He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 42

The Karstein’s mutant soldiers were definitely different from those encountered at the cultist’s hideout last time.

Shaaak!

Faster, and their movements were more streamlined.

I quickly dodged the blade-like claws aimed at my neck, but without any delay after the attack, the creature launched another attack with its other arm.

Kaang!

-Krrr!

As I blocked the follow-up attack with my sword, I felt a heavy force.

If it weren’t for the power enhanced by the potion, it would have been enough to make me lose my balance.

Moreover, they were all intelligent. While I was dodging one of their attacks, they were simultaneously launching assaults from all directions.

Shashak!

-Kruk?

However, I, who was overloading my Mana Heart output, was able to escape their encirclement in an instant with high-speed movement.

“These are definitely different from the ones I saw back then.”

Strength, speed, technique.

They had all three in good measure.

Each one was a formidable soldier, and there were quite a few of them.

According to the information leaked by a spy who had infiltrated Karstein, there were a little over 2,000 of them.

They must have received quite a bit from the cultists.

“But I don’t feel like I’m going to lose at all.”

Even now, at this moment, and even though I had to face those 2,000, I didn’t feel any fear at all.

I was stronger, so I was confident that I could win.

-Kyaooo!

Whether it was out of anger that their attacks weren’t hitting, the enhanced mutant soldiers charged at me again with beast-like roars.

“It would be troublesome if I killed them all.”

[Aura Attribute Conversion, ‘Explosion’ Attribute Granted]

Kwaaaang!

“Killing some moderately should be fine.”

The half-dozen or so mutant soldiers who had rushed at me first were caught in the explosion of aura.

The force of the explosion alone would have been enough to knock out an ordinary human.

-Kyaaaa!

Thanks to their strong vitality, they didn’t die, even though they were covered in blood.

Seokeok!

“Do you have time to bark like a dog?”

But even being temporarily dazed by the shock was like a scarecrow waiting to be cut down in my eyes.

In an instant, the neck of one of the defenseless mutant soldiers flew into the air.

-Krrr…

“You’ll have to be faster.”

-Kruk?!

Chwaak!

At the same time, I appeared in front of another one like lightning.

It was a momentary amplification added to the high-speed movement that had already pushed the output to the limit.

A feat only possible by overloading the Mana Heart [a magical organ that generates and regulates mana], of course, at the same time, the magic power that was the raw material for the aura was being consumed like crazy.

The extreme consumption of magic power lowered combat endurance, but this too was somewhat prepared for.

[By defeating an enemy, a certain amount of the enemy’s power is absorbed.]

[A small amount of health and magic power is restored.]

The absorption ability that had been permanently fixed through potion research.

With that, I was able to recover a small amount of endurance.

Chwaak! Pook!

Because of that, I was able to maintain the acceleration for a while longer, and once again ravage the guys several times.

-Kooo!

“As expected, they don’t die easily.”

However, the mutants, who had regenerative abilities that allowed them to recover somehow unless they suffered a fatal wound, showed a clever tactic of throwing themselves back when injured and having a fresh one rush in again.

Shushashasasa!

And they began to exert more power.

The bodies of some of them became lumpy, and they attempted a ranged attack by firing sharp bone spikes.

Shushuk!

As I dodged it with fast movement, they were unleashing a barrage.

[Neural Acceleration Output Increased]

[Current Neural Acceleration Rate 99%]

Chaeng! Chaechaeng!

Unable to avoid it due to the barrage, I deflected them with my sword.

However, with ranged attack means, their combined attacks continued again.

Shashaaak! Chaechang! Chang!

[Neural Acceleration Rate Exceeds 180%]

[Side effects on the body are expected. Rest or additional potions are required.]

Bone spikes flew in from other directions, as if they thought that close combat alone was not enough, and the blind spots were almost gone.

Deflecting them while further amplifying neural acceleration was also reaching its limit.

I thought it was about time to end the ‘test’ and retreat.

Of course, it was impossible to just get out of this encirclement.

But I had already thought of a way.

“Then, goodbye…”

With as much leeway as I had left, I drew up the aura and converted it into shadow blades.

When a lot of swaying black shadows gathered, I gave them the properties of amplification and diffusion.

“Farewell!”

Shasasasagagagak!

In an instant, a vortex of black shadows swept around me in all directions.

The shadow blades indiscriminately slashed not only the mutants but also the houses and structures.

A considerable number of mutants were caught in the ‘Shadow Storm’ and torn to pieces, but thanks to their tenacious vitality, there were some who barely survived.

-Krrr…

But by the time they came to their senses, I was no longer there.

* * *

“For now, the intelligence is all correct.”

General Gordon Drygo de Rodin, who was favored by Duke Karstein, muttered as he examined the reports from his deputies in his tent.

“Yes, General. We are fully aware of the enemy’s advance situation as the spy informed us.”

“Also, we are blocking all the places where the enemies are trying to scout in advance through ambushes.”

The reports from the deputies that followed were also all positive.

Nevertheless, Gordon looked at the reports with a serious expression.

“The spy’s information is definitely correct… but why do I feel uneasy?”

Originally, Gordon had been wary of Duke Karstein’s excessive trust in spies.

However, all the information the spy was passing on was correct, so he couldn’t openly doubt it.

Because he could lose the Duke’s trust.

“It’s too perfect, so I feel a sense of incongruity. Besides, there was damage to the mutant soldiers at this ambush site? What happened?”

Thanks to the information leaked by the spy, he knew all of the enemy’s advance plans, and the enemy’s scouts were ambushed every time.

The enemy wasn’t stupid, so it was difficult to annihilate them even with ambushes, but the engagements themselves were overwhelmingly won, and the damage to the allies was small.

Except for one place.

“A small number of mutant soldiers were damaged, but they succeeded in repelling the enemy scouts.”

“No, whether they were repelled or not is not important. I’m asking how the damage occurred, that is, what the battle was like.”

Gordon asked that because he felt a strange feeling from the battle report, but the deputies had troubled expressions.

“That is… it was a place where only mutant soldiers were ambushed…”

“Later, officers were sent to recover the mutants, but they did not directly witness the battle.”

“Damn it…”

Gordon clicked his tongue, dissatisfied with the answer.

He was easily fighting this preliminary battle using mutant soldiers, but he was too dependent on it.

Even if he didn’t order it one by one, he didn’t even have anyone watching the battle situation.

It was the result of the lack of practical experience and on-site command experience of the officer-class knights.

“But as originally intended, we have completely cut off the enemy’s reconnaissance. They are now as good as blind!”

“That’s right! Now they won’t even know they’re being surrounded!”

Gordon nodded at the words of the deputies.

As they said, they had completely blocked the enemy’s reconnaissance capabilities.

Unless the enemies were fools, they would know that their movement paths were being read one by one.

Naturally, the enemy’s movements would be passive, and even if the allies moved to encircle the enemy’s flanks, they would be helpless.

“…That’s right. Then, we will move towards the goal of encircling and annihilating them according to the main operation plan. Prepare the soldiers as you have received the operation orders.”

“Yes!”

The deputies, who were in high spirits due to the smooth war situation, saluted and stepped back.

“Ah, Sir Robert. Come here.”

“…? Is there anything else you would like to order, Your Excellency?”

As everyone was leaving the tent, Gordon called out to one of his most trusted aides.

“Sir Robert, you must have learned how to command mutant soldiers?”

“Yes? Ah, yes, of course. I can make them obey orders, although not as much as ordinary soldiers.”

“Good. Then, before the departure, take the mutant soldiers and depart here in advance at dawn. Without anyone knowing.”

“Yes? That place is somewhat far from the operation route…”

It was a route where a detachment would move to make an encircling maneuver, but the place that General Gordon pointed to was too far from that route.

“I know. It’s to counterattack the enemy’s ambush.”

“Ambush? The enemy can’t even scout, so how can they ambush…?”

Robert said that far, then he realized that General Gordon would not say nonsense and read his intentions.

“Could it be… do you think our information is also being read?”

“That’s right, not only that, but things are going too perfectly. Suspiciously.”

“That means…”

“The spy is a fake for reverse intelligence, and this whole game may have been designed.”

“Th, that!”

Sir Robert was shocked to hear Gordon’s words.

Robert also knew very well that all the information that Karstein had obtained through the spy had been confirmed to be true so far, as he had checked it all.

But that’s all fake for reverse intelligence?

He had already suffered considerable losses with the information he had leaked.

Considering that, it was difficult to suspect it was fake unless it was a big deal.

“No, wait, if you think about it…”

But once he assumed it was fake, Robert also felt a strong sense of incongruity.

“…Even though the information was leaking, the enemy’s troop damage is clearly not significant.”

“That’s right. They have lost supplies or advantageous positions, and their advance routes are all being read, but in other words, that’s all.”

The actual damage to the army is not significant.

To be exact, they allow minor damage, but they have not yet shown a chance to inflict major damage.

Even stopping the movement because reconnaissance is blocked, as it is now, felt like they were trying to ‘look like that’.

“…It may be an oversensitive worry, but it seems difficult to ignore it altogether.”

“That’s why I gave you such an order.”

Even if there are any remaining spies, secretly taking out the mutant soldiers without them knowing.

The goal is to use them as a reverse ambush group in preparation for an ambush and counterattack.

“If they are reading our movements, the detachment that will make the encircling maneuver is in danger. But if we see one step ahead, the story is different.”

Of course, it may be an oversensitive thought as Robert said.

Or, even if it was as Gordon thought, things might not work out well, but Gordon thought that this was the most stable choice.

“Can you do it?”

At Gordon’s last question, Sir Robert swallowed hard.

Taking out the mutant soldiers was clearly the most stable choice for the situation that Gordon was worried about, but it could be a bad move that wasted the movement of the main force for nothing.

But if it was true, it could be a card of reversal that crushes the enemy.

If he could do that, Robert would be the main character of the victory.

If he wins this battle, Karstein’s power will grow.

Naturally, Robert, who has made a contribution, will also have a path to success.

“I will definitely make it a success!”

Gordon smiled with satisfaction at the young knight’s spirited words.