Ch.303EP.63 – A Knight’s Valor Contains No Recklessness (14)

Knight of Death, or Knight of Betrayal. The dishonored one.

Death Knights were magical beasts with countless derogatory names attached to them, even among other magical creatures.

This was understandable, as they were once knights who had fallen to become magical beasts—the sworn enemies of humanity—and sustained themselves by harvesting the life energy of humans. They were truly “monsters” who had betrayed humanity and abandoned all honor.

For knights, Death Knights were a stain on chivalry, targets that must be eliminated upon encounter.

…Yet despite this, records of Death Knight exterminations were exceedingly rare.

The reason?

Simple. Death Knights not only retained their memories and skills from their mortal lives but also possessed learning abilities, making them formidable magical beasts.

While humans generally held superiority over magical beasts through their use of techniques, Death Knights completely reversed this advantage. They were magical beasts capable of using techniques and grew even stronger with the passage of time.

For this reason, Death Knights that had lived for hundreds of years were not merely classified as magical beasts but reigned as apex predators.

They reached levels of swordsmanship that most knights could never attain, utilized stolen human life force like battle aura, and possessed regenerative abilities and incredible durability.

For these reasons, eliminating a Death Knight was a challenge that even prestigious knight orders had to stake their existence on.

And now, one of these centuries-old Death Knights had received the power of the Earth God, transforming into a grotesque chimera unlike any other magical beast.

This meant the birth of not just a powerful monster, but the “strongest and most terrible magical beast” imaginable.

In truth, it was already a remarkable achievement that Ganok and the White Ghost Shield Knights had managed to hold out without a single casualty.

That’s how terrifying this “Death Knight Chimera” was.

Kwajik!

…At least, that’s how it should have been.

Hwoook!

The blades and spearheads of the Death Knights moved like living snakes or butterflies, tracing intricate trajectories.

The changes they created in the blink of an eye were so fluid they might as well have been living creatures, and one could hardly complain if their neck or heart were pierced while mesmerized by such swordplay.

And yet.

Hwoook, hwoook.

“…So this is how it is.”

The man with piercing red eyes easily avoided their attacks.

Despite more than five Death Knights unleashing countless sword strikes containing centuries of experience, he—

“Hmm, how crude.”

Tak.

He disrupted their attacks by lightly touching their blades, as if shooing away insects.

Even if their attacks were powerful enough to overturn the earth, they were meaningless if they couldn’t land.

“You weren’t particularly talented in your mortal lives, were you?”

Clatter?!

“Seems I struck a nerve.”

Clatter…!

Hwoook, the Death Knights exhaled with rage-filled energy.

Like battle aura, the materialized energy they emitted resembled murky water and could already be considered demonic energy.

Dark battle aura.

The energy possessed by beings of hell was released.

The already threatening presence of the Death Knights intensified…!

Crack!

“I told you, didn’t I? You’re crude. Why can’t you understand what I’m saying the first time?”

Paaat!

But the spear-wielding knight toyed with them as if their threats were laughable.

Strikes at speeds the Death Knights couldn’t even perceive battered their bodies.

Kwang!

Clatter!?

The unpleasant sensation of being turned into drums for performance.

Though overwhelmed by a helplessness and humiliation they hadn’t felt since becoming magical beasts, the Death Knights simply couldn’t keep up with their opponent’s movements.

Mockery.

This one-sided battle could be described with this single word, and the Death Knights were forced to recall the most unpleasant moments from their mortal lives.

In a way, the reason these former knights had fallen to become magical beasts—

– Unreasonable talent!

Those geniuses with talents that rendered their own efforts meaningless.

Those unreasonable beings who could accomplish in a single day what took others fifty years of effort. Because of them, the knights had lived lives crushed by countless humiliations and feelings of defeat.

But after becoming magical beasts, those so-called geniuses died like insects at their hands.

No matter how great their talent, fragile beings made of mere flesh could not defeat them.

Yet somehow,

Kwadeuk!

Why were their bodies being split in half?

…Like insects.

Chwak!

“It felt like my eyes were being sullied.”

The red-eyed knight who had reduced dozens of Death Knight Chimeras to pieces clicked his tongue.

As if even facing such abominations was utterly unpleasant.

“Whoa…”

“W-what, what is this…”

Unlike his assessment, the White Ghosts couldn’t possibly share his sentiment.

After all, these Death Knights had been opponents the White Ghosts had risked their lives fighting. Though they were irredeemably fallen traitors to humanity, their skills were undeniably terrifying.

Seeing him effortlessly eliminate such formidable foes left them feeling inexplicably empty.

Though they shouldn’t think this way…

‘Isn’t this kind of unreasonableness exactly why knights fall?’

They could almost understand the feelings of those fallen traitors.

“So that’s… Hyunglang…”

Lac de Duron. Galahad’s champion and one of the most prominent among the young knights.

The White Ghosts had grown tremendously strong during the past five years in this hidden valley and had confidence they wouldn’t lose to any opponent, but now that confidence was waning.

Just then,

“Hoho, feeling disheartened is unavoidable, but don’t give in to despair or jealousy. That hideous form could be your future someday.”

“C-Commander…”

As if guessing their thoughts, Ganok offered advice that sounded like a warning.

“Don’t compare yourself to others. Even if someone is far ahead of you, you must maintain your own pace. If you lose your rhythm and force yourself forward, the outcome won’t be pleasant… You might meet the same end as them.”

“…”

“Besides, now is not the time for jealousy. Rather, you should feel grateful to the reinforcements who saved us. Don’t confuse your priorities.”

“Yes, sir!”

It was a sharp rebuke that made them face reality, a quiet scolding that penetrated their hearts, and the White Ghosts quickly headed toward the next battlefield.

As he said, they should be grateful for the reliable reinforcements, not wallow in helplessness.

Instead of wasting time, they should kill as many magical beasts as possible!

“…You still have excellent eloquence, Sir Ganok.”

“Eloquence? It’s just what anyone would say. If one’s martial prowess is lacking, one must compensate with words, hoho.”

“…You’re teasing me.”

What nonsense.

Lacking martial prowess?

“Anyone who thinks the Vice Commander of the [White Dragon Knights] lacks martial prowess would truly be an ignorant fool.”

“Hoho, why bring up names from the old days?”

Ganok shrugged as if hearing a nostalgic name, but soon…

“Let’s save reminiscing for later. The young ones are showing such valor, so I too must work hard, hoho.”

“I look forward to it.”

“Are you also heading to find your battlefield?”

“That’s my intention. …Though it seems I’ve been robbed of the most glorious battlefield.”

“Ohoho!”

Ganok couldn’t help but laugh.

It was absurd that even after displaying martial prowess that crushed dozens of Death Knights, he still wasn’t satisfied.

However…

‘Yes, this is what it means to be a knight!’

It was an admirable sight.

This young knight before him, and also…

‘That young man who recklessly charges at the most dangerous opponent.’

Ganok turned his gaze toward the distance.

Kwaaaang-!

…Toward the face of the Black Lion, who was charging at the God of War with a joyful smile.

Though reckless beyond measure.

‘It’s good to be young.’

It was a recklessness that even inspired envy.

* * *

Thud thud thud…

“…”

Ninshubur frowned as he observed the giant man charging toward him.

He had intended to deflect the attack, but…

‘The impact is too great to deflect completely.’

The force was absurdly powerful, making it impossible to deflect entirely.

Ninshubur was bewildered, having already encountered a knight who destroyed his arm today, only to meet another such opponent.

“…Strange era. When a hero is a miracle that appears once in an age…”

Why are there three of them-?

Ninshubur glared at the large man who had delivered a blow more powerful than a giant’s.

With a dangerously intense aura and…

“Kahahaha! The world is truly vast! I thought I had become quite strong after ‘retraining’ myself from scratch! Am I still lacking? Ahaha!”

A warrior whose boisterous laughter was so high-pitched it could rupture eardrums.

“Ah, I delivered my ‘first greeting’ but didn’t introduce myself. Pleased to meet you, ancient fiend. My name is Maximus Iron de Lionel!”

Thud!!

“I am the Black Lion of the North!”

The Northern champion, now about 1.5 times larger in height and build than the day before, introduced himself with a cheerful expression, and Ninshubur tilted his head in confusion.

“Greeting?”

“A warrior’s greeting begins with swordplay, of course!”

“…Are you insane?”

“Not insane—it’s common sense. Remember that, ancient fiend.”

“…”

Ninshubur found himself speechless for the second time in his life due to Maximus’s absurd claims.

…What are these creatures?

‘Are all the heroes of this era out of their minds…?’

They were all incredibly bizarre.

More barbaric and strange than even the ancients…

The God of War shuddered at the madness possessed by the humans of this era.