Chapter 90: A Desperate Situation.

A cold sweat trickled down Yohan’s temples.

Dragonian Aegis.

Protector of Tenerope, the man who raised the stakes so dramatically, and a Grand Swordmaster who has reached transcendence.

He should not be considered the same person.

“…Two first-class.”

Duke Aegis’s eyes flashed coldly. He had accurately assessed his opponent’s cultivation after only a brief confrontation.

“He’s much stronger than I thought.

Of all the people who had reached the state of transcendence, the Duke of Ferbache was the only one Yohan had seen in person.

So, he assumed that the Dragonian Aegis was similar to the Duke of Ferbache.

But-

“…The Duke of Ferbache, more than that.

His flesh is so fierce that it makes it difficult to breathe, and the pressure from his mana weighs down his entire body.

Funnily enough, the Duke of Aegis was feeling rather self-conscious. This was the middle of the royal road.

Yohan glanced over at Eris, her hands and shoulders trembling slightly. It was the fear of a living creature.

Yohan called out to her in a low voice.

“Eris.”

“…Yes.”

“Run on my signal.”

The moment he finished speaking-

“I don’t intend to miss.”

Poof!

The Dragonian in front of him disappeared, leaving an afterimage behind. So fast that there was no trace of him in sight. Yohan missed his movement by a fraction of a second.

His heightened senses detected the air splitting apart as the Dragonian streaked toward them like a bullet. The target—

“Eris!”

Pouring every ounce of mana into his barrier, Yohan rapidly wove threads of azure mana into layers, thick as reinforced steel rebar.

Aaah!

The Dragonian’s blade plunges into Eris’s throat. Yohan’s eyes are bloodshot as he activates his vision to the limit.

The threads of the Reverie catch his blade. But the thick barrier of magic cracked without effort. He let out a piercing scream as the blade sliced through.

Still, it succeeded in slowing him down. In the blink of an eye, Yohan shifted his magic and quickly pulled Eris’s arms around him, her body falling into his.

Whoosh!

Paaaaah!

The sword sliced through the air, followed by a huge wind pressure. Such destructive power in a single strike, this was indeed a Grand Sword Master.

“A sudden wind?”

“What, what is it?”

“Is it a fight…?”

While the gazes of the people in the royal road began to gather.

“Th-thank you…”

Eris, who was in his arms, thanked him feebly.

Yohan narrowed his eyes and said.

“Duke Aegis is mine as planned. Run.”

His magic circuits activate to full power, and the mana in the atmosphere begins to gather toward him. A gust of wind sweeps around him.

“Don’t call for backup, just get to work.”

“But…”

“Quickly!”

Before she could say a word, Yohan let go of Eris, spreading the gale force field in all directions. It was a fine stream, but it traveled through his senses.

After glancing back and forth between Yohan and the Dragonian to assess the situation, Eris pursed her lips and nodded.

“…I trust you.”

“Yes.”

Just as she was about to kick the ground with her entire body enveloped in mana-!

Pow!

The Dragonian disappeared before her eyes again. She felt the flow of mana. But for some reason, you can’t fully grasp his movements.

Then, a gust of wind rushes by. The Dragonian has passed by, ignoring Yohan. Yohan shouted urgently.

“Eris!”

Just as Eris turned around, the sprinting Dragonian swung around, his sharply outstretched legs spinning in a circle, the toe of his foot striking Eris squarely in the abdomen.

Pfft-!

“Kkkk…!”

Kwah!

The tremendous impact of the spinning kick struck her abdomen. Eris flew through the air like an arrow, slammed into the wall of the building, and disappeared into the rubble.

A pained groan hung in the air for a moment.

“Kaaaak!”

“Ouch, a fight!”

“Call the guards!”

Panic sets in as people realize it’s not just a fight. Not that it matters, since reinforcements were expected anyway.

“Eris!”

I wondered if she was going to be okay. She’d taken a good punch to the stomach. The impact was enough to shatter a few bones.

There was nothing Yohan could do. He was too far away, and the Dragonian was too fast for him to parry as he had earlier.

He couldn’t run away, couldn’t fight alongside him, couldn’t stay behind…

“Damn it.

Yohan chewed his lip.

“Are you Yohan Rahardt?”

When no one rose from the rubble, the Dragonian turned his head slightly to look at Yohan, his voice low and cold.

“…That’s right.”

“Hmph.”

He squinted, his eyes scanning Yohan’s body. It wasn’t a simple gaze. It was a gaze that recognized mana flow and circuitry.

“You’re certainly no ordinary mage, from what I’ve heard.”

“….”

“On the verge of transcendence, are you?”  

Step.  

The Dragonian took a deliberate step forward, his presence suffocating. The pressurized mana radiating from him seemed to crush the very space around them. The oppressive force made even breathing laborious, and the atmosphere itself quivered under the weight of his power.  

“It’s a shame to kill a talented young man, but any potential variable must be eliminated immediately.”  

Voom!  

Mana surged around the Dragonian’s sword. Pitch-black energy engulfed the blade, swirling violently as it stirred up razor-sharp winds.  

Crack!  

The stone ground beneath him shredded under the force of the tempest, flinging debris and dust into the air.  

Gulp.  

Yohan’s throat tightened as if he’d swallowed a boulder. The sheer intensity of the Dragonian’s mana bore down on him.  

But there was no room for hesitation. Yohan extended his hand, manifesting a focal point for his power.  

Vwoom!  

An orb of concentrated energy floated at his fingertips, unleashing turbulent waves of mana that churned through the surroundings. The clash of forces between Yohan’s magic and the Dragonian’s presence sent shockwaves rippling through the air, distorting it violently.  

Then—  

Flash!  

The Dragonian vanished, leaving only an afterimage behind. Almost instantly, a flash of black light streaked toward Yohan…..Mana Blade. Blocking this strike with his defensive spells was out of the question.  

Yohan immediately aimed his fingers at the rapidly approaching foe. The pulsating orb of destructive energy surged forward, his Focal Point unleashed.  

BOOOOM!  

A massive conical beam shot forward with a deafening roar, obliterating everything in its path. The storm of mana tore through the battlefield, disassembling matter at an atomic level.  

As the beam dissipated, a massive scar was etched into the earth, as if a colossal beast had clawed through the ground.  

‘Where’s the Dragonian?’  

Yohan knew that an attack like this wouldn’t have been enough to take him down. His eyes darted around, expanding his sensory field in all directions.  

Suddenly, Yohan’s eyes widened in shock.  

‘Behind me!’  

He spun around, but the Dragonian was already poised, his sword cloaked in dark mana. The blade cut through the air, hurtling toward Yohan’s neck.  

There was no time to launch another Focal Point or create a distortion sphere. The Mana Blade was too powerful for his barrier to withstand.  

In a split second, Yohan made his decision.  

As the blade closed in, Yohan unleashed an overwhelming burst of raw mana.  

BOOM!  

Pure, high-density mana exploded outward, shaking the surrounding space violently. The shockwave surged like a tidal wave, accompanied by searing heat and hurricane-force winds.  

“…!”  

Even the Dragonian couldn’t endure such an explosion at close range. Forced to withdraw, he swiftly retreated, pulling back his blade to avoid the brunt of the impact.  

As the sudden release of magical energy subsided, Yohan panted heavily.  

“Whew… whew…”  

Though he still had plenty of mana left, the circuits that controlled it were battered and frayed. This was the result of releasing mana at its limit without proper preparation.  

“How unfortunate.” 

It was Dragonian.  

“To think I must kill a hero capable of saving the continent with my own hands.”  

Step.  

He moved forward, his giant mana blade vibrating with raw power.  

Yohan said nothing. Silence. If there was time to talk, it was better spent focusing, even for a moment. In a situation like this, even a slight lapse in attention could cost him his life.  

Taking a deep breath, Yohan calmly assessed the situation. His eyes darkened into a deep blue hue.  

‘I’m too far behind in mobility.’  

While Yohan could also use mana-enhanced martial arts, his opponent was a Grand Sword Master. Catching up to that level of agility was nearly impossible.  

No matter how much mana Yohan poured into his techniques, they were makeshift at best, what people would call “hacks.” In contrast, Dragonian’s mastery was the culmination of decades of discipline and training.  

‘To bridge this gap…’  

He would have to use ‘distortion spheres‘.  

Yohan spread his hands wide.  

Whoosh!  

Blue orbs began forming rapidly, scattering in every direction. In moments, the distortion spheres filled the space around them, numbering in the hundreds.  

“…What is this?” Dragonian narrowed his eyes. The peculiar blue orbs emanated a subtle force, siphoning mana from the surroundings.  

“Who knows?” Yohan smirked. It was a façade of confidence meant to mask his exhaustion. But regardless, this would solve his mobility problem.  

“…”  

As Dragonian grew wary, Yohan quietly muttered under his breath:  

“Grimoire of Calamity.”  

Flip!  

A glowing book materialized in the air, its pages opening on their own.  

The Grimoire of Calamity contained forbidden magic and spells of the highest order. By blending the two, Yohan believed he could hold his ground. Even if he couldn’t win, he wouldn’t lose either.  

To this, he added mana-enhanced martial arts.  

Whoosh!  

Vast mana coursed through Yohan’s body, causing his entire form to glow gold.  

Dragonian looked on curiously before letting out a quiet chuckle.  

“How amusing. This doesn’t seem like a magician’s fight at all.”  

Yohan’s combat style was worlds apart from that of a typical mage, who would usually stay at a safe distance, relying on sheer firepower.  

“That’s why… it’s all the more tragic.”  

The moment Dragonian finished speaking, his body disappeared, leaving only an afterimage. His overwhelming speed created Manryujigak a state where his movements unfolded everywhere at once, almost impossible to perceive.  

‘Right side!’  

Yohan’s focus was at its peak, pushed to the absolute limit. Tracking Dragonian was difficult, but not impossible.  

Thud!  

Dragonian crouched low, his body coiled like a spring, and slashed his sword upward at a diagonal angle. As the blade sliced through the air with lethal precision, Yohan, already linked to the distortion spheres he had scattered earlier, moved swiftly.  

Whoosh!  

In the instant the blade roared forward, Yohan’s body shot into the air like a bullet.  

Slash!  

Dragonian’s sword cut through empty space.  

BOOM!  

The ensuing shockwave tore through the surroundings, sweeping everything in its path with overwhelming force. It was a display of sheer destructive power.  

But Yohan had already escaped. Using the absorption property of the distortion spheres, he achieved high-speed movement, making him a match for Dragonian’s agility.  

“Ho…”  

Dragonian’s eyes glimmered with intrigue as he observed Yohan.  

“To think someone would use forbidden high-order magic in such a way.”  

Distortion spheres were notoriously difficult to wield, not only requiring precise control but also consuming an immense amount of mana. This was why no one used them. But Yohan had turned them into a tool of combat efficiency. It was astonishing.  

However, there was no time for admiration.  

At Yohan’s fingertips, a pitch-black sphere began to swirl ominously. It was the Point of Rupture, an explosive sphere designed to generate devastating shockwaves.  

Boom-boom-boom!  

The black orb surged forward, pulsating as it streaked toward Dragonian.  

Dragonian’s figure disappeared just as the sphere slammed into the ground.  

KA-BOOM!  

The impact triggered a massive explosion, sending fragments of dirt and shattered stone flying into the air. A dust storm erupted, obscuring all vision.  

But Yohan wasn’t concerned. He could still sense everything through Manryujigak.  

Even so, Dragonian wasn’t moving. He stood atop a building’s roof, his form completely still.  

‘What is he planning?’  

As the dust storm settled, Yohan’s expression grew wary. Dragonian stood with his blade poised, its sharp tip aimed toward the heavens.  

“All nuisances must be erased.”  

Rumble!  

The black mana encasing Dragonian’s sword erupted into a swirling vortex of energy. The rooftops of nearby buildings shattered, fragments scattering into the sky.  

“No way…” 

“One Slash.”  

Dragonian swung his sword.