The Mad Spearman of the Northern Front - Chapter 95

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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 (95)

A dark Secret Chamber.

A single Oil Lamp hung there, but with the oil having run dry, only a faint light flickered.

A heavy atmosphere settled solemnly.

In the center of the room, Kaltek sat at an old desk, looking at his subordinate before him with sharp eyes.

“…You lost him?”

“I, I’m sorry. We definitely tracked his movement toward Elvarfiel Lake… but he suddenly vanished without a trace.”

Silence flowed with the subordinate’s words.

The air in the Secret Chamber became quiet as if frozen, and the flame flickered as if swaying in a place without even a breath of wind.

Rising anger.

The superior assassin Vashnell had been defeated and captured by those bastards, his life or death unknown.

And in such a situation, they had failed at even the simple task of following that bastard’s trail.

“Just how are you doing your job to only give me reports like this!”

The enraged Kaltek finally raised his voice.

With his roar, the Copper Cup on the desk flew toward the subordinate’s forehead.

Thunk!

His forehead split open and red blood flowed down.

The subordinate, barely suppressing a scream, bowed his head even lower and said.

“I, I’m sorry!”

“Damn it. I don’t need such words.”

Kaltek, glaring at his subordinate, continued.

“You must find him. No matter what it takes, you must find him and eliminate him!”

Nocturne knew no failure.

But hadn’t they failed several missions recently related to that bastard?

If this mission also failed, he couldn’t guarantee what would happen to his own neck.

Fear mixed with anger in Kaltek’s eyes.

The subordinate, knowing this as well, trembled as he answered.

“I, I will do as ordered!”

But then.

Thud.

The door opened with a heavy sound.

Cold wind rushed into the room, and Killing Intent rippled in Kaltek’s eyes as he looked toward the entrance.

“What bastard dares…!”

But his words couldn’t continue to the end.

Though wearing a Robe and unidentifiable, Kaltek recognized who it was at a glance.

“Huh, huk!”

Kaltek, so shocked he gasped for air, looked at the subordinates following behind and the subordinate kneeling on one knee in the room and said.

“E, everyone get out!”

“What?”

“Get out right now!”

With Kaltek’s roar, the subordinates hurriedly left the room.

Soon the door closed, and Kaltek quickly rose from his seat and stood before the robed figure.

“If, if you had sent word in advance, I would have come to see you… What brings you here?”

At Kaltek’s words, the robed man walked with large strides and sat in the chair at the desk.

And asked.

“What happened to that bastard?”

“Th, that is…”

Kaltek hesitated for a moment.

Then the man spoke in a cold voice.

“Stop everything you’re doing now and prepare for the next task.”

“…What? What do you mean by that…”

As Kaltek looked up with a bewildered expression, the man’s eyes flashed ominously from within the Robe.

“It’s an order from above. From this moment, focus on Aikuled and prepare for the operations that follow.”

“…”

Kaltek’s eyes shook greatly.

Aikuled… and prepare for the operations that follow?

Kaltek asked urgently.

“Then those above believe the operation at Aikuled will…”

“That’s enough.”

The man cut off Kaltek’s words with a single stroke.

And slowly rising from his seat, he continued.

“I came here personally just to deliver a few words of orders. Don’t forget the importance of this matter.”

Something that could have been done with a single Letter, the fact that he had personally made the trip meant absolute critical importance.

At this, Kaltek knelt on one knee and bowed his head deeply.

“I will carry it out immediately.”

The man’s eyes flashed sharply once more.

“There must be no failure in the upcoming operations. If you fail even once more…”

The voice that came after the suffocating silence was chilling.

“Both your neck and mine will all be lost.”

At those words, Kaltek swallowed hard, then could only nod silently.

* * *

Arteon’s steps moved heavily forward.

The center of the Secret Chamber.

In the vast space, the Heart of Ether vibrated as if breathing and alive, emitting silver light.

“Is this… really the Heart of Ether?”

Arteon muttered without realizing it.

Wasn’t this an incomparably greater energy than what had been emitting golden light just moments ago?

Perhaps in his past life.

He thought that what the person who had absorbed the Heart of Ether had spoken of was probably the previous golden Heart of Ether.

‘And yet that person, who was an ordinary soldier, rose to the 5th Star realm.’

What would happen if he could completely absorb this silver-light Heart of Ether?

‘Was the difference between defeating the statue outside or not this significant…’

Perhaps it might have been a test of how much power one could possess.

However, regardless of any speculation, this power before his eyes was…

‘Real.’

Arteon unconsciously swallowed at the power stronger than he had imagined.

He was even beginning to feel a small fear at the massive energy that seemed like it would overwhelm him.

“Whoo!”

Arteon exhaled strongly and looked at the Heart of Ether before him.

Toward that thing that vibrated softly and continued to emanate power.

Step.

Arteon walked forward and reached out his hand.

And at that moment.

Whoosh!

A dazzling beam of light exploded and wrapped around Arteon’s arm.

The Heart of Ether burrowed into Arteon’s body as if it had been waiting.

Arteon felt as if caught in a massive storm, his breathing suddenly blocked with a “Kwak.”

‘Wh-what…!’

Tremendous pressure came crashing down on his entire body.

Arteon instinctively stepped back, but soon bit his lips tightly and collapsed into a sitting position.

“Kuk…!”

His whole body seemed to be sending warnings.

Arteon hurriedly sat down and prepared his mana cultivation method.

At this rate…

‘…I’ll die.’

His instincts were telling him so.

Feeling as if his body might tear apart at any moment, Arteon operated the Vargas Mana Cultivation Method.

Wooooooooong!

His entire mana circuit opened, suppressing and embracing the fierce power flowing from the Heart of Ether.

Puaaaaaaaak!

The energy of the Heart of Ether began rampaging inside his body like a swirling typhoon.

However, Arteon calmly yet firmly moved that energy slowly in the direction he desired.

Of course, it wasn’t smooth sailing.

Every time he forcibly drew it up, he felt as if all the muscles in his body were being torn to shreds, and his stomach churned as if it were turning inside out.

Dizziness rushed over him so intensely that his vision momentarily went dark, and something welled up inside him.

Kook.

Arteon kept his mouth tightly shut, not letting out a single sound, and concentrated all his nerves on the Heart of Ether.

And how much time had passed?

Drip… drip… drip…

Before he knew it, sweat flowing from Arteon’s body had pooled on the ground, forming puddles.

And through that arduous process, the rampaging Heart of Ether gradually began to flow quietly like a river that had found its path.

The overwhelming pressure subsided, and eventually its power gathered deep within the mana hole in Arteon’s lower abdomen.

…

For a very brief moment, peaceful silence arrived.

Like the earth after a storm had passed, there was no longer any pressure or resistance crushing Arteon’s body from within.

And…

“…Huuuuuuuu.”

Arteon let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.

His entire body was soaked with sweat as if water had been poured over him, and his fingertips trembled slightly.

However, his eyes had definitely changed from before.

“Is this the power that the Heart of Ether possesses?”

Deep wrinkles formed on Arteon’s brow as he checked the Heart of Ether within his body.

“…What is this?”

Compared to the power possessed by the Heart of Ether settled in his mana hole, the power Arteon had absorbed was barely even 10%.

Nevertheless.

‘Insane…’

The amount of mana that had been stuck at the early 4-star level and wouldn’t rise any further had instantly increased to the point of approaching late 4-star.

Moreover…

‘Very slowly, but… it’s being absorbed bit by bit.’

Arteon gulped.

If he had absorbed this power all at once.

‘My body might not have been able to withstand it and burst…’

It was already close to the limit of mana that Arteon could accommodate.

Rather, he realized that absorbing it slowly like this was the way to completely absorb the Heart of Ether.

And…

‘If I can absorb all of this power… just how far will I be able to rise?’

But soon Arteon turned his body.

He had stayed in this place too long due to the mana cultivation method.

Now he had to leave this place.

Step.

As Arteon left the secret chamber, a curtain of light enveloped his entire body as if it had been waiting.

His vision flashed and the space transformed.

And when he saw the familiar stone temple corridor.

“…What?”

Arteon looked down at the splashing sensation he felt on the ground.

At first he thought it was shallow pooled water, but it had instantly risen to his ankles.

And…

“…Don’t tell me.”

The speed at which the water was rising began to accelerate.

Arteon’s pupils shook greatly.

“Is the lake water rising again?”

His heart sank for a moment.

If this temple sank, wouldn’t he just become a water ghost here?

“Th-this is insane!”

Arteon gritted his teeth and drew up his mana.

Instantly, all the muscles in his body tensed up.

Thump!

With a strong kick off the ground, he began running toward the entrance with all his might.

Thump, thump, thump!

Each time his footsteps echoed, the water level rose higher and higher.

And when the entrance he had come through began to come faintly into view.

“…Damn.”

The water that had risen to his thighs made it impossible to run quickly.

The pressure underwater was stronger than he had expected.

‘Just a little more and I’ll make it…!’

At this rate, the water would completely rise before he could get out.

But swimming wouldn’t give him proper speed either.

“Damn.”

Arteon quickly looked around. Then he concentrated mana toward his legs and strongly kicked off the ground.

Pabat!

Arteon, who bounced up from his position as if propelled, immediately kicked off a pillar and launched his body toward the wall.

“Uaaaaaaaaaah!”

Arteon began running along the wall toward the entrance.

When the water was gradually rising to the temple ceiling.

“Hyup!”

Arteon let out a battle cry and launched his body outside the temple entrance.

Splash!

A cold sensation instantly covered his entire body.

Soon the entire temple was submerged in water, and Arteon, who had made it outside, hurriedly moved his arms and legs to swim out of the lake.

“Pua!”

His breath burst out and cold air filled his lungs completely.

Having emerged from the lake, Arteon caught his breath and turned his head to look at the lake.

The temple that had been there just moments ago had sunk underwater without a trace.

‘If I had been just a little later… I would have drowned with it.’

A chilling coldness ran down his spine for a moment.

If he had died here, the Heart of Ether and everything else would have been meaningless.

But…

‘Still, I’ve gained tremendous potential.’

He thought that if he absorbed the Heart of Ether, he would immediately gain tremendous power.

But he soon realized that was a foolish thought.

To use such great power, he needed the proper catalyst for it.

‘…And the skill must be there to back it up.’

Even with infinite mana, if one lacks the skill to use it properly, it’s just a diamond necklace on an orc’s neck.

However, still…

‘I can rise to a much higher place… than my past life.’

Just gaining that possibility was an enormous harvest.

Arteon immediately drew up his mana and blew away the moisture on his body.

And…

Step.

He soon turned his body and looked toward a certain place.

“I should start heading out soon.”

He had obtained everything he needed to get from this place.

Now to the next operation site.

“To Aikuled.”

Following that, Arteon moved his steps without hesitation.

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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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