The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 132

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front (132)

Northern night.

Standing alone in the thick darkness, watching the plains, the man’s eyes glowed red.

Unlike his coldly sunken gaze, his eyes were bloodshot to the point where no whites were visible, and blood vessels rising from his neck were carved as clearly as scars beneath his jaw.

“…A failure?”

“General Ulk also… seems to be dead.”

“That guy was always precarious. Without me, he would have died long ago.”

Soon he was supposed to receive four feather tattoos, but wasn’t most of the merit he established achieved together with himself?

What was puzzling, however, was that surely Marhuldan had gone leading warriors together…

‘Was it a situation where even that guy had no choice but to fail?’

Though Marhuldan had three feather tattoos, he possessed skills nearly identical to his own.

Due to his fierce and hasty nature he couldn’t become a tribal chief, but his combat ability alone could be called outstanding.

“Could it be… that Rookie?”

Among the Imperial soldiers, there wouldn’t be many who could deal with Marhuldan.

No matter how many talents the Empire had, those who could fight on equal terms with someone of that skill level weren’t common.

Naturally, one face flashed through Bowkartaon’s mind.

That bastard who had mangled his body… and driven him almost to the brink of death.

To buy time, he had lightly cut the carotid artery without killing, but the problem was that the tendons in both legs had been severed.

Thanks to that, he almost had to live as a cripple for life, but this power barely allowed him to be saved.

However…

“…Are you alright?”

The subordinate beside him spoke carefully to Bowkartaon.

The previous Bowkartaon had been someone with white skin.

But after this injury, when he appeared again, he had strangely reddish skin with blood vessels rising so hideously they were unsightly to behold.

A somewhat grotesque appearance.

His previous sharp looks had disappeared, replaced by an appearance that could be called bizarre.

But Bowkartaon paid no attention to appearance and only stared forward.

Having already reached the midpoint of the plains, it wouldn’t take long to get here.

“Report the current situation to that person.”

“Understood.”

Soon after the subordinate disappeared, Bowkartaon, left alone, simply stared forward in silence.

If he met that bastard again.

‘Then…’

Clench.

Bowkartaon’s gaze, as he tightly clenched his fist, was sharply fixed on one particular place.

*    *    *

The barracks where the 4th Squad was located.

At Arteon’s words, the squad members widened their eyes and asked.

“An independent unit? What’s that?”

“A unit that moves with its own commander. Basic operational orders come down, but all situational judgment and command related to executing those operations belongs to the independent unit’s commander.”

“That’s… amazing anyway, isn’t it?”

A large man with short-cropped hair spoke carefully.

It was Kamarkan of the Turak tribe, who had been selected by Arteon from among the recent reinforcements as a Punishment Soldier.

Though he originally had a fierce appearance, after training under Arteon and coming to the 4th Squad, he had become docile enough to seem somewhat deflated.

Of course, that didn’t mean his monstrous strength had disappeared.

At Kamarkan’s words, Bartell grinned and spoke.

“That’s right, it’s good! Why think about it complicated? Just think that the squad leader got a good position from this battle.”

At Bartell’s words, Kamarkan nodded.

He had deliberately placed Kamarkan in the 1st Squad where Bartell was.

‘Seems like it was a good choice.’

Not only were their dispositions similar, but both guys were second to none when it came to strength.

It felt like they got along quite well.

But Grain spoke to Arteon with a somewhat worried expression.

“Did you say one hundred men?”

“Yes.”

“Then about sixty more need to join besides our squad… do you have personnel in mind?”

“The commander said he’d give priority. First I’ll receive volunteers, then ask to fill the shortfall.”

“We should hurry. Though base camp construction is complete, it’s temporary so we don’t know when we’ll deploy. I’ll hurry and proceed with personnel reinforcement.”

At Grain’s words, Arteon unconsciously let out a chuckle.

Because he knew all too well that one proper worker like this could run a unit.

“Thank you, Deputy Squad Leader. Please serve as deputy commander in this independent unit as well.”

“I’ll do my best.”

As Grain nodded, Arteon looked at the other squad members and spoke.

Objectively speaking, the current 4th Squad members were ten newly reinforced personnel added to the existing thirty.

Simply looking at physical abilities they might be similar, but there were gaps due to differences in combat tactics or Mana Cultivation Method training.

‘Time will have to solve the Mana Cultivation Method issue. Then what’s most urgent now…’

Arteon looked at each squad leader and spoke.

“For newly reinforced personnel, I’ll arrange those with maximum tactical ability. But before that, our squad members must set an example.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make it so they know what each other is thinking just by making eye contact.”

“I’ll ensure the areas you mentioned are trained without disruption.”

The quick-witted squad leaders immediately responded.

Arteon spoke to Grain.

“Then proceed as soon as the sun rises tomorrow morning, and if there are necessary areas, request them from Sergeant Claw. He promised full support of any kind.”

“Understood.”

“Treat the wounded quickly, and everyone rest. Due to today’s victory, the momentum has completely shifted to us. All of this is a victory you achieved.”

“We just worked hard doing what the squad leader ordered.”

“It’s thanks to the squad leader leading us!”

The squad members’ voices echoed loudly through the barracks.

At those words, Arteon smiled and looked at the fire rising outside the barracks.

The support cooks were already preparing food splendidly.

At the delicious smell spreading since earlier, all the squad members made ecstatic expressions and sniffed.

Arteon spoke.

“There’s no reward to speak of, but those belonging to the independent unit will be excluded from all base camp construction and dismantling work, as well as cargo transport. And we’ve prepared special meals, so eat heartily and prepare to rest well.”

“Yes, understood!”

“Ooh, excluded from work!”

“I’m more tempted by that meat. I should eat my fill today.”

“Squad leader, what about alcohol?”

At someone’s question.

“Touch even one drop to your lips. I’ll carve off your lips.”

Grain growled and disciplined the squad members.

Though everyone made somewhat disappointed expressions, they soon cheered and ran over at the cook’s announcement that the food was ready.

Grain approached Arteon, who was watching the squad members’ retreating figures.

“Won’t you eat together?”

“I have something to check first. Enjoy the meal with the squad members.”

“Understood.”

After Grain left too, Arteon walked alone to a quiet place.

Because there was something he needed to check before eating.

“…Whew.”

Confirming no one was around, Arteon sat down and exhaled softly.

Closing his eyes and using the Vargas Mana Cultivation Method to move his mana.

Twitch.

The Heart of Ether in his mana core began to react.

‘Certainly….’

The energy of the Ether heart in his mana core had diminished.

That meant it had been absorbed even more into Arteon.

‘During the last reconnaissance mission… I created the opportunity, and in this battle I definitively ascended.’

The 5th Star realm that he couldn’t reach even in his past life.

In terms of handling aura, it wasn’t vastly different from the 4th Star, but the difference was so tremendous it couldn’t be expressed in words.

It was like the difference between picking up objects with tongs versus grasping them with your hands.

Upon reaching the 5th Star realm, the series of processes of using mana to transmit to weapons and converting that mana into aura to manifest it disappears.

A stage where you can manifest aura through will alone.

And the difference in intensity and duration becomes tremendously vast.

In this newly ascended realm, Arteon was clearly feeling even the energy of the absorbed Ether heart.

‘Again… I’ve taken another step forward.’

He couldn’t guarantee how much further he could advance, but one thing was certain.

‘I will never stop.’

He felt confident that he could climb even higher… to even greater realms ahead.

Eventually, how much time had passed?

Before he knew it, thick darkness had descended upon the Northern Region, swallowing the surroundings.

Arteon, having finished his mana cultivation method, slowly opened his eyes and exhaled.

White breath flowed out like cigarette smoke and dispersed into the air.

“I should have told you that resting is also part of a soldier’s duty.”

“I forgot something important I had to say.”

“How can you practice mana cultivation so defensively without any guard?”

Grain and the other squad leaders spoke as if they had been waiting around Arteon.

Arteon chuckled.

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Hah, I ate until my stomach burst. Thanks to that, the cold doesn’t bother me at all.”

“For someone like that, your nose is awfully red though?”

Ragnell, the 2nd Squad leader, said while looking at Bartell.

As laughter erupted around them.

“Sh-shut up! You bastards!”

Bartell shouted with a flustered expression, but he couldn’t stop their laughter.

The advance into the Northern Region.

Perhaps it would be the most fierce war in the Empire’s history, but seeing them, Arteon was reminded of his past comrades.

All of them were…. 

‘Precious comrades.’

However, hadn’t they all died playing into the Second Prince’s faction’s schemes?

Arteon clenched his fist tightly.

‘Just wait… just wait a little longer.’

He still needed to gather more information and grow his power even further.

Though he had reached the 5th Star realm that he couldn’t achieve in his past life, it was still impossible to face them.

Moreover….

‘Charging at the Second Prince while remaining hidden… that would be insane.’

But if he continued like this… creating situations that disrupted their plans one by one.

‘They’ll surely have no choice but to come to the forefront.’

Then he planned to execute his prepared plan to deliver a proper blow to them and devour them whole.

However, to reach that plan.

‘I must… become even stronger.’

So that he could win against anyone he faced in battle.

Arteon clenched his fist while thinking of the plan he had set for himself.

And….

“Lieutenant Arteon, orders have come down.”

Orders directly from Legion Commander Belkain, the supreme commander, had arrived.

As Arteon bowed his head and waited.

“Complete the independent unit as quickly as possible, then attack the enemy’s left formation to collapse their formation.”

“The left formation….”

Arteon turned his head to look in that direction.

He could see it clearly without looking at a map.

It was exactly where the reed bed was located—the place where he and Isaac had fled, prepared for death.

Soon after, Arteon nodded.

“I will follow the orders.”

Arteon’s eyes sank more fiercely than ever before.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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