Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 689

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

Chapter 142. The Collapsed Stone Tower

“Damn it, what is this?!”
Rashil the Dragon twisted his body side to side, scanning his surroundings.
Countless stones rose into the air, blanketing the sky above Pursell City.

“Why are there so many stones—no, wait, that’s not even the problem!”

Large and small stones. In the end, they were just stones.
No matter how large a stone was, it would shatter upon colliding with Rashil’s massive body. Under normal circumstances, Rashil wouldn’t spare a single glance at stones.

‘But there are just too many of them!’

There were far too many.
Endless, from sources unknown, stones continued to rise without cessation.
The colorless stones glimmered as their surfaces reflected the brilliant orbs of light that Alberu had launched skyward.

“…Declaring this a danger zone. Objective: total annihilation.”

Between them, the Lion Dragon’s black eyes gleamed as it began to move.
Stage three. Indiscriminate assault.

“Retreat!”

The moment Crown Prince Alberu’s voice rang out, Rashil swiftly chose to fall back.

“Ah, seriously! I don’t even know what to do!”

Without magic at his disposal, using his innate trait of ‘Indomitable’ wouldn’t yield any real advantage in this situation. His strength was most formidable in one-on-one combat, but it offered little help here.

“Ugh!”

In that instant, Rashil’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Hey, hey! You pink-haired brat! Let go!”

Dodori seized the horns on his head as if she meant to rip them clean off.
Though she was small, she was a dragon—and Rashil cried out at the crushing grip of Dodori’s jaws. Her expression was vacant.

“Hey, let go! Hey, you little brat, gack!”
Whoosh—.

At the same moment, Rashil saw an enormous shield sweep past right in front of his face.
The gray dragon’s eyes reflected the form of the Lion Dragon.

“Has that bastard gone insane!”

Wielding the massive shield, the monster suddenly began moving with aggressive intent. As if it no longer cared about the wings already torn away.
Boom. Boom!
Landing on the ground, the monster advanced with each step, thrusting its shield and razor-sharp claws in all directions.

Crash— Crash!
Under the ferocious assault, everything in the city—buildings and all—began crumbling to pieces.
Albert Crossman, observing the scene, murmured softly.

“Stage three. Utilizing both physical strength and two special abilities.”

According to Anroman of the 3rd Continent:

‘Upon entering stage three, the Lion Dragon employs its physical strength, shield, and two special abilities simultaneously.’
‘During stages one and two, the Lion Dragon demonstrated only defensive responses or simple movements. This makes it easy to conclude that conquest is feasible. However, everything changes once stage three is reached.’

Anroman had stated that countless casualties occurred at this point.

‘The Lion Dragon, which previously targeted only those strong enough to threaten it, now seeks to kill anything that possesses life.’

The Lion Dragon displayed movements of an entirely different dimension—smooth and natural.
Yet what the monster unleashed was truly the worst of monstrous aggression.

“Don’t let it reach the people!”
“Right away.””Damn it!”

At Erhafen’s cry, Mila and Rashil drew its attention without fully escaping the monster’s vicinity.
They had to prevent it from approaching the barrier where the humans had gathered.
Albert observed the scene calmly, recalling Anroman’s words.

‘And once we pass the third stage, from that point onward, only Albert Crossman becomes truly important.’
‘Tae-rang. When the moment comes for you to properly wield that weapon.’
‘And you’ll need a partner to support you through that.’

Alberu’s lips curved upward.
The fourth stage. From that point onward, there would be no shortage of those willing to aid Alberu.
But currently, in the third stage—and with the mana orbit in a state of disturbance—only Kale Heniatus could safely navigate this phase.

“…I’ll accept Kale Heniatus’s help only up to this point.”

He’d said he didn’t need Kale’s assistance, but ultimately, without magic, he had no choice but to rely on his aid through this stage.

“Though the scale of that help is no trivial matter.”

Alberu raised his voice.

“That monster will remain in its current state for approximately thirty minutes! We just need to survive that long!”

A Guardian.
This creature was ultimately nothing more than a machine, not a living being like us.
That’s what Anroman had said.

“Thirty minutes?”

Amid the chaos, Rashil somehow caught that voice and snapped his head downward. Then, lacking magic, he bellowed with his raw voice.

“Hey, you pathetic humans! Just survive for thirty minutes! Got it?! Don’t you dare die! You’re getting in the way!”

Heh.
Erhafen let out a hollow laugh at the sight, but Rashil was deadly serious. He had no intention of having his dreams disturbed.
Then, he felt Dodori’s strength pulling at the horns on his head once more.

“Hey, you little brat—how dare you—”
“Dodge!”
Whoosh.

The moment the sound of wind cutting through air reached Rashil’s ears, he urgently ascended diagonally.
Crash!
The monster’s fist swept past the spot where Rashil had been standing, obliterating a section of the plaza.

“Oh no!”

Rashil’s heart sank the moment he saw it.
The gap that had opened up as he dodged diagonally.
The monster immediately began charging through that opening. The Lion Dragon’s blackened eyes were fixed on the barrier—the very place where the most lives had gathered.

“Damn it, why is it so fast! When did it suddenly get faster?!”

Rashil cried out in frustration as he chased after it.
The monster, now in its third phase, moved with a speed as if wielding magic itself. Mila and Rashil pursued the creature relentlessly.

“Ah… ah…”

To those behind the barrier, the sight brought only terror.
The towering barrier. Beyond it, the approaching monster was immense.
Boom. Boom.
The trembling earth grew more palpable with each step the monster took toward them.
It was entirely different from watching the distant battle with the Dragon from afar.
Though night had fallen, the monster approaching beneath the sacred light Alberu had conjured was all the more terrifying.

How massive the monster was.
How solidly built it appeared.
How overwhelmingly powerful it seemed.
How the black-eyed monster crushed everything in its path as it advanced.
They saw it all.

“Aaaahhh!”
“Stay calm! The Dragons will protect us! Slowly, slowly retreat!”

Boom. Boom.
Yet the monster approached far too quickly.

“It’s too fast, it’s way too fast!”
“It’s a monster, a true monster!”

Now they truly understood why it was called a monster, why it was a calamity upon the Western Continent—its physical prowess was utterly overwhelming.
Those in command raised their voices.

“Those near the barrier, head toward the barrier instead! Retreating now will only slow us down!”
“Fall back! And scatter!”
“Your Majesty!!”

At that moment, Ritana turned her head toward the voice coming from beside her.

“Your Majesty, this isn’t the battlefield we should be fighting on!”

The warrior who had urged them to aid Rowan and the Crown Prince’s eyes were trembling.
He was one of those who had cried out so resolutely to attack the monster to save the Crown Prince, yet now, faced with an attack directed at himself, he was consumed by terror.

Boom!
The monster stomped its foot.

“Your Majesty! You must retreat!”

The warrior cried out desperately, and the monster, which had approached as if by magic in an instant, leaped upward even as it stomped. With both hands gripping its shield, the monster was about to unleash that shield toward the barrier—toward the humans within.
The monster, gripping the shield with both hands, proceeded to direct that shield toward the barrier and unleash its attack upon the humans within the barrier.

“Your Majesty!”

At that moment, Ritana’s mouth opened.

“Pardon?”
“Look there.”
Look over there.

Those who simply held their ground.
Though their weapon-bearing hands trembled with fear, they refused to loosen their grip even for a moment.
Because of them, the battlefield still maintained its order.
They were soldiers of the Roan Kingdom.
Soldiers who outnumbered the remaining reinforcements. With lips pressed firmly together, they gazed toward their commanders or the Knights of Rowan. And the commanders and knights looked to the Knight Commander.
The Knight Commander looked to Alberu. Without a hint of concern, the Commander opened his mouth.
The Knight Commander looked at Alberu. The Commander opened his mouth with an unbothered expression.

Keep your composure.

And soon, the reason they could do so unfolded before their eyes.
And soon the reason why they were able to do so unfolded before their eyes.

Craaaaaash—!

The monster’s shield descended upon the barrier with a deafening roar.
And then, suddenly, darkness fell.
Only then did the people realize what had brought this darkness upon them.

“…Rocks!”

Thousands upon thousands of rocks—perhaps more—that had covered the night sky now clustered together, hanging like a shield above the people’s heads.

Crackle-crack-!
With the sound of shattering, the darkness vanished from the people’s sight once more.
Among the scattering rocks, stone dust that had already crumbled to powder fell like snow.
Countless rocks that had collided with the monster’s shield shattered beyond recognition. Yet far more rocks still existed in the sky, and simultaneously, they still filled various corners of Pursell City.

The monster, still gripping its shield, took a step or two backward.
The moment the people truly realized that this rock shield had withstood the monster’s shield, they looked toward the people of the Roan Kingdom.
When they saw the faint smiles or relief etched upon their faces.
The words that had once circulated about the Roan Kingdom—a kingdom they thought could never endure—as it persevered through its battle against the Northern Alliance: “The shield does not break.” Only now could they truly comprehend the meaning of those words.

Ting–!

A sharp, awakening sound cut across the sky.
The Crown Prince of Roan seized the momentary opening created by the collision with the rock shield and resumed his assault on the monster.
Boom!
The gleaming black dragon’s sword aimed for the monster’s rear. The black-haired swordsman wielding that blade had sharp eyes, as if seeking another opening.
The dragons, too, forgoed magic and attacked with their naturally formidable bodies, though slightly inferior to the monster’s.

Yet the monster no longer granted many openings.
Screeeech-.
The monster’s maw opened, and a crimson light gathered within it.
That very power which had made Alberu feign death. That power born of dead mana—the power that had allowed him to survive because he could wield it—unfurled once more.
Of course, faster and more powerful than before.

Craaaaaaaaash—-!

Another deafening roar echoed through the night, yet this time, no one fled.
Instead, they watched as countless pebbles—most smaller than their own fists—swiftly converged to form a massive shield once more.
Stones glimmering as they reflected the light.
It was as if stars themselves were gathering.

Boom—-!
Once again, a thunderous sound accompanied countless pebbles as they blackened and disintegrated under the monster’s crimson glow.
Yet they had managed to block the attack.
Before the sound ceased and the stone shield scattered, in that fleeting moment, a voice filled with exultation rang out from the darkness.

“If monsters exist, then we possess a hero—a hero who rivals the gods themselves.”

The people turned their gaze toward the source of the voice. Light filtered through the dispersing pebbles, illuminating the face of the one who had just spoken.
It was Clophe Seka.

Boom.
Simultaneously, the monster once again disregarded the dragon and heroes, targeting the people within the barrier.
At that moment, one person glanced to the side and let out a small sigh.

“Ah…!”

A single pebble beside his feet was rising into the air.
There were still many stones remaining in Pursell City to protect them.

The people’s gazes unconsciously turned toward one place.
An open window among the many windows of Pursel City Hall. Standing there was a red-haired man.
Pebbles moving in accordance with his hand.
He lifted the corners of his mouth.

“Thirty minutes should be manageable.”

Kale Heniatus stood without the slightest wavering.
The destruction of pebbles while blocking the Lion Dragon imposed no great strain on him. There was almost no recoil to his body. Kale was simply manipulating the stones.
Of course, controlling so many pebbles required considerable power, but his body would not be harmed.
This was precisely why Kale had chosen the power of Scary Rock over the strength of an unbreakable shield.

Tap tap tap.
Kale heard the careful sound of someone knocking on the door behind him.

“Raon.”
“Understood, human!”

Raon approached and opened the door for me.

Creak.
“Young master.”

Rak of the Wolf Tribe emerged into view. Despite his diminutive stature, he gazed calmly at my back—a frame that towered larger than any mountain.

“We have sealed all escape routes, both above and below ground. It took longer because we had to verify the underground passages as well.”

The Wolf Tribe members, absent from the battlefield, had systematically blocked every physical exit from Pursell City.
I kept my gaze fixed on the Lion Dragon monster without turning to face Rak.
Then, something black approached me through the window.

Caw. Caw.
It was a raven.
A mysterious power that could be used regardless of mana—something akin to magic itself.
Sorcery.
The raven moved according to the sorcery and arrived before me.
With its black wings spread wide, the raven conveyed the words of its master, Gashan of the Tiger Tribe.

“Young master, we have located the Bear Tribe’s informant. They are hiding in the forest near Pursell City.”

The corners of my mouth lifted.

“Young master.”

Then, a figure appeared silently over Rak’s shoulder.

“We found him.”

Vicross, the son of Molan Patriarch Ron and a chef by trade, spoke matter-of-factly as he drove his greatsword into the ground.

“We believe we have located the place where the Duke is currently staying.”

The Duke—a title referring to Derth Heniatus, my father.

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