Chapter 344: The Standard of Power (3)

“……”

Caught completely off guard by the unexpected question, Lennok’s gaze momentarily swept his surroundings.

The noise-dampening magic was still perfectly operational.

No one else could have overheard Rapperd’s words.

Perhaps the dog-headed giant had anticipated this to some extent, waiting until after the meeting to seek out Lennok.

But Rapperd paid no mind to Lennok’s reaction and continued.

“I am here to kill that monster. So, it would be best not to lie.”

Rapperd’s eyes glowed with an eerie yellow light.

“Where is Croken Asylus?”

“……Are all you giants perhaps bound to Croken Asylus by blood? Everyone I meet has an unusual obsession.”

“How would I know? That ill-fated connection isn’t mine, but rather a scar left by that monster.”

He replied, streams of bluish magical energy emanating from around his mouth.

“So, if you, as a Watcher, wish to gain my cooperation, you’d best choose your answer carefully.”

“Before that, I have something I want to ask first.”

Lennok ignored Rapperd’s piercing gaze and countered.

“It’s been almost half a month since I had contact with Croken Asylus. I’m not someone who leaves traces, nor do I boast about having the monster’s scales as a trophy. So, for you to have found traces of Croken Asylus on me…”

As he spoke, Lennok’s left eye rotated, transforming into a violet magic eye.

“…it must be deeply related to your Mind Imprint. Am I wrong?”

The air solidified.

A cold wind pierced through the noise-dampening magic’s barrier, but it couldn’t hide the concerned glances from around them.

Rapperd silently gazed at Lennok’s face, then slowly extinguished the magical light emanating from his eyes.

“I spoke too soon. To think you’d turn around and interrogate me about my abilities… What an insolent fellow.”

“If you’re willing to exchange information on that matter, I’m prepared to tell you about Croken Asylus’s whereabouts. What do you say?”

“……”

What he experienced against Croken Asylus wasn’t much of a secret.

At Lennok’s calm words, Rapperd remained silent, a slightly troubled expression on his face.

Then he suddenly turned his gaze towards the snowfield below the Floating Island and muttered.

“These riff-raffs are being bothersome.”

“What?”

Lennok’s gaze followed, a step behind, and he grasped the meaning.

Amidst the swirling blizzard, dozens of magical signatures were rapidly approaching the Floating Island.

Rapperd had recognized the approaching enemies faster than Lennok’s magic sense, which was muddled by the snowfield.

Rapperd nonchalantly stepped past the boundary of the noise-dampening magic and nodded at Lennok.

“Follow me. We’ll talk down there.”

With that, he strode towards the edge of the Floating Island.

After a silent glance at the ground, he leapt down several dozen meters, landing directly on the snow-covered plain.

Thud!!

A small ripple spread through the snow, and a blizzard erupted around the dog-headed giant.

As Lennok silently looked down at him, a flustered Lapis approached and clutched Lennok’s sleeve.

“Evan…!”

“……”

“I don’t know what Lord Rapperd said, but you don’t need to engage him here.”

“It’s not just about that.”

Lennok replied, looking down at where Rapperd had jumped.

“Considering how fast that kind of force is approaching after detecting the Floating Island’s location, it’s highly likely we’ve been discovered. Grisha, move the Floating Island back and erase our traces.”

“What about you?”

At Grisha’s words, Lennok reached into his sleeve and replied.

“I’ll handle them. Both those guys, and Rapperd.”

“Haa…”

Evelyn Marcia, standing beside him, let out a small sigh, but Lennok pulled out a pill from his pocket and chewed it down.

“Besides, I have something I want to confirm with this opportunity.”

“What?”

“I’ll just be a moment.”

Lennok said that, then, without waiting for an answer, he threw himself off the Floating Island.

Evelyn Marcia watched the wizard rapidly disappear and sighed softly.

“Haa… He’s not going to listen to me.”

“Well, Evan has always been like that since he first came to the Autonomous Region.”

Grisha, puffing on the pipe he’d somehow put in his mouth, chuckled.

“I thought perhaps you being with him would help control him a bit, but it seems there’s no chance of that. What a shame.”

“……”

“Oh, you’re not denying it this time? I haven’t interfered while you two were playing hard to get, have I?”

As Grisha sported a mischievous grin, Lapis, caught between them, shook her head with a flustered expression.

Seeing even Seon-myeong glance over and listen, Evelyn Marcia silently turned her gaze to the sky and drew forth her magic.

Boom!!

With a crater instantly formed between them, Evelyn Marcia beckoned to the other Watchers.

“If you want to see, come over here and take a look.”

“…Is that alright?”

The other Watchers who had questioned Lennok’s qualifications in the meeting room.

They seemed to have followed after confirming the conflict, but they hesitated to approach upon seeing Lapis’s presence.

However, Evelyn Marcia nodded with a calm expression.

“Yes. It’ll be easier to show them once than to tell them.”

“……”

“Perhaps it’s better to show them like this and resolve things cleanly.”

She muttered that, turning her gaze towards the ground.

“Just how peculiar that man is.”

The dog-headed giant and the wizard, who had descended to the ground, slowly drew forth their magic, staring at the approaching magical sources.

Lennok chuckled, observing the sudden explosion that echoed from above the Floating Island.

“Focus.”

Rapperd, standing next to him, said with his eyes closed.

“They are quite perceptive, given they detected Grisha’s Floating Island. This could be a difficult battle.”

Lennok let out a light laugh at that.

“Already speaking weakly? Did you come all the way down here with such vigor, only to now want to instill a sense of caution?”

“No, what I mean is…”

Rapperd, who had already descended, saw Lennok and immediately reached for the weapon slung on his back.

Thud!!

A stone pillar, fitting the dog-headed giant’s colossal stature, was plunged vertically into the ground.

Rapperd placed his hand on the pillar and replied.

“I meant, don’t hold me back.”

A heavy and enormous blunt weapon, like a support beam pulled whole from a magnificent building. It seemed difficult to even properly grip and swing the pillar, yet as he hoisted it and drew forth his magic, the magic flowing through the pillar began to rotate.

Whoooosh!!

With one hand gripping the base of the pillar, as he rotated his magic, the pillar in Rapperd’s hand vibrated, drawing a dark spiral.

Lennok’s eyes gleamed as he observed the weapon.

“You use a unique weapon. Is it a personal preference?”

A pillar with no obvious grip points. No blades attached whatsoever, a primal blunt weapon specialized only for bludgeoning to death with its weight and cross-section.

In Lennok’s experience, those who use such weapons usually have their techniques or Mind Imprints specialized in that direction, or the weapon itself is a powerful artifact.

But Rapperd shook his head at Lennok’s words.

“Faith.”

“…Faith?”

“They’re coming.”

As Lennok questioned, the identity of the rapidly approaching magical sources from beyond the snowfield was revealed.

Soldiers in thick helmets and pristine white military uniforms. Their color scheme was so perfect in the snow that it was difficult to properly discern them with the naked eye.

With faint red magical light glowing from behind their helmets, they swiftly encircled and began to approach.

All of them were equipped with machine guns and heavy weapons, and behind them, mechanical constructs in the shape of beasts supported the vanguard.

“……”

At the ominous sight, Lennok’s expression naturally hardened.

Clearly, a military organization that had been systematically trained. Just by looking at the equipment they wore, one could guess they wielded an enormous amount of capital.

Whoever they were, getting entangled with an organization of this scale for too long wouldn’t lead to anything good.

“We’d better finish this quickly and get out.”

At Lennok’s words, Rapperd cracked his neck from side to side and said,

“You said you wanted to see my Mind Imprint, didn’t you?”

He strode ahead of Lennok, then glanced back and muttered,

“If you can, try to see it for yourself.”

“What?”

There was no answer.

Whoooosh!!

As Rapperd drew forth his magic, a hazy form appeared in the air and enveloped his body.

Instantly, Rapperd’s body, which had been scattering green light all over, slightly lowered its posture and then vanished.

Bang!!

The colossal body, having instantly sprinted over a dozen meters, distorted as it approached right in front of him, swinging the blunt weapon in his hand diagonally.

The force was so intense that the stone pillar he held seemed to visibly bend.

The giant’s black and green mottled body slammed directly into the approaching military force.

Blizzard exploded from the ground, scattering in all directions in an instant.

Kwooosh!!

“Kill them!!”

“They’re charging into the rear, block them!!”

The soldiers who had pursued the Floating Island also poured their firearms onto Rapperd, but it was futile.

A jet-black figure surged back up through the rising mist-like sleet.

Screech!!

The dog-headed giant. The warrior, manifesting a black dog’s form, gripped the center of the pillar with both hands and slammed it down.

Following his magic-infused touch, the pillar rotated violently along his forearm, scooping up the snowdrifts beneath his feet.

Pow, pow, pow!!

In a snowfield where magic sense was difficult due to the presence of an Ascendant.

In such an environment, by obscuring vision and shutting off senses one by one, he reduced the enemy’s room for response.

Once sight and hearing were masked by the blizzard and explosions, it was natural that Rapperd, with his relatively superior senses, would gain the initiative.

Rapperd’s charge, instantly discerning the enemy’s positions even amidst the pristine white snowdrifts.

He swiftly broke through the front lines and headed for the rear, with collapsing snow towers between them.

He instantly breached the ranks of the armed soldiers, targeting the mechanical beasts beyond.

The mechanical beasts that had been following behind the soldiers immediately focused all the muzzle ports on their bodies onto Rapperd.

Not gunfire consisting of gunpowder and bullets, but military magic rounds fired by rotating condensed magical energy.

High-density magical energy was clearly mixed in, perceptible even amidst the heavy weapon fire erupting from various places.

Kwoooooosh!!!

Explosions mixed with red and blue flames echoed across the snowfield.

A heavy stone pillar burst from the explosions, smashing directly into the head of a mechanical beast, crushing its body.

Crumble!!

The dog-headed giant, scattering faint green light from his entire body, climbed onto the destroyed mechanical beast and hoisted the stone pillar.

Whoooosh!!!

Even amidst such intense combat, a unique harp-like melody began to resonate above Rapperd’s head.

As the spirit floating above his head sang, its rhythm swirled around the stone pillar, rotating.

Rapperd gripped the pillar with both hands and slammed it hard onto the ground.

[Sanctuary.]

Paaahhhhhht!!!

A pale green wave spread across the snowfield, illuminating the area like a mirror.

Immediately after, the power of the spirit floating above Rapperd’s head surged, simultaneously infusing his body with even greater strength.

Lennok watched from afar, his eyes gleaming, a rare sight.

‘Is this a virtuous cycle due to the interaction between the physical body and the spirit? I’ve seen similar techniques a few times, but it’s my first time seeing such a sophisticated spirit.’

It wasn’t that Lennok hadn’t encountered warriors who fought by channeling spirits into their bodies.

Didn’t the warrior who fought alongside the vampires, or Beck Clinton, a high-ranking executive, channel various spirits into their bodies during the fight with the Cigar Bang Gang?

However, the difference between them and Rapperd was the distinct form of the spirit they handled.

Unlike Beck Clinton, who dealt with animal spirits like bears or deer, Rapperd was channeling the spirit of a giant covered entirely in trees.

Considering it in conjunction with the word ‘faith’ he used, perhaps he was borrowing the power of a spirit he believed in as part of his doctrine.

‘And this Sanctuary… It’s incredibly far removed from a typical magic spell. Is the very principle of its operation based on faith or belief?’

Assuming the spirit is a summoned entity, it’s impossible for an area created by receiving power from a summoned entity to, in turn, amplify the summoned entity’s power.

Whatever the spell, the power source must be clear.

Wasn’t Davi’s Domain, Mind Imprint Illusory Realm, ultimately a spell created around Lennok’s magical energy?

Perhaps the way Rapperd read Croken Asylus’s traces from Lennok wasn’t through physical power, but rather…

“Phew…”

Lennok sighed, about to examine that interesting power more closely, when he felt sharp presences around him.

The enemy, realizing that Rapperd was penetrating their rear, had now, in turn, begun to target Lennok, who was positioned in the rear.

Dozens of life signs, camouflaged within the blizzard, stealthily pushed their magic towards him.

The moment Lennok was about to draw forth his magic against them,

[I smell something delicious.]

Davi, poking her head out from his coat, sniffed.

“…What?”

[I smell electricity, the kind I’ve tasted a few times. Where is it?]

Kwooosh!!

A deafening explosion erupted right in front of him. The attack had begun towards him.

Lennok quickly summoned a cluster of carapace to use as a shield, hiding himself, then asked Davi again.

“Davi, what are you talking about? ‘Tasted electricity smell’?”

[You know, the one we ate in the desert.]

Davi wiggled inside his coat, wagging her tail.

[Those guys who talked too much. They smell the same, don’t they?]

“…Wait, if you mean the desert, then perhaps…”

Only one thing came to mind regarding recent travel through a desert region.

Lennok, instantly understanding what Davi was saying, grabbed her front paws and lifted her up.

“Are those guys using Gearsight’s equipment?”

[I think that was the name… maybe?]

“……”

Lennok, still uninterested in remembering proper nouns, pulled the spirit’s ear once and immediately stood up.

“It’s better this way.”

Lennok grinned, perfectly sensing the magic of the rapidly approaching soldiers.

“Time to work, Davi.”

Somehow, things felt like they were about to get easier.

Rapperd, who had crushed the last remaining mechanical beast with his pillar, looked up.

“Cough…!”

The pilot inside already had his lower body mangled and was rapidly losing breath.

The dog-headed giant rummaged through the pilot’s pocket and found a small notebook, muttering.

“Barachetta Liberation Front…”

Thud!

He closed the notebook and placed it on the pilot’s chest, then said,

“To think there are still ignorant fools clinging to worldly affairs. Human greed truly is inescapable.”

“Guh, h-hoo…”

“Any last words?”

“Ugh…”

The pilot couldn’t speak properly and tears streamed down his face. Rapperd silently watched him, then rummaged through his own pocket.

What he pulled out was a small bundle of leaves, resembling olive leaves.

Rapperd sprinkled it over the pilot’s head with his thick hands and murmured,

“O you who have endured three pains. Return to the embrace of the God you desire.”

“……”

At that moment, the pilot’s expression relaxed peacefully, and his focus slowly blurred.

Rapperd silently closed his eyes and then stood up.

It was a ritual he always performed for the last life he took, but every time he spoke these words, his heart felt heavy.

None of the people he held dear had ever lived according to these words in the end.

He was still chasing the monster that had brought about deaths outside of providence and doctrine.

That was why Rapperd so desperately wanted to hear about Croken Asylus’s whereabouts from Lennok.

“Evan!!”

The dog-headed giant, baring his teeth, roared like a growl.

“You still haven’t finished?!!”

But if a warrior was struggling against an enemy of this level, there was no longer any use for him.

Because that would only mean that the wizard’s survival against Croken Asylus was merely a result of various coincidences.

However, the words that came from amidst the swirling blizzard were very different from what Rapperd had expected.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

At that moment, the snowdrifts scattered, and Lennok appeared.

The snowfield was strewn with dozens of dead soldiers.

As if avoiding the steadily accumulating snowdrifts, Lennok stood atop a mountain of soldiers piled like a hill, gazing down at Rapperd with an expressionless face.

“Were you perhaps reproaching yourself for being late?”

“……”

A faintly amused retort. But Rapperd couldn’t reply to those words, his mouth slightly agape.

[I did all the work, though…]

Davi quietly grumbled from within Lennok’s coat.