The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 67

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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 (67)

 

“C-Company Commander! 3rd Platoon has returned!”

 

As dusk fell, exhausted soldiers appeared at the entrance of the base camp.

 

The 3rd Platoon members led by Grain barely managed to take heavy steps as they returned to the main force.

 

Some swayed as if nearly collapsed from exhaustion, with dried blood caked on their helmets and armor.

 

Behind their faces filled with fatigue, despair and self-loathing seemed to linger together.

 

“Did everyone make it back?”

 

Hadel said while looking at them.

 

But soon he noticed that one person was missing.

 

“…Where is Arteon?”

 

“That is…”

 

Grain lowered his head.

 

“To help our escape… he’s luring the Kar Tribe bastards away by himself.”

 

At those words, the surroundings stirred.

 

The expressions of the exhausted platoon members became even more deeply colored with guilt and self-blame.

 

“…”

 

Hadel closed his mouth heavily.

 

It was truly an absurd situation.

 

Though it hadn’t been long, from what he’d experienced of Arteon, he thought it was somehow ‘just like that guy.’

 

But no matter how much Arteon had shown results beyond expectations until now, this was far too dangerous.

 

Just looking at the state of 3rd Platoon made it clear.

 

How fierce a battle they had fought.

 

Thanks to Arteon and 3rd Platoon, nearly fifty reconnaissance soldiers had returned alive.

 

In such an exhausted state, to be evading the Kar Tribe’s pursuit alone.

 

It could be seen as a situation where survival probability was slim.

 

But then.

 

Flutter.

 

A man silently shook his black cloak and stepped forward.

 

Under the reddened evening sunlight, his eyes flashed clearly.

 

“It seems we must hurry.”

 

Short but clear words.

 

Hadel nodded.

 

“I’m counting on you.”

 

Though he didn’t call his name, everyone around knew who he was.

 

Seran Belamot.

 

The gatekeeper guarding the main base of the 4th Defense Line, and the most skilled warrior under Hadel’s command.

 

Since he had the duty of protecting the heart of the 4th Defense Line, he rarely came to the front.

 

But the current situation.

 

At this time when all forces must be concentrated, he couldn’t just stand by and watch.

 

Though it was a sword that had guarded the main base’s last line of defense for a long time, now was the time to pierce the enemy’s heart.

 

Seran slightly bowed his head while receiving Hadel’s gaze.

 

“Don’t worry. I will definitely eliminate all those bastards and rescue the 3rd Platoon leader.”

 

Though it was a low voice, it contained resolute and firm will.

 

Soon Seran turned his head to look behind.

 

The soldiers organized with him were small in number, but each one was an elite unit approaching 2nd Star level.

 

They were suppressing their gathered fighting spirit while waiting for Seran’s command to fall.

 

Soon Seran headed toward the front covered by fog along with his unit members.

 

A strange tension and silence flowed through the area.

 

Hadel watched their departing figures and soon let out a long breath he had been holding.

 

“I hope… they succeed.”

 

Themselves and the Kar Tribe.

 

The blades both sides had thrown forward were probably nearing their final edge now.

 

No, perhaps this time might be the last.

 

Whichever side wins this battle…

 

‘Can seize the initiative of this war.’

 

Hadel maintained tension with conviction.

 

And the battlefield where darkness was beginning to gradually cover.

 

Within it, a single sharp spear was being swung fiercely alone.

 

* * *

 

Swoosh!

 

Arteon’s feet, which had been running through the dense bushes, suddenly stopped.

 

Confirming the two warriors who had been chasing him, Arteon instantly twisted his body and thrust his spear toward the bastard on the right.

 

“Haaaah!”

 

A battle cry.

 

Along with it, Iglis shot forward, deflecting the right warrior’s spear and piercing through the bastard’s torso.

 

Crack!

 

“Urgh!”

 

The spear blade that crushed chest bones and destroyed organs protruded straight through to the other side.

 

The Kar Tribe warrior on the opposite side flinched for a moment at the incredible destructive power.

 

‘Now…!’

 

The bastard charged forward desperately as if he wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

 

“Die!”

 

It was already too late to retrieve the spear.

 

Due to the spear’s characteristics, while it had long range, the time needed to retrieve it was inevitably long as well.

 

It could truly be called a moment of an instant, but for those going between life and death, it could be called a moment worth a thousand gold.

 

Thus the axe blade fell toward Arteon’s shoulder.

 

But at that moment.

 

Thud!

 

He suddenly thrust his body forward.

 

Arteon, who kicked off the ground with his back turned, dove straight into the bastard’s embrace.

 

Thump!

 

“Urgh…!”

 

The Kar Tribe warrior grabbed Arteon’s hair with panicked eyes.

 

He intended to break the bastard’s head like this and strike down with his axe.

 

But before his axe could even fall down.

 

Thunk!

 

With a dull sound, his vision was dyed red.

 

The moment the Kar Tribe warrior turned Arteon’s head, Arteon had set the spear shaft straight up and kicked it up with his foot.

 

The deflected spear pierced through from under the Kar Tribe warrior’s jaw to his crown.

 

Truly an unimaginable strike.

 

It was an extremely irregular technique that couldn’t be performed with ordinary spear technique.

 

Thud.

 

The Kar Tribe warrior collapsed powerlessly.

 

Arteon pushed his falling body aside and pulled out his spear.

 

Drip.

 

Red blood flowed down along the spear shaft.

 

He wanted to wipe off the blood, but there was no time for that.

 

“Huff, huff…!”

 

Arteon forced strength into his eyes as he breathed roughly.

 

His shoulders heaved, and he could taste the metallic flavor of blood in his mouth.

 

Though the enemy’s numbers were clearly decreasing, Arteon’s expression grew darker by the moment.

 

‘…My mana.’

 

The fatigue accumulated from fighting until now.

 

Due to the endless battles, both his stamina and mana had nearly hit rock bottom.

 

If it weren’t for Vargas’s Northern Spear Technique specialized for real combat.

 

‘…I would have died long ago.’

 

Arteon felt grateful to Vargas, whose face he had never seen.

 

But at the same time, he was gradually being consumed by despair over this situation.

 

But then…

 

A heavy and cold voice drifted in from a short distance away.

 

“…Impressive skill. If it weren’t for Taman’s foresight… we would have been defeated in this battle as well.”

 

Moldur spoke without exaggeration.

 

Coldly stating what he saw.

 

If some other ordinary warrior had led this unit as commander instead of himself.

 

‘We might have been completely annihilated… by this boy.’

 

Though an enemy, he was a warrior impressive enough to inspire awe.

 

Moldur looked at Arteon with sunken eyes.

 

The refined fighting spirit flowing from his body was definitely different from other Kar Tribe members.

 

“…”

 

At this, Arteon unconsciously swallowed his saliva.

 

Because a beast-like intimidating presence flowed out along with the giant axe slung over his shoulder.

 

‘…Was it Moldur?’

 

At the sight of him, Ulgrak’s right-hand man who had been the leader, Arteon bit his lips tightly.

 

With the steep cliff behind him, every possible escape route was surrounded.

 

Moldur slowly approached Arteon and spoke.

 

“There’s nowhere left to run. If you offer your neck obediently without resistance… I’ll kill you without pain.”

 

Of course, he knew well that wouldn’t happen.

 

As proof, Arteon raised his spear instead of answering.

 

The fingertips gripping the spear and the legs standing on the ground trembled slightly.

 

But even so, those eyes looking at him.

 

Those eyes alone were just as fierce as they had been from the beginning.

 

Grip.

 

Moldur tightly grasped his axe.

 

And with that.

 

Bang!

 

His form shot forward toward Arteon as if launched.

 

The axe raised to the sky fell toward Arteon like lightning.

 

Crash!

 

The moment spear and axe clashed, a sound like tearing metal rang out.

 

Moldur had to hide his inwardly surprised expression at seeing Arteon block his strike.

 

‘Even this exhausted, he’s still…’

 

But Arteon felt the metallic taste of blood from his tightly clenched molars.

 

The moment he blocked that guy’s attack, the shock transmitted to both arms was painful to the bone.

 

His already depleted stamina broke his will to the point where he wanted to collapse immediately.

 

Bang! Clang!

 

Against Moldur’s successive attacks, Arteon swung his spear frantically.

 

But as he was gradually pushed back, the perfect spear trajectories that had killed the Kar Tribe warriors until now could no longer be seen.

 

If he had been in perfect condition it might be different, but for Arteon with depleted stamina and mana to face him was virtually impossible.

 

“Haaah!”

 

Clang!

 

At Moldur’s strike, the spear in Arteon’s hands flew up into the sky.

 

His palms had become bloody and stained red.

 

The hands that had gripped the spear no longer had any sensation left.

 

And at that moment.

 

“…!”

 

Moldur’s eyes flashed.

 

His chest, having lost his spear, came clearly into view.

 

Moldur swung his axe toward that spot without hesitation.

 

“This is the end!”

 

A moment of mortal crisis.

 

With stamina and mana both depleted now.

 

Arteon saw Moldur’s axe rushing toward him.

 

As if this world had slowed down, he could see it slowly and clearly.

 

When it seemed there was nothing more he could do.

 

‘…Am I going to die like this?’

 

Had he been struggling down this path all this time just to meet such a death?

 

‘For what purpose.’

 

Why am I here?

 

Thoughts suddenly chained together one after another. And simultaneously, his past life.

 

The final memories from that time flashed by like a panorama.

 

Moldrek’s sneering expression.

 

Though Moldrek was dead, those bastards who had hidden behind him and driven himself and countless comrades to death.

 

Those bastards…

 

‘Until I kill them all… I can’t die…!’

 

“Aaaaaaah!”

 

A scream-like cry burst from Arteon’s mouth.

 

Grip!

 

Then Arteon grabbed Moldur’s axe blade with both hands.

 

At the sight of him grasping the blade with both palms pressed together, Moldur’s pupils shook greatly.

 

‘H-how is this…?!’

 

But the surprise was brief.

 

Moldur also gripped the axe with both hands and put strength into his arms.

 

Crack, crackle!

 

A sudden contest of strength.

 

Veins bulged on the forehead of Moldur gripping the axe.

 

Drip.

 

Blood flowed from the corner of Arteon’s mouth.

 

At that sight, Moldur burst into laughter.

 

“Kahahaha! Just die like this!”

 

Resisting this far was impressive, but the guy seemed to have no more strength left to endure.

 

Arteon looked at Moldur while enduring with all his dying strength.

 

Because it truly felt like death had approached right before his eyes.

 

But that was the moment.

 

Crack, crackle…!

 

The sound of something breaking came clearly from inside Arteon’s body.

 

Simultaneously, from his lower abdomen where his mana core was located, intense pain… no, a sensation quite different from what could be called pain spread and covered his entire body.

 

And…

 

Puaaaaaaak!

 

As if suppressed mana had burst forth, a massive storm of mana swirled around Arteon’s entire body.

 

Paaaat!

 

Fighting spirit erupted like an explosion.

 

Not only did he leap over the wall he couldn’t cross at the edge of 2nd Star.

 

Crackle, crackcrackcrackle!

 

In an instant, he had soared to the realm of 4th Star.

 

A situation that would normally be absolutely impossible.

 

His past life.

 

It was possible because Arteon had already reached a higher realm than this before.

 

Puaaaaaaaak!

 

Overwhelmed by that tremendous energy, Moldur unconsciously stepped back before catching himself.

 

‘That bastard is still…!’

 

But before that thought could even continue.

 

Bang!

 

“Guk!”

 

Arteon’s kick struck Moldur’s chest directly.

 

Moldur’s heavy body was sent flying and crashed into a tree.

 

The atmosphere instantly turned cold and heavy.

 

The Kar Tribe members present sensed that something had changed, but they didn’t want to acknowledge it.

 

But regardless of their thoughts.

 

“…”

 

Arteon gripped the spear that had fallen to the ground once more.

 

Wuuuung!

 

The recovered mana healed his body and seeped into the spear tip.

 

At the same time, a vivid blue aura clearly enveloped the spear.

 

The eyes of the Kar Tribe warriors shook greatly at that clear and eerie aura of death.

 

How could such a young-looking boy…

 

“A, aura…?”

 

“Aura…?”

 

Moldur too gradually hardened his expression as he looked at Arteon.

 

And at the center of those gazes.

 

“…Huu.”

 

Arteon’s eyes stretched toward the Red-haired Comrade like a beast.

—————
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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