Side Story Chapter 219

Tens of thousands of cavalry rode across the plains of north Avalon—they were the invaders from Hubalt.

“We’re going to arrive at the first of Avalon’s fortresses in the north soon! We’ll break through and then head to their capital!”

“Yes, sir!” the soldiers energetically answered.

There were paladins among them too. After the death of the Four Paladins and the dissolution of the Great Temple, Pertian, the Fifth Paladin, led the paladins.

Pertian wasn’t appointed by the new emperor of Hubalt, but he was the anchor of the paladins. His teacher was none other than Chrysler jean Sebastian, the God's Knight, and had studied with Christian the White Lion, the genius.

‘It’s already been decades since my teacher passed away, and even Christian is missing now. I must be the paladins’ rock,’

Pertian thought.

The White Lion was presumed dead, but Pertian knew that his righteous friend wouldn’t go down that easily. Of course, he couldn’t be certain, considering the evidence for Christian’s death...

‘...If you’re alive, come back quickly, Christian. Hubalt is on a path to damnation right now. If the empire is left in the hands of Kurz and Bel... Hubalt will be remembered for its crimes forever.’

Pertian could guarantee it.

Although Hubalt was considered a strong country right now, nothing was eternal. Throughout the continent’s long history, countless empires rose and fell. No country was forever strong or weak.

Even if the continent was brought under one rule, it would only break apart again, just like Thran and Swallow. Once that came to pass, Hubalt would become known as the cause of all evil for what they had done. Pertian loved Hubalt, so he loathed the idea of his country being treated like that.

‘But we have no choice but to follow them...’

Pertian glanced back at the Martial Knights riding behind him.

Those knights were Hubalt’s strongest knights; each person was handpicked and trained by the Battle God himself. But right now, they were guard dogs. Anyone who didn’t fight their hardest or even considered running would be executed without a second thought.

‘...I see no way out.’

Pertian bit his lip.

“We have enemies approaching from the front!”

Pertian's eyes widened. It had begun. Running away or hiding was no longer an option; they had finally met Avalon’s army.

Pertian tightened his grip on his weapon but after a moment, tilted his head in confusion. No matter how much he concentrated, Pertian couldn’t sense any enemies approaching nor hear galloping or shouts. Not even the birds were disturbed.

No, actually, there was something in the air.

“...A bird?”

Pertian realized that it was a person and gasped. He also realized that something was flying toward them at tremendous speed.

“Aura strike!”

“Arrrghh!”

“B-Brace yourselves for the next attack!”

Pertian gulped. Although the aura strikes had come from hundreds of meters away

at least

, the soldiers at the front of their formation were moving too fast to stop their horses in time and were hit straight on. The front of their army was replaced by a gash on the ground twenty meters long.

“Insolent invaders, heed me! Whoever crosses that line shall face my spear!”

A man of divine features with dark blue hair brandished a familiar red spear.

“...Martial God?”

The army of Hubalt’s march stopped, its soldiers confused and distressed.

“It’s not Joshua Sanders.” A Martial Knight, a muscular man in his forties with a face littered with scars, rode up to Pertian.

“Sir Urector,” Pertian said.

“He’s quite good, but he isn’t the Martial God. He’s probably the First Prince of Avalon, the Martial God’s son. I think his name is Selim Sanders,” Urector explained with a quiet yet clear voice that calmed the army.

‘The Martial Knights are truly...’

Each and every one of the Martial Knights was gifted in different ways. That was why Pertian had given up on fighting for command long ago, bitter as it left him.

Among the one hundred Martial Knights, Urector’s specialty was reading and controlling people’s energy waves. According to him, each person emitted unique energy waves, similar to how knights and mages had a main attribute—fire, water, wind, lightning, or earth.

“I heard from Sir Bel that the Martial God’s energy waves are like an ocean. Even if a human is foolish enough to look upon it, they can’t determine the depth. All they can feel is awe,” Urector continued.

“...What about the young man over there?”

“It’s a lake, at the most. Let me show you.”

Urector strode toward the line, pushing past Hubalt’s forces.

‘The fortress is right there... Maybe this is for the better?’

Pertian thought. He would prefer this war not take place at all.

He could see the tall walls with soldiers on the rampart with bows at the ready. As soon as Hubalt’s forces stepped within their range, a rain of arrows would immediately pour down on their heads.

However, everyone was focused on Urector and Selim right now.

As if he knew what Pertian was thinknig, Urector came to a halt three steps away from the line Selim drew.

“My name is Urector of the Martial Knights!”

“A Martial Knight?”

“Are you Selim Sanders, the Martial God’s son?”

Selim quietly examined Urector for a moment before nodding. “Yes, I’m Selim Sanders, the First Prince of Avalon.”

“It’s just as I heard. You’re a worm born from a dragon.[1]”

“A worm...?”

“A worm that squirms when I step on it.”

Selim narrowed his eyes at Urector’s blatant provocation.

Urector gestured at Selim. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

“...So you’re a Martial Knight?”

“I’m sure you’ve heard of us. We’re under the direct command of Sir Bel, whom you, Avalon, were helpless against. We obey his orders over even the emperor’s.”

Urector took another step toward the line.

“...I get that the Martial Knight Order is the strongest in Hubalt, but how skilled are you?” Selim asked.

“Hmm...” Urector stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment. “Well, I think I’m somewhere in the middle...”

“You’re nothing.”

Selim provocation made Urector stiffen, but he chuckled and took another step.

“You’re still too young.”

“You’re one step away now. If you cross the line—”

Before Selim could finish speaking, Urector took one more step.

“I crossed it, so now wh—”

Urector didn’t get to finish speaking either. Selim thrust his spear dozens of times, each thrust launching aura strikes that were just as strong as the one that had stopped the army. They streaked toward Urector in a blinding red smear.

Urector grinned.

“...You’re awfully hot-tempered.” He extended his open hands forward. “Let me show you why we, Martial Knights, are called the strongest in Hubalt.”

Urector’s words disappeared into a thunderous explosion.

* * *

Meanwhile, something was going on in the middle of the ocean, which Urector used for his analogy. Even highly intelligent whales ran away in surprise because there was a man standing on the surface of the water as casually as if it were the ground.

“I feel like I’m quite far away from where I was... Where am I?” Bel mumbled. He idly scratched his nose. “This wasn’t part of my plan, but it won’t change destiny, Joshua Sanders.”

Bel walked forward without even disturbing the water. He made some calculations as he walked and broke into an ear-to-ear grin.

“My knights should’ve run into your army by now. Every one of my hundred Martial Knights is skilled enough to be called emperor or king. If they slaughter your beloved family... Hehehe.”

Bel laughed slyly. From what Bel had heard, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Joshua Sanders had gotten to where he was though spite and a vengeful spirit. Since Joshua was probably going to be Bel’s final prey, he wanted Joshua to use two hundred percent of his full power.

“I’ll give you a reason, Joshua Sanders. You’d better look forward to it.”

1. The raw is ?? ?? ? ??? ??? ??? ?? ??????. It’s a way of saying the son is lesser than his father. ☜