Episode 201: Hidden Intentions (2)
The next day, the group set off again for the Empire.
“What do you think a sword is? To me, it’s life itself. If it’s not straight, it’s useless.”
”…Yes, I see.”
Despite the events of the previous day, Javier chatted away with Liam as if nothing had happened. Liam’s face was etched with fatigue.
‘What a ridiculous guy,’ thought Damian, incredulous.
No matter how shameless a person could be, to act so nonchalantly while plotting betrayal was beyond him.
At least Joshua was keeping his mouth shut, which was a relief.
‘Good thing I put him in his place yesterday.’
If Joshua had been as chatty as his father, Damian would have struggled to keep his temper in check.
They traveled for quite some time.
In the distance, a mountain range shrouded in mist began to emerge.
Even from afar, it was clear that the terrain was treacherous.
“That’s the Gormak Mountains,” Javier pointed out.
“It’s a shortcut from the Kingdom of Duflin to the Empire. It’s a bit dangerous, but as long as you follow me, there shouldn’t be any problems.”
Javier took the lead, and the others followed him.
The group moved deeper into the mountains along the ridge. As expected in such a perilous place, there was no sign of human presence.
Occasionally, they encountered dangerous beasts like snakes or bears, but they posed no real threat.
After all, they were surrounded by knights who could kill such beasts with their bare hands.
‘This place is perfect for murder,’ Damian thought as he surveyed the mountains.
Suddenly, Damian sensed a murderous intent.
It wasn’t from a beast. It was heavier, more concealed.
He glanced at the knights from the Kingdom of Duflin. As he suspected, the murderous intent was emanating from them.
“Michael, Veronica.”
“Yes, brother?”
“What is it?”
At Damian’s words, the two turned their heads. Damian spoke with an emotionless face.
“Be prepared.”
Though his words were sudden, the two didn’t question him.
Their expressions changed instantly, and they began to keep a vigilant watch on their surroundings.
“By the way, have you ever heard of the Gormak Mountains?” Javier Silva suddenly stopped and asked the knights of the Apple Kingdom.
“There’s a legend that a giant snake from ancient times caused havoc underground, creating these mountains. I don’t know if it’s true, though.”
“I thought the scenery was impressive, but it seems there’s a legend behind it,” Liam replied in a lifeless voice. Javier burst into laughter.
“Impressive, you say? I’m glad to hear that. Enjoy the view while you can, as it will be the last thing you see.”
“What do you mean…?”
Suddenly, the knights of the Kingdom of Duflin drew their swords in unison.
“Sir Javier! What is the meaning of this?” Liam shouted in shock. Javier shrugged.
“I don’t think I owe you an explanation.”
“Sir Javier!”
Ignoring Liam’s outburst, Javier turned to Damian.
“First, we need to secure the most important one.”
Javier dismounted. The moment his feet touched the ground, his body vanished.
He reappeared right in front of Damian, reaching out to grab him by the collar.
But just before he was caught, Damian leaned back, causing Javier’s hand to grasp only air.
”…Huh?”
Javier’s face showed surprise.
Even if I was being careless, a mere High-Class dodged my hand?
“Well, look at that.”
Javier tried to grab Damian again, but Damian leaped off his horse first.
Without looking back, he started to run.
Javier was taken aback as Damian quickly disappeared into the distance.
Leaving his comrades behind to flee?
Javier let out a long laugh. It had been a while since he’d encountered someone so amusing.
“Joshua, I’ll go after Damian Haxen. You take care of Liam Bluegreen. Leave no one alive.”
“Yes, understood.”
After giving orders to Joshua, Javier pursued Damian.
“Stop!” Liam Bluegreen tried to block Javier’s path, but it was futile.
A High-Class couldn’t possibly keep up with the movements of a Master-Class.
Javier brushed past Liam Bluegreen. In the distance, he could see Damian Haxen running for his life.
“Run as far as you can! I’ll catch up soon enough!”
Javier laughed heartily as he chased after Damian.
But something was off. No matter how much he ran, the distance didn’t close.
Every time Damian’s feet hit the ground, he seemed to leap dozens of meters away. Just as Javier was about to catch up, Damian would pull ahead again.
It was as if his speed had been ‘amplified.’
“This little…”
From a Master-Class perspective, a High-Class was barely more than an insect.
Failing to catch up to an insect he’d dismissed so easily was a blow to his pride.
Finally, Javier decided to get a bit more serious.
He put more strength into his legs, and his speed increased dramatically. In the blink of an eye, he was right behind Damian.
“Got you!”
Javier reached out to grab Damian by the neck.
At that moment, Damian spun around, drawing his sword and thrusting it at Javier.
“Futile effort!”
A Master-Class could protect their body with magic.
A High-Class’s aura couldn’t harm a Master-Class.
The tip of Damian’s sword struck Javier’s torso.
”…?”
Suddenly, a heavy impact hit Javier. It felt like he’d been struck by a boulder, not a sword.
Of course, such an impact was nothing to Javier.
But the unexpected force sent him flying backward. The problem was that they were on a ridge.
“Damn.”
Javier’s body plummeted down the mountain.
In mid-air, he twisted his body to land feet-first.
He hit the ground with a crash, shattering the earth beneath him. But Javier was unharmed.
”…What an interesting fellow.”
Javier looked up with a face full of intrigue.
For a High-Class to outmaneuver him so many times…
This couldn’t be explained by mere talent.
Damian Haxen must have some great secret.
“I’ll catch you and make you spill all your secrets.”
Though he’d fallen down the mountain, it was no problem.
If he used his full power as a Master-Class, he could catch a High-Class in an instant…
“No need for that.”
A sudden voice interrupted, and Damian Haxen dropped down from above.
Javier tilted his head in confusion at the sight of Damian.
“Why didn’t you run?”
Damian had only been able to toy with him because Javier had been careless.
Otherwise, a High-Class couldn’t possibly stand against a Master-Class.
Damian Haxen must have known that, yet instead of fleeing, he had come down to meet Javier.
“There’s no better place to kill you than here.”
“Kill me?”
Javier laughed as if he’d lost his mind.
The idea that an insect he could crush with a finger was talking about killing him was laughable.
“Really… you’re a bold young man.”
Javier chuckled as he looked at Damian.
“You’ve entertained me, so I should reward you, right? I’ll give you three minutes. Attack me to your heart’s content.”
No human would feel pain from an ant’s bite.
Even if he gave him thirty minutes, Damian Haxen couldn’t do anything to him.
“You’re as annoying as ever.”
Damian said, clearly unimpressed with Javier.
“But since you’re offering, I might as well take it.”
Damian Haxen began to fiddle with his wrist. Slowly, he removed a bracelet wrapped around it.
Immediately, black energy surged forth.
”…Dark magic?”
Javier Silva exclaimed in shock.
Meanwhile, the black energy spread, painting the world around them.
“What is this…? This is impossible….”
The world knew Damian as a prodigy deeply connected to the church.
For him to wield dark magic was enough to surprise even the experienced Javier.
”…Interesting. Very interesting.”
But Javier’s surprise was short-lived.
“I was planning to capture you and have Joshua kill you immediately… but I’ve changed my mind. I’ll torture you until you reveal all your secrets.”
Javier’s demeanor shifted.
The lighthearted air vanished completely. Like a predator baring its fangs, a chilling aura spread in all directions.
Damian’s revelation had drawn out Javier’s true intent.
But Damian seemed indifferent to Javier’s state.
He looked down at his wrist, where two symbols glowed faintly.
The test was over.
The power of wrath could amplify anything. However, it could only amplify for a fleeting moment, requiring a certain skill and intuition.
To regain those, Damian had used the power of wrath to face Javier.
By amplifying his reaction speed, he managed to dodge the movements of the Master Class.
By enhancing his leg strength, he was able to distance himself from the Master Class.
By boosting his striking power, he pushed the Master Class down the mountain.
Everything was perfect. He was confident that the power of rage could be deployed in real combat without any issues.
“I said I’d give you ten chances, didn’t I?”
Damian manipulated his dark magic to construct a spell.
In no time, a complex spell was completed. It was so intricate that it was hard to believe it had been crafted in an instant.
However, as it was, he couldn’t activate the dark magic. The amount of dark energy was woefully insufficient.
Other dark sorcerers might have resolved this by killing countless people and absorbing their souls.
But Damian had a way to replenish his dark energy without resorting to such repulsive acts.
He gathered dark energy into his palm and unleashed the power of rage.
What had been a mere spark of dark energy flared up as if doused in oil.
He infused the amplified dark energy into the spell. The spell filled seamlessly, and the dark magic was activated.
Before Damian’s eyes, black droplets began to gather. Soon, they transformed into a massive mass.
“What are you doing…?”
Javier’s expression hardened instantly.
The ominous aura from the dark magic was overwhelming, even for a Master Class like Javier.
Damian aimed the enormous droplet at Javier.
Myeonheuk.
One of the ancient dark spells that Dorgo had kept as his personal secret.
The massive water mass began to compress, shrinking from the size of a house to that of a fist.
Finally, the compressed water mass exploded with a thunderous roar, scattering droplets like shrapnel.
The droplets pierced through everything in front of Damian.
Trees, rocks, even the cliff in the distance were no exceptions.
Countless holes were drilled into the towering cliff, which soon collapsed.