The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 248

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Mad Spearman of the Northern Front (248)
Merely two days.
That was all the time it took to annihilate over six thousand Kar Tribe warriors from Karzadin.
After concluding the brutal battle reeking of blood, Arteon and Lucael departed immediately for Rohar Gorge without hesitation.
Though the journey exceeded two hundred kilometers, they arrived at Rohar Gorge in just three days.
At Rohar Gorge, standing before a river with a modest stream, Arteon gazed forward in silence.
How many battles had I not experienced within this gorge?
Now it seemed clear where and how to strike for a killing blow against the enemy.
“The squad members and soldiers must all be exhausted. Wouldn’t it be wise to rest for half a day, then move once darkness falls?”
Lucael approached Arteon and spoke. To this, Arteon, still gazing at Rohar Gorge, replied quietly.
“Lucael, might I alone take the vanguard in this battle?”
“…What do you mean?”
Arteon spoke without removing his gaze from Rohar Gorge.
“If we enter the gorge with the soldiers, we’ll inevitably come under their attack. But if not….”
Like the operation I once conducted with Isaac, there was a method of scaling the gorge wall.
“Yet I see no need for such complexity. If we simply destroy one side of the canyon wall… wouldn’t they all perish crushed beneath it?”
“….”
In that moment, Lucael’s words caught in his throat.
The proposition was so absurd that he couldn’t fathom how to respond.
“You mean to destroy that wall?”
“Yes, just one side.”
Arteon spoke while observing the canyon wall visible to the right.
It towered dozens of meters high, and its length stretched many times that height.
And he intended to destroy it?
Yet Arteon shook his head.
“Not what you’re imagining. I cannot destroy it entirely, but… if I tunnel inward and strike the central section, I believe I can bury them all.”
“The very capacity to conceive such a strategy is truly remarkable.”
Though I had now ascended perfectly to 6-Star level, I lacked confidence in executing the operation Arteon had just proposed.
An attempt might be possible.
But to even conceive of toppling that colossal canyon wall…
‘Does one’s perception transform entirely upon reaching 8-Star level?’
The gap between 5-Star and 6-Star was indeed greater than between 4-Star and 5-Star.
Then the chasm between 6-Star and 7-Star, and between 7-Star and 8-Star, would only widen further.
Lucael could not even muster a bitter laugh at the sight of Arteon, already so distant he seemed invisible.
Lucael then nodded.
“Then let us proceed thus. Once you enter first and topple the canyon wall, we shall join you and finish what remains.”
“Understood.”
The meeting concluded swiftly.
Or rather, was there even anything to discuss?
Yet Arteon too wished to verify once more.
It was a realm I had awakened to while fighting Barg in Preldior, but I hadn’t properly wielded that power since then.
In Karzadin, I couldn’t face six thousand Kar Tribe Warriors in open terrain, so I fought alongside my squad members using guerrilla operations.
But the number of Kar Tribe troops stationed inside and outside Rohar Gorge was roughly four thousand.
‘I can’t engage four thousand of those bastards in direct combat, but….’
A gorge changes everything.
If I destroyed the gorge, I could bury hundreds of them in an instant.
Arteon closed his eyes quietly and visualized Rohar Gorge in his mind.
I don’t know why such a reckless thought crossed my mind.
It was simply… a feeling that I could do it.
And as the harsh winds swept through the Rohar Gorge region, darkness began to descend.
The pitch-black darkness of the Northern Region where nothing could be seen.
From its center, Arteon walked alone toward Rohar Gorge.
I wondered if this might be reckless.
‘But….’
I wanted to confirm it.
What the power of an 8-Star was truly like—the power said to reshape battlefields and alter the fate of nations.
Despite my uncertain heart.
Thud.
Arteon’s steps toward the gorge were unwavering.
And not long after Arteon entered Rohar Gorge alone.
Krrrrrrrrrrrrrrung!
A calamity descended from the gods spread through the gorge, accompanied by a tremendous sound that echoed across the land.
* * *
In Rohar Gorge, as always, when night deepened, wind crept upward from below.
Cold, sharp wind.
The breath of the Northern Region seeping into the very bones.
So at first, no one thought anything was amiss.
But soon, they felt something different.
It wasn’t the wind.
“…?”
A pressure bearing down on the chest.
Though they couldn’t explain why, the Kar Tribe Warriors standing guard at the canyon entrance all wore uncomfortable expressions.
“This… doesn’t feel right all of a sudden, does it?”
“You too? My chest feels so tight.”
“Damn… I had a cup of the alcohol Balkuro brought yesterday… did he put something strange in it?”
“Ah… what is this. My body suddenly….”
But even as they spoke, that pressure grew stronger and stronger.
Soon some of them clenched their lips tightly, while others pounded their chests as if they were choking.
But then it happened.
“What is that?”
“Wh… what is that?”
The darkness obscured the view, but something was approaching from the direction of the Canyon Entrance.
Their gazes turned toward it.
“Huh?”
“It’s an Imperial Soldier!”
As the approaching body form became faintly visible, one of them cried out loudly.
The clothes he wore were completely different from theirs.
“Ha! Just one?”
“Shoot flaming arrows toward the back. There might be more!”
They couldn’t very well wake all the Warriors stationed here just because of a single intruder.
They hastily fired flaming arrows into the distance, checking for any possible enemies.
But even the arrows that flew more than three hundred meters revealed no sign of anyone.
Which meant.
“Insane bastard.”
He was alone. Yet another one tilted his head and spoke.
“Could he be coming to join our side?”
“Maybe?”
But their expressions began to twist into something increasingly sinister.
The pressure that had been constricting their chests now felt like it was crushing their entire bodies.
But…
“…!”
“What?!”
“Where… where did he go?!”
The Imperial Soldier who had clearly been before their eyes had vanished.
With the torches set up in front of the Gorge, he couldn’t possibly hide in the darkness.
In the mere blink of an eye.
The four Sentries desperately scanned their surroundings to find him.
Thud.
“…?”
At the sudden sound from beside him, Holkurom, a Sentry at Rohar Gorge, turned his head to the side.
“What are you doing, didn’t find… KYAAAAAAAH!”
Thinking his comrade was slacking off in this urgent situation, he turned around—only to see his comrade’s head rolling across the Ground.
And standing right behind it, a man.
A young man, one to whom the word “youth” would have been fitting.
But the moment their eyes met, Holkurom felt his heart stop instantaneously.
“Ah…”
His mind went white, and a sigh escaped his lips in that instant.
Slash.
That was his end.
“…Still not quite there yet.”
Arteon muttered one last time, his gaze piercing into the depths of the Gorge.
Only four sentries at the entrance? Unbelievable.
‘Well… the war in Preldior only ended not long ago.’
They couldn’t have possibly anticipated his arrival in such a short timeframe.
Moreover, from Preldior’s perspective, one would have to pass through Karzadin to reach this place.
It was certainly plausible enough.
“Such negligence is poison on the battlefield.”
Arteon leaped down from the watchtower erected at the Canyon Entrance.
“…?”
“What?”
The moment Arteon descended, several Kar Tribe Warriors who had been loitering nearby turned their heads.
But they immediately sprang to their feet upon seeing Arteon’s figure.
“An intruder?”
“Insane—how did you get in here?”
Torchlight wavered as all eyes converged on a single point.
“Just one person?”
After a brief silence, laughter erupted.
“Alone? You mad bastard, do you have no idea where you are!”
“Crazy fool!”
Soon they seized the weapons they had laid beside them and rushed toward Arteon.
Merely one Imperial dog.
How he had penetrated this place remained a mystery.
“We’ll slice off your limbs and roll them across the ground before we kill you—gack!”
With a final death rattle, a gaping hole materialized in the warrior’s throat.
Those charging toward Arteon froze mid-stride, their throats involuntarily constricting as they swallowed hard.
‘J-just now….’
What had just happened?
A speed utterly invisible to the eye.
They couldn’t even comprehend how their comrade had fallen, let alone why.
But soon one of them spoke.
“What are you doing? Call the others!”
“Uhhhhhhhhh!”
An overwhelming terror crushed down upon their bodies.
Those standing nearby screamed at the top of their lungs.
“What’s happening!”
“What is this sound!”
Kar Tribe Warriors emerged one by one from the Barracks within.
Seeing Arteon standing beneath the watchtower, they cried out in alarm.
“There—an enemy!”
“An intruder!”
Shrieeeeeeeeeeeeek!
As the whistle pierced the air, announcing the intruders, I felt considerable movement stirring from behind.
‘…Around a thousand…perhaps?’
Given the considerable length of the Gorge, it seemed inevitable.
Still, having this many troops stationed at the entrance suggested they had devised countermeasures of their own.
‘Then….’
I drew upon my Mana, observing those bastards surrounding me.
By now, the number of enemies encircling me had exceeded a hundred, and their numbers continued to swell.
Now… it seemed time to begin.
Uuuuuuuuung!
I infused Mana into Iglis, converting it into Aura.
Immediately, a brilliant golden Aura surged forth through Iglis with crystalline clarity.
“Oh, Aura?!”
“He wields Aura.”
“That explains why he came alone.”
The Kar Tribe Warriors hesitated, their vigilance heightened.
Yet there was no fear in their eyes.
No matter how elevated an Aura User’s realm, Physical Strength and Mana remained fundamentally finite.
Rather, if they could kill him through sacrifice, it would constitute an even greater loss for the Empire.
“Don’t approach—throw weapons from a distance and drain his Physical Strength!”
“Arrogant Imperial Dog. This place shall become your grave…!”
They cried out as though resigned to death. But I turned my gaze away from them.
“….”
Toward the massive Canyon Wall beside me.
A single human could not alter nature’s grand creation.
Uuuuuuuuung!
Iglis vibrated intensely, erupting with violent sparks.
Perhaps now…
‘I could do it.’
And in that moment, golden Eye Flash blazed across my vision.
Thud!
I struck the ground and rushed toward the Gorge, raising my Spear. Then I released my compressed Aura.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaang!
Tremendous Aura surged forth, striking the Canyon Wall with devastating force.
And….
Cruuuuuuunch!
The Canyon Wall, which had stood as firmly as an iron fortress stretching toward the heavens,
“…What?”
“R, run….”
Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface as boulders the size of houses began cascading down.
The Kar Tribe Warriors stared upward in bewilderment at the surreal spectacle unfolding before their eyes.
“R-Run!”
“The Gorge is collapsing!”
Moments later, they scattered with screams that tore from their throats.
Yet there was nowhere for them to flee in this place.
Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash!
Boulders plummeted down, unleashing a thunderous sound.
The cascading rocks claimed the lives of the Kar Tribe Warriors in succession.
“Aaaaaaahhhhh!”
“Ahhhhhhh!”
“M-My legs!”
The Gorge, drenched in blood and screams, transformed into Hell in an instant.
Inescapable. Unavoidable.
In that place where absolute death had been pronounced, Arteon ascended gracefully, stepping upon the falling fragments of the Canyon Wall.
Once atop the Gorge, Arteon gazed upon the opposite Canyon Wall, which continued to crumble.
“….”
My control over my power had grown far more refined than during my clash with Barg.
Perhaps the Sparring Match with Svein had proven invaluable.
Rumble rumble rumble rumble rumble!
Hundreds of Kar Tribe Warriors were crushed beneath the rocks and perished in an instant.
And at that commotion, those positioned behind the Gorge began to stir in great agitation.
Arteon’s gaze shifted toward them.
‘…Before dawn breaks.’
I will finish this place completely.
Then my form melted into the Darkness, surging toward them.

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