern.
‘Duke Adalbert must arrive soon.’
There was no other solution.