Turning

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Chapter 41

"I'll handle this quickly. The area within the wall is safe, so all you need to do is watch, Commander."

"Are you sure you can manage alone? From what I can see, there are at least ten of them."

Kishiar asked, glancing at the enemies with a look of interest. Like Yuder, he showed no signs of tension.

"No problem."

His casual tone, as if saying two plus two equals four, momentarily disrupted the enemies' murderous intent.

"Are you unable to grasp the situation? If you're choosing death...!"

'Does he sound like someone ready to die?'

Yuder shook his head at the masked figure. He sighed at the thought of having to expend energy against these people, who couldn't even properly assess his abilities.

"It's you who fail to understand the situation. You know the Red Stone is here, but you seem unaware of its nature - that it explodes the moment it comes into contact with an Awakener's body or abilities. If you falter, touching it could be fatal."

"What did you say?"

Of course, Yuder had no intention of wasting the limited power held by the Red Stone in such a way. However, the enemies would not know this and would likely flinch even if they believed his words to be nonsense. In a battle between Awakeners, the one unable to fully use their abilities was at a distinct disadvantage.

"If you think we'll back down just because of that...!"

"Should I show you whether it's true or not? All we need to do is set up a defensive wall."

As if to make a point, Yuder moved his flame-encircled sword. The sight of the dancing flames caused tension to flicker across the enemies' faces.

They didn't know what abilities he had, but anyone who could easily snatch a sword, create a water barrier, and use flames while doing so was no less than a legendary mage. It was an incredible power.

"...What should we do?"

"Even so, we can't back down. It's a bluff."

Among the enemies, the one who seemed to be thinking the most called out loudly enough for the others to hear.

"No one knows we're here. He's just buying time. You'd better discard any hope that someone will come to help. If you want to lessen your suffering..."

"Goodness. Even when I explain kindly, you talk too much."

Before the enemy could finish his words, Yuder slightly swung his sword upward. Instantly, the flames surrounding the blade shot up like a pillar.

Boom!

It was a small pillar of fire, but its power was undeniable. The flame that pierced the ceiling and roof illuminated the night sky for a moment before disappearing. It was powerful enough for those far away to sense something unusual and rush over.

"..."

"Now everyone should know you're here."

Looking at the remnants of the fire falling from the sky through the shattered window, Yuder chuckled. The dumbstruck looks on the enemies' faces were quite amusing.

"And what was it you said? 'If you want to lessen your suffering?'"

Through the gaps in their masks, he could see their eyes trembling.

"I suggest you start hoping your suffering will lessen."

"Damn it. Everyone, attack at once!"

As the enemies rushed at him all at once, Yuder swung his outstretched arm.

'If you wanted to overpower us, you should have attacked the moment you broke in.'

Upon hearing Yuder's words, the enemies knew they couldn't fully utilize their abilities. After all, they didn't know the exact location of the Red Stone. But Yuder was the opposite.

Even a mere graze from his flame-engulfed sword sent the enemies screaming and collapsing. A normal sword might cause minimal damage with a slight cut, but when fire seeped into the wound, it was a different story.

The flames rapidly penetrated the wound, immediately spreading throughout the victim's body.

'Fortunately, they're all physical enhancement types.'

There was no one more familiar with the battles between Awakeners in the current world than Yuder. Those who strengthened their bodies appeared strong in close combat due to their high offensive power, but their defensive power was weak.

Even if they could enhance their skin, it wasn't invincible. Even the most conditioned individuals struggled to enhance softer parts of their bodies from the get-go, like the inside of their mouths or their eyeballs.

Yuder dodged a punch thrown by someone whose skin was as hard as stone and gently jabbed his sword into the opponent's eye before pulling it out.

"Argh!"

When another enemy attacked with nails elongated like a sword, Yuder momentarily erected a small ice wall, seizing the moment of hesitation to slash at their side. The burning smell accompanied the transfer of fire to the body.

Someone hurled a spell, but since it was ultimately made of metal, it was enough to direct it towards the ground, and he even managed to redirect a few back at their casters.

"Aargh!"

It took Yuder less than a few minutes to take down more than ten enemies. The mansion was filled with individuals who were scorched black and writhing in agony, unable to die.

"The wall will now be dismissed since it's over."

"Very well."

Yuder nonchalantly passed by these individuals, looking out through the broken window. He could see the torches carried by those rushing toward them from not too far away.

"Fortunately, no one has escaped."

Fearing that delaying would allow someone to escape, he resolved the situation as quickly as possible. He couldn't afford to let information about the Red Stone leak out.

Once Yuder verified the outside, he approached the pillar holding the Red Stone and brought the box containing it. Kishiar accepted it.

'Now then... shall we check the mastermind behind this?'

The moment Kishiar retrieved the stone, he eyed his private quarters. The enemy's intrusion was completely unexpected.

'I thought they would come after I left this place.'

The fact that so many had invaded meant that the enemy had prepared for this operation for a long time and had underestimated Kishiar.

In other words, the enemy wasn't someone who knew about Kishiar's power.

Had they been waiting for such a moment in the past? If so, it would make sense even if Kishiar had dealt with them wielding the divine sword.

Yuder checked the faces of the ones still breathing. Out of the thirteen, eight were dead, and five were still alive.

"Your Grace!"

"Commander!"

While Yuder extinguished the fire on the bodies of the living and gathered them in one place, the sound of General Gino and the Cavalry members' voices came as the door shattered.

"Your Grace, it's Gino. Are you all right?"

"There was an intrusion, but it was quickly suppressed. I'm fine, so be at ease."

At Kishiar's leisurely response, General Gino seemed to calm down.

“Due to the box, I cannot reach you. I will send someone.”

Moments later, the Cavalry members passed through the corridor and entered the reception room. Their eyes, filled with urgency as they hastily put on their uniforms, turned to horror upon seeing the several bodies lying on the floor.

“My goodness. What in the world…”

“Don’t come any closer, Kanna.”

Although they were dead, one could never be too cautious. Yuder had Kanna, who lacked combat abilities, step back and then looked at Kishiar. As if waiting, Kishiar opened his mouth.

“These five are still alive, so I plan to interrogate them immediately. This place is messy, so let's move them to the next room.”

“The next room…you say?”

Gakane swallowed nervously and asked.

“Understood. But who exactly sent these people?”

“We’ll have to find out now.”

Yuder's calm response cast a cold atmosphere over the room, which was broken by Kishiar's low chuckle.

“Yes, we’ll find out now.”

Gakane's shadow clone carried out the task of moving the intruders to the next room. The shadow clone, carrying all five people at once, strode into the room and threw them down.

“Kanna, Gakane, you two stand guard outside the room and make sure no one enters. Move the dead ones outside. The rest, come inside.”

“Yes.”

At Kishiar's simple command, everyone moved swiftly and efficiently. Yuder closed the door after making sure Eldore siblings, and Kishiar had all entered the room, preventing any sounds from escaping.

“Now then.”

Kishiar approached the groaning men, his relaxed smile gone. His cold, red eyes bore into the enemies.

“Who sent you? Answer me.”

“…”

Although they were clearly alive, the enemies did not answer. Kishiar turned his head quietly and looked at the Eldore siblings, who stepped forward.

“So, we just need to make them talk, right?”

“Leave it to us.”

The Eldore sibling’s specialty wasn’t their mobility, but their extraordinary physical enhancement abilities. Although there were many people with abilities to strengthen their bodies, the Eldore siblings’ abilities were quite exceptional.

As they stepped forward with their innocent faces, the siblings smiled, and their once slender arms and legs began to swell.

With thumping and ripping sounds, their clothes were torn apart without mercy. The enemies, who had been firmly clenching their mouths shut, began to tremble uncontrollably.

Moments later, two massive figures with rock-solid muscles stood where the Eldore siblings had been. It was the transformed Eldore siblings, their power activated.

‘Remarkable, every time I see it.’

Yuder thought that their ability was incredibly visually striking, as he looked at the cute faces attached to the grotesquely swollen bodies.

With their childlike innocence intact, their bodies had transformed like giants, causing most enemies to lose their will to fight and flee as if they had encountered a massive monster. The enemies before them seemed no different.

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