< 118. The Crumbling City, Ptaha (1) >
*
The city was screaming. The howling of the city, torn apart by the eerie cries of wraiths flowing through the cracks of the shattered Soul Realm, echoed through the night sky of the Great Wilderness.
-Huu…
Fernandez glared at Angela through his sweat-soaked hair. She was trembling violently, clutching onto a Beastman. Even amidst his rage and excitement, his mind remained as cold and analytical as ever, dissecting her magic.
‘Imperial-style explosion magic.’
A magic designed to extract maximum efficiency with simple Beastmen and basic incantations. It’s a magic that anyone can learn, regardless of talent, and guarantees a certain level of effectiveness for beginners.
-Kwaaaang!
The magic struck Fernandez near his shoulder. The impact, precisely as he had predicted, shook his body.
-How uncouth.
‘Indeed. Their magic lacks etiquette and beauty.’
It’s a magic crafted solely for war, refined to prioritize efficiency above all else. Their magic is no different from bows and crossbows, devoid of any mystique.
But magic should always be mysterious. It should always be noble and dignified. Despite her attacks, Fernandez took another step forward.
“Die, die, dieee!!”
-Kwaaaang!
Once again, the explosion hit his shoulder. Even as the ground shook from the tremors, she didn’t miss a single shot. Her frantic gestures were almost laughable—
‘This makes it easy.’
He could have easily countered her magic or triggered a backlash by disrupting her incantation. That would have been the simpler route. But that would have been too easy. She deserved a far more terrifying despair.
Dying from a backlash due to a failed incantation would have been too merciful. Fernandez took the incoming magic head-on.
Their magic only brings physical destruction, nothing more. And physical destruction alone isn’t enough to harm Diemonica’s body.
Fernandez sensed the numerous mages aiming at him within the crumbling mansion. Half of them were already suffering from backlash due to the shocks they received mid-casting. As for the remaining mages…
-Thud! Gah!
Diemonica’s sharp ears caught the sound of them collapsing. The Shaksisi, who had been lying in ambush nearby, were already prepared for the earthquake. They had infiltrated the mansion through the collapsing defenses, assassinating Iron Side’s elite agents.
-Clack.
Thus, only one person remained to stand in Fernandez’s way. Not the feeble struggle of the fallen Angela, but…
The spectral noble, watching him with amusement.
[Enough. Mortal. I was merely enjoying a banquet at the invitation of that woman.]
“Seems like the show’s over, huh?”
That tone, which distinguishes the living from the dead, was something a wraith would never use. The wraith chuckled and looked around.
[The mood is ruined. Even if I wanted to continue the act, the stage has collapsed, and the audience is gone. What value is there now, other than deceiving myself?]
The wraith’s glowing blue eyes fixed on him.
[Was it your doing?]
“I won’t deny it.”
[This seems excessive just to deal with one woman. Do you have another motive?]
Meremre slowly drew his sword as he spoke. Despite the screams and explosions echoing through the streets and the entire city, he remained calm.
-Impressive.
Yes, impressive. Angela, trembling, looked at Meremre with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. It was almost comical.
[There’s a traitor among us. How foolish. Our infighting serves no purpose…]
“What meaning do the dead seek in the time of the living?”
[Well said. Haha.]
Meremre laughed heartily and shrugged. Soon, he sheathed his curved sword and slowly walked away from the scene.
“Wait, Your Highness!!”
Angela screamed in desperation. Prince Meremre was her only hope. How could he leave her in the presence of the assassin who had slaughtered all her guards!
[Settle your own grudges, foolish woman. We are not your proxies.]
“Your Highness!!”
[And you. Mortal of unknown origin.]
Meremre turned his head, his burning eyes briefly locking onto Fernandez.
[It was a foolish act. Whoever dares to commit treason in this great city will face retribution. And you… you won’t survive either.]
Fernandez shrugged at his words. Meremre clicked his tongue and left without another word. Now, only Angela and Fernandez remained in the mansion’s courtyard. Fernandez took another step toward her.
-He’s sharper than I thought.
‘Neferka’s rebellion won’t be easy.’
-True. Not without us.
That meant time was running out. Fernandez smirked as he looked at the trembling Angela. She glared at him, spewing curses.
-Krrrrrrumble!!
Once again, the city was engulfed in tremors. Buildings crumbled…
