Chapter 514
Let’s End This Here. (5)
Ghislain hadn’t advanced directly from the Third Stage to the Fourth for the sake of stability and balance.
At the Third Stage, his cores were positioned on both sides of his chest and just below his navel. The next cores needed to be formed in his thighs. To maintain balance, he had to create them in both thighs simultaneously.
“Hoo…”
A crimson breath escaped from Ghislain’s lips. Five cores were now operating organically, drawing mana upward.
‘I need to distribute it well.’
With Dark’s power depleted, he could no longer amplify his mana.
The mana absorbed by the newly formed cores was replenishing the others, but these fresh cores were still weak. The mana they contained was less than half of what the existing cores held.
But it’s fine.
The Mana Refinement Technique he used was designed to unleash explosive bursts of mana in an instant. If he distributed his newly replenished mana well, he could surpass his own limits.
Ghislain smirked and spoke.
“Don’t you think we’re dragging this out too long? At this rate, the sun’s gonna rise.”
Their battle had gone on for quite some time. Ghislain had deliberately prolonged it into a war of attrition, carefully managing his stamina.
At his words, Kaiyen glanced up at the sky. The sun had already set, and the stars filled the heavens.
‘When did time pass like this?’
They had arrived in the afternoon after racing nonstop. Now, after half a day of battle, they had yet to determine a victor.
So deeply immersed in the fight, they had lost all sense of their surroundings and the passage of time.
‘I was so close.’
Though they had fought for long, he was certain Count Fenris had completely exhausted his mana. That was no illusion.
Yet, suddenly, he had regained his energy. Kaiyen had never seen, nor even heard of, such a phenomenon before.
“I’m curious. Just what the hell are you? How did you recover your mana?”
It was already shocking how rapidly he recovered and how unusually high his durability was. But now, Fenris was doing something that defied all logic. Kaiyen couldn't help but wonder.
“Well… you could say it’s a skill I picked up while crossing the line between life and death.”
“Incredible. Then why didn’t you use that power from the beginning?”
If he had, the fight would have ended much sooner, regardless of who won. Count Fenris would have also been able to replenish the mana he had expended against Elois.
Ghislain shook his head slightly.
“It’s not as easy as it sounds. Besides, you were stronger than I expected.”
If he could have ended it with just three cores, he wouldn’t have bothered forming new ones.
When creating a new core, one had to completely drain the body's energy first. Otherwise, the freshly generated core would violently clash with the existing mana.
That wasn’t the only issue. His body itself needed to expand enough to accommodate five cores. Though he had gradually adjusted using Dark’s amplification, he was still slightly lacking.
That was why Ghislain had postponed forming new cores for so long. He had too many urgent matters to deal with to focus solely on stabilizing his body.
Drrrr…
‘I can feel the strain building up.’
Three cores weren’t enough to defeat Kaiyen, so he had forced his body to adapt. To prevent himself from completely breaking apart, he had even tapped into his own life force.
Even so, his bones and muscles were slowly distorting. The new cores hadn’t fully settled yet, leaving him in an unstable state.
Right now, Ghislain was barely suppressing the mana that was desperately trying to burst out of his body. He needed to control it and wield it in battle.
Once this fight was over, he would probably have to spend several days in recovery just to stabilize his cores.
Kaiyen noticed the thin line of blood trickling from Ghislain’s lips and gave a knowing nod.
“This doesn’t seem like a normal method.”
Summoning such power out of nowhere must have a cost. If it didn’t, he would have used it from the very beginning.
There was still an opportunity.
“Simply recovering a bit of mana won’t change the outcome.”
Boom!
Kaiyen still had strength left. He swung his sword with relentless force once more. Ghislain, having recovered some mana, met the attack head-on with his own blade.
Kwaang!
The impact was still slightly in Kaiyen’s favor. Though Ghislain’s technique was exceptional, as long as he continued applying pressure, he could force him to waste his stamina.
Suppressing his excitement, Kaiyen maintained his calm and continued swinging his sword.
‘I must not let my guard down. That bastard’s swordplay is still dangerous.’
A single moment of carelessness, and a hidden strike would emerge from his blind spot. Even the slightest lapse in focus could lead to a fatal wound.
That was why he pressed Ghislain even harder. He deliberately absorbed attacks that wouldn’t cause significant injuries and retaliated immediately.
Boom! Boom! BOOM!
Watching Kaiyen’s composed and methodical assault, Ghislain let out a bitter chuckle.
He really is a remarkable one.
A true warrior remained calm even when they had the upper hand. Not everyone could do that.
He couldn't bait him into a reckless mistake or attempt a desperate reversal. Against an opponent like this, there was only one solution—
Overwhelming power.
Ziiing—!
Ghislain’s eyes glowed a deeper crimson than ever before. The mana coursing through his five cores grew exponentially stronger.
BOOM!
Suddenly, Ghislain’s attack became even fiercer, forcing Kaiyen to take a step back.
‘Just a little more…’
Clenching his teeth, Ghislain swung his sword once again.
BOOM!
‘More!’
KAAANG!
Ghislain’s five cores roared as they spun violently, surging power into his blade.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
As Ghislain’s attacks grew fiercer, Kaiyen flinched and retreated.
“Khut…!”
It was incomprehensible.
How can someone get stronger while fighting?!
Left with no choice, Kaiyen abandoned his strategy of slowly pressuring his opponent. If he didn’t want to be overwhelmed, he had to fight back with everything he had.
BOOM! BOOOOM!
Their blades clashed, and Ghislain clenched his teeth in frustration.
‘This is my limit…’
He couldn't draw out any more power. If he tried to unleash any greater force, his body would collapse instantly. Right now, he was barely managing to hold himself together.
Besides, Kaiyen was not an opponent who could be taken down with a single burst of power.
Kaiyen felt the same frustration. Though Ghislain was a step below him, he wasn’t weak enough to be defeated instantly.
‘If I fail, it’s over.’
Both of them were at their limits. Whoever ran out of strength first or made a mistake would be the one to fall.
Kaiyen didn’t want to admit that this young upstart was fighting him as an equal. But he had to face reality.
BOOOOM!
Their swords clashed more violently than ever, both aiming for a decisive, lethal strike.
They understood each other too well neither bothered avoiding attacks that weren’t immediately fatal.
Splat!
Blood sprayed from both their bodies.
If Ghislain’s chest was slashed, then Kaiyen’s chest was slashed as well. If Ghislain’s arm was cut, then Kaiyen’s leg suffered a wound in turn.
Even as their bodies became tattered, neither stopped.
Now, they could no longer withstand each other’s power.
BOOM!
“Gah…!”
Both men groaned in pain as they were sent flying backward, crashing onto the ground. They had been covered in blood for a long time now.
“Haa… Haa… You bastard…”
Kaiyen staggered to his feet, panting. Ghislain, watching him, grinned.
“Tired already? I’ve still got plenty of energy left.”
“…Don’t… bluff.”
That bastard had just been thrown to the ground as well, yet he was still pretending to be fine. To dare boast like this in front of the Kingdom’s Strongest Swordsman…!
“Let’s go again.”
Kaiyen tightened his grip on his sword and advanced. Ghislain did not back down.
BOOOM!
Seeing the two bloodied warriors continue to swing their swords, both armies tightened their grips on their weapons in anxiety.
‘If we charge in now…’
‘We need to save them…’
Dawn was already breaking. The way they moved now was completely different from before. Their exhaustion was painfully obvious.
Just a handful of knights could rush in now, rescue their ally, and kill their opponent.
And yet… none of them dared to interfere.
This was a duel for the title of the Kingdom’s Strongest. Until orders were given, they could not intervene.
It was no longer just a battle of enmity it had turned into a battle of respect.
As expected of the Kingdom’s Strongest…
Was Count Fenris really this strong…?
It was an incredible fight.
Even after reaching such a state of complete exhaustion, their swordplay was still alive. Every strike carried a profound realization.
If any of them had stood in that duel, they wouldn’t have lasted even a single move.
The only thing the soldiers on both sides could do was clench their fists and watch in awe.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Ghislain and Kaiyen never stopped.
Their mana had long run out, and their bodies were reduced to rags. It was a miracle neither had bled to death yet.
BOOM!
In the end, neither could withstand the force of their own attacks any longer.
Once again, they collapsed to the ground.
Truthfully, if they had managed their strength better, they could have fought longer. That was how enormous their mana reserves were.
But in trying to match each other’s strength, they had ended up draining themselves faster.
“Kh… You… damn…”
Kaiyen coughed up blood, trying to rise.
But his body shook uncontrollably, refusing to move.
Ghislain also stabbed his sword into the ground, struggling to pull himself up.
“Damn it…”
Neither of them could stand properly.
They needed time to catch their breath before they could move again.
Kaiyen glared at Ghislain before speaking through gritted teeth.
“…It’s unfortunate.”
Ghislain gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and asked,
“What is?”
“That we can no longer finish this fight.”
“Heh… Says who?”
“As the Kingdom’s Strongest Swordsman, this is where I stop.”
“…Is that so?”
Kaiyen let out a ragged breath. He had wanted to win with his own strength alone.
But Kaiyen was not just any knight. He was the Supreme Commander of the Southern Army and a loyal vassal of the Ducal Family.
At this moment, personal honor was not what mattered most.
Kaiyen let out a self-mocking laugh.
“I will set aside the title of the Kingdom’s Strongest Swordsman and my pride here.”
The true priority was winning this war.
If he moved his army now, he could surely kill Count Fenris. And if Count Fenris died, this war would already be as good as won.
The Mobile Corps would try to stop them, but his army had twice their numbers. Moreover, his troops had been resting while he fought.
“…I’m sorry. I will carry the disgrace of tainting this duel until the day I die.”
Taking a brief moment to catch his breath, Kaiyen struggled to his feet. His legs trembled violently. Ghislain, on the other hand, still hadn’t risen.
Kaiyen exhaled wearily and extended his sword.
“And you… I will remember you. You were truly a remarkable man.”
“……”
Sensing the shifting atmosphere, the Fenris Mobile Corps raised their spears. The 40,000 cavalrymen of the Delfine Forces did the same.
They were ready to charge the moment orders were given.
But Kaiyen, as if unconcerned, kept his sword extended and continued.
“Entire army, prepare to—”
Before he could finish, Ghislain cut in.
“You’ll have to finish this fight with me. Your army isn’t moving.”
“What?”
“Look to your side.”
Kaiyen slowly turned his head.
On a distant hill, a noble-looking man stood with several knights.
They hadn’t been there when the battle first started. Narrowing his eyes, Kaiyen finally recognized him.
“Count Mowbray?”
A chill ran down Kaiyen’s spine.
‘How long had he been watching?’
He had been so immersed in the fight that he hadn’t even noticed.
Even the troops on both sides had known someone had arrived, but none dared to act. They hadn’t known whose side the newcomers were on, and Ghislain and Kaiyen’s battle had been too intense for distractions.
Now that the fight had entered a brief lull, Count Mowbray raised his hand.
The knight beside him lifted a war horn and blew it.
Bwooooooo—!
The deep horn echoed, and in the distance, a dust cloud rose as an army emerged from behind the hill.
It was Count Mowbray’s 10,000 cavalrymen.
“…Damn it.”
Kaiyen scowled.
He still had the numerical advantage, but with additional enemy troops, his side would suffer greater losses.
Turning to Ghislain, Kaiyen growled.
“You were stalling for time? You never intended to settle this duel properly!”
“No. They’ve been here for quite a while.”
Mowbray’s forces had arrived before dawn.
To ensure a fair duel, Ghislain had sent Dark to keep them at a distance. That was why only Mowbray himself had come closer to watch the battle.
Kaiyen bit his lip repeatedly before speaking.
“It doesn’t matter. Even with that many reinforcements, nothing will change. In the chaos, you will die.”
At that, Ghislain chuckled.
“You think that’s all?”
“What…?”
Before Kaiyen could finish his sentence, another massive dust cloud appeared even larger than before.
Behind Mowbray’s forces, a second army emerged.
This force dwarfed Mowbray’s cavalry.
“WAAAAAAH—!”
A thunderous battle cry erupted as they charged forward.
Kaiyen’s eyes trembled.
At a glance, their numbers were overwhelming at least 50,000 strong.
“What is this…? How…?”
It wasn’t a regular army. Their formations were chaotic, and their equipment varied wildly.
They looked almost like a horde of bandits.
But there was one unmistakable sign of their allegiance…
“…The Fenris Mercenary Corps?”
Above them, fluttering proudly, was the banner of the Fenris Mercenary Corps the mercenaries who had been expanding their influence like wildfire across every kingdom.
“How… are they here?”
Kaiyen knew all about the Fenris Mercenary Corps.
Most of their forces had been deployed to other kingdoms, with only a small number left behind to stabilize territories.
Since they had absorbed mercenaries from various nations, they needed officers to manage them, which was why most had been sent abroad.
That was why he had never considered them a threat.
With so many external contracts, the mercenaries shouldn’t have been able to assemble here.
But now, tens of thousands of them had suddenly appeared.
“…Don’t tell me… you summoned them ahead of time.”
“That’s right.” Ghislain grinned. “My father and I have been gathering them since before we marched on the capital. And now, they have followed me here.”
Kaiyen’s face went blank.
The enemy now had twice his numbers.
On top of that, his army had been starving for days. If they fought unprepared, they would be massacred.
“How… How could this happen…?”
Kaiyen could only repeat himself in a daze.
He had never imagined mercenaries would appear in such overwhelming numbers.
‘This bastard… had planned everything from the start.’
Kaiyen and his forces had simply been walking into his trap, step by step.
His head spun as he staggered.
‘It’s over.’
Had he been in peak condition, he might have been able to handle such an army. If necessary, he could have escaped.
But right now, he has nothing left.
He and his 40,000 cavalrymen were doomed.
Kaiyen turned a dazed gaze toward Ghislain.
This man possessed knowledge and power beyond comprehension.
‘An incomprehensible existence…’
To be honest, Kaiyen had felt it the moment they first crossed blades.
No matter how much of a genius someone was, a warrior of Ghislain’s caliber simply should not exist at his age.
“…Who are you? How do you do these things?”
“Me?”
Ghislain grinned.
People called him by many names.
The Northern Menace. The Heir of Ferdium. The Lord of Fenris. The Holy One of the Capital. The Commander of the Northern Army.
But none of that mattered right now.
Slowly, Ghislain forced himself to stand.
His body screamed in pain, but he straightened his back.
In his past life, he had never spoken these words.
He had never met Duke Delfine or Kaiyen in person before losing the war.
So he had never been able to say who he truly was.
But now…
Now that he had returned, he would say it loud and clear.
Taking a deep breath, Ghislain lifted his gaze to meet Kaiyen’s eyes.
This time, he would tell him—
Who had come to kill them in the past.
And who had returned to kill them now.
“I am—”
“The King of Mercenaries, Ghislain Ferdium.”