Future Knight [EN]: Chapter 48

As the smoke gradually cleared, the halved and grotesque figure of the Phoenix was revealed.

The Phoenix, having endured two unbelievably powerful attacks, seemed unable to remain in the intermediate realm, despite being the King of the Fire Spirits.

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

In the real world, spirits never truly die.

They are merely forcibly returned to the spirit realm.

As the Phoenix was forcibly repatriated, it managed to utter a wrathful curse before disappearing.

“I will remember this day, human……”

With that cliché line, the Phoenix vanished into the spirit realm, and Kang Chan reloaded Busterford.

Clang!

Then, from the rear of Busterford, a massive, red-hot slug, radiating intense heat, was ejected and discarded onto the ground. (A “slug” in this context refers to a type of ammunition.)

“Did he… escape?”

-Twenty lifeforms and a massive steel structure have been detected ahead.

Kang Chan turned his head towards the lifeforms detected by the sensor, and there he saw the Gigantes and those he knew well rescuing Artheon and waving.

Among them were Elrika, whom Kang Chan had dropped off on the mountain, Jeina’s mother, and that impudent princess he had encountered a few days ago.

And beside them stood a massive Gigantes he had never seen before.

“Is that person riding that Gigantes perhaps… that rookie? Cough, cough!”

Kang Chan scanned the entire area, just in case the Green Witch was hiding nearby.

However, no other lifeforms were detected apart from them.

He had no way of knowing whether his nemesis, whom he should tear to pieces, had escaped or perished in the explosion.

Kang Chan felt only regret.

He no longer had time to even confirm the death of his enemy.

“Ugh! Cough! Cough, cough!”

Foul, purulent blood poured out from his internal organs, which had already begun to necrose [tissue death due to injury or disease].

Dragging his weakening body, Kang Chan slowly descended near Elrika and Artheon.

As the massive Zeid landed, a tremendous storm engulfed them.

Kang Chan stepped onto the ground and slowly walked towards them.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

With each step, the earth groaned under the Red Rabbit’s massive weight, nearing 80 tons.

Their eyes, watching the massive Zeid, were filled with a hint of fear.

In particular, Zaijen’s gaze towards Kang Chan was almost one of disbelief.

He had clearly witnessed Kang Chan’s immense divine power from afar.

His true skill was far beyond that of a mere Sword Master. Even Duke Sachsen, the commander of the Hellainer Knights to which he belonged, was not at that level.

And then, a Gigantes of immense power flew in from the sky.

‘Unbelievable. A Gigantes that can fly freely through the sky and even forcibly repatriate the King of the Fire Spirits, Phoenix… I’ve never heard of such a Gigantes existing!’

Kang Chan spoke from inside the Zeid through an external speaker.

―Is Lord Artheon safe?

“Yes, Lord Artheon is safe. Sir Zaijen of the Visman Empire, riding that Gigantes over there, risked his life to save Lord Artheon.”

As expected, the knight riding the unidentified Gigantes before him was that rookie.

After confirming Jeina’s mother, Kang Chan sincerely apologized to her.

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

At the words that he could not protect Jeina, Jeina’s mother, Jerenis, simply shed tears silently.

The elves around her also wept with her.

“No, it’s alright. Jeina died trying to protect Lord Artheon, didn’t she? That child is a hero to our elves, and… she is the most proud daughter in the world to me.”

The elves beside her comforted her, stroking her shoulder as she tried to appear dignified.

『I am sorry. I could not recover the girl’s remains.』

As Zaijen spoke with a voice filled with self-reproach, Jeina’s mother said it was alright and thanked him for saving Lord Artheon, which was more than enough for her.

“More than that, Kang Chan, please help Reysian and Elladion.”

At Elladion’s words, Kang Chan forcibly roused his increasingly listless body.

―Where are they?

“Lord Reysian was leading the rangers and waiting in that forest over there, but we suddenly lost contact with him, and Lord Elladion… led the Elf Knights towards the village, but we haven’t heard from them either.”

Kang Chan knew that time was running out, so he had to rush to Elladion as soon as possible.

―Hey, I’m sorry to ask this, but… could you take care of Lord Reysian?

As Kang Chan asked, looking at the Gigantes Zaijen was riding, the Gigantes nodded and drew a massive longsword from its back.

『Of course. I will take care of Lord Reysian. Please take good care of our princess for me.』

“We will protect the princess with our lives.”

Zaijen shook the earth as he ran towards the forest where Reysian had lost contact.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Watching Zaijen disappear into the distance, Kang Chan also moved to help the master.

―I will go save Lord Elladion now.

“Please, Kang Chan.”

As Zeid was about to move, Elrika urgently called out to Kang Chan.

“Th-there, Kang Chan!”

―What……?

“Please come back safely.”

“……”

Kang Chan did not want to make a promise he could not keep.

As they moved some distance away, Zeid deployed its massive flight gear and soared powerfully into the sky.

Elrika watched Kang Chan’s mysterious Zeid disappear into the distance.

Silently, with a reddened face, she quietly gazed at the spot.

* * *

The scene viewed from the sky was too horrific.

He doubted whether this was the beautiful and bountiful elven forest he had stayed in.

The forest had transformed into a completely different sight in just one night.

A vast wasteland spanning tens of kilometers.

All that remained were trees with only their stumps left and corpses torn to shreds scattered everywhere.

Kang Chan, well aware that all of this was the work of his irrational self, remained silent.

He merely hoped that Elladion was alive amidst the missile bombardment.

Feeling his body growing heavier, Kang Chan asked the computer in a labored tone.

“Co-computer… how much time do I have left?”

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

“10 minutes… Cough! Cough!”

It was barely enough time to find Elladion.

As Kang Chan circled anxiously above the village, the sound of massive swords clashing reached his ears.

It was clearly the sound of Gigantes fighting.

There were Gigantes that had survived the explosion.

Kang Chan flew towards the sound at full speed.

Soon, one Elven Knight, battered and bruised, surrounded by three black Gigantes and struggling, came into view on the Red Rabbit’s optical tracking device.

“Fo-found them!”

The Elven Knight’s sword, battered and bruised, was ablaze with an aura blade [a weapon enhanced with magical energy].

Kang Chan breathed a sigh of relief at the sight.

The only one who could ride an Elven Knight and use an aura blade was Sword Master Elladion.

However, Elladion, being ambushed by three black Gigantes, was in a precarious situation.

Kang Chan’s heart grew urgent.

“Activate stealth mode!”

-Activating stealth mode.

Kang Chan’s massive Zeid began to fly silently, as if by magic.

At the same time, the fuselage momentarily blurred and then vanished completely.

It was the ultimate stealth mode, completely disappearing from radar, infrared, and sight.

Concealed, Kang Chan struck the black Gigantes at maximum speed.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

A tremendous impact echoed through the sky.

The massive Zeid, weighing 80 tons, slammed into the Gigantes’ knee with added acceleration.

With the tremendous impact, the Gigantes’ upper body shattered.

In contrast, Kang Chan, using the recoil from the collision, safely landed on the ground and unleashed a railgun barrage at the shoulder of the black Gigantes next to him.

The chest of the black Gigantes, whose shoulder was pierced by the railgun, had a gaping hole, and the massive body slowly fell backward.

Kooong!!

In an instant, two massive Gigantes fell in succession, and a tremendous amount of dust billowed in all directions with a heavy vibration.

Kang Chan then aimed the railgun at the third enemy.

However, before Kang Chan could fire the railgun, the enemy used an aura blade of tremendous force to cut off the Zeid’s right hand, where the railgun was mounted.

“Hah! Aura Blade?”

The enemy’s aura blade, which had cut off the Zeid’s right hand, flew sharply towards the shoulder.

Kang Chan took out the high-frequency blade mounted on his remaining left arm and blocked the enemy’s aura blade.

As the two swords clashed, tremendous sparks flew in all directions, and a strong shock was transmitted to Kang Chan.

“Kuh-ugh!”

But he could not block the enemy’s attack.

Blocking an aura blade with a high-frequency blade that was not imbued with mana was impossible from the start.

Kang Chan’s red-hot high-frequency blade was instantly cut in two.

It was a crisis.

At that moment, Kang Chan showed resourcefulness.

Kang Chan quickly detonated a flare in front of the enemy.

Flash!

『Kkyaaaaak!』

A scream erupted from inside the Gigantes as a tremendous flash burst forth.

Kang Chan kicked the enemy Gigantes while it was faltering and fled from it.

The battle between Nemitz and Elladion was nearing its end.

With Nemitz’s superior skill, Elladion’s life was in a precarious situation.

In a precarious situation, Elladion had no choice but to grit his teeth and parry Nemitz’s sword.

Despair gradually clouded Elladion’s face.

But just then.

A huge pillar of fire plunged from the sky with a roar, causing a tremendous explosion.

A massive explosion covering the entire world.

Nemitz and Elladion, caught in the explosion, suffered a tremendous shock.

“Aaaaaaaagh!”

“Keuheoheok!”

After the massive explosion passed.

Those who were nearby were all burned to ashes.

The only ones who survived the explosion were those riding Gigantes.

Those who survived were confused, not understanding how the situation was unfolding.

But soon, they began to cross swords again.

Because, whatever the reason, they had to kill the enemy in front of them to survive.