As Cory uttered the Command Word of Power, he felt an unknown energy surge from the dragon-speech organ beneath his throat, flowing out like molten lava.
It resembled mana, but was purer, more primal.
“Ahhh…”
Kill.
That single word carried the will to slay an enemy.
A raw, destructive power began to seep into the surroundings.
In that instant, the five knights were overwhelmed by an intense wave of unease.
“…!”
Though Cory’s Command Word of Power—Kill—was incomplete and couldn’t bring about actual death, the mere hint of it was enough to shatter the enemy’s mind and spirit.
The imperial knights subconsciously sensed death looming so close it almost touched them, then retreating.
Their bodies stiffened, gripped by a neurotic compulsion to escape, and they lost their composure.
Chaos erupted.
For Laurent, it was the perfect opportunity.
Bloodied and battered, he charged forward, driving his sword into the panicked knight’s body.
“Ugh…!”
Another knight fell.
Normally, this opponent wouldn’t have been so easily slain, but the power of the dragon-speech was formidable.
Cory sank to the ground, watching the battle unfold.
Laurent swung his sword again with dazzling skill.
Blades clashed, again and again.
The ringing of metal striking metal echoed through the mountains.
A brutal melee raged on.
In the end, flesh was torn open, and blood sprayed into the air.
Laurent spat out blood.
“Huff, huff…”
So far, four knights had died.
Only one remained.
The last imperial knight glared at Laurent, raising his sword.
“Next, it’s your turn.”
Laurent muttered under his breath and stepped forward.
Though Laurent’s wounds were far more severe, he didn’t wait for the enemy to strike—he stepped boldly into the knight’s space.
The imperial knight instinctively swung his sword.
Laurent defied instinct.
While self-preservation is a living being’s natural impulse, Laurent instead exposed his body, aiming straight for the enemy’s vital point.
Laurent’s blade sliced the knight’s throat; the knight’s sword cut into Laurent’s side.
One fell; the other staggered.
Life and death hung in the balance.
Cory immediately rushed to Laurent’s side.
“Are you alright?”
“Get lost.”
Even in pain, Laurent scowled and threatened Cory.
“I told you—we’re done working together.”
“Y-yes.”
“Disappear right now…”
“Okay, okay.”
Ignoring Laurent’s gruffness, Cory examined his wounds.
“Are you ignoring me…?”
“Stay still.”
With all the imperial knights dead, Cory was free to use magic. He first stemmed the bleeding, then poured healing energy into Laurent.
The injuries were severe, so the improvement was barely noticeable.
“What now…”
Cory looked up.
Five horses remained—the mounts the imperial knights had ridden.
“Sir Laurent, I’ll stop the bleeding, so bear with the pain.”
“What are you doing…?”
“Get up. We’re riding out.”
Cory helped Laurent mount one of the horses, then took the lead. The horses accepted their new rider without protest.
Just before leaving, Cory glanced back.
Four horses stared silently at him.
Horses are expensive animals.
Trained horses even more so.
In the past, relying on the prince of Briol, survival was never a concern. But now, every day was a fight to live.
Laurent grunted.
“Ugh… If you’re going, then go already. Why hesitate?”
“Wait a moment.”
Before, Laurent could threaten Cory, but now, wounded all over, he had no strength for that.
“You sure talk a lot.”
“You little…”
“And curse well, too.”
Cory dismounted, tied the reins together, linking all five horses, then remounted the horse carrying Laurent.
“Let’s go. Bear with the pain.”
“…”
Cory urged the horse forward.
Each jolt made Laurent groan, but thanks to Cory’s magic, the bleeding and wounds didn’t worsen.
Cory gradually increased speed. The horses broke into a run.
Clack, clack, clack.
“Ugh! Ugh! Ack!”
“Giddy-up, giddy-up!”
“Damn it…”
“Come on, come on!”
“Ugh! Ugh!”
Yuri swept through the small allied nations like a storm, collecting flags with ease.
Some countries reacted strangely.
“Why aren’t they coming? They said they’d send someone…”
“They were found dead in the mountains.”
“What? All of them?”
“Yes. All five.”
“What do we do?”
“We’ll have to send our own…”
“They won’t blame us, right?”
“There’s no choice.”
Overhearing their whispers in a corner, it seemed the imperial knights had met with some accident.
In the end, five unprepared knights stepped into the arena, their skills so poor that Briol’s side easily won three out of five matches, claiming the flags.
Only one flag remained.
Two days left until the Overlord Tournament’s time limit.
Before the final battle, Yuri addressed the Vengeance Knights.
“Don’t let your guard down until the very end.”
In truth, it was more a vow to herself.
The five participants had grown confident through their battles. If things continued this way, they could win the final Overlord Tournament without trouble.
But the empire was no easy opponent.
The thought that the empire might pull some trick before the last battle sharpened Yuri’s nerves.
“Yes, of course.”
Meanwhile, Jared smiled comfortably as he urged his horse forward.
“If we win the final Overlord Tournament, our mission’s done. Let’s stay sharp a little longer. It’ll be over soon. Then we can rest.”
If all went well, they’d reach Endia—the last nation—by tonight or tomorrow morning at the latest.
Winning the final Overlord Tournament would make them the rightful owners of the Overlord’s Banner.
A historic achievement, but for the Vengeance Knights, it just meant they could finally rest.
“By the way, are you sure you don’t want to try matching the flags before then?”
“No.”
Yuri had once tried assembling the Overlord’s Banner from the flags they’d collected, but it hadn’t worked.
Since then, she hadn’t bothered trying to piece them together.
No particular reason.
She just felt it would be easier to bear once the mission was complete.
“We can put them all together later.”
“Good. Good.”
“Yeah…”
After a while of riding in silence, Yuri spoke again.
“Jared.”
“Yes?”
“I have a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“Imagine you were in the empire’s shoes. How would you try to stop us?”
“I can’t stop this.”
“Still, think about it.”
“Hmm…”
Jared tilted his head.
“If it were me, I’d keep it simple.”
“Join the Overlord Tournament?”
“No. No need to get involved. There’s only one flag left, and two days left. In this situation, you just block the path.”
“How?”
“Send anyone.”
“Who would you send?”
“There are plenty of strong people in the empire. Like the Black Knight, or that ogre…”
After a moment’s thought, he concluded.
“Ah, I’d just send the Black Knight. The ogre’s too dumb to manage. And that shadow-whatever is a secret weapon, so they’d keep it hidden. Sending the Black Knight is the safest bet. Same as in Bezos.”
“I see.”
Yuri was silent for a moment before speaking again.
“So, if the Black Knight comes here, what should we do?”
“That depends on Your Highness. Can you win?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’d lose?”
“Have to fight to find out.”
“Will it take long?”
“Probably.”
“Then maybe we should split up.”
Jared grinned.
“While you fight, the rest rush to finish the Overlord Tournament and claim the flag. Win or lose, the banner will be complete.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“By the way, why ask?”
“Because it feels like that’s happening right now.”
“Huh?”
“Listen carefully.”
Yuri rode forward with a calm expression.
“When I give the signal, scatter immediately and regroup in Endia. Wait until tomorrow. If I don’t show up, you hold the Overlord Tournament yourselves.”
“What?”
“Do your best. You’re my substitute.”
“What sudden…”
Yuri said no more, spurring her horse ahead alone.
Only then did Jared spot the mysterious figure standing far ahead.
Mounted, clad entirely in black armor—from head to toe—it looked like a dark centaur.
Jared realized who it was.
“Really…?”
The Black Knight.
Waiting for the Vengeance Knights in the middle of the road.
Without looking back, Yuri raised her hand in a signal.
“Yes, yes!”
Jared immediately turned his horse’s head and addressed the entire Vengeance Knights, who had been following slowly.
“Scatter. Meet in Endia.”
He sent the signal.
Until now, the Vengeance Knights had moved as one, sharing a perfect communication system.
Questions about the situation could wait. When orders came, they obeyed.
The Vengeance Knights dispersed in all directions, like a defeated army fleeing in chaos.
“Your Highness, I’ll go ahead and wait!”
Jared saluted Yuri one last time, then veered off to the side.
In an instant, Yuri was alone on the road.
Her expression serene, she urged her horse forward.
The Black Knight’s figure grew closer.
As Yuri came within earshot, she straightened her back and spoke.
“It’s been a while. It’s good to see you, Black Knight.”
He returned her greeting without hesitation.
“The feeling is mutual.”
Yuri stepped closer.
He looked exactly as she remembered from Bezos—clad in black armor, his face hidden behind a black mask. A blade-like aura radiated from him, dominating the area.
To counter him, Yuri summoned the energy of her Soul Slash.
The two members of the Ten Strong faced off, their auras clashing.
“What brings you here?”
“Seems like something interesting is going on.”
“It’s hardly interesting.”
“Stopping you is my job.”
“Did the Emperor order you?”
“…”
“You won’t answer. I heard the Black Knight only follows the Emperor’s commands. Have you found a new master?”
“No need for more words.”
“Avoiding the question, huh.”
Yuri nodded.
“Everyone has their reasons.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
As she dismounted, Yuri filed away a crucial piece of information.
The Black Knight was no longer acting under the Emperor’s orders. That meant either the Emperor was dead or incapacitated.
Or perhaps he was being blackmailed, his master’s safety used as leverage.
Yuri asked abruptly.
“Did Cedric threaten you?”
She expected a flustered reaction, but the Black Knight answered calmly.
“Don’t lead me on.”
“Fair enough.”
Yuri gave up cleanly and drew her sword, Guilty.
Though she had grown stronger, fighting the Black Knight was still a gamble.
He had been part of the Ten Strong for a long time and ranked among their top fighters. Unlike Yaltana or Donchichi, he had no glaring weaknesses.
He was solid and flawless.
Yuri exhaled deeply, gripping Guilty’s hilt tightly.
“And that goes both ways…”
Steeling herself, she muttered under her breath, closing her eyes briefly before opening them again.
Her gaze swept over the Black Knight’s entire form as she entered the realm of soul energy.
There was no trace of darkness in him.
That fact was both a relief and a bitter pill.
It was good he hadn’t fallen, but it was painful to have to fight someone like him.
“Black Knight, before we fight, can we talk—”
“I won’t listen.”
He shook his head and raised his sword. At the same time, a wall of mana sprang up around him—a shield that blocked not only sword energy but even sound.
In an instant, their domains were sealed off.
Yuri stared at him for a moment, then a faint smile tugged at her lips.
The Black Knight was no fool. He was simply bound by his own circumstances.
So there was only one choice.
This was a world where a few words wouldn’t change anything. In such a dark age, one’s will had to be enforced by the sword.
Yuri checked the sun’s position, then raised Guilty straight.