The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 287

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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 (287)
The battlefield lay empty.
A circular expanse where dust and the smell of blood drifted thinly through the air.
Three figures stood at its center.
Arteon held Iglis lightly in his grip, steadying his breathing.
Across from him, Rasion lowered his stance, a sword in one hand and a round shield in the other.
Beside him, Belotian gripped a sword with both hands, no shield in sight, his eyes gleaming with bestial intensity.
And then….
“Come.”
The moment Arteon spoke, Rasion replied tersely.
“I’ll coordinate from the vanguard. When you see an opening, don’t hesitate—strike.”
“Understood.”
With that acknowledgment, Rasion surged forward first.
Boom!
With a powerful push off the ground, his form extended in a straight line.
And behind him.
Crash!
The ground where Belotian had stood caved inward as he followed in Rasion’s wake.
Rasion initiated the first attack.
But….
“….”
Arteon watched him in silence, observing Rasion’s cautious approach.
Certainly, his movements differed from those of the Kar Tribe Warriors of the Northern Region.
‘Sparring with Svein seems to help in moments like these.’
The Kar Tribe of the north possessed a sensory and overwhelmingly aggressive nature rather than formal technique.
It was the consequence of their barren northern terrain, which demanded constant invasion.
But in contrast, Rasion charging forward as vanguard moved with remarkable discipline—almost formulaic precision.
Perhaps that was why?
Screech!
A horizontal slash followed by a low strike.
It was nearly textbook, yet even knowing it was coming, it remained difficult to defend against.
The realm of 7th Star meant not merely powerful Aura, but also that his Sword Technique had reached considerable heights.
Of course, that didn’t mean I intended to retreat.
Whooooom!
Iglis vibrated softly, brimming with golden Aura.
I pivoted a single step to the side, evading Rasion’s Continuous Attack, then raised my Spear Shaft to deflect it lightly.
Clang-clang!
“…!”
Rasion’s sword slid along my Spear Shaft with a metallic screech.
His pupils trembled visibly.
But it was far from over.
Screeeech!
As I let my sword slide away, that spear came thrusting along the exact trajectory of my blade.
Rasion twisted his body and hurriedly raised the shield on his left arm.
Clang!
“Ugh!”
In that instant, a searing pain shot through my entire body via my left arm.
Despite the proper defense, an overwhelming impact had pierced through.
“Rasion!”
Belotian, who had been right behind him, cried out loudly. At that, Rasion furrowed his brow and quickly retreated backward.
“….”
I was at a loss for words.
A spear was inherently a weapon specialized in ‘powerful’ attacks—thrusting or swinging with both hands while boasting considerable reach.
It was naturally heavier than a sword, and its length made precise control difficult.
‘How is such fine control possible with a spear…?’
More than the destructive power of the Aura he had first displayed, Rasion was astounded by Arteon’s exquisite Spear Technique.
Had I not witnessed that scene where he killed Dorcain in a single strike,
‘my balance would have been broken.’
I myself had nearly fallen into crisis from just one deflection.
If my balance had crumbled and my body lurched forward, his attack would have split me diagonally in two.
Trickle.
Cold sweat ran down my spine.
Perhaps his ability was beyond what they had anticipated….
“…No.”
Rasion muttered to himself.
They had only exchanged one blow.
To praise him so highly after just one exchange—they had yet to do anything substantial.
‘If it comes to this…!’
Uuuuuung!
The sword gripped in Rasion’s hand vibrated intensely as a blue Aura condensed around it.
In that moment, Belotian’s eyes flashed with understanding.
He had already grasped what Rasion was about to do.
And in that very instant.
Boom!
Belotian charged toward Arteon.
Unlike Rasion, his charge was considerably reckless.
His movements, reminiscent of the rough Kar Tribe of the Northern Region, caused Arteon’s gaze to turn cold and sharp.
Gulp.
The Imperial Soldiers watching the scene unconsciously swallowed their saliva.
It was difficult to explain in words.
‘Something….’
A premonition that something catastrophic was about to unfold gripped me.
Whoosh.
I watched Belotian charge toward me and extended Iglis slightly backward.
Though the aura radiating from his body was intense, it was actually quite familiar to me.
But that was the moment.
“Hraaaaah!”
Kwaaaaaang!
Rasion, concentrating his aura, unleashed a sword strike toward me with a thunderous cry.
Simultaneously, a cross-shaped aura extended toward me.
It was perfectly timed, as if they had rehearsed it beforehand—a flawless coordinated assault.
I glanced sideways at Belotian.
If I evaded that aura, his sword would immediately thrust in from whatever direction I fled.
Then….
‘I’ll meet it head-on.’
I drew forth golden aura and swung my spear toward the aura Rasion had unleashed.
Shuaaaaaaack!
From below to above.
Like some colossal beast raking its claws, golden aura arced upward in a sweeping motion.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakbang!
The collision erupted into a tremendous explosion, and the ground trembled.
The shockwave that burst forth from the impact sent Belotian’s eyes reeling.
‘This insane bastard… he blocked that attack head-on…?’
That cross-shaped aura from moments ago.
It was Rasion’s signature technique.
Unlike ordinary aura, it transformed the aura into a saw-blade form and added rapid rotational force.
It was a devastating attack that could shred even comparable aura in a single strike.
To think he had just neutralized Rasion’s aura.
‘Just how high is the level of his aura…!’
But that wasn’t the problem.
My vision was completely obscured by the dust rising from the collision.
With the shockwave, even sensing his energy was difficult.
Belotian clenched his lips and focused his senses.
And in that very instant.
“…!”
Feeling a chilling presence beside me, Belotian hastily tilted his body to the side.
Shwack!
“Krrgh!”
Pain erupted from his left arm as Belotian cried out and hurled himself in the opposite direction.
Crimson blood mixed with dust and fell to the ground.
“You bastard!”
With Belotian’s sword strike, a violent gust erupted, laying waste to everything around us.
Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Bang!
The meaningless slash roared through the air, slamming against the earth with tremendous force.
It was powerful enough to trigger a minor earthquake, yet it never touched him—a futile attack.
“Ugh…!”
Fortunately, my arm hadn’t been severed, but the wound was quite deep.
Rasion looked at Belotian with alarm and spoke.
“Are you… are you alright?!”
“Damn it…”
Belotian withdrew a potion from his pocket and poured it over his arm.
It cost dozens of times more than the same weight in gold, but there was no luxury in restraint now.
Hisssssss!
White smoke rose from the wound where the potion touched, and the bleeding stopped rapidly.
Though it couldn’t regenerate the wound perfectly, the hemorrhage ceased and the pain eased considerably.
As a white membrane formed over the severed muscle and flesh, beginning to heal swiftly, Belotian furrowed his brow and spoke.
“That man… is formidable.”
Even if we combined our strength, I couldn’t guarantee victory.
Belotian swallowed his remaining words and gripped his sword tightly.
Yet Rasion harbored similar sentiments.
I had never anticipated that he would repel my Aura so effortlessly.
‘Perhaps…’
An unsettling dread crept over me.
If he truly had reached the 8th Star realm…
‘Both of us… will die here.’
Duke Carbain, whom I had faced on the Battlefield long ago, flashed through my mind.
Freshly ascended to the 7th Star, I had felt the world was entirely mine.
Back when my confidence pierced the heavens.
And the helplessness I felt after crossing blades with Carbain Eisenhardt of the Empire—I still could not forget it.
That sensation of being unable to do anything, forced to endure passively…
Rasion swallowed hard and looked toward Arteon.
Scrape.
The Iglis that had been dragging across the Ground slowly lifted, pointing toward Rasion and Belotian.
Then Arteon’s calm, piercing gaze fixed upon them.
“Is the strategy meeting over?”
Then now…
“I’m going.”
With those words.
Whoosh!
My form vanished.
* * *
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Successive impacts shattered the earth beneath their feet—not the clash of steel on steel, but a thunderous sound as though colossal beasts were hurling their bodies against one another.
In the heart of the Battlefield.
Two Warriors, each assessed to have surpassed the mid-7th Star realm, simultaneously unleashed their Auras in a coordinated assault against Arteon.
Red and blue Auras intertwined and spiraled, while golden light flickered between them.
Yet the one being pushed back was… the side with greater numbers.
“This… makes no sense.”
Kailun found himself clenching his teeth without realizing it.
His fists were squeezed so tightly that veins bulged across the backs of his hands, yet he could not take a single step, only watching that battle unfold.
Perhaps within the Imperial Army here, he was the second strongest after Arteon.
And yet, despite that.
The clash unfolding at that center was a different dimension entirely.
Even with two 7th Star Warriors simultaneously pouring forth their Combined Attack, Arteon had never once been driven into a defensive position.
Rather, he was gradually, almost imperceptibly… encroaching upon the space itself.
And witnessing that, Kailun felt something stirring within his chest.
‘More….’
I want to grow stronger.
Perhaps not to his level immediately, but at minimum on a Battlefield like that.
I wanted to become strong enough to stand beside him, not merely gaze upon his back.
But it was in that moment.
“Lamenting your circumstances again?”
At the low voice that drifted in, Kailun turned his head.
It was Isaac.
His expression was so natural it was impossible to tell when he had taken his place beside him.
Yet his eyes too were fixed upon the Battlefield.
“What?”
“Your face says it all. ‘Why can’t I do that?'”
When Kailun glared at him in silence, Isaac let out a soft chuckle.
“You might not be a once-in-a-century Genius, but you’re certainly talented enough to warrant the title. You’ve grown incomparably stronger compared to when you first arrived at the Unit.
“That’s….”
As Kailun trailed off, Isaac continued.
“Don’t set the Unit Commander as your standard. Just… look only at the direction and chase it.”
“Direction?”
“Yes, direction. What matters is whether today’s me is better than yesterday’s me. That’s all you need to see, isn’t it?”
At those words, Kailun drew in a silent breath.
Impatience.
I knew that was poison.
When greed takes precedence, the Sword wavers.
It had happened to me several times before.
So I nodded with a bitter smile at Isaac’s words.
“…Yes. You’re right.”
I acknowledged who I was at this moment.
If I set Arteon as my direction and keep moving forward… someday I would surpass that realm he had transcended.
I gazed at the battle ahead once more, holding my breath.
Clang!
A tremendous metallic collision rang out across the field.
Two 7-Star Warriors were simultaneously sent flying backward, tearing through the earth.
One rolled with his shield shattered to pieces, spewing blood, while the other stood frozen, having lost his sword and covered entirely in dirt.
But Arteon had not retreated a single step.
His spear tip remained lowered, yet aimed with perfect precision at both men.
His breathing remained undisturbed.
Though the advantage was his, there was no arrogance in him.
His gaze had grown cold and sharp, and his Aura’s flow had only grown more solid.
Rather than forcing an aggressive advance, he believed the crucial thing was to overwhelm them without granting even the slightest opening.
Yet there was one whose face was gradually being consumed by terror at the sight.
It was Marcelo, the Allied Forces Commander.
The initial certainty had long since vanished from his face.
And in its place, an emotion slowly took root.
Fear.
“….”
He ran his tongue across his parched lips.
Reason and emotion.
Everything within him was screaming.
That he could not simply leave that man alone.
If he could not stop him here and now.
Someday that spear tip would be directed at him.
No—it would pierce through the entire Allied Forces.
Soon he opened his mouth in a low voice.
“Have the Archer Unit load their arrows.”
The Adjutant beside him widened his eyes.
“Pardon? What do you mean by that…?”
At the Adjutant’s question, Marcelo erupted in fury.
“Can’t you even listen to an order properly! Issue the command immediately for all archers to load their arrows now!”
“Yes, understood!”
As the Adjutant hurried away, Marcelo clenched his teeth.
Non-interference in Warriors’ duels was an unspoken rule of the Battlefield.
But now.
‘Such rules mean nothing….’
Criticism? Honor?
Such matters can be settled after the war ends.
‘If only I could kill that bastard….’
His eyes were bloodshot and inflamed.
Moments later, the Adjutant rushed forward and bowed his head.
“Preparations are complete!”
Without a shred of hesitation, Marcelo responded.
“Fire.”
Fwoooooooooooo!
The blast of the Horn pierced across the Battlefield.
In that same instant, thousands of Archers drew their bowstrings taut.
Whoooosh—countless arrows streaked skyward!
A swarm of Arrows soaring toward the heavens.
In that moment, the sunlight was blotted out.
The earth fell into shadow, and darkness slowly descended upon Arteon.
Shhhhhhhhhhhh!
Then, like a black rain, a torrent of Arrows began to engulf the Battlefield where Arteon stood.

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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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