The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 258

Boom!

In the midst of both armies, where the bulk of troops were supposed to clash, a few superhumans turned it into a chaotic battlefield.

“Don’t overdo it! Exploit our numerical superiority and wear them down gradually!”

The alliance forces, with over twenty masters, fought comfortably.

“Each of us is more skilled! Focus our strength and take them down one by one!”

Marquis McNeil’s forces launched daring attacks, desperate to reduce the alliance’s number of masters.

Currently, the alliance’s total number of masters at the center of the battlefield was nineteen.

This count excluded the superhumans retired from the knightly duel or those assigned to guard the princes and command the troops.

Meanwhile, the Third Prince’s army had twelve superhumans.

This included three masters from the Marquisate, two from the central army’s royal knights, and seven masters dispatched by the Imperial Hounds and the Empire.

“Die, you imperial dogs!”

“The kingdom’s weaklings are struggling!”

Despite this, the battle was surprisingly evenly matched.

‘Indeed, the Empire’s superhumans have the upper hand against newly ascended masters.’

Imperial masters, empowered by the Emperor’s Seal, were powerful enough to push two alliance masters simultaneously.

Of course, the stalemate was also because neither side’s core forces had yet joined the fray.

“Indeed, if we fought equally, we’d be overwhelmed. Such dirty tricks!”

Marquis Fidel de Greer gritted his teeth as he watched a master from the Third Prince’s side, activated with tattoos. His territory had nearly been upturned by the Empire’s machinations not long ago.

After an incident on his birthday due to the Empire’s conspiracy, his territory’s knightly strength was significantly diminished, and many of his kin had perished.

It was no wonder the Marquis loathed even the sight of tattoos.

“I understand your feelings, Marquis. But I see different things.” the Sword Saint said with a pleased expression.

“Despite the Empire’s tricks, our protégés are holding their own impressively. The future of our kingdom is bright!”

While the knights from the Empire and Marquisate were mostly in their 40s, many with white beards, the alliance’s masters were predominantly in their 20s and 30s.

Among them, two stood out the most:

The Sword Saint’s grandson Dalton and Marquis Greer’s daughter Ken. Both were still teenagers yet had reached the master’s level and were performing excellently against other masters.

“Indeed. The future of the kingdom is in their capable hands.” said the Marquis, gazing at Ken with a smile that replaced his earlier anger.

“Count, you must also be proud. All three of your children have grown into remarkable individuals supporting the kingdom.”

“Hahaha, indeed. They are truly blessings.”

Even the bear-like Count Melvin couldn’t hide his smile when it came to his children.

‘This is somewhat embarrassing to hear.’

As the three heads conversed, Raul took a moment to catch his breath behind them. Though he needed to recover from the fatigue of Regnator’s awakening, he also wanted to give other masters the chance to shine.

Even if this war ends, peace won’t come to the continent right away.

‘As long as the Empire’s next move is uncertain, they must continue to grow.’

Raul had fulfilled his role by using the Connect system to elevate his subordinates in the First Knights to master status.

From now on, they must refine their skills through actual combat and training. At that moment, he sensed a powerful aura emanating from the enemy knights.

‘Are they finally stepping forward?’

Just as our family heads were waiting, so were their Marquis and true powerhouses, observing the situation. If the balance tilted, it would be hard to control, so they moved cautiously.

But the Third Prince’s army didn’t have much time to drag things out. Apart from the central battle, the wings were heavily dominated by the alliance.

If the flanks were to fall, even the elite central forces wouldn’t hold.

Clang.

The family heads each drew their weapons. They, too, sensed the enemy’s movements.

“Let’s go. We can’t leave everything to the juniors.”

The heads of the Four Martial Families finally stepped onto the battlefield.

*

‘… Sword Saint!’

Grind.

Marquis McNeil tightly gripped the handle of his axe. A massive wall had kept him in second place for decades. It would have been better if he had truly dueled and lost, but…

He was always second due to differences in rank, background, and achievements. In the absence of special circumstances, it was rare for the head of the Duke’s family and the Marquis to face off directly.

But today, at last, he had the chance to overturn those years of misjudgment.

Facing each other as enemies on the battlefield, only one could remain standing to end this long-standing grudge.

“Sword Saint, come at me! Today, I will strip away your false reputation!”

Thud, thud, thud.

Marquis McNeil charged towards the Sword Saint, wielding his double-headed axe. But that seemed to be only in the Marquis’s mind.

The Sword Saint gave a casual glance at the Marquis charging like a boar and then began to stride towards another.

‘Ha, you choose to ignore me? Arrogant fool!’

“Raaaah!”

As the Marquis shouted and prepared to swing his axe at the Sword Saint,

Swish! Swish!

Sharp aura projectiles flew towards the Marquis’s side.

“Tch!”

Thud! Thud, thud, thud!

The Marquis deflected the fierce barrage with the blade of his axe.

“Who dares!”

“Who dares? How laughable. You vile traitor!”

Driven by the flames of vengeance, Count Hudson de Randal launched his signature move ‘Shooting Star’ to engage the Marquis in combat.

“… Ho. Coming straight for me, huh? The reputation of the kingdom’s greatest swordsman isn’t undeserved.”

The man in the hooded cloak and commander’s attire appeared to be a seemingly ordinary officer from the Marquisate.

However, the Sword Saint could sense it. The deep, dark power concealed within him.

“We met once before, though it was decades ago. It was before I had reached my current rank, but I’ll never forget that filthy, creepy aura.”

Clang.

The Sword Saint’s invisible mana blade collided with something and dissipated in mid-air.

Crackling. Boom!

Invisible forces clashed and exploded between the Sword Saint and the man, catching and tearing a few unfortunate knights from the Marquisate into pieces without them knowing why.

“…A venerated magus of the Empire resorting to such petty disguise? Did you think I wouldn’t recognize you, sneaking around like a rat?”

The Sword Saint ridiculed him, but the man merely shrugged.

“Too bad. I planned to wipe you all out before you noticed.”

The man, one of the five Imperial Magi, crinid Lamir, licked his knuckles. A confidant of the Emperor and one of the Empire’s top commanders.

His presence here meant…

‘The Empire is serious this time.’

Even if the Marquis won the battle, he might have been disposed of by this man. Indeed, the Marquis seemed unaware of the magus’s presence.

“Quite surprising. Even in the kingdom of knights, I didn’t expect so many to recognize me. Not even that sly Marquis noticed.”

Behind the Sword Saint stood two figures. They, too, had been targeting the same man from the start.

“…I’ll handle him. Count and Viscount, take care of the others.”

The Sword Saint spoke without turning around, already knowing who they were.

“Of course.”

“Understood.”

Count Melvin and Raul turned towards the battlefield. Their acceptance of the Sword Saint’s request, despite facing a magus, showed their tremendous faith in him.

“Do you still believe you can win this war, seeing these people?”

The Sword Saint asked, now more relaxed, while Lamir sneered.

“I don’t care either way. But since I’m out here, grabbing a trophy or two isn’t a bad idea.”

He then made a cutting motion across his throat with his finger.

“Indeed. It seems the Empire isn’t what it used to be. If this is the level of a magus, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“What did you…?”

“If you hesitate to compare yourself to the magus I’ve met before… it’s embarrassing. The Emperor must have a lot to worry about.”

Whoosh.

Magus Lamir’s body ignited with black flames. The terrifying aura radiating from him caused the nearby knights to instinctively take a step back, their faces pale.

“Old man, you’ll pay for those words.”

A powerful striking force, worthy of being compared to magical cannons, came from Lamir’s clenched fist.

Thud!

Without moving a muscle, the Sword Saint deflected the attack with invisible energy, smirking.

“Come at me, kid.”

***

‘These cockroach-like bastards.’

Raul frowned as he maneuvered through the knights of the Marquisate. Another reason why the allied masters couldn’t easily subdue the enemies was the presence of mages from the Imperial Hound.

Mages of the 5th and 6th circles couldn’t inflict direct damage on the masters. But they were more than enough to disrupt movements and distract attention.

Additionally, the ‘bombers’ popping out here and there exacerbated the situation for the allies.

Boom! Bang!

Bomber knights had enough firepower to bypass power armor shields, and even masters had to defend themselves with aura to block them.

‘But this ends now.’

Shing.

Raul, having penetrated deep into the enemy knights’ formation, summoned his legion of weapons.

“Stop him!”

Knights, cavalry, and bombers from the Marquisate lunged at Raul to stop him.

Slash! Whoosh! Thud.

Aura-infused weapons slashed through knights, radiant aura incinerated cavalry, and psychokinesis tore mages limb from limb.

In terms of handling multiple enemies, there was probably no one on the continent who could surpass Raul now.

Boom!

“Damn it!”

Meanwhile, the duel between Marquis McNeil and Count Hudson de Randal had turned in favor of the Marquis.

Though Count Randal had reached the cusp of being a intermediate-level master and was known as a specialist in one-on-one combat…

‘Damn those tattoos!’

Facing the Marquis, who had activated his refined high-level master tattoos, was tough for him.

As the internally injured Count Randal strained to swallow the blood rising to his throat and staggered backward, Marquis McNeil charged ferociously to finish him off.

“What kind of gall do you have to return after losing? If you were lucky enough to escape, you should have hidden in some rural corner to eke out a living! Die!”

Whoosh!

Like a giant swinging an axe, a massive aura blade descended upon Count Randal.

Boom!

“… Hah. What’s this? Oh, I see, you’re here too. I was planning to cut your throat myself. Now you’ll pay for ruining the grand plan!”

The Marquis’s arm, overheated with aura, swelled as the massive double-headed axe dropped at enormous speed.

But.

Bang.

“… Blocked?”

He thought it was just a fluke earlier, but this time he hit with all his might. Yet, the opponent not only stood still and blocked his attack but also deflected it…

“How unfortunate. What good is skill if you’ve lost your mind with age? You’ll regret aiming weapons at the kingdom, Marquis!”

Whoosh!

A yellow aura unfurled endlessly from the massive double-handed sword. The height surged past 3 meters, 5 meters, and reached 10 meters, causing even the surrounding masters to scatter in fear.

‘W-what is this!’

The Marquis’s 5-meter aura looked insignificant by comparison.

“Let’s see you block this!”

Roar!

The towering aura blade coalesced into the shape of a bear’s paw, the five sharp claws tearing through the air toward the Marquis. He hastily swung his axe to intercept the attack.

Boom!

The tremendous force shattered his axe blade and pressed the Marquis down with overwhelming aura.

“Aaaargh, ptoo!”

Of course, the Marquis wasn’t defeated in one hit. But his tattered armor and blood-mixed spit indicated his state.

“This is just the beginning.”

As Count Melvin de Ashton raised his sword, five aura pillars shot up. Marquis Clifford de McNeil, who had dreamt of becoming king. A deep shadow spread across his face.

Boom!

Finally, the Prince’s War that shook the Ruben Kingdom came to an end.

(To be continued)