Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 522

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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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Flap, flap.
The garments of the Tiger Tribe Warriors billowed in the wind.
With their hands clasped behind their backs or shoulders relaxed, they strode forward with an ease that surpassed all others.

Boom!
At the sound of the earth trembling, Gashan turned his head to the side.
A berserk Bear Tribe warrior was charging straight at him.

“You old tiger-!”

Two more Bear Tribe warriors followed in his wake.

“Get out of the way, old man!”
“Go die of old age in the back!”

A total of three charged at Gashan and Rak.

“…Grandfather-”

Rak flinched and turned his head toward Gashan beside him.
Then he froze.

Gashan wasn’t even looking at the Bear Tribe warriors.
He looked straight ahead only.
A faint smirk crossed his face.
“Rak, there’s no reason to fear prey we’ve already hunted.”
“Sir?”

It was the moment Rak opened his mouth to respond.

“Hack!”

The charging Bear Tribe warrior’s body flew through the air. In his eyes was reflected a Tiger Tribe Warrior grinning so widely that his fangs gleamed.

“Gack! Ugh!”

The back of the bear’s head was seized in the tiger’s grip.

“Losers who’ve been defeated twice, and they still dare to act?”

The Tiger Tribe Warrior let out a scoff before driving his hand straight into the ground.

Boom!
“Gasp!”

The Bear Tribe member charging forward had his face slammed directly into the earth.
The Tiger Tribe warrior released the back of the Bear Tribe member’s head from his grip and muttered under his breath.

“Are these underfed bears? Why are they so weak? And they’re fully grown?”

Crash! Bang!
Two more Bear Tribe members were seized by other Tiger Tribe warriors and driven into the ground.

“Ugh!”
“Hack, cough!”

The Bear Tribe members’ bodies trembled violently as they gasped in pain.
Watching this spectacle, Rak’s hands clenched with tension. Then Gashan’s gentle voice reached him.

“We of the Tiger Tribe have faced the Bear Tribe twice—at the Heniatus Territory battle and at the Canyon of Death. And we emerged victorious both times.”

It was the moment Rak’s gaze turned toward Gashan.

“There is no reason for us to fear the Bear Tribe.”

Only then did Rak understand why the Tiger Tribe warriors—numbering barely more than a few dozen—marched so confidently onto a battlefield where hundreds upon hundreds of Bear Tribe members and dozens of Wyverns awaited them.

“And at the Canyon of Death, you too were victorious, Rak.”

…Did I win?
Back then, I had been tasked with protecting Raon and Kale Heniatus, who had lost consciousness.
Gashan and Rak’s eyes met.

“Rak, to endure is to triumph.”

With those words, Gashan lengthened his stride and marched boldly toward the center of the battlefield.
The Bear Tribe, the Wyvern, and the Knights all held back, wary of the Tiger Tribe warriors.
In that moment, Gashan came to a halt.

“Your Highness.”

He bowed toward Alberu, then straightened.

“I came as soon as I received word, but I trust I’m not too late?”

A grin spread across his face.
The elderly man’s smile was brimming with confidence.
Then he waved his hand toward the White Star as well.

“We met in the Caro Kingdom before, didn’t we? I thought you’d remember me. But tell me, White Star—”

Gashan’s eyes narrowed, gleaming with intensity.

“When did you grow an arm back?”

The White Star had clearly lost one arm, yet now his left shoulder bore a limb.
It was wrapped in bandages, but it appeared whole.

“And you didn’t even die. Quite the resourceful young man, aren’t you?”

Hehehehe—
Gashan laughed heartily.

“…Tch!”

The White Star watched this spectacle with exasperation.

“Did you find me so amusing?”
“Not at all.”

Gashan shook his head slowly.

“Not in the slightest. Which is precisely why I’ve come like this—”

Flinch.
The White Star, who had been concentrating on Gashan’s words, suddenly sensed a surge of moving power.
He quickly twisted his body.

Boom!

A blade of light clashed against a sword of flame.
In that instant, Gashan’s voice rang out, brimming with laughter.

“Since you’re not amusing, White Star, I suppose a surprise attack is warranted?”
“You wretches!”

The White Star’s eyes gleamed as fury ignited within his pupils.
His sword of flame intensified proportionally.

Crackle—crack!
The blade of light Alberu had conjured began to crumble, its form disintegrating against the molten inferno.
Alberu’s expression hardened at the sight.

The dead mana woven into this blade of light was of a quantity that only a supreme-tier mage could manifest, and the skill level itself reached that of an advanced mage.
Furthermore, his swordplay focused entirely on defense, designed to deflect and dissipate the White Star’s power.

Yet the blade was shattering?

‘This is no jest.’

Kale had been fighting this monster all this time?
The White Star observed Alberu’s expression growing rigid.

“Afraid when you actually try, are you?”

Whoooosh—
Flames erupted from the White Star’s blade.
Crackle-crackle—
The blade of light disintegrated into powder with accelerating speed.
The White Star sneered at Alberu.

“Do you truly believe you can win by bringing such mediocre fools?”
“My, my. It seems you have yet to learn the proper bearing of a true sovereign.”

What?
The White Star glared at Alberu, who spoke such casual words even as his sword shattered, his expression unwavering.

“Do you truly believe you can afford such words in your current position?”
“My apologies. I am a man who speaks only the truth. In any case, let me teach you this—the ability to cooperate well is a quality of a true leader.”
“You talk too much!”

Crash!
The White Star swung his sword in a massive arc, bringing it down upon Alberu’s blade like a hammer strike.

“Ugh!”

Alberu gasped, and his knees buckled slightly.

“Hmph!”

The White Star snorted and stepped back a few paces.
Whoooosh—
Crimson flames erupted from his blade.
Like a serpent opening its maw, the inferno surged toward Alberu.

In that moment, a faint sound reached Alberu’s ears from within his armor.

Beep, beep—beep, beep—

A sound so quiet only I could hear it.

The communication crystal I had placed in my spatial pocket was ringing urgently.

At that sound, I smiled.
It had to be the Young Dragon contacting me.
Kale would arrive soon.
I was certain of it.

I watched the flames bearing down on me, then glanced around the battlefield.
He is coming.
If that is the case—

“Hmm. I should tidy up the battlefield before he arrives.”

How could I possibly show my younger brother such a chaotic sight?

That was when it happened.
Caw. Caw.
The cry of a raven echoed through the air.

“Wind, block the path of the flames!”

As Gashan’s voice rang out, wind solidified into an impenetrable barrier before the inferno that had been bearing down on Alberu.

Boom!
Fire and wind collided.

The White Star’s brow furrowed.

“Such pathetic wind without any real power.”

Gashan’s wind, inferior to the wind barrier born from the Ancient Powers he possessed, had only momentarily blocked the flames’ advance.
Of course, the fire’s intensity had diminished, but it remained potent enough to kill Alberu.

Sizzle—

Yet where the fire and wind collided and the dust settled—

“…Ha! Hahahaha—”

The White Star burst into laughter.

“This bastard—”

Fury etched itself across his face.

Sizzle—
The fire was evaporating.

“Magic has so many advantages over the Ancient Powers, doesn’t it?”

Alberu was laughing with ease.
A sword of light gleamed in his right hand, while water surged from his left, enveloping his body in a protective embrace.

Caw. Caw.
Even in that moment, the sky continued to be blanketed by flocks of crows.
Gashan raised his voice.

“Aid the Knights Order!”

Whoosh.
The two hands of the Tiger Tribe warriors, which had been clasped behind their backs, were now free.
Gashan issued commands to those Tiger Tribe warriors.

“There is no strategy! Rampage!”

The Tiger Tribe warriors began charging forward without any formation, each moving as they pleased.
The Bear Tribe and the Wyverns too.
They were all beings who had faced this at least once before.
There was nothing to fear.

Besides, wasn’t the Bear King present now?

“They are few in number! If we respond properly, we can slaughter them all!”
“Knights, mount the Wyverns again at once!”

Of course, the enemies quickly reorganized their formation and began pressing down upon the Tiger Tribe warriors.
Yet one of the Tiger Tribe warriors licked his lips with his tongue and moved his hands.

“Difficult, but manageable.”

Even if the difficulty was high, a path traveled several times before was something that could certainly be conquered.

Boom— boom— boom—

In that moment, the sound of drums echoed across the battlefield.
Alberu felt an enormous surge of mana behind him.

“Good.”

Behind him, a massive shield unfurled, enveloping the entire City Wall like a protective barrier.
Upon the City Wall.

“Cough!”
“Captain!”
“I’m fine! Don’t abandon your position!”

The Mage Captain barked at the approaching mage, then pressed both hands firmly against his magic circle.
Applying more force wouldn’t necessarily make the magic unfold more smoothly.
But the mana stones in his palms dissolved into the magic circle, allowing him to maintain his concentration.

Drip. Drop.
Blood fell, but he paid it no mind.

The Crown Prince was a superior mage compared to me.
I could tell just by watching him endure the White Star’s flaming sword.

And the Crown Prince was my benefactor—he had summoned me from hiding after I was expelled from the Wipper Kingdom Magic Tower, and generously supported my rise to the position of Mage Captain.

So shouldn’t I fulfill my duty in a way that honored the title of captain?

The Mage Captain poured everything into serving his lord.
The flowing blood could not stop his resolve.

And his lord recognized that devotion.
Alberu didn’t turn to look at the City Wall.
He could sense everything from the vast mana enveloping it.

“Hmm. My captain must have pushed himself hard.”

He took a step forward.
With each stride, his speed increased. His body rushed swiftly toward the White Star.

“I should put in some effort too.”
“How ridiculous!”

The White Star likewise charged toward Alberu.
Fire. And water and light.
They clashed against each other as if trying to devour one another.

But the fire summoned the wind.

“There’s no helping it.”

Whiiiish—
The White Star summoned the wind of Ancient Powers around his body.
As the wind approached, the lava-laden flames burned fiercer, expanding in size.
The sheer power of the fire, incomparably stronger than before, seemed capable of melting his skin merely by drawing near.

Hiss.
Yet Alberu was smiling.

“Damn it!”

Meanwhile, the White Star’s face twisted in frustration.
He twisted his body.

A colossal shield forged of steel came crashing down upon the White Star.

Crash!
The deafening roar of shield and blade colliding shook the entire battlefield.

Screeeech—
The White Star’s feet were forced backward two or three steps against his will.

‘…I was pushed back?’

Pushed back by a mere steel shield?
My flames couldn’t melt that shield?

Confusion flickered across the White Star’s eyes, but the moment he saw the shield, his expression changed.

The young prince wielding the shield still bore youthful features, yet his face had grown noticeably more resolute as he stared down the White Star.
And in that young prince’s two hands—the shield he held.

The white aura emanating from that shield.
That white aura was familiar.

“…Sherit.”

Ha!
The White Star was astounded.
The shield contained the magic of Dragon Lord Sherit.
His face contorted.

“Running away like a coward, yet scheming behind the scenes like this.”

Rak kept his lips firmly sealed at the White Star’s words, observing his every movement.
He recalled what Sherit had told him.

‘Rak. Sometimes the best defense is an offense.’
‘So you’re saying I should go fight the White Star?’

Crunch.
He gripped the shield tightly.
Invisible to the eye, countless magical circles were inscribed on the shield’s inner surface.

‘Take this with you. Don’t get hurt.’

He clutched the shield brimming with Sherit’s magic.
Rak, who oddly couldn’t fully harness his berserk power even when he transformed.
Though Rak had achieved a proper berserk transformation in the Canyon of Death to protect Kale and Raon, he still hadn’t fully grasped or wielded his true strength.

Yet simply being able to berserk at all set Rak apart from his former self.

Uuuuu—
Rak released the chains that had bound the turbulent power within his body.

His dull gray hair transformed to silver, tinged with a bluish glow.
Blue Werewolf Tribe.
As if night had passed and dawn was breaking.
A silvery-blue radiance engulfed Rak’s form.
The eyes of the berserked Rak remained serene as always.
They had not turned crimson since the Canyon of Death. His gaze remained as clear as his nature.

His body grew increasingly massive.
Larger than the Tiger Tribe.

In that instant, a flicker of surprise crossed the White Star’s eyes.

“…So, you’re one of the Wolf Tribe.”

The White Star had never properly faced Rak until now.

“A race forsaken by the gods.”

Rak showed no reaction to the White Star’s observation.
The Wolf Tribe, including the Blue Werewolf Tribe, had heard countless times that they were forsaken by the gods.
Because of this, it was difficult for them to receive blessings from powers related to the Temple.

Rak didn’t even flinch at the word “forsaken.”
I recalled what Sherit had told me.

‘Perhaps Kale Heniatus wanted you to learn shield techniques so you could protect yourself.’

Whether I was forsaken by the gods or not—that was none of my concern.
Instead, there were so many who refused to abandon me.

I was simply timing it.

‘…Ten, nine—’

Step. Step.
The White Star approached Rak.
A certain greed gleamed in his eyes.

“I heard one of my subordinates missed a single Wolf Tribe member. Is that you?”

Rak didn’t hear it.
I tightened my grip on the shield.

‘…Five, four—’

Three steps.
That was how close the White Star had drawn to Rak.
Even as he approached, I crouched my massive frame as low as possible behind the shield, eyes locked on the White Star.

The White Star smiled as he looked at me.

“Now I remember. Was that wolf tribe the Blue Werewolf Tribe?”

That was when it happened.
Rak’s mouth opened.

“…Three, two-”
“What?”

It was the moment the White Star asked back.

“Descend!”

With Gashan’s cry, the White Star could see hundreds—no, thousands of crows hurtling toward me.
They rushed at the White Star like a black rain.

For a moment, the world seemed to turn to night.

“This is what I’ve been waiting for!”

And there was one who had been waiting for the area around the White Star to be stained black.
The White Star finally called out that name.

“…Albert Crossman!”

Albert emerged between the crows, spreading dead mana and conjuring countless black arrows aimed at the White Star.

Whiiiiiir—
Hundreds of black arrows spun with an eerie sound.
And they grew smaller and smaller.
As if yearning to become a single point, power compressed and compressed again.
Yet each of those points carried tremendous explosive force.

Hummmmm—hummm—
I felt the mana surging dynamically within.
Perhaps I was pushing myself a bit too hard.
Yet I felt at peace.

“…Mother.”

The magic created by my mother unfolded from Alberu’s hands.
My aunt Tasha had spoken of my mother possessing a “special gift.”
Unfortunately, the others could not witness this. The ravens would conceal it.

It was precisely what Alberu desired.
One of the reasons he had requested support from Gashan was for the ravens.
He desperately needed them.
He still had to conceal his true identity from the people of the kingdom.

Yet Alberu was satisfied.
This enemy before him would see it more clearly than anyone else.
The power my mother and I created together.
A deeper smile spread across Alberu’s lips.

Then.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The earth trembled.

“It has been far too long since this old body has stretched itself.”

Gashan, who had always lingered in the rear casting incantations, now charged forward as a Tiger Tribe Warrior toward the White Star. He showed no hesitation against the wind and flames swirling around the White Star.
There was no choice in the matter.
There was no other choice.

While Kale and the others struggled, the remaining allies who had stayed behind in Harris Village and the Dark Forest had been preparing for war in their own ways.
While Kale Heniatus and the others were struggling, the other comrades who remained in Harris Village and the Dark Forest had also been preparing for war in their own way.

“Hana!”

Rak spat out the last number and rushed toward White Star.

From her position, she had done everything within her power.
She has done what she could in her own position.

She had insisted he recite it precisely.
He said I had to say this no matter what.

“I’ll crush you to death!”

The enormous wolf’s cry shook the battlefield, and the shield that couldn’t conceal its massive body turned white.

Woooooung—
The shield began expanding at a rapid pace.
It was as if a city gate had been constructed.
No, it was a wall.
This wall would become a shield to block all of the White Star’s attacks.

Alberu charged toward the White Star, gripping his sword of light and crying out.

“Go!”

Hundreds of arrows, their black concealed by crows, shot forth toward the White Star as tiny specks.
The black dots fired from all directions blocked the White Star’s escape routes.

The leader of the Tiger Tribe.
The young prince with the qualities of a wolf king.
And the man called the sun of Rowan—all three converged from every direction, targeting the White Star’s life.

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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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