Chapter 142

Known traps are no longer traps.

Instead, they’re merely opportunities to hit the enemies from behind.

And now,

we’ve begun to smash the backs of the enemy forces who were once so full of themselves.

Thanks to the Revolutionary Army commander Myura drawing all the attention, the bastards didn’t even realize we had seized the artillery in no time.

Now, the Holy Empire Army is rushing toward us, using their cannons to deliver a definitive first strike.

As they charge forward with their cavalry leading the way, I immediately began to unleash my magical power.

The magical power infused with the intent of a Grade 12 Grand Warrior.

To an ordinary human, it may only seem a little chilling, but to a horse with sensitive beast instincts,

it delivers a sensation as if blades are flying at them…

No, it feels more like a ferocious beast is staring them down, making them go berserk.

“Yeeaaaah!!”

“What… what is happening?! Uwaaaah!!!”

As a result, the leading cavalry began to collapse horrifically, with soldiers behind them being crushed together.

The situation, where the leading group crumbled so miserably while they were already charging at full speed, was more terrifying than a chain collision on a highway…

No, it was worse—like a massive multi-motorcycle pileup.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of armed people stumbled over each other, falling apart.

Moreover, the ground was not flat but on a slope.

Even if the incline were steep, it was the explosive accident that escalated the damage considerably while they were accelerating.

And…

toward those confused enemies,

I began to envelop my body with the magical power I had orchestrated for intimidation.

*

The dazzling magical power began to shine as brilliantly as the sun would appear in front of me.

Its blinding brilliance captured the attention of the Holy Empire Army, even amidst the chaos.

“!!!”

“What… what is that…?”

A sight they had never seen in their lives;

it was as if the sun had descended upon the earth, a scene that might seem beautiful at first glance. However, for the soldiers here, that beauty was transforming into an unknown terror.

They could not tell exactly what was happening.

Yet, instinctively, they understood that it was something ominous…

something deeply foreboding.

Even if they realized this, no one present could stop it…

-Crack… crackle…

The sharp sound accompanied a gradual dimming of the light.

But rather than diminish, the pressure emanating from it only increased.

The figure that emerged from within the light.

Clad entirely in golden magical power like a divine armor, he stared directly at the terrified soldiers of the Empire.

And…

-BOOM!!!

“!!”

“He’s… coming!”

“Shoot… shoot! For the love of God, shoot!”

With a thunderous roar, the man charged toward us,

causing the terrified Holy Empire soldiers to frantically open fire amid their disarray.

In the process, due to mishandling the gunpowder, some weapons exploded.

Aiming in chaos, and mistakenly blowing one of their comrade’s heads off, they still did their utmost in that situation.

However…

the bullets they desperately fired just bounced off

like a child banging rocks against a mountain before his might.

“This… this is insane!”

“D… danger…”

The Holy Empire soldiers were convinced they were in deep trouble, but it was already too late.

This man charged at full speed, like a runaway truck, undeterred as he tore through the ground and plunged into the ranks of the Holy Empire Army.

And…

-BOOM!!!

“!”

“Ugh!”

The first thing to come flying was his punch.

No, it was way too powerful to be called just a punch.

A blast more potent than any cannon fire erupted with a single swing of his fist.

Horses and soldiers caught in the mix were sent flying in an instant.

The impact was equivalent to a mid-sized missile which couldn’t be produced with the technology of this world.

Those who were directly hit were surely dead on the spot,

their bodies twisted beyond recognition, while those lucky enough to evade were injured by the aftershock in droves.

And this man swung his fists around as if he was a boxer hitting a punching bag.

“Uwaaaah!!!”

“Save… save me… Kyaaaah!!!”

The Holy Empire soldiers were swept away like sheep before a lion.

Gunfire from afar held no meaning, while attempts to approach even armed would only hasten their demise.

“I’ll take you on! Brace yourself, you scoundrel!”

One commander charged forward on a black horse.

A distinguished leader of the Holy Empire,

the man possessing the strength of a Grade 8 Advanced Warrior, Maximilian.

“Oh! The commander!”

“Commander Maximilian has joined the fray!”

“Everyone, clear the way! The commander will take down that golden monster!”

With that, the soldiers of the Kingdom of Frantz hastily created a path, stepping back to watch.

Receiving cheers and expectations, Maximilian firmly held his lance and began to gallop forward.

Charging forth with his lance shrouded in concentrated magical energy,

he had already seen and felt the strength of his opponent, yet at this moment, he believed he had ample chance to win.

‘No matter how formidable the enemy, he must have exhausted some stamina by now. Moreover, as long as I’m on this horse, I’m invincible!’

Also, the horse he was riding wasn’t just any ordinary steed but a specially bred noble horse.

Even when many of the other horses had gone berserk moments ago, his horse remained calm.

The enemy might be strong, but with the power of a Grand Warrior and this exceptional horse, he could deliver a decisive blow.

Confident that he was different from those other fools, Maximilian dashed toward that writhing mass of golden magical power, aiming his lance.

But…

“!?…Huh?”

-Vwoooosh!

In that moment, the man looked towards him, clenching his fist.

As that fist spun at an unimaginable speed, emitting a chilling sound, Maximilian felt a sense of foreboding.

‘Crap… there’s no time for doubts! Though I’m also channeling concentrated energy! If my power can pierce steel, then surely…’

Maximilian urged himself to shake off the fear he felt.

But.

-Swoosh!

“Ah…?”

The fist shot out towards him.

At a glance, it seemed like a reckless attempt to stop the lance charging toward him with a simple straight punch…

but Maximilian, holding the lance, suddenly understood.

The grim reality was that he was akin to a sparrow flying straight into a typhoon.

And that sparrow was…

none other than himself.

-BOOM!!!

The tidal wave of power from that punch easily nullified the heavy lance charge meant to shatter trees.

With a flash of light, Maximilian and his black horse were sent crashing away.

His body collided hard with the ground…

and sprawled over him was the very black horse he had been riding moments ago.

“W… what the hell…?!”

-CRACK!!!

Thus, Maximilian perished alongside his beloved steed to whom he had been so devoted, dying in such a miserable fashion.

In a sense, it was a happy ending since he would forever be with his friend… but neither of them would express any more feelings from that moment on.

Meanwhile, the Holy Empire Army watched in horror as the renowned warrior Maximilian was utterly defeated.

“C… Commander Maximilian!”

“W… what is happening? That commander went down in one blow!”

“H… how could this happen…?”

The one they had pinned their hopes on was dismissed so easily without having the chance to fight back.

Regular soldiers, skilled warriors, all fell in equal measure before that man’s fists.

And the terrifying truth broke their morale completely.

They needed to see a way forward to even engage in battle.

“C… calm down! We must reform our ranks!”

“B…but Commander… how do we face that monster?!”

“Bullets and blades have no effect! If we stay like this, we’ll be next…”

The Holy Empire soldiers remained paralyzed with fright despite their commanders’ orders.

At that moment…

-Swoosh!

“!”

-CLANG!!!

The next moment, a sharp sound echoed out of nowhere.

The man who had seemed unstoppable suddenly came to a halt.

Amidst the panic and confusion, the soldiers of the Holy Empire couldn’t help but glance in his direction, trying to gather their wits.

The figures that succeeded in halting the seemingly unstoppable man were…

ten Black Knights clad in black armor,

the personal guard of Chancellor Senel.