He stayed as quiet as a mouse.
As a last resort, he summoned Nkingki.
Not the young Nkingki, but the adult one, using his presence to intimidate just enough and boost the morale of those around, especially to empower Teordo by activating the Summon Death God skill.
He could no longer use Thunder Emperor or Blue Flame, but since his remaining mana was almost depleted anyway, it was truly the final measure.
But what on earth is this…
“So you really intend to keep going, Hio Pavlenko.”
The voice of Atawolf, heavy with power, echoed gloomily and distantly.
Even hearing those words, Hio stood still.
Adjusting his hat and clutching his staff.
‘I was just standing still…’
So, what exactly is it that you want to continue? You should say it clearly so I can consider your opinion seriously and stay even quieter.
“Don’t worry about it, wizard. I’m counting on you.”
He glanced back at the Sword Saint and nodded faintly with a smile as if to reassure him.
No one must have noticed the slight tremor at the corner of his mouth.
‘I’m not going to worry about it, so can’t you just fight on your own?’
He was staying quiet, but they were busy exchanging threats among themselves.
Of course, he desperately wanted to do something, but there was nothing he could do.
All his skills were sealed; his only hopes were Death Knight Teordo and the Savior-like Sword Saint Vitalianus.
What Hio could do was only to use Nkingki to keep boosting Teordo’s morale…
‘Nkingki’s only really useful in large-scale battles, not in fights like this.’
He was just a showpiece.
Perhaps sensing Hio’s thoughts, Nkingki’s gaze shifted toward him.
Those red eyes widened and quickly turned sorrowful.
Tears of sadness spilled from those orbs.
To be a spirit governing death and yet be considered a mere showpiece—how disappointing.
‘Hey, open your eyes wide.’
But true to his nature of obeying Hio’s words, Nkingki glared again and fixed his eyes ahead.
An ominous aura hovered around his body, and the breath of death rippled.
That figure was truly the terrifying image of a Death God that one might fear to see in a nightmare—an existence beyond common sense.
…So he just couldn’t shake off the feeling that Nkingki was nothing more than a showpiece.
“In the end, you’re making the worst choice, Hio Pavlenko.”
Atawolf unleashed a thick murderous intent without filtering it, as if making a decision.
What was needed was overwhelming power—indiscriminate destruction.
No matter what the target or what hidden power it held, an omnipotent destructive force that could shatter everything.
It was the explosion of power amassed over decades and a heavy burden to bear even for him.
Yet, there was no other way.
To corner both Vitalianus and Hio Pavlenko at once and escape the crisis was no simple feat.
“The worst is everything you’ve chosen so far, Atawolf.”
Vitalianus fought back with all his might, intensifying his aura.
Two massive energies filled with resolve.
A black mist covering the sky and a wave of golden aura rising from the ground.
No one could predict what would happen if these two forces collided head-on.
In this tense and explosive moment—
Surprisingly, the first to move was Hio Pavlenko.
***
It seemed they were frightened by that Death God.
That was Furnel’s guess, and Hio agreed.
Hio’s last card—
A Death God that looked imposing on the surface.
“If those two monsters collide, nothing will be left standing.”
That was exactly right.
This was inside the Academy, with important buildings and survivors still present.
‘If those two clashed here, what would happen?’
So, “Nkingki.”
“It was time to act first.”
“Use your power.”
Atawolf was definitely aware of Nkingki.
Even if he pretended not to be, the moment Nkingki appeared, he easily pierced through his mist and pointed his scythe at his throat—no doubt about it.
If someone unaware saw that as the adult Nkingki’s entrance performance and greeting, they would be thoroughly terrified.
Even the strongest on the continent, at their core human, could not help but fear the unknown.
Go.
“Intimidate as much as possible and drain his mana.”
Nkingki nodded shortly and instantly flew forward.
He was a spirit that should not have existed here in the first place.
Ignoring most rules, in the blink of an eye, he reached in front of Atawolf.
Suddenly appearing and raising his scythe, Atawolf instinctively reacted.
All the mist focused on the Death God.
‘But would that work?’
Though strong, if caught in the hands of a mere mortal, what kind of Death God would he be?
All the mist pierced straight through Nkingki, and the Death God’s scythe swung unerringly toward Atawolf.
The black mist trembled violently, thrashing like it was in agony, but it could not stop the scythe of a spirit that both existed and did not.
The scythe brushed past Atawolf’s throat far too easily.
Atawolf, startled, hurriedly felt his neck.
Somehow, his power was draining away.
[Received +700,000 mana from Death God]
And Vitalianus, never missing such a huge opening, seized the moment.
A thunderous sound erupted as a golden flash shot out.
“Vitalianus…!”
Atawolf tried to move the mist late, but there was not enough time to concentrate his power.
He had already poured all his gathered strength into the suddenly approaching Death God.
The dazzling golden light shattered all the black mist as it advanced.
“Atawolf!”
The mist shield protecting Atawolf immediately activated again.
The absolute shield that had blocked every attack so far clashed with Vitalianus’s golden aura.
In that fleeting moment, their eyes met.
Dark, gloomy black eyes.
Bright, radiant golden eyes.
The eyes of a villain who had caused countless deaths.
The eyes of a hero who had created countless deaths.
Once, these two pairs of eyes had looked toward the same place.
Completely different, yet not so far apart, they gazed steadily at each other.
An eternal moment passed.
“Atawolf. My detested friend.”
Crackling—
The black shield that had never broken despite hundreds of lightning strikes and blue flames began to crack.
“How did it come to this…”
With those words, KABOOM!
The black mist shattered into pieces.
The golden radiance pierced the darkness in a straight line and soared high into the sky before slowly fading away.
At the same time, The black mist also slowly dispersed.
“Well done, wizard. That was an excellent strategy.”
***
Using Feather Fall, Hio jumped down from the rooftop, where Vitalianus was already waiting with outstretched hand.
As their hands met, the Sword Saint asked with a faint smile, “What was that spirit exactly? It was the first time I’ve ever felt such… an unusual aura.”
“Well, you’re asking the obvious.”
Hio answered, and Vitalianus finally let out a short chuckle.
“Yeah, magic, I suppose.”
That was always the answer when asking that wizard.
There was no other explanation.
After all, he claimed to be the last wizard left in the world.
Between the two, a dark knight approached with heavy footsteps.
Teordo, the Princess’s Guardian Knight and Death Knight.
Teordo came up between them, gave a slight bow toward Vitalianus, and looked intently at Hio.
Seeing that insolent expression, Hio lightly tapped him to soothe him.
“Alright. Sorry for summoning you suddenly. But for such a thing, you fought well. You must have quite a bit of work stress too… Alright, alright. But if you go alone, you’ll stand out too much, so let’s go together later.”
Teordo shot Hio a sullen glance, bowed once more toward the Sword Saint, then vanished into a wisp of smoke.
He had re-summoned himself.
Although worried about Sylvia, he couldn’t go back alone.
Unless it was inside the Imperial Palace, wandering around in that ominous state would certainly spark bad rumors.
“Anyway, that aside…”
Hio glanced at Vitalianus’s sword.
It was stained with a considerable amount of blood.
Noticing Hio’s gaze, the Sword Saint looked down at his own sword.
“Narrowly missed. Seems he opened a passage in that brief gap. Still, since he suffered a serious wound, it should be quite a while before…”
“Did you not kill him because you couldn’t bear to?”
The Sword Saint’s voice caught.
“…I…”
“It’s alright. I understand.”
Vitalianus shifted his gaze from the sword to Hio.
Hio looked at Vitalianus seriously and spoke.
“Atawolf is my responsibility; I’ll finish it. So the Empire’s great star should take a rest for now.”
Atawolf’s assault on Imenia had targeted Hio, so he couldn’t say it wasn’t his responsibility.
Even if it wasn’t his fault, the burden on his heart was heavy.
Therefore, Atawolf would be dealt with by Hio himself.
“Wizard. You seem to know everything if I watch you carefully.”
“Well…”
“Yeah. Magic, of course.”
“Exactly. Magic.”
They exchanged smiles and then Hio brought up the main point.
“But did you know about the attack from the Black Crow in advance? You even brought the Royal Knights here sooner than expected.”
It was a sudden attack that happened overnight.
Yet the Sword Saint and the Royal Knights had arrived, meaning they had prior knowledge.
But the Sword Saint shook his head.
“It was a coincidence. The original mission was to bring you back.”
“Me…? Why?”
The Sword Saint extended his index finger and pointed to his left chest.
“Aren’t you the Guardian Knight of the Empire? And soon, His Majesty the Emperor’s coronation will be held.”
“Surely you don’t mean I have to attend?”
“Of course.”
Ignoring Hio’s displeased expression, Vitalianus turned his head.
They saw many people approaching here.
Numerous people returning, led by the Royal Knights.
They knew the battle had ended and were coming back.
Vitalianus looked at them and slowly spoke.
“I am old. Like a plant that once flourished but is now withering away.”
He moved his lips as if to say something, but Hio kept quiet, sensing the seriousness in Vitalianus’s expression.
“I have felt and experienced it. Passion and conviction. Like many knights who guard their lord even in death, I once had such times.”
But time cruelly passes.
No matter how noble the towering rock, it is eventually worn down by the winds of time.
Dulling is the law of nature and providence.
“It’s a new era, isn’t it?”
A young emperor.
A new regime.
“They will need new hope.”
Even if the Empire’s sole star someday sets, there must be new hope to firmly carry on.
A symbol of that hope.
Vitalianus looked toward the approaching people, beyond them.
“The dawn is breaking.”
***
The night had passed, and the sun was beginning to appear faintly.
The nightmare night had finally ended.
“Morning isn’t always good. We must prepare. There are things we could ignore because it was night and dark.”
The dawn breaks, and the morning brightens.
Along with preparing for a new beginning, they had to resolve what had been put off.
When the sun rises and the day brightens, some things become clearer.
Like the bloodstains scattered across the floor.
The traces of young sprouts that had yet to bloom and withered away.
Corpses cruelly crushed.
“So you must prepare as well.”
Vitalianus sheathed his original sword and drew a new one.
A more splendid treasure blade.
It was the sword of one who executes the imperial decree.
The sword of glory shone as it caught the newly rising sunlight.
Vitalianus, the Empire’s Sword Saint—symbol of power and hope—raised his voice.
“Everyone, kneel! Bow your heads~!”
The solemn voice of the Sword Saint spread far on the chilly dawn air.
Between still silent buildings.
Past walls stained with cruel blood.
Across shadowed floors.
Past cold corpses.
It spread far to those walking with the sun behind them.
At that voice, at the sword gleaming in the new sunlight,
All the Royal Knights approaching dropped to their knees.
Bowed their heads.
Everyone who followed, puzzled, slowly kneeled down with them.
“The great shield protecting the Empire and the sharpest sword!”
Vitalianus thought.
“The noble Guardian Knights of His Great Majesty the Emperor!”
He foresaw.
“Hio Pavlenko!”
The Empire needed a new sword.
Not the old sword, worn dull, but a new one sharpened keenly. A new hope.
It needed a symbol of that hope.
He believed that the wizard Hio Pavlenko would become that steadfast symbol.
“Serve the imperial decree.”
Even if he himself should fall in vain.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.