Chapter 143: The End of the Rampage (7)
Nicholas’ right arm, which was gripping his staff, trembled as if in shock.
His eyes, too, were shaking with disbelief.
“Ninth circle…”
Even though it was unfolding right before his eyes, he couldn’t believe it.
What did it mean to reach the ninth circle?
It wasn’t just about piercing through the essence of things; it meant glimpsing the laws or even the truths of the world.
An existence nearing the pinnacle of absolute power—that was the ninth circle.
This supreme level, and Martin had reached it within roughly a year of awakening his unique ability.
No matter how overwhelming his talent, this was a development beyond any conventional understanding.
How could he even begin to process this?
But Nicholas himself was also at the ninth circle. Quickly regaining his composure, he spoke up.
“Hah. The Adalbert family persists in standing in my way.”
“It might be better to phrase it differently. The Royce Marquisate is simply paying for not knowing its place.”
“…You don’t understand. You couldn’t know the resentment felt by nobles excluded from the Three Great Houses and the Imperial Family.”
“Nor could you understand, Marquis Royce, the pain of enduring persecution from so many for failing to awaken a unique ability.”
Martin scoffed at Nicholas’ words.
Hadn’t Nicholas enjoyed a life of pride and status before everyone else, aside from the heads of the Three Great Houses and the Emperor?
“And now you’re whining that it’s difficult for you? That’s honestly ridiculous.”
“Do you think the suffering of a child over a few years could compare to the aspirations my family has pursued for centuries?”
“When you’re at death’s door, Marquis Royce, I hope you reflect on this: how it feels to have the aspirations of your family shattered by a mere child you once scorned, and to see your bloodline face ruin.”
“That won’t happen. Today, I will surely kill you.”
“Plenty have said that to me before, but none succeeded. This time will be no different.”
Whoosh.
Martin’s words were barely finished when he executed a spatial movement, reappearing behind Nicholas.
Yet Nicholas didn’t remain idle.
Without even glancing back, Nicholas waved his staff. White lines appeared, winding around Martin’s body.
The powerful telekinetic lines aimed to restrain Martin’s movements.
Though they quickly tore under the force of Martin’s power, Nicholas was satisfied. In a battle decided in mere instants, the few seconds he had bought were meaningful.
Swish.
Nicholas swung his staff again.
In response, countless magic circles formed around Martin, which then exploded in a cascading chain of detonations.
Boom! Boom!
Scorching flames and the shockwave from the explosions engulfed Martin.
‘Flames alone won’t do.’
Nicholas had learned through various sources that fire alone wasn’t effective against Martin.
So he unleashed a barrage of white lightning and energy missiles on him, triggering even more massive explosions.
Flash!
That was when it happened.
Golden light flared up from where Martin was standing.
Martin emerged, unscathed by the relentless torrent of magic he had been hit with. His entire body was sheathed in a brilliant golden aura blade, allowing him to withstand the attacks.
“…Did he defend himself using Spatial Sword?”
Nicholas’ face twisted with disbelief.
The Spatial Sword he knew was a technique designed for pure offense. Until now, Martin hadn’t even used it to cancel out attacks defensively.
Yet here he was, using it for defense.
“Oh, come now. Why so surprised? Isn’t it common knowledge that those who reach the fifth circle in swordsmanship can control aura blades perfectly?”
At the peak of swordsmanship, an aura blade could accomplish nearly anything. So adding an additional aura blade within the realm of the Spatial Sword was nothing difficult.
Martin, smirking at Nicholas’ disbelief, extended his left hand.
Swoosh!
The entire Spatial Sword’s domain emitted a dazzling light, deepening in color more than ever before.
“Allow me to show you the end of infinity.”
Slash!
Golden aura-infused slashes rained down indiscriminately.
Previously, the Spatial Sword had dampened the power of his slashes, but this time was different.
Each slash was the equal of a true aura blade.
“As if I’d be defeated by the likes of you!”
Nicholas erupted in fury, quickly conjuring spells.
He cast magic circles over each slash, triggering explosions to neutralize them.
Even as Martin continued to generate slashes, Nicholas destroyed each one with relentless explosions.
And that wasn’t all.
In front of Nicholas, two enormous dragons materialized.
Roooaaar!
Graaaw!
The two dragons unleashed rays resembling breath attacks, each infused with lightning and light attributes Nicholas had added.
Martin couldn’t help but feel impressed.
‘Incredible. Truly incredible.’
The Spatial Sword was his domain alone.
Yet Nicholas could exhibit such tremendous power even within this realm.
Despite him being the enemy, Martin couldn’t help but acknowledge his strength.
Not that it meant he intended to lose.
Martin raised his left hand.
In an instant, two new cubes formed, trapping the two dragons within.
Martin then clenched his fist.
BOOM!
As the cubes rapidly contracted, both dragons exploded into oblivion.
“Guh!”
Nicholas let out a short scream, blood spurting from his mouth.
The spell had shattered under an external force, and the backlash surged through his body.
Whoosh.
Martin, signaling the end, used spatial movement once more.
In a blink, he appeared before Nicholas and thrust his holy sword, Karadyl.
Yet, despite coughing up blood, Nicholas managed to cast a spell, white lines snaring Karadyl’s blade in midair.
‘A sword isn’t all I have.’
With a sly grin, Martin launched a powerful kick aimed at Nicholas’ abdomen.
Although Nicholas had several layered protective spells around his body, Martin’s kick broke through them all and struck his abdomen.
“Ugh!”
Nicholas coughed up blood once again.
His body folded like a shrimp as he was sent flying.
Even as he fell, Nicholas chanted swiftly, unleashing a barrage of energy blasts.
Hundreds of attacks hurtled toward Martin at supersonic speeds.
“Sorry, but that won’t work anymore.”
Martin waved his left hand.
In response, the Spatial Sword unleashed a massive vortex that swept away all of the incoming blasts.
“Haa… haa…”
Nicholas, wracked with pain, couldn’t muster his next attack.
It had only taken a single hit.
And even in that moment, he had minimized the impact as much as possible.
Yet the strike had shattered his bones, piercing his internal organs.
“I understand now why you’re hailed as the mightiest below the Absolutes. Your mastery over magic is as effortless as breathing. Had I not trapped you in the Spatial Sword, I might’ve actually lost.”
“Who says this is over?!”
It wasn’t over yet.
If he could kill this wretch before him, the Royce family’s ambition could be fulfilled.
Just one more step.
With one more step forward, everything would be within his grasp. How could he possibly give up now?
Nicholas drew upon not only his mana but even his very life force, channeling all of it into his staff.
But he never managed to cast his final spell.
Suddenly, the space around them contracted, erasing the distance between him and Martin.
Startled, Nicholas instinctively tried to retreat, but it was already too late.
Martin brought Karadyl down with all his might.
The blade, wreathed in light, sliced through Nicholas’ staff in an instant, then descended toward his upper body.
Though Nicholas quickly erected layers of protective barriers, they were too weak to withstand Martin’s strike.
Slash!
“Aaagh!”
The blade cut through Nicholas from his right shoulder to his left side.
He let out a desperate scream, plummeting to the ground below.
“Phew.”
Martin took a calming breath, then retracted the Spatial Sword.
It was almost unbelievable that Nicholas was still alive, even after colliding with the ground.
“Time to end this properly.”
Nicholas was gravely injured, enough to die if left alone.
But he had long been a threat to Martin and his family.
There would be no lingering risks; Martin descended to the ground to finish him off.
—
Thud.
Standing before the fallen Nicholas, Martin looked down.
“Even though he led a rebellion, the Second Prince is still His Majesty’s son. Killing a member of the Imperial Family with my own hands would be fruitless, so for now, he’ll live.”
That’s why he had ordered Sien and Adel to capture him alive.
This would allow the Imperial Family to pass rightful judgment on Theodore themselves.
“But you’re different. Killing you right here, right now, would only earn me praise, not condemnation.”
“H-Having subjects lavish you with praise… there’s only one outcome… Are you trying to establish an Adalbert Kingdom?”
“Not exactly. I’m doing my best to ensure my family endures, but I’ve never thought of going that far. The real issue is that the Imperial Family and the Ferdinand family aren’t satisfied with just the Klaus family.”
“Argh! S-So in the end, you intend to commit treason. Then you’ll meet a miserable end, Martin Adalbert. If the Emperor were powerless, maybe, but Karl von Ferdinand wouldn’t hesitate to destroy any opponent he deems a threat.”
“That’s exactly what Duke Ferdinand warned me: this is the first and last chance he’s giving me. Whatever it takes, I’ll do it to make the most of that chance, whether that ends in rebellion or independence.”
The Klaus family had openly sought independence, so it was understandable that the Imperial Family wouldn’t forgive them.
But they hadn’t stopped at that—they’d set their sights on Martin and the Adalbert family, who had remained neutral.
They had crossed the line first.
There was no reason to simply endure this.
“No matter what becomes of me in the future, the Royce family will meet its end. So maybe you should be more concerned for your descendants than worrying about me.”
“…The price for choosing the wrong son-in-law is high.”
If he’d chosen the cowardly Wilhelm von Fezek instead of the ambitious Valdemar von Rustal as his son-in-law, things might have turned out differently.
With Wilhelm in his pocket, he could have moved freely, eliminating Martin long ago.
“Let’s get this straight. It was your and the Royce marquises’ foolish ambition that brought you to ruin.”
Martin aimed the holy sword, Karadyl, at Nicholas.
His complexion was growing increasingly pale.
Martin had no intention of letting him die slowly.
“Reflect on your foolishness in hell.”
Slice!
Karadyl’s blade cut through Nicholas’ neck, and blood spurted forth like a fountain.
“You won’t be lonely, Marquis Nicholas. Plenty went before you, and many more will follow.”
Up until now, Martin had only dealt with lesser foes, but Nicholas had been on a completely different level.
Yet his work was far from over.
There were still far more dangerous enemies remaining.
And he would make sure they all met the same fate.