How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 78

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 78

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As the group began to regain consciousness one by one, the situation became urgent.

“Magic Missile!”

A shout came from behind. Following it, five opaque arrows of light were fired, heading towards the five Phantom Knights.

However, it only managed to slow them down. The moment they were struck by the Magic Missiles, a faint light emanated from their armor. It was clear that a large magic circle was inscribed on them.

‘Made by Kerwyn, so what else would you expect?’

Simultaneously, Ruth, along with Illia and the two elves, sprang out beside me, forming a front line.

They, too, looked disoriented but seemed to realize that combat was the priority.

“Third Son! What are those things, and what is going on?”

Fleta, who was next to me, asked urgently.

At her words, the group’s attention turned to me. It seemed like they were asking me as their representative, so I couldn’t just ignore it.

“There’s no time, so I’ll explain briefly.”

“…….”

“I made a deal with Lordain, who kidnapped you, to get you back, and I got caught up in something unexpected in the process.”

“Unexpected?”

“A new enemy appeared, so I formed a temporary alliance with Lordain.”

At my words, the group’s eyes turned to Aslahina and Lordain.

They were still exchanging blows, seemingly ready to tear down the joint, and Fleta bit her lip as she asked again.

“That woman?”

“Aslahina.”

“Aslahina? Is she the one I know?”

I shrugged at Fleta’s dumbfounded question.

“Maybe?”

“……There’s a lot to talk about.”

“But we’re busy now.”

“Yes, it seems so. What about the fight?”

The brief respite ended, and the Phantom Knights rushed in.

Excluding the mage Fleta, there were a total of five swordsmen, including me, and there were also five Phantom Knights. The numbers matched.

But it looked difficult for now. Whether it was the aftereffects of being captured by Lordain, it seemed like the group needed more time to recover.

Perhaps Fleta, who was less affected physically, could be used as an immediate force.

“First, try to rally the group. I’ll buy some time.”

“Understood.”

Fleta, knowing that they were Phantom Knights designed with a large magic circle, nodded without complaint.

“Good. Let’s do it.”

That was the end of the conversation. The five Phantom Knights, who were already close, charged, and I also rushed forward to meet them.

At the same time, I thought.

‘What kind of energy is that?’

The Phantom Knights were constantly emitting black energy, unlike before.

They certainly possessed powerful swordsmanship and the ability to not die, but their weakness was that they couldn’t use mana.

But what if, by any chance, they absorbed Aslahina’s energy and gained the ability to use something equivalent to mana?

‘I can’t handle them alone.’

Beyond impossible, my life would be in danger.

I’ll skip the probing. I’ll do my best from the start.

As soon as I made up my mind, I exploded the mana in my body. The mana that surged through my body granted superhuman strength, and beyond that, a blue aura settled on Aphen [his sword].

The manifestation of Aura, finally reached. It was proof that I had reached the highest level as a mana user. I had been hiding my skills to conceal my strength, but I didn’t have the luxury to do that in this situation.

Kwaaaang!

I was right. The black energy on their swords was like mana. The fact that it remained stable even after colliding with my mana-filled sword was proof of that.

The Phantom Knights, who use top-notch swordsmanship and revive even when they die, even use mana?

It was a moment when I hated Kerwyn for creating such a monstrous war machine.

But that thought was fleeting. The Phantom Knights were pushing me so hard that I couldn’t afford to relax any longer.

Kaang! Kang! Kang!

Blocking, cutting, deflecting, dodging.

The Mana Heart [the core of his mana control] is filled as soon as it empties. But the filled mana disappeared again in an instant like a burst dam.

If the supply of mana is delayed even for a moment, a sword will be embedded somewhere in my body.

That thought caused extreme tension, and at the same time, the Mana Heart began to be tempered as if it were being hammered.

“Ah.”

Even if I raised the tension to the limit, mistakes happen. Especially if the opponents are based on the five knights of the Great Emperor.

The sword I missed for a moment was slowly flying towards my arm.

Should I avoid it? If I pushed myself, I could avoid it. But if I did, the tense balance I had maintained so far would collapse.

In that moment of complex thoughts.

Kaang!

A sword that had dug in deflected the attack.

“Ruth.”

“I’m late.”

Ruth, who had joined me, raised his sword, unleashing mana with his whole body.

“I’ll help too.”

“We’ll join in as well.”

Illia, Mirang, and Kana also belatedly joined me.

Good. This is doable.

“They’re strong. Their swordsmanship is excellent, and that suspicious energy is similar to mana. Don’t try to clash head-on, focus on deflecting.”

“Yes.”

The knight battle began.

Each of them chose an opponent and started fighting. The sparks that flew from the clashing blades dazzled the eyes.

Thanks to that, my body felt lighter. It felt like I had removed a sandbag, taking on one opponent after facing five alone.

I parried the sword, cut off one leg, and then cut off both arms. After kicking and smashing the chest of the incapacitated Phantom Knight, I looked around.

The situation was being pushed back. Ruth was holding his own because he had basic skills and a lot of practical experience, but the others were barely managing to dodge.

‘I can take them down one by one and leave the rest to them.’

Until now, even if I took one down, they would revive in the meantime to face the others, but now the situation is different.

If I take them down with a time difference, the four who revive in turn can join forces to deal with them.

As soon as I made a decision, I jumped up, seizing the right timing, and shouted.

“Fleta!”

“Protect! Shield!”

Should I say that we understand each other just by looking at each other’s eyes?

Fleta cast a shield in response to my leap. Thanks to that, I was able to focus solely on attacking, setting aside defense.

Rotating my body in the air, I put weight on the sword. Then, as if exploding, mana blazed, adding strength to it.

The Phantom Knight, seeing my appearance, swung his sword, but it was blocked by Fleta’s shield. Of course, the shield was easily shattered by the black energy on the sword, but that momentary gap was enough for me.

Paga gagak-!

The Phantom Knight’s body was torn apart and scattered in all directions. At the same time, Ruth, who watched the scene, opened his eyes wide.

“When did you get so skilled, Third Son?”

“Save the flattery for later.”

“Understood.”

Ruth, who was relieved thanks to me, began to help the rest of the group.

The balance gradually began to crumble. As they were defeated one by one, our numbers increased, and eventually, as expected, a situation arose where many were facing one.

“Ruth!”

“Yes, Third Son.”

“Now you take over and deal with these guys.”

“What about you?”

“I have to help Lordain.”

After finishing speaking, I immediately jumped towards Lordain.

The fight between Lordain and Aslahina was in a lull. No, to be precise, Lordain was gradually evading.

“Lordain.”

“You came?”

“Yes. How is it?”

“How do you think?”

Blood was on Lordain’s sleeve as he roughly wiped his mouth. It was proof that he had suffered internal injuries.

This was the difference between the living and the dead.

Even if he recovered because mana was everywhere here, he couldn’t do anything about the damage accumulating in his body like rain.

On the other hand, Aslahina still looked fresh. I don’t know if the word ‘fresh’ suits a person who is already dead.

“I’ll help.”

“Sounds like you’re going to interfere.”

Unlike his arrogant words, Lordain’s face was full of exhaustion, so I felt sorry for him.

“Forget it, how are you going to get in?”

“I’ll open a space. One, two, three. Aim below.”

Before I could ask what that meant, Aslahina moved first.

In response, Lordain also kicked off the ground.

Hwaaaak!

I felt like my skin was crawling from the pressure caused by the two monsters.

‘One, two, three?’

The question that arose as I followed him was soon resolved.

Lordain, who had dug into Aslahina, scattered his sword three times. From bottom to top, from top to bottom, and again from bottom to top.

Kwang! Kwang! Kwaaaang!

Three intense sword strikes followed.

After that, Lordain clenched the sword he had raised again. In response, Aslahina naturally raised her sword again, thinking that she would strike from above again.

‘Ah.’

At the same time, a gap that had not been seen before was created in her.

My body moved first, skipping the process of thinking.

I kicked off the ground with my sword extended.

I put the mana that I had scraped together with the intention of burning the Mana Heart into the sword. At the same time, I unleashed the extended sword from bottom to top, as if a wicked snake were sweeping the ground.

“Heeeuuup!”

Lordain, who also let out a shout at the same time, twisted his waist in the air and struck down.

Lordain from top to bottom.

Me from bottom to top.

Like the jaws of a beast closing, Lordain’s and my swords meshed together, creating an intense connection.

‘It’s working.’

I was half convinced.

But as if trying to break that conviction, Aslahina, who met the two swords digging up and down, shone her eyes.

Kwang! Kwang!

With two roars, I and Lordain were bounced back by the impact.

“Keoeok…….”

A thick liquid leaked from my slumped mouth. I lowered my gaze, wondering if stomach acid had come out, and saw red blood.

Lordain also seemed to have taken a significant impact, as he was slightly bent on one knee.

I shook my head to clear my mind, raising my body halfway by supporting myself on the ground with my sword.

“Damn strong.”

Lordain grinned at my grumbling.

“But it’s not like there’s no gain.”

“…….”

I raised my head at Lordain’s words.

Aslahina’s figure was visible. A long scar was engraved on her left shoulder. It seemed that Lordain’s attack had landed.

“Did it succeed?”

“I failed to cut it, but it won’t be without impact.”

“That’s a relief.”

“You drew attention better than I thought. If we keep matching our attacks like this, it won’t be difficult to kill her.”

Lordain grinned and raised me up with a rough hand.

“You can fight more, right?”

“……What else can I do but die.”

“We’ll help too.”

Fleta and Ruth, who had already approached from behind, joined us.

“What about the Phantom Knights?”

“Illia and the two elves have made it possible to defeat them individually.”

When I turned my head, I saw three women defeating the Phantom Knights individually with a combined attack.

“Good. This is doable.”

Lordain, who grinned, spun his sword around.

“I don’t know what the circumstances were, but the enemy is clear for now.”

Fleta also raised her wand and aimed it at Aslahina.

“Is that woman really Aslahina? A battle with a legendary knight. It’ll be fun.”

Ruth also grabbed his sword firmly and took a stance.

“…….”

Aslahina, who had been watching us quietly, closed her eyes tightly.

Goooooo…….

Then, the black energy emanating from her began to intensify. At the same time, an ominous feeling was deeply engraved in my skin.

Lordain, who shared the ominous feeling, tilted his head.

“What trick is she trying to pull again?”

“…….”

The darkened black energy began to engulf the interior of the joint, and the energy that had filled it settled on the hundred or so knight models that had been quietly sleeping until now.

“Damn it.”

Was it because I foresaw what would happen?

Lordain, who was always full of arrogance, gave a bitter smile, unlike himself.

Drdddd…….

The hundred or so knight models that had slowly begun to tremble. Ruth, who looked at it, also let out a hollow laugh with a pale face.

“That, it’s not what I’m thinking, is it.”

“Ominous premonitions are strangely accurate.”

I slowly nodded at Fleta’s answer.

“I’m going crazy.”

I was wrong to think that there were mountains beyond mountains.

We hadn’t even climbed the first mountain yet.

‘What the hell is this space for?’