g - *000000* - CHERREADS

I floated in the sky about three kilometers above. Using the Line Mode of mana detection I could see that at least the army still isn't close yet. Because they didn't enter Line Mode's range.

"It's because of your mana suppression." Minus unexpectedly answered.

"Hmm?" I made a noise, tilting my head as I was listening to someone next to me.

Hour. Hour, fifteen till the army arrives. I could attack far before then. The question was which way to go about it.

"When you try to sense someone with mana detection, they can instinctively sense you back. Some people develop that sense to actively use mana detection when they are being sensed. But due to your mana suppression your mana levels are too low for them to register and thus don't feel your mana detection. Your mana levels are below the threshold for them to sense someone is detecting them, and likely because their mana sensing isn't as refined as yours to tell something with 'seemingly' low levels of mana is trying to sense them." Minus explained. "It would be like noticing a fly around in a forest, are you going to pay it any attention? What about a frog? Those can be found in a forest too. But a cat? A dog? Or something bigger? That's something to pay attention to as it's unusual to find in a forest. And that's how a mage could detect someone seemingly suppressing their mana.

"But for you who always restrain their mana to unnatural levels, when you detect people so far away, of course they won't sense you. Who would have the instinct to notice an fly is sizing them up as a threat and see that in itself as a threat?"

"Right. You're detected when you use mana detection, but if you're mana is low, most won't even notice." So letting out no mana at all is the best way to try and spy on other mages. Of course that's not something I can manage yet. There will always be leakage, even if it's minute.

For a while I stayed quiet, trying to think on how to take on an army with minimal mana usages. I still have to make the trip to the Death Tunnel, get the Shineglow Moss and come back. Most definitely I'll have to take down the Ancient Einsam to manage that.

I have fourth-fifths of the tank still filled. Most of it Minus' mana. The mana fever is still a pain in the ass. Although... my own mana seems to have recovered a bit. Not a lot, but enough to be noticeable. It's faster than I'd have expected. Like this is what I'd recover resting focusing on recovering, yet I was running ragged doing everything I was doing. Weird.

"So, tell me, young Trenn, how will you face a whole army? I hope you're not thinking of some silly last stand for this whole affair." Minus asked.

"No." I said definitively, shaking my head. "It takes me and Schroff nine days on foot to make it from Schwanz to Ackerheim without using magic. I don't think a whole army can use speed movement magic, or have it applied to them all the time. The army should have taken double the time it takes a normal person to travel alone, due to logistics and everything." I said. "Sure, I'm making those numbers up, but I'm eyeballing it. Eighteen days for an army to cross that distance seems reasonable. Yet they are here in thirteen days. Their commander is pushing them too hard, they have to be tired by now."

"If you think that means they will rest in front of the town once they reach it, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they will most definitely push their advantage in order not to lose their morale and momentum." Minus said, amusement in her voice, while not saying my guesses were wrong.

I probably shouldn't trust or depend on her. It might be the fever talking, but I have a feeling that she wouldn't try to deceive me for now. I present a source of entertainment, and she still wants to cash on the deal she made with me.

"Minus," I hoped she's feeling generous enough to indulge me and tell me more about how an army with mages would operate. "Are magic-nullifying crystals are something that would be divide across all the army's mages?"

After all, having those crystals would ensure mages could fire spells on others, while being immune to enemy magic.

I felt strong mirth from Minus via the magic link.

"Minus?"

"Hahahahahaha, aaa, with how you act young Trenn, I forget sometimes that you're still a child." Minus giggled and laughed out loud.

I frowned, annoyed at the reaction, but wondering what was she talking about.

"What do you mean?"

"Young Trenn, do you think those crystals would work on enemy mages, and not the ones holding them?" Minus asked patiently. I could feel the smile on her face.

"...The mana fever is fucking up with my ability to think." My ears felt particularly hot.

"Sure it is." She said cheekily.

"Okay, I can ambush the mages without worry. Now all I need to worry about is any warrior that has one of those crystals." I pushed on from my mental lapse.

"They will likely only give them venerated and skillful knights." Minus said. "Conscripted peasants and those of lower noble birth wouldn't have such resource wasted on them."

I let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank god for nepotism." I said sincerely. Minus laughed.

Comfortable silence returned between us. I felt like... like I'm suppose to feel disgust or anger that this comfort exists. Like chatting with Minus was somehow something I can do casually without any underlying spite or hatred.

...No. This isn't important for now.

Army. Monster. Save Schroff.

Focus on other things later.

I needed to ration my mana reserves. All of it, Minus' and mine. Zoltraak before the mages could react, obviously. Maybe have it so that the beam becomes faster by focusing into into a smaller volume. Upping the speed by upping the penetration power? I mean, if it's piercing faster, it's going through the air faster. That roughly makes sense right.

But for everyone else?

As I flew forward, just enough to get the army in my range, while scanning them (hopefully) away from anyone's ability to notice. Also using Line Mode should hopefully mitigate anyone's chance to sense me due to how quick the line would move over them. And I was still suppressing my mana as much as I can through all of this. Well suppressing more than usual.

My usual reached a point where I can make myself seem like an experienced warrior for my age. At least given Minus' reaction, before she suspected me of hiding my mana levels.

So, for the army—Hmm?

One, two, three...

I clicked my tongue. Twenty seven.

Twenty seven people had magic-nullifying crystals. I could feel it with how my mana shifted in motion when I passed over them, similar to how it did when I held that assassin lady's crystal myself.

Of those twenty seven, five crystals seem to have the same effect as the assassin lady. Could those be other assassins? Hmm, gonna have to target them first to make sure they don't escape or react, or sneak up on me once the ambush starts.

The other twenty two, twenty gave my mana a stronger reaction. And the last two made me feel like I couldn't make spells no matter how I tired. My mana felt, how to explain it in water-term. Something that can't be grabbed, cupped or contained.

Superfluid. That's it.

With normal magic-nullifying crystal, like the assassin's, my mana felt too liquid-y. It was flowing too much. With the stronger ones like those twenty, it felt like a river that can't be easily tamed or stirred. With the last two, it was a superfluid, impossible to grasped, only directed.

Odd though. Those last two strongest crystals seem too close to each other. Was one person holding them? Why?

No. Not important.

So alright, no magical attacks. Not directly. But maybe something physical that isn't magical in origin? Like throwing a big rock with magic. Even if the spell is cancelled, it's still a big rock.

"Young Trenn." Minus spoke up.

"Yes?" Why does she seem eager about something?

"I have a proposition for you." Minus said, as I listened with attention. "I think I'd like to see what you'd do unencumbered by mana costs."

"And what do you want in return this time?" I asked with suspicion.

"Survive."

Ruhm Verfehlt, Defector Warrior POV:

Verfehlt, son of the house to Ruhm rode forward toward the next town. Their next conquest.

If he could quickly solidify the Coalition's control over the Anfang Region, then the Schildhain would be open to attack from two directions, with one being a place it never expect assault from.

There were five regions in the Southern Lands.

Eisenruh, the heart of the Southern Lands, and the biggest region that borders direction with the Central Lands.

Hintersturm, the south-westward end of the Principality.

Brückenmark and Schildhain, the central regions of the Southern Lands divided by the Stromfall River that divided those two regions.

And finally there was Anfang at the far southward far east end of the Principality. It bordered only Schildhain thus only accessible through it.

Verfehlt had went on a daring mission with the permission of the former Vizegraf—Herzog Gierig as he took to calling himself now.

Taking a banner of a thousand hundred men, having the mages hide them under the cover of their spells, while making sure the knights stayed far away from the mages. This was to ensure the knights' magic-nullifying crystals did not interfere with the mages' spells.

Coordinating everything was an annoyance and tiring, yet the results spoke to themselves. Steadily and with patience they marched across the tail end of Schildhain Region undetected, into Anfang.

From there, it was a straight swift gauntlet. They would attack one town after the next, leaving a hundred men behind to hold it once they were sure of victory, and continue on to the next. All for the sake of conquering the region before anyone noticed.

Anfang was ignored by the rest of the Southern Lands, and that's what made it perfect.

Once Anfang was taken, the Coalition could build a naval base in secret in the northern part of Anfang, and then along with their base in Brückenmark, they can launch a two-pronged attack upon the Schildhain Region, finally overwhelming it, and from there they could finally focus on their grand prize.

Eisenruh. Just a few years. A few short years. Less than a decade and they can overwhelm the Royal Family and the Elves Shields by attacking them from three sides. And finally the Principality would be theirs.

Verfehlt knew that Gierig was slimy. An opportunist who would bow to whenever the wind blew. Yet, he was the only direction Verfehlt had to save the Principality till a better solution showed itself.

He didn't know how or from where did Gierig's newfound funds and resources came from. Even if he was embezzling the Principality's taxes for years by misreporting his earnings, he couldn't have amassed that much wealth as to fund the Coalition all these years.

Verfehlt added that as another conspiracy he would get to the bottom of.

For now he focused on the task at hand. He was running his army ragged, but they can rest after taking the next town.

The Coalition for all their fervor was slowly but steadily losing this fight. The Royal Family were holding the line due to the rich magic-nullifying crystal vein they build the capital on top of.

The Royal Family's power came from their secret knowledge to mining the magic-nullifying crystal successfully. And through it, the principal knight family of Ruhm acted as the Royal Family's sword and shield.

Verfehlt's family.

Which he had to turn his back on and oppose once he discovered the truth.

They don't know. They couldn't understand that they, the Ruhm House, that everyone, even the Royal Family were tricked by that elf. All this time, centuries stringed like puppets by her actions.

How could he not do everything to oppose her, even if it meant joining and leading an idiotic despicable movement like the Anti-Elf Coalition?

"Something's off." A feminine voice spoke at Verfehlt's side. A female rogue on horseback riding next to him. They were both riding their horses in the middle of the army. "I think we're being spied on through mana detection, Captain."

"Lauer, I told you not to call me that when in public." Verfehlt chastised his friend and bodyguard who followed him even into this crazy endeavor.

Spoiler: Lauer, Faithful Rogue

"Ah, apologies 'your grace.'" Lauer, the black haired rogue and childhood friend of Verfehlt, said back to him. Her voice was monotone-ish, yet one could almost hear the teasing quality in it. "No one is around, close enough to hear us, in case you're worried."

At the moment Verfehlt had his magic disguise on. An amulet given to him by Herzog Gierig that allowed Verfehlt to assue the Herzog's form.

Throughout this expedition he would interchange his looks, to either motivate and keep morale up by pretending to be the Herzog, or return to himself and actually lead the army.

The idea was that should this venture failed, it could cause rumors to circulate about the Herzog's death causing the Elves Shield and the Royal Family to act recklessly, only for the "return" of the Herzog to devastate them.

Or should their army be discovered, the Elves Shield forces in Schildhain would mistaken him for the real Herzog and rush over to try and take him out, thus leaving themselves open to the Coalition forces in Brückenmark.

Regardless, right now due to how hard he was pushing the army, he wanted to show the troops that their "leader", Herzog Gierig was right with them in the thick of it.

"You sensed something? Where?" He said with some urgency, ready to switch looks and return to his true image and act as a knight against as need be.

"Far to the east of us. Twenty kilometers." Lauer said, eyes narrowed in that direction, voice no longer playful. "It was something too small that I'd normally dismiss it, but I'm sure it was sensing us, which means it's a Mage with mana detection."

To sense something that far away and that small, Lauer was the most exceptional Rogue within the current banner by a mile. Then again she grew up with Verfehlt, with access to resources of the Ruhm House, allowing her talent as a rogue to flourish.

"Mage, singular?" Someone unaffiliated with the upcoming town, or someone idiotic.

"Yes. Given the size of their mana, likely an apprentice trying to hide their mana level." Lauer frowned. "But if they can sense us from that far away then... then it doesn't add up. What kind of mage apprentice could sense us from twenty kilometers away? And be able to suppress his mana on top of it?"

"Are you sure you're sensing a mage and not that Stille that passed us by a few times?" Verfehlt offered as an explanation.

"And as I told you 'your grace'," a chuckle passed between them. "Whatever that was, that wasn't a Stille, they don't live..." Lauer paused as she sensed fluctuation in that far away mana. Then her instincts screamed. "WATCH OUT!"

Lauer threw Verfehlt's crystal shield to him and readied her vambrace made of magic-nullifying crystals.

Beaming of energy rained down upon the army, faster than anyone could blink. The rays where thin and focused specifically on the mages, many who didn't sense the assault in time.

Yet no one had time to react. Just as shouts of pain and death started, the Coalition army was bombarded by trees smashing down upon them followed by the crack of thunder.

===

AN: I feel like I should try to remind people every one in a while that I do have a patron with an E and there are up to 10 chapters ahead on it.

Link is in my signature.Last edited: Sep 24, 2025 Like Quote ReplyReport Reactions:Pyrususer, Khepri_Halp, Lucidum and 713 othersSilver W. KingSep 24, 2025Reader modeNewAdd bookmark Threadmarks Jason WuConnoisseur.Sep 24, 2025NewAdd bookmark#1,902Silver W. King said:"Thank god for nepotism." I said sincerely. Minus laughed.They didn't work at Blizzard for seven years and thus their opinions are invalid Like Quote ReplyReport Reactions:Mastert3318, Wadi, FistOfZeus and 174 othersIseeyouI see youSep 24, 2025NewAdd bookmark#1,903Silver W. King said:"How did she sense me?" I wondered out loud. Yes, the assassin didn't have time to react once I planned and acted in Jilwer time, but the fa

"How did she sense me?" I wondered out loud. Yes, the assassin didn't have time to react once I planned and acted in Jilwer time, but the fact that she sensed me is still something to noteI think i'm getting Alzheimer's. I'm reading something twice. Like Quote ReplyReport Reactions:Wadi, FistOfZeus, Attention Counting and 38 othersDespacitoleoVersed in the lewd.Sep 24, 2025NewAdd bookmark#1,904Jason Wu said:They didn't work at Blizzard for seven years and thus their opinions are invalidthey uhhhh whats a good stand in for blizzard here?

like I had a joke but it kinda slipped away like now im thinking is blizzard a magical game making company

is it like the guild

What would they make?

There was a moment.

Through the heat across my forehead, cheeks, jaw—just head in general from the mana fever, and the multiple spells I was juggling.

Through it all there was a moment.

A single moment where I thought if I should stop.

I can just go to Ackerheim, take Schroff, carry him and run away to our cabin in the mountain. Go face the Ancient Einsam, get the Shineglow Moss and give it to Minus to make the antidote out of.

I don't have to go through with this.

Before me stands an army. Around me are dozens of floating trees, cut from the forest near Ackerheim Town.

The army were about twenty kilometers out. Not twenty kilometers from Ackerheim, twenty kilometers from me. I flew closer to get better aim.

All trees were floating on their side, aimed like spears about to be launched. Schnellwurf, the Magnet Slingshot Spell was attached to every single tree, with one positive mana point charge at the tree, and the negative mana point charge at one of the people in the army with a magic-nullifying crystal.

Fucking disspell that, bitch.

Heh. The whole thing reminded me of that one time Flink literally just grabbed a tree by placing a palm on it, sinking his fingers into it, and ripping the whole thing out of the ground. With one arm.

Then his whole bow, magically opened up and extended into a larger bow, upon which he nocked the whole tree and fired it at the frosty mountain. The tree is stuck there to this day, at least last time, me, Schroff and Flink crossed over the mountain it was still there at the peak. I laughed at remembering that.

I focused on the present.

I swept through the army with a more through mana detection, this time shaping it as a cone to cover things quickly. On each mage (anyone with active and above average mana levels), I marked with a mana signal derived off the mana signal Minus placed on me. This one just a mark, rather than the tether of a magic link.

158 Mages.

22 Warriors, plus 5 Assassins with a magic-nullifying crystal.

335 soldiers of varying Classes.

All innocent people.

Spoiler: Rageful Extermination Theme

No. All people. Just people.

Just people... fighting for what they believe.

Just people who were conscripted.

Just people who didn't want to be here.

Just people who were tricked.

Just people who were confused.

Just people going with the flow.

Some might be kids.

Some might be old people trying to spar those younger from war.

Some might have had no choice. Joining for food, or resources, anything to take them from an awful life, and be given a chance for something anything better in life.

These are human beings—No. Rather for this world, these are living sapient beings. Thinking and feeling living beings like me. I'm about to kill them.

And...

I don't care.

My resolve solidified.

They were an obstacles to saving Schroff. They will be removed.

First the mages.

Targets were set. One hundred and fifty eight Offensive Magic spells formed and ready. Formed Spells.

My brain feels warm from the mana fever. But my mind feels cold.

There's no need to imagine. I know the spell inside and out. Willpower isn't infinite. It's a finite resource (for now). Thus spells are made and set in the Formed set way.

The energy of the killing spell condenses and is ready.

A faint memory of Fern practicing this spell, trying to perfect casting over a long distance while maintaining its power comes to mind.

The thought of that being a problem seem ludicrous to me right now.

Shooting from 5 km away and for the spell to reach the target isn't a challenge. It's a Certainty.

"Zoltraak."

98 Mages.

63 Mages.

46 Mages.

19 Mages.

4 Mages.

A Dutiful Mage POV:

He was one of the elevated mages of the Anti-Elf Coalition. This mage had travelled long with this comrades, upholding the cloaking magic, helping the army with logistics and even fighting against those elf worshiping zealots.

The mage felt a sense of elation as they were an hour away from the next town. Soon they would take it, free those people from the obsessiveness of the Elves Shields and their subjugation of humans.

Following that would be two more major towns and the region is theirs.

This whole endeavor was a brilliant plan by his grace, Herzog Gierig and they were blessed to have had this rebellious spirit rouse them up into fighting the invisible chains of servitude and dependence elves had wrapped around humanity for long.

The mage, even with all he felt, showed nothing on his face. Just stark focused determination.

His skills in magic, how quickly he can cast spells and instincts were always praise worthy among his peers.

It would also be why he's one of the few who felt it. A change in the air. An odd tingle, a shiver running up his spine.

He had felt it enough times through the battlefields and this march to recognize it.

Killing intent.

He summoned up his mana, and readied himself to cast Defensive Magic and be able to react to any sudden danger.

"Huh? What the matter? You sense something?" Asked one of his comrades.

"Nothing," he replied. "Just this odd feeling of—"

"GAAAAAH!"

He saw his friend be shot and pierced through by a very rope width beam. A Zoltraak that seemed to come out of nowhere.

Immediately mage cast Phaitagurd without a second thought.

He looked around in panic, wondering where the attack came form—

Dozens.

Hundreds of small and precise Offensive Magic spells were raining on them.

Most mages didn't have time to process the assault. Some tried to dodge only for the beam to immediately change direction and home in on them.

All of it happened simultaneously in a second

And for those like him, with instinct and luck enough to get their magic barrier up in time?

Crack!

Pain.

A small hole shattered in the barrier. Before the mage could react, or even be cognizant of what happened, he was shot through.

A hole where his throat was.

Like all other mages in the Coalition army seeking to strike fast and take the Anfang Region, he was slain where he marched and died before he could even understand what was happening.

The moment I fired the Offensive Magic, I fired the trees at the warriors with the magic-nullifying crystals.

There would be no pause nor mercy.

"Schnellwurf."

1 Assassin.

5 Warriors with a magic-nullifying crystal.

78 soldiers.

A Disillusioned Knight POV:

He was a knight of the Anti-Elf Coalition. He had always wanted to be an adventurer, a hero, like the great Himmel of their current era.

He had been born during the Age of Peace, where no more fighting was left.

He was from a prominent noble family in the Southern Lands. He trained on the path of the Warrior Class, even if the future seemed to have no need of it.

And then came the Elf & Freedom Discourse. That's what his family and peers called it. The fight for academic discussions that split the country apart.

The boy grew into a man. A Warrior.

And the Warrior became a Knight.

A knight who served and defended his noble family, who stood up for the righteous cause of freedom.

At least that's how it seemed in the beginning.

After the third village he sacked following the banner of Lord Verfehlt, the Enlightened Knight—for he broke free of his family under the royal crown and oppose them to fight for justice—the knight began to wonder, where are the elves this whole fight was about.

They are so few in numbers that, would they even have heard of the wars in the Southern Lands fought for them or against them?

At this point, the knight wished for nothing more than the fighting to end.

He trained harder, strengthened his body, sharpened his swordsmanship, all for the sake of peace. To return back to those halcyon days were boredom was his greatest adversary.

The knight vowed to grow stronger so as to end the fighting. The moment they finish with the Anfang Region, he would head Eisenruh Region, right into the capital of the Principality and no matter the hardship, he'd do anything fight in any battle so that finally—

Rays of light fell upon the army. He heard the cries of pain and death.

The knight reacted instantly, arming himself with his sword, and raising his shield. Yes he was gifted a magic-nullifying crystal brooch by his liege, Lord Verfehlt, and had no fear of magic.

Yet if the enemy mages are attacking then soon enough their solider—

The knight felt something coming fast from up above.

And the last thing he saw was a giant piece of lumber with a cone of air around it.

It hit him. Darkness took him. He heard the crack of thunder then no more.

Ruhm Verfehlt, Defector Warrior POV:

It all happened in an instant. Lauer's warning was the only reason Ruhm Verfehlt still lived.

His horse was blown into a gore of meat as the supersonic tree slammed into Verfehlt. Only his shield, made of the highest quality of magic-nullifying crystal with it's mythical durability saved his life.

Yet, even then, it took all his strength and training to react, guard and tank the full power of that attack.

Lauer with all her swiftness managed to survive as well. Jumping from her horse, that only the shockwaves hit her, carrying her away.

Verfehlt looked back to see his beloved mount reduced to a carcass. Flesh that was ripped and torn apart by sheer force.

He couldn't even take a moment to process, let along mourn one of his oldest companions, as around him was a scene from hell.

Verfehlt had been in battle before. He had seen battlefield after the fighting was done many times, and it was always a gruesome scene.

But then?

This was nauseating.

Soldiers that he trained. Comrades that he travelled with, fought next to, shared meals with, all torn apart, crushed or smashed into a pulp like they were nothing.

"DAMN YOU—!" He began to shout. Began to look at the direction of the attack—coming for a north-east direction—and was about to mount an attack, even if he has to run on his own feet.

Lauer began to shout something, only to jump and somersault over an arrow that was aimed at her.

Archer!?

Verfehlt moved to save his beloved friend. By the time he reached her she had dodged three more arrows, one she had to use her crystal vambrace to deflect.

Verfehlt stood in front of her, shield up, blocking the flying arrows that he now could tell were coated in shaped mana, meaning a spell. A spell that broke into nothing the moment it came without three meters of his shield, yet it's force still stung him.

Yet by his count the attack only lasted ten arrows before instantly stopping.

And the screams started again.

Verfehlt and Lauer looked around them to see arrows falling down and even homing in on any person they missed.

"T-This isn't a battle." Whomever was attacking them was targeting every single individual soldier. "This is a slaughter."

The vile enemy must hold a demon's heart. For there are no mercy in their actions. Verfehlt thought in despair, and he ran toward one of the soldier that survived the first onslaught.

Hoping to save someone, anyone! Just one person.

Lauer grabbed his arm and pulled him back as a significantly faster arrow almost pierced his neck.

The solider died from another magic arrow right as Verfehlt was pulled back.

The archers attacking them were targeting everyone simultaneously.

"Lauer!" He shouted in rage and despair. "Where are they?"

"Verfehlt, we need to get out of here. The Shields clearly had a secret base here, deep in the heart of Anfang we didn't know about." Lauer tried to tell him, urgency in her every word.

"How could the scouts miss this? Your Rogues are the best of the best. Invisible, unseen and swift." He said, not looking at Lauer, high on alert for the next attack as he stood back to back with his childhood friend.

"The one that went this time is Pétze. She is," she paused, scowling in anger of. "One of the less disciplined Rogues I had. Excellent in everything else, but tends to spend more time than needed in her reconnaissance and assassination missions under the excuse of being thorough. I sent her this time as we all but were guaranteed to secure the Anfang Region when we were already so successful and deep into its territory."

Verfehlt gritted his teeth as it seemed like every worst possible scenario occurred all at once. The Devil's Joker coming for them all, even with the blasted Demon King himself being dead.

Joke of the Demon King, the jest that anything that could go wrong would do so.

"Lauer," Verfehlt spoke. "Some of the horses survived. I see a few running in circles. On my count we—"

"They're coming." Lauer spoke with dread.

"How many?" Verfehlt immediately called out.

"...One."

"What?" Verfehlt muttered in horror as he turned and stood side by side with his friend.

Verfehlt felt something coming toward me. Lauer tried to call out a warning, but he already had his shield up.

His instincts told him it was something moving faster than sound like the trees.

But no. When the attack hit him, the force was much greater than the launched trees. Verfehlt couldn't believe his eyes was he was pushed and his feet were dragged through the earth for who know how many meters.

The one who attacked Verfehlt, held a very familiar legendary sword. A sword Verfehlt only read about in books about famous and mythical swords.

Ewiglast, the Eternal Burden, and it was in the hand of his opponent... a child?

After the initial Zoltraak and tree assault, there were four mages and eighty three soldiers and one assassin. Six were with magic-nullifying crystals, two of which had those high quality crystals.

The high quality crystals were with a warrior and an assassin. So those are the strongest? Neat combo.

Welp, good thing I got a bow and a quiver of arrows from the guards' garrison. Along with a handful of spears just in case.

The bow and arrow quiver I wore till I needed to use them. However I also had some extra arrows floating around me just in case.

Alright, initial attack done. Now for the clean up.

This time I flew toward the army. I kept my mana still suppressed, but to the point where I'm not actively thinking or focusing on it. So I must have felt like a normal teenage warrior, or apprentice mage. I don't know the specifics and didn't care to ponder.

Another sweep with mana detection and mana marking on everything. Then I got my bow in one arm, and drew an arrow.

Zoltraak covered the arrow, then I placed Wurfspeer on top of that for precision and to improve aim and to guide the arrow after firing it. Also the effect of Wurfspeer mixed with Zoltraak to add some extra piercing power.

Jilwer still on, everything in slow motion. I fired the arrow at the first targets are the warriors with the magic-nullifying crystals, then at four mages still alive. No, I still see you there under that cloaking spell and suppressed mana. Gotta try harder than that in your next life.

The warriors and mages were struck. The mages all died before they could react. Of the warriors with the crystals four died. The two with the highest quality crystals still survived.

Huh, must be the elite of this army.

Whatever. I'll get to them later then.

I targeted everyone else. One by one I shot the soldiers down, even those running away, even those escaping. Might as well leave no survivors to tell the Coalition to come back with reinforcement.

I kept going till I was out of arrows and had to use some of the spears.

Finally I was done, and only two were left. I dropped and bow. I had no more arrows, so it's burden now. Not like this is the one Flink made for me.

For who knows how many times I lamented that I kept it back home.

I had five spears left. Alright then.

I readied Schnellwurf, a curious thought in my head. Yes, I can't used spells on the crystal bearers, but about the preparations of a spell around them?

I used full-sight mana detection to get a look at the last two opponent. With my mana detection in the shape of a cone, it was easy to survey all the battlefield.

Hmm, the assassin's crystals were a vambrace. So it's actually two pieces rather than one, but because they are so close the null zone around them seemed like one. Gonna have to work to improve my mana detection on that.

And the warrior looked like a typical knight with a shield made of the crystal.

Spoiler: Ruhm Verfehlt, Misguided Knight

Like seriously stereotypical knight. Blond hair, blue eyes, shining armor, white cape. Bro, you think you're a hero or something?

Anyways, I placed the negative mana point behind the warrior, five meters away.

Alright so far so good.

Now the mana line and... Ooooh!?

It worked!

I can feel the magnetic charge between the negative mana point and my body which is the positive mana point. The mana line was charged and starting to pull at me.

I grinned. Alright then.

I did the same with the spear and made the point for them to target be behind the assassin girl. Zoltraak and Wurfspeer on the spears for accuracy and penetrative power. ...Phrasing.

Actually fuck her, I don't care.

Everything's ready.

I drew my enchanted sword. With my mana strengthening I had 7 minutes and 57 seconds before the enchantment adjusts and makes the sword unwieldy for life battle again.

Now...

"Schnellwurf."

The world zoomed around me, a sonic boom behind me.

The landscape speed up on fast forward as I ate kilometers in movement.

With Adlerblick, the hawk-sight spell on, I could see the unaware enemies coming quickly in full view.

Only a kilometer away did their instinct flare and they began to react.

Half a kilometer I kept my focus on the assassin not the warrior. My enchanted sword was still held to my side next to me for the opening swing.

300 meters. The assassin tried to move to push the warrior away or shield him. The warrior was putting his shield in place to block me.

190 meters—I fired the spears. The assassin only now noticing them.

She blocked two with her crystal vambraces. One got her in the guts and went through her. There were two one aimed high at the same place of the ones she blocked, her chest. One hit her left arm vambrace, the repeated strike force dislocating her arm and breaking her guard. The last spear struck her chest on the left side.

I was in range of the warrior now, and swing the enchanted blade.

BANG!

The sheer clash of opposing forces, destructive force and unbreakable shield, roared loudly to the world.

And I pushed him back, trying to make him break his guard and lose his footing. The warrior, well, knight was strong, I'll give him that.

Even while being dragged for who know how long across the battlefield, even with all the force that must be straining his arms, he held his crystal shield.

How admirable. How annoying.

"Y-You...!" He coughed and muttered. "Who?" He looked at me like he couldn't believe his eyes.

Then again, I was a child who killed his army.

"I'm the exterminator, ant."

Because compared to the Ancient Einsam I was fighting afterwards, that's all this knight was to me.Last edited: Sep 30, 2025 Like Quote ReplyReport Reactions:28th00, Pyrususer, Lucidum and 772 othersSilver W. KingSep 27, 2025Reader modeNewAdd bookmark Threadmarks To-be-hero-XThe number one heroSep 27, 2025NewAdd bookmark#1,954Silver W. King said:No. All people. Just people.