Chapter 28: The Combined Might of Mages

“Adel.”

Adel, stirred by Hay’s call, gathered her mana and shrieked.

“Ahahaha! Die, all of you—!”

With her eccentric cry, a miniature sun materialized above Adel, radiating a brilliant reddish-gold light.

The second bombardment commenced.

콰광! 쾅콰가가강―!

It struck with a terrifying intensity, as if intent on leaving not a single shred of flesh behind.

The flames caught onto the holy oil sprinkled around the palisade, erupting into a roaring, sacred blaze.

Upon touching the dead blood and flesh tainted by demonic energy, the fire blazed violently with a purple hue.

“Chen.”

Chen, who had been staring blankly at the front lines, snapped back to attention at Hay’s voice and began chanting a spell. A colossal whirlwind erupted, as if to trap the undead within its grasp.

The demon-burning flames and the still-raging lightning were swept into the tornado, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle.

But that was not the end.

“Lexa.”

This time, Lexa unlaced her fingers, then swept her arms wide to form a vast semicircle.

쿠르르르르르―.

The sky groaned. It was only for a moment.

콰광쾅콰광―!

The dark night clouds flashed, and thunder roared, followed by lightning. In a fleeting instant, over thirty bolts of lightning struck Chen’s tornado.

The stench of burnt, rotten flesh permeated the air, reaching the lower villages of Mount Senugel.

“Insane,” Lord Mesht mumbled, utterly dumbfounded.

It was, quite literally, a scene of madness—overwhelming in its power.

Such magic was beyond anything they had ever witnessed. All who beheld the spectacle were rendered speechless.

The combined efforts of one spirit master and three mages had produced something truly astonishing.

It was inconceivable how they had devised such an attack. Or rather, they had simply never been given the opportunity to witness such magic before, having lived in an era of peace.

“See? My fortune-telling was never wrong.”

Lexa chuckled, a trickle of blood escaping her nose. She casually wiped it with the back of her hand, then gazed at the pillars of fire.

Such sights were familiar to mages, especially those hailing from Arkavia, the city of mages.

“Just who is your master, anyway?”

“Hmm?”

Amidst the howling wind, Hay hadn’t caught Lexa’s question. Lexa merely shrugged, choosing not to repeat herself.

“Never mind. Even if I heard, it’d probably be an elf, and how would I know them?”

A moment later, as Chen withdrew his hands, the storm subsided, and the tornado dissipated.

The purple flames, which had been consuming the demonic energy, completed their purification, transforming into a brilliant golden light.

No trace of the undead remained, whether they had been monsters, trolls, or even humans.

The bones, flesh, and forms that had once comprised them now lay motionless. Yet, it wasn’t over until it was truly over.

“All forces.”

Hay’s voice cut through the air.

“Advance.”

Beyond the annihilated undead, enemies still remained.

“All forces! Advance!” Lord Mesht roared, his voice booming.

Hay turned to him, noting that Lord Mesht was mounted on the horse he had ridden to the village.

Lord Mesht, seemingly delighted that his turn had finally arrived, wore a triumphant grin. Soldiers and mercenaries stepped forward, positioning themselves in front of the mages.

As if they had been waiting, village women armed with bows and arrows formed ranks behind the mercenaries. Some villagers, unfamiliar with archery, stood beside the women, clutching torches.

The archers ignited the arrowheads, which had been pre-coated with holy oil. Sacred flames, they knew, consumed demonic energy.

This could prove fatal to monsters and the corrupted fae known as black orcs. Though the undead had been annihilated, every available means had to be utilized.

Just then, a hooded figure, clutching a long staff, emerged on a ‘Black Steed of Dead Eyes’.

“A Nazgûl?”

Hay, catching a glimpse of the figure beyond the golden flames, frowned.

“That’s the black mage,” Chen whispered, his face grim.

“Ah, a black mage?”

Hay recalled Lexa’s words from when they were planning their strategy: controlling undead through black magic required a minimum of a 6th-class mage.

The black mage extended a dark hand. Immediately, monsters and black orcs, who had been concealed within the forest, revealed themselves.

There were thirty-six ‘Asteria Wolves’.

And nineteen black orcs, mounted on ‘Three-Horned Boars’.

“Ka’es Dekyle. Del Moa Freeda,” the black mage intoned in a sinister voice.

Despite the distance, his words carried clearly to Hay’s position.

‘Was he intending for them to hear?’

“I understand ‘Ka’es Dekyle,’ but what’s he babbling about after that?”

“It means, ‘Kill them all. Then I will grant you freedom,'” Chen replied.

“Ah, really?”

“Yes. But, Brother. What’s a Nazgûl? Is he a black mage you know?”

Just then, a flock of ‘Six-Red-Eyed Ravens’ soared from the forest, beginning to blot out the sky.

“Oh, dear!” Chen gasped, startled.

“Hey, Mr. Troll Slayer, should we do that again?” Adel asked, a hint of unease in her eyes.

‘I told them not to call me that.’

크아아아아―

Simultaneously, the black orcs let out a sound that was half roar, half shriek, as they began to charge down from the mountains.

“They’re practically begging to be killed! Let’s do it again! We have to! Let’s go!” Adel exclaimed, flapping her hands and drawing forth more mana.

Hay, by contrast, remained perfectly calm.

“We stick to the plan. Adel and Chen, provide covering fire from the rear.”

“Ugh, fine!”

“Understood, Brother!”

“Cough, cough, ugh!”

Lexa, standing to his left, coughed violently. Hay wrapped an arm around her waist and pushed off the ground.

Using [Wind], Hay retreated to the very rear, gently settling Lexa onto the ground.

“Fortune-teller, are you alright?”

“Ow, ow, ow! I’m dying, I’m dyinggg…!” Lexa wailed, clutching her stomach with both arms.

“Master! Lady Lexa!”

Renki rushed over, accompanied by Thea.

“This won’t do. Rest here. I’ll handle the rest. Renki, take the fortune-teller—”

Before Hay could finish, Lexa chuckled.

“Just kidding. I’m still fine, this much is nothing.”

She turned her head and spat a bloody glob onto the bare ground. Just then, the enemies and allies were about to clash.

“Archers, prepare—!” Lord Mesht commanded.

The village women drew their bowstrings taut.

“Fire!”

Over thirty arrows, imbued with sacred flames, soared high into the sky.

Lexa pushed Hay’s shoulder and stood up.

Her earlier theatrics of writhing in pain had clearly been a lie; she appeared perfectly composed.

“Mr. Unemployed, I’m going to ask you again…”

At that very moment, the arrows raining down on the enemies’ heads were intercepted by the black mage’s dark-violet shield, shattering into countless fragments. The archers swiftly drew their bowstrings once more.

“Are you truly confident you can kill that black mage?”

Hay watched the scene unfold, brushing a hand through his disheveled silver hair.

“Are you asking if I can commit murder?” He straightened his bent knees, planting his staff on the ground.

Hay’s expression was one of utter incredulity. “Is that a question one asks a mercenary of sixteen years?”

Just then, Kisen approached.

“Mr. Styles, shall we begin?”

“Let’s begin.”

Hay nodded, extending his hand.

The two clasped each other’s wrists firmly. A gust of wind swirled around them.

“Lexa.”

Hay’s body was the first to float into the air.

“Don’t overthink it, just time it well. If the plan doesn’t work out, well, we’ll figure something out.”

As he finished speaking, his body shot high into the sky.

It was [Wind].

Kicking off the air from above, he launched himself toward the enemy at terrifying speed.

Lexa stared blankly at the sight, muttering to herself.

“No, I was asking if he *could* win.”

“He can win.” The reply came from Renki.

Lexa, looking puzzled, turned to the young boy.

The boy’s eyes were fixed on Hay’s retreating figure, as if enchanted.

“Because Master said so.”

“What did he say?”

“He said he had a good feeling today.”

“What even is that?” Lexa burst into laughter.

“‘A good feeling,’ huh…”

She recalled her first encounter with Hay.

‘You were born with the mark of a king, destined to work your entire life until you die.’

There was something she hadn’t told Hay then.

The prophecy wasn’t just one.

“The marks of the dead and the emperor appeared simultaneously.”

“Huh?”

At the front lines, mercenaries, monsters, and black orcs clashed. Steel met steel, flesh was torn, and they began to cross the boundary between life and death.

Mana reacted in Lexa’s hands as if she were casting a spell, even though she hadn’t formed any seals.

“Renki.”

Lexa raised both arms, then mimed drawing a bowstring, as if holding a magnificent bow.

To their astonishment, a bow and arrow of golden flame materialized.

“Your brother will live a long life.”

The moment she released the magical golden bowstring.

“He’s certainly not destined to die alone in some foreign land!”

The arrow vanished.

And then.

파차차차창―!

The black mage’s shield shattered like glass.

Fragments of the broken barrier dispersed into glittering golden dust.

The sight was incongruously beautiful amidst the chaos.

“Whew!”

As everyone’s gaze was fixed on the sky, Lexa whistled, then lowered her hands.

In the distance, Hay was seen flinging Kisen through the air as casually as if he were tossing a sack.

The moment Kisen collided with the black mage, Lexa bent at the waist.

Her stomach churned from having used powerful magic twice. Yet, she was still alright.

One final task remained for her to accomplish.

Lexa began preparing her next spell, this time not only forming hand seals but also chanting an incantation.

Golden light shimmered beneath her feet, and a complex geometric magic circle began to form.

‘This method should be sufficient to sweep away the undead.’

Lexa recalled Hay’s demeanor during their strategy meeting.

After outlining his plan to eradicate the undead in one swift blow, he had also discussed how to confront the black mage lurking in the rear.

As Hay explained his strategy, there was no trace of solemnity or seriousness in his expression. With a bored look, he spoke in a detached tone, as if reciting a cooking recipe.

‘Next, they will counterattack. They’ll try to push through with black orcs and monsters. Given that he’s controlling undead and using orcs and monsters as a vanguard, it seems unlikely the black mage will appear on the front lines. He’s been hiding silently all this time, so he’ll try to use his minions as much as possible. If the black mage doesn’t step forward and stays in the back…’

Hay paused, then looked at Kisen.

‘Mr. Kisen, you’ll need to accompany me to take the black mage’s head. And fortune-teller, you’ll need to hold the black mage’s ankles. Even if you’re 5th-class, you can do that much, right? It’s only a one-class difference.’

Lexa burst into laughter. Grinning broadly at whatever amused him, Hay crossed his legs and rested his chin on his interlocked hands.

‘That’s right. It’s only a one-class difference.’

****

The black mage was utterly bewildered.

He had never conceived that there could be a mage capable of shattering his 6th-class barrier.

“There’s a mage on par with me…?”

‘Damn it.’

Involuntarily, he clutched the prayer beads around his neck, a symbol of the demon god he worshipped.

Dark-violet mana pulsed from the black mage’s staff. The shattered barrier began to re-form from the ground up.

At that moment, the black mage was entirely preoccupied with his shattered shield. In the interim, Kisen, flung by Hay, charged directly toward the black mage.

The black mage, startled, fumbled in alarm.

Seizing that fleeting instant, Kisen drew his longsword.

He immediately swung the blade, imbued with his aura.