Chapter 142

Steel Arrows (강철시, Gangcheolsi).

Forged using a unique smelting process to withstand the frigid northern cold, these arrows were crafted to avoid shattering upon impact. Their unparalleled durability made them the bane of elite soldiers.

Even the Empire’s most formidable factions avoided confronting northern forces equipped with Steel Arrows. Their devastating power could obliterate anything they struck.

Now, Troivan had brought hundreds of these arrows to the battlefield.

The very sight explained how this northern technology had fallen into eastern hands.

“Fire!”

Swish, swish, swish!

At the commander’s signal, the arrows rained down like a torrential storm.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Umbra!”

KEEEEHK!

With a powerful flap of its wings, Umbra soared higher into the sky.

The Steel Arrows fell just short of striking their mark, clattering harmlessly to the ground below. But the assault wasn’t over.

“Bring forth the magic battalion—move up!”

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle!

Figures clad in heavy robes emerged throughout the encirclement.

Chanting.

They pointed their staves skyward, and as they chanted in unison, flaming projectiles began to rain down from the heavens.

“I’d heard rumors that the Mage Tower had allied with Troivan, but this…”

“These bastards really came prepared!”

“There are too many of them.”

If the north boasted Ragnar’s supremacy in aerial combat, the east had Troivan and the Mage Tower.

Despite their smaller numbers, the Mage Tower’s ability to command magic made them a formidable threat.

Arin and Selford unleashed sword auras into the air, cutting through the incoming flames, while Ray manipulated the surrounding air to deflect what they couldn’t intercept.

But it was clear that they were overwhelmed.

Troivan had anticipated the possibility of an aerial escape and had prepared accordingly.

When they breached the first perimeter and the second line of defenses came into view, even the normally composed Selford couldn’t hide his grim expression.

“They’ve set this up to end us here and now…”

The second defense line revealed massive ballistae, arranged in a fan-like formation.

Anti-Air Siege Ballistae.

Developed by Troivan in response to the White Dragon Vanguard’s growing dominance in northern conflicts, these weapons were specifically designed to counter even the most heavily armored wyverns.

No matter how durable a wyvern’s armor, a direct hit from these ballistae would be fatal.

The problem was the sheer number of them. Normally, a battlefield might have ten of these weapons at most—but here, there were far too many.

What do we do?

A chill ran down Selford’s spine.

Typically, ballistae were stationary, making them difficult for mounted knights to deal with directly. Specialized ground units were usually tasked with handling them.

But here, there were no such units to rely on.

「I’ll handle it.」

“Theo, what are you saying?!”

「These ballistae aren’t like the ones you’re familiar with, Senior.」

“What?”

「They were built specifically to counter the White Dragon Vanguard. Not only are their bolts enchanted with explosive magic, but the shafts are inscribed with tracking spells that adjust their trajectory.」

“...!”

Selford’s eyes widened.

「So, let me handle it.」

“How the hell do you even know that?”

「It was in the intelligence brief we received from Black Snow. I didn’t expect to see them deployed so soon, but here we are.」

Theo’s explanation was plausible enough to avoid suspicion.

“How are you going to regroup with us after this?”

「You know me well enough, don’t you?」

There was no more convincing answer than that.

With a resigned sigh, Selford nodded. “Do what you have to.”

Theo thanked him, releasing the telekinetic chains holding him aloft.

His target was the ballista cluster.

Wrapping himself in telekinetic energy, Theo slowed his descent to avoid a fatal crash.

“Enemy airborne! Take him down!”

The commander of the ballista unit barked orders, and the surrounding guards immediately unleashed sword auras toward Theo.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

In response, Theo began resonating his mana. Steam rose from his body as four Deathbeats launched into the air, transforming into lightning dragons mid-flight.

BOOOOM!

CRACKLE!

Explosions tore through the air, smoke blanketing the battlefield.

“Did we get him?”

“Hey! Don’t say crap like that! You’ll jinx it—”

BOOM!

Theo emerged from the smoke, slamming into the ground amidst the guards. He swung Drake’s Blade in a wide arc, releasing scalding flames that engulfed his surroundings.

Fwoosh!

The flames rippled outward, incinerating the guards closest to him.

“Aaaagh!”

“Stop him!”

“He’s targeting the ballistae! Don’t let him reach them!”

Troivan’s swordsmen moved quickly to form a defensive formation. True to their reputation, they excelled at creating tactical combat arrays designed to confine high-level opponents.

“A Sword Prison formation, is it?” Theo muttered.

The formation was designed to trap stronger or more skilled opponents within a cage-like structure, isolating them for focused attacks.

But Troivan had no idea whom they were dealing with.

Not only did Theo possess knowledge of the future, but he was also well-versed in dismantling such tactics thanks to his time with Black Snow.

Fifteen meters diagonally to the right, then cut through at a 45-degree angle for forty meters…

His mind raced through the sequence.

Even with Aegir’s Helm boosting his capabilities, cutting through this many enemies in a single charge was no easy task. He needed overwhelming power.

[Dragonblood Awakening has begun.]

[All special abilities and enhancements temporarily boosted.]

[All buffs activated.]

[Duration: 6 minutes.]

Theo didn’t plan to maintain his awakened state for the full six minutes. In such a chaotic battlefield, the aftermath of awakening was a liability.

But for now, it was enough.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

“Gah!”

“What kind of strength is this…?”

Each swing of Theo’s blade sent lightning crashing down, cleaving through enemies or sending them hurtling backward.

Even those who tried to block him were no match for his raw strength, a physical force that overwhelmed them like an enraged bull.

His attacks targeted the smallest openings in their formation, breaking through before they could adapt.

Swoosh!

Theo’s blade struck down their commander, leaving no time for the enemy to regroup.

Before anyone could issue another order, Theo reached the ballista. His left hand drew Moonlight Blade, the weapon glinting with a sharp, radiant light.

Flash!

The light burst forth, obliterating the ballista in one strike. The guards protecting it fell alongside their weapon, their upper bodies severed cleanly.

“Stop him!”

As Theo moved toward the next ballista, three swordsmen stepped forward to block his path.

He recognized them immediately.

The Three Butchers of Karen.

These were the madmen who, in a future timeline, had buried every citizen of Karen alive after Ragnar conquered the city for resisting their rule.

Even though their atrocities had yet to occur, Theo’s memory of them from the blacklist was vivid.

“There’s no excuse for slaughtering civilians just because they resisted…”

There was no need for further conversation.

Theo’s awakening time was precious, and he had no intention of wasting it.

BOOM!

The lead swordsman, Patrick, blocked Theo’s strike but turned red with fury at being interrupted mid-sentence.

“You insolent brat! You need to be taught a lesson!”

The three formed a 品-shaped formation, attempting a coordinated attack.

Three opponents? Then…

Theo planted Drake’s Blade into the ground, drawing Balmung in his right hand and Moonlight Blade in his left.

Shhhhhnk!

Adopting a balanced stance, Theo calmed his breathing. His awakened mind visualized countless combat paths, guiding him to the optimal sequence of attacks.

Patrick lunged first, aiming for Theo’s torso. Theo tilted his head just enough to let the blade pass, then swung Balmung horizontally.

The blade found its mark between the segments of Patrick’s armor, slicing cleanly through his right elbow.

“Urgh!”

As Patrick faltered, Theo’s Moonlight Blade struck the back of his left knee, causing him to stagger further.

Finally, Theo drove Balmung upward into the gap beneath Patrick’s helmet, ending the fight in a single, decisive blow.

“Patrick!”

“Raaaagh! For Troivan!”

The remaining two swordsmen, Ferris and Blitzer, attacked from either side, their strikes swift and synchronized.

CLANG!

Theo blocked both with his dual blades, his raw strength holding them at bay.

Before they could react, two Deathbeats darted into their blind spots, piercing the soft flesh beneath their helmets.

“Damn… you…”

“There’s no ‘fair’ in war,” Theo replied coldly, a smirk playing on his lips.

The Deathbeats released their energy, lightning coursing through the two swordsmen’s bodies.

BOOM! BOOM!

The violent explosions obliterated Ferris and Blitzer’s upper bodies, leaving only their charred lower halves behind.

The gruesome sight caused the remaining guards to blanch, their faces pale with shock.

CRACKLE!

RUMBLE!

Without losing momentum, Theo continued his assault. He cut down the remaining defenders and advanced toward the other ballistae, destroying them one by one.

KEEEHK!

Above, Umbra’s shriek echoed—a signal that the others had successfully escaped.

A faint smile tugged at Theo’s lips.

They’ve made it out safely.

But he knew better than to let his guard down.

Checking the time remaining on his Dragonblood Awakening, Theo prepared to regroup with the others.

Just then, an unexpected voice rang out behind him.

“Ugh, honestly! Why is everyone so damn determined to make my life harder?!”

A hand firmly grabbed the back of Theo’s neck.

An expert!

Theo whipped around, startled by the sudden presence of someone skilled enough to approach unnoticed.

The woman standing before him wore an exasperated expression, as if thoroughly fed up with the situation.

It was Odd, the head of the Tulip Floral Guild.

“Staying here is dangerous! Follow me!” she barked, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Trusting her enough to comply, Theo followed Odd through the chaos.

Odd’s connection to Deungryong gave her an air of credibility, even though Theo knew little else about her.

And thanks to her, I can save my awakening time, Theo thought, feeling the strain of his earlier efforts.

The awakening had lasted just over four minutes, and the exhaustion was already weighing on his body, making each step more laborious.

“Seriously! You sword-wielding idiots are the worst! All you ever think about is swinging your blades without any regard for what comes next!” Odd ranted as they moved.

“Do you even know where you are?! This is sacred ground! The resting place of your ancestors! What if you destroy the mausoleum? Huh? Are you just going to say, ‘Oops, sorry about that’ and call it a day?!”

Theo barely held back a groan. She really doesn’t stop talking, does she?

“And don’t even get me started on the budget cuts! Flowers don’t just grow for free, you know! Do you have any idea how much tulips cost these days?!”

Theo tuned her out, focusing instead on their destination. “Where are we going, exactly?”

Odd glared at him, realizing he wasn’t listening to her tirade. Pouting slightly, she replied, “The mausoleum.”

“What? You’re taking me to the guild’s headquarters?” Theo asked, surprised.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Do I look crazy enough to go where those bastards are swarming?”

“Then where—”

“The real mausoleum. The one where your ancestors actually rest. Their remains are too precious to leave in harm’s way.”

That explained why Theo hadn’t sensed any lingering will or energy from the earlier mausoleum.

So, the real remains were never there to begin with, Theo realized, nodding to himself.

“This place also serves as an emergency escape route. Your companions are hiding there as well. Go kill some time while we sort this mess out.”

Theo considered asking about Deungryong and Wellington, concerned for their safety amidst the chaos, but his attention was abruptly drawn elsewhere.

What is that?

“This is the true mausoleum,” Odd announced as they entered a massive underground chamber.

299 coffins were meticulously arranged, surrounded by a field of blooming tulips. The fragrant aroma filled the air, almost as if welcoming Theo.

Then, a system notification appeared in his vision.

[You have discovered a sanctuary steeped in the scent of dragons.]

[Skill: Hatchling Syncro has been forcibly activated.]

Huh?

Theo froze as he noticed something strange.

The chamber wasn’t empty.

Transparent figures hovered near the coffins, their ethereal forms faintly visible.

And they were looking directly at him.

“Is he… looking at us?”

“No way. The living can’t see us.”

“But he just made eye contact with me!”

“What? Seriously?”

Theo could see them clearly—the spirits of the Ragnar ancestors, their ghostly eyes fixed on him.

This… is going to be interesting.