Chapter 229: Act 162 – The War of the Traveling Mage (5) (First Update, Subscription Request)
Dark and cold rock bridges rose from Charles’s staff, crashing violently against the inner city’s walls. After a tremor that shook the ground, Grudin’s knights stumbled up from behind the battlements, trembling with fear as they realized the path to their opponents was now completely clear—no more obstacles.
The battlefield fell silent for a moment, as if silent angels were hovering above everyone present, rendering them speechless.
But the young wizard retracted his staff, stepped back, and raised his head, offering a slight smile to the knights atop the wall, whose faces resembled gray ash.
At that moment, the dull sound of hooves echoed from behind him—
The cavalry among the mercenaries surged out from behind Charles, instantly crossing past the young wizard as they dashed onto the rock bridge. The cavalry surged forward, and behind them, the young lord’s sword also moved forward—Brendel’s sword tip reflected the cold light of the stars, motionless—seemingly responding to the same command:
Attack, destroy the enemy!
The ground rumbled, and the noble knights finally changed their expressions. A large wave of mercenaries surged up the walls like a flood, but Brendel’s summoned creatures were faster than them. The young man had revived two Sacred Archangels that had sustained heavy injuries in battle against Cabais and Bai, while simultaneously retrieving Medisa’s card from the grave and commanding the Sacred Archangels to launch an attack—angels made of light flapped their wings, soaring over everyone’s heads, instantly reaching the walls, where the flash of their swords sent heads rolling.
Though the prowess of the silver-tier was insignificant in front of Cabais and Bai, it loomed like an insurmountable mountain before these noble knights. Centered around its point of impact, the knights began to retreat, their only option seemingly to flee in panic, with a crowd of knights forced to turn and push down the castle’s towers.
Soon, a breach was opened in the wall.
Seeing this, Bai let out a cold grunt. He said nothing, dragging Grudin further into the castle. For him, it did not matter whether these humans lived or died, as long as he ensured Grudin remained intact. The same situation naturally unfolded in Brendel’s eyes, who chuckled to himself: Bai still did not understand the nature of humanity!
The young man lowered his head and quietly instructed Xi beside him. The maiden was taken aback, glancing at him before walking away, half-convinced. Shortly after she left, the battlefield erupted with shouts:
“The Baron has fled!”
“The Baron has already escaped!”
As the shouts rang out, the few noble soldiers still resisting on the ramparts hesitated slightly. Unable to resist looking back for Grudin, the result was predictable—the frontlines faltered in that moment. It was like the last straw that broke the camel’s back; upon realizing they had lost their lord, Grudin’s knights collapsed entirely or surrendered after a brief resistance.
The situation gradually became clear, as the mercenaries poured into the castle like a flood, dropping the drawbridge—Brendel then led his men into the castle, for there remained one final battle.
…
Inside the castle, it was dark and obscure; the corridors seemed endless, spiraling downwards. However, while Grudin might have thought he was the only one aware of the secret passages in Firburh Castle, unfortunately for him, this was trivial in Brendel’s eyes. It was a natural advantage of his other side’s spirit, just like when the Baron and Madara’s undead general entered the hall where the secret path was located, the young man followed closely behind.
Both sides entered the hall simultaneously.
They halted upon seeing each other—Brendel, Xi, and Charles on one end, Grudin and Bai on the other—the Baron clearly did not anticipate this occurrence. For a moment, he froze, almost believing he had been betrayed. The two sides stood motionless across from each other at a long table.
The hall resembled the same scene from the day before, as if it had replayed itself perfectly, with an atmosphere eerily similar.
Under the eerie silence, even the airflow within the hall seemed to stop—
However, Brendel raised his head and glanced at the beautiful red crystal chandelier on the ceiling, unable to help but think how history is astonishingly similar. Just yesterday, he had chosen to compromise here; today, however, he would reclaim what he lost. He then lowered his head, gazing at Grudin and the undead knight standing before him.
Bai also looked at them quietly, seemingly unfazed.
The undead knight raised his right hand, blocking Grudin behind him with a massive scythe, and replied, “Human, you are much better than I expected; I am surprised that Erluin has a lowborn noble like you—”
His voice echoed hollowly, like rusting metal peeling away.
Brendel shook his head.
“Enough with the wasted time, Tiamas,” he interrupted, “you understand, I have come for someone’s life. I know I cannot leave you, but do not think you can take away this esteemed Baron of Erluin.”
He deliberately emphasized the last few words.
A hollow, sneering laugh came from beneath the metallic mask: “I don’t know who you are; let’s assume you’re a Viscount. However, my dear Viscount, I recall that in your human world, the rules among nobles are not this way.”
“Behind me stands the local lord, a noble baron whose family lineage can be traced back to the last dynasty among you. But today, dear Viscount, you inform me that you aim to harm a member of this illustrious family—do you intend to set a bloody precedent between nobles?”
“I can certainly stand down,” Bai shrugged, “yet if I do, do you dare to kill him?”
Grudin stood behind the undead leader, his expression darkening.
“The honor of the kingdom will not fall upon a traitor.”
“But the destruction of both parties is not your game rule.”
Brendel smiled slightly: “If just a mere Count Rendener is enough to provoke a mutual destruction, then why am I even here?”
Bai slightly faltered.
“What a bold statement.” Baron Grudin finally found an opportunity to interject, almost grinding the words between his teeth: “Just a mere Count Rendener? I don’t know where your confidence comes from, Count Gunsting.”
“Do I have your permission to speak?” Brendel looked at him.
The young man’s cold gaze pierced into Grudin’s heart like a dagger, causing his pupils to contract slightly, and he immediately fell silent.
Madara’s undead general applauded: “Such spirit,” came the metallic voice from beneath the mask. “But the Lonia people say that wise men must learn to seek a balance between thought and action. Mr. Viscount, especially as I believe a decent noble should acknowledge, Baron Grudin has learned his lesson. Perhaps stopping here would be best, allowing everyone a way back.”
(The residents of the territory between the Knights of the Church of Grace and Saint Ausoor, and also the principal ethnic group of Grace.)
“The Lonia people also say, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” Charles added with a smile from behind Brendel.
“But the blood spilled is not your lord’s.”
“Indeed, but nobility is not inherited without effort,” Brendel replied coldly.
Bai fell silent.
However, the young man also frowned slightly, for in his impression, this Black Knight among the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse was never one to ramble. On the contrary, he and the White Knight Aibodun were known for their reticent nature, decisive in action, and favoring practical work over grandiloquence. Yet now, Bai’s demeanor seemed entirely opposite to what he knew; Brendel didn’t believe it was merely a change in personality with subsequent occurrences.
So, there must be another reason.
Was Grudin truly that important? He simply did not know what arrangement had been made between Madara and House Rendener! What made him more suspicious was the purpose behind the other’s delay here.
But the best way to break the unknown trap was to not let the opponent have their way.
Brendel resolutely remained silent. He extended his right hand, the white glove pressed against his sword, applying gentle pressure as he stepped forward. The instant he moved, an icy aura swept across half the hall—
Bai remained still, but Grudin behind him staggered back three steps, nearly falling to the ground. The Baron, having finally managed to stabilize himself, looked at Brendel with a crimson face, filled with disbelief. Although he himself was merely a swordsman of black iron level, he still could sense the true strength that Brendel had unleashed before—he had grown stronger!
Grudin could not believe that a person could become so much stronger in a single day and night; naturally, he could not guess that it was an illusion brought on by the twenty-two Elementalist levels—the only possibility he could think of was that the other side had been hiding their power.
He immediately whispered this discovery to Bai beside him, and the Black Knight nodded, then looked at Brendel with an amused expression—
Cabais’s report could not be wrong.
But Grudin should not be deceiving him now, and he himself had just had the experience. So who should he believe?
However, the undead leader of Madara remained expressionless as he asked, “Mr. Viscount, are you not considering the consequences?”
“Tiamas, interfering in human affairs is not beneficial for you,” Brendel shook his head, pressing on his sword. “You understand you cannot take Grudin away. Since that is the case, why engage in a meaningless battle with me? Stand aside; I know this isn’t your habit—”
But Bai shook his head.
He watched Brendel approach step by step, slightly using the scythe to press the Baron back and maintain some distance, then spoke: “For the Viscount, this battle is indeed unnecessary. However, for me, things are different. Though Madara has never formed alliances with the living—it’s often the first time for everything; abandoning allies on the first occasion does not earn us good reputation.”
He smiled slightly beneath his mask: “Moreover, you are indeed correct about one thing. To safeguard the Baron, it is a bit challenging under the encirclement of strong enemies—”
“Tiamas!” Grudin exclaimed, surprised; his face turned pale as he hurriedly asked.
…
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