Decisive Battle (1)

Ryu Han-bin’s Gigant spewed fire, one that contained destruction that was compressed as much as possible.

-Crosscut!

A red crescent beam swept through everything.

Garhan lowered his posture and stabbed his sword into the ground.

-Magic Swordsmanship: Flood of the Chaotic Sky!

Black air currents created a barrier from the earth, blocking Han-bin’s Crosscut.

Boom!

It was because its power had been decreased halfway through.

As the Crosscut burst forward, other monsters who rushed were caught up in it, becoming obstacles that watered it down.

“This is why you don’t seem to have any advantage either.”

Garhan’s counterattack ensued.

Nine lightning dragons soared from the tip of his sword and split the air.

However, not all of them could reach Ryu Han-bin. A horde of beasts intercepted them along the way.

“Urgh!”

“Argh!”

Only three of them passed through the creatures and got to Han-bin.

Facing a weakened offensive, Ryu Han-bin replied.

“I see it as having no disadvantages.”

Being on equal footing was already advantageous for him.

“I’ve pulled away all your troublesome troops, so it’s a good trade.”

Of course, there was no guarantee that he would win.

But if he didn’t do that, he’d lose no matter what!

“I’ve canceled out certain defeat. Asking for more is too much!”

Han-bin threw himself up again with a shout.

Red Aura and blue thunderstorms blended, causing immense destruction.

The shockwaves passed through the battlefield, each one resonating deafening sounds. The aftermath of the clash engulfed the surroundings mercilessly.

Boom boom boom!

Staring at the battlefield, Garhan solidified his expression.

‘This is surprisingly troublesome.’

He had to focus on both the opponent’s offensive and the monsters, whose attacks’ patterns and timings couldn’t be predicted.

Of course, the situation was the same for Ryu Han-bin.

But there was an absolute difference between him and Garhan.

‘He takes blows well.’

Garhan could also do that, considering there was little difference between physical ability and strength. His skills and experience were even far superior to Han-bin.

The problem was that he wasn’t used to being hit. Hence, he tried to avoid or stop all enemy attacks instead. He was talented enough to do that, after all.

But that ignorant Valtara warrior wasn’t.

“I used to get beaten up in fights a lot!”

He took the attack of normal monsters head-on with his body, and he focused only on executing attacks against his main opponent.

“Now, a few more punches won’t make any difference to me!”

Garhan blocked Ryu Han-bin’s attack again, but there was no time to retaliate.

The rushing monsters he had to burn using his techniques made him miss the timing.

He knew that ignoring them was what he had to do, but his body kept reacting to them due to muscle memory.

‘Too much experience can be a weakness.’

Moreover, it was hard to deliver a critical hit in this situation.

Even amid retreat, the surrounding monsters would continue to attack him.

Of course, it was very easy to get rid of them. If he invoked magic swordsmanship, he could burn everyone down in seconds.

But that few seconds was enough gap for a level 150 swordsman to charge in and land a lethal blow.

The same was true of the opposite.

If Ryu Han-bin tried to back off, Garhan would aim for his back since that would open up an opportunity to do it.

That was why they had to fight each other head-on!

“He who fights ignorantly has laid out a perfect place to do so.”

While laughing, Garhan asked a question.

“Was it all planned?”

Aiming with Gigant, Han-bin smiled with confidence.

“How do you feel to be completely read?”

* * *

Light burst from the tip of Genovia’s staff.

“Tempest Surge!”

A blue light unfolded, transforming into a whirlwind that swept away everything within tens of meters.

Leon Hart, Effir, and Artis quickly responded.

“Althea, bring forth the light of protection!”

-Magic Swordsmanship: Curtains of Electricity!

“Flame Shields!”

The trio reappeared among the shattered monsters.

Genovia shouted nervously at them.

“No way! All of this was planned?”

The sequential bombing of the Ancient Dragons and the armada of the Upper Draconium were also tactics far beyond Latna’s common sense. She thought she had been the one playing with them.

But were they the ones toying with her?

“Tsk, Mado Queen.”

Leon Hart continued with a sneer.

“You’re the greatest Mage on Latna, but I don’t think you’ve got any tactical skills.”

Effir and Artis had similar looks.

“Thanks to you, We were able to drag you all the way here.”

“It’s going as planned, but it’s hard not to show you! Hahaha!”

Genovia’s expression became darker and darker.

It was the first time in her life that she had been subjected to such outright ridicule.

“How dare you!”

Vast Mana exploded and turned into dozens of icicles.

It was a gelid offensive imbued with destructive Arcane Magic. Just scratched by it could cause a fatal injury.

Everyone turned pale and immediately dodged the spell.

‘Oh, my!’

‘The title of Archmage befits you!’

‘She is fucking strong!’

Still, they managed to avoid and block it. It was because Genovia hadn’t aimed accurately.

Her self-esteem was hurt, which reduced her concentration.

Behind the spiritual shield, Leon Hart breathed a sigh of relief.

‘Phew, the bluff worked.’

Every plan he had set was completely off.

He didn’t expect to be pushed back so relentlessly due to the sequential bombing of Dragons, and he never imagined they would be used as a fleet to chase them.

He managed to make up for the situation by adapting to circumstances every time.

But he didn’t have to tell her those.

The group had promised in advance.

-Once the battle starts, bluff away!

The more talented people were, the more shocked they were for being played.

The Archmage was quite mentally shaken.

Due to that, the odds, which had been slim, had risen a little, so there was no reason to give up at that point.

‘Well, it’s not a lie at all.’

The results did go as planned.

‘The original plan is a big success even if it only partially worked!’

Leon Hart raised both hands. Althea’s light and Kybriel’s darkness enveloped his fists.

“Time for you to be purged for your crimes, sinners against the Goddesses!”

* * *

Unlike Garhan and Genovia, Manakiras did not have to pay much attention to the offensive of the monsters.

She had a more efficient weapon, after all.

“Get out of my way, troublesome things!”

Fear of the Level 140 Dragon spread through the beasts’ ranks.

She was far too overwhelming for the level 80s and 90s monsters.

The monsters that were coming at her began to run away in fear.

“Ahhhh!”

“Ahhhh!”

In an instant, space was created around her.

However, it wasn’t just Manakiras who took advantage of it.

“This is comfortable, Kibie.”

Within the vacant lot, a black-haired beauty and an old man in his 70s stood.

The fear brought by the level 140 Dragon did not work on Kibie and Plater, who were level 120s.

Like Artis, she couldn’t be ignored at all, but they could hold on with their mental fortitude.

“I will free you from temptation, Manakiras!”

Kibie flew herself away.

A black Aura bloomed from her body.

-Aura armor! Aura boost! Auro Halo!

She increased her defense, strengthened her physical ability, and wrapped her whole body in black flames.

Kibie, upon becoming fully prepared, thrust her long spear forward.

-Aura Splash!

Manakiras also moved.

“Growl!”

She blew out a dark red Aura with roaring. Light burst out of the Dragon’s scales, becoming spears and arrows.

Boom!

In an instant, several battles ensued. Countless brilliant explosions occurred in the air.

Despite the 20-level gap, Kibie was fighting on equal grounds against Manakiras.

It was because she had such a good grasp on her.

She was the incarnation of Kybriel, the creator of the Dragon race.

Manakiras’ attack was almost avoidable, and she targeted her gaps in retaliation.

‘I can read Dragons.’

Of course, no matter how good she was, she couldn’t ignore the level gap itself. There was a small gap in raw ability, so she was pushed back.

Every time she was, Plater’s spiritual arts raged.

“Preleu’s winds, bless my hands!”

Kibie’s energy was restored whenever she grew tired.

“Rhamniana’s tears, grant me the power to heal!”

Kibie’s wounds healed if she got hurt.

His way of fighting was nothing like Leon Hart.

‘I don’t have fighting instincts anyway. I’ve never learned anything like that.’

Plater had been a scholar all his life. The last time he engaged in battle was decades ago.

If he intervened recklessly in the battle, it would only disturb others.

So Plater was doing the best he could to help.

‘Cast every spell I can to help, and lock myself in a shield like a turtle!’

Frowning, Manakiras turned to the old man.

“The existence of that Spiritist is troublesome…”

A pitch-black Breath sprang out through countless fangs.

Boom!

Plater drew Prana out, casting an art.

“Create an impregnable castle, Sorondi’s Wall!”

Black flames dug deep around the basin.

Moments later, an old man wrapped in a dark brown shield appeared again.

“I am the head of the Sages! Don’t think I can’t stop Breaths once!”

On the contrary, he couldn’t stop it twice.

But Plater was not worried. Kibie wouldn’t just watch idly.

-Aura Break!

The pitch-black Blade Aura crashed pounded the Black Dragon in the back of her head as she was trying to launch another Breath.

Manakiras vented her anger.

“Ugh! You little bug-like humans!”

The old Spiritist snorted back.

“That’s funny. You call humans bugs when you belong to a slow, stupid race?”

* * *

Han-bin’s tendons in both arms, which grabbed Gigant, bulged against his skin. Aura was formed on the sword’s tip, creating a penetrative attack.

-Stab!

Garhan confronted the attack with numbers.

-Magic Swordsmanship: Howling Thunderstorm!

Dozens of lightning bolts squeezed together to make a net, blocking the red Blade Aura.

The two had been fighting for quite a while already.

Neither side could deliver a fatal blow. There were too many obstacles around for that.

Garhan raised an eyebrow.

The troublesome ‘obstacles’ were up to his army to take care of.

‘But all the men I’ve brought along have been rendered useless…’

It was overwhelming for 1,000 troops and dozens of Ancient Dragons to take care of it all themselves.

Only Manakiras could drive away from the surrounding monsters through her fearsome presence. The other Ancient Dragons didn’t have the same presence, which meant their opponents could attack them.

He understood. No matter how strong dragon fear was, the abilities of those at level 120 were too weak.

Garhan suddenly came to a realization.

‘Wait, that’s a little weird.’

Besides the young Sword King, the other people in Han-bin’s group members were about level 120. They were similar to the Ancient Dragons of Upper Draconium in their original forms.

However, they continued their battle with Genovia and Manakiras, paying attention to the offensive of the surrounding monsters.

On the other hand, the Ancient Dragons of Upper Draconium were busy protecting themselves only.

The reason was simple.

There was a big difference in the numbers of assailants.

Only dozens of monsters flocked to Han-bin’s party, while hundreds of monsters attacked each Dragon from Upper Draconium.

‘Why is there such a difference? The level is similar.’