Chapter 112: The Marionettes of Feltron

The three elements of problem-solving were empathy, dialogue, and persuasion.

But if none of that worked, what should one do?

Naturally, fists, blades, and hammers would be the most effective.

So I decided to wield the last option: the hammer.

Crack! Smash!

“That feels good. Like playing whack-a-mole.”

As I swung the communication rod, the men in hooded robes dropped like flies.

Shooting crossbows at me was utterly useless.

[Selection: ‘Defense’]

You enter ‘Water Fist’ state.

[Extreme Choice Activated]

Thud thud thud thud!

Extreme Choice made my body tougher than steel.

My attack power was halved, but it didn’t matter.

The guys I was facing weren’t overwhelmingly strong.

I could smash them all even in Water Fist state.

Look at them now.

Every skull I cracked sent them crumpling unconscious.

“I thought clerics’ heads were made of iron, but they’re nothing special.”

—How does your mind even go there?

“They attacked so boldly; I figured that’s how it was.”

Having taken down dozens in an instant, I stood tall before one man.

The very guy who’d given the attack order with that meaningful remark.

His face was hidden by the hood, but his panic was obvious.

How could he have anticipated this?

Overcoming an ambush that even a crime boss couldn’t escape.

But come to think of it, it didn’t make sense.

This guy knew my identity, right?

Attacking me, known as the berserker of the north, with just this force?

It was practically suicide.

He should’ve brought at least a dozen aura masters.

Not even one paladin; that’s way too arrogant.

Let’s overlook that minor mistake. I stupidly fell into a trap right after entering too.

They could make mistakes too.

Whatever happened, I just needed to get the info I wanted.

“Alright, time to confess. What’s the Sordin Order’s connection to Feltron?”

“As expected, just like his warning.”

“His? So you’re serving Feltron now, not Sordin?”

“You don’t need the details. You just need to sleep eternally in here.”

“What are you talking about?”

If connected to Feltron, they’d definitely want me dead.

That guy lost most of his authority after getting wrecked by Abel Carius.

For demigods or half-demons, authority is like life itself.

Killing outright would suffice, so why say “sleep”?

Cleric background, so softened language?

Zing?!

At that thought, a chill ran down my spine.

My sixth sense was warning me.

Danger was approaching.

Whoosh!

“Uh?”

Something sharp flew from behind.

I reflexively twisted and dodged.

Pure instinct.

Even with defense boosted by Extreme Choice, I had to evade.

Beast’s Heart was surging wildly, ringing alarms.

Getting hit would be bad.

Thud!

“Uh. What is this?”

The projectile lodged in the chest of the man I’d been talking to.

It was an arrow wrapped in eerie black energy.

But then something even more shocking happened.

Despite being pierced through the torso, a smile crept onto his lips.

“Heh heh heh! You’ll never escape from here.”

“None of you are normal.”

Incomprehensible events kept unfolding.

How to explain this situation?

A cold presence made me turn around.

Shockingly, the ones I’d felled were staggering up.

All emitting black haze.

—Th-that’s it!

Right then, Shugl bristled and warned.

“What is it?”

—It’s the authority of that demon called Feltron or whatever.

“Ah? We found it. But where’s the guy?”

—I don’t know yet. Need more time for the exact location.

“While you focus, I’ll handle these.”

—What? Thought you were an idiot, but you get it quick?

“You wanna get it?”

—Uh? They’re shooting again. Focus on the fight.

I almost gave Shugl a righteous smack on the head but held back.

The situation was too urgent.

Feltron’s authority……. One wrong move, and Extreme Choice might get pierced?

In that case, better cancel the skill to conserve stamina.

I’d die if hit anyway.

[Extreme Choice Deactivated]

Swoosh—.

The growing burden lightened a bit.

I lightly tapped my toes and glared at the enemies.

Each one packing non-negligible power?

Just dodge, close in, and smash.

“Of course, gotta do this first.”

I spun half a turn and swung the communication rod cleanly.

Smashing the head of the guy giggling with an arrow in him first.

Swish! Crack!

His body toppled, eyes rolling back.

“Ugh! Feels good.”

His constant sarcasm made me want to hit him hard.

Normally, this wouldn’t be right.

I’m the empire’s Chief Justice, and these are Sordin Order clerics.

Should handle everything legally.

But they shot arrows first, and they’re still aiming crossbows.

“This is self-defense. Got it? Traitor uncles?”

“……”

I explained lightly, but the Sordin clerics didn’t respond.

They just kept shooting crossbows.

Ah, why traitors?

Attempting to assassinate royalty.

And someone carrying the emperor’s decree at that.

That’s treason.

“Too shocked? Why no words?”

Of course, they didn’t answer.

They hadn’t said a word, just attacking relentlessly.

Soon, another hail of arrows poured.

Swish swish swish swish! Thud thud thud!

Attacks wrapped in black energy like the first arrow.

Each one inevitably fatal.

The tips held Feltron’s authority.

“Hey, where’d you go?”

I dashed madly along the wall, glancing back.

Shugl was scurrying across the floor, scanning everywhere.

Slow due to small size, but diligent.

Enlarging would make him a target for the clerics.

He was contributing enough.

Good. Then I gotta do my part.

Feltron was probably channeling authority to the clerics.

Should I end the fight quick?

I didn’t think so.

If distracted by battle, they wouldn’t notice Shugl approaching.

Dragging it out was the right call.

Swish swish! Boom!

“Uwaah!”

Suddenly, terrifying explosions erupted behind.

Arrows embedding and suddenly exploding!

Why? Must be another effect of Feltron’s authority.

Weird plague, explosions; all sorts.

Couldn’t even guess how varied his abilities were.

I dodged their attacks every which way, stalling as much as possible.

But no sign of arrows running out.

“This isn’t some poorly researched B-movie; where’s the infinite ammo!”

Swish swish swish swish! Boom boom! Boom!

Of course, they ignored my shout.

As explosions rocked everywhere, an ominous sign appeared.

Rumble rumble rumble!

The ceiling started shaking like it might collapse.

Wait, this is really bad?

These guys were probably just puppets controlled by Feltron.

Death or not, irrelevant.

Burying me in this cavern might be the goal.

“Hey! Not like that.”

I’d stalled enough.

Before more collapse, gotta stop this.

I swiftly closed distance, batting away flying arrows.

Charging head-on left no dodge angles.

Boom! Bang!

Smacking them down seemed effective; explosions weakened.

Seizing the moment, I rushed in and swung the communication rod like a storm.

Crack! Crack crack!

[Communication Rod Mastery Skill has grown to level 50.]

Amidst, a welcome message appeared.

Smashing clerics’ skulls nonstop leveled up the weapon mastery.

Energized, I swung the communication rod mercilessly.

Just one level, but feels way lighter.

Like I could twist trajectories at will.

Insane movements felt possible.

“Hyah!”

Thud!

As the last one fell, I finally caught a breath.

This far wasn’t too hard.

Their strength wasn’t that great anyway.

The issue was they’d get right back up after being smashed.

Not zombies, but endless like this?

I’d hoped for a gentlemanly resolution.

But moving with cracked skulls was problematic.

Of course, the current situation wasn’t too bad.

While they were down, Shugl was hunting Feltron.

But my stamina wasn’t infinite.

“No choice. You brought this on yourselves.”

Severely injured yet rising to attack?

Let’s see if they can with limbs all crushed.

I pounded the clerics into mincemeat.

This way, no pulling bows.

But my plan failed immediately.

“Whoa! Ruthless.”

Broken bones meant nothing to them.

They moved fine, wrapped in black energy.

They were just shells; the core was Feltron’s authority.

Boom! Boom!

The explosion fest resumed.

No good. Get out first, plan later.

No need to settle now anyway.

I quickly scanned left and right for Shugl.

Then spotted something twitching far across the cavern.

—Over here! Here!

Success, apparently.

I bolted that way without looking back.

Sprinting full force produced a tremendous sonic boom.

Kyuuuung!

The shockwave of breaking sound barrier.

Beast’s Heart kept my body intact, but the pressure was immense.

No need for Extreme Choice though.

Reached the destination quick.

“Hyah!”

I swung the communication rod at the wall Shugl indicated.

Crimson flames trailed long in the air.

Then the hammer head smashed the rock.

Boom!

The explosion was by far the loudest yet.

A dust cloud billowed, a huge hole blasted open.

I leaped in, dust or no.

But inside, I faced an utterly absurd scene.

Wh-what!

A tiny white bat like Shugl was fiddling with something like an arcade joystick.

Probably the device transmitting authority.

I sighed long, palming my forehead.

“Damn! We’ve been played by this thing all along.”

Soon, the flaming hammer descended on Feltron’s authority transmitter.

Swish!

—No, no!

He screamed, but I swung without hesitation.

Kaboom!

With the heavy blast, thuds echoed from behind.

That was the culprit, alright.

I looked down at Feltron with a sneer.

“We’ve got a lot to talk about, huh?”

It was gonna be a very long night.