The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 39

Chapter 39: The Holy Army Clad in Darkness

I found myself in a world entirely blank, where neither Fulde’s figure nor the moon in the night sky could be seen. I stood alone in this place.

Turning around, I saw the black-armored knight who had fought at the Twilight Sword Grave where I had battled Chaos Crusader… No, he wasn’t alone.

Behind the knight, many others stood armed. Soldiers clad in the same equipment, priests holding maces, executioners carrying scythes, individuals in exotic attire wielding curved blades—diverse warriors, all dressed differently, stood as if painting the white world with their presence.

The knight took a step forward and knelt, offering the sword he held in both hands. Those behind him knelt as well, each presenting their own weapons.

Slowly, I took the offered sword, and as I grasped it, a powerful thought flowed through it.

“We met our end by those we were supposed to protect.”

Their regret was palpable.

“Betrayed by what we believed in, our wishes trampled upon, our dignity cast into the dirt.”

Despite fighting with all their might, they met an undeserved end due to irresponsible thoughts and malice. These were their feelings.

“Yet, we still desired an honorable battle.”

The thoughts that had flowed like a turbid stream now seemed as calm as lies.

“If you fight for what is right, if you uphold your beliefs… we will offer everything to you.”

“…I see.”

Alone again, I raised the sword in my hand. Finally, I understood what this power of darkness truly was.

“Military Formation Deployment.”

I spoke the words that appeared in my mind, the words necessary to manifest the thoughts inscribed within me.

The souls of the warriors who had met an untimely end had fallen into the abyss of darkness. Their accumulated and precipitated regrets had turned into a black sludge, swirling around.

Yet, they hadn’t lost their inner light. Even as they became tainted by the darkness of the abyss, they remained noble-hearted, holy warriors of chaos.

“The Holy Army Clad in Darkness: Chaos Crusaders.”

Together with the warriors of a bygone era, erased by the darkness of their time, I headed back into the battlefield…

—

“…Did he escape?”

Walking down the hallway that had been sliced up to the ceiling while carrying Justerlion on my shoulder, I noticed the remains of the man’s severed arm amidst the rubble in the crumbling corridor.

“He must have created that wall of monsters in an instant and retreated. How frustrating.”

I took out a magical tool Philia had made from my pocket and applied it to the man’s arm. The crystal part of the tool absorbed the magic from his arm, sealing it.

Once that was done, I picked up the arm and stood up. While I couldn’t take him alive, with this recorded magic and the arm, I could find evidence of his encounter with us.

Although it was beyond my expectations how powerful these individuals were and how many sacrifices had been made, there was no time to dwell on it. Even if I lost my position as Emperor from here on out, I would have to squeeze out the pus and deal with them first before exacting revenge.

“…First, let’s deal with the remaining monsters.”

Just as I was about to interrupt my thoughts and move, an incredible surge of power filled the air. I stopped in my tracks, my eyes fixed on where the power was emanating from.

It looked like a night sky falling… that’s how I perceived it. A black tornado had formed, and I couldn’t help but be amazed at the pressure released by this force.

“Is that Berg’s doing? But it hasn’t even been a month since he obtained a Rare Drop… Could it be that he reached this level in such a short time?”

A shiver ran down my spine. Even I had taken more than five years to reach that level…

“…Justerlion?”

Listening to Justerlion, who rarely conveyed its thoughts, I directed my attention to the direction where the tornado had formed.

“If that’s true… then I must bring him in no matter what.”

If Justerlion’s words were true… that man would soon possess the power to overthrow a whole country, even if it meant facing me head-on…