Chapter 395

Words : 2587 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

About twenty people had gathered at a place with steep cliffs. Each wearing different robes, they were busily moving around, measuring the ground while moving objects. “Move quickly! They must have noticed our plans by now!” The Black Dawn Society’s Second Order shouted at his subordinates before approaching his direct superior. “Sir Leslie.” “How’s the situation?” Leslie, standing at the edge of the cliff looking down at the distant scenery, asked without turning around. The Second Order bowed his head and answered. “It’s going smoothly. The current speed is progressing about 20% faster than originally planned.” “Too slow.” Even at the mention that it was faster than originally expected, Leslie wasn’t satisfied. “Increase the speed.” “B-but...” “They’re not fools. They’ve noticed that we’re trying to destroy the ley lines and are moving to stop it. At this rate, they’ll be here before we even find the core of the ley lines.” “We’ll buy time. We have things we’ve been preparing.” “Even the beast-summoning potion will be difficult.” “We found a good one. That one should buy us quite a bit of time.” Leslie didn’t respond. At the silent meaning of ‘do it if you can’ the Second Order bowed and stepped back. Leslie felt the wind blowing from the edge of the cliff. The dreamlike light shining from the sky had diminished considerably. As the mansion’s ley lines overflowed, the mysterious phenomena of the Kasar Basin had weakened. Thanks to that, he was able to reach this place where he normally couldn’t have come. “But there’s still far to go.” Leslie took out the locket hanging around his neck and opened the lid. Inside the lid was a small portrait of Isabella smiling and next to her was a man linking arms with her in a shy posture. His dry eyes showed the slightest hint of moisture, it was a look that even his subordinates had never seen. The torrent of emotions led him to the distant past. Most middle-aged people don’t remember their snotty-nosed days well. They just vaguely assume, ‘That’s how it was back then’ but Leslie remembered that far-off time clearly. Even now, if he closed his eyes, that day’s events unfolded vividly before him. In his childhood, he was a bookworm. Crouching in the corner of the room, he only read books and didn’t get close to anyone. The first one to enter his private space then was her, Isabella. ─What are you doing there? Let’s play together! How could he forget that kindness that took his timid hand and led him to a world full of light? That moment when he left his dark and narrow room and went outside where the fresh wind was blowing, at that moment he was reborn, like a bird breaking out of its shell, he saw a new world. It was possible thanks to the girl who took his hand and pulled him along. ─You were always as dazzling as the sun. -Whoosh. Leslie returned to reality. The memories of the past washed away with the wind blowing like waves. ─Will these feelings of mine reach you, who must be somewhere here? Leslie closed the locket’s lid. His contemplation was cut off as if sealed inside the locket, disconnected from the outside. He would die here whether this succeeded or failed but if there was just one thing he had to achieve, it was saving his precious person. That would be all. * * * The wizards moved quickly. They had to stop them as quickly as possible, as they might find and destroy the ley lines’ core at any moment. “The advance is slower than expected.” Derek Olson, at the front, muttered while glancing back slightly. Hearing those words, Rudger also nodded in agreement. For having started with such momentum, the advance speed had slowed considerably. The first reason was the size of over 100 people. Just the number of people headed to each ley line was about 100. When they all moved at once, the speed inevitably slowed. Even this was the result of minimizing numbers as much as possible, so it couldn’t be helped. The second was the wizards’ physical strength issue. Wizards can engage in close combat with knights for a short time by enhancing their bodies with magical power. However, physical enhancement through magical power isn’t omnipotent. Body enhancement through magical power varies by wizard due to complex reasons of constitution, preference, and suitability. Above all, since most wizards prefer long-range support from afar and don’t train in physical enhancement through magical power, even if they used it now, the efficiency would be low. If they wrapped their bodies in magical power just to make the march a bit easier, it was clear they would run out of mana before reaching their destination. The fact that they were currently moving through a forested slope also played a part. Having to walk uphill continuously without a path quickly depleted their stamina and finally, the third reason was because of the traps set by the Black Dawn Society. “Stop!” The knights walking in front sensed something and stopped. The wizards following behind sent looks of ‘Again?’ at that shout. “They’ve set up an irritatingly large number.” Derek Olson clicked his tongue while looking at the magically constructed trap. The number of magical traps they had encountered on their way here had already reached double digits. And it didn’t stop there; they even used explosives with gunpowder. So far, there hadn’t been any direct damage. This side was composed of skilled individuals, so they weren’t naive enough to fall for such traps. However─ “This delay in time is not a welcome development.” Having 100 people tied up in place because of traps caused more anxiety than imagined. Derek Olson agreed with Rudger’s words but didn’t stop disabling the magical trap. To avoid moving as the enemies wanted, disabling the traps as quickly as possible was the priority. “This side is done. How about over there?” “It was done a while ago.” “Huh.” Derek clicked his tongue while looking at Rudger, who had instantly dealt with the complex magical trap. “Do these days’ Theon teachers know how to dismantle magical traps too?” “I learned briefly when I was in the military.” The identity of Rudger Chelici also included being a former soldier so Rudger could naturally use that as an excuse. When the trap disabling was finished, the halted advance resumed. “Thank you. Thanks to you, it ended quickly.” “It’s not much of a skill.” “Haha. Is that so? By the way, it seems you have something you want to ask me.” Derek Olson was quick to notice. He had vaguely felt that Rudger had some purpose since he started moving with him. “Was it that obvious?” “It had to be. You’re curious about my former affiliation with the Truth Faction, right? I know everything. There were many Truth Faction members among those who died this time.” Above all, it was Sage Limrei who caused that incident at the mansion. Derek’s face was tinged with complexity as he recalled Limrei. “He was a good person. Though he pretended otherwise on the outside, he cared about others more than anyone. For such a person to suddenly do something like this. I still can’t believe it.” “It wasn’t sudden. It was something he had been preparing for a long time for revenge for his daughter.” “You mean Isabella...” “Did Derek know?” To Rudger’s question, Derek shook his head. “I didn’t know. Limrei didn’t show his emotions. I knew he would be sad, but I didn’t think he would keep it in his heart until now.” “It wasn’t just Limrei who caused this incident. There was one more person.” “Another one?” “Do you know Isabella’s fiancé?” “Leslie? How do you know that name...?” Derek’s eyes widened as if asking where he had heard that. “So you did know.” “How could I not know? He was my classmate in the Truth Faction. Though we weren’t close, everyone among the classmates knew him. Those three were quite famous in a way.” Three? Derek, immersed in past memories, continued speaking. “Of course, Isabella monopolized most of the attention. Still, they were all outstanding people. What happened because of that accident was truly sad. But why are you asking about Leslie...?” “Would you believe it if I told you that Leslie led this incident?” Derek flinched at those words and then showed a questioning gaze. “What on earth are you saying? Leslie doing such a thing...That’s impossible.” Rudger briefly pondered how to explain this but there was no need. From far away, something could be felt approaching. “...Something’s coming.” “Indeed.” Derek also seemed to notice something as he hardened his expression and stared straight ahead. Something was moving beyond the dense trees. It was fast, and moreover, huge. In the distance, trees fell with cracking sounds. “Everyone stop! Prepare for an attack!” Right after that shout ended, the trees in front exploded. In the Kasar Basin, even trees contain mana, so their strength rivals steel but such trees shattered and scattered like toys. This was made possible by a huge hand covered in pitch-black fur. “A bear? Is that really a bear?” What appeared after breaking through the trees was a beast that would have been called a bear outside. However, the bears here were not simply ordinary bears. In the Kasar Basin, even rabbits on the road can kill people. Then what would happen if a bear that could tear people apart even outside lived in the Kasar Basin? That result was unfolding before their eyes now. -Grrrr. Standing on two legs, its height appeared to be at least 8m. Even the largest bear on record barely exceeded 3m. This one surpassed that maximum by more than double. Even terrible cryptids would be like gentle lambs before this fellow. Rudger was convinced of this. -Grrrr. The bear’s eyes were unfocused and seemed dyed blood-red. Red afterimages scattered around its slightly trembling eyes. This was evidence that the magical power in its body was overflowing outward as if going berserk. ‘This isn’t a normal state.’ At that moment, someone moved faster than anyone else, like a beam of light. ‘Varenchina?’ The younger sister of the siblings who assisted Yekaterina. By the time he recognized her purple hair, she had already kicked off a tree, leaped up to the bear’s head. -Slash! The sword she had drawn somehow drew a full moon as it swung largely once, precisely targeting the bear’s neck. Indeed, the judgment and swift movement worthy of a high-ranking knight but the opponent was strong. -Clang! The moment the aura touched the bear’s neck, it sparked and made a noise. The sword wrapped in aura that easily cuts steel couldn’t pierce the bear’s hide. Everyone was shocked at that sight. It was the same for Varenchina who had swung the sword. ‘Did it wrap rocks around its skin?’ The moment she tried to swing her sword, something like hard rocks appeared on the bear’s skin and blocked her sword. In the moment Varenchina was surprised, she felt a force pulling her suspended body. It was the “Telekinesis” magic used by Rudger. Varenchina’s body quickly moved downward, and thanks to that, she was barely able to avoid the front paw the bear swung. -Bang! Along with the sound of air bursting, the tree hit by the bear’s front paw exploded like a bomb and scattered debris in all directions. Seeing that sight, Varenchina felt a chill run down her spine. No matter how tough a knight was, if hit by such an attack, she would surely become finely minced meat. -Woooooar!! The giant bear roared in anger at missing its attack on the enemy. The entire forest rang out and birds flew up fluttering. “Why suddenly such a monster!” The wizards were shocked, but Rudger seemed to know the reason. ‘It’s exactly the same as with the Cheshire Tiger.’ A sudden attack by an apex predator. At that time, because many people had gathered, it seemed like just something that happened, but if the same thing happened this time, there had to be a reason. Just looking at how the bear’s eyes were rolled back was enough. Even though the mysterious phenomena had weakened considerably, such sensitive rampaging was nonsensical by common sense. The Black Dawn Society must have done something. At that moment, the giant bear raised its front paw. “Block it!” “Deploy shields!” The wizards all gathered magical power at once and deployed shields. Right after, the giant bear’s front paw touched the shield, and the shield shattered like glass and scattered. “What power.” Even though it was magic deployed hastily, it was still a shield imbued with the magical power of 30 wizards. Breaking it with just one swing of a front paw defied common sense. -Crunch. The giant bear’s front paws were covered in rocks. Its originally tough front paws combined with rocks doubled their power. Just as the Cheshire Tiger could use the wind element, this bear knew how to use the earth element. Rock-based magic is slow but boasts a tough and powerful force. But when an 8m bear uses it? Even a tank division would surely be crushed helplessly before this fellow. “Everyone spread out! We’ll be done for if we cluster! Focus on evasion!” “Knights! Draw its attention! Don’t stay in one place too long! Hit and run!” -Grrr! The giant bear wasn’t going to just watch this. It wrinkled its nose once and prepared to swing its front paw again. Its target was the slow-moving wizards. Those who had lost their fighting spirit after seeing the shield shatter in one swing of the front paw earlier. Wild instinct instantly spotted the frightened weak prey. If it just swung its front paw now, it could kill at least close to 10 people. -Flash! At that moment, brilliant flashes of light burst repeatedly in front of the giant bear’s eyes. 3rd tier light magic [Stella Light] Light of tremendous intensity flickering more than 30 times per second and the giant bear couldn’t avoid the magic bursting before its eyes. -Woooooar!! Even after facing light that would have blinded normal humans, the giant bear only squinted and stepped back slightly. At that moment, Derek activated magic. 4th tier wood magic [Forest Wave] The ground rippled and tough tree roots rose like waves, lifting one leg of the giant bear standing on two legs but it held its balance with agility unfitting its size and didn’t fall. That’s when Varenchina stepped in. -Whoosh! Intense aura burned at the tip of her sword as she made a large cut on the opposite ankle of the giant bear. Perhaps because she released more energy than during the first surprise attack, her sword cut through the hide and left a proper wound. -Kuuung! Having both legs attacked, it staggered backward and fell heavily. The ground cracked and dusty smoke rose. At that moment, Rudger quickly climbed on top of the giant bear’s head. Rudger looked down at it and pointed his staff at its brow. “Looks like I’ve got another tooth to collect.”

Chapter 395

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