< 150. Malerun of the Thousand Horned Tower (2) >
*
Malerun’s Flagship, a massive fortress rising above the sea. From the strongest ship on the ocean, wrapped in countless protection spells and blessings, dozens of cannon shots began to pour down.
-Kwaaaang!
A spray of water shot up. Leia’s Flagships began evasive maneuvers, but they were too close. And because the distance to the enemy ships was too close, ships caught in the bombardment began to run aground one after another.
The sea was once again in chaos. Fernandez marveled at Leia’s ships, which were scattering in an orderly formation even at this moment. This wasn’t their first battle.
-Malerun has fought at sea before.
‘Right. Impressive.’
They were trying to build the maximum encirclement with minimal damage. Malerun’s Flagship remained in place, continuously firing. However, its precision and reloading speed were no match for Leia’s ships.
-Kwaaaang!
Return fire came from Leia’s fleet. Cannon shots rained down towards each other’s ships. But the gap wasn’t just in the crew’s skill; it was also in the ships’ hit areas.
The problem was, the Guimerin fleet led by Leia could be sunk with just a few shots, while Malerun’s Flagship only had soot marks, with no visible damage.
‘The Serpent King’s Flagship is almost impossible to destroy physically.’
-Yes, a power beyond physical force. A level of power that can interfere with the Material World itself.
The explosion and condensation of powerful force could interfere with the Material World beyond physical force. Leia didn’t have weapons of that level. They had destroyed the protection spells Malerun had set, but to deal more damage…
-A dragon is needed.
Fernandez whispered, holding a horn to his mouth.
“Abelesas. Now is the time.”
*
Flash, a brilliance like a thunderbolt striking down. It happened once in the middle of the fleet. Malerun’s crew frowned as they watched the flash from the Sacred Vessel.
“Is it magic?”
“Over 30% of the Great Magic Protection Spell on the ship has been restored.”
“Mages. Everyone, prepare the Great Magic. Stay away from the cannons.”
From the Sacred Vessel, looking down from afar. Neither the crew nor the Wild Prince were panicked or rushed. The Flagship’s defenses were the strongest at sea, and there was no way to destroy this protection in the Material World.
Leia’s forces were quick and annoying. But that was all. Slowly, leisurely, if they pressed them one by one, their resources would surely reach a limit.
-Goooooo…
Some time had passed since the flash, but there was no attack. Even the enemy’s bombardment had stopped. When the Wild Prince looked at the mages, they shrugged.
“We didn’t do anything.”
“Did the spell fail?”
It wasn’t uncommon. Mages dying from backlash while casting spells beyond their capacity was common, if not rare. But to be so incompetent in the middle of this battle?
Although the enemy’s bombardment couldn’t destroy the fortress walls, there were always unlucky shots that could arc over the walls. So the ship’s crew waited, taking cover near the gun ports.
Now 50% of Malerun’s spell had been restored. The mages on the Sacred Vessel could feel the Magic Circuit surrounding the ship healing. The Serpent King himself was casting magic. From deep within the palace.
“Ha, incompetents. The more time they waste, the further victory slips away.”
The Wild Prince gestured, mocking Guimerin’s young queen. The crew taking cover on the Sacred Vessel began to rise one by one, heading to the cannons. It was time to resume the bombardment. And once the King’s Spell was complete, they would have no chance.
Their king, the greatest mage in the Material World. The same tricks wouldn’t work on Malerun of the Thousand Horned Tower.
-Fwoosh.
Then, the Wild Prince on the Sacred Vessel saw the snowflakes falling from the sky turn red.
“…?”
Red? No, the snowflakes were sparking like embers. The winter sea’s chill had disappeared, replaced by a sweltering heat that made them sweat. A temperature never felt on the high-altitude Sacred Vessel.
“Is the snow burning?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Snow is water. How can water burn…?”
“…Magic? Is it magic?”
The Wild Prince hurriedly glared at the mages. But the mages, with bewildered expressions, looked into the air, then suddenly ran towards the walls.
“What? What’s happening?!”
“…A dragon. A dragon has appeared!!”
“What nonsense…?”
The atmosphere was heating up. Slowly, now clearly felt, surrounding the walls! The Wild Prince, the mages, and the crew soon felt a presence pressing down on them stronger than the heat.
The presence of a predator. A presence familiar to those who hunt demi-gods and near-gods…
The pale mages stared blankly outside the castle. There, in the distance. Beyond the shimmering heat haze, faintly.
A dragon was opening its mouth towards them from above the ship.
“Damag…”
But where? Before the words could finish, before the thought could complete. Liquid flame brushed past the walls.
*
-Kwaaaaaang!!
Fernandez held onto the violently shaking hull, pulling Kirhas, who was flung away, with one arm, gritting his teeth. Even after dodging as much as possible, it was still this bad.
A pillar of flame extending from Abel evaporated the sea, burned the atmosphere, and crashed into Malerun’s walls. The walls glowed red like iron in a furnace, then slowly began to melt.
-Kwaaaaaa!!
Repeated shocks shook the sea, causing a tsunami. A massive shockwave centered on the Flagship spread in concentric circles, shaking even Malerun’s Flagship. Fernandez’s lifeboat was screaming a bizarre cry.
-Woodduk.
Holding onto the ropes…
Hands, and the arm holding Kirhas. And from this small lifeboat, the sound of explosions was heard. Blood vessels rose on Fernandez’s neck. The fact that his body wasn’t destroyed was entirely thanks to Diemonica’s flesh and his spirit, which had begun to contain divinity.
“Your Excellency, my, my arm.”
“It’s not broken because of you.”
It broke when I grabbed the wheel earlier. Fernandez comforted the frightened Kirhas and whispered. The eternal flame projectile slowly began to subside. The half-collapsed city wall was crumbling, oozing molten metal.
Those within that range probably vaporized without leaving a corpse. Due to the intense heat on their backs, their clothes were burning and bubbles were rising.
-Hey, is your body okay?
‘Rather, it’s better now that my mind is clear.’
The brain, overheated with excessive information and calculations, was cooling down due to the pain. Fernandez comforted Kirhas and slowly released his arm. The waves were subsiding.
“Your Excellency?”
“Pull up the anchor, Kirhas.”
“Your Excellency can’t fight anymore. Both arms are now…”
“What’s that?”
Fernandez forcibly moved his twisted, powerless arm. Diemonica’s divine blood surged roughly, tending to his wounds. If he had a moment to catch his breath, it was a wound that could heal within a day.
But he couldn’t waste a day. Abel didn’t have enough time. He couldn’t let the opportunity she risked her life to create go to waste like this.
-Screeeech.
Then, a strange sound erupted from Malerun’s flagship. Fernandez narrowed his eyes and glared at the flagship. The magic circuits on the enemy’s ship were reactivating. The spell stakes he had driven in were quickly dispersing.
-Impressive level.
‘He’s the top mage of the elves. He should be able to do that.’
If it were just stakes embedded in his body’s magic circuits, recovering wouldn’t be difficult. Mastering one’s own circuits is the beginning of magic. But at the scale of the ship, especially the flagship of the elven dynasty, it’s not easy.
‘Right. He’s got a trick up his sleeve.’
Fernandez wiggled his fingers and narrowed his eyes. The circuit recovery was faster than expected. There was less than an hour left before his protective spell would activate.
If the spell was completed, even if the city walls were destroyed, boarding would be impossible. He would have prepared more thoroughly.
Originally, his role would have ended here. The rest was just a clash of armies. Now, it was time for siege warfare against the flagship, which had descended to the same level.
His goal was to infiltrate and steal the divinity Malerun held. But there was no room for an easy and comfortable path.
‘Good. My hand is moving.’
It was incredibly weak, but it had barely recovered to the level of an ordinary person. An astonishing recovery. Fernandez looked at Kirhas.
“Kirhas. We need to approach that city wall.”
“We should wait for Queen Leia’s army. What chance do we have boarding alone?”
“This isn’t the time for calculations. It’s a race against time. Will you come with me?”
“You don’t even need to ask. Your Excellency.”
Kirhas nodded with a firm gaze. The sea, boiling hot, and the clouds, heated by the flames, were illuminated by the moonlight of a winter night sky. Fernandez nodded back and grabbed the oar.
-Screeeech.
The half-destroyed lifeboat began to move towards the melted city wall.
*
“Atailatl. A delectable divinity.”
Snow-white hair cascaded down to the floor, and above it, a crown made of intertwined horns and branches rested. A man dressed in white silk, with his eyes closed, frowned.
“Your Majesty, the ship’s damage is severe. It would be wise to retreat…”
“Shh.”
The man raised his finger to his lips. At this gesture, the ministers bowing below the audience hall immediately fell silent. The king’s finger, and the white arm visible under the flowing sleeve, was intricately tattooed in purple.
The densely drawn tattoos glowed with a gloomy light. The king sat cross-legged on the throne, his eyes closed.
“Two are fading, and one is just beginning to burn. Ha, splendid.”
The king whispered as if singing, wiggling his fingers.
-Thud.
Beyond the audience hall, in the depths where even light couldn’t reach, the sound of a heartbeat echoed. Under the ornate hall adorned with the moon and stars, the man murmured.
“Interesting. A mage who can inflate divinity and deceive the eyes of the serpent.”
“Could it be the gods’ intervention?”
The minister’s question was valid. Could any mortal challenge the great Serpent King’s magic without divine intervention? The king shook his head with his eyes closed.
“It’s a human. That Atailatl looks familiar. Abelesas. Yes. The humans’ guardian dragon. If she’s helping the elves, there must be a human chosen by her among them.”
“How could a dragon be alive in this era…”
“I heard of her death in the distant sea. She didn’t survive, she was resurrected. By that mage. Interesting. He must have thought he had a chance, so he called her. I’m curious what that chance is.”
-Thud.
The king whispered and waved his finger. The heartbeat echoed through the hall again.
“The enemies are preparing to board. The eastern outer wall is completely destroyed, leaving no way to avoid ship-to-ship combat. Your Majesty. We will deploy the troops.”
“No need.”
“Pardon?”
“Before Guimerin’s young queen begins boarding, the serpent’s spell will recover. You just need to stop one human.”
The king slowly opened his eyes and spoke. His eyes, burning with gray flames, swept over the ministers. The ministers flinched and deeply bowed their heads as his gaze touched them.
“Find out what trick he has.”
“Even if such a mage exists, would he dare to board the flagship alone?”
“He will. He knows time is tight.”
The king chuckled. It was an entertaining diversion, but the king never gambles. On a perfectly designed board, he only makes moves with high chances of success.
“Until he realizes that even the time he thinks he has is insufficient.”
-Thud.
The heartbeat echoed through the hall. The ministers, with frightened expressions, slowly retreated. In the empty audience hall, the king sat cross-legged again.
The king does not gamble. But, he needs entertainment. Struggle as much as you can. Until you realize you’ve already failed. The king smirked and began to weave a spell.
-Thud.
The constellations carved into the walls and ceiling of the audience hall glowed purple with each heartbeat, flickering intensely.
![[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TS-Obsessed-Gamer-The-Ultimate-Return2.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return")
