Future Knight

Chapter 48

As the smoke slowly cleared, the grotesque figure of the Phoenix, split in half, came into view.

The Phoenix, having been hit by an unbelievably powerful attack twice, now looked as if it could no longer survive in the intermediate realm, despite being the King of Fire Spirits.

The Phoenix’s body, split in two, gradually began to be forcibly returned to the spirit realm.

Spirits never died in the real world. They were merely forcibly sent back to the spirit realm.

As the Phoenix was being forcibly sent back, it barely managed to speak a few words of anger before disappearing into the spirit realm.

“I will remember this day, human….”

With those clichéd final words, the Phoenix disappeared into the spirit realm, and Kang Chan reloaded the Bastet Gun.

Clank!

A massive fuse, glowing red hot and spewing immense heat, ejected from the back of the Bastet Gun and was discarded onto the ground.

“That bastard! Did it escape?”

– Twenty life forms and a large steel structure detected ahead.

Kang Chan turned towards the life forms captured by the sensor. There, he saw a huge Gigantes and people he knew well, waving after rescuing Arteon.

Among them were Ellica, whom Kang Chan had dropped off at the mountain, Jaina’s mother, and that rude Princess he had met a few days ago.

Next to them stood a gigantic Gigantes he had never seen before.

“Could the person piloting that Gigantes be… that rookie? Cough, cough!”

Kang Chan scanned the entire area, wondering if the Green Witch might be hiding nearby.

However, apart from them, no other life forms were detected.

Whether the enemy he needed to tear apart had fled or died in the massive explosion was unknown.

Kang Chan felt only regret. He no longer had time to confirm the death of his enemy.

“Ugh! Cough! Cough!”

From his already necrotizing internal organs, a foul mix of blood and pus poured out.

Dragging his increasingly weakening body, Kang Chan slowly descended near where Ellica and Arteon were.

As the gigantic Zaid landed, a tremendous storm engulfed them.

Kang Chan, now on the ground, walked slowly towards them.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

With each step, the 80-ton Red Rabbit’s massive weight made the ground scream in agony.

Their eyes, watching the enormous Zaid approach, were filled with a mix of fear.

Especially Jaizen, whose gaze towards Kang Chan was nearly one of disbelief.

Jaizen had clearly observed Kang Chan’s incredible divine power from afar.

Such power was far beyond that of a mere Sword Master. Even the Duke of Jaxen, the head of the Helrainer Knights, was not on that level.

Then, from the sky, the immensely powerful Gigantes descended.

‘Unbelievable. A Gigantes that flies freely, and has the power to forcibly send back even the King of Fire Spirits, the Phoenix…. I’ve never heard of such a Gigantes existing!’

Kang Chan spoke through the external speaker while still in Zaid.

―Is Arteon safe?

“Yes, Arteon is safe. The knight from the Visman Empire, Sir Jaizen, risked his life to rescue her.”

As expected, the knight in the mysterious Gigantes before him was that rookie.

Confirming Jaina’s mother, Kang Chan sincerely apologized to her.

―Lady Jerenis, I am sorry. I could not protect Jaina.

At the mention of being unable to protect Jaina, Jaina’s mother, Jerenis, silently shed tears.

The elves around her also wept with her.

“No, it’s okay. Jaina died protecting Arteon. She is a hero of our elves… and the most proud daughter in the world to me.”

The elves next to her comforted her, gently patting her shoulders as she tried to remain composed.

『I apologize. We could not recover her remains.』

Jaizen, speaking in a voice filled with guilt, was comforted by Jaina’s mother, who expressed her gratitude for rescuing Arteon.

“More importantly, Kang Chan, please help Sir Racion and Sir Elradian.”

At the mention of Elradian, Kang Chan forced his weakening body to rise.

―Where are they?

“Sir Racion was leading the rangers and waiting in the forest over there, but we suddenly lost contact. Sir Elradian… led the elf knights towards the village, but we haven’t heard from him since.”

Knowing he didn’t have much time left, Kang Chan realized he needed to hurry to Elradian.

―Hey, I’m sorry to ask this, but… can you handle Sir Racion’s side?

Looking at the Gigantes Jaizen was piloting, Kang Chan made his request. The Gigantes nodded, drawing a massive longsword from its back.

『Of course. I will take care of Sir Racion. Please take good care of our Princess.』

“We will protect the Princess with our lives.”

Jaizen, piloting the Gigantes, ran towards the forest where they had lost contact with Racion, shaking the ground with each step.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Kang Chan, who was watching Jaizen move away, also moved to help the Master.

―I will go to rescue Elradian now.

“Please do, Kang Chan.”

As Zaid was about to move, Ellica hastily called out to Kang Chan.

“Uh, Kang Chan!”

―What is it…?

“Please come back safely.”

“……”

Without responding to Ellica’s plea to return safely, Kang Chan left the scene.

Kang Chan did not want to make promises he could not keep.

Once he was some distance away from them, Zaid unfolded his massive wings and soared powerfully into the sky.

Ellica quietly watched the mysterious Zaid of Kang Chan rapidly disappear, her face turning red as she silently gazed at the spot.

* * *

The scene viewed from the sky was horrifying.

It was hard to believe this was the beautiful and abundant forest of the Elves where he had stayed.

In just one night, the forest had changed so drastically.

A vast barren land stretching over dozens of kilometers.

The only things left were tree stumps and scattered, torn-apart bodies.

Kang Chan, knowing that he had caused all this in his madness, remained silent.

He could only hope that Elradian was still alive amid the missile bombardment.

Feeling his body grow heavier, Kang Chan asked the computer in a strained voice.

“Co-Computer… How much time do I have left?”

-Based on the current rate of cellular necrosis, the estimated time remaining is 10 minutes.

“10 minutes… cough! cough!”

Finding Elradian within that time would be tight.

As Kang Chan circled anxiously above the village, he heard the sound of massive swords clashing.

It was undoubtedly the sound of Gigantes fighting.

Some Gigantes had survived the explosion.

Kang Chan flew at full speed toward the sound.

Soon, Red Rabbit’s optical tracking system detected a lone Elven Knight in tatters, struggling against three black Gigantes.

“There, found him!”

The Elven Knight’s sword was blazing with an Aura Blade.

Kang Chan sighed in relief at the sight.

Only Sword Master Elradian could wield an Aura Blade while piloting an Elven Knight.

However, Elradian, surrounded by the three black Gigantes, was in a precarious situation.

Kang Chan’s sense of urgency heightened.

“Activate stealth mode!”

-Engaging stealth mode.

Kang Chan’s massive Zaid began to fly soundlessly as if by magic.

Simultaneously, the aircraft’s body became hazy and then completely vanished.

It was the ultimate stealth mode, disappearing entirely from radar, infrared, and visual detection.

Hidden, Kang Chan attacked the black Gigantes at top speed.

Boom!

A tremendous impact resonated through the sky.

The massive Zaid, weighing 80 tons, had struck the Gigantes with its knee while accelerating.

The Gigantes’ upper body shattered from the tremendous impact.

Using the recoil from the collision, Kang Chan landed safely on the ground and directed a barrage of railgun fire at the shoulder of another black Gigantes nearby.

A gaping hole was blasted through the Gigantes’ chest by the railgun, and the massive figure slowly toppled backward.

Boom!

Two Gigantes fell in quick succession, and thick dust rose from the heavy vibrations.

Kang Chan then aimed the railgun at the third enemy.

However, before Kang Chan could fire, the enemy severed the railgun-mounted Zaid’s right hand with an Aura Blade of tremendous force.

“W-what? An Aura Blade?”

The enemy, who had cut off Zaid’s right hand, swung the Aura Blade fiercely at its shoulder.

Kang Chan blocked the incoming Aura Blade with the high-frequency blade on Zaid’s remaining left arm.

As the two swords clashed, sparks flew in all directions, and a strong shock reverberated through Kang Chan.

“Ugh!”

However, he could not withstand the enemy’s attack.

Blocking an Aura Blade with a high-frequency blade without mana was impossible from the start.

Kang Chan’s high-frequency blade, glowing red-hot, was severed in an instant.

It was a crisis.

At that moment, Kang Chan demonstrated quick thinking.

He hastily set off a flare in front of the enemy.

Flash!

『Kyaaah!』

As the blinding light flashed, a scream erupted from inside the Gigantes.

Taking advantage of the enemy’s hesitation, Kang Chan kicked the enemy Gigantes and escaped.

The battle between Nemitz and Elradian was nearing its end.

Elradian’s life was hanging by a thread due to Nemitz’s superior skill.

In the precarious situation, Elradian gritted his teeth and struggled to parry Nemitz’s sword.

Despair began to shadow Elradian’s face.

But then, at that very moment.

With a deafening roar, a massive pillar of fire descended from the sky, resulting in an enormous explosion.

A massive explosion that engulfed everything around.

Caught in the blast, Nemitz and Elradian were hit with tremendous force.

“Aaaargh!”

“Guhuhuh!”

After the huge explosion had passed.

Everyone nearby had been reduced to charred remains.

Only those inside the Gigantes survived the blast.

The survivors were confused, unable to comprehend the situation.

But they soon resumed their battle.

No matter the reason, they had to kill the enemy before them to ensure their own survival.