Chapter 477: My World is Complete (2)
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Gillian’s might was enough to leave anyone in awe.
Leaping across the fortress walls, slaughtering enemies in his path, he truly lived up to his moniker like an enraged lion.
Covered in blood, he roared so loud it seemed to shake the heavens.
“Don’t be afraid, fight! We can hold out!”
“Waaaaah!”
The soldiers, inspired by Gillian’s display, regained their morale. The Delfine forces climbing up hesitated, intimidated by the sheer momentum.
Ereneth watched quietly while fending off enemy mages’ attacks.
‘Strange.’
Even to her, Gillian’s technique was remarkable. The sheer force of his assault was like a raging storm. It was no exaggeration to say he had mastered his craft.
His skill was indeed that of a top-tier knight. And yet, that only made Ereneth more curious.
‘Why hasn’t he broken through the wall?’
That level of technique and momentum wasn’t something one achieved through training alone. It required surviving countless battles on the brink of death. By that measure, Gillian should have had everything needed to surpass his limits.
His mana wasn’t lacking either. Though Ereneth wasn’t aware, Gillian had already absorbed a Dragon Heart Shard.
And yet, he still hadn’t broken through the wall meaning his own world had yet to fully form. He had built a solid foundation to create his own domain, yet something was missing.
Ereneth didn’t dwell on the thought for long. The battle was too intense to afford her such luxury.
“Selahim, burn them all.”
Fwoooosh!
A massive fire lizard materialized beneath the fortress and began spewing flames.
Fwaaaah!
“Gaaah!”
The enemy soldiers climbing up were engulfed in flames and fell, screaming. The ladders attached to the fortress walls burned away and collapsed.
Thanks to her summoning three high-ranking spirits, the Delfine forces’ advance was temporarily halted.
Seizing the moment, Dark flew toward Gillian.
“Hey, Gillian.”
— “You? How are you here so fast?”
Gillian was startled Dark had arrived even before the assault forces.
With a smug tilt of his head, Dark responded,
“Heh, just hang in there a little longer. Our master is on his way with the Mobile Corps and he’s bringing an incredible friend.”
“That’s good news.”
Gillian’s expression brightened. He had braced himself to hold out for at least two days, even if it meant sacrificing his life until Kaor and Belinda arrived. But now, Ghislain was already on his way.
He didn’t even care who the "friend" was. With Ghislain, the Mobile Corps, and the combined strength of himself and Ereneth, victory was assured.
“Hear me, all of you! The lord is coming! The Supreme Commander of the Northern Army is on his way! Just hold on a little longer!”
“WAAAAAH!”
It wasn’t just the Northern Army, even the Royal Army erupted into cheers.
Ghislain’s name was no longer just the strongest in the North, he was on his way to becoming the strongest in the kingdom.
The mere mention of his name sent morale soaring beyond belief.
If he was coming, they would win. He was an undefeated battle commander. That belief had long been carved into everyone’s hearts.
Of course, that was only true if they held out until he arrived.
Splat!
“Keugh!”
A sudden surge of dark energy struck, instantly shattering Dark’s duplicate.
Gillian barely managed to leap back and evade.
Tap.
Lightly landing atop the fortress wall was an Inquisitor of the Salvation Church.
“Tsk, I wasn’t aiming for a mere crow... Hm? What’s this? Where’s the corpse? Did it turn to dust?”
Since Dark was made of mana, his shattered form left no remains.
“Hmph. Looks like I used too much force. Are you the commander here… White Lion, Gillian?”
The priest, introducing himself as Kaspar of the Salvation Church, smiled cruelly.
Gillian was one of the top-priority assassination targets designated by the ducal families.
Killing him here would earn Kaspar great merit.
WAAAAAH!
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The Delfine forces resumed their assault, setting up ladders against the walls once more. Meanwhile, Selahim, who had been rampaging below, was now being suppressed by enemy mages.
With the fortress shrouded in barriers, the enemy ignored it for now and focused on neutralizing the summoned spirits first.
They couldn’t afford to unleash large-scale attack magic while their own troops were advancing.
As the high-ranking priest appeared, Gillian turned to Ereneth. Dealing with superhuman enemies was her specialty.
At that moment, Ereneth whispered in his ear using a wind spirit.
— “Why don’t you fight him yourself?”
“What…?”
― "If you hold him down, I can block the enemies with less damage."
"……."
She wasn't wrong.
But the opponent was a transcendent. Could he really stop this opponent?
Before he could even finish contemplating, Kaspar moved.
Kwaaaang!
“Ugh!”
Gillian raised his axe to block, but he was pushed back. The force and speed were immense. If he had been even slightly slower, his head would have flown off.
“Hup!”
But Gillian immediately planted his feet firmly and brought his axe down.
Kagak!
Kaspar, who had been closing in, was forced back with a long wound across his chest.
“You bastard…!”
Kaspar's face twisted in fury. To think he could unleash such a strong attack from that stance. As expected, his skills lived up to his reputation.
Kwaaang!
Kaspar charged at Gillian once again. His strength and speed were overwhelmingly powerful, befitting a transcendent.
Kang! Kaang! Kaang!
Gillian struggled to block Kaspar’s bare-handed attacks. Even though he had gathered as much mana as possible, every clash between his axe and Kaspar’s fists caused his weapon to deteriorate further.
“Hahaha! You’re nothing special after all!”
Kaspar laughed loudly as he pressed Gillian harder.
Kaspar’s technique was crude, to the point that "clumsy" would have been an understatement. At best, it was no more than basic martial arts.
But the problem was his sense of time he existed in an entirely different flow.
Puk!
“Guh…!”
Gillian’s body began to accumulate wounds, unable to keep up with Kaspar’s speed.
Gillian clenched his teeth.
The difference between a top-tier knight and a transcendent was as thin as a sheet of paper.
A top-tier knight could ascend to transcendence at any moment, as long as they attained enlightenment.
But if that enlightenment never came, they might remain stagnant until their death. That thin sheet of paper could feel like an insurmountable distance.
Right now, that very gap was dividing Kaspar and Gillian completely.
“Khh! The so-called White Lion, what a disappointment!”
Kaspar deliberately taunted Gillian further. But in truth, he wasn’t as comfortable as he appeared.
‘Why aren’t my attacks landing fatal blows?’
With his lack of refined technique, Kaspar didn’t realize that Gillian was predicting every attack and adapting accordingly. Despite existing in a different flow of time, he couldn't understand why he hadn't already killed him.
And there was one more issue.
“Aaaaagh!”
His allies were failing to properly climb the fortress walls.
Some elf was summoning spirits and massacring them.
On top of that, knights in strange armor were proving to be incredibly skilled. Their interference prevented his side’s knights from properly securing the fortress.
If they didn’t establish a proper entry route, their soldiers wouldn’t be able to climb and reinforce their numbers.
‘I should take that wench down first!’
Kaspar’s eyes gleamed.
There was a reason why no one dared to approach this area.
They had left him to Gillian while methodically slaughtering his allies.
Just as Kaspar turned to attack Ereneth, Gillian moved.
Kaaaang!
“You bastard!”
Kaspar, furious, knocked aside the axe. Even when drenched in blood, this man still dared to grab at his ankles.
“So, you really want to die, huh?!”
A dark aura surged violently from his body.
In an instant, a black pillar of energy erupted from where Gillian stood.
Kwaaaang!
The range was quite wide, but Ereneth had surrounded the area with spirits to protect the soldiers.
However, even she couldn't do anything about the very center of the blast.
Paak!
Gillian barely managed to escape, wrapping his body in mana. His entire body was scorched in places.
But even then, his face twisted in anger. Clenching his teeth, he swung his axe once more.
Kaaaang!
Even with its blade completely chipped away, it carried an immense force.
Kaspar blocked it with his arm and immediately extended his hand to counterattack.
Paaaaang!
A deafening blast sent Gillian flying backward.
“Haah… you persistent bastard. I’ll make sure to finish you off this time.”
Kaspar’s expression was contorted in frustration as he approached Gillian.
Seeing this, the Fenris Knights hurriedly rushed forward.
“Instructor!”
Ereneth also furrowed her brow and turned her head.
‘So, he failed to cross the threshold.’
If it were that easy, the world would be overflowing with transcendents.
It was disappointing, but at the same time, it was inevitable.
Ereneth gathered her strength.
She had already summoned three high-ranking spirits, so she was heavily drained.
But now, she had to be the one to hold back the transcendent.
But, at that moment, Gillian trembled as he struggled to his feet and shouted—
“Everyone, hold your positions!”
The knights rushing toward him hesitated at his command. They were accustomed to such situations, so they clenched their lips and returned to facing the Delfine forces.
“Hoo….”
Gillian exhaled deeply and straightened his back. Still, he stood as firm as a steel tower, burning with fierce fighting spirit.
Seeing the fire in his eyes, Ereneth spoke again through the wind.
― "I do not know what is holding you back. However, if it is Count Fenris, he must have already taught you."
She paused for a moment before continuing.
― "Seize this opportunity to stake your life and establish your world. Such chances are rare."
A top-tier knight fighting against a transcendent usually meant certain death.
But if that transcendent was a priest of the Salvation Church with significantly inferior technique…
Perhaps this was a chance to risk his life and break through the barrier.
With that, Ereneth turned away. She decided to leave things to Gillian for a little longer.
Kaspar radiated a thick killing intent.
“This bastard, even to the end….”
Rumors were spreading everywhere that the high-ranking priests of the Salvation Church were merely half-baked transcendents. And now, someone who wasn’t even a transcendent kept challenging him, it was an unbearable blow to his pride.
But he couldn’t simply decimate the entire area. His own allies were pouring in as well.
In the end, he had to personally put an end to this nuisance.
“I’ll crush that head of yours!”
Kwaaang!
Kaspar and Gillian clashed once again.
Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang!
Despite the mounting injuries, Gillian refused to back down. His reckless attacks, utterly disregarding his own life, even made Kaspar flinch at times.
Their battlefield was confined to an extremely short range. Each was desperately trying to stay close and land a fatal strike.
In that brief span, Gillian had been battered into a ragged mess, covered in severe wounds. Meanwhile, Kaspar remained largely unharmed, aside from looking a little fatigued.
Kwaaaang!
Even with half its blade chipped away, Gillian never stopped swinging his axe.
‘Just a little more….’
It felt like he was just on the verge of breaking through but he couldn’t. The wall of transcendence was once again proving its overwhelming height.
― "If it is Count Fenris, he must have already taught you."
That was right. Ghislain had spared no effort in guiding him.
Not only had he granted him a Dragon Heart Shard, but he had also passed down techniques that anyone would covet.
With his natural talent, years of experience, and Ghislain’s teachings, he should have already reached the realm of transcendence.
Then why?
Why had he still not crossed the threshold?
‘Why have I still not established my world?’
Puk!
Kaspar’s hand grazed his neck, and blood spurted out. The seemingly endless flow of mana he had relied on was finally running dry.
Even in terms of energy efficiency, a transcendent was on a completely different level. In order to withstand their attacks, he had been forced to burn through massive amounts of mana.
‘Why am I still…?’
As death loomed closer, frustration filled his heart before fear could.
His convictions had never wavered.
The gratitude he felt had merely been a starting point.
‘My lord….’
It had been a long time since Ghislain’s dream had become his own.
He wanted to see how far that extraordinary man could go.
He wanted to stand beside him on his historic journey.
His loyalty was unbreakable, an indomitable will that would never falter.
He was willing to throw away his life for Ghislain at any moment.
His world had already been defined in that way.
Then why?
Why had he still not broken through the wall?!
‘Why!’
Amidst his blazing rage and injustice, a shadow that had long slumbered within him began to surface.
‘Do you truly deserve it?’
He was a lowly mercenary.
At ten years old, he had picked up a sword simply to survive. From a young age, he had lived by cleaning up after other mercenaries.
Of course, he had done his fair share of dirty deeds whether for survival, for profit, or for his comrades. He had always found an excuse.
No matter how he tried to justify it, that was the life of a mercenary.
He had lived freely, gaining both experience and skill, with nothing to hold him back.
He had earned a small name for himself. Confident in his own abilities, he had lived arrogantly.
To the point where he had even disregarded most nobles.
Then, he met Ghislain.
And he had decided to devote the rest of his life to the man who had shown him kindness.
‘That is how I have lived.’
He had fought, unafraid of death, following Ghislain’s will without hesitation. He had never once feared sacrificing his life.
But he had lived his whole life as a mercenary.
His time with Ghislain was far shorter in comparison.
That was why everything still felt like an ill-fitting garment.
A knight?
Loyalty?
Did those words truly suit him?
Did he really deserve them?
Confusion clouded his mind. Why was he thinking about this now?
Ghislain had endured countless criticisms over the years mocked for leading a band of lowly mercenaries.
He had long since grown used to insults thrown at him, so they never truly bothered him. But every time he heard such words, he couldn't help but worry, was he tarnishing Ghislain’s honor?
Was he merely another stain on his reputation?
A lowborn mercenary Gillian.
That was his identity, and in his arrogance, it had become a weight that ate away at him.
‘Was I… just looking for an honorable place to die?’
Or was it greed a desire to make a name for himself alongside Ghislain?
He was still uncertain.
Ghislain never cared about reputation.
A man who wasn’t a mercenary, yet lived more like one than anyone else. A man who eventually went so far as to form a mercenary corps.
Drawn to his charisma, countless people gathered around him. Many skilled warriors settled by his side.
Once a wastrel from a poor estate, he had now grown strong enough to be called the mightiest in the North.
‘Do I truly have a place beside him?’
So Gillian searched for a reason over and over again, he searched for a reason to remain by his side.
Fighting for him alone was no longer enough.
Dragging along his aging body, what reason did he have to stand beside a man who existed in an entirely different realm…?
Then, he suddenly recalled the moment Ghislain had cured his daughter’s illness.
— “I told you, I’d heal her. Does helping someone in pain need some grand reason?”
“……”
Ghislain had barged in and insisted on curing his daughter. And when Gillian asked for a reason, that was the answer he gave.
That was the kind of man Ghislain was.
A man who moved as his heart led him, as his feet carried him.
Yet, even so, he remained steadfast in his desire to protect his land and his people.
— “I don’t have a habit of forcing my will on those who don’t want it. If you don’t want to, then that’s that.”
From the very beginning, Ghislain had given him the right to refuse.
It had been Gillian’s choice to follow him.
Ghislain had never forced him. Ghislain didn’t look at him as if he’s a mercenary that can be replaced at any given time.
‘I see now.’
Kwaaaang!
A deafening explosion shattered his brief reverie.
The distortion of time was palpable. In the blink of an eye, countless thoughts had raced through his mind.
Bloodied and battered, Gillian looked down at his right hand.
His axe had been completely shattered only the handle remained.
“It’s over!”
Kaspar, overcome with exhilaration, lifted his hand.
It was finally time to pierce the heart of that accursed White Lion.
Just then, a raven screeched and dove straight at Kaspar.
“Iyaaahhh!”
Thud!
Dark slammed its body against Kaspar’s face, catching him off guard.
“What the?!”
Gillian took that moment to shift his body slightly.
Puk!
As a result, Kaspar’s hand plunged into the right side of Gillian’s chest.
“Kugh!”
He had avoided instant death, but the wound was severe. Blood gushed from Gillian’s mouth.
“Gillian! Get a hold of yourself! The lord is—”
Paaak!
Kaspar swung his other hand, and Dark, who had just reappeared, was obliterated mid-sentence.
“This damn raven… Didn’t I kill it just a moment ago?”
Distracted by the talking raven, Kaspar failed to notice Gillian looking beyond the fortress.
Dudududududu!
He was coming.
With Fenris' banner billowing, he charged forward, ready to sweep across the battlefield.
Ghislain’s voice roared like thunder.
“Gillian!”
“My lord….”
“I’m here! Hold on!”
A bloody grin stretched across Gillian’s face.
If he was told to fight, he would fight.
If he was told to protect, he would protect.
And if he was told to endure, he would endure.
Smiling, Gillian muttered under his breath.
“I’ve been overthinking things. I never realized the darkness lurking inside me.”
“You’re finished, White Lion.”
Kaspar tried to pull his hand back, but Gillian clamped down on his wrist with his left hand and spoke.
“I am my lord’s sword and shield.”
“…What?”
“I will cut down my lord’s enemies. I will protect my lord. That is what I believe loyalty to be. And… does loyalty really require qualifications?”
“You insane bastard, what the hell are you rambling about?”
Kaspar exerted his strength.
But his hand gripped tightly in Gillian’s grasp did not budge.
‘Impossible.’
A transcendent’s strength should be overwhelming, yet he was being held back.
“What the hell is this power?!”
Kaspar attempted to strike Gillian with his free hand.
But Gillian was faster.
Puk!
With lightning speed, the axe handle pierced through Kaspar’s throat.
“Ghh… Kghh…”
Locking eyes with him, Gillian spoke with burning determination.
“Today, my world is complete.”
The axe handle embedded in Kaspar’s throat—
—was now enveloped in a brilliantly shining Aura Blade.