Starting tomorrow, Chapter 4 begins.
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Gedenheide's body instantly vanished from that spot. Almost simultaneously, two swords brimming with pale-blue light ruthlessly assaulted the place where he had stood.
"Gasp! Blink (Blank)."
With cries of alarm, the ambushers hastily assumed defensive stances. The ones who had attacked were Salamis and Raindelph. But before they could even take up their guard, an enormous explosion erupted from their chests.
BOOM.
Accompanied by a fierce roar of explosion, the two bodies were flung into the air and ruthlessly sent flying. After repelling the ambushers and surveying his surroundings, Gedenheide realized that things had already gone awry. Two knights were already sprinting away for dear life, carrying the Saintess on their backs. Gedenheide, acutely feeling that the mission had failed, clicked his tongue.
"Damn it. To think a single bastard would ruin the mission…."
Just then, the two knights who had been sent flying staggered to their feet.
"Krrgh."
They let out heavy groans, but they did not appear to be seriously injured. Gedenheide ground his teeth at the sight.
"To survive Horrid Wilting, you must be high-rank Sword Masters. The quality of your anti-magic armor is quite impressive as well…."
But this was no situation in which he could afford to be complacent. The mages had finished casting and were unleashing a barrage of magical attacks all at once. Yet Gedenheide did not so much as bat an eye.
"Kehkehkeh. A mere trifle like this is nothing."
With a single wave of his hand, a massive barrier of magic formed before him. The attack spells launched by the mages were blocked by the barrier and dissipated uselessly. But the attacks were not limited to magic alone. Two swords radiating intense Aura Blades tore the magic barrier to shreds in an instant and closed in. The remaining two Sword Masters had not let the opening slip. Given his opponents, even someone of Gedenheide's caliber could not help but tense.
"Blink."
Having evaded the attacks by deploying spatial distortion magic, Gedenheide cast Haste upon himself. He had intended to break through the encirclement at high speed. However, he had not made it far before he was forced to a halt.
"Hurk."
A stinging pain shot through his entire body, and Gedenheide, who had been breaking through the encirclement, crashed headlong into the ground. Seeing how much mana had scattered from him, it seemed he had been struck by high-level divine magic. He glared in one direction—toward the one he suspected had launched the attack.
"This is Exorcism (Exosym). Schreckheimer. It was you?"
For those who used dark mana, divine magic was naturally the most terrifying thing. If a high-ranking priest like Schreckheimer deployed divine magic, even a fairly powerful dark mage would be reduced to ashes in a single blow. Divine magic was that much of an antithesis to dark mana.
But Gedenheide was an Archmage who had already risen to become an Expert of the 9th Circle. Though he had taken a considerable blow, it was not fatal. He saw the other priests hurriedly casting Exorcism, yet he did not bat an eye.
"The greatest weakness of divine magic is that it takes time to cast."
Gedenheide spat coldly, but sensing a killing intent boring into his back, he deployed Blink once more. This magic, which momentarily wedged the body into a dimensional rift before returning it to the same spot, was an unparalleled method for evading enemy attacks.
Of course, the mana consumption was no trivial matter, and none but an Archmage could even consider casting it, but there was no better magic for evading a Sword Master's attack. However, this case was the exception. Just as Gedenheide reappeared after evading the attack, he suddenly let out a scream.
"Kraaagh!"
The moment he materialized, a Magic Missile had unexpectedly bored into his body. Coincidentally—or not—the Magic Missile had been positioned precisely at the spot where he reappeared. Of course, he was not one to fall to such a rudimentary spell, but this Magic Missile had struck him squarely from the inside. It was impossible for there to be no impact; his body stiffened from the pain.
The Sword Masters were sure not to let such a golden opportunity slip. Swords brimming with Aura Blades ruthlessly skewered Gedenheide's body. Even a Lich's impossibly tough skin could not resist Aura Blades.
"Kiaaaah!"
His limbs were severed and his torso was pierced like a pincushion by several longswords. Gedenheide shrieked in anguish. But a moment later, his body turned to ash and scattered.
Fsssh.
It felt as if he had never been there at all. The hall soon sank into silence. No one opened their mouths. They all seemed greatly shocked by the fact that a mere Guardian under a Dragon was this powerful. Only after quite some time did Helbertron open his mouth.
"He must finally be dead, no?"
Schreckheimer, who had been listening, silently shook his head.
"Most likely not. Due to the nature of a Lich, as long as his Life Force Vessel remains intact, no matter how severe the blow, he can fully restore his body. The orcs already have numerous prisoners from which to replenish vitality, so I expect Gedenheide will reveal himself again before long."
Having finished speaking, Schreckheimer slowly began to walk. Along his path lay the figure who had achieved the most glorious merit today, collapsed unconscious. He was the one who had played the greatest role in rescuing the Saintess and had launched the decisive attack in felling Gedenheide.
But Damon was now completely unconscious. Though he had barely managed to fire one Magic Missile at the final moment, he could no longer endure the pain and had fainted. He had already figured out the path Gedenheide's body would take. Thus, had it not been for the Magic Missile he fired, Gedenheide would certainly have escaped this place unscathed. Recalling this fact as he approached, Schreckheimer first examined Damon's condition. His face contorted involuntarily.
"This is not good at all."
Damon's arms were literally nothing but bone. All muscle and flesh had disappeared, leaving only dried skin clinging desperately to the bones.
Schreckheimer immediately recognized it as a wound inflicted by the Hand of Death. It was a Lich's unique magic that drained the life force of its target. The injury was so gruesome that the approaching knights all turned their heads away in unison. Helbertron muttered with a grimace, as if lamenting the sight.
"It seems Gedenheide was in too much of a hurry to spare the effort to cast any other magic. Be that as it may, he was a fellow with truly remarkable martial arts, but now he won't be able to use even that."
His withered arms, devoid of a single muscle or blood vessel. No matter who looked at it, using martial arts with these was out of the question. Damon would most likely never be able to use martial arts ever again. Watching Damon being carried inside on a knight's back, Raindelph muttered pityingly.
"Well, now that he's like that, we'll have no choice but to exclude him from this mission. But what will become of him now? There's no way His Excellency the Duke would keep alive someone who has become useless."
"What's there to worry about? We can just send him to the kitchens. Even if his arms are in that state, he should still be able to do some cooking, right?"
At Helbertron's brazen words, the other knights nodded as if he had a point. At the very least, they were ones who knew Damon's true worth.
The royal palace of Feldrian was thrown into utter chaos by the Lich's raid. The situation grew even more grave when it was confirmed that Gedenheide was the Guardian of the Red Dragon, Berkis. If that were true, it was no different from saying that the humans' plan had already been detected by the Dragons' senses. Sergei was greatly shaken by the fact that they had already grasped the Saintess's presence.
"There is definitely a spy here. Otherwise, there is no way the Dragons could have known that the Saintess was here."
But there was no time to uncover the spy's identity at this stage. They had to launch the operation before the Dragons took further action. They could not afford to delay any longer in this situation. Doing so would inevitably lower the probability of the mission's success significantly.
Sergei's eyes gleamed as he deliberated repeatedly.
"They must have sent Gedenheide to confirm the facts. After all, a Lich can be revived even if it is destroyed."
He finally resolved to push the plan forward without delay. They had yet to pinpoint the location of the last Dragon, but this was a situation in which they could tarry no longer. The deployment of elite troops to be committed to the operation was already complete. The moment he made his decision, the operation that would decide humanity's fate would begin.
"The deployment of two hundred Sword Masters led by the Four Great Knights and one hundred magic troops composed entirely of 5th Circle mages and above is complete. With their strength, we can easily contend with one or two Dragons. We can delay the plan no longer."
He finally made a bold decision. Northwood, the dense coniferous forest in the north. He had firmly resolved to send troops toward that death zone where no human foot was permitted.
"I suppose a good codename for the operation would be [Feast of Blood and Ice]."
For the sake of security, the operation had not yet been given a name. Now that the decision was made, it was best to proceed with the operation as swiftly as possible, so he soon issued the mobilization order.
"Full mobilization. Begin the operation."
The adjutant who received the mobilization order rushed out urgently. He already had a clear grasp of his mission. Watching the adjutant's retreating figure, Sergei muttered as if something had just come to mind.
"I'll have to remove one name from the roster. He has now become completely useless."
Inside a relatively modestly decorated room, a man lay on a bed placed conspicuously in one corner, his complexion heavy with gloom. His arms, from the shoulders down, were tightly wrapped in bandages, and his face was so pale it was difficult to find any trace of blood in it. Of course, it was Damon. He had already heard a detailed explanation of his physical condition from the priest in charge of his treatment.
"The Lich's vile magic has drained every bit of vitality from your arms. Your arms are currently in a state where blood does not flow at all. Moreover, because all the muscles have completely atrophied, you will likely never be able to move your arms again."
Damon spat out in a tone devoid of emotion, not a single expression changing on his face.
"Is there any possibility of recovery?"
The priest's face contorted.
"It is likely difficult. If you had been struck by Vampiric Touch, there would be some chance the wound would heal over time. But this is a wound inflicted by the dark magic spell, Hand of Death. It would be best not to expect recovery."
"……."
"Because circulation has stopped, the cells in your arms are continuously dying. I have administered emergency treatment to prevent the wound from festering, but to preserve your life, you must have your arms amputated. Only then will the spreading aura of death be prevented from reaching your heart."
"No, I will not cut off my arms."
Damon cut off the priest's words with a resolute expression. And he dismissed the bewildered priest.
"Leave me now. I wish to be alone."
After the priest left, Damon sank into thought alone. He had struggled so desperately to gain strength, only to return to square one. Now, for the second time in his life, he had become a body that had lost its power. His martial arts, which had been overwhelmingly powerful, could never be used again, and as for magic, he had no way of gauging how much time would have to pass before he could cast it again.
He turned his head to the side. The black spiked gauntlet that had been with him for a long time lay forlornly beside the bed. On the back of the gauntlet was embedded an orb, and a long leather strap connected the two gauntlets. It was a magical weapon that his master had poured his heart and soul into creating. His master Doil, who was no longer in this world.
"Master……."
Damon had unconsciously tried to reach out his hand. To feel, if even slightly, his master's touch that lingered on the gauntlet.
But that was only possible in his heart. His withered arm refused to obey his will entirely. No matter how much he struggled, he could not so much as twitch a single finger.
Given the situation, the Magic Missile he had launched at Gedenhide might have been the last spell he could cast. That final attack which had driven Gedenhide to rout. A self-mocking laugh escaped Damon's lips.
"Should I consider myself completely useless now?"
He had always cast magic using only his right hand. But it seemed he would never be able to use that method again. He couldn't even hold a magic staff, after all. In other words, it was virtually the same as saying he would be unable to act as a proper mage for the time being.
Of course, since his magical ability hadn't completely vanished, it wasn't as if there were no methods left. If he found a way to cast magic by attaching crystal orbs to his shoulder or forehead, he might be able to recover some measure of strength. But the problem was time. He couldn't guarantee that Truvenia wouldn't fall while he was training to master such a method…….
"Even so, I have no regrets."
Damon raised his head and muttered lowly. Though he had lost his strength and become a useless cripple, what mattered was that he had saved Daphne in exchange. If it hadn't been for him, Daphne would surely have become an imbecile or been captured by the dragon.
Of course, it wasn't because she was the Saintess that he had saved her. Damon's honest feeling was simply that he could never bear to see Daphne come to harm. Recalling Daphne's bright smile, Damon murmured silently.
"If losing both arms was the price to save Daphne, it was cheap."
Since that day, Damon had not seen Daphne even once. For the upcoming mission, she had been isolated in a place where even spirits could not infiltrate, guarded tightly by dozens of knights and mages. There was no way for Damon, who had already become a useless existence, to meet her. Damon vaguely suspected that he would never see her again.
"I wish I could see her at least once before I die… even from afar."
But that was strictly a wish. Damon was now in a position where he had to worry about his own fate. Sergei, who harbored not the slightest good feeling toward him.
Strictly speaking, there was no reason for him to be left in peace. In the worst case, he might fall to become a Shielder like McMillan and be sent to the battlefield as a meat shield. He couldn't help but worry about this and that.
"I'm truly a wretched soul, aren't I?"
As he grumbled and laughed, the door creaked open. The gait was terribly familiar. Taking comfort in the fact that at least his senses hadn't disappeared, Damon turned his head.
"So it was the Grand Prelate."
The one who opened the door and entered was Schreckheimer. A somewhat awkward expression was clearly etched on his face. Damon reckoned it was due to gratitude for saving the Saintess, mixed with apology for the coldness he would have to show from now on. After hesitating briefly, Schreckheimer opened his mouth serenely.
"How is your condition?"
"Well, you must have received the priest's report, so wouldn't you know better than I?"
At the pointed answer, Schreckheimer could only falter.
"First, allow me to express my gratitude for rescuing the Saintess. You have made a tremendous contribution to the fate of our Truvenia."
"I've never thought about such things. As long as Daphne is safe, I'm fine so……."
Damon, who had been trailing off as if thinking of something, suddenly met Schreckheimer's eyes.
"I have something to ask. What is to become of me now?"
"……."
"Naturally, I would have been excluded from the mission; since I've become a cripple, am I to be assigned as a Shielder?"
Though he had expected him to be greatly flustered, Schreckheimer wore a slight smile.
"You have not been excluded from the mission."
It was Damon who was surprised instead. He opened his eyes wide and asked back.
"Do not jest with me. I have no need for false comfort."
"It is an indisputable fact. I came precisely to inform you of this. Tomorrow—rather, at one o'clock in the morning—the operation begins. It is called [Feast of Blood and Ice]. Naturally, you will participate as one of its members."
"B-but I've become someone who can't even cast magic properly now. Surely Sergei cannot have looked on favorably at my participation……."
"It is a document signed by His Excellency himself. Your name is clearly included on the list of heroes participating in [Feast of Blood and Ice]."
Damon rolled his eyes this way and that, utterly unable to understand. Of course, given time, he would be able to recover some degree of power, but as he was now, he was literally a wreck. Honestly speaking, the current him couldn't handle even a single orc.
And yet they were including him in the mission? His question was answered before long.
Schreckheimer opened his mouth with a gentle smile.
"The Saintess insisted strongly. She said that if you did not participate, she would not move a single step from this place."
"Daphne? I see."
Damon, his questions finally answered, nodded his head. At the unexpected news, Damon felt extreme elation well up anew. It was not at all because he was glad to have escaped falling to become a Shielder. For just one reason—the fact that he could see Daphne again—Damon was so overjoyed he felt as if he had climbed to the ends of the heavens, not knowing what to do with himself. Watching that figure, Schreckheimer formed a gentle smile.
'Unlike his appearance, his nature doesn't seem so bad. If he were evil by nature, he could never have earned the Saintess's favor.'
Contrary to his inner thoughts, Schreckheimer spoke in a businesslike attitude.
"His Excellency Count Sergei was forced to approve your participation due to the Saintess's stubbornness. However, as you will be unable to fight, you must focus on calming the Saintess's heart as much as possible. Due to the series of events that occurred this time, the Saintess is currently in an extremely anxious state. Is that clear?"
"Understood."
Damon nodded as if he had nothing more to think about. Watching that figure, Schreckheimer silently left his room.
A night reminiscent of the calm before a storm. The heroes participating in the mission could not help but stay awake all night with eyes wide open. The fate of humanity in restless Truvenia. They could not sleep, thinking that the key to changing that fate rested in their hands.
And the fated hour of one o'clock in the morning finally arrived. Because this operation was a matter of life and death, the monarchs of each nation also participated on a large scale in the heroes' formation.
The vast plaza beneath the Feldrian Palace. There, a large-scale magic circle had been installed. Originally, the magic circles in this plaza had been constructed for evacuating the royal family in case of emergency. In preparation for the worst, sturdy magic circles capable of withstanding various forms of magical interference had been densely engraved into the stone floor. But their purpose had long since changed. They were now meant to deploy the heroes directly to Northwood.
The heroes deployed on the mission totaled slightly over four hundred. Half of them were Sword Masters; of the remaining personnel, half were high-ranking mages. The other seats were filled by the monarchs and high-ranking nobles of each nation. Most of them were skilled knights, so…….
Of course, Count Sergei also participated as a member. Because this was the most important operation upon which humanity's fate rested, he had to take overall command of the mission. Looking at the members' roster, there wasn't a single one among them who wasn't strong. Even the Porters carrying supplies were selected solely from the royal guards with outstanding swordsmanship. But there were two among the members who were different.
"Mister."
The moment she saw his face, a slender figure rushed over and embraced him at once. Naturally, the other party couldn't help but stiffen. Damon held Daphne awkwardly and forced a smile.
Looking up at Damon, Daphne's two eyes were brimming with tears.
"I believed in you. That you would save me……."
Damon's eyes trembled faintly as he looked at Daphne. She was an indescribably lovely girl. Even if Daphne had been in Demon King Naidelhark's hands, it wouldn't have mattered. He felt as though he could go to the demon realm without hesitation to rescue her.
At that sight, the heroes could only turn their heads away all at once. They smiled bitterly at the unsightly appearance of the Saintess, who should have been the most holy of all.
Daphne, burying her face in Damon's chest and sobbing repeatedly. Her gaze suddenly fell upon Damon's arms. In that instant, her complexion turned deathly pale. Though they were wrapped in bandages, a portion of his blackened, withered arms was visible through the gaps.
"H-how did this happen? B-because of me, your arms are……."
Unable to continue, Daphne burst into tears. Watching this, Damon's chest also ached. Had there ever been anyone who showed this much concern for his injuries? Thinking that apart from his master, Doyle, there probably had been none, Damon tried to raise his hand to gently stroke Daphne's back. But no matter how he tried, his withered arm wouldn't move at all. In the end, he had no choice but to comfort her with words.
"I'm fine, Daphne. I'd risk death for you……."
"D-don't say such things. It makes me too sad."
Tears ceaselessly welled up from Daphne's eyes. At that sight, Damon's eyes also grew hot. But the urgent situation at hand did not leave the two to their reunion.
"There is no time, Saintess. You must depart at once."
Sergei approached briskly and bowed his head respectfully toward Daphne. Naturally, while ignoring Damon. To secure her cooperation, Sergei was literally showing the utmost deference to Daphne. The same would likely be true of the other leaders. To Daphne, who was no different from any other girl except for her ability, the Divine Eye. But Daphne showed no sign of stopping her tears.
"Daphne. They say there is no time. We must depart now, yes?"
Only when Damon, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward did Daphne nod her head.
"All right. If it's what you say, Mister……."
Seeing Daphne turn around while supporting Damon, Sergei clicked his tongue. Daphne, who had seemed only frail, was an unexpectedly stubborn girl. He recalled the situation that had troubled him earlier.
"Without Mister, I will not move a single step from this place."
At the time, Sergei had tried to move her to Northwood even if it meant putting her to sleep with magic. Because he had already resolved to eliminate Damon. Sergei, who by nature harbored deep aversion toward Damon. Now that Damon had lost his strength, it was the perfect opportunity for him to vent his resentment. Of course, since he had never experienced Damon's resourcefulness firsthand, there was nothing to worry about.
But in the end, he had no choice but to yield to Daphne's stubbornness. Because of her stubborn insistence that if Damon did not go, she would not speak a single word, he found himself in a situation where he couldn't help but sign the order.
The two of them walking very slowly toward the magic circle. On Sergei's face as he watched them, an extremely displeased expression lingered.
"It can't be helped. There will be another opportunity……."
Having resolved to bide his time, Sergei slowly moved his steps. Behind him, the selected heroes followed closely with rigid expressions. Some personnel had already teleported ahead to Northwood to secure the safety of the destination.
On one side, mages were sweating profusely as they worked hard to erase the traces of teleportation. Because this mission must absolutely not be discovered by the dragons, they were literally fighting for their lives.
The heroes were divided by their assigned posts into small units of about twenty men each. Of them, five
units were dedicated entirely to guarding the Saintess, while the remaining units were each assigned to search, reconnaissance, outer defense, and the like.
Of course, the four Sword Masters with the greatest swordsmanship had been stationed right
beside the Saintess. Along with Shrekheimer. When he saw Damon, Helbertron gave a faint
smile.
“Good to see you again. Well?”
“Likewise……”
“I have to come back alive and taste your cooking, you know.”
Helbertron, who had been speaking glibly, flinched under Sergei’s glare and shut his mouth.
Once the mages had finished their preparations, the heroes divided by unit and stepped onto the magic circle.
Since they would be standing in Northwood, a land of bitter extremes, the instant the spatial transfer was carried out,
the mages were all dressed in thick winter clothing. Only the Sword Masters were
exceptions. By utilizing their mana, they had the ability to survive even under harsh
conditions. Of course, Damon and Daphne could not.
Someone approached and held something out to the two of them. When Damon turned his head, he saw Shrekheimer’s smiling
face.
“You and the Saintess should put these on. They are coats enchanted with magic that protects body heat
under any conditions.”
Since there was no way to refuse, Damon silently accepted the coat. It was somewhat thin,
but the moment he put it on, a warm heat spread through his entire body. Even after putting it on, Daphne
only stood pressed close at Damon’s side.
“After we carry out the spatial transfer, make sure you stay right beside me. Northwood is a forbidden land among
forbidden lands that does not permit human footsteps. Do you understand?”
“I understand.”
Watching Damon nod silently, Shrekheimer gathered his mana. Since all the remaining
mages were focused on erasing the traces of the spatial transfer, carrying out the warp
fell entirely to the mages assigned to the mission. Of course, activating the magic circle could
also be done sufficiently with divine magic, and soon they were enveloped in a brilliant cluster of light.
The bodies of the twenty or so people, including Damon, Daphne, Shrekheimer, Sergei, and the four Sword
Masters headed by Helbertron, soon disappeared from atop the magic circle.
.
Dark Mage
Kim Jeong-yul ( 2003-04-09 19:20:18 , Hit : 4853 )