Chapter 984

“W-What do we do?!”

The guards atop the castle walls anxiously awaited orders. Soldiers from the Imperial Defense Corps were steadily climbing the walls using ladders. The guards couldn’t just push them back, nor could they let them in. So they nervously urged their superiors for instructions.

After a long moment of hesitation, the captain finally gave the command.

“…Cut them down.”

Their top priority was protecting the imperial palace. No matter if they were allies, they couldn’t allow anyone to scale the walls instead of entering through the main gate.

“Hiyah!”

Clack! Clatter!

The soldiers bit their teeth and attacked the ladder hooks. As the hooks, which were firmly latched onto the battlements, began to shake violently, the soldiers panicked and gripped the ladders tightly.

“Hurry! They’re trying to pull the hooks off the wall!”

“Damn it!”

The soldiers who had already reached the top had nowhere to retreat. They could either fall to their deaths or climb up to survive. One panicked soldier quickened his pace, and the captain used a lever to pry the hook free.

Ting!

“What?!”

“Ahhhhh!”

In an instant, the ladder tilted backward. The soldiers hanging on screamed as they fell. Those climbing from below and those waiting their turn shut their eyes tightly and held their breath.

Shhhhhh!

But then, a gentle wind wrapped around the falling soldiers, cushioning their fall. Thanks to it, they weren’t seriously hurt.

The soldiers looked up in surprise. A man with brown hair tied back stood on the wall.

“A m-mage!”

It was Naum. And behind him stood other mages. Frowning, Naum shouted,

“Where do you think you’re climbing the palace walls? You are soldiers of Bariel!”

But the heavy rain scattered Naum’s voice. Ignoring him, the officers hurriedly climbed the ladders again, shouting as if ordering the gates to be opened.

“What are you hesitating for? Recapture the palace from the mages and protect Bariel! You are proud soldiers of Bariel!”

“Set the ladders back up in front!”

“Stop this! The Imperial Defense Corps has lost its status! They attempted rebellion in His Majesty the Emperor’s quarters and are no longer palace officials! So you all—!”

Naum kept shouting for restraint to the swarming soldiers, but no one listened.

“Damn it.”

They all knew the mages wouldn’t dare lay hands on the soldiers. If they did, most of them would die, and the chaos and division that followed was exactly what Crony wanted. Naum could only use magic to protect the falling soldiers from dying.

“Do we just keep holding out like this?”

Naum asked the chief mage, but there was no clear answer.

“Hold on until Ian contacts us.”

“Goddamn bastards! You’re all being deceived!”

“Please trust us mages!”

While maintaining the protective barrier, the mages widened their eyes, searching for Crony and his key allies. But finding them in a crowd of thousands was no easy task.

“Wait, I’m moving forward—”

As a mage flew over the soldiers to get a better look, an arrow suddenly shot toward him.

Pew!

“…!”

Damn! It just grazed him, but the mage instinctively knew.

“A mana-sealing arrow?”

It was an arrow tipped with a mana-sealing stone, managed by the Imperial Defense Corps.

Turning his head toward the arrow’s origin, the mage saw an officer drawing back the string of a massive longbow.

“Watch out!”

Dozens of arrows flew at once.

The mage soared higher, barely dodging them, but now there was no reason to fly over them. The soldiers would look even smaller from above.

“How many mana-sealing stones do they have?”

The Imperial Defense Corps wasn’t allocated many mana stones. So where did all these arrows come from? The mage looked around, puzzled. The soldiers’ movements seemed strange.

“Fall back to the sides!”

A faint shout from an officer echoed somewhere. The soldiers hurriedly stepped aside, clearing a path. Soon, a straight line opened up—

Flash!

Suddenly, the world lit up, blindingly bright. A tremendous burst of light exploded straight ahead.

Naum felt a suffocating pressure and shrank back.

Kraaaang!

Ah. He’d seen this before. A sharp beam of light, like a shard of lightning.

Crony’s attack slammed directly into the palace gate.

“…!”

Crackle!

The transparent protective barrier cracked. No way. This was the palace’s shield, maintained by mages for a long time. How could a single attack do this?

Raising his head, Naum spotted Crony standing behind the soldiers. He was walking toward them with a commanding, slow stride.

Crackle! Crackle!

Still holding the glowing golden spear.

Crony took a deep breath and assumed a throwing stance, like hurling a spear. The soldiers who saw this up close showed awe and surprise. Indeed, Lord Crony was a mage. Otherwise, where would that sacred light come from?

Swish.

As Crony settled into position, Naum snapped back to focus and unleashed magic to restore the barrier.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Magic surged wildly, but Crony remained calm, like a warrior sizing up his target.

As Crony gripped the golden spear tighter, the lightning beam flared brighter and larger in response.

“Captain! Captain!”

If they let this attack through again, the barrier would surely break. Sensing this instinctively, Naum called the other mages.

Despite their combined efforts to block him, Crony tossed the spear with a disdainful expression.

Shiiiiiik!

“Focus!”

The mages tensed, watching the spear hurtle toward the center of the gate.

Swish.

Suddenly, Ian appeared, stepping in front of the spear. Grabbing his right wrist firmly with his left hand, he twisted his waist and threw a punch.

Kraaaang!

The spear slammed into Ian’s fist and shattered, scattering shards everywhere. The deafening noise made the soldiers instinctively drop to their knees, covering their ears. They groaned, bracing against the shockwave.

Crack. Thud.

Trees snapped, the ground split open. Everything around was destroyed and scattered. Only the palace behind Ian stood firm.

As the dust settled, Ian lifted his head. At the end of the cracked path stood Crony.

“Found you.”

It was a relief to have him come out personally. Ian lightly shook his right hand, finally feeling the aftershock of the impact. The pain was intense, like his bones were crushed.

“I-Ian Hadel!”

“Ian Hadel, indeed!”

The soldiers murmured his name, and Crony smiled and nodded politely.

“Uncle. It’s good to see you again.”

“You were hard to find, hiding like a rat.”

“Is that so? You didn’t have to go through all that trouble. We’ll all meet soon enough in the palace.”

Crony glanced at Ian’s right hand. Though he tried to appear calm, his hand trembled slightly.

“Step aside. Your uncle’s ridiculous rumors have spread misunderstanding and disgrace about me throughout the central region.”

“Ridiculous rumors?”

Ian twisted his mouth and added,

“You killed my parents, assassinated the former minister, and tried to murder His Majesty in the palace. Is that all?”

Ian took a step closer, as if to make sure Crony heard every word. The rain grew heavier, soon blurring everything.

“You sowed vile discord, throwing the palace guard into chaos. That’s outright rebellion and treason. An insult not just to His Majesty, but to the palace itself.”

Then, to the mages—

Ziiing! Ziiing!

As Ian’s golden eyes flared open, Crony followed suit, igniting his own golden gaze. At the same moment, they lunged at each other.

Crackle! Crackle!

Crony swung his golden spear, but Ian blocked it with a hand wrapped in a magic circle. Each clash sent blinding flashes of light, the only illumination piercing the dark sky.

Chaaang!

“Uncle, you’ve changed a lot since childhood.”

“You, on the other hand, are exactly the same.”

Ian and Crony pushed against each other with all their might. The titanic clash of power held steady, and Ian gritted his teeth.

Crack.

Cracks began to form on the golden spear. Startled, Crony quickly stepped back, but Ian seized the opening and pressed the attack.

Shhhhhh!

Blood dripped from Crony’s waist. The wet puddle quickly turned red. Crony touched his side and gave a bitter smile.

“Damn it…”

His eyes gleamed wildly. Black energy began swirling around him. Ian braced himself, as if expecting this.

“You should have died back in the Abyss. Then the gods might have taken pity on you.”

Kroni wiped the blood off his shirt with a casual swipe and glared at Ian.

“Ian.”

“Still won’t call me uncle, huh?”

“Do you know why you’re destined to lose?”

“Hm. No idea. Because I’m going to win.”

Ian’s confident reply drew a bitter sneer from Kroni.

“I’ll tell you in advance—don’t know when your last breath will be.”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Kroni summoned his golden spear again. This time, the light was brighter and larger, engulfing the space around him.

At the same moment, a commotion rose from afar. Something was happening among the soldiers. Ian frowned in confusion but kept his eyes fixed on Kroni, refusing to move.

“You have too much to protect.”

The imperial palace, the people of the empire, the mages, and even the shattered honor of a mere parent—all weighing on your shoulders. How far do you think you can fly with all that burden?

“Aaah!”

The soldiers’ screams finally drew Ian’s gaze away. Officers, eyes wild with desperation, were barking orders at the troops.

“Advance! I said, advance!”

“Keep climbing the walls!”

Swish!

“Anyone who disobeys will be executed on the spot!”

Fear took hold, and the soldiers began moving in a swarm. One moved because the person next to them did; pushed from behind, they had no choice but to press forward. Half by will, half by force, they surged ahead again.

“Run!”

The soldiers rushed toward the palace, dodging both Kroni and Ian. Ian tried to stop them immediately, but Kroni was a step faster.

Swish!

The tip of the golden spear grazed Ian’s cheek. As Ian reflexively tried to counterattack, Kroni pulled a soldier in front of him, using him as a shield.

“Ughhh!”

“…!”

Ian hesitated just as he was about to strike at Kroni’s neck. That split-second pause became his undoing. Kroni swung the golden spear wide, sending Ian flying.

Kraaaang!

Kroni tossed aside the now-useless soldier and moved to follow Ian.

Then, from the other side, a thunderous shout rang out.

“Get that one—his head!”

Swish!

The officer who had been driving the soldiers forward fell without even a scream. It was Beric. Alone, he tore through the ranks, smashing the imperial defense officers to pieces.

“Well seen, Kroni. I do have a lot to protect.”

Above the walls, the mages reactivated their protective shields, preventing the soldiers from clashing violently. And then, in the distance, a group of troops was charging forward. Xiaosi.

“…!”

Kroni frowned, confused, while Ian slowly got to his feet and whispered,

“But I’m not the only one guarding this.”