Chapter 52

In a forest somewhere on the continent, under the influence of the thousand-year Empire, the Heinrich Imperial Family.

In a reception room set up inside an old mansion, a man leaned back in his chair.

“Report.”

As the man's mouth opened, black mana billowed from the crystal ball placed before him.

As if it had a life of its own, the mana formed a Shik on its own, taking the shape of a robed human.

[Your Highness, Count Glesco has surrendered.]

“Is that so.”

At the calm reaction, the robed old man continued his report.

[The Fourth Prince has fled, and most of the Superhumans under his command have been captured alive.]

“It took longer than I thought.”

The Second Prince, Isaac Heinrich, muttered as he sipped a Pisker made of rye.

It had been three years since he began a full-scale power struggle with the Fourth Prince.

He could have ended it within a year if he had put his mind to it, but the goal of capturing them alive had caused delays.

[What shall be done with those who have been captured?]

“Recruit as many as possible. How many Superhumans are there?”

[Five. Three are 7-star level knights, and two are mages.]

They were the most coveted talents among the Fourth Prince's followers.

“Make those ones swear allegiance to me, no matter what. You can do it, can't you?”

[Of course.]

At the old man's unhesitating reply, Isaac Heinrich let a smile grace his lips.

“As expected of the Black Duke. You never disappoint my expectations.”

The 8-star mage known as the master of the Black Magic Tower.

For him, a master of necromancy, mentally modifying Superhumans was not a difficult task.

“What's the situation with Eurasia and Cornelia?”

[It seems they are struggling more than expected.]

“I gave them a chance, and this is all they can do. The Kimbel brothers are showing a disappointing side.”

Mainz Kimbel and Voltz Kimbel.

The eldest and second sons of the collapsing Kimbel Family, they had caught his eye, and he had taken them in personally.

They had been performing quite well, infiltrating and operating in the western and eastern frontiers respectively, but their reports had become sparse a few months ago.

“If the contact was late, there must be a reason. Let's hear the excuse.”

[It is said that Voltz Kimbel was killed during an engagement with Eurasia's Annihilation Squad. It seems he fell into a trap.]

“What did Mainz have to say?”

[He said he would personally infiltrate the eastern frontier and accelerate the plan. He requested the support of a Superhuman.]

“A disappointing report.”

[Eurasia and Cornelia are growing rapidly. It might not be a bad idea to add more personnel and grant his request.]

At the Black Duke's words, Isaac Heinrich shook his head.

“The hegemony of the continent is more important right now. I cannot have Superhuman-level forces wandering the frontiers.”

In fact, many of the Superhumans following Isaac were deployed in the power struggle against the other princes, so he could not afford to send even one of them to the frontiers without good reason.

[But if we lose Mainz Kimbel as well, all the efforts we have poured in until now could be for naught.]

“Tsk. The matter that I started to acquire Cornelia's Magic Tower has become complicated.”

Cornelia, a family possessing three Arch Mages, including the Head, and numerous high-level mages.

A family that had even established an automated defense system using its Magic Tower was not an opponent that could be subjugated with divided forces.

On the other hand, Eurasia, whose maximum strength consisted of two 7-star knights, was considered a frontier family that could be annihilated at any time if he so wished, though subjugating them was tricky due to the rugged terrain.

‘An uncharacteristic miscalculation on my part.’

Isaac Heinrich downed the Pisker in his mouth.

Underestimating the growth of the Head, Simon Eurasia, had been the cause of his failure.

The rumor that the Head of Eurasia, who had reached 8-star, was preparing a Declaration of the Kingdom had been grating on his nerves for several months.

[The good news is that Eurasia's damage is said to be considerable as well.]

The commander and a significant number of members of the Annihilation Squad, exchanged for Voltz Kimbel's life.

The Black Duke mentioned Eurasia's damage with the information he had received from Mainz Kimbel.

Isaac was not so dull as to not understand its meaning.

“It seems we need to decisively break Eurasia's momentum.”

[Have you made up your mind?]

“I will use Mainz Kimbel as bait.”

At the bold statement, the Black Duke's eyes curved.

[They would never imagine that we would use a Superhuman as bait.]

“No, let's take this opportunity and send all the captured Superhumans to the western frontier.”

[All five of them?]

“Yes. If we're going to cast bait, we might as well cast it properly, shouldn't we?”

It was a radical and audacious move.

However, if successful, it was also a sure way to inflict great damage on both Eurasia and Cornelia.

A sneer appeared on the Black Duke's lips.

[Understood. I will try to create an opening in the western frontier as soon as they are ready.]

“I feel reassured with you here.”

At the Second Prince's sincerity, the Black Duke bowed his head.

[Your Highness, have you by any chance heard of Killian Eurasia?]

Isaac tilted his head at the name he was hearing for the first time.

“Was there such a person in Eurasia?”

[He is the family's Fourth Young Master, who has been treated as a failure until now… but a rumor is circulating that he is a sword secretly raised by Simon Eurasia.]

“The Fourth Young Master would be younger than Demian Eurasia, wouldn't he?”

[In the future, he could become as much of a variable as Demian Eurasia.]

“Even so, he's just a brat who hasn't even entered the ranks of Superhumans. Deal with it as you see fit.”

The Black Duke bowed his head once more.

“The tide of the war for the throne is turning. I will trust only in you.”

[I will be mindful. I hope you have a comfortable rest.]

With that farewell, the mana in the crystal ball disappeared.

In the now silent space, Isaac Heinrich sank into his chair.

Sssssssss.

As the black mana that rose from his body enveloped him, a comfortable feeling brought a smile to his face.

“If I get my hands on Cornelia's Magic Tower, the throne is mine.”

With a sneer.

Isaac Heinrich surrendered his body to the mana enhanced with Evil Energy.

***

The western frontier, the main castle of the Cornelia Family.

Celot Cornelia welcomed Sharle, who had visited the Head's office.

“It was a more enjoyable trip than I thought.”

Sharle curtsied and then sat down with an elegant motion.

Even after the banquet had ended, she had toured the families of the eastern frontier to strengthen friendships, so it had been a long time since her return.

The two began to formally exchange stories about what had happened over the past few months.

“I heard Killian Eurasia has joined the Annihilation Squad.”

“Oh my, is that so?”

“You're not surprised?”

“I had a feeling he would.”

A gentle smile graced Sharle's lips.

‘She seems to have taken a liking to Killian Eurasia.’

It was rare for her to have a favorable impression of someone from their first meeting.

According to Celot's memory, among the young masters of the frontier, Demian Eurasia had been the only one.

“An interesting rumor is going around. What do you think of him?”

“He is clearly a man sharpened as the sword of the family by the Head of Eurasia. But I'm not sure what he can do with the current Annihilation Squad.”

Eurasia's Annihilation Squad had been annihilated while simultaneously facing two Superhumans in a previous battle.

“That was our mistake as well.”

Originally, Mainz Kimbel was an Empire's Superhuman who had been monitoring Cornelia, and the family had been keeping a close watch on him.

However, the man used some sort of trick to temporarily escape the family's surveillance network and ambushed Eurasia's Annihilation Squad, which had been hunting Voltz Kimbel.

Afterward, at the strong request of the Acting Head Escardo, Cornelia also began to hunt Superhumans on its own, and that event developed into this joint mission.

“It is an unofficially conducted mission. The ones moving from Eurasia will be the White Knight Order led by Demian Eurasia.”

Sharle recalled Demian, with whom she had spoken at the banquet.

A genius who had reached 6-star at a young age.

A knight skilled not only in individual martial strength but also in strategy and tactics.

However, he was not skilled enough to hunt a Superhuman.

“From our side, Uncle Kiel will be making a move, I presume?”

“Yes. We recently pinpointed Mainz Kimbel's movements. I plan to leave control of the Magic Tower to Arles.”

“In that case, I shall move with my uncle as well.”

“Without helping Arles?”

Celot asked with a surprised look.

He thought that she, who had been away for months, would want to rest for a while.

“Yes. My brother will do fine with the Magic Tower on his own. And my uncle's side seems more interesting.”

“Sharle. I know your skills well, but… this is about hunting a Superhuman.”

At Celot's concern, Sharle burst into laughter.

“With Uncle Kiel there, would there even be a place for me to step in? More importantly, I would be better at dealing with Young Master Demian than my uncle would.”

“Hmm…….”

Recalling the blunt and hot-tempered personality of Kiel, Celot quietly nodded his head.

This was the first subjugation that Cornelia and Eurasia would undertake together as families.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to have Sharle accompany them to prepare for any unforeseen variables.

“I understand. There is a month left until the subjugation, so prepare slowly.”

“A joint mission. I'm already looking forward to it.”

Sharle smiled brightly.

The one who came to her mind was not Demian, but Killian with his rebellious eyes.

***

‘Now it's finally working properly.’

Killian stroked his chin as he watched the movements of his knights.

He had been pouring most of his time into the Annihilation Squad for nearly two months.

Killian tested the eight members of the Annihilation Squad and newly measured their combat strength.

1st Sword Serena. Early 6-star.

2nd Sword Yulian. 5-star master.

3rd Sword Philip. Early 6-star.

4th Sword Aron. 5-star master.

5th Sword Portran. 5-star master.

6th Sword Zodiac. 5-star master.

7th Sword Gala. 5-star master.

8th Sword Miller. 5-star master.

The reason Philip, a 6-star, remained as the 3rd sword was because Yulian was still a step above him in terms of mana control.

And at the center of the training to unify the Carpe of the eight members was Serena.

In the past, for the Annihilation Squad to perfectly use Carpe Illusion, the Squad Commander or the 1st to 3rd swords, who were 6-star knights, had to be at the center.

‘But they are no longer here.’

It was a problem that could be easily solved if Killian intervened, but that would limit the growth of the Annihilation Squad.

‘They must be able to complete Carpe Illusion with only the current members.’

Fortunately, Zodiac, Miller, and Philip were all quickly adapting to the Annihilation Squad's training.

“Move on to the next stage.”

As the order was given, the Carpe spread out with Serena at its center flickered and formed Carpe Illusion.

Killian looked around at the forest that had suddenly filled his surroundings.

‘Green Zone.’

The Carpe Illusion activated with Serena at its center.

Like its nature-friendly name, the materialized trees of the forest enhanced and restored the Annihilation Squad's mana.

On the other hand, for their adversaries, it was a formation that dulled their five senses and drained their mana and stamina.

‘This should be enough to tie down a Superhuman.’

It was the most complete version of Carpe Illusion they had succeeded in creating so far.

Killian coolly evaluated the members and struck away the vines that clung to his arms and legs, draining his mana.

“Next stage. Try to subdue me.”

The Annihilation Squad had never once managed to land a proper attack on Killian until now.

Killian added that if they could not inflict a meaningful blow on him, he would not take them on the mission.

“Commander, are you serious?”

At Yulian's question, Killian gave a slight nod.

“Of course. I don't go back on my word.”

“Then, I won't hold back.”

Serena, who had enhanced her body with green mana, raised her Aether.

Fwoosh.

A massive force began to dwell in her sword.

It was an aura she had embodied through grueling training over the past two months.

‘But she can't maintain it for even five seconds yet.’

A sword imbued with Carpe Illusion and an aura.

The match would be decided in less than ten seconds.

“Come at me.”

Woong.

As Killian swung his Aether in the air and took his stance, the swords of the Annihilation Squad, starting with Serena, aimed at him all at once.

A clear metallic clang echoed through the training ground.

This happened a week before the Superhuman hunt.

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