Chapter 548
KRAAAASH!

A deafening roar shook the heavens and earth without pause. Though it was broad daylight, the flashing lights around made the sky seem dark.

As the rookie imperial guard magic swordswoman instinctively tried to glance back, Barsabe shouted sharply.

“Don’t look back! Focus ahead!”

“Ah, s-sorry!”

Swish!

Screech!

Blood dripped from the tip of her blade. She slashed and slashed again, but the endless tide of monsters was overwhelming.

How many were there? Thousands? No, tens of thousands? If the rift wasn’t sealed, it might be close to infinite. Barsabe bit her lower lip hard and swung her magic sword fiercely.

BOOM!

The magic channeled through her blade burst out in three streams, exploding as the monsters turned to ash and vanished.

But only for a moment. More creatures pushed forward, filling the gap.

“There! That’s Atan, the magic swordsman!”

“Barsabe!”

“Yes, Captain! I’m moving to support!”

“Rookies, fall back! Focus on holding the monsters!”

At the shout of Third Captain Bonita, Barsabe reacted swiftly. She crouched low and charged through the monsters. Around Atan, who wielded a black sword, there were especially many of those creatures.

Clang! Clink!

“Hahaha! So the imperial magic swordsmen aren’t so special after all?”

“Shut up!”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

This wasn’t just a one-on-one fight. The monsters surrounding Atan moved as if hypnotized by the black sword.

They gripped the guards’ limbs tightly, and the more the guards tried to strike them off, the more the monsters multiplied.

“Farewell! Hehehe!”

Swish!

Clang!

Just as Atan was about to plunge his sword into a guard’s heart, Barsabe flew in to block him. Through her disheveled hair, her fierce eyes flashed with deadly intent.

“How dare you speak of the imperial palace?”

She deflected the attack in an instant and stabbed her blade into the unguarded upper body of the foe. Blood poured down, soaking Barsabe’s hand with heat.

Atan chuckled hoarsely and waved his hand, and Barsabe immediately understood what he wanted.

“Monsters? You want to eat monsters?”

Swish!

Barsabe pulled out her sword and sliced off his head. The severed head tumbled away and disappeared somewhere.

“Eat all you want.”

“T-thank you, senior.”

“Rookies, fall back and provide support.”

“Yes, understood.”

Clang! Clink!

There was no time to catch their breath. Barsabe targeted Atan again and charged, drenched in the rain of blood pouring down.

“Captain! There are three magic swordsmen named Atan!”

“What about the mage?”

“Still no sign!”

Swish!

Meanwhile, Third Captain Bonita surveyed the overall situation.

Taking down Atan himself was going fairly smoothly. There were a few magic swordsmen mixed in, but they were no match for the well-trained imperial guard.

The real problem was whether a mage was present and sealing the rift. If a mage existed, how powerful would their influence be? And after destroying Atan, how would they seal the rift?

KRAAAASH!

Then, from behind, another massive roar erupted. No need to look to know—it was the tremor caused by Captain Jaret’s lightning.

Bonita immediately opened her magic power to its fullest to carry out his orders.

Ziiing. Ziiing.

SWOOSH!

Bonita leapt into the sky with all her might, and the imperial guards simultaneously turned their heads upward.

Her silver hair billowed elegantly. But they all knew just how destructive the power from that slender body could be.

“Everyone, be careful!”

“If you lose focus, you die!”

“S-senior, what the hell—”

“Over here! This way!”

Wooooooosh.

Bonita summoned a massive white spear-sword. Closing one eye as if measuring, she scanned the vast land, then drove the spear-sword down at a chosen spot.

BOOM! BANG! BOOM!

The explosion wiped out swarms of monsters, but that was just a side effect. A chain of blasts carved a huge crater in the earth, drawing a kind of boundary line.

Gyaaaaargh!

Screech!

Monsters charging straight ahead plunged into the deep pit. The estimate was exactly five minutes—after that, the pit would fill, and the monsters would flood back.

Everything had to be resolved within that time. Otherwise, the monsters would spill over the northern region and flow into the center.

THUD!

“Ugh—!”

“Captain! Are you okay?”

“Captain Bonita!”

The force that split the earth was immense. Bonita knelt, coughing up blood endlessly, her body trembling. The soldiers called out anxiously, but without showing her face, Bonita gave a firm order.

“Hold your positions! Don’t lower your swords!”

She would jump back in once the bleeding stopped.

The soldiers hesitated, then shouted their acknowledgment and scattered.

Left alone, Bonita stabbed the monster remains with her dagger and glanced toward Jaret’s side. How was it going over there? There seemed to be a mage.

KRAAAASH!

As the question formed, Jaret’s lightning flashed wildly in all directions.

*    *    *

Beric’s massive magic sword was hot, blazing, and radiating intense energy. Wherever it cut, it left behind trails of crimson flames—on the grass, in the air, even on Beno’s side.

Swish!

“Ugh!”

“Kyahahaha! Does it hurt? How much?”

This wasn’t a simple wound. The heat-infused pain made Beno grimace involuntarily, clutching his side.

That bastard Beric seemed to have transformed into his peak state after drinking the potion. His belly was still pierced and bleeding, but…

“Crazy bastard.”

“Finally realize? You picked the wrong fight. I never let anyone who stabbed me live. No exceptions. Damn you.”

Thwack!

Beric lunged with all his might, swinging his sword at Beno. It was clearly different from before—heavier, faster, and more agile.

Beno barely managed to parry the blows, sweating coldly. He felt death’s door. The terror that if even a split second, a single moment, or an unnoticed gap appeared, that red blade would slice his throat.

“Try that shit again!”

“Ugh—!”

“Try again! Look at me like that again!”

CLANG! BANG!

The clash of blades grew duller and heavier.

Beno locked eyes with Efdiram over Beric’s shoulder, and immediately straightened up, closing the distance.

Beric turned his head at the sudden change in direction, and Efdiram’s magic orb was right in front of him.

“Damn it!”

Swish!

But Jaret’s lightning pierced through it.

In an instant, the surroundings flashed white, blinding their vision. Jaret swung his lightning wide, aiming for Efdiram’s vital spot, breaking through every shield she conjured.

Flash!

Clang! Clink!

“Ugh, damn it!”

“Lady Efdiram!”

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?! Your opponent is me!”

“Beric! Right side!”

The four fought and defended each other in an endless, brutal battle.

‘Efdiram is the mage. Kill her before she uses forbidden magic.’

‘No matter the captain or not, he’s still a magic swordsman, so his magic is limited. Just hold out.’

‘Damn bastard! I’ll double the holes in your body!’

‘If only Lady Efdiram survives, we have a chance!’

Each with their own goal.

But it didn’t last long. The storm of attacks suddenly ceased.

Swish!

Whoosh!

“…!”

“…!”

Jaret’s lightning pierced Efdiram’s heart, and Beric’s magic sword stabbed through Beno’s abdomen.

The four froze, breathing heavily. The tension lingered as if it hadn’t ended, even though it had. Then came Efdiram’s groan.

“…Ah, damn.”

“Ugh!”

And Beno’s coughing up blood.

As the two collapsed, Jaret and Beric simultaneously withdrew their swords. Blood gushed endlessly from the pierced wounds.

Swish!

Beric’s trembling fingers finally stilled, and he collapsed backward.

“Hah, hah, this is fucking exhausting.”

“…”

“Old man, why are you so late? You’ve got a hole in your belly. I can’t do anything now. Damn it, I can’t move until I kill five cows.”

Jaret looked at the bloodstains on his collar and the shattered remains of Beric’s black sword lying far away. It was over. For now.

“You got hurt because you slacked off training. Who else can you blame?”

“Ah, I don’t know! I don’t know!”

“But how the hell did you do that with the magic sword?”

“What? Old man does it, and that molar over there does it too. Why can’t I? Hey, bring Ian! Tell him to pump up the power.”

“The potion seems to be working well.”

“Don’t say that around crazy Akorella. She gets cocky and throws a fit. Ugh.”

Unlike the other Atans, the bodies of Efdiram and Beno had to be secured. Everyone needed to see the fate that had befallen the group threatening Bariel. And, in time, the Atan tribe would need to know as well.

“Captain! We’ve annihilated all the Atans!”

“We’re still searching, but the monsters are making it difficult!”

“The number of monsters seems to be increasing!”

“No survivors here!”

“None here either!”

Shouts confirming the end of battles echoed from all directions.

Jaret stared quietly toward the north, then peeled off his bloodstained robe. Beric narrowed his eyes in confusion—what was gotten into the old man all of a sudden? But Jaret paid no mind and even removed his outer cloak.

Now dressed lightly in just a shirt, he rolled up his sleeves and nodded.

“Beric. Carry those two bodies.”

“Me?”

“Or should I?”

“Why not send Kkyu back? Or better yet, maybe the old man himself can do it. He looks healthier than me!”

Jaret smiled faintly as he strode toward the still pouring-in monsters.

“I’m busy.”

“…What are you planning?”

“Just placing a bowl under a broken faucet is foolish. If it’s broken, you fix it and stop the leak. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s true—”

“Captain Bonita!”

Jaret called out in a strong voice, and she looked up, pale and drenched in sweat.

“Yes, Captain Jaret!”

“I’m going to check the rift. You all keep the troops in order and hold this position.”

“The captain is going in?”

“Yes. I’ll go see for myself.”

The palace guard hesitated, glancing at Jaret. His clothes were now light, ready for entry.

Barsabe tore into a monster’s head and shouted,

“No, Captain! The rift—it’s a gateway to the Abyss! It’s too dangerous! Wait for Lord Ian to arrive. He’ll be here soon!”

“What do you think will come first?”

The pit filling with monsters, or Ian Hielo’s arrival. Even if Ian came first, it was uncertain whether he could offer a solution.

“Don’t worry. I will return safely.”

Why entrust command to Captain Bonita? Barsabe bit her lower lip, swallowing the words she was about to say. She sensed a different resolve in Jaret this time.

“Captain Jaret, I should go instead.”

“No.”

Before Bonita could protest, Jaret smiled and gestured.

Thunder rolled across the dry sky. A chilling wind blew, spreading the stench of monster blood far and wide. Then, from Jaret’s fingertips, a lightning-shaped magic sword sprang forth, glowing brighter than ever before.

“Each of us has our duty. Bonita, your time is long and precious. Leading the palace guard and protecting that time is your responsibility. Fulfill it. I will fulfill mine.”