Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 71

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1

Before Luke summoned Kauren.

Alber, the head of the Veritas Magic Tower, was catching up on his backlog of work in his office. He had been busy with magic training and assisting Arsen, so his administrative tasks had piled up. Just as he finished about half of the documents on his desk, the office door burst open, and an elder in charge of external affairs for the Veritas Magic Tower entered.

‘What is it, Belmond?’

‘It’s a disaster, Alber! The magic corps attacking the Terra Magic Tower has suffered heavy losses!’

‘What! The Terra Magic Tower shouldn’t be able to withstand our magic corps with their skills?’

The magic corps, which the Veritas Magic Tower had painstakingly nurtured by selecting children with exceptional magical talent, symbolized the power of the Veritas Magic Tower. The power of the magic corps, composed entirely of war mages above the 6th circle [a high level of magic proficiency], was enough to wipe out most magic towers in an instant. Moreover, the Gigant unit, composed of mercenary riders, had joined the attack to support the magic corps. Even though the Terra Magic Tower was one of the top 10 magic towers, he thought that such forces would be enough to wipe them out, but they had been defeated.

‘What on earth happened? Why did they suffer such a crushing defeat?’

‘Well… the Undead Legion and the Holy Artemia Imperial Magic Tower appeared and helped the Terra Magic Tower.’

‘Tch, those bastards!’

*Thump!*

Alber slammed his desk in anger. Originally, the Magic Tower War was slowly tilting in favor of the Magic Federation. However, recently, the Undead Legion and the Holy Artemia Imperial Magic Tower had intervened, and the balance of power had become even again. The problem was that they were claiming that the Veritas Magic Tower was practicing black magic, which made even the mages of the Magic Federation suspicious. Worried that the unity of the Magic Federation would be broken, Alber had tried to quickly eliminate the reformists, and that was why he had attacked the Terra Magic Tower, one of the main forces of the reformists.

‘What’s the extent of the damage?’ Alber asked through gritted teeth.

‘70% of the magic corps are dead or injured, and the Gigant unit surrendered immediately when the battle turned unfavorable.’

‘Those mercenaries, as always!’ Elder Belmond offered his opinion to Alber, who was clicking his tongue.

‘Due to the loss of the magic corps, we will be on the defensive in the Magic Tower War for the time being. So…’

‘So, what are you suggesting?’

Belmond, who had looked around for a moment at Alber’s irritable question, spoke in a much lower voice than before.

‘How about using the black mages again?’

Before the Undead Legion and the Holy Artemia Imperial Magic Tower intervened, the Veritas Magic Tower had been secretly using black mages to their advantage. However, when they joined the war, their activities were completely banned because they didn’t want to be caught.

‘No, it’s better to ask the progenitor for support than that.’

The Undead Legion, composed of paladins [holy warriors]. The Holy Artemia Imperial Magic Tower, which was founded by a few priests who believed that the pursuit of truth was the true path to God’s will, and who studied magic. They, who could basically handle divine power, were the true nemesis of black mages. Alber shook his head, worried that if he moved the black mages, they would be caught by them, lose their power, and even have to hand over evidence. At his words, Elder Belmond looked puzzled.

‘But isn’t the progenitor unable to leave his position because he is currently performing the Great Resurrection Ritual?’

‘Of course, the progenitor is. But we can borrow the two beings under his command.’

‘Ah! Are you talking about those wraiths?’

‘Yes, they are just phantoms who think they are legendary heroes and demon kings, but their skills are great.’

‘Indeed, I saw them once before, and the aura they exuded was no joke.’

Belmond had seen the two wraiths who had briefly visited the Veritas Magic Tower before. At that time, he was greatly surprised twice. The first time was when he was surprised to see that the real heroes and demon kings had been resurrected, and the second time was when he realized that the aura they exuded was so powerful that they could take on all the elders of the Veritas Magic Tower alone. The elders of the Veritas Magic Tower had mastered black magic in addition to white magic, and they possessed combat power that was not inferior to the meisters of the top 10 magic towers. If they could take on all of them, they could be called a one-man army, a superhuman. In fact, the wraith with Seymon’s body alone had wiped out the Lokid Magic Tower, one of the top 10 magic towers.

‘Then I’ll contact the progenitor, so you should do your best to repair the magic corps…’

Alber was about to move to the long-distance magic communication room when he got up from his seat. Suddenly, magical energy was detected from one point in the magic tower. At first, he thought that one of the elders had carelessly leaked magical energy while experimenting with black magic, but as the dark energy grew stronger, his face changed completely.

‘T-This is definitely!’

‘What’s wrong?’ At Belmond’s question, Alber hurriedly picked up his staff and said,

‘Someone is trying to summon a demon within the magic tower.’

‘What? Who would do such a crazy thing…?’

‘Who else but a madman! Quickly gather the war mages and mercenaries! There’s no time!’

At Alber’s urging, who felt a sense of urgency, Belmond hurriedly ran out of the office. Shortly after Belmond brought the nearby mages and mercenaries, Alber teleported to the place where the demon summoning ritual was taking place. He tried to resolve the situation before it got out of hand, but when he entered the warehouse, it was already too late.

2

‘You bastards! Where did you hide those rat bastards!’

Alber’s mages and mercenaries were instantly annihilated by Kauren’s fierce attack. Alber, who barely survived by using blink [a short-range teleportation spell], urged the surviving high-ranking mages.

‘Gather the magic tower defense force. Hurry!’

It was an urgent situation. Kauren, who had broken through the warehouse, was running wild.

‘I have to hold him off somehow until reinforcements arrive!’ Alber gritted his teeth. He had been startled by Kauren’s terrifying attack and had hurriedly fled the warehouse, but he could no longer run away. No matter who had done this crazy thing, he had to resolve it before it got any worse.

‘We’re already being attacked by the reformists for secretly practicing black magic, and if this continues, our magic tower might be branded as a den of black mages.’ No, even if he didn’t consider that, he was the current meister of the Veritas Magic Tower and a descendant of Arsen.

‘Do you think I’ll let a demon trample on the land that my ancestors built!’

As Alber was drawing his magic to its full power, Kauren let out a roar and scattered magical energy in all directions.

*Kaaaaaaaah-!*

The ground cracked as if an earthquake had occurred, and the surrounding buildings collapsed with a huge explosion, as if a mana bomb had exploded. Alber was safe after quickly deploying a defensive magic, but many of the mages and blacksmiths inside the building were blown away. It was a bolt from the blue. The survivors, who barely survived, crawled out of the ruins. The first thing they saw was a huge bull-headed monster with dark magical energy swirling around it.

‘Kyaaaaaaak!’

‘It’s a monster! Run away!’

The mages and blacksmiths, who had never even imagined that the cause of the accident was a demon, hurriedly ran away. Kauren rushed towards the fleeing people, trampling them indiscriminately and swinging his battle axe, destroying the surrounding buildings.

‘If it were the scum of the divine realm, I wouldn’t mind, but how dare you summon me and try to catch me? You arrogant trash!’

In Kauren’s eyes, the fleeing mages and the ones who had summoned him earlier were all in the same boat. He was already furious because he had received orders from the Vampire King Leviathan, and he was even more enraged by the attack, so he trampled and destroyed everything without mercy.

‘That, that damned demon!’

Alber was furious as the western part of the magic tower was turned into a wasteland in an instant. He no longer hesitated and unleashed a fire magic attack on Kauren.

‘O ominous one, may you succumb to the wrath of the earth! Volcanic Explosion!’

*Shuaaaaaa- Kwaaaaang!*

Hundreds of rocks that had risen from the lava beneath Kauren’s feet caused a chain explosion. The power was so strong that even Kauren, who had been running rampant, staggered and fell.

‘The monster has fallen!’

‘The Meister saved us!’

The survivors cheered with delight. However, instead of leisurely waving his hand at them, Alber shouted.

‘He’s not dead yet! Those who can fight, gather your magic!’

As Alber said, Kauren got up again. He shook off the fur that had been turned to ashes by the previous attack, and his face became even more ferocious.

‘Tch, not bad? For a piece of trash, you know how to get on my nerves.’

‘Everyone, attack at once!’

*Kwakwang! Puh-uhng! Kukwakwakwang!*

Starting with Alber, the mages unleashed their respective attack magic on Kauren. Kauren, who had been momentarily hesitant due to the relentless magical attacks, grabbed his battle axe again and slammed the handle into the ground.

*Thump!*

The mages staggered and fell due to the intense vibration. The magic attacks stopped abruptly, and Kauren swung his battle axe and began his slaughter again.

*Kaaang!*

‘Stop it, you monster!’

‘What is this hunk of scrap metal?’

Kauren glared fiercely at the steel giant who had suddenly blocked his axe with a greatsword. Around him, there were others that looked just like the steel giant, forming a siege. The magic tower defense force that Alber had called had finally arrived. The one who had blocked Kauren’s battle axe at the front was the hero-class Gigant Atlas [a large, humanoid war machine]. The rider on board was a mid-level sword master, whom the Veritas Magic Tower had secretly invited from a neighboring country for the Magic Tower War. It was the appearance of a formidable enemy that could not be ignored, but in Kauren’s eyes, it was just a piece of damned scrap metal that had interfered with him.

‘How dare you, a piece of trash, stand in my way!’

*Thump-!*

Kauren, who had briefly put down his battle axe, punched Atlas with his fist. It was a bare fist, but its power was by no means negligible. The Atlas, with an output of 3,500 fights, was pushed back.

‘Such a brutal…!’

The Atlas rider had no choice but to grit his teeth. The Atlas’s left arm was almost crushed while blocking Kauren’s iron fist. The high-strength magic alloy frame and thick armor did not absorb the impact at all. But there was no time to be surprised. Kauren was attacking again.

‘I’ll smash you to pieces!’

*Whoong- Kwaaaaang!*

The Atlas parried the blow of the battle axe that had floated into the air and struck down with a gigantic aura. At the moment of impact, a huge explosion and shockwave spread around.

‘Uwaaaah!’

“Kuh-ack! S-save me!”

Giants that had been nearby were sent tumbling like tin cans, collapsing buildings and crushing unlucky survivors.

Though it had managed to block the attack, the Atlas wasn’t unscathed either.

The impact was so severe that its joints creaked as if they were about to break.

“T-this can’t be! In a single blow!”

As the Atlas rider trembled with rage, Kauren was about to bring his battle axe down again.

However, Kauren’s movements were blocked.

Several giants that had belatedly joined the fray threw steel chain lassos.

“You pests!”

Enraged, Kauren pulled on the lassos.

Whir! Swish, swish-!

The sound of the wind being cut echoed as more steel lassos flew in. The giants that had fallen had gotten back up and joined the fight.

Though their individual power was less than the Atlas, with twenty or so warrior and knight-class giants all clinging to him at once, Kauren couldn’t recklessly rampage.

“Pull! Don’t let him move anymore!”

“Don’t let him drag us away! Disable his limbs!”

“Kuh! You little gnats!”

As Kauren fumed, a dazzling gigantic aura burst forth from the Atlas’s greatsword.

Its length was over 5 meters.

“This is the end, you monster!”

The Atlas rider unleashed a final blow with a gigantic aura amplified to its maximum output of 3,500 fights [a measure of combat power].

Kwakwakwakwa!

Clang!

Just as the Atlas’s strike, which seemed capable of splitting the sea and cleaving mountains, was about to hit Kauren’s body,

magic power suddenly erupted from Kauren’s body like a mist. The gigantic aura collided with this magic power and was nullified.

“Do you think Kauren, one of the 18 generals of the Vampire King, is so easily defeated!”

The magic power that surged from Kauren’s bloodshot body instantly coalesced and turned into black lightning, which fell in all directions.

Kwarurururung! Bang! Kwaaang!

“Uwaaah!”

“D-dodge it!”

The mercenary riders threw away their lassos and hastily tried to evade the falling lightning.

However, they couldn’t dodge all of the black lightning that fell like a downpour.

In the end, the Atlas and all the other giants that had been deployed were destroyed.

“T-this can’t be!”

Alber, who had been watching the giants’ battle from behind, couldn’t hide his shock.

He had thought the opponent would be difficult, but he never imagined they would be defeated so easily!

“Hmph! You pathetic things dare to attack?”

Just as Kauren, having shaken off the steel lassos, was about to resume his slaughter,

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

Giants and mages were seen running towards them from afar. Their numbers were not small.

“Kuh-euh! Those tin cans keep coming… !”

Though he didn’t show it, Meister Alber’s magic attack and the Atlas’s gigantic aura from earlier had hurt quite a bit.

Therefore, he wasn’t pleased that these annoying things kept appearing.

“Damn it, a general like me has to deal with such riffraff… That’s it! I can just summon my subordinates!”

Kauren, who had been grumbling, immediately used summoning magic after a flash of inspiration.

High-ranking demons like generals had the ability to summon their direct lower-ranking demons to the middle realm [the mortal plane].

Dark summoning circles flashed around Kauren, and dozens of demons appeared.

They were giant-type demons, Kauren’s shock troops.

“Did you call for us, General!”

“Yes, get rid of those annoying tin cans.”

As soon as the order was given, the demons charged towards the approaching giants.

“W-what is it?!”

“The monsters have multiplied!”

The mercenary riders and war mages from the Magic Tower defense force, who had come to support their comrades, unleashed attacks against the rampaging demons.

Kuaaang! Kwajajak!

“Kuaaack!”

“Keeeek!”

Fierce roars, the sound of steel breaking and distorting, and screams echoed loudly.

Kauren swung his battle axe from behind his subordinates, encouraging them.

“They are humans who have insulted the Vampire King. Crush them thoroughly!”

His roar echoed loudly across the sky of the Veritas Magic Tower headquarters, which was burning red.

3

Inside the Chief of Staff’s office in the Imperial Palace.

Count Volter had been in a good mood lately.

This was because the descendant of the hero, who had been making the Emperor uncomfortable, was slowly dying.

When Henri reported that he had poisoned him, he had been doubtful whether he would really die, but when spies reported that he was indeed dying, he was convinced it was true.

“Even if they put up a substitute, it won’t last long. Now, one of His Majesty’s worries will be gone.”

The next target was the noble faction.

Once the purge against them was over, the Emperor’s blade would be turned towards the Volga Republic and the Holy Artenia Empire.

“Then our Baroque Empire will become the strongest nation in history to conquer the Rodisia continent!”

Perhaps they could even conquer the southern continent after that.

It was said that the warriors there were highly skilled, but their magic technology was underdeveloped, and they didn’t have large combat weapons like giants.

“Hehehe. World domination isn’t just a dream.”

Just as Volter, inwardly grinning, turned his gaze back to the documents on his desk,

Kuaaaaaaaaaa-!

Urrrrrrrrung!

“W-what is that?!”

Suddenly, a roar was heard from afar, and then the building shook as if an earthquake had struck, and cracks appeared in the windows.

Sensing that something was amiss, Volter immediately began to assess the situation.

After listening to various reports from his subordinates who had hastily gathered information, he was summoned by Emperor Rudolf and headed to the audience hall.

“Your Majesty, you summoned me?”

The Emperor, who had rushed out during his swordsmanship training, was emitting hot steam from his body, and he was holding a training sword.

“What was that roar and earthquake just now? And there are thick killing intents and sharp energies rising from the north of the capital. What on earth is going on?”

“The exact cause has not yet been determined, but it seems that something has happened at the Veritas Magic Tower.”

“An accident?”

At Volter’s answer, Emperor Rudolf frowned.

He was more annoyed by the fact that there was a problem at the Veritas Magic Tower than by the fact that it wasn’t an accurate report.

“Did they cause an explosion while researching magic? Or did the reformists attack the Veritas Magic Tower?”

“Perhaps…”

Just as Volter was about to voice his thoughts,

“Urgent report!”

A royal guard knight burst into the audience hall.

Normally, his rudeness would have been punished, but the matter seemed serious, so the Emperor let it slide.

“What is it?”

“The Veritas Magic Tower is currently under attack by unidentified monsters!”

“What? Monsters?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Monsters that suddenly appeared inside the tower are destroying buildings and turning Veritas Town into a wasteland!”

According to the royal guard knight’s report, the first to witness the situation was the capital’s security force.

The security force, which was patrolling along the city walls, saw the monsters destroying the tower’s giant unit and urgently requested assistance from the military.

This was because some of the monsters were trying to cross Veritas Town and enter Nemesis [the capital city].

“Count Rosian, who received the request, has deployed with the Central Army’s giants.”

That was as far as the knight’s report went.

Another knight burst into the audience hall. He was a messenger from the Central Army, not the royal guard.

“Your Majesty, the monsters are so strong that Count Rosian and the Central Army are struggling. Please send reinforcements immediately!”

“What? How long has it been since they were deployed that they are already being pushed back!”

One legion of the Central Army was stationed in Nemesis.

They had 20,000 soldiers and 100 giants, and yet they were already asking for reinforcements!

At Rudolf’s anger, the messenger flinched and replied.

“T-they are fighting hard, but if things continue like this, the inner city and even the Imperial Palace could be in danger…”

Even without the knight’s words, the Emperor and Volter could sense how serious the situation was.

The roars and screams that hadn’t been there before were starting to be heard, and the northern sky was clearly seen through the audience hall windows, burning red with flames.

“I understand. The Royal Guard will be deployed soon. Tell the Central Army to hold on a little longer.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

As the messenger left the audience hall, Rudolf turned his gaze to Volter.

“Notify the entire Imperial Guard to deploy.”

“The entire Imperial Guard, you say?”

Volter couldn’t help but be surprised.

The Imperial Guard, composed entirely of Sword Master-level experts, had been kept secret until now, except for a few individuals.

Moreover, there had never been a case where all of them had been deployed, let alone a few.

“And prepare the Kaiser [the Emperor’s personal giant].”

“K-Kaiser, Your Majesty’s personal giant? Could it be…?”

“That’s right. I will deploy myself.”

He didn’t know how strong the monsters were.

However, seeing them crush the Veritas Magic Tower’s mercenary riders, whom they considered inferior to the giant units of most countries, and even push back the Imperial Central Army, they couldn’t be taken lightly.

If they weren’t suppressed early on, the capital could suffer great damage.

‘And my blood is boiling.’

He had completed the latter half of the Gold Sword [a powerful swordsmanship technique] and had become a true Sword Emperor, but he couldn’t hide his frustration.

He hadn’t had the chance to show off his skills to his heart’s content.

Not even the commanders of the Imperial Guard, let alone the Imperial Guard knights who had reached Sword Master level, could withstand his single strike.

So, he had been spending his time looking forward to the day he would fight Grand Duke Gregory of the Holy Empire, but an unexpected rival had appeared.

It was a disaster for the Empire, but for the Emperor personally, it was a stroke of luck.

‘I don’t know where these monsters came from, but they will be the first sacrifice of the Sword Emperor.’

With a confident smile, Rudolf hurriedly left the audience hall to prepare for deployment.

Bang! Whoooosh-!

A giant scorpion-like demon pierced a giant’s abdomen with its pincers.

The giant, having been thrown down with its core engine damaged, exploded, causing the surrounding buildings to collapse and flames to engulf the streets.

“Kyaaaaak!”