CHAPTER 169
Boom!
Crack!
The hailstones crashed down directly on Ketrain castle, striking the tallest spire where Sagnard's presence had been detected.
Fortunately, Elric's instincts had proven correct.
"What the...?!"
"Lord Claymore's location has been hit!"
"He's heading that way!"
"Stop him!"
"We can't get through! The path is frozen, and visibility is zero!"
"Get through somehow! Stop him, damn it!"
Chaos erupted below.
The powerful winter storm had already reduced visibility atop the castle walls, and now, with their leader's location being attacked, panic spread. Part of the spire had collapsed, and the soldiers feared for Sagnard's life.
"[Fly]."
Elric swiftly glided above the panicked soldiers, knowing he had to act before they could regain control. Sagnard's presence was still strong—he was not dead yet.
"Archers, ready!"
"Fire!"
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
Some of the more disciplined officers managed to rally their archers to fire arrows in Elric's direction.
Whoosh!
However, the powerful winds generated by the storm sent the arrows spiraling upwards, far from their intended target.
Meanwhile, the soldiers had more pressing concerns. Above them, new magic spells began to manifest in the sky.
Boom!
Boom! Boom!
Crack, crack!
"It's magic!"
"There's another magician!"
"Siege magic is coming! Raise shields!"
"Take cover!"
"We can't stay exposed out here!"
More and more magic spells rained down on the castle, smashing into the walls.
While the soldiers scrambled to hold their ground, the most capable knights desperately tried to fend off the magic. But despite their best efforts, it was clear they were overwhelmed.
In close combat and one-on-one duels, there was little that a magician could do to beat a knight or a warrior. In large-scale battles like this, magicians held the advantage, especially when targeting wide areas. Their destructive power was terrifying.
With magic continuously bombarding them, the soldiers felt nothing but terror.
The castle walls shook repeatedly under the relentless magic onslaught. Smoke and the stench of burning filled the air.
"Why isn't the defensive magic circle activating?! Is there a traitor inside? Damn it! Call the magicians! Now!"
The castle commanders were on the verge of hysteria.
For years, Ketrain castle had been protected by a powerful magic barrier, warding off curses and attacks. But now, for some reason, it was failing to activate.
『They have no idea, do they? The true power of this accursed divine power! Hahaha!』
Mephisto laughed gleefully at the sight.
Elric's winter storm was not just meant to cause chaos.
If that had been the only goal, it would have been easier to unleash a few spoken incantations without exhausting himself by tapping into his divine power.
The reason for unleashing Winter Blizzard was to disrupt the castle's protective barrier.
By continuously shaking the castle with the power of the storm, Elric was preventing the magic barrier from forming properly.
Of course, this wouldn't completely destroy the barrier.
To do that, Elric would need overwhelming physical force or destroy the core magic circle powering it, which wasn't feasible at the moment.
Moreover, he only had about five minutes.
Once the storm subsided, the divine power would wear off.
'That means I need to deal with Sagnard before then.'
It wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to try.
Boom!
Crack!
'Thankfully, Isabelle seems to be playing her part perfectly.'
The siege magic bombarding the castle was the result of scrolls Elric had personally created.
He had spent several sleepless nights crafting them, and now they were being put to good use, adding to the confusion.
'Where are you?'
Reaching the collapsed spire, Elric sharpened his senses, trying to pinpoint Sagnard's exact location beneath the rubble.
『You've already used Winter Blizzard. Are you planning to use Northern Wind next?』 asked Mephisto.
[Are you insane? Do you want me to be branded a dark mage?]
Elric scoffed at the suggestion.
Unlike the Winter Blizzard, the Northern Wind was a last resort.
Necromancy, or manipulating the souls of the dead, was one of the most forbidden practices in the current age.
『Then what's your plan?』
[Just this.]
Fwoosh—
Mana gathered at Elric's fingertips, turning a ghostly gray and flickering eerily, accompanied by mournful wails.
It was a wraith.
One of the undead entities he had obtained from Otto Han's legacy.
[I'm going to use it for support.]
Flash!
If using the Northern Wind openly was too dangerous, then why not use it covertly?
Elric had already become proficient in handling Wraiths.
He had practiced using their residual thoughts for knowledge during his training with the Blue Lion, and now he used them for scouting.
The range of their detection was wider than his sensory perception, and the information they gathered was transmitted directly to Elric.
And so—
'Found him.'
A Wraith burrowed into the rubble, allowing Elric to pinpoint Sagnard's exact location.
"Time to—"
Just as Elric was about to unleash his next attack, the pile of debris suddenly exploded with a thunderous roar.
From within, a towering figure nearly two meters tall emerged, wielding a massive greatsword—a Claymore.
"Hah!"
Elric barely dodged as the giant man swung his sword with enough force to split the ground.
The ominous sense from his Preta Sense screamed that taking a direct hit would turn him into a bloody pulp.
Boom!
Sure enough, the Claymore smashed into the ground where Elric had just stood, leaving a massive crater in its wake as shards of rock and dust flew everywhere.
From within the dust cloud, Sagnard glared out like a wild beast, his eyes burning with rage.
"A battle magician, huh? You move surprisingly well for a magician. But daring to face me directly... I'll kill you!"
Boom!
Sagnard launched himself forward, despite his massive size, moving with shocking speed and agility.
Clearly, he hadn't been too injured by the falling debris.
But Elric could tell, through his Preta Sense and Mind's eye, that Sagnard wasn't at his full strength.
Compared to his usual capabilities, Sagnard was only functioning at about half capacity.
That would be enough.
Enough for Elric to take him down and escape!
With a surge of mana, Elric shifted his power.
Body Strengthening Art
White Tiger Strike - Gusto
The flow of his mana changed abruptly, as if a switch had been flipped inside his body. His aura transformed, no longer that of a magician but now exuding the raw, fierce energy of a warrior.
His fist shot out.
Boom!
The collision of Elric's fist and Sagnard's Claymore created an explosive sound, like the impact of a cannon.
Sagnard was sent skidding backward, eyes wide with shock.
For a moment, he was stunned.
His strength was considered remarkable, even praised by the Red Lion, but this thin-framed battle magician had blocked him?
He had already guessed that Elric was a battle magician, but this was beyond what he had expected.
Boom! Boom!
Elric pressed forward.
Each strike of his fists sent razor-sharp winds flying, making it hard for Sagnard to regain his footing.
However, Sagnard, a seasoned veteran, quickly steadied himself and began responding with equal precision.
Though Elric's attacks were relentless, Sagnard adapted. He deflected the punches, and when Elric cast spells, Sagnard shattered them with brute force.
He was like a castle himself.
To Elric, Sagnard seemed like an unbreakable wall—one that could be scratched, but never truly brought down.
'This isn't what I expected.'
A 4th-chain master indeed.
Elric had to admit that Sagnard was much stronger than he had anticipated.
At this rate, it wouldn't be possible to simply assassinate him and escape.
"Here! Lord Sagnard is here!"
"A magician is targeting Lord Sagnard! Stop him!"
"Knights, advance!"
"Surround him! Cut off his escape!"
'Damn...!'
To make matters worse, more soldiers and knights were finding their way through the storm and closing in on Elric's position.
『Time left is about three minutes. Considering you'll need time to escape, you have less than two minutes. What's your plan?』 Mephisto's voice dripped with amusement.
He was clearly enjoying the spectacle.
And it seemed Sagnard had heard him as well, for his eyes gleamed with a dangerous light.
"You will not escape. How dare you target the castle I protect? I'll sever your head and display it as a warning to the Empire!"
Boom, boom, boom—
『Two minutes left.』
Elric had to make a decision.
'I didn't want to use this so soon, but…'
Elric gritted his teeth.
In an instant, the aura surrounding him shifted once again, just as it had when he switched from a magician to a martial artist.
Sagnard, sensing that Elric was about to unleash something new, quickly raised his aura blade, aiming a slash at Elric's waist.
Elric's hand stiffened into a sharp edge, and his Spell-power Circuits overheated, pushing his mana output far beyond its usual limit.
At the same time, his Mind's eye illuminated the faintest flaw in Sagnard's defense, and Elric drove his hand forward with precision.
Simultaneously—
"[Descend]."
The incantation triggered the partial release of Northern Wind's divine power.
A fragment of the wraiths slumbering within his Spell-power Circuits possessed Elric's body.
Whoooosh!
And with just that—
Elric felt the entire world around him shift dramatically.
In that fleeting moment, a portion of martial theory, which had previously eluded him, unfolded before his eyes, sharp and clear.
'The Fighting Spirit of the Hawk.'
At that moment, Elric recalled the techniques he had once witnessed from
And he sought to mimic them.
Under normal circumstances, such techniques would be impossible for him to replicate. But now, in this state, he felt like he could partially recreate them.
Of course, he was still far from mastering the true
However—
Even a crude imitation wielded immense power.
'The wings of the Hawk.'
The first technique activated.
Shwoooosh!
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