Chapter 759
Everyone felt it.

Something had changed.

Ian’s light was undeniably different from before.

Yet no one could quite put their finger on what exactly had shifted.

It was only natural—just as Ian had changed, so had they all.

“Sir Ian!”
“Ian!”
“My lord Ian!”

A chorus of voices called out his name, but their cries were instantly swallowed by a deafening roar.

A savage storm tore through the world, shaking everything to its core. Sporadic gusts of icy wind whipped around them, and the echoing thunder pounded so deeply it left their ears ringing.

Jin squinted through the haze, focusing straight ahead. The thick dust obscured Ian’s figure.

Then, slowly, the dust began to clear.

There stood Ian, solid and unyielding, his back turned to them. The writhing tendrils of shadow that had lashed about moments before had vanished without a trace.

The shadow being straightened its form and looked down at them. It had no distinct facial features, but its emotions were unmistakable.

‘It’s…’
‘Confused.’

The shadow was visibly shocked that Ian had managed to sever a part of itself. Normally, any mage or magic swordsman who touched it would instantly turn to ash. The shadow’s movements grew cautious.

“Ian!”

Berrick rushed forward, alarmed by Ian’s altered appearance. The back of Ian’s hand was blackened, as if burned or infected with some deadly poison. Whatever it was, it was far from normal.

But Ian merely brushed it off lightly and asked,

“Berrick, are you alright?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Ian’s gaze shifted to the wound at Berrick’s waist. Berrick smiled casually.

“Of course. I’m the kind of guy who can lose limbs and still be fine.”

“…Right.”

The scent of monster blood clung to Berrick. Despite being cut by the crimson Idgal, his magic remained intact.

Ian turned his attention back to the shadow being.

“As long as you’re okay, that’s what matters.”

Ian could guess what choice Berrick had made. So he didn’t press further when Berrick calmly assured him he was fine.

Ian counted the remaining mages and magic swordsmen, realizing there were far too many unseen faces. His lips pressed into a firm line.

“Your Majesty.”

Ian’s gaze was fixed on the shadow being, but its eyes were distant, staring far beyond.

Smoke and flames rose continuously. Faint screams echoed from the castle walls. Ian was witnessing with his own eyes how his followers were being slaughtered one by one.

“Your Majesty!”

There was no time. If the shadow sensed its peril, everything would happen in an instant.

Even if cracks had formed in the current situation, it would be impossible to stop the shadow being in one fell swoop. Ian’s scorched hand was a clear warning.

“Listen carefully! This message is for the Magic Department, the Imperial Guard, and the entire Imperial Army!”

The shadow’s neck stretched out unnaturally, as if trying to get a better look at the dying followers. This was a rare opportunity for Bariel.

“The shadow being is not something I can handle alone. Everyone must step forward now—for Bariel.”

“I’m ready! Sir Ian, I’m ready!”
“My lord Ian! Just give the order!”
“We’ll follow you!”
“We’ll do whatever it takes!”
“For the Empire!”

Ian watched the shadow’s movements and took a steady breath. Though dizziness and nausea threatened to overwhelm him, his expression remained calm and resolute. His unwavering presence steeled everyone’s resolve.

“No matter how wicked it is, it is still a god. A being founded on faith, Sir Ian.”

“Yes, that’s right. And Your Majesty’s choice is also correct.”

By annihilating Tolrun, morale among the Imperial Army had surged. Without any explicit orders, Ian instinctively grasped the situation perfectly.

Berrick added hastily,

“And that bastard can’t leave the palace grounds. Since some monsters have come out, his transformation breaks.”

“The King of Tolrun didn’t pursue us.”

Even now, the shadow being was firmly rooted in the palace ruins, its neck stretched out.

Ian nodded slowly, beginning to understand.

“Akorella, do we have more amplifiers?”

“Yes, but not many.”

“All combat units, including Hale, take them immediately. And draw the ‘Conjunction’ magic circle in detail on the front lines. Can you manage that?”

It was a new magic circle created using the exotic beasts from the East. A high-level spell that gathered the mages’ power, it was the only way ordinary mages could stand against the forbidden creations. It also maximized each individual’s strength.

The mages’ faces briefly showed hesitation.

“Ah.”

Magic circles were complex, intricate, and systematic. They had only recently rediscovered the Conjunction spell during the Ruswena War. Since then, they’d been in a near-constant state of war, leaving little time to study it properly.

In other words, very few could recite the circle flawlessly. But—

“I remember.”

Hale raised his hand.

Akorella hadn’t been present back then, so she was excused. She tapped her forehead regretfully. Even as a genius mage, had she seen it, she would have memorized it instantly.

‘This will take some time.’

That was fine. Ian could carry some of the burden himself.

He assigned roles to Hale and a few other mages.

“Hale, lead the installation of the Conjunction magic circles around the palace. The other mages will assist the magic swordsmen in killing the King of Tolrun and buy us time by distracting the shadow being.”

Ian and Jarrett exchanged a glance. Ian spoke,

“The shadow being appeared the moment the King of Tolrun was in danger. The child’s very existence is a rallying point for the followers and proof of faith.”

Jarrett understood immediately. Killing the King of Tolrun would deal a blow to the shadow being.

“Captain Jarrett, can you do it?”

Jarrett also understood perfectly what ‘buying time’ meant. Sacrifice was inevitable. Even if only for a few seconds, they must be willing to give their lives.

His answer was unwavering.

“I swear I can.”

With their captain’s resolute determination, the Imperial Guards saluted and steeled their own wills.

“Of course!”
“We’re ready!”

Berrick did the same, saluting with his blood-soaked clawed hand, proving he was one of the Imperial Guards. Ian smiled faintly and exhaled.

Soon, Hale and the mages bit down on the amplifiers Akorella handed them. Their bodies and minds were exhausted, on the verge of collapse, but the medicine eased the burden slightly.

“And Your Majesty.”

Ian looked back at Jin.

“I’m sorry.”

Despite traveling back a hundred years, Ian felt remorse for the situation he’d caused. It was unwarranted, but he wanted to say it nonetheless.

“Sir Ian.”

“As Your Majesty said, faith is the key to victory or defeat. Rally the Imperial Army and engrain in them a strong conviction of victory and the presence of the gods. Use any means necessary. Do you understand?”

So much changes by the command of a mere human. As emperor, Ian sometimes found it overwhelming and frightening, but enduring it taught him it was inevitable.

Jin too… would come to understand one day.

“…Understood.”

Ian raised his right hand to his ear and sent a voice message through transmission magic to all nearby Imperial forces.

—Can everyone hear me?

The clear, ethereal voice brought smiles to the soldiers’ faces.

“Isn’t that the Minister of Magic?”
“So Ian was the one who cut down the shadow earlier.”
“Y-Yeah! I told you he’s not someone to lose easily!”
“Hey! Look over there!”

The murmurs quieted instantly.

The shadow reached out toward the castle walls. As if answering the prayers of the faithful, the underground god moved to save the dying followers. Perhaps it was an act of self-preservation.

‘The underground god sensed it. Ian is different.’

The god had found the source of the power’s fracture.

A long shadow of a beast stretched over Jin’s head. Just as he hesitated—

—Focus.

With a sharp motion, Ian flew forward and caught the beast’s reaching hand. It was a signal—a call to the mages, magic swordsmen, and Jin to move quickly.

“Move!”
“Yes, Captain!”
“Captain Hale!”
“Go! I’ll handle the magic circle!”
“I trust you, Captain!”
“Let’s all survive and meet again!”

Hale placed his hand on the ground and began erecting the magic circle’s foundation stones, while the others dashed back toward the palace.

Their mission was clear: kill the King of Tolrun and buy time until Captain Hale completed the magic circle. They had to succeed—no matter what.

—I am Ian Verosion. The bloodline of the emperor from a hundred years in the future, a living proof of the gods. I declare with certainty: you have won. Bariel is eternal.

Ian flew at the shadow, continuing to broadcast his message through transmission magic. To build faith, he had to keep reminding them of his presence.

—So why do you fear? The gods exist, and even now, they stand with us. If doubt still lingers deep in your heart, look to me.

“Minister Tweller!”

Tweller, who had been swinging his axe wildly, sensed a presence and turned around. Approaching were two figures—one shrouded in black, the other in white. The battle-worn veteran, drenched in blood, spat to the side and gripped his axe handle tightly with both hands.

“They’re coming! Everyone, draw your swords!”

“Draw your swords!”

“A warrior never shows his back!”

—I soar through the sky, cut through the darkness, and summon the light. Can you still deny it? I stake my very soul on these words.

My soul.

At that moment, the mages rushing toward the palace faltered.

“Ian, surely you don’t mean…”

Could it be that he’s considering the forbidden magic as a last resort? Their hearts sank. Hale, who was tracing the magic circle, hesitated for a moment—but it didn’t last long.

“Everyone, stay sharp and focus!”

Ian had put everything on the line, so they would do the same. If Ian descended into the abyss, they would follow and grasp his wrist to pull him back. It was going to be okay. Truly okay.

Sssshhh!

As the monstrous beast lunged toward the fortress wall, Ian quickened his pace and blocked its path. Then—

BAM!

He thrust his fist forward, striking away the shadow’s attack.

The world trembled once more, sharp winds howling through the air. Blood, still wet, rippled and spread far and wide.

Sssshhh.

The dust settled.

Ian remained in his blocking stance. His breath was ragged, cold sweat streaming down his face, but the soldiers didn’t notice. They didn’t see that the skin on the back of his hand had split open, revealing white bone beneath.

“Waaaaah!”

“The future emperor fights alongside us!”

“The Great Empire Bariel will endure forever!”

“Ba—riel!”

“Ba—riel!”

The nation’s cries echoed from every corner once again.

The shadow tilted its waist and looked toward Ian, then burst out laughing. Ian’s eyebrows furrowed in displeasure.

—Pathetic, utterly pathetic! You call your existence ‘faith’? How laughable.

Sssshhh!

The shadow stretched long into the sky. Dark clouds gathered swiftly, blotting out the entire Torolun sky in an instant.

The shadow whispered, audible only to Ian.

—Even if your existence is erased from this world, will that faith truly endure?

I speak of the proof of victory you call Ian Verosion, the future Bariel!

If that disappears, what will become of them? Aren’t you curious?

—Let’s find out.